Climate-influenced performance and offspring development of merino sheep in a dry temperate-cold valley.

This study aims to explore the effects of climate on the performance and offspring development of aged Merino sheep relocated from an arid, cold environment with harsh grazing conditions to a dry, temperate-cold valley with irrigated pasture production. We utilized time series data from merino sheep in a dry temperate-cold climate in southern Argentina to characterize their growth curves, assess the impact of climate on performance, and compare offspring growth with maternal growth. Our approach involved developing a dynamic model, a non-autonomous differential equation growth curve based on the widely used Brody model.

Serum levels of interleukin-6 are linked to the severity of the disease caused by Andes Virus.

Andes virus (ANDV) is the etiological agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in Chile. In this study, we evaluated the profile of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-21, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 in serum samples of ANDV-infected patients at the time of hospitalization. The mean levels of circulating cytokines were determined by a Bead-Based Multiplex assay coupled with Luminex detection technology, in order to compare 43 serum samples of healthy controls and 43 samples of ANDV-infected patients that had been categorized according to the severity of disease.

A report on the outbreak of Zika virus on Easter Island, South Pacific, 2014.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus circulating in Asia and Africa. In 2013, a large outbreak was reported on the archipelago of French Polynesia. In this study, we report the detection and molecular characterization of Zika virus for the first time in Chile from an outbreak among the inhabitants of Easter Island.

Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL28B, but Not TNF-α, With Severity of Disease Caused by Andes Virus.

Background: Andes virus (ANDV) is the sole etiologic agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Chile, with a fatality rate of about 35%. Individual host factors affecting ANDV infection outcome are poorly understood. In this case-control genetic association analysis, we explored the link between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12979860, rs8099917 and rs1800629 and the clinical outcome of ANDV-induced disease.

Productive and income contributions of sheep, goat, and cattle, and different diversification schemes in smallholder production systems of Northern Patagonia, Argentina.

Wool production oriented sheep keeping is the most important rural activity in Patagonia, Argentina, followed by goat and at a lower extent cattle production. The existing perception on the smallholder production systems from most decision makers (e.g.