Search

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus was detected in the South American sea lions found dead in Santa Catarina, Brazil, in October 2023. Whole genome sequencing and comparative phylogenetic analysis were conducted to investigate the origin, genetic diversity, and zoonotic potentials of the H5N1 viruses. The H5N1 viruses belonged to the genotype B3.2 of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus, which was identified in North America and disseminated to South America. They have acquired new amino acid substitutions related to mammalian host affinity. Our study provides insights into the genetic landscape of HPAI H5N1 viruses in Brazil, highlighting the continuous evolutionary processes contributing to their possible adaptation to mammalian hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tools for automatic grading programming assignments, also known as Online Judges, have been widely used to support computer science (CS) courses. Nevertheless, few studies have used these tools to acquire and analyse interaction data to better understand the students' performance and behaviours, often due to data availability or inadequate granularity. To address this problem, we propose an Online Judge called CodeBench, which allows for fine-grained data collection of student interactions, at the level of, eg, keystrokes, number of submissions, and grades. We deployed CodeBench for 3 years (2016-18) and collected data from 2058 students from 16 introductory computer science (CS1) courses, on which we have carried out fine-grained learning analytics, towards early detection of effective/ineffective behaviours regarding learning CS concepts. Results extract clear behavioural classes of CS1 students, significantly differentiated both semantically and statistically, enabling us to better explain how student behaviours during programming have influenced learning outcomes. Finally, we also identify behaviours that can guide novice students to improve their learning performance, which can be used for interventions. We believe this work is a step forward towards enhancing Online Judges and helping teachers and students improve their CS1 teaching/learning practices.

The growth of Learning Analytics (LA) as a research field has been extensively documented since its beginnings. This paper provides a broad overview of the publications that Latin American authors have published in the last years by performing a quantitative review of the literature (from 2011 to 2019). A total of 282 papers were collected and categorized according to a multidimensional model composed of seven dimensions (data collected, stakeholders targeted, goals of the paper, techniques employed, maturity of the tool, research approaches and ethical issues). The paper describes how the field has evolved over the years in Latin America, presenting the main characteristics of the papers from different perspectives (year, type of venue, language) together with the descriptives of the categorized dimensions and the relations between them. At last, papers are presented in number by countries and institutions, and we perform an authorship and coauthorship analysis with information extracted from the selected papers.

Increasing urbanization and consequent habitat fragmentation and loss call for studies of the influence of urbanization on native fauna. South American Coati (Procyonidae: Nasua nasua) live in groups and are common in urban areas of South America. Here, we aimed to understand how coatis occupy and select space, and whether they change their circadian activity in an urban environment. We estimated home range sizes, verified any overlap, and evaluated the effects of sex and weight on home range size. We also described coati activity patterns associated with habitat selection. Animals established their home ranges only within the study area, with few exploratory exits to surrounding areas. Furthermore, our home range estimates of 0.66 km2 are lower than previously found in natural habitats. We did not observe an effect of sex or weight on home range size. Coatis predominantly selected forested areas and explored houses only early in the morning. We suggest that this demonstrates the need for forested areas for survival of the species. Regarding activity patterns, coatis were active only during the day, as described for the species in its natural environment. Human barriers—in addition to human refuse that serves as food—could reduce the home range sizes. Our data demonstrate differences in home range size, but not circadian activity or habitat selection when compared to coatis in their natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective case series aims to describe the ophthalmic manifestations of the Monkeypox virus infection in seven patients evaluated in two countries of South America (Colombia and Brazil). Two had skin lesions in the eyelid, and five had conjunctivitis. None had intraocular involvement. Three of seven patients had a history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, and all patients had lesions in the genital region, suggesting sexual-contact transmission. In 6 of 7 cases, conjunctival RT-PCR was positive for the Monkeypox virus, including one case without conjunctival vesicles. In all cases, lesions resolved without complications, and just two required antiviral treatment. All patients demonstrated improvement without complications. RT-PCR positivity in conjunctiva demonstrated the presence of the Monkeypox virus, suggesting that ocular-mediated transmission could be plausible. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this ophthalmic manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandflies are known vectors of leishmaniasis. In the Old World, sandflies are also vectors of viruses while little is known about the capacity of New World insects to transmit viruses to humans. Here, we relate the identification of RNA sequences with homology to rhabdovirus nucleocapsids (NcPs) genes, initially in the Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 cell lineage, named NcP1.1 and NcP2. The Rhabdoviridae family never retrotranscribes its RNA genome to DNA. The sequences here described were identified in cDNA and DNA from LL-5 cells and in adult insects indicating that they are transcribed endogenous viral elements (EVEs). The presence of NcP1.1 and NcP2 in the L. longipalpis genome was confirmed in silico. In addition to showing the genomic location of NcP1.1 and NcP2, we identified another rhabdoviral insertion named NcP1.2. Analysis of small RNA molecules derived from these sequences showed that NcP1.1 and NcP1.2 present a profile consistent with elements targeted by primary piRNAs, while NcP2 was restricted to the degradation profile. The presence of NcP1.1 and NcP2 was investigated in sandfly populations from South America and the Old World. These EVEs are shared by different sandfly populations in South America while none of the Old World species studied presented the insertions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pontoporia blainvillei, commonly known as the Franciscana dolphin, inhabits the coastal waters of South America and is classified as vulnerable and as undergoing significant population declines. This species is generally found in turbid coastal waters, although it is also found in clear waters, as well as marine areas associated with islands and rocky shores. Tumours originating from cholangiocytes have been rarely described in cetaceans, with descriptions limited to cholangiocellular carcinomas. Cholangiocellular adenomas are characterised by the formation of bile ducts and are rarer than cholangiocellular carcinoma. This study described the first report of a tumour originating from cholangiocytes in P. blainvillei, raising