Hypowaagenia? bodenbenderi (Behrendsen): A rare aspidoceratid ammonite from the Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin,Argentina

Among the ammonite collection from the Neuquén and Mendoza provinces made by G. Bodenbender, stands Aspidoceras bodenbenderi Behrendsen. This rare aspidoceratid is assigned to the lower Alternans Zone because of the associated Parodontoceras calistoides (Behrendsen), and can be most likely attributed to the recently established genus Hypowaagenia Schweigert & Schlampp.     

Brote de histoplasmosis en la provincia de Neuquén,Patagonia Argentina

BackgroundIn Argentina, there are no reports of autochthonous cases of histoplasmosis in the southern regions of the country.AimTo report a histoplasmosis outbreak in Zapala town, Province of Neuquén, Patagonia Argentina.MethodsWe evaluated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 5 patients involved in the outbreak. Environmental studies were conducted to determine the source of infection. The genetic profile of Histoplasma capsulatum strains isolated from the index case (IC) were compared with clinical isolates from Argentinean patients not related to the outbreak, using RAPD-PCR with primers 1281-1283.ResultsThe patients were residents of Zapala, and had not visited other geographical areas before. All patients had an influenza-like syndrome, and X-ray revealed disseminated micronodular images throughout the lung parenchyma. The IC needed specific antifungal therapy; the remaining 4 patients had mild symptoms, and did not require therapy. All of them had a good clinical outcome. Strains of H. capsulatum isolated from blood culture and lung biopsy of the IC showed a genetic profile different from other strains analyzed. The presence of the fungus in the environment was demonstrated by the detection of anti-Histoplasma antibodies in BALB/c mice inoculated with soil obtained in a culvert where workers had dug up earth after a landslide.ConclusionsThis outbreak suggests the histoplasmosis endemic area is under the 38° S parallel. Patients from Neuquén, Patagonia Argentina, with compatible symptoms of histoplasmosis should be tested, regardless of their travel or exposure history.     

First Amphilestid from South America: A Molariform from the Jurassic Ca?adón Asfalto Formation, Patagonia, Argentina

We report here the first amphilestid triconodont from the Jurassic of South America. The specimen, a single isolated molariform, was found at the Queso Rallado locality from where a growing mammalian fauna is known (including a triconodontid, two australosphenidans, and an as yet undescribed allotherian). The specimen, interpreted as a left lower tooth, presents five mesiodistally aligned, fairly symmetrical cusps, and is recognized as the type of a new taxon, Condorodon spanios. The phylogenetic analysis recovers Condorodon as a member of the clade Amphilestheria, closely related to Tendagurodon janenschi, an amphilestid triconodont from the Late Jurassic of Tanzania. Condorodon spanios is only distantly related to Argentoconodon fariasorum, the other triconodont known from Queso Rallado quarry. The phylogenetic position of Condorodon spanios points to the origin and diversification of amphilestherians during the Early Jurassic in a paleogeographical setting that allowed wide dispersion of these forms and argues, at least from the mammalian evidence, against a highly provincialized Pangaea. Some differences are however established between the filial western/eastern Gondwanan masses and their respective faunas.     

First prokaryotic biodiversity assessment using molecular techniques of an acidic river in Neuquén, Argentina

Two acidic hot springs close to the crater of Copahue Volcano (Neuquén, Argentina) are the source of the Río Agrio. The river runs several kilometres before flowing into Caviahue Lake. Along the river, temperature, iron, other metal and proton concentrations decrease gradually with distance downstream. From the source to the lake and depending on the season, pH can rise from 1.0 (or even less) to about 4.0, while temperature values decrease from 70°C to 15°C. Water samples were taken from different stations on the river selected according to their physicochemical parameters. In order to assess prokaryotic biodiversity throughout the water column, different and complementary molecular biology techniques were used, mainly in situ hybridisation and 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. All microorganisms found are typical of acidic environments. Sulphur-oxidizing bacteria like Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus albertensis were detected in every station. Moderately thermophile iron- and sulphur-oxidizing bacteria like members of Alicyclobacillus and Sulfobacillus genera were also ubiquitous. Strict iron-oxidizing bacteria like Leptospirillum and Ferrimicrobium were present at the source of the river, but disappeared downstream where iron concentrations were much lower. Iron-oxidizing, mesophilic Ferroplasma spp. were the main archaea found. The data presented in this work represent the first molecular assessment of this rare natural acidic environment.     

