Interspecific acoustic recognition in two European bat communities

Echolocating bats emit echolocation calls for spatial orientation and foraging. These calls are often species-specific and are emitted at high intensity and repetition rate. Therefore, these calls could potentially function in intra- and/or inter-specific bat communication. For example, bats in the field approach playbacks of conspecific feeding buzzes, probably because feeding buzzes indicate an available foraging patch. In captivity, some species of bats recognize and distinguish the echolocation calls of different sympatric species. However, it is still unknown if and how acoustic species-recognition mediates interspecific interactions in the field. Here we aim to understand eavesdropping on bat echolocation calls within and across species boundaries in wild bats. We presented playbacks of conspecific and heterospecific search calls and feeding buzzes to four bat species with different foraging ecologies. The bats were generally more attracted by feeding buzzes than search calls and more by the calls of conspecifics than their heterospecifics. Furthermore, bats showed differential reaction to the calls of the heterospecifics. In particular, Myotis capaccinii reacted equally to the feeding buzzes of conspecifics and to ecologically more similar heterospecifics. Our results confirm eavesdropping on feeding buzzes at the intraspecific level in wild bats and provide the first experimental quantification of potential eavesdropping in European bats at the interspecific level. Our data support the hypothesis that bat echolocation calls have a communicative potential that allows interspecific, and potentially intraspecific, eavesdropping in the wild

Vivax malaria in children: clinical features and response to chloroquine

Introducción: En Colombia, no hay información actualizada sobre malaria vivax en niños. Objetivo: Describir el cuadro clínico-paraclínico de la enfermedad y evaluar la eficacia de la cloroquina (dosis estándar) para curar el ataque agudo de paludismo vivax en niños (4-10 años). Metodología: Diseño experimental, balanceado, no ciego; 82 pacientes, residentes en Turbo o El Bagre. Seguimiento, 30 días. Resultados: Los síntomas y signos concordaron con la literatura. Hubo desnutrición de largo plazo en 62%, anemia en 53%, retinol bajo (19 μg/dl), recuento leucocitario normal, pruebas hepáticas y creatinina normales. A los 25-28 días postratamiento todas las alteraciones, excepto la desnutrición, habían desaparecido. Falla de la cloroquina: dos posibles fallas tardías. Proporción de falla según tres técnicas de análisis según la intención de tratar: 2.4% (0 a 24%), según el protocolo 2.6% (0 a 25%), según el peor escenario 7.3% (0 a 29%). Conclusión: El cuadro clínico-paraclínico fue similar al de los adultos. El paludismo, más que la desnutrición, fue responsable de las alteraciones clínicas-paraclínicas. La cloroquina sola, sin primaquina, resultó altamente eficaz para el ataque agudo de malaria vivax en niños y debe conservarse como primera opción terapéutica. Introduction: In Colombia is not very common to find updated information about vivax malaria in children. Aims: Describe the clinical and paraclinical disease picture and evaluate the standard dose of chloroquine effectiveness as a cure for the acute attack of vivax malaria in children between 4 and 10 years old. Methods: Experimental design, balanced, not blind, 82 patients and habitants in El Bagre and Turbo, Colombia. Followup: 30 days. Results: Symptoms-signs agreed with the known. There were found 62% long-term malnutrition, 53% anemia, low retinol (19 μg/dl), normal leukocyte count, normal liver tests and normal creatinine coefficient. After 25-28 day of treatment, all alterations had disappeared on children except malnutrition. According with the analysis techniques, the chloroquine late failure proportion was: by the intention to treat 2.4% (0 to 24%), by the protocol 2.6% (0 to 25%), and in the worst-case scenario 7.3% (0 to 29%). Conclusion: The clinical and paraclinical depict was similar than adults. Malaria, was the main responsible for clinics and paraclinical alterations. Chloroquine, without primaquine, proved highly effective for the acute attack of vivax malaria in children and should be retained as the first therapeutic option

Prevalencia de bacterias Gram negativas portadoras del gen blaKPC en hospitales de Colombia

