RESUMEN
We report the prevalence of rotavirus and calicivirus infections, along with their respective association with diarrhoea in the porcine population of the region of northern Spain. A total of 221 samples were collected at random from different farms in the region and from the main slaughterhouse facility in the city of Zaragoza. Faecal samples were scored as diarrhoeic or normal and grouped into five groups to match general farm management and age criteria: group I (suckling 0-4 weeks), group II (weaning >4-8 weeks), group III (transition >8-16 weeks), group IV (fattening >16-24 weeks) and group V (adults >24 weeks). Group A rotavirus detection and caliciviruses were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Conventional RT-PCR was performed using primers designed to detect rotavirus group A, caliciviruses and/or human noroviruses. A real-time RT-PCR was carried out using TaqMan probes for genogroups GI and GII of noroviruses. Rotaviruses and caliciviruses were detected with an overall prevalence of 16.7% and 12.2%, respectively. Rotavirus detection in faecal samples was associated with both age and faecal consistency, being more frequent in piglets aged <8 weeks with odds ratios (ORs) equal to 4.3 and 4.9, respectively. Calicivirus shedding in faecal samples was homogenously distributed in all ages, showing no significant association with age or faecal consistency (OR 0.87 and 0.99, respectively). A selection of rotavirus-positive stools were genotyped by multiplex nested PCR. G10, P[6], G12 P[8], G9 [p8] and G4 P[23] genotype combinations were found. Three isolates showed a G3 genotype, but their VP4 gene could not be amplified. It should be noted that the G9 genotype was the major G genotype circulating during that period in Spain. None of the porcine samples was positive for norovirus by real-time RT-PCR, despite the ability of this technique to detect at least 18 human norovirus genotypes. Our data indicate that human noroviruses are unlikely to be circulating in the porcine population; however, sapoviruses have been found. Contrary to rotavirus infection, Calicivirus infection is asymptomatic. Specific primers to detect porcine noroviruses are needed.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Caliciviridae/veterinaria , Diarrea/veterinaria , Norovirus/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Rotavirus/veterinaria , Rotavirus/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/virología , Factores de Edad , Animales , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/epidemiología , Diarrea/epidemiología , Heces/virología , Genotipo , Norovirus/genética , Prevalencia , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa/métodos , Rotavirus/clasificación , Rotavirus/genética , Infecciones por Rotavirus/epidemiología , España/epidemiología , Sus scrofa/virología , Porcinos , Esparcimiento de VirusRESUMEN
Coldwater 'streptococcosis', caused by Vagococcus salmoninarum, is an emerging disease of rainbow trout in the European Union, causing mortality rates up to 50% in broodstock during the spawning period, with water temperature of 10-12 degrees C. A study to determine the presence and role of this bacterium was undertaken using classical bacteriological techniques confirmed with polymerase chain reaction. This is the first report of isolation of V salmoninarum in relation to outbreaks of mortality in a rainbow trout farm devoted exclusively to broodstock rearing in Spain. A total of 10 isolates of V salmoninarum were characterized by their morphological, cultural, physiological, biochemical and enzymatic traits. Some differences were observed in parameters such as growth on MacConkey agar, H2S production, acid production from starch, and some other minor variations. Isolates were sensitive to erythromycin and oxytetracycline tested in vitro, but treatments conducted in the field were ineffective. An attempt at vaccination did not provide encouraging results.
