@article{mendiboure_sars-cov-2_2024,

title = {SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and associated factors of infection before and after the Delta wave in French Polynesia: a cross-sectional study},

author = {V. Mendiboure and I. Teiti and M. Aubry and A. Teissier and T. Paoaafaite and J. Vanhomwegen and J. C. Manuguerra and A. Fontanet and V. M. Cao-Lormeau and Y. Madec},

doi = {doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17869-4},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {BMC Public Health},

volume = {24},

number = {382},

abstract = {Background 

French Polynesia (FP) comprises 75 inhabited islands scattered across five archipelagos. Between July and October 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant triggered a much stronger second epidemic wave in FP than the original Wuhan strain, which was dominant from August 2020 to March 2021. Although previous seroprevalence surveys made it possible to determine the proportion of the population infected by SARS-CoV-2 on the two most populated islands (Tahiti and Moorea) after the first (20.6% in Tahiti and 9.4% in Moorea) and second (57.7% in Tahiti) epidemic waves, no data are available for more remote islands. We used blood samples and personal data collected before, during, and after the second wave from inhabitants of several islands within the five archipelagos to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and identify associated factors. 

Methods 

Blood samples and personal data were collected between April and December 2021 as part of the MATAEA study, a cross-sectional survey conducted on a random sample of the adult population representative of the five FP archipelagos and stratified by age and gender. IgG antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein were detected using a recombinant antigen-based microsphere immunoassay. Factors associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2-N seropositivity were identified using logistic regression models. 

 

Results 

Of 1,120 participants, 503 (44.9%) tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2-N antibodies, corresponding to a weighted prevalence of 56.8% for the FP population aged 18–69 years. The seroprevalence increased from 21.9% to 62.1% before and during/after the Delta wave. Of these infections, only 28.4% had been diagnosed by health professionals. The odds of being seropositive were lower in males, participants recruited before the Delta wave, those who had never been married, those with a diagnosed respiratory allergy, smokers, and those vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Conclusions 

Our results confirm the high impact of the Delta wave in FP. By the end of 2021, 56.8% of the FP population aged 18–69 years had been infected by SARS-CoV-2; the majority of these infections went undetected. Individuals with respiratory allergies were found to be less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{teiti_towards_2024,

title = {Towards elimination of chronic viral hepatitis in French Polynesia: results from a national population-based survey},

author = {I. Teiti and M. Aubry and P. Glaziou and V. Mendiboure and A. Teissier and T. Paoaafaite and A. Simon and K. CHUNG and L. Dian and S. Olivier and P. Pineau and A. Fontanet and B. Condat and Y. Madec and S. Lastere and V. M. Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101035},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific},

volume = {45},

abstract = {Background 

In French Polynesia, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection appears as a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which detection rate in the Austral archipelago is among the highest in the world. Through a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the adult population, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence of HBV, but also hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis delta virus (HDV). 

Methods 

A total of 1942 blood samples from participants aged 18–69 years were tested for anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBsAg, anti-HCV IgG, and HDV RNA. Complete genome sequencing of detected HBV strains was performed. 

Findings Among participants, 315/1834, 582/1834, 33/1834, 0/1857, and 0/33 tested positive for anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBsAg, anti-HCV IgG, and HDV RNA, respectively. The population prevalence of HBsAg was estimated at 1.0% (95% CI: 0.6–1.7). All HBsAg carriers were born in French Polynesia before vaccination at birth became mandatory. In multivariate analyses, identified factors associated with HBsAg carriage included: the archipelago of residence (p textless 0.0001), age (p textless 0.0001), and education level (p = 0.0077). HBV genotypes B, C, and F were detected. 

Interpretation 

French Polynesia has a low endemicity level of HBV and its population may be considered at low risk for HCV and HDV infection. However, prevalence of HBsAg was found concerning in Austral (3.8%; 95% CI: 1.9–7.5) and Marquesas (6.5%; 95% CI: 3.8–11) archipelagoes. In the Austral archipelago, the presence of genotype C may account for the elevated rate of HCC. Our findings warrant more efforts to improve access to detection, prevention and care to people born before the systematic vaccination policy application, and residing in higher-risk areas, to achieve HBV elimination in French Polynesia.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gomez_joint_2023,

title = {Joint FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project on " Mosquito Handling, Transport, Release and Male Trapping Methods" in Support of SIT Application to Control Mosquitoes},

author = {M. Gomez and B. J. Johnson and H. C. Bossin and R. Argiles},

doi = {10.3390/insects14020108},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Insects},

volume = {14},

number = {2},

pages = {108},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{taitingfong_exploring_2023,

title = {Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry.},

author = {R. I. Taitingfong and C. Triplett and V. N. Vasquez and R. M. Rajagopalan and R. Raban and A. Roberts and G. Terradas and B. Baumgartner and C. Emerson and F. Gould and F. Okumu and C. E. Schairer and H. C. Bossin and L. Buchman and K. J. Campbell and A. Clark and J. Delborne and K. Esvelt and J. Fisher and R. M. Friedman and G. Gronvall and N. Gurfield and E. Heitman and N. Kofler and T. Kuiken and J. Kuzma and P. Manrique-Saide and J. M. Marshall and M. Montague and A. C. Morrison and C. C. Opese and R. Phelan and A. Piaggio and H. Quemada and L. Rudenko and N. Sawadogo and R. Smith and H. Tuten and A. Ullah and A. Vorsino and N. Windbichler and O. S. Akbari and K. Long and J. V. Lavery and S. W. Evans and K. Tountas and C. S. Bloss},

doi = {10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Nat Biotechnol},

volume = {41},

number = {1},

pages = {9--13},

note = {Number: 1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{chinain_ciguatera_2023,

title = {Ciguatera poisoning in French Polynesia: A review of the distribution and toxicity of Gambierdiscus spp., and related impacts on food web components and human health},

author = {M. Chinain and C. M. Gatti and M. Roué and A. Ung and K. Henry and T. Revel and P. Cruchet and J. Viallon and H. T. Darius},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2023.102525},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Harmful Algae},

volume = {129},

pages = {102525},

abstract = {Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is a seafood poisoning highly prevalent in French Polynesia. This illness results from the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by Gambierdiscus, a benthic dinoflagellate. Ciguatera significantly degrades the health and economic well-being of local communities largely dependent on reef fisheries for their subsistence. French Polynesia has been the site of rich and active CP research since the 1960′s. The environmental, toxicological, and epidemiological data obtained in the frame of large-scale field surveys and a country-wide CP case reporting program conducted over the past three decades in the five island groups of French Polynesia are reviewed. Results show toxin production in Gambierdiscus in the natural environment may vary considerably at a temporal and spatial scale, and that several locales clearly represent Gambierdiscus spp. “biodiversity hotspots”. Current data also suggest the “hot” species G. polynesiensis could be the primary source of CTXs in local ciguateric biotopes, pending formal confirmation. The prevalence of ciguatoxic fish and the CTX levels observed in several locales were remarkably high, with herbivores and omnivores often as toxic as carnivores. Results also confirm the strong local influence of Gambierdiscus spp. on the CTX toxin profiles characterized across multiple food web components including in CP-prone marine invertebrates. The statistics, obtained in the frame of a long-term epidemiological surveillance program established in 2007, point towards an apparent decline in the number of CP cases in French Polynesia as a whole; however, incidence rates remain dangerously high in some islands. Several of the challenges and opportunities, most notably those linked to the strong cultural ramifications of CP among local communities, that need to be considered to define effective risk management strategies are addressed.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{teiti_unravelling_2023,

title = {Unravelling the determinants of human health in French Polynesia: the MATAEA project},

author = {I. Teiti and M. Aubry and S. Fernandes-Pellerin and E. patin and Y. Madec and P. Boucheron and J. Vanhomwegen and J. Torterat and S. Lastere and S. Olivier and A. Jaquaniello and M. Roux and V. Mendiboure and C. Harmant and A. Bisiaux and G. Rijo de Leon and D. Liu and H. C. Bossin and F. Mathieu-Daudé and C. M. Gatti and E. Suhas and K. CHUNG and B. Condat and P. Ayotte and E. Conte and N. Jolly and J. C. Manuguerra and A. Sakuntabhai and A. Fontanet and L. Quintana-Murci and V. M. Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fepid.2023.1201038},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Frontiers in epidemiology},

volume = {3},

abstract = {Background: French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the Southeast Pacific, comprising 75 inhabited islands across five archipelagoes. The human settlement of the region corresponds to the last massive migration of humans to empty territories, but its timeline is still debated. Despite their recent population history and geographical isolation, inhabitants of French Polynesia experience health issues similar to those of continental countries. Modern lifestyles and increased longevity have led to a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Likewise, international trade and people mobility have caused the emergence of communicable diseases (CDs) including mosquito-borne and respiratory diseases. Additionally, chronic pathologies including acute rheumatic fever, liver diseases, and ciguatera, are highly prevalent in French Polynesia. However, data on such diseases are scarce and not representative of the geographic fragmentation of the population. 

 

Objectives: The present project aims to estimate the prevalence of several NCDs and CDs in the population of the five archipelagoes, and identify associated risk factors. Moreover, genetic analyses will contribute to determine the sequence and timings of the peopling history of French Polynesia, and identify causal links between past genetic adaptation to island environments, and present-day susceptibility to certain diseases. 

 

Methods: This cross-sectional survey is based on the random selection of 2,100 adults aged 18–69 years and residing on 18 islands from the five archipelagoes. Each participant answered a questionnaire on a wide range of topics (including demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and medical history), underwent physical measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, arterial pressure, and skin pigmentation), and provided biological samples (blood, saliva, and stool) for biological, genetic and microbiological analyses. 

 

Conclusion: For the first time in French Polynesia, the present project allows to collect a wide range of data to explore the existence of indicators and/or risk factors for multiple pathologies of public health concern. The results will help health authorities to adapt actions and preventive measures aimed at reducing the incidence of NCDs and CDs. Moreover, the new genomic data generated in this study, combined with anthropological data, will increase our understanding of the peopling history of French Polynesia. 

 

Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier: NCT06133400.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{aubry_perspective_2022,

title = {Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia},

author = {M Aubry and V M Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/v14030460},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Viruses},

volume = {14},

pages = {460},

abstract = {In French Polynesia, following the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in March 2020, several control measures were implemented to prevent virus spread, including a population lockdown and the interruption of international air traffic. SARS-CoV-2 local transmission rapidly stopped, and circulation of dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2, the only arboviruses being detected at that time, decreased. After the borders re-opened, a surveillance strategy consisting of the testing by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR of travelers entering French Polynesia, and isolating those with ongoing infection, was implemented. This strategy proved efficient to limit the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, and should be considered to prevent the importation of other pathogens, including mosquito-borne viruses, in geographically isolated areas such as French Polynesia.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andre_lv_systematic_2022,

title = {A systematic prioritization approach for identifying suitable pearl oyster restocking zones following a mass mortality event in Takaroa Atoll, French Polynesia},

author = {L V Andre and M Chinain and C M Gatti and V Liao and S Van Wynsberge and P Tedesco and S Andrefouet},

doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113472},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {176},

pages = {113472},

abstract = {Oyster farming for black pearl production is central in French Polynesia. It is the second source of national income and provides substantial job opportunities, notably in remote atolls. However, this sector has been undermined by successive crises, such as mass-mortalities of wild and farmed oyster stocks that have impacted entire lagoons. An option to revive the activity consists of reintroducing oysters in strategic benthic locations selected to maximize reproduction and dispersal of larvae throughout the lagoon, hence promoting recolonization and spat collection for farming. For Takaroa, a Tuamotu atoll recently impacted by mortalities, a systematic prioritization approach identified these restocking sites, using environmental and socio-economic criteria such as: location of suitable habitats for oyster settlement, larval connectivity estimated from hydrodynamic circulation model, farming waste accumulation, and opportunity cost to fishers and farmers who lose access to restocking areas. This approach provides managers with a portfolio of restocking options.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andre_lv_spatial_2022,

title = {Spatial Solutions and Their Impacts When Reshuffling Coastal Management Priorities in Small Islands with Limited Diversification Opportunities},

author = {L V Andre and S Van Wynsberge and M Chinain and C M Gatti and V Liao and S Andrefouet},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/su14073871},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Sustainability},

volume = {14},

number = {7},

pages = {3871},

abstract = {In small islands, the potential for new coastal activities and management options are often spatially limited. To reduce dependence on external factors and increase the resilience of populations to global changes and fluctuations in international markets, a recommended pathway is to diversify activities. We used a systematic prioritization tool with single and multiobjective zoning to explore the feasibility of scenarios at various levels of spatial diversification in the Gambier lagoon (French Polynesia), where black pearl culture is economically and spatially dominant. Local managers are committed to economic, livelihood, and environmental sustainability and agree that prioritizing both artisanal fisheries, which provide local food security, and ecosystem conservation should also be considered. Diversification options included the optimized reallocation of farming concessions and the identification of different types of conservation areas while taking into account traditional management areas. The scenarios were set to minimize surface areas and loss of access to existing fishing grounds. The solutions were compared between the scenarios with different cost metrics, allowing further discussions with stakeholders and managers. The Gambier case study shows that exploring diversification options in small islands using systematic prioritization tools can provide local managers with tailor-made plans adapted to island development questions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{darius_evaluating_2022,

title = {Evaluating Age and Growth Relationship to Ciguatoxicity in Five Coral Reef Fish Species from French Polynesia},

author = {H T Darius and C Paillon and G Mou Tham and A Ung and P Cruchet and T Revel and J Viallon and L Vigliola and D Ponton and M Chinain},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/md20040251},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Marine Drugs},

volume = {20},

number = {4},

pages = {251},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning (CP) results from the consumption of coral reef fish or marine invertebrates contaminated with potent marine polyether compounds, namely ciguatoxins. In French Polynesia, 220 fish specimens belonging to parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos, Scarus forsteni, and Scarus ghobban), surgeonfish (Naso lituratus), and groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) were collected from two sites with contrasted risk of CP, i.e., Kaukura Atoll versus Mangareva Island. Fish age and growth were assessed from otoliths’ yearly increments and their ciguatoxic status (negative, suspect, or positive) was evaluated by neuroblastoma cell-based assay. Using permutational multivariate analyses of variance, no significant differences in size and weight were found between negative and suspect specimens while positive specimens showed significantly greater size and weight particularly for E. polyphekadion and S. ghobban. However, eating small or low-weight specimens remains risky due to the high variability in size and weight of positive fish. Overall, no relationship could be evidenced between fish ciguatoxicity and age and growth characteristics. In conclusion, size, weight, age, and growth are not reliable determinants of fish ciguatoxicity which appears to be rather species and/or site-specific, although larger fish pose an increased risk of poisoning. Such findings have important implications in current CP risk management programs.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gouel_tetrodotoxin_2022,

title = {Tetrodotoxin Poisoning in Mainland France and French Overseas Territories: A Review of Published and Unpublished Cases},

author = {P GOUEL and C M Gatti and L De Haro and A Liautaud and J Langrand and D Boucaud-Maitre},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins14050351},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {14},

number = {5},

pages = {351},

abstract = {Tetrodotoxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins in the aquatic world. This review of published and unpublished reports aims to describe the poisoning cases that have occurred in mainland France and overseas territories. Six articles were included, with 13 poisoning events, individuals or collective (number (n) = 53 patients). Moreover, 13 unpublished poisoning events from toxicovigilance networks were found (n = 17). All cases happened in overseas territories: French Guyana (n = 7), New Caledonia (n = 11), Reunion (n = 35) and French Polynesia (n = 17). The median age was 36 years. The most frequent signs were neurological (81.8%), digestive (54.5%) and general (52.3%). Three cases of dysgueusia and nine cases of urogenital discomfort were observed in French Polynesia. Twelve severe cases were reported, including seven deaths. Only three events (11.5%) were documented by a tetrodotoxin assay. Two families of fish accounted for 91.6% of the poisonings: 33.3% due to the Diodontidae family and 58.3% to the Tetraodontidae family. Although rare, information and collection campaigns on tetrodotoxin poisoning are, therefore, essential.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{darius_comparative_2022,

title = {Comparative Study on the Performance of Three Detection Methods for the Quantification of Pacific Ciguatoxins in French Polynesian Strains of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis},

author = {H T Darius and T Revel and J Viallon and M Sibat and P Cruchet and S Longo and D R Hardison and W C Holland and P A Tester and R W Litaker and J R McCall and P Hess and M Chinain},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/md20060348},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Marine Drugs},

volume = {20},

number = {6},

pages = {348},

abstract = {Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa dinoflagellates produce a suite of secondary metabolites, including ciguatoxins (CTXs), which bioaccumulate and are further biotransformed in fish and marine invertebrates, causing ciguatera poisoning when consumed by humans. This study is the first to compare the performance of the fluorescent receptor binding assay (fRBA), neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a), and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative estimation of CTX contents in 30 samples, obtained from four French Polynesian strains of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis. fRBA was applied to Gambierdiscus matrix for the first time, and several parameters of the fRBA protocol were refined. Following liquid/liquid partitioning to separate CTXs from other algal compounds, the variability of CTX contents was estimated using these three methods in three independent experiments. All three assays were significantly correlated with each other, with the highest correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.841) found between fRBA and LC-MS/MS. The CBA-N2a was more sensitive than LC-MS/MS and fRBA, with all assays showing good repeatability. The combined use of fRBA and/or CBA-N2a for screening purposes and LC-MS/MS for confirmation purposes allows for efficient CTX evaluation in Gambierdiscus. These findings, which support future collaborative studies for the inter-laboratory validation of CTX detection methods, will help improve ciguatera risk assessment and management},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andre_lv_benefits_2022,

title = {Benefits of collaboration between indigenous fishery management and data-driven spatial planning approaches: the case of a Polynesian traditional design (rāhui)},

author = {L. V. Andre and S. Wynsberge and M. Chinain and S. Andrefouet},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2022.106475},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Fisheries Research},

volume = {256},

pages = {106475},

abstract = {Traditional fishery management schemes have gained increasing recognition worldwide. It can be explained by a better compliance to ancient cultural practices, still rooted in present-day coastal communities despite globalization and modern livelihoods. This revival is widespread and welcome by policy makers, scientists, and the communities themselves. However, current environmental and socio-economic contexts are often not conform to ancient-time situations. Baselines are different. Effective adjustments of traditional practices may be advocated. Re-establishment of traditional schemes ‘as such’ warrants further investigations and modern quantitative assessment and management approaches can help. A demonstration is provided here for a rural Polynesian island that faces declining marine resources. Recently, local fishers discussed the implementation of a traditional system (called rāhui) to preserve the island lagoon resources, based on the rotational closure of an arbitrary 50% of each lagoon subdivision. Upon the fishers’ request who questioned a traditional scheme that has not been applied for decades and seeked some scientific approval, we used systematic conservation planning (SCP) tools to explore potential optimisation pathways. All quantitative conservation objectives being equal, SCP suggested reserve sizes and opportunity costs on average 7 and 5 times lower than the traditional design. Traditional management federates communities and is strongly encouraged, but fishers are now aware that effective alternative designs are possible. A hybrid design mixing traditional practices and data-based optimizations is advocated. Similar findings and recommendations can be expected in other regions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{stuart_geographical_2022,

