Ana Mateos - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ana Mateos

Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences, 2013

Quaternary International, 2014

Beneath the hot debate about the tempo and mode of the first human colonization of Europe is the ... more Beneath the hot debate about the tempo and mode of the first human colonization of Europe is the perception that the record of human presence in the Early Pleistocene is sparse and fragmented. As a result, it is often implicitly assumed that hominins, if present, were scarce in the Early Pleistocene Eu-ropean ecosystems. Here we present a quantitative assessment of the rarity and commonness of the European large mammal species during the 1.4e0.8 Ma period, including hominins. Considering the palaeontological record only, Homo was not one of the most common species in Europe, but it may not be considered a rare species. In contrast, taking into consideration the archaeological record, hominins exhibit a wide geographical distribution and a high frequency of occurrence (occupancy) in comparison with other large mammals. It is speculated that hominins were frequent but not abundant in Europe during the late Early Pleistocene.

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 1998

Se dan a conocer los primeros resultados de la excavación de dólmenes en el término de Alcántara ... more Se dan a conocer los primeros resultados de la excavación de dólmenes en el término de Alcántara (Cáceres), con el objeto de su consolidación y restauración. Se trata de arquitecturas en pizarra con el interés de poseer grabados megalíticos y materiales que indican la existencia de redes de intercambio en este sector del Tajo, tradicionalmente interpretado como marginal y prácticamente deshabitado en el transcurso del IV y III milenio a.C. Destaca la presencia de un ajuar campaniforme liso con vaso, cuenco con umbo y laminita metálica.

Quaternary International, 2013

Quaternary International, 2013

The first human settlement of Europe occurred around 1.6 Ma, although human populations were unab... more The first human settlement of Europe occurred around 1.6 Ma, although human populations were unable to cross parallel 45°N until 1.2 Ma We analyse the distribution of mammalian species during the early Pleistocene to evaluate the possible existence of a climatic or ecological barrier that prevented the northern expansion of those early colonisers. Differences in the composition of the Mediterranean and northern

Nature, 2008

The earliest hominin occupation of Europe is one of the most debated topics in palaeoanthropology... more The earliest hominin occupation of Europe is one of the most debated topics in palaeoanthropology. However, the purportedly oldest of the Early Pleistocene sites in Eurasia lack precise age control and contain stone tools rather than human fossil remains 1-5 . Here we report the discovery of a human mandible associated with an assemblage of Mode 1 lithic tools and faunal remains bearing traces of hominin processing, in stratigraphic level TE9 at the site of the Sima del Elefante, Atapuerca, Spain 6-8 . Level TE9 has been dated to the Early Pleistocene (approximately 1.2-1.1 Myr), based on a combination of palaeomagnetism, cosmogenic nuclides and biostratigraphy. The Sima del Elefante site thus emerges as the oldest, most accurately dated record of human occupation in Europe, to our knowledge. The study of the human mandible suggests that the first settlement of Western Europe could be related to an early demographic expansion out of Africa. The new evidence, with previous findings in other Atapuerca sites (level TD6 from Gran Dolina 9-13 ), also suggests that a speciation event occurred in this extreme area of the Eurasian continent during the Early Pleistocene, initiating the hominin lineage represented by the TE9 and TD6 hominins.

