Sarcoptic mange in wild ruminants in Spain : solving the epidemiological enigma using microsatellite markers

In Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native wildlife in 1987 in Cazorla Natural Park, causing the death of nearly 95% of the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Since then, additional outbreaks have been identified in several populations of ibex and other wild ungulate species throughout the country. Although the first epizootic outbreak in wildlife was attributed to the introduction of an infected herd of domestic goats, the origin and the cause of its persistence remain unclear. The main aims of this study are to understand (i) the number of Sarcoptes scabiei " strains" circulating in wild ruminant populations in Spain, and (ii) the molecular epidemiological relationships between S. scabiei and its hosts. Ten Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to characterize the genetic structure of 266 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 121 mangy wild ruminants between 2011 and 2019 from 11 areas in Spain. Seventy-three different alleles and 37 private alleles were detected. The results of this study show the existence of three genetic strains of S. scabiei in the wild ruminant populations investigated. While two genetic clusters of S. scabiei were host- and geography-related, one cluster included multi-host mites deriving from geographically distant populations. The molecular epidemiological study of S. scabiei in wild ruminants in Spain indicates that the spreading and persistence of the parasite may be conditioned by host species community composition and the permissiveness of each host population/community to the circulation of individual "strains," among other factors. Wildlife-livestock interactions and the role of human-driven introduction or trade of wild and domestic animals should be better investigated to prevent further spread of sarcoptic mange in as yet unaffected natural areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04673-x

Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies

Recent studies have shown a suboptimal humoral response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies; however, data about cellular immunogenicity are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the humoral and cellular immunogenicity 1 month after the second dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Antibody titers were measured by using the Elecsys and LIAISON anti–SARS-CoV-2 S assays, and T-cell response was assessed by using interferon-γ release immunoassay technology. Overall, 76.3% (184 of 241) of patients developed humoral immunity, and the cellular response rate was 79% (184 of 233). Hypogammaglobulinemia, lymphopenia, active hematologic treatment, and anti-CD20 therapy during the previous 6 months were associated with an inferior humoral response. Conversely, age >65 years, active disease, lymphopenia, and immunosuppressive treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were associated with an impaired cellular response. A significant dissociation between the humoral and cellular responses was observed in patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy (the humoral response was 17.5%, whereas the cellular response was 71.1%). In these patients, B-cell aplasia was confirmed while T-cell counts were preserved. In contrast, humoral response was observed in 77.3% of patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatment of GVHD, whereas only 52.4% had a cellular response. The cellular and humoral responses to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies are highly influenced by the presence of treatments such as anti-CD20 therapy and immunosuppressive agents. This observation has implications for the further management of these patients.The authors also thank the Cellex Foundation for providing research facilities and equipment and the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support

Reduced horn size in two wild trophy-hunted species of Caprinae

Factors affecting horn size in wild Caprinae are of biological and socio-economic interest because several species are selectively harvested on the basis of this heritable character. We analysed temporal trends in horn size in two mountain ungulates from south-eastern Spain, the Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica and the aoudad Ammotragus lervia. Trophy harvest is the main way in which these two species are exploited, although 'poor-quality' aoudads are also selectively removed. In recent years, both populations have suffered drastic decreases in number due to outbreaks of sarcoptic mange that led to the suspension of hunting for several years. Horn length in harvested male wild goats and aoudads declined during our study period. Over an 18-year period, the mean age of male goats shot as trophies rose by four years, while the age of trophy-harvested aoudads decreased by around six months over a 9-year period. Age and environmental conditions during the first few years of life explained 20% of variance in horn size in Iberian wild goat and 53% in aoudad. Population density early in life explained much of the reduction in goat horn size over time. Nevertheless, the major fall in population densities after the sarcoptic mange outbreaks did not lead to a recovery in horn size in either species. We suggest that the selective removal of large-horned animals may contribute to a decline in horn size. Other factors that may also explain the observed pattern include changes in interspecific competition, longlasting maternal effects and reduced carrying capacity due to overgrazing during high density periods. Unfortunately, our data sets did not allow us to account for the possible effects of these factors

