Insights from the EQUALS4COVID19 study on migrant mental health in Portugal: a cross-sectional mixed-methods approach.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptive consequences in the economic, health, and educational sectors have impacted people's lives, contributing to a context of increased economic and social vulnerability. The pandemic has revealed and accentuated social inequalities and discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin. This study aimed to contribute to the promotion of the mental health and well-being of migrant populations living in Portugal via the definition of an analytical framework and recommendations emerging from the EQUALS4COVID19 project. METHODS: To gather information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resilience determinants among immigrants, a mixed-methods approach was implemented in 2022, combining a cross-sectional survey targeting immigrant adults in Portugal, focus groups with immigrants, focus groups with healthcare professionals, and in-depth individual interviews with stakeholders involved in the implementation of measures related to mental health and well-being during the pandemic. The analysis followed an integrated framework; quantitative data informed the script of qualitative data collection methods, and qualitative analysis informed the reinterpretation of quantitative data. RESULTS: The survey with 604 Brazilian and Cape Verdean immigrants revealed that gender (being a woman) was associated with both psychological distress and depression-related symptomatology and that the perception of discrimination was a major risk factor for psychological suffering, while perceived social support and individuals' resilience characteristics were protective factors. Qualitative data provided deeper insights into these findings, revealing the ways mental health is affected by social structures, such as gender and ethnic hierarchies. Migrants tend to work in precarious jobs requiring physical presence, which, together with dense housing conditions, puts them at higher risk of infection. The deterioration of the economic conditions of the general population has also increased the perception of ethnic-racial discrimination, which was found to be related to the increase in insecurity and anxiety-related symptomatology among the migrant population. Newly arrived migrants, with reduced support networks, experienced a greater sense of insecurity as well as concern and anguish regarding relatives who live far away, in their home country. Migrant women reported greater family-related distress, including work-life balance problems. CONCLUSIONS: Proposals to address mental health inequalities should be considered in the context of the necessary global changes both at the societal level and in the delivery of mental health services. Additionally, they should be considered with the active involvement of migrants, families, and communities in the design and delivery of mental health promotion and care processes.

"Ancient DNA" reveals that the scientific name for an extinct tortoise from Cape Verde refers to an extant South American species.

We examined the type material of the extinct tortoise species Geochelone atlantica López-Jurado, Mateo and García-Márquez, 1998 from Sal Island, Cape Verde, using aDNA approaches and AMS radiocarbon dating. High-quality mitochondrial genomes obtained from the three type specimens support that all type material belongs to the same individual. In phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial genomes of all species groups and genera of extant and some recently extinct tortoises, the type material clusters within the extant South American red-footed tortoise Chelonoidis carbonarius (Spix, 1824). Our radiocarbon date indicates that the tortoise from which the type series of G. atlantica originates was still alive during 1962 and 1974. These results provide firm evidence that the type material of G. atlantica does not belong to the Quaternary tortoise bones excavated on Sal Island in the 1930s, as originally thought. Thus, the extinct tortoise species remains unstudied and lacks a scientific name, and the name G. atlantica has to be relegated into the synonymy of C. carbonarius. The circumstances that led to this confusion currently cannot be disentangled.

Genetic Characterization of a New HIV-1 Sub-Subtype A in Cabo Verde, Denominated A8.

Previous molecular characterization of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) samples from Cabo Verde pointed out a vast HIV-1 pol diversity, with several subtypes and recombinant forms, being 5.2% classified as AU-pol. Thus, the aim of the present study was to improve the characterization of these AU sequences. The genomic DNA of seven HIV-1 AU pol-infected individuals were submitted to four overlapping nested-PCR fragments aiming to compose the full-length HIV-1 genome. The final classification was based on phylogenetic trees that were generated using the maximum likelihood and bootscan analysis. The genetic distances were calculated using Mega 7.0 software. Complete genome amplification was possible for two samples, and partial genomes were obtained for the other five. These two samples grouped together with a high support value, in a separate branch from the other sub-subtypes A and CRF26_A5U. No recombination was verified at bootscan, leading to the classification of a new sub-subtype A. The intragroup genetic distance from the new sub-subtype A at a complete genome was 5.2%, and the intergroup genetic varied from 8.1% to 19.0% in the analyzed fragments. Our study describes a new HIV-1 sub-subtype A and highlights the importance of continued molecular surveillance studies, mainly in countries with high HIV molecular diversity.