concerns on this endangered cetacean's health status and conservation. The underlying causes of this tumour in Franciscana dolphins remain unknown, highlighting the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding the South American renewable energy matrix to ensure more sustainable socio-economic development, mitigate the climate change effects, and meet the targets set in the Paris Agreement is crucial. Hence, this study sought to estimate South America's wind speed and wind power density alterations projected by eight global climate models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project—Phase 6 (CMIP6). To this end, we applied statistical downscaling and bias correction to the GCMs outputs through the Quantile Delta Mapping method and assessed the projected changes in wind power in future climate under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 emission scenarios. ERA5 reanalysis data from 1995 to 2014 validated the models' historical simulations. The CMIP6 multi-model ensemble indicated an approximate 25–50% increase in wind power density in sectors such as Northeast and South Brazil and growing wind power in regions such as Argentine Patagonia, northern Venezuela, and portions of Uruguay, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Estimates of the wind power growth for the twenty-first century in those regions reiterated their potential performance in the historical period. For the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario, the ensemble projections indicated even more favorable wind power conditions in the sectors mentioned. However, individual projections of wind intensity anomalies obtained by each ensemble member showed a large spread among the GCMs, evidencing the uncertainties associated with the prospects of change in wind power on the continent. Furthermore, this study has presented a first analysis of CMIP6 projections for South American wind power generation, providing relevant information to the energy sector decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a vulnerable species in South America and is considered endangered or near extinction in Central America. Therefore, studies describing the reproductive characteristics of this species are pivotal for its conservation. Thus, this study aimed to provide a morphological description of the female reproductive tissues of this species. We collected tissue samples from six female giant anteaters and performed gross, morphological, and histochemical analyses. Five adult subjects and one juvenile were included in the study. In the ovary, classifications were made according to the follicle and oocyte sizes: primordial, primary, secondary, early antral, or antral. Typical follicles with a single oocyte surrounded by a simple or stratified layer of cubic epithelium, atretic follicles, corpora lutea, corpora albicans, and ovarian cysts were also observed. No ovarian lesions were observed. By contrast, endometritis, metritis, mucometra, and endometrial cysts were identified in the uterus. Uterine alterations in these subjects were frequent and could affect reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Neotropical Ichthyology is the property of Neotropical Ichthyology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context Vitamin D deficiency is considered a global public health issue, even in low-latitude countries where there is abundant sunlight radiation. Nevertheless, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in the South American continent has not been well characterized. Objective The aim of this review was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxy-calciferol < 20 ng/mL) in South American populations. Data Sources Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde, SciELO, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched systematically for observational studies published before July 1, 2021, and reporting vitamin D status of healthy adults in South America. Data Extraction Data were extracted using a standardized form. Risk of bias was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instrument for Studies Reporting Prevalence. All steps were conducted independently by two authors. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression were conducted (R software). Data Analysis Of 9460 articles identified, 96 studies with a total of 227 758 participants were included. The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 34.76% (79 studies; 95%CI, 29.68–40.21; I2  = 99%). There were significant differences in prevalence rates related to age, sex, country, latitude, season, and year of publication. Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is unexpectedly elevated in South American populations. Public health strategies should include efforts to prevent, detect, and treat vitamin D deficiency. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42020169439. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South America, knowledge of major spawning sites is crucial for maintaining migratory fish populations. In this study, we aimed to understand the spatio-temporal distribution of fish eggs in the upper São Francisco River using high sampling frequency and DNA metabarcoding identification. We evaluated the possible effects of the non-molecular identification of eggs and decreased sampling frequency on the determination of spawning sites and major breeding periods. Collections were carried out every three days from November 2019 to February 2020. We found that, if we had assumed that all of the free and non-adhesive sampled eggs belonged to migratory species, as is usual in the literature, this assumption would have been wrong for both the spawning sites and the breeding periods. Moreover, any decrease in the frequency of sampling could dramatically affect the determination of the major spawning rivers, and the spawning events of some of the migratory species may not have been detected. Therefore, without the proper identification and adequate sampling frequency of eggs, important spawning sites may be overlooked, leading to ineffective or inappropriate conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of non-native species (NNS) and the resulting biological invasions are conspicuous features of the Anthropocene Epoch. Parallel to these phenomena, some initiatives (political, social and scientific) have sought to value and protect invasive populations, recognizing some benefits that NNS may deliver to people and nature. Given this growing trend of valuing NNS, we considered opportune to address this issue in the context of megadiverse tropical countries. We investigated an emerging trend that has advocated the protection of highly invasive fishes by legal instruments, i.e., the protection of invasive peacock basses (genus Cichla) in Brazil. We recorded 16 bills or laws proposed between 2017 and 2022 that determine fishing restrictions to protect invasive Cichla spp. from overfishing and other impacts, in order to favor population recruitment, growth, colonization and spread. Specifically, they establish restrictions on fishing, capture, transport, trade, and processing, including quotas, compulsory catch and release, length limits, use of gears, and temporal interdictions. They also determine the naturalization of peacock basses in some main basins of South America, which include different watersheds and ecoregions, with risk of intercountry invasions. This particular case is instructive to unveil the risks of positions that emphasize positive contributions of NNS to society and nature, as these misguided conservation actions favor invasive organisms with high potential to cause environmental degradation, biodiversity losses, and social conflicts. These positions find fertile ground in some contexts, especially in tropical developing countries, where economic constraints, poor access to information, opportunism, and bad political behavior have been the norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata is a cosmopolitan pest with few records in South America. Podisus nigrispinus is a generalist predator naturally occurring in Brazilian agroecosystems. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biocontrol potential of P. nigrispinus on adults and larvae of H. vigintioctopunctata. Predation of P. nigrispinus adults on larval and adult stages of H. vigintioctopunctata was experimentally evaluated under laboratory conditions. Podisus nigrispinus was able to prey H. vigintioctopunctata larvae. The present study constitutes the first experimental evaluation of P. nigrispinus as a potential biocontrol agent for H. vigintioctopunctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bixa orellana L. is a plant popularly known as "ucurum", "annatto", and "achiote". It is native to South America, and its seeds are an abundant source of geranylgeraniol and tocotrienols. Nanoencapsulation is a valuable technique that can decrease the drug needed to achieve an effect, decreasing potential toxicity, side effects and potentiate the anti-inflammatory effect. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of an intramuscular application of a nanodispersion containing a standardized extract from the seeds of Bixa orellana (NBO) in Wistar rats. The chemical evaluation showed δ-tocotrienol at 0.725 ± 0.062 mg/mL (72.6 ± 0.9%). The stability study showed the nanoparticles had an average size from 53.15 ± 0.64 to 59.9 ± 3.63 nm, with a polydispersity index ranging from 0.574 ± 0.032 to 0.574 ± 0.32, Zeta potential from 18.26 ± 0.59 to 19.66 ± 1.45 mV. After testing the intramuscular application of NBO with doses from 1 to 5 mg/kg in animals, it was observed that the acute treatment did not elicit any toxic effects within this range. The dose of 10 mg/kg, although not affecting hematological and biochemical parameters (CPK, LDH, myoglobin, AST, ALT, TC, TG, glucose levels, creatinine, and urea), could induce some muscle tissue changes, including leukocyte infiltration, morphological chances, and potentially necrosis. In conclusion, the results showed that the treatments devoided toxicity between 1 and 5 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest and its associated ecosystems are highly biodiverse but still understudied, especially with respect to eukaryotic microbes. Protists represent the largest proportion of eukaryotic diversity and play important roles in nutrient cycling and maintenance of the ecosystems in which they occur. However, much of protist diversity remains unknown, particularly in the Neotropics. Understanding the taxonomic and functional diversity of these organisms is urgently needed, not only to fill this gap in our knowledge, but also to enable the development of public policies for biological conservation. This is the first study to investigate the taxonomic and trophic diversity of the major protist groups in freshwater systems and brackish coastal lagoons located in fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by DNA metabarcoding, using high-throughput sequencing of the gene coding for the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene. We compared a and ß diversity for all protist communities and assessed the relative abundance of phototrophic, consumer, and parasitic taxa. We found that the protist communities of coastal lagoons are as diverse as the freshwater systems studied in terms of a diversity, although differed significantly in terms of taxonomic composition. Our results still showed a notable functional homogeneity between the trophic groups in freshwater environments. Beta diversity was higher among freshwater samples, suggesting a greater level of heterogeneity within this group of samples concerning the composition and abundance of OTUs. Ciliophora was the most represented group in freshwater, while Diatomea dominated diversity in coastal lagoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcopteryx rutilans Rambur, 1842 (Polythoridae, Odonata) is a species widely distributed in central Amazonia. Due to its sensitivity to environmental changes, it is a bioindicator species used to evaluate the environmental conditions of streams in federally protected areas. By sequencing C. rutilans mitogenome, we report the first whole mitogenome from the Polythoridae family and the first from an Odonata species endemic to South America. The entire mitogenome has 15,653 bp and contains 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and two rRNA genes. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome is 42.7%, T: 25.5%, C: 19.4%, and G: 12.4%. The AT and GC skews of the mitogenome sequence were 0.249 and −0.220, respectively. C. rutilans was recovered as a sister to Pseudolestes mirabilis Kirby, 1900 (Pseudolestidae), demonstrating the absence of mitogenomes of species from multiple families in the current literature. Mitogenome data from this study will provide useful information for further studies on the phylogeny and conservation of Polythoridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium (Al) is toxic to most plants. Nevertheless, some species accumulate Al without showing toxicity symptoms. Previous studies have evidenced Al in chloroplasts of Al‐accumulating species from the Cerrado vegetation in South America. We ask whether Al increases carbon assimilation through enhanced apparent efficiency of Rubisco.Seedlings of the Al‐accumulator Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae) were grown in nutrient solution with 0, 740, and 1480 μm Al. Growth parameters, relative leaf water content, Al concentration in organs, gas exchange and apparent carboxylation efficiency (measured from A/Ci curves) were evaluated for 60 days.Plants without Al showed no root growth, necrotic roots, low gas exchange rates, and decreased apparent carboxylation efficiency. Al‐treated plants, however, showed new white roots and increased root biomass leading to higher leaf hydration, and apparent carboxylation efficiency was higher in these plants. Increased Al available in the nutrient solution increased Al accumulation in plant organs.Absence of Al compromised root integrity in Q. grandiflora, thus limiting leaf hydration. No positive direct effect of Al on Rubisco was evidenced in Al‐treated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse teachers' health views in order to obtain general trends in factors influencing health and health education and to fit them into the negative-positive model of health proposed by Downie and collaborators. Method: This large international study involved 15 countries from Western and Eastern Europe, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South America, with high socioeconomic and cultural diversity. The questionnaire constructed and validated by the European FP6 project BIOHEAD-CITIZEN was applied in each country to a balanced sample of pre-service teachers (Pre) and in-service teachers (In) of primary schools (P) and secondary schools, teaching biology (B) or national language (L). Results: Women, older persons, those having longer higher university education, primary school teachers (compared to secondary teachers) and language teachers (compared to biology teachers) have a more positive view of health. The major difference was found between countries, rather than religion, where five groups emerged from cluster analysis. Conclusion: The study does not lead to a comprehensive view of factors influencing teachers' perceptions of health but results showed that there is a variety of variables associated with health and health education views. These findings can contribute to facilitate developing appropriate specific health education teachers' training courses.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation in humans and swine has been extensively studied in South America over the last two decades. Nevertheless, only 2.1% of reported HEV strains are available as complete genome sequences. Therefore, many clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary aspects of circulating HEV in the continent still need to be clarified. Here, we conducted a retrospective evolutionary analysis of one human case and six swine HEV strains previously reported in northeastern, southern, and southeastern Brazil. We obtained two complete and four nearly complete genomic sequences. Evolutionary analysis comparing the whole genomic and capsid gene sequences revealed high genetic variability. This included the circulation of at least one unrecognized unique South American subtype. Our results corroborate that sequencing the whole capsid gene could be used as an alternative for HEV subtype assignment in the absence of complete genomic sequences. Moreover, our results substantiate the evidence for zoonotic transmission by comparing a larger genomic fragment recovered from the sample of the autochthonous human hepatitis E case. Further studies should continuously investigate HEV genetic diversity and zoonotic transmission of HEV in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) is an important component of the South American Monsoon System. It is characterized by a persistent convective band with northwest-southeast orientation extending from tropical South America to Southwestern South Atlantic. The SACZ exhibits remarkable spatial and temporal variability and plays a critical role in regulating precipitation intensity and totals for millions of people living in South America. This study investigates mechanisms explaining persistent SACZ events (longer than 7 days) that often cause floods and landslides. This analysis extends from October 1996 to April 2014. To investigate the potential for subseasonal forecast of these events, this study focuses on mechanisms on intraseasonal timescales (20–90 days). We show that persistent SACZ events are preceded by a semi-stationary midlatitude Rossby wave train over the South Pacific with an equivalent barotropic structure that turns equatorward after crossing subtropical latitudes of South America. One distinctive feature of these events is the intensification of a trough in midlatitudes South Pacific westward of the Chilean coast preceding the events. Moreover, cyclonic persistent anomalies associated with the wave train over the western South Atlantic organize the oceanic SACZ six to 7 days before the events. Concomitantly, a persistent region with negative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies emerges southward of the SACZ (between 30°S and 50°S) adjacent to the South American coast, likely resulting from the coupling between cyclonic circulation and the oceanic SACZ. Together, these processes strengthen the low-level westerlies on the SACZ equatorward side, causing the continental SACZ to intensify sustained by anomalous cyclonic circulation and enhanced southeastward moisture transport over land. Consequently, convection increases over the continent and the SACZ maintains active for long periods. Although shorter SACZ events (4 days) appear associated with the presence of a midlatitude wave train, their transient nature leads to distinct coupling effects. These observations are relevant for predicting long-lasting SACZ events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure is a worldwide policy priority for national development via regional integration into the global economy. However, economic, ecological and social research draws contrasting conclusions about the consequences of infrastructure. We present a synthetic approach to the study of infrastructure, focusing on a multidimensional treatment of indicators of connectivity and resilience. As our study case, we adopt a tri-national frontier in the southwestern Amazon being integrated by a highway, and use survey data for rural leaders to evaluate the relationship of community connectivity to market towns and social-ecological resilience. The findings show varying relationships among different dimensions of connectivity and resilience, which bear implications regarding indicator approaches to the study of infrastructure impacts.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus mainly transmitted by mosquitos of the genus Aedes. The first cases of ZIKV infection in South America occurred in Brazil in 2015. The infection in humans causes diverse symptoms from asymptomatic to a syndrome-like dengue infection with fever, arthralgia, and myalgia. Furthermore, ZIKV infection during pregnancy is associated with fetal microcephaly and neurological disorders. The identification of host molecular mechanisms responsible for the modulation of different signaling pathways in response to ZIKV is the first step to finding potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets and understanding disease outcomes. In the last decade, it has been shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators involved in virtually all cellular processes. miRNAs present in body fluids can not only serve as key biomarkers for diagnostics and prognosis of human disorders but also contribute to cellular signaling offering new insights into pathological mechanisms. Here, we describe for the first time ZIKV-induced changes in miRNA plasma levels in patients during the acute and recovery phases of infection. We observed that during ZIKV acute infection, among the dysregulated miRNAs (DMs), the majority is with decreased levels when compared to convalescent and control patients. We used systems biology tools to build and highlight biological interactions between miRNAs and their multiple direct and indirect target molecules. Among the 24 DMs identified in ZIKV + patients, miR-146, miR-125a-5p, miR-30-5p, and miR-142-3p were related to signaling pathways modulated during infection and immune response. The results presented here are an effort to open new vistas for the key roles of miRNAs during ZIKV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is widely distributed across South America. This parasitic insect is a significant cause of primary myiasis in animals, including dogs. There is an urgent need for a rapid and efficient treatment to improve the recovery of affected animals. In the present study we evaluated the potential of lotilaner for the treatment of myiasis caused by C. hominivorax larvae in naturally infested dogs. Lotilaner belongs to the isoxazoline class of chemical compounds and is marketed as Credelio™ for use against ticks and fleas in dogs and cats. Methods: Eleven dogs with naturally acquired myiasis were enrolled in this study based on the severity of lesions and the number of identified larvae. All animals received a single oral administration of lotilaner at a minimum dose of 20.5 mg/kg body weight. After treatment, the number of expelled larvae, live or dead, was determined at 2, 6 and 24 h, and the larval expulsion rate, larvicidal effect and overall efficacy were calculated. After 24 h, the remaining larvae were removed, counted and identified. The lesions were cleaned, and palliative treatment was administered when necessary, according to the animal's health status. Results: All larvae were identified as C. hominivorax. The larval expulsion rate was 80.5% and 93.0% at 2 and 6 h post-treatment, respectively. Lotilaner showed an overall efficacy of 100% at 24 h post-treatment. Conclusions: Lotilaner demonstrated a rapid onset of action and a high efficacy against C. hominivorax. We therefore recommend