Transcending sea turtles: First report of hatching failure in eggs of an Amazonian freshwater turtle with symptoms of the fungal emerging disease fusariosis.

During the last few decades, fungal pathogens have caused devastating population declines across a broad range of taxa. A newly emerging fungal disease, sea turtle egg fusariosis, caused by members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), has been reported to be responsible for hatching failure in sea turtles worldwide. However, this has not been detected in fresh water turtle species. Here, using relocated clutches and artificial incubation, we report high hatching failure in eggs symptomatic of fusariosis in the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) inhabiting a pristine environment in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In 2020, we screened 680 eggs of the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle, relocated from wild nesting areas to artificial nests, for visual symptoms of fusariosis and to estimate hatchability despite infection. We selected 68 eggs sampled in 2019 to confirm Fusarium infection by PCR amplification of the TEF-1α gene and sequenced seven of those amplicons on an Illumina Miseq to assess FSSC membership. We observed fusariosis symptoms in 42% of the 680 eggs. The proportion of symptomatic eggs within nests was negatively linked to the proportion of eggs that hatched. Hatchability was 8% for symptomatic eggs compared with 72% of asymptomatic eggs. Through PCR testing, 58% of symptomatic and 8% of asymptomatic eggs sampled in 2019 tested positive for Fusarium spp., and sequencing revealed that nine sequence variants from three asymptomatic and four symptomatic eggs corresponded to F. keratoplasticum, F. solani and F. falciforme, the three major FSSC pathogens reported in sea turtle egg fusariosis. Our study suggests that hatching failure in eggs linked to symptoms of fusariosis appears to be partially caused by Fusarium pathogens within FSSC in a freshwater turtle. Thus, fusariosis is more widespread among the Testudines than previously reported and is not limited to sea environments, findings of particular conservation concern.

Egg microbiota is the starting point of hatchling gut microbiota in the endangered yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle.

Establishment and development of gut microbiota during vertebrates' early life are likely to be important predictors of health and fitness. Host-parental and host-environment interactions are essential to these processes. In oviparous reptiles whose nests represent a source of the parent's microbial inocula, the relative role of host-selection and stochastic environmental factors during gut microbial assemblage remains unknown. We sampled eggs incubated in artificial nests as well as hatchlings and juveniles (up to 30 days old) of the yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) developing in tubs filled with river water. We examined the relative role of the internal egg microbiota and the abiotic environment on hatchling and juvenile turtle's cloacal microbiota assemblages during the first 30 days of development. A mean of 71% of ASVs in hatched eggs could be traced to the nest environmental microbiota and in turn a mean of 77% of hatchlings' cloacal ASVs were traced to hatched eggs. Between day 5 and 20 of juvenile turtle's development, the river water environment plays a key role in the establishment of the gut microbiota (accounting for a mean of 13%-34.6% of cloacal ASVs) and strongly influences shifts in microbial diversity and abundance. After day 20, shifts in gut microbiota composition were mainly driven by host-selection processes. Therefore, colonization by environmental microbiota is key in the initial stages of establishing the host's gut microbiota which is subsequently shaped by host-selection processes. Our study provides a novel quantitative understanding of the host-environment interactions during gut microbial assemblage of oviparous reptiles.

Non-axial osteoarticular tuberculosis in the paediatric age. / La tuberculosis osteoarticular no axial en la edad pediátrica.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Osteoarticular tuberculosis, caused by a member of the Mycobacterium genus, represents approximately 10% of the total extrapulmonary tuberculosis in pediatric patients. Its low prevalence and nonspecific clinical presentation lead to a late diagnosis and elevated risk of sequelae. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included seven pediatric patients with non-vertebral osteoarticular tuberculosis diagnosed between 2006 and 2019. The patients were classified in accordance with the radiographic criteria of Kerri and Martini. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 7,4 years (median, 5 years; range, 2-16 years). The mean follow-up time was 18,5 months (range, 10-32 months). The mean diagnostic delay was 4,7 months (range, 1-8 months). The locations were femoral head osteoarthritis (two patients) and proximal humerus osteomyelitis, talus dome osteoarthritis, distal clavicle osteoarthritis, proximal ulna epiphysis osteoarthritis, and tibiotalar arthritis along with subtalar gland (one patient each). The clinical findings were lameness (four patients), localized pain (two patients), functional impotence, constitutional syndrome (asthenia, anorexia, and involuntary loss of>5% of total body weight) (two patients), local inflammatory signs (one patient), and fever (one patient). One patient was asymptomatic and received a diagnosis during pulmonary radiological analysis. Medical treatment with four drugs was performed in all patients; five patients required surgical treatment for abscess drainage, three of them open drainage, and two with laparoscopic drainage. CONCLUSIONS: The final results were satisfactory, such that 71% of patients recovered joint balance but with radiological sequelae in 57,1% patients. Good prognosis, according to our results, depends on younger age and early diagnosis with early medical or surgical treatments.

