Bekaa Research Articles

Investigating Pneumonia Etiology Among Refugees and the Lebanese population (PEARL): A study protocol

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a leading cause of mortality, mainly affects children in developing countries. The harsh circumstances experienced by refugees include various factors associated with respiratory pathogen transmission, and clinical progression of CAP. Consequently, the etiology of CAP in humanitarian crisis situations may differ to that of settled populations, which would impact appropriate case management. Therefore, the Pneumonia Etiology Among Refugees and the Lebanese population (PEARL) study was initiated with the objective of identifying the causal pathogenic microorganisms in the respiratory tract of children and adults from both the refugee and host country population presenting with signs of CAP during a humanitarian crisis. Methods: PEARL, a prospective, multicentric, case-control study, will be conducted at four primary healthcare facilities in Tripoli and the Bekaa valley over 15 months (including two high-transmission seasons/winters). Sociodemographic and medical data, and biological samples will be collected from at least 600 CAP cases and 600 controls. Nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, urine and blood samples will be analyzed at five clinical pathology laboratories in Lebanon to identify the bacterial and viral etiological agents of CAP. Transcriptomic profiling of host leukocytes will be performed. Conclusions: PEARL is an original observational study that will provide important new information on the etiology of pneumonia among refugees, which may improve case management, help design antimicrobial stewardship interventions, and reduce morbidity and mortality due to CAP in a humanitarian crisis.

Reuse of Treated Municipal Wastewater under Different Growing Seasons for the Spinach Production

A study was conducted in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon aiming to produce spinach leaves with treated effluent from Joub Janine plant under two growing seasons. Two experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design. The effect of water quality on the qualitative, quantitative aspects and microbiological contamination of leaves was assessed. The results showed that the treated wastewater from Joub Janine plant was of category III. The highest mean marketable yields was recorded for T7 (4727 g·m-2) followed by T6 (3533 g·m-2) that were drip irrigated with treated wastewater. The uptake of K, Mg, Na and Cl was significantly 49.09%, 30.20%, 96.79% and 33.20%, respectively, higher in the spring than in autumn. The nitrate levels in all treatments and seasons were below the maximum level in foodstuffs as provided by the European Commission regulations. For the lipophilic fraction, there was no significant difference among treatments and also among treatments and seasons interacting together and the highest hydrophilic fraction and total phenols levels recorded for the autumn rather than the summer season. In general, pathogenic bacteria was absent on spinach leaves for all treatments and growing seasons.

A qualitative study exploring child marriage practices among Syrian conflict-affected populations in Lebanon

BackgroundRecent reports have suggested that child marriage among Syrians may be increasing as a result of displacement and conflict. This study sought to gather qualitative data about the factors that promote child marriage practices among Syrian refugees in Al Marj area in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon, where the majority of Syrian refugees have settled in Lebanon. The second aim of this study was to generate recommendations on how to mitigate the drivers and consequences of child marriage practices based on the findings.MethodsEight focus group discussions were conducted separately with married and unmarried young women and mothers and fathers of married and unmarried women. Furthermore, researchers conducted 11 key informant interviews with service providers and stakeholders to understand how conflict and displacement influenced marriage practices of Syrian refugees in Al Marj community.ResultsAlthough child marriage was a common practice in pre-conflict Syria, new factors seem to contribute to a higher risk of child marriage among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Respondents cited conflict- and displacement-related safety issues and feeling of insecurity, the worsening of economic conditions, and disrupted education for adolescent women as driving factors. Service providers, young women, and parents also reported changes in some marriage practices, including a shorter engagement period, lower bride price, change in cousin marriage practices, and a reduced age at marriage.ConclusionsRecommendations for interventions to mitigate the drivers of child marriage and its negative consequences should be built on a clear understanding of the local refugee context and the drivers of child marriage in refugee settings. Interventions should involve multiple stakeholders, they should be adjusted to target each specific context, age group and marital status. For these interventions to be effective, they should be addressed concurrently, and they should be delivered in a culturally sensitive and practical manner.

Young lives disrupted: gender and well-being among adolescent Syrian refugees in Lebanon

BackgroundThe conflict in Syria that began in 2011 has resulted in the exodus of over 5 million Syrian refugees to neighbouring countries, with more than one million refugees currently registered by UNHCR in Lebanon. While some are living in tented settlements, the majority are living in strained conditions in rented accommodation or collective shelters in the Bekaa Valley next to Syria. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable in any crisis. In 2013–4, the American University in Beirut in collaboration with the Women’s Refugee Commission, Johns Hopkins and Save the Children, sought to understand the specific experiences of very young adolescents, those 10–14 years of age, in this protracted crisis context.MethodsThe study was conducted in 2014 in Barelias and Qabelias – two urban areas located close to each other in the Beka’a valley that has a large concentration of Syrian refugees. Focus group discussions (FGDs), including community mapping and photo elicitation, were conducted with 10–12 and 13–14 year old Syrian refugee adolescents, in order to obtain information about their experiences and perspectives. FGDs were also implemented with 15–16 year old Syrian refugees and separately also with adult refugees, to consider their perspectives on the needs and risks of these adolescents.ResultsA total of 16 FGD (8 for each sex, with 6–9 participants in each) were conducted in Arabic across the two sites, with 59 female participants and 59 male participants. The experiences and risks faced by these adolescents were significantly impacted by economic strain and loss of educational opportunities during displacement, and only a minority of adolescents in the study reported attending school. Additionally, on-going protection risks for girls were felt to be higher due to the crisis and displacement. In Lebanon this has resulted in increased risks of child marriage and limitations in mobility for adolescent girls. Adolescents, themselves expressed tensions with their Lebanese counterparts and feared verbal attacks and beatings from school-aged Lebanese male youth.ConclusionsFamilies and adolescents have been dramatically affected by the conflict in Syria, and the resulting forced displacement. The loss of educational opportunities is perhaps the most significant effect, with long-term devastating outcomes. Additionally, the futures of Syrian girls are deeply affected by new protection concerns, particularly as they are exposed to an unfamiliar and more liberal society in Lebanon. Child marriage and limitations in their mobility – particularly for girls - are presented by families as coping strategies to these risks. Programming is needed to ensure sustained education access for all adolescents, and to educate very young adolescents and their parents on managing their own health and well-being, given the multiple strains. More effort is needed to encourage positive interaction between adolescent Lebanese and adolescent Syrian refugees.

Reuse of treated municipal wastewater in irrigation: a case study from Lebanon and Jordan

AbstractIn this study, we present the results of scenarios where secondary‐treated municipal wastewater was used for table grapes irrigation in the region of Ablah, Bekaa valley in Lebanon, and fodder crops irrigation (vetch and barley) in the region of Ramtha in Jordan. In Lebanon, we carried out experiments to assess the response of drip‐irrigated table grapes grown under two water quality regimes (Freshwater (FW) and treated wastewater (TW) and two water levels (100% of evapotranspiration (ETc) and 75% of ETc). While in Jordan, we carried out experiments to assess the response of drip‐irrigated fodder crops considering 4 irrigation levels (Q1: Rain fed; Q2: 80% of ETc; Q3: 100% of ETc; Q4: 120% of ETc) and three crop patterns (C1: Barley 100%; C2: Vetch 100%; C3: Mix 50% barley and 50% vetch). Based on the production and quality components, table grapes were successfully grown on plots that are supplied with TW. Fodder crops were successfully grown using TW with remarkable increase in biomass and grain yield production for the irrigated treatments.

The role of soils in the analysis of potential agricultural production: A case study in Lebanon

Maintaining cereal production in the Bekaa valley in Lebanon presents a serious challenge. Lack of water is the driving force of agricultural research which is mainly focused on introduction of drought resistant cultivars, application of conservation tillage and supplemental irrigation. In this context forty-eight experimental plots were laid out for three years in a statistical split plot design. The statistical analyses showed that aboveground biomass and yield were significantly affected by irrigation for barley but not for the yield of durum wheat. Effects of soil tillage practices and introduction of new cultivares were not significant.A soil survey indicated that the implicit assumption of soil homogeneity of the agronomic design was correct for surface soil but that two different soil types (Cambisols and Fluvisols) had to be distinguished considering subsoil conditions and corresponding rooting patterns. Therefore, the main objective of this paper was to determine the effects of different soil types on crop response and, in addition, to assess how physically-based modeling can predict future effects of climate change on crops and soils. Simulation model SWAP was validated for local conditions using measurements of soil water contents, aboveground biomass and yield of wheat. Considering two rather than one soil type for the experimental area resulted in different conclusions for both crops as to the effectivity of both conservation tillage and irrigation, demonstrating that a distinction of only one soil type results in misleading results. The validated model was applied to estimate yields considering climate change, focusing on the application of supplemental irrigation. Yields for “Mikii3” a durum wheat cultivar are expected to increase by appr. 14% in both soils due to climate change. More importantly, only 3 supplemental irrigations would be needed for the deep soil requiring 5% more water as compared with current climate trend, while the shallow soil needs 13 irrigations, corresponding with a need for 35% more water. This is highly significant from an economic point of view and supports the relevance of distinguishing two soil types.It was demonstrated the synergy of joint research by the agronomic and soil science community and the need for executing a soil survey in future when planning agronomic experiments, including a hydrological soil characterisation.

Surveys of potato-growing areas and surface water in Lebanon for potato brown and ring rot pathogens.

Field surveys were carried out over three growing seasons (2013–2015), in the main potato growing areas of Lebanon, to assess the occurrence of potato brown rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and potato ring rot caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus . A total of 232 potato samples were collected from Bekaa valley and 145 samples from Akkar plain, which are the largest Lebanese areas cropped with potatoes. Composite samples of 200 potato tubers were randomly collected from each field, following procedures laid down in EU legislation. Twelve potato demonstration fields were established in Akkar plain and designed for potato export to European markets: these were also surveyed using the same strategy. Furthermore, a network of 40 sampling sites in Bekaa and 19 sites in Akkar was established to collect surface water. GPS coordinates of potato fields and water sampling sites were recorded to map specific sampling points using Geographic Information System. All samples gave negative results for R. solanacearum and C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in potatoes and R. solanacearum in water, as indicated using the official EU methods for detection and diagnosis for these pathogens. A monitoring system for R. solanacearum and C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis has been set up in Lebanon. This will increase the phytosanitary quality of potatoes and provide access to broader international markets.

Soil inoculum density of Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium wilt of olive in Lebanon

AbstractIn the Mediterranean basin, Verticillium Wilt of Olive (VWO) is diffused throughout its range of cultivation, causing severe yield losses and tree mortality. The disease was reported in almost all the Mediterranean and Middle East countries, and in Lebanon it is of increasing significance also on many valuable crops. The disease has already been reported on potato, peach and almond in the Bekaa valley; however, to date no information is available about the incidence of VWO and the inoculum density of Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia in soil of the main agricultural areas of Lebanon. Results from the present investigations demonstrate a high V. dahliae frequency in soils (75.3%), coupled with a mean soil inoculum density of 17.0 MS g−1, clearly indicating a great impact on the production of susceptible hosts in Lebanon, mainly in Bekaa region. Molecular method to assess the microsclerotia inoculum density in soil allowed the detection of a higher frequency of infested soils, as compared with the traditional plating, thus confirming its higher sensitivity. The overall Verticillium wilt prevalence in the inspected olive orchards was 46.2%, and the frequency of V. dahliae‐infected trees was 25.7%. The widespread presence of V. dahliae in all olive growing areas of Lebanon enforces the adoption of measures aimed at reducing the soil inoculum density before any new olive plantation, and the use of strong phytosanitary regulations to improve the certification schemes of propagating material.

GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF 2D SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILES ONSHORE LEBANON: IMPLICATIONS FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

The first 2D seismic reflection acquisition onshore Lebanon was undertaken in 2013 by Spectrum Geo Ltd under the auspices of the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water. The surveys were recorded across a crustal‐scale restraining bend in the central part of the Levant Fracture System. This contribution presents a geological interpretation of processed 2D data from the 2013 campaign.Two east‐west trending seismic profiles were acquired and processed with a total linear distance of ∼80 km. Overall, a total of 16 key seismic reflectors were identified and mapped, and 20 faults were traced on the seismic profiles which were compared to geologic sections along the same acquisition path‐lines. This helped to age‐constrain the key reflectors and to assign the proper lithostratigraphic attributes to observed seismic packages. Interval velocities were determined every 500 m along each profile using the Dix equation to approximate the depth (in metres) for each time‐picked horizon (ms), and ultimately to correlate seismic packages and measured thicknesses with known and/or extrapolated geologic rock units.The 50 km long SLEB‐2D‐01‐13 profile (Batroun – Ainata, northern Lebanon) shows distinct seismic reflectors down to 2.5 seconds TWT. The deepest key reflector is believed to correspond to the middle Triassic evaporites which appear to have acted as a decoupling horizon. The interpreted profile displays the continuity of the overlying Qartaba structure, a potential viable exploration lead which merits further investigation.The 30 km long SLEB‐2D‐05‐13 profile (Aley – Barr Elias, central Lebanon) shows excellent seismic imaging below the Bekaa valley, reaching 4 seconds TWT. The deepest key reflector is associated with the base‐Jurassic horizon, 6300m to 8500m below ground level. Assumed Eocene platform carbonates underlie an interpreted Oligocene argillaceous package. These may form good hydrocarbon reservoir rocks if a viable petroleum system is present.

Groundwater flow modeling to support water management scenarios – the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded a project aimed at developing tools for water management in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water implemented the project, supported by the University of Milan Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA).The geologic framework consists of a Cretaceous-Eocene carbonatic structure, crossed by a fracture system parallel to the anticlines of the Anti-Lebanon and Mount Hermon ranges and to the synclinal constituting the Bekaa valley. The carbonatic structure is overlain by a Neogene-Quaternary sequence of lacustrine limestones, marls and conglomerates outcropping in the lower valley.In the study area, groundwater bodies fed by precipitation along the mountain ridges, give origin to the Orontes river. Surficial and ground water feed the population, agriculture and fish farming and, since 2011, over one million of Syrian refugees.A Decision Support System (DSS) was set up based on WEAP, a software that represents the interaction between water resources and users by simulating flow mechanisms directly or coupled to external models. MODFLOW-2000, one of such models, was used to represent groundwater flow in the carbonatic and in the overlying Quaternary aquifer, which is present in the lower valley.By coupling WEAP with MODFLOW, it is possible to represent physically-based scenarios of water management, with the aim of optimizing both water extraction and distribution. Moreover, the groundwater flow model could support negotiations between Lebanon, Syria and Turkey for the distribution of surface and ground water through joint data and knowledge.

Pectobacterium aroidearum and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum as causal agents of potato soft rot in Lebanon

To identify bacteria causing severe soft rot on potato in Lebanon, pectinolytic bacteria were isolated from diseased samples collected in the Bekaa valley and the Akkar region, during 2009–2010. Six isolates that induced a hypersensitive reaction in tobacco plants and caused a marked soft rot when inoculated in potato tubers or stem, DAPP-PG 752 to DAPP-PG 757, were further characterized. Analysis of 16S–23S intergenic transcribed spacer-regions, digested with RsaI and CfoI, demonstrated that isolates DAPP-PG 753 to DAPP-PG 757 showed electrophoretic profiles similar to that of LMG 2408, a strain misclassified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, and different from that of DAPP-PG 752. Phylogenetic analysis using partial malate dehydrogenase gene sequences, clustered DAPP-PG 752 in a clade that contained the type strain of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, while DAPP-PG 753 to DAPP-PG 757, together with LMG 2408, fell in a clade including strains of the recently described species Pectobacterium aroidearum. Multilocus sequence analysis of concatenated partial sequences of the atpD, gyrB, infB and rpoB genes confirmed the results obtained with the mdh gene sequences and identified DAPP-PG 752 as P. carotovorum, and LMG 2408 and the five related Lebanese isolates as P. aroidearum. The Lebanese P. aroidearum isolates were phenotypically similar to known P. aroidearum strains, based on API 50 CHE data. They showed identical BOX- and ERIC-PCR profiles that resembled profiles of known P. aroidearum strains. This study represents the first official report of P. aroidearum as causal agent of soft rot on potato plants and the first occurrence of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum on potato plants in Lebanon.

Regional Landsat-Based Drought Monitoring from 1982 to 2014

Drought is a serious natural hazard with far-reaching impacts including soil damages, economic losses, and threatening the livelihood and health of local residents. The goal of the present work was to monitor the vegetation health across Lebanon in 2014 using remote sensing techniques. Landsat images datasets, with a spatial resolution of 30 m and from different platforms, were used to identify the VCI (Vegetation Condition Index) and TCI (Temperature Condition Index). The VCI was based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) datasets. The TCI used land surface temperature (LST) datasets. As a result, the VHI (Vegetation Health Index) was produced and classified into five categories: extreme, severe, moderate, mild, and no drought. The results show practically no extreme drought (~0.27 km2) in the vegetated area in Lebanon during 2014. Moderate to severe drought mainly occurred in the north of Lebanon (i.e., the Amioun region and the plain of Akkar). The Tyr region and the Bekaa valley experienced a low level of drought (mild drought). This approach allows decision makers to monitor, investigate and resolve drought conditions more effectively.

Nuclear-mitochondrial proteins: too much to process?

This scientific commentary refers to ‘ PMPCA mutations cause abnormal mitochondrial protein processing in patients with non-progressive cerebellar ataxia’, by Jobling et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awv057). In the not too distant past, non-progressive focal neurological deficits emerging during child development were all labelled as ‘cerebral palsy’, and assumed to be caused by an insult during pregnancy or in the perinatal period. This view has changed dramatically over the last two decades, in large part as a result of advances in structural brain imaging, which failed to identify the characteristic patterns of hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury or perinatal infection in every case. Metabolic and genetic studies subsequently unravelled a diverse and unexpected range of mechanisms responsible for these ‘static’ neurological deficits, and the pace has accelerated with the application of exome sequencing (Srivastava et al. , 2014). Patients with non-progressive cerebellar ataxia have been particularly difficult to explain. The number of known causes has remained limited, and includes extreme rarities such as congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia, caused by phosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (Boddaert et al. , 2010). However, the differential diagnosis and mechanisms responsible for this phenotype have now broadened with the findings of Jobling et al. (2015), described in this issue of Brain . Initially studying a family from the Bekaa valley in north east Lebanon, Jobling et al. looked for regions of shared homozygosity using microsatellite markers in 12 individuals with non-progressive ataxia, spasticity, and intellectual disability (Delague et al. , 2002). All shared a 12.1-cM homozygous region on chromosome 9q34-qter between markers D9S67 and D9S312. Exome sequencing identified homozygous mutations in two genes within the mapped candidate region: PMPCA and CAMSAP1 , neither previously associated with disease. These findings presented a …

Microbiome Populations in Lebanese Slaughterhouse Settings

Lebanon has traditionally relied on small ruminants and cattle livestock production to generate meat and dairy food products for the region. Consumer interest and changing residential populations have increased demand for these products, and highlighted food safety concerns along the community chain. Traditional livestock production levels have been unable to meet population demand for meat, necessitating supplemental importation of Brazilian and European cattle for this purpose. While microbial assessment has been studied in dairy and poultry sector products and retail fast foods there are no published reports examining microbial populations in slaughterhouse environments or on cut raw red meat in Lebanon. We determined total aerobic bacterial counts per gram of minced muscle specimen and aerobic bacterial counts per Replicate Organism Detection and Counting Plates (RODAC) plate surfaces (using in-house constructed plates) to characterize microbial species populations found in cattle and sheep carcasses immediately after halal slaughter, and on facility floors and walls within two main Lebanese slaughterhouses located in urban Beirut and rural Baalbek, the Bekaa valley, respectively. We also examined the histological appearance of raw meat muscle using snap frozen Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT) media-embedded muscle specimens placed in liquid nitrogen cooled isopentane. The most frequently isolated bacterial species were Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Statistical examination of microbial number comparisons including both sheep and cattle microbial counts from initial individual visits made to both slaughterhouses were not significantly different using individual Student’s t Tests. However, Chi Square comparison of separate cattle and sheep muscle microbial counts obtained at initial visits to the Beirut and Baalbek slaughterhouses evaluated at initial culture testing were highly significantly different to the 90th percent probability level (χ2 = 3.4225, degrees of freedom = 1, alpha 0.10 = 2.706 ). This is the first published study of this type in Lebanon. Examining aerobic microbial species and processing procedures exhibited in the slaughterhouse environment provides a basis upon which to assess current food safety preventive practices. Developing a surveillance testing system for food animal health and zoonotic disease should facilitate and to consider future Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) planning critical control point sites for intervention within the Lebanese setting.

Developing scenarios to assess sunflower and soybean yield under different sowing dates and water regimes in the Bekaa valley (Lebanon): Simulations with Aquacrop

In a semi-arid environment, the main challenge for crop production is water limitation in space and in time. Considered as appropriate tools, models are used to evaluate the effects of water deficit on crop productivity for better irrigation planning and sustainable yield. The AquaCrop model was tested using data collected during a 4-year experiment on soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. The model was found to accurately simulate final crop biomass, yield and cumulative evapotranspiration: in fact the Wilmot index of agreement (IoA) values were 0.97, 0.96 and 0.96, respectively, for soybean and 0.93, 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, for sunflower, while the relative RMSE was 0.04, 0.05 and 0.02, respectively, for soybean and 0.04, 0.06 and 0.04, respectively, for sunflower. The analysis of irrigation scenarios showed that the early planting of sunflower could demonstrate a greater efficiency than late sowing. In addition, applying three irrigations, of 100 mm each, prior to flowering, at mid flowering stage and at the beginning of seed formation could lead to highest yields (ranging between 4.51 and 2.34 t ha -1 ) and crop water productivity (CWP) (ranging between 1.5 and 0.78 kg m -3 ). Sunflower yields were low (0.42 t ha -1 to 0.37 t ha -1 ) and unreliable when one single irrigation was performed only at the beginning of seed formation, while highest values (ranging between 1.97 and 1.74 t ha -1 ) were obtained when it was done prior to flowering. The highest yields and crop water productivity for soybean were obtained when the crop was sown in April and by applying three irrigations,

Joseph, Suzanne E.: Fertile Bonds. Bedouin Class, Kinship, and Gender in the Bekaa Valley

Joseph, Suzanne E.: Fertile Bonds. Bedouin Class, Kinship, and Gender in the Bekaa Valley

Review of Suzanne E. Joseph, Fertile Bonds: Bedouin Class, Kinship, and Gender in the Bekaa Valley

Review of Suzanne E. Joseph, <i>Fertile Bonds: Bedouin Class, Kinship, and Gender in the Bekaa Valley</i>

Detection of bleeding disorders in Lebanon: outcomes of a pilot programme

To promote management and awareness of bleeding disorders in Lebanon, a pilot programme was launched in 2009 by the Lebanese Hemophilia Association assisted by World Federation of Hemophilia. The aim of this study was to diagnose patients with bleeding disorders and to assess the potential challenges in implementing a screening programme. The pilot project was launched in 26 social health centres in the Bekaa valley. The study tools included the evaluation of the Tossetto Bleeding Score and the Pictorial Bleeding Assessment Chart (PBAC) for menstruation. Persons with a bleeding score higher than 2 and PBAC higher than 185 were eligible for further blood tests including the prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, complete blood count, bleeding time and von Willebrand ristocetin cofactor activity. 643 patients were enrolled, of whom 60.6% were women. Overall, 91 persons had an abnormal score. 50 eligible patients were tested: 32 had normal tests, nine new patients with severe Von Willebrand were discovered, 4 had VW:RiCo of 40, 3 prolonged APTT and 2 thrombocytopaenia. There was a clear correlation between the severity of the score and the willingness to perform the tests (P = 0.02). Women were reluctant to participate fully when investigators were men. The probability of adherence to the screening protocol is significantly increased when directed by women health care professional. For patients with milder forms, global screening programmes were neither feasible nor acceptable but those more severely affected have to be identified. Providers are crucial in preselecting patients with blood problems who are not coping well.

HERPETOLOGICAL COLLECTION TRIPS TO THE LEBANON 1965 AND 1966

ABSTRACT Reptiles were collected and observed in the following areas: 1. Coastal flats and sand dune areas between Tyr (Sour) and Tripoli. 2. Western slope of the High Lebanon up to the Cornet es Sauda (3,000 m above sea level). 3. The deserted northern part of the stony flat of Bekaa, between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. Most of the material (22 species of reptiles, about 250 specimens) both alive and preserved, is being worked on at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

FIRST REPORT OF HOP STUNT VIROID IN LEBANESE FIG TREES

In the course of a survey carried out in 2010 in the main fig-growing areas of Lebanon (Bekaa and Mount Lebanon), a total of 100 samples representative of 15 dif- ferent cultivars were collected and tested by RT-PCR for the presence of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) using viroid-spe- cific primers (Sano et al., 2001). Distinct PCR products of the expected size (303 bp) were amplified from 12 fig trees of cvs Houmairi (6), Bayadi (5) and Sweidi (1), all originat- ing from the Bekaa valley. This result was further con- firmed by dot blot molecular hybridization using a HSVd- specific riboprobe. Only seven infected plants showed symptoms resembling those typical of Fig mosaic disease, the remaining being symptomless. Five of these HSVd iso- lates were sequenced (accession Nos HE662802- HE662806) and compared with the other HSVd isolates from GenBank. In Blast analysis, all the sequenced HSVd isolates showed 99-100% nucleotide identity among them and 94-95% identity with the HSVd type member (X0009). The only exception was the isolate D1, which confirmed the 94% identity with HSVd type but showed a lower identity level (94-95%) with the other HSVd Lebanese fig isolates. In a phylogenetic tree constructed with whole viroidal sequences the Lebanese fig isolates, ex- cept for D1, clustered in a separate group together with fig isolates from Syria and mulberry isolates from Lebanon (Elbeaino et al ., 2012a, 2012b). To our knowledge this is the first report of HSVd in Ficus carica in Lebanon.