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Background: Forest fires represent a severe threat to Mediterranean ecosystems and are considered one of the major environmental and socioeconomic problems of the region. The project Plantando cara al fuego (PCF, Spain) is designed to transfer knowledge and to improve the training of new generations in forest fire management. The project is based on the application of service-learning (S-L), an educational methodology that combines learning and community service. Conceived as a compendium of S-L initiatives, the PCF project is composed of several S-L projects with the objective of reducing the problem of forest fires. The individual projects are developed at the regional/local level, each one involving different social agents such as researchers, students (from different disciplines), schools, multidisciplinary professionals, NGOs, or the administration. Results: Participants received an initial training in S-L to design projects focused on different aspects of forest fires (environmental awareness, outreach/communication, fire prevention or post-fire restoration). These applied projects are formally integrated in the learning process via curriculum, which serve to teach and reinforce transversal skills and allow students to get involved and work to solve real problems. In general, the response of the participants was highly favorable, since the projects served to create an atmosphere that facilitates learning, interaction between participants, the application of theoretical class contents, knowledge transfer, or the exchange of good teaching practices. Conclusions: The summary of the PCF project presented in this work serves as a practical guide describing the activities, participants, and the necessary steps involved in the design, development, and evaluation of S-L projects to address environmental problems. In this case, the S-L was adapted to a specific context (i.e., the problem of forest fires) to which it had never been previously applied, but this methodolo

2023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE, Cockfighting is illegal both in the European Union and the United States, although fighting cock husbandry and breed preservation are allowed. Here, we describe the pathological findings observed in the carcasses of two Spanish-breed fighting cocks submitted to our laboratory after an animal abuse-suspected death. The postmortem examination revealed these cocks may have been used for cockfighting (comb, ear lobes, wattles, and chest feather removal; and trimmed spurs). The severe extensive hemorrhages observed in the cervical region of both birds, affecting C1-C4 in bird No. 1 and C8-C11 in No. 2, suggested cervical dislocation in a non-professional manner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of abuse in a Spanish-breed fighting cock. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the identification of animal abuse cases in avian species which may lead to successful prosecutions in Spain and elsewhere., Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), TRUE, pub, APC financiada por la UCM

Antimicrobial resistance demands the development of therapeutic alternatives such as prebiotics, probiotics, and nutraceuticals. The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial proprieties of the nutraceutical fermented defatted “alperujo”, derived from olive oil production, in a laying hen farm (n = 122,250) endemic with avian intestinal spirochetosis (Brachyspira spp.). Part of the batch (n = 1440) was divided into six groups of 240 hens each that included 80 or 108-week-old laying hens, supplemented with 0%, 2%, or 6% fermented defatted ‘alperujo’ for a month. At the end of the experiment, eight hens from each group were autopsied and cecal content was subjected to (i) Brachyspira culture and species identification by PCRs, and (ii) direct DNA extraction and Brachyspira qPCR. Furthermore, the ceca were processed for histopathology. Microbiological isolation revealed B. pilosicoli and B. hyodysenteriae co-infection in all groups. The 80-week-old hen group 2% supplemented showed a reduction in the cecal Brachyspira content (qPCR) compared with non-supplemented hens. Cecal histopathology showed a diffuse mild infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and heterophils; and hyperplasia of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue hyperplasia which decreased in severity in 80-week-old supplemented hens. The reduction in Brachyspira colonization and the severity of the lesions observed in supplemented hens highlights a potential protective function against avian intestinal spirochetosis., Ministerios de Economía, Industria y Competetividad (RTC-2015-3621-2), Comunidad de Madrid (S2013/ABI-2747), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (RTI2018-098658-B-C22), Ministerio de Universidades (PRE2019-087439), Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

The authors thank G. Torre (VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid) for her technical support. We are indebted to all the environmental law enforcement agents (Agentes de Medio Ambiente) for their field work., Human–wildlife conflicts may have devastating consequences for fauna due to targeting by humans of wildlife populations suspected to have predated livestock. Suspicion of depredation of extensively raised livestock by vultures in Europe has triggered public administration-led forensic investigations intended to distinguish between predation and scavenging in order to compensate farmers for attacks on their livestock. In this study, gross and histological analyses were carried out on suspected cases of domestic animal depredation by griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) over a 1-year period. Fifty-eight animals were affected (n = 41, suspected depredation), including domestic cattle (75.9%), sheep (22.4%) and a goat (1.7%). All the adults affected were female and most cases of suspected depredation occurred during the peripartum period (56%). Histological investigations distinguished between post-mortem (84% of diagnostic samples) and ante-mortem (16% of diagnostic samples) cases, and gross examinations revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.002) between ante-mortem, post-mortem and non-diagnostic samples. This study highlights the need to optimize sampling protocols to increase the success of forensic studies. The forensic investigations presented here may be applied to resolve human–wildlife conflicts involving not only vultures but other endangered carnivores and contribute to human–wildlife coexistence in rural areas by protecting the interests of both the livestock sector and endangered species., Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

Brucellosis is a sanitary and economically relevant disease affecting humans, livestock, and wildlife. Ticks have been suggested as vectors, long-term carriers, and amplifiers of Brucella. In this study, ticks from wildlife ungulate hosts living in hunting reserves of a central region of Spain were collected during a 6-year period, pooled, and screened for Brucella spp. by PCR. Aiming to correlate Brucella spp. DNA presence in ticks with Brucella spp. infections in wildlife ungulate hosts, liver samples from deceased wildlife ungulates coming from the hunting reserves showing a positive result for Brucella in ticks were tested using a commercial ELISA. In total, 229 tick pools from wild boar (Sus scrofa, n = 176; 76.8%, 95% CI 70.9%–81.8%), red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 40; 17.4%, 95% CI 13.1%–22.9%), mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon, n = 7; 3.06%, 95% CI 1.49%–6.17%), and fallow deer (Dama dama, n = 6; 2.62%, 95% CI 1.21%–5.60%) were analyzed. PCR results showed that 3.93% (95% CI 2.08%–7.30%) tick pools (9/229) from 16.6% hunting reserves (7/41) screened yielded a positive PCR result for Brucella. All positive ticks were Dermacentor (Dermacentor marginatus or Dermacentor reticulatus) collected from wild boar. Ticks collected from wild boars were positive to Brucella in a relative percentage of 5.10% (95% CI = 1.61–11.4) in 2018 and of 7.59% (95% CI = 2.79–15.6) in 2021 (6-year prevalence of 5.17%, 9/176). ELISA showed positive results in three wild boars coming from two out of seven hunting reserves (28.5%) with a positive PCR for Brucella in ticks. To conclude, Brucella spp. DNA can be detected in Dermacentor ticks parasitizing wild boars living in hunting reserves harboring Brucella spp.-seropositive wild boars. This study provides evidence that the contribution of arthropod vectors should be considered in the epidemiology of brucellosis in wildlife., Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

The expanding presence of red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) in urban and suburban regions could potentially lead to increased instances of human aggression towards this species. We studied 10 deceased red foxes that were submitted by law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan area of Madrid in 2014–2022 because of suspected abuse. Forensic autopsies were performed to establish the cause and manner of death. In 4 of the 10 cases, the cause of death was deemed unnatural, involving blunt-force trauma ( n = 2), asphyxia resulting from hanging ( n = 1), and firearm injury ( n = 1). Among the remaining cases, most had succumbed to natural causes ( n = 4), often marked by severe emaciation and a high burden of parasites, primarily Sarcoptes scabiei. In 2 cases, death was undetermined given the poor preservation of the carcass. The growing prevalence of wildlife species in urban areas, particularly red foxes, may require forensic veterinary investigation of deaths potentially related to abuse., Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

2023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE, Animal victims of human cruelty are receiving increasing attention from the press and society. Veterinary pathologists and civic authorities have a duty not only to elucidate the cause, method and manner of death but also to address the motivation behind a case. Poultry are commonly used as offering to gods in Santería rituals (ebós). Only a few cases have been reported in scientific journals, in contrast with the number of cases described in the media. Here, a hen and a cockerel (Gallus domesticus) were submitted to the VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre for autopsy, which comprised macroscopic and histological studies and microbiological testing for Chlamydia psittaci, avian orthoavulavirus 1 (Newcastle disease virus), West Nile virus and avian influenza virus. The carcasses were in an active decay stage of decomposition, containing larvae of Lucilia eximia. Both animals had been decapitated and haemorrhages in the cutting region were observed histologically. Post-mortem burns were also observed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first post-mortem description of lesions in a domestic avian species due to religious rituals. European Union and Spanish forensic practitioners should be aware that these ritual sacrifices occur in some European countries. Moreover, future European and national legislation updates should consider this type of animal abuse., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Ministerio de Universidades (España), Depto. de Producción Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub, APC financiada por la UCM

