Marked host association and molecular evidence of limited transmission of ticks and fleas between sympatric wild foxes and rural dogs.

Wild and domestic carnivores share ectoparasites, although molecular evidence is lacking. The goals of this study were to describe tick and flea infestation in sympatric free-ranging dogs Canis lupus familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: Canidae) and Andean foxes Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) (Carnivora: Canidae) and to determine whether interspecific transmission occurs. Fleas and ticks retrieved from 79 foxes and 111 dogs in the human-dominated landscapes of central Chile were identified and a subset of specimens characterized by PCR and amplicon sequencing. Each ectoparasite species was clearly associated with a host: abundance and occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) and Ctenocephalides spp. (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) were significantly higher in dogs than in foxes, whereas the opposite was true for Amblyomma tigrinum (Koch, 1844) (Acari: Ixodidae) and Pulex irritans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Genetic analyses of a subset of ectoparasites revealed that dogs and foxes shared a limited number of nucleotide sequence types, suggesting that the interspecific transmission of these ectoparasites happens infrequently. Data also indicated that the ecological association and biological cycles of ticks and fleas determine the ectoparasite fauna of sympatric carnivores. In conclusion, our study shows that cross-species transmission should be assessed at a molecular level.

Comparing complications of small-bore chest tubes to large-bore chest tubes in the setting of delayed hemothorax: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have provided initial data suggesting that small-bore (SB, ≤ 14Fr) chest tubes have the same efficacy as large-bore (LB, > 14 Fr) chest tubes for acute hemothorax (HTX), but data continue to be lacking in the setting of delayed HTX. This study compared complications of SB chest tubes to LB tubes in patients with delayed HTX. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study across 7.5 yrs. at 6 Level 1 trauma centers. Patients were included if 1) diagnosed with a HTX or > 1 rib fracture with bloody effusion from chest tube; 2) initial chest tube placed ≥36 h of hospital admission. Patients were excluded for hemopneumothoraces. The primary endpoint was having at least one of the following chest tube complications: tube replacement, VATS, tube falling out, tube clogging, pneumonia, retained HTX, pleural empyema. Secondary outcomes included chest tube output volume and drainage rate. Dependent/independent and parametric/non-parametric analyses were used to assess primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: There were 160 SB patients (191 tubes) and 60 LB patients (72 tubes). Both comparison groups were similar in multiple demographic, injury, clinical features. The median (IQR) tube size for each group was as follows: SB [12 Fr (12-14)] and LB [32 Fr (28-32)]. The risk of having at least one chest tube complication was similar for LB and SB chest tubes (14% vs. 18%, p = 0.42). LB tubes had significantly larger risk of VATS, while SB tubes had significantly higher risk of pneumonia. SB tubes had significantly slower least squares (LS) mean initial output drainage rate compared to LB tubes (52.2 vs. 213.4 mL/hour, p < 0.001), but a non-parametric analysis suggested no significant difference in median drainage rates between groups 39.7 [23.5-242.0] mL/hr. vs. 38.6 [27.5-53.8], p = 0.81. LB and SB groups had similar initial output volume (738.0 mL vs. 810.9, p = 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: There was no clearly superior chest tube diameter size; both chest tube sizes demonstrated risks and benefits. Clinicians must be aware of these potential tradeoffs when deciding on the diameter of chest tube for the treatment of delayed HTXs.

Evaluation of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Leptospira spp. in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on Magdalena Island, Chile.

Toxoplasmosis has been reported in many avian species, but little information is available from wild penguin populations. Leptospira can infects domestic and wild animals. Spheniscus magellanicus belong to the order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae, and are colonial birds. These seabirds live in temperate waters along the Atlantic shores of South America, and their total population has been estimated to be 1,300,000 breeding pairs. Magdalena Island (Chile) hosts an important breeding colony but, over recent decades, a marked decline in the number of birds has been seen. The objective of this study was to determine occurrences of antibodies against T. gondii and Leptospira spp. in penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on Magdalena Island, from where no previous data on these agents were available. Serum samples were collected from 132 penguins on Magdalena Island. Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were detected using the modified agglutination test (Titer ≥20), and anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected using the microscopic agglutination test (Titer ≥100). T. gondii antibodies were detected in 57 (43.18%) of the 132 serum samples, with titers that ranged from 20 to 320. None of the penguins in this study was reactive to anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies. This is the first report of T. gondii seropositivity in free-living Magellanic penguins in Chile.

