Diversity and molecular characterization of insect-specific flaviviruses in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in central and northern Argentina.

The genus Flavivirus comprises approximately 80 different viruses. Phylogenetic relationships among its members indicate a clear ecological separation between those viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, with no known vector, and insect-specific Flaviviruses. The diversity and phylogenetic relationships among insect-specific flaviviruses circulating in the central and northern regions of Argentina were studied by performing molecular detection and characterization of the NS5 protein gene in mosquitoes collected in Córdoba, Chaco and Tucumán provinces. Overall, 68 out of 1776 pools were positive. CxFV, KRV and CFAV circulate in the 3 studied provinces. Several mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Culex bidens, Cx. dolosus, Cx. interfor, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. saltanensis, Haemagogus spegazzini) were found infected. A wide circulation of CxFV was observed in the central-northern region of Argentina. CxFV strains detected in our study clustered with strains circulating in Santa Fe and Buenos Aires provinces (Argentina), and other countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Uganda and Taiwan. The presence of these viruses in mosquitoes could play an important role from the public health perspective, because it has been shown that previous CxFV infection can increase or block the infection of the mosquito by other pathogenic flaviviruses.

COVID-19 prediction of tendency for 2021 in northwestern Argentina. / Pronóstico de la tendencia de COVID-19 para 2021 en el noroeste de Argentina.

Using a lagged polynomial regression model, which used COVID-19 data from 2020 with no vaccines, the prediction of COVID-19 was performed in a scenario with vaccine administration for Tucumán in 2021. The modeling included the identification of a contagion breaking point between both series with the best correlation. Previously, the lag that served to obtain the smallest error between the expected and observed values was indicated by means of cross correlation. The validation of the model was carried out with real data. In 21 days, 18,640 COVID-19 cases out of 20,400 reported cases were predicted. The maximum peak of COVID-19 was estimated 21 days in advance with the expected intensity.

Usando un modelo de regresión polinomial con retraso, que empleó datos de COVID-19 de 2020 con ausencia de vacunas, se realizó la predicción de COVID-19 en un escenario con administración de vacunas para Tucumán en 2021. La modelación incluyó la identificación de un punto de quiebre de contagios entre ambas series con la mejor correlación. Previamente, se indicó por medio de correlación cruzada el lag que sirvió para obtener el menor error entre los valores esperados y los observados. La validación del modelo fue realizada con datos reales. En 21 días fueron predichos 18.640 casos de COVID-19 de 20.400 casos informados. El pico máximo de COVID-19 fue estimado 21 días antes con la intensidad esperada.

Pronóstico de la tendencia de COVID-19 para 2021 en el noroeste de Argentina / COVID-19 prediction of tendency for 2021 in northwestern Argentina

RESUMEN Usando un modelo de regresión polinomial con retraso, que empleó datos de COVID-19 de 2020 con ausencia de vacunas, se realizó la predicción de COVID-19 en un escenario con administración de vacunas para Tucumán en 2021. La modelación incluyó la identificación de un punto de quiebre de contagios entre ambas series con la mejor correlación. Previamente, se indicó por medio de correlación cruzada el lag que sirvió para obtener el menor error entre los valores esperados y los observados. La validación del modelo fue realizada con datos reales. En 21 días fueron predichos 18.640 casos de COVID-19 de 20.400 casos informados. El pico máximo de COVID-19 fue estimado 21 días antes con la intensidad esperada.

ABSTRACT: Using a lagged polynomial regression model, which used COVID-19 data from 2020 with no vaccines, the prediction of COVID-19 was performed in a scenario with vaccine administration for Tucumán in 2021. The modeling included the identification of a contagion breaking point between both series with the best correlation. Previously, the lag that served to obtain the smallest error between the expected and observed values was indicated by means of cross correlation. The validation of the model was carried out with real data. In 21 days, 18,640 COVID-19 cases out of 20,400 reported cases were predicted. The maximum peak of COVID-19 was estimated 21 days in advance with the expected intensity.

Prediction of the COVID-19 trend for 2021 in northwestern Argentina / COVID-19 prediction of tendency for 2021 in northwestern Argentina / Previsão da tendência COVID-19 para 2021 no noroeste da Argentina

Using a lagged polynomial regression model, which used COVID-19 data from 2020 with no vaccines, the prediction of COVID-19 was performed in a scenario with vaccine administration for Tucumán in 2021. The modeling included the identification of a contagion breaking point between both series with the best correlation. Previously, the lag that served to obtain the smallest error between the expected and observed values was indicated by means of cross correlation. The validation of the model was carried out with real data. In 21 days, 18,640 COVID-19 cases out of 20,400 reported cases were predicted. The maximum peak of COVID-19 was estimated 21 days in advance with the expected intensity.

Usando un modelo de regresión polinomial con retraso, que empleó datos de COVID-19 de 2020 con ausencia de vacunas, se realizó la predicción de COVID-19 en un escenario con administración de vacunas para Tucumán en 2021. La modelación incluyó la identificación de un punto de quiebre de contagios entre ambas series con la mejor correlación. Previamente, se indicó por medio de correlación cruzada el lag que sirvió para obtener el menor error entre los valores esperados y los observados. La validación del modelo fue realizada con datos reales. En 21 días fueron predichos 18.640 casos de COVID-19 de 20.400 casos informados. El pico máximo de COVID-19 fue estimado 21 días antes con la intensidad esperada.

