Argentina was certified malaria-free by the WHO in 2019 after eight years with no instances of local transmission. Epidemiological surveillance was focused on detecting Plasmodium vivax in areas where the last cases had been reported. During the national malaria surveillance program (2013–2018), several human blood samples were collected across neighborhoods using traditional microscopy and molecular techniques (2013–2017) to detect any silent circulation of P. vivax. In 2022, post-certification, 92 blood samples preserved in Whatman FTA paper were analyzed for the first time to detect the presence of Plasmodium parasites by amplifying and sequencing a fragment of the Plasmodium cytochrome b gene. A submicroscopic, asymptomatic P. vivax infection was identified in a 66-year-old individual from La Bendición neighborhood, Salvador Mazza, Salta province (northwestern Argentina). The individual had no history of travel to any P. vivax-endemic region. This case was the first detected infection among the samples collected from various localities along Argentina’s borders with Bolivia (northwest) and Brazil (northeast). This finding highlights the risk of silent circulation of P. vivax in areas previously assumed to be malaria-free and raises concerns regarding the timing of the certification. This is the first molecularly confirmed submicroscopic infection of P. vivax reported prior to malaria-free certification in Argentina and the Southern Cone region. Currently, there is no active epidemiological or entomological surveillance in the area where the case was recorded. It is imperative to strengthen the surveillance system to maintain the country’s malaria-free status within the national health system agenda and address the risks of silent malaria circulation and re-emergence. Furthermore, to comply with the national malaria program guidelines and WHO requirements to maintain malaria-free certification, the development and implementation of highly sensitive diagnostic tools to detect asymptomatic cases is crucial.
Pomegranate is rich in polyphenols with demonstrated antioxidant activity and health benefits, including protection against intestinal disorders. This study evaluated the impact of fermentation with two Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from fruits (CRL2051 and CRL2030) on the phenolic composition of pomegranate juice (PJ) after 48 h of incubation at 30 degrees C (PJ48), in comparison with fresh unfermented juice (PJ0) and juice stored for 48 h at 30 degrees C (PJ48). Both strains successfully grew in the pomegranate matrix, maintaining high viable counts and preserving total phenolic content, although CRL2051 conserved the integrity of most phenolic groups more effectively than CRL2030. Based on these results, FPJ-CRL2051 was further tested in Caco-2 human colonic cells to assess cell viability and redox status. No cytotoxic effects were detected after 24 h at realistic concentrations of juice (0.1-10 mu g/mL). PJ0 and PJ48 decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, while increasing intracellular glutathione (GSH) without modifying glutathione reductase activity. In contrast, FPJ-CRL2051 reduced GSH levels and enhanced GPx at the highest concentration tested, likely due to its polyphenolic profile. A hedonic sensory analysis comparing PJ48 and FPJ-CRL2051 revealed no significant differences in colour, texture, taste or overall acceptability, although FPJ-CRL2051 was perceived as slightly more acidic and less astringent. Correlation analysis indicated that texture and taste were strongly linked to overall acceptability in both products. These results suggest that the lactic fermentation preserves the phenolic composition and biological potential of pomegranate juice, while maintaining favourable sensory attributes, supporting FPJ-CRL2051 as a promising health-promoting functional beverage.
El presente estudio analiza la diversidad de macrolepidópteros en la Reserva Experimental Horco Molle (REHM) y Jardín Botánico Horco Molle (JBHM), ubicados en el pedemonte de las Yungas de Tucumán, Argentina. Esta área protegida se caracteriza por una marcada heterogeneidad ambiental y la coexistencia de vegetación nativa y exótica, resultado de procesos de sucesión secundaria, lo que favorece una elevada diversidad biológica. A pesar de la importancia ecológica de la región, existe escasa información sobre la fauna de invertebrados, particularmente de lepidópteros nocturnos. Para este trabajo se realizaron muestreos sistemáticos entre 2017 y 2018 mediante trampas de luz, en cuatro sitios con distinta composición vegetal. Los ejemplares recolectados fueron fotografiados, preservados e identificados mediante el uso de claves taxonómicas, bibliografía especializada y comparación con colecciones de referencia. Se registró una importante riqueza de especies distribuidas en seis familias, con un total de 77 especies, destacándose Geometridae (31) y Erebidae (26) como las más representativas, seguidas por Noctuidae (11), Sphingidae (5), Saturniidae (3) y Notodontidae (1). Los resultados evidencian que la diversidad de polillas en el área supera ampliamente los registros previos, lo que resalta el valor de la REHM y el JBHM como reservorios de biodiversidad en un entorno periurbano. Las polillas cumplen funciones ecológicas clave, como la polinización nocturna y su participación en redes tróficas. En este contexto, el estudio subraya la necesidad de profundizar los relevamientos entomológicos en áreas protegidas, con el fin de mejorar el conocimiento de la biodiversidad y contribuir al diseño de estrategias de conservación.
The prostate gland is a principal accessory reproductive organ whose secretions are essential for sperm survival and viability. In Chiropteran, its morphology varies widely, yet interspecific anatomical and functional differences remain poorly understood. This study describes and compares the gross anatomy, histomorphology, and histochemical profile of the prostate in three Neotropical vespertilionid bats-Neoeptesicus furinalis, Myotis levis, and Lasiurus blossevillii-across two climatic seasons (cold-dry and warm-wet). Prostates from 20 adult specimens were analyzed using anatomical description, standard histology (H-E), and histochemistry (periodic acid-Schiff [PAS]-hematoxylin). Anatomically, a fundamental intergeneric difference was observed: N. furinalis exhibited two regions (ventral and dorsal), whereas M. levis and L. blossevillii showed a tricompartmentalized prostate (ventral, dorsal, and dorsolateral). All species presented a pseudostratified epithelium. Histochemically, the ventral lobe was consistently PAS-positive, but its mode of secretion differed-holocrine in N. furinalis and M. levis, and apocrine in L. blossevillii. Seasonal patterns also diverged: N. furinalis and M. levis showed marked variation in prostatic activity, whereas L. blossevillii remained active year-round. These results demonstrate pronounced intergeneric divergence in prostate organization and secretory dynamics, suggesting that the prostate gland plays a central, species-specific role in mediating reproductive strategies in response to environmental conditions in Neotropical vespertilionid bats.
The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, a major vector of corn stunt disease, threatens corn production throughout the Americas. However, the effects of Spiroplasma kunkelii-infected corn plants on D. maidis life-history traits remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed how maternal infection status of the progeny and feeding on symptomatic maize plants influences key biological parameters of D. maidis, including developmental time, survival, sex ratio, adult longevity, and fecundity. Maternal infection status did not affect egg size or duration at the egg stage. Nymphs reared on diseased plants showed higher mortality and a significantly longer development time to adulthood, regardless of maternal status. Offspring sex ratio was unaffected by either maternal infection or host plant condition. Adults emerging from diseased plants exhibited reduced survival and longevity, and females produced approximately three times fewer eggs than those reared on healthy plants. Overall, maize plants infected with S. kunkelii negatively impacted multiple fitness-related traits of D. maidis, suggesting that pathogen-induced changes in host plant quality may substantially reduce vector population performance. These findings highlight the ecological consequences of corn stunt disease and provide new insights into how plant-mediated pathogen effects can shape vector population dynamics.
