Genetic monitoring on the world's first MSC eco-labeled common octopus (O. vulgaris) fishery in western Asturias, Spain.

Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) is a cephalopod species with great economic value. In western Asturias (northwest of Spain), O. vulgaris artisanal fisheries are relatively well monitored and conditionally eco-labeled by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Despite this, the Asturian octopus stocks have not been genetically assessed so far. In order to improve the current fishery plan and contrast the octopus eco-label validity in Asturias, 539 individuals from five regions of the O. vulgaris geographic distribution, including temporal samplings in Asturias, were collected and genotyped at thirteen microsatellite loci. All the samples under analysis were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Spatial levels of genetic differentiation were estimated using F-statistics, multidimensional scaling, and Bayesian analyses. Results suggested that the O. vulgaris consists of at least four genetically different stocks coming from two ancestral lineages. In addition, temporal analyses showed stability in terms of genetic variation and high NE (> 50) for several generations in different localities within Asturias, pointing out to indeed sustainable fishery exploitation levels. Even though, the current Asturias fishery plan shows no significant genetic damages to the stocks, the regional-specific management plans need systematic genetic monitoring schemes as part of an efficient and preventive regional fishery regulation strategy.

Building on gAMBI in ports for a challenging biological invasions scenario: Blue-gNIS as a proof of concept.

The status of aquatic ecosystems has historically been monitored by the use of biotic indices. However, few biotic measures consider the presence of non-indigenous species as a sign of anthropogenic pollution and habitat disturbance even when this may seriously affect the metric scores and ecological status classifications of an environment. Today, biological invasions are currently one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and sustainable blue economies around the world. In this work, environmental assessments were conducted in the Port of Gijon, Northern Spain, using eDNA metabarcoding, and the gAMBI (genetics based AZTI Marine Biotic Index) was estimated. Results indicate a high/good ecological status within the port. However, nine non-indigenous species and five invasive species were found, and a modification of the gAMBI that includes species invasiveness was proposed: Blue-gNIS. The index was preliminary tested against existing validated indices such as gAMBI, BENTIX (based on the ecology of macroinvertebrates) and ALEX (based on the invasiveness of the species). Blue-gNIS classified the port in a good ecological status and showed its potential usefulness to achieve more complete water quality assessments of ports.

Perspectives on the marine environment and biodiversity in recreational ports: The marina of Gijon as a case study.

Recreational ports are known to be sources of pollution to the coastal marine environment due to the pouring of pollutants or the transfer of invasive species to neighboring areas. Nonetheless, the responsibility of protecting the marine environment does not lie solely on the users of the ports, but also affects the rest of citizens. Thus, an effective communication is necessary between scientists and citizens to avoid the lack of knowledge and boost cooperation against these environmental problems. In this study, (focused on the marina of Gijon, Northwestern Spain) citizens set education and social media as the main sources of information, rarely considering science outreach. Also, their environmental knowledge showed to be based on a visual perception, rather than on a cognitive one, as marine litter was considered a great environmental problem, while invasive species and biofouling went unnoticed, remarking the lack of an effective communication from scientific sources.

Historia de una eosinofilia fluctuante / History of a fluctuating eosinophilia

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Infection by Strongyloides stercoralis in immigrants with Chagas disease: evaluation of eosinophilia as screening method in primary care.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate co-infection of Strongyloides stercoralis and Trypanosoma cruzi and to assess eosinophilia as a screening test for the detection of S. stercoralis infection in patients with Chagas disease (CD). METHODS: A retrospective diagnostic validation study was performed on serum samples from primary care patients diagnosed with CD in the southern Barcelona metropolitan area. All samples with eosinophilia (n = 87) and a random sample of non-eosinophilic sera (n = 180) were selected. Diagnosis of CD was based on positive serology by means of two tests: ORTHO® T. cruzi ELISA test, and BIO-FLASH® Chagas or Bioelisa CHAGAS. SCIMEDX ELISA STRONGY-96 was used to diagnose strongyloidiasis. RESULTS: Strongyloides stercoralis serology was positive in 15% of patients of whom 95% showed eosinophilia, vs. 21% of those with negative serology (P < 0.001), with differences in the mean eosinophil count (0.49 vs. 0.27 × 109 /l). Only 1.1% of patients with CD but without eosinophilia presented positive serology for S. stercoralis, whereas 44% of patients with CD and eosinophilia did (P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity values for eosinophilia were thus 95% and 79%, respectively. PPV was 42.5% and NPV, 98.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of co-infection by T. cruzi and S. stercoralis is not negligible and has probably been underestimated for years in many areas, due to frequently subclinical infections. Therefore, serology seems mandatory for these patients and the use of eosinophilia as initial screening could facilitate the task, decreasing the number of analyses to be performed.