Evolutionary origin of the Atlantic Cabo Verde nibbler (Girella stuebeli), a member of a primarily Pacific Ocean family of antitropical herbivorous reef fishes.

Nibblers (family Girellidae) are reef fishes that are mostly distributed in the Indo-Pacific, with one exception: Girella stuebeli, which is found in the Cabo Verde Archipelago, in the Atlantic Ocean. We capitalized on this unusual distribution to study the evolutionary history of the girellids, and determine the relationship between G. stuebeli and the remaining nibbler taxa. Based on thousands of genomic markers (RAD sequences), we identified the closest relatives of G. stuebeli as being a clade of three species endemic to the northwestern Pacific, restricted to the Sea of Japan and vicinity. This clade diverged from G. stuebeli approximately 2.2 Mya. Two alternative potential routes of migration may explain this affinity: a western route, from the Tropical Eastern Pacific and the Tropical Western Atlantic, and an eastern route via the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa. The geological history and oceanography of the regions combined with molecular data presented here, suggest that the eastern route of invasion (via the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa) is a more likely scenario.

The Broader Economic Value of School Feeding Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Estimating the Multi-Sectoral Returns to Public Health, Human Capital, Social Protection, and the Local Economy.

Introduction: Globally, there are 370 million children receiving school meals every day. Coverage is least in low-income countries, where the need is greatest and where program costs are viewed as high in comparison with the benefits to public health alone. Here we explore the policy implications of including the returns of school feeding to other sectors in an economic analysis. Methods: We develop an economic evaluation methodology to estimate the costs and benefits of school feeding programs across four sectors: health and nutrition; education; social protection; and the local agricultural economy. We then apply this multi-sectoral benefit-cost analytical framework to school feeding programs in 14 countries (Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa) for which input data are readily available. Results: Across the 14 countries, we estimate that 190 million schoolchildren benefit from school feeding programs, with total program budgets reaching USD11 billion per year. Estimated annual human capital returns are USD180 billion: USD24 billion from health and nutrition gains, and USD156 billion from education. In addition, school feeding programs offer annual social protection benefits of USD7 billion and gains to local agricultural economies worth USD23 billion. Conclusions: This multi-sectoral analysis suggests that the overall benefits of school feeding are several times greater than the returns to public health alone, and that the overall benefit-cost ratio of school feeding programs could vary between 7 and 35, with particular sensitivity to the value of local wages. The scale of the findings suggests that school feeding programs are potentially much more cost-beneficial when viewed from the perspective of their multi-sectoral returns, and that it would be worthwhile following up with more detailed analyses at the national level to enhance the precision of these estimates.

Distribution of genetic diversity reveals colonization patterns and philopatry of the loggerhead sea turtles across geographic scales.

Understanding the processes that underlie the current distribution of genetic diversity in endangered species is a goal of modern conservation biology. Specifically, the role of colonization and dispersal events throughout a species' evolutionary history often remains elusive. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) faces multiple conservation challenges due to its migratory nature and philopatric behaviour. Here, using 4207 mtDNA sequences, we analysed the colonisation patterns and distribution of genetic diversity within a major ocean basin (the Atlantic), a regional rookery (Cabo Verde Archipelago) and a local island (Island of Boa Vista, Cabo Verde). Data analysis using hypothesis-driven population genetic models suggests the colonization of the Atlantic has occurred in two distinct waves, each corresponding to a major mtDNA lineage. We propose the oldest lineage entered the basin via the isthmus of Panama and sequentially established aggregations in Brazil, Cabo Verde and in the area of USA and Mexico. The second lineage entered the Atlantic via the Cape of Good Hope, establishing colonies in the Mediterranean Sea, and from then on, re-colonized the already existing rookeries of the Atlantic. At the Cabo Verde level, we reveal an asymmetric gene flow maintaining links across island-specific nesting groups, despite significant genetic structure. This structure stems from female philopatric behaviours, which could further be detected by weak but significant differentiation amongst beaches separated by only a few kilometres on the island of Boa Vista. Exploring biogeographic processes at diverse geographic scales improves our understanding of the complex evolutionary history of highly migratory philopatric species. Unveiling the past facilitates the design of conservation programmes targeting the right management scale to maintain a species' evolutionary potential.

