In this paper it is described the characterization of the bovine mastitis in ten representative dairy cattle farms at Savannah of Bogotá, focusing in the study of the problem during two years with bimonthly visits. They were performed different types of field tests and laboratory test: general management of the farm, production records, the CMT, bacteriological cultures in Blood Agar, Mac Conkey Agar Sabouraud Agar, and Somatic Cell Count. These tests were performed in 644 cows and 2576 quarters with bimonthly visits, this gave a total of 7866 observations in cows and 31464 observations in quarters during the whole study. Complementary to the study, a weekly following was done during three months, to a group of 30 cows in three farms with milking by hand to determine the effect of the infection in the production of milk by quarters, using a bucket designed by the author. The results suggest a greater effect of the infection in the farms with mechanical milking where it was found a 61,2% of infection in cows, 30% of subclinical infection in quarters and a 4,7% of clinical infections in quarters. In the farms with milking by hand the infection was 48% in cows, 23.6% in quarters and a 3.6% of clinical mastitis cases. It was found a correlation of 91% between the CMT and the Somatic Cell Count, this agrees with the results of the other investigators. Turning to the different isolated microorganisms, it was found as prevailing Streptococcus agalactiae in the milking by hand and Staphylococcus aureus in the mechanical milking, and it was discarded the possibility of finding coliform microorganisms as a mastitis causative during the study. Refering to the effect in the production, they were registered losses up to five litres daily per affected cow, taking as indicator the CMT and the milk weigh. Also, it could be defined a decrease in the production by quarter of: 0.42, 0.9 1.47, and 2.4 litres when the CMT readings (traces, 1,2,3,) were referred and was being used the bucket designed for this study. It was performed a revision of some economic and social limits to improve the status of the disease in the farms.

This study was performed in order to estimate the relation between some environmental factors and somatic cell count (SCC). This relation was verified by testing the frequency of analyzed samples in classes according to the SCC as follows: very high, high, medium and low. 23,534 milk samples corresponding to 2.198 lactations of Murrah breed animals were used. The buffaloes were between 2 and 15 years old and were daughters of 187 males. The samples were taken during a period of 7 years. In general, the results showed that SCC was low, medium, high and very high for 96.34%, 2.3%, 0.96% and 0.4% for the samples, respectively. Low and medium SCC had the highest frequencies, pointing out that in buffaloes there is a tendency of lower SCC when compared to bovines. There were differences between the average SCC according to the order and season of parturition. There were also significant differences between the average SCC of some control samples (P<0.05). In relation to order of parturition there were observed differences between SCC frequencies, but as a general statement it was observed that as order of parturition was higher the rate of lower SCC decreased and the frequency of medium, high and very high SCC increased. The results indicated that the effects of farm, year and order of parturition should be considered when comparing animals.

The Mexican-American Commission for the Eradication of Screwworm, it is currently producing an average of 100 million sterile flies per week to be sent to dispersal centers in Panama, Aruba and Jamaica, expecting to eradicate the screwworm. For this reason, and thinking of the countries that in a future will require sterile flies to eradicate the screwworm, the Mexican-American Commission is in a constant search of improvements in the production process. To achieve this objective, the commission counts with a research unit in the Methods Development Department, in charge of maintaining the strain of the fly and doing the different tests, looking for the improve of massive production of sterile screwworm flies. The commission received from Purina Company four substitute powdered milk samples to be used in the screwworm diet (Nodricina 20 Nodricina Premium 20/2 Nodricina plus 20 - 20 and milk substitute for calves), they were evaluated in a complete test to determine the existence of significant differences in the development larvae in diets that include these components. Five replicas were made, with three trays containing 16 liters per treatment, with a total of 15 trays per replica. Measuring and evaluating the parameters of the Jamaica 03 screwworm strain to determine the behavior of these substitutes in the larvae diet, and to evaluate the possible use of them.

In a zoo near Bogotá there was high bird mortality due to avian tuberculosis, in a cage inhabited by 2 different species: reptiles (Morrocoy turtles) and birds. The study was thus aimed at establishing the presence of Mycobacterium sp by means of molecular identification (PCR-PRA) in a population of 19 Morrocoy turtles kept in captivity in the above mentioned zoo. All the turtles were therefore tuberculinised, proving negative; faecal material and environmental samples (water and soil) were collected and cultivated in OK/MSTA, LJ and OK medium respectively. Bacilloscopy was carried out on each sample. Only 4 of the faecal material samples were positive by bacilloscope; out of nine environmental samples (7 soil samples and 2 water samples), 5 were positive by bacilloscope, (4 soil samples and 1 water sample). Regarding growth, all Morrocoy turtle faecal samples were negative. There was growth in 5 soil samples and 1 water sample. Samples from the necropsy of a Slider (Icotea) turtle (Trachemys scripta spp.) (tissue, urine and abscess) were also obtained and only the abscess sample grew. Mycobacterium gordonae type 3 was identified in the abscess sample culture, Mycobacterium avium type 3 in soil samples and Mycobacterium fortuitum type 1 in water sample. The findings suggest the need of an ongoing surveillance, in order to identify the presence of mycobacteria; by means of appropriate lab tests (bacilloscopy, cultures, biochemical and molecular tests). We have to do our best to avoid that turtles continue being part of an epidemiological cycle of transmission as healthy carriers and human contact must be strictly necessary by applying biosafety regulations.

