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This article analyses three stories from the book De fronteras by Salvadoran writer Claudia Hernández: Mediodía de fronteras, Carretera sin buey and Lázaro, el buitre, in the light of Kafka’s animal narratives in which conventional human perspectives on animals and animality are subverted, thus configuring a gaze of their own. A gaze that in Hernández’s stories, through the narrator’s voice, allows us to imagine a symbiosis between the animal and the human.

Considering performances with animals such as Going to the Dogs (Wim T. Schippers, 1986), Octavio and I (Linda Molenaar, 2010), Performances for Pets (Juurak/ Bailey 2014) and A Performance With an Ocean View (for a Dog) (Kokkonnen, 2008), I argue that these works illustrate three emergent effects of performing with animals: challenging a binary and exclusionary view of co-presence in performance; determining a modification of the performer’s interaction with a non- human animal audience; reversing the humanization of the animal, by rehearsing an animalization of human agency.

A recent attitudinal change towards animals has led many people to recognize their family structures as multispecies families, that is, a family composed of human members and animals of other species, united by affective ties, and solidarity, in a horizontal relationship, and even where there is mutual recognition. This social phenomenon requires that the legal concept of family, which today more than ever accepts the plurality of family structures, also includes multispecies families. The protection of multispecies families is necessary and possible if one considers that in Latin America today, a post-positivist legal system prevails that is aimed at protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. This legal system allows for a broad interpretation of rights such as the right to free development of personality and the right to family integrity, rights that already serve as foundational for the recognition and protection of multispecies families in Latin America.

Objective. Colistin is an antibiotic of last resort for treating serious Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the misuse of colistin, especially as an animal growth promoter, has contributed to increasing antimicrobial resistance, mediated mainly through plasmid transfer of the mcr-1 gene. This study assessed the prevalence of phenotypic and molecular colistin resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Ecuador in healthy humans and their chickens and pigs. Methods. Fecal samples were collected from humans and their chickens and pigs in two rural coastal and Amazon regions between April and August 2020. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated and identified using conventional techniques. Phenotypic resistance was determined using the broth microdilution technique, and the mcr-1 gene was detected using conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results. A total of 438 fecal samples were obtained from 137 humans, 147 pigs and 154 chickens. The prevalence of E. coli isolates was 86.3% (378/438) and K. pneumoniae, 37.4% (164/438). Overall, the mcr-1 gene was found in 90% (340/378) of E. coli isolates, with higher prevalences found in isolates from coastal regions (96.5%, 191/198), humans (95.6%, 111/116) and chickens (91.8%, 123/134); for K. pneumoniae, the gene was found in 19.5% (32/164) of isolates, with equal distribution between regions and hosts. Only four isolates, two E. coli and two K. pneumoniae, showed phenotypic resistance: mcr-1 was present in both E. coli strains but absent in the K. pneumoniae strains. Conclusions. Despite a low prevalence of phenotypic resistance to colistin, the high prevalence of the mcr-1 gene in E. coli is of concern. Ecuador’s ban on using colistin in animal husbandry must be enforced, and continual monitoring of the situation should be implemented.

Animals have been valued and used to improve human physical and mental health since ancient times. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a complementary approach to traditional medicine, involving trained animals. AAT can enhance cognition, commitment, character growth, and the learning process. Commonly used species in animal-assisted therapy include cats, dogs, horses, dolphins, and others. Feline-assisted therapy alleviates loneliness and stress, whereas canine-assisted therapy positively impacts emotions and overall well-being. Equine-assisted interventions benefit individuals with cognitive and motor disabilities. Dolphin-assisted therapy shows promise for conditions like autism and cerebral palsy. However, ethical concerns have arisen, particularly in children with behavioral disorders. Safety measures, adult supervision, and proper screening and hygiene practices are crucial in AAT programs. In conclusion, AAIs have a significant potential to enhance well-being and mental health across various contexts, but more research is needed to fully understand their effectiveness and safety in different settings and age groups. The existing literature consists of subjective accounts and inadequate methodologies.

Objective: To characterize biodiversity and determine the evolution of complexity in La Palma farm, in the El Roque town, Perico municipality, Matanzas, Cuba. Materials and Methods: The evolution of animal and plant biodiversity was quantified in the farm. Margalef and Shannon indexes (H ́) and the degree of complexity of biodiversity, which considers five components: noxious, functional, introduced functional, auxiliary and productive, were determined during three years (2017-2019). Results: The inventory recorded several species of animals and plants in the farm. The main function of the animals was to produce milk and meat, animal traction and transport, mainly horses. Chicken and sheep are used for family food and dogs are used as pets. As for the plant component, the presence of species for human and animal feeding was analyzed, distributed in areas of multipurpose trees (fruit trees, timber and feed), staple crops and forage. According to the evaluation scale, the Shannon index (1,81-2,57), as well as the Margalef index (2,22-2,82), showed a value in the range considered as moderate. Regarding the complexity analysis, during 2017 and 2018, the farm was classified as not very complex, and evolved to moderately complex in 2019. Conclusions: The farm showed in the years of study increased biodiversity, of plants as well as animals. The evolution of the complexity of the farm, from low to moderately complex, according to the scale used, facilitated the formation of a strategic plan for the farmer to follow and be able to reverse the situation of his farm until it could be taken to the maximum scale (highly complex).

