ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has become the most devastating zoonotic event in recent times, with negative impacts on both human and animal welfare as well as on the global economy. Although SARS-CoV-2 is considered a human virus, it likely emerged from animals, and it can infect both domestic and wild animals. This constitutes a risk for human and animal health including wildlife with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 horizontal transmission back and forth between humans and wild animals. AIM: Molecular surveillance in different wildlife rehabilitation centers and wildlife associated institutions in Chile, which are critical points of animal-human interaction and wildlife conservation, especially since the aim of wildlife rehabilitation centers is to reintroduce animals to their original habitat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted in six WRCs and three wildlife associated institutions. A total of 185 samples were obtained from 83 individuals belonging to 15 different species, including vulnerable and endangered species. Each specimen was sampled with two different swabs: one oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal according to the nostril diameter, and/or a second rectal sample. RNA was extracted from the samples and two different molecular assays were performed: first, a conventional RT-PCR with pan-coronavirus primers and a second SARS-CoV-2 qPCR targeting the N and S genes. RESULTS: All 185 samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study constitutes the first report on the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 from wildlife treated in rehabilitation centers in Chile, and supports the biosafety procedures adopted in those centers.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Animals , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/veterinary , Animals, Wild , Pandemics , COVID-19 Testing/veterinaryABSTRACT
The composition and contribution of different host species in the dynamics of vector-borne zoonotic parasites are particularly relevant for public health. Hence, the study of host selection by vectors is fundamental. Developmental stage and infection status are factors that may modulate vector feeding behavior. In the semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem of South America, the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causing Chagas disease, includes the triatomine vector Mepraia spinolai and several vertebrate species. In this field study, we examined whether M. spinolai exhibits an opportunistic feeding behavior dependent upon developmental stage and/or infection status. We found that M. spinolai does not feed according to the relative availability of vertebrate species. In addition, early stage nymphs (first/second instars) fed on twice as many different species as middle (third/fourth instars) and late (fifth instars and adults) M. spinolai, with the former feeding on native rodents and lizards and the latter mostly on rabbits. Infected and uninfected M. spinolai showed similar feeding profiles. Wild triatomine species might be described as stage-dependent selective blood feeders, as a consequence of the temporal and spatial scale at which host-vector interactions occur, highlighting that all developmental stages might be infected and capable of transmitting T. cruzi.
Subject(s)
Chagas Disease , Trypanosoma cruzi , Animals , Rabbits , Ecosystem , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
Hematophagous insects exhibit complex behaviour when searching for blood-meals, responding to several host stimuli. The hematophagous insect Mepraia spinolai is a wild vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease in humans, in the semiarid-Mediterranean ecosystem of Chile. In this study, we evaluated the association between the approaching behaviour to a human host, with T. cruzi infection status and nutritional condition of M. spinolai. To this end, we captured 501 individuals in six consecutive 10 min-timespan, using a human as bait. Captured vectors were weighed, photographed and measured to calculate their nutritional status by means of a Standardized Body Mass Index. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was assessed in the intestinal content by using a real-time PCR assay. Ordinal logistic regressions were performed separately for infected and uninfected groups to evaluate if the nutritional status was associated with the approaching behaviour to a human host, recorded as the time-span of capture. Nutritional status of uninfected triatomines was higher than that from infected ones (p < 0.005). Among the infected, those with higher nutritional status approached first (p < 0.01); there was no effect of nutritional status in the uninfected group. Trypanosoma cruzi infection might affect the foraging behaviour of M. spinolai under natural conditions, probably deteriorating nutritional status and/or altering vector detection abilities.
Subject(s)
Insect Vectors/parasitology , Nutritional Status , Triatominae/parasitology , Trypanosoma cruzi/pathogenicity , Animals , Chagas Disease/transmission , Host-Parasite Interactions , Humans , Logistic Models , Triatominae/metabolismABSTRACT
Analisa-se a relação entre a cultura trabalho-família existente numa empresa de serviços financeiros e o compromisso organizacional dos empregados, controlando-se variáveis sociodemográficas. A 219 trabalhadores técnicos e profissionais entre 19 e 64 anos, pertencentes a 16 sucursais localizadas na região do Maule (Chile), foram aplicados três instrumentos de medida das variáveis referidas. Observa-se uma relação significativa entre as variáveis constitutivas da dimensão cultura trabalho-família e o compromisso organizacional, estando a cultura fortemente associada a este (r = 0,483, p=0,05). Observou-se que quanto mais apoio diretivo da empresa é percebido por parte dos trabalhadores, maior é o compromisso destes com aquela e, particularmente, seu compromisso dos tipos normativo (r =0,417; p>0,000) e afetivo (r=0,347; p>0,000).
It is analyzed the relationship between work-family culture with the organizational commitment of employees, controlling sociodemographical variables. 219 technical workers and professionals, between 19 and 64 years old, from a financial services company located in the region of Maule ( Chile ) , responded three instruments of measurement. There was a significant relationship between work-family culture variables and organizational commitment, where the culture appears strongly associated to the commitment (r = 0,483, p = 0.05). While most executive support from the company is perceived by workers, the greater the commitment to them with company, particularly with its normative (r =0,417, p< 0,000) and affective commitment (r = 0,347, p < 0,000).
