Person:
Moreno Gonzalo, Javier

First Name

Javier

Last Name

Moreno Gonzalo

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/81038

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Faculty / Institute

Veterinaria

Department

Medicina y Cirugía Animal

Area

Medicina y Cirugía Animal

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 11

Prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in stray and farm dogs from Spain
(Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 2020) Javier Regidor-Cerrillo; Arranz-Solís, David; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Pedraza-Díaz, Susana; Gómez Bautista, Mercedes; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Collantes Fernández, Esther
Dogs play a potential role as reservoirs for zoonotic parasites, being especially problematic uncontrolled dog populations such as stray and farm dogs with access to populated areas. In order to investigate the prevalence of canine intestinal parasites in at-risk dog populations, we tested a total of 233 faecal samples shed by stray and dairy farm dogs from northern Spain. Telemann method was used to detect the presence of eggs and (oo)cysts of common dog intestinal parasites and Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR. One hundred and forty eight out of 233 samples (63.5%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, being Ancylostomidae (35.6%; 83/233) and Trichuris (35.2%; 82/233) the parasites most frequently identified. Cryptosporidium DNA was not detected in any of the faecal samples analysed. The overall prevalence was significantly higher in stray dogs than in farm dogs (72.5% vs 58.8%). Specifically, stray dogs had a significantly higher prevalence of Ancylostomatidae, Toxocara, Toxascaris and Taenidae. These dog populations are an important source of environmental contamination with intestinal parasite forms, which could be of significance to animal and human health.
Effects of heather and oat supplementation on gastrointestinal nematode infections and performance of grazing Cashmere goats
(Small Ruminant Research, 2010) Celaya, R.; Ferreira, L.M.M.; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Frutos, P.; Hervás, G.; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; García, U.; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Osoro, K.
This work aimed to evaluate the effects of tannin-containing heather (Calluna vulgaris, Erica spp.) and energy (oats, Avena sativa) supplementation, combined or not, on feed intake, gastrointestinal nematode infections and performance of goats grazing mountain grasslands. Two successive experiments were established across one grazing season on four paddocks. The first (late April to early August, Period 1) involved two treatments, i.e., supplementation with heather (+H) vs. non-supplementation (−H), each randomly allocated to two paddocks. The second (mid-August to mid-November, Period 2) consisted on four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design, i.e., supplementation with heather and oats (+H+O), only heather (+H−O), only oats (−H+O), and no supplementation (−H−O). Results from Period 1 indicated that faecal nematode egg counts (FEC) were lower in +H goats (50% less in August), achieving more favourable live weight (LW) and body condition changes than −H goats. Total dry matter intake (DMI) in June was similar between treatments, with heather accounting for 0.21 of +H goat diets. Kids FEC and LW gains were not affected by heather supplementation. In Period 2, both heather and oat supplementation reduced FEC (45 and 61%, respectively) and improved goat performance, without an interaction between both factors. Total DMI in October was higher in +H+O compared to other treatments (48 vs. 30 g DM kg LW−0.75 d−1; P < 0.01). Rumen ammonia concentration was lower (P < 0.001) in +H than in −H goats, and in +O than in −O goats, whereas that of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was not affected by treatments, though the molar proportions of some VFA were modified. It is concluded that the combination of both supplements (tannins and energy) contributes to reduce gastrointestinal nematode parasitism and increases goat performance, allowing a lower dependence on conventional chemotherapy.
Potential use of heather to control gastrointestinal nematodes in goats
(Small Ruminant Research, 2012) Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Celaya, R.; Frutos, P.; Ferreira, L.M.M.; Hervás, G.; García, U.; L.M. Ortega-Mora; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Osoro, K.
In the last decade, numerous studies have been carried out to evaluate the potential anthelmintic benefit of the consumption of bioactive plants in small ruminants, in order to reduce the dependence on conventional chemotherapy and supporting a sustainable control of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism. This review summarizes the anthelmintic and nutritional effects of heather (shrub species belonging to the Ericaceae family, such as Erica spp. or Calluna vulgaris) supplementation in grazing goats naturally infected by GI nematodes. The experiments were carried out in a mountain area in north-western Spain where shrubby heather-gorse vegetation is dominant. Some plots were established, in which the vegetation had been improved by soil ploughed and dressing and sowing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens), and removing any heather that was present. Cashmere goats reared outdoors under pasture conditions were used in the experiments. The