ABSTRACT The slow scientific development in Latin America in recent decades has delayed the incorporation of laboratory animal experimentation; however, this situation has started to change. Today, extraordinary scientific progress is evident, which has promoted the introduction and increased use of laboratory animals as an important tool for the advancement of biomedical sciences. In the aftermath of this boom, the need to provide the scientific community with training and guidance in all aspects related to animal experimentation has arisen. It is the responsibility of each country to regulate this practice, for both bioethical and legal reasons, to ensure consideration of the animals' rights and welfare. The following manuscript is the result of papers presented at the International Workshop on Laboratory Animal Testing held at the Technical University of Ambato, Ecuador; it contains information regarding the current state of affairs in laboratory animal testing and emphasizes critical aspects such as main species used, ethical and legal principles, and experimental and alternative designs for animal use. These works aim to ensure good practices that should define scientific work. This document will be relevant to both researchers who aim to newly incorporate animal testing into their research and those who seek to update their knowledge.

RESUMEN El lento desarrollo científico experimentado en América Latina en las últimas décadas ha retrasado la incorporación de la experimentación con animales de laboratorio, sin embargo, esta realidad ha comenzado a cambiar. En la actualidad, se evidencia un extraordinario progreso científico que ha promovido la introducción e incremento del uso de animales de laboratorio como una importante herramienta para el avance de las ciencias biomédicas. A raíz de este auge, surge la necesidad de proporcionar a la comunidad científica la formación y directrices en todos los aspectos relacionados con la experimentación animal. Es responsabilidad de cada país legislar esta práctica para que no solo por razones bioéticas, sino también legales, se considere el derecho de los animales y con ello su bienestar. El siguiente manuscrito es el resultado de las comunicaciones presentadas en el Taller Internacional en Ciencias de Animales de Laboratorio celebrado en la Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ecuador; contiene la actualidad en la ciencia de animales de laboratorio, haciendo énfasis en aspectos fundamentales, tales como: principales especies utilizadas y su biología, principios éticos y legales, diseño experimental y alternativas al uso de animales, todas ellas encaminadas a garantizar las buenas prácticas que deben caracterizar el quehacer científico. Sin duda, este documento será relevante tanto para aquellos investigadores que pretenden incorporar la experimentación animal a sus investigaciones, como para aquellos que, aun teniendo experiencia, pretendan actualizar sus conocimientos.

The slow scientific development in Latin America in recent decades has delayed the incorporation of laboratory animal experimentation; however, this situation has started to change. Today, extraordinary scientific progress is evident, which has promoted the introduction and increased use of laboratory animals as an important tool for the advancement of biomedical sciences. In the aftermath of this boom, the need to provide the scientific community with training and guidance in all aspects related to animal experimentation has arisen. It is the responsibility of each country to regulate this practice, for both bioethical and legal reasons, to ensure consideration of the animals’ rights and welfare. The following manuscript is the result of papers presented at the International Workshop on Laboratory Animal Testing held at the Technical University of Ambato, Ecuador; it contains information regarding the current state of affairs in laboratory animal testing and emphasizes critical aspects such as main species used, ethical and legal principles, and experimental and alternative designs for animal use. These works aim to ensure good practices that should define scientific work. This document will be relevant to both researchers who aim to newly incorporate animal testing into their research and those who seek to update their knowledge.

El lento desarrollo científico experimentado en América Latina en las últimas décadas ha retrasado la incorporación de la experimentación con animales de laboratorio, sin embargo, esta realidad ha comenzado a cambiar. En la actualidad, se evidencia un extraordinario progreso científico que ha promovido la introducción e incremento del uso de animales de laboratorio como una importante herramienta para el avance de las ciencias biomédicas. A raíz de este auge, surge la necesidad de proporcionar a la comunidad científica la formación y directrices en todos los aspectos relacionados con la experimentación animal. Es responsabilidad de cada país legislar esta práctica para que no solo por razones bioéticas, sino también legales, se considere el derecho de los animales y con ello su bienestar. El siguiente manuscrito es el resultado de las comunicaciones presentadas en el Taller Internacional en Ciencias de Animales de Laboratorio celebrado en la Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ecuador; contiene la actualidad en la ciencia de animales de laboratorio, haciendo énfasis en aspectos fundamentales, tales como: principales especies utilizadas y su biología, principios éticos y legales, diseño experimental y alternativas al uso de animales, todas ellas encaminadas a garantizar las buenas prácticas que deben caracterizar el quehacer científico. Sin duda, este documento será relevante tanto para aquellos investigadores que pretenden incorporar la experimentación animal a sus investigaciones, como para aquellos que, aun teniendo experiencia, pretendan actualizar sus conocimientos.

RESUMO O primeiro caso humano autóctone de leishmaniose visceral (LV) na Argentina ocorreu na cidade de Posadas (Misiones) em 2006, desde então, tem ocorrido um aumento na incidência e distribuição geográfica da doença. No período entre 2006 e 2012 foram detectados 107 casos humanos com 11 mortes. Em 2010 se constatou a presença de Lutzomyia longipalpis no município de Puerto Iguazú, localizado na fronteira entre Argentina-Brasil-Paraguai. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a abundância e distribuição de Lu. longipalpis no município de Puerto Iguazú. Lu. longipalpis foi encontrada exclusivamente na área urbana, em 31% das amostras coletadas dos domicílios de referência (n = 53), 67% das quais pertenciam às áreas de baixa abundância, 20% às de moderada e 13% às de alta abundância da espécie. Nyssomyia whitmani foi coletado em ambientes urbanos e periurbanos e Migonemyia migonei, somente nas periferias da cidade. Na atualidade, a cidade de Puerto Iguazú é considerada como de risco moderado; por isso, é necessário intensificar o controle tanto de casos humanos como de caninos e levar em conta as medidas de prevenção e controle do ambiente, dos vetores e dos reservatórios na zona de fronteira Argentina-Brasil-Paraguai.

SUMMARY The first Argentinian autochthonous human case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was confirmed in Posadas (Misiones) in 2006. Since then, the disease has increased its incidence and geographical distribution. In the 2006-2012 period, 107 human cases were detected (11 deaths). The presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis was detected in peridomiciles in Puerto Iguazú urban area in 2010; some of these findings were associated with households where cases of canine VL had already been reported. The objective of this study was to ascertain the abundance and spatial distribution of Lu. longipalpis in Puerto Iguazú City, on the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay border. Lu. longipalpis proved to be exclusively urban and was found in 31% of the households sampled (n = 53), 67% of which belonged to areas of low abundance, 20% to areas of moderate abundance and 13% to areas of high abundance. Nyssomyia whitmani was the only species found both in urban and peri-urban environments, and Migonemyia migonei was registered only on the outskirts of the city. Due to the fact that Puerto Iguazú is considered to be at moderate risk at the moment, it is necessary to intensify human and canine case controls, as well as take integrated prevention and control measures regarding the environment, vectors and reservoirs on the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay border area.

A binary sampling flow analysis system equipped with gas diffusion cell was developed for NH4+ and/or NH2Cl determination in wastewater and disinfection products samples based on the Berthelot reaction of the NH2Cl diffused through the semi-permeable PTFE membrane. The effect of the analytical conditions related to the reaction and flow parameters were evaluated and N-NH4+ and N-NH2Cl were determined in concentration ranges from 0.17 to 5 mg L-1 and from 0.5 to 14.5 mg L-1, respectively. Limits of detection (3σ) of 50 and 140 µg L-1 for N-NH4+ and N-NH2Cl were calculated, respectively, and RSD of 5 and 2% were calculated for 10 consecutive determinations of N-NH4+ (1 and 3 mg L-1) and N-NH2Cl (3 and 9 mg L-1), respectively with 30 determinations h-1.