Outreach

Jornada técnica sobre prevención y control de Listeria monocytogenes

La Oficina de Exportación de la Carne de España (OECE), en colaboración con el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino (MARM) y el Ministerio de Sanidad y Política Social, organizarón esta jornada celebrada el 29 de julio

Lucas Domínguez moderó la mesa redonda donde se abordaron los aspectos técnicos más relevantes de interés para la industria, como la diversidad genética y persistencia de L. monocytogenes, Listeria en biofilms, experiencias en limpieza, controles analíticos en fábrica y las posibilidades de las altas presiones… Leer más

Molecular epidemiology underlines the importance of Mycobacterium caprae in livestock and wildlife

Oral communication in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)

Mycobacterium caprae (M. caprae) is a member of the M. tuberculosis complex which was first described as the main etiological agent of caprine tuberculosis in Spain. However, this pathogen can also infect other animal species and human beings. In the present study we have characterised M. caprae isolates from 791 animals by DVR-spoligotyping. The diversity of spoligotypes based on the number of patterns (n=15) and discrimination index (D=0.58) is lower compared to M. bovis. Additionally, we used Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) typing when more than one spoligotype was observed in the sam… Read more

Spanish database of animal mycobacteriosis (mycoDB): application in epidemiological studies

Conference in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)

Epidemiological studies based on molecular characterization have allowed a better understanding of several factors as for example transmission between domestic and wildlife animals, animal movement, outbreaks, etc. The Direct Variable Repeat Spacer Oligonucleotide Typing technique or DVR-spoligotyping is based on polymorphism of the chromosomal DR locus, which consists of a variable number of direct repeats (DR) interspersed with nonrepetitive spacers. This technique is specific for bacterial species included in the M. tuberculosis complex and nowadays, this technique is the method of choice f… Read more

Molecular techniques used to characterize Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, an up-date

Poster communication in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is a world-wide microorganism that causes paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease in many animal species, mainly ruminants. The role of this agent in the development of Crohn’s disease in humans has been discussed although this hypothesis still remains controversial. M. a. paratuberculosis is difficult to isolate due to long time incubation periods and culture requirements and it has been divided into three groups or clusters: Type I (‘sheep’ or ‘S’ type), Type II (‘cattle’ or ‘C’ type) and Type III (‘intermediate’ or ‘I’). This classification has b… Read more

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in cattle

Poster communication in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)

According to the EU Bovine Tuberculosis Task Force, bovine tuberculosis is the infection in cattle caused by any mycobacterial species within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. However, M. bovis is considered the main etiological agent of the disease in animals. Tuberculosis in cattle due to the human pathogen, M. tuberculosis, is a rare event but the detection of this infection is increasing in countries where the prevalence of tuberculosis in humans is high. In Spain, M. tuberculosis infection was detected in three cattle farms during compulsory skin test and/or bacteriological culture… Read more

Gamma-inteferon assay for tuberculosis diagnosis in cattle and goats: study of factors affecting results of the assay

Poster presented in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)

The gamma-interferon assay is as a useful tool (together with the tuberculin test) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle and goats. In these experiments, we have evaluated the effect of factors such as phenol concentration and dialysis of PPDs, delay in processing samples and use of single or duplicate results on the performance of the assay. Moreover, we have evaluated the influence of tuberculin test on gamma-interferon production in infected animals. Finally, presence of lesions and microbiological results have been correlated with the production of gamma-interferon. To assay the effe… Read more

Paratuberculosis

Oral communication in III Mesa de Sanidad Caprina Andaluza: “Situación y posibles estrategias de mejora”

Comentario sobre la opinión expresada por la EFSA sobre fiebre Q

New online article published in Weblog Madri+d de Seguridad Alimentaria y Alimentación

La fiebre Q es una enfermedad cuyo estudio, a pesar de haber sido descrita por primera vez hace ya casi 75 años, sigue planteando numerosas incógnitas que justifican el nombre que recibió al ser descubierta (fiebre Q por “query”, duda o pregunta en inglés). Su agente causal, Coxiella burnetii, ha sido identificado en la práctica totalidad de los países en los que se han realizado estudios encaminados a detectar su presencia, con la posible excepción de Nueva Zelanda. En los animales puede dar lugar a abortos o cuadros de infertilidad, aunque su presencia en un rebaño también puede pasar inadve… Read more

Campus Científico de Verano

El CEI-Moncloa desarrollará en el Centro VISAVET uno de sus dos proyectos para este año bajo el título "Enfermedades que se contagian entre los animales y el hombre"

La Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología y el Ministerio de Educación ponen en marcha el programa Campus Científicos de Verano, con el fin de potenciar el interés de 300 estudiantes de 4º de ESO y 1º de Bachillerato por la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación.… Leer más

Biofilms and their impact on food industry

VISAVET Outreach Journal published this online article

A biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms that are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances they have produced, and they are attached to either an inert or living surface and formed by one or more microbial species (Carpentier and Cerf, 1993; Costerton, 1995; Costerton et al., 1999; Davey y O’Toole, 2000; Kraigsley et al., 2002). Bacteria that are included in a biofilm are in sessile form, exhibiting an altered phenotype from their single or freely suspended (planktonic form) counterparts with respect to growth rate and gene transcription (Donlan, 2002). Biofilm f… Read more

Amenaza Bioterrorista

Conference in Máster Interuniversitario en Diplomacia y Relaciones Internacionales 2009-2010

Surveillance of tick borne zoonotic pathogens in vegetation and in wild and domestic animals in Madrid Region (Spain)

Poster presented in EDEN Emerging Vector-borne Diseases in a Changing European Environment

Ticks are obligate blood-sucking arthropods that parasitize vertebrates (Merino et al., 2005). They are important vectors and reservoirs of various pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, and viruses that can cause disease in humans and animals (Parola et al., 2001). Some of these agents are important emerging vector-borne pathogens for humans and are receiving growing attention. The Environmental Health Service from the Autonomous Government of Madrid launched a Wildlife Surveillance System in 2008 that complement the Surveillance in Domestic Animals already underway. Monitoring of ticks is included a… Read more