Simulaciones sanitarias para el estudio de enfermedades infecciosas endémicas, emergentes y reemergentes en el ganado porcino

Depto. de Sanidad AnimalFac. de VeterinariaFALSEsubmitte

Aplicación de la termografía en la valoración de la fertilidad en huevos de Cernícalo primilla

Habitualmente la valoración de la fertilidad de los huevos se realiza mediante un ovoscopio. El principal inconveniente es la necesidad de manipulación del huevo, que impide su aplicación a la fauna salvaje. Por ello se estudió su posible sustitución por termografía, analizándose los patrones térmicos de 190 huevos de Cernícalo primilla, Falco naumanni. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la termografía nos permite diferenciar los huevos en fértiles, infértiles y abortados gracias a sus diferentes patrones térmicos y velocidades de enfriamiento desde tres días después de la puesta. Es posible emplearlo tanto durante incubación artificial como en la naturaleza con diferentes condiciones ambientales, siendo necesario tener en cuenta el lugar de medición, los días transcurridos desde la puesta así como la temperatura de partida.Usually the evaluation of eggs fertility is done with ovoscopy. The principal inconvenient is the need to manipulate the egg, this prevents its application in wildlife. This is why it was studied to substitute this method for termography, analizing the termic patterns of 190 eggs of Falco naumanni. The obtained results show that termography allows us to differentiate the fertile eggs, from unfertile, and aborted ones thanks to its different termic patters and cooling speeds since 3 days after the lay. Its possible to use it both during the artificial incubation and in nature with different environment conditions, being necessary to have in mind the place, the number of days that have passed since the lay as well as the temperature at the beginning

El papel de la fauna silvestre en las enfermedades emergentes

Las enfermedades infecciosas zoonósicas emergentes se han convertido en la actualidad en una de las amenazas más graves para la salud pública. Aproximadamente el 75 % de las enfermedades que han surgido durante las últimas dos décadas tienen su fuente en la fauna salvaje. Las recientes epidemias del síndrome agudo respiratorio severo (SARS), infecciones por virus West Nile o influenza aviar, que serán tratadas en este trabajo, demuestran la importancia de las enfermedades emergentes en todo el mundo y el relevante papel de los servicios veterinarios. Para vigilar estas enfermedades es preciso disponer de un equipo de trabajo multidisciplinar, con profesionales formados en medicina, epidemiología, virología, zoología y veterinaria, por la gran interrelación de factores. Asimismo, siempre hay que tener en cuenta en estas enfermedades tan contagiosas todas las vías de transmisión, no sólo animales, sino los movimientos comerciales tanto legales como ilegales.Zoonotic emergent infectious diseases have become one of the most serious threats for public health. Approximately 75 % of the diseases that have occurred during the last two decades originated in the wild fauna. SARS, West Nile virus or influenza recent epidemics, that will be treated in this article, show the importance of emerging diseases in the whole world and the relevant role of the veterinary services. Monitoring these diseases requires a multidisciplinary work team, with professionals formed in medicine, epidemiology, virology, zoology and veterinary sciences, because of the great interrelationship of factors. Likewise, it is always important to bear all the routes of transmission in mind in these very contagious diseases, not only animals, but the commercial, both legal and illegal, movements

Estudio molecular de una nueva cepa de morbillivirus de cetáceo aislada de un calderon tropical

El morbillivirus de cetáceo (CeMV) es el virus más patógeno de cetáceos. Comprende tres cepas cuyos nombres provienen de la especie de donde se aisló por primera vez: el morbillivirus de delfín (DMV), el morbillivirus de la marsopa (PMV) y el morbillivirus del calderón (PWMV). En este estudio se pretende completar la caracterización molecular de una nueva cepa de CeMV obtenida del encéfalo de un calderón tropical que varó muerto en las Islas Canarias, con lesiones compatibles con enfermedad por morbillivirus. La construcción de árboles filogenéticos con todas las especies de morbillivirus indicó una mayor homología con PWMV por lo que se propone llamar esta nueva cepa “PWMV II”. Además, en base a los árboles filogenéticos y una exhaustiva revisión bibliográfica, se hace la propuesta de renombrar las tres cepas de CeMV en “CeMV-1” para el DMV, “CeMV-2” para el PMV y “CeMV-3” para el PWMV.Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is the most pathogenic virus in cetaceans. It includes three strains whose names refer to the species of odontocete from which it was initially isolated: Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV), Porpoise morbillivirus (PMV) and Pilot Whale morbillivirus (PWMV). The aim of this work was to complete a molecular characterization of a new strain of CeMV obtained from the brain of a short finned pilot whale stranded dead around Canary Islands with lesions compatible with morbilliviral disease. Phylogenetic trees including sequences of all the morbillivirus species have shown a higher homology with PWMV, so this strain is tentatively named “PWMV II”. Moreover, from the phylogenetic trees analysis and an exhaustive bibliographical review we propose new names for the CeMV strains:“CeMV-1” for DMV, “CeMV-2” for PMV and “CeMV-3” for PWMV

Detecciónes de la expresión de citoquinas mediante RT-PCR en tiempo real en ganado ovino

Las citoquinas son moléculas proteicas secretadas por diferentes células, fundamentalmente del sistema inmunitario, como respuesta a una estimulación inmunológica. Existen diferentes técnicas para estudiar la producción y acción de éstas en los individuos. Este estudio consiste en la puesta a punto de una técnica de Retrotranscripción- Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RT-PCR) en tiempo real para la detección de la expresión del ARNm que codifica seis citoquinas (TNF-α, IFNγ, IL-4, IL2, IL-10, IL-12). Los resultados preliminares se obtuvieron tras la aplicación de la técnica a linfocitos estimulados in vitro con ConA (Concanavalina A) y LPS (Lipopolisacárido de E.coli) demostrando la detección de ARNm para IL-4, IL-2 e IFNγ y TNF-α, IL-12 e IL-10, respectivamente; posteriormente se realizó el estudio en ovejas inmunizadas frente a Chlamydophyla abortus, permitiendo la detección de la expresión de ARNm de las seis citoquinas. Estos resultados demuestran que es una técnica rápida, sensible y fiable para la detección de citoquinas.Cytokines are protein molecules that cells from the immune system secrete in response to immune stimulation. There are different techniques to study their production and their action on individuals. This study consists of the development of a real time RT-PCR method for the detection of the expression of mRNA coding for six cytokines (TNF-α, IFNγ, IL-4, IL2, IL-10, IL-12). The preliminary results were obtained from the study of lymphocites stimulated with Con A and LPS, showing the detection of ARNm, IL-4, IL-2, IFNγ and TNF-α, IL-12, IL-10, respectively. Its subsequent application in sheep that were vaccinated against Chlamydophila abortus, allowed the detection of mRNA expression for the six cytokines. These results show that it is a swift, sensitive and reliable technique to detect mRNA of cytokines

Thermal reference points as an index for monitoring body temperature in marine mammals

BACKGROUND Monitoring body temperature is essential in veterinary care as minor variations may indicate dysfunction. Rectal temperature is widely used as a proxy for body temperature, but measuring it requires special equipment, training or restraining, and it potentially stresses animals. Infrared thermography is an alternative that reduces handling stress, is safer for technicians and works well for untrained animals. This study analysed thermal reference points in five marine mammal species: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas); Patagonian sea lion (Otaria flavescens); harbour seal (Phoca vitulina); and Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). RESULTS The thermogram analysis revealed that the internal blowhole mucosa temperature is the most reliable indicator of body temperature in cetaceans. The temperatures taken during voluntary breathing with a camera held perpendicularly were practically identical to the rectal temperature in bottlenose dolphins and were only 1 °C lower than the rectal temperature in beluga whales. In pinnipeds, eye temperature appears the best parameter for temperature control. In these animals, the average times required for temperatures to stabilise after hauling out, and the average steady-state temperature values, differed according to species: Patagonian sea lions, 10 min, 31.13 °C; harbour seals, 10 min, 32.27 °C; Pacific walruses, 5 min, 29.93 °C. CONCLUSIONS The best thermographic and most stable reference points for monitoring body temperature in marine mammals are open blowhole in cetaceans and eyes in pinnipeds

Characterization of Protection Afforded by a Bivalent Virus-Like Particle Vaccine against Bluetongue Virus Serotypes 1 and 4 in Sheep

