Burkholderia thailandensis Isolated from the Environment, United States.

Burkholderia thailandensis, an opportunistic pathogen found in the environment, is a bacterium closely related to B. pseudomallei, the cause of melioidosis. Human B. thailandensis infections are uncommon. We isolated B. thailandensis from water in Texas and Puerto Rico and soil in Mississippi in the United States, demonstrating a potential public health risk.

Seasonal associations with novel climates for North American migratory bird populations.

Determining the implications of global climate change for highly mobile taxa such as migratory birds requires a perspective that is spatiotemporally comprehensive and ecologically relevant. Here, we document how passerine bird species that migrate within the Western Hemisphere (n = 77) are associated with projected novel climates across the full annual cycle. Following expectations, highly novel climates occurred on tropical non-breeding grounds and the least novel climates occurred on temperate breeding grounds. Contrary to expectations, highly novel climates also occurred within temperate regions during the transition from breeding to autumn migration. This outcome was caused by lower inter-annual climatic variability occurring in combination with stronger warming projections. Thus, migrants are projected to encounter novel climates across the majority of their annual cycle, with a pronounced peak occurring when juveniles are leaving the nest and preparing to embark on their first migratory journey, which may adversely affect their chances of survival.

Phylogeography of Burkholderia pseudomallei Isolates, Western Hemisphere.

The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei causes melioidosis, which is mainly associated with tropical areas. We analyzed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among genome sequences from isolates of B. pseudomallei that originated in the Western Hemisphere by comparing them with genome sequences of isolates that originated in the Eastern Hemisphere. Analysis indicated that isolates from the Western Hemisphere form a distinct clade, which supports the hypothesis that these isolates were derived from a constricted seeding event from Africa. Subclades have been resolved that are associated with specific regions within the Western Hemisphere and suggest that isolates might be correlated geographically with cases of melioidosis. One isolate associated with a former World War II prisoner of war was believed to represent illness 62 years after exposure in Southeast Asia. However, analysis suggested the isolate originated in Central or South America.

Projected changes in prevailing winds for transatlantic migratory birds under global warming.

A number of terrestrial bird species that breed in North America cross the Atlantic Ocean during autumn migration when travelling to their non-breeding grounds in the Caribbean or South America. When conducting oceanic crossings, migratory birds tend to associate with mild or supportive winds, whose speed and direction may change under global warming. The implications of these changes for transoceanic migratory bird populations have not been addressed. We used occurrence information from eBird (1950-2015) to estimate the geographical location of population centres at a daily temporal resolution across the annual cycle for 10 transatlantic migratory bird species. We used this information to estimate the location and timing of autumn migration within the transatlantic flyway. We estimated how prevailing winds are projected to change within the transatlantic flyway during this time using daily wind speed anomalies (1996-2005 and 2091-2100) from 29 Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models implemented under CMIP5. Autumn transatlantic migrants have the potential to encounter strong westerly crosswinds early in their transatlantic journey at intermediate and especially high migration altitudes, strong headwinds at low and intermediate migration altitudes within the Caribbean that increase in strength as the season progresses, and weak tailwinds at intermediate and high migration altitudes east of the Caribbean. The CMIP5 simulations suggest that, during this century, the likelihood of autumn transatlantic migrants encountering strong westerly crosswinds will diminish. As global warming progresses, the need for species to compensate or drift under the influence of strong westerly crosswinds during the initial phase of their autumn transatlantic journey may be diminished. Existing strategies that promote headwind avoidance and tailwind assistance will likely remain valid. Thus, climate change may reduce time and energy requirements and the chance of mortality or vagrancy during a specific but likely critical portion of these species' autumn migration journey.

Convergence of broad-scale migration strategies in terrestrial birds.

Migration is a common strategy used by birds that breed in seasonal environments. Selection for greater migration efficiency is likely to be stronger for terrestrial species whose migration strategies require non-stop transoceanic crossings. If multiple species use the same transoceanic flyway, then we expect the migration strategies of these species to converge geographically towards the most optimal solution. We test this by examining population-level migration trajectories within the Western Hemisphere for 118 migratory species using occurrence information from eBird. Geographical convergence of migration strategies was evident within specific terrestrial regions where geomorphological features such as mountains or isthmuses constrained overland migration. Convergence was also evident for transoceanic migrants that crossed the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Here, annual population-level movements were characterized by clockwise looped trajectories, which resulted in faster but more circuitous journeys in the spring and more direct journeys in the autumn. These findings suggest that the unique constraints and requirements associated with transoceanic migration have promoted the spatial convergence of migration strategies. The combination of seasonal atmospheric and environmental conditions that has facilitated the use of similar broad-scale migration strategies may be especially prone to disruption under climate and land-use change.

Burkholderia pseudomallei type G in Western Hemisphere.

Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from the Western Hemisphere are difficult to differentiate from those from regions in which melioidosis is traditionally endemic. We used internal transcribed spacer typing to determine that B. pseudomallei isolates from the Western Hemisphere are consistently type G. Knowledge of this relationship might be useful for epidemiologic investigations.

Oral health of the Paleoamericans of Lagoa Santa, Central Brazil.

The peopling, origins, and early prehistory of the Americas are topics of intense debate. However, few studies have used human remains to document and interpret patterns of health and lifestyle of Paleoamericans. This study provides the first investigation to characterize oral health in a series of early Holocene skeletal remains from Lagoa Santa, Brazil, a locality containing the remains of some of the earliest inhabitants of South America (10,000-7,000 BP). The sample is composed of 949 teeth and 1925 alveoli from an estimated 113 individuals excavated from 17 archaeological sites located in the State of Minas Gerais. We compare dental caries and abscess prevalence at Lagoa Santa to a large sample of human skeletons from the Western Hemisphere Project (WHP) database using both individual and tooth/alveolus count methods. In addition, antemortem tooth loss and tooth wear were analyzed in Lagoa Santa by sex and age. The results show that Lagoa Santa dental caries and abscess prevalence are significantly higher than observed among other hunter-gatherers included in the WHP database, except when abscess prevalence is considered by individual count. Adult females have less tooth wear coupled with higher prevalence of dental caries and antemortem tooth loss than adult males. These results point to an unexpected record of poor oral health at Lagoa Santa, especially among females. A diet based on a highly cariogenic combination of wild tubers and fruits is suggested as an explanation for the elevated rate, characterizing an early adaptation to a tropical environment in South America.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Western Hemisphere Isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei: Phenotypic and Genomic Analyses.

Current antimicrobial treatment recommendations for melioidosis, the disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, are largely based on studies of strains isolated from the Eastern Hemisphere (EH), where most human cases are identified and reported. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility of 26 strains in the CDC (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention) collection from the Western Hemisphere (WH) isolated from 1960 to 2015. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were measured by standard broth microdilution for 16 antimicrobials following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Twenty-four of the 26 WH strains were susceptible to the six antimicrobials with CLSI-defined MIC susceptibility interpretive criteria for B. pseudomallei: amoxicillin/clavulanate, ceftazidime, imipenem, doxycycline, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. One WH strain demonstrated intermediate amoxicillin/clavulanate resistance and another strain had intermediate resistance to tetracycline. For all antimicrobials tested, the susceptibility profiles of WH isolates were comparable with previously reported MIC results of EH strains. The overall similarities suggest that the same antimicrobials are useful for melioidosis treatment in both the WH and EH. Using in silico analyses of WH genomes, we identified a novel amino acid substitution P258S in the beta-lactamase PenA, which may contribute to decreased susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanate in B. pseudomallei.

Identification of priority shorebird conservation areas in the Caribbean.

Despite being geographically central to the Atlantic Americas Flyway for migratory birds, the Caribbean is often overlooked or underappreciated when addressing the conservation of North American shorebirds. To our knowledge, this is the first Caribbean-wide assessment of shorebird use in the region. We analyzed 211,013 shorebird species observations in the insular Caribbean from 2010-2019, representing 78,794 eBird checklists and cumulative total of 2.1 million shorebirds of 45 species. We conclude that priority areas for shorebird conservation include Humedal Sur de Pinar del Río (Humedal Sur de Los Palacios) in Cuba, and Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic as they each likely support more than 20,000 shorebirds annually, and they host large abundances of geographic populations for particular taxa. Specifically, the former site hosts >10% of Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus griseus/hendersoni), and >1% of Black-bellied Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola cynosurae) and Wilson's Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia wilsonia), while the latter site supports large numbers of Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus). We also identified at least 15 additional sites that likely cross the 1% population threshold for one or more shorebird taxa. These sites may qualify for special international designations such as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas or as part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network; 11 of the 17 sites we identified do not hold either of these titles. Data on subspecific or geographic distributions of three species, Snowy Plover (C. nivosus), Black-necked Stilt, and Killdeer (C. vociferous), are insufficient to reveal if the sites with the highest abundances were mostly comprised of Caribbean populations or migrants, but the limited information suggests that they also likely exceed 1% thresholds on several islands. Based on our results, we recommend more extensive systematic surveys of shorebirds in the Caribbean, including research on turnover rates and movements between islands, as well as assimilation of shorebird survey data not yet included in the eBird portal.

Rearrangements in some species groups of Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) including keys, description of a new species, new host plant and distributional records.

