Activity and foraging behaviour of the hoverfly Eristalinus aeneus (Scopoli, 1763) in protected cultivation of mango (Mangifera indica L.).

The hoverfly Eristalinus aeneus is an important pollinator of crops and wild plants. However, there is a lack of detailed information about its foraging behaviour and its potential as a managed pollinator of mango. Given the growing economic importance of protected cultivation of mango, our aim is to study the flight activity and foraging behaviour of E. aeneus on this crop. Eristalinus aeneus displayed a bimodal daily activity, with peaks during mid-morning and mid-afternoon. The activity was maintained over a wide range of temperature (from 17.8 up to 37.4°C), light intensity (from 8.2 up to 57.4 klux) and relative humidity (from 19.0 up to 88.8%). The syrphids were active most of the time in this crop, and we observed five different types of activity: foraging (67%), resting (17%), flying (10%), grooming (4%) and walking (2%). This hoverfly visited hermaphrodite flowers more often than male flowers. On average, it visited 36.46 ± 13.92 flowers per 5 min, with a higher number of floral visits for nectar feeding. The duration of the visits to hermaphrodite and male flowers was similar but pollen-feeding visits lasted longer (6.44 s per flower) than nectar-feeding ones (5.51 s per flower). The highest number of visits to mango inflorescences was observed during the morning, but the longest visits occurred at midday. The implication of these results for the potential use of E. aeneus as a managed pollinator in protected cultivation of mango is discussed.

First record of Fannia leucosticta (Meigen) (Diptera: Fanniidae) breeding in human corpses.

A case where Fannia leucosticta (Meigen, 1838) was breeding in human corpses is reported for the first time. One larva and one unemerged puparium were recovered from two corpses in an advanced stage of decomposition, found in autumn in Alicante province, Spain.

Larval morphology, development and forensic importance of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Diptera: Muscidae) in Europe: a rare species or just overlooked?

The muscid Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a species with forensic importance in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This fly has recently been introduced into southern Europe and, until now, had not been recorded in forensic cases in this region. Here, morphology of all larval instars of S. nudiseta is documented in detail by using a combination of light and scanning electron microscopy. Literature data concerning larval morphology are revised and characters allowing identification from other forensically important Muscidae are listed. The life cycle of this species was studied at four constant temperatures: 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C. Total development varied between 46.50 ± 0.97 days at 15 °C and 15.39 ± 0.32 days at 30 °C. Moreover, we report this species breeding in human corpses, for the first time in Europe, in forensic cases from autopsies at the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Madrid and the Institute of Legal Medicine of Alicante, Spain.

Latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and its predictors in general hospital personnel. METHODS: Two tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were carried out within 2 years in a sample of 371 health care workers (HCWs) at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba Province, along with an interview to explore the association of LTBI with age, sex, occupation, contact history of TB and bacille Calmette-Guérin scar. A 10 mm cut-off point was used; an increase of ⩾10 mm in the second TST was considered as tuberculin conversion. RESULTS: Of the 350 HCWs with available TST results, 82 percent were female; the mean age was 37.6 years. LTBI prevalence was 15.4 percent: it was highest in professionals (20.6 percent); 60.3 percent were non-reactors, and at the second test a year later 1.4 percent were converters. Among the HCWs, physicians had the highest prevalence (21.8 percent), followed by nurses (19.6 percent), while administrative staff had the lowest prevalence (3.3 percent). The mean induration was 3.78 mm; it was highest in professionals (4.4 mm) and the lowest among support staff (2.6 mm). Contact with TB cases was found to be a risk factor for LTBI. CONCLUSIONS: Even at low levels, TB transmission in this hospital could be associated with risk exposure. It is recommended that preventive chemotherapy be given to tuberculin converters as an infection control measure in this hospital(AU)

