Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Tensift region, with comments on its spreading in Morocco

The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a generalist pathogen that affects many amphibian species and is responsible of chytridiomycosis onset, considered as the main causes of species extinctions and populations declines worldwide. The chytrid fungal pathogen has been first described in North Africa in 2011. The present work reported the first survey on Bd prevalence and intensity in the Tensift region of Morocco. The survey has been conducted on 11 different localities by collecting skin swabs and tissue samples of 97 individuals. Using a quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) protocol, low-intensity of Bd infection has been detected in the area of study. In fact, the chytrid fungal pathogen has been identified in 10 individuals distributed in six of the 11 sites investigated, placing the 95% confidence interval for overall prevalence at 5.5-19.6%. The survey confirmed the occurrence of Bd at both high and low altitude localities, on four species out of seven known to inhabit the region and added two additional species (Pelophylax saharicus and Sclerophrys mauritanica) to the list of Bd susceptible amphibians in Morocco. The present records extended Bd distribution more than 400 km in the South of Morocco, indicating that the chytrid fungal pathogen is more widespread in the country than previously thought.This research was supported by Project [ICGVSA] founded by the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technology. The Portuguese National Funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) support the Investigator FCT grant to AC (IF/00209/2014)

PATH-29. POTENTIAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY IN ONCOLOGICAL NEUROSURGERY

Raman spectroscopy (RS) has gained increasing interest for the analysis of biological tissues within the recent years. It is a label-free, non-destructive method providing insights in biochemical properties of tumor cells. It is possible to compare RS signals with histological properties of identical tissue parts. Therefore, RS bears promising potentials in neurosurgical neurooncology. On one hand, it could potentially be used for both intraoperative tumor diagnostics and resection control. On the other hand, it could provide important knowledge on tumor biochemistry and used for a subclassification of tumors with a potential impact on personalized therapy approaches. Within our group, we analyzed over 3000 measurement points in different brain tumors ex vivo with a robotized RS system and correlated the spectral curves with histopathological results. We separated and subclassified the data by AI-based methods. Additionally, we compared the latter results with those of a handheld probe, which is potentially navigatable for in vivo, intraoperative applications. We could demonstrate, that it is possible to separate distinct tumor groups only based on RS signals, especially by using computer-based signal analysis. Furthermore, we could demonstrate the differences of the spectra of deep-frozen and formalin-fixed tissues versus non-fixed tissues. Based on our results, we will highlight the potentials of RS for intraoperative neurosurgical application in resection control for brain tumors, as well as we will focus on the potentials for brain tumor diagnostics based purely on this method or by using it as an adjunct. Those methods bear additional potentials in the field of personalized chemotherapy approaches