The production of backyard chickens is an activity of great importance in the economy of rural families in Paraguay. The Rustipollos population was created through directed crosses between a commercial meat line and a local population belonging to non-specific breeds but phenotypically assimilated to Creole breeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity, relationship, and structure of Rustipollos using 29 microsatellite markers. Analysis was performed on 50 Rustipollos animals and 926 other individuals as reference breeds/populations from Europe, Africa, South, and North America. A total of 318 alleles were detected, with a mean of 10.97 per locus. The polymorphic information content indicated that 80% of all loci were highly to moderately informative. Only two breeds/populations showed loci that did not deviate from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The results of genetic diversity indexes suggested moderate levels of genetic variability in Rustipollos population and low inbreeding level. The genetic differentiation index indicates a high genetic differentiation between populations. The results of the Neighbor-Net tree and STRUCTURE analyses indicate the existence of distinct gene pools, with some genetic relationships between Rustipollos, the commercial chicken strain, and south Spanish breeds. The Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components confirmed the observed genetic distances between breeds/populations. The results will be useful for sustainable use and official recognition of this population.

Babesiosis is a vector-borne disease caused by an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite of the genus Babesia. There are several species of Babesia that can infect dogs, however, B. vogeli is the most widely distributed in South America. Anemia and thrombocytopenia are the most frequent hematologic alterations reported in dogs with babesiosis. The aim of the present study was to perform a molecular characterization of the Babesia species and describe the hematological findings regarding dogs with the Babesia infection. Blood samples were collected from 35 dogs living in an urban area with symptoms compatible with babesiosis, and the data was analyzed using molecular as well as hematological approaches. Molecular detection was performed by nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene. To identify species, positives samples were sequenced and analyzed. Among the total number of samples, four (11%) were reported as positive due to a high identity (99-100%) and were clustered with the B. vogeli clade. The main hematological alteration found in infected dogs was thrombocytopenia (100%). Other abnormalities were also observed, although to a lesser extent, such as: normocytic normochromic anemia, monocytosis and eosinopenia. It is important to emphasize that this research is the first study involving molecular detection and hematology abnormalities in dogs with B. vogeli from Paraguay. A babesiose é uma doença transmitida por protozoários intraeritrocíticos do gênero Babesia. Há várias espécies de Babesia que infectam cães, mas a B. vogeli é a mais amplamente distribuída na América do Sul. A anemia e a trombocitopenia são as alterações hematológicas mais frequentemente relatadas em cães com babesiose. O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar molecularmente as espécies de Babesia, descrevendo os achados hematológicos de cães com infecção por Babesia. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 35 cães que viviam em uma área urbana com sinais compatíveis com babesiose, sendo analisadas por meio de abordagens moleculares e hematológicas. A detecção molecular foi realizada utilizando a reação em cadeia da polimerase aninhada (PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction) visando o gene 18S rRNA. Para identificar as espécies, as amostras positivas foram sequenciadas e analisadas. Entre o número total de amostras, quatro (11%) foram registradas como positivas devido a uma alta identidade (99-100%) e foram agrupadas no clado Babesia vogeli. A principal alteração hematológica encontrada em cães infectados foi a trombocitopenia (100%). Outras anormalidades também foram observadas, embora em menor grau, tais como: anemia normocítica normocrômica, monocitose e eosinopenia. É importante ressaltar que esta pesquisa é o primeiro estudo envolvendo detecção molecular e anormalidades hematológicas em cães com B. vogeli do Paraguai.

Background and Aim: Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease that affects different dog breeds. It has an invariably fatal outcome once the clinical symptoms begin. This study aimed to investigate the population behavior of the mutation superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) c.118: G˃A responsible for the high risk of developing DM in two populations of German Shepherd dogs from Uruguay and Paraguay. Materials and Methods: A total of 158 German Shepherd dogs from Uruguay (n = 114) and Paraguay (n = 44) were analyzed. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral whole blood. The SOD1 c.118: G˃A mutation was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and subsequently validated using sequencing. Allelic and genotypic frequencies and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were calculated for both populations. The rate of clinical progression was evaluated in animals homozygous for the mutation. Results: The frequencies of allele A associated with a higher risk of DM, were 0.15 and 0.23 in Paraguay and Uruguay, respectively. Paraguay’s population was found to be in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p = 1.00), whereas the population of dogs from Uruguay deviated from equilibrium (p = 0.008). When comparing the populations, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes (p = 0.26). When evaluating the clinical progression rate, all animals aged >10 years showed clinical symptoms compatible with DM. Conclusion: This study demonstrated for the first time the presence of the SOD1:c118 G>A mutation in German Shepherd dogs from Uruguay and Paraguay. The frequency detected in Uruguay was significant. Although the frequency was lower in Paraguay, the allele was present. This demonstrates the need to implement genotyping tests as part of a possible DM control program in both countries studied. Keywords: degenerative myelopathy, genetic disease, German Shepherd dog, superoxide dismutase 1 gene.

La enfermedad infecciosa bursal es una patología de origen viral que afecta a aves de corral ocasionando una alta tasa de mortalidad. Las vacunas existentes se enfrentan al problema de la aparición de nuevas cepas, por lo que se realizan búsquedas de moléculas con potencial afinidad de unión a proteínas virales. El extracto de Withania somnífera interviene en la replicación del virus de la bursitis infecciosa, pero el posible mecanismo de acción no es bien conocido. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar a través de métodos in silico los fitoconstituyentes de W. somnifera con afinidad de unión al sitio activo de la proteína viral 1 (VP1) del virus de la bursitis infecciosa. Se realizaron pruebas de acoplamiento molecular entre la VP1 y 27 fitoconstituyentes descritos en W. somnifera. Los datos de energía de unión obtenidos fueron analizados con el test de Kruskal-Wallis y la prueba de Dunn (p<0.05). Los resultados evidenciaron que los compuestos somniferina, witanólido A, witanólido N, witanólido R, witanólido S y witasomniferol C presentaron energía libre de interacción significativamente favorables (p<0.001) con valores de -8.92±0.15, -7.98±0.20, -7.56±0.28, -8.09±0.01, -8.39±0.01 y -7.99±0.23 kcal.mol-1, respectivamente. Los residuos identificados en las interacciones entre la VP1 y los fitoconstituyentes fueron Arg175, Arg335, Asp402, Asn403, Lys419, Glu421 y Asn493, los cuales poseen funciones cruciales en el proceso de replicación del genoma viral. El fitoconstituyente con mejor resultado de acoplamiento con la VP1 fue la somniferina, la cual demostró afinidades de interacción favorable por el sitio activo de la proteína; sin embargo, se requiere la validación experimental in vitro de estas observaciones.

Los marcadores moleculares son una herramienta de gran utilidad para estudios de diversidad genética, que permite identificar poblaciones con características genéticas particulares, que soportan el establecimiento de programas de conservación y mejoramiento genético. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el grado de información generada por un panel de 30 marcadores microsatélites en la población avícola Rustipollos. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre de 50 individuos, la amplificación de fragmentos se realizó mediante PCR, utilizando 30 microsatélites recomendados por la FAO-ISAG para estudios de biodiversidad en gallinas. La estimación de los tamaños de los fragmentos se realizó en un secuenciador automático ABI Prism 377. Fueron determinados el número de alelos por locus y el Contenido de Información Polimórfica (PIC), mediante el programa Microsatellite-Toolkit. El número total de alelos reportados fue de 99 en los 30 marcadores microsatélites, con un valor medio de 3.3 ±1.06 alelos por locus. La determinación del PIC registró un promedio de 0.46, con un rango de 0.18 a 0.76 en los marcadores MCW016 y ADL278, respectivamente. El 43% de los marcadores empleados resultaron altamente informativos para la población evaluada. En general, los marcadores microsatélites demostraton ser útiles para estudios genéticos en la población avícola Rustipollos.

The aim of the study was to evaluate indicators of responsible pet ownership and the level of knowledge of the legal framework in three neighbourhoods of the urban area of the Pilar district, Paraguay. In total, 138 surveys were conducted among homeowners to collect information related to housing, animals and the degree of knowledge of the legal framework. Results showed that 94% of the homes had pets and had a backyard. Moreover, 275 pets were registered, 56% of which were dogs, 40% cats and 4% other species with a mean age of 3.5 years for both species. A higher frequency of female dogs and male cats was found. The highest percentage of sterilizations were performed on female dogs and cats. The health aspect showed a low rate of immunization against rabies. A high percentage of the animals were dewormed. Most of the dogs remained inside the house permanently and the main reason for ownership in both dogs and cats was affection. Most of the animals consumed a mix of commercial feed and homemade food. A low level of knowledge of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law and Municipal Ordinance 87/2010 of the city of Pilar was found. The results indicate that the majority of those surveyed meet the basic needs related to the ownership of pets, however, aspects such as vaccination against rabies, confinement, identification and level of knowledge of the legal framework should be considered in future sanitation and education programs on responsible ownership.