A survey on knowledge and practices of brucellosis among occupationally exposed livestock workers in Namibe province, Angola

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Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Fauna of a Zoological Park in an Urban Setting: Analysis of Culex pipiens s.l. and Their Biotypes

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Vectors of Human and Zoonotic Diseases)Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are important emerging diseases that affect humans and animals. Zoological parks can work as early warning systems for the occurrence of MBDs. In this study, we characterized the mosquito fauna captured inside Lisbon Zoo from May 2018 to November 2019. An average of 2.4 mosquitos per trap/night were captured. Five mosquito species potentially causing MBDs, including Culex pipiens biotypes, were found in the zoo. The sympatric occurrence of Culex pipiens biotypes represents a risk factor for the epizootic transmission of West Nile virus and Usutu virus. The mosquito occurrence followed the expected seasonality, with the maximum densities during summer months. However, mosquito activity was detected in winter months in low numbers. The minimum temperature and the relative humidity (RH) on the day of capture showed a positive effect on Culex pipiens abundance. Contrary, the RH the week before capture and the average precipitation the week of capture had a negative effect. No invasive species were identified, nor have flaviviruses been detected in the mosquitoes. The implementation of biosecurity measures regarding the hygiene of the premises and the strict control of all the animals entering the zoo can justify the low prevalence of mosquitoes and the absence of flavivirus-infected mosquitoes.This research was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through the project grants UIDB/00276/2020 (CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal), and LA/P/0059/2020 (AL4AnimalS—Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária). The author Sara Madeira was supported by an FCT Ph.D. fellowship SFRH/BD/117431/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A DNA barcode reference library of Portuguese mosquitoes

Research Areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health ; Infectious Diseases ; Veterinary SciencesMosquitoes are important biological vectors of pathogens and species identification in all life stages is the first step for effective monitoring and control of mosquitoborne diseases. Molecular methods for species identification have been developed over the last years to overcome the limitations of the taxonomic identification based on morphology. DNA barcoding, using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, can be used for species identification but a reliable and comprehensive reference database of verified sequences is required. In this study, we aimed to generate a DNA barcode reference library for the identification of mosquito species from Portuguese mosquito fauna, including most relevant vector species. Mosquitoes captured under the National Vector Surveillance Program (REVIVE) were processed for DNA extraction, COI gene fragment amplification and sequencing. Nighty-eight barcode sequences were obtained, representing 26 species and 6 genera. Sequences were submitted to GenBank and BOLD and were used for validation of phenetic classification. Barcode Index Number (BIN) assignment and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) were used and clustered COI sequences into twenty-five molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). This is the first comprehensive study that combines morphological and molecular identification of most mosquito species present in Portugal aiming to offer a reliable framework for mosquito species identification.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Centros de serviços partilhados : conceito, evolução e desafios atuais : quatro centros localizados em Portugal

