scholarly journals Dengue in New Caledonia: Knowledge and Gaps

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Inizan ◽  
Arnaud Tarantola ◽  
Olivia O’Connor ◽  
Morgan Mangeas ◽  
Nicolas Pocquet ◽  
...  

Arboviruses are viruses transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquito vectors. Over the last decade, arbovirus circulation has increasingly been detected in New Caledonia (NC), a French island territory located in the subtropical Pacific region. Reliable epidemiological, entomological, virological and climate data have been collected in NC over the last decade. Here, we describe these data and how they inform arboviruses’ epidemiological profile. We pinpoint areas which remain to be investigated to fully understand the peculiar epidemiological profile of arbovirus circulation in NC. Further, we discuss the advantages of conducting studies on arboviruses dynamics in NC. Overall, we show that conclusions drawn from observations conducted in NC may inform epidemiological risk assessments elsewhere and may be vital to guide surveillance and response, both in New Caledonia and beyond.

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4646 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER S. CRANSTON

Riethia Kieffer, known previously from New Zealand for a species stated to be also in Australia plus several Australian and South American species, is revised for the Austro-Pacific region. The three previously-described Australian species Riethia stictoptera Kieffer (the genotype), Riethia cinctipes Freeman and Riethia plumosa Freeman are distinct and valid, and are redescribed in all stages. In contrast, Riethia zeylandica Freeman now is restricted to New Zealand: Australian specimens previously allocated to R. zeylandica belong to several new species recognised on morphology of adult male, pupa and larva, with guidance from molecular data. Most belong to a widespread eastern Australian Riethia azeylandica sp. n.: others are allocated to Riethia hamodivisa sp. n., Riethia paluma sp. n., Riethia phengari sp. n. and Riethia queenslandensis sp. n., each with a more restricted range. From Western Australia three species, Riethia donedwardi sp. n., Riethia noongar sp. n. and Riethia wazeylandica sp. n., are described as new from adult male, pupa and larva. Riethia kakadu sp. n. is described from the monsoonal tropics of Northern Territory from the adult male and tentatively associated pupa. From New Caledonia a reared species is described as Riethia neocaledonica sp. n.. Illustrated identification keys are provided for the males, pupae and larvae. Unassociated larvae that key to reared described species are excluded from type status, and based on morphology and molecular evidence three unreared larval types, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, are also described and keyed. Previously reported molecular vouchers are reviewed, and certain Genbank accessions re-identified. Extensive data shows Riethia are distributed almost throughout Australia from standing and flowing waters, from tropics and subtropics to cool temperate Tasmania, but probably only in permanent and standing waters. The immature stages of several taxa can co-occur: as many as four can be found simultaneously in one site. Terminology of the volsellae of the male genitalia and the dorsal head and maxilla of the larva is reviewed. 


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony van der Ent ◽  
Tanguy Jaffré ◽  
Laurent L'Huillier ◽  
Neil Gibson ◽  
Roger D. Reeves

In the Australia–Pacific Region ultramafic outcrops are both widespread and extensive, covering thousands of km2. Soils derived from ultramafic bedrock impose edaphic challenges and are widely known to host highly distinctive floras with high levels of endemism. In the Australia–Pacific Region, the ultramafics of the island of New Caledonia are famed for harbouring 2150 species of vascular plants of which 83% are endemic. Although the ultramafic outcrops in Western Australia are also extensive and harbour 1355 taxa, only 14 species are known to be endemic or have distributions centred on ultramafics. The ultramafic outcrops in New Zealand and Tasmania are small and relatively species-poor. The ultramafic outcrops in Queensland are much larger and host 553 species of which 18 (or possibly 21) species are endemic. Although New Caledonia has a high concentration of Ni hyperaccumulator species (65), only one species from Western Australia and two species from Queensland have so far been found. No Ni hyperaccumulator species are known from Tasmania and New Zealand. Habitat destruction due to forest clearing, uncontrolled fires and nickel mining in New Caledonia impacts on the plant species restricted to ultramafic soils there. In comparison with the nearby floras of New Guinea and South-east Asia, the flora of the Australia–Pacific Region is relatively well studied through the collection of a large number of herbarium specimens. However, there is a need for studies on the evolution of plant lineages on ultramafic soils especially regarding their distinctive morphological characteristics and in relation to hyperaccumulation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (20) ◽  
pp. 7282-7296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koki Iwao ◽  
Masaru Inatsu ◽  
Masahide Kimoto

Abstract This study investigated recent changes in the characteristics of explosively developing extratropical cyclones over the northwestern Pacific region in winter from 1979/80 to 2010/11 by using reanalysis data from the Japanese 25-yr Reanalysis/Japan Meteorological Agency Climate Data Assimilation System (JRA-25/JCDAS). The results showed that the frequency of explosive cyclones increased in the northwestern Pacific region east of Japan. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in the number of slowly developing cyclones, indicating an increase in the cyclone growth rate. Moreover, most of the increased explosive cyclones east of Japan originated southwest of Japan. A comparison of the dynamical features and energy budgets of two composite cyclones in the earlier and later halves of the study period suggested that the increase was due to an enhancement of the low-level baroclinicity to the east of Japan and an increase in humidity associated with sea surface temperature warming and enhanced evaporation along the eastern shore of the Asian continent.


mBio ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Liu ◽  
Adam Taylor ◽  
Yee Suan Poo ◽  
Wern Hann Ng ◽  
Lara J. Herrero ◽  
...  

RRV has been prevalent in the South Pacific region for decades and causes substantial economic and social costs. Though RRV is geographically restricted, a number of other alphaviruses have spread globally due to expansion of the mosquito vectors and increased international travel.


2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 3334-3340 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Aaskov ◽  
Katie Buzacott ◽  
Emma Field ◽  
Kym Lowry ◽  
Alain Berlioz-Arthaud ◽  
...  

Between 2000 and 2004, dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) genotypes I and II from Asia were introduced into the Pacific region and co-circulated in some localities. Envelope protein gene sequences of DENV-1 from 12 patients infected on the island of New Caledonia were obtained, five of which carried genotype I viruses and six, genotype II viruses. One patient harboured a mixed infection, containing viruses assigned to both genotypes I and II, as well as a number of inter-genotypic recombinants. This is the first report of a population of dengue viruses isolated from a patient containing both parental and recombinant viruses.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4640 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-112
Author(s):  
DANIEL GRAND ◽  
MILEN MARINOV ◽  
HERVE JOURDAN ◽  
CARL COOK ◽  
SOPHIE ROUYS ◽  
...  

Compared to other archipelagos of the Pacific, the New Caledonian Odonata fauna is rich and diverse with 56 valid species or subspecies (23 endemics, 41%) from eight families (four Zygoptera: Argiolestidae, Coenagrionidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, and four Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, Synthemistidae, Libellulidae) and 31 genera (including four endemics, 13%). In Zygoptera, we record 19 species including 12 endemics (63%), and among Anisoptera, we record 37 species or subspecies, including 11 endemics (30%). We removed five species from the list that had been erroneously recorded as occurring in New Caledonia: Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763), Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Selys-Longchamps, 1862), Ischnura torresiana Tillyard, 1913, Xiphiagrion cyanomelas Selys-Longchamps, 1876 and Hemicordulia oceanica Selys-Longchamps, 1871. The occurrence of Tramea limbata (Desjardins, 1835) appears also doubtful, but we were unable to clarify to which taxon this record referred hence we excluded it from our update. From a biogeographic perspective, the New Caledonian fauna has mostly Australian affinities with some connections with southeast Asia and the Pacific region. We provide for each species, whenever information was available, a distribution map with a brief review of its known ecology, behaviour and phenology. We also evaluated each species’ conservation status, in light of known threats (range restriction, scarcity and human activity including altered water flow). We consider seventeen species (30%) endangered. The most immediate threats concern water pollution including alteration to the flow of water courses caused by mining, deforestation and fires. Invasive species, such as alien fish, may be predators of concern for odonata larva, although this has not yet been proven in New Caledonia. 


1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andersen N Moller

More than 120 species of marine water striders (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha), representing three families and eight genera, are distributed throughout the lndo-Pacific region. They live in marine habitats such as mangroves, intertidal coral reef flats and the sea surface near coral and rocky coasts. Five species of sea skaters, Halobates (Gerridae), have colonised the surface of the open ocean. Adult marine water striders are wingless but may disperse along coasts, chains of islands and possibly across wider stretches of open sea. Although some species of coral bugs, Halovelia (Veliidae) and Halobates are widespread, most species of marine water striders have rather restricted distributions. Cladistic hypotheses are now available for the genera Halovelia, Xenobates (Veliidae) and Halobates. Based upon distributional data for about 110 species, a number of areas of endemism can be delimited within the Indo-Pacific region. The results of component analyses of taxon-area cladograms for several monophyletic species-groups of marine water striders are presented. The faunas of northern New Guinea, the Bismarck and Solomon Islands (Papuasia) are closely related and show much greater affinity with Maluku, Sulawesi and the Philippines than with the fauna of northern Australia. Relationships between the faunas of Papuasia + Sulawesi + the Philippines and those of Borneo + Jawa + Malaya are relatively weak. Marine water striders endemic to islands of the western Pacific show relationships among themselves and with Australia. Most marine water striders from the Indian Ocean (East Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives) can be derived from the Indian-South-east Asian fauna. Composite faunas of marine water striders (either of different age or origin) are found in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, the Philippines, tropical Australia and East Africa. The biogeography of marine water striders does not support the traditional division of the Indo- Pacific into the Ethiopian, Oriental and Australian regions. The distributional patterns are more compatible with a set of hierarchical relationships between more restricted areas of endemism.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1081
Author(s):  
Catherine Inizan ◽  
Olivia O’Connor ◽  
George Worwor ◽  
Talica Cabemaiwai ◽  
Jean-Claude Grignon ◽  
...  

Dengue virus (DENV) serotype-2 was detected in the South Pacific region in 2014 for the first time in 15 years. In 2016–2020, DENV-2 re-emerged in French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia, co-circulating with and later replacing DENV-1. In this context, epidemiological and molecular evolution data are paramount to decipher the diffusion route of this DENV-2 in the South Pacific region. In the current work, the E gene from 23 DENV-2 serum samples collected in Vanuatu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia was sequenced. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were performed. While all DENV-2 strains sequenced belong to the Cosmopolitan genotype, phylogenetic analysis suggests at least three different DENV-2 introductions in the South Pacific between 2017 and 2020. Strains retrieved in these Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) in 2017–2020 are phylogenetically related, with strong phylogenetic links between strains retrieved from French PICTs. These phylogenetic data substantiate epidemiological data of the DENV-2 diffusion pattern between these countries.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Manica ◽  
Giorgio Guzzetta ◽  
Flavia Riccardo ◽  
Antonio Valenti ◽  
Piero Poletti ◽  
...  

To counter the second COVID-19 wave in autumn 2020, the Italian government introduced a system of physical distancing measures organized in progressively restrictive tiers (coded as yellow, orange, and red) and imposed on a regional basis according to epidemiological risk assessments. The individuals' attendance to locations outside the residential settings was progressively reduced with tiers, but less than during the national lockdown against the first COVID-19 wave in the spring. The reproduction number Rt decreased below the epidemic threshold in 85 out of 107 provinces after the introduction of the tier system, reaching average values of about 0.99, 0.89 and 0.77 in the yellow, orange and red tier, respectively. We estimate that the reduced transmissibility resulted in averting about 37% of the hospitalizations between November 5 and November 25, 2020. These results are instrumental to inform public health efforts aimed at preventing future resurgence of cases.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Blanc ◽  
C. Coulaud ◽  
L. Wald

Abstract. New Caledonia experiences a decrease in surface solar irradiation since 2004. It is of order of 4% of the mean yearly irradiation over the 10 years period: 2004–2013, and amounts to −9 W m−2. The preeminent roles of the changes in cloud cover and to a lesser extent, those in aerosol optical depth on the decrease in yearly irradiation are evidenced. The study highlights the role of data sets offering a worldwide coverage in understanding changes in solar radiation and planning large solar energy plants such as the ICOADS (International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set) of the NOAA and MACC (Monitoring Atmosphere Composition and Climate) data sets combined with the McClear model.


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