Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 adhered to immobilized swine-lung collagen. Bacteria bound to collagen type I, III, IV and V. At 5 min incubation, 30 % of bacteria adhered to collagen, reaching saturation in around 90 min. Treatment of bacteria with divalent-metal chelators diminished their attachment to collagen, and Ca 2+ but not Mg 2+ increased it, suggesting Ca 2+ dependence for adherence. Proteolytic enzymes drastically reduced bacterial adherence to collagen, showing that binding involved bacterial surface proteins. Porcine fibrinogen, haemoglobin and gelatin partially reduced collagen adhesion. A 60 kDa outer-membrane protein of A. pleuropneumoniae recognized the swine collagens by overlay. This membrane protein was apparently involved in adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen, but not to fibronectin and laminin. Antibodies against the 60 kDa protein inhibited the adhesion to collagen by 70 %, whereas pig convalescent-phase antibodies inhibited it by only 40 %. Serotypes 1 and 7 were the most adherent to pig collagen (taken as 100 %); serotypes 6 and 11 were the lowest (~50 %), and neither showed the 60 kDa adhesin to biotinylated collagens. By negative staining, cells were observed initially to associate with collagen fibres in a polar manner, and the adhesin was detected on the bacterial surface. The results suggest that swine-lung collagen is an important target for A. pleuropneumoniae colonization and spreading, and that the attachment to this protein could play a relevant role in pathogenesis.

Worldwide, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are the main agents responsible for chronic respiratory disease in poultry. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate their occurrence. We searched electronic databases to find peer-reviewed publications reporting the molecular detection of MG and MS in poultry and used meta-analysis to estimate their pooled global occurrence (combined flock and individual), aggregating results at the regional and national levels. We performed a subgroup meta-analysis for subpopulations (broilers, layers, breeders and diverse poultry including turkeys, ducks and ostriches) and used meta-regression with categorical modifiers. We retrieved 2294 publications from six electronic databases and included 85 publications from 33 countries that reported 62 studies with 22,162 samples for MG and 48 studies with 26,413 samples for MS. The pooled global occurrence was 38.4% (95% CI: 23.5-54.5) for MS and 27.0% (20.4-34.2) for MG. Among regions, Europe and Central Asia had the lowest occurrence for both pathogens, while MG and MS were highly prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. At the national level, MG occurrence was higher in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, whereas China, Egypt and Ethiopia reported higher values of MS. Among the poultry subpopulations, MS and MG were more prevalent in the breeders and layers (62.6% and 31.2%, respectively) than in diverse poultry. The year of publication, the sample size and the level of ambient air pollution (measured indirectly by PM2.5) were associated with the occurrence of both mycoplasmas. Our study revealed high and heterogeneous occurrence values of MG and MS and justifies the need for early detection and improved control measures to reduce the spread of these pathogens.

En el año 2017 el cultivo del chile (Capsicum annuum L.) en México registró una producción de 3 millones 54 mil toneladas. En los últimos cinco años se han registrado daños económicos y pérdidas de 20 % en la producción de chile a causa de Geminivirus. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la distribución y variabilidad genética de los Begomovirus que infectan al chile en las principales zonas productoras de Sinaloa, México. Se colectaron 121 muestras de chile con síntomas de Begomovirus en los municipios de Escuinapa, Rosario, Concordia, Mazatlán, Elota, Culiacán, Guasave y Ahome. En las 121 muestras se detectaron Begomovirus mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR); el PHYVV se detectó en 74.4 % de las muestras, el PepGMV en 53.7 %, el TYLCV en 5.8 % y en 12.4 % no se identificó el tipo de Begomovirus; además, se detectaron infecciones mixtas entre los virus PHYVV, PepGMV y TYLCV con 5.8 % y en la combinación PHYVV y PepGMV con 36.4 %. Este es el primer reporte de una infección mixta bajo condiciones de campo en plantas de chile con un Begomovirus monopartita (TYLCV) y dos Begomovirus bipartitas (PHYVV y PepGMV) en los municipios de Rosario, Culiacán y Ahome del estado Sinaloa, México. Los virus PHYVV, PepGMV y TYLCV presentaron identidad nucleotídica del 94 al 99 % con lo reportado en GenBank. TYLCV se detectó en diferentes genotipos de chile; Serrano, Jalapeño, Morrón y Ancho en los municipios del Rosario, Culiacán y Ahome, lo cual indica una amplia distribución y rango de hospedantes de este Begomovirus en los diferentes genotipos de chile cultivados en Sinaloa.

