Last SCI scientific publications
An Introductory Framework for Choosing Spatiotemporal Analytical Tools in Population-Level Eco-Epidemiological Research
Frontiers In Veterinary Science 7:339.
Spatiotemporal visualization and analytical tools (SATs) are increasingly being applied to risk-based surveillance/monitoring of adverse health events affecting humans, animals, and ecosystems. Different disciplines use diverse SATs to address similar research questions. The juxtaposition of these diverse techniques provides a list of options for researchers who are new to population-level spatial eco-epidemiology. Here, we are conducting a narrative review to provide an overview of the multiple available SATs, and introducing a framework for choosing among them when addressing common research questions across disciplines. The framework is comprised of three stages: (a) pre-hypothesis testing stage, in which hypotheses regarding the spatial… Leer más
Kanankege K., Alvarez J., Zhang L. and Perez AM.
Positive attitudes towards feline obesity are strongly associated with ownership of obese cats
PLoS ONE 15(6):e0234190.
Overweight and obesity (O&O) is a risk factor for several health conditions and can result in a shorter lifespan for cats. The objectives of this study were to investigate (a) cat owners` attitudes towards feline O&O and their associations with O&O in their cats; and (b) the risk factors for feline O&O and underweight, particularly those involving owner practice. An online survey comprising questions related to cat owners` attitudes towards feline O&O, owner-reported body weight and body condition of their cat, and potential risk factors for feline O&O was conducted. Primarily targeting the Australian population, the survey attracted 1,390 valid responses. In response to ten attitude-related questions, more participants (percentage range am… Leer más
Teng KT., McGreevy PD., Toribio JALML. and Dhand NK.
MLVA-16 Genotyping of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis Isolates From Different Animal Species in Egypt: Geographical Relatedness and the Mediterranean Lineage
Pathogens 9(6):E498.
Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease in Egypt. However, there are limited data available on the genetic diversity of brucellae circulating in Egypt and other Mediterranean areas. One hundred and nine Brucella (B.) strains were isolated from different animal species in thirteen Egyptian governorates. Multi-locus variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) analysis (MLVA-16) was employed to determine the geographical relatedness and the genetic diversity of a panel of selected Egyptian strains (n = 69), with strains originating from Italy (n = 49), Portugal (n = 52), Greece (n = 63), and Tunisia (n = 4). Egyptian B. melitensis strains clustered into two main clusters containing 21 genotypes. Egyptian B. abortus strains clustered into three mai… Leer más
Wareth G., El-Diasty M., Melzer F., Schmoock G., Moustafa SA., El-Beskawy M., Khater DF., Hamdy MER., Zaki HM., Ferreira AC., Ekateriniadou LV., Boukouvala E., Abdel-Glil MY., Menshawy AMS., Perez-Sancho M., Sakhria S., Pletz MW. and Neubauer H.
Long-Term Determinants of Tuberculosis in the Ungulate Host Community of Doñana National Park
Pathogens 9(6):445.
Animal tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and cattle in south and central Spain. In order to clarify the processes that operate in the medium and long-term, we studied TB at the wildlife–livestock interface in Doñana National Park for 14 years (2006–2018) in relation to host density, stochastic factors (rainfall) and environmental features (e.g., aggregation points such as waterholes). Wild boar showed the highest prevalence of TB (76.7%), followed by red deer (42.5%), fallow deer (14.4%) and cattle (10.7%). We found evidence of relevant epidemiological processes which operate over the long-term and interact with host and community ecology. Interestingly, the effect of … Leer más
Barroso P., Barasona JA., Acevedo O., Palencia P., Carro F., Negro JJ., Torres MJ., Gortazar C., Soriguer RC. and Vicente J.
Detection of antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis flaviviruses in breeding and sport horses from Spain
Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases 11(5):101487.
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and louping-ill virus (LIV) are two closely related zoonotic flaviviruses leading to neurological diseases and belonging to the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) serocomplex. Both viruses are transmitted by the same ixodid tick vector, Ixodes ricinus. Due to global warming affecting vector biology and pathogen transmission, the viruses pose an emerging threat for public health in Europe and Asia. These flaviviruses share some hosts, like sheep, goats and humans, although the main hosts for LIV and TBEV are sheep and small rodents, respectively. Whereas LIV has been detected in Spanish sheep and goat herds, circulating antibodies against TBEV have only been reported in dogs and horses from particular regions … Leer más
Camino E., Schmid S., Weber F., Pozo P., de Juan L., Konig M. and Cruz F..
Environmental DNA: A Promising Factor for Tuberculosis Risk Assessment in Multi-Host Settings
PLoS ONE 15(5):e0233837.
