Clinical, hematological and coagulative changes consequent to antibody level increase in horses destined to antivenom production

El objetivo del trabajo consistió en estudiar los efectos clínicos, hemáticos y coagulativos, así como la producción de anticuerpos en tres equinos inmunizados para la producción de suero antiofídico monovalente contra Bothrops alternatus y evaluar los resultados obtenidos correlacionando la respuesta inmune humoral con el estado de salud de los animales. Los resultados indicaron que la inmunización de los equinos con el protocolo utilizado, indujo alteraciones clínicas menores y cambios en ciertos parámetros del hemograma y pruebas coagulativas. Se registraron variaciones de la capacidad neutralizante sobre distintos componentes del veneno, en especial las toxinas que afectan la coagulación de la sangre. Asimismo, se constató una correlación directa entre las tasas séricas de leucocitos y la producción de inmunoglobulinas. Los resultados indicaron que el período de descanso de un trimestre resulta extenso y causa una franca disminución del título de anticuerpos, perdiendo el suero capacidad neutralizante de la toxicidad del veneno; no obstante, al reanudar las inoculaciones los equinos presentaron una rápida reposición de los anticuerpos anti-toxinas de B. alternatus, tolerando altas dosis de veneno en el segundo período de inmunización.The aim of this work consisted to study the clinical and hematological effects that included blood coagulation and antibody production of a group of three horses immunized for the production of monovalent serum against Bothrops alternatus venom, in order to correlate the results with the humoral immune response of the animals. The results showed that immunization of horses with the essayed protocol induce slight clinic alterations and discrete changes in some parameters of the hemogram. Results also showed variations in the neutralizing capacity of the serum on different venom components, particularly toxins that affect blood coagulation. Also, it was verified a direct relationship between the rate of white blood cells and serum immunoglobulin production. Furthermore, they also indicate that the three-month rest period may be considered as too long as it causes a marked decrease in antibody titles, losing the serum its neutralizing capacity to venom compounds. Nevertheless, after re-administration of venom horses provided a rapid reposition of anti-toxins against B. alternatus venom, tolerating high venom doses during this second period of immunization.Fil: Bogado, F.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Cs.veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Núñez, S.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Cs.veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Mussart, Norma Beatriz. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Cs.veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Leiva, L.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Ofelia Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Cs.veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Tree diversity and composition in Mexican traditional smallholder cocoa agroforestry systems

The cultivation of cocoa is a commodity of great importance worldwide. In Mexico, cocoa is grown in Tabasco and Chiapas states in agroforestry systems since pre-Hispanic times, where cocoa is grown under the canopy of shade trees. Crops such as sugarcane and extensive livestock production have gradually reduced the area devoted to cocoa cultivation in the region. Yet, farmers keep small portions of the cocoa agroforestry systems to maintain the local floristic diversity. This practice seems to be a successful contribution to plant conservation. To determine the management practices used by farmers in the agroforestry cocoa systems and the diversity of products they harvest, a non-probabilistic sampling was carried out in 38 shade cocoa plots of 20 x 50 m each (19 in Tabasco and 19 in Chiapas). We counted and identified all trees with DBH >= 5 cm, recording their height. We estimated canopy cover at 20 points within each plot. Our results show no tree species richness differences between states, but there were differences at the municipality level; Pichucalco (Chiapas) had the highest tree species richness. Considering all tree species, there was a higher tree density in Tabasco than in Chiapas. Regarding only cocoa trees, there was also a higher abundance in Tabasco than in Chiapas. In both cases, farmers obtain a wide variety of products for self-consumption and local market sale from their cocoa agroforestry systems (e.g., timber, fruit, and grains). The wide floristic diversity in these agroecosystems aids native plant species conservation and could favor the increase of agroforestry plantations associated with cocoa cultivation.Peer reviewe

Bioestadística aplicada: software DL50

Este trabajo presenta un software para el estudio de la supervivencia a través del método probit; el cual es utilizado en diversos trabajos de investigación y en tesis de grado. El software fue desarrollado para estimar los valores de la dosis letal 50, es una herramienta que permite en pocos pasos obtener el cálculo dela Dosis Letal 50 (DL50) por el método probit. Este indicador, representa la dosis de una substancia o radiación, que es mortal para la mitad de los individuos de la prueba. En la fase de programación del mismo trabajaron alumnos de la carrera licenciatura en Sistemas de Información de la FCEQyN de la UNaM.Eje: Innovación en Sistemas de SoftwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Bioestadística aplicada: software DL50

Este trabajo presenta un software para el estudio de la supervivencia a través del método probit; el cual es utilizado en diversos trabajos de investigación y en tesis de grado. El software fue desarrollado para estimar los valores de la dosis letal 50, es una herramienta que permite en pocos pasos obtener el cálculo dela Dosis Letal 50 (DL50) por el método probit. Este indicador, representa la dosis de una substancia o radiación, que es mortal para la mitad de los individuos de la prueba. En la fase de programación del mismo trabajaron alumnos de la carrera licenciatura en Sistemas de Información de la FCEQyN de la UNaM.Eje: Innovación en Sistemas de SoftwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Bioestadística aplicada: software DL50

Este trabajo presenta un software para el estudio de la supervivencia a través del método probit; el cual es utilizado en diversos trabajos de investigación y en tesis de grado. El software fue desarrollado para estimar los valores de la dosis letal 50, es una herramienta que permite en pocos pasos obtener el cálculo dela Dosis Letal 50 (DL50) por el método probit. Este indicador, representa la dosis de una substancia o radiación, que es mortal para la mitad de los individuos de la prueba. En la fase de programación del mismo trabajaron alumnos de la carrera licenciatura en Sistemas de Información de la FCEQyN de la UNaM.Eje: Innovación en Sistemas de SoftwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Extraction and Identification of Alkaloids of the <i>Ipomoea fistulosa</i> (Aguapei or Mandiyurá) of Argentina

The classical toxic effect produced by this Ipomoea fistulosa is due to the accumulation of oligosacharides in various tissues cell cytoplasm, mainly nervous, liver and lymphatic tissues, that leads to the cell vacuolitation. These effects are attributed to the presence of substances called swansonina and calisteginas in the vegetables, which produce inhibition of enzymes liposomales responsible for the metabolic carbohydrates. In natural conditions, the plant is not consumed by the animals. Its consumption occurs alone in determined times of year, for lack of sufficient pasture and it is more frequent in young animals. Since standard literature does not register any data on the chemical analysis of the kind Ipomoea, we report here the results on the extraction, isolation and spectroscopic identification of the present alkaloids in this plant.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

An alternative method to isolate protease and phospholipase A2 toxins from snake venoms based on partitioning of aqueous two-phase systems

Snake venoms are rich sources of active proteins that have been employed in the diagnosis and treatment of health disorders and antivenom therapy. Developing countries demand fast economical downstream processes for the purification of this biomolecule type without requiring sophisticated equipment. We developed an alternative, simple and easy to scale-up method, able to purify simultaneously protease and phospholipase A2 toxins from Bothrops alternatus venom. It comprises a multiple-step partition procedure with polyethylene-glycol/phosphate aqueous two-phase systems followed by a gel filtration chromatographic step. Two single bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and increased proteolytic and phospholipase A2 specific activities evidence the homogeneity of the isolated proteins.Fil: Gomez, Gabriela Noemi. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Nerli, Bibiana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Ofelia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Picó, Guillermo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Leiva, Laura Cristina Ana. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentin

Experimental poisoning of goats by <i>Ipomoea carnea</i> subsp. <i>fistulosa</i> in Argentina: a clinic and pathological correlation with special consideration on the central nervous system

Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, aguapei or mandiyura, is responsible for lysosomal storage in goats. The shrub contains several alkaloids, mainly swansonine which inhibits lysosomal α-mannosidase and Golgi mannosidase II. Poisoning occurs by inhibition of these hydrolases. There is neuronal vacuolation, endocrine dysfunction, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal injury, and immune disorders. Clinical signs and pathology of the experimental poisoning of goats by Ipomoea carnea in Argentina are here described. Five goats received fresh leaves and stems of Ipomoea. At the beginning, the goats did not consume the plant, but later, it was preferred over any other forage. High dose induced rapid intoxication, whereas with low doses, the course of the toxicosis was more protracted. The goats were euthanized when they were recumbent. Cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, pons and colliculi, were routinely processed for histology. In nine days, the following clinical signs developed: abnormal fascies, dilated nostrils and abnormal postures of the head, cephalic tremors and nystagmus, difficulty in standing. Subsequently, the goats had a tendency to fall, always to the left, with spastic convulsions. There was lack in coordination of voluntary movements due to Purkinje and deep nuclei neurons damage. The cochlear reflex originated hyperreflexia, abnormal posture, head movements and tremors. The withdrawal reflex produced flexor muscles hypersensitivity at the four legs, later depression and stupor. Abnormal responses to sounds were related to collicular lesions. Thalamic damage altered the withdrawal reflex, showing incomplete reaction. The observed cervical hair bristling was attributed to a thalamic regulated nociceptive response. Depression may be associated with agonists of lysergic acid contained in Ipomoea. These clinical signs were correlated with lesions in different parts of the CNS.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Estructura y composición florística de la vegetación secundaria en tres regiones de la sierra norte de Chiapas, México

