Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a facultative anaerobe Gram-positive bacillus, which is considered a zoonotic pathogen. E. rhusiopathiae causes erysipeloid, mainly in occupational groups such as veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, farmers, and fishermen. Two cutaneous forms (localised and generalised) and a septicaemic form have been described. Here, we report the isolation of a strain of E. rhusiopathiae from a 56-year-old immunocompetent obese male admitted to Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia (Italy). Blood cultures were collected and Gram-positive bacilli were observed. E. rhusiopathiae grew and was identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed and interpreted with EUCAST breakpoints (PK-PD). The strain was susceptible to all the antibiotics tested, while it was intrinsically resistant to vancomycin. The clinical diagnosis of E. rhusiopathiae can be challenging, due to the broad spectrum of symptoms and potential side effects, including serious systemic infections such as heart diseases. In the case described, bacteraemia caused by E. rhusiopathiae was detected in a immunocompetent patient. Bacteraemia caused by E. rhusiopathiae is rare in immunocompetent people and blood cultures were proven to be essential for the diagnosis and underdiagnosis of this pathogen, which is possible due to its resemblance to other clinical manifestations. Full article

This study investigates the impact of hospitalist system awareness, motivation, and behavior on value creation within the healthcare context of Taiwan. As population aging and the prevalence of chronic diseases continue to rise, accompanied by increased medical resource consumption, the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare introduced the hospitalist system. Despite its implementation, the number of participating hospitals remains low. Using a questionnaire survey conducted from October 2021 to March 2022, data were collected from medical teams involved in the hospitalist system. A total of 324 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The results reveal that hospitalist awareness positively influences participation motivation (β = 0.846, p < 0.001), which subsequently impacts participation behavior positively (β = 0.888, p < 0.001). Moreover, participation behavior significantly contributes to value creation (β = 0.869, p < 0.001), along with the direct effect of awareness (β = 0.782, p < 0.001) on value creation. In conclusion, the successful promotion and implementation of the hospitalist system rely heavily on the support and active participation of medical staff. Effective interactions and comprehensive information dissemination are essential for maximizing healthcare value creation. Full article

Orexin/hypocretin terminals innervate the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), which projects to motor control areas important for spontaneous physical activity (SPA) and energy expenditure (EE). Orexin receptors are expressed in the DRN, and obesity-resistant (OR) rats show higher expression of these receptors in the DRN and elevated SPA/EE. We hypothesized that orexin-A in the DRN enhances SPA/EE and that DRN-GABA modulates the effect of orexin-A on SPA/EE. We manipulated orexin tone in the DRN either through direct injection of orexin-A or through the chemogenetic activation of lateral-hypothalamic (LH) orexin neurons. In the orexin neuron activation experiment, fifteen minutes prior to the chemogenetic activation of orexin neurons, the mice received either the GABA-agonist muscimol or antagonist bicuculline injected into the DRN, and SPA/EE was monitored for 24 h. In a separate experiment, orexin-A was injected into the DRN to study the direct effect of DRN orexin on SPA/EE. We found that the activation of orexin neurons elevates SPA/EE, and manipulation of GABA in the DRN does not alter the SPA response to orexin neuron activation. Similarly, intra-DRN orexin-A enhanced SPA and EE in the mice. These results suggest that orexin-A in the DRN facilitates negative energy balance by increasing physical activity-induced EE, and that modulation of DRN orexin-A is a potential strategy to promote SPA and EE. Full article

As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into educational technologies, teachers and students must acquire new forms of AI literacy, including an understanding of responsible use of AI. In this study, we explored tensions in teachers’ and students’ opinions about what constitutes learning and cheating with AI. Using qualitative methods, we asked Pre-K through postsecondary writing teachers (n = 16) and a linguistically diverse group of students (n = 12) to consider examples of how students might use ChatGPT, rank them in order of how much they thought each student learned and cheated, and explain their rankings. Our study yielded three findings. First, teachers and students used similar criteria to determine their rankings. Second, teachers and students arrived at similar conclusions about learning with ChatGPT but different conclusions about cheating. Finally, disagreements centered on four main tensions between (1) using ChatGPT as a shortcut versus as a scaffold; (2) using ChatGPT to generate ideas versus language; (3) getting support from ChatGPT versus analogous support from other sources; and (4) learning from ChatGPT versus learning without. These findings underscore the importance of student voice in co-constructing norms around responsible AI use. Full article

Brazil reported 18,282 suspected congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) cases up to 2018 and accounts for 61.4% of the total reported Zika cases in the Americas in the period. To detect high-risk areas for children with CZS in the city of Rio de Janeiro, we used cluster detection and thematic maps. We analyzed data using a Poisson model in Satscan 10.1.3 software. We also analyzed the records of children with CZS from 2015 to 2016 to describe the clinical and epidemiological maternal and child profile, as well as live births in 2016 and the social development index (SDI) by neighborhood. In 2015 and 2016, the incidence rates of CZS were 8.84 and 46.96 per 100,000 live births in the city, respectively. Severe congenital findings such as microcephaly and brain damage, osteoarticular impairment, ocular abnormalities, and hearing loss were observed in 47 children. The spatial distribution of CZS was concentrated in the north and west zones in heterogeneous neighborhoods. The neighborhoods with the highest occurrence of CZS cases were found to have the worst SDIs. Stascan detected three spatial clusters in the north zone, where the SDI is lower. The clusters presented high relative risks for CZS (7.86, 1.46, and 2.08), although they were not statistically significant. Our findings highlight a higher occurrence of CZS in areas with less favorable socioeconomic conditions. Full article