Verbal communication of the parturient nurse's dyad in the active phase of labor.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze verbal communication between the nurse and the parturient during the active phase of labor in two Lusophone countries. METHODS: quantitative analytical study. Sample of 709 interactions between nurses and parturients using verbal communication during the active phase of labor in Brazil and Cape Verde. The following variables were analyzed: companion, conative vocative, conative imperative, emotive/expressive and referential/context functions, contact/channel and code. RESULTS: the absence of interaction predominated in most of the variables analyzed during the active phase of labor in both countries. In Cape Verde all interactions occurred during the absence of the companion. CONCLUSIONS: considering the social and cultural aspects of each country, nurses need to develop skills to communicate verbally with the parturient, offering a better interaction during the parturition process.

Genomic Epidemiology of 2015-2016 Zika Virus Outbreak in Cape Verde.

During 2015-2016, Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, experienced a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak involving 7,580 suspected Zika cases and 18 microcephaly cases. Analysis of the complete genomes of 3 ZIKV isolates from the outbreak indicated the strain was of the Asian (not African) lineage. The Cape Verde ZIKV sequences formed a distinct monophylogenetic group and possessed 1-2 (T659A, I756V) unique amino acid changes in the envelope protein. Phylogeographic and serologic evidence support earlier introduction of this lineage into Cape Verde, possibly from northeast Brazil, between June 2014 and August 2015, suggesting cryptic circulation of the virus before the initial wave of cases were detected in October 2015. These findings underscore the utility of genomic-scale epidemiology for outbreak investigations.

A lógica fantasmática do e-government e o discurso da inovação em Cabo Verde / La lógica fantasmática del e-government y el discurso de la innovación en Cabo Verde / The phantasmatic logic of e-government and the discourse of innovation in Cape Verde

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo consiste em aprofundar as reflexões sobre o e-government (e-gov) a partir de uma análise do campo discursivo da inovação no setor público em Cabo Verde, sob a ótica da Teoria do Discurso (TD) de Ernesto Laclau e Chantal Mouffe. Para tanto, por meio de estudo de caso instrumental e usando o método da retrodução proposto por Jason Glynos e David Howarth e a análise do discurso (de matriz francesa) dos sujeitos que constituíram o e-gov, buscamos desvelar a lógica fantasmática da articulação discursiva dessa prática social. Os resultados mostram, por um lado, que, embora, o e-gov seja uma entidade incompleta, vulnerável e contingente, a identidade dos agentes envolvidos em sua articulação discursiva depende de sua capacidade de reiterar os discursos de "aposta na sociedade da informação", "e-government como opção estratégica para o desenvolvimento" e "reforma do Estado e modernização administrativa" ao longo do tempo. Por outro lado, o e-gov se revelou um sistema discursivo impregnado de demandas relacionadas a um tecnicismo ocasional e à crença implícita dos agentes do setor público cabo-verdiano de que o uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) pelas instituições públicas gera avanços estruturadores na modernização administrativa e na transformação social.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio consiste en profundizar las reflexiones sobre el e-gobierno (e-gov) a partir de un análisis del campo discursivo de la innovación en el sector público en Cabo Verde bajo la óptica de la Teoría del Discurso de Ernesto Laclau y Chantal Mouffe. Para ello, por medio de un estudio de caso instrumental y usando el método de retroducción propuesto por Glynos y Howarth y el análisis del discurso (de matriz francesa) de los sujetos que constituyeron el e-gov, buscamos desvelar la lógica fantasmática de la articulación discursiva de esa práctica social. Los resultados muestran, por un lado, que aunque el e-gov sea una entidad incompleta, vulnerable y contingente, la identidad de los agentes involucrados en su articulación discursiva depende de su capacidad de reiterar los discursos de 'apuesta en la sociedad de la información', 'e-government como opción estratégica para el desarrollo' y 'reforma del Estado y modernización administrativa' a lo largo del tiempo. Por otro lado, el e-gov se reveló como un sistema discursivo impregnado de demandas relacionadas a un tecnicismo ocasional ya la creencia implícita de los agentes del sector público caboverdiano de que el uso de las TIC por parte de las instituciones públicas genera avances estructuradores en la modernización administrativa y en la transformación social.

