Eco-epidemiological analysis of rickettsial seropositivity in rural areas of Colombia: A multilevel approach

ABSTARCT: Rickettsiosis is a re-emergent infectious disease without epidemiological surveillance in Colombia. This disease is generally undiagnosed and several deadly outbreaks have been reported in the country in the last decade. The aim of this study is to analyze the eco-epidemiological aspects of rickettsial seropositivity in rural areas of Colombia where outbreaks of the disease were previously reported. A cross-sectional study, which included 597 people living in 246 households from nine hamlets in two municipalities of Colombia, was conducted from November 2015 to January 2016. The survey was conducted to collect sociodemographic and household characteristics (exposure) data. Blood samples were collected to determine the rickettsial seropositivity in humans, horses and dogs (IFA, cut-off = 1/128). In addition, infections by rickettsiae were detected in ticks from humans and animals by real-time PCR targeting gltA and ompA genes. Data was analyzed by weighted multilevel clog-log regression model using three levels (person, household and hamlets) and rickettsial seropositivity in humans was the main outcome. Overall prevalence of rickettsial seropositivity in humans was 25.62% (95%CI 22.11-29.12). Age in years (PR = 1.01 95%CI 1.01-1.02) and male sex (PR = 1.65 95%CI 1.43-1.90) were risk markers for rickettsial seropositivity. Working outdoors (PR = 1.20 95%CI 1.02-1.41), deforestation and forest fragmentation for agriculture use (PR = 1.75 95%CI 1.51-2.02), opossum in peridomiciliary area (PR = 1.56 95%CI 1.37-1.79) and a high proportion of seropositive domestic animals in the home (PR20-40% vs 40% vs <20% = 3.14 95%CI 2.43-4.04) were associated with rickettsial seropositivity in humans. This study showed the presence of Rickettsia antibodies in human populations and domestic animals. In addition, different species of rickettsiae were detected in ticks collected from humans and animals. Our results highlighted the role of domestic animals as sentinels of rickettsial infection to identify areas at risk of transmission, and the importance of preventive measures aimed at curtailing deforestation and the fragmentation of forests as a way of reducing the risk of transmission of emergent and re-emergent pathogens

Population structure analyses and demographic history of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles albimanus </it>from the Caribbean and the Pacific regions of Colombia

Abstract Background Anopheles albimanus is an important malaria vector in some areas throughout its distribution in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions of Colombia, covering three biogeographic zones of the neotropical region, Maracaibo, Magdalena and Chocó. Methods This study was conducted to estimate intra-population genetic diversity, genetic differentiation and demographic history of An. albimanus populations because knowledge of vector population structure is a useful tool to guide malaria control programmes. Analyses were based on mtDNA COI gene sequences and four microsatellite loci of individuals collected in eight populations from the Caribbean and the Pacific regions of Colombia. Results Two distinctive groups were consistently detected corresponding to COI haplotypes from each region. A star-shaped statistical parsimony network, significant and unimodal mismatch distribution, and significant negative neutrality tests together suggest a past demographic expansion or a selective sweep in An. albimanus from the Caribbean coast approximately 21,994 years ago during the late Pleistocene. Overall moderate to low genetic differentiation was observed between populations within each region. However, a significant level of differentiation among the populations closer to Buenaventura in the Pacific region was observed. The isolation by distance model best explained genetic differentiation among the Caribbean region localities: Los Achiotes, Santa Rosa de Lima and Moñitos, but it could not explain the genetic differentiation observed between Turbo (Magdalena providence), and the Pacific region localities (Nuquí, Buenaventura, Tumaco). The patterns of differentiation in the populations from the different biogeographic provinces could not be entirely attributed to isolation by distance. Conclusion The data provide evidence for limited past gene flow between the Caribbean and the Pacific regions, as estimated by mtDNA sequences and current gene flow patterns among An. albimanus populations as measured by MS loci which may be mainly influenced by semi-permeable natural barriers in each biogeographical region that lead to the genetic differences and effective population sizes detected. The relatively high genetic differentiation in the port city of Buenaventura may be the result of specific ecological conditions, human migration and activities and/or differences in effective population sizes. This knowledge could serve to evaluate and coordinate vector control strategies in these regions of Colombia.</p

Caracterización fenotipica y molecular de poblaciones bacterianas aisladas de un suelo contaminado con diesel y sometido a dos tecnologías de biorremediación

En este estudio se presenta la biorremediación como alternativa para la recuperación de ecosistemas contaminados. En este trabajo se realizó un derrame experimental de diesel sobre un suelo de pastoreo, el cual fue remediado haciendo uso de dos tecnologías de biorremediación: atenuación natural; conocida como la capacidad natural de los microorganismos nativos para degradar en un tiempo determinado cualquier compuesto xenobiótico, y bioestimulación; conocida como la adición al medio de nutrientes (fosforo y nitrógeno) con el fin de estimular el metabolismo de los microorganismos nativos, logrando con esto acelerar el proceso de degradación. Los resultados de la prueba de respirometría indicaron que ambos tratamientos produjeron valores significativos de remoción del hidrocarburo pero el tratamiento de bioestimulación se destacó con el 98,17% de degradación. Se obtuvieron siete aislamientos bacterianos a partir de las siembras realizadas, según la caracterización molecular pertenecen a los géneros: Enterobacter, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Sanguibacter, Staphylococcus y Flavobacterium. Todos los aislamientos fueron capaces de metabolizar el diesel como fuente de carbono y energía; por ello y teniendo en cuenta que para algunos de estos microorganismos su papel en biorremediación no ha sido estudiado extensivamente, se recomienda continuar con su evaluación para conocer cuál es realmente su potencial para la solución de problemas ambientales

CARACTERIZACIÓN FENOTIPICA Y MOLECULAR DE POBLACIONES BACTERIANAS AISLADAS DE UN SUELO CONTAMINADO CON DIESEL Y SOMETIDO A DOS TECNOLOGÍAS DE BIORREMEDIACIÓN

En este estudio se presenta la biorremediación como alternativa para la recuperación de ecosistemas contaminados. En este trabajo se realizó un derrame experimental de diesel sobre un suelo de pastoreo, el cual fue remediado haciendo uso de dos tecnologías de biorremediación: atenuación natural; conocida como la capacidad natural de los microorganismos nativos para degradar en un tiempo determinado cualquier compuesto xenobiótico, y bioestimulación; conocida como la adición al medio de nutrientes (fosforo y nitrógeno) con el fin de estimular el metabolismo de los microorganismos nativos, logrando con esto acelerar el proceso de degradación. Los resultados de la prueba de respirometría indicaron que ambos tratamientos produjeron valores significativos de remoción del hidrocarburo pero el tratamiento de bioestimulación se destacó con el 98,17% de degradación. Se obtuvieron siete aislamientos bacterianos a partir de las siembras realizadas, según la caracterización molecular pertenecen a los géneros: Enterobacter, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Sanguibacter, Staphylococcus y Flavobacterium. Todos los aislamientos fueron capaces de metabolizar el diesel como fuente de carbono y energía; por ello y teniendo en cuenta que para algunos de estos microorganismos su papel en biorremediación no ha sido estudiado extensivamente, se recomienda continuar con su evaluación para conocer cuál es realmente su potencial para la solución de problemas ambientales

Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 12S mtDNA (HKY+I+G model).

<p>Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 12S mtDNA (HKY+I+G model).</p

Results of IgG antibodies titers against <i>R</i>. <i>rickettsii</i>, <i>R</i>. <i>parkeri</i> y <i>R</i>. <i>amblyommatis</i> antigens in equine and canine serum samples.

<p>Results of IgG antibodies titers against <i>R</i>. <i>rickettsii</i>, <i>R</i>. <i>parkeri</i> y <i>R</i>. <i>amblyommatis</i> antigens in equine and canine serum samples.</p

Multivariate mixed models for rickettsial seropositivity.

<p>Multivariate mixed models for rickettsial seropositivity.</p

Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of <i>ompA</i> (TPM3uf+I model).

<p>Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of <i>ompA</i> (TPM3uf+I model).</p

Rickettsial infection in ticks collected from humans and domestic animals.

<p>Rickettsial infection in ticks collected from humans and domestic animals.</p