Evaluación coproparasitológica en zorros de Sechura (Lycalopex sechurae) que habitan en el área natural protegida “Santuario Histórico Bosque de Pómac

Señala que los cánidos silvestres están particularmente expuestos a agentes patógenos, debido a su rol predador y a su susceptibilidad frente a éstos. Los zorros son reconocidos como hospederos definitivos de una variedad de patógenos, constituyéndose en algunos casos en diseminadores accidentales de parásitos que pueden afectar a otras especies. Los datos existentes sobre los agentes parasitarios que afectan al zorro de Sechura (Lycalopex sechurae) son escasos, siendo de importancia el conocer su prevalencia y el riesgo potencial tanto para la conservación de la especie como para la salud pública. El presente estudio tuvo por objetivo determinar la frecuencia de los parásitos gastrointestinales presentes en la población de Lycalopex sechurae que habitan en el Área Natural Protegida Santuario Histórico Bosque de Pómac (Lambayeque, Perú). Durante 15 días, se recorrieron transectos de 5km, al amanecer y anochecer, en búsqueda de heces frescas de zorros, las cuales fueron colectadas, georreferenciadas y preservadas en formol al 10%. Se obtuvieron un total de 70 muestras de heces que fueron posteriormente procesadas mediante los métodos de sedimentación-flotación y Técnica de tinción Ziehl-neelsen; y evaluadas mediante microscopía óptica. El 57.1% de las muestras presentó al menos una forma parasitaria. El 28.6% de las muestras resultó positivo a huevos tipo Ascarididae, el 18.6% a huevos tipo Strongylus (HTS), el 15.7% a Trichuris sp., 4.3% a huevos tipo Oxyuridae, el 1.4% a ooquistes de Isospora sp. y el 8,6% a ooquistes de Cryptosporidium sp. Además, el 18.5% de las muestras positivas presentó poliparasitismo. El presente estudio describe por primera vez a los huevos tipo Ascarididae, strongylus (HTS), ooquistes de Isospora sp., y Cryptosporidium sp. en L. sechurae.Tesi

Neurocognitive Evaluation of Japanese Childhood Cancer Survivors

Long-term cognitive effects following acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment have been reported for Caucasians; however, these data remain unclear for other ethnicities and the treatment of other cancers. Here, we assessed cognitive function in Japanese childhood cancer survivors. This study enrolled 53 Japanese survivors of childhood cancer （mean age, 9.5 years; 36 boys and 17 girls）. We evaluated performance-based cognitive function using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition （WISC-Ⅳ）. Deviation intelligence quotients （IQ） for verbal comprehension （VC）, perceptual reasoning （PR）, processing speed （PS）, and working memory （WM） were compared with the standardized mean and standard deviation （SD; 100 and 15, respectively）. We classified patients into three groups depending on the cumulative methotrexate （MTX） dose （none, 1–19g/m2, and＞20g/m2）. Full-scale IQ was within normal range at 104.8 （SD, 12.9）, although there were significant differences among the four WISC–Ⅳ index scores （P＜0.001）. The PS score （97.1±15.5） was significantly lower than the VC （107.2±15.8） and PR （105.3±14.2） scores （both P＜0.005）. WM performance decreased in an MTX dose-dependent manner （107.8, 102.6, and 96.5 for none, 1–19g/m2, and higher than 20g/m2, respectively; P=0.05）. Japanese childhood cancer survivors, including those in the non-MTX group, demonstrated significant PS impairment. High-dose MTX treatment might be associated with neurocognitive deficiencies, particularly in WM. Although current treatments are associated with high cure rates, future research and interventions are required to improve cognitive function in these patients

Conflict between Farmers and Guanacos (<i>Lama guanicoe cacsilensis</i>): Field Surveys, Remote Sensing, and Interviews Provide Information for Conservation of a Critically Endangered Species in Southern Peru

The Peruvian guanaco (Lama guanicoe cacsilensis) is classified as being “in critical danger of extinction” by the government. In this study, we evaluate how the conflict between farmers and guanacos in the Susapaya and Estique Districts, Tacna Department (Southern Peru) may represent a threat to their survival. To evaluate the situation, we 1. Conducted field surveys to monitor guanaco presence, 2. Used available remote sensing data to map guanaco movement, and 3. interviewed the impacted farmers concerning their losses. Remote sensing data showed that sedentary guanaco family groups located in prime steppe vegetation habitats never entered agricultural areas, while field surveys showed that bachelor bands and solitary individuals did, perhaps seeking forage due to growing population pressure. Interview data found that 90% of community farmers felt that guanacos were a problem best resolved by better fencing (45%), hunting (19%), or increased security (16%), and 92% saw no value in the conservation of the species. Hunting is illegal, given the critically endangered status of guanacos in Peru, so additional efforts are needed to both educate those who feel guanacos are a menace and involve them in efforts to preserve the species

Fatal Tickborne Phlebovirus Infection in Captive Cheetahs, Japan

Two captive cheetahs from a zoo in Japan died of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome?like illness. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, an endemic tickborne phlebovirus, was detected systemically with secretion of infectious viruses into the saliva. These cases highlight the risk for exposure of captive animals to endemic arthropodborne pathogens

POEMS Syndrome Showing Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Extracellular Edema Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Although cardiac involvement is rare in polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome, the clinical course becomes considerably worse on complication with cardiac lesions. The increased release of various cytokines has been observed in the pathogenesis of POEMS syndrome, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are known to be associated with the disease activity. We herein report a patient with POEMS syndrome who showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction and was treated with lenalidmide therapy. Of note, the reduction in extracellular edema in the left ventricular wall was clearly visualized by changes in the native T1 values and extracellular volumes on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Diverse mosquito-specific flaviviruses in the Bolivian Amazon basin

The genus Flavivirus includes a range of mosquito-specific viruses in addition to well-known medically important arboviruses. Isolation and comprehensive genomic analyses of viruses in mosquitoes collected in Bolivia resulted in the identification of three novel flavivirus species. Psorophora flavivirus (PSFV) was isolated from Psorophora albigenu. The coding sequence of the PSFV polyprotein shares 60% identity with that of the Aedes-associated lineage II insect-specific flavivirus (ISF), Marisma virus. Isolated PSFV replicates in both Aedes albopictus- and Aedes aegypti-derived cells, but not in mammalian Vero or BHK-21 cell lines. Two other flaviviruses, Ochlerotatus scapularis flavivirus (OSFV) and Mansonia flavivirus (MAFV), which were identified from Ochlerotatus scapularis and Mansonia titillans, respectively, group with the classical lineage I ISFs. The protein coding sequences of these viruses share only 60 and 40% identity with the most closely related of known lineage I ISFs, including Xishuangbanna aedes flavivirus and Sabethes flavivirus, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that MAFV is clearly distinct from the groups of the current known Culicinae-associated lineage I ISFs. Interestingly, the predicted amino acid sequence of the MAFV capsid protein is approximately two times longer than that of any of the other known flaviviruses. Our results indicate that flaviviruses with distinct features can be found at the edge of the Bolivian Amazon basin at sites that are also home to dense populations of human-biting mosquitoes