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Molecular evidence of polymorphism in Pneumocystis from wild mice and shrews in the eastern Alps, Italy
No full textINTRODUCTION:
Pneumocystis organisms are considered as major opportunistic fungal pathogens that infect humans and a wide range of other mammalian host species. The genus comprises uncultured, host-specific parasites adapted to the alveolar epithelial cells type I where they may proliferate provoking severe pneumonitis. Thus far, five species have been described: P. carinii and P. wakefieldiae in brown rats, P. jirovecii in humans, P. murina in common mice and P. oryctolagi in rabbits.
In the present study, we detected and characterised Pneumocystis organisms in wild mice and shrews from eastern Alpes. Our objective was to assess whether Pneumocystis organisms could be used as phylogeographic markers for these mammalian species. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A total of 96 lung tissue samples from wild rodents and insectivores were analyzed. Specimens of Apodemus flavicollis (n=30), Apodemus sp (n=1), Myodes glareolus (n=3), Sorex antinorii (n=61), and Sorex sp (n=1) were captured as part of an large collaborative European project (EDENext) by Fondazione Edmund Mach. After DNA extraction, samples were analyzed by nested PCR, using
primers for the gene encoding the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA (mtLSU rRNA) (Derouiche et al. 2009) and sequenced. The mtLSU sequences were aligned with already known Pneumocystis sequences using Clustal X (version 1.63b) and a phylogenetic analysis was performed using Neighbour Joining integrated in Mega 4 software (version 4.0).
RESULTS:
Pneumocystis DNA was detected in 58 of 96 samples (60%). Lung tissues from Apodemus flavicollis (12/30; 40%), Sorex antinorii (44/61, 72%) and Myodes glareolus (2/3; 67%) were positive. The mtLSU sequences showed marked polymorphism with seven Pneumocystis sequence types representing three distinct major clades according to the three animal species. Among Sorex genus all sequences presented a similarity of 100%, whereas six different sequence types were obtained for the genera Apodemus (n=4) and Myoedes (n=2).
CONCLUSIONS:
These preliminary observations are in agreement with previous findings, which reported similar prevalence of Pneumocystis in Apodemus and Myodes animals as well as the highest prevalence in Sorex spp., when compared with other wild mammals (Laakkonen et al., 1995, Can J Zoology, 73:961-966). The genetic polymorphism in Apodemus and Myodes has already been described and seem
to be a general tendency for rodent-derived Pneumocystis. The unique sequence type detected among Sorex shrews from the eastern Alpes suggests that Pneumocystis from insectivores display a lower level of genetic polymorphism
Experimental assessment of molecular markers efficiency (VvAGL11) in mas for table grape breeding
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Dermacentor marginatus ticks and associated pathogens in wild boar population of Colli Euganei area, northern Italy
No full textGoing Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Looking for Dog Blood Donors in an Endemic Area for Vector-Borne Infections of Central Italy
No full textDogs are proved to be competent reservoir hosts for several vector-borne pathogens. Their prevalence varies according to the geographical area. Many vector-borne pathogens may be transmitted by blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the serological and molecular prevalence of some vector-borne pathogens in dog blood donors, living in central Italy. Blood samples of 126 donors (19 breeds) included were tested for a broad serological and DNA-base tests panel. The differences in pathogen prevalence according to age, sex, and breeds were tested (chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test). Overall, 50 animals (39.7%) tested positive at PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and/or serology (IFAT, indirect fluorescent antibody test) for at least one pathogen. Three dogs were positive at both serology and PCR. A tendency of hemoplasmas to be more prevalent in older dogs (41.2%) compared to the younger ones (25.7%) was noted. We highlight the difficulties of selecting healthy blood donor dogs in an endemic area for vector-borne infections. It is important to choose the serological and biomolecular investigations panel that is most suited to the donor’s environment. Close collaboration between clinician and parasitologists is important in the interpretation of IFAT and PCR results. Finally, we underline the important role of blood donors as an epidemiological tool for active surveillance against canine vector-borne diseases
Development and evaluation of a Pan-Borrelia TaqMan qPCR for detection of Borrelia spp. in ticks collected from cattle in Tanzania
No full textPNEUMOCYSTIS IN LUNGS OF SQUIRREL, CALLOSCIURUS FINLAYSONII (RODENTIA, SCIURIDAE)
No full textPneumocystis spp. are ubiquitous fungal commensals of the respiratory tract of many animals and represent a potential cause of life-threatening pneumonia in a wide range of mammals. All species show a restricted host-range, with a high degree of host-specificity. So far, only five Pneumocystis entities are formally described as species. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Pneumocystis in squirrels (Callosciurus finlaysonii) and the functionality of different markers for species recognition. Lung tissues of 54squirrels have been investigated for the presence of Pneumocystis DNA by amplification and sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial large subunit (mtLSU), small subunit (mtSSU) and internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1/ITS2) of the rRNA genes according protocols previously reported (Danesi et al., 2016). Two gene datasets of Pneumocystis species, with mtSSU and ITS sequences, were analysed by Neighbor Joining with 1000 bootstrap replicates and conducted in MEGA6. Pneumocystis DNA was isolated from three squirrels. Amplification and sequences were obtained from mtSSU (n=3) and ITS (n=2) genetic targets, but not from mtLSU. In mtSSU and ITS trees, constructed without outgroup, all main clusters were well supported and consistent with mammal hosts. Mitocondrial SSU sequences compose a separate clade, which is polyphyletic with the only Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. squirrel (Sciurus aestuans) present in the database. The rDNA ITS tree confirmed Pneumocystis grouping according animal species. In general, squirrels were in apparently good condition, thus supposing animals were carrying Pneumocystis organisms without disease. The amplification of Pneumocystis mtLSU target did not succeed with these set of primers, suggesting this genetic target might be different in squirrels. Indeed, the detection of Pneumocystis spp. in a large variety of animals provides evidence of a highly diversified Pneumocystis genus. According to the Barcoding approach, ITS might be an excellent marker for species characterization
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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