ABSTRACT. Leptospira spp. is a spirochete bacteria, causal agent of leptospirosis, zoonotic disease endemic in México that represents a serious public health and veterinary problem. Rodents are recognised as the most important reservoirs of this bacteria, which is transmitted mainly through direct or indirect contact with the Leptospira spp. excreted in the urine of infected individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the circulation of Leptospira spp. in urine samples of wild and synanthropic rodents from Yucatán, México. Eighty-four rodents were captured in the community of Cenotillo, Yucatán. Twenty-six urine samples were collected from the bladder and were used in the total DNA extraction. The identification of Leptospira spp. was intended through the polymerase chain reaction test in its endpoint variant. No evidence of Leptospira spp. was found in the urine samples. It is necessary to use other tissues for the identification of Leptospira spp., before concluding that the rodents used in the present study are not reservoirs of this bacteria.

The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological factors associated with the risks of recent Rickettsia exposure in inhabitants of a rural population from Yucatán, Mexico. The study included 130 inhabitants from Maxcanú, Yucatán. Blood samples were collected to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia rickettsii by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Additionally, nested polymerase chain reaction was performed to amplify fragments of the 17kDa and sca5 genes. Previously, an epidemiological questionnaire was applied focused on collecting information on personal and housing exposure variables related to the recent infection with Rickettsia to determine epidemiological associations. Results that exhibited a p‐value < .25 were included in a generalized multinomial logistic linear model to determine the variables involved with the risk of contact or Rickettsia infection. In all, 76% (99/130) of the participants presented with immunoglobulin titres against the Rickettsia species evaluated, while rickettsial DNA was detected in 35.4% (46/130) of the participants. The association analysis with the personal exposure variables showed that the productive age group (OR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.10–1.03) and the elders group (OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.01–0.83) were protective factors for recent infection with R. typhi, taking as reference the school group. The presence of a family orchard in the home (OR = 7.56; 95% CI = 1.62–35.29) was a risk factor for recent infection with R. rickettsii. Presumably, the presence of ectoparasites (OR = 2.71; 95% CI = 0.90–8.09) at home was a risk factor for recent infection with both Rickettsia species. Recent infection was demonstrated in inhabitants from Maxcanú, Yucatán. A high seropositive frequency was obtained. The results highlight the importance of the family garden and the presence of ectoparasites in the home as risk factors associated with recent infection with Rickettsia in inhabitants from Maxcanú.

Objetivo. Reportar la infección con Leptospira en riñones de murciélagos de Campeche y Yucatán, México, a través de la amplificación por PCR de dos fragmentos distintos del gen 16S RNA ribosomal. Materiales y métodos. Se realizaron capturas en un sitio de Campeche y dos de Yucatán. A los murciélagos capturados se les aplicó la eutanasia y se les realizó una necropsia para recolectar tejido renal que se usó en la extracción de ADN total. Se realizaron dos PCR convencionales para la amplificación de los fragmentos de 16S RNA ribosomal. Se obtuvieron las secuencias de algunos productos positivos y se analizaron con herramientas bioinformáticas para identificar la especie infectante de Leptospira. Resultados. Se capturaron 69 murciélagos pertenecientes a cuatro familias y a ocho especies distintas. La familia con mayor diversidad fue Phyllostomidae con cinco especies. La especie con mayor frecuencia de captura fue Artibeus jamaicensis (59.4%). Las PCR arrojaron una frecuencia de infección global de 21.7%. Las especies infectadas fueron A. jamaicensis, Pteronotus parnellii y Chiroderma villosum. El análisis bioinformático arrojó un 99.0% de identidad para Leptospira noguchii, Leptospira borgpetersenii y Leptospira santarosai. Conclusiones. Algunas especies de murciélagos de Yucatán y Campeche son portadores renales de leptospiras patógenas, por lo que pueden participar en el ciclo silvestre de transmisión en la región. La frecuencia de infección encontrada en los riñones de los murciélagos utilizados es mayor en comparación con aquellas obtenidas en otros reservorios de Yucatán y Campeche. Nuevas especies de murciélagos son reportadas como portadores de Leptospira para México.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite recognized as a causal agent of toxoplasmosis; zoonotic disease endemic in many countries worldwide, including Mexico. Different species of animals participate in the wild cycle infection, including opossums of the species Didelphis virginiana. Thirteen D. virginiana were captured in Yucatan, Mexico. Detection of T. gondii was achieved by Polymerase Chain Reaction, which determined an infection of 76.9% (10/13) in brains. Positive amplicons were sequenced for analysis, this produced results similar to T. gondii with identity and coverage values of 98% and 96-100%, respectively. This study presents the first molecular evidence of the circulation of T. gondii in D. virginiana from Mexico.

