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Introduction Mycobacterium caprae is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) not routinely identified to species level. It lacks specific clinical features of presentation and may therefore not be identified as the causative agent of tuberculosis. Use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the investigation of a family microepidemic of tuberculosis in Almería, Spain, unexpectedly identified the involvement of M. caprae. Aim We aimed to evaluate the presence of additional unidentified M. caprae cases and to determine the magnitude of this occurrence. Methods First-line characterisation of the MTBC isolates was done by MIRU-VNTR, followed by WGS. Human and animal M. caprae isolates were integrated in the analysis. Results A comprehensive One Health strategy allowed us to (i) detect other 11 M. caprae infections in humans in a period of 18 years, (ii) systematically analyse M. caprae infections on an epidemiologically related goat farm and (iii) geographically expand the study by including 16 M. caprae isolates from other provinces. Integrative genomic analysis of 41 human and animal M. caprae isolates showed a high diversity of strains. The animal isolates’ diversity was compatible with long-term infection, and close genomic relationships existed between isolates from goats on the farm and recent cases of M. caprae infection in humans. Discussion Zoonotic circulation of M. caprae strains had gone unnoticed for 18 years. Systematic characterisation of MTBC at species level and/or extended investigation of the possible sources of exposure in all tuberculosis cases would minimise the risk of overlooking similar zoonotic events.

Ninety-eight Quaternary volcanoes have been identified in the Ecuadorian Andes and the Galápagos Islands, from them, nine experienced at least one eruption in the last twenty years. Additionally, about 35 % of the Ecuadorian population live in areas that could be affected by future volcanic eruptions. The Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN) monitors and evaluates Ecuador’s volcanic hazards: nineteen volcanic hazard maps and hundreds of related articles have been published as a result of its research. The monitoring networks include eighteen volcanoes, with more than 266 stations, which also form the basis for early warning systems at several volcanoes. Volcanic activity is widely communicated by the IG-EPN through periodic information published in different media (website and social networks). Ecuadorian volcanoes will erupt in the future and, therefore, the IGEPN continuously updates its monitoring and hazard assessment practices and improves communication channels and protocols to successfully fulfil its responsibilities. Noventa y ocho volcanes cuaternarios han sido identificados en los Andes ecuatorianos y Galápagos de los cuales nueve han experimentado erupciones al menos una vez en los últimos veinte años. Adicionalmente, alrededor del 35 % de la población ecuatoriana vive en zonas que podrían ser afectadas durante futuras erupciones. El Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN) monitorea y evalúa la amenaza volcánica del país y, como resultado de sus investigaciones, diecinueve mapas de amenaza volcánica y centenares de artículos científicos han sido publicados. Las redes de vigilancia comprenden dieciocho volcanes e incluyen más de 266 estaciones, que son parte también de los sistemas de alerta temprana. La actividad volcánica es comunicada amplia y periódicamente por el IG-EPN a través diferentes medios (página web y redes sociales). Comprendiendo que futuras erupciones ocurrirán en Ecuador, el IG-EPN continúa actualizando sus prácticas de vigilancia y evaluación de la amenaza, y mejorando sus protocolos de comunicación para cumplir exitosamente sus responsabilidades.