O modelo de centros de serviços partilhados que se caracteriza pela concentração da gestão de serviços não estratégicos numa única unidade organizacional (Schulman et al., 1999), tem vindo a aumentar nos últimos anos em Portugal, sendo o nosso país cada vez mais escolhido por grandes grupos económicos multinacionais para montar os seus centros. O trabalho desenvolvido visa dar conta da realidade destes centros explicando as suas permissas e as razões de escolha de Portugal como destino. Para tal, procurando perceber também de que forma é que esta decisão impactou o desempenho e o desenvolvimento estratégico destes centros. De forma a atingir os objetivos supramencionados, desenvolveu-se um estudo de caso que abrangeu a quatro empresas multinacionais estrangeiras que implementaram os seus centros de serviços partilhados (doravante designados por “CSP”) em Portugal. A análise desenvolvida permitiu concluir que as principais razões para a localização de serviços partilhados em Portugal são os baixos custos de implementação e funcionamento dos CSP, a formação académica e as competências linguísticas dos colaboradores. Decorridos alguns anos desde a instalação destes CSP em Portugal, constata-se que os resultados alcançados por estes centros se enquadram nas expetativas inicialmente estabelecidas por parte das sedes dessas multinacionais, prevendo-se em todos os casos a expansão destes centros num futuro próximo.The model of shared services characterized by the concentration of the of non-strategic management services in a single organizational unit (Schulman et al., 1999), has increased in Portugal over the last years. Our country has been progressively selected by large multinational economic groups to present their centres. The work herein carry out intends to assess the reality of the afore-mentioned centres for shared services, explaining its premises and the reasons for which Portugal has been chosen as a destination thereof. To this effect, this study further aims to understand the extent to which this decision - i.e. the selection of Portugal as the setting for the presentation and divulgation of the said centers for shared services - affected the performance and strategic development of such centers. With the purpose of achieving the objectives indicated supra, this work developed and scrutinised a case study centred on four foreign multinational enterprises that implemented the respective centers of shared services (hereinafter, “CSP”)in Portugal. The analysis caried out led to the conclusion that the main reasons for establishing shared services in Portugal are the low costs associated with the implementation and functioning of CSP as well as the academic backgroundand linguaje skills of collaborators. Few years following the establishment of these CSP in Portugal, one can verify that the results obtained meet the expectations initially determined by the headquarters of the multinational companies concerned. It is foreseen that all these centers will meet expansion in the near future

Prevalence and factors associated with human brucellosis in livestock professionals

OBJECTIVO Estimar a seroprevalência da brucelose humana em profissionais da pecuária e analisar os factores associados à brucelose com foco em variáveis sociodemográficas, de conhecimento e práticas relativas às características das actividades desenvolvidas na pecuária. MÉTODOS Estudo transversal seroepidemiológico em população de 131 trabalhadores de talhos, salas de abate e matadouro e 192 criadores amostrados aleatoriamente na província do Namibe, Angola. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de colheita de sangue e aplicação de questionário. Os testes laboratoriais utilizados foram o Rosa de Bengala e a aglutinação lenta em tubos. O questionário permitiu recolher informação sociodemográfica e, especificamente sobre a brucelose, incorporou questões sobre conhecimento, atitudes e comportamentos dos profissionais da pecuária. Além da abordagem estatística descritiva, foram utilizados os testes de Independência do Qui-quadrado, Fisher e modelos de regressão logística, utilizando um nível de significância de 10%. RESULTADOS A prevalência geral ponderada da brucelose foi de 15.6% (IC95% 13.61–17.50), sendo 5.3% em trabalhadores e 16.7% (IC95% 11.39–21.93) em criadores. A significância estatística foi observada entre a seroprevalência humana e a categoria (trabalhador e criador) (p < 0.001) e o nível de instrução (p = 0.032), início de actividade (p = 0.079) e local de serviço (p = 0.055). Em um contexto multivariado, o factor positivamente associado à brucelose em profissionais foi a categoria profissional (OR = 3.54; IC95% 1.57–8.30, relativo aos criadores em relação a trabalhadores). CONCLUSÕES A brucelose humana em profissionais da pecuária é prevalente na província do Namibe (15.6%), onde a categoria profissional foi o factor mais relevante. Os níveis de seroprevalência detectados são elevados se comparados com outros encontrados em estudos semelhantes.OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of human brucellosis in livestock professionals and analyze the factors associated with brucellosis focusing on sociodemographic variables and the variables of knowledge and practices related to the characteristics of the activities carried out in livestock. METHODS This is a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study with a population of 131 workers of butchers, slaughter rooms, and slaughterhouse and 192 breeders sampled randomly in Namibe province, Angola. The data were obtained from the collection of blood and use of questionnaires. The laboratory tests used were rose bengal and slow agglutination. The questionnaire allowed us to collect sociodemographic information and, specifically on brucellosis, it incorporated questions about knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of livestock professionals. In addition to the descriptive statistical approach, we used the Chi-square test of independence, Fisher’s test, and logistic regression models, using a significance level of 10%. RESULTS The general weighted prevalence of brucellosis was 15.6% (95%CI 13.61–17.50), being it 5.3% in workers and 16.7% (95%CI 11.39–21.93) in breeders. The statistical significance was observed between human seroprevalence and category (worker and breeder) (p < 0.001) and education level (p = 0.032), start of activity (p = 0079), and service location (p = 0.055). In a multivariate context, the positive factor associated with brucellosis in professionals was the professional category (OR = 3.54; 95%CI 1.57–8.30, related to breeders in relation to workers). CONCLUSIONS Human brucellosis in livestock professionals is prevalent in Namibe province (15.6%), where the professional category was the most important factor. The seroprevalence levels detected are high when compared with those found in similar studies

