Wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as Sentinels of Parasitic Diseases in the Province of Soria, Northern Spain.

Four hundred red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were examined for ecto- (arthropods) and endoparasites (Leishmania spp., Trichinella spp., and intestinal parasites).

Antibodies to Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi in Spanish Wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

We examined 314 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the province of Soria, Spain, for Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia slovaca, and Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Immunofluorescence assays showed 1.9% had antibodies to R.

Molecular and serological study of rickettsial infection in humans, and in wild and farm animals, in the province of Burgos, Spain.

Limited information is available on the presence of rickettsial infection in humans and animal reservoirs in Spain. Exposure to spotted fever group rickettsia in healthy humans and in farm and wild animals in the Province of Burgos, Spain, was examined by serological methods. Rickettsial DNA was also sought by PCR in animal samples.

A seventeen-year epidemiological surveillance study of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in two provinces of northern Spain.

This paper reports a 17-year seroepidemiological surveillance study of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, performed with the aim of improving our knowledge of the epidemiology of this pathogen. Serum samples (1,179) from patients (623, stratified with respect to age, sex, season, area of residence and occupation) bitten by ticks in two regions of northern Spain were IFA-tested for B. burgdorferi antibodies.

Seroepidemiological survey of hantavirus infection in healthy people in Vallès Occidental, Barcelona.

Introduction: Hantaviruses are the etiological agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe and Asia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in America. Approximately 150,000 cases are reported annually worldwide. In Spain, some hantavirus infection cases have been described.

Epidemiological study of rickettsial infections in patients with hypertransaminemia in Madrid (Spain).

A retrospective analysis was performed to detect anti-rickettsial antibodies in the serum of patients with hypertransaminemia of unknown etiology, and in that of healthy members of the general population of Madrid (Spain). Among 143 patients 16 (11.2%) were positive for anti-R.

Independent lineage of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), Spain.

To clarify the presence of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in Spain, we examined blood and tissue specimens from 866 small mammals. LCMV RNA was detected in 3 of 694 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the strains constitute a new evolutionary lineage.

Prevalence of anti-hantavirus antibodies in patients with hypertransaminemia in Madrid (Spain).

The hantaviruses are involved in a number of clinical syndromes of different severity and prognosis. Hantaviruses are widely distributed around the world, but the spectrum of illnesses they cause outside recognized endemic areas is unclear. A retrospective analysis was performed to detect anti-hantavirus antibodies in the serum of patients with hypertransaminemia of unknown etiology and in that of healthy members of the general population of Madrid (Spain).

Screening of the prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Madrid province, Spain.

It was the aim of the present study to evaluate Borrelia burgdorferi antibody prevalence in the province of Madrid, located in central Spain. A total of 1825 serum samples from the general population were tested by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Specific B.

[Seroprevalence of antibodies to Seoul virus in occupational risk groups].

A seroprevalence study was performed to determine the percentage of people exposed to Seoul virus among biologists and police officers (n = 226), whose work might put them into contact with viral reservoirs. Detection of specific IgG antibodies was performed by indirect immunofluorescence and western-blot. There was one positive result among the biologists (4.

Hantavirus infections in Spain: analysis of sera from the general population and from patients with pneumonia, renal disease and hepatitis.

Background: Hantaviruses are rodent borne viruses in the family Bunyaviridae that cause significant morbidity in large areas of Europe. There are only a few reports available on hantavirus infections from Spain. Although the results of these earlier studies indicated the presence of hantavirus infections, no confirmative or serotype-specific analyses have been performed.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in a province of Spain: analysis of sera from the general population and wild rodents.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a rodent-borne virus belonging to the family Arenaviridae, genus Arenavirus, which causes a wide spectrum of human disease. However, data on LCMV infection in Spain is scant. To investigate whether this virus causes infection in Spain, 400 serum samples from the general population (191 males, 209 females) and 100 from wild rodents were studied by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using L-929 cells infected with LCMV.

[Preliminary evaluation of the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in an occupational risk group].

Background: The aim of this study was to gain knowledge on the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in occupational groups whose professional activity could implicate a high risk of contact with persons infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Additionally, we sought to identify risk factors in order to establish effective measures for control and prevention. With this aim we carried out a pilot study among members of our police force.