Heterogeneous distribution of human cystic echinococcosis after a long-term control program in Neuquén, Patagonia Argentina

The present study is the first comprehensive analysis of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) epidemiological data carried out in the province of Neuquén, Patagonia Argentina, after 34 years of uninterrupted control program. A retrospective study of all the official records of confirmed human CE cases between 1995 and 2004 was carried out. A total of 1107 cases were reported. The overall mean annual incidence (MAI) was 24.4 per 100,000 inhabitants for the total population and 9.7/100,000 in the 0-14 year group. Distribution of cases by age and sex as well as frequency of cyst locations was analysed. Children accounted for 13.3% of total cases, indicating active transmission of the disease. Territorial distribution of cases was highly heterogeneous: MAI per 100,000 ranged from 7.9 in the Metropolitan Sanitary Area to 78.4 in the western rural areas. Higher values were recorded in small communities as Pilo Lil (800/100,000). MAI showed a significant decrease from 1995 to 1999 (43.9-18.8) but remains stable from 2000 to 2004 (15.9-15.5). These results suggest that standard control measures, despite long-term implementation, are not able to produce a sustained improvement of the epidemiological status of the disease. Further studies about local transmission cycles, definite and intermediate hosts present, Echinococcus granulosus strains or cultural behaviours in small communities are required in order to adequate the control actions in Neuquén.     

Two new theropod egg sites from the Late Jurassic Lourinhã Formation,Portugal

Two new Late Jurassic (uppermost Late Kimmeridgian) dinosaur eggshell sites are described, Casal da Rola and Porto das Barcas, both near Lourinhã, central-west Portugal. Casal da Rola yields eggshells with an obliquiprismatic morphotype comparable to those from a nest with the associated fossil embryos from Paimogo, tentatively assigned to the theropod Lourinhanosaurus antunesi. The Porto das Barcas eggshells have a dendrospherulitic morphotype with a prolatocanaliculate pore system. This morphotype was also recognised in eggshells from a clutch with associated Torvosaurus embryos at the Porto das Barcas locality. A preliminary cladistic analysis of eggshell morphology suggests theropod affinities for the Casal da Rola eggs, but is unable to resolve the phylogenetic position of the Porto das Barcas eggs. The eggshells at both sites are preserved in distal flood plain mudstones and siltstones. Carbonate concretions within the deposits indicate paleosol development.     

Description of a new species of Haemogamasus (Mesostigmata, Laelapidae, Haemogamasinae) from Chubut, Río Negro and Neuquén Provinces, Argentina

A new species of Haemogamasus mites is described from Chubut, Neuquén and Río Negro Provinces, Argentina. It was collected primarily from rodents of the genus Abrothrix (65 of 77 collections): Abrothrix longipilis (63), Abrothrix olivaceus olivaceus (1) and Abrothrix olivaceus xanthorhinus (1). Additional collections were made from Geoxus valdivianus (5) and Loxdomtomys micropus (5). Possibly incidental or contaminate collections were recorded from Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (1) and Dromiciops gliroides (1). Most collections came from Río Negro Province (36), with 22 from Neuquén and 19 from Chubut. An identification key is provided to distinguish ♀s of this new species from ♀s of species from the western hemisphere, based on morphological characters.     

Shark faunas from the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous of northeastern Thailand

A revision of the freshwater shark fauna from the Phu Kradung Formation in NE Thailand allows the recognition of a new species of Acrodus, which represents the youngest occurrence of the genus and confirms its displacement in freshwater environments after the Toarcian. The rest of the shark fauna includes teeth of Hybodus sp., aff. Hybodus sp., hybodontid dermal denticles, Jiaodontus sp., Lonchidion sp. A, Lonchidion sp. B, Heteroptychodus cf. H. kokutensis and dorsal fin spines. The presence of Jaiodontus and of unusual hybodontid dermal denticles suggests a Jurassic age for most of the Phu Kradung Formation, whereas the presence of Heteroptychodus suggests an Early Cretaceous age for the top of the Formation. However, the age of the Phu Kradung Formation is still uncertain, with contradictory signals coming from palynology, detrital zircon thermochronology and vertebrate palaeontology. In any case, it appears that this is the oldest occurrence of the genus Heteroptychodus, and suggests a Thai origin for this genus, which may have replaced Acrodus in the Thai freshwater palaeoecosystems. Together with Acrodus, the presence of Lonchidion sp. A suggests some European affinities for the shark fauna from the Phu Kradung Formation.     

New ommatids from the Late Jurassic of western Liaoning, China （Coleoptera： Archostemata）

A new genus Amblomma gen. nov. of fossil beetles is erected and can be assignedto the family Ommatidae because its two procoxal cavities are contiguous and the articulations of the abdominal ventrites are abutting. The new genus is similar to Zygadenia Handlirsch, 1906 (=Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964), Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, 1901,Rhobdocupes Ponomarenko, 1966 and Sinocupes Lin, 1976, but can be distinguished from other genera according to the following characters: the second segment of antennae is shorterthan the third one in length; the posterior tarsi with the basal segment is obviously shorter than the three following taken together in length; the antennae reach the posterior ridge of prothroax in length, and the sides of the prothroax with serrulate margin. Four new species of the new genus are described and figured: Amblomma psilata gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma rudis gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma epicharis gen. et sp. nov., and Amblomma stabilis gen. etsp. nov. A key to species within this new genus is provided. All the specimens are collected from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of western Liaoning and are now housed in the College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.     

Usefulness and validation of a coproantigen test for dog echinococcosis screening in the consolidation phase of hydatid control in Neuquén,Argentina

Hydatidosis is endemic in Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina, even though sanitary authorities have been performing a control programme since 1970. At present, the programme is in consolidation phase, and dogs have being evaluated by arecoline purgation. The aims of this study were to evaluate diagnostic performance of a coproantigen (CAg) ELISA test developed “in house” and to assess CAg detection in prepatent period. We examined 8 dogs experimentally infected with Echinococcus granulosus and 403 rural dogs in an endemic area in Neuquén using CAg ELISA test and arecoline purgation. Within the experimental dog group, sensitivity and specificity of the test were 93.6% and 88.5% respectively. In rural dogs group, the overall prevalence of canine echinococcosis was 3.7% using arecoline purgation and 12.4% by the CAg test; sensitivity and specificity of the test using arecoline purge as standard were 73.3% and 89.9% respectively. Possible cross reactions in CAg test were evaluated in rural dogs: CAg was undetectable in 96.4% of the dogs infected only with taeniids non-E. granulosus, and in 90.1% of dogs infected with non-taeniid helminths. The CAg test could detect infections within prepatent period and produced negative results after worm expulsion. Our test showed adequate diagnostic performance with experimentally and naturally infected dogs, in the epidemiological situation of Neuquén. Employment of this sensitive and practical method for surveillance in the control programme in Neuquén would improve screening of canine echinococcosis by detecting infected dogs even with low burdens or within prepatent period.     

A new Semionotid (Actinopterygii,Neopterygii) from the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous of Thailand

A new semionotid fish, Lepidotes buddhabutrensis n. sp., is described from the continental Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Phu Kradung Formation, Phu Nam Jun, Kalasin Province. L. buddhabutrensis is characterized notably by the pattern of its cheek bones, by its short preorbital region, and by its numerous and well-developed premaxillary teeth. L. buddhabutrensis is provisionally placed in the genus Lepidotes; it shares, however, derived characters with other semionotids, such as Araripelepidotes and Pliodetes. To cite this article: L. Cavin et al., C. R. Palevol 2 (2003).     

