Accidents with caterpillar Lonomia obliqua (Walker, 1855). An emerging problem

Lonomia obliqua (Walker, 1855) es una mariposa nocturna de la familia Saturniidae, ampliamente distribuida en selvas tropicales de Sudamérica. Su larva (oruga) se caracteriza por poseer espículas ramificadas puntiagudas a lo largo de su cuerpo, que contienen una mezcla compleja de moléculas tóxicas en su interior. Cuando las espículas contactan con la piel de las personas, las toxinas ingresan pasivamente a través de la lesión, generando un envenenamiento caracterizado por manifestaciones no solo locales sino también sistémicas (fundamentalmente manifestaciones hemorrágicas). Debido al elevado número de casos que se produjeron en Brasil en las últimas décadas, el Instituto Butantan ha producido un antiveneno capaz de neutralizar los efectos deletéreos de los accidentes por contacto con L. obliqua. En Argentina, los accidentes por Lonomia son poco frecuentes y se limitan a la provincia de Misiones. Teniendo en cuenta que a la fecha no hay en la literatura descripciones de casos clínicos ocurridos en el país con tratamiento específico (antiveneno), el propósito del presente trabajo es comunicar seis casos de accidentes por contacto con orugas Lonomia que fueron atendidos en el Hospital SAMIC de Puerto Iguazú (Misiones, Argentina) durante el año 2014, y que fueron tratados con el suero antilonómico producido en Brasil. Se destaca la evolución rápida y favorable de todos los pacientes por lo que se recomienda el uso de este antiveneno para tratar los casos de erucismo por Lonomia en la Argentina.Lonomia obliqua (Walker, 1855) is a moth from the family Saturniidae, widely distributed in tropical rainforests of South America. In its larval stage (caterpillar) it is characterized by bristles that cover the animal's body. These structures are hard and branched spiny evaginations of the cuticle, underneath which a complex mixture of toxic molecules is stored. When spicules are brought into contact with the skin of people, toxins enter passively through the injury, causing not only local but also systemic poisoning (primarily hemorrhagic manifestations). When the whole animal is accidentally crushed, the insect's chitinous bristles are broken and the venomous secretions penetrate the human skin, reaching the blood circulation. Due to the numerous registered cases of erucism in Southern Brazil, the Butantan Institute has produced an antivenom able to neutralize the deleterious effects produced by contact with L. obliqua caterpillar bristles. In Argentina, these kinds of accidents are rare and restricted to the province of Misiones. Taking into account that to date there is no report in this country about clinical cases submitted to a specific treatment (antivenom), our aim is to communicate here six cases of Lonomia caterpillar-induced bleeding syndrome that were treated in the Hospital SAMIC of Puerto Iguazú (Misiones, Argentina) during 2014 with the antilonomic serum produced in Brazil. It is worthy to note that all patients evolved favorably within the first few hours, and for this reason, the use of this antivenom is recommended to treat the cases of Lonomia erucism in Argentina.Fil: Sanchez, Matias Nicolas. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mignone Chagas, Mariana. Hospital SAMIC Marta T. Schwarz; ArgentinaFil: Casertano, Sergio A.. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Cavagnaro, Luis E.. Hospital SAMIC Marta T. Schwarz; ArgentinaFil: Peichoto, María Elisa. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Venom proteomes of South and North American opisthoglyphous (Colubridae and Dipsadidae) snake species: A preliminary approach to understanding their biological roles

Opisthoglyphous snake venoms remain under-explored despite being promising sources for ecological, evolutionary and biomedical/biotechnological research. Herein, we compared the protein composition and enzymatic properties of the venoms of Philodryas baroni (PbV), Philodryas olfersii olfersii (PooV) and Philodryas patagoniensis (PpV) from South America, and Hypsiglena torquata texana (HttV) and Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda (TblV) from North America. All venoms degraded azocasein, and this metalloproteinase activity was significantly inhibited by EDTA. PooV exhibited the highest level of catalytic activity towards synthetic substrates for serine proteinases. All venoms hydrolyzed acetylthiocholine at low levels, and only TblV showed phospholipase A2 activity. 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE profile comparisons demonstrated species-specific components as well as several shared components. Size exclusion chromatograms from the three Philodryas venoms and HttV were similar, but TblV showed a notably different pattern. MALDI-TOF MS of crude venoms revealed as many as 49 distinct protein masses, assigned to six protein families. MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis of tryptic peptides confirmed the presence of cysteine-rich secretory proteins in all venoms, as well as a phospholipase A2 and a three-finger toxin in TblV. Broad patterns of protein composition appear to follow phylogenetic lines, with finer scale variation likely influenced by ecological factors such as diet and habitat.Fil: Peichoto, María Elisa. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; Brasil. Univeristy of Northern Colorado; Estados Unidos. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Tavares, Flávio Luiz. Univeristy of Northern Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Santoro, Marcelo Larami. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Mackessy, Stephen. Univeristy of Northern Colorado; Estados Unido

Duvernoy's gland secretion of Philodryas patagoniensis from the northeast of Argentina: Its effects on blood coagulation