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and glia. Primary tauopathies are not uncommon in humans but exceptional in other species. We evaluate the clinical, neuropathological, and genetic alterations related to tau pathology in 16 cats aged from 1 to 21 years with different clinical backgrounds. Interestingly, a 10-year-old female cat presented a six-year progressive history of mental status and gait abnormalities. The imaging study revealed generalized cortical atrophy. Due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized at the age of ten. Neuropathological lesions were characterized by massive neuronal loss with marked spongiosis and associated moderate reactive gliosis in the parietal cortex, being less severe in other areas of the cerebral cortex, and the loss of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical methods revealed a 4R-tauopathy with granular pre-tangles in neurons and coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes. Deposits were recognized with several phospho-site antibodies (4Rtau, tau5, AT8, PFH, tau-P Thr181, tau-P-Ser 262, tau-P Ser 422) and associated with increased granular expression of active tau kinases (p38-P Thr180/Tyr182 and SAPK/JNK-P Thr138/Thr185). The genetic study revealed well-preserved coding regions of MAPT. No similar alterations related to tau pathology were found in the other 15 cats processed in parallel. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a primary 4R-tauopathy with severe cerebral and Purkinje cell degeneration in an adult cat with neurological signs starting at a young age., Instituto de Salud Carlos III (España), European Commission, Fundació La Marató de TV3, Fundación La Caixa, Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.R.-B. and B.C.; methodology, A.R.-B.; software, E.V.-F.; validation, B.C., A.R.-M., L.D. and A.R.-B.; formal analysis, E.V.-F., B.C. and A.R.-M.; investigation, E.V.-F. and B.C.; resources, L.D. and A.R.-B.; data curation, E.V.-F., B.C. and A.R.-M.; writing—original draft preparation, E.V.-F. and B.C.; writing—review and editing A.R.-M., L.D. and A.R.-B.; supervision, L.D. and A.R.-B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript., Aeromonas salmonicida is one of the major threats to world aquaculture, causing fish furunculosis and high mortality rates in cultured fish, particularly salmonids. Although Aeromonas spp. is a thoroughly studied pathogen, little is known regarding aeromoniasis in sturgeons. After a mortality outbreak, four juvenile sturgeons (Acipenser baerii) were submitted for autopsy and tissue samples were collected for histopathological and microbiological studies. The external examination revealed size heterogenicity, skin hyperpigmentation and reduced body condition of sturgeons. Within the abdominal cavity, mild hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were observed, as well as generalized organic congestion. Histology revealed severe multifocal haemorrhagic and ulcerative dermatitis, mainly localized in the dorsal and latero-ventral areas of fish. The histological study also showed moderate to severe inflammation of gills and organic lesions compatible with septicaemia. Bacterial isolates were identified as Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida using MALDI-TOF MS and PCR. Overall, the lesions first described here are consistent with those previously reported in other cultured fish species and contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in the Siberian sturgeon, aside from providing new diagnostic tools for bacterial diseases impacting the fast-growing industry of caviar., European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, L.V.-P., I.F. and M.P.; methodology, L.V.-P., I.F. and M.P.; software, G.S.; validation, L.V.-P., I.F. and M.P.; formal analysis, L.V.-P., G.S., I.F. and M.P.; investigation, L.V.-P., C.F., A.R.-M., G.S, P.A.-B., I.F. and M.P; resources, I.F. and M.P.; data curation, L.V.-P., C.F., G.S., I.F. and M.P.; writing—original draft preparation, L.V-P.; writing—review and editing, C.F., A.R.-M., G.S., P.A.-B., I.F. and M.P.; visualization, L.V.-P.; supervision, I.F. and M.P.; project administration, I.F. and M.P.; funding acquisition, I.F. and M.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript., Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and glia. Primary tauopathies are not uncommon in humans but exceptional in other species. We evaluate the clinical, neuropathological, and genetic alterations related to tau pathology in 16 cats aged from 1 to 21 years with different clinical backgrounds. Interestingly, a 10-year-old female cat presented a six-year progressive history of mental status and gait abnormalities. The imaging study revealed generalized cortical atrophy. Due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized at the age of ten. Neuropathological lesions were characterized by massive neuronal loss with marked spongiosis and associated moderate reactive gliosis in the parietal cortex, being less severe in other areas of the cerebral cortex, and the loss of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical methods revealed a 4R-tauopathy with granular pre-tangles in neurons and coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes. Deposits were recognized with several phospho-site antibodies (4Rtau, tau5, AT8, PFH, tau-P Thr181, tau-P-Ser 262, tau-P Ser 422) and associated with increased granular expression of active tau kinases (p38-P Thr180/Tyr182 and SAPK/JNK-P Thr138/Thr185). The genetic study revealed well-preserved coding regions of MAPT. No similar alterations related to tau pathology were found in the other 15 cats processed in parallel. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a primary 4R-tauopathy with severe cerebral and Purkinje cell degeneration in an adult cat with neurological signs starting at a young age., Generalitat de Catalunya, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Social Fund, Fundació La Marató de TV3, National Institutes of Health, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), TRUE, pub