Osteoarticular infections: Blood as a determinant factor in the isolation of Kingella kingae.

We assessed the capacity of Kingella kingae to grow in blood culture bottles (BCB), taking into account the concentrations of the microorganism and blood in the culture medium. An initial suspension (McFarland 0.5) of 32 strains of K. kingae was serially diluted. One mL of the initial suspension and 1 mL of the subsequent dilutions were inoculated in two BCB, together with 1 mL of human blood in the 2nd BCB. Also, 1mL serial dilutions of human blood were added to BCBs previously inoculated with 1 mL of K. kingae dilution 1/104. In non-blood-supplemented BCB, 23 strains grew with the initial suspension and only one with the first processed dilution, as compared to all strains with the initial suspension and the 3 first dilutions, 22 with the 4th dilution, and one with the 5th dilution in blood-supplemented BCB. In BCB inoculated with K. kingae dilution 1/104 and decreasing concentrations of human blood, all strains grew with blood dilutions 1/2 and 1/4, 26 with dilution 1/8, 19 with dilution 1/16, 10 with dilution 1/32, and none with dilution 1/64. Increasing time to positivity was observed with both decreasing bacterial (p = .001) and blood concentrations (r = -0.632, p < .0001). The addition of human blood was essential to boost the growth of K. kingae in BCB. If replicated in vivo, these findings would increase the isolation of fastidious K. kingae organisms from pediatric osteoarticular exudates.

Pediatric Psoas Abscess, Early Diagnosis of a Challenging Condition.

INTRODUCTION: Psoas abscess is a rare entity at the pediatric stage of life. The clinical presentation of psoas abscess is insidious and not specifi c, and this usually causes diagnostic delay. Early diagnosis is relevant to prevent devastating consequences of this condition. AIMS: This study aimed to describe the natural history of psoas abscess, present our experience in a children's hospital, determine warning signs and symptoms that may lead to early diagnosis, and describe differential diagnoses. We also discuss the devastating consequences of misdiagnosing psoas abscess. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed at Sant Joan de Déu Children's Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) from 2008 to 2016. All patients younger than 18 years old (n = 12) with psoas abscess who were diagnosed by imaging tests were included. RESULTS: The initial clinical presentation of the patients was variable. Painful hip mobility at extension (7 cases), limping (5 cases), and fever (4 cases) were the most frequent presentations. Laboratory parameters were abnormal in nine patients. The main responsible bacteria was Staphylococcus aureus (9 cases). The mean hospital stay was 28 days (range, 10-71 days). Percutaneous drainage under ultrasound control was applied in two patients. Surgical debridement was performed in seven patients, and repeated procedures were required in three of them. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the erratic presentation of psoas abscess, its suspected diagnosis is essential for an early diagnosis, which will minimize the risk of diagnostic delay. One or more signs and symptoms at the same time might be considered as initiation of psoas abscess. Physicians should be aware of risk factors, such as previous traumatism and a known disturbed immunological system or temporal circumstances, which might lead to psoas abscess. Laboratory parameters may provide more confi dence in diagnosis, and early imaging tests provide a defi nitive diagnosis.

Xylem Surfactants Introduce a New Element to the Cohesion-Tension Theory.

