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Assessing and monitoring the welfare of free-living mammals is not a usual process due to the logistical complications associated with their capture and sedation, collection and storage of biological samples and their release. In this context, non-invasive methods for monitoring wildlife constitute a good alternative approach for in situ conservation. Body condition index, as a measurement of health status, has been used in free-living mammals; its low value may be associated with negative effects on reproduction and survival. The present study aimed to generate an alternative and reliable non-invasive method and then determine the body condition index, based on previously-collected biometric measurements, without the need to capture and immobilise the animals. A total of 178 free-living Nasua nasua Linnaeus, 1766 were trapped, weighed and measured. Statistical methods were used, based on Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) using body mass, biometric measurements (body length, height and chest girth) and gender as explanatory variables. To assess the agreement between the real Body Condition Indices (BCIs) and the predicted values of BCIs, we explored the correlation between each model using the Bland-Altman method. This method showed a strong agreement between the predictive BRT models proposed (standardised residuals from a linear regression between body length and chest girth) and standardised residuals (linear regression between body mass and body length). The results obtained herein showed that BRT modelling, based on biometrical features, is an alternative way to verify the body conditions of coatis without the need to capture and immobilise the animals.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern and controlling its spread is critical for the effectiveness of antibiotics. Members of the genus Salmonella are broadly distributed, and wild boar may play an important role in its circulation between peri-urban areas and the environment, due to its frequent interactions both with livestock or human garbage. As the population of these animals is rising due to management on certain hunting estates or the absence of natural predators, the aim of the present work is to identify the mechanisms of AMR present and/or expressed in Salmonella spp. from wild boar populations and to determine the possible role of management-related factors applied to different game estates located in central Spain. The detection of Salmonella spp. was carried out in 121 dead wild boar from 24 game estates, and antimicrobial resistance traits were determined by antibiotic susceptibility testing and screening for their genetic determinants. The effects of feeding supplementation, the proximity of livestock, the existence of a surrounding fence and the density of wild boar on the AMR of the isolates were evaluated. The predominant subspecies and serovar found were S. enterica subsp. enterica (n = 69) and S. choleraesuis (n = 33), respectively. The other subspecies found were S. enterica subsp. diarizonae, S. enterica subsp. salamae and S. enterica subsp. houtenae. AMR was common among isolates (75.2%) and 15.7% showed multi drug resistance (MDR). Resistance to sulphonamides was the most frequent (85.7%), as well as sul1 which was the AMR determinant most commonly found. Plasmids appeared in 38.8% of the isolates, with IncHI1 being the replicon detected with the highest prevalence. The AMR of the isolates increased when the animals were raised with feeding supplementation and enclosed by fences around the estates.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are gut symbionts that can be used as a model to understand the host-microbiota crosstalk under unpredictable environmental conditions such as wildlife ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine whether viable LAB can be informative of the health status of wild boar populations. We monitored the genotype and phenotype of LAB based on markers that included safety and phylogenetic origin, antibacterial activity and immunomodulatory properties. A LAB profile dominated by lactobacilli appears to stimulate protective immune responses and relates to strains widely used as probiotics, resulting in a potentially healthy wildlife population whereas microbiota overpopulated by enterococci was observed in a hostile environment. These enterococci were closely related to pathogenic strains that have developed mechanisms to evade innate immune system, posing a potential risk for the host health. Furthermore, our LAB isolates displayed antibacterial properties in a species-dependent manner. Nearly all of them were able to inhibit bacterial pathogens, raising the possibility of using them as a la carte antibiotic alternative in the unexplored field of wildlife disease mitigation. Our study highlights that microbiological characterization of LAB is a useful indicator of wildlife health status and the ecological origin from which they derive. Significance Statement The wildlife symbiotic microbiota is an important component to the greater for greater diversity and functionality of their bacterial populations, influencing the host health and adaptability to its ecosystem. Although many microbes are partly responsible for the development of multiple physiological processes, only certain bacterial groups such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the capacity to overpopulate the gut, promoting health (or disease) when specific genetic and environmental conditions are present. LAB have been exploited in many ways due to their probiotic properties, in particular lactobacilli, however their relationship with wildlife gut-associated microbiota hosts remains to be elucidated. On the other hand, it is unclear whether LAB such as enterococci, which have been associated with detrimental health effects, could lead to disease. These important questions have not been properly addressed in the field of wildlife, and therefore, should be clearly attained.

