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Abstract: Adults of Gurltia paralysans were obtained from veins of the spinal cord subarachnoid space from three domestic cats presenting with chronic paraparesis/paraplegia from rural areas of southern Chile. Four adult nematodes were collected (2 males and 2 females) were recovered from cat 1, 14 adult nematodes (12 females and 2 males) from cat 2, and 12 nematodes (10 females and 2 males) were collected from cat 3. Parasite induced lesions that compromised subarachnoid vein microvasculature at the thoracic, lumbar, sacral spinal cord segments extending to conus medularis. Female nematodes measured 25mm long (range=25–30mm) and 0.1mm wide. Male measured a mean of 16mm length (range=13–18mm) with a body diameter of 0.1mm (range=0.08–0.15mm). The present study described structural features of G. paralysans, a rare parasite first reported in the 1930s, and provides additional reports on associated clinical and pathological findings in naturally infected domestic cats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Masonry is the most used construction material, especially for residential dwellings built in all regions of Chile, up to four stories high. The masonry wall’s reinforcement of these buildings can be classified into three types: confined, reinforced and hybrid. Although buildings with confined masonry walls have limited shear strength and ductility, they have demonstrated acceptable seismic behavior. Experience for buildings with the other two types of reinforcement has been different; during the 1985 Llolleo earthquake several buildings had severe damage due to design and construction deficiencies. In this paper a description of key structural features, construction process, seismic resilient features and deficiencies of masonry housing types used in government-subsidized low-income dwellings is provided. In addition, various seismic vulnerability indices that characterize their seismic behavior are calculated. The evolution over time of such indices shows that nowadays a large amount of buildings are likely to be damaged after a severe earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious-contagious disease with worldwide distribution, caused by the zoonotic pathogen Mycobacterium bovis. It is believed that the existence of wild cycles may hamper the success of bTB control strategies worldwide, where wildlife species could be reservoirs of this bacterial agent across their native (e.g., European badgers, wild boars) or non-indigenous (e.g., brushtail possum in New Zealand) ranges. However, further studies are required to understand the potential risk posed by non-native wildlife in becoming carriers of M. bovis in other neglected latitudes, such as the Southern Cone of South America. In this study, we performed a specific M. bovis-RD4 real-time PCR (qPCR) assay to detect bacterial DNA in tissues from the invasive American mink (Neogale vison) in Los Ríos region, Chile. We detected M. bovis DNA in blood samples collected from 13 out of 186 (7 %) minks with known sex and age. We did not find any significant differences in bacterial DNA detection according to mink sex and age. We found that 92 % (12/13) of specimens were positive in lung, 39 % (5/13) in mediastinal lymph node, and 15 % (2/13) in mesenteric lymph node, which suggest that both respiratory and digestive pathways as possible routes of transmission between infected hosts and minks. Our study is the first report on M. bovis molecular detection in invasive minks in an area where the largest cattle population in the country is located. Furthermore, this area is characterized by a low within-herd prevalence of M. bovis infection in cattle, with a relatively low number of infected herds, and so far, no attempts at eradicating the disease have been successful., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Relative to the numerous studies focused on mammalian schistosomes, fewer include avian schistosomatids particularly in the southern hemisphere. This is changing and current research emerging from the Neotropics shows a remarkable diversity of endemic taxa. To contribute to this effort, nine ducks ( Spatula cyanoptera , S. versicolor , Netta peposaca ), 12 swans ( Cygnus melancoryphus spp. snails from Chile and Argentina were collected for adults and larval schistosomatids, respectively. Isolated schistosomatids were preserved for morphological and molecular analyses ( Physa spp. snails from Chile and Argentina were collected for adults and larval schistosomatids, respectively. Isolated schistosomatids were preserved for morphological and molecular analyses ( 28S and COI genes). Four different schistosomatid taxa were retrieved from birds: Trichobilharzia sp. in N. peposaca and S. cyanoptera that formed a clade; S. cyanoptera and S. versicolor hosted Trichobilharzia querquedulae ; and one visceral, Schistosomatidae gen. sp., which formed a clade with furcocercariae from Argentina and Chile from previous work. Of the physid snails, only one from Argentina had schistosomatid furcocercariae that based on molecular analyses grouped with Cygnus melancoryphus This study represents the first description of adult schistosomatids from Chile as well as the elucidation of the life cycles of Nasusbilharzia melancorhypha ; and one visceral, Schistosomatidae gen. sp., which formed a clade with furcocercariae from Argentina and Chile from previous work. Of the physid snails, only one from Argentina had schistosomatid furcocercariae that based on molecular analyses grouped with T. querquedulae. in Chile and Neotropics, respectively. Without well-preserved adults, the putative new genus Schistosomatidae gen. sp. could not be described, but its life cycle involves N. melancorhypha and T. querquedulae in Chile and Neotropics, respectively. Without well-preserved adults, the putative new genus Schistosomatidae gen. sp. could not be described, but its life cycle involves Chilina spp. and C. melancoryphus. Scanning electron microscopy of T. querquedulae revealed additional, undescribed morphological traits, highlighting its diagnostic importance. Authors stress the need for additional surveys of avian schistosomatids from the Neotropics to better understand their evolutionary history.

Gurltia paralysans is the causal agent of gurltiosis in domestic cats in South America. Although the life cycle of G. paralysans is unknown, it is thought that gastropods could act as intermediate hosts (IHs), as is the case for several nematodes in the Angiostrongylidae family. The aim of this study was to search for G. paralysans larvae in terrestrial gastropods and determine their role in the life cycle of this nematode species. Terrestrial gastropod samples (n=835) were collected in Punucapa, Valdivia, southern Chile, where cases of gurltiosis had been reported before. The samples included species from the families Arionidae, Limacidae, Helicidae and Milacidae. All gastropods were subjected to enzymatic digestion to isolate G. paralysans larvae. Ten percent of the gastropod samples were analyzed using seminested PCR targeting the 28S rRNA gene, while 2.6% were analyzed by histopathological examination. The results indicated the absence of G. paralysans when using any of the three methods. In conclusion, further studies are needed to evaluate specific species of aquatic or native gastropods acting as possible IHs (in this geographic location).

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite introduced in America from Europe, being considered of concern for public health and animal production, especially in countries with endemic areas as occur in Chile. In this country, the research has been focused mainly in domestic ruminants, with native and introduced wildlife being largely ignored. Thus, the aim of this study was to report the infection by Fasciola hepatica in an introduced mammal, the European hare, which is distributed along a vast area of the country. One in 42 hares hunted showed histological lesions compatible with F. hepatica, and harbored a parasitic load of 6 liver flukes. This is the first report of this lagomorph acting as host of this helminth in the country and the third in South America. Yet, we found no previous reports regard the pathology of this fluke in the species. Thus, we emphasize the importance of more studies regarding introduced mammals which could be acting as reservoirs for this important fluke.

We identified two RNA (paramyxovirus and coronavirus) and two DNA (adenovirus and herpesvirus) viruses in a common aquatic bird, the Neotropic Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax brasilianus), and determined their phylogenetic relationships to other global circulating variants. We analyzed 104 cloacal swabs from individuals collected at locations in Central Chile. Sequences were obtained from amplicons using consensus primers targeting conserved genes of the virus families Paramyxoviridae, Coronaviridae, Adenoviridae, and Herpesviridae. A total of 20.2% of the samples was positive for coronavirus, 8.7% for adenovirus, and 3.8% for herpesvirus. No paramyxoviruses were detected. All coronaviruses were identified as viruses of the Gammacoronavirus genus, closely related to the infectious bronchitis virus clade (bootstrap clade support=75%). All adenovirus samples were identified as Aviadenovirus, related to a gull and falcon adenovirus (Bayesian posterior probability=0.86). The herpesviruses identified were related to the infectious laryngotracheitis virus ( Gallid herpesvirus 1) of the genus Iltovirus (bootstrap clade support=99%). We provide information about the diversity of viruses circulating among apparently healthy Neotropic Cormorants.

Background: Although Leptospira isolation has been reported in Chilean cattle, only serological evidence of serovar Hardjo bovis infection has been routinely reported. The present report provides characterization of the pathological presentation and etiology of a clinical case of leptospirosis in a calf from the Los Rios Region in Chile., Case Presentation: In a dairy herd in southern Chile, 11 of 130 calves died after presenting signs such as depression and red-tinged urine. One of these calves, a female of eight months, was necropsied, and all the pathological findings were consistent with Leptospira infection. A urine sample was submitted to conventional bacteriological analysis together with highly specific molecular biology typing tools, in order to unravel the specific Leptospira specie and serovar associated with this clinical case. A significant finding of this study was that the obtained isolate was confirmed by PCR as L. interrogans, its VNTR profile properly matching with L. interrogans Hardjoprajitno as well as its specific genomic identity revealed by secY gen., Conclusion: Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjoprajitno was associated with the investigated calf clinical case. This information adds to the value of serologic results commonly reported, which encourage vaccination improvements to match circulating strains. In addition, this finding represents the first case report of this serovar in Chilean cattle.

Gurltia paralysans is a rare metastrongylid nematode of domestic cats that is found mainly in the veins of the spinal cord subarachnoid space and parenchyma. Endemic regions for G. paralysans mainly include Chile and Argentina. The ante mortem diagnosis of gurltiosis is difficult and based primarily on neurological signs, epidemiological factors, and the exclusion of other causes of feline myelopathies. The purpose of this retrospective case series was to describe clinical, imaging, and pathologic characteristics in nine domestic cats naturally infected with G. paralysans. Imaging tests included radiography, myelography, computed tomographic myelography (myelo-CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neurological signs included paraparesis, paraplegia, pelvic limb ataxia and proprioceptive deficits, pelvic limb tremors, lumbosacral hyperesthesia, and tail trembling or atony. Complete blood count findings included a decrease in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration value in eight cats. Eosinophilia in peripheral blood was observed in three cats, and thrombocytopenia was observed in three cats. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed mononuclear pleocytosis in five cases. Myelo-CT showed diffuse enlargement of the spinal cord at the midthoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions in all cats. Magnetic resonance image findings in the thoracic and lumbar region demonstrated multiple small nodular areas of T2 hyperintensity in the periphery of the spinal cord parenchyma. Localized intraparenchymal areas of increased T2 intensity were also observed in the thoracolumbar spinal cord and lumbosacral conus medullaris. In conclusion, G. paralysans should be considered as a differential diagnosis for domestic cats in endemic regions that have this combination of clinical and imaging characteristics., (© 2013 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.)