15 research outputs found
Significant geographical differences in prevalence of mutations associated with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax drug resistance in two regions from Papua New Guinea
Drug resistance remains a major obstacle to malaria treatment and control. It can arise and spread rapidly, and vary substantially even at sub-national level. National malaria programmes require cost-effective and timely ways of characterizing drug-resistance at multiple sites within their countries.; An improved multiplexed post-PCR ligase detection reaction-fluorescent microsphere assay (LDR-FMA) was used to simultaneously determine the presence of mutations in chloroquine resistance transporter (crt), multidrug resistance 1 (mdr1), dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) genes in Plasmodium falciparum (n = 727) and Plasmodium vivax (n = 574) isolates collected in 2006 from cross-sectional community population surveys in two geographically distinct regions (Madang and East Sepik) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) where strong regional differences in in vivo aminoquinoline and antifolate therapeutic efficacy had previously been observed. Data were compared to those of a follow-up survey conducted in 2010.; Despite some very low parasite densities, the assay successfully amplified all P. falciparum and P. vivax loci in 77 and 69 % of samples, respectively. In 2006, prevalences of pfdhfr (59R-108 N) double mutation/wild type pfdhps haplotype, pfcrt SVMNT haplotype (72S-76T double mutation), and 86Y pfmdr1 mutation all exceeded 90 %. For P. vivax, 65 % carried at least two pvdhfr mutations, 97 % the 647P pvdhps mutation and 54 % the 976F pvmdr1 mutation. Prevalence of mutant haplotypes was higher in Madang than East Sepik for pfcrt SVMNT (97.4 vs 83.3 %, p = 0.001), pfdhfr (59R-108 N) (100 vs 90.6 %, p = 0.001), pvdhfr haplotypes (75.8 vs 47.6 %, p = 0.001) and pvmdr1 976F (71.2 vs 26.2 %, p < 0.001). Data from a subsequent Madang survey in 2010 showed that the prevalence of pfdhps mutations increased significantly from <5 % to >30 % (p < 0.001) as did the prevalence of pvdhfr mutant haplotypes (from 75.8 to 97.4 %, p = 0.012).; This LDR-FMA multiplex platform shows feasibility for low-cost, high-throughput, rapid characterization of a broad range of drug-resistance markers in low parasitaemia infections. Significant geographical differences in mutation prevalence correlate with previous genotyping surveys and in vivo trials and may reflect variable drug pressure and differences in health-care access in these two PNG populations
Sentinel-2 remote sensing of Zostera noltei-dominated intertidal seagrass meadows
Accurate habitat mapping methods are urgently required for the monitoring, conservation, and management of blue carbon ecosystems and their associated services. This study focuses on exposed intertidal seagrass meadows, which play a major role in the functioning of nearshore ecosystems. Using Sentinel-2 (S2) data, we demonstrate that satellite remote sensing can be used to map seagrass percent cover (SPC) and leaf biomass (SB), and to characterize its seasonal dynamics. In situ radiometric and biological data were acquired from three intertidal meadows of Zostera noltei along the European Atlantic coast in the summers of 2018 and 2019. This information allowed algorithms to estimate SPC and SB from a vegetation index to be developed and assessed. Importantly, a single SPC algorithm could consistently be used to study Z. noltei-dominated meadows at several sites along the European Atlantic coast. To analyze the seagrass seasonal cycle and to select images corresponding to its maximal development, a two-year S2 dataset was acquired for a French study site in Bourgneuf Bay. The po-tential of S2 to characterize the Z. noltei seasonal cycle was demonstrated for exposed intertidal meadows. The SPC map that best represented seagrass growth annual maximum was validated using in situ measurements, resulting in a root mean square difference of 14%. The SPC and SB maps displayed a patchy distribution, influenced by emersion time, mudflat topology, and seagrass growth pattern. The ability of S2 to measure the surface area of different classes of seagrass cover was investigated, and surface metrics based on seagrass areas with SPC >= 50% and SPC >= 80% were computed to estimate the interannual variation in the areal extent of the meadow. Due to the high spatial resolution (pixel size of 10 m), frequent revisit time (<= 5 days), and long-term objective of the S2 mission, S2-derived seagrass time-series are expected to contribute to current coastal ecosystem management, such as the European Water Framework Directive, but to also guide future adaptation plans to face global change in coastal areas. Finally, recommendations for future intertidal seagrass studies are proposed
Satellite-assisted monitoring of water quality to support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive
The EU Water Framework Directive1 (WFD) is an ambitious legislation framework to achieve good ecological and chemical status for all surface waters and good quantitative and chemical status for groundwater by 2027.âA total of 111,062 surface waterbodies are presently reported on under the Directive, 46% of which are actively monitored for ecological status.âOf these waterbodies 80% are rivers, 16% are lakes, and 4% are coastal and transitional waters.âIn the last assessment, 4% (4,442) of waterbodies still had unknown ecological status, while in 23% monitoring did not include in situ water sampling to support ecological status assessment2.âFor individual (mainly biological) assessment criteria the proportion of waterbodies without observation data is much larger; the full scope of monitoring under the WFD is therefore still far from being realised.âAt the same time, 60% of surface waters did not achieve âgoodâ status in the second river basin management plan and waterbodies in Europe are considered to be at high risk of having poor water quality based on combined microbial, physical and physicochemical indicators3
Significant geographical differences in prevalence of mutations associated with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax drug resistance in two regions from Papua New Guinea
Dynamique temporelle (1989-2006) des herbiers intertidaux Ă Zostera noltii de la masse d'eau pertuis Charentais (FRFC02)
ContrĂŽle de surveillance DCE 2009. Ăvolution temporelle des herbiers Ă Zostera noltii dans le Pertuis Breton (masse d'eau FRGC53).
Temporal changes in community structure of tide pools following the â
The impact of the âErikaâ oil spill on the tidal rock pool community, and
particularly on two species of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus and Psammechinus miliaris), was investigated over a
3-year period, at Piriac-sur-Mer (Department of Loire-Atlantique, France,
47°21.6' N; 2°31.7' W). A dramatic increase in the abundance of
two macroalgae Ulva sp. and Grateloupia doryphora occurred following a 100% mortality of sea urchins
observed three weeks after the oil spill. The density of sea urchins and of
other main herbivores, the periwinkle Littorina littorea and the trochid mollusks Gibbula umbilicalis and
Gibbula pennantii, were monitored between January 2000 and March 2003. There was significant
inverse relationship between the overall density of herbivores (sea urchins,
periwinkles and trochid mollusks) and the percent cover of algae in the
tidal pools. The first urchins in the tidal pools were observed two years
after the oil spill and it took three years to reach sea urchin densities
comparable to the reference value of 63Â ind.mâ2 obtained before the oil
spill
Increase in seagrass distribution at Bourgneuf Bay (France) detected by spatial remote sensing
International audienceThe changes in spatial distribution of intertidal Zostera noltii seagrass beds were studied with multispectral visible-infrared remote sensing in Bourgneuf Bay (France) over a 14-year period, between 1991 and 2005. Six SPOT satellite images acquired at low tide were calibrated using in situ spectroradiometric data and processed with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). A steady and linear increase in meadow areas was observed between 1991 and 2005 with total surfaces colonized by Z. noltii increasing from 208 to 586 ha, respectively. A greater increase in the densest part of the meadow (NDVI > 0.4) was also observed: it represented only 15% of total meadow surfaces in 1991 vs. 35% in 2005. The seagrass expansiontook placemainly towards thelower part of the intertidalzone,while in theupper intertidalzone the meadow appeared strictly limited by the +4m (Lowest Astronomical Tide) bathymetric level. The influence of Z. noltii above-ground biomass variations on spectral reflectance was analyzed experimentally by spectrometry. Z. noltii displays a characteristic steep slope from 700 to 900 nm, increasing with increasing biomass.Aquantitative relationship obtained experimentally betweenNDVI and the dry weight of leaves was used to produce a biomass distribution map. The distribution of Bourgneuf Bay intertidal seagrass beds is certainly constrained by the water turbidity and we suggest that tidal flat accretion could be a significant variable explaining the observed expansion downwards. With very limited spatial interactions, oyster aquaculture cannot be considered as a threat, while a recent increase in recreational hand fishing of Manila clams within the beds could become problemati
Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax genotypes and efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment in Papua New Guinea
Intermittent preventive treatment of infants (IPTi) reduces early childhood malaria-related morbidity. While genotypic drug resistance markers have proven useful in predicting the efficacy of antimalarial drugs in case management, there are few equivalent data relating to their protective efficacy when used as IPTi. The present data from an IPTi trial in Papua New Guinea demonstrate how these markers can predict protective efficacy of IPTi for both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax