Toxoplasma prevalence in Dutch slaughter pigs in the period 2012-2014

Toxoplasma gondii has frequently been named as one of the most important foodborne pathogens, in terms of its impact on human health. EFSA advised to include serological testing of pigs on T. gondii infections and audits of pig farms on risk factors for T. gondii infection (EFSA, 2011). In order to generate knowledge about the epidemiology and prevalence of T. gondii infections in pig herds we studied the long term seroprevalence on farms, persistence of infection and variation in results between and within farms. Sera which were routinely taken in Dutch pig slaughterhouses in the Netherlands for the serological monitoring of Mycobacterium avium infections in pigs (Hiller 2013) were also tested for anti T. gondii antibodies. Results of 120,666 sera, collected from January 2012 until August 2014, showed an average of 2% serological prevalence in pigs. Pigs from organic farms had a prevalence of 3,6%. Farm prevalence was much higher, ranging from approximately 30% for conventional farms to 90% for organic farms. Pigs delivered to the slaughterhouse during winter months had a higher prevalence than pigs delivered during summer months.It could be concluded that serological monitoring can be very useful in detecting farms infected with T. gondii. A test cut off of 20PP was the most appropriate

Efectos de varios factores ambientales sobre las tasas de descomposición en encinares mediterráneos

Resumen de una presentación realizada en: I Simposio sobre Interacciones Planta-Suelo (ICA-CSIC, Madrid, 25-26 Febrero 2016)[ES] Los encinares son ecosistemas de gran valor que están sufriendo un proceso de decaimiento, lo que puede afectar a su capacidad para almacenar carbono. Se plantea este proyecto de tesis para estudiar el efecto del decaimiento de encinares sobre las tasas de descomposición de la hojarasca, las raíces y las herbáceas, y los factores medioambientales que la controlan. Los factores que se pretende estudiar son: la calidad de la materia en descomposición, el clima, la fotodegradación, y el efecto de diferentes conjuntos de fauna del suelo. El efecto de dichos factores sobre la descomposición se analizará a través de 4 experimentos con bolsas de descomposición. Experimento 1: Efecto del clima, de la fotodegradación y de la calidad de la hojarasca sobre las tasas de descomposición. Se ha diseñado un experimento factorial para el seguimiento de las tasas de descomposición de herbáceas y de hojas y raíces de encinas, situando bolsas en 8 encinares afectados distribuidos por el territorio peninsular español. Experimento 2: Efecto de la microfauna, la mesofauna y la macrofauna del suelo sobre los procesos de descomposición de hojarasca. Se estudiará mediante tratamientos de exclusión de fauna del suelo. Experimento 3: Efecto interactivo de la temperatura, precipitación y radiación solar sobre la descomposición de hojarasca. Se utilizarán mesocosmos para someter bolsas de hojarasca de herbáceas a dos niveles para cada uno de esos tres factores, con todas las interacciones entre ellos. Experimento 4: Contribución de diferentes procesos abióticos (fotodegradación y degradación térmica), bióticos (descomposición microbiana) así como su interacción en la descomposición de la materia orgánica. Se realizará con herbáceas bajo condiciones controladas de laboratorio. Estos experimentos permitirán describir de una manera mecanicista un proceso tan relevante para las interacciones planta-suelo como es la descomposición así como los factores medioambientales que la controlan.Peer reviewe

Comportamiento de las comunidades microbianas del suelo frente al cambio climático en los encinares mediterráneos