Encompassing 39 species groups, Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815 is the second most diverse genus of seed-beetles in the Americas. Considering that the delimitation of some of the included species-groups is incongruent in the literature, this work tackled one particularly problematic group, the dispar group, which includes species that, depending on the classification scheme, have been classified in two other groups, namely the spondiae and alternatus groups. We recognize six valid species in the dispar group, viz. A. dispar (Sharp, 1885), A. crassipunctatus Ribeiro-Costa, 1999c A. insuturatus (Pic, 1902), A. schwarzi Kingsolver, 1970, A. taeniopygus Ribeiro-Costa, 1999 c, and Amblycerus goianiensis Santos & Ribeiro-Costa, sp. n., and four in the spondiae group, viz. A. spondiae Kingsolver, 1980, A. cuernavacensis Romero, Johnson & Kingsolver, 1996, A. vitis (Schaeffer, 1907) and A. alternatus (Pic, 1954). Three species are excluded from their original groups, namely A. eustrophoides (Schaeffer, 1904), A. serieguttatus (Chevrolat, 1877), from the alternatus group, and A. simulator (Jacquelin DuVal, 1857), from the dispar group, all considered here as incertae sedis. The remaining species of the alternatus group, A. schwarzi and A. alternatus, are transferred to other previously mentioned groups, thus dissolving this group. We provide diagnoses for the 13 species studied, redescribe three species, and describe one new species. Color illustrations of the dorsum and pygidium, drawings of the male genitalia and geographic distribution maps are included. Identification keys are also added for the dispar and spondiae groups. We record new host plants for four Amblycerus species and new localities for five species. The plant taxa Sarcomphalus mistol (Griseb.) Hauenschild, Terminalia corrugata (Ducke) Gere & Boatwr., T. tetraphylla (Aubl.) Gere & Boatwr. and Rhus virens Lindh. ex A. Gray var. choriophylla (Wooton & Standl.) L. D. Benson are first registered here as hosts of Amblycerus. Four new records for Amblycerus, namely Capparis, Neopringlea, Rhus and Sarcomphalus, and two new records at the family level, Capparaceae A. Juss. and Salicaceae Mirb., the latter also being a new record for Bruchinae.

Catalog for the Brazilian Amblycerus Thunberg (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) with taxonomic notes, host plants associations and distributional records.

A taxonomic catalog of the Amblycerus species distributed in Brazil is presented with information on deposition of types, synonymies, distributions, host plants, parasites and complete literature for each species. This catalog includes 61 species, five of them recorded for the first time for Brazil, and other seven species also recorded for other countries besides Brazil. A total of 23 species have new Brazilian states records. Two species of Spermophagus are transferred to Amblycerus: A. nigronotatus (Pic, 1952) comb.n. and Amblycerus germaini comb.n. The lectotypes of Spermophagus cistelinus Gyllenhal, 1833 and Spermophagus unimaculatus Pic, 1955 are here designated. Amblycerus species consume seeds of at least 13 host plant families. In this catalog we record new host records for seven Amblycerus species belonging to six plant families.

Chikungunya fever: Atypical and lethal cases in the Western hemisphere: A Venezuelan experience.

A large epidemic of Chikungunya fever currently affects the Caribbean, Central and South America. Despite a high number of reported cases, little is known on the occurrence of severe clinical complications. We describe four Venezuelan patients with a severe and/or lethal course who exhibit unusual manifestations of the disease. Case 1 describes a 75 year-old man with rapid onset of septic shock and multi-organ failure. Cases 2 and 3 describe two patients with rapid aggressive clinical course who developed shock, severe purpuric lesions and a distinct area large of necrosis in the nasal region. Case 4 depicts a splenectomized woman with shock, generalized purpuric lesions, bullous dermatosis and acronecrosis of an upper limb. Chikungunya fever in the Western hemisphere may also associate with atypical and severe manifestations. Some patients experience a life-threatening, aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and death due to multisystem failure.

A remarkable new species group of green seed beetles from genus Amblycerus Thunberg (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), with description of a new Brazilian species.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SUBFAMILY BRUCHINAE (COLEOPTERA: Chrysomelidae) are usually small and inconspicuous, with only a few species drawing the attention. Here we deal with several unusually colored species of Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815, one of the two most diverse bruchine genera in the Western hemisphere. We define the virens group that consists of five species whose bodies are covered with a green vestiture, including one new for science, Amblycerus medialis Ribeiro-Costa, Vieira & Manfio, sp. n. (Type locality: Brazil: Pará, Rondônia). This study also provides redescriptions, diagnoses, comparative notes, illustrations, geographic distribution records and a key to the species in this group.