lotilaner for the effective treatment of myiasis in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a narrative dataset constructed by David and Leigh (A new action-based dataset of fiscal consolidation in latin America and the caribbean, IMF Working paper 18/94, 2018) for annual fiscal consolidation shocks, this paper estimates the dynamic effects of fiscal consolidations on income inequality from Jordá's (Am Econo Rev 95:161–82, (2005)) local projections method for nine South American economies in the 1991–2017 period. By decomposing fiscal shocks, the baseline results suggest that spending-based fiscal consolidations significantly increase the Gini index, while tax-based fiscal consolidations do not show statistically significant effects on income inequality. The Gini index for disposable income rises 2.48% in eight years after a spending-based fiscal adjustment of 1% of GDP. The magnitude of this effect is higher than in most of the previous studies carried out for OECD countries. Our main finding for the impact of spending-based fiscal consolidation on inequality in the medium run is robust when using alternative control variables, lag structures, country samples, and the Cyclically Adjusted Primary Balance strategy for identifying the fiscal shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oval frogs (Elachistocleis) have a broad geographic distribution covering nearly all of South America and parts of Central America. They also have a large inter- and intraspecific variation of the few morphological characters commonly used as diagnostic traits among species of the genus. Based on molecular data, we provide the most complete phylogeny of Elachistocleis to date, and explore its genetic diversity using distance-based and tree-based methods for putative species delimitation. Our results show that at least two of the most relevant traditional characters used in the taxonomy of this group (belly pattern and dorsal median white line) carry less phylogenetic information than previously thought. Based on our results, we propose some synonymizations and some candidate new species. This study is a first major step in disentangling the current systematics of Elachistocleis. Yet, a comprehensive review of morphological data is needed before any new species descriptions can be properly made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native to South America, tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav.) is a small tree cultivated as a fruit crop in several regions of the world. Known for its sweet and sour taste, tamarillo fruits are very nutritious due to the presence of health-beneficial components such as fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Despite its nutritional value, tamarillo remains poorly known in global markets. The present work aims to study the antioxidant activity of four genotypes of tamarillo. Several chemical assays were performed to assess the antioxidant components and antioxidant activity of aqueous ethanolic extracts from each genotype. Overall, the Mealhada genotype (a red cultivar) showed the most interesting results, displaying the highest amount of total phenolic, flavonoids, and anthocyanin contents, as well as higher antioxidant activity. To evaluate the composition of the extract, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize important components in aqueous ethanolic extracts of the fruits, having revealed the presence of high amounts of phenols (the main compounds responsible for antioxidant activity), as well as triterpenoids and polysaccharides. The present results highlight the potential nutraceutical importance of tamarillo fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oceanic South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) has played a major role during South America's 2021/2022 summer extreme rainy season, being responsible for more than 90% of the precipitation in some regions of Southeast Brazil and in some regions of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA). The summer of 2021/2022 was unique and rare and considered an abnormally humid season as verified by official Brazilian Institutes. First, the unusual number of cases of SACZ episodes (seven), was the highest recorded in the last decade. Second, all the cases that occurred were oceanic SACZ that assumed characteristics of an Atmospheric River and produced an excessively anomalous amount of precipitation during this period. Excess precipitation along with the regions located in mountainous and very uneven relief, which by orographic effects favors high precipitation volumes, were responsible for amplifying the observed impacts, such as landslides and floods that caused several losses to society. We also showed the main effects of coupling and interaction between the waters of the surface layer of the SWA and the atmosphere. Our learning from this study ends with the unprecedented results of how the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) is locally modulated by the sea surface temperature (SST) that lies just below it. Until the present moment, we emphasize that this important mechanism has not been widely highlighted in the literature, showing that even though the ocean is colder than before oceanic SACZ is established, it is still warmer than the overlying air, thus, the ocean continues to be an active source of heat and moisture for the atmosphere and enhances the MABL instability process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iheringia. Série Zoologia is the property of Fundacao Zoobotanica do Rio Grande do Sul and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Blackflies are dipterans that belong to the family Simuliidae, common inhabitants of lotic ecosystems. The present study reports the first record of Simulium (Chirostilbia) subpallidum Lutz for Buenos Aires, rising to eight registered species of blackflies in the province. This report represents, to date, the southernmost distribution detected for the species and subgenus in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pseudothelphusid freshwater crabs of the genus Fredius Pretzmann, 1967 are distributed throughout northern South America and currently include 15 species. We investigated the phylogenetic relationship within the genus using mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI) and nuclear (H3) genes for most of its representatives. Our set of molecular results (10 species) indicate that Fredius, as currently recovered, is formed by species included in three main lineages. In addition, the results revealed inconsistencies in the morphological identification of some species against the molecular positioning in the topology and suggested the presence of cryptic species, which must be morphologically reanalysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined analysis of sedimentological, molecular, and microfossil proxies was used to determine paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic variations and assess sediment transport pathways along the last c.a. 6300 years in a sedimentary record collected on the inner shelf of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The combined use of terrestrial and marine proxies enables a more complete environmental perspective of the La Plata River plume influence on the southwestern Atlantic shelf, regarding the relationship between climate, productivity, as well as hydrodynamic. Variations in marine productivity, lipid biomarkers of terrestrial plants, diagnostic geochemical indices, and sea-surface temperature point to three phases within the core. The first interval (6300–5200 cal yr BP) was characterized by low marine and terrigenous organic matter input, with pulses of phytodetritus indicated by benthic foraminifera. These features suggested dry climatic conditions over the southeastern portion of South America, with the influence of sediments from the adjacent continent and, on a smaller scale, transported from the Argentinian shelf due to the high relative sea level. The second interval (5200–2800 cal yr BP) was distinguished by a slight increase in marine productivity and terrigenous input, indicating a transition period with an increase of total rainfall influenced by an intensified South American Monsoon System (SAMS) and the modern El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. These features, associated with the changes in wind patterns and the lower relative sea level, suggest the onset of the influence of the La Plata River (LPR) plume over the southern regions of the Brazilian continental shelf for the last 6300 cal yr BP. The last interval (2800–890 cal yr BP) had the highest contents of marine and terrigenous proxies, suggesting less climatic variability, as the long-term intensification of the SAMS and a further increase in the amplitude of the ENSO resulted in the modern establishment and dominant influence of the LPR plume on the core site. Variations in sea-surface temperature up to 3.3°C were related to the influence of the LPR plume on the shelf off southern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ameghiniana is the property of Argentine Paleontological Association / Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many studies on the diversity of the South American biota support the role of ecological and geological events as main drivers of species diversification. For many groups, geomorphological events are the key drivers of diversification, while the influence of Pleistocene climate oscillations is prominent for others. To precisely indicate which events were key for the development of the astonishing biodiversity in South America, studies on widely distributed species are paramount. One such species, the dwarf swamp frog Pseudopaludicola mystacalis (Leptodactylidae, Leiuperinae), is widely distributed in open habitats of South America and we herein investigate population differentiation and diversification in this species across its geographic range. We sequenced a 1374 bp mtDNA fragment from 64 specimens across 25 localities. We used population assignment and species delimitation methods to assess genetic structure and lineage limits across the species distribution. We estimated, for each lineage, intraspecific diversity, divergence times, and demographic histories. Our results recovered ten lineages with up to 5% of genetic divergence among them. Diversification occurred mainly during the Tertiary, suggesting that Miocene-Pliocene topographic events had a major influence on the diversification of P. mystacalis. Pleistocene climatic oscillations also played a role on evolutionary history of P. mystacalis , causing demographic changes in one lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tocantins-Araguaia Basin is one of the largest river systems in South America, located entirely within Brazilian territory. In the last decades, capital-concentrating activities such as agribusiness, mining, and hydropower promoted extensive changes in land cover, hydrology, and environmental conditions. These changes are jeopardizing the basin's biodiversity and ecosystem services. Threats are escalating as poor environmental policies continue to be formulated, such as environmentally unsustainable hydropower plants, large-scale agriculture for commodity production, and aquaculture with non-native fish. If the current model persists, it will deepen the environmental crisis in the basin, compromising broad conservation goals and social development in the long term. Better policies will require thought and planning to minimize growing threats and ensure the basin's sustainability for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ubiquitous coccidia Toxoplasma gondii. Rodents play an important role in maintaining its life cycle, as they are one of the main diet sources for felids (wild and domestic), the unique definitive hosts. However, reports of toxoplasmosis in porcupines (Order Rodentia) are uncommon, with gaps concerning its pathophysiology. South America is the continent with the greatest genetic diversity of rodents and T. gondii. A free‐ranging hairy dwarf porcupine was admitted to a wildlife rescue centre with a history of trauma. During rehabilitation, the animal presented neurological symptoms (sporadic episodes of hind limbs paresis) and died 5 months later. The main findings during necropsy were brain congestion and severe incisor overgrowth associated with maxillary perforation. The histopathological exam showed moderate encephalitis, with variable‐sized round cysts, positive for PAS stain and immunohistochemistry for T. gondii. Additionally, two cysts were observed in the medulla of the adrenal gland. Molecular techniques were performed to characterize the parasite load by qPCR (Cq = 30) and the genotype by PCR‐RFLP with 11 markers, which revealed a potential new genotype. This case adds to the body of knowledge in comparative pathology of Neotropical Rodentia and reports a new potential genotype circulating in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural lignocellulosic fibers (NFLs) possess several economic, technical, environmental and social advantages, making them an ideal alternative to synthetic fibers in composite materials. Caranan fiber is an NFL extract from the leafstalk of the Mauritiella armata palm tree, endemic to South America. The present work investigates the addition of 10, 20 and 30 vol% caranan fiber in epoxy resin, regarding the properties associated with Izod notch tough and ballistic performance. Following ASTM D256 standards, ten impact specimens for each fiber reinforcement condition (vol%) were investigated. For the ballistic test, a composite plate with 30 vol%, which has the best result, was tested with ten shots, using 0.22 ammunition to verify the energy absorption. The results showed that when compared to the average values obtained for the epoxy resin, the effect of incorporating 30 vol% caranan fibers as reinforcement in composites was evident in the Izod impact test, producing an increase of around 640% in absorption energy. Absorbed ballistic energy and velocity limit results provided values similar to those already reported in the literature: around 56 J and 186 J, respectively. All results obtained were ANOVA statistically analyzed based on a confidence level of 95%. Tukey's test revealed, as expected, that the best performance among the studied impact resistance was 30 vol%, reaching the highest values of energy absorption. For ballistic performance, the Weibull analysis showed a high R2 correlation value above 0.9, confirming the reliability of the tested samples. These results illustrate the possibilities of caranan fiber to be used as a reinforcement for epoxy composites and its promising application in ballistic armor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporotrichosis, a human and animal disease caused by Sporothrix species, is the most important implantation mycosis worldwide. Sporothrix taxonomy has improved in recent years, allowing important advances in diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatment. Molecular epidemiology reveals that S. brasiliensis remains highly prevalent during the cat-transmitted sporotrichosis outbreaks in South America and that the spread of S. brasiliensis occurs through founder effects. Sporothrix globosa and S. schenckii are cosmopolitan on the move, causing major sapronoses in Asia and the Americas, respectively. In this emerging scenario, one-health approaches are required to develop a creative, effective, and sustainable response to tackle the