Asunto(s)
Enterococcus/clasificación , Enterococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de los Peces/microbiología , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/veterinaria , Oncorhynchus mykiss/microbiología , Animales , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/veterinaria , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple , Enfermedades de los Peces/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
WinEpi Tasas 2.0 is a new, globally accessible computer program, which has been developed as a research tool for the epidemiological study of the pathological processes which affect animal populations. This new version of the program, based on the experimental version, WinEpi Tasas 1.0, enables users to study the distribution and evolution of diseases in affected populations, over time. This information, combined with data on spatial distribution, is of fundamental importance for the establishment of appropriate control strategies and health policies. Such disease control measures are of particular significance in the current context of emerging and re-emerging diseases. The program can be run in either English or Spanish.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Animales/epidemiología , Programas Informáticos , Enfermedades de los Animales/prevención & control , Animales , Salud Global , Vigilancia de la Población/métodosRESUMEN
The prevalence and risk factors associated with leptospirosis were studied in veterinary students in Zaragoza. Sera were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year 1994 to 1995 and were tested by ELISA against a pool of Leptospira interrogans serovars bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona antigens. At the beginning of the study the prevalence was 8.14 per cent and at the end it was 11.4 per cent. The incidence of the disease during the study was 0.0394. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis included: taking the course specialising in food inspection and technology, on-farm work, contact with pets in general, and particularly carnivores, and contact with animal traders. The symptoms associated with the disease were myalgia and fever, and the treatment of the symptoms provided some protection.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Leptospira interrogans/inmunología , Facultades de Medicina Veterinaria , Estudiantes , Enfermedad de Weil/epidemiología , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Factores de Riesgo , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Distribución por Sexo , España/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Enfermedad de Weil/sangre , Enfermedad de Weil/transmisiónRESUMEN
Samples of organs and serum were obtained from wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) found dead in the field, shot or captured by hunters, or introduced for repopulation in various provinces of Spain over a two-year period, for the purposes of an epidemiological study of viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) of rabbits. The efficacy of the haemagglutination test and the direct immunofluorescence test for the diagnosis of VHD was also examined.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Caliciviridae/veterinaria , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo , Conejos , Animales , Animales Salvajes , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/epidemiología , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente Directa/veterinaria , Pruebas de Inhibición de Hemaglutinación/veterinaria , Pruebas de Hemaglutinación/veterinaria , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo/inmunología , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo/aislamiento & purificación , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , España/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
A survey of rotavirus infection in a dairy herd with a history of neonatal diarrhoea was carried out. Faecal samples taken from 15 cows before and after calving as well as faeces taken from their calves daily from birth to two weeks of life were tested for rotavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and compared with an ELISA and a latex agglutination commercial test. Rotavirus excretion was not detected in faeces from cows around parturition by any of the three tests. However, all of their calves shed rotaviruses during the observation period. The onset of rotavirus excretion determined by PAGE ranged from day 2 to day 8 of life (day 4.8 +/- 1.8 on average) and lasted for 4 to 7 days (5.3 +/- 1.1 days on average). Chi-square test showed a significant association (P = 0.0001) between the presence of rotavirus and the altered consistency of calves faeces. All the three tests showed similar results (overall agreement 92.5%) but discrepancies were detected mainly at the beginning or at the end of the rotavirus excretion period. Results obtained with both commercial kits closely paralleled each other and parameters other than sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy or predictive values have to be considered as selection criteria.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Bovinos/microbiología , Diarrea/veterinaria , Electroforesis en Gel de Poliacrilamida/veterinaria , Heces/microbiología , Juego de Reactivos para Diagnóstico/veterinaria , Infecciones por Rotavirus/veterinaria , Rotavirus/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Animales Recién Nacidos , Bovinos , Diarrea/microbiología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/veterinaria , Pruebas de Fijación de Látex/veterinaria , Estudios Longitudinales , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Infecciones por Rotavirus/microbiología , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Fifteen ewes were inoculated subcutaneously with 2 x 10(6) cells of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis seven days before mating, during the embryonic stage of gestation and during the fetal stage of gestation. The clinical signs, antibody response and the consequences of the infection on reproduction were studied. None of the ewes showed any change in general condition during pregnancy. The effects of experimental infection during gestation were evident after incubation periods that ranged from 25 to 140 days after inoculation and were dependent on the time of the inoculation in relation to the period of gestation. Ewes inoculated before gestation can resolve infection. Ewes inoculated during the embryonic stage were severely affected and some aborted. In others lambs were stillborn or, if born alive, infected. Ewes inoculated during the fetal stage of gestation did not show reproductive disorders although some remained chronically infected.