We report a case of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in a 5-year-old male from Merida City in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. A clinical and physical examination revealed that the patient had symptoms typical of HFMD, including fever, fatigue, odynophagia, throat edema, hyperemia, lesions on the hands and feet, and blisters in the oral cavity. The patient fully recovered after a convalescence period of almost three weeks. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing revealed that the etiological agent was enterovirus 71 (EV71). The sequence has greatest (90.4%) nucleotide identity to the corresponding regions of EV71 isolates from the Netherlands and Singapore. Although HFMD is presumably common in Mexico, surprisingly there are no data in the PubMed database to support this. This case report provides the first peer-reviewed evidence of HFMD in Mexico.

RESUMENEl objetivo de la presente investigación fue estudiar la presencia de flavivirus en roedores de Yucatán, México, mediante una prueba de Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa (PCR), en su variante semi-anidada. Se capturaron 90 roedores (87 Rattus rattus, dos Heteromys gaumeri y un Mus musculus) y se les recolectó una muestra de sangre. Las 90 muestras de suero resultantes fueron agrupadas en 30 triadas (pooles). La PCR semianidada arrojó una frecuencia de positividad del 33.3% (10/30).Palabras clave: Rattus rattus, Flavivirus, Yucatán, México ABSTRACTThe aim of this investigation was to study the presence of flaviviruses in rodents from Yucatan, Mexico, by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the semi-nested variant. Ninety rodents were captured (87 Rattus rattus, two Heteromys gaumeri and one Mus musculus), and blood samples were collected. The resulting serum samples were grouped into 30 triads (pools). The semi-nested PCR yielded a positivity frequency of 33.3% (10/30).

The aim is to describe the Typhus group (TG) Rickettsia infection in dogs and to identify factors associated with this infection. We collected blood samples and gathered exposure and clinical data of 142 dogs from a rural community of Yucatan. The Rickettsia group was determined by semi-nested PCR. Generalized linear models with binomial error distribution were used to model the associated factors from the dog sample for risk ratio (RR) estimation. Thirty-four dogs (23.9%) showed molecular evidence of TG Rickettsia DNA. The multivariate model showed that mixed-breed dogs (RR = 0.06) and dogs that had received antiparasitic treatment (RR = 0.049) had a lower risk of getting infected, taking as reference the purebred group and the non-treated dogs, respectively. Looking at variable interactions, adult dogs without outdoor activities had a lower infection risk than puppies (RR = 0.26). Among dogs with antiparasitic treatment, females had a higher infection risk than male dogs (RR = 26.2). The results showed enzootic TG Rickettsia circulation in dogs of a rural community. The factors outdoor activities, age and previous antiparasitic treatment, as well as the clinical variables signs of hemorrhages and epistaxis, were associated with a less chance of natural infection in the studied dogs. Prevention and control of the enzootic transmission risk of TG Rickettsia should help to reduce the potential zoonotic transmission of this pathogen.

Human tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia philipi and Rickettsia rickettsii in the American continent.Rickettsia parkeri represents the second most important agent of eschar-associated spotted fever throughout the American continent. In Mexico, the presence of three strains of this bacterium (Black Gap, Maculatum and Atlantic Rainforest) has recently been reported in four species of ticks from five states (Baja California, Campeche, Sonora, Tabasco and Veracruz) and rickettsaemia was demonstrated in a dog from the state of Yucatán. We report two human cases of R. parkeri-rickettsiosis from Yucatan, Mexico. These findings have increased the interest in R. parkeri surveillance in the human population, due to the fluctuating regional Spotted Fever morbidity and mortality in the country.