Se analiza la relación entre la cultura trabajo-familia existente en una empresa de servicios financieros y el compromiso organizacional en los empleados, controlando variables sociodemográficas. A 219 trabajadores técnicos y profesionales entre 19 y 64 años, pertenecientes a 16 sucursales ubicadas en la región del Maule (Chile) les fueron aplicados tres instrumentos de medición de las variables referidas. Se observa una relación significativa entre las variables constitutivas de la dimensión cultura trabajo-familia y el compromiso organizacional donde la cultura está fuertemente asociada a éste (r = 0,483, p = 0,05), Se registra que mientras más apoyo directivo desde la empresa es percibido por parte de los trabajadores mayor es el compromiso de éstos con aquélla y, particularmente, con su compromiso de tipos normativo (r = 0,417; p>0,000) y afectivo (r = 0,347; p>0,000).
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Young Adult , Middle Aged , Family , WorkABSTRACT
Analisa-se a relação entre a cultura trabalho-família existente numa empresa de serviços financeiros e o compromisso organizacional dos empregados, controlando-se variáveis sociodemográficas. A 219 trabalhadores técnicos e profissionais entre 19 e 64 anos, pertencentes a 16 sucursais localizadas na região do Maule (Chile), foram aplicados três instrumentos de medida das variáveis referidas. Observa-se uma relação significativa entre as variáveis constitutivas da dimensão cultura trabalho-família e o compromisso organizacional, estando a cultura fortemente associada a este (r = 0,483, p=0,05). Observou-se que quanto mais apoio diretivo da empresa é percebido por parte dos trabalhadores, maior é o compromisso destes com aquela e, particularmente, seu compromisso dos tipos normativo (r =0,417; p>0,000) e afetivo (r=0,347; p>0,000).(AU)
It is analyzed the relationship between work-family culture with the organizational commitment of employees, controlling sociodemographical variables. 219 technical workers and professionals, between 19 and 64 years old, from a financial services company located in the region of Maule ( Chile ) , responded three instruments of measurement. There was a significant relationship between work-family culture variables and organizational commitment, where the culture appears strongly associated to the commitment (r = 0,483, p = 0.05). While most executive support from the company is perceived by workers, the greater the commitment to them with company, particularly with its normative (r =0,417, p< 0,000) and affective commitment (r = 0,347, p < 0,000).(AU)
Se analiza la relación entre la cultura trabajo-familia existente en una empresa de servicios financieros y el compromiso organizacional en los empleados, controlando variables sociodemográficas. A 219 trabajadores técnicos y profesionales entre 19 y 64 años, pertenecientes a 16 sucursales ubicadas en la región del Maule (Chile) les fueron aplicados tres instrumentos de medición de las variables referidas. Se observa una relación significativa entre las variables constitutivas de la dimensión cultura trabajo-familia y el compromiso organizacional donde la cultura está fuertemente asociada a éste (r = 0,483, p = 0,05), Se registra que mientras más apoyo directivo desde la empresa es percibido por parte de los trabajadores mayor es el compromiso de éstos con aquélla y, particularmente, con su compromiso de tipos normativo (r = 0,417; p>0,000) y afectivo (r = 0,347; p>0,000).(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Work , FamilyABSTRACT
Peripheral vascular disease is a disorder fifficult to treat. Due to the lack of an effective pharmacological therapy, the ischemia of an effective pharmacological therapy, the ischemia of the lower limbs pursues a relentless course, ending many times in the amputation...The authors present in this study a 6 years experience with this management, and recently the effects of an experimental model of peripheral vascular disease in rabbits is evaluated. The results obtained in this study are important because they could attribute to he trnasitority of the genetic expression the contradictory results founded in clinical assays of peripheral vascular disease
Subject(s)
Rabbits , Angiogenesis Inducing Agents , Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/therapeutic use , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/diagnosis , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/therapy , Myocardial Ischemia/therapy , Muscle, Skeletal , Myocardial IschemiaABSTRACT
Peripheral vascular disease is a disorder fifficult to treat. Due to the lack of an effective pharmacological therapy, the ischemia of an effective pharmacological therapy, the ischemia of the lower limbs pursues a relentless course, ending many times in the amputation...The authors present in this study a 6 years experience with this management, and recently the effects of an experimental model of peripheral vascular disease in rabbits is evaluated. The results obtained in this study are important because they could attribute to he trnasitority of the genetic expression the contradictory results founded in clinical assays of peripheral vascular disease
Subject(s)
Rabbits , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/diagnosis , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/therapy , Angiogenesis Inducing Agents , Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/therapeutic use , Muscle, Skeletal , Myocardial Ischemia , Myocardial Ischemia/therapyABSTRACT
Recent experiences demonstrate that erythropoietin (EPO) reduces infarct extension in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in small rodents, mainly by an anti-apoptotic mechanism, and these facts encourages the possibility that EPO induces the reduction of the necrotic mass after AMI and promotes beneficial remodeling, thus EPO protects myocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis
Subject(s)
Rats , Rabbits , Apoptosis , Erythropoietin , Hypoxia , Myocardial Infarction , CardiologyABSTRACT
Recent experiences demonstrate that erythropoietin (EPO) reduces infarct extension in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in small rodents, mainly by an anti-apoptotic mechanism, and these facts encourages the possibility that EPO induces the reduction of the necrotic mass after AMI and promotes beneficial remodeling, thus EPO protects myocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis
