A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the transmission of swine influenza through occupational exposure and to assess some risk factors for zoonotic transmission in workers from commercial farms in Mexico. Seroprevalence to swine influenza subtypes was determined by hemagglutinin inhibition assay and was higher in exposed (E), in comparison with unexposed (UE) participants (P<0.05). Percentages of seropositivity between UE and E were 28.57% and 19.35% to A/NewCaledonia/20/99 (H1N1), 68.25% and 33.87% to A/Panama/2001/99-like (H3N2), 1.58% and 12.9% to A/Sw/England/163266/87 (H3N2), respectively. No antibodies were detected against A/Sw/Wisconsin/238/97 (H1N1) in the UE subjects, and only 3.22% were positive in the E group (P<0.05). A significant association between elevated antibody titres to swine influenza virus (SIV) H3N2 and the exposition to swine [OR 3.05, 95% (CI) 1.65-5.64] and to geographic location [OR 8.15, 95% (CI) 1.41-47.05] was found. Vaccination appeared as a protective factor [OR 0.05, 95% (CI) 0.01-0.52]. Farms with high number of breeding herd were associated with increased anti-SIV antibodies in the E group [OR 3.98, 95% (CI) 1.00-15.86]. These findings are relevant and support the evidence of zoonoses in swine farms and point out the need to implement preventive measures to diminish the occurrence of the disease and the potential emergence of pathogenic reassortant strains.

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A two-year survey was carried out on the occurrence of avian influenza in migrating birds in two estuaries of the Mexican state of Sonora, which is located within the Pacific flyway. Cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 1262 birds, including 20 aquatic bird species from the Moroncarit and Tobari estuaries in Sonora, Mexico. Samples were tested for type A influenza (M), H5 Eurasian and North American subtypes (H5EA and H5NA respectively) and the H7 North American subtype (H7NA). Gene detection was determined by one-step real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR). The results revealed that neither the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5 of Eurasian lineage nor H7NA were detected. The overall prevalence of avian influenza type A (M-positive) in the sampled birds was 3.6% with the vast majority in dabbling ducks (Anas species). Samples from two birds, one from a Redhead (Aythya americana) and another from a Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), were positive for the low-pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus of North American lineage. These findings represented documented evidence of the occurrence of avian influenza in wintering birds in the Mexican wetlands. This type of study contributes to the understanding of how viruses spread to new regions of North America and highlights the importance of surveillance for the early detection and control of potentially pathogenic strains, which could affect animal and human health.

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En la industria pecuaria es importante mantener al ganado en buen estado de salud para alcanzar niveles adecuados de producción. En la actualidad, el uso de antibióticos para el control de infecciones es limitado, debido a la resistencia de los microorganismos a estos fármacos. Por otro lado, los insecticidas y repelentes de origen sintéticos contienen químicos tóxicos para los animales, el humano y el medio ambiente. Una alternativa es utilizar compuestos químicos naturales derivados de plantas. El objetivo fue evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana, insecticida y repelente de extractos hidro-etanólicos de plantas. En este estudio, se utilizaron 12 extractos de plantas contra 5 diferentes bacterias y 8 especies de insectos. Los resultados mostraron que el extracto de Eucalyptus globulus y la mezcla de extractos presentaron actividad antimicrobiana contra Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae y Staphylococcus aureus (P<0.05). Por otro lado, los extractos de E. globulus y Azadirachta indica mostraron actividad insecticida contra todos los insectos (P<0.05); mientras que, la mezcla de los extractos mostró actividad repelente contra todos los insectos utilizados (P<0.05). Por lo anterior, los extractos hidro-etanólicos de plantas mostraron potencial para controlar bacterias patógenas e insectos indeseables en la industria pecuaria.