Porcine brucellosis, which is caused by Brucella suis biovar (bv) 2, is a re-emerging disease that causes reproductive problems in pigs in Europe. The pathogenesis and lesions of B. suis intrauterine infection are poorly characterized; characterization could facilitate the diagnosis and investigation of porcine brucellosis. We collected samples of placentas and fetuses for histologic and microbiologic studies during an outbreak of abortions on a pig-breeding farm in Spain. Brucella was cultured from the vaginal swabs obtained from sows that had aborted, some placentas, and fetal tissues (spleen, liver, lung, gastric content); molecular testing confirmed B. suis bv 2 infection. Histologically, there was necrotizing and hemorrhagic placentitis; suppurative hepatitis; lymphoid depletion and sinusoidal histiocytosis in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus; and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Hemorrhages were observed in the umbilical cord, heart, kidneys, and brain. We detected Brucella by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all of the placentas and fetal organs studied, specifically in the trophoblasts of the chorionic epithelium, in the cytoplasm of macrophages in the chorionic stroma, and extracellularly in necrotic debris. Furthermore, we assessed the lymphocyte population in the placentas through the use of IHC (anti-CD3, anti- Pax5 antibodies), revealing that the lymphocytic response was composed of T cells but not B cells., Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), TRUE, pub

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), TRUE, pub

Flavobacterium psychrophilum affects many cultured fish species and is considered one of the most important bacterial pathogens causing substantial economic losses in salmonid aquaculture worldwide. Here, F. psychrophilum was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and nested PCR as the aetiological agent causing mortality in diseased juvenile Siberian sturgeons (Acipenser baerii) reared on a freshwater fish farm. Diseased sturgeons were lethargic and displayed dark skin pigmentation, increased mucus production and the presence of skin ulcerations and haemorrhages specially on the ventral side and the base of fins. The histological examination of fish revealed proliferative branchitis, ulcerative and necrotizing dermatitis and myositis, lymphoid tissue atrophy, liver and kidney degeneration and thrombosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the infection of Siberian sturgeons by F. psychrophilum. The detection of F. psychrophilum in diseased Siberian sturgeons and the description of the pathological findings observed during the outbreak may contribute to a better understanding of the bacterium pathogenicity and the range of fish species susceptible to infection., European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

El objeto del proyecto es realizar una reflexión conjunta de profesores en diferentes departamentos, con el fin de identificar aquellos ítems, planteados por Docentia-UCM, que han arrojado resultados mejorables. Posteriormente serán contrastados con un panel de docentes calificados como “excelentes” (de los que algunos ya forman parte del presente proyecto), en base al programa, con excelencia en una jornada de reflexión, abierta a todos los profesores de cada departamento implicado, y a los delegados de las asignaturas impartidas por dicho departamento. Se busca la mejora de las evaluaciones de los profesores.

