scholarly journals Multilocus Fragment Typing and Genetic Structure of Cryptosporidium parvum Isolates from Diarrheic Preweaned Calves in Spain

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (21) ◽  
pp. 7779-7786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Quílez ◽  
Claudia Vergara-Castiblanco ◽  
Luis Monteagudo ◽  
Emilio del Cacho ◽  
Caridad Sánchez-Acedo
Keyword(s):  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Discriminatory Power ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Fluorescent Tags ◽  
Multilocus Approach ◽  
Cattle Farms

ABSTRACTA collection of 140Cryptosporidium parvumisolates previously analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequence analyses of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) genes was further characterized by multilocus fragment typing of six minisatellite (MSB and MS5) and microsatellite (ML1, ML2, TP14, and 5B12) loci. Isolates were collected from diarrheic preweaned calves originating from 61 dairy cattle farms in northern Spain. A capillary electrophoresis-based tool combining three different fluorescent tags was used to analyze all six satellites in one capillary. Fragment sizes were adjusted after comparison with sizes obtained by sequence analysis of a selection of isolates for every allele. Size discrepancies at all but the 5B12 locus were found for those isolates that were typed by both techniques, although identical size differences were reported for every allele within each locus. A total of eight alleles were seen at the ML2 marker, which contributed the most to the discriminatory power of the multilocus approach. Multilocus fragment typing clearly improved the discriminatory power of GP60 sequencing, since a total of 59 multilocus subtypes were identified based on the combination of alleles at the six satellite loci, in contrast to the 7 GP60 subtypes previously reported. The majority of farms (38) displayed a unique multilocus subtype, and individual isolates with mixed multilocus subtypes were seen at 22 farms. Bayesian structure analysis based on combined data for both satellite and GP60 loci suggested the presence of two major clusters among theC. parvumisolates from cattle farms in this geographical area.

scholarly journals Host Association of Cryptosporidium parvum Populations Infecting Domestic Ruminants in Spain

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 5363-5371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Quílez ◽  
Claudia Vergara-Castiblanco ◽  
Luis Monteagudo ◽  
Emilio del Cacho ◽  
Caridad Sánchez-Acedo
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Strain Typing ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Population Analyses ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
High Discriminatory Power ◽  
Gp60 Subtypes

ABSTRACTA stock of 148Cryptosporidium parvumDNA extracts from lambs and goat kids selected from a previous study examining the occurrence ofCryptosporidiumspecies and GP60 subtypes in diarrheic lambs and goat kids in northeastern Spain was further characterized by a multilocus fragment typing approach with six mini- and microsatellite loci. Various degrees of polymorphism were seen at all but the MS5 locus, although all markers exhibited two major alleles accounting for more than 75% of isolates. A total of 56 multilocus subtypes (MLTs) from lambs (48 MLTs) and goat kids (11 MLTs) were identified. Individual isolates with mixed MLTs were detected on more than 25% of the farms, but most MLTs (33) were distinctive for individual farms, revealing the endemicity of cryptosporidial infections on sheep and goat farms. Comparison with a previous study in calves in northern Spain using the same six-locus subtyping scheme showed the presence of host-associated alleles, differences in the identity of major alleles, and very little overlap in MLTs betweenC. parvumisolates from lambs and those from calves (1 MLT) or isolates from lambs and those from goat kids (3 MLTs). The Hunter-Gaston index of the multilocus technique was 0.976 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.970 to 0.982), which supports its high discriminatory power for strain typing and epidemiological tracking. Population analyses revealed the presence of two host-associated subpopulations showing epidemic clonality among theC. parvumisolates infecting calves and lambs/goat kids, respectively, although evidence of genetic flow between the two subpopulations was also detected.

scholarly journals Intra-Species Diversity and Panmictic Structure of Cryptosporidium parvum Populations in Cattle Farms in Northern Spain

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e0148811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Ramo ◽  
Joaquín Quílez ◽  
Luis Monteagudo ◽  
Emilio Del Cacho ◽  
Caridad Sánchez-Acedo
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Cattle Farms

Cryptosporidiumspecies and subtype analysis from dairy calves in Spain

Parasitology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (14) ◽  
pp. 1613-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. QUILEZ ◽  
E. TORRES ◽  
R. M. CHALMERS ◽  
G. ROBINSON ◽  
E. DEL CACHO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ssu Rdna ◽  
Dairy Calves ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Sequence Analyses ◽  
The North ◽  
Gp60 Gene ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
North Of Spain ◽  
Cattle Farms

