Last SCI scientific publications
Editorial: Tuberculosis in domestic ruminants: towards eradication of zoonotic tuberculosis
Frontiers In Veterinary Science 11:1453876.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonosis with a significant impact on human and animal health and it remains endemic in many countries around the world. Most cases of human TB are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whilst TB in wildlife and domestic ruminants is mainly caused by animal adapted mycobacterial species such as M. bovis and M. caprae. However, the impact of zoonotic TB (zTB) has been known for a long time and resulted in the implementation of milk pasteurization as a preventive public health measure in many countries. According to data published by the WHO, more than 140,000 people are infected and more than 12,000 die every year due to zTB, particularly in the African and Southeast Asian regions. Zoonotic M. bovis transmission repres… Leer más
Boschiroli ML., Salguero FJ., Jones G. and Bezos J..
Geospatial analysis for strategic wildlife disease surveillance: African swine fever in South Korea (2019-2021)
PLoS ONE 19(6):e0305702.
Since the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) in South Korea in 2019, its spread, predominantly in wild boars, has been a significant concern. A key factor in this situation is the lack of identification of risk factors by surveillance bias. The unique orography, characterized by high mountains, complicates search efforts, leading to overlooked or delayed case detection and posing risks to the swine industry. Additionally, shared rivers with neighboring country present a continual threat of virus entry. This study employs geospatial analysis and statistical methods to 1) identify areas at high risk of ASF occurrence but possibly under-surveilled, and 2) indicate strategic surveillance points for monitoring the risk of ASF virus entry … Leer más
Ito S., Bosch BJ., Aguilar-Vega C., Jeong H. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM..
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in domestic goats in Southern Spain
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 227:106204.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), which can affect a wide variety of domestic and wild animal species. Although the role of goats as a reservoir of MTC bacteria has been evidenced, information about the circulation of MTC strains in this species is still very scarce. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence, spatial distribution, risk factors and MTC spoligotypes circulating in goats from Andalusia (Southern Spain), the Spanish region with the largest goat census and a hotspot area of TB in both cattle and wild ungulates. A total of 2155 serum samples from 80 goat flocks were analyzed by an in-house ELISA using the P22 prot… Leer más
Jimenez-Martin D., Garcia-Bocanegra I., Risalde MA., Napp S., Dominguez M., Romero B., Moreno I., Martinez R. and Cano-Terriza D.
Neuropathological lesions in intravenous BCG-stimulated K18-hACE2 mice challenged with SARS-CoV-2
Veterinary Research 55(1):71.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, questions emerged about the potential effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine on the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including the neurodegenerative diseases it may contribute to. To explore this, an experimental study was carried out in BCG-stimulated and non-stimulated k18-hACE2 mice challenged with SARS-CoV-2. Viral loads in tissues determined by RT-qPCR, histopathology in brain and lungs, immunohistochemical study in brain (IHC) as well as mortality rates, clinical signs and plasma inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers were assessed. Our results showed BCG-SARS-CoV-2 challenged mice presented higher viral loads in the brain and an increased frequency of neur… Leer más
Sánchez-Morales L., Porras N., Garcia-Seco T., Perez-Sancho M., Cruz F., Chinchilla-Rodríguez B., Barroso-Arevalo S., Diaz-de Frutos M., Buendia A., Moreno I., Briones V., Risalde MA., de la Fuente J., Juste R., Garrido J., Balseiro A., Gortazar C., Rodriguez-Bertos A., Dominguez M. and Dominguez L..
Editorial: Pathogen transmission at the domestic-wildlife interface: a growing challenge that requires integrated solutions
Frontiers In Veterinary Science 11:1415335.
Wildlife has coexisted with domestic animals in dynamic systems over thousands of years. Domestic-wildlife interfaces are intricate, encompassing physical spaces where wild and domestic species overlap and potentially interact, posing risks of pathogen transmission. The nature of this interface has changed over time and across landscapes, leading to continuous emergence of different conflicts. In addition, human processes that alter ecosystems have led to more interconnected interfaces and increased opportunities for the emergence and spread of shared pathogens (1).
The main goal of this Research Topic was to promote integrative research at domestic-wildlife interfaces globally to characterize and better understand specific eco-epide… Leer más
Jiménez-Ruiz S., Santos N., Barasona JA., Fine AE. and Jori F.
Neurobrucellosis (Brucella ceti) in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba): Immunohistochemical studies on immune response and neuroinflammation
Veterinary Pathology 17:3009858241250336.
