Phylogeny and Phylogeography of a Recent HIV-1 Subtype F Outbreak among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Spain Deriving from a Cluster with a Wide Geographic Circulation in Western Europe.

We recently reported the rapid expansion of an HIV-1 subtype F cluster among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the region of Galicia, Northwest Spain. Here we update this outbreak, analyze near full-length genomes, determine phylogenetic relationships, and estimate its origin. For this study, we used sequences of HIV-1 protease-reverse transcriptase and env V3 region, and for 17 samples, near full-length genome sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses were performed via maximum likelihood. Locations and times of most recent common ancestors were estimated using Bayesian inference. Among samples analyzed by us, 100 HIV-1 F1 subsubtype infections of monophyletic origin were diagnosed in Spain, including 88 in Galicia and 12 in four other regions. Most viruses (n = 90) grouped in a subcluster (Galician subcluster), while 7 from Valladolid (Central Spain) grouped in another subcluster. At least 94 individuals were sexually-infected males and at least 71 were MSM. Seventeen near full-length genomes were uniformly of F1 subsubtype. Through similarity searches and phylogenetic analyses, we identified 18 viruses from four other Western European countries [Switzerland (n = 8), Belgium (n = 5), France (n = 3), and United Kingdom (n = 2)] and one from Brazil, from samples collected in 2005-2011, which branched within the subtype F cluster, outside of both Spanish subclusters, most of them corresponding to recently infected individuals. The most probable geographic origin and age of the Galician subcluster was Ferrol, Northwest Galicia, around 2007, while the Western European cluster probably emerged in Switzerland around 2002. In conclusion, a recently expanded HIV-1 subtype F cluster, the largest non-subtype B cluster reported in Western Europe, continues to spread among MSM in Spain; this cluster is part of a larger cluster with a wide geographic circulation in diverse Western European countries.

Seroprevalence survey of zoonoses in Extremadura, southwestern Spain, 2002-2003.

Our aims were to determine the seroprevalence rates for the most common types of zoonosis among the population of Extremadura (southwestern Spain) and to identify the associated risk factors. We conducted a seroepidemiological survey to collect information on family background and the habits of people residing in Extremadura between 2002 and 2003. Antibodies to Brucella were determined by Rose Bengal staining and a standard tube agglutination test; a titer of 1/80 was considered to be positive. Antibody titers for spotted fever, leishmaniasis, echinococcosis, and toxoplasmosis were determined by enzyme-immunoassays. Independent risk factors identified were age (younger age for brucellosis), male gender (brucellosis, spotted fever, and toxoplasmosis), occupation and contact with animals (brucellosis and spotted fever for those in contact with goats, hydatidosis for those in contact with sheep, leishmaniasis for those in contact with dogs, and toxoplasmosis for those in contact with cats and pigs), and consuming contaminated food (brucellosis by eating fresh cheese, hydatidosis by eating homemade sausages, and toxoplasmosis by eating pork). Except for leishmaniasis, the other zoonoses were more prevalent in rural areas, and, with the exception of brucellosis, they were all more prevalent in Badajoz. The distribution of zoonoses in Extremadura was strongly influenced by keeping livestock and eating habits. Thus, brucellosis was more prevalent in Caceres (associated with cheese consumption), while toxoplasmosis (pork consumption) and spotted fever (from hunting) were more common in Badajoz.

Hiperplasia epidérmica verrugosa en un paciente trasplantado renal / Epidermal hyperplasia in a transplant recipient

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Staphylococcus saprophyticus causing native valve endocarditis.

Coagulase negative staphylococci are a rare cause of native valve endocarditis. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infrequently reported as a human pathogen, and most of the cases reported are urinary tract infections. We describe a case of native valve endocarditis attributed to this organism. The patient needed valve replacement due to heart failure.

Thermodynamic analysis of growth temperature dependence in the adhesion of Candida parapsilosis to polystyrene.

The purpose of this work was to study the adhesion to polystyrene of two Candida parapsilosis strains, grown at 22 and 37 degrees C, in terms of hydrophobicity, surface charge, and interaction free energy. Growth temperature changed the surface properties of microorganisms, yielding a good correlation between thermodynamic predictions and adhesion behavior.

Patogenicidad de enterococcus spp. características de 169 aislamientos hospitalarios / Enterococcus spp. pathogenicity. Characteristics of 169 hospital isolates

Fundamento: Conocer las características de los aislamientos hospitalarios de Enterococcus spp., analizando la importancia de este microorganismo, así como la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. Pacientes y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de las historias clínicas de 169 pacientes con aislamiento de Enterococcus spp., seleccionados aleatoriamente en el Hospital Infanta Cristina de Badajoz. Se investigaron la edad, el sexo, las fechas de ingreso y de alta, los síntomas clínicos, los factores de riesgo, el tratamiento antibiótico previo, la evolución clínica y microbiológica, así como el tratamiento recomendado y el tratamiento prescrito. Se identificaron los microorganismos y se llevó a cabo antibiograma con paneles microScan Pos Combo 4I, leídos en un equipo Baxter WalkAway-40. Resultados: La especie más frecuentemente hallada fue Enterococcus faecalis. En 75 casos los aislamientos fueron polimicrobianos. Los enterococos se aislaron principalmente de infecciones urinarias (27 por ciento), infecciones cutáneas (20 por ciento), infecciones intraabdominales (14 por ciento) e infección de herida quirúrgica (14 por ciento). Como factor de riesgo destacó la existencia de catéter periférico. Todas las cepas de E. faecalis fueron sensibles a los glucopéptidos. Dos cepas de Enterococcus faecium no eran sensibles a vancomicina y una de ellas tampoco a teicoplanina. La mortalidad fue del 21-27,5 por ciento. Conclusiones: Enterococcus spp. se aísla con frecuencia en infecciones hospitalarias, pero aproximadamente en la mitad de los casos se encuentra asociado a otras bacterias. Por este motivo, no siempre es posible establecer su contribución patogénica. Las cepas aisladas, excepto dos cepas de E. faecium, son sensibles a vancomicina. Existe relación entre alta resistencia a aminoglucósidos y resistencia a fluoroquinolonas (AU)