SUMMARYFaecal specimens from 287 diarrhoeic calves younger than 21 days, collected over a 2-year period (2006–2007) from 82 dairy cattle farms in 14 provinces across the north of Spain, were examined for the presence ofCryptosporidiumoocysts. Overall, 63 farms (76·8%) and 166 calves (57·8%) tested positive by microscopy. In order to elucidate the genetic diversity, selected positive specimens from 149 calves originating from 61 farms in the 14 provinces were examined by genotyping and subtyping techniques.Cryptosporidium parvumwas the only species identified by PCR-RFLP of SSU rDNA from all 149 isolates and sequencing of a subset of 50 isolates, except for 2 specimens that were identified asC. bovis. Sequence analyses of the glycoprotein (GP60) gene revealed that mostC. parvumisolates (98%) belonged to the subtype family IIa and 2 isolates were identified as the novel subtype IIdA23G1. Subtype IIaA15G2R1 was the most common and widely distributed (80·3% of the 61 farms), followed by subtype IIaA16G3R1 (14·7%), whereas the remaining IIa subtypes (IIaA16G2R1, IIaA17G2R1, IIaA18G3R1, IIaA19G3R1) were restricted to 1–3 farms. All theseC. parvumIIa subtypes have previously been described in human patients, indicating that most isolates from diarrhoeic calves in northern Spain have zoonotic potential.

scholarly journals High Diversity of Cryptosporidium Species and Subtypes Identified in Cryptosporidiosis Acquired in Sweden and Abroad

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 523
Author(s):  
Marianne Lebbad ◽  
Jadwiga Winiecka-Krusnell ◽  
Christen Rune Stensvold ◽  
Jessica Beser
Keyword(s):  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Diarrheal Disease ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Cryptosporidium Species ◽  
Intestinal Protozoan ◽  
Genotype I ◽  
Glycoprotein Gene ◽  
High Diversity

The intestinal protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to expand the knowledge on the molecular epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis in Sweden to better understand transmission patterns and potential zoonotic sources. Cryptosporidium-positive fecal samples were collected between January 2013 and December 2014 from 12 regional clinical microbiology laboratories in Sweden. Species and subtype determination was achieved using small subunit ribosomal RNA and 60 kDa glycoprotein gene analysis. Samples were available for 398 patients, of whom 250 (63%) and 138 (35%) had acquired the infection in Sweden and abroad, respectively. Species identification was successful for 95% (379/398) of the samples, revealing 12 species/genotypes: Cryptosporidium parvum (n = 299), C. hominis (n = 49), C. meleagridis (n = 8), C. cuniculus (n = 5), Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I (n = 5), C. felis (n = 4), C. erinacei (n = 2), C. ubiquitum (n = 2), and one each of C. suis, C. viatorum, C. ditrichi, and Cryptosporidium horse genotype. One patient was co-infected with C. parvum and C. hominis. Subtyping was successful for all species/genotypes, except for C. ditrichi, and revealed large diversity, with 29 subtype families (including 4 novel ones: C. parvum IIr, IIs, IIt, and Cryptosporidium horse genotype VIc) and 81 different subtypes. The most common subtype families were IIa (n = 164) and IId (n = 118) for C. parvum and Ib (n = 26) and Ia (n = 12) for C. hominis. Infections caused by the zoonotic C. parvum subtype families IIa and IId dominated both in patients infected in Sweden and abroad, while most C. hominis cases were travel-related. Infections caused by non-hominis and non-parvum species were quite common (8%) and equally represented in cases infected in Sweden and abroad.

scholarly journals Characterization and Molecular Epidemiology of a Fungal Infection of Edible Crabs (Cancer pagurus) and Interaction of the Fungus with the Dinoflagellate Parasite Hematodinium

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 783-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L. Smith ◽  
Kristina M. Hamilton ◽  
Lucy Hirschle ◽  
Emma C. Wootton ◽  
Claire L. Vogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Host Response ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Fungal Isolate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cancer Pagurus ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Disease Condition ◽  
Fungal Sepsis ◽  
Host Tissues

ABSTRACTThis study reports on an emerging fungal disease of the edible crab,Cancer pagurus. Juvenile (prerecruit) crabs were found to be subject to this disease condition during the months of May to September at two intertidal sites in South Wales, United Kingdom. Histopathology revealed that the fungi overwhelm the host response in the tissues, leading to progressive septicemia. The causative agent of this infection was isolated and grown in pure culture and was identified as a member of theOphiocordycepsclade by sequencing of the small subunit of the fungal ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Of the crabs naturally infected with the fungus, 94% had a coinfection with the parasitic dinoflagellateHematodiniumspecies. To determine if there was any interaction between the two disease-causing agents, apparently fungus-free crabs, both with and without naturalHematodiniuminfections, were challenged with the fungal isolate. The presence ofHematodiniumcaused a significant reduction in fungal multiplication in the hemocoel of the crabs in comparison to that inHematodinium-free individuals. Histopathology of coinfected crabs showed a systemic multiplication ofHematodiniumwithin host tissues, leading to a rapid death, whileHematodinium-free crabs experimentally infected with the fungal isolate died due to fungal sepsis (septicemia) with the same characteristic pathology as seen in natural infections.

scholarly journals Specificity of Associations between Bacteria and the Coral Pocillopora meandrina during Early Development

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (20) ◽  
pp. 7467-7475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Apprill ◽  
Heather Q. Marlow ◽  
Mark Q. Martindale ◽  
Michael S. Rappé
Keyword(s):  
Small Subunit ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Roseobacter Clade ◽  
Small Subunit Rrna ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sterile Seawater ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Coral Health

ABSTRACTRelationships between corals and specific bacterial associates are thought to play an important role in coral health. In this study, the specificity of bacteria associating with the coralPocillopora meandrinawas investigated by exposing coral embryos to various strains of cultured marine bacteria, sterile seawater, or raw seawater and examining the identity, density, and location of incorporated cells. The isolates utilized in this experiment included members of the Roseobacter and SAR11 clades of theAlphaproteobacteria, aPseudoalteromonasspecies of theGammaproteobacteria, and aSynechococcusspecies of theCyanobacteriaphylum. Based on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of small-subunit rRNA genes, similarities in bacterial communities associated with 170-h-old planulae were observed regardless of treatment, suggesting that bacteria may have been externally associated from the outset of the experiment. Microscopic examination ofP. meandrinaplanulae by fluorescencein situhybridization with bacterial and Roseobacter clade-specific oligonucleotide probes revealed differences in the densities and locations of planulae-associated cells. Planulae exposed to either raw seawater or strains ofPseudoalteromonasand Roseobacter harbored the highest densities of internally associated cells, of which 20 to 100% belonged to the Roseobacter clade. Planulae exposed to sterile seawater or strains of the SAR11 clade andSynechococcusdid not show evidence of prominent bacterial associations. Additional analysis of the raw-seawater-exposed planulae via electron microscopy confirmed the presence of internally associated prokaryotic cells, as well as virus-like particles. These results suggest that the availability of specific microorganisms may be an important factor in the establishment of coral-bacterial relationships.

scholarly journals Molecular Diversity of the Syndinean Genus Euduboscquella Based on Single-Cell PCR Analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsvetan R. Bachvaroff ◽  
Sunju Kim ◽  
Laure Guillou ◽  
Charles F. Delwiche ◽  
D. Wayne Coats
Keyword(s):  
Large Subunit ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Base Change ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Ssu Rrna ◽  
Compensatory Base Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Single Cell Pcr ◽  
Group I ◽  
Lsu Rrna

ABSTRACTThe genusEuduboscquellais one of a few described genera within the syndinean dinoflagellates, an enigmatic lineage with abundant diversity in marine environmental clone libraries based on small subunit (SSU) rRNA. The region composed of the SSU through to the partial large subunit (LSU) rRNA was determined from 40 individual tintinnid ciliate loricae infected withEuduboscquellasampled from eight surface water sites in the Northern Hemisphere, producing seven distinct SSU sequences. The corresponding host SSU rRNA region was also amplified from eight host species. The SSU tree ofEuduboscquellaand syndinean group I sequences from environmental clones had seven well-supported clades and one poorly supported clade across data sets from 57 to 692 total sequences. The genusEuduboscquellaconsistently formed a supported monophyletic clade within a single subclade of group I sequences. For most parasites with identical SSU sequences, the more variable internal transcribed spacer (ITS) to LSU rRNA regions were polymorphic at 3 to 10 sites. However, inE. cachonithere was variation between ITS to LSU copies at up to 20 sites within an individual, while in a parasite ofTintinnopsisspp., variation between different individuals ranged up to 19 polymorphic sites. However, applying the compensatory base change model to the ITS2 sequences suggested no compensatory changes within or between individuals with the same SSU sequence, while one to four compensatory changes between individuals with similar but not identical SSU sequences were found. Comparisons between host and parasite phylogenies do not suggest a simple pattern of host or parasite specificity.

