We conducted a study in a dengue-endemic area of Colombia to evaluate the dynamics of transmission of dengue viruses during and after epidemics. Information was simultaneously gathered about occurrence of infection in humans and mosquitoes every three months in four cities with endemic transmission. Viral isolation was confirmed in 6.7% of the persons and most were asymptomatic. Adult mosquito and larvae house indexes were not found associated with increased burden of disease. The only entomologic indicator related to dengue infection in humans was the pooled infection rate of mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti infection rates showed significant differences between the epidemic (10.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.04-15.62) and after epidemic periods of the study (6.15, 95% CI = 3.46-10.19). In addition, Ae. albopictus were also infected with dengue viruses. Increases in mosquito infection rates were associated with increases in human infection rates in the following trimester.

BackgroundAmerican Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, and may have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe sampled 27 Creole populations, 39 Iberian, 9 European and 6 Zebu breeds. We used microsatellite markers to assess the origins of Creole cattle, and to investigate the influence of different breeds on their genetic make-up. The major ancestral contributions are from breeds of southern Spain and Portugal, in agreement with the historical ports of departure of ships sailing towards the Western Hemisphere. This Iberian contribution to Creoles may also include some African influence, given the influential role that African cattle have had in the development of Iberian breeds, but the possibility of a direct influence on Creoles of African cattle imported to America can not be discarded. In addition to the Iberian influence, the admixture with other European breeds was minor. The Creoles from tropical areas, especially those from the Caribbean, show clear signs of admixture with Zebu.Conclusions/SignificanceNearly five centuries since cattle were first brought to the Americas, Creoles still show a strong and predominant signature of their Iberian ancestors. Creole breeds differ widely from each other, both in genetic structure and influences from other breeds. Efforts are needed to avoid their extinction or further genetic erosion, which would compromise centuries of selective adaptation to a wide range of environmental conditions.

Coevolution of the angular leaf spot pathogen, Phaeoisariopsis griseola, with its common bean host has been demonstrated, and P. griseola isolates have been divided into Andean and Mesoamerican groups that correspond to defined bean gene pools. Recent characterization of P. griseola isolates from Africa has identified a group of isolates classified as Andean using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), but which are able to infect some Mesoamerican differential varieties. These isolates, designated Afro-Andean, have been identified only in Africa. Random amplified microsatellites, RAPD, and restriction digestion of amplified ribosomal intergenic spacer region were used to elucidate the relationships among the Afro-Andean, Andean, and Mesoamerican groups of P. griseola. Cluster and multiple correspondence analysis of molecular data separated isolates into Andean and Meso-american groups, and the Afro-Andean isolates clustered with Andean isolates. Analysis of molecular variance ascribed 2.8% of the total genetic variation to differences between Afro-Andean and Andean isolates from Africa. Gene diversity analysis revealed no genetic differentiation (G(ST) = 0.004) between Afro-Andean and Andean isolates from Africa. However, significant levels of genetic differentiation (G(ST) = 0.39) were observed between Afro-Andean or Andean isolates from Africa and Andean isolates from Latin America, revealing significant geographical differentiation within the Andean lineage. Results from this study showed that Afro-Andean isolates do not constitute a new P. griseola group and do not represent long-term evolution of the pathogen genome, but rather are likely the consequents of point mutations in genes for virulence. This finding has significant implications in the deployment of resistant bean genotypes.

Genetic diversity in and relationships among 26 Creole cattle breeds from 10 American countries were assessed using 19 microsatellites. Heterozygosities, F-statistics estimates, genetic distances, multivariate analyses and assignment tests were performed. The levels of within-breed diversity detected in Creole cattle were considerable and higher than those previously reported for European breeds, but similar to those found in other Latin American breeds. Differences among breeds accounted for 8.4% of the total genetic variability. Most breeds clustered separately when the number of pre-defined populations was 21 (the most probable K value), with the exception of some closely related breeds that shared the same cluster and others that were admixed. Despite the high genetic diversity detected, significant inbreeding was also observed within some breeds, and heterozygote excess was detected in others. These results indicate that Creoles represent important reservoirs of cattle genetic diversity and that appropriate conservation measures should be implemented for these native breeds in order to minimize inbreeding and uncontrolled crossbreeding.

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