Background and Aim: Paratuberculosis (PTB) is an infectious disease that induces chronic enteritis in ruminants. It is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In this study, we evaluated the presence of MAP using bacteriological, molecular, and anatomopathological studies, based on the clinical suspicion of PTB in a zoo, in an area housing 10 scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), five giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), and three blue wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus). Materials and Methods: From November 2016 to June 2017, fecal samples were collected from individuals of the three species on four occasions, resulting in a total of 56 fecal samples. In addition, five small intestine samples were collected from the necropsies of three adult scimitar-horned oryx females and two oryx calves. MAP identification was performed through isolation in Herrold's medium with egg yolk, mycobactin, and sodium pyruvate, Ziehl–Neelsen staining, IS900 polymerase chain reaction (IS900 PCR), and anatomopathological examination of intestine samples. Results: Diffuse granulomatous enteritis with abundant acid-fast bacilli was found in two out of five intestine samples from adult scimitar-horned oryx females. MAP was isolated in 7/56 (12.5%) of the fecal samples from four scimitar-horned oryx, one giraffe, and two wildebeest samples. Two out of 5 (40%) samples obtained from scimitar-horned oryx tested positive. IS900 PCR yielded five positive samples (two fecal samples and three small intestine samples). MAP isolates were classified as Type C (Cattle) using type-specific PCR. Conclusion: These results demonstrated the presence of MAP in the area evaluated and indicated the importance of both sampling live animals and conducting postmortem examinations. The use of bacteriological and histopathological diagnostic techniques demonstrated in this study will provide insight into the health status and prevalence of paratuberculosis in wild ruminants under human care.

Presence of paratuberculosis in dairy cows culled in Tizayuca SummaryBackground: paratuberculosis (PTB) is clinically characterized by diarrhea and progressive weight loss in ruminants, and causes economic losses due to decreased milk production, premature animal disposal, and increased veterinary treatment costs. The presence of PTB has been increasing in milk producing bovine farms in Mexico, yet epidemiology data from specific farms remains scarce. Objective: to determine the proportion of cows positive for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) among culled cows. Methods: in the present study, 40 culled cows from 25 farms located at the complejo agropecuario industrial de Tizayuca (CAITSA) in Hidalgo (Mexico) were evaluated for PTB presence by histopathological and microbiological studies. Tissue and rectal scraping samples were taken from all cows, and studied for presence of histopathology PTB-compatible lesions. Samples were processed for Map isolation on selective agar culture media; typical Map colonies were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: potential PTB infection was found in 25% (10/40) of the animals evaluated by histopathology and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, but

Leishmania infantum is the causal agent of cutaneous and visceral canine leishmaniasis, a disease widely described in Europe and Latin America. This study describes a case of a canine Canary mastiff breed, born in Mexico that was referred to consult by an alopecic lesion and generalized lymph adenomegaly. Diagnosis of leishmaniasis was established by impression smears of the lesion that showed amastigotes within macrophages. Due to the poor body condition of the animal, euthanasia and necropsy were conducted and samples taken from skin, lymph nodes, liver, kidney, and spleen to perform histological and molecular analysis. In skin, spleen and kidney granulomatous lesions were observed showing amastigotes of Leishmania. The diagnosis of L. infantum was confirmed by using molecular tools. The report of this case suggests the potential risk of this disease in a non-endemic region from Mexico.

Identificación del Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis y su seroprevalencia en rebaños ovinos de AguascalientesMycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis identification and seroprevalence in sheep flocks in Aguascalientes