Introduction: KPC enzymes are carbapenemases with a great capability to disseminate and to cause epidemics. They are frequently associated with higher mortality rates and prolonged hospital stay. In Colombia, they have been progressively reported since 2007; however, its prevalence in hospitals is not known.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of blaKPC gene in hospitals.Methods and materials: The presence of blaKPC gene and its clonality were evaluated in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriacea and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospitalized patients.Results: Of the 424 isolates tested during the study period, 273 met eligibility criteria, and 31.1% were positive for blaKPC gene; after clonality adjustment, positivity was 12.8%. The blaKPC gene was more frequent in Klebsiella pneumonia, followed by P. aeruginosa and other Enterobacteriacea. Although intensive care units (ICU) provided the majority of the isolates, the blaKPC pattern was not more prevalent in ICUs than in other wards. The respiratory tract was the anatomic source with the highest prevalence. No seasonality was observed associated with the frequency of isolation of microorganisms carrying blaKPC gene.Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of blaKPC gene in microorganisms isolated from different hospitals in Colombia. The extraordinary ability of blaKPC gene to spread, the difficulties for its diagnosis and the limited antibiotics available for its treatment pose the urgent need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance systems, and to timely adjust institutional policies for rational use of antibiotics in order to limit its dissemination to other institutions in the country.Introducción. Las enzimas carbapenemasas de tipo KPC tienen gran capacidad de diseminación, son causantes de epidemias y se asocian a mayor mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria. En Colombia se han venido reportando cada vez más desde 2007, pero se desconoce la prevalencia hospitalaria.Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia hospitalaria del gen blaKPC.Materiales y métodos. Se evaluó la presencia del gen blaKPC y su ‘clonalidad’ en aislamientos de enterobacterias y Pseudomonas aeruginosa de pacientes hospitalizados.Resultados. De los 424 aislamientos evaluados durante el periodo de estudio, 273 cumplieron con criterios de elegibilidad, 31,1 % fue positivo para el gen blaKPC y, al ajustar por ‘clonalidad’, la positividad fue de 12,8 %. El gen blaKPC se encontró con mayor frecuencia en Klebsiella pneumoniae seguido de P. aeruginosa y otras enterobacterias. A pesar de que la unidad de cuidados intensivos aportó el mayor número de aislamientos, no se encontró un patrón más prevalente del gen blaKPC en las ellas que en las otras salas. El aparato respiratorio fue el sitio anatómico de origen con la mayor prevalencia. No se presentó estacionalidad en la frecuencia de los aislamientos portadores del gen blaKPC.Conclusión. Este estudio reveló la alta prevalencia del gen blaKPC en diferentes microorganismos aislados en varias instituciones hospitalarias del país. La extraordinaria capacidad de propagación del gen blaKPC, las dificultades del diagnóstico y la limitada disponibilidad de antibióticos plantean la apremiante necesidad de fortalecer los sistemas de vigilancia epidemiológica y ajustar oportunamente las políticas institucionales de uso racional de antibióticos con el fin de contener su diseminación a otras instituciones de salud del país

Life cycle analysis of macauba palm cultivation: A promising crop for biofuel production

The 450 Scenario, which limits the increase in global average temperature to 2¿°C, makes it necessary to take steps towards a low-carbon economy. Since the energy sector is a major contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the production of biofuels can play a key role in strategies aimed at climate change mitigation. In this regard, the oil derived from macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata), mainly constituted of saturated organic chains, has been claimed to hold promise for the production of liquid fuels. The high potential yield, diversity of co-products and various positive features of this emerging energy crop make it an interesting option both from a social and an environmental point of view. Nonetheless, a full environmental evaluation is still missing. In the study presented herein, the impacts produced in its plantation, cultivation and harvesting phases and the associated cumulative energy demand have been determined using a life cycle analysis methodology, in addition to shedding some light on its GHG intensity relative to the other energy crops it can displace. Excluding land use changes and biogenic CO2 fixed by the crop, it was concluded that to produce one ton of macauba fruit in Brazil, the system would absorb 1810.21¿MJ, with GHG emissions of 158.69¿kg CO2eq in the 20-year timeframe, and of 140.04¿kg CO2eq in the 100-year timeframe (comparable to those of African oil palm). Damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resources would add up to 16¿Pt·t-1 according to Eco-indicator 99 methodology. In order to account for the uncertainty derived from improvement and domestication programs, which should affect current production levels, a sensitivity analysis for different productivities was performed. In all analyses, fertilization was found to be responsible for ca. 90% of the impacts, and hence special attention should be paid to the development of alternative fertilizer management schemes

Diversidad genética de aislados de pseudomonas aeruginosa multirresistentes portadores de los genes blavim-2 y blakpc-2 que se propagan en diferentes entornos genéticos en colombia

Pseudomonas aeruginosa es un patógeno Gram negativo oportunista con un aumento de la frecuencia de infecciones causadas por cepas multirresistentes (MDR) y extremadamente resistentes (XDR), lo que limita las opciones terapéuticas disponibles. La resistencia más problemática es la adquisición y producción de carbapenemasas, como las metalo-β-lactamasas codificadas por integrones de Verona (VIM), las más frecuentes y extendidas, y las carbapenemasas de Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), que no han dejado de propagarse en la última década. Su diseminación está ligada a su localización en elementos genéticos móviles (EGM). En Colombia, VIM y KPC han venido aumentando en su frecuencia mostrando una importante diseminación exitosa. En este artículo, caracterizamos molecularmente y analizamos el contexto genético de blaVIM y blaKPC en aislamientos de P. aeruginosa resistente a carbapenemasas (CRPA) provenientes de pacientes infectados y colonizados en dos hospitales de tercer nivel de atención, uno en Medellín y el otro en un municipio cercano a Medellín, ambas zonas con alta endemicidad de carbapenemasas en Colombia (2013-2015). Usando secuenciación del genoma completo (WGS), identificamos una notable variedad de antecedentes genéticos en estos aislados de P. aeruginosa MDR portadores de blaKPC-2 y blaVIM-2. Se observó una diversidad de integradores de clase 1 en los aislados de P. aeruginosa MDR. Hubo diversidad de integrones de clase 1 y variaciones en los casetes génicos asociados a blaVIM-2, así como un posible evento de diseminación de blaKPC-2 mediado por un plásmido que contenía parte de Tn4401b en un caso de infección. La diseminación de blaVIM-2 y blaKPC-2 en P. aeruginosa en esta área en Colombia ha estado fuertemente influenciada por clones internacionales exitosos, portadores de estos genes y determinantes adicionales de resistencia en MGEs, acompañados de reordenamiento génico bajo una presión de selección antimicrobiana. Estos hallazgos enfatizan la necesidad de implementar estrategias de control basadas en el uso racional de antibióticos.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen with an increase in the frequency of infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains, limiting the available therapeutic options. The most troublesome resistance is the acquisition and production of carbapenemases such as Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamases (VIM), the most frequent and widespread, and the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC), which has continuously spread in the last decade. Its dissemination is linked to their location on mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In Colombia, VIM and KPC have been increasing in its frequency showing major successful dissemination. In this article, we molecularly characterized and analyzed the genetic context of blaVIM and blaKPC in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates from infected and colonized patients in two tertiary-care hospitals, one in Medellín and the other in a municipality close to Medellín, both areas with high carbapenemase endemicity in Colombia (2013–2015). Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), we identified a remarkable variety of genetic backgrounds in these MDR P. aeruginosa isolates carrying blaKPC–2 and blaVIM–2. There were a diversity of class 1 integron and variations in the gene cassettes associated to blaVIM–2, as well as a possible event of spread of blaKPC–2 mediated by a plasmid that contained part of Tn4401b in one infection case. The dissemination of blaVIM–2 and blaKPC–2 in P. aeruginosa in this area in Colombia has been strongly influenced by successful international clones, carrying these genes and additional determinants of resistance on MGEs, accompanied by gene rearrangement under an antimicrobial selection pressure. These findings emphasize the need to implement control strategies based on rational antibiotic us

Genomic Analysis of CTX-M-Group-1-ProducingExtraintestinal PathogenicE. coli(ExPEc) fromPatients with Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)from Colombia

