SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic Remains a Global Public Health Threat / La pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) sigue siendo una amenaza para la salud pública mundial

Recently, an upsurge in the incidence of several emerging infectious diseases is causing great challenges to the health professionals throughout the globe. Since early 2020, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), now a pandemic, is hitting the world severely. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causative agent of COVID-19, gain entry through the respiratory systems (nasopharyngeal) route causing infection. This disease is reported from all continents except Antarctica and it most commonly affects the lungs rather than the other organs. In affected person, pneumonia, cough, sore throat, dyspnea, fever, headache, and rhinorrhea is the main symptoms of COVID-19. There are different investigation methods to diagnose a patient suspected of COVID-19 like radiography and different laboratory technique like RT-PCR, which remains the investigation of choice. Social distancing, practicing hand hygiene, and use of facemask are mandatory to prevent the disease. Many of the drug trials are underway with the recent FDA approval of remdesivir. Very recently, immunization programme against COVID-19 is going on in many countries of the world. However, the efficacy and safety of the vaccines are not yet fully established. (AU)

Recientemente, un aumento en la incidencia de varias enfermedades infecciosas emergentes está causando grandes desafíos a los profesionales de la salud en todo el mundo. Desde principios de 2020, un brote de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), ahora una pandemia, está afectando al mundo de forma severa. El síndrome respiratorio agudo severo coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), agente causante de COVID-19, ingresa a través de la ruta del sistema respiratorio (nasofaríngeo) causando infección. Esta enfermedad se informa en todos los continentes excepto en la Antártida y afecta más comúnmente a los pulmones que a otros órganos. En la persona afectada, la neumonía, la tos, el dolor de garganta, la disnea, la fiebre, el dolor de cabeza y la rinorrea son los principales síntomas del COVID-19. Existen diferentes métodos de investigación para diagnosticar a un paciente con sospecha de COVID-19 como la radiografía y diferentes técnicas de laboratorio como RT-PCR, que sigue siendo la investigación de elección. El distanciamiento social, la práctica de la higiene de manos y el uso de mascarilla son obligatorios para prevenir la enfermedad. Muchos de los ensayos de fármacos están en marcha con la reciente aprobación de remdesivir por parte de la FDA. Muy recientemente, se está llevando acabo un programa de inmunización contra COVID-19 en muchos países del mundo. Sin embargo, la eficacia y seguridad de las vacunas aún no están completamente establecidas. (AU)

The malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum in the endemic avifauna of eastern Cuba.

Island populations are vulnerable to introduced pathogens, as evidenced by extinction or population decline of several endemic Hawaiian birds caused by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium relictum (order Haemosporida). We analyzed blood samples from 363 birds caught near Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for the presence of haemosporidian infections. We characterized parasite lineages by determining nucleotide variation of the parasite's mitochondrial cyt b gene. Fifty-nine individuals were infected, and we identified 7 lineages of haemosporidian parasites. Fifty individuals were infected by 6 Haemoproteus sp. lineages, including a newly characterized lineage of Haem. (Parahaemoproteus) sp. CUH01. Nine individuals carried the P. relictum lineage GRW4, including 5 endemic Cuban Grassquits (Tiaris canorus) and 1 migratory Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina). A sequence of the merozoite surface protein gene from one Cuban Grassquit infected with GRW4 matched that of the Hawaiian haplotype Pr9. Our results indicate that resident and migratory Cuban birds are infected with a malaria lineage that has severely affected populations of several endemic Hawaiian birds. We suggest GRW4 may be associated with the lack of several bird species on Cuba that are ubiquitous elsewhere in the West Indies. From the standpoint of avian conservation in the Caribbean Basin, it will be important to determine the distribution of haemosporidian parasites, especially P. relictum GRW4, in Cuba as well as the pathogenicity of this lineage in species that occur and are absent from Cuba.

Interventions for reducing extinction risk in chytridiomycosis-threatened amphibians.

Wildlife diseases pose an increasing threat to biodiversity and are a major management challenge. A striking example of this threat is the emergence of chytridiomycosis. Despite diagnosis of chytridiomycosis as an important driver of global amphibian declines 15 years ago, researchers have yet to devise effective large-scale management responses other than biosecurity measures to mitigate disease spread and the establishment of disease-free captive assurance colonies prior to or during disease outbreaks. We examined the development of management actions that can be implemented after an epidemic in surviving populations. We developed a conceptual framework with clear interventions to guide experimental management and applied research so that further extinctions of amphibian species threatened by chytridiomycosis might be prevented. Within our framework, there are 2 management approaches: reducing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (the fungus that causes chytridiomycosis) in the environment or on amphibians and increasing the capacity of populations to persist despite increased mortality from disease. The latter approach emphasizes that mitigation does not necessarily need to focus on reducing disease-associated mortality. We propose promising management actions that can be implemented and tested based on current knowledge and that include habitat manipulation, antifungal treatments, animal translocation, bioaugmentation, head starting, and selection for resistance. Case studies where these strategies are being implemented will demonstrate their potential to save critically endangered species.