Objetivo: analizar las experiencias de las autoridades de salud en el ejercicio de la vigilancia del agua de consumo en Colombia, para comprender sus fortalezas y dificultades. Metodología: La investigación se realizó a través de un estudio cualitativo de los componentes de estructura, procesos y resultados del programa de vigilancia. Se construyó un cuestionario mediante la metodología Delphi, aplicado a los coordinadores de la vigilancia en 12 municipios y 27 departamentos. Resultados: se obtuvieron mediante la metodología de análisis de contenido, identificando 3 temáticas relevantes que influyen en la implementación de la vigilancia, entre ellos la descentralización, limitaciones en el recurso humano y la aplicación de las herramientas de evaluación del riesgo. Discusión: el programa de vigilancia en Colombia requiere el fortalecimiento de la rectoría, la capacidad de gestión de los territorios, el establecimiento de una efectiva descentralización y fortalecimiento de la gobernanza, además de instaurar mecanismos que regulen la problemática de recurso humano y evalúen las herramientas de análisis de riesgo y sus resultados.

Sheep and goats are susceptible to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and could play an important role in the transmission of the zoonotic parasite to human. We conducted a cross sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence and to assess the risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. This study was carried out from November 2015 to April 2016 in randomly selected small ruminants (n = 1038) from 48 farms located in Colombia, in the departments of northern Cesar in the north and La Guajira in the south. An indirect ELISA was used to detect IgG antibodies to T. gondii in the animals. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information on putative risk factors. We conducted the association analyses by using univariable and multivariate logistic regression and report odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (C.I). The overall seroprevalence in small ruminants was 23.5% (C.I: 21-26.2%). Sheep showed a higher seroprevalence (25.1% C.I: 22.4-28.6%) than goats (18.4% C.I: 22.4-28.6%). The association analysis recognized as risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity farming pigs in addition to small ruminants (OR = 1.96 C.I: 1.414-2.743), the inexistence of manure heap (OR = 2.254 C.I: 1.480-3.433) and drinking water from locally aqueducts (OR = 1.489 C.I: 1.006-2.204). The results of the study confirmed that exposure to T. gondii is common in sheep and goats in dry Caribbean regions of Colombia.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira spp. en personas con exposición laboral en el departamento del Tolima

Chlamydia abortus is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium, responsible for abortions and reproductive problems. The disease has a high zoonotic potential and causes great economic losses in ruminant farmers. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 514 cattle from 24 farms of Villavicencio, Colombia. The blood samples were collected from each individual animal and analyzed by Indirect Elisa for immunoglobulin G (IgG) in blood serum (Idexx Chlamydiosis total Ab test). A serum was considered positive when the optical density (OD) of the sample was ≥30% of that of the positive control serum. Data on potential risk factors associated with the disease were collected through a questionnaire in each farm and analyzed. The individual and herd prevalence was estimated. A risk factors analysis was performed through univariate and multivariable using the software SPSS version 20. The animal level seroprevalence was found to be 47.1% and the herd 91.6%. The prevalence in cattle aged 0–1, 1–3 and >4 years was 23.8%; 31.4% and 51.4% respectively. The risk factors associated with the prevalence of disease were female sex (OR = 2.102 CI: 1.066–4.144), age older than 4 years (OR = 2.707 CI: 1.667–4.394), presence of canines on the farm (OR = 2.556 CI: 1.560–4.189) and retention of placenta (OR = 2.678 CI: 1.670–4.295). A high prevalence was identified, suggesting natural infection where the pathogen could be transmitted to humans at the animal-human interface.

Vector-borne pathogens induce hemoparasitism in cattle causing substantial economic losses in tropical and subtropical areas. Infectious cattle actively contribute to maintaining the transmission cycle, and the presence of these animals must be associated with husbandry management and environmental changes. In the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional study sampling 1,000 bovines to identify infectious cattle diagnosed by a direct technique and employed a dichotomic questionnaire for association analyses, hierarchical clustering, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Overall prevalence with infectious cattle was 34.99%, where 97% of the farms had at least one infectious animal per genera, and the prevalence in properties ranged between 16.39 and 53.85%. Of these animals, 26.20% tested positive for Anaplasma sp., 8.40% for Babesia spp., and 1.30% for Trypanosome spp. The main co-infection showed 5% Anaplasma sp. – Trypanosome spp., followed by 4% Babesia spp. – Trypanosome spp. These bovines showed association with the use of the Jersey breed (OR = 2.016 C.I:1.188–3.419), selling animals for replacement (OR = 1.417 CI:1.022–1.965), participation in livestock exhibitions (OR = 2.009 CI:1.262–3.199), premises with burials (OR = 2,064 CR: 1.414–3.011), use of palm kernel (OR = 1.935 C.I:1.198–3.124), and the use of ivermectin (OR = 1.548 CI: 1.085–2.210) as a susceptibility. The hierarchical clustering revealed clusters among properties with different hemoparasite prevalence, with notable co-infections observed. The subsequent PCA identified that significant risk factors contributed to hemoparasitism positivity. We conclude that infectious cattle in the endemic area showed an association with husbandry management that permits the success of vector and maintenance of the enzootic or epizootic cycle in the herds.

Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is a widely distributed and multifactorial syndrome, leading to significant economic losses to the cattle industry. Many viruses are considered causative agents of BRDC, including bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and parainfluenza virus 3 (PI-3). This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of BoHV-1, BRSV, and PI-3 in serum samples collected from cattle in Villavicencio, Colombia. A total of 725 animals from 29 herds were sampled and tested for BoHV-1 and BRSV using ELISA. For PI-3, 440 animals were selected from 24 herds and tested using ELISA. An epidemiological survey collected information on animal characteristics, management practices, health, and environmental factors. Seroprevalence rates for each disease were determined, and a bivariate analysis was performed using a contingency table with odds ratios and Pearson’s Chi-square test. The seroprevalence rates were 44.9% for BoHV-1, 94.3% for BRSV, and 85.9% for PI-3. At the herd level, the seroprevalence was above 95% for all tested viruses. Two simultaneous risk factors for all three diseases were identified: female sex and age over 3 years. The risk factors for BoHV-1 were the sale of animals, purchase of animals, history of abortions, and Brahman breed. Conversely, artificial insemination was a protective factor. For BRSV, the purchase of animals was a risk factor, and the history of abortions correlated to PI-3 seropositivity. No significant correlation between the three diseases was identified. This study confirms the high prevalence of BoHV-1, BRSV, and PI-3, underscoring the need for preventive measures against these non-officially notified diseases in Colombia.