trials compared the response to GI nematode infections, animal performance and nutrition in goats supplemented or not with heather. Interactions between heather availability and other alternative methods to control GI nematode infections based on grazing management (stocking rate) or nutrition (energy supply) as well as the potential adaptation of the rumen microbiota to the consumption of tannins, were also studied. The results suggest that (i) heather supplementation in grazing goats significantly reduces the level of GI nematode egg excretion, (ii) the faecal nematode egg count reduction could be associated with a decrease in worm fertility and/or reduction in the establishment of incoming third-stage larvae, (iii) consumption of heather is associated with an apparent greater resilience of goats to GI nematode infections, and (iv) the amount of tannins consumed by the goats supplemented with heather does not seem to be associated to anti-nutritional effects which eventually resulted in a better animal performance in the animals incorporating these shrubs in their diet. Practical application of this knowledge in temperate areas would support the management of plots integrating improved pastures with high nutritive value (ryegrass-white clover) with natural vegetation communities.
Anthelmintic effect of heather in goats experimentally infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis
(Parasitology Research, 2013) Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Osoro, K.; García, U.; Frutos ,P.; Celaya, R.; Ferreira, L. M. M.; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
The effects of heather (composed primarily of Calluna vulgaris with a smaller content of Erica umbellata and Erica cinerea) consumption on the establishment of incoming infective larvae (experiment 1, preventive treatment) and an adult worm population (experiment 2, curative treatment) were investigated in Cashmere goats experimentally infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis. In experiment 1, 12 castrated male goats were divided into two groups: heather-supplemented vs. non-supplemented animals. After 2 weeks of adaptation to the diet, all goats were experimentally infected per os with 6,000 T. colubriformis third-stage larvae. Three weeks post-infection, the goats were slaughtered, and worm counts as well as female worm fecundity and development were determined. Heather consumption was associated with a close to significant (P = 0.092) reduction (mean 14 %) in larvae establishment. No effect on fecundity was observed, but the length of female worms in supplemented goats was greater (P < 0.001). In experiment 2, 15 non-lactating does were experimentally infected with 6,000 T. colubriformis third-stage larvae. At 6 weeks post-infection, three groups were established: control, heather-supplemented and heather-supplemented with polyethylene glycol. Individual faecal nematode egg output was measured twice weekly to assess gastrointestinal nematode egg excretion. The goats were slaughtered 5 weeks after heather administration (11 weeks post-infection), and worm counts as well as female worm fecundity and development were subsequently determined. Heather administration was associated with a significant (P < 0.001) decrease (between 47 and 66 % compared with control group) in egg excretion from 45 to 76 days post-infection. Although worm counts and female fecundity were lower in supplemented goats, no significant differences were observed. Overall, the results showed a reduction in T. colubriformis larvae establishment and a decrease in nematode egg excretion when heather was administered in experimentally infected goats. The heather plus polyethylene glycol treatment reduced nematode egg excretion levels at the same proportion as heather, thereby suggesting that the threshold of tannins required for an anthelmintic effect is most likely quite low.
Placental thrombosis in acute phase abortions during experimental Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep
(Veterinary Research, 2014) Castaño, Pablo; Fuertes ,Miguel; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Fernández, Miguel; Ferreras, Maria del Carmen; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; González-Lanza, Camino; Katzer, Frank; Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Pérez, Valentín; Benavides ,Julio
After oral administration of ewes during mid gestation with 2000 freshly prepared sporulated oocysts of T. gondii isolate M4, abortions occurred between days 7 and 11 in 91.6% of pregnant and infected ewes. Afterwards, a further infection was carried out at late gestation in another group of sheep with 500 sporulated oocysts. Abortions happened again between days 9 and 11 post infection (pi) in 58.3% of the infected ewes. Classically, abortions in natural and experimental ovine toxoplasmosis usually occur one month after infection. Few experimental studies have reported the so-called acute phase abortions as early as 7 to 14 days after oral inoculation of oocysts, and pyrexia was proposed to be responsible for abortion, although the underline mechanism was not elucidated. In the present study, all placentas analysed from ewes suffering acute phase abortions showed infarcts and thrombosis in the caruncullar villi of the placentomes and ischemic lesions (periventricular leukomalacia) in the brain of some foetuses. The parasite was identified by PCR in samples from some placentomes of only one sheep, and no antigen was detected by immunohistochemical labelling. These findings suggest that the vascular lesions found in the placenta, and the consequent hypoxic damage to the foetus, could be associated to the occurrence of acute phase abortions. Although the pathogenesis of these lesions remains to be determined, the infectious dose or virulence of the isolate may play a role in their development.