Attaining and maintaining the Official Tuberculosis Free status continues to be a challenge when several domestic and wild hosts contribute to the maintenance of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Local tuberculosis hotspots are sometimes identified in cattle in low-prevalence regions. We have, therefore, studied one such hotspot in depth in order to produce an epidemiological diagnosis. Host population size and MTC prevalence were estimated in selected wildlife and in livestock, while on-cattle environmental DNA detection was additionally used as a proxy for risk of exposure at the farm (herd) level. Positive skin test reactors were found on16 of the 24 cattle farms studied in the period 2012-2016. Although all goats tested nega… Leer más
Martinez-Guijosa J., Romero B., Infantes-Lorenzo JA., Diez E., Boadella M., Balseiro A., Veiga M., Navarro D., Moreno I., Ferreres J., Dominguez M., Fernandez C., Dominguez L. and Gortazar C.
Retrospective Spatial Analysis for African Swine Fever in Endemic Areas to Assess Interactions Between Susceptible Host Populations
PLoS ONE 15(5):e0233473.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most complex and significant diseases from a sanitary-economic perspective currently affecting the world`s swine-farming industry. ASF has been endemic in Sardinia (Italy) since 1978, and several control and eradication programmes have met with limited success. In this traditional ASF endemic area, there are three susceptible host populations for this virus sharing the same habitat: wild boar, farmed domestic pigs and non-registered free-ranging pigs (known as "brado" animals). The main goal of this study was to determine and predict fine-scale spatial interactions of this multi-host system in relation to the epidemiology of ASF in the main endemic area of Sardinia, Montes-Orgosolo. To this end, simul… Leer más
Bosch J., Barasona JA., Cadenas-Fernández E., Jurado C., Pintore A., Denurra D., Cherchi M., Vicente J. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM..
Lessons Learned From the Stakeholder Engagement in Research: Application of Spatial Analytical Tools in One Health Problems
Frontiers In Veterinary Science 7:254.
Stakeholder engagement in research is widely advocated as a tool to integrate diverse knowledge and perspectives in the management of health threats while addressing potential conflicts of interest. Although guidelines for stakeholder engagement exist in public health and environmental sciences, the feasibility of actionable decisions based on scientific analyses and the lessons learned from the stakeholder engagement in the process co-creation of knowledge have been rarely discussed in One Health literature and veterinary sciences. Risk maps and risk regionalization using spatiotemporal epidemiological/analytical tools are known to improve risk perception and communication. Risk maps are useful when informing policy and management decision… Leer más
Kanankege K., Phelps NBD., Vesterinen HM., Errecaborde KM., Alvarez J., Bender J., Wells SJ. and Perez AM.
Early OXA-48-Producing Enterobacterales Isolates Recovered in a Spanish Hospital Reveal a Complex Introduction Dominated by Sequence Type 11 (ST11) and ST405 Klebsiella pneumoniae Clones
MSphere 5(2).
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) have become an important public health concern. In our hospital, VIM enzymes were first detected in 2005, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) enzymes in 2009, and OXA-48 enzymes in 2012. We assess the population biology of the first OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales isolates recovered in our hospital (2012 to 2013) where infections by other carbapenemases had been endemic for several years. Over a 21-month period, 71 isolates (61 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 5 Escherichia coli, 2 Klebsiella aerogenes, and 1 each of Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Citrobacter amalonaticus) recovered from clinical and surveillance specimens from 57 pat… Leer más
Gijon D., Tedim AP., Valverde A., Rodriguez I., Morosini MI., Coque TM., Manrique M., Pareja E., Tobes R., Ruiz-Garbajosa P. and Canton R.
Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds Obtained from Breath and Feces to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Doñana National Park, Spain
Pathogens 9(5):346.
The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in wild swine, such as in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Eurasia, is cause for serious concern. Development of accurate, efficient, and noninvasive methods to detect MTBC in wild swine would be highly beneficial to surveillance and disease management efforts in affected populations. Here, we describe the first report of identification of volatile organic compounds (VOC) obtained from the breath and feces of wild boar to distinguish between MTBC-positive and MTBC-negative boar. We analyzed breath and fecal VOC collected from 15 MTBC-positive and 18 MTBC-negative wild boar in Donaña National Park in Southeast Spain. Analyses were divided into three age classes, namely, adults (>2 years), su… Leer más
Nol P., Ionescu R., Welearegay TG., Barasona JA., Vicente J., Beleno-Saenz KJ., Barrenetxea I., Torres MJ., Ionescu F. and Rhyan J.
