Rodentolepis microstoma isolated from different species of Sigmodontinae rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the Cuenca del Plata, Argentina: Morphological aspects and molecular characterization.

The purpose of this paper was to study specimens of the genus Rodentolepis isolated from eight species of Sigmodontinae rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from six provinces in the Cuenca del Plata, Argentina, based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characteristics (ITS1 rDNA and cox1 mtDNA). The genetic distances among studied specimens and other Hymenolepididae from rodents available in the GenBank were analyzed and phylogenetic inferences were provided. A total of 955 specimens of Sigmodontinae rodents were examined from seven localities of six provinces in the Cuenca del Plata region in Argentina. Tapeworms were removed from the rodents' small intestines. Conventional studies were used for the morphological and molecular analysis. Specimens of R. microstoma were identified. An amended diagnosis and detailed morphological description of this species is provided. The molecular analyses showed that the specimens studied form the same clade as that of R. microstoma previously studied from other hosts and regions. The genetic polymorphisms of R. microstoma observed corresponded to different groups of species hosts and regions. Moreover, eight species of sigmodontine rodents and 33 localities from the Cuenca del Plata region in Argentina constitute new host and geographical records. This study shows the importance of using integrative taxonomic approaches that combine morphological and molecular characters to understand biological diversity. Moreover, the discovery of R. microstoma in humans suggests the importance of further studies on this zoonotic cestode. This study provides important data on the taxonomy and distribution of R. microstoma to advance knowledge of the transmission dynamics of this parasite.

Hymenolepidid cestodes: Diversity, morphological and molecular characterization of a new species, and phylogeny of parasitic species of rodents from North and South America.

Rodents are hosts of a wide diversity of cestodes. Fifteen genera included in the family Hymenolepididae parasitize rodents, and only four of these genera have been recorded from the Neotropical region. The purpose of this paper is to update species of Hymenolepididae from rodents, describe a new species of Hymenolepis based on morphological and molecular characterization (ITS1 rDNA and cox1 mtDNA), comparing the features among the species from North and South American rodents, and provide phylogenetic inferences of Hymenolepididae from rodents based on sequences available in the GenBank. Rodents were collected in the Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hymenolepis ivanovae n. sp. differs from other Hymenolepis species registered from North and South American rodents by body size, scolex, suckers, cirrus sac, cirrus, testes, and eggs, among others. Comparative morphometric data for Hymenolepis species from North and South American rodents is provided. Molecular analyses place H. ivanovae n. sp. within the genus Hymenolepis with strong support, and show it close to species of zoonotic importance. The new species is the first species of Hymenolepis described from Sigmodontinae rodents.

Percepción social sobre roedores urbanos y riesgo sanitario en barrios del Gran La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Social perception on urban rodents and sanitary risk in neighborhoods from Gran La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

NTRODUCCIÓN: Los roedores sinantrópicos, representados por el ratón doméstico (Mus musculus), la rata parda (Rattus norvegicus) y la rata negra (Rattus rattus), representan un riesgo importante para la salud. En Sudamérica, la fragmentación socioeconómica se refleja en marcadas diferencias entre centros urbanos y áreas periféricas, y se asocia a un registro heterogéneo. El objetivo fue relevar datos por encuestas a los habitantes de dos barrios del Gran La Plata con características contrastantes para explorar, describir y evaluar la percepción en relación con la presencia de roedores en domicilio, peridomicilio y barrio como vehículos de transmisión de enfermedades. MÉTODOS: A partir de un diseño descriptivo exploratorio, se confeccionaron y realizaron encuestas siguiendo la técnica de muestreo estratificado. Se consideraron las variables género y grupo, de tal manera que la muestra tuviese la misma distribución. La información se transfirió a una base de datos y se analizó a través de IBM SPSS Statistics V25. RESULTADOS: Existe una preocupación común respecto al rol de los roedores urbanos como reservorios y fuentes de infección de patologías zoonóticas. En el barrio más vulnerable, la presencia de roedores fue más frecuente que en el centro de la ciudad. DISCUSIÓN: Este estudio provee un abordaje diferente en relación con roedores y patologías asociadas, considerando la percepción social y revelando su importancia para los programas de manejo y control.

Digenean parasites of Sigmodontinae rodents from Argentina: a list of species, new host, and geographical records.

INTRODUCTION: Among Argentinean rodents, only one species of Muridae and seven of Cricetidae were reported as digenean hosts. Despite the available data, the taxonomic diversity of the Digenea from rodents has been little explored. An update on digeneans of Sigmodontinae rodents (Cricetidae-Muroidea) in Cuenca del Plata is provided. New host and geographical data are recorded and taxonomic and ecological data are summarized. METHODS: Rodents were collected from 11 localities in the region Cuenca del Plata, Argentina. Moreover, other unidentified specimens from four localities, deposited in the Colección de Helmintología del Museo de La Plata, were studied. Prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance are provided. RESULTS: Eight species of digeneans belonging to four families were identified. Twelve new geographical records for five provinces of Argentina are presented. In addition, six new host-parasite associations are reported. The information is presented in a taxonomic list for each digenean species: site of infection, host records, locality records, and comments. CONCLUSIONS: It becomes interesting to explore the diets and habits of each rodent species to understand the dispersal and transmission ability of each group of digeneans. This survey constitutes an update on digeneans of Sigmodontinae rodents in Cuenca del Plata, Argentina.

