The aim of this study was to isolate and genotyping the Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) strain in pig farms in Lima and Arequipa, Peru. Seropositive pig farms to PRRSV were identified by ELISA test. Blood samples were collected from weaned pigs from positive pig farms in Lima (A=44, B=20; C=16) and Arequipa (D=32, E=92). The serum samples (n=204) were processed in 51 pools of 4 samples each for virus isolation using Porcine Alveolar Macrophage (PAM) cell line. The genome of the virus isolated was identified by Reverse Transcription-nested Polimerase Chain Reaction (RT-nPCR). The complementary DNA (cDNA) of genotype 1 and 2 of PRRSV vaccine strains were used as positive controls and cDNA of equine viral arteritis virus, classical swine fever virus and PAM cells as negative controls in the RT-nPCR. Three blind passages in PAM cell line with each of the 51 pool w...

The aim of this study was to isolate and genotyping the Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) strain in pig farms in Lima and Arequipa, Peru. Seropositive pig farms to PRRSV were identified by ELISA test. Blood samples were collected from weaned pigs from positive pig farms in Lima (A=44, B=20; C=16) and Arequipa (D=32, E=92). The serum samples (n=204) were processed in 51 pools of 4 samples each for virus isolation using Porcine Alveolar Macrophage (PAM) cell line. The genome of the virus isolated was identified by Reverse Transcription-nested Polimerase Chain Reaction (RT-nPCR). The complementary DNA (cDNA) of genotype 1 and 2 of PRRSV vaccine strains were used as positive controls and cDNA of equine viral arteritis virus, classical swine fever virus and PAM cells as negative controls in the RT-nPCR. Three blind passages in PAM cell line with each of the 51 pool w...

This paper reviews the existing information on the group of birds known as vultures, birds specialized in ingesting carrion, distributed in almost all continents and with similar physical characteristics and behaviors. The objective of the review is to present the global problems and threats to which this group of birds is subjected, mainly due to the anthropic effect, loss of their natural habitat, lead poisoning, and provoked or accidental poisoning, among other factors, that have caused their disappearance in various countries and have placed them on the brink of extinction. The current state of conservation and main threats of the two large groups, vultures of the Old and New World, are reviewed.

The aim of this study was to detect antibodies against the virus of Aujeszky’s disease (ADV) in low level management pig farms in Lima, Peru. Blood samples were collected (n=463) from apparently healthy pigs, regardless of sex and mostly between 130 to 150 days old. The animals were from 13 districts of Metropolitan Lima. Neutralizing antibodies against ADV were analysed by the virus neutralization test. All samples resulted negative to antibodies against ADV.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue detectar anticuerpos contra el virus de la enfermedad de Aujeszky (EA) en porcinos de crianzas semi-tecnificadas de Lima metropolitana. Se colectaron 463 muestras de sangre de cerdos sin distinción de sexo y mayormente entre 130 a 150 días de edad, aparentemente normales, en un centro de beneficio de Lima, Perú. Los cerdos procedían de 13 distritos de Lima Metropolitana. Se detectaron anticuerpos neutralizantes contra el virus de la EA mediante la prueba de neutralización viral. Todas las muestras resultaron negativas a anticuerpos contra el virus de la EA.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la incidencia de la infección de Leptospira sp. en ronsocos (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) de un zoocriadero en Iquitos. Se colectó muestras de sangre de 36 ronsocos adultos y juveniles de ambos sexos en tres muestreos con intervalo entre muestreos de dos meses, para la detección de anticuerpos contra 13 serovariedades de Leptospira sp. mediante la técnica de microaglutinación. Anticuerpos leptospirales fueron detectados en 97.2, 100 y 100% en el primer, segundo y tercer muestreo, respectivamente. Las serovariedades georgia, canicola y ballum fueron detectadas en los tres muestreos, pomona y australis en el segundo y tercer muestreo, mientras que tarassovi solo en el tercer muestreo. La serovariedad de mayor frecuencia fue georgia seguida por canicola y ballum. La incidencia acumulada con anticuerpos leptospirales fue 86.0 ± 18.2% (31/36...

