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Abstract: Antigen-specific antibody responses, T cell subsets and cytokine profiles were studied in 7 heifers naturally infested by Hypoderma sp. in Northwestern Spain. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels increased significantly at the end of the endogenous life cycle of the parasite (Mr). Similarly, IgG1 subclass increased considerably when first instars (L1) started their migration towards the back (Nv-Ja), whereas IgG2 increased earlier, coinciding with the arrival of L1 to the resting sites (Jn-Jl). Both subclasses decreased significantly when L3 began to leave the host. IgM levels and CD4 and CD8 profiles hardly oscillated throughout the life cycle of the parasite into the host. The CD4/CD8 ratio showed helper T cell predominance. Serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) concentrations decreased from October to the end of the study. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) concentrations decreased in January and increased in February and May. There were a significant positive relationship between IL-4 and IgG2 subclass and a negative correlation between IFN-γ, IgG and IgG1 and also between IgM and CD2 and CD8 counts. These results suggest that in the early phases of natural primoinfestations by Hypoderma there is a slight predominance of a Th1 response, characterized by high IgG2 and IFN-γ levels, which is followed by a Th2 response with a clear predominance of IgG1 and IL-4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sarcoptic mange was recently described in the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in north-eastern Mediterranean Spain, the first such infection reported in this species anywhere in the world. This finding has created concern in conservationists and game managers given that an outbreak of mange after a translocation would have catastrophic consequences for naïve rabbit populations in other parts of Spain. A retrospective serosurvey using an ‘in house’ ELISA test based on the use of a recombinant antigen aimed at determining the rates of contact with Sarcoptes scabiei was carried out on sera from 966 rabbits collected between 1993 and 2010 in Spain. Antibodies were found in 13% of wild rabbits in 60% of the 53 areas surveyed, as well as in 16 of the 17 Spanish provinces and islands studied. Seropositive rabbits were found amongst the oldest samples analyzed and in all studied years. Antibodies were also detected in 36% of rabbits from the protected island of Dragonera, where rabbits have probably not been released since the 1970s. On Mallorca, where 89 rabbits were inspected for both lesions and antibodies, the prevalence of lesions (5.6%) was much lower than the seroprevalence (22.5%), indicating that rabbits often survive infection or that ELISA detects infected rabbits before they develop visible lesions. Seroprevalence was higher in areas with medium levels of rabbit abundance, no restocking and high rainfall. The results show that mange is widespread in rabbits and that the mite is not a recent introduction. Thus, sarcoptic mange could be considered as an enzootic disease in the wild rabbit and so prophylactic measures implemented during rabbit translocations are to be encouraged to avoid local outbreaks in naïve populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Folate receptor (FR)-blocking autoantibodies (FR-autoantibodies) have been reported in women with neural tube defect- affected pregnancies and subfertility and in children with progressive neurodevelopment disorders. We investigated their prevalence and association with folate status and milk intake in adults unexposed to folic acid fortification. A cross-sectional study of a randomly selected representative sample of a Spanish population (aged 18-75 y) stratified by age and gender was performed. Plasma and red cell folate, plasma cobalamin, fasting plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism, and FR-autoantibody titer were determined in blood samples from 787 fasting participants. Lifestyle data were collected and milk intake estimated from a 3-d dietary record. FR-autoantibody prevalence was 7.2% [0.30 ± 0.27 nmol (mean ± SD) FR blocked/LI, equally affecting men and women of all ages. Plasma and red cell folate and tHcy did not differ between carriers and noncarriers of FR- autoantibodies. Milk intake was higher in carriers (225 ± 199 g/d) than in noncarriers (199 ± 147 g/d) (P < 0.01). The risk of having FR-autoantibodies increased progressively with increasing quintile of milk intake and was significant in the highest quintile (~307 g/d) compared with the lowest (⩽67 g/d) [odds ratio (OR), 2.41 [95% Cl: 1.02, 5.69]; P < 0.05; linear trend, P= 0.02]. We concluded that FR-autoantibodies occur in men and women of all ages and do not affect indicators of folate status such as plasma and red cell folate and tHcy. Higher milk intake is associated with increased risk of having FR- autoantibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]