Loading...
31 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 31
- Seropositivity of Coxiella burnetii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Matos, Manuela; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Figueira, Luís; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Matos, Ana Cristina; Coelho, Ana CláudiaCoxiella burnetii is a zoonotic microorganism that infects a wide range of wild and domestic species, causing the disease Q fever, frequently involving ticks as vectors. To better understand the occurrence of C. burnetii infection in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), an epidemiological study was conducted in the Centre region of Portugal.
- Five years in the detection of Talaromyces marneffei in Portugal. It’s time to think about!Publication . Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Soares, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, R.; Ferreira, T.; Santos, Marlene; Matos, Manuela
- Talaromyces marneffeiisolated from nasal swabs in PortugalPublication . Matos, Manuela; Baptista, Catarina Jota; Oliveira, Paula A.; Matos, Ana Cristina; Soares, Ana Sofia; Santos, Marlene; Figueira, Luís; Coelho, Ana CláudiaMycobiota are essential to the health of any living being, creating a balanced and complex interaction between bacteria, the immune system, and the tissue cells of the host. Talaromyces marneffei (also known as Penicillium marneffei) is a dimorphic fungus, endemic in South Asia, which often causes a life-threatening systemic fungal infection (called penicilliosis), particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Nasal swabs from 73 healthy volunteers were analysed to characterize their mycobiota, through its cultural characteristics, morphology, and molecular methods (PCR). All volunteers were also asked to answer to an anonymous questionnaire. Three women were positive (and asymptomatic) for T. marneffei. One of them was reported to have lupus. This study contributes to improving our knowledge about human normal mycobiota, identifying mycotic agents that may cause complicated systemic infections (as T. marneffei), especially in immunosuppressed patients, as well as other possible risk factors of exposure or prognosis.
- Biodiversidade fúngica em ungulados silvestres portuguesesPublication . Venâncio, Carlos; Vieira, Ana Filipa; Pinto, Eduardo; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Soares, Ana Sofia; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaO objetivo deste trabalho foi efetuar a identificação dos diferentes géneros fúngicos provenientes do pelo de 58 ungulados de diferentes regiões de Portugal. Os animais em estudo foram 32 javalis, 24 veados e 2 corços.
- Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis E virus in wild boar and red deer in PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Silva, Sérgio Santos; Matos, Manuela; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Figueira, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Coelho, Ana CláudiaHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic foodborne virus with an annual infection prevalence of 20 million human cases, which seriously affects public health and economic development in both developed and developing countries. To better understand the epidemiology of HEV in Central Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2023 with sera samples from wild ungulates. The seroprevalence and risk factors for HEV seropositivity were evaluated in the present study. Specifically, antibodies against HEV were determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that in the 650 sera samples collected from 298 wild red deer and 352 wild boars in Portugal, 9.1% red deer and 1.7% wild boar were positive for antibodies to HEV. Regarding age, the seropositivity in juvenile wild ungulates was 1.3%, whereas it was 7.2% in adults. Logistic regression models investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds of being seropositive was 3.6 times higher in adults than in juveniles, and the risk was 4.2 times higher in red deer than in wild boar. Both wild ungulate species were exposed to HEV. The higher seroprevalence in red deer suggests that this species may make a major contribution to the ecology of HEV in Central Portugal. Further research is needed to understand how wildlife affects the epidemiology of HEV infections in Portugal.
- Seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Matos, Manuela; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Figueira, Luís; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Matos, Ana Cristina; Coelho, Ana CláudiaQ fever is caused by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii and is a zoonosis that naturally infects goats, sheep, and cats, but can also infect humans, birds, reptiles, or arthropods. A survey was conducted for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii in a sample of 617 free-ranging wild ruminants, 358 wild boar (Sus scrofa) and 259 red deer (Cervus elaphus), in east–central Portugal during the 2016–2022 hunting seasons. Only adult animals were sampled in this study. Antibodies specific to C. burnetii were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IDVet®, Montpellier, France) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection was 1.5% (n = 9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7–2.8%). Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 4/358 wild boar (1.1%; 95% CI: CI: 0.3–2.8%) and 5/259 red deer (1.9%; 0.6–4.5%). Results of the present study indicate that antibodies against C. burnetii were present in wild boar and red deer in Portugal. These findings can help local health authorities to focus on the problem of C. burnetii in wildlife and facilitate the application of a One Health approach to its prevention and control.
- West Nile virus antibodies in wild birds of prey from the North of PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWest Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus spread worldwide, with an enzootic cycle among ornithophilic mosquitoes and birds. Rising temperatures, droughts and water shortage, and the increased movement of people and goods around the world, have facilitated and increased the risk of transmission of this virus in European countries. Seroepidemiological surveys of WNV are useful to understand the real spread of the virus in wild populations and prevent contagion to humans.
- Biossegurança em laboratórios de microbiologia e biologia molecularPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Matos, Manuela; Figueira, Luís; Martins, ManuelA elaboração deste manual técnico teve como principal objetivo o apoio a estudantes, docentes e investigadores nas áreas da microbiologia, biologia molecular e biotecnologia, médicos e enfermeiros veterinários e pessoal técnico de laboratório. O conteúdo do presente trabalho representa a compilação de metodologias e informações sob a forma de consulta rápida. Espera-se que seja um instrumento útil, pretendendo fornecer conhecimento prático que sirva de guia a todos os interessados em desenvolver boas práticas de biossegurança em laboratórios de microbiologia e biologia molecular. Assim, esta publicação pedagógica tem como objetivo principal constituir um manual útil para todos os utilizadores de laboratórios de microbiologia e biologia molecular.
- Seroprevalence of West Nile virus antibodies in wild birds of prey in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana ClaúdiaWest Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most widely distributed arboviruses in the world with zoonotic potential. Seroepidemiological studies are necessary to establish proper prevention and control strategies.
- High seroprevalence of Brucella spp. in wild boar and red deer in the Centre of PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Matos, Manuela; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Figueira, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Coelho, Ana CláudiaHigh seroprevalence of Brucella spp. in wild boar and red deer in the Centre of Portugal.