https://hdl.handle.net/2072/4427 www.cerca.cat Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:38:49 GMT 2026-04-10T03:38:49Z http://recercat.cat:80/bitstream/id/0aab15a6-98ea-426e-a263-aaff45c95afa/ https://hdl.handle.net/2072/4427 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5195 Characterization of the Omnivorous Lygus lineolaris Diet in a Strawberry Field by Metataxonomy Solà Cassi, Mireia; Dumont, François; Lucas, Eric Lygus lineolaris is a highly polyphagous pest that impacts key crops such as strawberries, making an understanding of its feeding behavior critical for developing effective management strategies. Using metataxonomy, this study examined the dietary breadth of L. lineolaris in a commercial strawberry field in Quebec, revealing an extensive and diverse omnivorous diet. The multiprimer approach, combined with validation samples, ensured high taxonomic resolution and accuracy. We expanded the documented list of L. lineolaris host taxa to 475, including 441 plants and 34 prey species, with 51 taxa unique to this research, comprising eight new plant hosts and five prey species. Molecular evidence confirmed active ingestion, underscoring its omnivorous behavior with a predominantly herbivorous tendency. Notably, 70% of individuals fed exclusively on plants, 20% exhibited omnivory, and only 4% were strictly zoophagous. To quantify the level of phytozoophagy in omnivorous species, we propose a novel coefficient of omnivory (CO), calculated as CO = P/(P + Z), where P and Z represent the number of individuals with molecular evidence of phytophagy and zoophagy, respectively. With a CO of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.77–0.90), L. lineolaris demonstrates a strong bias toward plant feeding. Diet composition varied seasonally and between sexes, with females showing increased zoophagy during reproductive periods. These findings highlight L. lineolaris's dietary flexibility and resilience, providing critical insights into its feeding ecology and food web interactions to inform targeted integrated pest management strategies tailored to its omnivorous nature. Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5195 2026-01-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5198 Uncovering the hidden risks of microplastics in the food chain Muñoz-Lapeira, Míriam; Balcázar, José L. Microplastics pose hidden risks to the food chain by acting as vehicles for microbial colonization. The plastisphere may facilitate pathogen transfer through seafood, agricultural products, and food processing, raising major concerns for food safety. Standardized methodologies, stronger regulations, and further research are urgently needed to address these emerging risks. Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5198 2026-01-06T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5199 Beyond the zero-risk illusion: negotiating food safety in a One Health era Allende, Ana; Bover-Cid, Sara Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5199 2026-03-17T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5196 An integrated individual-based model of transmission, clinical outcomes, and economic impact of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in a commercial pig fattening unit Boeters, M.; Garcia Morante, Beatriz; Picault, S.; van Schaik, G.; Sibila, Marina; Segalés, Joaquim; Steeneveld, W. Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae remains a major economic and health challenge for pig production worldwide, causing lung lesions and coughing that reduce production performance and farm profitability. However, the interplay between transmission, clinical outcomes, and economic consequences has not yet been fully characterised. To address this gap, a stochastic, individual-based bio-economic simulation model was developed using the EMULSION modelling framework. The model integrates infection dynamics, the development of lung lesions and coughing, and their subsequent effects on production performance and economic outcomes. Pigs were grouped within pens to represent within- and between-pen transmission. Production losses and additional labour requirements were translated into economic outcomes using a partial-budgeting approach. Model parameters were derived from scientific literature, representative industry reports and expert elicitation. Sensitivity analyses explored alternative distributions or values for key epidemiological parameters and assessed the effect of ± 20% variation in all input variables on biological and economic outputs. Simulations indicated that infection spread rapidly, reaching all pigs within 4–8 weeks, with peak prevalence approximately four weeks after fattening unit entry. Lung lesions followed a similar pattern, persisting at high prevalence for around two months, and a median of 14% of pigs still had unresolved lesions at slaughter. Coughing lagged about one week behind the rise in infection prevalence, reflecting the delay between infection and clinical signs. Median economic losses were €6 per pig, with reduced feed efficiency accounting for 73% of total losses. Sensitivity analyses identified between-pen transmission and initial prevalence as the most influential drivers of infection progression and profitability. The findings highlight key knowledge gaps, including the prevalence, infectiousness, and production impact of subclinical infections, as well as the need for longitudinal field data on lesion progression and between-pen transmission, to refine model assumptions and better align simulations with observations in practice. The modelling framework presented here provides a novel, integrated understanding of the biological and economic consequences of M. hyopneumoniae infection and a foundation for evaluating future control strategies. Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/5196 2026-02-18T00:00:00Z