Dermatophytes isolated from domestic animals in Barcelona,Spain

A comparative study was conducted with soybean material presenting symptoms of the Diaporthe/Phomopsis complex that was collected in two distant geographical regions of the world: Beltsville, MA, USA, and Vojvodina, Yugoslavia. Contrasting with earlier findings, great variability in the disease symptoms was observed, and one or more Phomopsis species could be isolated from lesions presenting similar characteristics. Among the thirty-three isolates obtained from the lesions the following species were identified: D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, P. phaseoli (teleomorph D. phaseolorum var. sojae, rare), P. longicolla (found for the first time on the soybean fields of Yugoslavia), Phomopsis sp., and one culture showing intermediate characters of D. phaseolorum var. caulivora and D. phaseolorum var. sojae. Much diversity was also found in the cultural characters of the the isolates from both localities, presumably indicating evolutionary and adaptation processes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum(3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.%), T . rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and wasnot isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum (3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.1%), T. rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and was not isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.     

Las noticias de Madrid (News from Madrid)

Over 5,000 participants attended the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) and Related Disorders in Madrid, Spain from July 15–20, 2006. Highlights of the conference included reports on brain imaging, the discovery of mutations in the progranulin gene that cause frontotemporal dementia, the finding that neuregulin-1 is a substrate for BACE1 and new interest in the connection between Alzheimer's disease and metabolic syndromes.     

Study of airborne fungal spores in Madrid, Spain

The concentration of fungal spores in the atmosphere of Madrid was recorded and analyzed for the year 2003. Airborne spores were sampled continuously with a Hirst-type spore trap located on the roof of a building of the School of Pharmacy, at about 8 m above ground level. Correlation between the mean daily spore concentrations and meteorological variables were explored by means of Spearman’s correlation analyses. Seventy spore types were identified, of which the most numerous were Cladosporium, Aspergillaceae (conidia), Coprinus, Agaricales (basidiospores), Ustilago (teliospores) and Pleospora (ascospores). These six types of spores represented more than 70% of the total. Cladosporium represented 41% of the total fungal spores, while Ustilago spores, the concentrations of which in May and June exceeded 47% of the monthly total spore count, constituted the second most important group. Spores reached their highest concentrations in the spring months, and in the autumn, mainly in October. A␣positive significant correlation was found between airborne spore counts and temperature and relative humidity. The results provide a picture of the spectrum of airborne fungal spores present in the atmosphere of Madrid and of the `peak' periods of their presence. Future studies will provide more detailed information on the seasonal dynamics of the spores most frequently found in the air as well as on the extent to which atmospheric conditions influence their release, dispersion and sedimentation processes.     

Zooarchaeology and taphonomy of Aurora Stratum (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).

In 1994 and 1995, a 7 m(2)area was excavated at Level 6 of the Gran Dolina site, Atapuerca. A 25 cm deep sub-level, named Aurora Stratum, contained a large number of human fossils, stone tools and faunal remains. The appearance of human remains as part of a butchered faunal assemblage in association with stone tools raises an interesting question relating to human behaviour. The main aim of this paper, therefore, is to evaluate the nature and function of the human occupation at this cave site with a view to understanding the purposes of cannibalism. The zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses of the macrovertebrate remains focus on species composition, weight and anatomic groups, as well as breakage intensity, type of fragmentation, and surface damage (particularly tool-induced damage) in order to evaluate the faunal source, butchering techniques and economic strategies of the human groups involved. We also studied the distribution and fossil refitting at the site to establish depositional and postdepositional disturbance. Diagenetic breakage due to sediment compression plays an important role in the assemblage, but the most extensive modifications are those produced by human activity for nutritional purposes.     

Integrated archaeobotanical research into vegetation management and land use in El Llano de la Horca (Santorcaz, Madrid, central Spain)

This paper presents an integrated archaeobotanical analysis carried out at the site known as “El Llano de la Horca”, a Bronze and Late Iron Age (3rd–1st century b.c.) Carpetanian settlement in central Spain (3600?±?80 b.p.). Pollen and spore analysis indicates an open landscape dominated by the herb taxa Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae with an important representation of Glomus. The combination of pollen and charcoal studies also reveals the presence of Pinus sylvestris-nigra, P. pinaster-pinea, Juniperus thurifera, Quercus faginea, Q. ilex and Q. suber as the main trees used. Occurrences of Alnus, Corylus, Fraxinus and Juglans suggest the existence of water courses nearby. The archaeobotanical data is correlated with the geographical setting and archaeological context. The evolution of settlement patterns in central Spain, as well as the economy of other Carpetanian sites, is also considered to evaluate how this territory was managed for its vegetational resources since the Bronze Age (BA). Changes are expected as a consequence of different socio-economic factors at this site, especially when the settlement became an important Carpetanian oppidum. The combined results demonstrate a subsistence system based on cereal agriculture, in which naked wheat was dominant, together with some hulled barley and some erratic occurrences of hulled wheat. Furthermore, livestock breeding and metalwork activities seem to have resulted in a significant loss of woodland in order to clear land for crop fields and cattle grazing to cope with the needs of the growing Carpetanian community.     