title = {Geographical distribution, molecular and toxin diversity of the dinoflagellate species Gambierdiscus honu in the Pacific region},

author = {J. Stuart and K. F. Smith and L. Rhodes and J. S. Murray and J. Viallon and K. Henry and H. T. Darius and S. A. Murray and C. Dornelles De Azevzedo and P. Argyle and M. Chinain},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2022.102308},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

urldate = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Harmful Algae},

volume = {118},

pages = {102308},

abstract = {An increase in cases of ciguatera poisoning (CP) and expansion of the causative species in the South Pacific region highlight the need for baseline data on toxic microalgal species to help identify new areas of risk and manage known hot spots. Gambierdiscus honu is a toxin producing and potential CP causing dinoflagellate species, first described in 2017. Currently no high-resolution geographical distribution, intraspecific genetic variation or toxin production diversity data is available for G. honu. This research aimed to further characterize G. honu by investigating its distribution using species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays at 25 sites in an area spanning ∼8000 km of the Coral Sea/Pacific Ocean, and assessing intraspecific genetic variation, toxicity and toxin production of isolated strains. Assessment of genetic variation of the partial rRNA operon of isolates demonstrated no significant intraspecific population structure, in addition to a lack of adherence to isolation by distance (IBD) model of evolution. The detected distribution of G. honu in the Pacific region was within the expected tropical to temperate latitudinal ranges of 10° to -30° and extended from Australia to French Polynesia. In the lipophilic fractions, the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) showed no ciguatoxin (CTX)-like activity for nine of the 10 isolates, and an atypical pattern for CAWD233 isolate which showed cytotoxic activity in OV- and OV+ conditions. In the same way, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis confirmed no Pacific-CTXs (CTX-3B, CTX-3C, CTX-4A, CTX-4B) were produced by the ten strains. The CBA-N2a assessment of the hydrophilic fractions showed moderate to high cytotoxicity in both OV- and OV+ condition for all the strains showing a cytotoxic profile similar to that of gambierone. Indeed, this study is the first to show the cytotoxic activity of gambierone on mouse neuroblastoma cells while no cytotoxicity was observed when 44-MG was analysed at the same concentrations using the CBA-N2a. Analysis of the hydrophilic via LC-MS/MS confirmed production of gambierone in all isolates, ranging from 2.1 to 38.1 pg/cell, with 44-methylgambierone (44-MG) also produced by eight of the isolates, ranging from 0.3 to 42.9 pg/cell. No maitotoxin-1 was detected in any of the isolates. Classification of the G. honu strains according to the quantities of gambierone produced aligned with the classification of their cytotoxicity using the CBA-N2a. Finally, no maitotoxin-1 (MTX) was detected in any of the isolates. This study shows G. honu is widely distributed within the Pacific region with no significant intraspecific population structure present. This aligns with the view of microalgal populations as global metapopulations, however more in-depth assessment with other genetic markers could detect further structure. Toxicity diversity across 10 isolates assessed did not display any geographical patterns.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lopez_considering_2022,

title = {Considering waning immunity to better explain dengue dynamics},

author = {L. Lopez and R. E. Paul and V. M. Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100630},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Epidemics},

volume = {41},

pages = {100630},

abstract = {Life-long serotype-specific immunity following dengue virus infection may not always occur, but the true extent of this effect is unknown. Analysis of more than 20 years of monotypic epidemics in the isolated French Polynesian islands revealed that whilst the risk of symptomatic dengue infection did conform to the classical paradigms of homotypic immunity and increased disease risk in heterotypic secondary infections, incorporation of waning immunity improved the ability of epidemiological models to capture the observed epidemic dynamics. Not only does this show how inclusion of waning immunity into classical models can reveal important facets of the immune response to natural dengue virus infection, it also has significant ramifications for vaccine development and implementation in dengue endemic areas.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bastard_loss--function_2022,

title = {A loss-of-function IFNAR1 allele in Polynesia underlies severe viral diseases in homozygotes},

author = {P. Bastard and K. C. Hsiao and Q. Zhang and J. Choin and E. Best and J. Chen and A. Gervais and L. Bizien and M. Materna and C. Harmant and M. Roux and N. L. Hawley and D. E. Week and S. T. McGarvey and K. Sandoval and C. Barberena-Jonas and C. D. Quinto-Cortés and E. Hagelberg and A. J. Mentzer and K. Robson and B. Coulibaly and Y. Seeleuthner and B. Bigio and Z. Li and G. Uzé and S. Pellegrini and L. Lorenzo and Z. Sbihi and S. Latour and M. Besnard and T. Adam de Beaumais and E. Jacqz Aigrain and V. Béziat and R. Deka and L. E. Tulifau and S. Viali and M. S. Reupen and T. Naseri and P. McNaughton and V. Sarkozy and J. Peake and A. Blincoe and S. Primhak and S. Stables and K. Gibson and S. T. Woon and K. M. Drake and A. V. S. Hill and C. Y. Chan and R. King and R. Ameratunga and I. Teiti and M. Aubry and V. M. Cao-Lormeau and S. G. Tangye and S. Y. Zhang and E. Jouanguy and P. Gray and L. Abel and A. Moreno-Estrada and R. L. Minster and L. Quintana-Murci and A. C. Wood and J. L. Casanova},

doi = {doi: 10.1084/jem.20220028},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {J Exp Med},

volume = {219},

number = {6},

pages = {e20220028},

abstract = {Globally, autosomal recessive IFNAR1 deficiency is a rare inborn error of immunity underlying susceptibility to live attenuated vaccine and wild-type viruses. We report seven children from five unrelated kindreds of western Polynesian ancestry who suffered from severe viral diseases. All the patients are homozygous for the same nonsense IFNAR1 variant (p.Glu386*). This allele encodes a truncated protein that is absent from the cell surface and is loss-of-function. The fibroblasts of the patients do not respond to type I IFNs (IFN-α2, IFN-ω, or IFN-β). Remarkably, this IFNAR1 variant has a minor allele frequency textgreater1% in Samoa and is also observed in the Cook, Society, Marquesas, and Austral islands, as well as Fiji, whereas it is extremely rare or absent in the other populations tested, including those of the Pacific region. Inherited IFNAR1 deficiency should be considered in individuals of Polynesian ancestry with severe viral illnesses.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nemoto_reconstructing_2022,

title = {Reconstructing long-term dengue virus immunity in French Polynesia},

author = {T. Nemoto and M. Aubry and Y. Teissier and R. E. Paul and V. M. Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010367},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Plos Neg Trop Dis},

volume = {16},

number = {10},

pages = {e0010367},

abstract = {Background 

Understanding the underlying risk of infection by dengue virus from surveillance systems is complicated due to the complex nature of the disease. In particular, the probability of becoming severely sick is driven by serotype-specific infection histories as well as age; however, this has rarely been quantified. Island communities that have periodic outbreaks dominated by single serotypes provide an opportunity to disentangle the competing role of serotype, age and changes in surveillance systems in characterising disease risk. 

 

Methodology 

We develop mathematical models to analyse 35 years of dengue surveillance (1979–2014) and seroprevalence studies from French Polynesia. We estimate the annual force of infection, serotype-specific reporting probabilities and changes in surveillance capabilities using the annual age and serotype-specific distribution of dengue. 

 

Principal findings 

Eight dengue epidemics occurred between 1979 and 2014, with reporting probabilities for DENV-1 primary infections increasing from 3% to 5%. The reporting probability for DENV-1 secondary infections was 3.6 times that for primary infections. We also observed heterogeneity in reporting probabilities by serotype, with DENV-3 having the highest probability of being detected. Reporting probabilities declined with age after 14 y.o. Between 1979 and 2014, the proportion never infected declined from 70% to 23% while the proportion infected at least twice increased from 4.5% to 45%. By 2014, almost half of the population had acquired heterotypic immunity. The probability of an epidemic increased sharply with the estimated fraction of susceptibles among children. 

 

Conclusion/Significance 

By analysing 35 years of dengue data in French Polynesia, we characterised key factors affecting the dissemination profile and reporting of dengue cases in an epidemiological context simplified by mono-serotypic circulation. Our analysis provides key estimates that can inform the study of dengue in more complex settings where the co-circulation of multiple serotypes can greatly complicate inference. 

 

Author summary 

Characterising the true extent of dengue circulation and the level of population immunity is essential to assess the burden of disease, evaluate epidemic risk and organise prevention strategies against future epidemics. However, this is difficult in a context where most people who are infected by dengue virus (DENV) only have mild symptoms which may not be reported to surveillance systems. In this article, we develop a mathematical model to evaluate the fraction of unreported dengue infections from case data. The key idea is to introduce reporting probabilities that depend on the infecting serotype and the infection history of patients. These factors are known to contribute to variations in the severity of symptoms and hence the reporting probabilities, but have rarely been taken into account in model frameworks to study population immunity from the case data. Using the developed model, we study long-term dengue virus immunity in French Polynesia.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{heath_mathematical_2022,

title = {Mathematical modelling of the mosquito Aedes polynesiensis in a heterogeneous environment},

author = {K. Heath and M. Bonsall and J. Marie and H. C. Bossin},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2022.108811},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Mathematical Biosciences},

volume = {348},

pages = {108811},

abstract = {Background: 

The mosquito Aedes polynesiensis inhabits Pacific islands and territories and transmits arboviruses and parasites. In the context of rapid environmental change, understanding the effects of environmental heterogeneity on mosquitoes is crucial. 