Abstract This study aims to deepen the reflections on E-government (E-gov) from an analysis of the discursive field of innovation in the public sector in Cape Verde from the point of view of Laclau and Mouffe's Discourse Theory. An instrumental case study was conducted using the reproduction method proposed by Glynos and Howarth and discourse analysis (French matrix). The aim was to unveil the phantasmatic logic of the discursive articulation of this social practice of the subjects that constituted the E-gov. The results show that although E-gov is an incomplete, vulnerable, and contingent entity, the identity of the agents involved in its discursive articulation depends on its capacity to reiterate the discourses of 'the information society,' 'E-government as a strategic option for development,' and 'state reform and administrative modernization' over time. However, E-gov has revealed itself as a discursive system impregnated with demands related to an occasional technicality and to the implicit belief of agents of the Cape Verdean public sector that the use of ICT by public institutions generates structuring advances in administrative modernization and social transformation.

Zika virus-spread, epidemiology, genome, transmission cycle, clinical manifestation, associated challenges, vaccine and antiviral drug development.

Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a Flavivirus transmitted primarily via the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Globally, 87 countries and territories have recorded autochthonous mosquito-borne transmission of ZIKV as at July 2019 and distributed across four of the six WHO Regions. Outbreaks of ZIKV infection peaked in 2016 and declined substantially throughout 2017 and 2018 in the Americas region. There is the likely risk for ZIKV to spread to more countries. There is also the potential for the re-emergence of ZIKV in all places with prior reports of the virus transmission. The current status of ZIKV transmission and spread is, however, a global health threat, and from the aforementioned, has the potential to re-emerge as an epidemic. This review summarizes the past and present spread of ZIKV outbreak-2007-2019, the genome, transmission cycle, clinical manifestations, vaccine and antiviral drug advancement.

Necessidades das famílias caboverdianas que convivem com o transtorno mental / Necesidades de las familias caboverdianas que convienen con el transtorno mental / Needs of families living with mental illness in Cabo Verde

RESUMO Objetivos Caracterizar as famílias usuárias de um serviço de psiquiatria em Cabo Verde/África, quanto aos aspectos sociodemográficos e aos transtornos mentais mais frequentes que acometem seus membros; identificar as necessidades consideradas prioritárias pelas famílias que convivem com a pessoa com transtorno mental neste contexto. Método Estudo qualitativo exploratório, realizado em 2016, com dados obtidos através de 100 prontuários de usuários em um serviço de psiquiatria, no período de 2010 a 2015, e entrevistas realizadas com 30 familiares desses usuários. Posteriormente, os dados foram submetidos à análise temática. Resultados As famílias das pessoas com transtorno mental na ilha de Santiago são pobres, as cuidadoras são predominantemente do sexo feminino, solteiras e residentes na cidade da Praia. No cuidado ao familiar doente, enfrentam diversas dificuldades, como a falta de suporte por parte de profissionais e serviços de saúde e da rede social, acrescentando, ainda, o fato de não se sentirem incluídos no processo de cuidado e com delimitada capacitação para cuidar do familiar doente. Conclusão e Implicações para a prática Há a necessidade do reconhecimento da família como alvo de cuidados e capacitação para a continuidade dos cuidados ao familiar doente. O estudo aponta a necessidade de revisão das políticas de saúde, para aprimoramento dos cuidados de saúde mental na atenção primária.

