Quantification of human adenoviruses in European recreational waters

The presence of human adenoviruses in recreational water might cause disease in the population upon exposure. Human adenoviruses detected by PCR could also serve as indicators of the virological water quality. In order to assess the applicability of human adenoviruses to the evaluation of the faecal contamination in European bathing waters, a real-time quantitative PCR assay was developed for the quantification of human adenoviruses in 132 samples collected from 24 different recreational marine and freshwater sites in nine European countries. Selected samples presenting positive nested-PCR results for human adenoviruses were analyzed using quantitative PCR and 80 samples from a total of 132 produced quantitative results with mean values of 3.2x102 10 per 100 ml of water, human adenovirus 41 being the most prevalent serotype. Human adenoviruses were quantified in samples from all 15 surveillance laboratories. Statistical analysis showed no homogeneous linear relation between human adenoviruses and E. coli, intestinal enterococci or somatic coliphages concentrations in the tested samples when considering all the data together. Significant correlations between human adenoviruses and at least one of the other indicators were observed only when data from individual Laboratories were considered. The quantification of human adenoviruses may provide complementary information in relation to the use of bacterial standards in the control of water quality in bathing water

Visual and acoustic communication in neotropical birds: Diversity and evolution of signals

Animal communication is a key feature of intra- and inter-specific interactions in nature. Vocalizations and plumage coloration are two of the most exploited signaling pathways among birds and they have an important role in sexual selection and reproductive isolation. The evolution of vocal and visual signals and their efficiency to confer information are influenced by many factors, such as the signaler's morphology, the environment in which these are transmitted, or the sensitivity of either intended or unintended receivers like potential predators. In this chapter we review the diversity of visual and vocal signals among Neotropical birds which have been less studied than their counterparts from other biogeographic realms. The particularities they may present are not exceptions, but opportunities to gain a better understanding of avian communication and the factors influencing its evolution.Fil: Barreira, Ana Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: García, Natalia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Cornell Lab Of Ornithology; Estados Unido