Development and analytical validation of a group-specific RT-qPCR assay for the detection of the Simbu serogroup orthobunyaviruses

The Simbu serogroup within the genus Orthobunyavirus belongs to the family Peribunyaviridae and comprises 32 recognised three-segmented negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, with a cosmopolitan distribution. This group of arthropod-borne viruses includes important pathogens of humans and domestic animals e.g. Oropouche orthobunyavirus and Schmallenberg virus. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tools are required for recognition and control of outbreaks. A novel TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay was developed, optimised and analytically validated for the broad detection of the Simbu serogroup orthobunyaviruses. A region in the S segment, which encodes the nucleocapsid protein, was used to design a group primer set and a pair of differently labelled TaqMan® minor groove binder probes to distinguish phylogenetic clade A and B of the serogroup. Efficiencies determined for seven members of the group were 99% for Akabane orthobunyavirus (AKAV), 96% for Simbu orthobunyavirus (SIMV), 96% for Shuni orthobunyavirus (SHUV), 97% for Sathuperi orthobunyavirus (SATV), 84% for Shamonda orthobunyavirus (SHAV), 93% for Ingwavuma virus (INGV, now classified as Manzanilla orthobunyavirus) and 110% for Sabo virus (SABOV, now classified as AKAV). The 95% limit of detection (TCID50/reaction) was 10-3.61 for AKAV, 10-2.38 for SIMV, 10-3.42 for SHUV, 10-3.32http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jviromet2020-09-01hj2019Veterinary Tropical Disease

Control of bovine brucellosis from persistently infected holdings using RB51 vaccination with test-and-slaughter : a comparative case report from a high incidence area in Portugal

Bovine brucellosis due to Brucella abortus infection causes significant reproduc-tive and production losses in cattle and is a major zoonosis. Eradication of this disease has proved difficult to achieve in Portugal where it still occurs in some regions despite an ongoing national eradication programme. In 2004, the Alent-ejo region, a major cattle producing area, reported one of the highest levels of bovine brucellosis in the country, especially in one divisional area. In that area, bovine brucellosis was particularly problematic in a holding of ten herds, the largest extensive cattle unit in the country, which remained infected despite an extensive test-and-slaughter programme and depopulation of five herds. A 5-year programme of RB51 vaccination with biannual test-and-slaughter was thus implemented in 2004. The apparent animal seroprevalence decreased from 19% (646/3,400) to 3% (88/2930) on the third herd-level test and remained below 0.8% (27/3324) after the fourth test. After the tenth test, the holding had a prevalence of 0.1% (2/2332) and only one herd remained positive with a within-herd prevalence of 1.1% (2/177). The results were compared to all other herds (n = 10) in the divisional area that were also persistently infected but were subject only to test-and-slaughter before being depopulated. In these herds, the strategy of test-andslaughter did not reduce the prevalence, which remained significantly higher than the vaccinated group (median = 0.48% and 8.5% in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated herds; Wilcoxon rank sum test; P < 0.01). The success of this pilot programme in continental Portugal pro-vided a valuable case study to the official veterinary services by illustrating the value of RB51 vaccination with parallel testing and improved biosecurity as a comprehensive and sustainable strategy for bovine brucellosis control in persis-tently infected herds.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1865-16822015-04-30hb201