Vascular plants transport water under negative pressure without constantly creating gas bubbles that would disable their hydraulic systems. Attempts to replicate this feat in artificial systems almost invariably result in bubble formation, except under highly controlled conditions with pure water and only hydrophilic surfaces present. In theory, conditions in the xylem should favor bubble nucleation even more: there are millions of conduits with at least some hydrophobic surfaces, and xylem sap is saturated or sometimes supersaturated with atmospheric gas and may contain surface-active molecules that can lower surface tension. So how do plants transport water under negative pressure? Here, we show that angiosperm xylem contains abundant hydrophobic surfaces as well as insoluble lipid surfactants, including phospholipids, and proteins, a composition similar to pulmonary surfactants. Lipid surfactants were found in xylem sap and as nanoparticles under transmission electron microscopy in pores of intervessel pit membranes and deposited on vessel wall surfaces. Nanoparticles observed in xylem sap via nanoparticle-tracking analysis included surfactant-coated nanobubbles when examined by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Based on their fracture behavior, this technique is able to distinguish between dense-core particles, liquid-filled, bilayer-coated vesicles/liposomes, and gas-filled bubbles. Xylem surfactants showed strong surface activity that reduces surface tension to low values when concentrated as they are in pit membrane pores. We hypothesize that xylem surfactants support water transport under negative pressure as explained by the cohesion-tension theory by coating hydrophobic surfaces and nanobubbles, thereby keeping the latter below the critical size at which bubbles would expand to form embolisms.

Yasuní--a hotspot for jaguars Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae)? Camera-traps and jaguar activity at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador.

Jaguars (Panthera onca) are the largest predator in lowland forests of Amazonia but there have been few studies on their occurrence and activity in such forests. Here, we used camera traps to document the occurrence and activity of jaguars within a local area (-650ha) of lowland forest of Eastern Ecuador, over two sample periods (2005-2008, 7 222 trap days; 2010-2012, 6 199 trap days). We accumulated 151 independent photos of jaguars (189 total photographs) that represented 21 different individuals, including 11 males (114 photographs), seven females (32 photographs), and three that could not be assigned to a sex. Individual jaguars varied in the number of months they were recorded in the area; ten were photographed in only one month; five were photographed over periods of 8 to 22 months; and five from 45 to 81 months. Capture rates across all camera stations averaged 10.6/1 000 trap days; capture rates did not differ between the two sample periods. Male jaguars were more active during the day (06:00am-18:00pm; 71% of photographs), whereas females were equally active during the day and night. Monthly activity was variable but showed no consistent pattern. Although the study area is much smaller than typical home ranges of jaguars, the area is clearly visited by a large number of different individuals, some of whom repeatedly visit the area, indicating that it forms part of their home range. Other individuals likely were simply passing through the area. Based on the number of jaguars recorded during this study, it is clear that the region is an important area for conservation. Continued protection will be needed to ensure that populations ofjaguars and other species remain viable.

Yasuní - a hotspot for jaguars Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae)? Camera-traps and jaguar activity at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador / Yasuní - Un hotspot para jaguares Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae)? Cámaras trampa y actividad del jaguar en la Estación de Biodiversidad Tiputini, Ecuador

Jaguars (Panthera onca) are the largest predator in lowland forests of Amazonia but there have been few studies on their occurrence and activity in such forests. Here, we used camera traps to document the occurrence and activity of jaguars within a local area (~650ha) of lowland forest of Eastern Ecuador, over two sample periods (2005-2008, 7 222 trap days; 2010-2012, 6 199 trap days). We accumulated 151 independent photos of jaguars (189 total photographs) that represented 21 different individuals, including 11 males (114 photographs), seven females (32 photographs), and three that could not be assigned to a sex. Individual jaguars varied in the number of months they were recorded in the area; ten were photographed in only one month; five were photographed over periods of 8 to 22 months; and five from 45 to 81 months. Capture rates across all camera stations averaged 10.6/1 000 trap days; capture rates did not differ between the two sample periods. Male jaguars were more active during the day (06:00am-18:00pm; 71% of photographs), whereas females were equally active during the day and night. Monthly activity was variable but showed no consistent pattern. Although the study area is much smaller than typical home ranges of jaguars, the area is clearly visited by a large number of different individuals, some of whom repeatedly visit the area, indicating that it forms part of their home range. Other individuals likely were simply passing through the area. Based on the number of jaguars recorded during this study, it is clear that the region is an important area for conservation. Continued protection will be needed to ensure that populations of jaguars and other species remain viable. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (2): 689-698. Epub 2014 June 01.

