Updated Anopheles mosquitos abundance and distribution in north-eastern malaria-free area of Argentina.

Malaria is the most important parasitic disease worldwide. In 2019, more than 679,441 cases of malaria were reported in the American region. During this study, Argentina was in malaria pre-elimination autochthonous transmission phase with the aim of being declared as malaria-free country. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of remote sensing spectral indices (NDVI, NDWI) and climatic variables (temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) on the distribution and abundance of Anopheles mosquitoes, in four localities with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance and with previous malaria cases records located , in a historical malarious area in northeastern of Argentina. Between June 2012 and July 2014, mosquitoes were collected. We collected 535 Anopheles adult mosquitoes. Anopheles strodei s.l. was the most abundant species. The greatest richness, diversity and abundance of species were registered in wild and semi-urban environments. The abundance of Anopheles presented a negative association with relative humidity and mean temperature, but positive with mean maximum temperature. The most important variables determining Anopheles total abundance and distribution were NDWI Index and distance to vegetation. The abundance of An. strodei s.l., was positive associated with water areas whereas the NDVI Index was negatively associated.

A new species of Homonota (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae) endemic to the hills of Paraje Tres Cerros, Corrientes Province, Argentina.

The genus Homonota comprises nine South American species of terrestrial and nocturnal lizards. Homonota lizards lack the femoral pores typical of other South American Phyllodactylidae, and their infradigital lamellas are not expanded. We here describe a new species, Homonota taragui sp. nov., exclusively found on a small group of three hills up to 179 meters above sea level in central eastern Corrientes Province, Argentina. The new species differs from other Homonota species by a combination of characters, including: a well-marked dorsal, reticulate, dark pattern contrasting with a lighter colored background; small, star-shaped chromatophores on the abdomen; the post-orbital region of the head covered by granular scales; the dorsal and anterior regions of the thighs covered by keeled scales interspersed with cycloid scales; and the internasal scale in contact with rostral scales. The conservation status of Homonota taragui sp. nov. may be vulnerable, due to its localized endemism with populations on three small hills surrounded by intense agricultural and livestock activity. Two endemic plant species are known from these hills, and this new lizard represents the first endemic animal species.

Laparoscopic Extravesical Reimplantation in Children with Primary Obstructive Megaureter.

Introduction: Conservative management of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) appears as the best option in patients with adequate ureteral drainage. Nevertheless, surgical intervention is indicated in cases of recurrent urinary tract Infections (UTIs), deterioration of split renal function, and significant obstruction. The gold standard includes: Ureteral reimplantation with or without tapering by open approach. Our objective is to report our results in the treatment of POM by Laparoscopic-Assisted Extracorporeal Ureteral Tapering Repair (EUTR) and Laparoscopic Ureteral Extravesical Reimplantation (LUER) and to evaluate the efficacy and security of this procedure. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to January 2018 a retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the clinical records of 26 patients diagnosed with POM. All patients underwent laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation following Lich Gregoir technique. In cases of ureteral tapering, an EUTR was performed with Hendren technique. Results: In all patients LUER and EUTR were performed without conversion. No ureteral tapering was necessary in six patients. There were no intraoperative complications. At 3 months in postoperative, 1 patient presented a febrile UTI, and subsequently, a vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) grade III was diagnosed by voiding cystourethrogram. In this case, a redo laparoscopic surgery was performed. After long-term follow-up, all patients were asymptomatic without recurrence of POM or VUR. Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted EUTR and LUER following Lich Gregoir technique for POM constitutes a safe and effective option, with a success rate similar to that of open procedure. Nevertheless, larger randomized prospective trials and long-term follow-up are required to validate this technique.

[Anuran richness and composition in the Eastern region of Iberá Wetlands Provincial Nature Reserve, Corrientes, Argentina]. / Riqueza y composición de la fauna de anuros en la región oriental de la reserva natural provincial esteros del iberá, corrientes, argentina.

