A Directiva Quadro da Água coloca uma série de desafi os novos à gestão dos recursos hídricos. Estes desafios poderão implicar a utilização de modelos matemáticos que permitam antecipar os efeitos das acções antropogénicas sobre as águas superfi ciais. Este trabalho tem como principal objectivo apresentar um modelo ecológico da barragem de Crestuma-Lever e os resultados dos primeiros testes efectuados com o mesmo. O modelo foi desenvolvido no âmbito de um dos projectos em que participa o CIIMAR e a Universidade Fernando Pessoa e espera-se que possa vir a ser utilizado como uma ferramenta útil na gestão da barragem de Crestuma-Lever.

Background: Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterium present in the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blood animals, and therefore routinely used as a microbiological indicator of fecal contamination [1,2]. However, several strains may acquire virulence factors, becoming potentially pathogenic for humans and animals [1,3]. Objective: The current study underscores human exposure to pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant E. coli through recreational waters. Methods: Surface water samples were collected from estuarine and coastal beaches, as well as from treated wastewater. Detection and isolation were performed using selective and differential culture media. Presumptive isolates were confirmed by PCR approach. E. coli isolates were submitted to an extensive virulence gene screening. Results: The majority of the E. coli isolates belonged to the phylogenetic subgroup D1 (24%) or B1 (20%), indicating that animals were a relevant source of contamination. The isolates virulence profiles (n=272) showed that 35% were diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC). Among the pathotypes, enterotoxigenic E. coli had a prevalence of 12%, followed by enterohaemorrhagic E. coli with 10%. Avian pathogenic E. coli associated genes were detected, with a higher presence of the fiuA (44%), ompT (39%), and iss (36%) genes. The assessment of antibiotic susceptibility to 22 antibiotics of 9 different classes was carried using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. A total of 72% of isolates showed resistance to at least 3 different antibiotic classes. The highest percentage of resistance was showed to Erythromycin (98.5%), and Rifampicin (99.2%), whereas 100% susceptibility was found to Imipenem and Nitrofurantoin. Conclusions: The results confirmed the circulation of pathogenic E. coli and antimicrobial resistant strains in recreational waters. This study highlights the importance of monitoring additional parameters than those officially listed as fecal indicators, in order to improve risk management and guarantee the safe use of the resources.

Background/objectives Iodine deficiency disorders are estimated to affect 25% of all school-age children around the world. Current policies concerning iodine deficiency disorders in many countries are not based on robust or recent national data. Our objective was to evaluate the current status of iodine nutrition in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa).Subject/methods A cross-sectional survey including 299 school-age children, aged 6-14 years old, from four distinct regions of Guinea-Bissau across a coast-hinterland gradient (Bolama, Bissau, Cambaju-Bafata, and Gabil) was performed. Several iodine deficiency disorders indicators were used: total goiter rate, median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and regional iodine content in household salt and drinking water samples. Data on the total goiter rate were obtained by thyroid ultrasound.Results Goiter was found in 73.5% (CI 95%, 68.5-78.2%) of the school-age children. We observed a median urinary iodine concentration of 110 mcg/l, with 7.3% of the studied population presenting urinary iodine concentration < 50 mcg/l. Only 12.5% of the household salt samples revealed iodine content >= 15 mg/kg. Median well water iodine concentration was 11.7 mcg/l.Conclusions Guinea-Bissau presents high rates of goiter in school-age children despite satisfactory median urinary iodine concentration population levels. Salt and drinking water iodine median content cannot explain these findings. Further studies following the progress in iodine deficiency status and the presence of potential goitrogens in diet of this vulnerable population are in needed.