Veterinary Microbiology, 1998

Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife and feral species is a potential source of infection fo... more Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife and feral species is a potential source of infection for livestock and a threat to protected and endangered species. The aim of this study was to identify Spanish wild animal species infected with M. bovis through bacteriological culture and spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) of isolates for epidemiological purposes. This study included samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), hare (Lepus europaeus), and cattle (Bos taurus). They were collected in several geographical areas that were selected for their unique ecological value and/or known relationships between wildlife and livestock. In the areas included in this survey, M. bovis strains with the same spoligotyping pattern were found infecting several wild species and livestock, which indicates an epidemiological link. A locally predominant spoligotype was found in these areas. Better understanding of the transmission and distribution of disease in these populations will permit more precise targeting of control measures.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to investigate the diversity of Streptococcus su... more Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to investigate the diversity of Streptococcus suis isolates of various serotypes recovered from swine clinical samples in Spain. Capsular types 9 (64.9%) and 2 (14.8%) were the most frequently isolated serotypes followed by serotype 7 (5.9%) and serotype 8 (4.3%). The PFGE results of this study with 60 different pulsotypes indicate a great genetic diversity among the S. suis isolates, which is consistent with the broad distribution of S. suis in the swine population. Forty-five percent of the pulsotypes corresponded to single isolates, no pulsotype was common to all farms, and at least 3 different pulsotypes were isolated in 56% of herds in which more than 3 clinical isolates were analyzed. These results reveal a great diversity both between and within herds throughout the strains of S. suis studied, demonstrating that different strains of S. suis are associated with infection in pigs. Some pulsotypes were more frequently isolated and exhibited a wider distribution over herds than others, and were the unique or predominant strains in several herds, suggesting the existence of a prevalent or a few prevalent clones responsible for a large proportion of clinical cases. Overall, the great genetic heterogeneity of the clinical strains of S. suis, the isolation of different strains within the same herd, and the predominance of particular strains in some herds are evidence that infection by S. suis is a dynamic process and reinforce the idea that the epidemiology of S. suis infection is very complex.

The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was evaluated for its ability to differe... more The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was evaluated for its ability to differentiate Mycobacterium bovis strains. This method detects the presence or absence of spacers of the direct repeat locus of the M. bovis genome. The spacers in the direct repeat locus are amplified by PCR and are detected by hybridization of the biotin-labelled PCR product with a membrane containing oligonucleotides derived from spacer sequences that have previously been bound to a membrane. One hundred eighty-two M. bovis isolates from domestic animals (cattle, goat, sheep, and cats) and wild animals (deer and wild boar) were spoligotyped, and the results were compared with those obtained by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Two rather homogeneous clusters of isolates containing 20 and 4 types, respectively, were identified by spoligotyping. The first cluster included isolates from cattle, cats, and feral animals. By spoligotyping, isolates from the Spanish wild boar and deer had the same pattern as some bovine isolates, suggesting transmission between these animals and cattle and highlighting the importance of the study of these reservoirs. The second cluster included all the caprine and ovine isolates. Within each cluster, the patterns of the different strains differed only slightly, suggesting that the spoligotypes may be characteristic of strains from particular animal species. Spoligotyping proved to be useful for studying the epidemiology of bovine M. bovis isolates, especially of those isolates containing only a single copy of IS6110. In view of our results, we suggest fingerprinting all M. bovis strains by the spoligotyping method initially and then by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism typing of the strains belonging to the most common spoligotypes.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2004

Six isolates of an unknown Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming, coccus-shaped organis... more Six isolates of an unknown Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming, coccus-shaped organism isolated from ovine and caprine mastitis were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. On the basis of cellular morphology and the results of biochemical tests, the organism was tentatively identified as a streptococcal species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed that the organism is a member of the genus Streptococcus, with Streptococcus equi as its closest phylogenetic relative (98?8 % similarity). DNA-DNA pairing studies showed that the unidentified organism displayed more than 70 % relatedness to the type strains of S. equi subsp. equi and subsp. zooepidemicus. Despite the relatively high DNA-DNA reassociation values, biotyping and ribotyping allowed clear differentiation of the unknown bacterium from the two recognized subspecies of S. equi. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown Streptococcus isolates from ovine and caprine mastitis be classified as a novel subspecies, Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum subsp. nov. The type strain is CECT 5772 T (=CCUG 47520 T =Mt 167 T ).

Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 1997

Current methods for detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical specimens, with pa... more Current methods for detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical specimens, with particular interest in M avium and other nontuberculous mycobacteria, are reviewed. Traditional microbiological procedures, including microscopy, comparison of the different pretreatment methods for decontamination and culture media, and DNA probes and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques are evaluated. New methods include the polymerase chain reaction, a new tool available for quick identification of mycobacteria. The protocol used for detection of the etiologic agent of six cases of bird mycobacteriosis is briefly described. Authors recommend this technique as a rapid and reliable diagnosic method.

