Research

Using unique ORFan genes as strain‑specifc identifers for Escherichia coli

Investigation published in BMC Microbiology

Background: Bacterial identification at the strain level is a much-needed, but arduous and challenging task. This study aimed to develop a method for identifying and differentiating individual strains among multiple strains of the same bacterial species. The set used for testing the method consisted of 17 Escherichia coli strains picked from a collection of strains isolated in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Vietnam from humans, cattle, swine, wild boars, and chickens. We targeted unique or rare ORFan genes to address the problem of selective and specific strain identification. These OR… Leer más

Zoonotic Transmission of Diphtheria from Domestic Animal Reservoir, Spain

Investigation article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases

Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans is as an emerging zoonotic agent of diphtheria. We describe the zoonotic transmission of diphtheria caused by toxigenic C. ulcerans from domestic animals in Spain, confirmed by core-genome multilocus sequence typing. Alongside an increasing number of recent publications, our findings highlight the public health threat posed by diphtheria reemergence. Diphtheria has been increasing in relevance because of increasing individual travel and surges in mass relocation events of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants from countries where diphtheria remains endemi… Leer más

Global Distribution of Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin and Carbapenem Resistance and Associated Resistance Markers in Escherichia coli of Swine Origin - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Investigation published in Frontiers in Microbiology

Third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine. Food animals such as swine can act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes/bacteria resistant to these antimicrobial classes, and potential dissemination of AMR genes or resistant bacteria from pigs to humans is an ongoing public health threat. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to: (1) estimate global proportion and animal-level prevalence of swine E. coli phenotypically resistant to third generation cephalosporins (3GCs) and carbapen… Leer más

New tools to prevent the endemism of bluetongue

Cecilia Aguilar Vega defended the PhD Thesis at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid

Bluetongue is a transboundary arboviral disease transmitted mainly by species of the genus Culicoides. It affects essentially ruminants and has a great socioeconomic and animal health impact in areas where is present. Hence, it is a notifiable disease for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). At the end of the 20th century, it was considered an exotic disease in Europe, however, since 1998 there has been an incessant introduction and subsequent circulation of different strains of the bluetongue virus (BTV), the etiological agent of the disease. Its importance for the livestock indust… Leer más

Animal abuse in Spanish-breed fighting cocks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Investigation article published in Forensic Science International

Cockfighting is illegal both in the European Union and the United States, although fighting cock husbandry and breed preservation are allowed. Here, we describe the pathological findings observed in the carcasses of two Spanish-breed fighting cocks submitted to our laboratory after an animal abuse-suspected death. The postmortem examination revealed these cocks may have been used for cockfighting (comb, ear lobes, wattles, and chest feather removal; and trimmed spurs). The severe extensive hemorrhages observed in the cervical region of both birds, affecting C1-C4 in bird No. 1 and C8-C11 in No… Leer más

Garvicins AG1 and AG2: Two Novel Class IId Bacteriocins of Lactococcus garvieae Lg-Granada

International Journal of Molecualr Sciences publish this investigation article

Lactococcus garvieae causes infectious diseases in animals and is considered an emerging zoonotic pathogen involved in human clinical conditions. In silico analysis of plasmid pLG50 of L. garvieae Lg-Granada, an isolate from a patient with endocarditis, revealed the presence of two gene clusters (orf46-47 and orf48-49), each one encoding a novel putative bacteriocin, i.e., garvicin AG1 (GarAG1; orf46) and garvicin AG2 (GarAG2; orf48), and their corresponding immunity proteins (orf47 and orf49). The chemically synthesised bacteriocins GarAG1 and GarAG2 presented inhibitory activity against path… Leer más

Nonspecific protection of heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis against Salmonella Choleraesuis infection in pigs

Investigation article published in Veterinary Research

Trained immunity is the capacity of innate immune cells to produce an improved response against a secondary infection after a previous unrelated infection. Salmonellosis represents a public health issue and affects the pig farming industry. In general, vaccination against salmonellosis is still facing problems regarding the control of distinct serovars. Therefore, we hypothesized that an immunostimulant based on heat inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (HIMB) could have an immune training effect in pigs challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) and decided to explo… Leer más

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Potential for improved detection of bovine tuberculosis by targeting combined blood biomarkers in multi-test algorithms

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology publish this investigation article

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) control programs can be improved by combined use of tests for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses targeting multiple biomarkers of Mycobacterium bovis. To further the diagnostic benefits of this approach, we used Dual Path Platform (DPP) technology to test sera from cattle with naturally acquired bTB in the United States (US) and Spain for the presence of M. bovis antigen, IgM and/or IgG antibodies to MPB70/MPB83 fusion antigen in conjunction with tuberculin skin tests (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA). When TST was complemented with detection of … Leer más

First Detection of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant of Concern in a Symptomatic Cat in Spain

Investigation published in Frontiers in veterinary science

Natural and experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets has been widely evidenced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the numerous affected animals, cats are one of the most susceptible species. However, little is known about viral pathogenicity and transmissibility in the case of variants of concern (VOCs) in animal hosts, such as the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant first detected in India. Here, we have identified the B.1.617.2 (Delta) VOC in a cat living with a COVID-19 positive owner. The animal presented mild symptoms (sneezing) and a high viral load was detected in the oropharyng… Leer más

Bcl-2 Immunoexpression in Feline Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphomas

Investigation published in Veterinary sciences

Abstract: Lymphoma is the most common malignant hematopoietic neoplasm in domestic felines. Twenty-two cases of feline epitheliotropic duodenal T-cell lymphoma were characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically (CD3, Pax5, Ki-67), and Bcl-2 immunoexpression was established. Most cases were in domestic shorthair cats (88.2%), with a mean age of 11.2 years. All lymphomas were CD3+, with a low-to-moderate expression of Ki-67 (< 30%). A correlation between the tumoral pattern of infiltration in the lamina propria and the intraepithelial distribution of the neoplastic lymphocytes was esta… Leer más