ABSTRACT
The genera Phlebovirus transmitted by Diptera belonging to the Psychodidae family are a cause of self-limited febrile syndrome in the Mediterranean basin in summer and autumn. Toscana virus can also cause meningitis and meningoencephalitis. In Spain, Toscana, Granada, Naples, Sicily, Arbia and Arrabida-like viruses have been detected. The almost widespread distribution of Phlebotomus genus vectors, and especially Phlebotomus perniciosus, in which several of these viruses have been detected, makes it very likely that there will be regular human infections in our country, with this risk considered moderate for Toscana virus and low for the other ones, in areas with the highest vector activity. Most of the infections would be undiagnosed, while only Toscana virus would have a greater impact due to the potential severity of the illness.
Subject(s)
Phlebovirus , Psychodidae , Sandfly fever Naples virus , Animals , Humans , Insect Vectors , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Los virus del género Phlebovirus, transmitidos por dípteros de la familia Psychodidae, son una causa de síndrome febril autolimitado durante el verano-otoño en los países mediterráneos. En el caso del virus Toscana, pueden ser causa de meningitis y meningoencefalitis. En España se ha detectado la presencia de los virus Toscana, Granada, Nápoles, Sicilia, Arbia y Arrabida-like. La presencia casi generalizada de vectores del género Phlebotomus, especialmente de Phlebotomus perniciosus, en los que se han detectado varios de estos virus, hace muy probable que aparezcan de manera regular infecciones en humanos en nuestro país, siendo este riesgo moderado para el virus Toscana y bajo para el resto, en las zonas con mayor actividad del vector. La mayor parte de las enfermedades pasarían inadvertidas y solo el virus Toscana puede tener un mayor impacto por la aparición de casos graves.(AU)
The genera Phlebovirus transmitted by Diptera belonging to the Psychodidae family are a cause of self-limited febrile syndrome in the Mediterranean basin in summer and autumn. Toscana virus can also cause meningitis and meningoencephalitis. In Spain, Toscana, Granada, Naples, Sicily, Arbia and Arrabida-like viruses have been detected. The almost widespread distribution of Phlebotomus genus vectors, and especially Phlebotomus perniciosus, in which several of these viruses have been detected, makes it very likely that there will be regular human infections in our country, with this risk considered moderate for Toscana virus and low for the other ones, in areas with the highest vector activity. Most of the infections would be undiagnosed, while only Toscana virus would have a greater impact due to the potential severity of the illness.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Phlebovirus , Psychodidae , Insecta , Vector Control of Diseases , Ticks , Communicable Diseases , Microbiology , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Public Health Surveillance , Needs Assessment , Evidence-Based Practice/methods , Decision Support Techniques , Communicable Disease Control/trendsABSTRACT
Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant with expensive clean up, because of its accumulative and persistent character in the biota. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of Silene vulgaris, facultative metallophyte which have populations on both non-contaminated and metalliferous soils, to uptake Hg from artificially polluted soils. A pot experiment was carried out in a rain shelter for a full growth period. Two soils (C pH = 8.55 O.M. 0.63% and A pH = 7.07 O.M. 0.16%) were used, previously contaminated with Hg as HgCl(2) (0.6 and 5.5 mg Hg kg(-1) soil). Plants grew healthy and showed good appearance throughout the study without significantly decreasing biomass production. Mercury uptake by plants increased with the mercury concentration found in both soils. Differences were statistically significant between high dosage and untreated soil. The fact that S. vulgaris retains more mercury in root than in shoot and also, the well known effectiveness of these plants in the recovering of contaminated soils makes S. vulgaris a good candidate to phytostabilization technologies.
Subject(s)
Mercury/pharmacokinetics , Silene/growth & development , Silene/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/pharmacokinetics , Biodegradation, Environmental , Biomass , Plant Roots/metabolism , Plant Shoots/metabolism , Soil/chemistryABSTRACT
This study examined the ability of the white lupin to remove mercury (Hg) from a hydroponic system (Hg concentrations 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 micromol/L) and from soil in pots and lysimeters (total Hg concentration (19.2 +/- 1.9) mg/kg availability 0.07%, and (28.9 +/- 0.4) mg/kg availability 0.09%, respectively), and investigated the accumulation and distribution of Hg in different parts of the plant. White lupin roots efficiently took up Hg, but its translocation to the harvestable parts of the plant was low. The Hg concentration in the seeds posed no risk to human health according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, but the shoots should not be used as fodder for livestock, at least when unmixed with other fodder crops. The accumulation of Hg in the hydroponically-grown plants was linear over the concentration range tested. The amount of Hg retained in the roots, relative to the shoots, was almost constant irrespective of Hg dose (90%). In the soil experiments, Hg accumulation increased with exposure time and was the greater in the lysimeter than in the pot experiments. Although Hg removal was the greater in the hydroponic system, revealing the potential of the white lupin to extract Hg, bioaccumulation was the greatest in the lysimeter-grown plants; the latter system more likely reflects the true behaviour of white lupin in the field when Hg availability is a factor that limits Hg removal. The present results suggest that the white lupin could be used in long-term soil reclamation strategies that include the goal of profitable land use in Hg-polluted areas.
Subject(s)
Hydroponics , Lupinus/metabolism , Mercury/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Soil/analysis , Biodegradation, Environmental , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Lupinus/drug effects , Lupinus/growth & development , Mercury/chemistry , Plant Roots/drug effects , Plant Roots/growth & development , Plant Roots/metabolism , Plant Shoots/drug effects , Plant Shoots/growth & development , Plant Shoots/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Water/chemistryABSTRACT
Clostridium difficile ha puesto en alerta a los profesionales sanitarios en los últimos años por el incremento de su incidencia en Norteamérica y Europa. En brotes nosocomiales y en casos adquiridos en la comunidad, se ha identificado una cepa de C. difficile caracterizada como tipo toxinogénico III, ribotipo por PCR 027 (C. difficile 027), que tiene una patogenicidad mayor debido a la hiperproducción de exotoxinas y presenta un perfil de resistencia a antibióticos característico. En Europa, desde 2003, varios países han notificado casos de enfermedad asociada a C. difficile 027, lo que demuestra su rápida diseminación. En este artículo se revisan los últimos brotes asociados a C. difficile 027, que indican la necesidad de establecer un sistema de vigilancia homogéneo para la detección temprana y la toma de medidas de control que permitan disminuir la extensión de los brotes desde su inicio (AU)
The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in North America and Europe has increased in the last years, generating concern among health professionals. A new strain of C. difficile has been identified in recent nosocomial outbreaks and community-acquired infections. This new strain, characterized as toxigenic type III, PCR ribotype 027 (C. difficile 027), presents higher pathogenicity because of increased exotoxin production, and a characteristic antibiotic resistance profile. Since 2003, several European countries have notified cases of C. difficile 027-associated disease, a fact that demonstrates its rapid dissemination. In this article, we review the latest nosocomial outbreaks associated with this new strain, which illustrate the need for a standardized surveillance system for early detection and implementation of control measures aimed at reducing the spread of this microorganism (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Clostridioides difficile/pathogenicity , Clostridium Infections/epidemiology , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Risk Factors , Communicable Disease Control/methodsABSTRACT
The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in North America and Europe has increased in the last years, generating concern among health professionals. A new strain of C. difficile has been identified in recent nosocomial outbreaks and community-acquired infections. This new strain, characterized as toxigenic type III, PCR ribotype 027 (C. difficile 027), presents higher pathogenicity because of increased exotoxin production, and a characteristic antibiotic resistance profile. Since 2003, several European countries have notified cases of C. difficile 027-associated disease, a fact that demonstrates its rapid dissemination. In this article, we review the latest nosocomial outbreaks associated with this new strain, which illustrate the need for a standardized surveillance system for early detection and implementation of control measures aimed at reducing the spread of this microorganism.