Protective Efficacy in a Hamster Model of a Multivalent Vaccine for Human Visceral Leishmaniasis (MuLeVaClin) Consisting of the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 Antigens in Virosomes, Plus GLA-SE Adjuvant
(Microorganisms, 2021) Fernández, Laura; Solana, Jose Carlos; Sánchez, Carmen; Jiménez Martínez, María De Los Ángeles; Requena, Jose M.; Coler, Rhea; Reed, Steven; Valenzuela, Jesús ; Kamhawi, Shaden; Oliveira, Fabiano; Fichera, Epifanio; Glueck, Reinhard; Bottazzi, Maria Elena; Gupta, Gaurav; Cecilio, Pedro; Pérez-Cabezas, Begoña; Cordeiro-da-Silva, Anabela; Gradoni, Luigi; Carrillo, Eugenia; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe clinical form of leishmaniasis, fatal if untreated. Vaccination is the most cost-effective approach to disease control; however, to date, no vaccines against human VL have been made available. This work examines the efficacy of a novel vaccine consisting of the Leishmania membrane protein KMP11, LEISH-F3+ (a recombinant fusion protein, composed of epitopes of the parasite proteins nucleoside hydrolase, sterol-24-c-methyltransferase, and cysteine protease B), and the sand fly salivary protein LJL143, in two dose ratios. The inclusion of the TLR4 agonist GLA-SE as an adjuvant, and the use of virosomes (VS) as a delivery system, are also examined. In a hamster model of VL, the vaccine elicited antigen-specific immune responses prior to infection with Leishmania infantum. Of note, the responses were greater when higher doses of KMP11 and LEISH-F3+ proteins were administered along with the GLA-SE adjuvant and/or when delivered within VS. Remarkably, hamsters immunized with the complete combination (i.e., all antigens in VS + GLA-SE) showed significantly lower parasite burdens in the spleen compared to those in control animals. This protection was underpinned by a more intense, specific humoral response against the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 antigens in vaccinated animals, but a significantly less intense antibody response to the pool of soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA). Overall, these results indicate that this innovative vaccine formulation confers protection against L. infantum infection, supporting the advancement of the vaccine formulation into process development and manufacturing and the conduction of toxicity studies towards future phase I human clinical trials.
Is the anthelmintic effect of heather supplementation to grazing goats always accompanied by anti-nutritional effects?
(Animal, 2008) Frutos, Pilar; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Hervás, Gonzalo; García, Urcesino; Ferreira, Luis Mendes; Celaya, Rafael; Toral, Pablo; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Osoro, Koldo
To test the hypothesis that the beneficial anthelmintic effect of consuming moderate amounts of tannins may not always be accompanied by anti-nutritional effects in goats, two experiments were conducted. In the first, 48 Cashmere goats were randomly assigned to two treatments: supplementation with tannin-containing heather (6.4% total tannins) and non-supplementation. All goats grazed continuously from May to September under farm conditions in a mountainous area of northern Spain. The mean percentage of heather incorporated into the diet of the supplemented animals was 29.1%. Supplementation reduced the mean number of nematode eggs in faeces (P < 0.001) and the goat mortality rate (P < 0.05). The rumen ammonia concentration was markedly reduced in the goats receiving the heather supplement (160 v. 209 mg/l; P < 0.01), while volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were significantly greater (63.0 v. 53.6 mmol total VFA/l; P < 0.05). The heather-supplemented goats also showed a lower loss of live weight (P < 0.01) and body condition score (P < 0.001). In the second experiment, batch cultures of rumen microorganisms with rumen fluid from nine goats whose diet included 29% heather – or not, were used to incubate three substrates (pasture, pasture + heather and pasture + heather + polyethylene glycol) to investigate in vitro ruminal fermentation. Differences (P < 0.01) among substrates were observed in terms of dry matter disappearance (DMD), in vitro true substrate digestibility (ivTSD), gas production and ammonia concentration, the greatest values always associated with the pasture substrate. Cultures involving rumen inoculum derived from goats receiving the heather-containing diet showed slightly lower DMD (46.9 v. 48.5 g/100 g; P < 0.05), ivTSD (64.6 v. 65.9 g/100 g; P < 0.10) and gas production (105 v. 118 ml/g; P < 0.001) values, but much greater total VFA concentrations (48.5 v. 39.3 mmol/l; P < 0.05), and suggest that the efficiency of ruminal fermentation in these animals was probably improved. Together, the results support the absence of a clear nutritional cost counteracting the beneficial anthelmintic effect of supplementing the diet of grazing goats with tannin-containing heather.
An Early Treatment With BKI-1748 Exhibits Full Protection Against Abortion and Congenital Infection in Sheep Experimentally Infected With Toxoplasma gondii
(The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023) Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto; Imhof, Dennis; Hecker, Yanina Paola; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Re, Michela Tatiana; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Blanco Murcia, Francisco Javier; Mejías López, Elena; Hulverson, Matthew A.; Choi, Ryan; Arnold, Samuel L. M.; Ojo, Kayode K.; Barrett, Lynn K.; Hemphill, Andrew; Van Voorhis, Wesley C.; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel
Congenital toxoplasmosis in humans and in other mammalian species, such as small ruminants, is a well-known cause of abortion and fetal malformations. The calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1) inhibitor BKI-1748 has shown a promising safety profile for its use in humans and a good efficacy against Toxoplasma gondii infection in vitro and in mouse models. Ten doses of BKI-1748 given every other day orally in sheep at 15 mg/kg did not show systemic or pregnancy-related toxicity. In sheep experimentally infected at 90 days of pregnancy with 1000 TgShSp1 oocysts, the BKI-1748 treatment administered from 48 hours after infection led to complete protection against abortion and congenital infection. In addition, compared to infected/untreated sheep, treated sheep showed a drastically lower rectal temperature increase and none showed IgG seroconversion throughout the study. In conclusion, BKI-1748 treatment in pregnant sheep starting at 48 hours after infection was fully effective against congenital toxoplasmosis.
Effects of Stocking Rate and Heather Supplementation on Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections and Host Performance in Naturally-Infected Cashmere Goats
(Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2009) Osoro, Koldo; Celaya, Rafael; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Ferreira, Luis M.M.; García, Urcesino; Frutos, Pilar; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
The aim of this study, performed on 62 adult dry cashmere goats grazing upland perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures and naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, was to investigate the effects of stocking rate (SR: 24 vs. 38 goats · ha-1) and tannin-containing heather supplementation (H: Calluna vulgaris [L.] Hull, Erica spp.) vs. nonsupplementation on parasite burden, fecal egg counts (FEC), and live weight (LW) changes. Goats were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and grazed continuously from May to October. Six goats per treatment were slaughtered at the end of the grazing period, and adult worms in the abomasum and small and large intestines of each animal were recovered, counted, and identified. FEC was affected by SR (P < 0.01) but not by H. However, the SR × H interaction was significant (P < 0.05). FEC increased (P < 0.001) along the grazing season in all treatments, and the SR × time interaction was significant (P < 0.001). In general, mean total worm counts in abomasum and small intestine tended to be higher under high SR, although the differences were only significant (P < 0.01) in Trichostrongylus spp. counts. In goats managed under the high SR, the mean of total Teladorsagia circumcincta counts was lower (P < 0.01) in supplemented animals, but no differences were recorded for Trichostrongylus spp., Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum columbianum, and Trichuris ovis. The goats gained more LW (P < 0.001) under low SR and when they were heather-supplemented. No significant SR × H interaction was found for LW change. In conclusion, high stocking rate increases the infectivity risk of pasture and the supplementation of grazing goats with heather contributing to improve animals' performance. Notwithstanding, the effect of heather availability on nematode FEC reduction could be highly dependent on the climatic conditions.
Protein Malnutrition Impairs the Immune Response and Influences the Severity of Infection in a Hamster Model of Chronic Visceral Leishmaniasis
(PLoS ONE, 2014) Carrillo, Eugenia; Jimenez, Maria Angeles; Sanchez Herrero, Carmen; Cunha, Joana; Martins, Camila Marinelli; da Paixão Sevá, Anaiá; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Simona Stager
Leishmaniasis remains one of the world's most devastating neglected tropical diseases. It mainly affects developing countries, where it often co-exists with chronic malnutrition, one of the main risk factors for developing the disease. Few studies have been published, however, on the relationship between leishmaniasis progression and malnutrition. The present paper reports the influence of protein malnutrition on the immune response and visceral disease development in adult hamsters infected with Leishmania infantum fed either standard or low protein diets. The low protein diet induced severe malnutrition in these animals, and upon infection with L. infantum 33% had severe visceral leishmaniasis compared to only 8% of animals fed the standard diet. The infected, malnourished animals showed notable leukocyte depletion, mild specific antibody responses, impairment of lymphoproliferation, presence of parasites in blood (16.67% of the hamsters) and significant increase of the splenic parasite burden. Animals fed standard diet suffered agranulocytosis and monocytopenia, but showed stronger specific immune responses and had lower parasite loads than their malnourished counterparts. The present results show that protein malnutrition promotes visceral leishmaniasis and provide clues regarding the mechanisms underlying the impairment of the immune system.