Félix Valcárcel - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Félix Valcárcel

Veterinary Parasitology, 2015

We model three TST programs under five management types of small ruminants  Performance and heal... more We model three TST programs under five management types of small ruminants  Performance and healthy status are good after TST application  Regular anthelmintic dosage could not be necessary in subclinical nematodosis  TST are more useful when a minimum of nematode burden is present in the farms *Highlights (for review)

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2011

Climate and vegetation in Spain vary from north to south, affecting tick distribution and consequ... more Climate and vegetation in Spain vary from north to south, affecting tick distribution and consequently the presence of tick-borne diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate throughout a 2-yr study the distribution of the different exophilic questing tick species present in 18 areas: eight located in central and 10 in northern Spain. The same methodology was used in both areas, sampling vegetation on a monthly basis by blanket dragging for 20-to 30-min intervals. A total of 12 species belonging to the genera Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma was identiÞed. Differences in species distribution and prevalence were dramatically different. The most frequent and abundant species in northern Spain were Ixodes ricinus (67% of adult ticks) and Haemaphysalis punctata (8%), whereas Hyalomma lusitanicum (86%) and Dermacentor marginatus (12%) were the most abundant in central Spain. There were important differences in the monthly seasonal patterns for the different tick species. These results highlight important differences in tick distribution in neighboring areas and underline the need for ongoing surveillance programs to monitor tick population dynamics and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens.

Journal of Helminthology, 2002

Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931 was identified in six Cervus elaphus hispanicus sampled in C... more Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931 was identified in six Cervus elaphus hispanicus sampled in Cuenca, central Spain. A total of 23 adult worms were found in the central nervous system with a mean of 3.8. Although E. cervi is reported to be widespread in cervids, this is the first time it has been recorded in Spanish red deer.

Se presenta la dinamica estacional de las poblaciones de garrapatas en un ecosistema meso suprame... more Se presenta la dinamica estacional de las poblaciones de garrapatas en un ecosistema meso supramediterraneo en Ciudad Real (Espana) durante el ano 2007. Se identificaron un total de 2226 de ixodidos recogidos mensualmente de vegetacion y de animales (ciervos, corzos, jabalies, conejos y perdices). Se identificaron seis especies de garrapatas: 1807 Hyalomma lusitanicum (81,2%), 187 Rhipicephalus pusillus (8,4%), 136 Rhipicephalus bursa (6,1%), 44 Dermacentor marginatus (2%), 45 Haemaphysalis hispanica (2,1%) y 4 Ixodes ricinos (0,2%). La dinamica estacional vario segun la especie. Asi, H. lusitanicum, la mas abundante estuvo presente durante todo el periodo de muestreo, si bien la etapa de maxima actividad fue de mayo a septiembre. Otras especies (R. pusillus, R. bursa) fueron tambien mas abundantes en los meses calidos, en tanto que D. marginatus solo estuvo activa en las estaciones frias Los datos del estudio constituyen el primer analisis integral sobre la presencia y actividad de...

Veterinary Parasitology, 2012

El artículo seleccionado no se encuentra disponible por ahora a texto completo por no haber sido ... more El artículo seleccionado no se encuentra disponible por ahora a texto completo por no haber sido facilitado todavía por el investigador a cargo del archivo del mismo.

Veterinary Parasitology, 2013

Parasitology Research, 2013

Journal of Helminthology, 2004

Elaphostrongylus cervi produces a subclinical cerebrospinal disease in many wild and domestic rum... more Elaphostrongylus cervi produces a subclinical cerebrospinal disease in many wild and domestic ruminants from Europe, North America and New Zealand and has recently been described in Spain. To determine some aspects of its epidemiology, 121 red deer (Cervus elaphus) from central Spain were sampled during 2000. The prevalence (7%) and mean worm burden (3.8 worms per brain) were similar to the values previously recorded in other European areas. The infection was only detected in young deer during the winter. The estimation of larval production in the faeces was not a reliable method of diagnosing E. cervi infection.

Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Series B, 1997

SummaryThe pattern of pasture contamination and the influence of some climatic factors on the dev... more SummaryThe pattern of pasture contamination and the influence of some climatic factors on the development of ovine Trichostrongyles have been studied in dry pastures of Castilla‐La Mancha (central Spain) during a 3‐year period (1986–1988). The main identified genera were Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus, followed by Haemonchus, Cooperia and Nematodirus. Two peaks of pasture contamination were detected: from mid‐winter to early‐spring and from mid‐autumn to early‐winter. No significant differences in this pattern were observed during the 3 years except Haemonchus (1986–1988, P < 0.05; 1987–1988, P < 0.001). Seasons differed significantly (spring‐autumn, P < 0.05; summer‐the rest of the year, P < 0.001). The temperature was negatively correlated with the level of pasture infectivity (except for Trichostrongylus); however, the rainfall was positively correlated with pasture infectivity.

Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Booklet 19–20 October 2016 Southern European Veterinarian Conference, Granada, Spain

Industrial Crops and Products, 2017

Veterinary Research, 2015

In 2010 a new Lagovirus related to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) emerged in France and... more In 2010 a new Lagovirus related to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) emerged in France and has since rapidly spread throughout domestic and wild rabbit populations of several European countries. The new virus, termed RHDV2, exhibits distinctive genetic, antigenic and pathogenic features. Notably, RHDV2 kills rabbits previously vaccinated with RHDV vaccines. Here we report for the first time the generation and characterization of RHDV2-specific virus-like particles (VLPs). Our results further confirmed the differential antigenic properties exhibited by RHDV and RHDV2, highlighting the need of using RHDV2-specific diagnostic assays to monitor the spread of this new virus.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature organization (WWF), hunting has been directly respons... more According to the World Wide Fund for Nature organization (WWF), hunting has been directly responsible for the extinction of 270 species. In consequence, people began to call for more rational control measures that could preserve all animal species, like the predator control. This study aimed to determine whether cage-traps are safe enough to be applied in rational predator management systems in rural areas with a stable population of endangered species. Trapping was undertaken for 18 months using 218 cage traps, which means 114,450 trap-nights. A total of 115 animals were caught (91 target species and 24 non-target species). Cage traps did not damage most animals; only six external trap-related injuries were detected, just in target species. Hence, the absence of damage was over the standard 80 % required by internationally agreed indicators. Our results seem to indicate that it is possible to develop and assess a rational predator management system on hunting reserves leading to a ...

Toxins, 2019

Cantharidin (CTD) is a toxic monoterpene produced by blister beetles (Fam. Meloidae) as a chemica... more Cantharidin (CTD) is a toxic monoterpene produced by blister beetles (Fam. Meloidae) as a chemical defense against predators. Although CTD is highly poisonous to many predator species, some have evolved the ability to feed on poisonous Meloidae, or otherwise beneficially use blister beetles. Great Bustards, Otis tarda, eat CTD-containing Berberomeloe majalis blister beetles, and it has been hypothesized that beetle consumption by these birds reduces parasite load (a case of self-medication). We examined this hypothesis by testing diverse organisms against CTD and extracts of B. majalis hemolymph and bodies. Our results show that all three preparations (CTD and extracts of B. majalis) were toxic to a protozoan (Trichomonas vaginalis), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), two insects (Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi) and a tick (Hyalomma lusitanicum). This not only supports the anti-parasitic hypothesis for beetle consumption, but suggests potential new roles for CTD, under certai...

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an economically important Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family that cause... more Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an economically important Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family that causes a hemorrhagic disease in ruminants. Its control has been achieved by inactivated-vaccines that have proven to protect against homologous BTV challenge although unable to induce long-term immunity. Therefore, a more efficient control strategy needs to be devel-oped. Recombinant adenovirus vectors are lead vaccine candidates for protection of sev-eral diseases, mainly because of their potency to induce potent T cell immunity. Here we report the induction of humoral and T-cell mediated responses able to protect animals against BTV challenge by recombinant replication-defective human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) expressing either VP7, VP2 or NS3 BTV proteins. First we used the IFNAR(-/-) mouse model system to establish a proof of principle, and afterwards we assayed the protective efficacy in sheep, the natural host of BTV. Mice were completely protected against BTV challenge, developing hu...