Genotoxicity and Reproductive Risk in Workers Exposed to Pesticides in Rural Areas of Curicó, Chile: A Pilot Study.

Significant risks to human health have been associated with chronic exposure to low doses of pesticides, a situation which may be frequent among agricultural workers. In this context, and regarding the agricultural-based economy of central Chile, we aimed to explore the genotoxic damage in agricultural workers and reproductive risk among women in rural and urban areas of Curicó, a traditional agricultural district in Chile. Hence, we sampled a group of rural agricultural workers associated with pesticide management ( = 30) and an urban unexposed group ( = 30).

Driver interactions lead changes in the distribution of imperiled terrestrial carnivores.

Biodiversity is dramatically declining worldwide due to the complex processes that include interactions among threats. Studies investigating how multiple drivers (inter)act to influence spatio-temporal shifts in species distribution ranges, which are among the most anticipated changes in biodiversity in the future, are still scarce in the scientific literature, particularly at meaningful conservation planning scales. We used species occurrence data for eight terrestrial Mediterranean carnivores at a regional scale of southern Spain to: 1) estimate environmental favourability to each species during two periods (1960s and present); 2) predict current favourability assuming the same environment-species relationships as the ones observed in the 1960s (expected favourability); and 3) analyse single and interactive effects of human persecution, presence of protected areas, and prey richness on favourability changes (present vs.

High Plasticity of Multi-Drug Resistant ST258 .

Carbapenemase production in Enterobacterales clinical isolates is a global threat. Multi-drug resistant harboring carbapenemases are a major concern among the hospital settings in Latin America. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic relatedness between three isolates of recovered from one patient in the same bacteriological round on the same day, which exhibited different susceptibility profiles to carbapenems (CP) and to colistin (Col).

[Written tests analysis under the principles of authentic assessment. A comparative study of written tests of medical and other undergraduate programs].

Background: Learning assessment has great impact in students' achievement. However, it is one of the least intervened and researched areas in higher education institutions, all over the world.

Aim: To compare the written tests applied to students of three health science undergraduate programs (Speech Therapy, Medical Technology and Nursing), with the written tests of three programs of other areas (Business and Administration, Psychology and Bioengineering).

Emerging and existing mechanisms co-operate in generating diverse β-lactam resistance phenotypes in geographically dispersed and genetically disparate Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

β-Lactam resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates is driven by a number of mechanisms. Whilst several are understood, how they act co-operatively in pathogenic strains is less clear. In some isolates, resistance profiles cannot always be explained by identifying the common resistance-determining pathways, suggesting that other mechanisms may be important.

Spreading of AbaR-type genomic islands in multidrug resistance Acinetobacter baumannii strains belonging to different clonal complexes.

In order to determine the occurrence of AbaR-type genomic island in multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAb) strains circulating in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, we studied 51 MDRAb isolates recovered from several hospitals over 30 years. AbaR-type genomic resistance islands were found in 36 MDRAb isolates since 1986 till now. MLST technique allowed us to identify the presence of four different Clonal Complexes (109, 104, 119, 113) among the positive AbaR-type island positive strains.

The versatility of Delftia sp. isolates as tools for bioremediation and biofertilization technologies.

Two Pb(II)-resistant bacteria isolated from a soil containing 2,500 mg/kg of Pb were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis as Delftia sp. and designated as 3C and 6C. Both isolates grew at a Pb(II) concentration of 62 mg/L and at the stationary phase showed a Pb(II)-sorption capability of 10 ± 1.

[VIM-2 metallo-ß-lactamase gen detection in a class 1 integron associated to bla(CTX-M-2) in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate in Uruguay: first communication].

In order to analyze the presence of metallo-ß-lactamase in our country, we included in this study Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates causing nosocomial infections in a hospital from Uruguay. The presence of a metallo-ß-lactamase VIM-2 in a class 1 integron and of an extended spectrum -lactamase CTX-M-2 was detected in one isolate. This is the first report of both genes, bla(CTX-M-2) and bla(VIM-2),in the same P.

Diverse mobilized class 1 integrons are common in the chromosomes of pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates.

Eleven clinical class 1 integron-containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from Australia and Uruguay were investigated for the genomic locations of these elements. Several novel class 1 integrons/transposons were found in at least four distinct locations in the chromosome, including genomic islands. These elements seem to be undergoing successful dispersal by lateral gene transfer since integrons were identified across several lineages and more than one clonal line.

Class 2 integrons dissemination among multidrug resistance (MDR) clones of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a serious problem in the hospital environment at a global scale. Previous results from our laboratory showed a high frequency of class 2 integrons in A. baumannii strains from Argentina regarding the low rate of this element in A.

Dissemination of multiple drug resistance genes by class 1 integrons in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from four countries: a comparative study.

A comparative genetic analysis of 42 clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, resistant to two or more antibiotics belonging to the broad-spectrum β-lactam group, sourced from Sydney, Australia, and three South American countries is presented. The study focuses on the genetic contexts of class 1 integrons, mobilizable genetic elements best known for their role in the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative pathogens. It was found that the class 1 integrons in this cohort were located in a number of different genetic contexts with clear regional differences.

Recovery of a functional class 2 integron from an Escherichia coli strain mediating a urinary tract infection.

A class 2 integron was found in an Escherichia coli isolate mediating a urinary tract infection. Unlike other class 2 integrons from pathogens, the encoded IntI2 protein was functional. The integron possessed a dfrA14 cassette, and a second novel cassette in which a lipoprotein signal peptidase gene is predicted.

Urinary tract infections in a South American population: dynamic spread of class 1 integrons and multidrug resistance by homologous and site-specific recombination.

One hundred four bacterial strains mediating urinary tract infections in separate individuals from a Uruguayan community were isolated. Forty-six strains conferred a multidrug resistance phenotype. All 104 strains were examined for the presence of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons.

Challenges in the control of gonorrhea in South America and the Caribbean: monitoring the development of resistance to antibiotics.

Objective: : The objective of this study was to ascertain the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from 6 South American and 13 Caribbean countries participating in the Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (GASP) from 1990 to 1999.

Study: : A GASP network of laboratories was launched in the Americas and the Caribbean during the 1990s. Standardized methods and interpretative criteria were established for the isolation of N.

Cytogenetic damage in female Chilean agricultural workers exposed to mixtures of pesticides.

The VIII Region of Bio-Bio is a major fruit-growing area of Chile that makes intensive use of agricultural pesticides. The cytogenetic damage associated with exposure to mixtures of pesticides was evaluated by comparing peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus (MN) frequencies in a group of 64 female agricultural workers and 30 female controls. The exposed subjects worked during the spring and summer in thinning and pruning fruit trees and in harvesting and packing different fruits, such as raspberries, grapes, apples, and kiwis.

Detection of a novel Tet M determinant in tetracycline-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Uruguay, 1996-1999.

Background: Determination of the diversity within the tet(M) sequence from N gonorrhoeae is a useful epidemiologic tool for monitoring the movement or importation of strains within a geographic region. Only two distinct tet(M) genes in clinical gonococcal isolates have been described up to now: the Dutch and the American types.

Goal: The study involved surveillance of the tet(M) gene types in high-level-tetracycline-resistant gonococcal isolates from Uruguay during the period 1996 to 1999.