Porous Nanogold/Polyurethane Scaffolds with Improved Antibiofilm, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties and with Reduced Effects on Cell Viability: A Suitable Material for Soft Tissue Applications.

The use of implants carries on a series of problems, among them infections, poor biocompatibility, high levels of cytotoxicity, and significant mechanical differences between implants and host organs that promote stress shielding effects. These problems indicate that the materials used to make implants must meet essential requirements and high standards for implantations to be successful. In this work, we present the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the antibiofilm, mechanical, and thermal properties, and cytotoxic effect of a nanocomposite-based scaffold on polyurethane (PU) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for soft tissue applications. The effect of the quantity of AuNPs on the antibacterial activity of nanocomposite scaffolds was evaluated against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella spp., with a resulting 99.99% inhibition of both bacteria using a small quantity of nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with the T10 1/2 test against fibroblast cells. The results demonstrated that porous nanogold/PU scaffolds have no toxic effects on fibroblast cells to the 5 day exposition. With respect to mechanical properties, stress-strain curves showed that the compressive modulus and yield strength of PU scaffolds were significantly enhanced by AuNPs (by at least 10 times). This is due to changes in the arrangement of hard segments of PU, which increase the stiffness of the polymer. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation onset temperature rises with an increase in the quantity of AuNPs. These properties and characteristics demonstrate that porous nanogold/PU scaffolds are suitable material for use in soft tissue implants.

Ecological characterization of a tick community across a landscape gradient exhibiting differential anthropogenic disturbance in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion in Argentina.

An ecological analysis of a tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) community across a landscape gradient presenting differential anthropogenic disturbance in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion in Argentina was performed. Ticks were collected from vegetation and hosts between September 2014 and August 2016. A total of 12 697 free-living ticks and 3347 specimens from hosts were collected, including 317 ticks infesting humans. The values obtained show considerable species diversity in the forest environment accompanied by low equitability. The similarity index derived from a comparison of forest and agricultural environments was higher than that calculated by comparing forest and urban environments. The data suggest that although a cycle of one generation per year is apparent in some species, more than one cohort may co-exist within the populations of some of these species. Well-marked patterns of the seasonal distribution of free-living tick species emerged in environments with no anthropic modification. The results indicate that forest environments are more suitable habitats than agricultural and urban environments for many species of native tick, but are unsuitable for exotic species that have successfully established in environments that have been modified by man.

Comparative phylogeography of co-distributed Phrygilus species (Aves, Thraupidae) from the Central Andes.

The Neotropical ecoregion has been an important place of avian diversification where dispersal and allopatric events coupled with periods of active orogeny and climate change (Late Pliocene-Pleistocene) have shaped the biogeography of the region. In the Neotropics, avian population structure has been sculpted not only by geographical barriers, but also by non-allopatric factors such as natural selection and local adaptation. We analyzed the genetic variation of six co-distributed Phrygilus species from the Central Andes, based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers in conjunction with morphological differentiation. We examined if Phrygilus species share patterns of population structure and historical demography, and reviewed the intraspecific taxonomy in part of their geographic range. Our results showed different phylogeographic patterns between species, even among those belonging to the same phylogenetic clade. P. alaudinus, P. atriceps, and P. unicolor showed genetic differentiation mediated by allopatric mechanisms in response to specific geographic barriers; P. gayi showed sympatric lineages in northern Chile, while P. plebejus and P. fruticeti showed a single genetic group. We found no relationship between geographic range size and genetic structure. Additionally, a signature of expansion was found in three species related to the expansion of paleolakes in the Altiplano region and the drying phase of the Atacama Desert. Morphological analysis showed congruence with molecular data and intraspecific taxonomy in most species. While we detected genetic and phenotypic patterns that could be related to natural selection and local adaptation, our results indicate that allopatric events acted as a major factor in the population differentiation of Phrygilus species.

