Serological and molecular heterogeneity among Yersinia ruckeri strains isolated from farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Chile.

We investigated 11 strains of Yersinia ruckeri, the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), that had been isolated from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. farmed in Chile and previously vaccinated against ERM. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed the identification of the salmon isolates as Y. ruckeri. A comparative analysis of the biochemical characteristics was made by means of traditional and commercial miniaturised methods. All studied isolates were motile and Tween 80 positive, and were identified as biotype 1. In addition, drug susceptibility tests determined high sensitivity to sulphamethoxazole/trimethroprim, oxytetracycline, ampicillin and enrofloxacin in all isolates. Serological assays showed the presence of O1a, O1b and O2b serotypes, with a predominance of the O1b serotype in 9 strains. Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide profiles and the correspondent immunoblot confirmed these results. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the outer membrane proteins revealed that all Chilean strains had profiles with a molecular weight range between 34 and 55 kDa, with 3 distinct groups based on differences in the major bands. Genotyping analyses by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-) and repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP-)PCR techniques clearly indicated intraspecific genetic diversity among Chilean Y. ruckeri strains.

Vaccination strategies to prevent emerging diseases for Spanish aquaculture.

In recent years, three serious diseases have emerged in Spanish aquaculture. These are lactococcosis caused by Lactococcus garvieae, which is of economical importance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss); pseudomonadiasis caused by Pseudomonas anguilliseptica which affects gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus); and flexibacteriosis caused by Tenacibaculum maritimum which became a devastating problem in the emerging culture of sole (Solea spp). To obtain useful information for the design and development of new vaccines, antigenic characterisation of representative strains was performed. In this work we present the strategies adopted for the vaccine formulation (strains included, use of adjuvants) and administration (route, necessity of booster, etc.). The results from laboratory and/or field vaccination trials performed showed that for lactococcosis, protection lasting for five months was obtained with an oil-adjuvanted bacterin formulation. Unadjuvanted bacterin gave only a short duration of protection, which could, however, be prolonged by an antigen boost administered via the feed. A bacterin against Pseudomonas anguilliseptica gave protection for 12 weeks when tested in an experimental challenge trial in turbot. Besides the flexibacteriosis vaccine developed by our group for turbot, and due to the antigenic host-associated variability within T. maritimum, a new bacterin was developed against this bacterium to be used specifically in sole. This new bacterin, administered to sole by intraperitoneal injection, yielded RPS values of 94 % six weeks after immunization. In conclusion, these results suggest that vaccination constitutes a cost-effective method of controlling diseases that have emerged in the most important fish species being cultured in Spain.

Lactococcus garvieae in wild Red Sea wrasse Coris aygula (Labridae).

Lactococcus garvieae infection in wild wrasse Coris aygula is reported, and the serological and molecular characteristics of the isolate are described. This is the first evidence of the presence of this pathogen in the Red Sea, and it follows the recent diagnosis of Mycobacterium marinum and Streptococcus iniae in wild fish from the same region. Whether all 3 pathogens are strains endemic to the Red Sea, or recent introductions into the region, remains to be determined, but their appearance over a period of a few years in wild fish populations in the northern Red Sea is consistent with an emerging trend affecting marine organisms on a global level in areas subjected to intense anthropogenic impacts.

Equivalence relations as an analysis criterion of scientific relevance of analytical categories / As relações de equivalência como critério de análise da pertinência científica de categorias analíticas / Las relaciones de equivalencia como criterio de análisis de la pertinencia científica de categorías analíticas