RESUMEN Objetivos Caracterizar las familias usuarias de un servicio de psiquiatría en Cabo Verde/África, en cuanto a los aspectos sociodemográficos y a los trastornos mentales más frecuentes que afectan sus miembros; identificar las necesidades consideradas prioritarias por las familias que conviven con la persona con trastorno mental en este contexto. Método Estudio cualitativo exploratorio, realizado en el 2016, con datos obtenidos a través de 100 registros médicos de usuarios en un servicio de psiquitría, en el período de 2010 a 2015, y entrevistas realizadas a 20 familiares de esos usuarios. Posteriormente, los datos fueron sometidos a análisis temática. Resultados Las familias de las personas con trastorno mental en la isla de Santiago son pobres, las cuidadoras son predominantemente de sexo femenino, solteras y residentes en la ciudad de la Playa. Con respecto al cuidado del familiar enfermo, enfrentan diversas dificultades, como la falta de soporte por parte de los profesionales, los servicios de salud, y de la red social, agregando además el hecho de que no se sienten incluidos en el proceso de cuidado y con capacitación limitada para cuidar al familiar enfermo. Conclusión y implicaciones para la práctica hay una necesidad de reconocimiento de la familia como objetivo de cuidados y capacitación para la continuidad de los cuidados al familiar enfermo. El estudio señala la necesidad de revisar las políticas de salud para mejorar la atención de salud mental en la atención primaria.

ABSTRACT Objectives To characterize the families that use a psychiatric service in Cabo Verde/Africa, regarding socio-demographic issues and the most frequent mental disorders that affect their family members; to identify the needs considered as priorities by the families that live with a person with a mental disorder in this context. Method Exploratory qualitative study, conducted in 2016, with data obtained from 100 medical records from 2010 to 2015 in a psychiatric service, and interviews with 30 family members. Subsequently, the data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results The families of people with mental disorders on Santiago Island are poor; the caregivers are predominantly female, single, and resident in the city of Praia. When caring for the ill family member, they face several difficulties, such as the lack of support from health professionals and services and from the social network, in addition to the fact that they do not feel included in the care process and have limited training to take care of the ill family member. Conclusion and Implications for practice There is a need to recognize the family as a target for care and training aimed at the continuity of care for the ill family member. The study points to the need to review health policies to improve mental health care in primary care.

Verbal communication of the parturient nurse's dyad in the active phase of labor / Comunicación verbal de la diade enfermera parturienta en la fase activa del trabajo de parto / Comunicação verbal da díade enfermeiro-parturiente na fase ativa do trabalho de parto

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze verbal communication between the nurse and the parturient during the active phase of labor in two Lusophone countries. Methods: quantitative analytical study. Sample of 709 interactions between nurses and parturients using verbal communication during the active phase of labor in Brazil and Cape Verde. The following variables were analyzed: companion, conative vocative, conative imperative, emotive/expressive and referential/context functions, contact/channel and code. Results: the absence of interaction predominated in most of the variables analyzed during the active phase of labor in both countries. In Cape Verde all interactions occurred during the absence of the companion. Conclusions: considering the social and cultural aspects of each country, nurses need to develop skills to communicate verbally with the parturient, offering a better interaction during the parturition process.

RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar la comunicación verbal entre enfermero y parturienta durante la fase activa del trabajo de parto en dos países lusófonos. Métodos: estudio analítico cuantitativo. Muestra con 709 interacciones utilizando comunicación verbal de enfermeros y parturientas en la fase activa del trabajo de parto en Brasil y Cabo Verde. Se analizaron las variables: acompañante, funciones conativa/ vocativo e imperativo, emotiva/expresiva, referencial/contexto, contacto/canal y código. Resultados: predominó ausencia de interacciones en la mayoría de las variables analizadas en la fase activa del trabajo de parto en los dos países. En Cabo Verde, todas las interacciones han sido establecidas con la ausencia del acompañante. Conclusiones: considerando los aspectos sociales y culturales de cada país, los enfermeros necesitan desarrollar habilidades para se comunicaren verbalmente con las parturientas, ofreciéndoles mejor interacción en el proceso de parturición.