The importance of wild boars as game species in Spain is well known. Their feeding habits and intrusive behaviour, together with a progressively wider spreading of populations, increases the interactions of these animals with livestock and humans. Considering that wild boars could have a potential role in the transmission of certain pathogens as salmonellae, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in wild boars hunted in central-western Spain, the occurrence of this pathogen in tonsils, mandibular lymph nodes and faeces (as markers for transmission risk), and to define the phylogenetic relationships among isolated strains, in order to investigate the circulation pathways of bacteria among tissues, animals and estates. Samples from 1,041 hunted wild boars were analysed for the presence of Salmonella spp. by bacteriological culture. Isolates were confirmed by PCR and serotyped in the Spanish national reference laboratory. The genetic relationships between strains were determined by PFGE. The results showed a 7.7% of positive animals (81 wild boars), being tonsils the organ most frequently colonised by Salmonella spp. (18.7%), followed by lymph nodes (5.1%) and faecal samples (2.9%). Serovars Enteritidis and Newport were the most frequent amongst the 34 different serovars obtained. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PGFE) analysis showed a great genetic diversity, with serovars that exhibited different pulsotypes when isolated from different estates and multiple serovars in the same estate. In conclusion, this study reveals the importance of wild boars as carriers and possible transmitters of virulent and/or antimicrobial-resistant clones of Salmonella spp. to livestock and humans.

Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in important mammalian physiological mechanisms, such as Ca-P metabolism, bone development and immunological response. VitD deficiencies are frequently detected in domestic animals and related to various health problems (e.g., rickets, bone deformation). However, knowledge about the status of VitD in wildlife species, such as the wild boar, is scarce. The aims of this work were to explore VitD status in wild boar populations from mid-western Spain and to elucidate the influence of daylight exposure and food supplementation in levels of VitD. Serum concentration of VitD (measured as 25-hydroxivitaminD) was assessed in 276 wild boar from 27 game estates located in mid-western Spain using a commercial ELISA kit. In 19 out of 27 estates, the staff supplied a specific VitD-enriched food (2,000 UI/Kg) ad libitum throughout the year, while in the remaining estates (8), no food was supplied. Blood samples were extracted from hunted animals (198) between October and February of hunting seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, and from live wild boar (78) that were captured, sampled and released (March-September of 2017). The percentage of animals with VitD deficiency (20 ng/ml), VitD insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml) and VitD sufficiency (30 ng/ml) was estimated, and the relationship of these levels to factors like sex, age and season was assessed using chi-square tests. Furthermore, associations between daylight exposure and supplemental food with VitD levels were explored using linear models. Of the studied wild boar population, 82.2% showed a VitD deficiency or insufficiency. VitD deficiencies were more frequent in animals sampled in winter and spring. Furthermore, levels of VitD positively correlated with daylight exposure and supplemental food intake. Ad libitum supplementation with VitD-enriched food was insufficient to prevent VitD deficiencies in wild boar from November to April, probably because food consumption is lower during this period.

