Resumo As relações peso-comprimento e a estatística descritiva foram estimadas para seis espécies de camarões, capturados ao largo do arquipélago da Madeira, entre 1983 e 2014, usando armadilhas de fundo e alvoradas entre os 50 e 1.300 metros de profundidade. O parâmetro b variou entre 2,36 para Plesionika ensis e 2,97 para Plesionika williamsi. Todas as espécies evidenciaram um padrão de crescimento alométrico negativo. De acordo com o conhecimento dos autores, todas as relações peso-comprimento são aqui apresentadas pela primeira vez para a área da Madeira e no caso de Ligur ensiferus e Plesionika ensis são a primeira referência mundial.

Abstract Length and weight relationships and descriptive statistics are reported for six shrimp species caught off the Madeira archipelago between 1983 and 2014 using bottom and floating traps from depths ranging from 50 to 1,300 m. The parameter b ranged between 2.36 for Plesionika ensis and 2.97 for Plesionika williamsi. All species showed a pattern of negative allometric growth. To the authors’ knowledge all weight-length relationships presented herein are recorded for the first time from the Madeira area, and in the cases of Ligur ensiferus and Plesionika ensis are the first references worldwide.

Resumo Vários cruzeiros de investigação foram realizados no Atlântico Nordeste, arquipélago da Madeira entre 1991 e 2008 visando a exploração de novos recursos pesqueiros. O presente estudo contemplou a comparação da seletividade de pesca entre armadilhas de fundo e flutuantes e a análise de rendimento por recruta (YPR) e biomassa por recruta (BPR) facultando informação essencial para a gestão do camarão Plesionika narval. Um total de 28,262 especimens foram amostrados e a análise de comprimento de primeira captura retornou valores mais elevados aquando da utilização de armadilhas flutuantes, indicando que essas armadilhas são mais seletivas e exercem menos pressão sobre o recurso. A análise YPR e BPR mostrou que o estoque se encontra sob explorado para a área de estudo e recomenda a utilização de armadilhas flutuantes na pesca comercial de P. narval, que permitirão um limite máximo de exploração com rendimento superior. Os resultados sugerem que P. narval tem o potencial para suportar uma pescaria viável e sustentável mediante a utilização de armadilhas flutuantes.

Abstract Several experimental surveys were carried out in the Northeastern Atlantic, Madeira archipelago from 1991 to 2008 to explore new fisheries resources. This study examined the selectivity of bottom and floating traps and the analysis of yield-per-recruit (YPR) and biomass-per-recruit (BPR) providing helpful insight to the management of the shrimp Plesionika narval. A total of 28,262 specimens were sampled and the analysis of length at first capture returned higher values when using floating traps indicating that these traps are more selective, exerting less pressure on the resource. The YPR and BPR analysis showed that the stock is under exploited for the studied area and suggests that the use of floating traps in the commercial fisheries of P. narval is recommended, which will allow a higher maximum allowable limit of exploitation and greater yield. The results suggest that P. narval has the potential to support a viable and sustainable fishery using floating traps.

We report on 13 patients diagnosed with meningococcal infections in patients attending state-owned hospitals serving an indigent population in Pretoria in 2009. The case fatality rate was 27%. Ceftriaxone was the main antibiotic (9 out of 13 patients) for therapy. Five isolates (39%) were serogroup B and 4 (31%) serogroup W135. Most isolates (12/13) were fully susceptible to penicillin (MIC range 0.016 - 0.047 µg/ml). A single isolate was intermediately resistant to penicillin (MIC, 0.125 µg/ml) while all isolates were uniformly susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. This pattern reveals a shift in serogroups with an increase of serogroup B disease in the Pretoria region, and the need for ongoing monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and the value of ceftriaxone for favourable therapeutic outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse trends in reported invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in South Africa within the first five years of introduction of conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in the routine child immunization schedule. METHODS: We used national laboratory-based surveillance data to identify cases of invasive H. influenzae disease between July 1999 and June 2004, and submitted isolates for serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. FINDINGS: The absolute number of Hib cases (reported to the national surveillance system) among children below one year of age decreased by 65%, from 55 cases in 1999-2000 to 19 cases in 2003-04. Enhanced surveillance initiated in 2003, identified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and incomplete vaccination as contributing factors for Hib transmission. The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of H. influenzae remained unchanged because non-type b disease was being increasingly reported to the surveillance system concomitant with system enhancements. Children with non-typable disease were more likely to be HIV-positive (32 of 34, 94%) than children with Hib disease (10 of 14, 71%), P = 0.051. Recent Hib isolates were more likely to be multidrug resistant (2% in 1999-2000 versus 19% in 2003-04, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Data from a newly established national laboratory-based surveillance system showed a decrease in Hib disease burden among South African children following conjugate vaccine introduction and identified cases of non-typable disease associated with HIV infection.

OBJETIVO: Analizar las tendencias de los casos notificados de enfermedad invasiva por Haemophilus influenzae en Sudáfrica durante los cinco primeros años de utilización de la vacuna conjugada contra Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (anti-Hib) en el calendario de vacunación infantil sistemática. MÉTODOS: Usamos los datos de vigilancia obtenidos por el laboratorio nacional para identificar los casos de enfermedad invasiva por H. influenzae registrados entre julio de 1999 y junio de 2004, así como las cepas aisladas enviadas para serotipificación y análisis de la sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos. RESULTADOS: La cifra absoluta de casos de infección por Hib (notificados al sistema de vigilancia nacional) entre los niños menores de un año se redujo en un 65%, de 55 casos en 1999- 2000 a 19 casos en 2003-2004. La vigilancia mejorada iniciada en 2003 identificó la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y la vacunación incompleta como factores contribuyentes a la transmisión de Hib. El número total de casos de infección por H. influenzae confirmados en laboratorio se mantuvo inalterado debido a que la enfermedad de tipo no b se notificó con creciente frecuencia al sistema de vigilancia como consecuencia de la mejora del sistema. Los niños con enfermedad no tipificable tenían más probabilidades de ser VIH-positivos (32 de 34; 94%) que los niños con enfermedad por Hib (10 de 14; 71%), P = 0,051, y los aislados recientes de Hib tenían más probabilidades de ser multirresistentes (2% en 1999-2000, frente al 19% de 2003-2004, P = 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Los datos de un nuevo sistema nacional de vigilancia basado en el laboratorio mostraron una disminución de la carga de morbilidad por Hib entre los niños sudafricanos tras la introducción de vacunas conjugadas e identificaron casos de enfermedad no tipificable asociada a la infección por VIH.

OBJECTIF: Analyser les tendances observées dans les infections invasives à Haemophilus influenzae en Afrique du Sud pendant les cinq premières années suivant l'introduction du vaccin conjugué anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) dans le calendrier de vaccination systématique de l'enfant. MÉTHODES: On a utilisé les données de la surveillance nationale au laboratoire pour définir les cas d'infection invasive à H. influenzae entre juillet 1999 et juin 2004 et soumis des isolements au sérotypage et à des épreuves de sensibilité aux antimicrobiens. RÉSULTATS: Le nombre absolu de cas d'infection à Hib (notifiés au système de surveillance national) chez l'enfant de moins d'un an a diminué de 65 %, passant de 55 en 1999-2000 à 19 en 2003-2004. Le renforcement de la surveillance commencé en 2003 a permis de constater que l'infection par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) et la vaccination incomplète constituaient des facteurs contribuant à la transmission du Hib. Le nombre total de cas d'infection à H. influenzae confirmés au laboratoire est resté inchangé, les infections n'appartenant pas au type b étant de plus en plus notifiées au système de surveillance à mesure que celui-ci devenait plus performant. Les enfants touchés par une infection à Haemophilus de type impossible à déterminer étaient plus souvent VIH-positifs (32 sur 34, 94 %) que les enfants infectés par Hib (10 sur 14, 71 %, p = 0,051). On a également observé une probabilité plus grande de multirésistance dans les isolements récents de Hib (2 % en 1999-2000 contre 19 % en 2003-2004, p = 0,001). CONCLUSION: Les données issues d'un système national de surveillance au laboratoire récemment mis en place ont fait apparaître une diminution de la charge de morbidité due à Hib chez les enfants sud-africains à la suite de l'introduction du vaccin conjugué et permis d'identifier des infections à Haemophilus dont le type était impossible à déterminer, associées à l'infection par le VIH.