Infection and re-infection of Leptospira spp. in stray dogs and cats from Bogota, Colombia.

Background and Aim: Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonosis that is under-reported in tropical countries, and canines can be a potential reservoir of the disease. The objective of this study was to diagnose Leptospira spp. that is actively infected and re-infected in stray dogs and cats from Bogota, D.C., Colombia. Materials and Methods: A sample of 200 animals, including dogs and cats from the animal protection programs of Bogota, Colombia, were used in this study. Blood was collected from these animals for serum and DNA analysis. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the 16s rRNA primer set, and higher-quality amplification products were sequenced by Sanger. For serodiagnosis, a group of PCR-positive samples was tested using the microagglutination test (MAT). Results: The overall PCR positivity of stray dogs and cats was 56%, 52.9%, and 65.3% in dogs and cats, respectively. The MAT seropositivity was 77.3%, and only dogs showed titers higher than 1:400. Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Hardjo Prajitno, and Canicola and Hardjo prajitno were the serogroups associated with dogs and cats, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the strains belonging to Leptospira interrogans serovars related to isolated samples of American, European, and Asian bats (Myotis myotis), dogs, and bovines of American origin. Conclusion: These results showed that stray dogs and cats were previously exposed to different serovars of Leptospira spp. and re-infected with other serovars that actively participated in the transmission cycle. These findings highlight the importance of actively diagnosing infectious animals to design effective intervention strategies.

Assessment microbial risks for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. based on the surveillance of the water supply systems in Colombia, 2014-2018.

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. cause gastrointestinal diseases of zoonotic origin as well transmitted from person to person, being various reported outbreaks associated with water. The infecting (oo)cyst forms of these parasites are highly resistant to water treatments such as chlorine disinfection and fast filtration. The objective of this study was to assess the microbial risk of infection and symptomatic illness by the ingestion of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in water for human consumption in Colombia, based on the results of water quality surveillance. The detection method was according to the USEPA method 1623. Concentration data of the different points of distribution were grouped according to the pathogen and type of treatment (no treatment; chlorine treatment; chlorine treatment + coagulant). Annual microbial risks of infection and symptomatic diseases were estimated using the quantitative microbial risk assessment approach that included parasite concentrations, the dose-response model, the ingestion rates of water by children and adults, and the morbidity rate of the diseases. The mean annual microbial risk of infection for Giardia spp. was 29.8% for treated water and 50.4% for untreated water, while being 6.0% and 17.7%, respectively, for Cryptosporidium spp. Microbial risk of symptomatic illness for Giardia spp, was 8.2% for treated water and 13.9% for untreated water, while being 3.6% and 10.6%, respectively, for Cryptosporidium spp. The estimated annual microbial risks of infection exceeded the acceptable value of 10-4 (0.01%) recommended by USEPA. Results obtained in this study suggest the need to reduce the microbial risk of infection to protozoan parasites by improving the water treatment, by adopting better handling practices for livestock manure and treatment processes of human feces. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The presence of Cryptosporidium spp was identified in 28 (6.2%) samples and Giardia spp in 29 (6.4%) in water for human consumption in Colombia. The mean annual risk of symptomatic illness due to infection by Giardia spp or Cryptosporidium spp ranges from 33.6%, for treated water, to 58.1%, for untreated water. Annual risks ingestion of protozoa studying in water for human exceed of 10-4 (0.01%) recommended by USEPA.

High prevalence of Leishmania spp. in dogs from Central West Colombia.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania. In Colombia, this zoonosis is endemic in rural areas with a high prevalence in the departments of Antioquia, Santander, Meta, Tolima and Nariño. Dogs are the most important domestic reservoirs of the pathogen, given the epidemiological importance of dogs in the control of leishmaniasis is needed to determine the prevalence of Leishmania spp. in canine population of the rural area of Ibagué and to identify potential risk factors related to the presence of this parasite. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 173 dogs from the rural area of Ibagué. Leishmania spp. was detected by amplifying the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-1) and two regions of the hsp70 gene through PCR. Factor associations were calculated through the Chisquare and odds ratio. Prevalence of Leishmania spp. infection in dogs was of 91.33% (158/173), where 36.71% (58/158) of the Leishmania spp. positive dogs showed one or more clinical signs of canine leishmaniasis and 63.29% (100/158) of the dogs were asymptomatic. Factors associated with the presence of the parasite did not show significance. In addition, hsp70D-PCR was proved to be highly efficient for the detection of Leishmania spp.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Leptospira spp. in small ruminants of semi-arid zone in northeastern Colombia.

Leptospirosis in small ruminants is an economically important disease that causes important losses by pathologies of the reproductive tract. The present study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a sample of 1039 animals which included 793 sheep and 245 goats from 49 farms of 10 municipalities of northeastern areas of Colombia. The MAT test using a panel of 13 laboratory serovars was performed to diagnose the Leptospira spp. antibodies in the serum samples of animals. A structured questionnaire was filled in each farm to obtain information on putative risk factors, and its association with Leptospira spp. infection was detected by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The general seroprevalence showed a rate of 13.9%, the 79.6% of farms showed at least one positive animal, the 14.2% and 0.4% of positive animals showed titers ≥ 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The seroprevalence in sheep and goats showed a rate of 13.1% and 16.2%, respectively. The most common serovars in positive animals were Autumnalis (3.6%), Tarassovi (3.4%), Bratislava (2.9%), Mini (2.9%), Bataviae (1.4%), Canicola (0.3%), and Grippotyphosa (0.3%). The univariate and multivariate analysis showed as risk factors the absence of housing system (OR = 3.412 CI: 1.347-8.152), the absence of quarantine measures to new animals (OR = 1.371 CI: 0.943-1.978), and the protective factor identified was the use of Toggenburg breed (OR = 0.571 CI: 0.249-1.074). This exploratory study showed the Leptospira spp. positive small ruminants located in the northeastern areas of Colombia with titer associated with chronic and subclinical infection.

Cattle seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine viral diarrhea in the northeastern of Colombia.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is one of the most common and economically significant viral infections in cattle. Different risk factors have been associated with viral exposure and transmission, generating endemic regions with different biotype circulations. To find the BVD status in the northeastern region of Colombia, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with the disease in non-vaccinated farms. For this purpose, a two-time point sampling strategy was developed, obtaining serum from 1157 animals housed in 25 farms distributed in 46 townships, thus for antibody detection against non-structural protein 3 (NS3, p80) of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) using an indirect ELISA test. For the first time in Colombia, the presence of serological persistent cattle was evaluated in 1047 animals 3 weeks later of first sampling. The information on a standardized questionnaire with closed and dichotomic answers was used to calculate the putative risk factors. The association analysis by univariate and multivariate logistic regression reported odds ratios (OR) with a 95% of confidence interval (C.I). The overall seroprevalence was 65% (95% CI 62.5-72.9%), with variations according to age ranges. The prevalence of persistent serological positive corresponded to 37.7% (95% CI 34.2-41.5). The risk factors found by multivariate analyses were the lease of pastures (OR = 2.071 CI 1.485-3.690), the use of the same needle (OR = 2.249 CI 1.354-3.736), the molasses supplementation (OR = 2.742 CI 1.156-5.807), and the native Creole breed (OR = 1.895 CI 1.416-2.804). The results of this study confirmed the endemism and higher common exposure to BVDV, as well as the presence of serological persistent cattle in Valledupar, Colombia.

Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in northeastern areas of Colombia: Seroprevalence and risk factors.

Sheep and goats are susceptible to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and could play an important role in the transmission of the zoonotic parasite to human. We conducted a cross sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence and to assess the risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. This study was carried out from November 2015 to April 2016 in randomly selected small ruminants (n = 1038) from 48 farms located in Colombia, in the departments of northern Cesar in the north and La Guajira in the south. An indirect ELISA was used to detect IgG antibodies to T. gondii in the animals. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information on putative risk factors. We conducted the association analyses by using univariable and multivariate logistic regression and report odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (C.I). The overall seroprevalence in small ruminants was 23.5% (C.I: 21-26.2%). Sheep showed a higher seroprevalence (25.1% C.I: 22.4-28.6%) than goats (18.4% C.I: 22.4-28.6%). The association analysis recognized as risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity farming pigs in addition to small ruminants (OR = 1.96 C.I: 1.414-2.743), the inexistence of manure heap (OR = 2.254 C.I: 1.480-3.433) and drinking water from locally aqueducts (OR = 1.489 C.I: 1.006-2.204). The results of the study confirmed that exposure to T. gondii is common in sheep and goats in dry Caribbean regions of Colombia.