Avian tuberculosis diagnosis was made in captive wild birds (Burhinus bistriatus and Porphyrula martinica) from a zoo park at Sabana de Bogotá (Colombia). Based on this diagnosis, a surveillance approach was designed in order to demonstrate whether or not a focus of tuberculosis infection caused by Micobacterium avium was present at this zoo with the purpose to identify a possible hazard to prevent the infection of other bird population, visitors and workers of the park. Clinical, morphological (gross and microscopic) are described in this article, but microbiological (culture in specific media), epidemiological (DPP) and molecular (PCR) studies, will be shown in other journal. In this work animals were organized en three different groups as follow: Five Hy line Brown chicken tuberculosis free coming from a commercial farm (sentinel group). A mixed group birds (102 animals) from the pens around the primary focus (28 dukes, 25 “guacamayas”, 26 parrots and 23 rapacious birds), (highest risk group). Five birds within the pen in which the diagnosis was made (contaminated birds group). It was demonstrated granulomatous lesions in animals from the sentinel group as well as in those from the pen in which the first diagnosis was made. Lesions were founded in liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, intestines and in one case in the white matter and leptomeniges of the spinal cord were affected. Ziehl – Neelsen positive rods were identified in all the affected tissues. No tuberculosis lesions were found in animals caged in neighborhood pens. It was concluded that there is an infectious focus of tuberculosis (micobacteriosis) caused by M. avium in the zoo, but the focus is located only in one pen and this focus could represent a critical risk of infection with M. avium for some of the birds within the zoo, wild and eventually commercials birds and the human beings as well. It is recommended that prevention, control and eradication measurements have to be made to prevent the spread of tuberculosis at the zoo.

A characterization of the hygienic and sanitary quality of uncooked milk in the Alto de Chicamocha (Department of Boyacá) was made. An analysis with laboratory tests was made in which the total count of Somatic Cells, Mesophiles, Staphylococcus, Coliforms and Listeria were evaluated in Petrifilm 3M® slides and the Brucella (milk ring test) test was carried out in 34 herds registered in the Federación de Ganaderos de Boyacá, in two different periods of the year. Statistics differences were found between the time of recollection and total counts. In the raining season cows are exposed to environmental contamination (mud, dung, etc), and therefore the total count of Mesophiles, Coliforms and Somatic Cells increases. Furthermore, the actives related to milking routine are not being effective in the reduction of the microbiologic counts. As consequence, the increase of micro organisms in the mammary gland causes mastitis and therefore a decrease in the quality of milk, which is reflected in the sanitary and hygienic components of the product and so in the economic benefits received by the producer.

Horses hold third place in number of cases of skin disease after cats and dogs; however, there is little information about the demographic aspects of dermatological diseases in this species in Colombia. The purpose of this work was to carry out a preliminary study in order to determine the dermatological diseases that affect horses in the Bogota Savanna, through biopsy, skin scraping and trichogram, in order to approach the diagnosis and thus to establish therapeutic and prophylactic measures that benefit the animal’s health and productivity in commercial farms. Thirty-nine skin biopsies, thirty-nine cutaneous scraping and thirtyseven samples of hairy peel from horses with some kind of skin disease were received, all of which were processed by the Histopathology Laboratory from La Salle University. The inflammatory injuries were sorted taking into account the histological patterns of inflammatory skin disease and tumors, according to the classification by the World Health Organization (WHO). Allergic dermatitis was the most common pathology (46%) and neoplasia was observed in 13% of the cases; fungal spores in ectothrix position were found in 10% of the cutaneous scrapes. Mites of the type <em>Psoroptes spp</em> were identified in one of the trichograms. This is the first report of microscopic diagnosis of skin diseases of horses in the country with the goal of contributing with the demographic knowledge of skin diseases in the Bogota Savanna.

The present work was carried out in a sheep farm of la Sabana de Bogotá, where the purpose of this research was to make a paratuberculosis study in that flock aiming to diagnose by three diagnostic techniques the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis presence. It was used 250 ovine females of San Jorge Experimental Farm – ICA, where a pheces sample were taken from each animal and by Zielh Neelsen’s stain it was stablished the presence of acid fast bacilli. Then, it was made the tuberculinization process (PPD AVIAR® SAGAR B – 0653-034) to the entire population of female sheep and finally, it was carried out a serology test (ELISA Pourquier®). From the stool sample, only 10 was positive where 4 of them were questionable. In the skin test it was found that 16 animals were positive due to a reaction ≥ to 5 mm, however, 3 of them were suspicious due to meterings < to 5 mm. In the ELISA test only 2 animals were positive. In adition, it was followed up a case of an animal that resulted positive to all techniques, also to histophatology and necropsy, confirming the presence of the disease. The findings suggest the need of several tests for a successful diagnose of paratuberculosis with the purpose of set the status and distribution of the disease in the flock.