RESUMO Objetivos analisar a comunicação verbal entre enfermeiro e parturiente durante a fase ativa do trabalho de parto em dois países lusófonos. Métodos: estudo analítico quantitativo. Amostra com 709 interações utilizando comunicação verbal de enfermeiros e parturientes na fase ativa do trabalho de parto no Brasil e Cabo Verde. Analisaram-se as variáveis: acompanhante, funções conativa vocativa, conativa imperativa, emotiva/expressiva, referencial/contexto, contato/canal e código. Resultados: predominou ausência de interações na maioria das variáveis analisadas na fase ativa do trabalho de parto nos dois países. Em Cabo Verde, todas as interações foram estabelecidas com a ausência do acompanhante. Conclusões: considerando os aspectos sociais e culturais de cada país, os enfermeiros precisam desenvolver habilidades para comunicarem-se verbalmente com as parturientes, oferecendo a elas melhor interação no processo de parturição.

Paguroids (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae and Paguridae) of the remote oceanic Archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz, off southeast Brazil, with new records, description of three new species and zoogeographical notes.

Trindade and Martin Vaz (TMV) is a highly isolated, oceanic volcanic archipelago located some 1200 km off the Brazilian coast and about 4200 km away from the nearest African coast. For almost 100 years Calcinus tibicen (Herbst, 1791) was the only hermit crab species known from TMV. From 2012 to 2018, 263 daytime SCUBA diving and intertidal samplings conducted at TMV yielded 1075 paguroid specimens in 10 species, three of which are established herein as new species: Iridopagurus martinvaz sp. nov., Nematopagurus micheleae sp. nov., and Pagurus carmineus sp. nov. Iridopagurus margaritensis García-Gómez, 1983, and Phimochirus leurocarpus McLaughlin, 1981, both only known from the northern hemisphere, are recorded for the first time from the southwestern Atlantic. Opportunity was taken herein to include hitherto unreported or little known specimens from along the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain, namely, Dardanus venosus H. Milne Edwards, 1848, Nematopaguroides pusillus Forest de Saint Laurent, 1968, Pagurus provenzanoi Forest de Saint Laurent, 1968, and Phimochirus holthuisi (Provenzano, 1961). The lectotype of Pagurus venosus H. Milne Edwards, 1848 is designated as the neotype for the obscure Pagurus arrosor divergens Moreira, 1905, which thus becomes an objective junior synonym of the former. A list of all paguroid species known from the tropical southern-central Atlantic oceanic archipelagoes and islands (Ascension, Cape Verde, Fernando de Noronha, Gulf of Guinea, Rocas Atoll, Saint Helena, Trindade and Martin Vaz) with their gross distribution in the Atlantic Ocean is provided. Investigation on the existence of patterns of geographic distribution for the paguroid fauna of the tropical southern-central Atlantic oceanic islands showed that 70% percent of the paguroids from TMV are western Atlantic in origin and 30% endemic. No amphi-Atlantic paguroid species are known from TMV. Conversely, the affinity of Ascension's (33%) and Saint Helena's (50%) paguroids is with the eastern Atlantic; no western Atlantic paguroids have been reported from these two islands so far. Exploration on the existence of trends of correlation between islands area and species richness through the Spearman's coefficient of correlation showed that the patterns in the number of paguroid species cannot be explained by variation in island area alone (rs = 0.4728; p = 0.28571).