Evaluación de la implementación de la estrategia escuela saludable en zona rural de Ibagué: estudio de casos / Evaluation of the implementation of the healthy school strategy in the rural area of the municipality of Ibague: case studies / Avaliação da implementación da estrategia escola saudável em zona rural de Ibagué: estudo de casos

La escuela es un espacio privilegiado de promoción de la salud, en Colombia se desarrolla la estrategia escuela saludable como una herramienta integradora de políticas en salud en el ámbito escolar. Objetivo: el estudio busca evaluar la implementación de la estrategia escuela saludable en el contexto rural del municipio de Ibagué. Materiales y métodos: la evaluación de la implementación se realizó mediante la construcción de un modelo lógico y la definición de criterios evaluativos en relación con los ambientes saludables, las políticas públicas y planes para la escuela saludable, la participación social, el empoderamiento y la educación para la salud. Se evaluaron un total de 93 escuelas rurales, la información fue levantada mediante cuestionarios a los responsables de las escuelas y a través de entrevistas a los gestores de salud. Resultados: se identificaron problemáticas sanitarias y ambientales en las escuelas asociadas a las carencias de la ruralidad, falta de articulación del sector salud y educación, baja participación social, la educación enfocada a la prevención de la enfermedad. Conclusión: promover los entornos escolares saludables en la ruralidad requiere de un marco legal nacional y local que garantice la actuación estatal, la intersectorial, la participación efectiva del sector educativo, la renovación de la salud y que promueva intereses y voluntades político, sociales y administrativas.

The school is a privileged space for the promotion of health. In Colombia the Healthy School Strategy is developed as an integrating tool for health policies in the school environment. Objective: the study seeks to evaluate the implementation of the healthy school strategy in the rural context of the Municipality of Ibagué. Materials and Methods: the evaluation of the implementation was carried out through the construction of a logical model and the definition of evaluative criteria in relation to healthy environments, public policies and plans for the healthy school, social participation, empowerment and education for health. A total of 93 rural schools were evaluated and the information was raised through questionnaires to those responsible for the schools and through interviews with health managers. Results: health and environmental problems were identified in the schools associated with lack of rurality, lack of articulation of the health and educational sector, low social participation and education focused on disease prevention. Conclusions: promoting healthy school environments in rural areas requires a national and local legal framework that guarantees state, intersectoral action, effective participation of the education sector, health renewal and that promotes political, social and administrative interests and wills

A escola é um espaço privilegiado de promoção da saúde, em Colômbia se desenvolve a estratégia escola saudável como uma ferramenta integradora de políticas em saúde no âmbito escolar. Objetivo: o estudo busca avaliar a execução da estratégia escola saudável no contexto rural do município de Ibagué. Materiais e métodos: a avaliação da execução se realizou mediante a construção de um modelo lógico e a definição de critérios avaliativos em relação com os ambientes saudáveis, as políticas públicas e planos para a escola saudável, a participação social, o empoeiramento e a educação para a saúde. Avaliaram se um total de 93 escolas rurais, a informação foi levantada mediante questionários aos responsáveis das escolas e a través de entrevistas aos gestores de saúde. Resultados: se identificaram problemáticas sanitárias e ambientais nas escolas associadas às carências da ruralidade, falta de articulação do setor saúde e educação, baixa participação social, a educação enfocada à prevenção da doença. Conclusão: promover os entornos escolares saudáveis na ruralidade requer de um marco legal nacional e local que garante à atuação estadual, a intersetorial, a participação efetiva do setor educativo, a renovação da saúde e que promova interesses e vontades político, sociais e administrativas.