Browsing by Author "von Groll, Andrea"
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- Aspergillosis in albatrossesPublication . Melo, Aryse Martins; Silva Filho, Rodolfo Pinho da; Poester, Vanice Rodrigues; Fernandes, Cristina Gevehr; von Groll, Andrea; Stevens, David A; Sabino, Raquel; Xavier, Melissa OrzechowskiAspergillosis is a respiratory fungal disease of importance in captive marine birds. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of aspergillosis in Thalassarche melanophris during rehabilitation events and to identify the etiological agent. All the albatrosses that were received for rehabilitation and died within a 2-year period were included in the study. The proportionate mortality rate caused by aspergillosis was 21.4% (3/14). One of the etiological agents was Aspergillus flavus/oryzae lineage, and the other was A. fumigatus sensu stricto. Our study suggests that aspergillosis can act as a limiting factor in the rehabilitation of albatrosses.
- Aspergillosis in albatrossesPublication . Melo, Aryse Martins; Silva Filho, Rodolfo Pinho da; Poester, Vanice Rodrigues; Fernandes, Cristina Gevehr; von Groll, Andrea; Stevens, David A; Sabino, Raquel; Xavier, Melissa OrzechowskiAspergillosis is a respiratory fungal disease of importance in captive marine birds. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of aspergillosis in Thalassarche melanophris during rehabilitation events and to identify the etiological agent. All the albatrosses that were received for rehabilitation and died within a 2-year period were included in the study. The proportionate mortality rate caused by aspergillosis was 21.4% (3/14). One of the etiological agents was Aspergillus flavus/oryzae lineage, and the other was A. fumigatus sensu stricto. Our study suggests that aspergillosis can act as a limiting factor in the rehabilitation of albatrosses.
- Aspergillosis in free-ranging aquatic birdsPublication . Melo, Aryse Martins; Silva-Filho, Rodolfo Pinho da; Poester, Vanice Rodrigues; von Groll, Andrea; Fernandes, Cristina Gevehr; Stevens, David A.; Sabino, Raquel; Xavier, Melissa OrzechowskiDue to the difficulty in the access to free-ranging birds, data regarding Aspergillus infections in wild avian species is rare compared to captive wild and domestic birds. Objective: report three cases of Aspergillus section Fumigati causing fungal disease in free-ranging aquatic birds, with the identification of the causal agent to the species level. Case reports: The diagnosis of aspergillosis was performed by macroscopic lesions found during the necropsy and confirmed by culture. Molecular identification by partial sequencing of the calM and benA genes allowed to confirm Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto as the etiological agent of aspergillosis in Procellaria aequinoctialis (White-chinned petrel) (n = 1), Nannopterum brasilianus (Neotropical cormorant) (n = 1) and Chroicocephalus maculipennis (Brown-hooded gull) (n = 1). Conclusion: Larger studies regarding the importance of aspergillosis in free-ranging aquatic birds are necessary, as well as it potential role in the One Heath context.
- Clonal expansion across the seas as seen through CPLP-TB database: a joint effort in cataloguing Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic diversity in Portuguese-speaking countriesPublication . Perdigão, João; Silva, Carla; Diniz, Jaciara; Pereira, Catarina; Machado, Diana; Ramos, Jorge; Silva, Hugo; Abilleira, Fernanda; Brum, Clarice; Reis, Ana J.; Macedo, Maíra; Scaini, João L.; Silva, Ana B.; Esteves, Leonardo; Macedo, Rita; Maltez, Fernando; Clemente, Sofia; Coelho, Elizabeth; Viegas, Sofia; Rabna, Paulo; Rodrigues, Amabélia; Taveira, Nuno; Jordao, Luísa; Kritski, Afrânio; Silva, José Lapa e; Mokrousov, Igor; Couvin, David; Rastogi, Nalin; Couto, Isabel; Pain, Arnab; McNerney, Ruth; Clark, Taane G.; von Groll, Andrea; Dalla-Costa, Elis R.; Rossetti, Maria Lúcia; Silva, Pedro E.A. da; Viveiros, Miguel; Portugal, IsabelTuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem within the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP). Despite the marked variation in TB incidence across its member-states and continued human migratory flux between countries, a considerable gap in the knowledge on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure and strain circulation between the countries still exists. To address this, we have assembled and analyzed the largest CPLP M.tuberculosis molecular and drug susceptibility dataset, comprised by a total of 1447 clinical isolates, including 423 multidrug-resistant isolates, from five CPLP countries. The data herein presented reinforces Latin American and Mediterranean (LAM) strains as the hallmark of M. tuberculosis populational structure in the CPLP coupled with country-specific differential prevalence of minor clades. Moreover, using high-resolution typing by 24-loci MIRU-VNTR, six cross-border genetic clusters were detected, thus supporting recent clonal expansion across the Lusophone space. To make this data available to the scientific community and public health authorities we developed CPLP-TB (available at http://cplp-tb.ff.ulisboa.pt), an online database coupled with web-based tools for exploratory data analysis. As a public health tool, it is expected to contribute to improved knowledge on the M. tuberculosis population structure and strain circulation within the CPLP, thus supporting the risk assessment of strain-specific trends.
