Diagnosis of centrocestus formosanus infection in zebrafish (Danio rerio) in Italy: A window to a new globalization-derived invasive microorganism

Centrocestus formosanus is a digenetic trematode with a complex life cycle, involving invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, humans included. In particular, it causes gill lesions and mortality in freshwater fish species, and gastrointestinal symptoms in infected humans. Here, we describe the occurrence of C. formosanus infection in zebrafish imported in Italy and propose a newly designed species-specific primer pair to ameliorate the diagnostic investigations for C. formosanus. Gill arches of 30 zebrafish were examined for the presence of encysted metacercariae under a stereomicroscope and processed through molecular analyses targeting the ribosomal internal transcribed sequence 2 (ITS2). Although C. formosanus distribution was originally restricted to Asia, it has been subsequently reported in new countries, revealing itself as an invasive species and raising important concerns for biodiversity, economy, scientific research, as well as animal and public health. Given the crucial role played by the ornamental fish industry in spreading this parasite, there is an urgent need for control measures to prevent the introduction and establishment of C. formosanus in non-endemic areas, including Europe. We also suggest developing new strategies in microbiology and epidemiology to better explore this new globalization-derived invasive species

Death or survival from invasive pneumococcal disease in Scotland: associations with serogroups and multilocus sequence types

We describe associations between death from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and particular serogroups and sequence types (STs) determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using data from Scotland. All IPD episodes where blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture isolates were referred to the Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcal and Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory (SHLMPRL) from January 1992 to February 2007 were matched to death certification records by the General Register Office for Scotland. This represented 5959 patients. The median number of IPD cases in Scotland each year was 292. Deaths, from any cause, within 30 days of pneumococcal culture from blood or CSF were considered to have IPD as a contributing factor. Eight hundred and thirty-three patients died within 30 days of culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood or CSF [13.95%; 95% confidence interval (13.10, 14.80)]. The highest death rates were in patients over the age of 75. Serotyping data exist for all years but MLST data were only available from 2001 onward. The risk ratio of dying from infection due to particular serogroups or STs compared to dying from IPD due to all other serogroups or STs was calculated. Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing was used. Age adjustment was accomplished using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Serogroups 3, 11 and 16 have increased probability of causing fatal IPD in Scotland while serogroup 1 IPD has a reduced probability of causing death. None of the 20 most common STs were significantly associated with death within 30 days of pneumococcal culture, after age adjustment. We conclude that there is a stronger association between a fatal outcome and pneumococcal capsular serogroup than there is between a fatal outcome and ST

Opportunities for Public Aquariums to Increase the Sustainability of the Aquatic Animal Trade

The global aquatic pet trade encompasses a wide diversity of freshwater and marine organisms. While relying on a continual supply of healthy, vibrant aquatic animals, few sustainability initiatives exist within this sector. Public aquariums overlap this industry by acquiring many of the same species through the same sources. End users are also similar, as many aquarium visitors are home aquarists. Here we posit that this overlap with the pet trade gives aquariums significant opportunity to increase the sustainability of the trade in aquarium fishes and invertebrates. Improving the sustainability ethos and practices of the aquatic pet trade can carry a conservation benefit in terms of less waste, and protection of intact functioning ecosystems, at the same time as maintaining its economic and educational benefits and impacts. The relationship would also move forward the goal of public aquariums to advance aquatic conservation in a broad sense. For example, many public aquariums in North America have been instrumental in working with the seafood industry to enact positive change toward increased sustainability. The actions include being good consumers themselves, providing technical knowledge, and providing educational and outreach opportunities. These same opportunities exist for public aquariums to partner with the ornamental fish trade, which will serve to improve business, create new, more ethical and more dependable sources of aquatic animals for public aquariums, and perhaps most important, possibly transform the home aquarium industry from a threat, into a positive force for aquatic conservation. Zoo Biol. 32:1-12, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

High risk exotic species with respect to shellfish transports from the Oosterschelde to the Wadden Sea

