ABSTRACT Background: Domestic pigeons carry pathogens in their droppings, posing a potential public health problem. Methods: The phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistances of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium in the feces of urban pigeons near hospitals with intensive care units were measured. Results: Twenty-nine samples showed Enterococcus growth, whereas one was positive for S. aureus. The S. aureus isolate was sensitive to the antibiotics tested via antibiogram, however resistance genes were identified. E. faecium isolates showed phenotypic resistance to gentamicin, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: Antimicrobial profiles harmful to health were demonstrated in bacterial pathogens isolated from the external environment of hospitals.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to access and characterize single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located within the HSF1 and HSPA6 candidate genes for adaptability in Angus breed raised in subtropical climate. Samples of DNA from 20 animals representing extreme phenotypes for adaptability traits were obtained. Sequence variations in the candidate genes were described by sequencing target regions. We identified 12 SNP located in the HSF1 gene. Moreover, four of the six SNP found in the HSPA6 gene cause amino acid substitutions in protein-coding regions. We also identified a representative SNP (called tag SNP) in a region of the HSF1 gene with high linkage disequilibrium (r2 = 0.87) that may represent 11 SNP located in this gene. Minor allele frequency observed for the SNP ranged from 0.10 to 0.50 and 0.02 to 0.21 for the HSF1 and the HSPA6 genes, respectively. Overall, almost all SNP analyzed showed significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and half of the loci had heterozygosity greater than 0.50. The data suggest that there is sequence variability in these genes that could be exploited by breeding programs. There is genetic variation in HSF1 and HSPA6 genes in this populations of Angus breed, which is fundamental to obtain response to selection.

The objective of this work was to determine if water buffaloes from the western region of Cuba are carrier of Babesia bovis infection, using a nested PCR (nPCR) test. Two hundred twenty two DNA samples, extracted from buffalo blood at different ages, from six farms in the western region of Cuba were processed. Visualization of blood smear in the optical microcopy was previously carried out. The results showed that all the samples were negative to blood smear; however, 94 (42.1%) samples were positive in the nPCR, visualizing bands of 298 pb. Infection was present in animals from all farms and categories studied. A positive nPCR sample was sequenced and such sequence was deposited in the GenBank, comparing it with others available in diverse databases. Its high identity was verified with several geographical isolates of B. bovis. It is concluded that water buffaloes in the western region of Cuba are carrier of Babesia bovis infection.

Este trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de determinar si los búfalos en el Occidente de Cuba son portadores de la infección por Babesia bovis, empleando un ensayo de PCR Anidada (nPCR). Se procesaron 222 muestras de ADN, extraído de sangre de búfalos, de diferentes edades, procedentes de siete granjas de la región occidental de Cuba, a los que también se les realizó frotis sanguíneo. Como resultado encontramos que todas las muestras resultaron negativas al frotis sanguíneo. Sin embargo, 94 de ellas (42,1%) resultaron positivas en el nPCR, visualizándose bandas de 298pb. La infección estuvo presente en animales de todas las granjas y de las cuatro categorías estudiadas. Se secuenció el producto del nPCR de una muestra positiva. La secuencia obtenida se depositó en el GenBank y se comparó con otras secuencias disponibles en diversas bases de datos, verificándose elevada identidad con respecto a aislados geográficos de B. bovis. Se concluye que los búfalos en Cuba son portadores de la infección por Babesia bovis.