Avian tuberculosis in a Lady Amherst’s pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae

We report a case of a Lady Amherst’s pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) with diffuse granulomatous lesions in liver, spleen and intestine. Using histopathological and molecular diagnosis we detected Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, etiological agent of avian tuberculosis. Further studies are needed to understand the role of wild birds in the persistence and transmission of thispathogen

Avian pox in a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) from northern Chile

A debilitated turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), showing prominent nodular masses in its head, was found in Antofagasta, Chile. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of epidermal hyperplasia and hypertrophy with typical eosinophilic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies in epithelial cells. Accordingly, a diagnosis of avian pox was established, corresponding to the first known occurrence of the disease in the southern hemisphere

Detection of pathogenic leptospira as a cause of abortion in cattle-observations on diagnosis

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by members of the genus Leptospira, which affects domestic and wild animals. Cases of abortion in cattle have been associated with this infection, but these are often not adequately confirmed. To determine the best diagnostic strategy for leptospirosis-associated cases of abortion, we evaluated some of the techniques used in the veterinary laboratory and found that the key issues are sample type and timing. In a retrospective anatomical and histopathological analysis, we studied 42 aborted foetuses with lesions consistent with leptospirosis to check for the presence of pathogenic leptospira by qPCR, as well as ascertaining the serologic status of the cows. In addition, in a prospective analysis, cows that had aborted foetuses were analysed within 2 days of the event by MAT and qPCR using blood and urine samples. Analysis of the foetuses indicated that only 14.3% of the selected cases (6 of 42) gave a positive qPCR result. Regarding cows that had recently aborted foetuses, 4 out of 11 sampled showed a positive qPCR, while MAT tests showed only negative results. The evidence provided in this study indicates that the time that has elapsed since a clinical event has occurred and the type of clinical sample taken are key elements in the successful confirmation of pathogenic leptospira as the cause of abortion

Molecular evidence for Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild Chilean hawk (Accipiter chilensis)

The present study reports a case of tuberculosis in a juvenile Chilean hawk (Accipiter chilensis). Granulomas were identified in the liver, intestine and mesentery. Several of these granulomas contained acid-fast bacilli suggesting a mycobacterial infection through ingestion. Molecular diagnosis detected Mycobacterium bovis as etiological agent. Whether M. bovis infection in this Chilean hawk represents a risk for other wildlife, livestock or humans remains to be determined

Preliminary results of the morphostructural analysis of Mount Orca submarine volcano

It is important to study in depth the morphostructural characteristics involved in underwater volcanism in order to understand the evolution of these volcanic centers with respect to their tectonic environment. Particularly, this study focuses on the Mount Orca submarine volcano, which is located at the Bransfield Strait (Antarctica), facin King George Island, and whose volcanic build reaches 650m high over a platform at 1340m deep, although the tectonic framework of the area is quite interesting, the interaction between three plates (Nazca, Scotia and Antarctic), the structural system that controls volcanism in unknown, mainly due to technological limitations or difficulty of access. This work presents a preliminary characterization of the morphology and structures associated with this underwater mount, through the digital elevation models obtained during the ANTARXXVI campaign with an EM 122 multibeam ecosystem and analyzed with CARIS Easy View and ArcMap 10.3, with the In order to identify different events and tectonic processes within the strait, their relationship with the activity of the different plates involved and how they have influenced volcanism in the area. In-depth knowledge of the morphostructural characteristics of this submarine volcano will better understand the volcanic location in the oceanic crust and its relationship with the tectonic environment

Is the effectivity of copper ions treatment of milk enough to block Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in calves?

Milk is an important transmission route of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) for dairy calves. Given its resistance to pasteurization, alternative milk treatments are needed to control MAP transmission via milk. The present study reports the evaluation of a novel milk decontamination treatment based on copper ions as a means of preventing infection in dairy calves. Ten newborn calves were assigned to one of two experimental groups (n=5) which were studied for 1 year. The first group was fed milk naturally contaminated with MAP and the second one received the same milk but after being treated with copper ions. In both groups, milk MAP load was estimated. The progression of the infection was monitored monthly and at the end of the study, calves were euthanised, and tissue samples were examined both grossly and by histopathology. The treatment of milk with copper ions significantly reduced the number of viable MAP. Faecal shedding of MAP was observed in both study groups, but the calves fed naturally contaminated milk began to shed MAP earlier. Only calves fed copper-treated milk showed histopathological evidence consistent with MAP infection. The latter offers more questions than answers, and maybe the presence of a more tolerant and virulent MAP strain could be the final answer to this situation

Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Gurltia paralysans (order Strongylida; family Angiostrongylidae) is a metastrongyloid parasite that causes chronic meningomyelitis in domestic cats in South America. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and peri-urban areas of Chile and Argentina. However, feline gurltiosis has recently been reported in other South American countries, including Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil, and was also recently reported in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Feline gurltiosis is increasingly detected in domestic cats in southern Chile and its apparent geographic range is also increasing, together with an awareness of the disease among veterinarians. The life cycle of the parasite is unknown, but is probably indirect, involving gastropods as the intermediate host, as in other metastrongyloid nematode species. The clinical signs of G. paralysans infection include progressive pelvic limb ataxia, paraparesis, paraplegia, faecal or urinary incontinence, and/or tail paralysis. A definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still challenging and only possible with necropsy, when adult G. paralysans nematodes are detected within the spinal cord vasculature, together with macroscopic lesions, and characteristic morphological features. A semi-nested PCR method was recently developed for the in vivo diagnosis of this neglected parasite. Current treatment options include macrocyclic lactones and mylbemicn oxime, but the prognosis is poor in severe cases. In this article, we review G. paralysans infection in cats, focusing on the diagnosis shortcomings and the future directions of research into its biology and the associated neurological disease. Comprehensive updates on the epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of feline gurltiosis are provided

Identification of Neospora caninum in aborted bovine fetuses of Southern Chile

The aim of this study was to identify Neospora caninum in histologic sections of brain and optic nerve of aborted bovine fetuses. Sections of these tissues from 296 aborted bovine fetuses from Southern Chile, submitted between 2000 and 2010, to the Instituto de Patología Animal of the Universidad Austral de Chile were analyzed. Forty-four (14.9%) fetuses had microscopic lesions compatible with bovine neosporosis, including gliosis, necrosis, intralesional protozoan cysts and neuritis of optic nerves. N. caninum was identified by immunohistochemistry in brain sections of 27 cases (9.1%) with compatible lesions. Positive immunostaining was also found in the optic nerves of 13 cases (4.4%) with neuritis. N. caninum DNA was identified by PCR in brain sections in 31 cases (10.5%). In total, 36 cases (12.2%) were positive by either technique. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1 gene sequence of N. caninum revealed a high degree of conservation among different isolates. This is the first report of N. caninum-associated optic neuritis in cattle and also the first report of confirmed bovine abortion associated with this parasite in Chile.Fil: Moroni, Manuel. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Navarro, Mauricio. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Paredes, Enrrique. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Romero, Alex. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Alberdi, Aintzane. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Lischinsky, Tania. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Moore, Dadin Prando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Campero, Carlos Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Uzal, Francisco Alejandro. University of California at Davis; Estados Unido

Identificación de deslizamientos submarinos en el margen peruano entre Talara y Sechura

Durante los levantamientos batimétricos multihaz de los cruceros INGEMAR I e IMGEMAR III, se obtuvo imágenes de alta resolución del fondo marino, donde se pudieron identificar deslizamientos submarinos antiguos y algunos escarpes de deslizamientos, entre Talara e Illescas en el margen continental del noroeste peruano. Similares a los paleodeslizamientos se habían reportado frente a la Bahía de Sechura durante el crucero SEAPERC en 1986. El presente trabajo presenta la primera caracterización de estas geoformas, lo cual constituye el primer paso para entender los procesos de génesis e implicancias de los deslizamientos submarinos

Estudios morfológicos y moleculares respaldan la presencia del género Microphyes en la Argentina y su posición en la tribu Polycarpeae (Caryophyllaceae)

Microphyes (Caryophyllaceae) es un género endémico de Chile que se registra aquí por primera vez para la Argentina con la colección de M. minima en la Reserva Provincial Altoandina La Chinchilla (Dpto. Rinconada, Jujuy). La especie es descrita e ilustrada y se proporcionan notas ambientales acerca del hábitat. Se provee un mapa de distribución geográfica de la especie en Argentina y Chile, y un lectotipo es designado para Talinum minimum. Por otro lado, se confirma la posición filogenética del género dentro de la tribu Polycarpeae. Por último, se proporciona una clave dicotómica para los 26 géneros de Caryophyllaceae registrados en la Argentina.Microphyes (Caryophyllaceae) is a genus endemic to Chile that is recorded here for the first time for Argentina based upon the collection of M. minima in the Reserva Provincial Altoandina La Chinchilla (Dpto. Rinconada, Jujuy). The species is described and illustrated and environment notes about its habitat are supplied. A geographical distribution map is provided for the species in Argentina and Chile, and a lectotype is designated for Talinum minimum. On the other hand, the phylogenetic position of the genera within tribe Polycarpeae is confirmed. Finally, a dichotomous key to the 26 Caryophyllaceae genera recorded in Argentina is provided.Fil: Zanotti, Christian Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Moroni, Pablo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentin