We have identified a globally important clonal complex of M. bovis by deletion analysis of over one thousand strains from over 30 countries. We initially show that over 99% of the strains of Mycobacterium bovis, the cause of bovine tuberculosis, isolated from cattle in the Republic of Ireland and the UK are closely related and are members of a single clonal complex marked by the deletion of chromosomal region RDEu,1 and we named this clonal complex European 1 (Eu1). Eu1 strains were present at less than

Taenia solium is endemic in the Andean region of Ecuador. The recent rediscovery of Taenia saginata in humans urges to reconsider some assumptions in relation to the epidemiology of the taeniosis/cysticercosis complex in this country.Therefore, data were compiled on the infection of both tapeworms in man and animals in Pichincha and Imbabura provinces in the Andean region, north of Quito. On post mortem inspection 3 out of 806 (0.37%) carcasses had T. saginata metacestodes, however, 35 sera out of 869 (4.03%) showed circulating antigen in a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA (Ag-ELISA). Porcine cysticercosis was detected in 15 out of 2896 (0.52%) carcasses and 93 out of 1032 serum samples (9.01%) were positive in Ag-ELISA. In humans, 4.99% (215 out of 4306) cases of antigen positives were found, whereas coprological examination of 1935 stools resulted in 30 positive cases (1.55%). The limited number of adult tapeworms (29) that were collected does not allow firm conclusions on the proportion of each species, but in total 21 specimen were identified as T. saginata and 8 as T. solium. These data have been discussed in view of the epidemiology of human cysticercosis.

a b s t r a c tVeterinary inspection in slaughterhouses allows for the detection of macroscopic lesions reminiscent of bovine tuberculosis, but the presence of Mycobacterium bovis must be confirmed by laboratory methods. This study aimed at comparing the performances of the standard diagnostic tools used to identify M. bovis in tissue specimens sampled from suspicious animals. During a two years period, 1390 cattle were inspected at the Machachi abattoir in the Mejia canton -Ecuador. A total of 33 animals with granulomatous lesions were detected, representing 2.33% (16/687) and 2.42% (17/703) animals examined in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Ninety-four tissue specimens were sampled and screened for the presence of mycobacteria. Acid-fast bacilli were identified in one third of the suspicious cattle (11/33) and suggestive microscopic lesions in 27.3% (9/33) of the samples examined by direct microscopy and histopathology, respectively. Culturing on Stonebrink medium and 16S-rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded 36.4% (12/33) and 27.3% (9/33) of positives, respectively. Compared to culture, other diagnostic procedures displayed a lower sensitivity, with 56.5% for PCR, and 43.5% for direct microscopy and histopathology; however, the specificity was higher (94.4% for PCR and microscopy, and 97.2% for histopathology). We conclude that reliable post-mortem laboratory testing either requires the combination of a set of available diagnostic tools or necessitates the development of improved new-generation tools with better sensitivity and specificity characteristics.

Abstract. We studied the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Mejia canton, the major dairy cattle production area in northern Ecuador. Twenty dairy herds comprising 2,022 cattle were selected. In 2007, each animal was tested using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT). In 2008, a follow-up test was performed in the same herds. The true annual incidence was 1.70%, and the true prevalence was 7.41% and 7.13% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The prevalence was 0.27% and 0.57% in medium-sized herds in 2007 and 2008, respectively, compared with 8.63% and 8.43% in large herds ( P < 0.01). The number of skin test-positive cases also increased significantly with age ( P = 0.03), contacts with other species of animals ( P < 0.01), and introduction of new cattle ( P = 0.04). Herd prevalence was 55% in 2007 and 65% in 2008. This study shows the lack of knowledge in cattle farmers about this zoonosis and the necessity for a national BTB control program in Ecuador.

This study evaluated bovine tuberculosis in Mejia canton, a major dairy cattle production region in Ecuador. Randomly selected cattle (1,012 from 59 farms) classified according to herd size were tested by the single tuberculin test (STT). Sixty days later, positive reactors were tested again by the comparative tuberculin test (CTT). In addition, tissue samples from two STT-CTT-positive reactors detected on a farm were obtained in a local slaughterhouse and analyzed bacteriologically. A total of 4.24% of the cattle were positive in the STT and 3.85% were positive in the CTT, with the highest number (7.95%) in large herds versus 3.4% in medium herds and 0.3% in small herds. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes and lungs of one animal. A 16S ribosomal RNA-based polymerase chain reaction confirmed culture results and differentiated mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis. This study confirms the zoonotic importance of tuberculosis in Ecuadorian dairy cattle with herd size likely to be a crucial parameter in the prevalence of the disease. The implementation of a national control program is necessary and should be based on the detection of positive cattle by STT in combination with CTT.

Protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma are haemotropic agents widely reported in cattle from Latin America. In this region, Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma theileri and T. vivax are the identified species (Desquesnes, 2004). Of these, T. vivax is the most pathogenic, causing anaemia, fever, weight loss, reproductive problems in males and females, and low production (Gonzatti

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic granulomatous disease that primarily affects lung tissue and lymph nodes (LN) in cattle, with economic impact on their productivity. Furthermore, it is potential zoonoses that may cause public health hazard. In this study, we evaluated the presence of bTB in two abattoirs: Cayambe and Pelileo countries located in the Ecuadorian provinces of Pichincha and Tungurahua, respectively. In total, 578 cattle were sampled (Cayambe 271 and Pelileo 307): 1,156 LN and 578 lung tissue samples were collected to apply in vitro culture and nested-PCR, respectively. The results determined a total apparent prevalence of 4.33%, with 4.06% at Cayambe's abattoir and 4.56% at Pelileo's abattoir. Additionally, the Bayesian analysis showed a total true prevalence of 2.51%, with 89.7% of sensitivity and 97.6% of specificity. The risk factors were evaluated by the use of simple logistic regressions with and without the random effect of places of origin. Associations of the origin of cattle in the selected slaughterhouses were found. The results showed an efficient method for the detection of bTB, which could identify a large number of infected animals, and the usefulness of lung tissue samples for early diagnosis of the disease was demonstrated in this study.

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a chronic and contagious disease that affects domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. Caused by Mycobacterium bovis, BTB causes major economic losses and poses a serious constraint to international livestock trade. Moreover, in developing countries where BTB controls are lacking, M. bovis is a public health concern. In most developing countries, the prevalence of BTB in livestock is unknown because the information is either not reported or not available. In Ecuador, there is no national BTB control program. This article reviews the BTB situation in Ecuador by examining exhaustive data from tuberculin testing surveys and slaughterhouse surveillance studies conducted in 1972-2008 in a variety of the country's geographic areas. In Ecuador, several factors, including the dairy industry's expansion (preempted by the high demand for milk and its by-products), intensified efforts to increase the cattle population, the presence of M. bovis, and a lack of BTB controls, have caused a rise in BTB prevalence, and consequently, a growing push for the implementation of a national BTB control program.