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis is the aetiological agent of swine paratyphoid being a highly invasive zoonotic pathogen. Wild boar natural populations are experiencing a demographical expansion as well as some farms are breeding this species to release for hunting with management sometimes identical to that of domestic pigs, including supplementation, grouping, and antibiotic treatments. This situation increases the chance of contact between wild boars and livestock, and potentially induces stress, with different sanitary consequences. The present work aims to describe the clinical features of recent outbreaks caused by S. Choleraesuis in wild boar from central‐western Spain, as well as the antimicrobial resistance and phylogenetic relationships of isolates involved. 28 strains of S. Choleraesuis were isolated from 28 different wild boars belonging to 10 different game states located in central western Spain and submitted to the Clinical Veterinary Hospital (CVH) of the University of Extremadura. Samples were taken from different organs and cultured according to the ISO 6579:2002 procedure. Suspicious colonies were identified by PCR and antimicrobial resistance was evaluated by disc diffusion susceptibility test and the presence of the main resistance genes as well as 18 plasmid replicons frequently found among the Enterobacteriaceae was verified by PCR. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was applied to determine the genetic relationship between isolates. The outbreaks under study were characterized by high mortality (35%–84%) and a septicaemic presentation. S. Choleraesuis was isolated from all the wild boars analysed, and 26 of the 28 isolates presented resistance to at least one antibiotic. The predominant resistances found were against sulphonamide, streptomycin, tetracycline, and doxicicline and sul1, strA‐strB, and tetA were the most prevalent resistance genes among isolates. 10 strains carried FIIA, FIB+H/1 or FIIA+H/1 plasmids. PFGE classified the isolates into four different profiles, grouped into two clusters. This results show that prevention against S. Choleraesuis must be considered in the sanitary programs of the wild boar breeders.

Body condition (i.e., the amount of the energy stored in organs and tissues) is a key parameter that has been related with health, reproductive performance and density of wild ungulates including the wild boar (Sus scrofa). In this wild pig, a reference method to assess body condition has not yet been agreed and different procedures have been used in recent literature. The aim of this work was to generate an easy and reliable method based on biometrical measurements and with the ability to predict body fat in live or die boars. For this, a total of 207 hunted wild boar from three Spanish populations with contrasting food availability were included in this study. Sex, age, biometrical parameters (body weight, total length and chest girth) and body condition indicators (brisket and rump fat thickness, kidney fat index (KFI), ratio between chest girth-total length and scaled mass index) were assessed for each animal. A boosted regression trees (BRT) approach was carried out to find models based on age, sex and biometrical features that predicted brisket fat thickness in the studied animals. BRT models including sex, body weight, total length and chest girth as explanatory variables were able to predict brisket fat thickness in wild boar (68–73% of deviance explained). These models were not influenced by the location of sampling and their predictive values showed a good agreement with real brisket fat thickness (94.1–95.6). Predictive values obtained in BRT models from each area also agreed with food availability suggesting this is a valid indicator of body condition of wild boar in a broad range of environmental conditions.

Wild boar is an important reservoir ofTB diagnosis andDNA fromMeasures aiming to control these factors could be useful to reduce

Over the last decades, wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe have increased with impacts on agriculture, livestock and biodiversity. Thus, changes in population management for wild boar are increasingly important. Knowledge of the age structure of the population is crucial to designing effective management plans. However, the costs and efforts required to estimate the age of wild boar, primarily in the oldest animals, is problematic for managers and researchers. Here, we describe a new method to estimate wild boar age based on simple dental measures (the external aperture of the pulp cavity, root length and crown length from primary and secondary incisors). Our study was based on data from 93 wild boar of known age belonging to two different populations in central and south-eastern Spain. We propose a model based on Boosted Regression Trees (BRT). Our results show a final age estimation model that included all the explanatory variables proposed (dental measures) and showed a high percentage of estimated deviance (61%), obtained by cross-validation. Thus, at least in Iberian wild boar populations, our method constitutes a low-cost and reliable method for wild boar age estimation.

Wild boar is an important reservoir of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). There is concern that transmission of this virus from wild boar to domestic pigs is possible. The aim of this work was to compare the antibody response produced by single dose of a gE-deleted ADV vaccine in wild boar to revaccinated animals, to assess if simple single-dose vaccination plans should be examined as a possible control measure against ADV in wild boar. Twenty-five wild boar (ages ranging between 2.5 to 5 months) were included in this study and distributed in three different groups: a control group (n = 5), a single-dose group (10 animals vaccinated only with one dose (day 0)) and a revaccinated group [10 animals vaccinated (day 0) and revaccinated (day 28)]. Mean antibody titers against ADV were determined in three groups using an ELISA assay at three different time points [day 0 (pre-vaccination), 28 (post 1st dose) and 56 (post 2nd dose)]. At day 28, single-dose and revaccinated groups showed a significant increment of antibody titers whereas antibodies in the control group remained stable. At day 56, revaccinated animals did not show a significant increment and antibody titers were similar to those found in animals vaccinated with one dose. These results indicate that vaccination with one dose produces a similar early antibody response to revaccination and therefore, should be examined as a possible control measure against ADV in wild boar. Keywords: Aujeszky's disease; serology; vaccination; wild boar.

