Is Szidat, 1973 (Digenea: Haploporidae) a valid species? Genetic and morphological studies of this controversial species.

is a genus within the family Haploporidae and is distributed throughout the Americas. The recent application of molecular techniques has facilitated the reorganization of this genus and the description of new species, resulting in a current total of 28 species. In Argentina, 11 species have been identified; however, the validity of and remains controversial.

Hippocrepis fuelleborni (Digenea: Notocotylidae) from Argentina, morphological, molecular and phylogenetic studies.

Notocotylidae is a family with a cosmopolitan distribution, with 13 genera parasitizing birds and mammals. Four of these genera were registered in the Americas, and two parasitizing rodents in Argentina. In this paper, specimens of the genus Hippocrepis parasitizing Holochilus brasiliensis from Argentina are studied on the basis of morphological and molecular characteristics.

Morphological and genetic analysis of a rediscovered sp. parasitising and (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae).

Clinostomids are a group of digeneans in which substantial diversity has been recently discovered, with some metacercariae specific to their fish hosts. Genetic analysis has been instrumental in elucidating species diversity within this genus. Recently, seven COI lineages were reported in Argentina, along with three metacercarial morphotypes lacking molecular data.

MOLECULAR AND NEW MORPHOLOGICAL DATA ON NEMATODE HEDRURIS DRATINI FOUND PARASITIZING PSEUDIS MINUTA (ANURA: HYLIDAE).

Hedruris has a worldwide distribution, parasitizing lampreys, fishes, frogs, and lizards. In South America, 4 species have been reported on frogs (Hedruris heyeri, Hedruris juninensis, Hedruris moniezi, and Hedruris mucronifer), 3 on fishes (Hedruris basilichtensis, Hedruris orestiae, and Hedruris suttonae), and 1 on turtles (Hedruris dratini). We examined a frog (Pseudis minuta) found dead in the Pescado stream, Argentina, searching for parasites.

Phylogenetic position of the Neotropical Family Zonocotylidae (Paramphistomoidea) using partial 28S rDNA sequences.

Six families belonging to the Paramphistomoidea superfamily have been reported in South America, with only Zonocotylidae and Balanorchiidae being endemic. The Zonocotylidae was initially classified as Aspidogastrea and then as a paramphistomoid. This family comprises a single genus, , with two species.

sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing (Crustacea: Isopoda) in Argentina.

The Mermithidae is a family of nematodes parasitic in many kinds of insects, spiders, leeches, crustaceans and other invertebrates throughout the world. While conducting an assay with entomopathogenic nematodes, we found (Crustacea: Isopoda) individuals to be infected with sp., marking the fourth known discovery of a mermithid infection in the order Isopoda.

Description of n. g. and n. sp. (Digenea: Alloglossidiidae) through an integrative taxonomy approach, with an amended diagnosis of the family.

This paper describes n. g., n.

Molecular phylogenetic relationship between Philometroides tahieli (Nematoda, Philometridae) and other philometrids from South America.

In South America, the family Philometridae is represented by several genera and species. In particular, Philometra and Philometroides are the most speciose genera. In Argentina, only Philometroides tahieli has been reported so far.

Broadening the spectrum of ivermectin: Its effect on and related trypanosomatids.

Chagas disease is an endemic American parasitosis, caused by . The current therapies, benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox (NFX), show limited efficacy and multiple side effects. Thus, there is a need to develop new trypanocidal strategies.

A new wild strain of Caenorhabditis elegans associated with Allograpta exotica (Syrphidae) in Argentina: an update of its ecological niche and worldwide distribution.

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode, belonging to the bacterivorous trophic group. Although it was cited in several countries, in different types of ecosystems and in associations with other organisms, the wild habitats of this nematode have not yet been precisely defined. In Argentina, C.

Molecular evidence supports the validity of three Parabrachiella species infecting mugilids.

The parasitic copepod genus Parabrachiella is composed of 70 species, 14 of which are found in South America. The finding of new specimens of Parabrachiella mugilis from Turkey allowed us to compare the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of this species with those of the South American Parabrachiella exilis and Parabrachiella platensis; all these species are parasites of mugilids. In addition, specimens of Parabrachiella fasciata, Parabrachiella oralis and Parabrachiella dispar from Chile, and Parabrachiella chevreuxi from Argentina were included in the comparison.

Ecology of fleas and their hosts in the trifinio of north-east Argentina: first detection of Rickettsia asembonensis in Ctenocephalides felis felis in Argentina.

Fleas are important in public health due to their role as parasites and vectors of pathogens, including Rickettsia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity, abundance and prevalence of fleas and the presence of Rickettsia in the trifinio of north-east Argentina. Fleas from household and synanthropic animals were obtained from urban and periurban areas.

Detection of Flaviviral-Like DNA Sequences in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected From Argentina.