- Molecular identification of Aspergillus isolates from Magellanic penguinsPublication . Melo, Aryse Martins; da Silva Filho, Rodolfo Pinho; Poester, Vanice Rodrigues; von Groll, Andrea; Stevens, David A.; Sabino, Raquel; Xavier, Melissa OrzechowskiAspergillosis is an important disease in marine birds and has a mortality rate of 50% in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in captivity. Molecular biology allows the precise identification of Aspergillus to species level, which is important since cryptic species may show differences in their virulence attributes and in their antifungal susceptibility. This work aimed to perform molecular identification and the itraconazole susceptibility profile of Aspergillus clinical isolates collected from Magellanic penguins with proven aspergillosis.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic diversity and drug resistance across Portuguese-speaking countries and CPLP-TB: a novel framework and surveillance tool for the Lusophone communityPublication . Perdigão, João; Silva, Carla; Diniz, Jaciara; Pereira, Catarina; Machado, Diana; Ramos, Jorge; Silva, Hugo; Abilleira, Fernanda; Brum, Clarice; Reis, Ana J.; Macedo, Maíra; Scaini, João L.; Silva, Ana B.; Esteves, Leonardo; Macedo, Rita; Maltez, Fernando; Clemente, Sofia; Coelho, Elizabeth; Viegas, Sofia; Rabna, Paulo; Rodrigues, Amabélia; Taveira, Nuno; Jordão, Luísa; Kritski, Afrânio; Lapa e Silva, José; Mokrousov, Igor; Couvin, David; Rastogi, Nalin; Couto, Isabel; Pain, Arnab; McNerney, Ruth; Clark, Taane G.; von Groll, Andrea; Dalla-Costa, Elis R.; Rossetti, Maria Lúcia; da Silva, Pedro E.A; Viveiros, Miguel; Portugal, IsabelBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem within the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP). Despite the marked variation in TB incidence across its member-states and continued human migratory flux between countries, a considerable gap in the knowledge on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure and strain circulation between the countries still exists. Materials and Methods: To address this, we have assembled and analyzed the largest CPLP M. tuberculosis molecular and drug susceptibility dataset, comprised by a total of 1447 clinical isolates, including 423 multidrug-resistant isolates, from five CPLP countries. Genotyping analysis was carried out by 15/24 Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit – Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and Spoligotyping. Drug Susceptibility testing was performed using standardized BACTEC 960 MGIT methodology or through the resazurin microtiter assay (REMA). Results: The data herein presented reinforces Latin American and Mediterranean (LAM) strains as the hallmark of M. tuberculosis populational structure in the CPLP coupled with country-specific differential prevalence of minor clades. Moreover, using high-resolution typing by 24-loci MIRU-VNTR, six cross-border genetic clusters were detected, thus supporting recent clonal expansion across the Lusophone space. To make this data available to the scientific community and public health authorities we developed CPLP-TB (available at http://cplp-tb.ff.ulisboa.pt), an online database coupled with web-based tools for exploratory data analysis. Conclusions: As a public health tool, CPLP-TB is expected to contribute to improved knowledge on the M. tuberculosis population structure and strain circulation within the CPLP, thus supporting risk assessment of strain-specific trends.
- Tuberculosis across the seas: CPLP-TB - a joint effort in cataloguing mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic diversity in the lusophone spacePublication . Perdigão, João; Silva, Carla; Diniz, Jaciara; Pereira, Catarina; Machado, Diana; Ramos, Jorge; da Silva, Fernanda; Brum, Clarice; Reis, Ana J.; Macedo, Maíra; Scaini, João L.; Silva, Ana B; Esteves, Leonardo; Macedo, Rita; Clemente, Sofia; Coelho, Elizabeth; Viegas, Sofia; Rabna, Paulo; Rodrigues, Amabélia; Taveira, Nuno; Jordao, Luisa; Couto, Isabel; von Groll, Andrea; Dalla-Costa, Elis R.; Rossetti, Maria Lúcia; da Silva, Pedro E. A.; Viveiros, Miguel; Portugal, IsabelThe Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP) comprises nine countries across four continents, accounting for 7.2% of the world’s land area, and where tuberculosis (TB) is still a cause of public health concern. A marked variation in TB incidence (23 to 551 cases per 100 000 habitants) can be observed across the different member-states and, despite of this, a considerable gap in the knowledge on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure and country-level geospatial distribution still exists. To address this we have gathered a comprehensive set of molecular and phenotypic drug susceptibility data on approximately 1150 different clinical isolates, from different partners, across 5 distinct portuguesespeaking countries. This initial dataset comprises molecular genotypic data obtained by either 12, 15 or 24-loci Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit – Variable Number of Tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and/or Spoligotyping. The complete dataset therefore includes M. tuberculosis clinical isolates from Portugal (n≈370), Angola (n≈80), Guinea-Bissau (n≈13), Mozambique (n≈14) and Brazil (n≈680). To make this data available to the scientific community and public health authorities we have developed CPLP-TB, an online database coupled with webbased tools that enable exploratory data analysis. This new tool specifically directed at CPLP countries include advanced data analysis capability together with graphical visualization tools (e.g. dendrogram and choropleth mapping). As a public health tool, it is expected to contribute for a deeper knowledge on the combined population structure and strain circulation between countries, thus enabling the assessment of strain specific trends in a broader macroepidemiological context. Furthermore, this new tool provides a new framework for interlaboratory cooperation on TB molecular epidemiology.