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Vega-Abellaneda S, Dopazo C, Yañez F, Soler Z, Xie Z, Canalda-Baltrons A, Pons-Tarín M, Bilbao I, Manichanh C. Microbiome composition recovery after liver transplantation correlates with initial liver disease severity and antibiotics treatment. Am J Transplant 2024:S1600-6135(24)00248-X. [PMID: 38556088 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2024.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is crucial for end-stage liver disease, but it is linked to infection risks. Pathobionts, microorganisms potentially harmful under specific conditions, can cause complications posttransplant. Monitoring such pathogens in fecal samples can be challenging and therefore remains underexplored post-LT. This study aimed to analyze the gut microbiome before and after LT, tracking pathobionts and correlating clinical data. The study involved 17 liver transplant recipients, 17 healthy relatives (spouses), and 13 donors. Gut samples collected pretranplantation and posttransplantation underwent bacterial and fungal profiling through DNA sequencing. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess microbial load. Statistical analyses included alpha and beta diversity measures, differential abundance analysis, and correlation tests between microbiome and clinical parameters. Microbiome analysis revealed dynamic changes in diversity posttransplant. Notably, high-severity patients showed persistent and greater dysbiosis during the first months post-LT compared with low-severity patients, partly due to an antibiotic treatment pre-LT. The analysis identified a higher proportion of pathogens such as Escherichia coli/Shigella flexneri in high-severity cases posttransplant. Furthermore, butyrate producers including Roseburia intestinalis, Anaerostipes hadrus, and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes were positively correlated with levels of albumin. This study offers valuable insights into post-LT microbiome changes, shedding light on the need for tailored prophylactic treatment post-LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vega-Abellaneda
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Dopazo
- Department of HPB Surgery and Transplants, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisca Yañez
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zaida Soler
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zixuan Xie
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Canalda-Baltrons
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Pons-Tarín
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Itxarone Bilbao
- Department of HPB Surgery and Transplants, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Valassi E, Manichanh C, Amodru V, Fernández PG, Gaztambide S, Yañez F, Martel-Duguech L, Puig-Domingo M, Webb SM. Gut microbial dysbiosis in patients with Cushing's disease in long-term remission. Relationship with cardiometabolic risk. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1074757. [PMID: 37342265 PMCID: PMC10278540 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1074757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with Cushing's disease (CD) in remission maintain an increased cardiovascular risk. Impaired characteristics of gut microbiome (dysbiosis) have been associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods Twenty-eight female non-diabetic patients with CD in remission with a mean ± SD) age of 51 ± 9 years, mean ( ± SD) BMI, 26 ± 4, median (IQR) duration of remission, 11(4) years and 24 gender-, age, BMI-matched controls were included. The V4 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA was PCR amplified and sequenced to analyse microbial alpha diversity (Chao 1 index, observed number of species, Shannon index) and beta diversity analysis through the Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) of weighted and unweighted UniFrac distances. Inter-group difference in microbiome composition was analysed using MaAsLin2. Results The Chao 1 index was lower in CD as compared with controls (Kruskal-Wallis test, q = 0.002), indicating lower microbial richness in the former. Beta diversity analysis showed that faecal samples from CS patients clustered together and separated from the controls (Adonis test, p<0.05). Collinsella, a genus form of the Actinobacteria phylum was present in CD patients only, whereas Sutterella, a genus from Proteobacteria phylum, was scarcely detectable/undetectable in CD patients as well as Lachnospira, a genus of the Lachnospiraceae family of the Firmicutes phylum. In CS, the Chao 1 index was associated with fibrinogen levels and inversely correlated with both triglyceride concentrations and the HOMA-IR index (p<0.05). Conclusions Patients with CS in remission have gut microbial dysbiosis which may be one of the mechanisms whereby cardiometabolic dysfunctions persist after "cure".