spread of sporotrichosis. In the 21st century, it has become vital to speciate Sporothrix, and PCR is the main pillar of molecular diagnosis, aiming at the detection of the pathogen DNA from clinical samples through multiplex assays, whose sensitivity reaches remarkably three copies of the target. The treatment of sporotrichosis can be challenging, especially after the emergence of resistance to azoles and polyenes. Alternative drugs arising from discoveries or repositioning have entered the radar of basic research over the last decade and point to several molecules with antifungal potential, especially the hydrazone derivatives with great in vitro and in vivo activities. There are many promising developments for the near future, and in this review, we discuss how these trends can be applied to the Sporothrix-sporotrichosis system to mitigate the advance of an emerging and re-emerging disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low technological knowledge in production chains, global climate change, and misinformation are concrete threats to food security. In addition, these combined threats also trigger ecological instability in megadiverse areas of the world, especially in some cacao-producing countries in South America, where this crop plays an important socioeconomic role, even being used to replace illicit crops. Accordingly, the use of agroforestry systems approaches has emerged as a good alternative to maintain productivity, add high-value commodities to producers, and provide important ecosystem services for sustainable agriculture. However, limitations associated with the competition for resources between the species composing the system, and the higher incidence of some diseases, have led many producers to abandon this strategy, opting for monoculture. In this review, we seek to gather the main information available in the literature, aiming to answer the question: what is the real scientific evidence that supports the benefits and harms of adopting agroforestry systems in cacao production? We seek to make critical scrutiny of the possible negative effects of certain associations of the agroforestry system with biotic and abiotic stress in cacao. Here, we review the possible competition for light and nutrients and discuss the main characteristics to be sought in cacao genotypes to optimize these inter-specific relationships. In addition, we review the research advances that show the behavior of the main cacao diseases (Witch's broom disease, frosty pod rot, black pod rot) in models of agroforestry systems contrasted with monoculture, as well as the optimization of agronomic practices to reduce some of these stresses. This compendium, therefore, sheds light on a major gap in establishing truly sustainable agriculture, which has been treated much more from the perspective of negative stigma than from the real technological advantages that can be combined to the benefit of a balanced ecosystem with generating income for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge about natural history of a species is fundamental for the proposition of theories in population, community, and behavioral ecology. Dermatonotus muelleri (Boettger, 1885) is one of the several Neotropical anuran species that still lacks basic information. These frogs are widely distributed in South America and present many peculiar morphological features, such as a reduced head size and a tongue morphology that suggests a specialized diet in ants and termites. In this study, we describe the reproductive ecology of D. muelleri, with special attention to the mechanisms that regulates (i) the reproductive synchrony between males and females, (ii) the operational sex ratio (OSR), and (iii) if size is a good predictor of pairs formation (assortative mating). We found that D. muelleri aggregates in short periods of reproductive activity (one to five consecutive nights) to reproduce. During the reproductive events, males and females arrive at the breeding sites in synchrony, using environmental (temperature and pluviosity) and biotic (termite reproductive swarms and male calling) cues. Also, there is a high population density (1,079 ± 816 individuals, n = 11 reproductive events), with a biased OSR toward the number of males. The intense malemale competition prevents any female choice, and the call function is related more to reduction of predation costs to females. We did not find size assortative mating in D. muelleri. The lack of size assortative mating may be a consequence of different pressure selection of males and females. While females where selected to have larger body size and offspring production, at the cost of reproductive lifespan, males are subject to an intense malemale competition which prevents the expression of female preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substrate use by animals may influence both their morphology and diet. Species of the genus Chironius are among the most conspicuous frog‐eating, arboreal snakes in South America. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether diet and morphology relate to substrate use in five sympatric Chironius species from the Atlantic Forest. Our hypothesis is that habitat pressure is strong enough so that even closely related species will present differences. We collected morphological and diet data from specimens of C. bicarinatus, C. exoletus, C. foveatus, C. fuscus, and C. laevicollis housed in scientific collections. Information on habitat use were obtained by monitoring free‐ranging animals using thread‐bobbins and also from the literature. Our results demonstrate that C. foveatus is the most arboreal species, and C. laevicollis is the most terrestrial among the five studied species. Chironius foveatus is the slenderest, with one of the longest relative tail lengths, the narrowest ventral scales, the highest vertebral density, the largest eye diameter, green body color, and diet based on tree frogs (Hylidae). These traits indicate a higher arboreality for this species. On the other extreme, C. laevicollis is the stoutest species, and has the shortest tail, the largest head, the lowest vertebral density, and diet based on ground‐living frogs (Leptodactylidae). These traits indicate pronounced terrestriality for this species. The other three species have traits intermediate between the extremes showed by C. foveatus and C. laevicollis. We found evidence for a close relationship between arboreality or terrestriality, morphology, and diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Develop a species‐specific multiplex PCR to correctly identify Edwardsiella species in routine diagnostic for fish bacterial diseases. Methods and Results: The genomes of 62 Edwardsiella spp. isolates available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database were subjected to taxonomic and pan‐genomic analyses to identify unique regions that could be exploited by species‐specific PCR. The designed primers were tested against isolated Edwardsiella spp. strains, revealing errors in commercial biochemical tests for bacterial classification regarding Edwardsiella species. Conclusion: Some of the genomes of Edwardsiella spp. in the NCBI platform were incorrectly classified, which can lead to errors in some research. A functional mPCR was developed to differentiate between phenotypically and genetically ambiguous Edwardsiella, with which, we detected the presence of Edwardsiella anguillarum affecting fish in Brazil. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that the misclassification of Edwardsiella spp in Brazil concealed the presence of E. anguillarum in South America. Also, this review of the taxonomic classification of the Edwardsiella genus is a contribution to the field to help researchers with their sequencing and identification of genomes, showing some misclassifications in online databases that must be corrected, as well as developing an easy assay to characterize Edwardsiella species in an end‐point mPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Arqueologia is the property of Revista de Arqueologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Canopy bridges are crossing structures specific to mitigate the impact of roads on arboreal animals. Long-term monitoring of such infrastructures together with the analysis of design preferences has never been done in South America. To avoid the roadkills of a threatened primate species, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus), in Guareí, São Paulo, Brazil, we installed two designs of canopy bridges: a wood pole bridge and a rope bridge. We aimed to (1) evaluate the functionality (number of species and events) of both designs, (2) test the design preference of each species, and (3) determine if there were seasonal differences in the use of canopy bridges. We monitored the canopy bridges continuously since their installation with camera traps during 3 years. We recorded nine mammal and one lizard species crossing on the canopy bridges as well as 13 bird species using them as perches. Overall, the probability of crossing was higher on the wood pole bridge and the number of crossings, considering both designs, was higher during the dry season. One lizard and seven mammal species used the wood pole bridge, including the black lion tamarin, and six mammal species used the rope bridge. Four out of five species tested, including the black lion tamarin, preferred the wood pole bridge. While replications of this experimental design are necessary to obtain a more robust evaluation of the effectiveness of these canopy bridges, our study suggests that wood pole bridges might be an effective tool to reduce roadkills of the endangered black lion tamarin and possibly other arboreal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limnoperna fortunei is a freshwater bivalve mollusc originally from southern Asia that invaded South America in the 1990's. Due to its highly efficient water pumping and filtering, and its capacity to form strong adhesions to a variety of substrates by byssus thread, this invasive species has been able to adapt to several environments across South America, causing significant ecological and economic damages. By gaining a deeper understanding of the biological and ecological aspects of L. fortunei we will be able to establish more effective strategies to manage its invasion. The gills of the mollusc are key structures responsible for several biological functions, including respiration and feeding. In this work, we characterized the ultrastructure of L. fortunei gills and its ciliary epithelium using light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies. This is the first report of the morphology of the epithelial cells and cilia of the gill of L. fortunei visualized in high resolution. Results: The analysis showed highly organized and abundant ciliary structures (lateral cilia, laterofrontal cirri and frontal cilia) on the entire length of the branchial epithelium. Mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen granules were abundantly found in the epithelial cells of the gills, demonstrating the energy-demanding function of these structures. Neutral mucopolysaccharides (low viscosity mucus) were observed on the frontal surface of the gill filaments and acid mucopolysaccharides (high viscosity mucus) were observed to be spread out, mainly on the lateral tract. Spherical vesicles, possibly containing mucus, could also be observed in these cells. These findings demonstrate the importance of the mucociliary processes in particle capture and selection. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the mechanism used by this mollusc for particle capture and selection could contribute to a better understanding of key aspects of invasion and also in the establishment of more efficient and economically viable strategies of population control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The species Dasyprocta prymnolopha is a wild rodent with a geographic distribution that extends from Mexico to South America, including Brazil. Agouti has been the subject of morphophysiological research, but data on the cardiovascular system remains limited. Therefore, the objective was to describe the macroscopic and microscopic morphology, including the study of the cardiac and coronary system syntopy of the species D. prymnolopha. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve Dasyprocta primnolopha adults were used, 6 males and 6 females. Topographic analysis of the heart was evaluated in situ, with subsequent measurement, anatomovascular description and macroscopic study of cardiac and coronary vascularization. A microscopic investigation and identification of structural cardiac aspects were also carried out in adult agoutis, the biological samples of the heart were submitted to histological techniques and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson's Trichrome. The heart is located between the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 5th intercostal space, with the apex reaching the 6th space. It presents the presence of 2 ligaments: phrenopericardium and sternopericardium. The right atrioventricular valve is composed of 2 cusps, the parietal and the septal, with variations within the same species for 3 cusps. Projections that interconnect the papillary muscles with each other were observed. In the left ventricle there are variations in the number of papillary muscles (range 2 to 4). In the region of the aortic valve, 5 ostia were observed in the left aortic sinus in all animals. The coronary circulation has a predominantly left distribution. Histologically, the heart consists of 3 main layers: endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium. The cusp valves of the atrioventricular openings are composed of endocardial folds that contain a central plate of dense connective tissue, and inserted in this cardiac musculature was observed the cardiac skeleton, with its fibrous ring consisting of collagen and elastic fibers that surrounds the atrioventricular opening. Discussion: Cardiac assessment in wild animals is challenging, as in-depth knowledge of the morphology of the cardiovascular system is required for the use of diagnostic tools. In this first anatomical study of the heart, this organ presents syntopy with those of other rodents, but the topography may vary in individuals of the same species, which may be related to the accentuated vertebral curve. The phrenopericardial and sternopericardial ligaments were observed in this research, although there are no reports in other species of Dasyprocta sp. The arrangement of the arteries has, as a particularity, the larger left atrium in relation to the heart/atrium size ratio when compared to other domestic species, covering the left coronary sinus until it reaches the left atrial surface. In the agouti, it was observed that the vascularization is left, with the left coronary artery giving rise to both the paraconal and subsinuous interventricular branch, a fact found in animals such as ruminants, dogs. In the histological observations of the present study, the heart was similar to that of other mammals. Our data reveal morphological characteristics similar to those of other mammals, but with very expressive characteristics that differ even within the species. It is important to generate new information to elucidate cardiac and coronary diagnostic analyses, which can be extended to different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Químico-Farmacéuticas is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)