Philodryas chamissonis (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) preys on the arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Mammalia: Microbiotheria: Microbiotheriidae).

Philodryas chamissonis, the Chilean long-tailed snake, is a diurnal predator mainly of Liolaemus lizards, but also of amphibians, birds, rodents and juvenile rabbits. Dromiciops gliroides (Colocolo opossum) is an arboreal marsupial endemic of temperate rainforest of southern South America. Little information is available about this marsupial's biology and ecology. Here we report the predation of one Colocolo opossum by an adult female P. chamissonis in a mixed Nothofagus forest, composed mainly by N. dombeyi, N. glauca and N. alpina trees, in the "Huemules de Niblinto" National Reserve, Nevados de Chillán, Chile. Since these two species have different activity and habitat use patterns, we discuss how this encounter may have occurred. Although it could just have been an opportunistic event, this finding provides insights into the different components of food chains in forest ecosystems of Chile.

Philodryas chamissonis (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) preys on the arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Mammalia: Microbiotheria: Microbiotheriidae) / Philodryas chamissonis (Reptilia: Squamata: Dipsadidae) predando o marsupial arborícola Dromiciops gliroides (Mammalia: Microbiotheria: Microbiotheriidae)

Philodryas chamissonis, the Chilean long-tailed snake, is a diurnal predator mainly of Liolaemus lizards, but also of amphibians, birds, rodents and juvenile rabbits. Dromiciops gliroides (Colocolo opossum) is an arboreal marsupial endemic of temperate rainforest of southern South America. Little information is available about this marsupial's biology and ecology. Here we report the predation of one Colocolo opossum by an adult female P. chamissonis in a mixed Nothofagus forest, composed mainly by N. dombeyi, N. glauca and N. alpina trees, in the "Huemules de Niblinto" National Reserve, Nevados de Chillán, Chile. Since these two species have different activity and habitat use patterns, we discuss how this encounter may have occurred. Although it could just have been an opportunistic event, this finding provides insights into the different components of food chains in forest ecosystems of Chile.

Philodryas chamissonis, cobra de cauda comprida ("Culebra de cola larga"), é uma cobra diurna, predadora principalmente de lagartos do gênero Liolaemus, mas também de anfíbios, aves, roedores e coelhos jovens. Dromiciops gliroides (colocolo) é um marsupial arborícola endêmico das florestas temperadas do sul da América do Sul. Há pouca informação disponível sobre a biologia e a ecologia deste marsulpial. É reportada, neste estudo, a predação de um colocolo por uma fêmea adulta de P. chamissonis, em uma floresta mista de Nothofagus, composta principalmente por árvores N. dombeyi, N. glauca e N. alpina, na Reserva Nacional de Huemules de Niblinto, Nevados de Chillán, Chile. Uma vez que estas duas espécies possuem diferentes padrões de atividade e de uso de habitat, discute-se como este evento poder ter ocorrido. Embora este possa ter sido apenas um evento oportunístico, o achado fornece novas informações sobre os diferentes componentes da cadeia alimentar nos ecossistemas florestais do Chile.

[The genus Tunga Jarocki, 1838 (Siphonaptera: Tungidae). I: taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and pathogenicity]. / Le genre Tunga Jarocki, 1838 (Siphonaptera : Tungidae). I - Taxonomie, phylogénie, écologie, rôle pathogène.

This is the first review of the taxonomy and geographical range of the 12 known species of the genus Tunga. Their biology and pathogenic roles are considered, with particular emphasis on their phylogeny, chorology, phenology, sex-ratio, and dermecos.

