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West Nile virus transmission in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Spain): A One-Health surveillance approach
Get PDFWest Nile virus (WNV), mainly transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, poses significant health risks to humans and horses, particularly in endemic regions. The first detection of WNV lineage 2 in Spain was in 2017 in Catalonia (northeastern Spain). In 2023, WNV was confirmed in a young yellow-legged gull and a probable human case was notified within the urban settings. We aimed to define the zone of WNV circulation in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area where these infections occurred and the effectiveness of the One Health approach for early WNV detection. The Catalan WNV surveillance and control programs includes the testing of horses, birds, mosquitoes and humans following molecular and serological methods. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to determine the origin of the circulating virus. IgM-positive data from both active and passive surveillance in horses identified the area of WNV circulation and suggested that WNV circulation happened either before or concurrently with human and bird infections in the agricultural and peri-urban areas. Furthermore, a new WNV introduction was discarded by phylogenetic studies, demonstrating that WNV lineage 2 has been established in Catalonia, albeit at a low level of circulation since the virus was not detected in blood donors. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating active and passive surveillance strategies to early assess WNV circulation and activate public health responses. The study highlights the role of wildlife in the WNV transmission and emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring in animals and also mosquito control measures to mitigate the risk of animal and human infections.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades under Grant PID2020-116768RR-C22; the Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya; and the Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació, Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Dynamics of Vibrio ostreicida in Mytilus galloprovincialis through in vivo infections
Get PDFIntroduction: Vibrio species are widespread in coastal environments, where they are being increasingly associated with mortality episodes of farmed bivalves. This is the case for Vibrio ostreicida strain r172 isolated from a mortality event of adult mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis in Spain in 2022.
Methods and Results: In this study, the infection dynamics and immune responses of adult M. galloprovincialis challenged with V. ostreicida r172 were investigated using different in vivo experimental approaches. First, a virulence assay by injection (1 x 108 CFU/100 µL) was performed at different temperatures (12, 18 and 24 °C). The results showed that mussel mortality (about 50 % within 8 days) was independent of increasing temperatures. Subsequently, an injection/cohabitation experiment was carried out placing together in the same tank V. ostreicida-injected (Donors, 108 CFU/mL) with un-injected mussels (Recipients). The time course of infection was then followed by evaluating positivity to V. ostreicida by PCR, responses of haemolymph components (haemocyte lysosomal membrane stability and serum lysozyme activity) and tissue histopathology (gills and digestive gland). The results showed a partial horizontal transfer of V. ostreicida from infected to uninfected mussels, with transient effects on haemolymph responses and histopathological lesions in both groups. Finally, in order to mimic more realistic environmental conditions, a bath infection experiment was carried out, exposing mussels to V. ostreicida in seawater (105 CFU/mL). This condition resulted in lower stress in haemocytes; moreover, no lysozyme release or histopathological alterations were observed.
Discussion: Overall, the results show that M. galloprovincialis is able to cope with challenge with V. ostreicida, indicating that this Vibrio species is moderately pathogenic to adult mussels under the established experimental conditions.The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was partially supported by the project “Emergent risks related to shellfish mortalities in the Ebro delta-REMBE”. ARP140/20/000011, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)-European Commission and Generalitat de Catalunya. Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 -Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU; Award Number: Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP D33C22000960007, Project title “National Biodiversity Future Center -NBFC”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Welfare of beef cattle
Get PDFThis Scientific Opinion provides an assessment of beef cattle welfare focusing on risks related to flooring, water access, nutrition and feeding, high environmental temperatures, lack of environmental enrichment, lack of outdoor access, minimum space allowance and mixing practices. In addition, risks related to pasture and feedlots, weaning of suckler calves, mutilations (castration, disbudding, dehorning and tail docking), and to breeding practices (hypermuscularity, dystocia and caesarean sections, polledness, maternal ability and temperament) are assessed. Decision-making criteria for the euthanasia of cull cows are also addressed. A selection of animal-based measures (ABMs) suitable for collection at slaughterhouses is proposed to monitor on-farm welfare of fattening cattle. Recommendations to improve the welfare of housed fattening cattle include increasing space allowance and feeding more roughage in relation to current practice, and promoting the use of well-managed bedded solid floors. Provision of enrichment such as brushes and roughage and an outdoor loafing area for housed cattle are recommended. Cattle kept outdoors should have access to a dry lying area and sufficient shade. Water should be provided ad libitum via large open water surfaces, and the use of nipple drinkers should be avoided. Mixing of unfamiliar cattle should be avoided and groups should be kept stable. Mutilations should be abstained from, but if carried out, a combination of analgesia and anaesthesia should be applied regardless of the calf's age. Early weaning of suckler calves should be avoided (< 6 months). Homozygous double-muscled animals should be excluded from breeding. Selected ABMs for collection at slaughterhouses to monitor some of the highly relevant welfare consequences experienced by fattening cattle on farm are body condition, carcass fat levels, carcass condemnation, lung lesions and skin lesions. Key data gaps identified are thresholds for dietary fibre, ABM thresholds for fitness for transport and potential long-term effects of mutilations on pain sensitisation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Geolocation tracking to monitor spatial distribution and habitat selection of cows, horses and sheep grazing in mountainous areas