Draconyx loureiroi,a new camptosauridae (Dinosauria,Ornithopoda) from the Late Jurassic of Lourinhã, Portugal

A new ornithopod dinosaur is described here under the name of Draconyx loureiroi n. gen., n. sp. on teeth, caudal vertebrae, forelimb, hindlimb, and foot material that were found in association in the Late Jurassic-Tithonian of Lourinhã, Portugal. Draconyx is a Camptosauridae related to Camptosaurus.     

Bartolius pierrei n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) from the Península Valdés, Argentina

Bartolius pierrei n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is described from metacercariae and naturally and cultivated obtained adults from southern Argentina. The second intermediate host is Darina solenoides (King) (Bivalvia: Mactridae) and the definitive host is Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein (Aves: Laridae). The diagnostic characters are as follows: Body small, oval. Oral sucker without lateral projections, twice size of ventral sucker (except in young metacercariae). Caeca short (in adults), without dorsal diverticula. Ventral sucker in posterior third of body. Ventral pit absent. Seminal vesicle bipartite. Ovary post-testicular. Vitelline glands paired, compact, close to ventral sucker. Uterus in fore- and hindbody. Genital atrium tubular. Genital pore inconspicuous, close to anterior margin of ventral sucker. Excretory vesicle Y-shaped with very short stem. Excretory formula: 2[(2+2)+(2+2)]=16. Bartolius is distinguished from other genera of the Gymnophallidae by the post-testicular position of the ovary.     

New Patagonian baurusuchids (Crocodylomorpha; Notosuchia) from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Upper Cretaceous; Neuquén,Argentina): New evidences of the early sebecosuchian diversification in Gondwana

The Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian) of the Neuquén basin (southwestern Argentina) has one of the most complete crocodyliform records of South America, together with the Adamantina and Marília formations of Brazil. In this contribution we report two fragmentary individuals from two different localities of the Bajo de la Carpa Formation: a middle-sized individual (MLP 26-IV-30-2), represented by postcranial remains from the Boca del Sapo locality and a large-bodied individual (MACN Pv-RN 1150), consisting only of snout elements from Paso Córdoba locality. Despite the remains of both specimens are fragmentary, they display anatomical characters of a specialized notosuchian carnivore clade: Baurusuchidae. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers these new individuals as non-baurusuchine baurusuchids, although they take multiple phylogenetic positions on the different most parsimonious trees. These new remains highlight the relevance of the Bajo de la Carpa Formation for understanding the rise of notosuchians during the Late Cretaceous.     

Lycopodiopsids and equisetopsids from the Triassic of Quebrada de los Fósiles Formation,San Rafael Basin,Argentina

In the late 1960s, rests of a low-diversity flora dominated by the lycopsid Pleuromeia were reported. The specimens were recovered from a creek near San Rafael, Mendoza Province, western Argentina, in the lower section of the Puesto Viejo Group, the Quebrada de los Fósiles Formation, considered as Early Triassic in age. Despite the importance of this flora with respect to the end-Permian mass extinction event, it was not yet described nor illustrated. Since then, the age of the Puesto Viejo Group has been revised and the Quebrada de los Fósiles Formation is now considered to be early Middle Triassic. The fossil plants are here first described and interpreted. The most common element, Pleuromeia cf. sternbergii, a species known worldwide that characterizes the post-extinction flora recovery, is accompanied by sphenopsids such as Neocalamites and Equisetostachys, and an herbaceous lycopsid. This community grew up associated with transient water bodies in flood plain environments that developed under warm temperate, strongly seasonal climatic conditions. The landscape was stressed by volcanism, and the conjunction of these factors probably restricted the colonization and development of a full ecosystem, as happened worldwide after the end-Permian mass extinction.