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Valassi
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Unit 747, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Microbiome Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincent Amodru
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Unit 747, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro González Fernández
- Endocrinology Department, Cruces University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia, UPVEHU, CIBERDEM, Endo-ERN, SpainCruces Hospital, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sonia Gaztambide
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Unit 747, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology Department, Cruces University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia, UPVEHU, CIBERDEM, Endo-ERN, SpainCruces Hospital, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Francisca Yañez
- Microbiome Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Manel Puig-Domingo
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Unit 747, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susan M. Webb
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Unit 747, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
- IIB-Sant Pau and Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Vargas M, Yañez F, Elias A, Bernabeu A, Goya M, Xie Z, Farrás A, Sánchez O, Soler Z, Blasquez C, Valle L, Olivella A, Muñoz B, Brik M, Carreras E, Manichanh C. Cervical pessary and cerclage placement for preterm birth prevention and cervicovaginal microbiome changes. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2022; 101:1403-1413. [PMID: 36168933 PMCID: PMC9812209 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Our objective was to compare the vaginal microbiome in low-risk and high-risk pregnant women and to explore a potential association between vaginal microbiome and preterm birth. MATERIAL AND METHODS A pilot, consecutive, longitudinal, multicenter study was conducted in pregnant women at 18-22 weeks of gestation. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: control (normal cervix), pessary (cervical length ≤25 mm) and cerclage (cervical length ≤25 mm or history of preterm birth). Analysis and comparison of vaginal microbiota as a primary outcome was performed at inclusion and at 30 weeks of gestation, along with a follow-up of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. We assessed the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women presenting a short cervix with that of pregnant women having a normal cervix, and compared the vaginal microbiome of women with a short cervix before and after placement of a cervical pessary or a cervical cerclage. RESULTS The microbiome of our control cohort was dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and inners. Five community state types were identified and microbiome diversity did not change significantly over 10 weeks in controls. On the other hand, a short cervix was associated with a lower microbial load and higher microbial richness, and was not correlated with Lactobacillus relative abundance. After intervention, the cerclage group (n = 19) had a significant increase in microbial richness and a shift towards community state types driven by various bacterial species, including Lactobacillus mulieris, unidentified Bifidobacterium or Enterococcus. These changes were not significantly observed in the pessary (n = 26) and control (n = 35) groups. The cerclage group had more threatened preterm labor episodes and poorer outcomes than the control and pessary groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that a short cervix is associated with an altered vaginal microbiome community structure. The use of a cerclage for preterm birth prevention, as compared with a pessary, was associated with a microbial community harboring a relatively low abundance of Lactobacillus, with more threatened preterm labor episodes, and with poorer clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Vargas
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal‐Fetal Medicine UnitHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Francisca Yañez
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Andrea Elias
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Andrea Bernabeu
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal‐Fetal Medicine UnitHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain,Department of Reproductive MedicineInstituto BernabeuAlicanteSpain
| | - Maria Goya
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal‐Fetal Medicine UnitHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain,Microbiome LabHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD); Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaCerdanyola del VallèsSpain
| | - Zixuan Xie
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Alba Farrás
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal‐Fetal Medicine UnitHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Olga Sánchez
- Microbiome LabHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD); Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaCerdanyola del VallèsSpain,Women and Perinatal Health Research GroupInstitut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Sant Pau (IIB‐Sant Pau). Hospital Universitari de Sant PauBarcelonaSpain
| | - Zaida Soler
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Carlos Blasquez
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Leonor Valle
- Maternal‐Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of ObstetricsHospital Universitario Materno‐Infantil de CanariasLas Palmas de Gran CanariaSpain
| | - Anna Olivella
- Department of ObstetricsHospital de Sant PauBarcelonaSpain
| | - Begoña Muñoz
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyHospital Universitari Sant Joan de ReusReusSpain
| | - Maia Brik
- Department of ObstetricsHospital Universitario de Torrejón, Universidad Francisco de VitoriaMadridSpain
| | - Elena Carreras
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal‐Fetal Medicine UnitHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain,Microbiome LabHospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD); Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaCerdanyola del VallèsSpain
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
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Oyarzun I, Le Nevé B, Yañez F, Xie Z, Pichaud M, Serrano-Gómez G, Roca J, Veiga P, Azpiroz F, Tap J, Manichanh C. Human gut metatranscriptome changes induced by a fermented milk product are associated with improved tolerance to a flatulogenic diet. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1632-1641. [PMID: 35465165 PMCID: PMC9014321 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy plant-based diets rich in fermentable residues may induce gas-related symptoms, possibly mediated by the gut microbiota. We previously showed that consumption of a fermented milk product (FMP) containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria improved gastrointestinal (GI) comfort in response to a flatulogenic dietary challenge in healthy individuals. To study the effects of the FMP on gut microbiota activity from those participants, we conducted a metatranscriptomic analysis of fecal samples (n = 262), which were collected during the ingestion of a habitual diet and two series of a 3-day high-residue challenge diet, before and following 28-days of FMP consumption. Most of the FMP species were detected or found enriched upon consumption of the product. FMP mitigated the effect of a flatulogenic diet on gas-related symptoms in several ways. First, FMP consumption was associated with the depletion of gas-producing bacteria and increased hydrogen to methane conversion. It also led to the upregulation of activities such as replication and downregulation of functions related to motility and chemotaxis. Furthermore, upon FMP intake, metabolic activities such as carbohydrate metabolism, attributed to B. animalis and S. thermophilus, were enriched; these activities were coincidentally found to be negatively associated with several GI symptoms. Finally, a more connected microbial ecosystem or mutualistic relationship among microbes was found in responders to the FMP intervention. Taken together, these findings suggest that consumption of the FMP improved the tolerance of a flatulogenic diet through active interactions with the resident gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Oyarzun
