The first detection of Leishmania major in naturally infected Sergentomyia minuta in Portugal

Phlebotomine sandflies of the genus Sergentomyia are widely distributed throughout the Old World. It has been suggested that Sergentomyia spp are involved in the transmission of Leishmania in India and Africa, whereas Phlebotomus spp are thought to be the sole vectors of Leishmania in the Old World. In this study, Leishmania major DNA was detected in one Sergentomyia minuta specimen that was collected in the southern region of Portugal. This study challenges the dogma that Leishmania is exclusively transmitted by species of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World.EU/FEDER [PTDC/CVT/112371/2009]; EU [FP7-261504 EDENext]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Leishmania infection and host-blood feeding preferences of phlebotomine sandflies and canine leishmaniasis in an endemic European area, the Algarve Region in Portugal

The Algarve Region (AR) in southern Portugal, which is an international tourist destination, has been considered an endemic region of zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum since the 1980s. In the present study, phlebotomine and canine surveys were conducted to identify sandfly blood meal sources and to update the occurrence of Leishmania infection in vectors and dogs. Four sandfly species were captured: Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus ariasi, Phlebotomus sergenti and Sergentomyia minuta. In one P. perniciosus female, L. infantum DNA was detected. Blood meal tests showed that this species had no host preferences and was an opportunistic feeder. An overall canine leishmaniasis (CanL) seroprevalence of 16.06% was found; the seroprevalence was 3.88% in dogs housed in kennels and 40.63% in dogs that attended veterinary clinics. The simultaneous occurrence of dogs and P. perniciosus infected with L. infantum in the AR indicates that the region continues to be an endemic area for CanL. Our results reinforce the need for the systematic spatial distribution of phlebotomine populations and their Leishmania infection rates and the need to simultaneously perform pathogen monitoring in both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts to investigate the transmission, distribution and spreading of Leishmania infection.EU/FEDER/FCT [POCI/CVT/56357/2004]; EU [FP7-261504 EDENext (091)]; FCT fellowship [SFRH/BPD/44082/2008]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multivariate nature of a cooked blood sausage spoilage along aerobic and vacuum package storage

Cooked blood sausages, such as Morcela de Arroz (MA), are ready-to-eat meat products consumed in many countries. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that spoilage of MA is multifactorial, involving microbiological, chemical and sensory modifications, which difficult the use of selected single indicators to establish product shelf life and to establish its shelf life based on consumers' willingness to consume. The experiment was conducted with samples without package (WP) and vacuum packaged (VP), stored at 4 +/- 1 degrees C. Quantitative descriptive analysis, Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae counts, TBA-RS, total basic volatile nitrogen and lactic acid were determined and a consumer test was performed. Based on the consumer test, MA WP has a shelf life of 11.6 days and VP of 27.8 days. The multivariate approach showed a better predictive ability of consumer acceptability than single spoilage indicators.FCT, Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, PortugalPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/63341/2009]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of Salmonella spp in estuarine and coastal waters of Portugal

Abstract The presence of Salmonella and its relationship with indicator organisms of fecal pollution, such as total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, was studied at two marine zones in Portugal. Seventeen different Salmonella serotypes were isolated and identified, S. virchow was the most frequently isolated (21.6%). In addition, a high percentage (35.1%) was recorded for some Salmonella serotypes of clinical significance, namely S. enteritidis, S. infantis, S. typhimurium and S. virchow. In any of the samples from the two zones Salmonella was not detected in the absence of any of the indicator organisms. However, the incidence of Salmonella as a function of indicator concentration intervals established by the EEC standards was 0, 10 and 19.3% at guide values of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively in the Faro samples (south of Portugal). In contrast, Salmonella incidence rates of 37.5, 36.4 and 33.3% were recorded at the corresponding guide values the Caminha samples (north of Portugal). No significant correlations (p>0.005) were obtained between Salmonella and the indicators at the sampling stations; however, total coliforms and fecal streptococci were the indicators most closely related to Salmonella in Caminha and Faro samples, respectively. Survival experiments in Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and S. typhimurium, using diffusion chambers, were performed to verify whether the lack of correlation between indicators and Salmonella was due to different inactivation rates in seawater. The results indicate that survival percentages of the three microorganisms tested were similar after 48 h of exposure to seawater

Proyecto de Tesis II - CI189 - 202101

DESCRIPCIÓN Curso de especialidad en la carrera de ingeniería civil de carácter teórico-práctico dirigido a los estudiantes del 10mo ciclo. El curso Proyecto de Tesis II busca que los estudiantes de Ingeniería Civil apliquen sus capacidades adquiridas durante todos sus estudios, en completar una investigación, que plantea resolver una problemática en una de las líneas de la carrera. Con la ayuda de un docente asesor especialista en el tema lograran redactar el informe de tesis al 100%, este informe será revisado por otro docente especialista que proporciona sugerencias de mejoras a la investigación. Por último, los estudiantes exponen ante un jurado especialista sus resultados quienes evalúan y también hacen sugerencia de mejoras a la investigación. PROPÓSITO En el Perú actualmente existe un gran número de estudiantes de Ingeniería Civil que no cuentan con el título profesional, por no realizar la tesis de investigación, lo cual disminuye significativamente su desarrollo profesional y sus oportunidades laborales. Adicionalmente las leyes Peruanas exigen que para el obtener el bachillerato los estudiantes deben redactar un trabajo de investigación. El curso de proyecto de Tesis 2 permite que los estudiantes puedan desarrollar el 100% de la Tesis y un trabajo de investigación, siendo ambos certificados por un asesor y un jurado evaluador. Este curso contribuye con el desarrollo de las competencias generales de comunicación escrita, comunicación oral, manejo de la información y ciudadanía y las competencias específicas 2, 3, 5 y 6 de ABET, todas a nivel de logro 3. Cuenta con el prerrequisito de Proyecto de Tesis 1