Carnivores from the Early Pleistocene hominid-bearing Trinchera Dolina 6 (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).

The carnivores from Trinchera Dolina level 6 (TD6) in Sierra de Atapuerca include Ursus sp., Crocuta crocuta, Mustela palerminea, Lynx sp., Canis mosbachensis and Vulpes praeglacialis. Approximately 80 human remains belonging to Homo antecessor were found in the Aurora Stratum (AS): located in the upper part of the TD6 level (TD6, T36-43). The carnivores from AS are taxonomically similar to the rest of the TD6 level, differing only in the occurrence of Lynx sp. The spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) inhabited the Atapuerca Sierra during the Early Pleistocene and up to the Middle Pleistocene, after which it is absent. According to palaeomagnetic, U/Th and ESR results, the fossils from TD6 are dated to the Early Pleistocene, which is the earliest certain occurrence in Europe of Crocuta crocuta. It is associated with Mimomys savini, the arrival of which in Europe can be correlated with the beginning of the Early Biharian. Crocuta crocuta may have arrived during the late Early Pleistocene ("Bavelian complex"), and subsequently invaded the rest of the continent during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Atapuerca TD6-AS represents the most ancient deposits in Europe where Homo and spotted hyaenas coexisted and, they probably competed ecologically. The carnivores from TD6 are biochronologically consistent with the end of the Early Pleistocene or early Cromerian (corresponding with the Biharian biochron). The timespan could correspond with oxygen isotope stages 19, 20 or 21.     

Human cannibalism in the Early Pleistocene of Europe (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain).

Human remains belonging to at least six individuals were found in an exploratory excavation made at the site of Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain). These remains were recovered from the Aurora Stratum of Unit TD6. This stratum has a thickness of approximately 30 cm. The area of the exploratory excavation is about 7 m(2). According to palaeomagnetic analyses, Unit TD6 shows reversed polarity, which is considered to belong to the Matuyama chron. This unit is immediately below TD7, where the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary has been detected, indicating an age of around 780,000 years BP. There is no specific distribution, treatment, or arrangement of the human remains, which were found randomly mixed with abundant faunal remains and stone tools. Most of the faunal and human fossil bones from the Aurora Stratum have human induced damage. Stone tool cutmarks are frequent, and peeling (a type of fracture similar to bending a fresh twig between the hands) provides a specific breakage pattern together with percussion marks and chopmarks. Both nonhuman and human remains show similar intensive exploitation. Slight differences, however, have been observed between fauna and humans (e.g., peeling frequent in humans, rare in fauna), that appear related to different musculature, weight, and bone structure. The characteristics of this fossil assemblage suggest that it is solely the result of consumptive activities as there is no evidence of ritual or other intention. The possibility of distinguishing between dietary vs. survival cannibalism is discussed here.     

Poaceae pollen in the atmosphere of Aranjuez,Madrid and Toledo (central Spain)

The main aim of this work is to study the aerobiological behaviour of Poaceae pollen in three areas of central Spain (Aranjuez, Madrid and Toledo), all of which are similar from a geographical, climatic and biogeographical point of view, and they are located nearby one another. The samplings were carried out over a period of 4 years (2005–2008) using Hirst-type spore traps. Grass pollen is responsible for most spring allergic reactions in the pollen-sensitive population in central Spain, and they are very abundant in the atmosphere of this part of Iberian Peninsula. The average amount of this pollen type, as a percentage of the annual total pollen amount, is 7.4% in Aranjuez, 9.2% in Madrid and 11.3% in Toledo. Poaceae pollen is present in the atmosphere over a long period of time (February–October), and its maximum concentrations are detected during May and June (weeks 16–25). The city of Toledo has the highest annual concentrations of grass pollen (average 5,797 grains) with a great number of days exceeding the allergy thresholds proposed by the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA). Madrid and Aranjuez present similar annual concentrations of grass pollen with values of 2,961 grains and 2,751 grains, respectively. The correlation analysis between the daily levels of grass pollen and meteorological variables of temperature and rainfall show a significant correlation, positive with temperature (maximum, mean and minimum) and negative with rainfall.     

The human cranial remains from Gran Dolina Lower Pleistocene site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).

In this article we study the cranial remains of the late Lower Pleistocene human fossils from Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain), assigned to the new species Homo antecessor. The cranial remains belong to at least five individuals, both juveniles and adults. The most outstanding feature is the totally modern human morphology of the very complete face ATD6-69, representing the earliest occurrence of the modern face in the fossil record. The Gran Dolina fossils show in the face a suite of modern human apomorphies not found in earlier hominids nor in contemporary or earlier Homo erectus fossils. There are also traits in the Gran Dolina fossils shared with both Neandertals and modern humans, which reinforce the hypothesis that Neandertals and modern humans form a clade, and that the Gran Dolina fossils are a common ancestor to both lineages.     

