2 research outputs found
Morphology does not allow differentiating the species of the Phlebotomus perniciosus complex: Molecular characterization and investigation of their natural infection by Leishmania infantum in Morocco
Morphological and DNA-based
complemented approaches were applied for characterization
of sympatric populations of Phlebotomus longicuspis and Phlebotomus perniciosus
in Morocco. Both sand fly species are generally recorded in sympatry in North
Africa but on few occasions have been molecularly characterized. The diagnostic confusion
of these species has led to errors in their geographical distribution and probably,
in the assignment of their role in the transmission of L. infantum. Sand flies were
caught inside households in El Borouj, central Morocco, in 2014–2015.
For female
sand flies, detection of L. infantum natural infection and blood meal identification were
carried out. According to morphological identification, Phlebotomus longicuspis s.l.
(34.7%) was the second most abundant Phlebotomus species after P. sergenti, followed
by atypical Phlebotomus perniciosus (7.1%); 11.6% of the male specimens of P. longicuspis
s.l. were identified as P. longicuspis LCx according to the number of coxite setae.
The density of Larroussius species was very high (31 Larroussius/light trap/night) in the
peripheral neighbourhood of Oulad Bouchair (p = 0.001) where the first case of cutaneous
leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum was detected in 2017. Phylogenetic
trees based on three independent genes highlighted three well-supported
clusters
within P. perniciosus complex that could be interpreted as corresponding to P. perniciosus,
P. longicuspis s.s. and an undescribed species, all coexisting in sympatry. Some
females with typical morphology of P. longicuspis were genetically homologous to P.
perniciosus. The taxa cannot be differentiated by morphological methods but characterized
by a distinctive genetic lineage for which the synapomorphic characters are
described. Leishmania infantum was detected in females of all clusters with a low parasite
load. Population genetics will help to assess the threat of the geographical spreadUniversity of Granada (Centro de
Iniciativas de Cooperación al Desarrollo,
CICODE, 2013)Universidad de Granada/CBU
Determination of the Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Electric Arc Furnace Slags and Environmental Evaluation of the Process for Their Utilization as an Aggregate in Bituminous Mixtures
Road construction is an activity that demands a significant amount of aggregates for bituminous mixtures. In addition, these aggregates must be of a suitable quality for use, even more so on high traffic roads. In response to this problem, and in order to avoid the extraction of new raw materials, research is being carried out using industrial waste as a substitute for conventional aggregates. In this way, the extraction of raw materials is reduced and landfilling of waste is avoided. However, these wastes must have certain properties and environmental advantages over natural aggregates. Otherwise, the use of waste would not be environmentally beneficial but would be more damaging to the environment. For this reason, this research evaluates the viability of using electric arc furnace slag as aggregates for bituminous mixtures, the main objectives being the determination of the characteristics of the by-product, the particularities and the critical points to be taken into account for its subsequent use in mixtures. At the same time, the environmental advantages of treating this waste to obtain a usable aggregate are evaluated in comparison with the processing of a natural aggregate. The results showed that electric arc furnace slags have a suitable chemical composition and excellent physical and mechanical properties for use in bituminous mixtures, even on high traffic roads. At the same time, it was determined that their use produces a considerable reduction in environmental afflictions. Therefore, it could be affirmed that the use of electric arc furnace slags in bituminous mixtures is recommendable as a way to develop more sustainable materials for construction