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The objective of this research was to contribute to the clinical theoretical-practical knowledge on the acute dietary exposure of domestic dogs to squash (Cucurbita maxima). The experimental study of the acute toxicity in the dogs exposed to the dry matter (DM) of C. maxima fruit was developed using 24 clinically healthy domestic dogs, which were randomly and uniformly distributed in 4 experimental groups. Each group had clinical neurological parameters measured by the modified Glasgow Coma Scale and paraclinical parameters (complete blood count, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), one hour before starting exposure (time 0, T0). Subsequently, each animal, depending on the experimental group, was administered DM of C. maxima fruit at a rate of 500mg/Kg (group A), 1g/Kg (group B), 5g/Kg (group C) orally (PO), as well as the administration of 200 g of the cooked C. maxima preparation as total dose PO (group D). One hour after exposure (PE) (Time 1 - T1) and 24 hours PE (Time 2 - T2), all the mentioned paraclinical parameters were measured again; likewise, the neurological clinical examination was performed every PE hour for 24 hours. Dietary exposure to the DM of C. maxima fruit in dogs did not generate any significant difference (p > 0.05) when comparing the clinical neurological and paraclinical data obtained in each experimental group of T0 versus T1 and T2. Therefore, this study showed no evidence of acute clinical or subclinical toxicity at the doses administered in the experimental model, thus it can be concluded that no acute clinical or subclinical toxicity events were generated in clinically healthy dogs exposed to the fruit of C. maxima, in the dose range of 500 mg DM/kg to 5 g DM/kg PO or 200 g of cooked PO preparation in 24 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and common human coronaviruses, previous infections with these viruses could contribute to serological or cellular cross-protection against severe COVID-19. However, protective immunity may not develop, or pre-existing immunity could increase COVID-19 severity., Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 and correlate previous exposure with COVID-19 signs in patients from Villavicencio., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. ELISA technique was used to search for IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL3 and HCoV-HKU1 in patients with positive RT-qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients were grouped according to COVID-19 clinical characteristics in four groups: group 1: asymptomatic (n = 23); group 2: hospitalized (n = 24); group 3: intensive care units (n = 24), and group 4: dead (n = 22)., Results: The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV was 74.2% (n = 69; 95% CI: 65.3-83.1), with 66.7% of HCoV-NL63 (n = 62; 95% CI: 57,1-76,2), and 25.8% of HCoV-HKU1 (n = 24; 95% CI: 16,9-34,7). Based on crosstab analysis, prior exposure to HCoV-NL63 was associated with protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 0.159; 95% CI: 0.027-0.938), and previous coinfection of HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 was considered a positive association to severe COVID-19 (p = 0.048; adjusted OR = 16.704; 95% CI: 1.020 - 273.670)., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing seroprevalence of HCoV IgG antibodies in Colombia and Latin America. Previous exposure to HCoV-NL63 could protect against severe COVID-19, whereas patients with underlying HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 coinfection could be hospitalized with severe signs of COVID-19.