A “hunting question”, defined as the regulation of hunting and forms of wildlife protection, began to take shape in Europe in the second half of the 19th century and in Italy gave rise to a lively and interesting debate. The article illustrates its main issues and shows how the problem of hunting acted as a link between movements for animal protection and those for the protection of the environment. Moreover it sheds light on how the “hunting question” was also important for the consolidation of the first forms of sensitivity to nature and living species. In relation to Italy in the years between the 19th and 20th centuries, the article analyzes the battles of the animal protection societies against the “inhuman hunting” and the “bird massacre”, the positions and objectives of the naturalist movement, the main concrete results of these mobilizations.

The article explores Antonella Anedda’s works from a post-anthropocentric perspective within the theoret-ical framework of ecocriticism. After mentioning some of the most relevant concepts and ideas connected with these lively approaches in interdisciplinary studies, it presents a brief and deliberately ongoing introduction to an outline of observations on the poet’s production, considering the key eco-categories such as animals, plants and space.

Why do conservation policies fail to prevent species extinctions and die-offs in contravention of stated intentions and goals? Bringing together a range of literature, including political ecology, political theory, conservation science, communication theory and environmental communication with original data, this article explores this question, then addresses these failures within Aotearoa New Zealand's context. Using the New Zealand case, it offers a systems-level view of these failures, focusing on the influences and limitations that arise from the political-economic structures, fractured governance, interest group influence, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in representative democracies. Secondly, in these settings, we argue that communication and framing by the interested parties—politicians, government officials, interest groups and NGOs—buttress this system, partly by normalizing it, obscuring scientific realities, shifting focus away from deeper issues, and thus limiting the possibility of substantive solutions in what might be called a colonization of consciousness. Together, this economic-political-communication complex has failed to prevent—and in some ways aided—mass die-offs of native animal species. The article then suggests exploring alternative models, such as deliberative democracy, to this seemingly intractable problem, to strengthen the influence of scientific expertise, better inform decision-makers, advance public understandings of science, and improve democracy by engaging members of the public in decision-making processes. While this study focuses on New Zealand, the issues related to political ecology, the political-economic systems, and the framing of issues, apply to many democratic countries.

Abstract The Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis), the only seal species native to Central America, was declared extinct in 2008, with the last confirmed sighting in 1952. This species historically had a broad range throughout the gulf of Mexico. This article discusses the history of Western science on the monk seal, from its first recorded sighting by a Western colonizer in 1492 to scientific collection in the 1800s and 1900s, as a history of the erasure of this species. Museum practices of collecting and displaying Caribbean monk seals have directly contributed to this erasure, and ways of writing a new history by giving the Caribbean monk seal the capacity to refuse erasure are suggested.

Abstract This article presents the first history of Colombian zoos and one of the few contributions to the history of these institutions in Latin America. It proposes that in this region’s zoos native animals tended to predominate, signaling the increasing transformation of forests and other native ecosystems into croplands and pasturelands, as well as the growing distance between people and natural environments. Colombian zoos additionally underscore the limitations of the State in its period of most rapid expansion. They reveal how private interests overshadowed the State by providing public amenities, but also how they offered unconventional solutions to certain hurdles of State formation.

Most of the nomads of East Azerbaijan province belong to the tribes of Arasbaran and Shahsevan, nine independent tribes in the Yaylak period, and seven independent tribes in the Qishlaq period. Shahsevan nomads are composed of different tribes, such as Ajirlu, Moghanlu, Giglu, Qaralar Meshgini etc. Verneh, as a type of carpet, Maffrash or means of carrying household furniture, were mainly woven by nomads and some villagers in the settlement of Shahsevan nomads in Azerbaijan and some surrounding areas, such as Pars Abad, Germi and Meshgin Shahr counties of Ardabil province, and Ahar and Kaleybar counties of East Azerbaijan province. This handicraft has both the simplicity of the rug (Kilim) style and the elegance and beauty of the carpet. The lack of sufficient information in this field has led to a close study of some of these motifs related to Verneh. Therefore, one of the most important objectives of the research is to introduce motifs, concepts and animal symbols hidden in Verneh, in order to expand knowledge about the artistic products of this region and examine the impact of nomadic life conditions on the nature of their products in these areas. The research method is applied in terms of nature and purpose and its findings were first done as field research. Then, the samples from the studies were matched with the general information and eventually examined. The results of this study show that the animal motifs created in verneh tell the truth about the material and social life of weavers and show a valuable collection in their life. Verneh’s paintings and motifs depict the nomadic way of life, the animal-dependent life in direct connection with nature, the adherence to the customs of the ancestors and the beliefs of these people. Animal motifs are a symbol of nomadic life, related to nomadic livestock.

Introduction and Objectives: Different degrees of testicular torsion result in varying degrees of testicular damage, which influences treatment options and outcomes. Therefore, establishing a testicular torsion model with different degrees is necessary for clinical diagnosis., Materials and Methods: Rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and their spermatic cords were twisted at 0 °, 180 °, 360 °, and 720 °, respectively. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) were performed to evaluate the blood supply in testicles. The twisted testicles were surgically removed at six hours post-operation and were evaluated by morphological observation and Hematoxylin and Eosin staining., Results: CDFI signals were gradually decreased as the degree of testicular torsion increased, and scores of CDFI in the 360 ° and 720 ° groups were significantly decreased at postoperative six hours compared to pre-surgery. Compared to the sham, the testicle in the 180 ° group exhibited slight congestion, whereas the testicles in the 360 ° and 720 ° groups were dark red in color and had severe congestion and unrecognizable vessels. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining showed mild spermatogenic cell reduction and testicular interstitial hemorrhage in the 180 ° group. In the 360 ° and 720 ° groups, disordered seminiferous tubules, shed spermatogenic cells in tubules, inflammatory cell infiltration, and severe hemorrhage were found. In comparison with the sham, interstitial hemorrhage scores in the 360 ° and 720 ° groups were significantly higher, and scores of germinal epithelial cell thickness in the three testicular torsion groups were significantly decreased., Conclusions: Collectively, we successfully constructed a testicular torsion model with different degrees in rabbits., (Copyright © 2024 AEU. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Paederus contact dermatitis is a skin disease caused by beetles of the genus Paederus and the release of a vesicant substance called paederin. It is worldwide distributed; However, it is more common in rainy seasons and hot climates. The clinical manifestations are vesicle-pustules that settle on erythematous skin. Treatment is based on washing with soap and water to neutralize the action of the toxin and the administration of topical steroids in short cycles. We report the case of a 28-year-old male patient who came to the dermatology clinic with a 48-hour history of two erythematous plaques with central blisters plus superficial ulceration located on the flexor aspect of the arm and right forearm, accompanied by a sensation of burning and itching at the site of the lesions, without other accompanying symptoms. As background, he states that he was on vacation in the coastal region of Ecuador when the lesions appeared. An incisional biopsy was performed and due to the clinical characteristics and the history of travel to a tropical region, it was diagnosed as Paederus dermatitis and treatment with antihistamines, topical steroids and cold compresses was indicated. After 8 days of treatment, the lesions subsided, leaving post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation., (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba)

Objective: to evaluate three methods of nasogastric tube fixation in terms of adhesion, displacement and skin integrity., Method: ex vivo study, with a sample of 30 experimental noses (10 for each type of fixation), developed with porcine skin, based on the average measurements of the human nose, in which 14-gauge polyvinyl chloride probes were inserted and 2 methods of fixation with adhesive tape (Fixation A and B) and one with an industrial device (Fixation C) were used. Each group was exposed to traction of 50, 100 and 500g sequentially over 12 and 24 hours, testing: adhesion capacity, probe displacement and skin integrity. The Chi-square test of independence was calculated for nominal variables and Student's t-tests and analysis of variance (p< 0.05) for rational variables., Results: fixation B showed lower adhesion capacity (p <0.001) when compared to the other two fixations. A mean displacement of 52.17 mm was observed in the probes fixed by methods A and B and a greater occurrence of lesions associated with fixations A and C (p = 0.001)., Conclusion: the results show complications related to the fixations: lack of adhesion, displacement of the probe and skin lesions, drawing attention to the complexity of the procedure.

Introduction: Yogurt has been valued very positively for centuries, but the concern for food sustainability and the fact that it is a food of animal origin has raised doubts about the consumption that may be convenient. The objective of this work is to deepen the topic and establish recommendations for the population. From the nutritional point of view, yogurt is a valuable food, for its high content, quality and bioavailability of its nutrients, in a low energy content, its components together with probiotic microorganisms are provided in a matrix that helps achieve greater nutritional and health benefit. Regular consumption of yogurt has been linked to cardiovascular protection, against diabetes, excess weight, cancer, bone health. Thinking about environmental sustainability, yogurt production is not particularly dangerous, as the kg of CO2 eq (greenhouse gases) associated with their production are the lowest obtained compared to other animal foods and even lower than those associated with the production of some plant foods and the supply of nutrients per 1000 kcal, per 100 g, or per euro is one of the highest available. There is the possibility to further improve sustainability with improvements in animal feed, packaging, transport, etc. Considering this evidence, the daily consumption of yogurt / fermented milk should be included in the food guidelines, not only as one more milk option, but specifying a specific consumption such as a ration / day, this pattern can be useful from the nutritional point of view and for the improvement of public health.

Angelman syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder secondary to disruption of the UBE3A gene in the maternal allele of chromosome 15. Its manifestations are mainly neurological, but a multidisciplinary management is required for its treatment. There are consensus guidelines available for best clinical management. Current clinical trials with antisense oligonucleotides promise, for the first time, to treat the cause by activating the UBE3A gene in the paternal allele, showing encouraging preliminary clinical effects. Inoculation of UBE3A gene through a viral vector has been tested in animal models and is underway for future clinical trials.

Introduction: Cardiovascular calcification is an important public health issue with an unmeet therapeutic need. We had previously shown that lysyl oxidase (LOX) activity critically influences vascular wall smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) calcification by affecting extracellular matrix remodeling. We have delved into the participation of LOX in atherosclerosis and vascular calcification, as well as in the mineralization of the aortic valve., Methods: Immunohistochemical and expression studies were carried out in human atherosclerotic lesions and experimental models, valves from patients with aortic stenosis, VICs, and in a genetically modified mouse model that overexpresses LOX in CMLV (TgLOX CMLV ). Hyperlipemia and atherosclerosis was induced in mice through the administration of adeno-associated viruses encoding a PCSK9 mutated form (AAV-PCSK9 D374Y ) combined with an atherogenic diet., Results: LOX expression is increased in the neointimal layer of atherosclerotic lesions from human coronary arteries and in VSMC-rich regions of atheromas developed both in the brachiocephalic artery of control (C57BL/6J) animals transduced with PCSK9 D374Y and in the aortic root of ApoE -/- mice. In TgLOX CMLV mice, PCSK9 D374Y transduction did not significantly alter the enhanced aortic expression of genes involved in matrix remodeling, inflammation, oxidative stress and osteoblastic differentiation. Likewise, LOX transgenesis did not alter the size or lipid content of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch, brachiocephalic artery and aortic root, but exacerbated calcification. Among lysyl oxidase isoenzymes, LOX is the most expressed member of this family in highly calcified human valves, colocalizing with RUNX2 in VICs. The lower calcium deposition and decreased RUNX2 levels triggered by the overexpression of the nuclear receptor NOR-1 in VICs was associated with a reduction in LOX., Conclusions: Our results show that LOX expression is increased in atherosclerotic lesions, and that overexpression of this enzyme in VSMC does not affect the size of the atheroma or its lipid content, but it does affect its degree of calcification. Further, these data suggest that the decrease in calcification driven by NOR-1 in VICs would involve a reduction in LOX. These evidences support the interest of LOX as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular calcification., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Abdominal and neural angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis and A. cantonensis, respectively, are zoonotic diseases involving snails as intermediate hosts. Colombia has already reported human cases, and the increasing distribution of Lissachatina fulica and Cornu aspersum raises public health concerns due to the potential risk of disease transmission in areas where parasites and hosts coexist., Objective: To identify the presence of Angiostrongylus spp. in snail species L. fulica and C. aspersum in Antioquia, Colombia., Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study had a population of 5,855 L. fulica and C. aspersum snails captured in the ten towns of the Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia, Colombia), 169 samples were collected in 28 sampling points. Lung tissues of the collected snails were dissected and analyzed to detect Angiostrongylus spp. through molecular techniques., Results: Angiostrongylus spp. were identified in both L. fulica and C. aspersum. Angiostrongylus costaricensis was detected in 18 pooled prevalence of 30% (95% CI = 19.2-43.3), and Medellín was the municipality with the highest number of positive samples (33.3%). Seventy-two-point-two percent of the positive places reported the presence of rodents. None of the tests were positive for A. cantonensis., Conclusion: Our findings provide important insights into the epidemiology and distribution of Angiostrongylus spp. in Antioquia, Colombia. The identification of these parasitic nematodes in L. fulica and C. aspersum highlights the potential role of these snails as intermediate hosts in the transmission of Angiostrongylus spp. infections in the Valle de Aburrá, with implications for human and veterinary health.

Motivation for the study. The role of bats as hosts of Trypanosoma spp. in the Atlantic department in Colombia, as well as its taxonomic diversity has been poorly studied. Main findings. This is the first report of frequency of infection by Trypanosoma spp. in bats in the Atlántico Department in Colombia. Implications. The great adaptive capacity of bats to different ecological niches and its role as hosts of Trypanosoma spp. for wild and urban ecotopes represents a risk factor in transmission cycles of epidemiological importance. We conducted a study to evaluate the frequency of infection by Trypanosoma spp. in bats captured in wild and urban ecotopes in the Department of Atlántico in the Caribbean region of Colombia from March 2021 to May 2022. Bats were taxonomically identified, and sex, relative age, and reproductive conditions were determined. A blood sample was used for parasitological analysis and DNA extraction to amplify a region of the 18S rRNA. 125 bats were collected, with the most abundant families being Molossidae (62/125; 49.6%) and Phyllostomidae (43/125; 34.4%). Molossus molossus collected in wild habitats showed an infection frequency of 8.1% (5/61) and 4.1% (3/61) through parasitological and molecular analysis, respectively. In comparison, Noctilio albiventris collected in urban habitats showed an infection frequency of 16.6% (2/12) for both analyses. These findings represent the first records of M. molossus harboring trypanosomes for the Department of Atlántico and of N. albiventris harboring trypanosomes in Colombia.

Motivation for the study. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria isolated from common flies is a potential public health hazard because it facilitates the presence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment. Main findings. Thirty-eight bacterial strains identified in 14 species were isolated from within the fly bodies, of which 31 strains showed resistance to carbapenems and 26 strains showed resistance to colistin. Seven bacterial strains showed carbapenem resistance genes and one Escherichia coli strain had resistance to KPC, OXA-48 and mcr-1. Implications. This is the first report of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria carried by common flies in Peru. The objective was to determine the presence of carbapenem resistance genes and plasmid resistance to colistin (mcr-1) in bacteria isolated from Musca domestica in a garbage dump near a hospital in Lima, Peru. Bacteria with phenotypic resistance to carbapenemics were isolated on CHROMagar mSuperCARBATM medium and colistin resistance profiling was performed using the colistin disk elution method. Detection of blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, blaVIM and mcr-1 genes was performed by conventional PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined using the automated MicroScan system. We found that 31/38 strains had phenotypic resistance to carbapenemics and 26/38 strains had phenotypic resistance to colistin with a minimum inhibitory concentration ≥ 4 µg/ml. Finally, we identified seven bacterial strains with carbapenem resistance genes (OXA-48 and KPC) and one bacterial strain with plasmid resistance to colistin (mcr-1). One Escherichia coli strain had three resistance genes: KPC, OXA-48 and mcr-1.

Many political ecologists and geographers study ethical diets but most are curiously silent on the topic of death in the food system, specifically what or who is allowed to live and what is let die in the "doing of good." This article aims to show how the practice of eating produces the socio-ecological harm most ethical consumers set out to avoid with their dietary choices. I examine the food systems that produce ethical products for 1) the hierarchical ordering of consumer health in the Global North over the health and well-being of workers in the Global South and 2) how vegetarianism involves the implicit privileging of some animals over others. The article takes take a genealogical approach to the political ecology of food ethics using Black and Indigenous studies in conversation with animal geographies. I draw on Mbembe's (2016) necropolitics, Weheliye's (2014) "not quite human" and Lowe's (2015) critique of humanism to develop a conceptual framework for what lives or dies as a result of ethical dietary choices. I use this framework to examine commodities for the socio-ecological harm that their production extends into the world under the guise of "doing good" or "being ethical." Taking a harm reduction and food sovereignty approach, I advocate for a new ethical framework that includes a limited case for consuming animals.

This article explores an interaction between posthumanist and cognitive discourses through the work of award winning Mexican author, Guadalupe Nettel. I focus on her 2014 anthology, Natural Histories, rereading the central motif of the narrative, that animals ‘are like a mirror that reflects submerged emotions or behaviours that we don’t dare to see’ (Nettel, 9). This ‘reflection’ is not simply the image of the human reflected off the opaque surface of the animal, but rather the humans themselves act as a mirror, simulating the behaviour of the animals with which they cohabit. This can be read as a literary representation of a neurophysiological phenomenon — embodied simulation, an internal mimicry, either perceptible or imperceptible, performed when watching others completing certain tasks, movements or expressions (Gazzola et al. 2007; Uithol et al. 2011; Iacoboni 2009). In particular, the first story, ‘El matrimonio de los peces rojos’, depicts a profound human-nonhuman embodied resonance that moves between linguistic, narratological and characterological levels. A cognitive critical approach to the mirroring between animals and humans in the stories reveals the particular intersection between new paradigms in cognitive science, animal studies, and posthumanism that the anthology develops, each of its narratives intertwining mind, body and nonhuman other in a non-hierarchical network.

The ethnoecological approach provides a complex framework to address the relationship between humans and the environment. It opens the way to a detailed understanding of the practices, uses and representations of the actors. This reveals how the different elements of a technical tool, in fishing for case in point, are related to the characteristics and behaviours of the target animal. Rather than an analysis based essentially on the material dimension, this proposal insists on the changeable and seasonal dimension of practices, and on the understanding acquired by the fisherman about the fish. I intend to follow, as a reflexive chronicle, the conceptual and methodological process undertaken during the surveys conducted among artisan fishermen in the northern Mediterranean area. A focus will be placed on the environmental practices and knowledge of the fishermen of Catania (Sicily). I will discuss in detail the contributions and limitations that I was confronted with throughout the data collection work, and I will make proposals for an analysis of the knowledge and practices that is devoid of the incompleteness inherent in the understanding of environmental knowledge. On the one hand, this proposal aims to report on the techniques with a level of finesse that makes sense for the fishermen, and on the other hand, on the intimate links between human and non-human actors - in this case the fisherman and the fish - in the fishing practice.

The nascent global age at the close of the Middle Ages introduced exotic objects from distant lands into Western Europe. Exotica from the natural world – naturalia – were frequently fashioned into ecclesiastical and seigniorial artifacts and housed in treasuries. The materials were sometimes re-identified in their new contexts, such as narwhal tusks understood as unicorn horns, which bestowed upon them additional meanings associated with those allegorical mythical creatures. This work investigates the movement, alteration, and use of such re-identified naturalia in late medieval society leading up to the Age of Discovery. It focuses on naturalia that retained their distinct morphological features after working, following the hypothesis that the identity of the animal, as indexed by a recognizable form or set of physical characteristics, was important. It additionally considers symbolic connotations and occult properties deriving from allegorization of matter to study the role played by the ornamentation of naturalia. This paper explores the discourse between extant tangible objects and contemporary texts such as bestiaries, lapidaries, and alchemical compendia to examine how the iconography of the artifact’s form and the iconology of the ornamentation contributed to the overall signification of the naturalia.

Sporotrichosis is a subacute to chronic subcutaneous mycosis caused by dimorphic fungi of the Sporothrix spp. complex. It is considered the most frequent subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America and predominates in tropical areas. In Argentina, its prevalence is estimated at 0.01-0.02%. In half of the patients, it manifests as lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. Infection results from the agent's inoculation on the skin or mucous membrane by trauma with contaminated plants. There are also cases of zoonotic transmission by contact with animals, such as armadillos, birds, rats, horses, fish, mosquitoes, and cats. Here we describe the case of a 14-year-old female patient who consulted due to nodular lymphangitic syndrome for two months and, given the lack of response to multiple antibiotic regimens, a biopsy was performed and a culture of the lesion was done, which confirmed the diagnosis of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Gulliver’s Travels (1726), by Jonathan Swift, is one of the classics of English literature, a biting satire of English customs and politics in particular and of human foibles in general. While literary scholars have traditionally agreed that, in Part IV of Gulliver’s Travels, Swift uses his elegant anthropomorphic horses and his filthy human-like Yahoos to reflect on society and human nature, some recent studies highlight Swift’s ecocritical concern with animal issues, focusing on how the behaviour of the noble horses challenges the conventional hierarchies of the anthropocentric view of the world and anticipates values that are prominent in today’s society. However, this article aims to show that what has traditionally challenged and disturbed readers, publishers and critics for many years is the presence of the other race of the animal world, the Yahoos. Analysing the reception of Gulliver’s journey to the land of the Houyhnhnms helps understand how Swift’s early ecocritical ideas disturbed publishers and translators, who often rejected or modified the text, particularly those passages in which the filthy human-like Yahoos show their harsh and scatological behaviour.

Abstract Introduction: The association between local anesthetics (LA) and neuromuscular blocking (NMB) drugs in clinical practice, and the possibility of interaction between these drugs has been investigated. LAs act on neuromuscular transmission in a dose-dependent manner and may potentiate the effects of NMB drugs. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, in an experimental model, the effect of lidocaine and racemic bupivacaine on neuromuscular transmission and the influence on neuromuscular blockade produced by atracurium. Methods: Male Wistar rats, weighing from 250 to 300 g were used. The preparation was set up based on a technique proposed by Bülbring. Groups were formed (n = 5) according to the drug studied: lidocaine 20 µg.mL−1 (Group I); racemic bupivacaine 5 µg.mL−1 (Group II); atracurium 20 µg.mL−1 (Group III); atracurium 20 µg.mL−1 in a preparation previously exposed to lidocaine 20 µg.mL−1 and racemic bupivacaine 5 µg.mL−1, Groups IV and V, respectively. The following parameters were assessed: 1) Amplitude of hemi diaphragmatic response to indirect stimulation before and 60 minutes after addition of the drugs; 2) Membrane potentials (MP) and miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs). Results: Lidocaine and racemic bupivacaine alone did not alter the amplitude of muscle response. With previous use of lidocaine and racemic bupivacaine, the neuromuscular blockade (%) induced by atracurium was 86.66 ± 12.48 and 100, respectively, with a significant difference (p = 0.003), in comparison to the blockade produced by atracurium alone (55.7 ± 11.22). These drugs did not alter membrane potential. Lidocaine initially increased the frequency of MEPPs, followed by blockade. With the use of bupivacaine, the blockade was progressive. Conclusions: Lidocaine and racemic bupivacaine had a presynaptic effect expressed by alterations in MEPPs, which may explain the interaction and potentiation of NMB produced by atracurium.

This paper focuses on tangential figurations of the “animal question”. Starting from the difficulty to avoid reproducing the Great Divides that Donna Haraway observes in many theorists in the field of animal studies, and from Cornelius Castoriadis’ analysis of the institution and reproduction of power divisions, I follow the animal trail in some of Marx’s methodological reflexions and in the science fiction Argentinian comic El Eternauta (1957-59) by Héctor G. Oesterheld and Solano López.

Two semesters ago I proposed a course around texts of different genres and moments, with the condition that they include representations of the animal, or directly animals. Each year the course is dedicated to literary forms and techniques. The fact that the readings refer to animals could be interpreted as a whim. But I do not think whims are irrelevant. Probably it happens the other way around: whim, curiosity, zigzagging exploration could be stimulating reading acts tin order to question installed premises which in literature are frequent, largely because they are easily adopted. And yet, it was not a whim; it was an invitation to perform a test, imprecise in its results, as I will explain

RESUMEN: Tomando como punto de partida las reflexiones de estudiosos como Philippe Descola o Boaventura de Sousa Santos sobre la necesidad de repensar las relaciones entre humanos y no-humanos, con el fin de buscar alternativas al proceso autodestructivo conocido con el controvertido nombre de Antropoceno, parece oportuno dirigir la mirada hacia la selva amazónica. En efecto, el espacio amazónico es “altamente transformacional” (Rivière) y se vive en él una frecuente inestabilidad ontológica que difumina las fronteras entre las especies. Las narraciones de las vivencias de los animales, por ejemplo, no son usadas solo como simbolización de algún antagonismo o desequilibrio social, sino que son frecuentemente percibidas como realidades. En el artículo, enmarcado en el ámbito de los estudios ecocríticos, se creará un diálogo entre algunos relatos orales –cuyos protagonistas son animales– y la novela del pintor y escritor peruano César Calvo de Araújo titulada Paiche (1963), nombre que es, además, el de uno de los mayores peces de los ríos amazónicos. A través de estas creaciones de literatura oral y escrita se reflexionará sobre el tema de los desequilibrios sociales y de la conciencia de clase como medio para repensar cómo habitar la Tierra. ABSTRACT: Taking as a starting point the considerations of scholars such as Philippe Descola and Boaventura de Sousa Santos on the need to rethink the relations between humans and non-humans in order to seek alternatives to the self-destructive process known by the controversial label of the Anthropocene, it seems appropriate to look at the Amazon rainforest. Indeed, the Amazonian space is “highly transformational” (Rivière), and there is a frequent ontological instability that blurs the boundaries between species. Narratives of animal experiences, for example, are not only used as a symbolisation of some antagonism or social inequality, but are often perceived as realities. In this article, framed in the field of ecocritical studies, a dialogue will be created between some oral stories whose protagonists are animals and the novel by the Peruvian painter and writer César Calvo de Araújo entitled Paiche (1963), which is also the name of one of the largest fish in the Amazonian rivers. Through these creations of oral and written literature, we will reflect on the theme of social inequalities and class consciousness as a means of rethinking how to inhabit the Earth.

This essay analyses the ways in which James Joyce and Virginia Woolf addressed from a very early stage key issues related to contemporary posthumanist theories such as the question of animal speech and psychology. Both Joyce’s description of human-animal encounters in Ulysses and Woolf’s depiction of a sentient animal subject in Flush: A Biography at first present, and then subvert, the idea of the use of language as evidence of a human surpassing of the animal. By challenging preconceived notions of species distinctions, these authors ultimately decenter the human to focus instead on the centrality of animal subjectivity and sensory experience. While the question of a sharp divide between human and nonhuman animals along the axis of speech can be traceable to the anthropocentric tradition of western humanism and not least to such a possible source as Cervantes (whose novella “The Dialogue of the Dogs” is listed as part of both Joyce’s Trieste library and the library of Leonard and Virginia Woolf), the idea of expanding the typically modernist focus on inner life by also including other forms of subjectivity may have derived from the coeval, burgeoning fields of zoology, ethology and comparative psychology. Drawing from these sources and popular areas of knowledge which formed part of the cultural climate of the time, both Joyce and Woolf explore cross-species intersubjectivity in ways that shift the terms of representation away from anthropocentric views in order to affirm, blur and deny the boundaries between the human and the non-human.