 

Methods: 

First, empirical field data and remote sensing data were combined to model spatial heterogeneity in the environmental suitability for Ae. polynesiensis. Second, a model of mosquito population dynamics was applied to predict mosquito distributions over a heterogeneous landscape assuming different dispersal behaviours. Motu Tautau, French Polynesia, was used as a case study of the utility of this methodological approach. Ae. polynesiensis use land crab Cardisoma carnifex burrows for oviposition in French Polynesia; environmental suitability was therefore quantified using C. carnifex burrow density. 

 

Results: 

Micro-regions with large Ae. polynesiensis populations facilitated by high C. carnifex burrow density were accurately captured by our methodology. Preferential dispersal towards oviposition sites promoted larger population sizes than non-preferential dispersal but did not offer greater resilience to environmental change. Reduced environmental suitability for Ae. polynesiensis resulted in spatially non-linear effects upon the mosquito distribution. 

 

Conclusions: 

Environmental change has complex spatial effects upon mosquito populations. Mosquito control strategies must carefully balance spatial effects with net effects.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{aubry_self-collection_2021,

title = {Self-collection and pooling of samples as resources-saving strategies for RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, the example of travelers in French Polynesia},

author = {M Aubry and I Teiti and A Teissier and V Richard and T Mariteragi-Helle and K CHUNG and F DEEN and T Paoaafaite and V M Cao-Lormeau},

doi = {doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256877},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {PLOS One},

abstract = {In French Polynesia, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected on March 10th, 2020, in a resident returning from France. Between March 28th and July 14th, international air traffic was interrupted and local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was brought under control, with only 62 cases recorded. The main challenge for reopening the air border without requiring travelers to quarantine on arrival was to limit the risk of re-introducing SARS-CoV-2. Specific measures were implemented, including the obligation for all travelers to have a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 carried out within 3 days before departure, and to perform another RT-PCR testing 4 days after arrival. Because of limitation in available medical staff, travelers were provided a kit allowing self-collection of oral and nasal swabs. In addition to increase our testing capacity, self-collected samples from up to 10 travelers were pooled before RNA extraction and RT-PCR testing. When a pool tested positive, RNA extraction and RT-PCR were performed on each individual sample. We report here the results of COVID-19 surveillance (COV-CHECK PORINETIA) conducted between July 15th, 2020, and February 15th, 2021, in travelers using self-collection and pooling approaches. We tested 5,982 pools comprising 59,490 individual samples, and detected 273 (0.46%) travelers positive for SARS-CoV-2. A mean difference of 1.17 Ct (CI 95% 0.93–1.41) was found between positive individual samples and pools (N = 50), probably related to the volume of samples used for RNA extraction (200 μL versus 50 μL, respectively). Retrospective testing of positive samples self-collected from October 20th, 2020, using variants-specific amplification kit and spike gene sequencing, found at least 6 residents infected by the Alpha variant. Self-collection and pooling approaches allowed large-scale screening for SARS-CoV-2 using less human, material and financial resources. Moreover, this strategy allowed detecting the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in French Polynesia.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gatti_screening_2021,

title = {Screening for Predictors of Chronic Ciguatera Poisoning: An Exploratory Analysis among Hospitalized Cases from French Polynesia.},

author = {C M Gatti and K CHUNG and E Oehler and T J Pierce and M O Gribble and M Chinain},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins13090646},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {13},

number = {9},

pages = {646},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning is a globally occurring seafood disease caused by the ingestion of marine products contaminated with dinoflagellate produced neurotoxins. Persistent forms of ciguatera, which prove to be highly debilitating, are poorly studied and represent a significant medical issue. The present study aims to better understand chronic ciguatera manifestations and identify potential predictive factors for their duration. Medical files of 49 patients were analyzed, and the post-hospitalization evolution of the disease assessed through a follow-up questionnaire. A rigorous logistic lasso regression model was applied to select significant predictors from a list of 37 patient characteristics potentially predictive of having chronic symptoms. Missing data were handled by complete case analysis, and a survival analysis was implemented. All models used standardized variables, and multiple comparisons in the survival analyses were handled by Bonferroni correction. Among all studied variables, five significant predictors of having symptoms lasting ≥3 months were identified: age, tobacco consumption, acute bradycardia, laboratory measures of urea, and neutrophils. This exploratory, hypothesis-generating study contributes to the development of ciguatera epidemiology by narrowing the list from 37 possible predictors to a list of five predictors that seem worth further investigation as candidate risk factors in more targeted studies of ciguatera symptom duration},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{hallegraeff_perceived_2021,

title = {Perceived global increase in algal blooms is attributable to intensified monitoring and emerging bloom impacts.},

author = {G M Hallegraeff and D M Anderson and C Belin and M Y Dechraoui Bottein and E Bresnan and M Chinain and H Enevoldsen and M Iwataki and B Karlson and C H McKensie and I Sunesen and G C Pitcher and P Provoost and A Richardson and L Schweibold and P A Tester and V I Tainer and A T Yniguez and A Zingone},

doi = {doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00178-88},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Nature Com. Earth and Environment},

volume = {2},

pages = {117},

abstract = {Global trends in the occurrence, toxicity and risk posed by harmful algal blooms to natural systems, human health and coastal economies are poorly constrained, but are widely thought to be increasing due to climate change and nutrient pollution. Here, we conduct a statistical analysis on a global dataset extracted from the Harmful Algae Event Database and Ocean Biodiversity Information System for the period 1985–2018 to investigate temporal trends in the frequency and distribution of marine harmful algal blooms. We find no uniform global trend in the number of harmful algal events and their distribution over time, once data were adjusted for regional variations in monitoring effort. Varying and contrasting regional trends were driven by differences in bloom species, type and emergent impacts. Our findings suggest that intensified monitoring efforts associated with increased aquaculture production are responsible for the perceived increase in harmful algae events and that there is no empirical support for broad statements regarding increasing global trends. Instead, trends need to be considered regionally and at the species level.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{yon_deeper_2021,

title = {Deeper insight into Gambierdiscus polynesiensis toxin production relies on specific optimization of high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.},

author = {T Yon and M Sibat and D Réveillon and S Bertrand and M Chinain and P Hess},

doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122400},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Talanta},

volume = {232},

pages = {122400},

abstract = {Ciguatera food poisoning affects consumer health and fisheries’ economies worldwide in tropical zones, and specifically in the Pacific area. The wide variety of ciguatoxins bio-accumulated in fish or shellfish responsible for this neurological illness are produced by marine dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus and bio-transformed through the food web. The evaluation of the contents of ciguatoxins in strains of Gambierdiscus relies on the availability of standards and on the development of sensitive and specific tools to detect them. There is a need for sensitive methods for the analysis of pacific ciguatoxins with high resolution mass spectrometry to ensure unequivocal identification of all congeners. We have applied a fractional factorial design of experiment 2textasciicircum8-3 for the screening of the significance of eight parameters potentially influencing ionization and ion transmission and their interactions to evaluate the behavior of sodium adducts, protonated molecules and first water losses of CTX4A/B, CTX3B/C, 2-OH-CTX3C and 44-methylgambierone on a Q-TOF equipment. The four parameters that allowed to significantly increase the peak areas of ciguatoxins and gambierones (up to a factor ten) were the capillary voltage, the sheath gas temperature, the ion funnel low pressure voltage and the ion funnel exit voltage. The optimized method was applied to revisit the toxin profile of G. polynesiensis (strain TB92) with a confirmation of the presence of M-seco-CTX4A only putatively reported so far and the detection of an isomer of CTX4A. The improvement in toxin detection also allowed to obtain informative high resolution targeted MS/MS spectra revealing high similarity in fragmentation patterns between putative isomer (4) of CTX3C, 2-OH-CTX3C and CTX3B on one side and between CTX4A, M-seco-CTX4A and the putative isomer on the other side, suggesting a relation of constitutional isomerism between them for both isomers.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{chinain_ciguatera_2021,

title = {Ciguatera poisonings: A global review of occurrences and trends.},

author = {M Chinain and C M Gatti and H T Darius and J P Quod and P A Tester},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2020.101873},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Harmful Algae},

volume = {102},

pages = {101873},

abstract = {Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is the most prevalent, phycotoxin related seafood poisoning across the globe, affecting between 10,000 and 50,000 people annually. This illness results from the consumption of seafood contaminated with lipid soluble toxins known as ciguatoxins (CTXs) that are produced by benthic dinoflagellates in the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. The present work reviews the global occurrence of CP events and outbreaks, based on both scientific and gray literature. 

Ciguatera prevalence is significantly underestimated due to a lack of recognition of ciguatera symptoms, limited collection of epidemiological data on a global level, and reticence to report ciguatera in CP-endemic regions. Analysis of the time-series data available for a limited number of countries indicates the highest incidence rates are consistently reported from two historical CP-endemic areas i.e., the Pacific and Caribbean regions, a situation due in part to the strong reliance of local communities on marine resources. Ciguatera-related fatalities are rare (textless0.1% of reported cases). The vast majority of outbreaks involve carnivorous fish including snappers, groupers, wrasses, and barracudas. Since 2000, an expansion of the geographical range of CP has been observed in several areas like Macaronesia and east and southeast Asia. In some of these locales, random surveys confirmed the presence of CTXs in locally sourced fish, consistent with the concurrent report of novel CP incidents (e.g., Canary Islands, Madeira, Selvagens Islands, New South Wales). One characteristic of outbreaks occurring in Asia is that they often present as large disease clusters due to group consumption of a single contaminated fish. Similar observations are reported from the Indian Ocean in the form of shark poisoning outbreaks which often lead to singular types of CP characterized by a high fatality rate. Other atypical forms of CP linked to the consumption of marine invertebrates also have been documented recently. Owing to the significant health, socioeconomic and socio-cultural impacts of ciguatera, there is an urgent need for increased, standardized, coordinated efforts in ciguatera education, monitoring and research programs. Several regional and international initiatives have emerged recently, that may help improve patients' care, data collection at a global scale, and risk monitoring and management capabilities in countries most vulnerable to CP's toxic threat.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{leite_experimental_2021,

title = {Experimental Evidence of Ciguatoxin Accumulation and Depuration in Carnivorous Lionfish},

author = {I Leite and K Sdiri and A Taylor and J Viallon and H B Gharbia and L L Mafra Jr and P W Swarzenski and F R Oberhaensli and H T Darius and M Chinain and M Y Dechraoui-Bottein},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins13080564},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {13},

number = {8},

pages = {564},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning is a food intoxication associated with the consumption of fish or shellfish contaminated, through trophic transfer, with ciguatoxins (CTXs). In this study, we developed an experimental model to assess the trophic transfer of CTXs from herbivorous parrotfish, Chlorurus microrhinos, to carnivorous lionfish, Pterois volitans. During a 6-week period, juvenile lionfish were fed naturally contaminated parrotfish fillets at a daily dose of 0.11 or 0.035 ng CTX3C equiv. g−1, as measured by the radioligand-receptor binding assay (r-RBA) or neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a), respectively. During an additional 6-week depuration period, the remaining fish were fed a CTX-free diet. Using r-RBA, no CTXs were detectable in muscular tissues, whereas CTXs were measured in the livers of two out of nine fish sampled during exposure, and in four out of eight fish sampled during depuration. Timepoint pooled liver samples, as analyzed by CBA-N2a, confirmed the accumulation of CTXs in liver tissues, reaching 0.89 ng CTX3C equiv. g−1 after 41 days of exposure, followed by slow toxin elimination, with 0.37 ng CTX3C equiv. g−1 measured after the 6-week depuration. These preliminary results, which need to be pursued in adult lionfish, strengthen our knowledge on CTX transfer and kinetics along the food web.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{biessy_exploring_2021,

title = {Exploring benthic cyanobacterial diversity and co-occurring potentially harmful dinoflagellates in six islands of the South Pacific},

author = {L Biessy and S Wood and M Chinain and M Roué and K F Smith},

doi = {doi:10.1007/s10750-021-04599-6},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Hydrobiologia},

volume = {848},

pages = {2815--2829},

abstract = {Cyanobacteria represent a potential risk to human health, as they can produce an array of toxic compounds. Proliferations of potentially toxic benthic marine cyanobacteria are predicted to increase in frequency and spread geographically with climate change and eutrophication, especially in tropical lagoons. Benthic cyanobacterial mats harbour many species of other bacteria and eukaryotic organisms, some of which have been linked to human poisonings after consumption of contaminated seafood. Metabarcoding was used to characterize the taxonomic diversity of 66 benthic cyanobacteria-dominated mats collected from six islands in three different countries of the South Pacific: French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Kingdom of Tonga. Twenty-five potentially toxic cyanobacteria genera were recorded. Although core bacterial communities (excluding cyanobacteria) remained constant amongst mats, there were significant differences both within and between islands, even when the mats were dominated by the same cyanobacteria genera. Dinoflagellata and Ciliophora were the most dominant eukaryotes and seven potentially toxic genera of dinoflagellates co-occurred in the mats. This is the first baseline survey to use metabarcoding to demonstrate the co-occurrence of potentially toxic marine cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates in the Pacific. The results highlight that further research is needed to evaluate the toxicity of the mats in these regions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{fall_performance_2021,

title = {Performance of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry to Determine the Sex of Mosquitoes and Identify Specific Colonies from French Polynesia},

author = {F K Fall and M Laroche and H C Bossin and D Musso and P Parola},

doi = {doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0031},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg},

volume = {104},

number = {5},

pages = {1907--16},

abstract = {Mosquitoes are the main arthropod vectors of human pathogens. The current methods for mosquito identification include morphological and molecular methods. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), now routinely used for bacterial identification, has recently emerged in the field of entomology. The aim of this study was to use MALDI-TOF MS to identify mosquito colonies from French Polynesia. Five hundred specimens from French Polynesia belonging to three species, Aedes aegypti, Aedes polynesiensis, and Culex quinquefasciatus, were included in the study. Testing the legs of these mosquitoes by MALDI-TOF MS revealed a 100% correct identification of all specimens at the species level. The MALDI-TOF MS profiles obtained allowed differentiation of male from female mosquitoes and the specific identification of female mosquito colonies of the same species but different geographic origin.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{olivia_sterile_2021,

title = {Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) against Aedes Species Mosquitoes: A Roadmap and Good Practice Framework for Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Pilot Field Trials},

author = {C F Olivia and M Q Benedict and C M Collins and T Baldet and R Bellini and H C Bossin and J Bouyer and V Corbel and L Facchinelli and F Fouque and M Geier and A Mickaelakis and D Roiz and F Simard and C Tur and L C Gouagna},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/insects12030191},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Insects},

volume = {12},

number = {3},

pages = {191},

abstract = {Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti are invasive mosquito species that impose a substantial risk to human health. To control the abundance and spread of these arboviral pathogen vectors, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is emerging as a powerful complement to most commonly-used approaches, in part, because this technique is ecologically benign, specific, and non-persistent in the environment if releases are stopped. Because SIT and other similar vector control strategies are becoming of increasing interest to many countries, we offer here a pragmatic and accessible ‘roadmap’ for the pre-pilot and pilot phases to guide any interested party. This will support stakeholders, non-specialist scientists, implementers, and decision-makers. Applying these concepts will ensure, given adequate resources, a sound basis for local field trialing and for developing experience with the technique in readiness for potential operational deployment. This synthesis is based on the available literature, in addition to the experience and current knowledge of the expert contributing authors in this field. We describe a typical path to successful pilot testing, with the four concurrent development streams of Laboratory, Field, Stakeholder Relations, and the Business and Compliance Case. We provide a graphic framework with criteria that must be met in order to proceed.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{degener_evaluation_2021,

title = {Evaluation of the New Modular Biogents BG-Pro Mosquito Trap in Comparison to CDC, EVS, BG-Sentinel, and BG-Mosquitaire Traps},

author = {C M degener and K M Staunton and H C Bossin and J Marie and R Diogo da Silva and D C Lima and A E Eiras and K I Akaratovic and J Kiser and S W Gordon},

doi = {doi.org/10.2987/21-7003},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {J Am Mosq Control Assoc},

volume = {37},

number = {4},

pages = {224--41},

abstract = {Mosquito surveillance is an essential component of mosquito control and mosquito traps are a universally employed tool to monitor adult populations. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the new modular Biogents BG-Pro mosquito trap (BGP) and compare its performance to 4 widely used traps for adult mosquitoes: the BG-Sentinel (BGS), the BG Mosquitaire (BGM), the CDC miniature light trap (CDC), and the encephalitis vector survey trap (EVS). One semi-field and 9 field Latin square trials were performed in 7 countries. Results showed that the collection performance of the BGP was equivalent to or exceeded that of the BGS, BGM, CDC, and EVS traps in head-to-head comparisons. The BGP uses 35% less power than the CDC and 75% less than the BGS and BGM. This lower power consumption allows it to run at 5 V for 2 days using a small lightweight 10,000-mAh rechargeable power bank. The BG-Pro is an excellent alternative for the surveillance of mosquito species that are usually monitored with BG-Sentinel, CDC, or EVS traps.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{darius_deep-water_2021,

title = {Deep-water fish are potential vectors of Ciguatera Poisoning in the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia},

author = {H T Darius and K CHUNG and P Cruchet and J Viallon and C M Gatti and M Sibat and P Hess and M Chinain},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/md19110644},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Marine Drugs},

volume = {19},

number = {11},

pages = {644},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning (CP) cases linked to the consumption of deep-water fish occurred in 2003 in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia). In 2004, on the request of two local fishermen, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was examined in part of their fish catches, i.e., 22 specimens representing five deep-water fish species. Using the radioactive receptor binding assay (rRBA) and mouse bioassay (MBA), significant CTX levels were detected in seven deep-water specimens in Lutjanidae, Serranidae, and Bramidae families. Following additional purification steps on the remaining liposoluble fractions for 13 of these samples (kept at −20 °C), these latter were reanalyzed in 2018 with improved protocols of the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Using the CBA-N2a, the highest CTX-like content found in a specimen of Eumegistus illustris (Bramidae) was 2.94 ± 0.27 µg CTX1B eq. kg−1. Its toxin profile consisted of 52-epi-54-deoxyCTX1B, CTX1B, and 54-deoxyCTX1B, as assessed by LC–MS/MS. This is the first study demonstrating that deep-water fish are potential ciguatera vectors and highlighting the importance of a systematic monitoring of CTXs in all exploited fish species, especially in ciguatera hotspots, including deep-water fish, which constitute a significant portion of the commercial deep-sea fisheries in many Asian–Pacific countries},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{noauthor_appraisal_2021,

title = {An appraisal of systematic conservation planning for Pacific Ocean Tropical Islands coastal environments.},

author = {André L.V. and S Van Wynsberge and M Chinain and S Andrefouet},

doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112131},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {165},

pages = {112131},

abstract = {Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) offers concepts and toolboxes to make spatial decisions on where to focus conservation actions while minimizing a variety of costs to stakeholders. Thirty-four studies of Pacific Ocean Tropical Islands were scrutinized to categorize past and current types of applications. It appeared that scenarios were often built on a biodiversity representation objective, opportunity costs for fishers was the most frequent cost factor, and an evolution from simple to sophisticated scenarios followed the need to maximize resilience and connectivity while mitigating climate change impacts. However, proxies and models were often not validated, pointing to data quality issues. Customary management by local communities motivated applications specific to the Pacific region, but several island features remained ignored, including invertebrate fishing, ciguatera poisoning and mariculture. Fourteen recommendations are provided to enhance scenarios' robustness, island specificities integration, complex modelling accuracy, and better use of SCP for island management.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{aubry_recent_2021,

title = {Recent African strains of Zika virus display higher transmissibility and fetal pathogenicity than Asian strains},

author = {F Aubry and S Jacobs and M Darmuzey and S Lequime and L Delang and A Fontaine and N Jupatanakul and E F Miot and S Dabo and C Manet and X Montagutelli and A Baidaliuk and F Gambaro and E Simon-Lorière and M Gilsoul and C M Romero-Vivas and V M Cao-Lormeau and R G Jarman and C T Diagne and O Faye and A A Sall and J Neyts and L Nguyen and S J F Kapstein and L Lambrechts},

doi = {doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21199-z},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Nat Commun},

volume = {12},

number = {1},

pages = {916},

abstract = {The global emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) revealed the unprecedented ability for a mosquito-borne virus to cause congenital birth defects. A puzzling aspect of ZIKV emergence is that all human outbreaks and birth defects to date have been exclusively associated with the Asian ZIKV lineage, despite a growing body of laboratory evidence pointing towards higher transmissibility and pathogenicity of the African ZIKV lineage. Whether this apparent paradox reflects the use of relatively old African ZIKV strains in most laboratory studies is unclear. Here, we experimentally compare seven low-passage ZIKV strains representing the recently circulating viral genetic diversity. We find that recent African ZIKV strains display higher transmissibility in mosquitoes and higher lethality in both adult and fetal mice than their Asian counterparts. We emphasize the high epidemic potential of African ZIKV strains and suggest that they could more easily go unnoticed by public health surveillance systems than Asian strains due to their propensity to cause fetal loss rather than birth defects.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andre_framework_2021,

title = {A framework for mapping local knowledge on ciguatera and artisanal fisheries to inform systematic conservation planning.},

author = {L V André and S Van Wynsberge and M Chinain and C M Gatti and A Dempsey and S Andrefouet},

doi = {doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab016},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {ICES Journal of Marine Science},

abstract = {Millions of people’s livelihoods rely on artisanal fisheries. However, in many regions fishers are increasingly facing ciguatera poisoning, a seafood-borne illness. The toxin, produced by benthic dinoflagellates, can spread through marine food webs and to humans by direct consumption. Ciguatera risk can play a major role in fisher’s activities but has never been considered in any marine spatial plans thus far. To fill this gap, we examined if integrating ciguatera in systematic conservation plans could affect these decisions. We developed through map-based interviews, a novel seven-step framework to collect and map local knowledge on ciguatera risk and fisheries activities with two innovations: (i) better mapping of fishing grounds by combining geomorphological habitat and fishing gear information, and (ii) integrating ciguatera risk directly into systematic spatial planning designs and scenarios conceived to maximize benthic habitat conservation while minimizing impacts to fishers. The approach is illustrated for Raivavae Island, in French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean. We found that integrating ciguatera significantly improved prioritization solutions with a 24–38% decrease of costs to fishers compared with scenarios based solely on fishery data. This framework was designed for scientists and managers to optimize the implementation of conservation plans and could be generalized to ciguatera-prone areas.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{cao-lormeau_self-sampling_2021,

title = {Self-sampling kit delivered to travelers for COVID-19 testing 4 days after arrival in French Polynesia, July 2020–February 2021},

author = {V M Cao-Lormeau and I Teiti and A Teissier and V Richard and M Aubry},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease},

volume = {43},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{henderson_interactions_2021,

title = {Interactions between timing and transmissibility explain diverse flavivirus dynamics in Fiji},

author = {A D Henderson and M Kama and M Aubry and S Hue and A Teissier and T Naivalu and V D Bechu and J Kailawadoko and I Rabukawaqa and A Sahukhan and M L Hibberd and E Nilles and S Funk and J Whitworth and C H Watson and C Lau and W J Edmunds and V M Cao-Lormeau and A Kucharski},

doi = {10.1038/s41467-021-21788-y},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Nat Commun},

volume = {12},

number = {1},

pages = {1671},

abstract = {Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused large, brief outbreaks in isolated populations, however ZIKV can also persist at low levels over multiple years. The reasons for these diverse transmission dynamics remain poorly understood. In Fiji, which has experienced multiple large single-season dengue epidemics, there was evidence of multi-year transmission of ZIKV between 2013 and 2017. To identify factors that could explain these differences in dynamics between closely related mosquito-borne flaviviruses, we jointly fit a transmission dynamic model to surveillance, serological and molecular data. We estimate that the observed dynamics of ZIKV were the result of two key factors: strong seasonal effects, which created an ecologically optimal time of year for outbreaks; and introduction of ZIKV after this optimal time, which allowed ZIKV transmission to persist over multiple seasons. The ability to jointly fit to multiple data sources could help identify a similar range of possible outbreak dynamics in other settings.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{peng_diversity_2021,

title = {Diversity in immunogenomics: the value and the challenge},

author = {K Peng and Y Safonova and A Popejoy and O L Rodriguez and F Breden and P Brodin and A M Burkhardt and C Bustamante and V M Cao-Lormeau and M M Corcoran and D Duffy and M F Guarjardo and R Fujita and V Greiff and V D Jonsson and X Liu and L Quintana-Murci and M Rossetti and J XIE and G Yaari and W shang and M S Abedalthagafi and K O Adekoya and R A Ahmed and W C Chang and C Gray and Y Nakamura and W D Lees and P Khatri and H Alachktar and C Scheepers and C Watson and G B Karlsson Hedestam and S Mangul},

doi = {10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Nat Methods},

volume = {18},

number = {6},

pages = {588--91},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{roue_assessment_2020,

title = {Assessment of Ciguatera and Other Phycotoxin-Related Risks in Anaho Bay (Nuku Hiva Island, French Polynesia): Molecular, Toxicological, and Chemical Analyses of Passive Samplers.},

author = {M Roué and K F Smith and M Sibat and J Viallon and K Henry and A Ung and L Biessy and P Hess and H T Darius and M Chinain},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {12},

number = {5},

pages = {321},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning is a foodborne illness caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by dinoflagellates from the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. The suitability of Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) technology for the monitoring of dissolved CTXs in the marine environment has recently been demonstrated. To refine the use of this passive monitoring tool in ciguateric areas, the effects of deployment time and sampler format on the adsorption of CTXs by HP20 resin were assessed in Anaho Bay (Nuku Hiva Island, French Polynesia), a well-known ciguatera hotspot. Toxicity data assessed by means of the mouse neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) showed that a 24 h deployment of 2.5 g of resin allowed concentrating quantifiable amounts of CTXs on SPATT samplers. The CTX levels varied with increasing deployment time, resin load, and surface area. In addition to CTXs, okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) were also detected in SPATT extracts using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), consistent with the presence of Gambierdiscus and Prorocentrum species in the environment, as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) metabarcoding analyses conducted on passive window screen (WS) artificial substrate samples. Although these preliminary findings await further confirmation in follow-up studies, they highlight the usefulness of SPATT samplers in the routine surveillance of CP risk on a temporal scale, and the monitoring of other phycotoxin-related risks in ciguatera-prone areas.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{longo_effects_2020,

title = {Effects of pH and Nutrients (Nitrogen) on Growth and Toxin Profile of the Ciguatera-Causing Dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus polynesiensis (Dinophyceae).},

author = {S Longo and M Sibat and H T Darius and P Hess and M Chinain},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins12120767},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {12},

pages = {737},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning is a foodborne disease caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by dinoflagellates in the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. Ciguatera outbreaks are expected to increase worldwide with global change, in particular as a function of its main drivers, including changes in sea surface temperature, acidification, and coastal eutrophication. In French Polynesia, G. polynesiensis is regarded as the dominant source of CTXs entering the food web. The effects of pH (8.4, 8.2, and 7.9), Nitrogen:Phosphorus ratios (24N:1P vs. 48N:1P), and nitrogen source (nitrates vs. urea) on growth rate, biomass, CTX levels, and profiles were examined in four clones of G. polynesiensis at different culture age (D10, D21, and D30). Results highlight a decrease in growth rate and cellular biomass at low pH when urea is used as a N source. No significant effect of pH, N:P ratio, and N source on the overall CTX content was observed. Up to ten distinct analogs of Pacific ciguatoxins (P-CTXs) could be detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in clone NHA4 grown in urea, at D21. Amounts of more oxidized P-CTX analogs also increased under the lowest pH condition. These data provide interesting leads for the custom production of CTX standards.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{aubry_low_2020,

title = {Low chikungunya virus seroprevalence two years after emergence in Fiji.},

author = {M Aubry and M Kama and A Henderson and A Teissier and J Vanhomwegen and T Mariteragi-Helle and T Paoaafaite and J C Manuguerra and K Christi and C Watson and C Lau and A Kucharski and V M Cao-Lormeau},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Int J Infect Dis},

volume = {90},

pages = {223--25},

abstract = {OBJECTIVES: 

In Fiji, autochthonous chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection was first detected in March 2015. In a previous serosurvey conducted during October-November 2015, we reported a prevalence of anti-CHIKV IgG antibodies of 0.9%. In the present study, we investigated the seroprevalence of CHIKV two years after its emergence in Fiji. 

METHODS: 

Sera from 320 residents of Fiji recruited in June 2017, from the same cohort of individuals that participated in the serosurvey in 2015, were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against CHIKV using a recombinant antigen-based microsphere immunoassay. 

RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2017, CHIKV seroprevalence among residents increased from 0.9% (3/333) to 12.8% (41/320). Of the participants with available serum samples collected in both 2015 and 2017 (n = 200), 31 (15.5%) who were seronegative in 2015 had seroconverted to CHIKV in 2017. 

CONCLUSIONS: 

Our findings suggest that low-level transmission of CHIKV occurred during the two years following the emergence of the virus in Fiji. No CHIKV infection has been reported in Fiji since 2017, but due to the presumed low herd immunity of the population, the risk of CHIKV re-emergence is high. Consequently, chikungunya should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile diseases in Fiji.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{henderson_zika_2020,

title = {Zika seroprevalence declines and neutralizing antibodies wane in adults following outbreaks in French Polynesia and Fiji.},

author = {A Henderson and M Aubry and M Kama and J Vanhomwegen and A Teissier and T Mariteragi-Helle and T Paoaafaite and Y Teissier and C Watson and J C Manuguerra and W Edmunds and J Withworth and C Lau and V M Cao-Lormeau and A Kucharski},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Elife},

volume = {9},

number = {e48460},

abstract = {It has been commonly assumed that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection confers long-term protection against reinfection, preventing ZIKV from re-emerging in previously affected areas for several years. However, the long-term immune response to ZIKV following an outbreak remains poorly documented. We compared results from eight serological surveys before and after known ZIKV outbreaks in French Polynesia and Fiji, including cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. We found evidence of a decline in seroprevalence in both countries over a two-year period following first reported ZIKV transmission. This decline was concentrated in adults, while high seroprevalence persisted in children. In the Fiji cohort, there was also a significant decline in neutralizing antibody titres against ZIKV, but not against dengue viruses that circulated during the same period.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{teissier_long-term_2020,

title = {Long-term persistence of monotypic dengue transmission in small size isolated populations, French Polynesia, 1978-2014.},

author = {Y Teissier and R Paul and M Aubry and X Rodo and C Dommar and H Salje and A Sakuntabhai and B Cazelles and V M Cao-Lormeau},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Plos Neg Trop Dis},

volume = {14},

number = {3},

pages = {e0008110},

abstract = {Understanding the transition of epidemic to endemic dengue transmission remains a challenge in regions where serotypes co-circulate and there is extensive human mobility. French Polynesia, an isolated group of 117 islands of which 72 are inhabited, distributed among five geographically separated subdivisions, has recorded mono-serotype epidemics since 1944, with long inter-epidemic periods of circulation. Laboratory confirmed cases have been recorded since 1978, enabling exploration of dengue epidemiology under monotypic conditions in an isolated, spatially structured geographical location. A database was constructed of confirmed dengue cases, geolocated to island for a 35-year period. Statistical analyses of viral establishment, persistence and fade-out as well as synchrony among subdivisions were performed. Seven monotypic and one heterotypic dengue epidemic occurred, followed by low-level viral circulation with a recrudescent epidemic occurring on one occasion. Incidence was asynchronous among the subdivisions. Complete viral die-out occurred on several occasions with invasion of a new serotype. Competitive serotype replacement has been observed previously and seems to be characteristic of the South Pacific. Island population size had a strong impact on the establishment, persistence and fade-out of dengue cases and endemicity was estimated achievable only at a population size in excess of 175 000. Despite island remoteness and low population size, dengue cases were observed somewhere in French Polynesia almost constantly, in part due to the spatial structuration generating asynchrony among subdivisions. Long-term persistence of dengue virus in this group of island populations may be enabled by island hopping, although could equally be explained by a reservoir of sub-clinical infections on the most populated island, Tahiti.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{togami_first_2020,

title = {First evidence of concurrent enzootic and endemic transmission of Ross River virus in the absence of marsupial reservoirs in Fiji.},

author = {E Togami and N Gyawali and O Ong and M Kama and V M Cao-Lormeau and M Aubry and A I Ko and E Nilles and J M Collins-Emerson and G J Devine and C Lau},

doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2020.02.048},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Int J Infect Dis},

volume = {96},

pages = {94-6},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: 

 

Ross River virus (RRV) is a zoonotic alphavirus transmitted by several mosquito species. Until recently, endemic transmission was only considered possible in the presence of marsupial reservoirs. 

METHODS: 

 

We investigated RRV seroprevalence in placental mammals, including horses, cows, goats, pigs, dogs, rats, and mice in Fiji, where there are no marsupials. A total of 302 vertebrate serum samples were collected from 86 households from 10 communities in Western Fiji. 

FINDINGS: 

 

Neutralizing antibodies against RRV were detected in 28 to 100% of sera depending on species, and neutralization was strong even at high dilutions. 

SIGNIFICANCE: 

 

Our results are unlikely to be due to cross reactions; Chikungunya is the only other alphavirus known to be present in the Pacific Islands, but it rarely spills over into non-humans, even during epidemics. Our findings, together with recent report of high RRV seroprevalence in humans, strongly suggest that RRV is circulating in Fiji in the absence of marsupial reservoirs. Considering that all non-human vertebrates present in Fiji are panglobal in distribution, RRV has the potential to further expand its geographic range. Further surveillance and access to diagnostics of RRV is critical for the early detection of emergence and outbreaks.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{noauthor_revisiting_2020,

title = {Revisiting the Neuroblastoma Cell-Based Assay (CBA-N2a) for the Improved Detection of Marine Toxins Active on Voltage Gated Sodium Channels (VGSCs)},

author = {Viallon J. and M Chinain and H T Darius},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12050281},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {12},

number = {5},

pages = {281},

abstract = {The neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) is widely used for the detection of marine biotoxins in seafood products, yet a consensus protocol is still lacking. In this study, six key parameters of CBA-N2a were revisited: cell seeding densities, cell layer viability after 26 h growth, MTT incubation time, Ouabain and Veratridine treatment and solvent and matrix effects. A step-by-step protocol was defined identifying five viability controls for the validation of CBA-N2a results. Specific detection of two voltage gated sodium channel activators, pacific ciguatoxin (P-CTX3C) and brevetoxin (PbTx3) and two inhibitors, saxitoxin (STX) and decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dc-STX) was achieved, with EC50 values of 1.7 ± 0.35 pg/mL, 5.8 ± 0.9 ng/mL, 3 ± 0.5 ng/mL and 15.8 ± 3 ng/mL, respectively. When applied to the detection of ciguatoxin (CTX)-like toxicity in fish samples, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.031 ± 0.008 and 0.064 ± 0.016 ng P-CTX3C eq/g of flesh, respectively. Intra and inter-assays comparisons of viability controls, LOD, LOQ and toxicity in fish samples gave coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 3% to 29%. This improved test adaptable to either high throughput screening or composite toxicity estimation is a useful starting point for a standardization of the CBA-N2a in the field of marine toxin detection.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{zhen_modeling_2020,

title = {Modeling the time-lag effect of sea surface temperatures on ciguatera poisoning in the South Pacific: Implications for surveillance and response.},

author = {L Zhen and C M Gatti and E Garrido Gamarro and A Suzuki and H Y Teah},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxicon},

volume = {182},

pages = {21--29},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning (CP), arising from ciguatoxins produced by toxic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus, is one of the most common food-borne diseases in the South Pacific. Climate change as well as its related events have been hypothesized to a higher abundance and wider presence of toxic dinoflagellates, hence a higher risk of the disease. Yet existing studies assessing the relationship between climate factors and CP are limited or based on old data. In this study, we used prewhitened cross-correlation analysis and auto-regressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA) modeling to develop predictive models of monthly CP incidence in Cook Islands and French Polynesia, two ciguatera-endemic regions in the South Pacific, utilizing the latest epidemiological data. Results reveal the significant time-lagged associations between the monthly CP incidence rate and several indicators relating to sea surface temperature (SST). In particular, SST anomaly is proven to be a strong positive predictor of an increased ciguatera incidence for both countries. If these time-lags can be supported by more investigations, it will allow health authorities to take appropriate actions, to limit or avoid an epidemic risk, especially on high-risk climate scenarios.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{van_dolah_transcriptomic_2020,

title = {Transcriptomic analysis of polyketide synthases in a highly ciguatoxic dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus polynesiensis and low toxicity Gambierdiscus pacificus, from French Polynesia},

author = {F M Van Dolah and S J Morey and S Milne and A Ung and P E Anderson and M Chinain},

doi = {doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231400},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {PLOS One},

