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The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of clinical endometritis and its impact on reproductive performance in grazing dairy cattle in Argentina to compare data with previous reports from herds kept in confinement housing systems. A total of 243 Holstein dairy cows from three commercial dairy farms in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) were examined for the signs of clinical endometritis 18-38 days postpartum (dpp) by external inspection and manual vaginal examination. Vaginal discharge was scored into the categories VDS 0 (transparent, clear mucus), VDS 1 (mucupurulent discharge), VDS 2 (purulent discharge) and VDS 3 (purulent discharge with fetid odour). Cows diagnosed with VDS 1 to VDS 3 were regarded as affected with clinical endometritis and cows with VDS 0 as free of clinical endometritis. All cows were re-examined 14 days later following the same examination protocol. Prevalence of clinical endometritis 18-38 dpp was 35% and decreased to 18% at re-examination. Cows with no palpable ovarian structures or periparturient disorders were at higher risk for clinical endometritis. Hazard for pregnancy was significantly lower in cows with purulent or fetid odour discharge compared with reference cows with no discharge (HR = 0.49; p = 0.01), resulting in a lower proportion of cows pregnant by 360 dpp (66% vs 78%). Furthermore, the number of services per pregnancy was higher for cows with clinical endometritis than for cows without clinical endometritis (4.4 vs 3.1; p = 0.04). Cows with clinical endometritis were 1.6 times as likely to be culled as cows with no signs of clinical endometritis. In conclusion, the prevalence and the impact of clinical endometritis in a pasture-based, extensive dairy production system in Argentina were similar to previously published data from dairy farms with confinement production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution the authors update the grammitoid ferns growing in Argentina and Chile recognizing 3 genera (Grammitis Sw., Lellingeria A.R. Sm. & R.C. Moran and Melpomene A.R. Sm. & R.C. Moran), 5 species and one new record for Argentina, Lellingeria tungurahuae (Rosenst.) A.R. Sm & R.C. Moran. The novel generic concept is discussed and geographic distribution, synonymy and illustrations are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, the first references of 3 taxa for the Argentina fern-flora are given: Cheilanthes cucullans Fée from Salta, Blechnum (Lomaridium) kunthianum C. Chr. and Pteris sericea (Fée) Christ from Misiones. Also the taxonomic and morphological references of Pellaea sagittata (Cav.) Link var. sagittata, mencioned in a recent ethnobotanic paper, are given. Each species is illustrated in detail and some palinological data, supporting the apogamy in the type variety of Pellaea sagittata, are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this short paper, the author reports the presence of Notholaena sulphurea (Cav.) J. Sm. in NW and W Argentina (Jujuy and La Rioja Provinces). A key for the Argentine species of that genus, is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently several studies have reported that subclinical endometritis impairs reproductive performance in cattle. Most of the studies were conducted in western industrialized countries under intensive housing conditions. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical endometritis and its impact on reproductive performance outcomes in clinically healthy postpartum dairy cows in a pasture-based extensive dairy farming system in Argentina. Lactating Holstein cows (n =201) at 18–38 days postpartum (dpp) from three commercial dairy farms in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, were examined for signs of clinical endometritis by external inspection and manual vaginal examination. Only cows without signs of clinical endometritis i.e. no vaginal discharge were enrolled in this study and examined for subclinical endometritis using the cytobrush technique. Cows with ≥5% polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in the cytological sample were regarded as affected by subclinical endometritis. All cows were reexamined 14 days later following the same examination protocol. Prevalence of subclinical endometritis 18–38dpp was 38% and decreased to 19% at reexamination. The proportion of cows pregnant at first service was 29% and proportion of cows pregnant at 360pp was 73% and 75% in cows with subclinical endometritis and those without, respectively. The probability of conception at first service, hazards of insemination and pregnancy, respectively, were not affected by subclinical endometritis. Primiparous cows had a greater chance for insemination (HR=0.66; 95% CI=0.47–0.92) and pregnancy (HR=0.63; 95% CI=0.45–0.90) than multiparous cows. In conclusion subclinical endometritis did not affect reproductive performance outcomes in a pasture-based, extensive dairy farming system in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The presence of at least on health problem in dairy cattle negatively affected milk production at peak and 305d cumulative milk production. • Cows with health disorders during the third lactation required more inseminations. • Healthy cows remained in the herd 45 days longer than cows with at least one disease. • There is a high risk of health disorders in dairy cattle at the early stage of lactation. • Clinical disease effects on lactation were not limited to the period of disease progress. In dairy herds, cattle experience different health disorders, and their occurrence during lactation may cause important economic losses. The systematic analysis of productive and health records allows us to identify the risk factors of greatest negative incidence on profitability in commercial dairy farms. The aim of this work was to estimate the effects of clinical diseases on the productive and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. A total of 15,423 lactations (≥3rd lactations) were analyzed; data involved records of three years obtained from 21 commercial dairy farms randomly selected from the main milk-producing provinces in Argentina. Lactations were classified as "with" (WD) or "without" (WOD) clinical diseases. The parameters production at peak (Ppeak) and 305-d cumulative milk production (305DY) were estimated and lactation curves were fitted using the MilkBot model. Statistical differences were found between lactations with at least one clinical disease (305DY 9,861.3 kg; Ppeak 39.5 kg/d) and those WOD (305DY 10,013.6 kg; Ppeak 40.2 kg/d). The reproductive indicators days open and days to culling were derived from survival analysis. Days open showed that 50% of cows with at least one clinical disease became pregnant 181 days (95% CI = 177; 185) after parturition, whereas in cows without clinical disease, pregnancy occurred on average 126 days (95% CI= 121; 132) after parturition. Furthermore, for days to culling , 50% of the diseased cows exhibited a culling time of 518 days (95%CI = 508; 527), whereas healthy cows remained in the herd for a longer period, on average 563 days (95% CI= 541; 586). The results suggest significant residual effects, i.e. the consequences of clinical disease are not limited to the period of disease progress, but extend to periods after the clinical resolution of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Punta Lara Natural Reserve shelters the relict of the Southernmost riparian forest in the world, where the flora is threatened by the anthropic expansion and by the introduction of exotic species. In this area the ferns and lycophytes grow in particular environments as marshland, grassland and marginal forest. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diversity of ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Punta Lara Natural Reserve. Field trips were conducted from 2006 to 2009 and local herbaria and specific bibliography were also revised. As a result of our study twenty four taxa of ferns and lycophytes were recognized. Their habit was mainly terrestrial (70%), fewer aquatic (17%) and epiphytic (13%). Five native taxa were scarcely recorded whereas two native species previously documented were not found. We assume that the main threats on ferns and lycophytes populations in Punta Lara Reserve are: removal for commercialization, invasion by exotic species and climatic fluctuations (drought periods). Keys for taxa identification are given and strategies for the conservation of threatened taxa are proposed. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (3): 1037-1046. Epub 2011 September 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]