Chytridiomycosis related mortality in a midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) in Belgium

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, contributes to amphibian declines worldwide. Recently, the fungus has shown to be widely distributed in Belgium and the Netherlands, although no clinical cases of the disease have been diagnosed yet. This case report describes the first case of mortality due to chytridiomycosis in Belgium in a wild population of midwife toads (Alytes obstetricans). The presence of clinical chytridiomycosis, combined with the relatively high prevalence of the fungus in Belgium, emphasizes the urgent need for a thorough study on the impact of infection on the native amphibian populations in Belgium

Belgian B&B implements sustainable circular solutions: a case study

A bed & breakfast in Nieuwpoort, Belgium has leveraged the support of a European Union-funded project to implement viable ‘circular’ solutions. According to authors Angelo Sciacca, Lucien von Schomberg, and Eline Brutyn, the B&B’s owners have set a good example for other travel & tourism entrepreneurs to follow

Guide Méthodologique d’élaboration et d’évaluation de projets de prévention dans une perspective territoriale. Methodologische gids voor de uitwerking en evaluatie van preventieprojecten met een ruimtelijk perspectief,

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Guide Méthodologique d’évaluation d’impact des plans stratégiques de sécurité et de prévention, Methodologische gids voor impactevaluatie van strategische veiligheids- en preventieplannen,

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

The spectrum of impact evaluation. Towards a methodological guide to assess the impact of local strategic security and prevention plans in Belgium

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

20 years of Criminology at the NICC. A scientific journey and its perspectives

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

20 years of criminology at the NICC : a scientific journey and its perspectives

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Development of in vitro models for a better understanding of the early pathogenesis of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infections in amphibians

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the causal agent of chytridiomycosis, is implicated in the global decline of amphibians. This chytrid fungus invades keratinised epithelial cells, and infection is mainly associated with epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis. Since little is known about the pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, this study was designed to optimise the conditions under which primary keratinocytes and epidermal explants of amphibian skin could be maintained ex vivo for several days. The usefulness of the following set-ups for pathogenesis studies was investigated: a) cultures of primary keratinocytes; b) stripped epidermal (SE) explants; c) full-thickness epidermal (FTE) explants on Matrigel (TM); d) FTE explants in cell culture inserts; and e) FTE explants in Ussing chambers. SE explants proved most suitable for short-term studies, since adherence of fluorescently-labelled zoospores to the superficial epidermis could be observed within one hour of infection. FTE explants in an Ussing chamber set-up are most suitable for the study of the later developmental stages of B. dendrobatidis in amphibian skin up to five days post-infection. These models provide a good alternative for in vivo experiments, and reduce the number of experimental animals needed