El hongo Cryptococcus neoformans es el causante de criptococosis en humanos y animales. La enfermedad se ha relacionado con la exposición de los pacientes a excretas de aves, de las cuales la paloma urbana (Columba livia) es la más importante como reservorio del hongo. Objetivo: Aislar C. neoformans en heces de palomas en el casco urbano del municipio de Pasto (Colombia). Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal, en zonas con alta densidad de palomas y afluencia de personas. Las zonas correspondieron a iglesias ubicadas dentro del casco urbano que cumplieron con el criterio de inclusión. Se realizó cultivo de 128 muestras de excretas de palomas en agar Sabouraud dextrosa con cloranfenicol. Posteriormente se realizó un extendido de capa fina del cultivo donde hubo crecimiento del patógeno y se le agregó una gota del colorante tinta china para visualizar el agente en el microscopio. Las variables analizadas fueron: presencia del hongo en heces de palomas y prevalencia en las zonas de muestreo, características de la muestra y características de las áreas en las que se aisló el agente. Resultados: La prevalencia de C. neoformans en el casco urbano del municipio de Pasto es del 90%.El 26,56% de las muestras fueron positivas. Se encontró relación significativa entre la presencia del agente y las variables de la muestra en suelo (p = 0,0025), muestra fresca (p = 0,004), muestra húmeda (p = 0,031), muestra seca (p = 0,001), sin contaminación (p = 0,01), alta exposición a la luz (p = 0,016), baja humedad de la zona (p = 0,001), y densidad de palomas (p = 0,007). El estudio permitió establecer la presencia de C. neoformans en excretas de paloma en el municipio de Pasto. Se encontraron características particulares en la zona y la muestra que aumentan la probabilidad de aislamiento.

In intensive swine production systems,, the practice of regrouping unfamiliar pigs is common, often leading to aggressive behavior. Although the effect of different musical genres composed for humans has been evaluated in pigs to mitigate aggression, there have been few attempts to create music specifically for pigs. Here, we assess whether sensory stimulation through music, created by adapting the acoustic parameters in the sound mix, induces changes in the aggressive behaviors of pigs during regrouping. Six litters of 10-week-old piglets were randomly selected and assigned to different treatments. The control group (Group A) received no intervention, while Group B was exposed to music for two continuous hours in the morning and afternoon from the time of regrouping. Group C received musical stimulation for one continuous hour in the morning following regrouping. A significant reduction in the frequency and duration of aggressive behaviors was observed in the groups that received musical stimulation during regrouping. Additionally, social, and individual play behaviors showed a decrease in the musical stimulation groups. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of created music as a strategy in reducing aggressive behavior during pig regrouping, which can enhance the welfare of pigs and offer a practical solution for pig producers to minimize aggression and its associated negative impacts.

Background and Aim: Milk contamination for human consumption is one of the biggest concerns worldwide. To prevent milk contamination, it is important to implement sustainable production practices that ensure animal health and guarantee veterinary drugs have been used properly. This study aimed to detect antibiotic residues and microbial contamination in commercially available pasteurized whole milk intended for human consumption. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on all brands of pasteurized milk (n = 17) for human consumption in Medellin, Colombia, from February 30 to April 30, 2022. Six milk samples of each brand were collected every 15 days, resulting in 102 samples. IDEXX SNAPduo ST Plus test (IDEXX Laboratories Inc, Maine, USA) was used to detect cephalosporins residues to detect beta-lactam and tetracyclines. We detected mesophilic aerobic bacteria and coliforms using Chromocult Coliform Agar (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) and Plate-Count Agar (Merck KGaA), respectively. Results: Beta-lactam residues were found in 24.4% of the brands. No tetracyclines or cephalosporins were detected. Mesophilic aerobic bacteria and coliform contamination were detected in 42.6% and 12.8% of the brands, respectively. No fecal coliform contamination was detected. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of antibiotic residues and microbial contamination in commercially available pasteurized whole milk intended for human consumption in the study area, highlighting its potential public health implications. Keywords: biological contamination, cow milk, drug residues, food safety.

Background and Aim: In the Caribbean region of Colombia, the concomitance of endemic infectious agents is a common problem, and coinfections are possible, increasing the complexity of cattle herds’ sanitary, reproductive, and productive problems. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of bovine leukemia virus and its association with bovine infectious abortion in grazing Creole breeds from tropical herds in the Colombian Caribbean. Materials and Methods: For the determination of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1), and Neospora Caninum (NC), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used. Matrix analysis was performed to represent multiple seroprevalence in the same cow. To explore the association between the seroprevalence of BLV and bovine infectious abortion agents, a multivariate logistic regression model was used. Results: The seroprevalence was as follows: BLV 30.78%, BVDV 33.01%, BoHV-1 12.85%, and NC 8.96%. In the multivariate logistic regression model, seroprevalence of BVDV (OR 10.8; 95% CI: 7.5–15.6) and seroprevalence of BoHV-1 (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1–3.0) were associated with the seroprevalence of BLV. Conclusion: Animals infected with BLV are more susceptible to coinfections with BVDV and BoHV-1. Implementing healthy measures against these two immunosuppressive infections could enhance the hygiene of numerous cattle herds. This study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study, which limits the ability to confirm that BLV is the primary infection. Further studies to confirm the primary infection of BLV with an active viral coinfection are necessary and the factors associated with these phenomena. Keywords: bovine leukemia virus, co-infection, Creole breeds, infectious abortion.

In veterinary medicine, heart rate variability (HRV) has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing welfare, comfort, stress responses, and overall physiological status. This study aimed to design and validate a harness/vest wearable system for remote HRV measurement and monitoring in dairy cows managed under rotational grazing conditions in the high tropics. The harness/vest was developed to protect and stabilize Holter-type measurement devices under field conditions, ensuring that it did not interfere with animal comfort and allowed proper HRV signal acquisition. For HRV measurements, a Polar H10 ^® Heart Rate Sensor paired with a Polar Unite ^® watch was used. To evaluate the practical application of the harness/vest and its impact on animal comfort, lactating Holstein and Holstein x Jersey crossbreed dairy cows ( n = 74) were monitored. The behavior of the animals was observed, and these observations were subsequently compiled into an ethogram, used as an outcome measure to verify whether the harness/vest altered natural behaviors. Behavioral and physiological responses were compared between cows wearing the harness/vest and those without it. The observed behavioral patterns, including posture, locomotion, feeding behavior, and social interactions, were similar between groups, indicating that the harness/vest did not interfere with comfort or routine activities. Comfort was assessed through: (1) comparison of frequencies and durations of key behaviors, (2) evaluation of any avoidance or agitation responses at fitting, and (3) continuous observation for signs of mechanical interference, rubbing, or restraint. Based on these evaluations, Holter-type devices can be reliably integrated into the harness/vest system developed in this study, representing an innovative and effective tool for continuous, remote, and noninvasive HRV monitoring in grazing dairy cows in the high tropics, while preserving comfort and welfare.