It is accepted that prescribed fires generally led to low losses of the organic and mineral superficial layers,especially as compared to the moderate or high intensity burning of wildfires. Consequently, prescribed fires have been largely used to reduce wildfire risk or change the land use. Still, the effects of the fire in the soil C and N pools are not totally understood. The main objective of this research was to assess the effects of prescribed versus wildfires on the soil C and N stocks of Mediterranean forest and shrublands. Additionally, the relation of proxy visual indicators, such as the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) with the maximum temperature reached at different depths was also assessed in the prescribed fires. Pre-/unburned and post-fire/burned organic (L, FH) and mineral soil samples (0-2, 2-5, 5-10 cm) were gathered from three prescribed fires and four wildfires. The three prescribed fires burned at low SBS (Cartaya: 2.2, Doñana20:1.9 and Doñana21: 0.7), two wildfires burned at moderate SBS (Casares: 3.2 and Bermeja-L: 2.7) and twoat high SBS (Monchique: 4.4, Bermeja-H: 3.9). Pre-fire C stocks ranged from 70-15 Mg ha-1 in theprescribed fire sites; and from 60-30 Mg ha-1 in the wildfire sites. All fires dropped the C and N contentson the organic layers, and the effect consistently decreased with increasing the mineral soil depth. The consumption of the C stocks was, on average, 50, 34 and 14%, respectively for Cartaya, Doñana20 and DOñana21 prescribed fires; while in the moderate wildfires it was 26% and 12% (Casares and Bermeja-L) and 38-39% for the high severity wildfires. The consumption of the N stocks on the prescribed sites was high (37 to 13%) if compared to the moderate wildfires (8-2%) but similar to the 35-27% consumption in the high severity wildfires. The pre-fire soil C and N stocks, as well as the conditions at which prescribed fires were carried out should be re-evaluated to prevent high consumptions of the soil organic matter

Soil phosphorus (P) is a limiting element, essential for the ecosystem functioning and the long-term plant nutrition. The changes in the availability of P forms in different post-fire scenarios is still scarce. Our main objective was to assess the effects of prescribed fires and wildfires in the dynamics of soil P forms in Mediterranean forests (Southern Iberian Peninsula). Both wildfires (Sierra Bermeja) and prescribed fires (Cartaya, Doñana) were selected, and the surface organic layer and the uppermost mineral soil (0-2 cm) were sampled in unburned (pre-fire) and burned (post-fire) sites immediately after fire and one year after. Besides the strong increase in pH (>2 pH units) and the loss of SOM, extractable P increased immediately after fire. 31P-NMR spectroscopy indicated that both prescribed and wildfiresled to the transformation of the different P fractions, especially at the organic layer. The low severity burning on the organic layer produced a short-term peak of orthophosphate, reducing the organic P (P mono- and diesters) in both prescribed and wildfires. However, fire affected more severely the P pool in the organic than the mineral fraction. P forms were almost completely mineralized, the effect decreasing with decreasing fire severity: Sierra Bermeja (high severity) > Sierra Bermeja (low severity) ~ Cartaya fire > Doñana fire. As fire severity decreased, different P forms and the organic:inorganic P ratios (Po:Pi) dramatically increased. The profile of P compounds was markedly dependent on the origin of fire. Despite both wildfires and prescribed burns affected the mineral fraction (0-2 cm), clear differences were observed in the organic layer. After one year, the composition of the different soil P forms in prescribed fires was similar to prefire conditions, but this was not the case of the wildfires, even the low severity burning.

Engineered live bacteria could provide a new modality for treating lung infections, a major cause of mortality worldwide. In the present study, we engineered a genome-reduced human lung bacterium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, to treat ventilator-associated pneumonia, a disease with high hospital mortality when associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. After validating the biosafety of an attenuated M. pneumoniae chassis in mice, we introduced four transgenes into the chromosome by transposition to implement bactericidal and biofilm degradation activities. We show that this engineered strain has high efficacy against an acute P. aeruginosa lung infection in a mouse model. In addition, we demonstrated that the engineered strain could dissolve biofilms formed in endotracheal tubes of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia and be combined with antibiotics targeting the peptidoglycan layer to increase efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We expect our M. pneumoniae-engineered strain to be able to treat biofilm-associated infections in the respiratory tract.