Resumen Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue proporcionar evidencia molecular de infección por C. burnetii en ovinos y caprinos de algunos rebaños de Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Quince rebaños de ovinos y caprinos fueron seleccionados a conveniencia para investigar la infección por C. burnetii, durante marzo y abril de 2013. En este estudio se incluyeron 328 caprinos y 66 ovinos de 15 rebaños. La leche procedente de ovinos y muestras de moco vaginal de caprinos fueron analizados mediante PCR (Reacción en Cadena de Polimerasa) para la detección de ADN del gen transposasa (IS1111) de C. burnetii. Resultados. Se encontró ADN de C. burnetii en 6% (4/66) de leche de oveja y 0,6% (2/328) de moco vaginal de cabras. El 13% (2/15) de los rebaños tenían al menos un animal infectado. Discusión. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren la circulación de C. burnetii en ovinos y caprinos de algunos rebaños de Valledupar, Colombia, y destaca la posibilidad de ocurrencia de infecciones en humanos y animales. Conclusiones. La detección de C. burnetii en la leche de oveja podría representar un factor de riesgo para la salud pública de las personas que consumen con frecuencia leche cruda, quesos o personas que trabajan en la agricultura y manipulación de ganado. Otros estudios son necesarios para evaluar otras rutas como la mordedura de la garrapata, las heces, la leche de las cabras y el moco vaginal de las ovejas de esta región de Colombia.

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to provide molecular evidence of C. burnetii in sheep and goats from some herds of Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia. Materials and methods. Fifteen herds of sheep and goats were chosen by convenience to investigate the infection by C. burnetii, during March and April of 2013. 328 female goats and 66 sheep from 15 herds were included in this study. Milk from ewes and vaginal mucus samples from goats were analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction for DNA detection of transposase gene (IS1111) of C. burnetii. Results. DNA of C. burnetii in 6% (4/66) of sheep’s milk and 0.6% (2/328) vaginal mucus from goats was found. 13% (2/15) of the herds had at least one infected animal. Discussion. Our findings suggest the circulation of C. burnetii in sheep and goats from some herds of Valledupar, Colombia, and it highlights the possibility of occurrence of infections in humans and animals. Conclusions. The detection of C. burnetii in sheep milk could represent a public health risk factor for people who consuming raw milk, cheeses or people associated to agriculture and livestock handling. Further studies are necessary to evaluate other routes such as tick’s bite, feces, milk from goats and vaginal mucus from sheep of this region of Colombia.

We prospectively sampled flavivirus-naïve horses in northern Colombia to detect West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) seroconversion events, which would indicate the current circulation of these viruses. Overall, 331 (34.1%) of the 971 horses screened were positive for past infection with flaviviruses upon initial sampling in July 2006. During the 12-month study from July 2006-June 2007, 33 WNV seroconversions and 14 SLEV seroconversions were detected, most of which occurred in the department of Bolivar. The seroconversion rates of horses in Bolivar for the period of March-June 2007 reached 12.4% for WNV and 6.7% for SLEV. These results comprise the first serologic evidence of SLEV circulation in Colombia. None of the horses sampled developed symptoms of encephalitis within three years of initial sampling. Using seroconversions in sentinel horses, we demonstrated an active circulation of WNV and SLEV in northern Colombia, particularly in the department of Bolivar. The absence of WNV-attributed equine or human disease in Colombia and elsewhere in the Caribbean Basin remains a topic of debate and speculation.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes concentraciones de heparina y de semen en el medio de fertilización sobre el porcentaje de oocitos bovinos fertilizados in vitro. En el experimento uno, los oocitos obtenidos de ovarios de matadero fueron madurados in vitro y distribuidos al azar en seis tratamientos para fertilización in vitro, de acuerdo a las concentraciones de heparina (2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 20 µg/ml). En el experimento dos, una vez seleccionada la concentración de heparina en experimento 1, se evaluaron tres dosis de espermatozoides en el medio de fertilización (0.5x10(6) espermatozoides/ml, 1x10(6)espermatozoides/ml y 2x10(6)espermatozoides/ml). En cada experimento se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar y los datos fueron analizados por ANAVA. La concentración de heparina tuvo efecto (p<0.05) en el porcentaje de oocitos fertilizados encontrándose los mejores resultados en la concentración de 10 µg/ml, con una tasa de penetración del 67%. La concentración espermática afecta la fertilización, encontrándose la mayor proporción de oocitos con fertilización normal (74%) al utilizar concentración 2x10(6) espermatozoides/ml. Sin embargo, no fue significativamente diferente a la concentración de 1x10(6) (p>0.05). Los resultados indican que la tasa de fertilización guarda relación directa con la dosis de heparina y la concentración espermática.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different heparin concentrations and of the semen in the percentage of bovine oocytes in fertilization medium. In the experiment 1, the obtained oocytes of slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in vitro and distributed at random in six treatments for fertilization in vitro, according to the heparin concentration (2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 20 µg/ ml). In the experiment 2, once selected the heparin concentration from experiment 1, three sperms doses were evaluated in fertilization medium (0.5x10(6) espermatozoas/ml, 1x0(6) espermatozoas/ml and 2x0(6) espermatozoas/ml). In each experiment totally randomized design was used and data were analyzed by ANAVA. The concentration of heparin (p<0.05) affected the percentage of fertilized oocytes being the best results in the concentration of 10 µg/ml, with a rate of penetration of 67%. The spermatic concentration affects the fertilization, the biggest oocytes proportion with normal fertilization (74%) when using concentration 2x10(6) spermatozoas/ml. However, it was not significantly different to the concentration of 1x 10(6) (p>0.05). The results indicate that the fertilization rate keeps direct relationship with the heparine dose and the spermatic concentration.

In the current understanding of axons, axoplasmic synthesis of proteins is negated, and it is asserted that proteins are transported from perikarya to axons. This 'transport model' in which axons are fully dependent of perikarya is seriously flawed. The 'autonomous axon' proposed here negates in turn transport of proteins, and asserts (i) local synthesis of axoplasmic proteins, corner stone of this model, (ii) existence of internal programs in axon and terminals, (iii) external control of programs resulting in local regulation of phenotype of axons and terminals, hence they are autonomous from perikarya; (iv) participation of perikarya through the fast transport in setting up the axonal programs but not in their immediate regulation. The word merotrophism (meros meaning part) denotes post-transcriptional regulation of phenotype of restricted regions of a cell. We surmise that merotrophism is at the base of many plastic phenomena.