Non-verbal nurse-parturient communication in labor in Portuguese-speaking countries.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze nonverbal communication between nurse and parturient during the active phase of labor in two Portuguese-speaking countries. METHOD: a quantitative and analytical study, whose sample consisted of 709 interactions that used the nonverbal communication of nurses and parturients. The analyzed variables were: distance; posture; axis; contact; emblematic gestures; illustrator gestures and regulatory gestures. For the analysis of the data, the Chi-Square and Likelihood Ratio tests were used. RESULTS: the intimate distance between nurse and parturient in both countries (p = 0.005) prevailed. In both, touch was the most commonly used form of contact (p <0.0001). In both countries, the parturient remained lying down (p <0.0001). In relation to the established contact (p <0.0001), the parturient did not use contact. The face-to-face axis predominated in the interactions in both countries between nurse-parturient (p <0.0001) and parturient-nurse (p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: similarities were observed in non-verbal communication between nurses and parturients in both countries. However, there are differences such as the established contact between Brazilian and Cape Verdean nurses to parturients.

DNA Barcoding revealing the occurrence of Isarachnanthus (Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Ceriantharia) in Cape Verde

The occurrence of Isarachnanthus Carlgren, 1924 (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Ceriantharia) specimens in Cape Verde Islands is recorded. Identification of the tube anemone species Isarachnanthus maderensis (Johnson, 1861) was possible based on DNA Barcoding. A discussion on biogeographic patterns associated with ocean circulation and life cycle is presented.(AU)

The Amazon River: A Major Source of Organic Plastic Additives to the Tropical North Atlantic?

The release of emerging organic contaminants is identified among the most critical hazards to the marine environment, and plastic additives have received growing attention due to their worldwide distribution and potential deleterious effects. Here, we report dissolved surface water concentrations of two important families of plastic additives (organophosphate esters (OPEs) and bisphenols) and other related organic compounds (perfluorinated chemicals) measured in the North Atlantic from Cape Verde to the West Indies. We found that OPEs were the most abundant contaminants, reaching remarkably high concentrations in open ocean waters (1200 km offshore of the American Coast, at the location of the Amazon river plume during the sampling period), with up to 1.3 µg L-1 (Σ9OPEs). A Lagrangian analysis confirmed that these high concentrations of contaminants originated from the Amazon River plume and were transported more than 3000 km by the North Brazil Current and its retroflection. We thus consider the Amazon River as a major source of organic contaminants of emerging concern to the tropical North Atlantic Ocean and suggest that medium-/long-range contaminant transport occurs, most certainly facilitated by the highly stratified conditions offered by the river plume.

Experiência de educação em saúde bucal em escola de educação infantil na República de Cabo Verde, África / Oral health education experience at a Childhood School in Republic of Cape Verde, Africa / Experiencia en educación de salud oral en un preescolar en la Republica de Cabo Verde, África

Dados do Observatório de Saúde Africana (African Health Observatory), ligado à Organização Mundial de Saúde (World Health Organization) apontam elevada prevalência da cárie dentária, principalmente entre a população escolar de Cabo Verde, elencando a necessidade da priorização da promoção da saúde bucal e da prevenção das doenças bucais pela integração da saúde oral em outros programas tais como a formação de professores, educadores de infância e outros programas de responsabilidade na promoção de saúde. A literatura aponta que a educação em saúde bucal mostra alta eficiência na diminuição do risco à cárie dentária, de alta evolução em crianças na faixa de 0 a 6 anos de idade, e que a escola de educação infantil se mostra como local privilegiado para o desenvolvimento de programas de educação e prevenção em saúde bucal, uma vez que reúne crianças com e sem acesso aos cuidados odontológicos privados. Com base nessa perspectiva o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a experiência de educação em saúde bucal em escola privada de educação infantil em Cabo Verde, África(AU)

Data from the African Health Observatory, linked to the World Health Organization (World Health Organization), indicate a high prevalence of dental caries, especially among the Cape Verdean school population, highlighting the need to prioritize oral and oral health promotion. prevention of oral diseases by integrating oral health into other programs such as teacher training, early childhood educators and other health promotion responsibility programs. The literature points out that oral health education shows high efficiency in reducing the risk of dental caries, of high evolution in children between 0 and 6 years old, and that the preschool is a privileged place for development. of oral health education and prevention programs, as it brings together children with and without access to private dental care. Based on this perspective the objective of this paper was to describe the experience of oral health education in a private elementary school in Cape Verde, Africa(AU)

