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Suitability of microalgae valorization mainly depends on its biochemical composition. Overall, among all microalgal derivatives, pigments currently stand out as the major added-value component. While it is well recognized that microalgal growth conditions strongly affect biomass composition, final tuning of already grown microalgae has been scarcely studied. Herein, pigment crude extract and debris biomass composition of an already grown microalgal consortium was evaluated after a short-term exposure (90 min) to different levels of irradiance (15, 50, 120 µmol m-2 s-1) and sulfide concentrations (0, 3.2, 16 mg L-1). Although lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents of debris biomass were not decisively modified by the short-term exposures, pigments content of the crude extracts were strongly modified after 90-min exposure at given sulfide and irradiance conditions. Particularly, a higher content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total carotenoids was estimated at an optimal sulfide concentration of 5 mg L-1, and the higher irradiance of 120 µmol m-2 s-1. Contrarily, the average irradiation level of 50 µmol m-2 s-1 and the absence of sulfide stimulated the production of phycoerythrin and phycocyanin which could be increased by 65 and 50%, respectively. Thus, a final qualitative and quantitative tuning of pigment content is plainly achievable on grown microalgal biomass, in a reduced exposure time, at given irradiance or sulfide conditions.

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The saturniid genus Hylesia is well known for the cutaneous lepidopterism induced by airborne setae on contact with the skin. Although several cases of such dermatitis have been reported in Argentina, no information about their venoms and toxicological implications on human health is available yet. Thus, we conducted a morphological analysis of the setae/spines and a toxinological characterization (through biological assays and proteomic techniques) of the bristle extract from caterpillars and moths of Hylesia sp. from Misiones, Argentina. By scanning electron microscopy, we revealed the various and distinctive types of urticating structures: harpoon-shaped or spiny setae in caterpillars, and setae with barb-like structures in female moths. Their venom electrophoretic profiles were substantially different, presenting proteins related to toxicity, such as serpins and serine peptidases. The female moth venom exhibited higher caseinolytic activity than the caterpillar venom, and coincidentally only the former noticeably hydrolyzed fibrinogen and gelatin. In addition, the female venom displayed a dose-dependent procoagulant effect. The injection of this venom into mouse skin led to the rapid detection of an increased number of intact and degranulated mast cells in the dermis; a few areas of focal subcutaneous hemorrhage were also observed after 5 h of injection. Altogether, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby Hylesia sp. from northeastern Argentina can induce toxicity on human beings, and paves the way for treatment strategies of accidents caused by this saturniid lepidopteran.

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Bat flies (Hippoboscoidea: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. We collected streblid bat flies from the New World (México) and the Old World (Uganda), and used metagenomics to identify their viruses. In México, we found méjal virus (Rhabdoviridae; Vesiculovirus), Amate virus (Reoviridae: Orbivirus), and two unclassified viruses of invertebrates. Méjal virus is related to emerging zoonotic encephalitis viruses and to the agriculturally important vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV). Amate virus and its sister taxon from a bat are most closely related to mosquito- and tick-borne orbiviruses, suggesting a previously unrecognized orbivirus transmission cycle involving bats and bat flies. In Uganda, we found mamucuso virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) and two unclassified viruses (a rhabdovirus and an invertebrate virus). Mamucuso virus is related to encephalitic viruses of mammals and to viruses from nycteribiid bat flies and louse flies, suggesting a previously unrecognized orthobunyavirus transmission cycle involving hippoboscoid insects. Bat fly virus transmission may be neither strictly vector-borne nor strictly vertical, with opportunistic feeding by bat flies occasionally leading to zoonotic transmission. Many "bat-associated" viruses, which are ecologically and epidemiologically associated with bats but rarely or never found in bats themselves, may actually be viruses of bat flies or other bat ectoparasites.

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Male-to-female sex reversal in horses is a developmental disorder in which phenotypic females have a male genetic constitution. Male-to-female sex reversal is the second most common genetic sex abnormality, after X chromosome monosomy. All male-to-female sex reversal cases studied to date have been found to be infertile. Therefore, a screening test is particularly useful in laboratories doing DNA genotyping in horses. Our laboratory has tested > 209,000 horses for parentage using a panel of microsatellite markers and the sex marker gene amelogenin (AMEL). Suspect XY sex reversal cases are reported females with a male profile by AMEL testing. After routine genotyping, 49 cases were detected and further tested using the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene, confirming the XY SRY-negative genotype of suspect sex reversal cases. When some inconsistencies arose in the initial result, a molecular panel of X- and Y-linked markers was analyzed for these samples. Of the 49 cases, 33 were confirmed as XY SRY-negative. The remaining 16 cases were identified as false-positives as a result of anomalies of AMEL testing in horses.

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Ectoparasites of bats in the Neotropics are diverse and play numerous ecological roles as vectors of microbial pathogens and endoparasites and as food sources for other cave fauna living both on their hosts and in bat roosts. The ectoparasites of bats in Jalisco State of western Mexico have not been as well described as those of other states with recent checklists that have focused primarily on the Yucatan Peninsula. We captured bats from 2011-2015 on the south coast and Sierra de Amula, Jalisco using mist nets, and we removed ectoparasites by hand. We identified 24 species of streblid bat flies and six ectoparasitic mites from bats caught in mist nets. There were an additional eight possibly undescribed species of Streblidae. Our collections extend the known range of species into Jalisco.

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El zorro andino Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) ha sido incluido en la categoría de amenaza Vulnerable en Colombia, sin embargo, no se han realizado estudios que validen la inclusión de la especie en dicha categoría a nivel nacional. En el presente trabajo se delimitó el área de distribución potencial (DP) de la especie en Colombia y se discute su categoría de amenaza. Para ello se usó modelamiento de nicho ecológico en el algoritmo de Máxima Entropía (Maxent). Con procesamiento en Sistemas de Información Geográfico resaltamos las áreas donde la especie se encuentra protegida. Los resultados muestran que el zorro andino se podría encontrar desde los departamentos de Nariño hasta el Huila (8,877 km2), y el 19.6% (1,742 km2) del área de distribución potencial de la especie se encuentra dentro del Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Colombia. A pesar, que la especie es considerada Vulnerable en Colombia, se encontró que no cumple con los criterios para su asignación en dicha categoría debido a la ausencia de evidencias tangibles que sustenten una reducción poblacional, disminución del área de ocupación o la calidad del hábitat en la década previa a la asignación de la categoría de amenaza. Teniendo en cuenta los registros verificables e información sobre el área de distribución de la especie en Colombia, se propone una reasignación de la categoría de amenaza nacional a Casi Amenazada (NT).(AU)

The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) has been included in the category of threat Vulnerable in Colombia, however, there are not available studies that support at the national level the inclusion of this species in that category. In this work, we delimited the distribution area and we discuss the category of threat of the species in Colombia. For this, we used a niche modelling approach using the Maximun Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Using Geographical Information Systems, we highlighted areas in which the species is protected. Our results show that the Andean fox can be found potentially from Nariño until Huila departments (8,877 km2), and the National System of Protected Areas in Colombia protected 1,742 km2 (19.6%) of the potential distribution of the species. Despite the species is considered Vulnerable in Colombia, we found that it does not meet the criteria for allocation in that category, due to the absence of tangible evidence that supported a population decline, decreased in area of occupancy, or habitat quality in the decade prior to the risk assessment. Considering the validated records and information on the distribution area of the species in Colombia, we suggest a re-assignation of the category to the category Near Threatened (NT).(AU)

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El zorro andino Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) ha sido incluido en la categoría de amenaza Vulnerable en Colombia, sin embargo, no se han realizado estudios que validen la inclusión de la especie en dicha categoría a nivel nacional. En el presente trabajo se delimitó el área de distribución potencial (DP) de la especie en Colombia y se discute su categoría de amenaza. Para ello se usó modelamiento de nicho ecológico en el algoritmo de Máxima Entropía (Maxent). Con procesamiento en Sistemas de Información Geográfico resaltamos las áreas donde la especie se encuentra protegida. Los resultados muestran que el zorro andino se podría encontrar desde los departamentos de Nariño hasta el Huila (8,877 km2), y el 19.6% (1,742 km2) del área de distribución potencial de la especie se encuentra dentro del Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Colombia. A pesar, que la especie es considerada Vulnerable en Colombia, se encontró que no cumple con los criterios para su asignación en dicha categoría debido a la ausencia de evidencias tangibles que sustenten una reducción poblacional, disminución del área de ocupación o la calidad del hábitat en la década previa a la asignación de la categoría de amenaza. Teniendo en cuenta los registros verificables e información sobre el área de distribución de la especie en Colombia, se propone una reasignación de la categoría de amenaza nacional a Casi Amenazada (NT).

The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) has been included in the category of threat Vulnerable in Colombia, however, there are not available studies that support at the national level the inclusion of this species in that category. In this work, we delimited the distribution area and we discuss the category of threat of the species in Colombia. For this, we used a niche modelling approach using the Maximun Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Using Geographical Information Systems, we highlighted areas in which the species is protected. Our results show that the Andean fox can be found potentially from Nariño until Huila departments (8,877 km2), and the National System of Protected Areas in Colombia protected 1,742 km2 (19.6%) of the potential distribution of the species. Despite the species is considered Vulnerable in Colombia, we found that it does not meet the criteria for allocation in that category, due to the absence of tangible evidence that supported a population decline, decreased in area of occupancy, or habitat quality in the decade prior to the risk assessment. Considering the validated records and information on the distribution area of the species in Colombia, we suggest a re-assignation of the category to the category Near Threatened (NT).

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RESUMEN El zorro andino Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) ha sido incluido en la categoría de amenaza Vulnerable en Colombia, sin embargo, no se han realizado estudios que validen la inclusión de la especie en dicha categoría a nivel nacional. En el presente trabajo se delimitó el área de distribución potencial (DP) de la especie en Colombia y se discute su categoría de amenaza. Para ello se usó modelamiento de nicho ecológico en el algoritmo de Máxima Entropía (Maxent). Con procesamiento en Sistemas de Información Geográfico resaltamos las áreas donde la especie se encuentra protegida. Los resultados muestran que el zorro andino se podría encontrar desde los departamentos de Nariño hasta el Huila (8,877 km2), y el 19.6% (1,742 km2) del área de distribución potencial de la especie se encuentra dentro del Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Colombia. A pesar, que la especie es considerada Vulnerable en Colombia, se encontró que no cumple con los criterios para su asignación en dicha categoría debido a la ausencia de evidencias tangibles que sustenten una reducción poblacional, disminución del área de ocupación o la calidad del hábitat en la década previa a la asignación de la categoría de amenaza. Teniendo en cuenta los registros verificables e información sobre el área de distribución de la especie en Colombia, se propone una reasignación de la categoría de amenaza nacional a Casi Amenazada (NT).

Abstract The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) has been included in the category of threat Vulnerable in Colombia, however, there are not available studies that support at the national level the inclusion of this species in that category. In this work, we delimited the distribution area and we discuss the category of threat of the species in Colombia. For this, we used a niche modelling approach using the Maximun Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Using Geographical Information Systems, we highlighted areas in which the species is protected. Our results show that the Andean fox can be found potentially from Nariño until Huila departments (8,877 km2), and the National System of Protected Areas in Colombia protected 1,742 km2 (19.6%) of the potential distribution of the species. Despite the species is considered Vulnerable in Colombia, we found that it does not meet the criteria for allocation in that category, due to the absence of tangible evidence that supported a population decline, decreased in area of occupancy, or habitat quality in the decade prior to the risk assessment. Considering the validated records and information on the distribution area of the species in Colombia, we suggest a re-assignation of the category to the category Near Threatened (NT).

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Objetivo La obtención de niveles de cobertura bajos frente a la vacunación contra el virus del papiloma humano, ha planteado la necesidad de analizar las causas que están afectando a la toma de decisiones sobre la administración de la vacuna, a partir de las manifestaciones de aquellas directamente implicadas, las adolescentes. Métodos Por tanto, se ha planteado la realización de una evaluación mediante la utilización de la metodología de grupos focales. Se han realizado un grupo piloto y cuatro grupos focales en el Instituto Tirant lo Blanc de Gandía con adolescentes pertenecientes a distintas poblaciones del departamento, incluyendo en los mismos adolescentes vacunadas, no vacunadas y con vacunación incorrecta. Resultados Las su experiencia, conocimientos y opiniones respecto a la vacunación frente al VPH que pueden resumirse en la existencia de ideas erróneas y una carencia importante de conocimientos. Conclusión Es necesario un cambio de dirección basado en el desarrollo de campañas educativas, que sirvan para poder obrar con responsabilidad y poder al mismo tiempo tomar decisiones adecuadas.

Objective The low immunization coverage levels for the human papilloma virus vaccine has led to a need to analyze the causes that affect the decision to vaccinate, as expressed by those directly involved in making this decision -teenage girls. Methodology Therefore, we proposed an assessment with a focus group methodology. An evaluation with a pilot group and four focal groups was carried out in Tirant lo Blanc of Gandia secondary school. The girls that made up the groups belonged to different populations within the health department, including vaccinated, non-vaccinated, and incorrectly vaccinated teenage girls. Results The girls talked about their experiences, knowledge and opinions with respect to HPV vaccination, which could be summarized as showing a large knowledge gap and the existence of erroneous ideas. Conclusion A change in direction, involving the development of educational campaigns that empowers girls and their families to make suitable decisions, is necessary.

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OBJECTIVE: The low immunization coverage levels for the human papilloma virus vaccine has led to a need to analyze the causes that affect the decision to vaccinate, as expressed by those directly involved in making this decision -teenage girls. METHODOLOGY: Therefore, we proposed an assessment with a focus group methodology. An evaluation with a pilot group and four focal groups was carried out in Tirant lo Blanc of Gandia secondary school. The girls that made up the groups belonged to different populations within the health department, including vaccinated, non-vaccinated, and incorrectly vaccinated teenage girls. RESULTS: The girls talked about their experiences, knowledge and opinions with respect to HPV vaccination, which could be summarized as showing a large knowledge gap and the existence of erroneous ideas. CONCLUSION: A change in direction, involving the development of educational campaigns that empowers girls and their families to make suitable decisions, is necessary.

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OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an employee influenza vaccination campaign, measured in terms of health and economic benefits. METHODS: Colombian bank employees volunteered to take part in this prospective observational study involving two groups: vaccinated and nonvaccinated. Socioeconomic and health status information, including influenza-like symptoms, sick leave, and postvaccination adverse events, were collected via questionnaires. Cost-benefit analyses were performed to determine whether the employer would save money overall by paying for the vaccination program. RESULTS: Between October 2000 and May 2001, 424 vaccinated subjects and 335 nonvaccinated subjects volunteered to join the study. Cumulative incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) was lower among vaccinated (14.6%) than nonvaccinated subjects (39.4%). Fever was the most common ILI symptom (93% of all reported ILI). Absence rates because of ILI were similar in the two groups (2.59%-2.69%). Assuming that employees with ILI who continue to work have reduced effectiveness (30%-70% of normal) the employer can save 6.4 US dollars to 25.8 US dollars per vaccinated employee based on labor costs alone. This saving increases to 89.3 US dollars to 237.8 US dollars when operating income is also considered. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the vaccination program will be cost saving for vaccination coverage above 20% and ILI rates above 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Among the studied volunteers, ILI has significant impact on work productivity in terms of indirect costs. Implementing an influenza vaccination program would reduce the burden of ILI and save substantial amounts of money for the company.

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