scholarly journals First record of tuberculosis lesions in zooarchaeological samples of otariid pinnipeds. New aspects of the pre-european origin of human tuberculosis in South America and dissemination mechanisms of Mycobacterium pinnipedii in the Southern Hemisphere

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-253
Author(s):  
Ricardo Bastida ◽  
Viviana Quse ◽  
María Paz Martinoli ◽  
Atilio Francisco Zangrando

In 2003 Mycobacterium pinnipedii was described as responsible for producing tuberculosis (TB) in living otariid pinnipeds from Argentina and Australia. It is the only member of marine origin within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC), which also affects other domestic and wild mammals, and humans. Based on several pre-Columbian records of human tuberculosis in South America, in 2010-2011 a new hypothesis about the origin of this zoonosis through otariid pinnipeds arose. In 2014, this hypothesis was confirmed based on the study of ancient DNA from three mummies (700-1,000 years BP) of the Chiribaya culture (Peru). Since there were no records of TB bone lesions in zooarchaeological samples of otariid pinnipeds from South America and the rest of the world, our study aimed at examining zooarchaeological samples of pinnipeds from coastal sites of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), being the oldest Túnel I (6,400-4,300 years BP). A total of 4,138 vertebrae were analyzed, of which 0.46 % showed lesions compatible with TB. In addition, we propose a new hypothesis on possible mechanisms of Mycobacterium pinnipedii dissemination that would explain the transmission routes to the different otariid pinniped species of the Southern Hemisphere. Mycobacterium pinnipedii is one of the most aggressive mycobacteria of the MTBC and of high risk for humans.

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 1061-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel A. Sallaberry ◽  
Roberto E. Yury-Yáñez ◽  
Rodrigo A. Otero ◽  
Sergio Soto-Acuña ◽  
Teresa G. Torres

This study presents the first record of Eocene birds from the western margin of southernmost South America. Three localities in Magallanes, southern Chile, have yielded a total of eleven bird remains, including Sphenisciformes (penguins) and one record tentatively assigned to cf. Ardeidae (egrets). Two different groups of penguins have been recognized from these localities. The first group is similar in size to the smallest taxa previously described from Seymour Island, Marambiornis Myrcha et al., 2002, Mesetaornis Myrcha et al., 2002, and Delphinornis Wiman, 1905. The second recognized group is similar in size to the biggest taxa from Seymour Island; based on the available remains, we recognize the genus Palaeeudyptes Huxley, 1859, one of the most widespread penguin genera in the Southern Hemisphere during the Eocene. The stratigraphic context of the localities indicates a certain level of correlation with the geological units described on Seymour Island. The newly studied materials cast more light on the paleobiogeography of the group, extending the known ranges to the South American continent. In addition to the newly discovered birds, the presence of several taxa of elasmobranchs previously recovered exclusively from Eocene beds in the Southern Hemisphere help to clarify the age of the studied localities, widely discussed during the last decades. This paper verifies the presence of extensive Eocene sedimentary successions with fossil vertebrates along the western margin of southern South America, contrary to the previous assumption that such a record is lacking in Chile.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Vilela ◽  
Gerhard Bächli

The male terminalia of a non-type Diathoneura longipennis (Malloch 1926) specimen,collected in Peru, were dissected and analyzed. The aedeagus and associated sclerites were found tohave been fixed at a late stage of protrusion, resulting in a different morphology, when compared to thetwo previous publications, which were fixed at earlier stages. Consequently, additional details of certainanatomical parts were observed and a better understanding of the aedeagus protruding process was attained.Diathoneura longipennis has been previously identified in San Mateo, Alajuela, Costa Rica (type locality)and Panama, and this specimen represents the first record of this species in South America.


2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-212
Author(s):  
P. Emilio Cedeño ◽  
N. Anjos ◽  
V. A. Costa
Keyword(s):  

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2910 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
KEIZO TAKASUKA ◽  
HAJIME YOSHIDA ◽  
PUTRA NUGROHO ◽  
RIKIO MATSUMOTO

Zatypota albicoxa (Walker) is newly recorded from Mt. Merapi, Java Is., Indonesia. This is the first record of Z. albicoxa from this part of the Oriental region and from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first record of the genus Zatypota from Southeast Asia. The Indonesian population of Z. albicoxa attacks a theridiid spider of the genus Parasteatoda, as do populations of Z. albicoxa in other regions. The spider is a new species, and is described under the name of Parasteatoda merapiensis.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 319 (3) ◽  
pp. 254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. ÁNGELES ALONSO ◽  
MANUEL B. CRESPO ◽  
HELMUT FREITAG

The name Salicornia cuscoensis given to a plant from high Andean saltmarshes near Cusco [Cuzco] and Ayacucho, Peru (South America) is validated by a diagnosis and description. The main morphological characters that separate S. cuscoensis from other closely related species are creeping habit, delicate branches, inflorescence of short and thin spikes, and seed indumentum. The new species clearly differs from other perennial Salicornia taxa growing in high Andean saltmarshes such as S. pulvinata and S. andina. The former forms small compact cushions producing very short, few-flowered inflorescences. The latter shows woody stems and forms larger rounded carpets. Morphologically, S. cuscoensis is also similar to S. magellanica, a species growing along the seashore in southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, but the latter has shorter and wider inflorescences and larger seeds with a different type and arrangement of indumentum. Molecular analyses also supported the separation of S. cuscoensis. Data on habitat, distribution and phylogenetic relationships are presented for the new species and its relatives, and an identification key is given for the South American taxa of the genus Salicornia.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Miguel Montalva ◽  
Mauro Ríos ◽  
Felipe Vivallo

The Palearctic wool carder bee Anthidium manicatum (Linnaeus) is recorded for the first time in Chile based on eight specimens collected on Lavandula sp. (Lamiaceae) in San Bernardo, Metropolitan Region.  This new record expands the invasive range of this species in South America, confirming previous predictions based on an ecological niche model.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lúcio André Viana ◽  
Kamilla Costa Mecchi ◽  
Leonardo França do Nascimento ◽  
Heitor Miraglia Herrera ◽  
Paula Helena Santa-Rita ◽  
...  

The coccidian Caryospora bigenetica was first described in the snake Crotalus horridus (Viperidae) from United States of America. This study represents the first record of the occurrence of C. bigenetica in snakes in South America. Feces were sampled between November 2013 and May 2014 from 256 wild snakes maintained in scientific breeding facilities in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS; n = 214) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ; n = 42), Brazil. Caryospora bigenetica was found in 14 (5.6%) snakes, all belonging to the family Viperidae. Ten Bothrops moojeni and two Crotalus durissus from MS were infected. The coccidian was also found in one C. durissus and in one Bothrops jararacussu from the state of RJ. The oocysts were spherical with a double wall, the exterior lightly mammillated, striations apparent in transverse view, 13.0 µm (12 – 14); polar granule fixed in the internal wall. Sporocysts oval or pyriform, 10.0 × 8.0 µm (9 – 11 × 8 – 9); Stieda body discoid; sub-Stieda body present; sporocyst residuum present, formed by a group of spheroid bodies between sporozoites. This study increases the number of viperid hosts of C. bigenetica and expands the geographical distribution to South America.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Coscarelli ◽  
Lângia C. Montresor ◽  
Philip Russo ◽  
Alan Lane de Melo ◽  
Teofânia H.D.A. Vidigal

Abstract Accurate distributional information is crucial for studies on systematics, biodiversity and conservation. To improve the knowledge regarding the geographical distribution of Omalonyx in South America, we present updated information based on data from a literature review, institutional collections and malacological surveys. All this information composed the dataset used to predict species distribution employing the Maximum Entropy Algorithm (MaxEnt). The model was run using data on species distribution, altitude and bioclimatic variables (WorldClim database). The model had consistent performance, and areas presenting similar conditions to areas where the species were recorded were considered areas of occurrence. The predicted occurrence areas included those that were already surveyed and those that are considered potential occurrence areas. The results demonstrate that the genus has widespread distribution in the Neotropical region and occurs in the tropical, temperate and arid regions of South America and Lesser Antilles. Omalonyx spp. were recorded in all South American countries and hydrographic regions. However, in some countries, there were only isolated records (ex: Colombia and Ecuador). Here, we also present the first record of Omalonyx spp. in four Brazilian States (Acre, Rondônia, Piaui, and Amapá). The genus was found in all hydrographic regions within Brazil and among 27 federative unities; it was absent from only two unities (Roraima State and Distrito Federal). This work contributes to the knowledge on Omalonyx spp. distribution and provides an important basis for the work of ecologists and taxonomists.


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