Harmful algal blooms and their impact on fish mortalities in Lampung Bay: an overview

The first disaster caused by harmful algal blooms in Lampung Bay was reported in 1991, where mass mortality of cultivated shrimp occurred in the brackish water ponds due to a Trichodesmium bloom. After this incident, the phenomenon reoccured in the following years continuously. Around nine species bloom makers in this bay are namely Pyrodinium sp., Noctiluca sp., Phaeocystis sp., Dinophysis sp., Trichodesmium sp., Ceratium sp., Prorocentrum sp., Pseudonitzhia sp., and Cochlodinium sp. The most frequent causative species, such as green Noctiluca and Trichodesmium, co-occurring during blooms and causing fish mortalities in the fish farming floating nets (KJA). Two species are known as the most potentially harmful species, namely Pyrodinium sp. and Cochlodinium sp. Cochlodinium blooms happened at the end of 2012, and since then, this species has continuously reappeared in the following years. The outbreak of Cochlodinium sp. still appeared in 2017 and 2018, but no fish-killing occurred. Phytoplankton bloom events occur at specific locations, mainly at fish farming floating nets on the west side of the bay, next to Hurun Cove. This paper discusses the occurrence of algal blooms in Lampung Bay and the triggering factors for increasing phytoplankton populations that cause harmful algal blooms.

Aspek Klinis dan Diagnosis Kandidiasis Vulvovaginal

Candidiasis vulvovaginal is an infection of the vaginal and vulva area caused by yeast Candida. The most causative species is Candida albicans. This fungus is commensal in the vagina but it can become a pathogen, causing the infection under certain conditions. Several conditions can be risk factors for this infection. Women are mostly getting infections, especially of productive age. Complaints experienced cause disturbances in the form of itching accompanied by abnormal vaginal discharge. The clinician can make diagnostics based on anamnesis, clinical and microscopic examination. This paper provides information about the causes, risk factors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory testing.

Molecular Identification of Human Sporotrichosis in Korea

Background: Sporotrichosis is a common deep mycosis caused by the Sporothrix schenckii complex. Until 2016, no molecular studies had been conducted on these fungi, and all the included strains were reported as S. schenckii. However, investigations conducted in northeast China, Japan, and India revealed that S. globosa was the most prevalent Sporothrix species, whereas S. schenckii sensu stricto was reported very rarely. Objective: To investigate the accurate prevalent causative species of sporotrichosis among strains reported as S.schenckii in Korea. Methods: We isolated strains of Sporothrix spp. Prevalent in Korea from fungus collection centers or private collections and reviewed the available literature on molecular studies of strains from this region. We found five S. schenckii (1998-2016) and three S. globosa (2016-2018) strains. Ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of these strains were compared with those of the S. schenckii complex strains. Results: The ribosomal ITS sequences of the eight strains were 100% identical with that of S. globose. No S. schenckii sensu stricto was found. In addition, a study on the molecular analysis of Korean S. schenckii published by Ishizaki et al. (2004) demonstrated that the eight strains were of the mitochondrial subtype group B (S. globosa). Thus, all the 16 strains examined within the Korean S. schenckii complex were determined to be S. globosa. Conclusion: In summary, S. globosa is the causative species within the tested Korean sporotrichosis cases reported between 1998 and 2018. Based on our analyses, S. globosa, and not S. schenckii, may be the predominant species in Korea.