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BACKGROUND: The irruption of Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) in the last decade has led to the identification of thousands of molecular markers and their genotyping for refined genomic screening. This approach has been especially useful for non-model organisms with limited genomic resources. Many building-loci pipelines have been developed to obtain robust single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) genotyping datasets using a de novo RAD-seq approach, i.e. without reference genomes. Here, the performances of two building-loci pipelines, STACKS 2 and Meyer's 2b-RAD v2.1 pipeline, were compared using a diverse set of aquatic species representing different genomic and/or population structure scenarios. Two bivalve species (Manila clam and common edible cockle) and three fish species (brown trout, silver catfish and small-spotted catshark) were studied. Four SNP panels were evaluated in each species to test both different building-loci pipelines and criteria for SNP selection. Furthermore, for Manila clam and brown trout, a reference genome approach was used as control. RESULTS: Despite different outcomes were observed between pipelines and species with the diverse SNP calling and filtering steps tested, no remarkable differences were found on genetic diversity and differentiation within species with the SNP panels obtained with a de novo approach. The main differences were found in brown trout between the de novo and reference genome approaches. Genotyped vs missing data mismatches were the main genotyping difference detected between the two building-loci pipelines or between the de novo and reference genome comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Tested building-loci pipelines for selection of SNP panels seem to have low influence on population genetics inference across the diverse case-study scenarios here studied. However, preliminary trials with different bioinformatic pipelines are suggested to evaluate their influence on population parameters according with the specific goals of each study.
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Metagenômica , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Animais , Benchmarking , Genoma , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Biological invasions rank among the main global threats for biodiversity. The Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is considered one of the 100 world worst invasive species due to its high adaptation capability to new environments. Using the restriction-site-associated DNA tags (RADtags), introduced European locations were compared against native US mosquitofish populations to analyse genomic changes that occurred during invasive process of European locations. After filtering, 7724 RADtags containing only one SNP were retained for population studies. Comparative genomics indicated that 186 of these RADtags matched sequences in the transcriptome of Xyphophorus maculatus, the most closely related genome available. Genomic analyses showed that invasive populations show high reductions in diversity. Further, analyses of population structuring based on these data are concordant with previous analyses based on microsatellites. It is concluded that during the invasion process genetic drift was the main evolutionary force affecting patterns of diversity and population structure. While recognizing that positive selection could be masked by the strong drift during founder events, adaptive processes were evidenced in a reduced number of RADtags (<2%), with only one of these in a putative coding region. Surprisingly, balancing selection was detected in several coding RADtags, suggesting that the preservation of polymorphism in specific genes could be more important than the average population diversity for the population maintenance at any location, particularly for the survival of introduced populations.
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Ciprinodontiformes/genética , Evolução Molecular , Deriva Genética , Genética Populacional , Espécies Introduzidas , Animais , Variação Genética , Genômica , Itália , Repetições de Microssatélites , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Seleção Genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Espanha , Transcriptoma , Estados UnidosRESUMO
The European brown trout, Salmo trutta, is a cold-adapted fish reported as a Least Concern species in the IUCN Red List. This species colonized new territories from southern refuges during the last glacial melting, but during the 20th century suffered from anthropic impacts on its habitats. The long-time survival of the species relies on the genetic diversity within and among populations. Brown trout is among the genetically most diverse vertebrate species; however, native populations in Mediterranean rivers have dramatically suffered of introgressive hybridization from extensive releases of evolutionary distant non-native Atlantic stocks. In addition, in Mediterranean rivers climate change will result in unsuitable conditions for the species during the 21st century. Using brown trout populations at the headstreams of a Pyrenean river as a model, this paper revised how hatchery releases have affected the native gene pools and how environmental and climatic variables controlled the amount of local introgression at intra-basin level. Introgressive hybridization was detected in all studied sites. Ten times larger divergence was observed among populations at tributaries than among populations along the main stem. A highly impacted population distributed in a long transect in the main stem suggested that hatchery fish move towards the main stem wherever released. From already highly impacted populations and despite the cessation of hatchery releases, warmer temperatures and lower precipitation expected from climate change will extend the introgressive hybridization along the basin, contributing to the extinction of the native gene pools. Based on available morphological distinction of native, hatchery and hybrid brown trout, we advocate the involvement of regional social groups (e.g. riverside dwellers, anglers, conservationists, hikers) in citizen science programs to detect the spread of non-native phenotypes along the rivers. These are cheap and fast methods to collaborate with fishery managers in the preservation and recovery of the regional native populations.
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Pool Gênico , Rios , Animais , Truta/genética , Ecossistema , Hong KongRESUMO
Introduction: To ensure the quality of the new-born screening (NBS), our laboratory reviewed the analytical procedure to detect subjective steps that may represent a risk to the patient. Two subjective activities were identified in the extra-analytical phases: the classification of dried blood spots (DBS) according to their quality and the assignment of haemoglobin patterns. To keep these activities under control, inter-rater studies were implemented. This study aimed to evaluate the inter-rater reliability and the effectiveness of the measures taken to improve the agreement between observers, to assure NBS results' quality. Materials and methods: Dried blood spots specimens were used for the inter-rater studies. Ten studies were performed to assess DBS quality classification, and four to assess the assignment of haemoglobin patterns. Krippendorff's alpha test was used to estimate inter-rater reliability. Causes were investigated when alpha values were below 0.80. Results: For both activities, the reliability obtained in the first studies was inadequate. After investigation, we detected that the criterion to classify a DBS as scant was not consolidated, and also a lack of consensus on whether or not to report Bart's haemoglobin depending on its percentage. Alpha estimates became higher once the training was reinforced and a consensus about the appropriate criteria to be applied was reached. Conclusion: Inter-rater reliability assessment helped us to ensure the quality of subjective activities that could add variability to NBS results. Furthermore, the evolution of the alpha value over time allowed us to verify the effectiveness of the measures adopted.
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Hemoglobinas , Humanos , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
Brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations have been restocked during recent decades to satisfy angling demand and counterbalance the decline of wild populations. Millions of fertile brown trout individuals were released into Mediterranean and Atlantic rivers from hatcheries with homogeneous central European stocks. Consequently, many native gene pools have become endangered by introgressive hybridization with those hatchery stocks. Different genetic tools have been used to identify and evaluate the degree of introgression starting from pure native and restocking reference populations (e.g., LDH-C* locus, microsatellites). However, due to the high genetic structuring of brown trout, the definition of the "native pool" is hard to achieve. Additionally, although the LDH-C* locus is useful for determining the introgression degree at the population level, its consistency at individual level is far from being accurate, especially after several generations were since releases. Accordingly, the development of a more powerful and cost-effective tool is essential for an appropriate monitoring to recover brown-trout-native gene pools. Here, we used the 2b restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (2b-RADseq) and Stacks 2 with a reference genome to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) diagnostic for hatchery-native fish discrimination in the Atlantic and Mediterranean drainages of the Iberian Peninsula. A final set of 20 SNPs was validated in a MassARRAY® System genotyping by contrasting data with the whole SNP dataset using samples with different degree of introgression from those previously recorded. Heterogeneous introgression impact was confirmed among and within river basins, and was the highest in the Mediterranean Slope. The SNP tool reported here should be assessed in a broader sample scenario in Southern Europe considering its potential for monitoring recovery plans.
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Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Rios , Animais , Pool Gênico , Humanos , Repetições de Microssatélites , Truta/genéticaRESUMO
In this study, we quantified the three key biological processes, growth, recruitment, and dispersal pattern, which are necessary for a better understanding of the population dynamics of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus. This marine exploited crustacean shows sex-related distribution along the water column, being females predominate in the middle slope. The present study attempts to fill the existing gap in the females' genetic demography, as scarce knowledge is available despite being the most abundant sex in catches. We analyzed morphometric data and genotyped 12 microsatellite loci in 665 A. antennatus females collected in two consecutive seasons, winter and summer 2016, at the main Mediterranean fishing ground as a model. Almost every female in summer was inseminated. Five modal groups were observed in both seasons, from 0+ to 4+ in winter and from 1+ to 5+ in summer. Commercial-sized sorting based on fishermen's experience resulted in a moderate-to-high assertive method concerning cohort determination. Genetic data pointed out females' horizontal movement between neighboring fishing grounds, explaining the low genetic divergence detected among western Mediterranean grounds. Our results could represent critical information for the future implementation of management measures to ensure long-time conservation of the A. antennatus populations.