Condiciones y ambiente de trabajo en dos centros de acopio de materiales reciclables del Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires / Conditions and Environment of Work in Two Recycling Centers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las plantas de clasificación de residuos aparecen como una alternativa de inserción para los cartoneros. No obstante, se advierten falencias que producen efectos perjudiciales sobre la salud y el ambiente laboral de estos trabajadores no clásicos. OBJETIVOS: Describir el proceso, las condiciones y el medio ambiente de trabajo en centros de acopio y separación de reciclables en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA), evaluando las exigencias físicas y el riesgo sanitario. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en dos establecimientos del AMBA, uno en contexto urbano y el otro en descampado periurbano. Se efectuó trabajo de campo etnográfico con observación, entrevistas y dinámicas grupales con técnicas proyectivas y eutonía, en paralelo con muestreos biológicos. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron situaciones externas de riesgo y otras propias del trabajador definidas como exigencias. No se encontraron virus, aunque sí vectores de dengue y encefalitis San Luis. Existe circulación de parásitos con reservorio en roedores, perros y gatos. Se documentaron otros riesgos asociados a residuos industriales, deficiente provisión de agua e incendio. Se registró sobrecarga sobre los trabajadores varones. CONCLUSIONES: Se sugiere vigilancia sanitaria en perros, gatos, roedores e insectos, así como muestreo aleatorio de materiales ingresados. Para reducir exigencias se indica rotación entre puestos y uso de máquinas simples.

INTRODUCTION: Recycling centers appear as an alternative for the employability of informal garbage collectors. However, there are deficiencies producing harmful effects on human health and the labor environment of these non-conventional workers. OBJECTIVES: To describe the process, conditions and environment of work of recycling centers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (MABA), evaluating physical demands and health risk. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in two recycling facilities located in the MABA, one in an urban setting and the other one in a peri-urban area. Ethnographic fieldwork was carried out with observation, interviews and group dynamics with projective techniques and eutony, in parallel with biological sampling. RESULTS: External risk situations were identified, along with other worker-related factors defined as demands. No viruses were found, although there are vectors of dengue and Saint Louis encephalitis. There is also circulation of parasites with reservoir in rodents, dogs and cats. Other risks associated with industrial waste, poor water supply and fire were documented. There was an overload on male workers. CONCLUSIONS: Sanitary surveillance is suggested in dogs, cats, rodents and insects, as well as random sampling of incoming materials. Job rotation and use of simple machines are indicated to reduce demands.

A new species of Moniliformis from a Sigmodontinae rodent in Patagonia (Argentina).

The majority of species of Acanthocephala known thus far from South America have been recorded mostly in fish and wild birds. In particular, rodents in Argentina have been poorly studied for acanthocephalans. The genus Abrothrix (Sigmodontinae-Cricetidae) ranges from the Altiplano of southern Peru through the highlands of Bolivia, northern Chile, and Argentina south through Tierra del Fuego. The purpose of this paper was to study Acanthocephala species parasitizing different populations of Abrothrix from Santa Cruz province (Patagonia Argentina). Specimens of Acanthocephala were found in the small intestine of Abrothrix olivaceus, showing values of P 14.7%, IM = 2.8, and AM = 0.41. All the rodents parasitized were collected in Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz, Argentina. The specimens of Abrothrix longipilis were not parasitized. Moniliformis amini n. sp. is described with features such as the long, cylindrical, and pseudo-segmented body; proboscis receptacle double walled, outer wall with muscle fibers usually arranged spirally, and a combination of several morphometric characters, mainly the very small size of the proboscis receptacle and length of the testes and lemnisci. A marked proportion of arthropods was found in the diet of A. olivaceus, characterizing it as arthropodivorous. Possibly, a larger sampling effort and specific projects dealing with the study of acanthocephalans will shed light on several questions of the rodent-Moniliformis relationship.

Condiciones y ambiente de trabajo en dos centros de acopio de materiales reciclables del Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires / Conditions and Environment of Work in Two Recycling Centers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las plantas de clasificación de residuos aparecen como una alternativa de inserción para los cartoneros. No obstante, se advierten falencias que producen efectos perjudiciales sobre la salud y el ambiente laboral de estos trabajadores no clásicos. OBJETIVOS: Describir el proceso, las condiciones y el medio ambiente de trabajo en centros de acopio y separación de reciclables en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA), evaluando las exigencias físicas y el riesgo sanitario. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en dos establecimientos del AMBA, uno en contexto urbano y el otro en descampado periurbano. Se efectuó trabajo de campo etnográfico con observación, entrevistas y dinámicas grupales con técnicas proyectivas y eutonía, en paralelo con muestreos biológicos. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron situaciones externas de riesgo y otras propias del trabajador definidas como exigencias. No se encontraron virus, aunque sí vectores de dengue y encefalitis San Luis. Existe circulación de parásitos con reservorio en roedores, perros y gatos. Se documentaron otros riesgos asociados a residuos industriales, deficiente provisión de agua e incendio. Se registró sobrecarga sobre los trabajadores varones. CONCLUSIONES: Se sugiere vigilancia sanitaria en perros, gatos, roedores e insectos, así como muestreo aleatorio de materiales ingresados. Para reducir exigencias se indica rotación entre puestos y uso de máquinas simples