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Last research news
March 4th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Immune related genes as markers for monitoring health status of honey bee colonies
Investigation published in BMC Veterinary Research
Background
Honey bee population decline threatens the beekeeping sector, agriculture and global biodiversity. Early detection of colony mortality may facilitate rapid interventions to contain and prevent mortality spread. Among others, deformed wing virus (DWV) is capable of inducing colony losses, especially when combined with Varroa destructor mite. Since the bee immune system plays a crucial role in ensuring that bees are able to face these pathogens, we explored whether expression of immune genes could serve as biomarkers of colony health.
Results
Herein, we describe a preliminary immun…
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March 4th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Validation of a Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Members in Bovine Tissue Samples
Investigation article published in Frontiers in veterinary science
Although the post-mortem diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis is mainly achieved through microbiological culture, the development of other techniques to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) members directly from tissue samples has been pursued. The present study describes the development, optimization and validation of a Real-Time PCR based on the mpb70 gene to detect MTBC members in clinical tissue samples from cattle. Specific primers and a hybridization probe were used to amplify MTBC-specific sequences in order to avoid cross-reaction with non-MTBC species. An Internal Amplificatio…
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March 1st, 2019
Vía publiDB
Specificity of serological test for detection of tuberculosis in cattle, goats, sheep and pigs under different epidemiological situations
BMC Veterinary Research publish this investigation article
BACKGROUND:
Serum antibody detection has potential as a complementary diagnostic tool in animal tuberculosis (TB) control, particularly in multi-host systems. The objective of the present study was to assess the specificity (Sp) of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the new multiprotein complex P22 for the detection of specific antibodies against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) in the four most relevant domestic animals acting as MTC hosts: cattle, goat, sheep and pig. We used sera from an officially TB-free (OTF) country, Norway, and from a non-OTF one, Spain.…
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March 1st, 2019
Vía publiDB
Day-old chicks are a source of antimicrobial resistant bacteria for laying hen farms
Investigation published in Veterinary Microbiology
Antimicrobial resistant bacteria are rarely detected in laying hens and the objective of this longitudinal study was to test day-old chick as a source. Four different commercial batches raised on the same farm were monitored from day-old chick to laying hens using Escherichia coli as a model. Ten colonies from each of the eight samplings per batch were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using 14 antimicrobials.
Overall (313 isolates), higher resistance percentages were detected for tetracycline (26.8%), followed by sulphonamides (16.3%), ampicillin (16.0 %) and quinolones (10.9% and 9.3%…
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February 26th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Epidemiology and Control of Notifiable Animal Diseases
Investigation published in Frontiers in veterinary science
There are a number of criteria by which an animal disease is classified as notifiable; the most important are typically related with its potential to spread internationally, as well as its impact on the health of domestic livestock, wildlife and, not the least, on human health (1). Because of the above, surveillance, early detection, control, and eradication of these diseases is of critical importance for countries in order to maintain or improve their animal health status. This requires the collaboration of all stakeholders involved (e.g., animal health authorities, livestock industry, and ve…
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February 20th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Salmonella Surveillance Systems in Swine and Humans in Spain: A Review
Investigation article published in Veterinary sciences
Non-typhoid salmonellosis is a common and problematic foodborne zoonotic disease in which pork and pork products can be an important potential source of infection. To prevent this disease, important efforts to monitor the situation in the main source, livestock, are conducted in most developed countries. In the European Union, European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) compile information at the member-state level, even though important differences in production systems and surveillance systems exist. Here, Salmonella surveillance systems in one of the ma…
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February 14th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Comparison of individual, group and environmental sampling strategies to conduct influenza surveillance in pigs
BMC Veterinary Research publish this investigation article
BACKGROUND:
Influenza A virus (IAV) is an important pathogen in pigs that affects productivity and has important public health implications because of its zoonotic nature. Surveillance is central to the control of influenza, however, detection of IAV infections can be challenging in endemically infected herds with low prevalence of infection.
METHODS:
In groups of suckling (18-21 days of age) and growing (35-45 days of age) pigs, we compared various sampling approaches to detect, isolate and sequence IAV using individual (nasal swabs, nasal wipes and oropharyngeal swabs), grou…
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February 1st, 2019
Vía publiDB
A new test to detect antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in red deer serum
The Veterinary Journal publish this investigation article
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) farming is a growing economic activity worldwide. However, the capacity of this species to act as reservoir of animal tuberculosis (TB) poses a threat to other wildlife and to livestock. Diagnostic assay accuracy in this species is therefore highly relevant for prevention and control measures. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the protein complex P22, obtained from Mycobacterium bovis derived purified protein derivative (bPPD), as a candidate antigen for the detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). We assessed the p…
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January 25th, 2019
Vía publiDB
Spatio-temporal trends in the frequency of interspecific interactions between domestic and wild ungulates from Mediterranean Spain
Investigation article published in PLoS ONE
Controlling infections shared by wildlife and livestock requires the understanding and quantification of interspecific interactions between the species involved. This is particularly important in extensive multi-host systems, in which controlled domestic animals interact with uncontrolled, abundant and expanding wild species, such as wild ungulates. We have, therefore, quantified the interspecific interactions between wild boar (Sus scrofa) and free-ranging cattle in Mediterranean Spain, along with their spatio-temporal variability. GPS-GSM-collars were used to monitor 12 cows and 14 wild boar…
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January 18th, 2019
Vía publiDB
New serological platform for detecting antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in European badgers
Investigation article published in Veterinary Medicine and Science
European badgers (Meles meles) have been identified as wildlife reservoirs for Mycobacterium bovis in the UK and Ireland, and may also have a role in the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis in other European regions. Thus, detection of M. bovis-infected badgers may be required for the purposes of surveillance and monitoring of disease levels in infected populations. Current serological assays to detect M. bovis infection in live badgers, while rapid and inexpensive, show limited diagnostic sensitivity. Here we describe and evaluate new ELISA platforms for the recognition of the P22 multiprotei…
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