Monitoring the state of active volcanoes is the foundational component of volcanic risk reduction strategies. To a large extent, these responsibilities rest with volcano observatories. Based on the 11 Reports that constitute this Special Issue—“Volcano Observatories in Latin America”—we provide a comprehensive overview of the work that has been carried out by the observatories in Latin America, a region in which tens of millions of people are exposed to volcanic activity. Since the first steps taken in the 1980s, volcano observatories of the region have made significant progress in assessing and monitoring volcanic activity. Currently, 17 institutions officially contribute to monitoring 135 volcanoes in 10 countries. Along with the improvements in the instrumental, technical, and operational capabilities, advancements have been made in long-term hazard assessment and hazard communication. But despite all the progress accomplished, several challenges and limiting factors still remain, such as the lack of financial resources and training opportunities. Efforts should be focused on increasing the number and quality of monitoring networks. El monitoreo del estado de los volcanes activos es un componente fundamental de las estrategias para la reducción del riesgo volcánico. En gran medida, estas responsabilidades recaen en los observatorios volcánicos. A partir de los 11 Reportes que constituyen este Número Especial –“Observatorios volcanológicos en América Latina”– brindamos un detallado resumen del trabajo llevado adelante por los observatorios en Latinoamérica, una región con decenas de millones de personas expuestas a la actividad volcánica. Desde sus primeros pasos a principios de 1980, los observatorios volcanológicos de la región han logrado avances significativos en la evaluación y vigilancia de la actividad volcánica. Actualmente, 17 instituciones contribuyen oficialmente al monitoreo de 135 volcanes en 10 países. Junto con las mejoras en sus capacidades instrumentales, técnicas y operativas, se produjeron avances también en la evaluación y comunicación de peligros a largo plazo. A pesar del avance logrado, aún persisten desafíos y factores limitantes, como la falta de recursos económicos y oportunidades de capacitación. Los esfuerzos futuros deben centrarse en aumentar el número y la calidad de las redes de monitoreo.

International audience; Correlations between marine distal ash layers and continental proximal volcanic deposits constitute a strong tool to investigate the eruptive chronology of an active volcanic arc, to constrain the detailed stratigraphy of the marine sediments, as well as help constraining the magnitude of some large explosive eruptions.In the Andean Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ), Ecuadorian Holocene major explosive eruptions have been widely documented over the past 30 years, and a large geochemical and geochronological database is available. However, the dispersion of distal volcanic products associated with these events is poorly known, and investigation of offshore tephra fallout deposits appears essential to clarify the recurrence, magnitude, and impact of past major explosive eruptions, and thus better define the volcanic hazards.We present for the first time chemical and morphological features of 30 Holocene tephra layers sampled in marine cores off the Ecuadorian coast during the Amadeus and Atacames cruises. Tephra layers are mainly composed of glass shards visible to the naked eye (~50-150 µm) with some calcareous nannofossils, foraminifera and diatoms. We present new geochemical data obtained on these tephra layers and compare different analysis techniques applied on such material. Major and trace element contents were measured on single glass shards by electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), respectively, and compared to bulk whole-rock measurements performed by ICP-AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry). Pb isotopic composition was analyzed by MC-ICP-MS (MultiCollector ICP-MS). Comparison of the chemical and isotopic signature of marine tephra with data acquired on land allows us to correlate some historic events, but also highlights eruptions that do not seem to have been described otherwise.Finally, land-sea correlations of tephra fallout deposits will also provide temporal constraints to marine seismic records, constrain the age of the tectonic structures of the basin, and possibly better define the recurrence of paleoearthquakes in this region where the seismic hazard is particularly high.

páginas, 4 figuras, 3 tablas, Background: Growing international migration has increased the complexity of tuberculosis transmission patterns. Italy's decision to close its borders in 2018 made of Spain the new European porte entrée for migration from the Horn of Africa (HA). In one of the first rescues of migrants from this region at the end of 2018, tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight subjects, mainly unaccompanied minors. Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from these recently arrived migrants were analysed by Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit/Variable-Number of Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and subsequent whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Data were compared with those from collections from other European countries receiving migrants from the HA and a strain-specific PCR was applied for a fast searching of common strains. Infections in a cellular model were performed to assess strain virulence. Results: MIRU-VNTR analysis allowed identifying an epidemiological cluster involving three of the eight cases from Somalia (0 single-nucleotide polymorphisms between isolates, HA cluster). Following detailed interviews revealed that two of these cases had shared the same migratory route in most of the trip and had spent a long time at a detention camp in Libya. To confirm potential en route transmission for the three cases, we searched the same strain in collections from other European countries receiving migrants from the HA. MIRU-VNTR, WGS and a strain-specific PCR for the HA strain were applied. The same strain was identified in 12 cases from Eritrea diagnosed soon after their arrival in 2018 to the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Intracellular replication rate of the strain did not reveal abnormal virulence. Conclusions: Our study suggests a potential en route transmission of a pan-susceptible strain, which caused at least 15 tuberculosis cases in Somalian and Eritrean migrants diagnosed in four different European countries., This work was supported by ERANet-LAC [ELAC2015/T08-0664] and Instituto de Salud Carlos III [AC16/00057, FIS15/01554, FIS13/01207, CP15/00075, PI19/00331] and cofounded by the European Regional Development Funds from the European Commission: ‘A way of making Europe’ and by Junta de Andalucia PI0488-2017.