In recent decades, the concern for biodiversity conservation has increased in importance, especially due to the loss of highly biodiverse natural areas such as wetlands. Despite the high fauna diversity inhabiting the Iberá, the information about its composition, structure and dynamics is scarce, and amphibians are typical and conspicuous representatives of these Neotropical areas. To generate new information about this group, the amphibian composition from two villages (Paraje Galarza and Colonia Carlos Pellegrini), belonging to two different fitogeographic regions in the Eastern edge of the Iberá, were described and compared. Samples were taken, from a respective area of 100km2 that included five landscape units (wetlands, streams and swamps, grasslands, forest and a permanent/temporal pond) each, during the four seasons between January 2007 and March 2008. The techniques applied were the Complete Species Inventories (Unrestricted direct search) and Visual Encounter Surveys (VES). A total of 28 species were found, and represented the 70% of the previously registered taxa for the whole wetland. Scinax similis and Rhinella azarai were recorded for the first time in the Iberá Wetlands. No significant differences were found in the anuran specific richness between the surveyed villages, since the 95% of confidence intervals for the species accumulation curves were superimposed. In both villages, the wetlands, streams and swamps, and the permanent pond landscapes, showed the higher species richness when compared to the others. According to the Chao2, Jacknifel and ICE estimators, the inventory completeness of species, oscillated among 88% and 98% for the whole area. The dendrogram analysis based on the Jaccard similarity index, showed that wetlands, streams and swamps were grouped and well separated from grasslands. To guarantee the conservation of the high anuran richness that inhabit the Iberá Wetland, we recommend that representative areas of each landscape must be protected.

Hatching pattern and coexistence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Culicidae) in a subtropical city, Argentina, after three decades of coexistence.

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are mosquito vectors of numerous arboviruses of sanitary importance. Presently in Argentina, neither Ae. aegypti nor Ae. albopictus, have displaced the other species in the places where they coexist, since the introduction of the latter in 1998. In this study, we evaluated whether these species coexist at different scales (ovitrap, microhabitat and habitat) in the city of Eldorado, Misiones province, northeast Argentina. We also analyzed the seasonal variation and climate variables related to the delay in egg hatching of both species. Mosquitoes were collected weekly, from June 2017 to May 2018, using ovitraps placed in urban areas. We conclude that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus coexist in the study area, at the ovitrap, microhabitat and habitat scales. Furthermore, no pronounced pattern of delayed hatching has been observed for either species; however, eggs of Ae. albopictus laid during colder weeks and less rainfall needed a greater number of immersions to hatch, while for Ae. aegypti those laid during weeks with low rainfall and high temperatures showed the longest delay in hatching response.

Culicidae (Diptera) community structure, spatial and temporal distribution in three environments of the province of Chaco, Argentina.

The aim of this work was to study the composition of the Culicidae community in three environments with different degrees of anthropic disturbance in the province of Chaco. The nonparametric richness estimator ACE was calculated to measure the completeness of the sampling in each environment, and the diversity of each environment (α-diversity) were estimated. The composition, abundance and uniformity of species from the different environments were compared by means of range-species curves. ß-diversity was measured as species complementarity, which allowed us to know the degree of dissimilarity among the environments. The synanthropic index was estimated, identifying urban environment (synanthropic) species, eusynanthropic species, and wild species. The influence of climatic factors (mean temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) on the monthly and annual variations of the identified mosquito species was analysed using multilevel Poisson models with over-dispersion. The wild environment showed higher diversity and the semi-urban environment higher species richness. Despite having lower S and abundance, the urban environment showed greater diversity than semi-urban environment, although it also showed lower completeness, which means S could increase. Anthropogenic disturbance can lead to the elimination and/or modification or substitution of habitats, with the subsequent loss of richness in the more sensitive species of Culicidae fauna, although the conditions are also favourable for the settling of opportunistic and exotic species well-adjusted to disturbed environments. Most of the species abundances were positively influenced by the analysed climatic variables. The study area showed a rich Culicidae fauna of public health significance, with a risk of pathogen transmission, suggesting the need of further studies and the febrile and entomological surveillance.

Mama accesoria en la vulva / Supernumerary breast in vulva

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Temperate snake community in South America: is diet determined by phylogeny or ecology?

Communities are complex and dynamic systems that change with time. The first attempts to explain how they were structured involve contemporary phenomena like ecological interactions between species (e.g., competition and predation) and led to the competition-predation hypothesis. Recently, the deep history hypothesis has emerged, which suggests that profound differences in the evolutionary history of organisms resulted in a number of ecological features that remain largely on species that are part of existing communities. Nevertheless, both phylogenetic structure and ecological interactions can act together to determine the structure of a community. Because diet is one of the main niche axes, in this study we evaluated, for the first time, the impact of ecological and phylogenetic factors on the diet of Neotropical snakes from the subtropical-temperate region of South America. Additionally, we studied their relationship with morphological and environmental aspects to understand the natural history and ecology of this community. A canonical phylogenetical ordination analysis showed that phylogeny explained most of the variation in diet, whereas ecological characters explained very little of this variation. Furthermore, some snakes that shared the habitat showed some degree of diet convergence, in accordance with the competition-predation hypothesis, although phylogeny remained the major determinant in structuring this community. The clade with the greatest variability was the subfamily Dipsadinae, whose members had a very different type of diet, based on soft-bodied invertebrates. Our results are consistent with the deep history hypothesis, and we suggest that the community under study has a deep phylogenetic effect that explains most of the variation in the diet.

Lower esophageal banding in extremely low birth weight infants with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula is a life saving practice followed by a successful delayed primary thoracoscopy reconstruction.

In extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, i.e. <1000g, with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), surgical treatment is a real challenge. High morbidity is associated with primary repair of EA on these patients. We report our recent experience with three cases of ELBW infants with EA and TEF treated by lower esophageal banding (LEB). From September 2012 to January 2013, three ELBW infants with EA/TEF were born prematurely with severe respiratory distress. One of them had VACTER association with anorectal malformation (ARM). The gestational age was between 25 and 27weeks, and the mean birth weight was 690g (500-790). All were treated by LEB and gastrostomy, followed by delayed primary thoracoscopy reconstruction. One baby died in the postoperative period because of intraventricular hemorrhage at 7days after initial surgery. Among the 2 others cases, one of them required ligation without section of the TEF with removal of LEB by thoracoscopy at 30days old and 1300g. Delayed primary thoracoscopy reconstruction and section of TEF were performed by thoracoscopy at 70 and 80days old and 2100g and 2200g respectively without early complication. The follow-up was 12months. One baby presented a stenosis requiring one dilation of lower esophagus with uneventful course. LEB is a life saving practice in ELBW babies with EA and TEF. The esophagus can tolerate the ligation even with a thread without having a long time major complication. Thoracoscopic reconstruction of the esophagus is possible in these babies.

Preliminary study of efficacy of dynamic compression system in the correction of typical pectus carinatum.

OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study evaluates, by qualitative score, the efficacy of the dynamic compression system (DCS) with a pressure-measuring device in the treatment of pectus carinatum (PC) as an alternative to surgery. METHODS: A total of 68 patients (infants, adolescents and young adults) presenting with typical PC (64 males and 4 females) were evaluated in our Chest Wall Deformities Unit, between October 2011 and February 2013. The criteria for including subjects were: patients with typical condrogladiolar PC and pressure for initial correction (PIC) ≤ 9 PSI (pound square inch). Seven patients were excluded in this study: three typical PC were treated by minimal invasive surgery (Abramson technique) due to highly elevated PIC and four atypical PC, hybrids forms (PE and PC) were treated by cup suction for pectus excavatum and by the DCS for the PC. The management protocol included: adjustment of the DCS, strengthening exercises and monthly clinical follow-up. The partial and final results were evaluated by the patients, by their parents or by both, using a qualitative scoring scale that was measured in a three-step grading system, where C is a low or very low result, B is acceptable and A is a very good or excellent result. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (59 males and 2 females) presenting with typical PC were treated by the DCS and included: symmetric PC in 43 cases and asymmetric PC in 18 cases. The mean age was 13.5 years (5-25). The mean PIC was 6.3 PSI (3-9 PSI). The mean utilization time was 19 h daily. The patients were divided into three groups. In Group I, consisting of 35 cases, all the patients have already completed the treatment with excellent aesthetic results (A). In 12 cases, Group II, the normal shape of the thorax has been obtained; all the patients in this group rated their results as excellent (A); however, these patients are still wearing the brace as a retainer for 3 additional months. Fourteen patients, Group III, are progressing and improving under active treatment, and surgeons and patients are very satisfied with the initial results. None of the 61 patients in this study abandoned the treatment and no complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study demonstrated that the DCS with a pressure-measuring device is a minimal invasive system effective for treatment of PC in patients where the anterior chest wall is still compliant. The control of different pressure measurements could be used as the inclusion criterion as well as a predictive factor for aesthetic results and treatment duration.