This study presents the results of a literature review on 11 exotic marine species that are present in the Oosterschelde and could potentially be introduced into the Wadden Sea with shellfish transfers. Ten of the species result from a previous risk study, where they were identified as the species posing the highest risk. The Japanese oyster drill, that was recently observed in the Oosterschelde was also included in this study. The species discussed in the present study are: colonial tunicates Didemnum sp and Botrylloides violaceus the American oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea) and the Japanese oysterdrill (Ocinebrellus inornatus), the copepods Myticola orientalis and M. ostreae, the colonial bryozoan Smittoidea prolifica, Marteilia refringens and the macroalgae Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Polysiphonia senticulosa and Undaria pinnatifida. Four of these species (Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Undaria pinnatifida, Didemnum vexillum and Botrylloides violaceus) have recently been observed in the Wadden Sea. Some of these species are known pest species and could have an impact on the Wadden Sea ecosystem and/or the shellfish culture. The information that is collected in this study can be used to get a more realistic estimation of the risks compared to the risk assessment study of 2008 which was based on a worst-case approach. Moreover, the results can be used in the development of mitigating measures to reduce the risks of introducing these exotic species with the shellfish transfer from the Oosterschelde to the Wadden Sea

Forest vegetation management in Europe: current practice and future requirements

The book provides a record of the co-operation within Europe in the field of forest vegetation management through the Cost Action E47. The aims are: i)to provide a summary of the current state of the art' as it applies to forest vegetation management in Europe for scientists, practitioners and policymakers, affiliated to state, non-governmental or private commercial organizations; ii)to document existing forest weed control practices across Europe, and hence provide a resource of alternative solutions for individual countries sharing similar conditions and challenges; and iii)to identify common information gaps and future research needs, and hence potential future areas of collaboration for forest vegetation management scientists across Europe, along with barriers that may need to be overcome to achieve that aim.FORET;PEUPLEMENT FORESTIER;VEGETATION;CONCURRENCE VEGETALE;LUTTE;MODE DE TRAITEMENT;COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE;RECHERCHE DEVELOPPEMENT;DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE;AMENAGEMENT FORESTIER;MAUVAISE HERBE;CONTROLE DE LA VEGETATION;PESTICIDE;LUTTE PHYTOSANITAIRE;IMPACT SUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT;DYNAMIQUE DE VEGETATION;HERBICIDE;BIODIVERSITE;ECOSYSTEME;HISTOIRE;GESTION FORESTIERE;EUROPE;VEGETATION FORESTIERE;ADVENTICE;ALTERNATIVES AUX HERBICIDES;

USING A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER APPROACH TO MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY SCIENCE TRAINING CAPACITY FOR THE IMAPINVASIVES CERTIFIED TRAINERS NETWORK

This research aimed to take a new approach to a community science program’s current training method and create a resource that helps New York State residents and visitors expand their understanding and awareness of invasive species. Since launching in 2010, the invasive species community utilizing iMapInvasives has grown and training requests has exceeded staff capacity. Through sponsorship from the New York Natural Heritage Program and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, a Certified Trainers Network was created. The iMapInvasives Certified Trainers Network (CTN) consists of volunteers from diverse backgrounds interested in protecting NYS natural resources. The CTN was adopted following a train-the-trainer model approach, utilizing a three-step certification protocol. The CTN resulted in 12 trainer trainings, and 77 subsequent trainings with 1,162 attendees. As a result, 298 individuals representing 128 organizations submitted 4,290 observations, 546 animal observations and 3,743 plant observations, totaling 175 different species

Economics of Managing Invasive Species in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Areas of the U.S.A.: Case Study Development

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Economic Issues of Invasive Pests and Diseases and Food Safety

The problem of invasive pests and diseases has become more urgent and far more complex today than in the recent past. Increased trade and movement of people, and the opening up of new trade routes have increased opportunities for the spread of invasive species. In addition, mono-cropping systems of cultivation; globalization; increased resistance of pests to pesticides and food safety and environmental concerns have all contributed to the growing complexity of the problem on hand. The economic dimensions of the problem can be viewed from at least two perspectives. First, with regard to the spread and impact of invasive species, particularly how best to provide more comprehensive assessments of impacts of invasions, so as to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of publicly funded programs aimed at eradication, control or mitigation of invasive pests and diseases. Second, from the perspective of incorporating more economic analysis and use of economic instruments in designing sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The paper explores some of these issues from an economic perspective. It concludes that incorporating more economic analysis in matters related to biological invasions is desirable, but presents a challenge to economists. Measurement requires data, and success in measurement will require that economists and biological scientists work closer together than they have in the past.sanitary and phytosanitary measures, SPS, invasive species, WTO, economic impact of invasive species, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Human neural stem cell transplantation in ALS: initial results from a phase I trial

We report the initial results from a phase I clinical trial for ALS. We transplanted GMP-grade, fetal human neural stem cells from natural in utero death (hNSCs) into the anterior horns of the spinal cord to test for the safety of both cells and neurosurgical procedures in these patients. The trial was approved by the Istituto Superiore di Sanit\ue0 and the competent Ethics Committees and was monitored by an external Safety Board