Co-auteur étranger; International audience; Future occurrence of explosive eruptive activity at Cotopaxi and Guagua Pichincha volcanoes, Ecuador, is assessed probabilistically, utilizing expert elicitation. Eight eruption types were considered for each volcano. Type event probabilities were evaluated for the next eruption at each volcano and for at least one of each type within the next 100 years. For each type, we elicited relevant eruption source parameters (duration, average plume height, and total tephra mass). We investigated the robustness of these elicited evaluations by deriving probability uncertainties using three expert scoring methods. For Cotopaxi, we considered both rhyolitic and andesitic magmas. Elicitation findings indicate that the most probable next eruption type is an andesitic hydrovolcanic/ash-emission (~ 26–44% median probability), which has also the highest median probability of recurring over the next 100 years. However, for the next eruption at Cotopaxi, the average joint probabilities for sub-Plinian or Plinian type eruption is of order 30–40%—a significant chance of a violent explosive event. It is inferred that any Cotopaxi rhyolitic eruption could involve a longer duration and greater erupted mass than an andesitic event, likely producing a prolonged emergency. For Guagua Pichincha, future eruption types are expected to be andesitic/dacitic, and a vulcanian event is judged most probable for the next eruption (median probability ~40–55%); this type is expected to be most frequent over the next 100 years, too. However, there is a substantial probability (possibly >40% in average) that the next eruption could be sub-Plinian or Plinian, with all that implies for hazard levels.

