Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious viral disease that represents an economic threat for poultry despite the wide use of vaccination. To characterize the virus circulating in Peru, we analyzed 200 samples, including nasopharyngeal swabs and multiple tissues collected from animals suspected of being infected with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) between January and August in 2015. All animals had at least one positive sample for IBV by RT-PCR. Out of these positive samples, eighteen (18) were selected for viral isolation and a partial S1 sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that sixteen isolates clustered with members of GI-16 lineage, also known as Q1, with nucleotide homology ranging from 93% to 98%. The two remaining isolates grouped with members of the GI-1 lineage. Our study reveals circulation of GI-16 lineage during this period in poultry systems in Peru, along with GI-1 lineage (vaccine-derived). Moreover, those IBV GI-16 isolates showed unique nucleotide and amino acid changes compared to their closest relatives. Altogether, these findings reveal the circulation of GI-16 lineage while describing changes at key regions of the S protein that might be of relevance for vaccine evasion. These results highlight the importance of genetic surveillance for improving vaccination strategies against infectious bronchitis.

The contamination of the surface water of lagoons is a common problem in developing countries, and can affect fishing activities. A case study was conducted on water quality and microbiological contamination of the fishing marketing chain in the Peruvian Amazon (Laguna de Yarinacocha). The microbiological, physical–chemical and parasitological parameters of the surface water were evaluated in three points of the lagoon near the landing stage; and microbiological parameters of facilities, handlers and three species of fish (Prochilodus nigricans, Mylossoma duriventre and Siluriforme spp.). In the water, there were coliform counts ≥ 23 (Most probable number—MPN)/100 mL, Escherichia coli ≥ 3.6 MPN/100 mL, and Pseudomona spp. up to 2.2 MPN/100 mL; high turbidity and variable amounts of parasites. In facilities and handlers, high levels of coliforms, mainly Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, were found in M. duriventre meat. A poor quality of the surface water of the lagoon is concluded that compromises part of the fishing marketing chain, mainly facilities and manipulators. Furthermore, the levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in fish meat show poor handling practices and possible risk of contamination by water sources.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana del aceite esencial de orégano (Origanum vulgare) frente a Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 en carne de pollo. Se determinó la concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) mediante el método de microdilución en pocillos y la concentración mínima bactericida (CMB) para determinar la supervivencia de las bacterias expuestas a diferentes concentraciones del aceite esencial. Además, se evaluó la capacidad del aceite esencial de orégano de inhibir el crecimiento de S. aureus en filetes de pollo. Se obtuvo una CMI de 0.5% y una CMB de 4%. Las concentraciones ≥1% de aceite esencial de orégano redujeron significativamente (p<0.05) los recuentos de S. aureus en la carne de pollo, en niveles relacionados directamente con la concentración aplicada. Los resultados demostraron que el aceite de orégano posee un efecto antimicrobiano contra S. aureus ATCC 25923.

Background: Pigs and cattle have been implicated as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that can spread to humans, and houseflies are considered potential carriers of bacteria with ARGs that could contribute to their spread to the environment, including food, animals, and humans. Methods: In this study, 107, 145, and 127 Escherichia coli strains were isolated from houseflies, pigs, and cattle, respectively, from a slaughterhouse in Lima, Peru. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer method, where thirteen antibiotics were used. Strains were also plated on CHROMagar COL-APSE agar, and colistin’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. Colistin-resistant E. coli strains were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Results: 7.8% (8/107), 1.38% (2/145), and 0.79% (1/127) of E. coli strains isolated from houseflies, pigs, and cattle, respectively, were resistant to colistin (MIC ≥ 4 µg/mL). ARGs associated with resistance to more than 6 different antibiotic classes were identified, including tetracyclines, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, nitroimidazoles, trimethoprim and amphenicols. Conclusions: This study suggests that flies could contribute to the dissemination of ARG carrying bacteria and shows the potential risk of animals and meat production systems as reservoirs of ARG carrying bacteria.

En el Perú hay evidencia clínica del virus de Influenza A (VIA) y presencia de anticuerpos contra el VIA en cerdos, pero no existen reportes oficiales de frecuencia en granjas porcinas del país. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar la frecuencia de anticuerpos contra el VIA en granjas tecnificadas de Lima, Ica y Arequipa con antecedentes de problemas respiratorios. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre de ocho grupos etarios de cerdos durante 2020-2021. La detección de anticuerpos contra el VIA se hizo mediante una prueba de ELISA de bloqueo (IDEXX, USA). Se procesaron 283 muestras de suero de Lima, 287 de Ica y 288 de Arequipa. La frecuencia global de anticuerpos contra el VIA fue de 24.9% (I.C. 95% 22.0 – 27.8); mientras que en Lima, Ica y Arequipa fue de 33.2% (I.C. 95% 27.8 – 39.0), 19.5% (I.C. 95% 15.1 – 24.6) y 22.2% (I.C. 95% 17.6 – 27.5), respectivamente. El análisis de regresión logística mostró que en la región Lima, el grupo etario 0 (hasta 21 días) y 5 (91 a 110 días) tuvo mayor oportunidad de presentar anticuerpos contra el VIA, aunque la edad no se consideró como un factor de riesgo (OR<1).

Background/Objectives: Avian influenza represents a major threat to both animal and public health. Our group has tracked avian influenza viruses circulating in wild birds in Peru during the last 20 years. While most of these viruses are low-pathogenic avian influenza strains, some exhibit genetic changes that significantly diverge from common circulating viruses. We selected a highly divergent hemagglutinin H2 gene from a genetically characterized avian influenza virus to develop a recombinant protein using a baculovirus system. Methods: We administered 5 µg and 20 µg doses of the recombinant H2 protein (rH2) into 3-week-old chickens using an abdominal cavity inoculation model to evaluate the activation of innate immune responses. Chickens were euthanized at 24 and 72 h post inoculation and an abdominal lavage was performed to harvest the abdominal cavity content. Results: Infiltrating cells were counted and their cell viability was measured using an Annexin V/PI staining. At 24 h, a large proportion of infiltrating leukocytes were identified as heterophils, monocyte/macrophages and lymphocytes. These proportions changed at 72 h, with a decrease in heterophils and increase in monocyte and lymphocyte pools. We observed strong cellular activity in abdominal leukocytes at 24 h, with a decline in activation levels at 72 h. Cytokine expression suggested a tightly regulated immune response during the 72 h period, while a more sustained response was observed at the 20 µg dose. Antibody levels demonstrated the capacity of the rH2 protein to induce long-term responses. Conclusions: These results revealed that the baculovirus-expressed rH2 protein induces a controlled immune activation, a long-term immune response, holding promise as a potential vaccine candidate for animal health.