The research aimed to conduct a serological study on leptospirosis in a sheep flock on the savannah of Bogotá, in order to detect the presence of this agent and to broaden knowledge on its tendency in our field. There were two visits to the farm, one during the dry season ( January) and another one in the rainy season (May), to check 250 animals in each season, which were 100 males and 150 females of different races living on the farm. Microscopic agglutination test was used to determine the presence of antibodies to the six serovars that have been identified as the most frequent in Colombia in different domestic species. The results of the study indicated that the most common serovar in sheep was <em>L. interrogans</em> serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, followed by <em>L. interrogans</em> serovar Bratislava, <em>L. borgpetersenii</em> serovar Hardjo, <em>L. interrogans</em> serovars Canicola, Pomona and Grippotyphosa. The research concluded that, even though there were no clinical cases reported during the study, leptospirosis associated with different serovars in sheep suggests the presence of the agent in the herd new studies would be necessary to deepen our knowledge on the effect this would have on reproduction.

The snail culture is an activity that requires of investigative processes for his optimal development. In Colombia the advances documented on the subject are almost inexistent. Therefore, it is responsibility of the veterinary doctor to create studies that generate a real knowledge on topics as the disease prevention within the snail breeding place. This investigation tries to make a sanitary diagnosis in each phase of the biological cycle of the snail Helix aspersa (O.F. Muller, 1774) bred in captivity. It also determines how different environmental factors (temperature, humidity, altitude above sea level, etc.), and different forms of handling can be or no implied in the presentation of any disease. Thus, it identifies and classifies the main pathogenic agents of the land Helix snails in different environmental conditions of regions appropriate for the snail culture in Colombia. This study also makes an analysis of nonparametric observations studies, by observing particular pathological cases, exposed or not, to different risk factors. They measure the prevalence of every disease after applying a survey epidemiologist of risks, determining the pathologies related to the presented symptomatology and carrying out a microbiological isolation of the main contained pathogenic agents in each snail breeding place. The most significant pathologies will be documented inside the snail breeding place, based on the analysis of results through associations, and the rates of incidence for each disease, the presented relative risk, and the main factors of risk will be determined. Finally, with suitable breeding practices established after this study, we can foresee the presence of these alterations in the production of the snail in Colombia.

The flow of wild birds is a weakness in epidemiologic surveillance because of its unknown potential as a source of disease dissemination. The investigation focused on an epidemiological tracking of the mixed wild bird population in a zoo in the Bogota Savannah, where three birds died with a presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis. In order to verify the presence of Mycobacterium avium and to plan the required measures to avoid risk factors, a control group of five poultry birds of the Hy Line Brown variety that had already been exposed was used, as well as a sentinel group of the poultry birds from the same batch as the control group, and an external control group of 102 birds from cages near the area of the problem. Retrospective and prospective studies were carried out through histopathological, microbiological, epidemiological and molecular analysis. One hundred percent (100%) of the birds from the original cages that died were genotypically diagnosed with tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium avium. Thirty-five percent (35.5%) of the sentinel group was affected by Mycobacterium avium, 28.6% by Mycobacterium gordonae, 14.3% by Mycobacterium chelonae and 21.4% by a mycobacterium that is very difficult to classify. The other animals outside the cage showed no evidence of infection. It is concluded that the problematic enclosure is affected by avian tuberculosis, which is of high risk both for birds and for humans. The poultry used as sentinels are excellent infective agent detectors, particularly of mycobacteria present in the environment, and the tuberculin test is a good indicator of infection with this type of microorganisms in poultry.

The purpose of this work was to carry out a study about the effects of subclinical mastitis in cows of 34 dairy farms in the Upper Chicamocha region (Boyacá department).The farms are registered in the livestock farmers association of Boyacá (FABEGAN). This study was done with the aim to know about the infection status of cows and establish which are the principal etiologic agents associated with the disease and its relation with the milking routine. To this aim, applied comparison even tests for the productive variables to relate with the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and the microbiological characterization, a blocks design under factorial 2 x 4 array to analyze the existence of significant differences between the mastitis grades, the sample season and its interaction, and blocks design under factorial 2 x 4 array to analyze the existence of significant differences among the mastitis subclinical grades, the sampling season and its interaction. 6616 quarters were submitted to the California Mastitis Test (CMT) in two times and different season. The results did not show any significant differences between the two times of sampling. The positive samples according with CMT (CMT-2 and CMT-3) were submitted to microbiological tests where, in the most of the cases of mastitis, the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus was detected. They are the main etiologic agents in the disease. The results indicate the close relation between the milking routine and mastitis. The deficient practices in the milking process are the cause of dissemination and prevalence of mastitis in farms.