Person: Romero Martínez, Beatriz
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First Name
Beatriz
Last Name
Romero Martínez
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Sanidad Animal
Area
Sanidad Animal
Identifiers
11 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
Item Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Spatial Ecology at the Cattle-Wild Boar Interface in Northern Spain(Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2023) Herrero García, Gloria; Acevedo, Pelayo; Quirós, Pablo; Prieto, Miguel; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Amado, Javier; Queipo, Manuel Antonio; Gortázar, Christian; Balseiro, AnaTuberculosis (TB) is a contagious chronic disease due to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) bacteria. Monitoring of wildlife, especially potential reservoirs, is important for detecting changes in disease occurrence and assessing the impact of interventions. Here, we examined whether wild boar (Sus scrofa) may contribute to the re-emergence of TB in Asturias (10,604 km2), northern Spain. Although this province was declared free of TB in cattle in November 2021, MTC bacteria remain prevalent in several “hotspots,” with the European badger (Meles meles) suggested as a TB potential wild reservoir. Drawing on data from the Spanish National Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program and the Government of the Principality of Asturias covering the period 2014–2020, we analyzed the prevalence of TB in cattle and wild boar in this region. In hotspots (592 km2), we also investigated the ranging behavior and habitat use of five cows that belonged to farms with a history of TB and six trapped sympatric wild boar. During the observation period, TB prevalence was 0.14% among cattle overall and 0.13–0.41% in hotspots, which was much lower than the prevalence in wild boar, which was 3.15% overall and 5.23–5.96% in hotspots. Infected cattle and infected wild boar in hotspots shared the same strains of M. bovis, and GPS tracking showed spatiotemporal overlap between the species, mainly around pastures during sunrise (06:00–07:00 h) and sunset (19:00–20:00 h). Our results suggest that in addition to cattle and badgers, wild boar possibly help maintain TB in northern Spain, increasing the host richness that influences TB transmission risk in the area, which should be taken into account in monitoring and eradication efforts.Item Effect of a recent intradermal test on the specificity of P22 ELISA for the diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024) Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Juan Ferré, Lucía De; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Bezos Garrido, Javier; Velasco, Carlos; Ortega, Javier; Domínguez, Mercedes; Ricón, Jaime; Moreno, InmaculadaCaprine tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. TB eradication programs in goats are based on the single and comparative intradermal tuberculin tests (SITT and CITT, respectively). Antibody-based diagnostic techniques have emerged as potential diagnostic tools for TB. P22 ELISA has been previously evaluated using samples collected after the intradermal tuberculin tests to maximize the sensitivity, a phenomenon known as booster effect. However, there is no information available on whether the use of this diagnostic strategy could lead to a decrease of its specificity (Sp). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the interference effect of a recent CITT on the Sp of the P22 ELISA in serum and milk samples collected at different times after the CITT from a TB-free herd (n = 113). The number of reactors to P22 ELISA was significantly higher (p < 0.01) on serum samples collected 15 days post-CITT compared to day 0, showing a decrease in Sp from 99.1% (95% CI; 95.2–99.8%) to 88.5% (95% CI; 81.3–93.2%). The number of reactors and the quantitative values of P22 ELISA were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in serum samples compared to milk. No significant (p > 0.05) changes in the Sp of the P22 ELISA were observed throughout the different time samplings using milk No significant (p > 0.05) changes were observed on days 30 and 60 post-CITT. In conclusion, the booster effect strategy may significantly decrease the Sp of P22 ELISA in TB-free herds when serum samples are used but not when milk is tested.Item Once bitten twice shy: Risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis recurrence in Castilla y León, Spain(Research in Veterinary Science, 2023) Grau, Anna; Nácar, Jesús; Sáez-Lorente, José Luis; Mínguez, Olga; Pozo Piñol, Pilar; Bezos Garrido, Javier; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Álvarez Sánchez, JulioPersistence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle herd remains a major challenge in disease elimination due to the ineffectual removal of all infected animals in a bTB breakdown. Characterization of herds with a higher probability of experiencing further bTB breakdowns can help to implement specific risk-based policies for disease control and eradication. Here, our aim was to identify herd- and breakdown-level risk factors in bTB infected herds in Castilla y Leon, Spain, associated with a decreased time to recurrence and an increased risk of recurrence using a mixed effects Cox proportional hazards model and a multivariable logistic regression model, respectively. Results revealed that location (province), herd size and number of incoming animals/contacts were good predictors of a decreased time to bTB recurrence and an increased risk of becoming a recurrent herd. Additionally, the duration of the previous outbreak and the number of IFN-γ herd-tests applied in it were associated with increased odds of (an early) recurrence. Risk factors identified here can be used for early identification of herds in which bTB eradication may be more challenging and that should thus be subjected to increased control efforts. The characterization of high-risk herds may help to minimize the risk of reinfection and emphasize early detection and removal of bTB positive animals in the herd.Item Bovine tuberculosis in Spain, is it really the final countdown?(Irish Veterinary Journal, 2023) Bezos Garrido, Javier; Sáez Llorente, José Luis; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Díez Guerrier, Alberto Antoine; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Juan Ferré, Lucía DeBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a severe zoonotic disease that has major impacts on both health and the economy, and which has been subjected to specific eradication programmes in many countries for decades. This manuscript highlights the relevance of this disease in the context of the European Union (EU) and summarizes the epidemiological situation and the main tools (e.g. antemortem diagnostic tests, slaughterhouse surveillance, laboratories, comprehensive databases, etc.) used to control and eradicate bTB in the various EU countries with a focus on the situation in Spain. A comprehensive description of the specific bTB epidemiological situation in Spain is provided, together with an assessment of the evolution of different epidemiological indicators throughout the last decades. Moreover, the main features of the Spanish bTB eradication programme and its control tools are described, along with the studies carried out in Spain that have allowed the updating of and improvement to the programme over the years with the aim of eradication, which has been established for 2030.Item Evaluation of the Effect of a Recent Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test on the Humoral Diagnosis of Paratuberculosis Using Serum and Milk Samples from Goats(Veterinary Science, 2024) Velasco, Carlos; Ortega, Javier; Gómez-Buendía, Alberto; Grau, Anna; López, Marisol; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Juan Ferré, Lucía De; Bezos Garrido, JavierParatuberculosis (PTB) and tuberculosis (TB) are two mycobacterial diseases with a severe economic and health impact on domestic ruminants. The ante mortem diagnosis of PTB is hampered, among other factors, by the limited sensitivity of all the available diagnostic techniques. Since TB-infected goats subjected to the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT) may experience a booster effect on their antibody titer and a potential enhancement to the sensitivity of humoral techniques for tuberculosis, in the present study we aimed to evaluate this diagnostic strategy on the humoral diagnosis of PTB in serum and milk samples collected from a caprine herd that was TB free and PTB infected. The results from 120 goats indicated a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the quantitative response detected using an ELISA technique, conducted using serum and milk samples taken 15 and 30 days after performing a CITT (day 0 of the study); although, it did not translate into a significant increase in the number of reactors during any of the testing events (0, 3,15, 30 and 60 days post-CITT). Additionally, the number of ELISA-positive animals was higher for the serum versus the milk samples at both 15 and 30 days post-CITT. The increase in the quantitative ELISA result suggested a diagnostic strategy that maximizes ELISA sensitivity, mainly using serum samples, in PTB-infected herds; although, it may depend on individual differences and the interpretation criteria.Item Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated With Herds With an Increased Duration of Bovine Tuberculosis Breakdowns in Castilla y Leon, Spain (2010–2017)(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020) Pozo Piñol, Pilar; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Bezos Garrido, Javier; Grau, Anna; Nácar, Jesús; Sáez-Lorente, José Luis; Mínguez, Olga; Álvarez Sánchez, JulioThe persistence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in certain cattle herds is a major concern in countries pursuing disease eradication worldwide. The chronic nature of the disease, the lack of performance of diagnostic tools, and the presence of wildlife reservoirs may lead infected herds to require longer periods to achieve the officially tuberculosis-free (OTF) status. Here, we evaluated the impact of farm and breakdown characteristics on the probability of disease persistence in infected farms in Castilla y Leon, a bTB-endemic region of Spain, using survival and logistic regression models. Data from bTB breakdowns occurring in 3,550 bTB-positive herds detected in 2010–2017 were analyzed. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was fitted using time to recover OTF status as the response variable, and a multivariable logistic regression model using the chronic status (yes/no) for herds experiencing particularly long breakdowns as the outcome variable was also used. Both analyses revealed that county-level bTB herd prevalence, herd size, number of incoming animals in the previous 3 years, number of skin test reactors in the disclosing test, and number of days between the disclosing and follow-up tests were associated with increased breakdown duration. Production type was not consistently associated with chronic infection, suggesting that once infected, it is not a significant predictor of outbreak duration beyond the initial stages of the breakdown. Province-level location and number of animals that are bacteriology-positive also affected significantly the expected herd breakdown duration, but their effect became less significant over time. Risk factors identified in this study may help to identify herds more prone to suffer chronic bTB infection that may require additional control measures early on in a breakdown.Item Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in domestic goats in Southern Spain(Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2024) Jiménez-Martín, Débora; García-Bocanegra, Ignacio; Risalde, María A.; Napp, Sebastian; Domínguez, Mercedes; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Moreno, Inmaculada; Martínez, Remigio; Cano-Terriza, DavidTuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), which can affect a wide variety of domestic and wild animal species. Although the role of goats as a reservoir of MTC bacteria has been evidenced, information about the circulation of MTC strains in this species is still very scarce. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence, spatial distribution, risk factors and MTC spoligotypes circulating in goats from Andalusia (Southern Spain), the Spanish region with the largest goat census and a hotspot area of TB in both cattle and wild ungulates. A total of 2155 serum samples from 80 goat flocks were analyzed by an in-house ELISA using the P22 protein complex as a coating antigen. Antibodies against MTC were detected in 473 goats (21.9%, 95% CI: 20.2–23.7) and the true seroprevalence was 22.3% (95% CI: 20.6–24.1). Seropositivity was found in 72 (90.0%) of the 80 flocks analyzed. The generalized estimating equation model showed that the management system (higher seroprevalence on intensive and semi-intensive farms), and the presence of hospital pens inside the regular stables, were risk factors potentially associated with MTC exposure in goats in Southern Spain. The spatial analysis identified a significant spatial cluster (p < 0.001) in Eastern Andalusia. A total of 16 different MTC spoligotypes, including five of M. caprae and eleven of M. bovis, were identified in goats between 2015 and 2022 in the study area, with SB0157 as the most frequently isolated. The results obtained indicate widespread and non-homogeneous spatial distribution of MTC in goat herds from Southern Spain. The high individual and herd-level seroprevalence values found suggest that goats could play a significant role in the maintenance and transmission of MTC in the study area. Our results highlight the importance of implementing control measures in this species.Item Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in Wildlife in Spain(Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2004) Aranaz Martín, Alicia; Juan Ferré, Lucía De; Montero Serra, Natalia; Sánchez Ramos, Celia; Galka, Margarita; Delso, Consuelo; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Bezos Garrido, Javier; Vela Alonso, Ana Isabel; Briones Dieste, Víctor; Mateos García, Ana Isabel; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas JoséMycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife and feral species is a potential source of infection for livestock and a threat to protected and endangered species. The aim of this study was to identify Spanish wild animal species infected with M. bovis through bacteriological culture and spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) of isolates for epidemiological purposes. This study included samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), hare (Lepus europaeus), and cattle (Bos taurus). They were collected in several geographical areas that were selected for their unique ecological value and/or known relationships between wildlife and livestock. In the areas included in this survey, M. bovis strains with the same spoligotyping pattern were found infecting several wild species and livestock, which indicates an epidemiological link. A locally predominant spoligotype was found in these areas. Better understanding of the transmission and distribution of disease in these populations will permit more precise targeting of control measures.Item Non-tuberculous mycobacteria: occurrence in skin test cattle reactors from official tuberculosis-free herds(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024) Gómez Buendía, Alberto; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Bezos Garrido, Javier; Mourelo, Jorge; Amado, Javier; Saez, José Luis; Juan Ferré, Lucía De; Romero Martínez, BeatrizNon-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered a relevant cause of non-specific reactions to the most widely applied bovine tuberculosis (bTB) test, the intradermal tuberculin test. In order to establish which NTM species might act as a potential source of such diagnostic interference, a collection of 373 isolates obtained from skin test positive cows from 359 officially tuberculosis-free (OTF) herds, culled in the framework of the bTB eradication campaign in Spain, were identified at the species level through PCR and Sanger sequencing of the 16S rDNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes.. Of the 308 isolates for which a reliable identification was achieved, 32 different mycobacterial species were identified, with certain species being most represented: among M. avium complex members (n = 142, 46.1%), M. avium subsp. hominissuis (98; 69.0%) was the most abundant followed by M. avium subsp. avium (33, 23.2%), and M. intracellulare(7, 4.9%). Among non-MAC members (n = 166, 53.9%), M. nonchromogenicum (85; 27.6%) and M. bourgelatii (11; 5.6%) were the predominant species. In addition, mixed results were obtained in 53 isolates presenting up to 30 different genotypes, which could be indicative of new mycobacterial species. Our results represent a first step toward characterizing the diversity of NTM species that could interfere with official diagnostic tests for bTB eradication in Spain.Item Polyresistant Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Human and Sympatric Sheep, Spain, 2017–2018(Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2021) Romero Martínez, Beatriz; Pozo Piñol, Pilar; Pérez de Val, Bernat; Tórtola, Maria Teresa; Herrera León, Laura; Mercader, Irene; Sáez Lorente, José Luis; Domingo, Mariano; Vidal, EnricThe main etiologic agent of tuberculosis (TB) in livestock is Mycobacterium bovis; human TB cases caused by M. bovis are rare. Analysis of a TB outbreak caused by polyresistant M. bovis involving a human and sympatric sheep in Spain suggests local circulation of drug-resistant M. bovis strains among livestock.