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Decápodes , Penaeidae , Animais , Decápodes/genética , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Repetições de Microssatélites/genética , Penaeidae/genética , Dinâmica PopulacionalRESUMO
The fetal inflammatory response (FIR) increases the risk of perinatal brain injury, particularly in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs, < 28 weeks of gestation). One of the mechanisms contributing to such a risk is a postnatal intermittent or sustained systemic inflammation (ISSI) following FIR. The link between prenatal and postnatal systemic inflammation is supported by the presence of well-established inflammatory biomarkers in the umbilical cord and peripheral blood. However, the extent of molecular changes contributing to this association is unknown. Using RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry proteomics, we profiled the transcriptome and proteome of archived neonatal dried blood spot (DBS) specimens from 21 ELGANs. Comparing FIR-affected and unaffected ELGANs, we identified 782 gene and 27 protein expression changes of 50% magnitude or more, and an experiment-wide significance level below 5% false discovery rate. These expression changes confirm the robust postnatal activation of the innate immune system in FIR-affected ELGANs and reveal for the first time an impairment of their adaptive immunity. In turn, the altered pathways provide clues about the molecular mechanisms triggering ISSI after FIR, and the onset of perinatal brain injury. DATABASES: EGAS00001003635 (EGA); PXD011626 (PRIDE).
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Feto/metabolismo , Inflamação/genética , Proteoma/genética , Transcriptoma/genética , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Teste em Amostras de Sangue Seco , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/genética , Genoma Humano/genética , Idade Gestacional , Humanos , Sistema Imunitário/metabolismo , Recém-Nascido , Inflamação/imunologia , Espectrometria de Massas , Gravidez , Análise de Sequência de RNARESUMO
The population biology of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus, as with other exploited demersal species, is usually studied using data from fishery statistics. Such statistical analyses have shown female-biased sex ratios during the spawning season in this species. Because the abundance of males increases at greater depths that are not exploited by fisheries (virgin grounds), knowledge on their recruitment is limited. Here, the growth and recruitment of A. antennatus males at fishing grounds was evaluated. This was achieved by integrating information on previously identified breeding behaviours and by tracing the young-of-year cohort through genotyping at 10 microsatellite loci. Using a codend and a codend cover with distinct meshed windows, four groups of males were collected in winter and in a subsequent spawning summer season. Summer collections were mostly composed of pre-adult males, reaching sizes that are to be expected from the growth of winter juveniles; however, many specimens also originated from nearby grounds. This result indicates the horizontal dispersal of male juveniles via intermediate and deep oceanographic currents. Such dispersal complements passive larval dispersal in surface waters, and contributes to the weak genetic divergence among regional fishing grounds. These features could be shared by other deep-sea crustacean and fish species, and should be considered for the sustainable exploitation of demersal fisheries.
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BACKGROUND: Alteration of vitamin B12 metabolism can be genetic or acquired, and can result in anemia, failure to thrive, developmental regression and even irreversible neurologic damage. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention is critical. Most of the neonatal cases with acquired vitamin B12 deficiency have been detected by clinical symptoms and only few of them trough NBS programs. We aim to assess the usefulness of the second-tier test: methylmalonic acid (MMA), methylcitric acid (MCA) and homocysteine (Hcys) in our newborn screening program and explore the implications on the detection of cobalamin (vitamin B12) related disorders, both genetic and acquired conditions. METHODS: A screening strategy using the usual primary markers followed by the analysis of MMA, MCA and Hcys as second tier-test in the first dried blood spot (DBS) was developed and evaluated. RESULTS: During the period 2015-2018 a total of 258,637 newborns were screened resulting in 130 newborns with acquired vitamin B12 deficiency (incidence 1:1989), 19 with genetic disorders (incidence 1:13,613) and 13 were false positive. No false negatives were notified. Concerning the second-tier test, the percentage of cases with MMA above the cut-off levels, both for genetic and acquired conditions was very similar (58% and 60%, respectively). Interestingly, the percentage of cases with increased levels of Hcys was higher in acquired conditions than in genetic disorders (87% and 47%, respectively). In contrast, MCA was high only in 5% of the acquired conditions versus in 53% of the genetic disorders, and it was always very high in all patients with propionic acidemia. CONCLUSIONS: When screening for methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria, differential diagnosis with acquired vitamin B12 deficiency should be done. The results of our strategy support the inclusion of this acquired condition in the NBS programs, as it is easily detectable and allows the adoption of corrective measures to avoid the consequences of its deficiency.