OBJECTIFS : Déterminer dans le personnel dun hôpital général la prévalence de linfection tuberculeuse latente (LTBI) et ses facteurs prédictifs.MÉTHODES : Un test cutané tuberculinique (TST), répété une année plus tard, a été réalisée en parallèle avec une interview dans un échantillon de 371 membres du personnel dun hôpital général dans la province de Santiago de Cuba afin dexplorer lassociation de la LTBI avec lâge, le sexe, loccupation, les antécédents de contact avec les patients tuberculeux (TB) ainsi que la vaccination par le bacille Calmette Guérin. La limite de positivité a été fixée à ≥10 mm ; lors du deuxième test r éalisé 1 an après chez les sujets TST-négatifs, une augmentation ≥10 mm a été considérée comme un virage tuberculinique. RÉSULTATS : Parmi les 350 HCW dont les résultats des TST étaient disponibles, 82 por cento étaient de sexe féminin ; lâge moyen était de 37,6 ans. La prévalence des tests positifs >10 mm était de 15,4 Pourcent ; elle a été plus élevée chez les professionnels (20,6 Pourcent). Il y a eu 60,3 Pourcent de nonréacteurs (0 mm dinduration) ; lors du deuxième test après 1 an, on a noté 1,4 Pourcent de virage. La prévalence de positivité a été la plus élevée chez les médecins (21,8 Pourcent), suivie des infirmières (19,6 Pourcent) ; elle a été la plus faible chez les employés de bureau (3,3 Pourcent). Linduration moyenne (y compris les non-réacteurs) a été de 3,8 mm, la plus élevée chez les professionnels (4,4 mm) et la plus faible chez le personnel auxiliaire (2,6 mm). Le contact avec un cas de TB sest avéré un facteur prédictif de la LTBI. CONCLUSIONS : Bien que dans cet hôpital les niveaux de transmission de la TB soient faibles, on a pu néanmoins la mettre en association avec lexposition au risque. Il y a lieu de recommander lapplication dune chimiothérapie préventive en cas de virage tuberculinique ainsi que le maintien de mesures adéquates de maîtrise de linfection dans cet hôpital.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la prevalencia de infección tuberculosa la tente (LTBI) en el personal de un hospital general y valorar su posible asociación con algunas variables predictoras. MÉTODOS: En una muestra de 371 trabajadores de un hospital general en Santiago de Cuba, se aplicaron pruebas tuberculínicas (TST) en dos ocasiones y un cuestionario para explorar la presencia de asociación con edad, sexo, ocupación, antecedentes de contacto con pacientes tuberculosos y presencia de cicatriz de vacunación bacille Calmette Guérin. Se consideraron positivas las induraciones de ≥10 mm y conversión tuberculínica al incremento ≥10 mm en la segunda prueba realizada un año más tarde a los previamente negativos. RESULTADOS: De los 350 trabajadores con TST leída, 82 por ciento fueron mujeres; la media de edad fue 37,6 años. La prevalencia de LTBI fue 15,4 por ciento; mayor en profesionales (20,6 por ciento); 60,3 por ciento fueron anérgicos con 1,4 por ciento de conversión tuberculínica en la segunda encuesta. Los médicos tuvieron el mayor porcentaje de reactores (21,8 por ciento), seguidos de enfermero(a)s (19,6 por ciento), y la menor en personal de oficinas (3,3 por ciento). La media de las induraciones fue 3,8 mm, mayor en los profesionales (4,4 mm) y menor en obreros (2,6 mm). Se encontró asociación estadística de la presencia de infección con el contacto con casos de TB. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque en niveles bajos, la presencia de transmisión tuberculosa en el hospital podría estar asociada al riesgo de exposición, por lo que sería recomendable valorar la aplicación de la quimioterapia preventiva en los convertores tuberculínicos y mantener las medidas adecuadas de control de infección en este hospital(AU)

Latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and its predictors in general hospital personnel. METHODS: Two tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were carried out within 2 years in a sample of 371 health care workers (HCWs) at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba Province, along with an interview to explore the association of LTBI with age, sex, occupation, contact history of TB and bacille Calmette-Guérin scar. A 10 mm cut-off point was used; an increase of ≥10 mm in the second TST was considered as tuberculin conversion. RESULTS: Of the 350 HCWs with available TST re- sults, 82% were female; the mean age was 37.6 years. LTBI prevalence was 15.4%: it was highest in professionals (20.6%); 60.3% were non-reactors, and at the second test a year later 1.4% were converters. Among the HCWs, physicians had the highest prevalence (21.8%), followed by nurses (19.6%), while administrative staff had the lowest prevalence (3.3%). The mean induration was 3.78 mm; it was highest in professionals (4.4 mm) and the lowest among support staff (2.6 mm). Contact with TB cases was found to be a risk factor for LTBI. CONCLUSIONS: Even at low levels, TB transmission in this hospital could be associated with risk exposure. It is recommended that preventive chemotherapy be given to tuberculin converters as an infection control measure in this hospital.