BACKGROUND: Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an economically important, arthropod borne, emerging pathogen in Europe, causing disease mainly in sheep and cattle. Routine vaccination for bluetongue would require the ability to distinguish between vaccinated and infected individuals (DIVA). Current vaccines are effective but are not DIVA. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are highly immunogenic structural mimics of virus particles, that only contain a subset of the proteins present in a natural infection. VLPs therefore offer the potential for the development of DIVA compatible bluetongue vaccines. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Merino sheep were vaccinated with either monovalent BTV-1 VLPs or a bivalent mixture of BTV-1 VLPs and BTV-4 VLPs, and challenged with virulent BTV-1 or BTV-4. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, antibody responses, and viral RNA. 19/20 animals vaccinated with BTV-1 VLPs either alone or in combination with BTV-4 VLPs developed neutralizing antibodies to BTV-1, and group specific antibodies to BTV VP7. The one animal that showed no detectable neutralizing antibodies, or group specific antibodies, had detectable viral RNA following challenge but did not display any clinical signs on challenge with virulent BTV-1. In contrast, all control animals' demonstrated classical clinical signs for bluetongue on challenge with the same virus. Six animals were vaccinated with bivalent vaccine and challenged with virulent BTV-4, two of these animals had detectable viral levels of viral RNA, and one of these showed clinical signs consistent with BTV infection and died. CONCLUSIONS: There is good evidence that BTV-1 VLPs delivered as monovalent or bivalent immunogen protect from bluetongue disease on challenge with virulent BTV-1. However, it is possible that there is some interference in protective response for BTV-4 in the bivalent BTV-1 and BTV-4 VLP vaccine. This raises the question of whether all combinations of bivalent BTV vaccines are possible, or if immunodominance of particular serotypes could interfere with vaccine efficacy

A Bayesian approach to study the risk variables for tuberculosis occurrence in domestic and wild ungulates in South Central Spain

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Although eradication is a priority for the European authorities, bTB remains active or even increasing in many countries, causing significant economic losses. The integral consideration of epidemiological factors is crucial to more cost-effectively allocate control measures. The aim of this study was to identify the nature and extent of the association between TB distribution and a list of potential risk factors regarding cattle, wild ungulates and environmental aspects in Ciudad Real, a Spanish province with one of the highest TB herd prevalences. Results: We used a Bayesian mixed effects multivariable logistic regression model to predict TB occurrence in either domestic or wild mammals per municipality in 2007 by using information from the previous year. The municipal TB distribution and endemicity was clustered in the western part of the region and clearly overlapped with the explanatory variables identified in the final model: (1) incident cattle farms, (2) number of years of veterinary inspection of big game hunting events, (3) prevalence in wild boar, (4) number of sampled cattle, (5) persistent bTB-infected cattle farms, (6) prevalence in red deer, (7) proportion of beef farms, and (8) farms devoted to bullfighting cattle. Conclusions: The combination of these eight variables in the final model highlights the importance of the persistence of the infection in the hosts, surveillance efforts and some cattle management choices in the circulation of M. bovis in the region. The spatial distribution of these variables, together with particular Mediterranean features that favour the wildlife-livestock interface may explain the M. bovis persistence in this region. Sanitary authorities should allocate efforts towards specific areas and epidemiological situations where the wildlife-livestock interface seems to critically hamper the definitive bTB eradication success

Evidence of shared bovine viral diarrhea infections between red deer and extensively raised cattle in south-central Spain

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a pestivirus that affects cattle production worldwide and that can infect other ungulates such as cervids and even wild boar (Sus scrofa). It is believed that domestic livestock can become infected through contact with wild animals, though it is known that infection can spread among wild animals in the absence of contact with livestock. Little is known about the sharing of BVDV infection between wild and domestic animals in the same habitat, which is important for designing eradication campaigns and preventing outbreaks, especially on hunting estates with high animal densities

Sedentary behaviour patterns and carotid intima-media thickness in Spanish healthy adult population

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between sedentary behaviour, as assessed by an accelerometer, and mean carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Methods: The study included 263 healthy subjects belonging to the EVIDENT study (59.3% women). Carotid IMT was measured by carotid ultrasonography. Sedentary behaviour was measured objectively over 7 days using ActiGraph accelerometers. Thresholds of 10 consecutive minutes were used to establish sedentary bouts, and assess the number (n/day), and length 10 min (min/day). Results: Total sedentary time and sedentary time in bouts 10 min was higher in participants with a larger mean carotid IMT (>P75). Otherwise, this sedentary time in bouts 10 min parameter was weakly associated with augmented carotid IMT injury in the logistic regression model. Conclusion: Total sedentary time and sedentary time in bouts 10 min, as assessed by accelerometer, was positively but weakly associated with carotid IMT. Equally, this sedentary time in bouts 10 min was associated with carotid injury, but disappears after adjusting for potential confounders. These findings support that reducing sedentary time and increasing breaks in bouts of sedentary time might represent a useful additional strategy in the cardiovascular disease prevention. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01083082.The EVIDENT Grou