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Acidemia Propiônica , Deficiência de Vitamina B 12 , Homocisteína , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Ácido Metilmalônico , Triagem Neonatal , Vitamina B 12 , Deficiência de Vitamina B 12/diagnóstico , Deficiência de Vitamina B 12/genética , VitaminasRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: For the measurands of the newborn screening (NBS), there are no analytical performance specifications (APS) available based on the Milan consensus Models. The objective is to provide total error (TE) APS based on the state-of-the-art (SOTA) for the NBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 23,662 results were collected from the Spanish NBS EQA scheme between May 2015 and September 2018. Measurands included: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT), phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), free carnitine (C0), acetylcarnitine (C2), propionylcarnitine (C3), butyrylcarnitine (C4), isovalerylcarnitine (C5), glutarylcarnitine (C5DC), hexanoylcarnitine (C6), octanoylcarnitine (C8), decanoylcarnitine (C10), myristoylcarnitine (C14), palmitoylcarnitine (C16), stearoylcarnitine (C18). TE APS were calculated as the 90th percentile of the measurement errors, considering 75% of the best results from each laboratory only. It was also studied whether the analytical performance was concentration-dependent. RESULTS: When TE APS were calculated including all methods, TSH, IRT, C16 and C18 showed the best analytical performance and Phe, C5DC and C10 showed the worst. Generally, TE APS decreased when considering only majority methods and higher TE APS were obtained for lower concentrations. DISCUSSION: Due to the lack of APS based on superior models, the proposed TE APS based on the SOTA can help NBS laboratories to set quality specifications.
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Laboratórios , Triagem Neonatal , Humanos , Recém-NascidoRESUMO
Temporal variability of the genetic structure and connectivity patterns of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the seven most important fishing grounds of the Western Mediterranean Sea, were assessed using twelve microsatellite loci during 2 consecutive years (2016 and 2017), in a total of 1403 adult individuals. A high level of geographical connectivity among groups was observed in the two studied years. In fact, no significant geographical differentiation was found in 2016 (FST = 0.0018, p > 0.05), whereas it was indicated in 2017 (FST = 0.0025, p < 0.05). This small divergence in 2017 was not attributed to the distance among locations nor to the effect of the Ibiza Channel. Significant allele frequency changes were found at local level between the 2 years (FCT = 0.0006, p < 0.05), mainly due to Blanes' fishing ground. Larval dispersal from the North to the South through the main superficial current supports the high level of connectivity pattern found. The temporal genetic instability detected in the Blanes' fishing ground could be explained by oceanographic temporary features. Our findings evidence only one biological unit in the study region and establish the baseline for an inter-federal management plan of A. antennatus.
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Variação Genética/genética , Repetições de Microssatélites/genética , Penaeidae/genética , Animais , Mudança Climática , Decápodes/genética , Testes Genéticos/métodos , Genética Populacional/métodos , Larva/genética , Mar Mediterrâneo , TemperaturaRESUMO
The genus Androcymbium (Colchicaceae) includes 57 species that are distributed in the extreme northern and southern portions of Africa, mainly in regions with a Mediterranean climate. We present the first phylogeographic analysis of the genus with species from all five of its distribution areas (North Africa, Horn of Africa, Namibia, western South Africa, and eastern South Africa). We used sequence data from six chloroplast regions and one nuclear region. Phylogeographic reconstructions were conducted using both parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. Molecular dating estimates using a Bayesian approach suggest a middle Miocene (13.4+/-1.5 mya) origin of the genus; this approach also provides support for a late Miocene (9.6+/-1.7 mya) diversification in the winter-rainfall area of western South Africa-south of Namibia and strongly influenced by the Benguela current. Three northward dispersion events have been reported in Androcymbium. The first dated to the end of the Miocene (7.0+/-2.0 mya) and gave rise to the genus Colchicum. The second and the third dispersion events took place in the mid Pliocene, rising one from eastern South Africa and originating the only species found in the Horn of Africa (3.0 mya), and the other from Namibia to the Mediterranean basin (4.0 mya). The formation of a late Miocene-Pliocene arid track in the east of Africa is of a great importance to explain these northward dispersions in Androcymbium.