Get PDFPrecision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies offer an opportunity to monitor livestock, enhancing farmers’ decision-making for improved control, better animal performance, and reduced environmental impact through proper management of pasture areas. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of data provided by commercial geolocation collars, along with open data resources such as information on natural habitats, topography, and vegetation, to detect grazing preferences of mountain livestock. We monitored 240 animals from three different herds and species (140 cows, 50 horses, and 50 sheep) during the grazing season (6 months) using geolocation collars in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park (80,000 ha), located in Catalonia, Spain. Animal distributions were analysed spatially and temporally across different seasonal periods (Spring: May-Jun, Summer: Jul-Aug and Autumn: Sep-Oct). Geolocation data were used to assess livestock preferences and avoidances regarding different types of terrain, land cover, and vegetation, estimated using Jacob’s selection index (JSI), a metric indicating whether animals use a particular area more or less than expected based on its availability. Additionally, we examined the influence of these environmental factors and the distance to water sources on animal distribution, and we identified high-density grazing hotspots. Results indicated that cows and horses positively selected areas with lower altitudes (JSI = 0.29 and 0.17, p < 0.05) and gentler slopes (JSI = 0.38 and 0.22, p < 0.05), whereas sheep preferred higher altitudes (JSI = 0.10, p < 0.05). Only cows showed a preference for areas with bare or dispersed vegetation. In general, all three species selected land covers such as open forests, meadows, wetlands, and water points, but changed depending on the season and species. The distance to water was greater for cows and sheep, particularly during the summer, whereas only horses showed a strong dependence on proximity to water sources. Finally, we identified and compared high-density grazing hotspots among the three species. These findings reveal not only interesting heterogeneity in distribution patterns among species sharing the same area, but also clear seasonal differences. In conclusion, data automatically collected from geolocation collars demonstrate strong potential for studying livestock grazing preferences, particularly in remote or hard-to-access mountainous areas. This information improves our understanding of livestock-environment interactions without requiring physical presence and can be effectively applied to support extensive grazing management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
¿Por qué y cuándo se producen las bajas de los lechones en lactación?
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Selected Staphylococcus spp. and ZnPP-containing liver extract are nitrite-free alternatives to enhance red colour of dry-fermented sausages
Get PDFAs an alternative to adding pure nitrite sources to dry-fermented sausages, we examined three different strategies involving the addition of two meat-associated coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) showing nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) activity, a porcine liver extract rich in the pigment zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), and a polyphenol-rich ingredient (NATPRE T-10 CUR HT) alone or in combination with the other strategies. We studied the colour development of nine dry-fermented sausages originating from a meat batter control without nitrite (CTRL-), control with nitrite (CTRL+), inoculated with Staphylococcus equorum (L33), inoculated with Staphylococcus saprophyticus (L49), formulated with a ZnPP-rich extract (ZnPPEx), formulated with NATPRE alone (CTRL-/NATPRE) or in combination with the other strategies (L33/NATPRE, L49/NATPRE, ZnPPEx/NATPRE, respectively). The colour was affected by the treatment, ripening period, and their interaction (P < 0.001). After ripening, all treatments resulted in good colour when compared to the CTRL-. Nitrosyl-heme was always detected, but the CTRL+ treatment and those involving residual nitrite sources through the addition of NATPRE recorded higher values than the other samples, which produced similar results. Treatments involving the addition of the ZnPP-rich ingredient resulted in high ZnPP levels. The aqueous extracts showed the presence of soluble ZnPP forms in the ZnPPEx and ZnPPEx/NATPRE sausages, whereas the addition of nitrite and NATPRE resulted in a loss of myoglobin solubility. The mechanism of NOS-positive staphylococcal strains to maintain colour is unclear, but L49 was able to maintain reduced oxymyoglobin until the end of ripening. These findings reveal the potential of these strategies to promote colour in dry-fermented meats.LP is the recipient of a fellowship from the Doctoral School on the Agro-Food System (AgriSystem) of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza, Italy). This research article has been produced within the Doctoral School for the Agri-food System. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación [10.13039/501100011033], grant number PDC2021-121822-C21, the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR” and the Consolidated Research Group SEQUSAL (2021 SGR 00468) and CERCA Programme from Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Resultats de qualitat farratgera de l'experimentació en varietats d'alfals
No full textEl primer paràmetre de referència per avaluar la qualitat del farratge d’alfals és el contingut de proteïna, fortament condicionat pel material vegetal. En aquest aspecte, la varietat RADIA ha destacat pel seu alt contingut proteic durant els tres primers anys d’assaig, seguida pel grup format per OXXI MAX, AVIA, VICTORIA, RGT SABRINA i TEQUILLA, entre d’altres. Tot i això, aquest paràmetre està molt influenciat pel maneig del cultiu i, especialment, pel moment d’aprofitament.