Echocardiographic Changes with Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. Long-Term Pickwick Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Spanish Sleep Network.[Rationale] Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking. Rationale: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking.[Objectives] In a prespecified secondary analysis of the largest multicenter randomized controlled trial of OHS (Pickwick Project; N = 221 patients with OHS and coexistent severe obstructive sleep apnea), we compared the effectiveness of three years of NIV and CPAP on structural and functional echocardiographic changes.[Methods] At baseline and annually during three sequential years, patients underwent transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Echocardiographers at each site were blinded to the treatment allocation. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed-effects model with a treatment group and repeated measures interaction to determine the differential effect between CPAP and NIV. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 196 patients were analyzed: 102 were treated with CPAP and 94 were treated with NIV. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 40.5 ± 1.47 mm Hg at baseline to 35.3 ± 1.33 mm Hg at three years with CPAP, and from 41.5 ± 1.56 mm Hg to 35.5 ± 1.42 with NIV (P < 0.0001 for longitudinal intragroup changes for both treatment arms). However, there were no significant differences between groups. NIV and CPAP therapies similarly improved left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and reduced left atrial diameter. Both NIV and CPAP improved respiratory function and dyspnea.[Conclusions] In patients with OHS who have concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea, long-term treatment with NIV and CPAP led to similar degrees of improvement in pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

Risk factors associated with pulmonary hypertension in obesity hypoventilation syndrome

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is prevalent in obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). However, there is a paucity of data assessing pathogenic factors associated with PH. Our objective is to assess risk factors that may be involved in the pathogenesis of PH in untreated OHS.Peer reviewe

Epidemiología de la sarna sarcoptica (Sarcoptes scabiei) en la población de arrui (Ammotragus Cervia) del Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña (Murcia) / Mónica González Candela ; directores Luis León Vizcaino, Mª José Cubero Pablo.

Tesis-Universidad de Murcia.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. T.M. - 2418.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. Fac. Veterinaria. Sala de estudio. Tesis-V 165

Microbiological survey for selected bacterial pathogens in European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus , Linnaeus 1758) from Grosa Island (Murcia, Southeastern Spain)

The current work shows the first step in the knowledge on the health status of European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) colony inhabiting Grosa Island (Murcia, SE Spain). We performed a screening about the bacterial pathogens carried by them (among the infectious agents checked, bacteria of the orders Mollicutes and Chlamydiales, and the genera Salmonella are of main interest) and compare these results with similar works performed in Larus species because most of the breeding colonies of storm petrel share habitats with gull colonies, and these could become pathogen reservoirs to petrels. Our results show the European storm petrels sampled have absence of pathogens of main interest and low levels of opportunistic pathogens. No Mycoplasma species were isolated, and no Chlamydophila psittaci were demonstrated by lipopolysaccharide antigen immunodetection. The commensal bacteria were isolated in higher frequencies than the previous [Staphylococcus epidermidis (5/15), Staphylococcus hominis (2/15) and Staphylococcus aureus (1/15)]. The rate of isolation of Gram-negative was lower than in the previous Gram-positive bacteria [Pasteurella sp. (1/15) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1/15)], and no Enterobacteriaceae were isolated. The absence of pathogen carriers on European storm petrel is the main conclusion of this survey; it is an evidence that the bacterial infectious pathogens described in gulls may not be an important selective force on their survival.This study was supported by the LIFE programme of the EU, project LIFE 03 NAT/E/000061 “Conservation of Larus audouinii on Grosa Island, Murcia, Spain” and complies with the current laws regarding animal welfare and bioethics of Spain.Peer reviewe

Profiling 16S rRNA of microbial components of visible colonies that grow in Altamira Cave