Background: The dissemination of the uropathogenic O25b-ST131Escherichia coliclone constitutes a threat to public health. We aimed to determine the circulation ofE. colistrains belonging to O25b:H4-B2-ST131 and theH30-Rx epidemic subclone causing hospital andcommunity-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI) in Colombia. Methods: Twenty-six nonduplicate,CTX-M group-1-producing isolates causing UTI in the hospital and community were selected for thisstudy. Results: Twenty-twoE. coliisolates harboring CTX-M-15, one CTX-M-3, and three CTX-M-55were identified. Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) showed a variety of sequence types (STs), amongwhich, ST131, ST405, and ST648 were reported as epidemic clones. All theE. coliST131 sequencescarried CTX-M-15, from which 80% belonged to the O25b:H4-B2 andH30-Rx pandemic subclonesand were associated with virulence factorsiss,iha, andsat.E. coliisolates (23/26) were resistant tociprofloxacin and associated with amino acid substitutions in quinolone resistance-determining regions(QRDR). We detected two carbapenem-resistantE. coliisolates, one coproducing CTX-M-15, KPC-2,and NDM-1 while the other presented mutations inompC. Additionally, one isolate harbored thegenemcr-1. Conclusions: Our study revealed the circulation of theE. coliST131, O25b:H4-B2-H30-Rxsubclone, harboring CTX-M-15, QRDR mutations, and other resistant genes. The association of theH30-Rx subclone with sepsis and rapid dissemination warrants attention from the public health andinfections control

Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales bloodstream infections among children with cancer or post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant: a retrospective cohort study

Background Risk factors for carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales bloodstream infections among children with cancer or post-HSCT have not been thoroughly explored. Methods All children with cancer or post-HSCT who developed Enterobacterales bloodstream infections in two cancer referral centres in major Colombian cities between 2012 and 2021 were retrospectively examined. When the infection episode occurred, carbapenem resistance mechanisms were evaluated according to the available methods. Data were divided in a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). Three internally validated carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) prediction models were created: a multivariate logistic regression model, and two data mining techniques. Model performances were evaluated by calculating the average of the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. Results A total of 285 Enterobacterales bloodstream infection episodes (229 carbapenem susceptible and 56 carbapenem resistant) occurred [median (IQR) age, 9 (3.5–14) years; 57% male]. The risk of CRE was 2.1 times higher when the infection was caused by Klebsiella spp. and 5.8 times higher when a carbapenem had been used for ≥3 days in the previous month. A model including these two predictive variables had a discriminatory performance of 77% in predicting carbapenem resistance. The model had a specificity of 97% and a negative predictive value of 81%, with low sensitivity and positive predictive value. Conclusions Even in settings with high CRE prevalence, these two variables can help early identification of patients in whom CRE-active agents are unnecessary and highlight the importance of strengthening antibiotic stewardship strategies directed at preventing carbapenem overuse.Q1Q1Los factores de riesgo de resistencia a los carbapenémicos en las infecciones del torrente sanguíneo por Enterobacterales entre niños con cáncer o después de un TCMH no se han explorado a fondo. Métodos Se examinaron retrospectivamente todos los niños con cáncer o post-TCMH que desarrollaron infecciones del torrente sanguíneo por Enterobacterales en dos centros de referencia de cáncer en las principales ciudades de Colombia entre 2012 y 2021. Cuando ocurrió el episodio de infección, se evaluaron los mecanismos de resistencia a los carbapenémicos según los métodos disponibles. Los datos se dividieron en un conjunto de entrenamiento (80%) y un conjunto de prueba (20%). Se crearon tres modelos de predicción de Enterobacterales resistentes a carbapenémicos (CRE) validados internamente: un modelo de regresión logística multivariante y dos técnicas de minería de datos. El rendimiento del modelo se evaluó calculando el promedio del AUC, la sensibilidad, la especificidad y los valores predictivos. Resultados Se produjeron un total de 285 episodios de infección del torrente sanguíneo por Enterobacterales (229 susceptibles a carbapenémicos y 56 resistentes a carbapenémicos) [mediana de edad (RIQ), 9 (3,5 a 14) años; 57% hombres]. El riesgo de CRE fue 2,1 veces mayor cuando la infección fue causada por Klebsiella spp. y 5,8 veces mayor cuando se había utilizado un carbapenem durante ≥3 días en el mes anterior. Un modelo que incluía estas dos variables predictivas tuvo un rendimiento discriminatorio del 77% en la predicción de la resistencia a los carbapenémicos. El modelo tuvo una especificidad del 97% y un valor predictivo negativo del 81%, con baja sensibilidad y valor predictivo positivo. Conclusiones Incluso en entornos con una alta prevalencia de CRE, estas dos variables pueden ayudar a la identificación temprana de pacientes en quienes los agentes activos de CRE son innecesarios y resaltar la importancia de fortalecer las estrategias de administración de antibióticos dirigidas a prevenir el uso excesivo de carbapenémicos.N/AS