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Evolução Molecular , Liliaceae/genética , Filogenia , África , Teorema de Bayes , DNA de Cloroplastos/genética , DNA de Plantas/genética , Geografia , Mutação INDEL , Funções Verossimilhança , Liliaceae/classificação , Cadeias de Markov , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Captive-bred animals derived from native, alien, or hybrid stocks are often released in large numbers in natural settings with the intention of augmenting harvests. In brown trout (Salmo trutta), stocking with hatchery-reared non-native fish has been the main management strategy used to maintain or improve depleted wild brown trout populations in Iberian and other Mediterranean regions. This measure has become a serious threat to the conservation of native genetic diversity, mainly due to introgressive hybridization. Aware of this risk, the agency responsible for management of brown trout in the eastern Pyrenees (Spain) created "brown trout genetic refuges" to preserve the integrity of brown trout gene pools in this region. Within refuge areas, the prerefuge status with respect to fishing activities has been maintained, but hatchery releases have been banned completely. We evaluated this management strategy through a comparison of the stocking impact on native populations that accounted for stocking histories before and after refuge designations and fishing activities. In particular we examined the relevant scientific, cultural, and political challenges encountered. Despite agency willingness to change fishery policies to balance exploitation and conservation, acceptance of these new policies by anglers and genetic monitoring of refuge populations should also be considered. To improve management supported by genetic refuges, we suggest focusing on areas where the public is more receptive, considering the situation of local native diversity, and monitoring of adjacent introgressed populations. We recommend the use of directional supportive breeding only when a population really needs to be enhanced. In any case, management strategies should be developed to allow for protection within the context of human use.
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Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Pool Gênico , Truta/genética , Animais , Monitoramento AmbientalRESUMO
Newborn screening programs are key players in a country's public health strategies, preventing the burden of care associated with the screened disorders. Its importance has dramatically intensified in recent years due to the increasing number of disorders that fulfil criteria for screening. Since the 1960's, many countries implemented newborn screening programs that are now, at least in developed countries, universal, well established, and with excellent results. Nevertheless, much work is still to be done, mainly in developing countries of Africa, Asia, and South America. In some European countries, including Spain, uniformity of screening panels between different regions is still a challenge, being a source of health inequalities between citizens. The authors will present the current status of newborn screening programs in Spain and integrate it into the current European and world scenario.
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Doenças do Recém-Nascido/diagnóstico , Doenças Metabólicas/diagnóstico , Triagem Neonatal/métodos , Países em Desenvolvimento , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Saúde Pública , EspanhaRESUMO
Understanding life history variation and strategies is crucial for stock assessment and fisheries management due to the direct effects on population dynamics, effective population size, sex-ratios, levels of inbreeding, and relatedness among individuals. Aristeus antennatus (En â Blue and red shrimp; Fr â Crevette rouge; Sp â Gamba rosada) is one of the most exploited demersal resources in the Western Mediterranean Sea. However, information regarding the mating system and mate choice preferences remains largely unknown. Advances in molecular genetic markers and methods of inferring biological relationships among individuals have facilitated new insights into the reproductive dynamics of the species in the wild. Here, we used microsatellite markers to examine the A. antennatus mating system and putative mate choice preferences. Our results provided clear evidence of polyandry and polygyny. Relatedness analyses, together with FST and DAPC values showed females exhibited a mating bias towards unrelated males. Mating males were inferred from spermatophores and suggested males were sympatric with females and were also from other spawning grounds. Our findings provided the first description of the reproductive behavior of blue and red shrimp.