Diseases caused by flaviviruses are a major public health burden across the world. In the past decades, South America has suffered dengue epidemics, the re-emergence of yellow fever and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, and the introduction of West Nile and Zika viruses.

Description of a new species of (Digenea: Allocreadiidae) from (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) from Argentina, using morphological and molecular data.

During a parasitological survey of fishes at Iguazu National Park, Argentina, specimens belonging to the allocreadiid genus Auriculostoma were collected from the intestine of Characidium heirmostigmata. The erection of the new species is based on a unique combination of morphological traits as well as on phylogenetic analysis. Auriculostoma guacurarii n.

Smoking flies: testing the effect of tobacco cigarettes on heart function of .

Studies about the relationship between substances consumed by humans and their impact on health, in animal models, have been a challenge due to differences between species in the animal kingdom. However, the homology of certain genes has allowed extrapolation of certain knowledge obtained in animals. , studied for decades, has been widely used as model for human diseases as well as to study responses associated with the consumption of several substances.

n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing damselflies and dragonflies in Argentina.

A mermithid nematode was found parasitizing nymphs of dragonflies and damselflies. The host specimens were collected from the stream Cajaravilla, Magdalena, Buenos Aires state, Argentina. In this work, we described n.

Walkability Safety and Walkability Participation: A Health Concern.

Walking is correlated with both improved physical and emotional health. However, walking behavior is often heavily influenced by environmental conditions. The goal of this study was to examine actual and perceived walkability safety and the relationship between perceived walkability safety and self-rated levels of walkability participation, defined as the number of places one walks within the community on a regular basis.

SERCA is critical to control the Bowditch effect in the heart.

The Bowditch effect or staircase phenomenon is the increment or reduction of contractile force when heart rate increases, defined as either a positive or negative staircase. The healthy and failing human heart both show positive or negative staircase, respectively, but the causes of these distinct cardiac responses are unclear. Different experimental approaches indicate that while the level of Ca in the sarcoplasmic reticulum is critical, the molecular mechanisms are unclear.

The regulation of autophagy differentially affects Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis.

Autophagy is a cellular process required for the removal of aged organelles and cytosolic components through lysosomal degradation. All types of eukaryotic cells from yeasts to mammalian cells have the machinery to activate autophagy as a result of many physiological and pathological situations. The most frequent stimulus of autophagy is starvation and the result, in this case, is the fast generation of utilizable food (e.

The superfamily keeps growing: Identification in trypanosomatids of RibJ, the first riboflavin transporter family in protists.

Background: Trypanosomatid parasites represent a major health issue affecting hundreds of million people worldwide, with clinical treatments that are partially effective and/or very toxic. They are responsible for serious human and plant diseases including Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Trypanosoma brucei (Sleeping sickness), Leishmania spp. (Leishmaniasis), and Phytomonas spp.

Novel 2-arylazoimidazole derivatives as inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi proliferation: Synthesis and evaluation of their biological activity.

In this work, the synthesis of a series of 2-arylazoimidazole derivatives 6-20 has been achieved through the reaction of imidazole with aryldiazonium salts, followed by ultrasound-assisted alkylation. This approach has important advantages including higher yield, shorter reaction times and milder reaction conditions. The structures of the compounds obtained were determined by MS, IR; and H and C NMR.

Trypanosoma cruzi Polyamine Transporter: Its Role on Parasite Growth and Survival Under Stress Conditions.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a major health problem in Latin America. Polyamines are polycationic compounds that play a critical role as regulators of cell growth and differentiation. In contrast with other protozoa, T.

Discovery of novel polyamine analogs with anti-protozoal activity by computer guided drug repositioning.

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi that affects about 6 million people in Latin America. Despite its sanitary importance, there are currently only two drugs available for treatment: benznidazole and nifurtimox, both exhibiting serious adverse effects and limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease. Polyamines are ubiquitous to all living organisms where they participate in multiple basic functions such as biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, proliferation and cell differentiation.

High-throughput drug repositioning for the discovery of new treatments for Chagas disease.

Despite affecting around 8 million people worldwide and representing an economic burden above $7 billion/ year, currently approved medications to treat Chagas disease are still limited to two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, which were developed more than 40 years ago and present important efficacy and safety limitations. Drug repositioning (i.e.

Computer-guided drug repurposing: identification of trypanocidal activity of clofazimine, benidipine and saquinavir.

In spite of remarkable advances in the knowledge on Trypanosoma cruzi biology, no medications to treat Chagas disease have been approved in the last 40 years and almost 8 million people remain infected. Since the public sector and non-profit organizations play a significant role in the research efforts on Chagas disease, it is important to implement research strategies that promote translation of basic research into the clinical practice. Recent international public-private initiatives address the potential of drug repositioning (i.