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of Leptospira sp., in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from a zoo farm in Iquitos, Loreto, Peru. Blood samples from 36 young and adults capyrabas, both female and male, were collected in three samplings periods with a 2-month interval for detecting antibodies against 13 serovars of Leptospira sp. by microaglutination test. The 97.2, 100 y 100% of the samples collected during the first, second and third sampling period had antibodies against Leptospira sp. respectively. The serovar georgia, canicola and ballum were detected in the first, second and third sample, pomona and australis in the second and third, and tarassovi only in the third sampling period. The most frequent serovars were georgia, canicola, and ballum. The accumulated incidence of Leptospira sp. infection was 86.0 ± 18.2% (31/36) animals/0.25year. The accumula...

The seroprevalence of caprine artritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in four provinces of Lima Region, Peru was determined in 381 goat serum samples (325 females and 56 males) older than 12 months from 89 flocks reared under intensive (n=3), semiextensive (n=49) and transhumant (n=46) production systems. The detection of antibodies against CAEV was done by a competitive-inhibition ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence of CAEV was 0.26 ± 0.09% (1/381). The seropositive goat belonged to one flock from Huaral district. The serology of all animals older than 12 months in this flock resulted in other nine seropositive goats. The 10 animals were clinically normal and represented 9.7% (10/ 103) of seroprevalence of CAEV in the flock. All bucks were negative. The results indicate that CAEV has a low seroprevalence in goats in Lima.

In 2013, clinically suggestive cases of PEDv were reported in pig farms in Lima and Arequipa, reaching up to 100% mortality in piglets and negative results to other viral agents such as classical swine fever (CPPv) and transmissible gastroenteritis (TGEv). For this reason, the aim of this study was to isolate and molecularly detect PEDv strains in Lima pig farms. A total of 37 stool samples and intestinal contents of piglets between 2 and 21 days of age with clinical signs suggestive of PEDv from pig farms of the department of Lima, Peru were collected. Results showed that 94.3% (35/37) were positive by the immunochromatography (IHC) test; 97.1% (34/35) of them were confirmed by RT-PCR real-time that amplified a 101-bp segment of the ORF3 gene of the PEDv. The control and positive samples showed a threshold cycle (Ct) between 10 and 21 cycles with a melting temperature (Tm) of 77.7 °C. ...

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrheavirus (BVDV) in grazing cattle without history of vaccination, in the province of SanPablo, Cajamarca, Peru. It was used 385 samples from the serum bank, collected in 2004.Samples were stratified in four age groups (2 to <6, 6 to <12, 12 to <24, and >24 months)and by sex. The detection of antibodies against BVDV was done by the viral neutralizationtest. The 27.0 ± 4.4% (104/385) of samples had antibodies against BVDV, and withoutstatistical difference due to age or sex; however, 71.2 ± 8.7% (47/66) of animals between 12 and 24 months of age showed antibody titres between 128 and >256. It was concludedthat the BVDV is present with a low seroprevalence in the cattle population of San Pabloprovince, Cajamarca.

A real time RT-PCR assay was standardized and validated for detection of classical swine fever virus (CSFV). Tonsil tissue and lymph nodules that were positive (n=36) and negative (n= 30) to CSFV by immunofluorescence test (IF) were selected. The viral RNA extraction, the complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis and real time RT- PCR were performed using commercial kits. Three sets of primers were tested for amplification of a conserved region (5’UTR) of panpestivirus and 5’UTR Chinese strain and the E2 glycoprotein region (E2 PPC) against reference strains of CSFV: Alfort/187, Brescia, and a vaccine Chinese strain as positive controls, and strains of the bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus and porcine rotavirus as negative controls. The 83.3 ± 12.3% (30/36) of positive simples to CSFV by IF test was positive for virus isolation and the 96.7 ± 3.3% (29/30) of negative sampl...