OBJECTIFS: Evaluer la coinfection par Strongyloides stercoralis et Trypanosoma cruzi et évaluer éosinophilie comme un test de dépistage pour la détection de l'infection à S. stercoralis chez les patients atteints de la maladie de Chagas (MC). MÉTHODES: Une étude de validation diagnostique rétrospective a été réalisée sur des échantillons de sérum de patients de soins primaires diagnostiqués avec la MC dans la région métropolitaine du sud de Barcelone. Tous les échantillons avec éosinophilie (n = 87) et un échantillon aléatoire de sérums non éosinophiliques (n = 180) ont été sélectionnés. Le diagnostic de la MC était basé sur une sérologie positive au moyen de deux tests: le test ELISA ORTHO® T. cruzi et le test BIO-FLASH® Chagas ou Bioelisa CHAGAS. SCIMEDX ELISA STRONGY-96 a été utilisé pour diagnostiquer la strongyloïdose. RÉSULTATS: La sérologie de S. stercoralis était positive chez 15% des patients dont 95% présentaient une éosinophilie, contre 21% de ceux avec une sérologie négative (P <0,001), avec des différences dans le taux moyen d'éosinophiles (0,49 contre 0,27 × 109 /L). Seuls 1,1% des patients avec la MC mais sans éosinophilie présentaient une sérologie positive pour S. stercoralis ; contrairement à 44% des patients atteints de la MC avec une éosinophilie (p <0,001). Les valeurs de sensibilité et de spécificité pour l'éosinophilie étaient ainsi respectivement de 95% et 79%. La VPP était de 42,5% et la VPN, 98,9%. CONCLUSIONS: La prévalence de la coinfection par T. cruzi et S. stercoralis n'est pas négligeable et a probablement été sous-estimée depuis des années dans de nombreuses régions, en raison d'infections fréquemment infracliniques. Par conséquent, la sérologie semble obligatoire pour ces patients et l'utilisation de l'éosinophilie comme dépistage initial pourrait faciliter la tâche, diminuant le nombre d'analyses à effectuer.

Barcodes of marine invertebrates from north Iberian ports: Native diversity and resistance to biological invasions.

Ports are gateways for many marine organisms transported by ships worldwide, especially non-indigenous species (NIS). In this study carried out in North Iberian ports (Cantabrian Sea, Bay of Biscay) we have observed 38% of exotic macroinvertebrates. Four species, namely the barnacle Austrominius modestus, the tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and the pygmy mussel Xenostrobus securis, exhibited clear signs of invasiveness. A total of 671 barcode (cytochrome oxidase subunit I or 18S rRNA) genes were obtained and confirmed the species status of some cryptic NIS. Negative and significant correlation between diversity estimators of native biota and proportion of NIS suggests biotic resistance in ports. This could be applied to management of port biota for contributing to prevent the settlement of biopollutants in these areas which are very sensitive to biological invasions.

Food control and a citizen science approach for improving teaching of Genetics in universities.

A Citizen Science approach was implemented in the laboratory practices of Genetics at the University of Oviedo, related with the engaging topic of Food Control. Real samples of food products consumed by students at home (students as samplers) were employed as teaching material in three different courses of Genetics during the academic year 2014-2015: Experimental Methods in Food Production (MBTA) (Master level), and Applied Molecular Biology (BMA) and Conservation Genetics and Breeding (COMGE) (Bachelor/Degree level). Molecular genetics based on PCR amplification of DNA markers was employed for species identification of 22 seafood products in COMGE and MBTA, and for detection of genetically modified (GM) maize from nine products in BMA. In total six seafood products incorrectly labeled (27%), and two undeclared GM maize (22%) were found. A post-Laboratory survey was applied for assessing the efficacy of the approach for improving motivation in the Laboratory Practices of Genetics. Results confirmed that students that worked on their own samples from local markets were significantly more motivated and better evaluated their Genetic laboratory practices than control students (χ(2) = 12.11 p = 0.033). Our results suggest that citizen science approaches could not be only useful for improving teaching of Genetics in universities but also to incorporate students and citizens as active agents in food control. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(5):450-462, 2016.

Two vs. three sputum samples for microscopic detection of tuberculosis in a high HIV prevalence population.

SETTING: A busy urban hospital in Cameroon. OBJECTIVES: To compare the yield in bacteriologically proven tuberculosis (TB) cases examining two morning vs. three spot-morning-spot sputum specimens (MM vs. SMS) by direct microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). DESIGN: Repeated temporal cross-over between MM and SMS sampling for successive TB suspects, using culture as gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 799 suspects were screened using the MM strategy, identifying 223 smear-positives, and 808 suspects with the SMS strategy, yielding 236 smear-positives. Of the MM, 256 were culture-positive, of whom 195 (76%) were smear-positive. For SMS, these figures were respectively 281 and 206 (73%), a non-significant difference. The MM and SMS strategies also detected respectively 28 and 30 smear-positive cases not confirmed by culture. No cases were lost to treatment with either strategy. CONCLUSIONS: In this population with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with late case presentation, smear microscopy of two morning specimens detected at least as many positive cases as the classical strategy, and no cases were lost before treatment. Two specimens for initial TB suspect screening can thus be recommended, also without excessive workload. Comparative studies in populations presenting with paucibacillary sputum are needed to determine the equivalent quality and yield of an alternative strategy with two spot specimens at consultation.

[Neonatal infection by Streptococcus agalactiae. Multicenter study in the area of Barcelona, Spain]. / Infección neonatal por Streptococcus agalactiae. Estudio multicéntrico en el área de Barcelona.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus agalactiae or streptococcus group B (SGB) is the main etiologic agent of early neonatal sepsis. A multicenter study was performed with the aim of determining the incidence and characteristics of this disease in our medium and contribute the design of an adequate prevention protocol. METHODS: Ten hospitals and two primary health care centers were implicated in the study; 103 microbiology confirmed episodes of SGB neonatal sepsis (blood and/or LCR positive) were reported from 1994 to 1996. RESULTS: The incidence of early SGB neonatal sepsis was 1.48/1,000 live births with a mortality of 8.7%. The cultures, for detecting the state of the SGB carrier were performed in only 26 (25%) of the patients. At least one of the factors described for risk of perinatal SGB infection was observed in 46% of the mothers, with the most frequent being prolonged amniorrhea (26%), intrapartum fever (17%), and early delivery (14%). At the time of delivery only 10.7% of the mothers received endovenous antibiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: From these results the following recommendations have been made: a) detection of SGB carriers by the systematic practice of blood cultures in the last weeks of gestation and b) the administration of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in both early births (< 37 weeks) and in all the SGB carriers should be undertaken. With these measures we aim to decrease the neonatal infections by streptococcus group B.