Air-borne fungi in the air of Barcelona (Spain). IV. Various isolated genera

During a two-year survey on the air-borne fungi in the atmosphere of Barcelona (Spain), the following genera were isolated in decreasing order: Aureobasidium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Arthrinium, Phoma, Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Botrytis.     

Hand and foot remains from the Gran Dolina Early Pleistocene site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).

We report here the study of the 22 hand and foot remains from the Early Pleistocene level TD6 of the Gran Dolina site at Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) recovered from 1994 to 1996. These remains are paratypes of Homo antecessor. All of the elements are briefly described and compared with other fossil hominids. The capitate has a constricted neck, well developed head, strong attachment for the ligamentum interosseum trapezoid-capitate, a palmarly placed trapezoid facet with a distinctive small dorsal trapezoid facet, a highly curved and oblique orientation of the second metacarpal facet, and a transversally oriented dorsodistal border. A hamate with a moderately projecting and lightly built hamulus; an inferred reduced styloid process on the third metacarpal base; a wide second metacarpal head; and middle phalanges with well marked insertions for the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and wide heads. The morphology and dimensions of the pedal remains from TD6 are very similar to modern humans; but the base, proximal articular surface and shafts of the proximal hallucal phalanges are more rounded and the midshaft of the proximal toe phalanx is wider.     

Molecular surveillance of HIV-1 in Madrid, Spain: a phylogeographic analysis

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 is constantly changing, mainly as a result of human migratory flows and the high adaptive ability of the virus. In recent years, Spain has become one of Europe''s main destinations for immigrants and one of the western European countries with the highest rates of HIV-positive patients. Using a phylogeographic approach, we have analyzed the relationship between HIV-1 variants detected in immigrant and native populations of the urban area of Madrid. Our project was based on two coincidental facts. First, resistance tests were extended to naïve and newly diagnosed patients, and second, the Spanish government legislated the provision of legal status to many immigrants. This allowed us to obtain a large data set (n = 2,792) from 11 Madrid hospitals of viral pol sequences from the two populations, and with this unique material, we explored the impact of immigration in the epidemiological trends of HIV-1 variants circulating in the largest Spanish city. The prevalence of infections by non-B HIV-1 variants in the studied cohort was 9%, rising to 25% among native Spanish patients. Multiple transmission events involving different lineages and subsubtypes were observed in all the subtypes and recombinant forms studied. Our results also revealed strong social clustering among the most recent immigrant groups, such as Russians and Romanians, but not in those groups who have lived in Madrid for many years. Additionally, we document for the first time the presence of CRF47_BF and CRF38_BF in Europe, and a new BG recombinant form found in Spaniards and Africans is tentatively proposed. These results suggest that the HIV-1 epidemic will evolve toward a more complex epidemiological landscape.     

Acanthamoeba spp. in Contact Lenses from Healthy Individuals from Madrid,Spain

PurposeAcanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a painful and potentially blinding corneal infection caused by Acanthamoeba spp. In Madrid, environmental studies have demonstrated a high presence of these free-living amoebae in tap water. Since most of AK cases occur in contact lenses (CL) wearers with inadequate hygiene habits, the presence of Acanthamoeba in discarded CL has been studied and compared with other common etiological agents of keratitis, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.MethodsOne hundred and seventy-seven healthy individuals from Madrid contributed their discarded CL and answered a questionnaire on hygiene habits. DNA was extracted from the CL solution and analyzed by real-time PCR for Acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. These CL and their solutions were also cultured on non-nutrient agar to isolate Acanthamoeba.ResultsAmong the 177 samples, Acanthamoeba DNA was detected in 87 (49.2%), P. aeruginosa DNA in 14 (7.9%) and S. aureus DNA in 19 (10.7%). Cultivable amoebae, however, were observed in only one sample (0.6%). This isolate was genotyped as T4. The habits reported by this CL owner included some recognized risk factors for AK, but in this study only the practice of “not cleaning the CL case” presented some statistical significant association with Acanthamoeba DNA presence. Detection of the investigated bacterial DNA did not demonstrate statistical significant association with the studied practices, but the presence of P. aeruginosa revealed a possible inhibition of Acanthamoeba in these samples.ConclusionsThe PCR results suggest a high presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in healthy CL wearers from Madrid, but we can assume that CL solutions are properly disinfecting the CL since only 1.1% of the positive PCR samples correspond to viable amoebae and, after four years, only one participant reported stronger ocular problems. Nevertheless, more studies are necessary to corroborate this hypothesis.