Mycobacterium avium Complex in domestic and wild animals

Mycobacteria from the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) cause a variety of diseases including tuberculosis-like disease in humans and birds, disseminated infections in AIDS patients and otherwise immunocompromised patients, lymphadenitis in humans and mammals and paratuberculosis in ruminants. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) is the etiologic agent of Johne´s disease in cattle and it has been identified in human patients with Crohn’s disease. The MAC comprises slow growing mycobacteria that are ubiquitous in the environment (soil and water), and have a wide source range, causing disease in various domestic and wild mammals and birds [1]. The aim of this study was to discuss the classification and biology, epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnostic techniques, and public health concerns in Mycobacterium avium complex in domestic and wild animals

Lymphocyte population in the granulomatous lesions of wild-boars (Sus scrofa) suspected of tuberculosis

Só está disponível o resumoLymphocyte population in the granulomatous lesions of wild-boars (Sus scrofa) suspected of tuberculosis

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em duas lontras (Lutra lutra, Linnaeus, 1758)

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em duas lontras (Lutra lutra, Linnaeus, 1758)

Importância dos Saca-Rabos (Herpestes Ichneumon) como Reservatório de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Deteção por Técnicas Tradicionais e Moleculares

Poster apresentado nas IV Jornadas de Genética, realizadas na UTAD, Vila Real, nos dias 1,2 e 3 de Março de 2012.Os saca-rabos (Herpestes ichneumon) também conhecidos por mangustos, são carnívoros diurnos selvagens que juntamente com a geneta (Genetta genetta) representam os exemplares da família Viverridae em Portugal. É uma espécie cinegética de caça menor que se alimenta de coelhos, roedores, aves, cobras, insectos e ovos. Neste estudo colheram-se amostras de 8 animais mortos por atropelamento e em ações de controlo de predadores, durante os anos de 2010 e 2011, nos concelhos de Idanha-a-Nova e Penamacor do distrito de Castelo Branco. As amostras colhidas foram fígado, pulmão, baço, intestino, rim, gânglio mesentérico, retrofaríngeo, mediastínico, amígdalas e fezes. As amostras foram submetidas à técnica de PCR e a cultura microbiológica em meios específicos. Em três saca-rabos (37,5%) detectou-se Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) através da técnica de biologia molecular. Dois eram machos e um era fêmea. Map foi confirmado também em cultura nos dois machos. Sete saca-rabos (87,5%) apresentaram bactérias álcool-ácido resistentes compatíveis com Map em esfregaços de diferentes tecidos, quando corados pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen. Estes resultados preliminares confirmam os saca-rabos como reservatório de Map no nosso país. Atualmente, estão a ser desenvolvidos mais estudos para a avaliação dos saca-rabos na dinâmica da infeção de Map em mamíferos selvagens

Mapeamento climático urbano, aplicações à cidade de Bragança

Esta comunicação descreve o processo de mapeamento climático da cidade de Bragança, como parte do Projecto POCTEP - BIOURB. Este processo partiu da definição de um conjunto de camadas de informação, trabalhadas em Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG), com as quais se definiram características territoriais (morfológicas) e urbanas, com influência sobre o clima local. Estes elementos foram posteriormente classificados em função do seu contributo potencial para dois processos complementares: carga térmica potencial e dinâmica potencia

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes)

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes)

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in Portugal

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in Portugal

Urban climate studies: addressing the role of urban green spaces

Cities present a wide range of climate transformations resulting from changes induced by buildings and other artificial structures, including such effects as the urban heat island (UHI) and the changes in the ventilation patterns. Under these conditions, urban climate analysis is increasingly considered as a necessary activity that should be part of the urban planning practice. Although there has been a wide development of climate studies across different countries, further improvement is needed to address a wider diversity of geographic locations and conditions (Ren et al., 2010). Stewart and Oke (2012) defined a set of Local Climate Zones (LCZ) as a way to address such a complex reality, including both urban and periurban locations. As part of the European funded project BIOURB, a study is taking place in Bragança (Portugal) aiming at studying local urban climate, while establishing a basic methodology that can be used as a reference for cities located in the regions of the North of Portugal and Castilla-León (Spain). The methodology can be described as consisting on the integration of urban climate monitoring with the interpretation of major factors influencing local climate (topography, land use and artificial structures), allowing for the interpretation of major climate transformations, with the ultimate goal of providing urban design strategies. Urban climate monitoring is being carried out with a combination of twenty three temperature and relative humidity sensors, five wind anemometers and three weather stations. The location of these equipment addresses different LCZs and the potential rural to urban gradient, including several green spaces within the urban limits. Results from a full year campaign, show that while addressing a small, though complex, urban reality and despite the proximity to rural surroundings, the Urban Heat Island effect reaches intensity values over 5oC during the hot summer nights, thus showing the contrast between the higher temperatures resulting from the effects of artificial surfaces, anthropogenic heat and heat retention by buildings, and the lower temperatures observed in green spaces both within and outside the town. As urban climate study is still being carried out, preliminary results suggest green spaces are relevant assets in climate intervention by both diminishing thermal load, relevant under warm summer conditions and to potentially being associated to topographic dynamic processes such cold air drainage (valleys), wind reduction (woodlands) or wind enhancing (grasslands)