Institutional context and hotel social responsibility

Kybernetes ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 413-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Dolores Sánchez-Fernández ◽  
Alfonso Vargas-Sánchez ◽  
Paula Remoaldo
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The authors want to study the connection between institutional theory and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the set of hotels with three, four and five star situated in Galicia (Spain) and in the Northern region of Portugal. The authors aim to see whether there is a contrast of isomorphic behaviour in the institutional context of both regions. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative study in which the authors apply the partial least square (PLS) technique, a methodology based on structural equations models using the software Visual-PLS. The authors intend to study the relationships between the pressures of institutional context and CSR practices, together with the relationship between legitimacy and these practices. The focus of the proposed model is based on the system theory. Findings – The main findings of this research clearly show that hotels are incorporated into an institutional context marked by enforced and regulatory pressures. Research limitations/implications – The proposed research model can be replicated using other units of study, sectors, geographic areas, among others, due to the explanatory capacity of the theoretical framework used. Originality/value – The originality of this work derives from the main contributions based on the theoretical framework (institutional theory and CSR), the object of study and geographical area (three, four and five star hotels located in Galicia and in the North of Portugal), the context (economic crisis), the field of study (private sphere) and the type of organizations (profit making).

Cooperative behaviour and place branding: a longitudinal case study in Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Rinaldi ◽  
Alessio Cavicchi
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Area ◽  
Place Branding ◽  
Cooperative Behaviour ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
As Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to understand the motivations driving cooperative behaviour between heterogeneous stakeholders in place-branding activities, focusing on contract-based and relation-based cooperation constructs. Design/methodology/approach The longitudinal case study method is used to help understanding how the investigated network has evolved over four years from an attempt to build a regional umbrella-brand to a network contract between 13 enterprises. Findings The findings suggest that the relationships of trust and shared values among stakeholders are essential to foster cooperation, but also that contract-based governance complements a relation-based governance, enhancing the performance of the alliance. Research limitations/implications The main limitation is related to the case study methodology, as results are strongly dependent on the specific characteristics of the stakeholders and the geographical area analysed. Social implications The role of stakeholders in building a place brand is increasingly important. When analysing cooperative behaviour drivers, more attention should be paid to such intangible assets as social, human, relational and organisational capital. Originality/value This longitudinal case study emphasises that for success in place-branding activities, contract-based cooperation can be particularly useful at the beginning of a network alliance, while relation-based cooperation ensures the strength and continuity of the partnership but it takes time to develop. Responsible leaders, working as relationship facilitators/enablers, are important to keep network members engaged, by creating trust and favouring mutual beneficial relationships between stakeholders.

Why are companies still struggling to reach higher continuous improvement maturity levels? Empirical evidence from high performance companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Jurburg ◽  
Elisabeth Viles ◽  
Carmen Jaca ◽  
Martin Tanco
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Performing

Purpose – Continuous improvement (CI) is regarded as a powerful approach to achieve business excellence. However, the implementation is not simple as it involves managing a considerable amount of tangible and intangible factors throughout the whole organization. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap by presenting first-hand information about how companies really implement and organize their CI processes. Design/methodology/approach – The study was based on semi-structured interviews in ten high performing companies in the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain well known for its business quality. The objective was to analyze the state of their CI processes, putting special focus on how the organizational structure integrates with the CI processes and what are the characteristics of the corresponding measurement system. Findings – The study shows a lack of company-wide focus on CI, little written evidence of previous improvement activities, unclear improvement process owner, and poor use of adequate measurement systems to monitor CI. Practical implications – Managers should understand that is not enough to guarantee their own commitment and provide the structure, since in order to become learning organization, a different holistic approach towards the CI process must be adopted. Originality/value – While most previous work on this field have focused primarily on how to implement different techniques in order to achieve better productive performance, this study presents empirical research from a more holistic approach, assessing the characteristics affecting CI by considering strategy, structure, and the measurement system.

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