Duvernoy's gland secretion of Philodryas patagoniensis exhibits high hemorrhagic activity, containing enzymes that are able to degrade the vascular wall. In this work we aim to determine if the secretion can also affect the hemostatic system by causing changes in blood coagulation. Procoagulant and coagulant activities were evaluated on plasma and fibrinogen, respectively. The delay in the thrombin clotting time of fibrinogen previously incubated with the secretion was also determined. Specific hydrolysis of fibrinogen and fibrin incubated with the secretion at different time intervals was shown by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. To determine the structural characteristics of the enzymes degrading fibrinogen and fibrin, secretion were incubated in the presence of 45 mM Na2EDTA, 40 mM Benzamidine, and/or 2 mM PMSF before the incubation with fibrinogen or fibrin, respectively. The effect in vivo was investigated in adult male rats injected with different dose of secretion, aliquots of blood were withdrawn at different time intervals, and the fibrinogen concentration was determined. Duvernoy's gland secretion of P. patagoniensis did not clot plasma or fibrinogen. It exhibited a potent fibrinogenolytic activity degrading the Aα-chain faster than the Bβ-chain, whereas γ-chain was resistant. This latter corresponded with a strong delay in the thrombin clotting time of fibrinogen (4 mg/ml) pre-incubated with the secretion, being 9.53 μg the amount of protein from Duvernoy's gland secretion that increased the thrombin clotting time from 20 to 60 s. In vivo, the loss of rat plasma fibrinogen was proportional to the amount of secretion injected. The secretion also hydrolyzed fibrin degrading the α-monomer. Inhibition studies with Na2EDTA, Benzamidine, and/or PMSF showed that metalloproteinases and serinoproteinases are the main enzymes responsible for the hydrolyzing activity on fibrinogen and fibrin. All these results demonstrate that Duvernoy's gland secretion of P. patagoniensis possesses enzymes able to hydrolyze plasma components playing a relevant role in the blood coagulation. These hydrolyzing activities and those acting on the wall of blood vessels let the secretion exhibit a high hemorrhagic activity, which may result in permanent sequelae or even cause the death of the victims bitten by this colubrid snake.Fil: Peichoto, María Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Leiva, Laura Cristina Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Guaimás Moya, L. E.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Rey, L.. Serpentario del Zoológico de la Ciudad de Corrientes; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Ofelia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

Deshidratación de eritrocitos parasitados con Babesia spp como alternativa inmunoprofiláctica. Resultados preliminares

Immunoprophylaxis for bovine babesiosis has two presentations of a live attenuated vaccine (fresh and deep-frozen). Despite being effective, their durability, as well as the conditions necessary for their transfer and handling, make them impractical. The incorporation of a third presentation, using dehydrated merozoites as immunogens, constitutes an innovative alternative, which combines practicality and stability over time. The objective of this work was to test dehydration processes and cryopreservative and rehydrating substances. For this, erythrocytes highly parasitized with Babesia bovis and B. bigemina were subjected to two dehydration techniques: lyophilization and spray drying. In turn, for the lyophilization process, several lyoprotectants were tested: Dimethylsulfoxide, Glycerol, Dextrose and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The only one that achieved a properly dehydrated powder, crystalline in appearance and brittle to the touch was the PVP. Subsequently, the erythrocytes obtained by both techniques were reconstituted with sucrose solutions (0.25, 0.5, 1 M), 0.9% saline solution, Vega y Martínez solution, phosphate buffer and distilled water. Optical microscopy with an immersion objective showed that the best reconstituent for both lyophilized and spray-dried red blood cells was the 0.25 M sucrose solution, showing a high number of lyophilized and reconstituted red blood cells with preserved morphology. Extrapolating these results to the haemoparasites under study, their application as immunogens would be promising.La inmunoprofilaxis de la babesiosis bovina cuenta con dos presentaciones de una vacuna viva atenuada (fresca y ultracongelada). Pese a ser efectivas, su durabilidad, así como las condiciones necesarias para su traslado y manipulación, las hacen poco prácticas. La incorporación de una tercera presentación, utilizando merozoitos deshidratados como inmunógenos, constituye una innovadora alternativa, que combina practicidad y estabilidad en el tiempo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue ensayar procesos de deshidratación y sustancias criopreservadoras y rehidratantes. Con este fin, eritrocitos altamente parasitados con Babesia bovis y B. bigemina fueron sometidos a dos técnicas de deshidratación: liofilización y secado por aspersión. A su vez, para el proceso de liofilización se ensayaron varios lioprotectores: Dimetilsulfóxido, Glicerol, Dextrosa y Polivinilpirrolidona (PVP). El único que logró un polvo adecuadamente deshidratado, de aspecto cristalino y quebradizo al tacto fue la PVP. Posteriormente, los eritrocitos obtenidos por ambas técnicas fueron reconstituidos con soluciones de sacarosa (0.25, 0.5, 1 M), solución salina 0.9%, solución Vega y Martínez, buffer fosfato y agua destilada. La microscopía óptica con objetivo de inmersión evidenció que el mejor reconstituyente tanto para los glóbulos rojos liofilizados como para los secados por aspersión fue la solución de sacarosa 0.25 M, pudiéndose apreciar un alto número de glóbulos rojos liofilizados y reconstituidos con morfología conservada. Extrapolando este comportamiento a los hemoparásitos en estudio, resultaría promisoria su aplicación como inmunógenos

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora