Immature Acta2 smooth muscle cells cause moyamoya-like cerebrovascular lesions in mice prevented by boosting OXPHOS.

ACTA2 pathogenic variants altering arginine 179 cause childhood-onset strokes due to moyamoya disease (MMD)-like occlusions of the distal internal carotid arteries, but the mechanisms of pathogenesis are unknown and no preventive treatments exist. Here we show that Acta2 smooth muscle cells (SMCs) fail to fully differentiate and maintain stem cell-like features, including increased migration and glycolytic flux compared to wildtype (WT) SMCs. Increasing mitochondrial respiration with nicotinamide riboside (NR) drives differentiation and decreases migration of Acta2 SMCs.

Clinical and Pathological Effects of Filariasis in Tayra (Eira barbara) and Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) From Colombia.

Various nematodes, including onchocercids, can infect mustelids and canids. However, there are few records concerning pathogenesis in wildlife species. Diagnosis is made through microscopic observation of blood.

Phylogenetic assessment of () comb. nov. (Haemosporida, Plasmodiidae) in golden tegu lizards: shedding light on a long-standing Haemosporida taxonomic puzzle.

Haemosporidians constitute a monophyletic group of vector-borne parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including Neotropical lizards. The remarkable diversity of these host-parasite associations and inadequate research on certain parasite groups have resulted in controversial haemosporidian taxonomy. Herein, we rediscover erythrocytic and non-erythrocytic haemosporidians infecting golden tegus () from Brazil and Colombia.

Haemosporidian parasites in the ash-breasted Sierra finch (): insights from an Andean dry forest population.

Haemosporidian genera , and , responsible for avian malarial infections, are highly diverse and have a wide range of health effects and predictors, depending on the host and its environmental context. Here, we present, for the first time, detailed information on the identity, prevalence and parasitaemia of haemosporidians and other haemoparasites that infect the ash-breasted Sierra finch, , in an Andean dry forest. We study the consequences of infection in the host body and health conditions and explore the environmental and intrinsic factors that influence infection status and parasitaemia.

Is Haemoproteus gabaldoni a valid species? An approach from morphology and molecular tools applied to parasites of Anseriformes.

Currently, there are three recognized species of haemoproteids infecting Anseriformes: Haemoproteus nettionis, H. macrovacuolatus, and H. greineri.

Avian haemosporidian (Haemosporida: Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in the department of Arauca, Colombian Orinoquia region.

Avian haemosporidian from the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium are a diverse and widely distributed group of vector-borne blood parasites. These parasites can have negative effects on bird survival by influencing several aspects of their life cycle, causing different clinical signs and even death. Colombia has the widest range of bird richness throughout the globe; however, the associations between haemosporidian parasites and wild birds in different ecosystems remain poorly explored.

Plasmodium parasites in reptiles from the Colombia Orinoco-Amazon basin: a re-description of Plasmodium kentropyxi Lainson R, Landau I, Paperna I, 2001 and Plasmodium carmelinoi Lainson R, Franco CM, da Matta R, 2010.

Colombia is a megadiverse country with about 600 species of reptiles; however, there are few studies on species of hemoparasites found in this taxonomic group. Here, we document the presence of Plasmodium spp. in four species of reptiles from the northern part of the Orinoco-Amazon region in Colombia.

Leucocytozoon Diversity and Possible Vectors in the Neotropical highlands of Colombia.

Studies of the lowland avifauna in the Neotropical Region have shown a paucity of Leucocytozoon species. However, surveys conducted in the Colombian highlands revealed a great diversity of these parasites infecting resident birds. To further investigate the relationship between Leucocytozoon diversity, the potential vectors, and altitudinal distribution, birds from 41 families were sampled at low and high elevations in Colombia.

Haemoproteus erythrogravidus n. sp. (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae): Description and molecular characterization of a widespread blood parasite of birds in South America.

The great diversity of birds and ecosystems in the Andean mountains has been understudied in terms of their parasite species. We describe a new Haemoproteus parasite, H. (Parahaemoproteus) erythrogravidus infecting Zonotrichia capensis (Rufous-Collared Sparrow) in South America.

In vitro development of Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), with perspectives for genomic studies of avian haemosporidian parasites.

The evolutionary origin of wildlife and human malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) has been discussed for several decades. The lack of genomic data about species of wildlife haemosporidian parasites related to Plasmodium limits the number of taxa available for phylogenetic analysis.

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data.

Avian haemosporidian parasites have been scarcely studied in the Neotropical highlands despite the high avian diversity reported and the uniqueness of these ecosystems. The aims of this study were to examine Haemoproteus and Plasmodium diversity based on morphological and molecular data, as well as to explore the concordance between these two approaches, when identifying species. We sampled 1487 birds belonging to 166 species, in localities of the Colombian Andean region at elevations ranging from 2100 to 4000 m above sea level.

Leucocytozoon pterotenuis sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae): description of the morphologically unique species from the Grallariidae birds, with remarks on the distribution of Leucocytozoon parasites in the Neotropics.

We describe morphologically unique Leucocytozoon pterotenuis sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae), the first reported leucocytozoid species developing in fusiform host cell found in a Neotropical passeriform bird.

Description, molecular characterization, and patterns of distribution of a widespread New World avian malaria parasite (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae), Plasmodium (Novyella) homopolare sp. nov.

Plasmodium (Novyella) homopolare, a newly described Plasmodium species, was found in a wide range of Passeriformes species in California, USA, and Colombia. This parasite infected more than 20% of the sampled bird community (N = 399) in California and was found in 3.6% of birds sampled (N = 493) in Colombia.

Mixed species flock, nest height, and elevation partially explain avian haemoparasite prevalence in Colombia.

The high avian biodiversity present in the Neotropical region offers a great opportunity to explore the ecology of host-parasite relationships. We present a survey of avian haemoparasites in a megadiverse country and explore how parasite prevalences are related to physical and ecological host characteristics. Using light microscopy, we documented the presence of haemoparasites in over 2000 individuals belonging to 246 species of wild birds, from nine localities and several ecosystems of Colombia.

Description of Leucocytozoon quynzae sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae) from hummingbirds, with remarks on distribution and possible vectors of leucocytozoids in South America.

We describe Leucocytozoon quynzae sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae), which is the first Leucocytozoon parasite identified to species level in hummingbirds.

Description and molecular characterization of Plasmodium (Novyella) unalis sp. nov. from the Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) in highland of Colombia.

Plasmodium (Novyella) unalis sp. nov. was found in the Great Thrush, Turdus fuscater (Passeriformes, Turdidae) in Bogotá, Colombia, at 2,560 m above sea level where the active transmission occurs.

Identification of Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi (Lucena, 1939) from Turdus fuscater (Great Thrush) in Colombia.

This study reports a broadening of the altitudinal range and a new host for Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi in Colombia. The study was conducted in the city of Bogotá, located in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia at 2,560 m asl (meters above sea level) with an average annual temperature of 15 C. In total, 156 specimens of birds belonging to 25 species and 14 families were captured using mist nets.