RESUMO
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). One of the primary vectors of T. cruzi in South America is Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834). This triatomine species is distributed across a huge latitudinal gradient, inhabiting domiciliary , peridomiciliary , and wild environments. Its wide geographic distribution provides an excellent opportunity to study the relationships between environmental gradients and intraspecific morphological variation. In this study, we investigated variations in wing size and shape in T. infestans across six ecoregions. We aimed to address the following questions: How do wing size and shape vary on a regional scale, does morphological variation follow specific patterns along an environmental or latitudinal gradient, and what environmental factors might contribute to wing variation? Geometric morphometric methods were applied to the wings of 162 females belonging to 21 T. infestans populations, 13 from Argentina (nâ¯=â¯105), 5 from Bolivia (nâ¯=â¯42), and 3 from Paraguay (nâ¯=â¯15). A comparison of wing centroid size across the 21 populations showed significant differences. Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) revealed significant differences in wing shape between the populations from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, although there was a considerable overlap, especially among the Argentinian populations. Well-structured populations were observed for the Bolivian and Paraguayan groups. Two analyses were performed to assess the association between wing size and shape, geographic and climatic variables: multiple linear regression analysis (MRA) for size and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression for shape. The MRA showed a significant general model fit. Six temperature-related variables, one precipitation-related variable, and the latitude showed significant associations with wing size. The PLS analysis revealed a significant correlation between wing shape with latitude, longitude, temperature-related, and rainfall-related variables. Wing size and shape in T. infestans populations varied across geographic distribution. Our findings demonstrate that geographic and climatic variables significantly influence T. infestans wing morphology.
RESUMO
La aplasia cutis congénita (ACC) se define como la ausencia congénita parcial o total de piel que puede presentarse en forma aislada o asociada a otras anomalías o síndromes. Se clasifica en nueve grupos de acuerdo al sitio anatómico donde asienta, a la configuración que adopta, a las anomalías asociadas y etiologías probables. Presentamos un recién nacido, pretérmino extremo, con una ulceración de gran extensión, de forma estelar ubicada en la región lumbosacra. El estudio anatomopatológico de la placenta informó microinfartos isquémicos múltiples. Habiendo descartado otras causas (farmacológicas, hereditarias, tóxicas e infecciosas) así como la ausencia de anomalías del desarrollo, se llegó al diagnóstico de ACC grupo 5, relacionada con microinfartos placentarios. La ACC es una patología poco frecuente y la importancia de su diagnóstico radica en descartar anomalías del desarrollo u otras asociaciones subyacentes.
Congenital aplasia cutis (CAC) is the complete or partial absence of skin that might present alone or associated with others abnormalities or syndromes. It is classified in nine groups, according to the anatomic site where it settles, the lesions appearance, the presence or absence of associated malformations and the probable aetiology. We present an extremely preterm new born with extensive and stellate ulceration, located in the lumbosacral area. The placenta histological findings revealed multiple ischemic infarcts. After ruling out pharmacologic, toxic, infectious causes, or family history, and without evidence of malformation syndromes, we arrived to the diagnose group 5 CAC, associated with placental microinfarctions. Aplasia cutis is a rare clinical finding and it is important to make the correct diagnosis due to the possible associated abnormalities and syndromes than we can found.