Domestic dogs transmit Leptospira spp. to humans, and determining the health risk that they represent is of paramount importance. To determine the seroprevalence and main risk factors associated with serovars of Leptospira in dogs from Culiacan, Sinaloa, we obtained serum samples from 165 dogs. The samples were stored at -40 °C and were analysed by the microbiology laboratory at Centro Nacional de Sanidad Animal using the leptospirosis microscopic agglutination test. Additionally, a survey was performed to identify epidemiological risk factors, and statistical inference was determined using chi-square test, odd ratios, and logistic regression with a statistical significance set at P < 0.05. The prevalence of Leptospira was 9 % (15/165), and we identified seven serovars: canicola 17 (46 %), icterohaemorrhagiae (40 %), bratislava (40 %), grippotyphosa (33 %), shermani (33 %), pyrogenes (20 %) and ballum (13 %). Based on our epidemiological survey, the risk factors associated with the detection of antibodies against Leptospira include the permanent habitation of pets in courtyards (OR = 4.6, P < 0.05) and presence of water stored in drums and basins (OR = 3.25, P < 0.05). The prevalence of leptospirosis in dogs indicates that the disease is present in the city of Culiacan and that leptospiral antibodies in dogs increase in poor sanitary conditions with stored water, which increases the potential risk of infection for both humans and animals.Keywords: Leptospirosis, Leptospira, dog, prevalence, risk factors. IntroductionDogs are considered to be the most important domestic species that transmit Leptospira spp. to humans. [1][2][3][4][5][6] In the state of Sinaloa, leptospirosis has been diagnosed in humans, ruminants and pigs. 7 However, the extent of this disease / 12Prevalence and risk factors of Leptospira serovars in dogs DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21753/vmoa.4.2.369 VolOriginal Research is unknown, as is the prevalence of Leptospira spp. serovars in dogs. Humans are susceptible to a large number of serovars of this bacterium, but the signs and symptoms of disease are not pathognomonic and can thus be easily confused with other infectious processes of bacterial or viral origin. 8 Therefore, it is important to determine the seroprevalence of this disease and to identify the risk factors associated with various serovars of Leptospira in dogs in Culiacan, Sinaloa. This basic information could help in finding alternatives for disease control. Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world and has great economic and health implications. In Mexico, it is an infectious disease of mandatory notification. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) classify Leptospirosis icterohaemorrhagiae with the key A 27.0. 9 The Official Mexican Standard NOM-029-SSA2-1999 provides the general procedures for monitoring cases of leptospirosis. 8 This disease is caused by a pathogenic strain of a spirochete of the genus Leptospira and affects wild and domestic animal...

Background: Toxocara spp. is a zoonotic parasite that can infect human; children are the largest group at risk of infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and viability of Toxocara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks. Methods: Overall, 1180 soil samples from 236 public parks in four sectors of the city of Culiacan were collected at random, between Jun and Dec, 2013. The presence of Toxocara spp. eggs was determined by light microscopy using a centrifugation-flotation technique and viability by trypan blue staining technique. Results: Of the 236 parks sampled, 18 were positive to Toxocara spp. resulting in a prevalence of 7.6% and viability of 94.4% with a P<0.05. Detection of Toxocara spp.in soil samples was 16.5% and viability 94.7% with a P<0.05. Parks positive to Toxocara spp., had sports fields and playgrounds (94.4%), trees and green areas (88.8%). Conclusion: Although a low prevalence of Toxoxara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks was found, they exhibited high viability, suggesting that the soil from these public parks is a source of infection for pets and humans especially children.