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la seroprevalencia del virus de la Diarrea Viral Bovina (VDVB) en bovinos criollos de crianza extensiva, sin historia de vacunación, en la provincia de San Pablo, Cajamarca. Se emplearon 385 muestras del banco de sueros, colectadas en el 2004. Las muestras se estratificaron en cuatro grupos etarios (2 a <6, 6 a <12, 12 a <24 y >24 meses) y por sexo. La detección de anticuerpos contra el VDVB se hizo mediante la prueba de neutralización viral. El 27.1 ± 4.4% (104/385) de los bovinos presentó anticuerpos contra el VDVB indistintamente del grupo etario o sexo; sin embargo, el 71.2 ± 8.7% (47/66) de los animales entre 12 y 24 meses de edad presentaron títulos de anticuerpos entre 128 a >256. Se concluye que el VDVB está presente con una prevalencia baja en la población de bovinos de la provincia de San Pablo.

Se estandarizó y validó la técnica de Transcriptasa Reversa - Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa (RT-T-PCR) en tiempo real para el diagnóstico de la Peste Porcina Clásica (PPC). Se utilizó extractos de tonsilas y nódulos linfáticos de porcinos positivos (n=36) y negativos (n=30) a PPC mediante inmunofluorescencia (IF). La extracción de ARN viral, síntesis del ADN complementario y PCR en tiempo real se realizaron utilizando kits comerciales. Se utilizaron tres pares de cebadores para amplificar una región conservada (5’UTR) del virus PPC (VPPC) y del panpestivirus (virus de la DVB y EF) y una región codificante de la proteína E2 del VPPC frente a cepas de referencia del VPPC Alfort/187, Brescia y cepa China vacunal como controles positivos y cepas de los virus diarrea viral bovina, enfermedad de la frontera y rotavirus porcino como controles negativos. El 83.3 ± 12.3% (3...

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la seroprevalencia del virus de la artritis-encefalitis viral caprina (AEVC) en cabras de cuatro provincias del departamento de Lima, Perú. Se recolectaron 381 muestras de sangre de cabras mayores a 12 meses de edad (325 hembras y 56 machos) de 89 rebaños criados en forma intensiva (n=3), semiextensiva (n=40) y transhumante (n=46). La detección de anticuerpos en suero contra el AEVC se realizó mediante la prueba de ELISA de competición. El 0.26 ± 0.09% (1/381) de las cabras tuvieron anticuerpos contra el AEVC. El animal seropositivo perteneció a un rebaño de crianza semiextensiva del distrito de Huaral. Al evaluar todos los animales mayores de 12 meses (n=103) de ese rebaño se encontraron otros nueve animales seropositivos. Las 10 cabras seropositivas fueron hembras de 2 a 5 años de edad, clínicamente normales, representando 9.7%...

En 2013 se observaron cuadros clínicos sugerentes a PEDv en granjas porcinas de Lima y Arequipa llegando hasta el 100% de mortalidad en lechones y con resultados negativos a otros agentes virales como peste porcina clásica (PPCv) y gastroenteritis transmisible (TGEv). Por esta razón, el objetivo del trabajo fue aislar y detectar molecularmente cepas del PEDv en granjas porcinas de Lima. Se colectaron 37 muestras de heces y contenido intestinal de lechones entre 2 y 21 días de edad con cuadros clínicos sugerentes a PEDV procedentes granjas porcinas del departamento de Lima, Perú. El 94.3% (35/37) resultaron positivos al test de inmunocromatografía (IHC). El 97.1% (34/35) de estos fueron confirmados por RT-PCR en tiempo real que amplifica un segmento de 101 pb del gen ORF3 del PEDv. El control y las muestras positivas mostraron un ciclo umbral (Ct) entre 10 y 21 ciclos con una tempe...