Dr. D. Risco was supported by a Torres Quevedo Grant of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (PTQ14-06663 and RYC-2016-21120) and by the postdoctoral programme of the Gobierno de Extremadura (Ref PO14024). E. Serrano was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) through a Ramon y Cajal agreement (RYC-2016-21120). Tuberculosis (TB) in wild boar (Sus scrofa) may be affected by coinfections with other pathogens, such as porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Therefore, sanitary measures focused on controlling PCV2 could be useful in reducing the impact of TB in this wild suid. The aim of this study was to explore whether vaccination against PCV2 targeting young animals affects TB prevalence and TB severity in wild boar. The study was conducted on a game estate in mid-western Spain. Seventy animals of ages ranging from 4 to 8 months were captured, individually identified, vaccinated against PCV2 and released, forming a vaccinated group. Not-captured animals cohabiting with the vaccinated wild boar constituted the control group. Animals from both groups were hunted between 2013 and 2016 and a TB diagnosis based on pathological assessment and microbiological culture was made in all of them. The effect of PCV2 vaccination on TB prevalence and severity was explored using generalized lineal models. Whereas TB prevalence was similar in vaccinated and control groups (54.55 vs. 57.78%), vaccinated animals showed less probabilities to develop generalized TB lesions. Furthermore, mean TB severity score was significantly lower in vaccinated animals (1.55 vs. 2.42) suggesting a positive effect of PCV2 vaccination.

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a multifactorial respiratory syndrome related to the infection with different pathogens. Although most of these pathogens have been detected in the wild boar, the PRDC pneumonic lesions in this species have not been characterized. The aims of this study were to assess the presence of the main swine respiratory pathogens in wild boar populations from mid-western Spain and to describe the pathological features present in the lung from animals infected with PRDC pathogens. A pathological assessment based on five histological parameters was carried out in lung sections from 210 hunted wild boar. The presence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Aujeszky’s disease virus, and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in lungs was assessed by the use of specific PCR assays. Additionally, immunohistochemical techniques were carried out to detect swine influenza virus (SIV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in the lungs. Furthermore, the distribution of infected cells with PCV2 and the presence of M. hyopneumoniae throughout the pulmonary parenchyma were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays in a subset of animals. Wild boar infected with M. hyopneumoniae, H. parasuis, or P. multocida showed the most severe lesions. M. hyopneumoniae, SIV, PCV2, and PRRSV were detected in single or mixed infections. Animals suffering from mixed infections with M. hyopneumoniae together with different viruses showed severe bronchopneumonia associated with interstitial pneumonia, suggesting that interactions between pathogens might increase the severity of pathological outcomes.

Streptococcus suis is a recognized pathogen that may cause important diseases in pigs and humans. This microorganism has been repeatedly isolated from wild boar (Sus scrofa). However, its health implications for this wild species are still unknown. This article reports a detailed description of a fatal case of septicemia by S. suis affecting a young wild boar. The affected animal, about 15 days old, was found near death and exhibiting neurologic signs at a wild boar estate in southwestern Spain. Postmortem examination showed generalized congestion, brain hemorrhages and lobular pneumonia. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated the presence of meningitis and encephalitis with marked congestion and suppurative bronchopneumonia. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 isolates exhibiting important virulence factors (extracellular factor, muramidase-released protein, and suylisin) were isolated from the affected animal. This study confirms the presence of potentially virulent and zoonotic strains of S. suis in wild boar from Spain.

