Comparación ultrasonográfica transvaginal y transrectal de la dinámica folicular en ondas sucesivas de llamas (Lama glama)

The ovarian follicular dynamics monitored by transrectal (TR) and transvaginal (TV) routes in successive waves was studied in 10 llamas older than 4 years, multiparous, without calves at foot, body condition of 3.0, during a period of 90 days in the reproductive season. The Sonostar SS8® ultrasound equipment was used with a linear transducer for transrectal examination and endocavitary microconvex transducer for transvaginal examination, both with a frequency of 6.5 MHz. The inter-wave interval was 20 ± 4.4 and 22.5 ± 5.3 via TR and VT, respectively; the number of follicles per cohort was 5.21 ± 0.92 and 6.38 ± 1.26 for TR and TV, respectively (p=0.0011); the maximum diameter of follicles was 12.49 ± 3.57 mm for TR and 13.56 ± 3.91 mm for TV; the growth rate was 0.70 ± 0.35 and 0.67 ± 0.32 mm/day for TR and TV, respectively. The regression equation for the ratio of the maximum follicular diameter and duration of follicular wave via TR was y=0.89766x+6.5554 (R²=0.423) and for the TV route y=0.8466x+10.184 (R²=0.479). The duration of the follicular phases was similar between both techniques except for the dominance phase (10.2±3.19 days for TR and 8.67±2.46 for TV, p=0.0418). The relationship between the follicular diameter and the number of follicles detected showed a low negative correlation (R²=-0.0827 for TV and R²=-0.0876 for TR). In conclusion, the transvaginal endocavitary transducer makes it possible to determine with greater precision the characteristics of llama follicular dynamics in their recruitment, dominance and regression phases with overlapping of follicular waves as an important characteristic.La dinámica folicular ovárica monitoreada por vía transrectal (TR) y transvaginal (TV) en ondas sucesivas en llamas fue estudiada en 10 llamas con más de 4 años, multíparas, sin cría, estado corporal de 3.0, durante un periodo de 90 días en la época reproductiva. Se utilizó el ecógrafo Sonostar SS8® con un transductor lineal para el examen transrectal y transductor microconvexo endocavitario para el examen transvaginal, ambos con frecuencia de 6.5 MHz. El intervalo inter-onda fue de 20±4.4 y 22.5±5.3 por vía TR y TV, respectivamente; el número de folículos por cohorte fue 5.21±0.92 y 6.38±1.26 para TR y TV, respectivamente (p=0.0011); el diámetro máximo de folículos fue 12.49±3.57 mm para TR y 13.56±3.91 mm para TV; la tasa de crecimiento fue de 0.70±0.35 y 0.67±0.32 mm/día para TR y TV, respectivamente. La ecuación de regresión para relación del diámetro máximo folicular y duración de onda folicular vía TR fue de y=0.89766x+6.5554 (R²=0.423) y para la vía TV de y=0.8466x+10.184 (R²=0.479). La duración de las fases foliculares fue similar entre ambas técnicas con excepción de la fase de dominancia (10.2±3.19 días para TR y 8.67±2.46 para TV, p=0.0418). La relación entre el diámetro folicular y número de folículos detectados presentó una correlación negativa baja (R²=-0.0827 para TV y R²=-0.0876 para TR). En conclusión, el transductor endocavitario transvaginal permite determinar con mayor precisión las características de dinámica folicular en llamas en sus fases de reclutamiento, dominancia y regresión con sobreposición de ondas foliculares como característica importante.The ovarian follicular dynamics monitored by transrectal (TR) and transvaginal (TV) routes in successive waves was studied in 10 llamas older than 4 years, multiparous, without calves at foot, body condition of 3.0, during a period of 90 days in the reproductive season. The Sonostar SS8® ultrasound equipment was used with a linear transducer for transrectal examination and endocavitary microconvex transducer for transvaginal examination, both with a frequency of 6.5 MHz. The inter-wave interval was 20 ± 4.4 and 22.5 ± 5.3 via TR and VT, respectively; the number of follicles per cohort was 5.21 ± 0.92 and 6.38 ± 1.26 for TR and TV, respectively (p=0.0011); the maximum diameter of follicles was 12.49 ± 3.57 mm for TR and 13.56 ± 3.91 mm for TV; the growth rate was 0.70 ± 0.35 and 0.67 ± 0.32 mm/day for TR and TV, respectively. The regression equation for the ratio of the maximum follicular diameter and duration of follicular wave via TR was y=0.89766x+6.5554 (R²=0.423) and for the TV route y=0.8466x+10.184 (R²=0.479). The duration of the follicular phases was similar between both techniques except for the dominance phase (10.2±3.19 days for TR and 8.67±2.46 for TV, p=0.0418). The relationship between the follicular diameter and the number of follicles detected showed a low negative correlation (R²=-0.0827 for TV and R²=-0.0876 for TR). In conclusion, the transvaginal endocavitary transducer makes it possible to determine with greater precision the characteristics of llama follicular dynamics in their recruitment, dominance and regression phases with overlapping of follicular waves as an important characteristic

Digging deeper into the Southern skies : a compact Milky Way companion discovered in first-year Dark Energy Survey data

We use the first-year Dark Energy Survey (DES) data down to previously unprobed photometric depths to search for stellar systems in the Galactic halo, therefore complementing the previous analysis of the same data carried out by our group earlier this year. Our search is based on a matched filter algorithm that produces stellar density maps consistent with stellar population models of various ages, metallicities, and distances over the survey area. The most conspicuous density peaks in these maps have been identified automatically and ranked according to their significance and recurrence for different input models. We report the discovery of one additional stellar system besides those previously found by several authors using the same first-year DES data. The object is compact, and consistent with being dominated by an old and metal-poor population. DES 1 is found at high significance and appears in the DES images as a compact concentration of faint blue point sources. Assuming different spatial profile parameterizations, the best-fitting heliocentric distance and total absolute magnitude in the range of 77.6–87.1 kpc and −3.00 MV −2.21, respectively. The half-light radius of this object, rh ∼ 10 pc and total luminosity are consistent with it being a low-mass halo cluster. It is also found to have a very elongated shape ( ∼ 0.57). In addition, our deeper probe of DES first-year data confirms the recently reported satellite galaxy candidate Horologium II as a significant stellar overdensity. We also infer its structural properties and compare them to those reported in the literature