Publications by authors named "Millan Javier"

Wild carnivorans are key hosts of parvoviruses of relevance for animal health and wildlife conservation. However, the distribution and diversity of parvoviruses among wild carnivorans are under-investigated, particularly in Southern Europe. We evaluated the presence, spread, and diversity of multi-host protoparvoviruses (canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)), and amdoparvoviruses in 12 carnivoran species from Northern Spain to explore viral ecology.

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Piroplasmids are vector-borne hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa that are of veterinary and medical importance. Wild carnivores are hosts for diverse piroplasmids, some of which are highly pathogenic for domestic dogs and cats. A large-scale survey including samples from 244 individuals belonging to eleven different species that were opportunistically obtained between 1993 and 2015 in four Autonomous Regions in Spain were tested for piroplasmid DNA with two different nested-PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA gene.

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Objetives: Patients with digitalis intoxication (DI) and hyperkalaemia are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). This alteration may require intravenous (iv) calcium, but its administration has been considered to increase cardiotoxicity and mortality in patients with DI. We studied the effect of iv calcium on mortality and 30-day readmission in patients with hyperkalaemia and DI.

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Article Synopsis
  • Vector-borne diseases pose significant health challenges due to their complex control and zoonotic nature, especially in tropical regions where vector activity is year-round.
  • In Guadeloupe, a study analyzed blood samples from 46 outdoor dogs across five veterinary clinics to identify the presence of canine vector-borne pathogens, revealing that 30.4% of the dogs were infected.
  • The most common pathogens found were Coxiella burnetii (17.4%) and Dirofilaria immitis (8.7%), while there were no infections from other commonly tested pathogens, highlighting a knowledge gap in vector-borne diseases in the Caribbean.
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To investigate if worsening renal function (WRF) appearing in some patients with acute heart failure (AHF) after intravenous furosemide initiation is influenced by severity of congestion. We conducted a retrospective secondary analysis of consecutive patients diagnosed with AHF and prospectively included in 10 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) for whom serum creatinine at ED arrival and after 2-7 days of intravenous furosemide initiation were available. Congestion was clinically evaluated by identification of 7 signs/symptoms and by chest X-ray.

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Objectives: To determine the prevalence, characteristics, timing of implementation and prognosis of patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and acute heart failure (AHF) treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in a real-life registry.

Methods: We analysed the characteristics of patients with AHF and LBBB at the time of inclusion in the EAHFE (Epidemiology Acute Heart Failure Emergency) cohort to determine the indication for CRT, the timing of implementation and its impact on 10-year all-cause mortality.

Results: 729 patients with a median age of 82 years and there was a high burden of comorbidities and functional dependence.

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Digoxin is commonly used to treat acute heart failure (AHF), especially in patients with concurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Nonetheless, there is little consensus about in which patients digoxin should be given, the proper time for digoxin initiation, and whether digoxin initiation is associated with improved outcomes. We investigated factors related to digoxin initiation after an episode of AHF and whether patients receiving digoxin presented better short-term outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intravenous digoxin is commonly used in emergency departments to treat acute heart failure, particularly in patients experiencing rapid atrial fibrillation, but concerns about its risks in older patients and those with kidney issues exist.
  • The study aimed to determine if digoxin influences 30-day mortality rates in patients with acute heart failure, taking into account factors like age, kidney function, and potassium levels.
  • The analysis revealed no significant difference in mortality rates between patients treated with digoxin and those who were not, despite a high median age and serious health conditions among participants.
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Objective: This meta-analysis aims to pool the results of existing studies to obtain more precise estimates on the diagnostic efficiency of the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in detecting CRC using blood-based samples.

Methods: A comprehensive database search identified 4,931 studies that were screened for eligibility. Relevant data were then extracted and collated and analyzed using Meta-DiSc 1.

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We describe all the life stages of Rhipicephalus hibericus n. sp., provide the types, and present molecular support for a new species of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato group, present in southwestern Europe, that has been historically confused with Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev, 1940.

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Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are emerging zoonotic pathogens. Micromammals have received little attention as hosts for hemoplasmas despite their ubiquitous presence, high population abundances, and close association with humans. A PCR protocol targeting a fragment of the 16 S rRNA gene and direct sequencing in blood samples of 189 adult specimens and 35 fetuses belonging to three species of Eulipotyphla (shrews) and seven species of Rodentia, captured in three ecologically diverse habitats in North-Eastern Spain (Steppe, High Mountain, Mediterranean) yielded and occurrence of 26%, including 36% of 39 shrews and 23% of 150 rodents.