Diptera of forensic importance in the Iberian Peninsula: larval identification key.

A revision of the species and families of sarcosaprophagous flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, Drosophilidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae and Stratiomyidae) suitable for forensic purposes in the Iberian Peninsula is presented. Morphological characteristics that allow the accurate identification of third instars of the species present in the Iberian Peninsula are described and presented in the form of a diagnostic key. For larval Calliphoridae, characteristics such as the spines of the body segments were useful for the genus Calliphora whereas features of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were useful for larvae of Lucilia. Identification of three Chrysominae species present in the Iberian Peninsula is included. For larval Sarcophagidae, characters such as the arrangement and shape of spiracular openings, structures of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were used for the first time. A new record of Sarcophaga cultellata Pandellé, from a human corpse, is also included as well as recent incursions into the European cadaveric entomofauna such as Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp) and Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus). This work provides useful new information that could be applied to forensic investigations in the Iberian Peninsula and in southern Europe.

Precisión y Exactitud de un método enzimático para la determinaciónde Colesterol Total / Precision and Accuracy of an enzimatic method for Total

El acoplamiento de las enzimas colesterol esterasa, colesterol oxidasa y peroxidasa es uno delos métodos mas empleados para la determinación de colesterol. La formulación de Allain y col.y la modificación de Roeschlau ha sido adaptada por Laboratorios Heiga en su reactivo Ref 450-L para la determinación en suero; planteando la necesidad de determinar su confiabilidad. Así,el objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la exactitud y precisión del mismo. Para ello, seefectuaron 30 determinaciones consecutivas del analito en ensayos controles de dos niveles deconcentración (CN: 193 mg/dL y CA: 247 mg/dL) y 30 ensayos de adición (R: agregando 200mg de colesterol al CN). La precisión intralaboratorio se determinó mediante los coeficientes devariación (CV) y la precisión interlaboratorio con la Desviación Estándar Obtenida (DEO). Laexactitud se evaluó con el porcentaje de recuperación (porcentaje R) y el Desvío Relativo Porcentual(DRP) de la media obtenida con respecto al valor del CN (determinado por un Laboratorio deReferencia). Los CV oscilaron entre 0,63 por ciento y 1,13 por ciento y las DEO entre -1,70 y -0,18;considerándose ambos satisfactorias (CV menores a 5 por ciento DEO entre – 2 y + 2). El porcentaje R fue de 104,8 por ciento y el DRP del CN de 0,89 por ciento, considerándose aceptables por encontrarse entre 95 y 105 por ciento y menor a 9 por ciento, respectivamente. Se concluye que el método evaluado presenta precisiónintralaboratorio e interlaboratorio así como exactitud para niveles normales y altos decolesterol.

Sickle cell anemia oral manifestations in a Venezuelan population.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a well known hemoglobinopathy which results from a substitution of amino acids in the polypeptidic chain. SCA was considered endemic in certain areas of the world. It has been recognized now that it may have a wide geographic distribution. Few studies have dealt with dental manifestations or complications of SCA (Cox and Soni, 1984). Nevertheless none of them have showed epidemiological data for a large series of oral manifestations. To date, no epidemiological data of our country is available in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the oral manifestations of SCA in a Venezuelan population. Seventeen patients affected were examined at the University Hospital and the Dental Clinic. Age ranged between 1 1/2-48 years. Each patient was haematologically diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis and only homozygous individuals were selected. Each patient was analyzed according to general clinical history, as well as, dental history; clinical and radiological examination using periapical, panorex and bite-wings radiographs. Our results showed that the most affected group was between 20 to 30 years (41.18%). According to sex, females were more affected than males (64.71%). The most common phenotype was mestizo (47.31%). The most frequent type of hemoglobinopathy was Hg-SS and Hg SS-F. The most common soft tissue oral manifestation was buccal mucosa pallor in 77.05%. In addition, the hard tissue findings involved enlarged medullary spaces (70.58%). Cicatritial infarcts were present in 77.05% of cases and the step-ladder effect was demonstrated in 82.35% of cases. Our observations could be due to genetic, environmental, nutritional and geographical factors.