Ciliate protozoa of the forestomach of llamas (Lama glama) from locations at different altitude in Argentina.

This study describes the diversity and concentration of the protozoal population from the forestomach of llamas in Argentina at three altitudinal locations. Protozoal diversity was studied in samples from eight llamas from Hurlingham (Buenos Aires, 43 m altitude), four from Tilcara (Jujuy, 2465 m altitude) and six llamas from Cieneguillas (Jujuy, 3800 m altitude). The total concentrations of protozoa in the forestomach contents were 7.9, 9.1 and 4.1 cells x 104 ml-1 in Hurlingham, Tilcara and Cieneguillas, respectively (P>0.05). Entodinium spp. represented 97.9, 92.3 and 71.4% of the protozoal community in Hurlingham, Tilcara and Cieneguillas, respectively, and the remaining protozoa belonged to the Eudiplodinium genus. Entodinium spp. were identified as E. caudatum (mostly morphotype dubardi), E. longinucleatum, E. parvum, E. bovis, E. exiguum, E. dubardi, and a minor presence of E. bimastus (in three animals) and E. ovibos (in one animal). In regards to the rest of protozoal species, Eudiplodinium maggii is the first reported host record for the genus in llamas. This species was present in the forestomach of 14 out of 18 llamas tested, and in one case it was the unique protozoal species. The vestibuliferids, Dasytricha and Isotricha were absent from the forestomach of llamas. Similarly, other species such as those from the Caloscolex genus, Diplodinium cameli and Entodinium ovumrajae, commonly found in Old World Camelids, were also absent from llamas.

Anemia en el paciente crítico y el rol de la hepcidina: entendiendo los nuevos conceptos sobre la interacción entre lesión, inflamación y anemia / Anemia in critically ill patient: role of hepcidin

La anemia es un trastorno multifactorial común en el paciente crítico, en que influyen hemodilución, aumento de pérdidas sanguíneas, inflamación y déficit de hierro, a través de una homeostasis patológica de hierro, con producción alterada de eritropoyetina y alteración de la eritropoyesis. Durante la inflamación los elevados niveles de hepcidina se correlacionan con la disminución del hierro disponible para la eritropoyesis quedando almacenado en depósitos principalmente en los macrófagos tisulares. Por el contrario cuando los niveles de hepcidina son bajos, el hierro se vuelve disponible para la eritropoyesis. La hepcidina sería un factor clave tanto en la homeostasis del hierro como en la eritropoyesis, sin embargo, nuestro conocimiento de su comportamiento en el trauma, la sepsis y otras condiciones críticas, es todavía limitado. Recientes estudios han venido a ampliar nuestra comprensión del rol de la hepcidina durante la sepsis o el síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica (SIRS). Los ensayos de hepcidina en plasma u orina aún no están ampliamente disponibles y es deseable que haya muy pronto un desarrollo permanente y una validación clínica de estos ensayos. Adicionalmente, la introducción de agonistas y antagonistas farmacológicos de la hepcidina pudieran mejorar las terapias corrientes de los desórdenes del hierro. Resumimos en este artículo información actual sobre la anemia en el paciente crítico y discutimos los avances recientes.

Anemia is a common multifactorial disorder in critically ill patients, which hemodilution influence, increased blood loss, swelling and deficit iron through a pathological iron homeostasis, with production erythropoietin altered and impaired erythropoiesis. During the inflammation high hepcidin levels correlate with decrease the iron available for erythropoiesis being stored in deposits primarily in tissue macrophages. On the contrary when hepcidin levels are low iron becomes available for erythropoiesis. Hepcidin would be a key factor in both the homeostasis as iron in erythropoiesis, however, our knowledge of behavior intrauma, sepsis and other critical conditions, is still limited. Recent studies have expanded our understanding the role of hepcidin during sepsis or response syndrome systemic inflammation (SIRS). Trials of hepcidin in plasma or urine even are not widely available and it is desirable to development and clinical validation of these tests has been published assoon is possible. Additionally, the introduction of pharmacological agonists and antagonists hepcidin could improve current therapies for disorders iron. This article summarized current information on anemia in critically ill patient and discuss recent developments.