Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been facing outbreaks of VDPV since 2017. These wild poliovirus variants are responsible for poliomyelitis, which is in the process of eradication.. In the follow...Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been facing outbreaks of VDPV since 2017. These wild poliovirus variants are responsible for poliomyelitis, which is in the process of eradication.. In the following lines, we try to show the evolution of VDPV cases across the country in order to understand their chronological dynamics and seasonal influence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of of VDPV notified in the DRC from 2018 to 2023. Maps of the spatial dynamics of VDPV cases were produced from attack rates with QGIS® (3.22.8). As for temporal dynamics, time series were decomposed and presented in the form of graphs showing the chronological evolution of VDPV cases and their seasonal trend, using R.4.0 software package. Results: A total of 1196 Cases of VDPV types 1, 2 and 3 were recorded in the biological confirmation databases of the INRB and the Expanded Program of Immunization during the study period across25 provinces. The eastern part of the country reporting the most cases. The general trend is upwards, with a peak in 2022 of 527 cases, whereas in 2021 there was a notable drop of 31 cases. Analysis of the temporal breakdown suggests a seasonal pattern, with peaks between the months of September and December, considered being rainy periods in some provinces. Conclusion: During the 6 years of our study (2018 - 2023) almost all the Health Zones were hit by VDPV epidemics. The eastern part was the most impacted. The seasonal component is well marked suggesting a rise in detection in the rainy season and during pivotal periods of climate change.展开更多
Depth variations of total mercury （Hg） and methylmercury （MeHg） concentrations were studied in cores from non-colonized sediments, sediments colonized by Halimione portulacoides, Sarcocornia fruticosa and Spartina...Depth variations of total mercury （Hg） and methylmercury （MeHg） concentrations were studied in cores from non-colonized sediments, sediments colonized by Halimione portulacoides, Sarcocornia fruticosa and Spartina maritima and belowground biomass, in a moderately contaminated salt marsh （Tagus Estuary, Portugal）. Concentrations in belowground biomass exceeded up to 3 （Hg） and 15 （MeHg） times the levels in sediments, and up to 198 （Hg） and 308 （MeHg） times those found in aboveground parts. Methylmercury in colonized sediments reached 3% of the total Hg, 50 times above the maximum values found in non-colonized sediments. The absence of correlations between total Hg concentrations in sediments and the corresponding MeHg levels suggested that methylation was only dependent on the environmental and microbiological factors. The analysis of belowground biomass at high-depth resolution （2 cm） provided evidence that Hg and MeHg were actively absorbed from sediments, with higher enrichment factors at layers where higher microbial activity was probably occurring. The results obtained in this study indicated that the biotransformation of Hg to the toxic MeHg could increase the toxicity of plant-colonized sediments.展开更多
The strawberry tree （Arbutus unedo L.） is an underutilized, drought tolerant, fire resistant species with a south western distribution in Europe, and with ecological and putative socio-economical impact in Portugal ...The strawberry tree （Arbutus unedo L.） is an underutilized, drought tolerant, fire resistant species with a south western distribution in Europe, and with ecological and putative socio-economical impact in Portugal and Mediterranean countries. Our aim was to develop an appropriate set of molecular markers to enable genetic diversity to be assessed and to fingerprint Arbutus unedo genotypes for breeding and conservation purposes in Portugal. Twenty-seven trees from a broad geographic range were screened with 20 random amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD primers） and 11 microsatellite markers （SSR）. The RAPDs generated 124 bands, 57.3% of which were polymorphic, with an expected heterozygosity of 27%. We cross-amplified 11 SSR primers developed for Vaccinium spp., and 5 were found to be polymorphic in A. unedo, with 75% of expected heterozygosity, a number of alleles of 11.6, a null allele frequency of 7.6% and a polymorphic information content of 71%. Although the SSRs were more polymorphic and informative than the RAPDs, both markers displayed high genetic variability with the gathered data. No geographic pattern was observed in the genetic variation distribution based on both marker systems, and the lack of correlation between genetic and geographical matrices was confirmed by Mantel tests. Likely, no correlation was found between pairwise SSR and RAPD band-sharing matrices. These results and their implications on A. unedo breeding and conservation programs are discussed.展开更多
Objective: To improve knowledge and practice of health staff as well as the availability of material resources for diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in two endemic provinces of DRC(Kinshasa and Bas-Congo).Me...Objective: To improve knowledge and practice of health staff as well as the availability of material resources for diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in two endemic provinces of DRC(Kinshasa and Bas-Congo).Methods: Structured interviews were performed using questionnaires with staff from 35 healthcare facilities in 9 health zones(HZ) of Kinshasa and 2 HZ in Bas-Congo.Results: Schistosomiasis was reported to be present in all the included HZ.Health staff knew the most important symptoms of schistosomiasis, but advanced symptoms were more accurately reported in Bas-Congo.Knowledge of symptoms related to schistosomiasis such as anemia(P = 0.0 115) and pollakiuria(P = 0.0 260) was statistically different in both two provinces.Kato-Katz technique and urine filtration were unavailable in both provinces.Parasitological diagnosis was mostly performed using the direct smear method.PZQ was available in 70% of the health facilities, all situated in Bas-Congo.Diagnosis and treatment mostly relied on symptoms and cost more in urban area than in rural.Conclusions: Though knowledge on schistosomiasis among health staff appears sufficient, substantial efforts still must be made to improve the availability of diagnostic tools and treatment in the health facilities in DRC.展开更多
文摘Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been facing outbreaks of VDPV since 2017. These wild poliovirus variants are responsible for poliomyelitis, which is in the process of eradication.. In the following lines, we try to show the evolution of VDPV cases across the country in order to understand their chronological dynamics and seasonal influence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of of VDPV notified in the DRC from 2018 to 2023. Maps of the spatial dynamics of VDPV cases were produced from attack rates with QGIS® (3.22.8). As for temporal dynamics, time series were decomposed and presented in the form of graphs showing the chronological evolution of VDPV cases and their seasonal trend, using R.4.0 software package. Results: A total of 1196 Cases of VDPV types 1, 2 and 3 were recorded in the biological confirmation databases of the INRB and the Expanded Program of Immunization during the study period across25 provinces. The eastern part of the country reporting the most cases. The general trend is upwards, with a peak in 2022 of 527 cases, whereas in 2021 there was a notable drop of 31 cases. Analysis of the temporal breakdown suggests a seasonal pattern, with peaks between the months of September and December, considered being rainy periods in some provinces. Conclusion: During the 6 years of our study (2018 - 2023) almost all the Health Zones were hit by VDPV epidemics. The eastern part was the most impacted. The seasonal component is well marked suggesting a rise in detection in the rainy season and during pivotal periods of climate change.
