Neonate Human Remains: A Window of Opportunity to the Molecular Study of Ancient Syphilis

Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis can be a useful tool in bacterial disease diagnosis in human remains. However, while the recovery of Mycobacterium spp. has been widely successful, several authors report unsuccessful results regarding ancient treponemal DNA, casting doubts on the usefulness of this technique for the diagnosis of ancient syphilis. Here, we present results from an analysis of four newborn specimens recovered from the crypt of “La Ermita de la Soledad” (XVI–XVII centuries), located in the province of Huelva in the southwest of Spain. We extracted and analyzed aDNA in three independent laboratories, following specific procedures generally practiced in the aDNA field, including cloning of the amplified DNA fragments and sequencing of several clones. This is the most ancient case, reported to date, from which detection of DNA from T. pallidum subspecies pallidum has been successful in more than one individual, and we put forward a hypothesis to explain this result, taking into account the course of the disease in neonate individuals

Helminth parasites of howler and spider monkeys in Mexico: Insights into molecular diagnostic methods and their importance for zoonotic diseases and host conservation

The majority of the parasite assessments of New World primates have been conducted through the identification of the eggs found in faeces, though many species of parasites have very similar eggs, leaving uncertainty in the diagnosis. Here, we present the results of a parasite survey of the three species of primates distributed in Mexico, combining non-invasive sampling with molecular techniques via DNA extraction of the eggs found in the faeces. Mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA were employed for species identification and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Nine parasite taxa were found in the three primate species: the nematodes Trypanoxyuris minutus, T. multilabiatus, T. pigrae, T. atelis, T. atelophora, Strongyloides sp., unidentified Ancylostomatid, unidentified Ascarid, and the trematode Controrchis biliophilus. We were able to extract and amplify DNA from the eggs of the five species of Trypanoxyuris reported for Mexican primates, two morphologically different trematode eggs, and Strongyloides sp. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the two types of trematode eggs belong to Controrchis biliophilus, a member of the family Dicrocoeliidae. For Strongyloides sp., phylogenetic analysis and genetic divergence showed an association between our samples and S. fuelleborni; however, no species could be established due to the lack of more DNA sequences from Strongyloides sp. occurring in Neotropical primates. The use of molecular and phylogenetic methods could help to overcome the limitations imposed by traditional non-invasive sampling because eggs are primarily obtained from the faeces; however, its utility relies on the extant genetic library and the contributions that expand such library. The information presented here could serve as a basis for future research on primate parasitology, allowing a more accurate parasite diagnosis and a more precise evaluation of their zoonotic potential

Parasitism in heterogeneous landscapes: association between conserved habitats and gastrointestinal parasites in populations of wild mammals

Parasites constitute essential elements of biodiversity, playing fundamental roles for the functioning and configuration of any ecosystem. The continuous and accelerated human expansion into previously pristine territories is changing landscape structure and climatic regimes that could alter host – parasite dynamics. We explore the influence of landscape structure and habitat quality on gastrointestinal parasites in several species of mammals inhabiting remnants of tall evergreen forest within a matrix of anthropic vegetation. Here, we record 32 taxa of gastrointestinal parasites with nematodes as the most diverse group. Landscape variables such as forest edge density, river density and percentage of conserved habitat were among the best predictors of gastrointestinal parasites. Parasite species richness increased with a higher proportion of conserved habitat, but hosts living in disturbed areas show higher intensity of infection. The results presented here indicate that parasites are susceptible to habitat perturbation. It is pertinent to keep monitoring wildlife health in human dominated landscapes to understand disease dynamics, zoonotic risk, and ecosystem health

The complete mitochondrial genome of 3 species of allocreadiids (Digenea, Allocreadiidae): characterization and phylogenetic position within the order Plagiorchiida

Trematodes of the family Allocreadiidae are primarily found in the intestines of freshwater fishes around the world. The family includes 15 genera and c. 130 species. The last 2 decades have witnessed an increase in the genetic library of its species. Molecular data have been crucial for species delimitation and species description within Allocreadiidae and for understanding their evolutionary and biogeographical history and classification. Here, the mitogenomes of 3 species of allocreadiids were obtained using high throughput sequencing methods. Mitogenomes were compared with other members of the order Plagiorchiida to determine their molecular composition, gene rearrangement and phylogenetic interrelationships. The complete circular mitogenomes of Allocreadium lobatum, Creptotrematina aguirrepequenoi and Wallinia mexicana were 14 424, 13 769 and 13 924 bp long respectively, comprising 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. Gene arrangements were identical to other Xiphidiatan trematodes. Phylogenetic analyses using the mitogenomes revealed Allocreadiidae as a monophyletic group closely related to other members of the suborder Xiphidiata; A. lobatum was yielded as the sister taxon of C. aguirrepequenoi + W. mexicana. Our study increases the complete mitochondrial genome library of trematodes and strengthens our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and classification of this parasite group

Monorchiids (Digenea, Trematoda) of fishes in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, with the description of three new species based on morphological and molecular data

Adult specimens of monorchiids (Digenea) were collected from the intestines of the white grunt, Haemulon plumierii Lacepède (Haemulidae), and the white mullet, Mugil curema Valenciennes (Mugilidae) from five localities off the Yucatán Peninsula and one locality in the Gulf of Mexico. Some specimens were photographed and sequenced for two molecular markers, the large subunit (LSU) of nuclear rDNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of mitochondrial DNA. Other specimens were processed for morphological analyses. Newly generated sequences were aligned with other sequences available in GenBank. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses were implemented using the data sets of LSU and cox1 independently. Reciprocal monophyly evidenced through phylogenetic analyses, sequence divergence values for both molecular markers, and detailed morphological analyses, including scanning electron microscopy photomicrographs, revealed three new genetic lineages, i.e., species, as parasites of M. curema. The three new species are Sinistroporomonorchis mexicanus n. sp., Sinistroporomonorchis yucatanensis n. sp., and Sinistroporomonorchis minutus n. sp. Two additional species of monorchiids were sampled, characterised molecularly, and re-described, namely Sinistroporomonorchis glebulentus (Overstreet, 1971) from the white mullet, and Alloinfundiburictus haemuli (Overstreet, 1969), from the white grunt

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat

Abstract Despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic 1,2 . Here we convened, as part of this Delphi study, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health. The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities. In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches 1 , while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach 2 that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination. Other recommendations with at least 99% combined agreement advise governments and other stakeholders to improve communication, rebuild public trust and engage communities 3 in the management of pandemic responses. The findings of the study, which have been further endorsed by 184 organizations globally, include points of unanimous agreement, as well as six recommendations with >5% disagreement, that provide health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat

Abstract Despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic . Here we convened, as part of this Delphi study, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health. The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities. In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches , while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination. Other recommendations with at least 99% combined agreement advise governments and other stakeholders to improve communication, rebuild public trust and engage communities in the management of pandemic responses. The findings of the study, which have been further endorsed by 184 organizations globally, include points of unanimous agreement, as well as six recommendations with >5% disagreement, that provide health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end