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Penaeidae/fisiologia , Reprodução , Animais , Análise Discriminante , Feminino , Variação Genética , Masculino , Repetições de Microssatélites/genética , Penaeidae/genética , Penaeidae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Análise de Componente Principal , Espermatogônias/fisiologiaRESUMO
The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus is a demersal marine species harvested by bottom trawling in the Mediterranean Sea, the adjacent Atlantic Ocean (AO) waters, and the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean (IO). As it is considered to be a priority species for sustainable fishing, identification of its genetic stocks and the connectivity between them is essential. Using 12 microsatellite loci we detected at least four genetic stocks distributed in the Western Mediterranean (WM), Eastern Mediterranean (EM), AO, and IO and signals for a possible fifth stock in the Alborán Sea. We detected no additional population structuring within the WM. Thus, although the Almería-Orán Front exerts some isolating effect, high genetic homogeneity and gene flow are present within the WM Basin. The IO stock is genetically closer to the AO stock than to the others; thus, the species dispersion route is more likely via the Atlantic Ocean than via the Red Sea. Large effective population sizes suggest population sustainability, but moderate genetic diversity values indicate to proceed with caution. Our genetic results serve as a basis for species conservation to ensure long-term sustainability of this marine resource.
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Variação Genética/genética , Repetições de Microssatélites/genética , Penaeidae/genética , Animais , Oceano Atlântico , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Decápodes/genética , Fluxo Gênico/genética , Genética Populacional/métodos , Oceano Índico , Mar Mediterrâneo , Penaeidae/metabolismo , Densidade DemográficaRESUMO
The early life stages of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeoidea: Aristeidae) were described by Heldt in 1955 based on plankton samples, larval rearing and assumptions of species habitat. Even with adequate keys, identification of its first larval stages remained a difficult task due to the lack of specific morphological characters which would differentiate them from other Penaeoidea species. Larvae of Aristeus antennatus were collected in the continental slope off the Spanish Mediterranean coast in August 2016 with a neuston net and preserved in ethanol 96%. DNA from the larvae was extracted and the molecular markers Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16S rDNA were sequenced and compared to that of adults with the objective of confirming the previous morphological description. Then, we present additional information to the morphological description of Aristeus antennatus larval stages through scanning electron microscopy and molecular analysis. This represents the first documented occurrence of Aristeus antennatus larvae off the Catalan coast and sets the grounds for further work on larval ecology and population connectivity of the species, which is an important contribution to a more sustainable fishery.
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We analyzed variation at the GPI-2 locus and eleven microsatellite loci of eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki populations introduced to the Ebro River (Spain), sampling above and below a dam (Flix Reservoir) where severe chronic pollution has been well documented. Allele frequency changes at the GPI-2 locus in the sites nearest to the polluted sediments agree with previous results from studies in mercury-exposed populations of this highly invasive fish. Genetic distinction of the mosquitofish collected close to the polluted sediments was detected at the GPI locus but also at the presumptive neutral microsatellite loci. Recent migration rates estimated from microsatellites indicated that around 30% of fish collected in a specific location were immigrants from upstream and downstream sources. Such high migration rates probably contribute to the mosquitofish's invasive success and suggest that the consequences on the mosquitofish regional genetic structured of high levels of water toxicants could be mediated by immigration from other sites, but the effect of pollutants on local diversity might be higher than observed here.
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Ciprinodontiformes/fisiologia , Monitoramento Ambiental , Variação Genética , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Animais , Rios/química , Espanha , Poluição da Água/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Information is scarce about the inflammatory responses to infection in elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inflammatory pattern in elderly patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: We assessed the value of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in elderly patients with SIRS at the time of consultation in the emergency room and on the fourth day of hospitalization. RESULTS: Of 100 patients with SIRS, 92 had a clinical suspicion of infection and 46 were microbiologically confirmed. Basal TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with bacteremia (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Basal levels of TNF-alpha (p < 0.001) and fourth-day levels of CRP (p = 0.004), TNF-alpha (p < 0.001) and IL-6 (p = 0.002) had a positive correlation with the length of hospitalization. Higher IL-6 levels on the fourth day showed a correlation with mortality (p = 0.016), while the other cytokines and CRP did not show this association. CONCLUSION: Febrile elderly patients showed an inflammatory response pattern to infection equivalent to that reported in younger patients. Despite some limitations of our study, among febrile elderly patients, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels can be good markers for evaluating the prognosis of infections.