Abstract The aim of this paper is to propose equivalence relations as a structural criterion or analytical order, through which the functions of knowledge required in a scientific activity are delimited. It begins by considering knowledge as a phenomenon studied by psychology, whose explanation requires giving an account of the way in which such behavioral or knowledge functions are established, organized and updated. It is considered that the procedures of matching-to-sample allow understanding the way of abstracting the analytical categories that scientifically structure the knowledge of reality. When using these procedures, new relationships are derived that without the need for direct training, cannot be explained based on principles of stimulus generalization, but rather as equivalent relations differentiated through previous training. They get a closure in an analytical category, once the categorical criteria are abstracted or if desired, when these relationships are nominated. And when categorized or nominated, they transcend the situation, since nominating is understood as an adjustment to conventional criteria. Once situational interactions are nominated, they regulate all social practices, including practices of scientific knowledge.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é propor as relações de equivalência como critério estrutural ou de ordenamento analítico pelo qual possam ser delimitadas as funções do conhecimento requeridas numa atividade científica. Parte-se de considerar o conhecimento como um fenômeno estudado pela psicologia e cuja explicação requer evidenciar a maneira na qual são estabelecidas, organizadas e atualizadas as funções comportamentais ou do conhecimento. Desse modo, considera-se que as tarefas de igualação à amostra permitem compreender o modo de abstrair as categorias analíticas que estruturam cientificamente o conhecimento da realidade. Quando são usados esses procedimentos, são derivadas novas relações que, sem a necessidade de um treinamento direto, não podem ser explicadas com base em princípios de generalização de estímulos, mas sim como relações equivalentes diferenciadas mediante os treinamentos prévios e que adquirem uma delimitação numa categoria analítica quando são abstraídos os critérios categoriais ou, se se quiser, quando essas relações são nominadas. Assim, ao serem categorizadas ou nominadas, elas transcendem a situação -porque nominar se entende como um ajuste a critérios convencionais- e, uma vez que as interações situacionais são nominadas, regulam todas as práticas sociais, incluídas as práticas do conhecimento científico.

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo es proponer las relaciones de equivalencia como criterio estructural o de ordenamiento analítico mediante el cual se puedan delimitar las funciones del conocimiento requeridas en una actividad científica. Se parte de considerar al conocimiento como un fenómeno estudiado por la psicología y cuya explicación requiere de dar cuenta de la manera en que se establecen, organizan y actualizan las funciones conductuales o del conocimiento. De este modo, se considera que las tareas de igualación a la muestra permiten comprender el modo de abstraer las categorías analíticas que estructuran científicamente el conocimiento de la realidad. Cuando se usan estos procedimiento, se derivan nuevas relaciones sin la necesidad de un entrenamiento directo y que no pueden explicarse con base en principios de generalización de estímulos, sino, más bien, como relaciones equivalentes diferenciadas mediante los entrenamientos previos y que adquieren un cierre en una categoría analítica cuando se abstraen los criterios categoriales o, si se quiere, cuando estas relaciones se nominan. Así, al categorizarse o nominarse, estas trascienden la situación -porque nominar se entiende como un ajuste a criterios convencionales- y una vez que las interacciones situacionales se nominan, regulan todas las prácticas sociales, incluidas las prácticas del conocimiento científico.

La producción científica de acta colombiana de psicología: análisis descriptivo del período 2010-2014 / Scientific production of Colombian act of psychology: descriptive analysis of the period 2010 -2014 / A produção científica da Acta Colombiana de Psicología: análise descritiva do período 2010-2014

Una de las estrategias para la elaboración de los planes de acción o mejoramiento de las publicaciones científicas parte de la mirada retrospectiva o de estudios de caracterización con respecto a la evolución de las mismas. Para ello se tienen en cuenta indicadores que exigen las bases e índices de datos, los cuales permiten evaluar la calidad científica y editorial, la visibilidad, la periodicidad o estabilidad, así como el impacto. En este sentido, el presente artículo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis descriptivo de los artículos publicados en la Revista Acta Colombiana de Psicología entre los años 2010 y 2014. Se identificaron las variables a tener en cuenta para este análisis: variables categóricas y variables de tipo cuantitativo. El procesamiento y análisis de datos se realizó mediante el paquete IBM SPSS Statistics versión 23; se analizó cada una de las variables categóricas por medio de frecuencias y porcentajes, y las variables cuantitativas aplicando estadísticos descriptivos. Posteriormente se realizaron los cruces entre algunas variables, tanto categóricas como cuantitativas, mediante el uso de frecuencias, porcentajes, medidas descriptivas y algunos gráficos. Se resalta la información relacionada con el número de artículos publicados por año, procedencia de los artículos, tiempos entre la recepción y aceptación de los mismos, porcentajes de idioma de los artículos, tipo de investigaciones de los cuales se derivan los artículos, y tipo de análisis estadístico utilizado, entre otros.

One of the strategies for developing action plans or improving scientific publications originates from a retrospective view or characterization studies, regarding the evolution of such written productions. In order to achieve this, indicators that require databases and indexes are considered. They allow evaluating scientific quality, editorial quality, visibility, periodicity or stability and impact. In this sense, this article aims to make a descriptive analysis of articles published in the “Acta Colombiana de Psicología” (Colombian Act of Psychology) Journal between 2010 and 2014. The variables to be considered for this analysis were identified: categorical and quantitative variables. Processing and data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics IBM package version 23. Each of the categorical variables was analyzed by frequencies and percentages, and quantitative variables using descriptive statistics. Later, crosses between some variables, both categorical and quantitative, were performed using frequencies, percentages, descriptive measures, and some graphics. Information related to the number of articles published per year was highlighted, as well as origin of the articles, time span between receipt and acceptance, language percentages of the articles, type of research from which articles are derived, and the type of statistical analysis used, among others.

Uma das estratégias para a elaboração dos planos de ação ou melhoramento das publicações científicas parte do olhar retrospectivo ou dos estudos da caracterização a respeito da evolução destas. Para isso, consideram-se os indicadores que exigem as bases e os índices de dados, os quais permitem avaliar a qualidade científica, a qualidade editorial, a visibilidade, a periodicidade ou a estabilidade bem como o impacto. Nesse sentido, o presente artigo tem como objetivo realizar uma análise descritiva dos artigos publicados na revista Acta Colombiana de Psicología entre 2010 e 2014. Identificaram-se as variáveis a considerar para esta análise: variáveis categóricas e variáveis de tipo quantitativo. O processamento e a análise de dados foi realizada mediante o IBM SPSS Statistics versão 23; foi analisada cada uma das variáveis categóricas por meio de frequências e porcentagens, e as variáveis quantitativas aplicando estatísticos descritivos. Em seguida, foram realizados os cruzamentos entre algumas variáveis, tanto categóricas quanto quantitativas, mediante o uso de frequências, porcentagens, medidas descritivas e alguns gráficos. Ressalta-se a informação relacionada com o número de artigos publicados por ano, a procedência dos artigos, o tempo entre a recepção e a aceitação deles, as porcentagens de idioma dos artigos, os tipos de pesquisa das quais se derivam os artigos e o tipo de análise estatística utilizada, entre outros.

Molecular typing of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines by PCR-based methods.

AIM: The main aim of the present study was to use three PCR-based techniques for the analysis of genetic variability among Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventeen strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from shrimps (Penaeus monodon) and from the environments where these shrimps are being cultivated were analysed by random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD-PCR), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR). The results of this work have demonstrated genetic variability within the V. parahaemolyticus strains that were isolated from the Philippines. In addition, RAPD, ERIC and REP-PCR are suitable rapid typing methods for V. parahaemolyticus. All three methods have good discriminative ability and can be used as a rapid means of comparing V. parahaemolyticus strains for epidemiological investigation. Based on the results of this study, we could say that REP-PCR is inferior to RAPD and ERIC-PCR owing to the fact that it is less reproducible. Moreover, the REP-PCR analysis yielded a relatively small number of products. This may suggests that the REP sequences may not be widely distributed in the V. parahaemolyticus genome. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variability within V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated in the Philippines has been demonstrated. The presence of ERIC and REP sequences in the genome of this bacterial species was confirmed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The RAPD, ERIC and REP-PCR techniques are useful methods for molecular typing of V. parahaemolyticus strains. To our knowledge this is the first study of this kind carried out on V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Philippines.