Aspergillosis is a disease caused by some species of the fungus Aspergillus, occurring in both mammals (including humans) and birds, the latter being the most susceptible group. Aspergillus must be considered a public health concern as it affects the poultry industry economically and is an occupational risk to its workers. A retrospective study of fungal isolates from the lungs of chickens (Gallus gallus), analyzed between 2008 and 2021 at the Mycology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica was performed to report the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. in poultry farms in Costa Rica and their associated factors. A total of 1113 cases were received, of which 31% (n = 392; 95% CI: 28.3−33.7) were positive for fungal isolation. Aspergillus was the most frequently detected genus, and the most frequent sections were Fumigati (n = 197/392, 50.3%), Flavi (n = 90/392, 22.9%), and Nigri (n = 50/392, 12.7%). Significant effects (p < 0.05) related to the year, geographical origin, purpose, and age were identified in relation to the Aspergillus infection. The identified factors are explained by climatic variations in the tropics and the particularities of the birds. Future research including molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility tests in animals, humans, and the environment, are needed to better understand the risks of the diseases caused by those fungi in this country.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jof9010058 | DOI Listing |
J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Background: Fish venoms have been poorly characterized and the available information about their composition suggests they are uncomplicated secretions that, combined with epidermal mucus, could induce an inflammatory reaction, excruciating pain, and, in some cases, local tissue injuries.
Methods: In this study, we characterized the 24-hour histopathological effects of lionfish venom in a mouse experimental model by testing the main fractions obtained by size exclusion-HPLC. By partial proteomics analysis, we also correlated these effects with the presence of some potentially toxic venom components.
Zookeys
January 2025
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA University of California San Diego La Jolla United States of America.
The methane seeps on the Pacific margin of Costa Rica support extensive animal diversity and offer insights into deep-sea biogeography. During five expeditions between 2009 and 2019, we conducted intensive faunal sampling via 63 submersible dives to 11 localities at depths of 300-3600 m. Based on these expeditions and published literature, we compiled voucher specimens, images, and 274 newly published DNA sequences to present a taxonomic inventory of macrofaunal and megafaunal diversity with a focus on invertebrates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcol Lett
January 2025
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
The presence in ecological communities of unfeasible species interactions, termed forbidden links, due to physiological or morphological exploitation barriers has been long debated, but little direct evidence has been found. Forbidden links are likely to make ecological communities less robust to species extinctions, stressing the need to assess their prevalence. Here, we used a dataset of plant-hummingbird interactions, coupled with a Bayesian hierarchical model, to assess the importance of exploitation barriers in determining species interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFERJ Open Res
January 2025
Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova and AOPD, Padua, Italy.
https://bit.ly/3AgC5Yv.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Nurs Rev
March 2025
Center for Healthcare Delivery Systems Science, Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Aim: To describe the self-reported mental health of nurses from 35 countries who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: There is little occupationally specific data about nurses' mental health worldwide. Studies have documented the impact on nurses' mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few have baseline referents.
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