First report of myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a diabetic foot ulcer patient in Argentina.

Myiasis is usually caused by flies of the Calliphoridae family, and Cochliomyia hominivorax is the etiological agent most frequently found in myiasis. The first case of myiasis in a diabetic foot of a 54-year-old male patient in Argentina is reported. The patient attended the hospital of the capital city of Tucumán Province for a consultation concerning an ulcer in his right foot, where the larval specimens were found. The identification of the immature larvae was based on their morphological characters, such as the cylindrical, segmented, white yellow-coloured body and tracheas with strong pigmentation. The larvae were removed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. The larvae were reared until the adults were obtained. The adults were identified by the setose basal vein in the upper surface of the wing, denuded lower surface of the wing, short and reduced palps, and parafrontalia with black hairs outside the front row of setae. The main factor that favoured the development of myiasis is due to diabetes, which caused a loss of sensibility in the limb that resulted in late consultation. Moreover, the poor personal hygiene attracted the flies, and the foul-smelling discharge from the wound favoured the female's oviposition. There is a need to implement a program for prevention of myiasis, in which the population is made aware not only of the importance of good personal hygiene and home sanitation but also of the degree of implication of flies in the occurrence and development of this disease.

Two new species and new records of biting midges of the genus Culicoides from northwestern Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The following two new species of Culicoides from the Argentinean Yungas are described, illustrated and placed to subgenus or species group and compared with related congeners: Culicoides calchaqui Spinelli & Veggiani Aybar and Culicoides willinki Spinelli & Veggiani Aybar. Culicoides daedaloides Wirth & Blanton is recorded for the first time for Argentina and Culicoides pseudoheliconiae Felippe-Bauer is firstly mentioned from the northwestern region of the country.

Two new species and new records of biting midges of the genus Culicoides from northwestern Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following two new species of Culicoides from the Argentinean Yungas are described, illustrated and placed to subgenus or species group and compared with related congeners: Culicoides calchaqui Spinelli & Veggiani Aybar and Culicoides willinki Spinelli & Veggiani Aybar. Culicoides daedaloides Wirth & Blanton is recorded for the first time for Argentina and Culicoides pseudoheliconiae Felippe-Bauer is firstly mentioned from the northwestern region of the country.

[Spatial distribution of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in the Yungas de Salta rainforest, Argentina]. / Distribución espacial de Anopheles pseudopunctipennis en las Yungas de Salta, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the abundance of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis and other anopheline mosquitoes in three different wild areas, modified by human activities, and to verify how environmental differences affect the spatial distribution of these mosquitoes. METHODS: Samples were collected monthly from December 2001 to December 2002 in Yungas de Salta, Argentina. CO2 -baited CDC light traps were placed at each sample site (forest, transition area and peridomiciliary area). In the peridomiciliary area, two agents also suctioned mosquitoes from house walls. Species diversity and abundance indices were estimated and the study sample sites were compared by ANOVA, cosine calculations and cluster analyses. RESULTS: Anopheles pseudopunctipennis was the most abundant species. An. argyritarsis, An. nuneztovari, An. rangeli and An. strodei were also collected. Except for An. nuneztovari that was not captured in the peridomiciliary area, the other species were collected in the three different environments. There were no differences in the diversity indices and between sample sites. However, the cluster analysis showed the transition area to be more abundant for all species. CONCLUSIONS: The highest abundance of species was found in the transition area, which, besides the peridomiciliary area, is the main area of risk for malarial transmission.

Distribución espacial de Anopheles pseudopunctipennis en las Yungas de Salta, Argentina / Spatial distribution of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in the Yungas de Salta rainforest, Argentina

OBJETIVO: Comparar la abundancia de Anopheles pseudopunctipennis, y otros anofelinos, en tres zonas silvestres y modificadas por el hombre, a fin de verificar en qué medida tales diferencias ambientales afectan la distribución espacial de estos mosquitos. MÉTODOS: Se realizaron muestreos mensuales (diciembre de 2001 a diciembre de 2002), con trampas de luz CDC con CO2, en cada sitio de muestreo (selva, borde de selva y peridomicilio). En el peridomicilio, además, dos operadores aspiraron mosquitos posados sobre las paredes. Se estimaron índices de diversidad y abundancia de especies, y se intentó caracterizar a los ambientes estudiados mediante ANOVA, cálculo de cosenos y análisis de agrupamientos. RESULTADOS: Anopheles pseudopunctipennis fue la especie más abundante. Se colectaron también An. argyritarsis, An. nuneztovari, An. rangeli y An. strodei. Excepto An. nuneztovari que no se capturó en el peridomicilio, las demás se colectaron en los tres ambientes. No hubo diferencias en los índices de diversidad, ni tampoco entre los ambientes estudiados; sin embargo, el análisis de agrupamiento separó el borde de la selva, donde todas las especies fueron más abundantes en general. CONCLUSIONES: El borde de la selva fue el ambiente que presentó la mayor abundancia, representando, además del peridomicilio, un ambiente de alto riesgo para la transmisión del paludismo.