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Francisca Yañez
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zixuan Xie
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Joaquim Roca
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Azpiroz
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julien Tap
- Danone Nutricia Research, Palaiseau, France
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Cabe AM, Yañez F, Pinto R, López A, Ortiz S, Martin CMS, Botto-Mahan C, Solari A. Survivorship of wild caught Mepraia spinolai nymphs: The effect of seasonality and Trypanosoma cruzi infection after feeding and fasting in the laboratory. Infect Genet Evol 2019; 71:197-204. [PMID: 30953715 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Vector survival is an important variable affecting vectorial capacity to determine parasite transmission risk. The aims of this study are to evaluate vector survival under fasting/starvation conditions of wild-caught Mepraia spinolai after feeding and fasting, the pathogenicity of T. cruzi infection, the parasite burden and seasonal variation in parasite discrete typing units (DTU). The survivorship of M. spinolai nymphs after two continuous artificial feedings was evaluated, assessing their infection with microscopic observation of fecal samples and PCR. Later, insects were fasted/starved until death. We performed qPCR analyses of parasite load in the fecal samples and dead specimens. T. cruzi genotyping was performed using conventional PCR amplicons and hybridization tests. Infection rate was higher in M. spinolai nymphs in summer and spring than in fall. Parasite burden varied from 3 to 250,000 parasites/drop. Survival rate for starved nymph stage II was lower in insects collected in the spring compared to summer and fall. TcII was the most frequent DTU. Mainly metacyclic trypomastigotes were excreted. We conclude that M. spinolai infection rate in nymphs varies among seasons, suggesting higher transmission risk in warmer seasons. However, nymphs stage II collected in spring are more sensitive to starvation compared to other seasons. TcII in single or mixed infection does not seem relevant to determine vector pathogenicity. These results of vector survivorship after fasting/starvation are important to determine the competence of M. spinolai as a vector of T. cruzi, since they excrete metacyclic trypomastigotes and the parasitism with T. cruzi seems to be poorly pathogenic to the vector under a severe fasting/starvation condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mc Cabe
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - F Yañez
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - R Pinto
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - A López
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile
| | - S Ortiz
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile.
| | - C Muñoz-San Martin
- Ecology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Livestock, University of Chile, Chile.
| | - C Botto-Mahan
- Department of Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.
| | - A Solari
- Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile.
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González F, Verdugo F, Fernández C, Gayán A, Yañez F, Herrera F. [Cardiovascular Preparticipation Screening of young population. Position statement of Chilean Scientific Societies]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 89:544-554. [PMID: 30571832 DOI: 10.4067/s0370-41062018005000607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE), defined as "the health supervision of individuals, prior to the practice of physical activity and/or sports, which seeks to optimize their safe participation in sports and provide an opportunity to identify current and future risks to their health and quality of life", inclu des the Cardiovascular assessment, which aims to screen cardiovascular pathologies with the risk of worsening or sudden death during exercise. Although there is broad international consensus that the use of Pediatric Cardiovascular PPE in young athletes is useful, there is no consensus on whether this should be used in the entire pediatric population or on which is the best strategy to apply. This article presents the position of the scientific societies related to sport, physical activity and child health on the Pediatric Cardiovascular PPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- F González
- Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Exequiel González Cortés, Chile
| | - F Verdugo
- Comité Medicina del Deporte y la Actividad Física, Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría, Chile
| | - C Fernández
- Sociedad Chilena de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, Chile
| | - A Gayán
- Comité Medicina del Deporte y la Actividad Física, Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría, Chile
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Hernández-Miranda E, Quiñones RA, Aedo G, Valenzuela A, Mermoud N, Román C, Yañez F. A major fish stranding caused by a natural hypoxic event in a shallow bay of the eastern South Pacific Ocean. J Fish Biol 2010; 76:1543-1564. [PMID: 20557615 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02580.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A massive beaching and mortality of fishes occurred in Coliumo Bay, a shallow bay located along the coast of the eastern South Pacific Ocean on 3 January 2008. This stranding was a consequence of an abrupt decrease in the dissolved oxygen concentration throughout the whole water column, due to the effect of intense upwelling along the coast off central-southern Chile. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize taxonomically and biologically the fish species assemblage present in this beaching; (2) to evaluate several physiological indicators for the condition of the beached species at the time of their death; and (3) to assess the possible cause-effect mechanisms involved in the fishes death and the changes that took place in the fish community throughout the time. In this beaching, 26 fish species were identified: 23 teleosts, one myxiniform and two elasmobranchs. Most beached specimens were juveniles. Haematological and histological evidence indicate that severe hypoxia that lasted for at least 48 h was the most plausible cause of death. The main conclusion of this study is that the presence of oxygen-poor equatorial sub-surface water in the shallow coastal zone due to intense regional-scale upwelling caused the fish stranding. Although the effect of the hypoxic event was severe for the fish assemblage of Coliumo Bay, the rapid recuperation observed suggests that hypoxic events at the local spatial scale can be buffered by migration processes from the fish community inhabiting close by areas non-affected by low oxygen conditions. The effect that severe hypoxic events may have on larger spatial scales remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hernández-Miranda
- Programa de Investigación Marina de Excelencia (PIMEX), Facultad de Cs. Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
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