La resta de paràmetres que defineixen la qualitat del farratge —fibra bruta (FB), fibra àcid detergent (FAD), fibra neutro detergent (FND), contingut de cendres i el valor relatiu farratger (VRF)— depenen principalment del maneig i, sobretot, del grau de maduresa de la planta en el moment de la collita.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
First description of Vibrio ostreicida as putative causal agent of disease in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and development of a PCR protocol for its rapid diagnosis
Get PDFIn April 2022, mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) cultivated in the Ebro River delta (Spain) were affected by a mortality episode, involving 25 % of individuals, observed at a water temperature of 18 °C. Mussel samples from this site (3 M) were analysed for the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria, in parallel with those obtained from an area where no mortality was reported (3 N). From all samples, a total of 113 bacterial isolates were obtained. When subjected to ERIC-PCR, the obtained band patterns showed a distinct profile in the 3 M samples, covering 13 % of the isolates. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of three representative isolates of this profile (r167, r172, r190) allowed their identification as Vibrio ostreicida. In addition, the complete genome of isolate r172 was sequenced to identify functional features of interest. Histological examination revealed bacterial colonies and tissue damage compatible with bacterial toxicity in 3 M samples. From a preliminary assessment of the virulence of the r172 isolate by mussel challenge via injection (9 × 106 cfu/mussel), a mean mortality of 50 % was observed in infected animals at 5 days. Moreover, a specific PCR protocol was designed for V. ostreicida using the gyrB gene as a target, able to detect the pathogen from both pure cultures and from tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the association of V. ostreicida with a mortality episode in cultured M. galloprovincialis. The PCR protocol developed will be useful for screening and diagnosis of this vibrio species in different matrices and to clarify its importance as shellfish possible pathogen.This work was supported by the project “Emergent risks related to shellfish mortalities in the Ebro delta-REMBE”. ARP140/20/000011, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)-European Commission and Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Varietats de colza 00 d'hivern alt oleic
No full textEn el mercat hi ha disponibles varietats de colza 00 d’hivern alt oleic (HOLL), que permeten obtenir un oli amb una major proporció d’àcid oleic, propera al 77%. Normalment, la producció es pot vendre a un preu més elevat (major valor afegit), aproximadament uns 40 €/t. Les principals colzes d’aquest tipus que s’han comercialitzat la darrera campanya són V 316 OL, V367OL, V407OL i RGT KIZZCOOL. En general, algunes d’elles han mostrat una capacitat productiva que no ha diferit significativament dels testimonis HOSTINE i AMBASSADOR. Proporcionen un gra amb un elevat contingut en oli, sobretot V 316 OL.Introducció i promoció de la producció de colza alt oleic i erúcica (HOLL-HEAR) (Grup operatiu de l’Associació Europea per a la Innovació en matèria de productivitat i sostenibilitat agrícoles (AEI-Agria), en el marc del Pla estratègic de la PAC 2023-2027)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Registro de datos y uso de herramientas de datos para la gestión de la salud porcina
No full textIntroducción: Las estrategias basadas en datos podrían combatir la propagación de enfermedades infecciosas porcinas y mejorar la detección temprana de posibles problemas de salud porcina. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar las opiniones individuales sobre el registro de datos y el uso de herramientas de datos para la gestión de la salud porcina mediante el reclutamiento de partes interesadas (N = 202) en España, Irlanda y los Países Bajos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio