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Fil: Fantozzi, María Cecilia. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina Fil:Linares, María Cielo. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fil: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina Fil: Vittaz, Diego. Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional (CIPAR), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Mendoza, Argentina Fil: Mera y Sierra, Roberto. Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional (CIPAR), Universidad J.A. Maza, Guaymallén, Argentina. ARTÍCULO PUBLICADO EN REVISTA EXTERNA. El conocimiento de las especies de ectoparásitos presentes en los animales de compañía tiene implicancias tanto en medicina veterinaria como en salud humana, ya que varios agentes tienen la potencialidad de transmitirse del animal al humano y viceversa. Se revisaron 466 garrapatas remitidas al Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional (CIPaR) durante los años 2010 y 2013, recolectadas en 217 perros de zonas urbanas de la provincia de Mendoza. El 83,5% (n=385) fueron identificadas como Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (84 machos y 199 hembras – relación 1:2,37 –, 65 ninfas y 37 larvas), mientras que el 16,5% (n=76) fue identificado como Amblyomma tigrinum (10 machos y 61 hembras – relación 1:6,1 –, y cinco ejemplares adultos en mal estado, imposibilitando su sexado). Adicionalmente, cinco ejemplares adultos sólo se identificaron como pertenecientes al género Amblyomma, ya que por encontrarse ingurgitados no se pudo realizar la determinación de especie. Éste registro es un importante aporte al conocimiento de las especies de garrapatas presentes en perros (Canis familiaris) en la provincia de Mendoza. Sitio de la revista: https://bibliotecavirtual.unl.edu.ar/publicaciones/index.php/FAVEveterinaria/article/view/7437

In some systems like the Brazilian power system, the subtransmission and distribution networks are under responsibility of distribution companies. In this paper is presented an expansion planning model considering both networks simultaneously. The model is designed to minimize investment, operation and performance costs based on the estimated budget, operation and reliability regulatory conditions considering a horizon of several years. The minimum planning cost strategy incorporates quantitatively the impact of penalties in case of violations of the minimum reliability standards imposed by the regulator. These standards are based on the classical CID, CIF, SAIDI and SAIFI reliability indexes. The model formulation characterizes a mixed linear optimization problem easy to solve by available commercial solvers. Simulations show important results under several regulatory and planning scenarios by using a test system.

Porzana spiloptera, the Dot-wing Crake, has a patchy distribution in southern South America and has previously been considered as inhabiting exclusively lowland wetlands. Here we present evidence of a new population inhabiting a high-elevation site in the Central Andes of Argentina. This record suggests not only a broader distribution but greater tolerance of the species to higher elevation and lower temperatures than has previously been assumed. Fil: Zarco, Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentina Fil: Cuervo Bustamante, Pablo Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Llambías, Paulo E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentina

A combined market model of energy and reserve services operating under Payment Minimization (PM) is formulated through a mixed-integer linear model. The combined market model considers the simultaneous presence of long-term bilateral contracts and the short-term market of energy and several reserve services. In this context, a common standard framework allows establishing comparisons between the PM model and the usual bid cost minimization model in terms of obtained allocated levels, prices of services, payments, revenues, bid costs and agent financial portfolios. The suggested extended PM model has several important characteristics such as considering the system transmission network, generation and transmission capacity limits, generator ramp limits and multi-period short-term markets. The behavior of the system operation and resulting economic indexes are evaluated and compared using operation scenarios. The model is tested in the IEEE 30-Bus system including multi-period scenarios.

Fascioliasis is widespread in livestock in Argentina. Among activities included in a long-term initiative to ascertain which are the fascioliasis areas of most concern, studies were performed in a recreational farm, including liver fluke infection in different domestic animal species, classification of the lymnaeid vector and verification of natural transmission of fascioliasis by identification of the intramolluscan trematode larval stages found in naturally infected snails. The high prevalences in the domestic animals appeared related to only one lymnaeid species present. Lymnaeid and trematode classification was verified by means of nuclear ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial DNA marker sequencing. Complete sequences of 18S rRNA gene and rDNA ITS-2 and ITS-1, and a fragment of the mtDNA cox1 gene demonstrate that the Argentinian lymnaeid belongs to the species Lymnaea neotropica. Redial larval stages found in a L. neotropica specimen were ascribed to Fasciola hepatica after analysis of the complete ITS-1 sequence. The finding of L. neotropica is the first of this lymnaeid species not only in Argentina but also in Southern Cone countries. The total absence of nucleotide differences between the sequences of specimens from Argentina and the specimens from the Peruvian type locality at the levels of rDNA 18S, ITS-2 and ITS-1, and the only one mutation at the mtDNA cox1 gene suggest a very recent spread. The ecological characteristics of this lymnaeid, living in small, superficial water collections frequented by livestock, suggest that it may be carried from one place to another by remaining in dried mud stuck to the feet of transported animals. The presence of L. neotropica adds pronounced complexity to the transmission and epidemiology of fascioliasis in Argentina, due to the great difficulties in distinguishing, by traditional malacological methods, between the three similar lymnaeid species of the controversial Galba/Fossaria group present in this country: L. viatrix, Galba truncatula and L. neotropica. It also poses a problem with regard to the use, for lymnaeid vector species discrimination, of several molecular techniques which do not show sufficient accuracy, as those relying on the 18S rRNA gene or parts of it, because both L. neotropica and L. viatrix present identical 18S sequence.

Fil: Cuervo, Pablo Fernando. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional. Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Di Cataldo, Sophia. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional. Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Fantozzi, María Cecilia.Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional. Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Deis, Erika. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional. Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Viberti, Gabriela. Instituto Superior del Profesorado San Pedro Nolasco, Universidad del Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Mera y Sierra, Roberto. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional. Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Diaz Isenrath, Gabriela. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Campus Educativo Municipal Malargüe. Malargüe, Mendoza, Argentina. Fil: Artigas, Patricio. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia. Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Fil: Peixoto, Raquel. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia. Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Fil: Valero, Mará Adela. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia. Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Fil: Mas-Coma. Santiago. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia. Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. ARTÍCULO PUBLICADO EN REVISTA EXTERNA. Fascioliasis has recently been included in the WHO list of Neglected Zoonotic Diseases. Besides being a major veterinary health problem, fascioliasis has large underdeveloping effects on the human communities affected. Though scarcely considered in fascioliasis epidemiology, it is well recognized that both native and introduced wildlife species may play a significant role as reservoirs of the disease. The objectives are to study the morphological characteristics of Fasciola hepatica adults and eggs in a population of Lepus europaeus, to assess liver fluke prevalence, and to analyze the potential reservoir role of the European brown hare in northern Patagonia, Argentina, where fascioliasis is endemic. Measures of F. hepatica found in L. europaeus from northern Patagonia demonstrate that the liver fluke is able to fully develop in wild hares and to shed normal eggs through their faeces. Egg shedding to the environment is close to the lower limit obtained for pigs, a domestic animal whose epidemiological importance in endemic areas has already been highlighted. The former, combined with the high prevalence found (14.28%) suggest an even more important role in the transmission cycle than previously considered. The results obtained do not only remark the extraordinary plasticity and adaptability of this trematode species to different host species, but also highlight the role of the European brown hare, and other NIS, as reservoirs capable for parasite spillback to domestic and native cycle, representing a potentially important, but hitherto neglected, cause of disease emergence. Sitio de la revista: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26204194/

Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817) is a lymnaeid snail with great invasive capabilities, and has, at present, a worldwide distribution. So far, the presence of this lymnaeid snail in Argentina was restricted to a few provinces in the northeastern region, such as Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos and some botanical gardens in Buenos Aires, but the recent discovery of specimens in central Argentina (Córdoba) not only represents the first record for the region, but also the southernmost confirmed record in the wild for the Neotropical region and the westernmost for the country.

Dirofilariosis, caused by Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens, is (re-) emerging worldwide. Dogs are the main reservoirs, while human infection has recently become an important focus of interest and attention. In Argentina, canine D. immitis infection has been described in eastern and northern subtropical and temperate humid regions, but never reported in mid-western arid regions so far. In this research note we report for the first time the occurrence of autochthonous human and canine D. immitis infection in the region.

Fascioliasis, the zoonotic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is expanding worldwide, with a 17 million people at risk. Rodents, often recognized as a major source of zoonotic diseases, are affected by F. hepatica, with some species playing important roles in the disease epidemiology. The case reported here in a nutria or kiya (Myocastor coypus) is the first documented case of F. hepatica in this species in Uruguay. Parasitic burden and total egg production detected are markedly higher than reported previously for this species, confirming its potential role as an effective reservoir and disseminator of liver flukes. Although further research is needed, nutria should be considered when designing effective control programs for fascioliasis.

Goats, called “the cow of the poor”, are the livestock species with the most significant population growth worldwide in recent years. Gastrointestinal parasitism constitutes one of the main constraints to its outdoor and extensive breeding in temperate and tropical countries. Despite a Creole goat population of nearly 4 million heads, local reports on parasitological prevalence are scarce, and while Fasciola hepatica infection is spread all over Argentina, the goat is usually neglected as a reservoir and economic losses are not considered. To evaluate gastrointestinal parasitism prevalence and associations between parasite genera and species, with emphasis on fascioliasis, Creole goats from the plateau and Andean regions from western Argentina were investigated by coprological techniques, and associations were statistically assessed. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the animals harbored one or more parasite types, while 46% showed mixed infections. Significant positive associations between F. hepatica + Strongyle eggs, Eimeria sp. + Nematodirus sp. andNematodirus sp. + Trichuris oviswere detected. Further studies are required to define the causality of these associations and their relevance in epidemiology. F. hepaticais rarely considered as goat parasite in the country, but a 33% prevalence poses an interrogation on the role goats play on the transmission and dissemination of this zoonotic trematode. As cabras, nomeadas como “a vaca dos pobres”, são as espécies de gado com o crescimento populacional mais significativo nos últimos anos em todo o mundo. O parasitismo gastrintestinal constitui uma das principais limitações à sua criação extensiva em clima temperado e tropical. Na Argentina, apesar de uma população de caprinos crioulos de cerca de quatro milhões de cabeças, são escassos os relatórios locais de prevalências parasitológicas. Embora a infecção porFasciola hepatica esteja espalhada em todo o país, as cabras são geralmente negligenciadas como um reservatório, e as perdas econômicas não são consideradas. Para avaliar a prevalência do parasitismo gastrintestinal e associações entre os gêneros e espécies de parasitos, com ênfase na fasciolose, caprinos crioulos da região andina e do planalto do oeste de Argentina foram avaliados por meio de técnicas coprológicas. Oitenta e cinco por cento dos animais hospedaram um ou mais tipos de parasitos, enquanto 46% hospedaram infecções mistas. Foram encontradas associações significativas entre F. hepatica+ ovos de estrongilídeos, Eimeria sp. +Nematodirus sp. e Nematodirus sp. +Trichuris ovis. Mais estudos são necessários para definir a causalidade dessas associações e sua relevância na epidemiologia. Raramente F. hepaticaé considerada como um parasito de cabra no país, mas uma prevalência de 33% suscita uma interrogação sobre o papel dos caprinos na transmissão e disseminação desse trematódeo zoonótico.

In Argentina, human fascioliasis has never been adequately analysed, although having a physiography, climate, animal prevalences and lymnaeids similar to those of countries where the disease is endemic such as Bolivia, Peru and Chile. We performed a literature search identifying 58 reports accounting for 619 cases, involving 13 provinces, their majority (97.7%) from high altitudes, in central mountainous areas and Andean valleys, concentrated in Cordoba (430 cases), Catamarca (73), San Luis (29) and Mendoza (28), the remaining provinces being rarely affected. This distribution does not fit that of animal fascioliasis. Certain aspects (higher prevalence in females in a local survey, although a trend non-significant throughout Argentina) but not others (patient's age 3-95 years, mean 37.1 years) resemble human endemics in Andean countries, although the lack of intensity studies and surveys in rural areas does not allow for an adequate evaluation. Human infection occurs mainly in January-April, when higher precipitation and temperatures interact with field activities during summer holidays. A second June peak may be related to Easter holidays. The main risk factor appears to be wild watercress ingestion (214) during recreational, weekend outings or holiday activities, explaining numerous family outbreaks involving 63 people and infection far away from their homes. Diagnosis mainly relied on egg finding (288), followed by serology (82), intradermal reaction (63), surgery (43), and erratic fluke observation (6). The number of fascioliasis-hydatidosis co-infected patients (14) is outstanding. Emetine appears as the drug most used (186), replaced by triclabendazole in recent years (21). Surgery reports are numerous (27.0%). A long delay in diagnosis (average almost 3.5 years) and high lithiasis proportion suggest that many patients are frequently overlooked and pose a question mark about fascioliasis detection in the country. High seroprevalences found in recent random surveys suggest human endemic situations. This analysis highlights that human fascioliasis may have been overlooked in the past and its real epidemiological situation in high risk rural, mainly altitudinal areas, may currently be underestimated. Results provide a valuable baseline on which to design appropriate multidisciplinary studies on humans, animals and lymnaeids to assess up to which level and in which areas, human fascioliasis may represent a health problem in Argentina.

Dirofilariosis, caused by Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens, is spreading in several geographic regions. The deve - lopment of infective larvae in the mosquito vector (extrinsic incubation) needs an accumulated total of 130 degree-days above the 14 ºC threshold, normally expressed as heartworm development units (HDUs). Based on this information, temperature- based models have been developed and applied to evaluate the distribution and spread of Dirofilaria infections in various countries and continents. Despite the confirmed presence of D. immitis in most South American countries, the available information about its epidemiology remains scarce. We analysed the temporal and spatial extrinsic incubation of this parasite in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, taking into account daily temperatures from 49 meteorological stations during a 30-year period (1982-2012). The theoretically possible number of D. immitis generations was calculated based on the number of meteorological stations that reached the 130-HDUs threshold. The resulting information was spatially interpolated using the inverse weighted distance (IWD) model to produce thematic maps. The model shows that 41 of the meteorological stations reach the threshold needed and that D. immitis transmission is markedly seasonal with a peak in late spring (December), stable during summer (January to March) and declining in the autumn (April and May). Suitable temperatures exist in Uruguay and most of Argentina, whereas D. immitis transmission in Chile is only possible in the north and in the central inlands. The results suggest that the climatic impact on D. immitis transmission must have been minimal in the countries investigated since the annual meteorological records did not change much during the 30-year period analysed.