Comparative In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam against Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales from Five Latin American Countries

Background: Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a combination of an antipseudomonal oxyiminoaminothiazolyl cephalosporin with potent in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and tazobactam, a known β-lactamase inhibitor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of C/T against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales collected from five Latin American countries between 2016 and 2017, before its clinical use in Latin America, and to compare it with the activity of other available broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Methods: a total of 2760 clinical isolates (508 P. aeruginosa and 2252 Enterobacterales) were consecutively collected from 20 hospitals and susceptibility to C/T and comparator agents was tested and interpreted following the current guidelines. Results: according to the CLSI breakpoints, 68.1% (346/508) of P. aeruginosa and 83.9% (1889/2252) of Enterobacterales isolates were susceptible to C/T. Overall, C/T demonstrated higher in vitro activity than currently available cephalosporins, piperacillin/tazobactam and carbapenems when tested against P. aeruginosa, and its performance in vitro was comparable to fosfomycin. When tested against Enterobacterales, it showed higher activity than cephalosporins and piperacillin/tazobactam, and similar activity to ertapenem. Conclusions: these results show that C/T is an active β-lactam agent against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales.Fil: García Betancur, Juan Carlos. Universidad El Bosque;Fil: De La Cadena, Elsa. Universidad El Bosque;Fil: Mojica, María F.. Universidad El Bosque; . Case Western Reserve University; Estados UnidosFil: Hernández Gómez, Cristhian. Universidad El Bosque;Fil: Correa, Adriana. Universidad Santiago de Cali; ColombiaFil: Radice, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquÍmica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM); ArgentinaFil: Castañeda Méndez, Paulo. Fundacion Clinica Medica Sur; MéxicoFil: Jaime Villalon, Diego A.. Fundacion Clinica Medica Sur; MéxicoFil: Gales, Ana C.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Munita, José M.. Universidad del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Villegas, María Virginia. Universidad El Bosque

Amazon hydrology from space : scientific advances and future challenges

As the largest river basin on Earth, the Amazon is of major importance to the world's climate and water resources. Over the past decades, advances in satellite-based remote sensing (RS) have brought our understanding of its terrestrial water cycle and the associated hydrological processes to a new era. Here, we review major studies and the various techniques using satellite RS in the Amazon. We show how RS played a major role in supporting new research and key findings regarding the Amazon water cycle, and how the region became a laboratory for groundbreaking investigations of new satellite retrievals and analyses. At the basin-scale, the understanding of several hydrological processes was only possible with the advent of RS observations, such as the characterization of "rainfall hotspots" in the Andes-Amazon transition, evapotranspiration rates, and variations of surface waters and groundwater storage. These results strongly contribute to the recent advances of hydrological models and to our new understanding of the Amazon water budget and aquatic environments. In the context of upcoming hydrology-oriented satellite missions, which will offer the opportunity for new synergies and new observations with finer space-time resolution, this review aims to guide future research agenda toward integrated monitoring and understanding of the Amazon water from space. Integrated multidisciplinary studies, fostered by international collaborations, set up future directions to tackle the great challenges the Amazon is currently facing, from climate change to increased anthropogenic pressure