Hepatitis A Virus Strains Circulating in the Campania Region (2015–2018) Assessed through Bivalve Biomonitoring and Environmental Surveillance

The genetic diversity of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) circulating in the Campania Region in years 2015–2018 was investigated through the monitoring of sentinel bivalve shellfish and water matrices. Overall, 463 water samples (71 sewage samples, 353 coastal discharge waters, and 39 seawaters samples), and 746 bivalve shellfish samples were analyzed. Positivity for HAV was detected in 20/71 sewage samples, 14/353 coastal discharge waters, 5/39 seawaters, and 102/746 bivalve shellfish. Sixty-one of the positive samples were successfully sequenced and were characterized as genotype IA (n = 50) and IB (n = 11). The prevalent strain circulating in 2015 in both bivalves and waters was the IA strain responsible for the outbreak occurring around the same time in the Naples area. This variant was no longer identified in subsequent years (2017–2018) when, instead, appeared two of the IA variants of the multistate outbreak affecting men who have sex with men (MSM), VRD_521_2016, and RIVM-HAV16–090, with the former prevailing in both shellfish and water environments. HAV IB isolates were detected over the years in shellfish and in water matrices, but not in clinical samples, suggesting that this genotype had been circulating silently. An integrated surveillance system (environment/food/clinical cases) can be a useful tool to monitor changes in viral variants in the population, as well as an early warning system.

INFLUENCE OF MELTING GLACIERS ON HYDROCHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF COASTAL EOCOSYSTEM OF WESTERN SPITZBERGEN

The goal of this work was to evaluate a potential influence of the melting glacier on the hydrochemistry of the surrounding coastal waters. The studies were based on 2 expeditions to the Tempelfjord (Western Spitzbergen) performed in winter 2014 and in summer 2015 when there were measured hydrophysical, chemical and biological parameters in the sea water, coastal discharge and the sea ice. Obtained results of the research show that the glacier runoff has a clear impact on the hydrochemical structure of the fjord waters not only in warm season, but in cold seasons as well.

INFLUENCE OF MELTING GLACIERS ON HYDROCHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF COASTAL EOCOSYSTEM OF WESTERN SPITZBERGEN

The goal of this work was to evaluate a potential influence of the melting glacier on the hydrochemistry of the surrounding coastal waters. The studies were based on 2 expeditions to the Tempelfjord (Western Spitzbergen) performed in winter 2014 and in summer 2015 when there were measured hydrophysical, chemical and biological parameters in the sea water, coastal discharge and the sea ice. Obtained results of the research show that the glacier runoff has a clear impact on the hydrochemical structure of the fjord waters not only in warm season, but in cold seasons as well.