Resumen del trabajo presentado en la XII Reunión del Grupo de Microbiología Molecular de la SEM, celebrada en Zaragoza (España) del 05 al 07 de diciembre de 2018.Palaeolithic cave art dating back to thousands of years stands for a priceless cultural heritage in our society. Caves are naturally colonized by microbes whose numbers are kept rather constant in a delicate equilibrium ruled by harsh ambient conditions and a severe oligotrophic medium. Altamira cave contains one of the best examples of parietal art known to date. Since its discovery, cave equilibrium has been disrupted by archeological excavation, constructions, and a strong regime of touristic visits. Today, some areas of the cave are heavily colonized by visible "colonies" (VC) of different colours (grey, yellow and white). A big effort is being made to reduce human impact on the cave, but microbial mats are considered the main risk for paintings conservation. The deepest characterization of these colonies is the key to develop countermeasures that may be applied to control overgrowth without promoting unwanted side effects observed in other caves when antimicrobial control was applied. Previous analysis have been done by culturing and cloning of 16S amplicons from the colonies. ln this work we have systematically amplified v3-v4 regions of 16S rDNA from VC with primers specific for bacteria and archaea, and sequenced the amplicons in the MiSeq system. Sequence data suggests that each colony consist in not more than 10-12 individual components. Each colony contains a principal component which concentrates > 50% of the reads while the remaining reads distribute equally in 8-10 different components. The main component of the colonies belongs in all cases to the phylum Actinobacteria. lt classifies within the Pseudonocardiaceae in the case of yellow and grey colonies. For white colonies, we may observe two different principal components belonging to Pseudonocardiaceae and Euzebyaceae family, depicting two possible types of white colonies. ldentified minor components of VC include Proteobacteria (a, y and {3), Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae and Actinobacteria representing each between 1-8% of the total. We also found archaea among VC minor components, namely Woesearchaeota and Thaumarchaeota. Amplicon sequence comparison indicated that any of the bacteria so far cultivated from the cave was a component of the VC. ln other words components of VC are not easily cultivable

Age-related and photoperiodic variation of the DAZ gene family in the testis of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The Deleted in AZoospermia (DAZ) gene family regulates the development, maturation andmaintenance of germ cells and spermatogenesis in mammals. The DAZ family consists of two autosomalgenes, Boule and Dazl (Daz-like), and the Daz gene on chromosome Y. The aim of this study was toanalyze the localization of DAZL and BOULE during testicular ontogeny of the seasonal-breedingSyrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus. We also evaluated the testicular expression of DAZ family genesunder short- or long-photoperiod conditions. In the pre-pubertal and adult testis, DAZL proteinwas found mainly in spermatogonia. BOULE was found in the spermatogonia from 20 days of ageand during the pre-pubertal and adult period it was also detected in spermatocytes and roundspermatids. DAZL and BOULE expression in spermatogonia was strictly nuclear only in 20-dayoldhamsters. We also detected the novel mRNA and protein expression of BOULE in Leydig cells.In adult hamsters, Dazl expression was increased in regressed testis compared with non-regressedtestis and DAZL protein expression was restricted to primary spermatocytes in regressed testis. Theseresults show that DAZL and BOULE are expressed in spermatogonia at early stages in the Syrianhamster, then both proteins translocate to the cytoplasm when meiosis starts. In the adult regressedtestis, the absence of DAZL in spermatogonia might be related to the decrease in germ cell number,suggesting that DAZ gene family expression is involved in changes in seminiferous epithelium during photoregression.Fil: González, Candela Rocío. Universidad Maimónides; ArgentinaFil: Moverer, Luciana Mónica. Universidad Maimónides; ArgentinaFil: Calandra, Ricardo Saul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez de Calvar, Silvia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Vitullo, Alfredo Daniel. Universidad Maimónides; Argentin

Fluctuating asymmetry as a proxy for oxidative stress in wild boar

The study of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in living organisms has produced contradictory results over the past few decades of research. Though the protocol for measuring FA is firmly established, the sources of FA remain unclear in many cases. Our goal is to examine the relationship between FA and both the concentration of biomarkers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and body condition in a medium-sized mammal, the European wild boar (Sus scrofa). Using a Partial Least Squares regression (PLSr), we found a positive significant relationship (Stone–Geisser test) between oxidative stress and FA but a negative relationship between oxidative stress and body condition. Our results suggest that FA can be used to assess the physiological costs associated with oxidative stress in mammals