Background Wild boar is an important reservoir of Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant bovis, the main causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). A proportion of tuberculosis (TB)-affected wild boars shed M tuberculosis by nasal route, favouring the maintenance of bTB in a multihost scenario. The aim of this work was to assess if M tuberculosis nasal excretion is influenced by factors commonly associated with high TB prevalence in wild boar. Methods TB diagnosis and M tuberculosis isolation were carried out in 112 hunted wild boars from mid-western Spain. The association between the presence of M tuberculosis DNA in nasal secretions and explanatory factors was explored using partial least squares regression (PLSR) approaches. Results DNA from M tuberculosis was detected in 40.8 per cent nasal secretions of the TB-affected animals. Explanatory factors provided a first significant PLSR X’s component, explaining 25.70 per cent of the variability observed in M tuberculosis nasal shedding. The presence of M tuberculosis in nasal secretions is more probable in animals suffering from generalised TB and mainly coinfected with Metastrongylus species and porcine circovirus type 2, explaining nearly 90 per cent of the total variance of this model. Conclusion Measures aiming to control these factors could be useful to reduce M tuberculosis shedding in wild boar.

Aeromonas hydrophila has been repeatedly reported as an animal pathogen. This study describes a case of a wild boar piglet in Spain with severe purulent pneumonia caused by A. hydrophila. To confirm the presence of A. hydrophila in the respiratory tract of wild boars from the same region, lung samples from 34 adult hunted animals and nasal samples from 12 live animals were collected and cultured in selective medium. Lung lesions were studied in hunted wild boars to determine the presence of A. hydrophila and to assess its role as a possible respiratory pathogen in wild boars. A. hydrophila was isolated in 10.87% of the animals studied (8.82% of the dead animals and 16% of the live animals). However, its presence in the lungs of adults could not be correlated with the lesions found. Thus, the role of A. hydrophila as a respiratory pathogen is likely to be influenced by other factors, such as age, immunologic status, or coinfection with other pathogens. As a zoonotic pathogen, the presence of A. hydrophila in wild boars may pose a potential risk to people who consume their flesh.

The wild boar is an important reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in south-western Spain. Some risk factors such as wild boar density or age have been associated with the presence of high prevalences of bTB in wild boar. However, the influence of other risk factors such as co-infections with other pathogens has not yet been studied. This work aims to assess the influence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) infection on bTB prevalence and bTB lesional patterns observed in wild boar. The presence of bTB-like lesions was evaluated in 551 hunted wild boar from 11 different game estates in south-western Spain, with a known history of bTB. Tuberculosis prevalences in each estate were calculated based on the percentage of animals found with bTB-like lesions. The percentage of animals with generalized bTB lesional patterns (bTB lesions in more than one organ) was also assessed. The prevalence of PCV-2 was studied in each estate using a specific PCR assay. The relationship between PCV-2 and bTB prevalences and between PCV-2 infections and the presence of generalized lesional patterns in wild boar were analysed. A statistical relationship between the prevalences of bTB and PCV-2 was found, with bTB prevalences being higher in estates where prevalences of PCV-2 were high. On the other hand, animals infected with PCV-2 were more likely to develop a generalized lesional pattern. Porcine circovirus type 2 prevalences seem to be associated with prevalences of bTB in wild boar. PCV-2 infection may aggravate the development and severity of bTB, favouring the presence of generalized lesional patterns and raising the risk of contagion in these estates. The implementation of sanitary measures that focus on the control of PCV-2 infection may be necessary as a preliminary measure in bTB control programmes for wild boar.

Pasteurella multocida is a common pathogen of swine that causes specific diseases with great economic impact. However, the importance of this pathogen in wild boar is still unknown. In the current work, an outbreak of systemic pasteurellosis in wild boar with a high mortality rate is described. A total of 23 wild boar of all ages were found dead over a 5-day period on a game estate in southwest Spain (11.11% mortality). Three animals were necropsied and showed subcutaneous edema, a generalized congestion, and fibrin deposits in the peritoneal cavity. Hemorrhages, general congestion, and intravascular thrombosis were microscopically observed. Pasteurella multocida type B was isolated from all of the studied organs. Outbreaks of systemic pasteurellosis have been described in domestic pigs from Asia and Australia, but not to date in Europe. This outbreak suggests that systemic pasteurellosis affecting wild boar populations may be an important cause of mortality.

