scholarly journals Investigation of astrovirus, coronavirus and paramyxovirus co-infections in bats in the western Indian Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel O. G. Hoarau ◽  
Steven M. Goodman ◽  
Dana Al Halabi ◽  
Beza Ramasindrazana ◽  
Erwan Lagadec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Indian Ocean Region ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Ocean Region ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

AbstractCo-infections have a key role in virus transmission in wild reservoir hosts. We investigated the simultaneous presence of astroviruses, coronaviruses, and paramyxoviruses in bats from Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique, and Reunion Island. A total of 871 samples from 28 bat species representing 8 families were tested by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase genes. Overall, 2.4% of bats tested positive for the presence of at least two viruses, only on Madagascar and in Mozambique. Significant variation in the proportion of co-infections was detected among bat species, and some combinations of co-infection were more common than others. Our findings support that co-infections of the three targeted viruses occur in bats in the western Indian Ocean region, although further studies are needed to assess their epidemiological consequences.

“Research in the Western Indian Ocean Region” Conference’: Preliminary Report and Recommendations

1966 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Aidan Southall
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Cultural Anthropology ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Columbia University ◽  
Indian Ocean Region ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Northwestern University ◽  
Ocean Region ◽  
Syracuse University

The conference was sponsored by the African Research Committee and was held at the Minnowbrook Conference Center of Syracuse University from October 30 to November 2, 1965. The disciplines represented were social and cultural anthropology, musicology, sociology, social psychology, political science, and history. Participants included Philip Allen (Department of State); Frederick Burke (Syracuse University); Remi Clignet (Northwestern University); L. Gray Cowan (Columbia University); Norma McCloud (Tulane University); John Middleton (Northwestern University); Allen Rawick (Library of Congress); Aidan Southall, Chairman (Syracuse University); and Peter Wilson (Yale University). The conference concentrated its efforts on seeking and sharing a common understanding of the social background of the diverse ocean and island region that includes Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius, Réunion, and the Seychelles and on exploring precisely the extent to which linked interdisciplinary and comparative studies would be fruitful. The conference came to a strong and unanimous conclusion that the Western Indian Ocean Region offers the challenging possiblity of a real breakthrough in a number of dissimilar but closely interlocking research interests. The main recommendations of the conference are as follows: 1. That a rather informal clearinghouse should be established which would institute and maintain contact between social scientists interested in the region and keep them up to date on all relevant plans and work in progress. 2. That a careful and detailed application should be drawn up to obtain funds for carrying out a series of well-balanced and integrated studies, attracting graduate students and training them for further work, securing library resources, and forming appropriate ties with interested scholars and academic institutions overseas.

India’s Strategic Interests and Partnership with Island States of Africa in the Western Indian Ocean Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-243
Author(s):  
Raghvendra Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Indian Ocean Region ◽  
Island States ◽  
Global Power ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Ocean Region ◽  
Indian Ocean Island ◽  
The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean has turned into the new geographical centre of power, where global power dynamics is being revealed. It has been transformed into a geostrategic heartland, forecasting new challenges and opportunities, and at the core of this is an emerging power, India, which, being located at a strategic juncture in the Indian Ocean, shapes much of this geostrategic transformation. Therefore, sustaining and improving security and continuing economic expansion, with an increased strategic presence in the region to safeguard its national, regional and global interests are some of the elements which greatly influence India’s involvement with the strategic island states of Africa in the Western Indian Ocean Region. In this backdrop, this article has tried to contextualise the ‘Western Indian Ocean Region’ and ‘situate the actors’ to explore the various contours of geostrategic engagements the region is witnessing. Further, the article examines India’s strategic interests in the Western Indian Ocean, which are critical for its global power aspirations. It discusses the linkages between India and the Western Indian Ocean island states of Africa, which would become the precursor for newer strategies and help in harnessing the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation. Lastly, the article seeks to re-engage with the island states of Africa to help forge a deeper cultural and strategic bond, which would be crucial in balancing the power equation in the region.

scholarly journals Four new species of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from the West Indian Ocean Region

PhytoKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 57-73
Author(s):  
Iris Montero-Muñoz ◽  
Geoffrey A. Levin ◽  
José M. Cardiel
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Indian Ocean Region ◽  
The West ◽  
Ocean Region ◽  
West Indian Ocean ◽  
Conservation Assessments ◽  
First Time

Four new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from the Western Indian Ocean Region, based on morphological and molecular evidence, are described, illustrated, and mapped. Acalypha gillespieae sp. nov., A. leandrii sp. nov. and A. nusbaumeri sp. nov. are endemic to Madagascar, and A. mayottensis sp. nov. is known only from Mbouzi islet (Mayotte), in the Comoros Archipelago. We also describe for the first time in Acalypha the presence of membranous or chartaceous perules covering the axillary buds. Preliminary conservation assessments of the new species are also provided.

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