Los datos del Observatorio Africano de la Salud, vinculados a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (Organización Mundial de la Salud), indican una alta prevalencia de caries dental, especialmente entre la población escolar de Cabo Verde, destacando la necesidad de priorizar la promoción de la salud oral y oral. prevención de enfermedades orales mediante la integración de la salud bucal en otros programas, como la capacitación de docentes, educadores de la primera infancia y otros programas de responsabilidad de promoción de la salud. La literatura señala que la educación en salud oral muestra una alta eficiencia en la reducción del riesgo de caries dental, de alta evolución en niños entre 0 y 6 años, y que el preescolar es un lugar privilegiado para el desarrollo. de programas de educación y prevención de salud bucal, ya que reúne a niños con y sin acceso a atención dental privada. En base a esta perspectiva, el objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la experiencia de la educación en salud bucal en una escuela primaria privada en Cabo Verde, África(AU)

Detection of alleles associated with resistance to chemical insecticide in the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis in Santiago, Cabo Verde.

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex are the main malaria vectors worldwide. Due to the lack of a vaccine to prevent malaria, the principal way to reduce the impact of this disease relies on the use of chemical insecticides to control its vectors. However, the intensive use of such compounds has led to the emergence of insecticide resistance in several Anopheles populations in Africa. This study aimed to investigate the presence of resistance alleles in an Anopheles arabiensis population from the City of Praia, capital of the Archipelago Cabo Verde, one of the countries on the World Health Organization list of countries that are on a path to eliminate local transmission of malaria. METHODS: Larvae from the Anopheles genus were collected using a one-pint dipper in three areas of City of Praia. Larvae were fed and maintained until the emergence of adult mosquitoes, and these were morphologically identified. In addition, molecular identification was performed using IGS markers and all An. arabiensis samples were subjected to PCR to screen for mutations associated to resistance in the Ace-1, Nav and GSTE2 genes. RESULTS: From a total of 440 mosquitoes collected, 52.3% were morphologically identified as An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and 46.7% as Anopheles pretoriensis. The molecular identification showed that 100% of the An. gambiae s.l. were An. arabiensis. The mutations G119S in the Ace-1 gene and L119F in the GSTE2 gene were screened but not found in any sample. However, sequencing analysis for GSTE2 revealed the presence of 37 haplotypes, 16 polymorphic sites and a high genetic diversity (π = 2.67). The L1014S mutation in the Nav (voltage-gated sodium channel gene) was detected at a frequency of 7.3%. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate the circulation of insecticide resistance alleles in An. arabiensis from Cabo Verde. The circulation of the L1014S allele in the population of An. arabiensis in the city of Praia suggests that pyrethroid resistance may arise, be quickly selected, and may affect the process of malaria elimination in Cabo Verde. Molecular monitoring of resistance should continue in order to guide the development of strategies to be used in vector control in the study region.

Diagnosing Zika virus infection against a background of other flaviviruses: Studies in high resolution serological analysis.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. Homologous proteins of different flaviviruses display high degrees of sequence identity, especially within subgroups. This leads to extensive immunological cross-reactivity and corresponding problems for developing a ZIKV-specific serological assay. In this study, peptide microarrays were employed to identify individual ZIKV antibody targets with promise in differential diagnosis. A total of 1643 overlapping oligopeptides were synthesized and printed onto glass slides. Together, they encompass the full amino acid sequences of ZIKV proteomes of African, Brazilian, USA, and French Polynesian origins. The resulting ZIKV scanning microarray chips were used to screen three pools of sera from recent Zika outbreaks in Senegal and Cape Verde, in Brazil, and from overseas travelers returning to the EU. Together with a mixed pool of well characterized, archived sera of patients suffering from infections by dengue, yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis, and West Nile viruses, a total of 42 sera went into the study. Sixty-eight antibody target regions were identified. Most of which were hitherto unknown. Alignments and sequence comparisons revealed 13 of which could be classified as bona fide ZIKV-specific. These identified antibody target regions constitute a founding set of analytical tools for serological discrimination of ZIKV from other flaviviruses.