Resumen de una presentación realizada en: I Simposio sobre Interacciones Planta-Suelo (ICA-CSIC, Madrid, 25-26 Febrero 2016)En las últimas décadas hemos comprobado como el cambio climático ha causado un aumento de las sequías a nivel peninsular, provocando que especies tan adaptadas a las condiciones de sequía estacional Mediterráneas como la encina (Quercus ilex) se estén viendo afectadas por fenómenos de decaimiento a lo largo de toda la Península Ibérica. Esta pérdida de salud de los encinares se relaciona íntimamente con la ecología de las comunidades microbianas de los suelos que juegan una labor esencial en el funcionamiento ecosistémico. En esta tesis vamos a estudiar el papel de las comunidades microbianas de suelos frente al fenómeno de decaimiento del encinar y su relación con cambios en las dinámicas de carbono (C) y nutrientes. Para ello, proponemos un diseño experimental multidisciplinar en el que se estudiarán cambios potenciales en la estructura (diversidad y composición taxonómica) y el funcionamiento de las comunidades microbianas (bacterias y hongos) a lo largo de gradientes de decaimiento (suelos de encinas sanas, defoliadas, muertas y suelos sin cobertura de la encina) y climático (cubriendo el área de distribución de Q. ilex subsp ballota), así como su asociación con cambios en los ciclos biogeoquímicos del suelo (mineralización de C y N). Para esto, se seleccionaron 18 parcelas a lo largo de la Península Ibérica abarcando gran parte de su área de distribución. En estas parcelas se realizó un muestreo extensivo en el que se recogieron por una lado datos del hábitat de la encina, desde el grado de defoliación hasta la cobertura que la rodeaba; y por otro, muestras para el estudio de las características físicoquímicas del suelo así como la estructura y funcionamiento de las comunidades microbianas que lo habitan. De este modo, tendremos un mejor conocimiento del funcionamiento de sistema planta-suelo, y su relación con las dinámicas de C y nutrientes integrando escalas micro (comunidades microbianas) hasta macro (área de distribución de la encina) en ambientes con defoliación.Peer reviewe

Cascading effects associated with climate-change-induced conifer mortality in mountain temperate forests result in hot-spots of soil CO 2 emissions

Climate change-induced tree mortality is occurring worldwide, at increasingly larger scales and with increasing frequency. How climate change-induced tree mortality could affect the ecology and carbon (C) sink capacity of soils remains unknown. This study investigated regional-scale drought-induced tree mortality, based on events that occurred after a very dry year (2012) in the Carpathians mountain range (Romania), which caused mortality in three common conifer species: Scots pine, Black pine, and Silver fir. This resulted in hot-spots of biogenic soil CO 2 emissions (soil respiration; Rs). Four to five years after the main mortality event, Rs-related soil CO 2 emissions under dead trees were, on average, 21% (ranging from 18 to 35%) higher than CO 2 emissions under living trees. Total (Rs) and heterotrophic (R H )-related soil CO 2 emissions were strongly related to alterations in the soil environment following tree mortality (e.g. changes in quantity and quality of soil organic matter, microclimate, pH or fine root demography). Moreover, the massive mortality event of 2012 resulted in greater presence of successional vegetation (broadleaf seedlings, shrubland and grasses), which may control the environmental factors that either directly or indirectly affected biotic soil fluxes (Rs and R H ). Besides the well-known direct effects of climate change on soil CO 2 emissions, the cascading effects triggered by climate change-induced tree mortality could also exert a strong indirect impact on soil CO 2 emissions. Overall, climate change-induced tree mortality alters the magnitude of environmental controls on Rs and hence determines how the ecosystem C budget responds to climate change. © 2019 Elsevier LtdThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) with the projects VERONICA ( CGL2013-42271-P ) and the project IBERYCA ( CGL2017-84723-P ), and by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Scientific Research through UEFISCDI with the projects TREEMORIS ( PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-0791 ), NATIvE ( PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2016-0583 ), and BIOCARB ( PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-1508 ). This research was also supported by the Basque Government through the BERC 2018-2021 program, and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the BC3 María de Maeztu excellence accreditation ( MDM-2017-0714 ). I.C. Petritan was partially funded by the H2020/ERA-NET/ERA-GAS (Project 82/2017, Mobilizing and monitoring climate positive efforts in forests and forestry, FORCLIMIT ). Many thanks to Cosmin Zgremtia, Ionela Medrea, Andrei Apafaian, Raluca Enescu and Marta Ramos for their valuable help during field campaigns and laboratory work

Quantitative exposure to livestock-associated MRSA ST398 of pig slaughterhouse workers

Objectives: To quantify livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) exposure to workers in pig slaughterhouses and assess associated risk factors for carriage in slaughterhouse workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study in three Dutch pig slaughterhouses was undertaken. Nasal swabs of 341 participants, surface wipes, air, and glove samples were screened for presence of MRSA. MRSA was quantitatively determined on gloves and in air samples by culturing and real-time PCR

The Dutch multicenter experience of the Endo-Sponge treatment for anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery

Anastomotic leakage is a feared complication following colorectal surgery and is associated with early and long-term morbidity and mortality. The presacral cavity as the result of leakage can be treated with an endo-sponge (B-Braun Medical). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of endo-sponge treatment of the presacral cavity as the result of anastomotic leakage in the Netherlands. Between July 2006 and April 2008, 16 patients (M/F = 9:7) with median age 64 years (range 19-78 years) who underwent surgery for rectal cancer (n = 13) or ulcerative colitis (n = 3) were treated with the endo-sponge treatment after anastomotic leakage. Of the 16 patients, eight patients started with the endo-sponge treatment within 6 weeks after the initial surgery. In these patients the endo-sponge was placed after a median of 24 days (range 13-39 days) following surgery. In the remaining eight patients the endo-sponge treatment was started later than 6 weeks after the initial surgery. In this group there was a median of 74 days (range 43-1,602 days) between surgery and the start of endo-sponge placement. There was closure in six out of eight patients (75%) in the group that started with the endo-sponge treatment within 6 weeks of surgery compared with three out of eight patients (38%) in the group that started later (p = 0.315). Closure was achieved in a median of 40 (range 28-90) days with a median number of 13 sponge replacements (range 8-17). Endo-sponge placement can be helpful in the treatment for anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery and might prevent a chronic presacral sinus. However, it is not yet clear if this new treatment modality results in quicker healin

Growth and resilience responses of Scots pine to extreme droughts across Europe depend on predrought growth conditions

Global climate change is expected to further raise the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as droughts. The effects of extreme droughts on trees are difficult to disentangle given the inherent complexity of drought events (frequency, severity, duration, and timing during the growing season). Besides, drought effects might be modulated by trees’ phenotypic variability, which is, in turn, affected by long-term local selective pressures and management legacies. Here we investigated the magnitude and the temporal changes of tree-level resilience (i.e., resistance, recovery, and resilience) to extreme droughts. Moreover, we assessed the tree-, site-, and drought-related factors and their interactions driving the tree-level resilience to extreme droughts. We used a tree-ring network of the widely distributed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) along a 2, 800 km latitudinal gradient from southern Spain to northern Germany. We found that the resilience to extreme drought decreased in mid-elevation and low productivity sites from 1980–1999 to 2000–2011 likely due to more frequent and severe droughts in the later period. Our study showed that the impact of drought on tree-level resilience was not dependent on its latitudinal location, but rather on the type of sites trees were growing at and on their growth performances (i.e., magnitude and variability of growth) during the predrought period. We found significant interactive effects between drought duration and tree growth prior to drought, suggesting that Scots pine trees with higher magnitude and variability of growth in the long term are more vulnerable to long and severe droughts. Moreover, our results indicate that Scots pine trees that experienced more frequent droughts over the long-term were less resistant to extreme droughts. We, therefore, conclude that the physiological resilience to extreme droughts might be constrained by their growth prior to drought, and that more frequent and longer drought periods may overstrain their potential for acclimation

Discos interactivos : unidad IV almacenamiento y flujo de la información genética. Proyecto papime EN210804

Se presenta un conjunto de tres CDs para la enseñanza de la Biología Celular a nivel" licenciatura. Los cds acompañan a tres libros de texto de formato pequeño, tamaño esquela. Los CD-ROM, contienen: Unidades didácticas desarrolladas con conceptos esenciales de Biología Celular, vinculados a artículos de apoyo a la docencia (en formato pdf), gráficos, tablas y animaciones de procesos celulares. Imágenes y animaciones en power point y flash (50), que permiten realizar un recorrido visual e interactivo por los conceptos y procesos involucrados en la enseñanza de la Biología Celular. Autevaluaciones, que le permiten al alumno valorar si han adquirido los conocimientos fundamentales de cada unidad. Un glosario, para que el alumno se pueda referir a él en cualquier momento de estudio, para que aclare sus dudas con respecto a los conceptos. Enlaces a sitios confiables en la red, los cuales pueden contener: imágenes en 3D, animaciones, información relevante y ejercicios de cada tema

Discos interactivos : unidad IV almacenamiento y flujo de la información genética. Proyecto papime en210804

Se presenta un conjunto de tres CDs para la enseñanza de la Biología Celular a nivel" licenciatura. Los cds acompañan a tres libros de texto de formato pequeño, tamaño esquela. Los CD-ROM, contienen: Unidades didácticas desarrolladas con conceptos esenciales de Biología Celular, vinculados a artículos de apoyo a la docencia (en formato pdf), gráficos, tablas y animaciones de procesos celulares. Imágenes y animaciones en power point y flash (50), que permiten realizar un recorrido visual e interactivo por los conceptos y procesos involucrados en la enseñanza de la Biología Celular. Autevaluaciones, que le permiten al alumno valorar si han adquirido los conocimientos fundamentales de cada unidad. Un glosario, para que el alumno se pueda referir a él en cualquier momento de estudio, para que aclare sus dudas con respecto a los conceptos. Enlaces a sitios confiables en la red, los cuales pueden contener: imágenes en 3D, animaciones, información relevante y ejercicios de cada tema

Dietary Supplementation with Soluble Plantain Non-Starch Polysaccharides Inhibits Intestinal Invasion of Salmonella Typhimurium in the Chicken

Soluble fibres (non-starch polysaccharides, NSP) from edible plants but particularly plantain banana (Musa spp.), have been shown in vitro and ex vivo to prevent various enteric pathogens from adhering to, or translocating across, the human intestinal epithelium, a property that we have termed contrabiotic. Here we report that dietary plantain fibre prevents invasion of the chicken intestinal mucosa by Salmonella. In vivo experiments were performed with chicks fed from hatch on a pellet diet containing soluble plantain NSP (0 to 200 mg/d) and orally infected with S.Typhimurium 4/74 at 8 d of age. Birds were sacrificed 3, 6 and 10 d post-infection. Bacteria were enumerated from liver, spleen and caecal contents. In vitro studies were performed using chicken caecal crypts and porcine intestinal epithelial cells infected with Salmonella enterica serovars following pre-treatment separately with soluble plantain NSP and acidic or neutral polysaccharide fractions of plantain NSP, each compared with saline vehicle. Bacterial adherence and invasion were assessed by gentamicin protection assay. In vivo dietary supplementation with plantain NSP 50 mg/d reduced invasion by S.Typhimurium, as reflected by viable bacterial counts from splenic tissue, by 98.9% (95% CI, 98.1–99.7; P<0.0001). In vitro studies confirmed that plantain NSP (5–10 mg/ml) inhibited adhesion of S.Typhimurium 4/74 to a porcine epithelial cell-line (73% mean inhibition (95% CI, 64–81); P<0.001) and to primary chick caecal crypts (82% mean inhibition (95% CI, 75–90); P<0.001). Adherence inhibition was shown to be mediated via an effect on the epithelial cells and Ussing chamber experiments with ex-vivo human ileal mucosa showed that this effect was associated with increased short circuit current but no change in electrical resistance. The inhibitory activity of plantain NSP lay mainly within the acidic/pectic (homogalacturonan-rich) component. Supplementation of chick feed with plantain NSP was well tolerated and shows promise as a simple approach for reducing invasive salmonellosis