El estado de Chiapas presenta una severa deforestación de los diferentes tipos de selvas, en la actualidad sólo quedan fragmentos de la vegetación original y con diferentes grados de sucesión, por lo que se planteó el objetivo de conocer la estructura y composición fl orística de la vegetación secundaria en tres regiones (valle, colina y ladera) de la Sierra Norte de Chiapas. La hipótesis de investigación fue que la estructura y composición fl orística arbórea es similar en las tres regiones. Todos los árboles de 2.5 cm de diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP) fueron censados en cinco unidades de muestreo de 400 m² en cada región. Además se obtuvieron los índices de diversidad, similitud y valor de importancia. Se censó un total de 3 629 individuos en las tres regiones, contenidos en 43 familias, distribuidos en 104 géneros con 133 especies. La abundancia y número de especies fue mayor en la colina (114 especies) y menor en el valle (77 especies). Se distinguieron tres estratos; de los cuales, en el estrato bajo se concentró más del 80% de los individuos. Las especies más abundantes y con mayor Índice de valor de importancia (IVI) fueronLonchocarpus oliganthusySaurauia yasicaeen el valle y ladera, respectivamente, mientras queAstrocaryum mexicanumyBrosimum alicastrumdestacaron en la colina. La diversidad fue más alta en la colina (3.9) y similar en valle y ladera (3.7). Se encontró mayor semejanza fl orística entre colina y ladera (60%). Cada región presentó especies exclusivas comoSwartzia arborescensyPachira aquaticaen el valle,Simaruba glaucayGuarea grandifoliaen la colina, yCastilla elasticaen la ladera. En conclusión, la estructura y composición fl orística arbórea de la vegetación secundaria es diferente en tres regiones de la Sierra Norte de Chiapas

Experimental poisoning of goats by <i>Ipomoea carnea</i> subsp. <i>fistulosa</i> in Argentina: a clinic and pathological correlation with special consideration on the central nervous system

Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, aguapei or mandiyura, is responsible for lysosomal storage in goats. The shrub contains several alkaloids, mainly swansonine which inhibits lysosomal α-mannosidase and Golgi mannosidase II. Poisoning occurs by inhibition of these hydrolases. There is neuronal vacuolation, endocrine dysfunction, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal injury, and immune disorders. Clinical signs and pathology of the experimental poisoning of goats by Ipomoea carnea in Argentina are here described. Five goats received fresh leaves and stems of Ipomoea. At the beginning, the goats did not consume the plant, but later, it was preferred over any other forage. High dose induced rapid intoxication, whereas with low doses, the course of the toxicosis was more protracted. The goats were euthanized when they were recumbent. Cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, pons and colliculi, were routinely processed for histology. In nine days, the following clinical signs developed: abnormal fascies, dilated nostrils and abnormal postures of the head, cephalic tremors and nystagmus, difficulty in standing. Subsequently, the goats had a tendency to fall, always to the left, with spastic convulsions. There was lack in coordination of voluntary movements due to Purkinje and deep nuclei neurons damage. The cochlear reflex originated hyperreflexia, abnormal posture, head movements and tremors. The withdrawal reflex produced flexor muscles hypersensitivity at the four legs, later depression and stupor. Abnormal responses to sounds were related to collicular lesions. Thalamic damage altered the withdrawal reflex, showing incomplete reaction. The observed cervical hair bristling was attributed to a thalamic regulated nociceptive response. Depression may be associated with agonists of lysergic acid contained in Ipomoea. These clinical signs were correlated with lesions in different parts of the CNS.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria