Dermatophytosis (ringworm) are superficial mycosis produced by molds with strong keratinophilic activity, affecting skin of humans and animals. Pets have a special role, because they are one of the most common sources of infection for men, particularly children because of their close relationship with them. The confirmation of these diseases is through mycology laboratory diagnosis, where the performance (positivity) of laboratory parameters in human samples is much higher compare to samples of animal origin. Diagnostic confirmation in ringworm of children exceeds 90%; while in animals with compatible clinical forms of this mycosis, only a minor percentage is confirm by the laboratory. The maximum isolation values of fungi that cause dermatophytosis in dogs are 36.9 - 40%. Our objective is to determine the laboratory performance in samples of skin and hair of canines with clinical suspicion of superficial mycoses from the City of La Plata, between March 2005 and March 2013, using the classic techniques of direct microscopic observation and culture.

Las Dermatofitosis (tiñas), son micosis superficiales producidas por eumycetos con fuerte actividad queratinofílica, que afectan piel y faneras del hombre y animales. Las mascotas poseen un rol especial, dado que son una de las fuentes más comunes de contagio para el hombre, en particular los niños por su relación estrecha con las mismas. La forma de confirmar estas enfermedades es a través del diagnóstico micológico, donde el rendimiento (positividad) de los parámetros de laboratorio en las muestras de humanos es mucho mayor en comparación con muestras de origen animal. La confirmación diagnóstica en tiñas del cuero cabelludo de los niños, supera el 90%; mientras en los animales con formas clínicas compatibles con esta micosis, solo un porcentaje menor es confirmada por el laboratorio. Se ha demostrado que los valores máximos de aislamiento de hongos causantes de dermatofitosis en perros son del 36,9 - 40 %. Nuestro objetivo es determinar el rendimiento de laboratorio en muestras de piel y pelos de caninos con sospecha clínica de micosis superficiales provenientes de la ciudad de La Plata, entre Marzo 2005 y Marzo 2013, usando las técnicas clásicas de observación microscópica directa en fresco y cultivo.

Beekeeping is one of the most important agricultural activities in Argentine.In recent years, there has been a decrease in the number of bees worldwide. The mortality of bees can be attributed to several factors, such as the interaction of environmental factors, wrong management of colonies or the action of various patognes, including viruses. Considering that in Argentina, only molecular diagnostic techniques are available for the detection of viruses, the objective of this work was to develop an immunodiffusion test that allows the detection of the sacbrood bee virus as a simpler and Economical alternative. To developed the immunodiffusion test we use an indigenous virus strain of sacbrood was used to inoculate a rabbit from which specific antibodies were obtained against this virus. Later were used to standardize the immuodiffusion technique. This technique could be very useful in the future to carry out a rapid survey of the sanitary conditions for SBV in hives of Argentine, because due to its low complexity it could be carried out in laboratories of low complexity throughout the country.

La apicultura es una de las actividades agrícolas más importantes de la República Argentina. En los últimos años se ha observado, a nivel mundial, una marcada disminución en el número de abejas. La mortalidad de las abejas, puede atribuirse a la interacción de factores ambientales, al manejo de las colonias o a la acción de diversos microorganismos, entre ellos los virus. Teniendo en cuenta que en la Argentina en este momento solamente se cuenta con técnicas de diagnostico moleculares para la detección de virus, el objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar un test de inmunodifusión que permita la detección del Virus de la Cría Ensacada de forma más sencilla y económica. Para ello una cepa autóctona del virus Virus de la Cría Ensacada fue utilizada para inocular un conejo a partir del cual se obtuvieron anticuerpos específicos contra este virus, que posteriormente fueron utilizados para estandarizar la técnica de inmuodifusión. Esta técnica podría ser de gran utilidad en el futuro para realizar un relevamiento rápido de las condiciones sanitarias para SBV en colmenas de la República Argentina ya que debido a su baja complejidad podría ser llevada a cabo en laboratorios de baja complejidad de todo el país.

A polinização é essencial para a produção de alimentos e tem como particularidade a conexão entre os ecossistemas naturais com sistemas de produção agrícola. Recentemente, as perdas de espécies de bumblebee em todo o mundo têm sido relatadas. Neste trabalho, amostras de uma exploração comercial de bumblebee da Argentina, com recente história de mortes foram estudadas utilizando uma Multiplex PCR para a detecção de vírus de abelha mais frequentemente detectados na América do Sul. Todas as amostras analisadas foram positivas para as co-infecções com Deformed wing virus, Black queen cell viruses e Sacbrood virus. Este trabalho descreve o primeiro relato de infecção de Bombus atratus com vírus de abelhas. Uma melhor compreensão das infecções virais em bumblebee e da epidemiologia dos vírus poderia ser de grande importância, uma vez que tais abelhas podem servir como reservatório viral, com possível repercussão tanto na produtividade de abelhas melíferas como afetando-as diretamente.

Pollination is critical for food production and has the particularity of linking natural ecosystems with agricultural production systems. Recently, losses of bumblebee species have been reported worldwide. In this study, samples from a commercial exploitation of bumblebees of Argentina with a recent history of deaths were studied using a multiplex PCR for the detection of the honey bee viruses most frequently detected in South America. All samples analysed were positive for co-infections with Deformed wing virus, Black queen cell virus and Sacbrood virus. This is the first report of infection of Bombus atratus with honey bee viruses. A better understanding of viral infections in bumblebees and of the epidemiology of viruses could be of great importance as bumblebees can serve as possible viral reservoirs, resulting in pathogen spillover towards honey bees and native bumblebees.