El jaguar (Panthera onca) es el depredador más grande de los bosques bajos de la Amazonía, pero existen pocos estudios sobre su presencia y actividad en los mismos. En este estudio utilizamos cámaras trampa para documentar la presencia y actividad de jaguares dentro de una área de bosque bajo de la Amazonía este de Ecuador (~650 ha) en dos períodos (2005-2008, 7 222 trampas noche; 2010-2012, 6 199 trampas noche). Acumulamos 151 fotos independientes de jaguares (189 fotografías en total) que representaron 21 individuos, incluyendo 11 machos (114 fotos), siete hembras (32 fotos) y tres a los que no se les pudo asignar sexo. Los jaguares individuales variaron en el número de meses en que fueron registrados en el área; diez fueron fotografiados solo en un mes; cinco fueron fotografiados en un periodo entre 8 y 22 meses; y cinco jaguares entre 45 y 81. Las tasas de captura a través de las estaciones de trampeo promediaron 10.6/1 000 trampas noche; las tasas de captura no presentaron diferencias en los dos períodos de muestreo. Los jaguares machos fueron más activos durante el día (06:00am-18:00pm; 71% de las fotografías) mientras que las hembras fueron igualmente activas tanto en el día como en la noche. La actividad mensual fue variable pero no mostró un patrón consistente. Aunque el área de estudio es mucho más pequeña que el rango de vida típico para un jaguar, el área es claramente visitada por un alto número de individuos diferentes, algunos de los cuales visitan repetidamente el lugar, indicando que este forma parte de su rango de vida. Es probable que otros individuos solamente sean transeúntes del área.

Learning regions of interest from low level maps in virtual microscopy.

Virtual microscopy can improve the workflow of modern pathology laboratories, a goal limited by the large size of the virtual slides (VS). Lately, determination of the Regions of Interest has shown to be useful in navigation and compression tasks. This work presents a novel method for establishing RoIs in VS, based on a relevance score calculated from example images selected by pathologist. The process starts by splitting the Virtual Slide (VS) into a grid of blocks, each represented by a set of low level features which aim to capture the very basic visual properties, namely, color, intensity, orientation and texture. The expert selects then two blocks i.e. A typical relevant (irrelevant) instance. Different similarity (disimilarity) maps are then constructed, using these positive (negative) examples. The obtained maps are then integrated by a normalization process that promotes maps with a similarity global maxima that largely exceeds the average local maxima. Each image region is thus entailed with an associated score, established by the number of closest positive (negative) blocks, whereby any block has also an associated score. Evaluation was carried out using 8 VS from different tissues, upon which a group of three pathologists had navigated. Precision-recall measurements were calculated at each step of any actual navigation, obtaining an average precision of 55% and a recall of about 38% when using the available set of navigations.

Research with spanish-speaking populations in the United States: lost in the translation. A commentary and a plea.

Verbal material used to assess the cognitive abilities of Spanish-speakers in the the United States is frequently of linguistically unacceptable quality. The use of these materials in research settings is thought to pose a serious threat to test validity and hence to the validity of claimed results or conclusions. The authors explain how and why incorrect language finds its way into cognitive tests used in research and other settings and suggest solutions to this serious problem.

Neuropsychiatric involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The correct diagnosis of central and peripheral nervous system manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be challenging because of many SLE-related and non-SLE-related processes that can be present in a patient. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has published case definitions for 19 neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) syndromes, with careful attention to important exclusion criteria. These criteria were developed for research purposes but can be helpful to clinicians with a patient who has nervous system dysfunction. This report reviews the data regarding the application of the ACR NPSLE criteria and the influence of ethnicity and disease duration on the development of NPSLE syndromes. Cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disorders are the two most common manifestations. The work-up and treatment of nervous system syndromes are also discussed.

Diagnosis and management of patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) involves a wide range of focal and diffuse central and peripheral nervous system disorders and affects up to 75% of SLE patients. NPSLE can occur any time in the course of SLE, even during periods in which no SLE disease activity is detected, and is likely to be caused by multiple factors, including autoantibody production, microvasculopathy and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Central to the diagnosis of NPSLE is the question of whether the presenting neuropsychiatric symptoms are due to SLE-mediated organ dysfunction, infection, medication side-effects or metabolic abnormalities (e.g. uraemia), or are due to an unrelated condition. The diagnostic inference of NPSLE can be made only after these secondary causes have been excluded. There is no one single diagnostic tool specific to NPSLE, and clinical diagnostic impressions must be based on the combined use of immunoserological testing, functional and/or structural neuroimaging and standardized neurological, rheumatological, psychiatric and neuropsychological assessments. The management of NPSLE includes symptomatic and/or immunosuppressive treatment strategies depending on the specific presenting neuropsychiatric symptoms and whether these occur in the setting of an SLE disease activity flare.