Diatom species diversity in the diet of healthy and sick specimens of adult Haliotis fulgens and Haliotis corrugata

Diatom species diversity in the natural diet of healthy adult green abalone (Haliotis fulgens) and pink abalone (H. corrugata) from NW Mexico was analyzed and, referenced with values of condition index and hepato-gonadic index, used respectively as indicators of the health and reproductive season for the abalone. Likewise observations were done in abalone specimens affected with withering syndrome (WS). Our hypotheses stated that: a) the diatom assemblages represented in the gut contents of H. fulgens vs. H. corrugata would show a typical structure with few abundant taxa and many rare or uncommon species; b) no difference would be found between the structure of diatom assemblages in the gut contents of H. fulgens and H. corrugata; and c) diatom assemblages in abalone specimens with WS would be similar to those of healthy specimens. To test our hypotheses we examined healthy abalones collected from February 2102 to February 2013, and specimens with WS collected from March to May 2012. All specimens were measured and weighted and their condition and hepato-gonadic indices calculated. To analyze the diatom species diversity in gut contents of the abalone, specimens from 7 sampling dates from March to September 2012, were dissected. The diatom samples were described using species relative abundances, diversity indices and similarity between samples. For this period 19 diatom taxa comprised 80% of the relative abundances; the most abundant were Cocconeis scutellum, Gomphonemopsis pseudexigua, Grammatophora gibberula, Bacillaria socialis and Striatella unipunctata. High diversity values were estimated for diatom samples in all abalone specimens. Similarity and diversity values indicate that throughout this period both abalone species fed on the same diatom assemblages available in situ. Likewise, diatom samples in the guts of specimens affected by WS represented diatom assemblages similar to those of healthy specimens. No evidence was thus at hand for rejecting our hypotheses.Se analizó la diversidad de especies de diatomeas en la dieta de abulones azul (Haliotis fulgens) y amarillo (H. corrugata) del NW de México. Esta se referenció con valores de índices de condición y hepatogonádico (considerados como indicadores de la salud y cambios reproductivos, respectivamente) en ambas especies de abulón, incluyendo especímenes enfermos con síndrome de deshidratación (WS). Las hipótesis enunciaban que: a) las asociaciones representadas en contenidos intestinales de H. fulgens vs. H. corrugata mostrarían una estructura típica con muchos taxa raros y pocas especies abundantes; b) que no habría diferencia en la estructura de dichas asociaciones de diatomeas; y c) que las asociaciones de diatomeas en abulones con síndrome de deshidratación serían similares a las de especímenes sanos. Para contrastar las hipótesis se examinaron abulones sanos, recolectados entre febrero 2012 y febrero 2013, y especímenes enfermos recolectados entre marzo y mayo 2012. Los especímenes se pesaron y se midieron para calcular los índices de condición y hepatogonádico. Para analizar la diversidad de especies de diatomeas en contenidos intestinales de abulones se disecaron especímenes de 7 fechas de muestreo entre marzo y septiembre 2012. Las muestras de diatomeas se describieron con base en la abundancia relativa de las especies, índices de diversidad y de similitud. Para este período, 19 taxa de diatomeas comprendieron el 80% de las abundancias relativas; los más abundantes fueron Cocconeis scutellum, Gomphonemopsis pseudexigua, Grammatophora gibberula, Bacillaria socialis y Striatella unipunctata. La diversidad de especies de diatomeas fue alta en todas las muestras. Estos valores y la similitud medida entre muestras indican que ambas especies de abulón se alimentaron de las mismas asociaciones de diatomeas disponibles in situ a lo largo de este período. Las muestras de diatomeas de especímenes enfermos representaron asociaciones similares a las de especímenes sanos. Por lo tanto, no hubo evidencias para rechazar ninguna de las hipótesis planteadas

First record of Cochlodinium convolutum and C. helicoides (Gymnodiniales: Dinophyceae) in the Gulf of California

The naked marine dinoflagellates Cochlodinium convolutum and C. helicoides are reported for the first time in the Gulf of California. They occurred in seawater at 21-24.5°C. Cochlodinium convolutum was found in both bottle and net samples; its abundance ranged from 400-2200 cells L–1. A total of 96 specimens of C. convolutum and 23 specimens of C. helicoides were examined from the net phytoplankton samples. A short description is given for each species, and photomicrographs provide information about the main morphological characteristics

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic

Aim This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Method This was an international cohort study of patients undergoing elective resection of colon or rectal cancer without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Centres entered data from their first recorded case of COVID-19 until 19 April 2020. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included anastomotic leak, postoperative SARS-CoV-2 and a comparison with prepandemic European Society of Coloproctology cohort data. Results From 2073 patients in 40 countries, 1.3% (27/2073) had a defunctioning stoma and 3.0% (63/2073) had an end stoma instead of an anastomosis only. Thirty-day mortality was 1.8% (38/2073), the incidence of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 was 3.8% (78/2073) and the anastomotic leak rate was 4.9% (86/1738). Mortality was lowest in patients without a leak or SARS-CoV-2 (14/1601, 0.9%) and highest in patients with both a leak and SARS-CoV-2 (5/13, 38.5%). Mortality was independently associated with anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 6.01, 95% confidence interval 2.58–14.06), postoperative SARS-CoV-2 (16.90, 7.86–36.38), male sex (2.46, 1.01–5.93), age >70 years (2.87, 1.32–6.20) and advanced cancer stage (3.43, 1.16–10.21). Compared with prepandemic data, there were fewer anastomotic leaks (4.9% versus 7.7%) and an overall shorter length of stay (6 versus 7 days) but higher mortality (1.7% versus 1.1%). Conclusion Surgeons need to further mitigate against both SARS-CoV-2 and anastomotic leak when offering surgery during current and future COVID-19 waves based on patient, operative and organizational risks