Riqueza y composición de la fauna de anuros en la región oriental de la Reserva Natural Provincial Esteros del Iberá, Corrientes, Argentina / Anuran richness and composition in the Eastern region of Iberá Wetlands Provincial Nature Reserve, Corrientes, Argentina

Anuran richness and composition in the Eastern region of Iberá Wetlands Provincial Nature Reserve, Corrientes, Argentina. In recent decades, the concern for biodiversity conservation has increased in importance, especially due to the loss of highly biodiverse natural areas such as wetlands. Despite the high fauna diversity inhabiting the Iberá, the information about its composition, structure and dynamics is scarce, and amphibians are typical and conspicuous representatives of these Neotropical areas. To generate new information about this group, the amphibian composition from two villages (Paraje Galarza and Colonia Carlos Pellegrini),belonging to two different fitogeographic regions in the Eastern edge of the Iberá, were described and compared. Samples were taken, from a respective area of 100km² that included five landscape units (wetlands, streams and swamps, grasslands, forest and apermanent/temporal pond) each, during the four seasons between January 2007 and March 2008. The techniques applied were the Complete Species Inventories (Unrestricted direct search) and Visual Encounter Surveys (VES). A total of 28 species were found, and represented the 70% of the previously registered taxa for the whole wetland. Scinax similis and Rhinella azarai were recorded for the first time in the Iberá Wetlands. No significant differences were found in the anuran specific richness between the surveyed villages, since the 95% of confidence intervals for the species accumulation curves were superimposed. In both villages, the wetlands, streams and swamps, and the permanent pond landscapes, showed the higher species richness when compared to the others. According to the Chao2, Jacknife1 and ICE estimators, the inventory completeness of species, oscillated among 88% and 98% for the whole area. The dendrogram analysis based on the Jaccard similarity index, showed that wetlands, streams and swamps were grouped and well separated from grasslands. To guarantee ...

Los anfibios son representantes típicos y conspicuos de los ecosistemas de humedales neotropicales, tales como los Esteros del Iberá, su preservación está en íntima relación con la conservación de la biodiversidad. A pesar de la alta diversidad faunística presente en los Esteros del Iberá, poco se conoce de la composición y estructura de su fauna, lo que hace necesario incrementar y actualizar el conocimiento sobre estos aspectos. En el presente trabajo se describe y se compara la composición de la fauna de anuros de dos localidades (Paraje Galarza y Colonia Carlos Pellegrini) situadas en el borde oriental del Iberá. Entre enero 2007 y marzo 2008, en ambas localidades seleccionadas, se realizaron muestreos mediante las técnicas: Inventario Completo de especies y Relevamiento por Encuentro Visual (VES). De los 40 táxones de anfibios citados para los Esteros del Iberá, se hallaron 28 especies, lo que representó el 70% de las especies registradas para toda la Reserva. Scinax similis y Rhinella azarai constituyeron los primeros registros para los Esteros del Iberá. La completitud del inventario osciló entre el 88% y el 98%. La similitud en la composición específica de anuros fue relativamente alta entre las localidades estudiadas (Ij =0.64).