Research on management of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in wildlife reservoir hosts is crucial for the implementation of effective disease control measures and the generation of practical bTB management recommendations. Among the management methods carried out on wild species to reduce bTB prevalence, the control of population density has been frequently used, with hunting pressure a practical strategy to reduce bTB prevalence. However, despite the number of articles about population density control in different bTB wildlife reservoirs, there is little information regarding the application of such measures on the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), which is considered the main bTB wildlife reservoir within Mediterranean ecosystems. This study shows the effects of a management measure leading to a radical decrease in wild boar population density at a large hunting estate in Central Spain, in order to assess the evolution of bTB prevalence in both the wild boar population and the sympatric fallow deer population. The evolution of bTB prevalence was monitored in populations of the two wild ungulate species over a 5-year study period (2007-2012). The results showed that bTB prevalence decreased in fallow deer, corresponding to an important reduction in the wild boar population. However, this decrease was not homogeneous: in the last season of study there was an increase in bTB-infected male animals. Moreover, bTB prevalence remained high in the remnant wild boar population.

Haemophilus parasuis is a recognized pathogen in domestic pigs; the pathogen has been also isolated from healthy wild boar ( Sus scrofa). In the current report, a case of fatal H. parasuis infection in a wild boar piglet from central Spain is described. The affected animal presented severe pneumonic lesions, inflammation in tarsal joints with presence of fibrinous deposits, and epidural hemorrhage in the atlanto-occipital joint. Pure growth of H. parasuis was obtained from lungs and tarsal joints. The current case illustrates the susceptibility of wild boar to this agent. The gross pathology results were similar to that described in domestic pigs, but there were no fibrinous deposits on serosal surfaces.

The role of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a reservoir for a large number of pathogens that can affect both domestic animals and humans has been widely studied in the last few years. However, the impact of some of these pathogens on the health of wild boar populations is still being determined. This article presents a clinical case of severe bilateral keratoconjunctivitis affecting a 2-mo-old piglet from a semi–free range population in Spain. Histopathologic and microbiologic analysis revealed lesions in the cornea, choroid, and optical nerve, and Chlamydia suis was detected in the eyes bilaterally. The visual handicap resulting from this type of lesion greatly affects the survival of this affected piglet.

The present study evaluated the limitations of the coprological sedimentation test to assess Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infestation in 59 wild boars (Sus scrofa) from central Spain. The coprological sedimentation test appeared to be a poor predictor of both prevalence of infestation and the real parasite burden due to the high number of false negative results (prevalence was reduced from 61 to 16 %). Because of the potential increased risk of this zoonosis, it is suggested that alternative techniques be used in wildlife surveillance programmes.

The interaction with cervicovaginal mucus presents the potential to impact the performance of drug nanocarriers. These systems must migrate through this biological fluid in order to deliver their drug payload to the underlying mucosal surface. We studied the ability of dapivirine-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL)-based nanoparticles (NPs) to interact with a simulated vaginal fluid (SVF) incorporating mucin. Different surface modifiers were used to produce NPs with either negative (poloxamer 338 NF and sodium lauryl sulfate) or positive (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) surface charge. Studies were performed using the mucin particle method, rheological measurements, and real-time multiple particle tracking. Results showed that SVF presented rheological properties similar to those of human cervicovaginal mucus. Analysis of NP transport indicated mild interactions with mucin and low adhesive potential. In general, negatively charged NPs underwent subdiffusive transport in SVF, i.e., hindered as compared to their diffusion in water, but faster than for positively charged NPs. These differences were increased when the pH of SVF was changed from 4.2 to 7.0. Diffusivity was 50- and 172-fold lower in SVF at pH 4.2 than in water for negatively charged and positively charged NPs, respectively. At pH 7.0, this decrease was around 20- and 385-fold, respectively. The estimated times required to cross a layer of SVF were equal to or lower than 1.7 h for negatively charged NPs, while for positively charged NPs these values were equal to or higher than 7 h. Overall, our results suggest that negatively charged PCL NPs may be suitable to be used as carriers in order to deliver dapivirine and potentially other antiretroviral drugs to the cervicovaginal mucosal lining. Also, they further reinforce the importance in characterizing the interactions of nanosystems with mucus fluids or surrogates when considering mucosal drug delivery.

Three κ/ι-hybrid carrageenan polysaccharides with distinct molecular mass and content of -carrageenan disaccharide units were isolated from Mastocarpus stellatus seaweeds. The viscoelastic and thermal properties of 2 wt% κ/ι-hybrid carrageenan solutions with ionic strength tuned by the addition of NaCl salt were studied by means of rheological tests and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All solutions form a gel upon cooling. The gel elasticity decreases with the content in ι-carrageenan disaccharide units, and does not correspond to the additive elasticity of a - and a ι-carrageenan networks. The highest gel elasticity is obtained with the lowest molecular mass. In 0.1M NaCl, two gelling processes are evidenced. The first increase in solution viscosity upon cooling coincides with a thermal transition process, which is assigned to a coil-to-helix conformational transition. The transition depends on both molecular mass distribution and chemical structure. The same dependencies are observed for the gel melting behaviour as all rheological and thermal processes determined are shifted to higher temperature with decreased molecular mass or increased content in ι-carrageenan disaccharide units.

This work presents a methodology for the extraction of galactomannans from seeds of four different species of Leguminosae (Adenanthera pavonina, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Gleditsia triacanthos and Sophora japonica) to be used e.g. in the food and biomedical industries. The galactomannans were obtained by aqueous extraction followed by a precipitation with ethanol. This methodology is simpler and easier to perform than other existing extraction and purification methodologies, and because it avoids the use of organic solvents (other than ethanol), it is able to generate food grade substances and is environmentally friendlier. The yield of extraction in different stages of the process, monosaccharide composition, as well as physical and chemical parameters of the isolated galactomannans were determined and compared with previously published results. The mannose/galactose ratio of the extracted galactomannans ranged from 1.35 (A. pavonina) to 5.75 (S. japonica). The intrinsic viscosity ranged from 11.34 dL/g (C. pulcherrima) to 8.74 dL/g (S. japonica), while the viscosity average molecular mass ranged between 1.81 * 10 6Da and 1.17 * 10 6Da (A. pavonina > C. pulcherrima > G. triacanthos > S. japonica). The results confirm the suitability of the extraction and purification procedure to obtain galactomannans from non-traditional sources., Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil), Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), ALFA VALNATURA Project of Europe Aid Cooperation Office (EU)

Altres ajuts: PS0900513 PDT09A046 GRU10142 Co-infections with parasites or viruses drive tuberculosis dynamics in humans, but little is known about their effects in other non-human hosts. This work aims to investigate the relationship between Mycobacterium bovis infection and other pathogens in wild boar (Sus scrofa), a recognized reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Mediterranean ecosystems. For this purpose, it has been assessed whether contacts with common concomitant pathogens are associated with the development of severe bTB lesions in 165 wild boar from mid-western Spain. The presence of bTB lesions affecting only one anatomic location (cervical lymph nodes), or more severe patterns affecting more than one location (mainly cervical lymph nodes and lungs), was assessed in infected animals. In addition, the existence of contacts with other pathogens such as porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), swine influenza virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Metastrongylus spp, was evaluated by means of serological, microbiological and parasitological techniques. The existence of contacts with a structured community of pathogens in wild boar infected by M. bovis was statistically investigated by null models. Association between this community of pathogens and bTB severity was examined using a Partial Least Squares regression approach. Results showed that adult wild boar infected by M. bovis had contacted with some specific, non-random pathogen combinations. Contact with PCV2, ADV and infection by Metastrongylus spp, was positively correlated to tuberculosis severity. Therefore, measures against these concomitant pathogens such as vaccination or deworming, might be useful in tuberculosis control programmes in the wild boar. However, given the unexpected consequences of altering any community of organisms, further research should evaluate the impact of such measures under controlled conditions. Furthermore, more research including other important pathogens, such as gastro-intestinal nematodes, will be necessary to complete this picture.