ABSTRACT
Intro: Several rodents, including mice and the brown rat, are synanthropic animals usually found in rural and urban environments in contact with other animals and humans. Rodents are natural reservoirs of infectious agents and could harbour a plethora of zoonotic pathogens of public health importance. Taking advantage of a parallel study on presence and distribution of Hantaviruses, we aimed to investigate the occurrence in mice of other viruses with zoonotic or economic impact. Method(s): From May to July 2022, 41 mice (Mus domesticus) were captured and killed by using baited snap traps in 13 selected cattle, goat and poultry farms located in the Piedmont region. Gut and lung samples were homogenised and tested by PCR methods for pan-Coronavirus (CoV) and SARS-CoV-2, pan-Pestivirus, Mammalian orthoreoviruses, Canine Distemper virus (CDV), Flaviviruses, Influenza A (IAV) and D (IDV) viruses. Finding(s): All captured animals did not present at necropsy lesions related to infectious diseases. Virological investigations detected the presence of CoV in six mice. By sequencing Rodent CoVs was identified in two samples (four more pending). Mammalian orthoreovirus was detected in nine animals and typing and characterization are in progress. One mouse, captured in a bovine farm, tested slightly positive for IDV and confirmation of positivity is in progress by complete sequencing with NGS approach. All samples were negative for Flaviviruses, IAV, CDV, pan-Pestivirus and SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion(s): Rodents are well adapted to a wide range of habitats, including peri-urban and rural environments, where they benefit from human activities. These results, although preliminary, underline the importance of enhancing surveillance in rodents in anthropized areas to better assess the presence of zoonotic agents and the potential risk of transmission.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
At the University of Malaga, through its General Foundation (FGUMA), summer camps are oferted for the children of the university community members. In the pre-COVID summer, a pilot experience was carried out in the proposal of the different activities of the camp aimed at the creative construction of final products by reusing and recycling materials. To plan these activities, a group from the School of Industrial Engineering with experience in ecodesign joined the organizing team. The proposal had the support of the Vicerectorate of Smart Campus, which facilitated access to products that had finished their first useful life. For the design of sustainable activities, the following were taken into consideration: age, situation, needs of the area, execution times and materials available for reuse. In addition, a study of other similar previous experiences was carried out to assess the complexity of each proposal. The ecodesign group proposed different creative products adapting the tasks to the age groups and the time available for the development of each activity. The proposal implied several structures of the university, which developed a multidisciplinary work with different groups of children. The manufactured products will be used in the following editions of the camp. © 2021 by the authors