基金supports providing by IPIMAR, Environment Canada and Reserva Natural do Estuário do Tejo Joo Canrio wish to thanks Fundaco para a Ciência e Tecnologia for his PDF grant(SFRH/BPD/26324/2006)
文摘Depth variations of total mercury （Hg） and methylmercury （MeHg） concentrations were studied in cores from non-colonized sediments, sediments colonized by Halimione portulacoides, Sarcocornia fruticosa and Spartina maritima and belowground biomass, in a moderately contaminated salt marsh （Tagus Estuary, Portugal）. Concentrations in belowground biomass exceeded up to 3 （Hg） and 15 （MeHg） times the levels in sediments, and up to 198 （Hg） and 308 （MeHg） times those found in aboveground parts. Methylmercury in colonized sediments reached 3% of the total Hg, 50 times above the maximum values found in non-colonized sediments. The absence of correlations between total Hg concentrations in sediments and the corresponding MeHg levels suggested that methylation was only dependent on the environmental and microbiological factors. The analysis of belowground biomass at high-depth resolution （2 cm） provided evidence that Hg and MeHg were actively absorbed from sediments, with higher enrichment factors at layers where higher microbial activity was probably occurring. The results obtained in this study indicated that the biotransformation of Hg to the toxic MeHg could increase the toxicity of plant-colonized sediments.
基金F.Gomes was supported by a PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/37170/2007) from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
文摘The strawberry tree （Arbutus unedo L.） is an underutilized, drought tolerant, fire resistant species with a south western distribution in Europe, and with ecological and putative socio-economical impact in Portugal and Mediterranean countries. Our aim was to develop an appropriate set of molecular markers to enable genetic diversity to be assessed and to fingerprint Arbutus unedo genotypes for breeding and conservation purposes in Portugal. Twenty-seven trees from a broad geographic range were screened with 20 random amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD primers） and 11 microsatellite markers （SSR）. The RAPDs generated 124 bands, 57.3% of which were polymorphic, with an expected heterozygosity of 27%. We cross-amplified 11 SSR primers developed for Vaccinium spp., and 5 were found to be polymorphic in A. unedo, with 75% of expected heterozygosity, a number of alleles of 11.6, a null allele frequency of 7.6% and a polymorphic information content of 71%. Although the SSRs were more polymorphic and informative than the RAPDs, both markers displayed high genetic variability with the gathered data. No geographic pattern was observed in the genetic variation distribution based on both marker systems, and the lack of correlation between genetic and geographical matrices was confirmed by Mantel tests. Likely, no correlation was found between pairwise SSR and RAPD band-sharing matrices. These results and their implications on A. unedo breeding and conservation programs are discussed.
基金supported by the World Health Organization(WHO/TDR),project ID A61119
文摘Objective: To improve knowledge and practice of health staff as well as the availability of material resources for diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in two endemic provinces of DRC(Kinshasa and Bas-Congo).Methods: Structured interviews were performed using questionnaires with staff from 35 healthcare facilities in 9 health zones(HZ) of Kinshasa and 2 HZ in Bas-Congo.Results: Schistosomiasis was reported to be present in all the included HZ.Health staff knew the most important symptoms of schistosomiasis, but advanced symptoms were more accurately reported in Bas-Congo.Knowledge of symptoms related to schistosomiasis such as anemia(P = 0.0 115) and pollakiuria(P = 0.0 260) was statistically different in both two provinces.Kato-Katz technique and urine filtration were unavailable in both provinces.Parasitological diagnosis was mostly performed using the direct smear method.PZQ was available in 70% of the health facilities, all situated in Bas-Congo.Diagnosis and treatment mostly relied on symptoms and cost more in urban area than in rural.Conclusions: Though knowledge on schistosomiasis among health staff appears sufficient, substantial efforts still must be made to improve the availability of diagnostic tools and treatment in the health facilities in DRC.