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of antibodies against Leptospira spp in pigs reared in five well-managed farms (n=163) and from 11 backyard breeding (n=133) owners in the Lima valley, Peru. Blood samples (n=296) were collected in two slaughterhouses for antibody detection against eight serovars of Leptospira by microaglutination test. The 85.8 ± 3.9% (254/296) of samples had antibodies against one or more serovars of Leptospira. The 89.6 ± 4.7% (146/163) and 82.1 ± 6.5% (108/133) of samples from well-managed farms and from backyard breeding pigs showed antibodies against Leptospira spp. The serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona, and georgia were the most frequently detected in both groups of pigs. No antibodies were detected against serovars bratislava and grippothyphosa. Antibody titres ranged from 100 to 400, being the highest titles (800 to 1600) detected ...

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of antibodies against Leptospira spp in pigs reared in five well-managed farms (n=163) and from 11 backyard breeding (n=133) owners in the Lima valley, Peru. Blood samples (n=296) were collected in two slaughterhouses for antibody detection against eight serovars of Leptospira by microaglutination test. The 85.8 ± 3.9% (254/296) of samples had antibodies against one or more serovars of Leptospira. The 89.6 ± 4.7% (146/163) and 82.1 ± 6.5% (108/133) of samples from well-managed farms and from backyard breeding pigs showed antibodies against Leptospira spp. The serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona, and georgia were the most frequently detected in both groups of pigs. No antibodies were detected against serovars bratislava and grippothyphosa. Antibody titres ranged from 100 to 400, being the highest titles (800 to 1600) detected ...

This study aimed to determine the effect of L-glutamine on the expression of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cytokines TGF-β and interleukins IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 in the mucosa of the jejunum of 4-7 days old alpacas. A group of 6 alpacas was orally administered 3.3 mM L-glutamine per kg body weight and a second dose 7 days later. A second group of 7 alpacas received PBS as control. All animals were euthanized 3 days after the treatment and a portion of the jejunum was collected. The messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted and the reverse transcription (RT) and real-time PCR was done using primers specific for each gene in study. The 2-ΔΔct method was used for the relative quantitation of IgA, TGF-β and interleukins. The TGF-β expressed 3 times more and IgA 18 times more in alpacas treated with L-glutamine than in the controls (p<0.05). The expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 sh...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative expression levels of cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β in the intestinal mucosa of clinically healthy alpacas from 2 to 47 days old. The animals were classified in three age groups (six animals per group): 2-8 days old (group 1), 10-21days old (group 2) and 26-47-days old (group 3), regardless sex or breed. The midportion of jejunum of each animal was collected; total RNA was extracted and then analyzed by real-time RT-PCR technique using IL-10 and TGF-β specific primers. The relative mRNA expression analysis was done using the comparative 2-ΔΔCt method. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as housekeeping gene and jejunum of three 11-month-old fetuses were used as calibrators. The results showed that IL-10 mRNA expression levels were 7.21±1.02 (group 1), 13.53±1.26 (group 2), and 18.77±1.48 (group 3) times as ...

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of TCRγδ receptor genes (gamma and delta) in the jejunal epithelium of 16 apparently healthy baby alpacas (2 to 47 days of age), by quantifying messenger RNA (mRNA) using specific primers. Jejunumsamples (2 cm long) were collected. Total mRNA of the medium portion of the jejunum acted as template for complementary DNA synthesis by reverse transcription (RT), followed by real-time PCR for the amplification and quantification of the mRNAs of the polypeptides that make up the gamma and delta chains of the TCR. The 2-ΔΔCt method was used for the relative mRNA quantification, using as calibrator two neonatal alpacas that had not consumed colostrum. The alpacas of 1, 2, 3 and >4 weeks of age expressed the gamma gene at 4.75, 6.78, 16.24 and 103.11 folds as expressed by the calibrator animals, respectively, and the delta gene was expr...