[Description of Tunga bonneti n. sp. from Chile (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) with notes on specificity, chorology, dermecos and phenology]. / Description de Tunga bonneti n. sp. du Chili (Siphonaptera : Tungidae) et notes sur sa spécificité, sa chorologie, son dermecos et sa phénologie.

Smit (1968) misreported Tunga libis from Chile. Here we describe this flea as a new species. We analyzed free life females, male and embedded females. Moreover, we include data about its natural history and biology. These data will allow a better understanding about other Tunga fleas, and particularly for collecting males, which remain unknown to date.

Toward Perceiving Robots as Humans: Three Handshake Models Face the Turing-Like Handshake Test.

In the Turing test a computer model is deemed to "think intelligently" if it can generate answers that are indistinguishable from those of a human. We developed an analogous Turing-like handshake test to determine if a machine can produce similarly indistinguishable movements. The test is administered through a telerobotic system in which an interrogator holds a robotic stylus and interacts with another party - artificial or human with varying levels of noise. The interrogator is asked which party seems to be more human. Here, we compare the human-likeness levels of three different models for handshake: (1) Tit-for-Tat model, (2) λ model, and (3) Machine Learning model. The Tit-for-Tat and the Machine Learning models generated handshakes that were perceived as the most human-like among the three models that were tested. Combining the best aspects of each of the three models into a single robotic handshake algorithm might allow us to advance our understanding of the way the nervous system controls sensorimotor interactions and further improve the human-likeness of robotic handshakes.

[Two new species of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae & Rhopalopsyllidae) from Chile]. / Deux espèces nouvelles de puces (Siphonaptera : Ctenophthalmidae & Rhopalopsyllidae) du Chili.

Agastopsylla guzmani n. sp. (Ctenophthalmidae) and Delostichus degus n. sp. (Rhopalopsyllidae) are described. A key is proposed for the genus Agastopsylla; for the genus Delostichus, a brief comparison is made with D. incisus and D. ojedai described after the issue of the Catalogue of Smit (1987).

First report of paratuberculose in Southern Pudu deer (Artyodactila: Cervidae) / Primeiro caso de paratuberculose em veado pudu-do-sul (Artiodactila: Cervidae)

Descreve-se o primeiro caso de paratuberculose em veado pudu-do-sul (Pudu pudu). O animal foi encontrado na cidade de Concepción, centro sul do Chile, em péssimas condições e com sinais claros de diarréia. Internamente apresentava séria atrofia de gordura no coração, lesões histológicas nos pulmões, fígado, baço e rins, e injúrias intestinais. Diferentes amostras foram preparadas com Ziehl-Neelsen, e os linfonodos mesentéricos presentes no íleo foram fortemente positivos para a bactéria resistente ao ácido.

Community structure of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from two sympatric gull species: kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) and Franklin's gull (Larus pipixcan) in Talcahuano, Chile.

A total of 1,177 lice of four species were collected from 124 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and 137 lice of the same four species from 60 Franklin's gulls (Larus pipixcan). The louse Saemundssonia lari (O Fabricius) (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) was the most numerous on both gull species, with infestation rates of 4.9 on kelp gulls and 1.8 on Franklin's gulls. The second most abundant louse was Quadraceps punctatus (Burmeister), with a high infestation rate but low prevalence on kelp gulls; those parameters were much lower among lice from Franklin's gulls. The composition and community structure of the lice were similar on both host species, but not their infestation rates. In addition, the feather mite Zachvatkinia larica Mironov (Acari: Avenzoariidae) is recorded from kelp gulls and Franklin's gulls for the first time, while the gamasid mite Larinyssus sp. is recorded from kelp gulls, also for the first time. The population parameters of all species of ectoparasites are discussed.

Community structure of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from two sympatric gull species: kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) and Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan) in Talcahuano, Chile

A total of 1,177 lice of four species were collected from 124 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and 137 lice of the same four species from 60 Franklin's gulls (Larus pipixcan). The louse Saemundssonia lari (O Fabricius) (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) was the most numerous on both gull species, with infestation rates of 4.9 on kelp gulls and 1.8 on Franklin's gulls. The second most abundant louse was Quadraceps punctatus (Burmeister), with a high infestation rate but low prevalence on kelp gulls; those parameters were much lower among lice from Franklin's gulls. The composition and community structure of the lice were similar on both host species, but not their infestation rates. In addition, the feather mite Zachvatkinia larica Mironov (Acari: Avenzoariidae) is recorded from kelp gulls and Franklin's gulls for the first time, while the gamasid mite Larinyssus sp. is recorded from kelp gulls, also for the first time. The population parameters of all species of ectoparasites are discussed.

Afrontamiento primario con elásticos vasculares en el manejo del cierre progresivo de fasciotomías / Vessel loops for primary closure of fasciotomies

Background: Compartment syndrome of the extremity may occur after severe trauma with vascular lesions secondary to fractures, crushes or gunshots. To prevent it a fasciotomy must be done. Aim To report the use vessel loop shoelace technique for the progressive closure of the fasciotomy. Material and methods: Descnptive study of 24 patients aged 26 +/- 9 years (21 males) that required fasciotomy to prevent compartment syndromes. The fasciotomy wound was closed progressively using vessel loops anchored to the skin with staples or sutures, which were tightened progressively, according to the evolution. Results: The studied patients required a total of 56 fasciotomies. In all patients a complete or near complete closure of the wound was achieved. The mean closure time was 9.5 +/- 3.3 days. Mean hospital stay was 12.3 +/- 4.3 days. Conclusions: Vessel loop shoelace technique is effective for fasciotomy wound closure.

Frente al cada vez más frecuente manejo del trauma vascular en extremidades, debido a lesiones de distinta etiología, ya sea por accidentes de tránsito de alta velocidad, caídas de altura, o las crecientes tasas de lesiones en la vida civil por arma blanca y por arma de fuego, es que nos vemos enfrentados a múltiples tipos de lesiones vasculares que comprometen arterias y venas, asociados a extenso compromiso de partes blandas o a reintervenciones en períodos posteriores a las 6 hrs post trauma. De este modo es que el manejo asociado de la fasciotomía como método de prevención o tratamiento del síndrome compartamental es fundamental. Se presentan un total de 24 casos en los que se efectuaron 56 fasciotomías primarias o secundarias como profilaxis o tratamiento del síndrome compartamental, en las que se utilizaron elásticos vasculares para el cierre progresivo del defecto cutáneo de las fasciotomías, para disminuir el tiempo de evolución y así evitar el uso de injertos de piel en el cierre de los defectos.

[Description of Trochilopsylla torresmurai n. gen., n. sp. (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Chile, the first flea known to parasitize a humming bird (Aves: Trochilidae)]. / Description de Trochilopsylia torresmurai n. gen., n. sp. (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae) du Chiu, première mention d'une puce parasite d'oiseau-mouche (Aves : Trochiudae).

A new genus and a new species are described from fleas of occupied nest from humming bird, Oreotrichulus estella (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838). This taxa shows, in particular, some affinities with Dasypsyllus Baker, 1908, parasite on birds, cosmopolitan except in afrotropical and austral regions, and Smitipsylla Lewis, 1971, parasite on flying squirrels (Anomaluridae) in oriental region.

[Two new species of Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Chile]. / Deux nouvelles espèces de Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae) au Chili.

New taxa, known only by the male, are added to chilio-andean fauna. These fleas belong to sub-genus Neornipsyllus, parasites of Birds, essentially "Passeriforms". D. (N.) huinayensis sp. n. is, inter alia, characterized by the place of large setae on telomere; D. (N.) tapaculensis sp. n. show a tergit XI (or proctiger) unusual for the entire Order by the form and the chaetotaxy composed, essentially, of forked setae.