scholarly journals Using DNA metabarcoding to decipher the diet plant component of mammals from the Eastern Mediterranean region

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliane Boukhdoud ◽  
Carole Saliba ◽  
Lillian D. Parker ◽  
Nancy Rotzel McInerney ◽  
Rhea Kahale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Diet Analysis ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Plant Component ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Conservation Projects ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Plant Animal Interactions

Longevity of species populations depends largely on interactions among animals and plants in an ecosystem. Predation and seed dispersal are among the most important interactions necessary for species conservation and persistence, and diet analysis is a prerequisite tool to evaluate these interactions. Understanding these processes is crucial for identifying conservation targets and for executing efficient reforestation and ecological restoration. In this study, we applied a scat DNA metabarcoding technique using the P6-loop of the trnL (UAA) chloroplastic marker to describe the seasonal plant diet composition of 15 mammal species from a highly biodiverse Lebanese forest in the Eastern Mediterranean. We also recovered plant seeds, when present, from the scats for identification. The mammal species belong to 10 families from 5 different orders. More than 133 plant species from 54 plant families were detected and identified. Species from the Rosaceae, Poaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae and Berberidaceae families were consumed by the majority of the mammals and should be taken into consideration in future reforestation and conservation projects. Our results showed that the DNA metabarcoding approach provides a promising method for tracking the dietary plant components of a wide diversity of mammals, yielding key insights into plant-animal interactions inside Lebanon’s forests.

First DNA sequence reference library for mammals and plants of the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Genome ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Liliane Boukhdoud ◽  
Carole Saliba ◽  
Lillian D. Parker ◽  
Nancy Rotzel McInerney ◽  
Ghiwa Ishak Mouawad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Reference Library ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Identification Of Species ◽  
Conservation Projects

The Mediterranean region is identified as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, with the Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. Lebanon is a hub for Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) biodiversity with 9116 characterized plant and animal species (4486 fauna and 4630 flora). Using DNA barcoding as a tool has become crucial in the accurate identification of species in multiple contexts. It can also complement species morphological descriptions, which will add to our understanding of the biodiversity and richness of ecosystems and benefit conservation projects for endangered and endemic species. In this study, we create the first reference library of standard DNA markers for mammals and plants in the EMR, with a focus on endemic and endangered species. Plant leaves were collected from different nature reserves in Mount Lebanon, and mammal samples were obtained from taxidermized museum specimens or road kills. We generated the 12S rRNA sequences of 18 mammal species from 6 orders and 13 different families. We also obtained the trnL and rbcL barcode sequences of 52 plant species from 24 different families. Twenty-five plant species and two mammal species included in this study were sequenced for the first time using these markers.

scholarly journals Global Prevalence Estimates of Toxascaris leonina Infection in Dogs and Cats

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 503
Author(s):  
Ali Rostami ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Riahi ◽  
Vahid Fallah Omrani ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Andreas Hofmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Global Prevalence ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
Paratenic Hosts ◽  
Toxascaris Leonina

Toxascaris leonina is an ascaridoid nematode of dogs and cats; this parasite affects the health of these animals. This study estimated the global prevalence of Ta. leonina infection in dogs and cats using random effects meta-analysis as well as subgroup, meta-regression and heterogeneity analyses. The data were stratified according to geographical region, the type of dogs and cats and environmental variables. A quantitative analysis of 135 published studies, involving 119,317 dogs and 25,364 cats, estimated prevalence rates of Ta. leonina in dogs and cats at 2.9% and 3.4%, respectively. Prevalence was highest in the Eastern Mediterranean region (7.2% for dogs and 10.0% for cats) and was significantly higher in stray dogs (7.0% vs. 1.5%) and stray cats (7.5% vs. 1.8%) than in pets. The findings indicate that, worldwide, ~26 million dogs and ~23 million cats are infected with Ta. leonina; these animals would shed substantial numbers of Ta. leonina eggs into the environment each year and might represent reservoirs of infection to other accidental or paratenic hosts. It is important that populations of dogs and cats as well as other canids and felids be monitored and dewormed for Ta. leonina and (other) zoonotic helminths.

scholarly journals Primary care healthcare policy implementation in the Eastern Mediterranean region; experiences of six countries: Part II

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Nagwa Nashat ◽  
Redouane Hadjij ◽  
Abdul Munem Al Dabbagh ◽  
Mohammed Rasoul Tarawneh ◽  
Huda Alduwaisan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Healthcare Policy

scholarly journals Correction to: A systematic review on hospital inefficiency in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: sources and solutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Ravaghi ◽  
Mahnaz Afshari ◽  
Parvaneh Isfahani ◽  
Victoria D. Bélorgeot
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Original Publication

In the original publication of this article [1], one author’s name needs to be revised from Pavaneh Isfahani to Parvaneh Isfahani.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Medical Students’ Learning Process and Assaults Their Psychological Wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5792
Author(s):  
Marium Aftab ◽  
Alsaleem Mohammed Abadi ◽  
Shamsun Nahar ◽  
Razia Aftab Ahmed ◽  
Syed Esam Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Learning Difficulties ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
African Region ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are living within a milieu of stress, anxiety, and fear. Medical students are susceptible to these emotional injuries, but their psychological wellbeing and learning may further be assaulted by future uncertainties and altered teaching and training programs. Our objective was to find the extent of the psychological impact of the pandemic and the learning difficulties they are experiencing; Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 418 undergraduate and postgraduate medical students from all over the world. A questionnaire was uploaded in Google survey form. It included background characteristics, questions for psychiatric impact like PHQ-9, GAD-7, ZF-OCS, and questions for learning difficulties perceived in comparison to the pre-pandemic time. Results: Among participants, 34.9% of students were male and 65.1% female. Around 46.4% belonged to the WHO, Eastern Mediterranean region, 26.8% from South East Asia region, 17.5% from the region of America, 5.5% from the European region,2.2%from the Western Pacific region, and 1.7% from the African region. Symptoms due to psychiatric illness were noticed in 393 (93.1%); depression in 386 (92.3%), anxiety in 158 (37.8%), obsessive compulsion disorder in 225 (53.8%), and post-traumatic stress syndrome in 129 (39.9%). Female gender, geographical region, and history of previous psychiatric illness were significantly related to almost all the psychiatric illnesses. Regarding learning difficulty, 96% of students faced problems: trouble with memorizing in 54.0%, concentration problems in 67.0%, about 55.5% of students made more mistakes, while 44.5% noted an increase in reaction time for solving questions. In addition, 90% experienced greater difficulty in overall learning during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic time. Conclusion: Assault on psychological wellbeing, struggling to memorize, inattention and difficulty in concentration on studies, along with perceived overall trouble with learning, have emerged as collateral damage from the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to medical students.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Community Nutrition-Specific Interventions on Improving Malnutrition of Children under 5 Years of Age in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7844
Author(s):  
Delaram Ghodsi ◽  
Nasrin Omidvar ◽  
Bahareh Nikooyeh ◽  
Roshanak Roustaee ◽  
Elham Shakibazadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Child Malnutrition ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Nutritional Status Of Children ◽  
Children Under 5

Childhood malnutrition remains an important public health and development problem in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to systematically review the community-based nutrition-specific interventions and their effectiveness and/or cost-effectiveness on the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A systematic literature search of the English electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, Ovid, EMBASE, as well as Persian databases (SID and Magiran) was performed up to May 2019. Studies regarding the effectiveness/cost-effectiveness of the community-based nutrition-specific programs and interventions targeted at under-five-year children in EMR countries were selected. The primary outcomes were mean of Weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), Height-for-Age z-score (HAZ), and Weight-for-Height z-score (WHZ) of children or prevalence of wasting, stunting, and/or underweight among the children. Meta-analysis was also performed on the selected articles and intervention effects (mean differences) were calculated for each outcome for each study and pooled using a weighted random effects model. Risk of bias (ROB) of each included study was assessed based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020172643). Of 1036 identified studies, eight met the inclusion criteria. Amongst these, seven were from Pakistan and one from Iran. Only one study conducted in Pakistan reported the cost-effectiveness of nutrition-specific interventions in the region. Nutrition education/consultation and cash-based interventions were the most common nutrition-specific strategies used for management of child malnutrition in the EMR countries. Out of these eight studies, four were included in the meta-analysis. When different interventions were pooled, they had resulted in a significant improvement in WHZ of children (MD: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.46, three studies, I2 82.40%). Considering the high prevalence of child malnutrition in a number of countries in the region, capacity building and investigation regarding the implementation of new approaches to improve nutritional status of children and their effect(s) and cost-effectiveness assessment are highly recommended.

scholarly journals Are Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on Track towards Meeting the World Health Assembly Target for Anemia? A Review of Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2449
Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Mandy Taktouk ◽  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Zahra Abdollahi ◽  
Baseer Achakzai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
World Health ◽  
Deficiency Anemia ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
World Health Assembly ◽  
The World

Anemia is a multifactorial condition, with a complex etiology that involves nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The misconception that iron deficiency is equivalent to anemia may mask the need to address other potential causative factors. This review paper aims to (1) assess the burden of anemia vs. iron deficiency anemia (IDA) amongst women of reproductive age (WRA), pregnant women (PW), and children under five years old (underfive children, U5C) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR); (2) evaluate trends in anemia prevalence and whether countries are on track towards meeting the World Health Assembly (WHA) target for 2025; and (3) characterize anemia reduction efforts and provide a road map for future programs. A search of pertinent literature and databases was conducted. Anemia prevalence in the EMR ranged between 22.6% and 63% amongst PW, 27% and 69.6% amongst WRA, and 23.8% and 83.5% amongst U5C. Data showed that the EMR is not on course towards meeting the WHA target. The contribution of IDA to anemia was found to be less than half. Other potential contributors to anemia in the region were identified, including micronutrient deficiencies, parasitic infestations, and poor sanitation. A framework of action was proposed as a roadmap to meet the targets set by the WHA.

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