Nursing homes are high-risk environments for the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, as they are a closed environment, with patients who present atypical manifestations of the disease, high risk of unfavorable evolution, and staff who frequently present a high mobility in relation to their jobs. On the other hand, in a pandemic situation, numerous hospitals have suffered periods of great healthcare pressure. The objective of this work was to present an experience of medicalization of a residence where almost 50% of the residents contracted the disease.A multidisciplinary intervention was carried out in a publicly owned nursing home with 99 residents. Specialists from Internal Medicine, Primary Care and health technicians worked together, in close collaboration with the residence workers. The presence of nursing personnel 24 hours a day and medical personnel with daily visits was enabled. The center was provided with the necessary means to administer the medication (oral and intravenous) and oxygen therapy necessary to care for patients with the disease. Analytical results were available within 24 hours. For data analysis, the percentages were calculated and the mean was used as a measure of central tendency.Forty-eight residents (48.5%) and fifteen workers contracted the disease. The total number of deaths during that period was thirteen (13.1%), seven of them diagnosed with COVID-19 (mean age 84.4 years), with a fatality rate of 14.6%. Eleven patients (22%) diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalized, two of whom died during admission.The medicalization of nursing homes can help to reduce the pressure on care in hospitals and optimize care for these vulnerable people with more humanized care, which can ultimately lead to better health outcomes.Las residencias de ancianos son entornos de alto riesgo para la transmisión del coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, por tratarse de ambientes cerrados, con personas que muestran manifestaciones atípicas de la enfermedad, con altas posibilidades de evolucionar desfavorablemente y con personal que frecuentemente presenta una elevada movilidad en relación a los puestos de trabajo. Por otro lado, en una situación de pandemia, numerosos centros hospitalarios han soportado periodos de gran presión asistencial. El objetivo de este trabajo fue presentar una experiencia de medicalización de una residencia donde casi el 50% de los residentes contrajo la enfermedad.Se llevó a cabo una intervención multidisciplinar en una residencia de ancianos de titularidad pública con 99 residentes. Trabajaron de forma conjunta especialistas de Medicina Interna, Atención Primaria y técnicos de salud, en estrecha colaboración con los trabajadores de la residencia. Se habilitó la presencia de personal de Enfermería las 24 horas y personal médico con visita diaria. Se dotó al centro de los medios necesarios para la administración de la medicación (oral e intravenosa) y la oxigenoterapia necesaria para atender a los pacientes con la enfermedad. Los resultados analíticos estaban disponibles en 24 horas. Para el análisis de los datos se calcularon los porcentajes y se empleó la media como medida de tendencia central.Cuarenta y ocho residentes (48,5%) y quince trabajadores contrajeron la enfermedad. El número total de fallecimientos durante ese periodo fue de trece (13,1%), siete de ellos con diagnóstico de COVID-19 (edad media de 84,4 años), siendo la tasa de letalidad del 14,6%. Once pacientes (22%) con diagnóstico de COVID-19 fueron hospitalizados, falleciendo dos durante el ingreso.La medicalización de las residencias puede contribuir a disminuir la presión asistencial en los centros hospitalarios, así como a optimizar los cuidados a estas personas vulnerables con una asistencia más humanizada, lo que puede redundar, finalmente, en mejores resultados en salud.

El uso de Terapia de Presión Negativa como técnica de cura de heridas está cada vez más extendido, y tanto sus indicaciones como ámbitos de utilización siguen creciendo. Desde hace años también se emplea con frecuencia en la Unidad de Cirugía Vascular del Hospital Central de Asturias. El presente estudio ha tenido como objetivos analizar las características y etiología de las lesiones tratadas con Terapia de Presión Negativa, así como los criterios de aplicación de la técnica, los resultados y las complicaciones.Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de heridas tratadas con Terapia de Presión Negativa en nuestra Unidad durante un periodo de 18 meses en el que se incluyeron 51 casos. Se creó una base de datos ACCES donde se registraron los datos relacionados con las variables de estudio recogidos de las historias clínicas. Para el análisis estadístico se ha llevado a cabo un análisis descriptivo, con cálculo de frecuencias absolutas y relativas para las variables cualitativas, y media con desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas.Esta terapia ha demostrado ser un tratamiento seguro (11,76 % de complicaciones leves) y efectivo (5,88% heridas curaron y 76,47% mejoraron) en nuestros pacientes. Hemos distanciado las curas una media de 5,48 días y se ha podido completar el tratamiento a nivel ambulatorio en el 62,74% de casos.

La mantención de la anatomía original del canal radicular incide directamente en el éxito del tratamiento endodóntico. Para ello, los sistemas rotatorios de instrumentación requieren de canales radiculares permeables. Existen distintas limas y sistemas para la permeabilización o glide path como las limas tipo K manuales de acero inoxidable y los sistemas de NiTi rotatorios PathFile y ProGlider (Dentsply, Maillefer). Así, el objetivo de esta investigación fue comparar la capacidad de distintos sistemas de permeabilización para mantener la anatomía radicular sin producir transporte apical en canales mesiales de molares inferiores humanos extraídos. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo experimental cuya muestra estuvo conformada por 36 canales mesiales de molares mandibulares humanos extraídos. Las muestras fueron divididas aleatoriamente en tres grupos conformados por 12 canales, cada uno de los cuales fueron sometidos a distintos sistemas de permeabilización (Lima K, PathFile y ProGlider). Las muestras fueron fotografiadas antes y después de la permeabilización utilizando un microscopio con magnificación 30X. Se cuantificó el desplazamiento del canal radicular en sentido mesio - distal y buco - lingual posterior a la permeabilización. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el paquete estadístico InfoStat/L y se aplicó la prueba de ANOVA / Tukey. Se observó que el sistema PathFile produce mayor transporte del canal radicular en su tercio apical en la dirección mesio-distal (p=0,77) y el sistema ProGlider en la dirección buco-lingual (p=0,57). Sin embargo, estas diferencias no fueron significativas. En conclusión, los sistemas de permeabilización analizados no presentaron diferencias en cuanto a su capacidad para mantener la anatomía sin producir transporte apical.

The ongoing eruptive cycle of Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) since 1999 has been characterized by over 15 paroxysmal phases interrupted by periods of relative calm. Those phases included Strombolians, Vulcanians and one Subplinian eruptions and they generated tephra fallouts, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and lava flows. The 01 February 2014 eruption occurred after 75 days of quiescence. Two days before the eruption, a gradual increase of seismicity associated with sporadic weak ash emissions occured. Between 13:30 and 16:30 UTC of the 01 February, a swarm of volcano tectonic and long period earthquakes was detected and announced the possibility of an eruption within hours or days. After a few hours without surface manifestations, two short-lived Vulcanian explosions triggered the paroxysmal phase at 22:39 UTC which lasted 40 min and produced an eruptive column 13.4 km in height sustained during about 9 min. The activity evolved at 23:36 UTC into sporadic Strombolian explosions with discrete ash emissions and continued for several weeks. Both tephra fall and PDCs were studied for their dispersal, sedimentology, volume and eruption source parameters. Tephra was distributed around 240° to the S-SW of the volcano, and the bulk deposit volume is estimated to be 1.53 ± 0.35 × 10−2 km3 (4.76 ± 2.23 × 106 m3 DRE; VEI 3). PDCs descended by 9 ravines of the N-NW flanks. It was one of Tungurahua’s largest eruptions, after the August 2006 Subplinian event. The Vulcanian eruptive mechanism is interpreted to be related to a steady magma ascent and the rise in over-pressure in a blocked conduit (plug) and/or a depressurized solidification front. The transition to Strombolian style is well documented from the tephra fall componentry. In any of the interpretative scenari, the short-lived precursors for such a major event as well as the unusual tephra dispersion pattern urge for renewed hazard considerations at Tungurahua.

Following 84 years of repose, Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador initiated its present eruptive episode in October 1999, but its PDC activity only began in July 2006. A period of highly energetic Vulcanian eruptions started in 2012, those of 14 July 2013, 18 October 2013, and 1 February 2014 being the most important. These eruptions were well-monitored by a 5-station broadband seismic and acoustic array. Repeated repose intervals of ~ 3.5 months between Vulcanian events (VEI ~ 2) suggest that gases in the ascending juvenile magma experienced sequential pressurization cycles, as magma of preceding eruptive events solidified to form plugs that sealed the conduit. Every 34 months plug failure occurred, abrupt decompression followed, and the resulting Vulcanian explosions are associated with the highest seismic and acoustic energies ever registered anywhere. Small to moderate-sized PDC flows associated with the explosions and fountain collapses were generated and traveled ≤ 7 km down the steep N, NW, and W flanks of Tungurahua's cone at velocities of 11 to 18 m/s, although a small lateral blast and its PDC were clocked at 33 m/s descending the N flank. The explosive fragmentation of the plugs (a dense microcrystalline andesite) and the juvenile magma (a vesiculated glassy andesite) comprise the principal rock fragments of the PDC deposits. Each deposit typically consisting of two layers; a thin upper layer of large segregated and abraded clasts with few fines and a thicker lower layer that is fines-rich with few large clasts. Many deposits were studied and photographed within a few days of their formation, which are presented.

Estimates of lava volume, and thus effusion rate, are critical for assessing volcanic hazard and are a priority for volcano observatories with responsibility for monitoring. The choice of specific methods used to approximate lava volume depends on both volcanological and practical considerations; in particular, whether field measurements are possible and how often they can be repeated. Volcán El Reventador (Ecuador) is inaccessible, and field measurements can only be made infrequently at a few locations in its caldera. We present both planimetric field and topographic satellite radar-based measurements of lava flow thicknesses and volumes for activity at El Reventador between 2002 and 2009. Lava volumes estimates range from 75 ± 24 × 106 m3 (based on field measurements of flow thickness) to 90 ± 37 × 106 m3 (from satellite radar retrieval of flow thickness), corresponding to time-averaged effusion rates of 9 ± 4 m3/s and 7 ± 2 m3/s, respectively. Detailed flow mapping from aerial imagery demonstrate that lava effusion rate was at its peak at the start of each eruption phase and decreased over time. Measurements of lava thickness made from a small set of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferograms allowed the retrieval of the shape of the compound lava flow field and show that in 2009 it was subsiding by up to 6 cm/year. Satellite radar measurements thus have the potential to be a valuable supplement to ground-based monitoring at El Reventador and other inaccessible volcanoes.

International audience; VolcFlow is a finite-difference Eulerian code based on the depth-averaged approach and developed for the simulation of isothermal geophysical flows. Its capability for reproducing lava flows is tested here for the first time. The field example chosen is the 2010 lava flow of Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador), the emplacement of which is tracked by projecting thermal images onto a georeferenced digital topography. Results show that, at least for this case study, the isothermal approach of VolcFlow is able to simulate the velocity of the lava through time, as well as the extent of the solidified lava. However, the good fit between the modelled and the natural flow may be explained by the short emplacement time (c. 20 h) of a thick lava (c. 5 m), which could limit the influence of cooling on the flow dynamics, thus favouring the use of an isothermal rheology.

International audience; Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are high-temperature and high-velocity mixtures that threaten populations in the vicinity of many active volcanoes. Deciphering the cause of their remarkable mobility is essential for volcanic hazard analysis, but remains difficult because of the complex processes occurring within the flows. Here, we investigate the effect of bulking on dense PDC mobility by means of a double approach. First, we estimate the amount of material incorporated into scoria flows emplaced during the August 2006 eruption of Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador. For this, we carry out a detailed analysis of 3D-corrected digital images of well-exposed scoria flow deposits. Componentry analysis indicates that PDC bulking occurs principally on the steep (>25°) upper slope of the volcano, and the deposits typically comprise 40–50 wt% of non-juvenile (i.e., accessory and accidental) material. Secondly, we develop a simple stress-related grain-by-grain equation of erosion combined with two simple depth-averaged geophysical mass-flow models that compare the bulking mechanism to a non-fluidized and a fluidized flow. Two behaviors based on Coulomb and plastic rheologies are used to reproduce, on a first order basis, the 2006 Tungurahua PDCs. Cross-check comparisons between these modeled cases and the erosion pattern inferred from field-based data allow us to evaluate the accuracy of our modeling assumptions. Regardless of the rheological regime, the PDC-induced erosion pattern of the 2006 Tungurahua eruption can only be reproduced by fluctuations of the flow’s basal shear stress during emplacement. Such variations are controlled by flow thinning-thickening processes, notably through the formation of a thick non-erosive flow body that pushes a thin frictional erosive front during PDC emplacement. The input volume of juvenile material, as well as the thickness of the erodible layer available prior to the eruption, are additional key parameters. Our work highlights complexities in PDC erosion and bulking processes that deserve further study. In terms of hazard assessment, our findings reveal that incorporation and bulking translate into increased flow mobility, i.e., the augmented flow mass enhances both flow velocity and runout distance (up to 20 %). These outcomes should be considered closely for hazard analysis at many other andesitic volcanoes worldwide where similar PDC events are common.