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Sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei can have catastrophic consequences for wildlife. We inspected 122 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), collected by active (n=66) or passive (n=56) surveillance, and 28 South American gray foxes (Lycalopex griseus; all from passive surveillance) for mange in Chile (2015-19). In Andean foxes, gross lesions of mange were diagnosed in 24% of passively and 9% of actively collected foxes, although observed prevalences might be underestimated.

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Objectives: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli) are a main cause of human deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite hundreds of reports of the faecal carriage of ESBL-E.

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Seventy-five flea pools (one to ten fleas per pool) from 51 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus) and five South American grey foxes or chillas (Lycalopex griseus) from the Mediterranean region of Chile were analyzed for the presence of DNA of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. through quantitative real-time PCR for the nouG and gltA genes, respectively.

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The genus Spirocerca includes nematodes that parasitize the stomach and the oesophagus of carnivores, chiefly canids. Herein, we provide new data about the morphological, histopathological, and molecular characterization of Spirocerca sp. in Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus) in Chile.

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Short stay unit (SSU) is an alternative to conventional hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), but the prognosis is not known compared to direct discharge from the emergency department (ED). To determine whether direct discharge from the ED of patients diagnosed with AHF is associated with early adverse outcomes versus hospitalization in SSU. Endpoints, defined as 30-day all-cause mortality or post-discharge adverse events, were evaluated in patients diagnosed with AHF in 17 Spanish EDs with an SSU, and compared by ED discharge vs.

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We investigated the co-occurrence of the nine of the most relevant canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) using conventional and real-time PCR and evaluated risk factors and potential non-apparent haematological alterations associated with co-infection in 111 rural, owned, free-ranging dogs in the Metropolitan Region of Chile.At least one pathogen was detected in 75% of the dogs. DNA of Anaplasma platys (Ap; 36%), Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp; 31%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc; 28%), Trypanosoma cruzi (17%), Leishmania spp.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cats became friends with people about 12,000 years ago, when humans started farming instead of hunting.
  • Wildcats helped control the number of rodents that were attracted to farms, which benefited both the cats and the farmers.
  • Scientists studied cat DNA to trace their origins, finding that most domestic cats come from areas around the eastern Mediterranean, and their migration patterns follow those of early humans.
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Aims: To assess whether symptoms/signs of congestion and perfusion in acute heart failure (AHF) evaluated at patient arrival to the emergency department (ED) can predict the severity of decompensation and short-term outcomes.

Methods And Results: We included patients from the Epidemiology of AHF Emergency Registry (EAHFE Registry). We registered seven clinical surrogates of congestion and five of hypoperfusion.

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Aims: To evaluate the association between chronic treatment with betablockers (BB) and the severity of decompensation and short-term outcomes of patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods And Results: We consecutively included all patients presenting with AHF to 45 Spanish emergency departments (ED) during six different time-periods between 2007 and 2018. Patients were stratified according to whether they were on chronic treatment with BB at the time of ED consultation.

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  • A study screened serum and fecal samples from huemul and pudu in southern Chile for Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP).
  • Most samples were negative, with only four testing positive for Mycobacterium.
  • The positive samples showed only 92-93% genetic similarity to MAP and came from isolated populations on Isla Riesco.
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Article Synopsis
  • Chile's diverse climate makes it a prime location for studying vector-borne parasites (VBPs), but research is mostly limited to specific areas.
  • A study involving 764 rural dogs and 245 foxes found various parasites, with Hepatozoon spp. prevalent in foxes, while piroplasmids and Leishmania spp. were detected in dogs.
  • The findings highlight the need for improved diagnostic and control measures for these parasites in both domestic and wild animals across the country.
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  • Hemotropic mycoplasmas are known to cause hemolytic anemia in various mammals, but their presence in Chilean artiodactyls, specifically pudus, has not been studied until now.
  • The study involved analyzing blood samples from 76 pudus and found a 13% infection rate, with no significant difference between wild (19%) and captive (6%) populations.
  • Results revealed closely related sequences to Mycoplasma ovis in both groups and identified two new sequences, indicating the need for further research on the health impacts and population effects of hemoplasmas on pudus and other wildlife in Chile.
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The Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered carnivores worldwide, with the risk of disease spillover from domestic dogs being a major conservation threat. However, lack of epidemiologic information about generalist, non-dog-transmission-dependent protozoal and bacterial pathogens may be a barrier for disease prevention and management. To determine the exposure of some of these agents in Darwin's fox populations, 54 serum samples were collected from 47 Darwin's foxes in Southern Chile during 2013-18 and assessed for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, Brucella canis, Coxiella burnetii, pathogenic Leptospira (serovars Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Canicola, Hardjo, and Copehageni), Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum.

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