Veterinary Microbiology, 1998

Australian Veterinary Journal, 1998

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of the gamma-interferon assay in the diagnosis of caprine tu... more Objective To evaluate the usefulness of the gamma-interferon assay in the diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis in comparison with a single intradermal tuberculin test, and to obtain a group of animals free from this infection in a herd with a high prevalence.Design An immunological study involving four serial comparative gamma-interferon and single intradermal tuberculin tests.Animals A herd of 87 goats of Guadarrama breed.Procedure Serial testing and segregation of animals.Results We found that the number of infections detected by the gamma-interferon test was considerably greater than the number detected by the single intradermal tuberculin test. A group of 10 animals was negative to both tests in two consecutive rounds and three kids were negative in the last round of testing.Conclusions Gamma-interferon assay is appropriate for diagnosis and eradication of tuberculosis in goats. This test is able to detect early Mycobacterium bovis infection. Avian reactors with simultaneous increased reaction to bovine PPD in the gamma-interferon assay (designated as avianB reactors) should be considered test positive for M bovis. By serial testing with the gamma-interferon and the single intradermal tuberculin tests, and a policy of segregation of kids at birth, it is possible to achieve a group of animals test negative for tuberculosis from a herd of goats with high immunoreactivity to this infection.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2007

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2010

Tuberculosis in goats (caused by Mycobacterium caprae and M. bovis) has become a significant conc... more Tuberculosis in goats (caused by Mycobacterium caprae and M. bovis) has become a significant concern in recent years because of its high prevalence in certain caprine herds in Spain and other European countries, and also due to the potential transmission to other animals and human beings. In the present study, a transthoracic model of tuberculosis infection was performed on goats. Animals were selected based on the serological response used to detect paratuberculosis in goats (negative and positive results). The kinetics of the immune response was evaluated using the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) assay, skin tests and serology of paratuberculosis during nine months post-challenge. At the end of the study the animals were necropsied, tuberculosis-lesions were scored and culture (M. caprae and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis) was performed to determine the true infection status. Animals were positive to the IFN-γ assay 15 days post-challenge and the values were fluctuating throughout the study. A varied performance of the assay was observed between tuberculosis and tuberculosis-paratuberculosis mixed infection regarding both the number of positive results and the OD values obtained after stimulation with bovine and avian PPDs. Furthermore, the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test did not detect all M. caprae-infected animals. At necropsy, a positive correlation between pathology score and bovine PPD specific IFN-γ response was found.

Veterinary Microbiology, 2008

The role of wildlife in tuberculosis epidemiology is being widely studied since it can affect the... more The role of wildlife in tuberculosis epidemiology is being widely studied since it can affect the effectiveness of eradication campaigns in cattle. The health problem is enhanced when it concerns also wildlife welfare and biodiversity conservation. This study was performed to understand the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis population affecting livestock and wild animals in the Doñana National Park using bacteriology and molecular characterisation techniques. Tuberculosis research was performed on 1209 cattle and wild animals (artiodactyla and carnivore) collected over 6 years in the Park. One hundred and sixty-three animals were found to be infected with M. bovis, comprising 7.96% of the cattle and 20.53% of the wild animals tested. Spoligotyping revealed nine patterns, being SB1232 and SB1230 the most prevalent (77.30% and 15.34% of infected animals, respectively). MIRU-VNTR analysis of a selected panel of 92 isolates showed eight different profiles, including several spoligotypes within the same MIRU-VNTR profile. The discriminatory capacity of both techniques in this panel was similar. The results obtained by combination of both techniques corroborate that wildlife species are infected with the M. bovis strains which are more prevalent in cattle and reveal their persistence. Genotype variation between isolates strongly suggests micro-evolutionary events in the M. bovis population in the same area. This study in the Doñana National Park exposes the risk of introduction of domestic animals into wildlife areas when there is not a warranty of disease freedom, appropriate diagnostic techniques and control measures.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2006

Culture is considered the definitive technique for Johne's disease diagnosis, and it is essential... more Culture is considered the definitive technique for Johne's disease diagnosis, and it is essential for later applications of certain molecular typing techniques. In this study, we have tested four solid media (Herrold's egg yolk medium [HEYM] with sodium pyruvate and mycobactin [HEYMm-SP], HEYM with mycobactin and without sodium pyruvate [HEYMm], Middlebrook 7H11 with mycobactin [Mm], and Löwenstein-Jensen with mycobactin [LJm]) for isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains in 319 tissue samples from cattle herds and goat flocks. We have shown that each of the two main groups of M. avium subsp.

Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences, 2013

Quaternary International, 2014

Beneath the hot debate about the tempo and mode of the first human colonization of Europe is the ... more Beneath the hot debate about the tempo and mode of the first human colonization of Europe is the perception that the record of human presence in the Early Pleistocene is sparse and fragmented. As a result, it is often implicitly assumed that hominins, if present, were scarce in the Early Pleistocene Eu-ropean ecosystems. Here we present a quantitative assessment of the rarity and commonness of the European large mammal species during the 1.4e0.8 Ma period, including hominins. Considering the palaeontological record only, Homo was not one of the most common species in Europe, but it may not be considered a rare species. In contrast, taking into consideration the archaeological record, hominins exhibit a wide geographical distribution and a high frequency of occurrence (occupancy) in comparison with other large mammals. It is speculated that hominins were frequent but not abundant in Europe during the late Early Pleistocene.

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 1998

Se dan a conocer los primeros resultados de la excavación de dólmenes en el término de Alcántara ... more Se dan a conocer los primeros resultados de la excavación de dólmenes en el término de Alcántara (Cáceres), con el objeto de su consolidación y restauración. Se trata de arquitecturas en pizarra con el interés de poseer grabados megalíticos y materiales que indican la existencia de redes de intercambio en este sector del Tajo, tradicionalmente interpretado como marginal y prácticamente deshabitado en el transcurso del IV y III milenio a.C. Destaca la presencia de un ajuar campaniforme liso con vaso, cuenco con umbo y laminita metálica.

Quaternary International, 2013

Quaternary International, 2013

The first human settlement of Europe occurred around 1.6 Ma, although human populations were unab... more The first human settlement of Europe occurred around 1.6 Ma, although human populations were unable to cross parallel 45°N until 1.2 Ma We analyse the distribution of mammalian species during the early Pleistocene to evaluate the possible existence of a climatic or ecological barrier that prevented the northern expansion of those early colonisers. Differences in the composition of the Mediterranean and northern

Nature, 2008

The earliest hominin occupation of Europe is one of the most debated topics in palaeoanthropology... more The earliest hominin occupation of Europe is one of the most debated topics in palaeoanthropology. However, the purportedly oldest of the Early Pleistocene sites in Eurasia lack precise age control and contain stone tools rather than human fossil remains 1-5 . Here we report the discovery of a human mandible associated with an assemblage of Mode 1 lithic tools and faunal remains bearing traces of hominin processing, in stratigraphic level TE9 at the site of the Sima del Elefante, Atapuerca, Spain 6-8 . Level TE9 has been dated to the Early Pleistocene (approximately 1.2-1.1 Myr), based on a combination of palaeomagnetism, cosmogenic nuclides and biostratigraphy. The Sima del Elefante site thus emerges as the oldest, most accurately dated record of human occupation in Europe, to our knowledge. The study of the human mandible suggests that the first settlement of Western Europe could be related to an early demographic expansion out of Africa. The new evidence, with previous findings in other Atapuerca sites (level TD6 from Gran Dolina 9-13 ), also suggests that a speciation event occurred in this extreme area of the Eurasian continent during the Early Pleistocene, initiating the hominin lineage represented by the TE9 and TD6 hominins.

Veterinary Microbiology, 1998

Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife and feral species is a potential source of infection fo... more Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife and feral species is a potential source of infection for livestock and a threat to protected and endangered species. The aim of this study was to identify Spanish wild animal species infected with M. bovis through bacteriological culture and spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) of isolates for epidemiological purposes. This study included samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), hare (Lepus europaeus), and cattle (Bos taurus). They were collected in several geographical areas that were selected for their unique ecological value and/or known relationships between wildlife and livestock. In the areas included in this survey, M. bovis strains with the same spoligotyping pattern were found infecting several wild species and livestock, which indicates an epidemiological link. A locally predominant spoligotype was found in these areas. Better understanding of the transmission and distribution of disease in these populations will permit more precise targeting of control measures.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to investigate the diversity of Streptococcus su... more Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to investigate the diversity of Streptococcus suis isolates of various serotypes recovered from swine clinical samples in Spain. Capsular types 9 (64.9%) and 2 (14.8%) were the most frequently isolated serotypes followed by serotype 7 (5.9%) and serotype 8 (4.3%). The PFGE results of this study with 60 different pulsotypes indicate a great genetic diversity among the S. suis isolates, which is consistent with the broad distribution of S. suis in the swine population. Forty-five percent of the pulsotypes corresponded to single isolates, no pulsotype was common to all farms, and at least 3 different pulsotypes were isolated in 56% of herds in which more than 3 clinical isolates were analyzed. These results reveal a great diversity both between and within herds throughout the strains of S. suis studied, demonstrating that different strains of S. suis are associated with infection in pigs. Some pulsotypes were more frequently isolated and exhibited a wider distribution over herds than others, and were the unique or predominant strains in several herds, suggesting the existence of a prevalent or a few prevalent clones responsible for a large proportion of clinical cases. Overall, the great genetic heterogeneity of the clinical strains of S. suis, the isolation of different strains within the same herd, and the predominance of particular strains in some herds are evidence that infection by S. suis is a dynamic process and reinforce the idea that the epidemiology of S. suis infection is very complex.

The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was evaluated for its ability to differe... more The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was evaluated for its ability to differentiate Mycobacterium bovis strains. This method detects the presence or absence of spacers of the direct repeat locus of the M. bovis genome. The spacers in the direct repeat locus are amplified by PCR and are detected by hybridization of the biotin-labelled PCR product with a membrane containing oligonucleotides derived from spacer sequences that have previously been bound to a membrane. One hundred eighty-two M. bovis isolates from domestic animals (cattle, goat, sheep, and cats) and wild animals (deer and wild boar) were spoligotyped, and the results were compared with those obtained by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Two rather homogeneous clusters of isolates containing 20 and 4 types, respectively, were identified by spoligotyping. The first cluster included isolates from cattle, cats, and feral animals. By spoligotyping, isolates from the Spanish wild boar and deer had the same pattern as some bovine isolates, suggesting transmission between these animals and cattle and highlighting the importance of the study of these reservoirs. The second cluster included all the caprine and ovine isolates. Within each cluster, the patterns of the different strains differed only slightly, suggesting that the spoligotypes may be characteristic of strains from particular animal species. Spoligotyping proved to be useful for studying the epidemiology of bovine M. bovis isolates, especially of those isolates containing only a single copy of IS6110. In view of our results, we suggest fingerprinting all M. bovis strains by the spoligotyping method initially and then by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism typing of the strains belonging to the most common spoligotypes.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2004

Six isolates of an unknown Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming, coccus-shaped organis... more Six isolates of an unknown Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming, coccus-shaped organism isolated from ovine and caprine mastitis were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. On the basis of cellular morphology and the results of biochemical tests, the organism was tentatively identified as a streptococcal species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed that the organism is a member of the genus Streptococcus, with Streptococcus equi as its closest phylogenetic relative (98?8 % similarity). DNA-DNA pairing studies showed that the unidentified organism displayed more than 70 % relatedness to the type strains of S. equi subsp. equi and subsp. zooepidemicus. Despite the relatively high DNA-DNA reassociation values, biotyping and ribotyping allowed clear differentiation of the unknown bacterium from the two recognized subspecies of S. equi. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown Streptococcus isolates from ovine and caprine mastitis be classified as a novel subspecies, Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum subsp. nov. The type strain is CECT 5772 T (=CCUG 47520 T =Mt 167 T ).

Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 1997

Current methods for detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical specimens, with pa... more Current methods for detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical specimens, with particular interest in M avium and other nontuberculous mycobacteria, are reviewed. Traditional microbiological procedures, including microscopy, comparison of the different pretreatment methods for decontamination and culture media, and DNA probes and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques are evaluated. New methods include the polymerase chain reaction, a new tool available for quick identification of mycobacteria. The protocol used for detection of the etiologic agent of six cases of bird mycobacteriosis is briefly described. Authors recommend this technique as a rapid and reliable diagnosic method.

Veterinary Microbiology, 1998

Australian Veterinary Journal, 1998

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of the gamma-interferon assay in the diagnosis of caprine tu... more Objective To evaluate the usefulness of the gamma-interferon assay in the diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis in comparison with a single intradermal tuberculin test, and to obtain a group of animals free from this infection in a herd with a high prevalence.Design An immunological study involving four serial comparative gamma-interferon and single intradermal tuberculin tests.Animals A herd of 87 goats of Guadarrama breed.Procedure Serial testing and segregation of animals.Results We found that the number of infections detected by the gamma-interferon test was considerably greater than the number detected by the single intradermal tuberculin test. A group of 10 animals was negative to both tests in two consecutive rounds and three kids were negative in the last round of testing.Conclusions Gamma-interferon assay is appropriate for diagnosis and eradication of tuberculosis in goats. This test is able to detect early Mycobacterium bovis infection. Avian reactors with simultaneous increased reaction to bovine PPD in the gamma-interferon assay (designated as avianB reactors) should be considered test positive for M bovis. By serial testing with the gamma-interferon and the single intradermal tuberculin tests, and a policy of segregation of kids at birth, it is possible to achieve a group of animals test negative for tuberculosis from a herd of goats with high immunoreactivity to this infection.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2007

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2010

Tuberculosis in goats (caused by Mycobacterium caprae and M. bovis) has become a significant conc... more Tuberculosis in goats (caused by Mycobacterium caprae and M. bovis) has become a significant concern in recent years because of its high prevalence in certain caprine herds in Spain and other European countries, and also due to the potential transmission to other animals and human beings. In the present study, a transthoracic model of tuberculosis infection was performed on goats. Animals were selected based on the serological response used to detect paratuberculosis in goats (negative and positive results). The kinetics of the immune response was evaluated using the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) assay, skin tests and serology of paratuberculosis during nine months post-challenge. At the end of the study the animals were necropsied, tuberculosis-lesions were scored and culture (M. caprae and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis) was performed to determine the true infection status. Animals were positive to the IFN-γ assay 15 days post-challenge and the values were fluctuating throughout the study. A varied performance of the assay was observed between tuberculosis and tuberculosis-paratuberculosis mixed infection regarding both the number of positive results and the OD values obtained after stimulation with bovine and avian PPDs. Furthermore, the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test did not detect all M. caprae-infected animals. At necropsy, a positive correlation between pathology score and bovine PPD specific IFN-γ response was found.

Veterinary Microbiology, 2008

The role of wildlife in tuberculosis epidemiology is being widely studied since it can affect the... more The role of wildlife in tuberculosis epidemiology is being widely studied since it can affect the effectiveness of eradication campaigns in cattle. The health problem is enhanced when it concerns also wildlife welfare and biodiversity conservation. This study was performed to understand the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis population affecting livestock and wild animals in the Doñana National Park using bacteriology and molecular characterisation techniques. Tuberculosis research was performed on 1209 cattle and wild animals (artiodactyla and carnivore) collected over 6 years in the Park. One hundred and sixty-three animals were found to be infected with M. bovis, comprising 7.96% of the cattle and 20.53% of the wild animals tested. Spoligotyping revealed nine patterns, being SB1232 and SB1230 the most prevalent (77.30% and 15.34% of infected animals, respectively). MIRU-VNTR analysis of a selected panel of 92 isolates showed eight different profiles, including several spoligotypes within the same MIRU-VNTR profile. The discriminatory capacity of both techniques in this panel was similar. The results obtained by combination of both techniques corroborate that wildlife species are infected with the M. bovis strains which are more prevalent in cattle and reveal their persistence. Genotype variation between isolates strongly suggests micro-evolutionary events in the M. bovis population in the same area. This study in the Doñana National Park exposes the risk of introduction of domestic animals into wildlife areas when there is not a warranty of disease freedom, appropriate diagnostic techniques and control measures.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2006

Culture is considered the definitive technique for Johne's disease diagnosis, and it is essential... more Culture is considered the definitive technique for Johne's disease diagnosis, and it is essential for later applications of certain molecular typing techniques. In this study, we have tested four solid media (Herrold's egg yolk medium [HEYM] with sodium pyruvate and mycobactin [HEYMm-SP], HEYM with mycobactin and without sodium pyruvate [HEYMm], Middlebrook 7H11 with mycobactin [Mm], and Löwenstein-Jensen with mycobactin [LJm]) for isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains in 319 tissue samples from cattle herds and goat flocks. We have shown that each of the two main groups of M. avium subsp.