volume = {15},

number = {4},

pages = {20231400},

abstract = {Marine dinoflagellates produce a diversity of polyketide toxins that are accumulated in marine food webs and are responsible for a variety of seafood poisonings. Reef-associated dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus produce toxins responsible for ciguatera poisoning (CP), which causes over 50,000 cases of illness annually worldwide. The biosynthetic machinery for dinoflagellate polyketides remains poorly understood. Recent transcriptomic and genomic sequencing projects have revealed the presence of Type I modular polyketide synthases in dinoflagellates, as well as a plethora of single domain transcripts with Type I sequence homology. The current transcriptome analysis compares polyketide synthase (PKS) gene transcripts expressed in two species of Gambierdiscus from French Polynesia: a highly toxic ciguatoxin producer, G. polynesiensis, versus a non-ciguatoxic species G. pacificus, each assembled from approximately 180 million Illumina 125 nt reads using Trinity, and compares their PKS content with previously published data from other Gambierdiscus species and more distantly related dinoflagellates. Both modular and single-domain PKS transcripts were present. Single domain β-ketoacyl synthase (KS) transcripts were highly amplified in both species (98 in G. polynesiensis, 99 in G. pacificus), with smaller numbers of standalone acyl transferase (AT), ketoacyl reductase (KR), dehydratase (DH), enoyl reductase (ER), and thioesterase (TE) domains. G. polynesiensis expressed both a larger number of multidomain PKSs, and larger numbers of modules per transcript, than the non-ciguatoxic G. pacificus. The largest PKS transcript in G. polynesiensis encoded a 10,516 aa, 7 module protein, predicted to synthesize part of the polyether backbone. Transcripts and gene models representing portions of this PKS are present in other species, suggesting that its function may be performed in those species by multiple interacting proteins. This study contributes to the building consensus that dinoflagellates utilize a combination of Type I modular and single domain PKS proteins, in an as yet undefined manner, to synthesize polyketides.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bonnard_assessment_2020,

title = {Assessment of the chemical diversity and potential toxicity of benthic cyanobacterial blooms in the lagoon of Moorea Island (French Polynesia).},

author = {I Bonnard and L Bornancin and K Dalle and M Chinain and M Zubia and B Banaigs and M Roué},

doi = {10.3390/jmse8060406},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Marine Science and Engineering},

volume = {8},

pages = {406},

abstract = {In the last decades, an apparent increase in the frequency of benthic cyanobacterial blooms has occurred in coral reefs and tropical lagoons, possibly in part because of global change and anthropogenic activities. In the frame of the survey of marine benthic cyanobacteria proliferating in the lagoon of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), 15 blooms were collected, mainly involving three species—Anabaena sp.1, Lyngbya majuscula and Hydrocoleum majus-B. Their chemical fingerprints, obtained through high performance liquid chromatography combined with UV detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-MS) analyses, revealed a high extent of species-specificity. The chemical profile of Anabaena sp.1 was characterized by three major cyclic lipopeptides of the laxaphycin family, whereas the one of L. majuscula was characterized by a complex mixture including tiahuramides, trungapeptins and serinol-derived malyngamides. Toxicity screening analyses conducted on these cyanobacterial samples using Artemia salina and mouse neuroblastoma cell-based (CBA-N2a) cytotoxic assays failed to show any toxicity to a degree that would merit risk assessment with regard to public health. However, the apparently increasing presence of blooms of Lyngbya, Hydrocoleum, Anabaena or other benthic cyanobacteria on coral reefs in French Polynesia encourages the implementation of ad hoc monitoring programs for the surveillance of their proliferation and potential assessment of associated hazards.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{chomerat_taxonomy_2020,

title = {Taxonomy and toxicity of a bloom-forming Ostreopsis species (Dinophyceae, Gonyaulacales) in Tahiti island (South Pacific Ocean): one step further towards resolving the identity of O. siamensis.},

author = {N Chomerat and G Bilien and J Viallon and F Hervé and D Réveillon and K Henry and M Zubia and C Viera and A Ung and C M Gatti and M Roué and A Derrien and Z Amzil and H T Darius and M Chinain},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Harmful Algae},

volume = {98},

pages = {101888},

abstract = {Among dinoflagellates responsible for benthic harmful algal blooms, the genus Ostreopsis primarily described from tropical areas has been increasingly reported from subtropical and temperate areas worldwide. Several species of this toxigenic genus produce analogs of palytoxin, thus representing a major threat to human and environmental health. The taxonomy of several species needs to be clarified as it was based mostly on morphological descriptions leading in some cases to ambiguous interpretations and misidentifications. The present study aims at reporting a benthic bloom that occurred in April 2019 in Tahiti island, French Polynesia. A complete taxonomic investigation of the blooming Ostreopsis species was realized using light, epifluorescence and field emission electron microscopy and phylogenetic analyses inferred from LSU rDNA and ITS–5.8S rDNA regions. Toxicity of a natural sample and strains isolated from the bloom was assessed using both neuroblastoma cell-based assay and LC-MS/MS analyses. Morphological observations showed that cells were round to oval, large, 58.0–82.5 µm deep (dorso-ventral length) and 45.7–61.2 µm wide. The cingulum was conspicuously undulated, forming a ‘V’ in ventral view. Thecal plates possessed large pores in depressions, with a collar rim. Detailed observation also revealed the presence of small thecal pores invisible in LM. Phylogenetic analyses were congruent and all sequences clustered within the genotype Ostreopsis sp. 6, in a subclade closely related to sequences from the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia. No toxicity was found on the field sample but all the strains isolated from the bloom were found to be cytotoxic and produced ostreocin D, a lower amount of ostreocins A and B and putatively other compounds. Phylogenetic data demonstrate the presence of this species in the Gulf of Thailand, at the type locality of O. siamensis, and morphological data are congruent with the original description and support this identification.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{longo_intraspecific_2020,

title = {Intraspecific Variability in the Toxin Production and Toxin Profiles of In Vitro Cultures of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis (Dinophyceae) from French Polynesia},

author = {S Longo and M Sibat and J Viallon and H T Darius and P Hess and M Chinain},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins11120735},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {11},

number = {12},

pages = {735},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning (CP) is a foodborne disease caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by dinoflagellates in the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. The toxin production and toxin profiles were explored in four clones of G. polynesiensis originating from different islands in French Polynesia with contrasted CP risk: RIK7 (Mangareva, Gambier), NHA4 (Nuku Hiva, Marquesas), RAI-1 (Raivavae, Australes), and RG92 (Rangiroa, Tuamotu). Productions of CTXs, maitotoxins (MTXs), and gambierone group analogs were examined at exponential and stationary growth phases using the neuroblastoma cell-based assay and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. While none of the strains was found to produce known MTX compounds, all strains showed high overall P-CTX production ranging from 1.1 ± 0.1 to 4.6 ± 0.7 pg cell−1. In total, nine P-CTX analogs were detected, depending on strain and growth phase. The production of gambierone, as well as 44-methylgamberione, was also confirmed in G. polynesiensis. This study highlighted: (i) intraspecific variations in toxin production and profiles between clones from distinct geographic origins and (ii) the noticeable increase in toxin production of both CTXs, in particular CTX4A/B, and gambierone group analogs from the exponential to the stationary phase},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{chinain_evidence_2020,

title = {Evidence for the Range Expansion of Ciguatera in French Polynesia: A Revisit of the 2009 Mass-Poisoning Outbreak in Rapa Island (Australes Archipelago)},

author = {M Chinain and C M Gatti and A Ung and P Cruchet and T Revel and J Viallon and M Sibat and P Varney and V Laurent and P Hess and H T Darius},

doi = {doi.org/10.3390/toxins12120759},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Toxins},

volume = {12},

number = {12},

pages = {759},

abstract = {Ciguatera poisoning (CP) results from the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). This disease is highly prevalent in French Polynesia with several well-identified hotspots. Rapa Island, the southernmost inhabited island in the country, was reportedly free of CP until 2007. This study describes the integrated approach used to investigate the etiology of a fatal mass-poisoning outbreak that occurred in Rapa in 2009. Symptoms reported in patients were evocative of ciguatera. Several Gambierdiscus field samples collected from benthic assemblages tested positive by the receptor binding assay (RBA). Additionally, the toxicity screening of ≈250 fish by RBA indicated ≈78% of fish could contain CTXs. The presence of CTXs in fish was confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The potential link between climate change and this range expansion of ciguatera to a subtropical locale of French Polynesia was also examined based on the analysis of temperature time-series data. Results are indicative of a global warming trend in Rapa area. A five-fold reduction in incidence rates was observed between 2009 and 2012, which was due in part to self-regulating behavior among individuals (avoidance of particular fish species and areas). Such observations underscore the prominent role played by community outreach in ciguatera risk management.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{aubry_enhanced_2020,

title = {Enhanced Zika virus susceptibility of globally invasive Aedes aegypti populations},

author = {F Aubry and S Dabo and C Manet and I Filipovic and N H Rose and E F Miot and D Martynow and A Baidaliuk and S H Merkling and L B Dickson and A B Crist and V O Anyango and C M Romero-Vivas and A Vega-Rua and I Dusfour and D Jiolle and C Paupy and M N Mayanja and J J Lutwama and A Kohl and V Duong and A Ponlawat and M Sylla and J Akorli and S Otoo and J Lutomiah and R Sang and J P Mutebi and V M Cao-Lormeau and R G Jarman and C T Diagne and O Faye and A A Sall and C S McBride and X Montagutelli and G Rasic and L Lambrechts},

doi = {doi: 10.1126/science.abd3663},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Science},

volume = {370},

number = {6519},

pages = {991--6},

abstract = {The drivers and patterns of zoonotic virus emergence in the human population are poorly understood. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major arbovirus vector native to Africa that invaded most of the world's tropical belt over the past four centuries, after the evolution of a "domestic" form that specialized in biting humans and breeding in water storage containers. Here, we show that human specialization and subsequent spread of A. aegypti out of Africa were accompanied by an increase in its intrinsic ability to acquire and transmit the emerging human pathogen Zika virus. Thus, the recent evolution and global expansion of A. aegypti promoted arbovirus emergence not solely through increased vector-host contact but also as a result of enhanced vector susceptibility.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}