Neurobrucellosis is a shared condition of cetaceans and humans. However, the pathogenesis and immune response in cetacean neurobrucellosis has not been extensively studied. In this multicentric investigation, 21 striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) neurobrucellosis (Brucella ceti) cases diagnosed over a 10-year period (2012-2022) were retrospectively evaluated. For each case, morphological changes were assessed by evaluating 21 histological parameters. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical expression of Brucella antigen, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), and a selection of inflammatory cell (IBA-1, CD3, and CD20) and cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, and … Leer más
Rebollada A., Giorda F., Pumarola M., Martino L., Gómez-Buendía A., Romani-Cremaschi U., Casalone C., Mattioda V., Di Nocera F., Lucifora G., Petrella A., Dominguez L., Domingo M., Grattarola C. and Rodriguez-Bertos A..
Non-invasive surveillance of shared pathogens in the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) human interface
One Health 18:100746.
Multi-host communities are perfect scenarios for the emergence and spread of pathogens, threatening the recovery of endangered, isolated, or inbred populations, such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in northwestern Spain. The population recovery in recent years has forced bears to occupy highly anthropized areas, increasing their interaction with human and domestic animals, with potential consequences for global health. During 2022-2023 a survey of parasites, bacteria and viruses shared between wildlife, domestic animals and humans was performed in this population using non-invasive surveillance, i.e., bear fecal samples (n = 73) and sponge-based sampling of trees (n = 42; 14 rubbed trees and 28 control trees). Pathogen detection rates were… Leer más
Herrero-Garcia G., Barroso P., Dashti A., Gonzalez-Barrio D., Naves J., Fernandez-Gil A., Ugarte-Ruiz M., Perez-Sancho M., Royo JL., Carmena D., de Miguel A., Garcia-Rodriguez A., Gortazar C., Dominguez L. and Balseiro A.
Detection of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in urine samples during outbreaks of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy
Equine Veterinary Journal 56(3):456-463.
Background: Real-time PCR is the diagnostic technique of choice for the diagnosis and control of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in an outbreak setting. The presence of EHV-1 in nasal swabs (NS), whole blood, brain and spinal cord samples has been extensively described; however, there are no reports on the excretion of EHV-1 in urine, its DNA detection patterns, and the role of urine in viral spread during an outbreak.
Objectives: To determine the presence of EHV-1 DNA in urine during natural infection and to compare the DNA detection patterns of EHV-1 in urine, buffy coat (BC) and NS.
Study design: Descriptive study of natural infection.
Methods: Urine and whole blood/NS samples were collected at different time points dur… Leer más
Velloso-Alvarez A., Jose-Cunilleras E., Dorrego-Rodriguez A., Santiago-Llorente I., de las Cuesta-Torrado M., Troya-Portillo L., Rivera B., Vitale V., de Juan L. and Cruz F..
Active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in companion animals: A pilot study in a Spanish Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology And Infectious Diseases 108:102169.
The role of small animal veterinary hospitals in the onset and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AMROs) is still not clear, and the implementation of an internal surveillance systems is a cost-effective tool to better understand their impact. The aim of this study was to describe a pilot program of active surveillance in a Spanish Veterinary Teaching Hospital, developed to estimate the detection frequency of AMROs in the commensal flora of patients and in the environment. Surveillance was focused on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (MRS), third generation cephalosporins resistant gram-negative bacteria (3GCR-GNB), and carbapenems-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). Oral and perirectal swabs were collected in the … Leer más
Scarpellini R., Leal Velez de Mendizábal L., Quevedo-Caraballo S., Blanco JL., Garcia ME., Perez-Sancho M., Portero-Fuentes M., Penelo S., Esposito E., Mondo E. and Piva S.
Forensic findings in urban red fox mortality in the metropolitan area of Madrid, 2014-2022
Journal Of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 36(4):510-514.
The expanding presence of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in urban and suburban regions could potentially lead to increased instances of human aggression towards this species. We studied 10 deceased red foxes that were submitted by law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan area of Madrid in 2014-2022 because of suspected abuse. Forensic autopsies were performed to establish the cause and manner of death. In 4 of the 10 cases, the cause of death was deemed unnatural, involving blunt-force trauma (n = 2), asphyxia resulting from hanging (n = 1), and firearm injury (n = 1). Among the remaining cases, most had succumbed to natural causes (n = 4), often marked by severe emaciation and a high burden of parasites, primarily Sarcoptes scabiei. In 2 ca… Leer más
Rebollada A., Barcena C., Porras N., Dominguez L. and Rodriguez-Bertos A..
