Tick species diversity and population dynamics of Ixodes ricinus in Galicia (north-western Spain).

Ticks are the major arthropod vectors of animal and human pathogens in Europe; thus, information of tick species and their phenology allows identifying those areas and periods involving a high risk of exposure to particular tick-borne pathogens. In order to assess the diversity of exophilic tick species in north-western Spain, questing ticks were collected by flagging in 17 different locations; ticks were microscopically and molecularly identified at the 16S rDNA loci. In addition, phenology of questing ticks in the same region was studied in representative sampling areas of three different ecological regions, where ticks were monthly collected in 300-m transects during two complete years.

Lesser housefly (Fannia canicularis) as possible mechanical vector for Aleutian mink disease virus.

Flies are known vectors for a variety of infectious diseases in animals. In fur mink farming, one of the most severe diseases is Aleutian disease, which is caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV). The presence of large fly populations is a frequent issue in mink farms; however, no studies assessing their role as AMDV carrier vectors have been conducted to-date.

Cryptosporidium species in post-weaned and adult sheep and goats from N.W. Spain: Public and animal health significance.

Application of molecular approaches has led to a significant progress on the knowledge of the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. Nevertheless, molecular information on the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in domestic small ruminants, especially in goats, are limited and restricted to the study of a modest number of isolates, mainly from diarrhoeic neonates. In order to determine the Cryptosporidium species present in healthy post-weaned and adult small ruminants from north-western Spain and to analyse a possible age-related distribution of species, faecal specimens were collected in sheep and goat farms without neonatal diarrhoea outbreaks the year before the sampling.

Molecular identification of Borrelia spirochetes in questing Ixodes ricinus from northwestern Spain.

Background: Ixodes ricinus, the predominant tick species in Europe, can transmit the causative agents of important human diseases such as Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia spirochetes. In northern Spain, LB is considered endemic; recently, a significant increase of the annual incidence of LB was reported in the northwestern (NW) region.

Methods: In order to provide information on the prevalence of Borrelia spp.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in goats from north-western Spain.

Introduction And Objective: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are protozoans involved in reproductive failure especially in ruminant livestock. The objective was to estimate the seroprevalence of both parasites in goats from north-western Spain and to study the influence of some factors on seropositivity.

Materials And Method: Blood samples from 638 goats were collected in 50 farms.