Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the dorsal skin of hamsters: a useful model for the screening of antileishmanial drugs.

Traditionally, hamsters are experimentally inoculated in the snout or the footpad. However in these sites an ulcer not always occurs, measurement of lesion size is a hard procedure and animals show difficulty to eat, breathe and move because of the lesion. In order to optimize the hamster model for cutaneous leishmaniasis, young adult male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were injected intradermally at the dorsal skin with 1 to 1.5 x l0(7) promastigotes of Leishmania species and progression of subsequent lesions were evaluated for up to 16 weeks post infection. The golden hamster was selected because it is considered the adequate bio-model to evaluate drugs against Leishmania as they are susceptible to infection by different species. Cutaneous infection of hamsters results in chronic but controlled lesions, and a clinical evolution with signs similar to those observed in humans. Therefore, the establishment of the extent of infection by measuring the size of the lesion according to the area of indurations and ulcers is feasible. This approach has proven its versatility and easy management during inoculation, follow up and characterization of typical lesions (ulcers), application of treatments through different ways and obtaining of clinical samples after different treatments. By using this method the quality of animal life regarding locomotion, search for food and water, play and social activities is also preserved.

An epidemic outbreak of canine cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia caused by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania panamensis.

The largest recorded outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia's history occurred during 2005-2009 in soldiers of the Colombian Army, with ~40,000 cases. This outbreak was caused by the influx of military personnel into the jungle with the mission of combat illicit crops and the guerrilla. The soldiers remain for long periods within the rainforest and are exposed to the bite of infected sand flies. During the military activities, soldiers work with dogs specially trained to detect landmines, and therefore, dogs are also exposed to the infected sand flies and show high incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). This work describes an epidemic outbreak of canine CL caused by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania panamensis in Colombia, South America. The clinical features of the disease and the response to treatment with pentavalent antimonials observed in 72 guard dogs from the Colombian Army are described. A program for prevention and control of canine CL is also discussed.

Algunos aspectos biológicos y del manejo en cautiverio de la Sabaleta Brycon henni Eigenmann, 1913 (Pisces: Characidae) / Some biological and culture aspects of sabaleta (Brycon henni Eigenmann, 1913)

La sabaleta Brycon henni (Eigenmann, 1913) es un Charácido endémico de Colombia, habita en las cuencas de los ríos Magdalena, San Juan, Dagua y Patía, es catalogada como una especie promisoriapara la cría en cautiverio, y para el repoblamiento. Esta especie es importante para la seguridad alimentaría de las poblaciones ribereñas de las zonas que habita. Esta revisión tuvo como objetivo mostrar la información más relevante acerca de la morfología, la distribución, los hábitos alimenticios, la reproducción, el mantenimiento en cautiverio, la citogenética, la ecotoxicología y la diversidad genética de las poblaciones de la sabaleta; se evidencia la carencia de información en aspectos de su biología y cultivo. Se sugieren tópicos fundamentales para la creación de un paquete tecnológico eficaz de cultivo y manejo pesquero de la especie.

Comportamiento durante el calor y dinámica folicular interestral en vacas BON (Blanco Orejinegro) / Characterization of the behavior during the oestrus and follicular dynamics during the oestrus cycle in BON cattle (Colombian criollo)

El ganado criollo BON ha sido categorizado como vulnerable y se ha recomendado su propagación a través de procedimientos biotecnológicos, lo que requiere, en principio, conocer su fisiología reproductiva. El objetivo del presente trabajo es contribuir a dicha meta mediante la caracterización del comportamiento folicular ovárico durante el ciclo estral. A siete vacas horras, ciclando regularmente, con condición corporal entre 3 y 3.5, y con 2 a 7 partos, pastoreando Estrella (Cynodon nlemfuensis), Brachiaria decumbens y gramas nativas del género Paspalum, se les practicó seguimiento ultrasonográfico diariamente durante dos ciclos estrales. La detección de calores se realizó mediante tres observaciones diarias, cada una de 30 minutos (7 am, 2 pm y 5 pm). Se detectaron cohortes de folículos a partir de 3 mm, con tasas de crecimiento (TC) de 0.04 mm/día hasta la divergencia; a partir de ese momento la TC de los folículos subordinados fue de 1.1 y la del dominante de 2.1 mm/día; el diámetro de éste último folículo osciló entre 10 y 23 mm y el del folículo ovulatorio varió entre 13.5 mm y 17.6 mm. El intervalo entre ovulaciones fue de 23 a 25 días con tres a cuatro ondas foliculares y dominancias de 3-6 días.