Person: Pérez Sancho, Marta
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First Name
Marta
Last Name
Pérez Sancho
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Sanidad Animal
Area
Sanidad Animal
Identifiers
7 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Item Epidemiological factors associated with the exposure of cattle to Coxiella burnetii in the Madrid region of Spain(The Veterinary Journal, 2012) Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Perez, A.; Mardones, F.O.; Pérez Sancho, Marta; García-Seco Romero, María Teresa; Pagés, E.; Mirat, F.; Díaz, R.; Carpintero, J.; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas JoséDomestic ruminants are considered to be the major source of Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. Even though Q fever is considered to be present worldwide, its distribution in many areas and countries remains unknown. Here, a serological assay was used to estimate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in cattle in the Madrid region of Spain, to assess its spatial distribution, and to identify risk factors associated with positive results. Ten animals from each of 110 herds (n=1100) were randomly selected and analyzed using an ELISA test. In addition, epidemiological information, at both the herd and individual level, was collected. Variables for which an association with test results was detected in a bivariate analysis were included as predictors (main effects) in a multivariable logistic regression model. Herd and individual seroprevalences were 30% (95% CI=22.2-39.1) and 6.76% (95% CI=5.42-8.41), respectively, and a strong spatial dependence was identified at the first neighbour level using the Cuzick-Edwards test. Production type (dairy >beef >bullfighting) and age of animals (old vs. young) were the only variables significantly associated (P<0.05) with positive serological results at the herd and individual levels, respectively. These results indicate that cattle are exposed to C. burnetii in the Madrid region The high herd seroprevalence found in dairy herds (75%) indicates a higher risk of infection (probably for management reasons) whereas no C. burnetii positive bullfighting herds were identified.Item Assessment of MALDI-TOF MS as Alternative Tool for Streptococcus suis Identification(Frontiers in Public Health, 2015) Pérez Sancho, Marta; Vela Alonso, Ana Isabel; Gottschalk, Marcelo; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Fernández-Garayzábal Fernández, José Francisco; García-Seco Romero, María TeresaThe accuracy of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identifying Streptococcus suis isolates obtained from pigs, wild animals, and humans was evaluated using a PCR-based identification assay as the gold standard. In addition, MALDI-TOF MS was compared with the commercial multi-tests Rapid ID 32 STREP system. From the 129 S. suis isolates included in the study and identified by the molecular method, only 31 isolates (24.03%) had score values ≥2.300 and 79 isolates (61.24%) gave score values between 2.299 and 2.000. After updating the currently available S. suis MALDI Biotyper database with the spectra of three additional clinical isolates of serotypes 2, 7, and 9, most isolates had statistically significant higher score values (mean score: 2.65) than those obtained using the original database (mean score: 2.182). Considering the results of the present study, we suggest using a less restrictive threshold score of ≥2.000 for reliable species identification of S. suis. According to this cut-off value, a total of 125 S. suis isolates (96.9%) were correctly identified using the updated database. These data indicate an excellent performance of MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of S. suis.Item Assessment of genetic diversity of zoonotic Brucella spp. recovered from livestock in Egypt using multiple locus VNTR analysis(BioMed research international, 2014) Menshawy, Ahmed M S; Hosein, Hosein I; García Benzaquén, Nerea; Martínez Alares, Irene; Sayour, Ashraf E; Goyache Goñi, Joaquín; Azzam, Ragab A A; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Pérez Sancho, Marta; García-Seco Romero, María Teresa; Pérez Sancho, MartaBrucellosis is endemic in most parts of Egypt, where it is caused mainly by Brucella melitensis biovar 3, and affects cattle and small ruminants in spite of ongoing efforts devoted to its control. Knowledge of the predominant Brucella species/strains circulating in a region is a prerequisite of a brucellosis control strategy. For this reason a study aiming at the evaluation of the phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of a panel of 17 Brucella spp. isolates recovered from domestic ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat) from four governorates during a period of five years (2002-2007) was carried out using microbiological tests and molecular biology techniques (PCR, MLVA-15, and sequencing). Thirteen strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 while all phenotypic and genetic techniques classified the remaining isolates as B. abortus (n = 2) and B. suis biovar 1 (n = 2). MLVA-15 yielded a high discriminatory power (h = 0.801), indicating a high genetic diversity among the B. melitensis strains circulating among domestic ruminants in Egypt. This is the first report of the isolation of B. suis from cattle in Egypt which, coupled with the finding of B. abortus, suggests a potential role of livestock as reservoirs of several zoonotic Brucella species in the region.Item Development and evaluation of an IS711-based loop mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) for detection of Brucella spp. on clinical samples(Research in Veterinary Science, 2013) Pérez Sancho, Marta; García-Seco Romero, María Teresa; Arrogante, L; García, N; García Benzaquén, Nerea; Martínez Alares, Irene; Díez Guerrier, Alberto Antoine; Perales, A; Goyache Goñi, Joaquín; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Álvarez Sánchez, JulioDNA-based methods have emerged as an additional tool for Brucella infection-confirmation at a herd level. However, their implementation may require the use of specialized equipment. In this context the recently developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique may constitute an additional and cost-effective tool for rapid and specific DNA detection, especially in low income areas. In the present study the usefulness of a newly developed LAMP assay aiming at the multicopy-IS711 sequence was assessed on a variety of clinical samples (n = 81 from abortions and ewes; cattle, n = 3; swine, n = 4) that were analyzed in parallel using real-time PCR and bacteriology. Although overall sensitivities obtained with the three methods were comparable (p > 0.05), our results highlighted the complementarity between bacteriology and molecular-based methods for increased sensitivity. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed with all techniques depending on the nature of the sample. Our results demonstrate the potential of the IS711-LAMP technique for direct Brucella detection.Item Interferon-gamma responses in sheep exposed to virulent and attenuated Brucella melitensis strains(Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2014) Pérez Sancho, Marta; Durán-Ferrer, Manuel; García-Seco Romero, María Teresa; Macías, Paula; García Benzaquén, Nerea; Martínez Alares, Irene; Ruiz, Elena; Legaz, Emilio; Díez Guerrier, Alberto Antoine; González Domínguez, Sergio; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Álvarez Sánchez, JulioAntibody detection is the basis of large-scale sheep brucellosis diagnosis because of its sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, information on the cellular mediated immune (CMI) response triggered after Brucella melitensis infection, a cornerstone in the protection against this pathogen, is more limited, particularly regarding the effect of the virulence of the infecting strain in the induced CMI reaction. Here, the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) profiles evoked after exposure by different routes to virulent (H38) and attenuated (Rev.1) B. melitensis strains in 14 pregnant sheep and 87 ewe lambs, respectively, were characterized accounting for different host-related factors, and compared with their serological response and with the basal IFN-gamma responses observed in 155 animals non exposed to Brucella. No significant differences in the IFN-gamma response of Rev.1 vaccinated animals depending on the inoculation route was observed, in contrast with their serological results. Response in H38- challenged followed a similar trend although peaked later, and an effect of the abortion on the IFN-gamma response was detected. This information could help to understand the interaction bacteria–host that leads to its intracellular survival and could be useful for the design of new diagnostic approaches.Item Evidence of Leishmania infantum infection in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a natural area in Madrid, Spain(BioMed Research International, 2014) García Benzaquén, Nerea; Moreno, Inmaculada; Alvarez, Julio; Cruz Conty, María Luisa; Navarro Gómez, Alejandro; Pérez Sancho, Marta; Conty, María Luisa; Toraño, Alfredo; Prieto, Antonio; Domínguez, Mercedes; Álvarez Sánchez, Julio; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; Rodríguez Bertos, Antonio Manuel; García-Seco Romero, María TeresaLeishmaniasis is one of most important neglected zoonosis and remains endemic in at least 88 developing countries in the world. In addition, anthropogenic environmental changes in urban areas are leading to its emergency world-wide. Zoonotic leishmaniasis control might only be achieved by an integrated approach targeting both the human host and the animal reservoirs, which in certain sylvatic cycles are yet to be identified. Recently, hares have been pointed out as competent reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in Spain, but the role of other lagomorphs has not been clarified. Here, 69 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from a natural area in Madrid in which a high density was present were analyzed using indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test, IFAT) and direct (PCR, culture) techniques. Fifty-seven (82.6%) of the animals were positive to at least one technique, with IFAT yielding the highest proportion of positive samples. L. infantum was isolated in 13% animals demonstrating the occurrence of infection in this setting. Our results suggest that rabbits could play a role of competent reservoir of L. infantum and demonstrate that the prevalence of infection is high in the analyzed area.Item Effect of Preventive Chlamydia abortus Vaccination in Offspring Development in Sheep Challenged Experimentally(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2016) Pérez Sancho, Marta; Díez Guerrier, Alberto Antoine; Salinas, Jesús; Navarro Gómez, Alejandro; García Benzaquén, Nerea; Pozo Piñol, Pilar; Goyache Goñi, Joaquín; Álvarez, Julio; Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José; García-Seco Romero, María TeresaOvine enzootic abortion, caused by Chlamydia abortus, leads to important economic losses worldwide. In addition to reproductive failures, infection may impact lamb growth during the first weeks after birth, yet this effect has not been well characterized. Vaccination can help to control the disease but variable efficacy values have been described, possibly related with factors associated with the host, the vaccine, the parameter used for efficacy determination and the challenge conditions. In this context, we evaluated the efficacy of an inactivated standard commercial vaccine and a 1/2 diluted dose in pregnant sheep challenged with C. abortus by examining multiple indicators ofvaccine effect (including incidence of reproductive failures, bacterial excretion, and evolution of weight gain of viable lambs during the first month of life). Three groups of ewes [control non-vaccinated, C (n = 18); vaccinated with standard dose, SV (n = 16) and vaccinated with 1/2 dose, DV (n = 17)], were challenged approximately 90 days post-mating and tested using direct PCR (tissue samples and vaginal swabs) and ELISA (serum) until 31 days post-reproductive outcome. There were not significant differences in the proportions of reproductive failures or bacterial shedding after birth/abortion regardless the vaccination protocol. However, a beneficial effect of vaccination on offspring growth was detected in both vaccinated groups compared with the controls, with a mean increase in weight measured at 30 days of life of 1.5 and 2.5 Kg (p = 0.056) and an increase in the geometric mean of the daily gain of 8.4 and 9.7% in lambs born from DV and SV ewes compared to controls, respectively. Our results demonstrate the effect of an inactivated vaccine in the development of the offspring of C. abortus-infected ewes at a standard and a diluted dose, an interesting finding given the difficulty in achieving sufficient antigen concentration in the production of EAE-commercial vaccines.