Introduction: Intestinal obstruction secondary to the use of fortified milk is a rare cause in pre-term patients., Case Report: We present the case of a female pre-term newborn admitted as a result of abdominal distension and rectal bleeding, which mimicked necrotizing enterocolitis. On abdominal X-ray, she had an obstruction pattern, and on ultrasonography, echogenic masses at the distal ileum were observed. Given the lack of improvement with conservative management, urgent exploratory laparotomy was decided upon. At surgery, compact milk masses at the level of the distal ileum were identified as the cause of intestinal obstruction. Appendicostomy and lavage with saline solution through the ileocecal valve were performed. This allowed milk masses to come out towards the colon, and a great amount of acholic stools to be expelled., Conclusion: The increase in "milk curd syndrome" cases should lead us to consider this cause in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in pre-term newborns fed with fortified milk.

Lysinibacillus sphaericus is a bacterium that, along with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, is considered the best biological insecticide for controlling mosquito larvae and an eco-friendly alternative to chemical insecticides. It depends on peptidic molecules such as N-acetylglucosamine to obtain carbon sources and possesses a phosphotransferase system (PTS) for their incorporation. Some strains carry S-layer proteins, whose involvement in metal retention and larvicidal activity against disease-carrying mosquitoes has been demonstrated. Alterations in the amino sugar incorporation system could affect the protein profile and functionality. Strain ASB13052 and the isogenic mutant in the ptsH gene, which is predominant in the PTS signaling pathway, were used in this study. For the first time, the presence of N-glycosylated S-layer proteins was confirmed in both strains, with a variation in their molecular weight pattern depending on the growth phase. In the exponential phase, an S-layer protein greater than 130 kDa was found in the ptsH mutant, which was absent in the wild-type strain. The mutant strain exhibited altered and incomplete low quality sporulation processes. Hemolysis analysis, associated with larvicidal activity, showed that the ptsH mutant has higher lytic efficiency, correlating with the high molecular weight protein. The results allow us to propose the potential effects that arise as a result of the absence of amino sugar transport on hemolytic activity, S-layer isoforms, and the role of N-acetylglucosamine in larvicidal activity., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The first autochthonous case of rickettsiosis is reported here. The case occurred in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a protected area of the City of Buenos Aires, in August 2022, where 4 species of ticks were found, namely Amblyomma aureolatum, Ixodes auritulus sensu lato, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto and Amblyomma triste. The epidemiological, ecological, clinical and laboratory aspects that allowed timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are also described., (Copyright © 2024 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The microbial communities within honey bee colonies contribute to the defense against pathogens. The goal of this study was to isolate, identify, and lyophilize lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria from the gut of nurse bees and bee bread in Apis mellifera colonies. Bacterial cultures from the intestinal content were conducted, and subsequently identified, sequenced, and lyophilized. Cross-antagonism among them was also assessed. Studies based on 16 S rRNA gene Sanger sequencing revealed that the MC3 strain had 100% identity with Bifidobacterium choladohabitans, the PP2B strain showed 99.16% similarity with Enterococcus faecium, while the PP1 strain exhibited 99.49% similarity with Lacticaseibacillus sp. and the PP1B strain showed 99.32% similarity with Lacticaseibacillus sp. There was no evidence of cross-antagonism among the strains, and the lyophilization process showed good stability and conservation. This is the first report of the isolation of B. choladohabitans from honey bee gut in Argentina, and also associates the presence of E. faecium with bee bread., (Copyright © 2024 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hymenoptera stings can produce IgE-mediated reactions, toxic reactions, or atypical reactions, which are rare. Cold urticaria has been described among the cutaneous manifestations in the atypical ones, but there is only one case of chronic urticaria., Case Report: A 56-year-old female patient experienced palmoplantar pruritus and generalized urticaria 60 minutes after two vespid stings, requiring medical assistance and several cycles of home treatment with oral antihistamines and corticosteroids for resolution in 12 weeks. Allergological studies showed normal tryptase and primary sensitization to Polistes dominula venom. Given the patient's profession, venom immunotherapy was started with Polistes dominula 100% without recurrence of urticaria after its administration., Conclusions: We present a case of IgE-mediated systemic reaction followed by self-limited chronic urticaria, related chronologically to the same vespid sting trigger.

The guinea pig in Ecuador is synonymous with our ancestral gastronomy and cultural tradition, but because of the diet rich in L-canavanine (alfalfa) that they receive; could limit its consumption in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Ingestion of alfalfa in humans can cause kidney failure and lupus-like syndrome. The John Hopkins Lupus Center recommends avoiding it in the diet of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), as it aggravates inflammation by stimulating immune activity (flares). We present two cases of patients with ITP linked to guinea pig ingestion. It is probable, (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba)

Rabies is a deadly neurotropic viral infection but is preventable through vaccination. Its impact on human and animal health is often devastating. Despite advances in research and control of this disease, along with an effective vaccine, rabies continues to be a lingering threat in many parts of the world. Its high incidence reinforces the constant need to address it with scientific and public health measures. In this review article, we will explore the most important characteristics of the disease, its distribution, symptoms, prevention methods, and the global efforts that have been made to eradicate this deadly disease. The most recent research and advancements in the field of rabies will also be discussed in an effort to understand and combat this deadly disease more effectively., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Typhimurium), multidrug resistance is associated with integrons carrying resistance genes dispersed by mobile genetic elements. This exploratory systematic review sought to identify integron types and their resistance genes in multidrug resistance Typhimurium isolates. We used Medline, PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect, Redalyc, and Google Scholar as motor searchers for articles in Spanish or English published between 2012 and 2020, including the keywords “integrons”, “antibiotic resistance”, and “Salmonella Typhimurium”. We included 38 articles reporting multidrug resistance up to five antibiotic families. Class 1 integrons with aadA2 and blaPSE-1 gene cassettes were predominant, some probably related to the Salmonella genomic island 1. We did not find studies detailing class 1 and 2 integrons in the same isolate, nor class 3 integrons reported. The presence of integrons largely explains the resistance profiles found in isolates from different sources in 15 countries.

Introduction. El Alférez, a village in Los Montes de María (Bolívar, Colombia) and a macro-focus of leishmaniasis, recorded its first case in 2018, evidencing changes in the distribution and eco-epidemiology of the disease, although interactions between vectors and local fauna remain unknown. Objective. To evaluate the diversity of sandflies and their blood meal sources in the community of El Alférez in the municipality of El Carmen de Bolívar (Bolívar, Colombia). Materials and methods. In 2018, sandflies were collected using LED-based light traps in domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic ecotopes and identified at the species level. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene was used to analyze blood from the digestive tract. Results. Lutzomyia evansi was the most abundant species (71.85%; n = 485/675), followed by Lu. panamensis, Lu. gomezi, Lu. trinidadensis, Lu. dubitans, Lu. abonnenci, and Lu.aclydifera. Twenty-five percent of the species had blood meals from Canis familiaris (36.00%; n = 9/25), Ovis aries (36.00%; n=9:/25), Bos taurus (24.00%; n = 6/25), Sus scrofa (20.00%; n = 5/25), and Homo sapiens (8.00%; n = 2/25). Lutzomyia evansi registered the highest feeding frequency (68.00%; n = 17/25), predominantly on a single (44.00%; n = 11/25) or multiple species (24.00%; n = 6/25). Conclusion. Results indicate a eclectic feeding behavior in Lu. evansi, implying potential reservoir hosts for Leishmania spp. and increasing transmission risk. This study is a first step towards understanding the diversity of mammalian blood sources used by sandflies, that may be crucial for vector identification and formulation of effective control measures.

Objective.: Motivation for the study. Dengue prevention and control is based on the control of its vector. This study was conducted because of the need to know the costs associated with Aedes aegypti control in a region that carries out planned vector control activities. Main findings. The costs incurred in dengue vector control in the Loreto region in 2017 and 2018 amounted to PEN 4,066,380.25 and PEN 3,807,858.73, respectively. Implications. Knowing the cost of vector control activities will allow us to better plan these activities and have a basis for cost-effectiveness studies with other methods of prevention and control of dengue. To estimate the costs incurred in the control of Aedes aegypti in the Loreto region, during the years 2017 and 2018., Materials and Methods.: We conducted a partial retrospective economic evaluation of the costs of Aedes aegypti control of the Regional Health Directorate Loreto, during the implementation of the Regional Plan for Surveillance and Control of Aedes aegypti. Documentation such as plans, intervention reports and payment slips were reviewed, and interviews were conducted with professional personnel involved in vector control, on the costs of control interventions., Results.: We found that the costs incurred in dengue vector control in the Loreto Region in the two years were: PEN 3,807,858 and PEN 4,066,380 during 2017 and 2018, respectively (USD 1,175,264 and USD 1,1210,232 at the 2017 and 2018 exchange rate). However, the effect of control activities is short-lived., Conclusions.: The high cost involved in vector control with the methods currently used and the short duration of its effect make it unsustainable. Studies should be conducted in order to find other more efficient methods for dengue control.

Objective.: Motivation for the study. Most research supports a negative association between metabolic syndrome and bone health, although there is an overall lack of consensus. Therefore, there is a need for research in this area to develop a better understanding. Main findings. Metabolic syndrome induced by a fructose-rich diet increases the adipogenic predisposition of bone marrow progenitor cells and femoral medullary adiposity in rats. Furthermore, this can be partially prevented by co-treatment with metformin. Implications. Experimental metabolic syndrome has negative effects on bone tissue and can be prevented by oral treatment with metformin as a normoglycemic drug. To determine the effect of metformin (MET) treatment on adipogenic predisposition of bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPC), bone marrow adiposity and bone biomechanical properties., Materials and Methods.: 20 young adult male Wistar rats were sorted into four groups. Each of the groups received the following in drinking water: 100% water (C); 20% fructose (F); metformin 100 mg/kg wt/day (M); or fructose plus metformin (FM). After five weeks the animals were sacrificed. Both humeri were dissected to obtain BMPC, and both femurs were dissected to evaluate medullary adiposity (histomorphometry) and biomechanical properties (3-point bending). BMPC were cultured in vitro in adipogenic medium to evaluate RUNX2, PPAR-γ and RAGE expression by RT-PCR, lipase activity and triglyceride accumulation., Results.: The fructose-rich diet (group F) caused an increase in both triglycerides in vitro, and medullary adiposity in vivo; being partially or totally prevented by co-treatment with metformin (group FM). No differences were found in femoral biomechanical tests in vivo, nor in lipase activity and RUNX2/PPAR-γ ratio in vitro. DRF increased RAGE expression in BMPC, being prevented by co-treatment with MET., Conclusions.: Metabolic syndrome induced by a fructose-rich diet increases femoral medullary adiposity and, in part, the adipogenic predisposition of BMPC. In turn, this can be totally or partially prevented by oral co-treatment with MET.