Open dumping threatens the environment and public health by causing soil, water, and air pollution and precipitating the deterioration of the environmental balance. Therefore, sustainable waste management practices and compliance with environmental regulations are important to minimize these negative impacts. In this context, it is very important to identify the environmental damage inflicted by open dumping areas and to take measures to prevent this damage. Makkah is among the cities that still use open dumping for solid waste disposal. The rapid increase in this city’s population is generating large quantities of municipal solid waste (MSW), making it difficult to manage waste economically without harming the environment or public health. During Umrah and Hajj, the rate of MSW generation increases to an even greater degree. The sustainable management of MSW in holy cities is of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the environmental impact of the Kakia Open Dumping Site in Makkah on air quality, soil, and nearby groundwater wells. It also conducted analyses of essential elements (Ca, Mg, and Na), heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr), and a metalloid (As) in leachate produced at the Kakia Open Dumpsite, enabling the development of management strategies. In addition, the correlations between the essential elements, the metalloid, and the heavy metals were also analyzed. The goal is not only to mitigate the negative effects of open dumping, but also to highlight the need to adopt sustainable management strategies for MSW in religiously significant cities like Makkah. Full article

UICC stage IV small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy without curative treatment options. Several randomized trials have demonstrated improved survival rates through the addition of checkpoint inhibitors to first-line platin-based chemotherapy. Consequently, a combination of chemo- and immunotherapy has become standard palliative treatment. However, no reliable predictive biomarkers for treatment response exist. Neither PD-L1 expression nor tumor mutational burden have proven to be effective predictive biomarkers. In this study, we compared the cellular immune statuses of SCLC patients to a healthy control cohort and investigated changes in peripheral blood B, T, and NK lymphocytes, as well as several of their respective subsets, during treatment with immunochemotherapy (ICT) using flow cytometry. Our findings revealed a significant decrease in B cells, while T cells showed a trend to increase throughout ICT. Notably, high levels of exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ cells, alongside NK subsets, increased significantly during treatment. Furthermore, we correlated decreases/increases in subsets after two cycles of ICT with survival. Specifically, a decrease in Th17 cells indicated a better overall survival. Based on these findings, we suggest conducting further investigation into Th17 cells as a potential early predictive biomarkers for response in patients receiving palliative ICT for stage IV SCLC. Full article

Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is linked to a plethora of deleterious effects in both clinical and preclinical studies. Nevertheless, the effects of its main metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), whose half-life in soil is even longer than that of glyphosate, have been little explored. On this basis, as a first approach, in this work, we report that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of AMPA or glyphosate (at 10, 56, and 100 mg/kg) decreased, to a similar extent, plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity in acutely exposed rats. Moreover, we designed an experimental protocol to analyze and compare the effects of AMPA and glyphosate on human plasma ChE activity; this protocol consisted of adding these compounds to human plasma to subsequently test the effects of this plasma on the contraction to acetylcholine (ACh) in the frog rectus abdominis muscle (an indirect estimate of ChE activity). Accordingly, this muscular contraction to ACh was evaluated before and after pre-incubation of ACh with (i) plasma alone, (ii) plasma with AMPA, and (iii) plasma with glyphosate. Our results indicate that AMPA, like glyphosate, decreased ChE activity in the plasma of rats (when given i.p.) and humans (when added in vitro), suggesting that both xenobiotics may exert similar toxicological effects. Full article

P2X7 is an ATP-activated purinergic receptor implicated in pro-inflammatory responses. It is associated with the development of several diseases, including inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. Although several P2X7 receptor antagonists have recently been reported in the literature, none of them is approved for clinical use. However, the structure of the known antagonists can serve as a scaffold for discovering effective compounds in clinical therapy. This study aimed to propose an improved virtual screening methodology for the identification of novel potential P2X7 receptor antagonists from natural products through the combination of shape-based and docking approaches. First, a shape-based screening was performed based on the structure of JNJ-47965567, a P2X7 antagonist, using two natural product compound databases, MEGx (~5.8 × 10³ compounds) and NATx (~32 × 10³ compounds). Then, the compounds selected by the proposed shape-based model, with Shape–Tanimoto score values ranging between 0.624 and 0.799, were filtered for drug-like properties. Finally, the compounds that met the drug-like filter criteria were docked into the P2X7 allosteric binding site, using the docking programs GOLD and DockThor. The docking poses with the best score values were submitted to careful visual inspection of the P2X7 allosteric binding site. Based on our established visual inspection criteria, four compounds from the MEGx database and four from the NATx database were finally selected as potential P2X7 receptor antagonists. The selected compounds are structurally different from known P2X7 antagonists, have drug-like properties, and are predicted to interact with key P2X7 allosteric binding pocket residues, including F88, F92, F95, F103, M105, F108, Y295, Y298, and I310. Therefore, the combination of shape-based screening and docking approaches proposed in our study has proven useful in selecting potential novel P2X7 antagonist candidates from natural-product-derived compounds databases. This approach could also be useful for selecting potential inhibitors/antagonists of other receptors and/or biological targets. Full article

As bioindicators, benthic macroinvertebrates are often used to assess stream quality. Based on standard hydrobiological study techniques, the physicochemical and biological health status of the Missolé stream was assessed. Waters of the Missolé stream were found to be slightly acidic (pH: 6.23–6.26) and well-oxygenated (O₂: 69.80–76.80%), with low values of temperature (T°: 23.60–24° C), turbidity (49.40–88.40 FTU) and mineralized ions (NH₄⁺: 0–1.19 mg/L; NO₂^-: 0–1.61 mg/L; NO₃^-: 0.02–6.80 mg/L). Concerning aquatic invertebrate communities, a total of 489 individuals, grouped in two classes, eight orders and 35 families, all belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, were collected and identified. The class of Insecta was the most diversified, with seven orders and 32 families, while that of Crustacea had only one order and three families. Overall, Insecta accounted for 52.35% of the total abundance, and Decapod Crustacea was 47.65%. The three predominant families were Palaemonidae, Dytiscidae and Atyidae. Shannon and Weaver (H’) and Piélou’s evenness (J) indices were high at all stations and showed a slight decrease from upstream to downstream. In the same vein, the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) classified the water quality of the Missolé stream as medium. Overall, this suburban aquatic ecosystem offers moderately favorable living conditions for aquatic biota. Full article

For high-precision positioning applications, various GNSS errors need to be mitigated, including the tropospheric error, which remains a significant error source as it can reach up to a few meters. Although some commercial GNSS correction data providers, such as the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) Centimeter Level Augmentation Service (CLAS), have developed real-time precise regional troposphere products, the service is available only in limited regional areas. The International GNSS Service (IGS) has provided precise troposphere correction data in TRO format post-mission, but its long latency of 1 to 2 weeks makes it unable to support real-time applications. In this work, a real-time troposphere prediction method based on the IGS post-processing products was developed using machine learning techniques to eliminate the long latency problem. The test results from tropospheric predictions over a year using the proposed method indicate that the new method can achieve a prediction accuracy (RMSE) of 2 cm, making it suitable for real-time applications. Full article

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gas sensors are pivotal in upholding environmental integrity and human health, necessitating heightened sensitivity and exceptional selectivity. Despite the prevalent use of metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) for NO₂ detection, extant solutions exhibit shortcomings in meeting practical application criteria, specifically in response, selectivity, and operational temperatures. Here, we successfully employed a facile microwave-solvothermal method to synthesize a mesoporous CeO₂/CNCs nanocomposite. This methodology entails the rapid and comprehensive dispersion of CeO₂ nanoparticles onto helical carbon nanocoils (CNCs), resulting in augmented electronic conductivity and an abundance of active sites within the composite. Consequently, the gas-sensing sensitivity of the nanocomposite at room temperature experienced a notable enhancement. Moreover, the presence of cerium oxide and the conversion of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ ions facilitated the generation of oxygen vacancies in the composites, thereby further amplifying the sensing performance. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that the nanocomposite exhibited an approximate 9-fold increase in response to 50 ppm NO₂ in comparison to pure CNCs at room temperature. Additionally, the CeO₂/CNCs sensor displayed remarkable selectivity towards NO₂ when exposed to gases such as NH₃, CO, SO₂, CO₂, and C₂H₅OH. This straightforward microwave-solvothermal method presents an appealing strategy for the research and development of intelligent sensors based on CNCs nanomaterials. Full article

The following article examines the role of the sentidos and the entendimiento in Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s auto sacramental, El cubo de la Almudena. While scholarship recognises the pervasiveness of the play on the senses in early modern Spain, scholars often either deny or overemphasise the reliability of the senses as a means of truth acquisition. Moreover, scholarship often attaches too much weight to hearing, thus neglecting the role of the eyes of the entendimiento. Based on a Thomistic framework, Calderón demonstrates that the literal element of allegory relies on the active vehicle of the senses to serve as guides for the entendimiento and an entrance into devotion. Although hearing plays a central role in the play, it serves as a herald for sight, by which the devotee exercises faith. Moreover, where the sentidos prove limited, the entendimiento is an auxiliary support that makes up for their lack, seeing beyond sensual perception through faith. In this way, the medium of the auto sacramental and the theology of the Eucharist train the audience to use the vision of faith through both the senses and the entendimiento to see the allegorical meaning of the play, the divine nature of the Eucharist provided by Mary. Full article

Rain gardens are used to solve urban problems related to the negative impact of stormwater. (1) Scientific contributions from different countries provide general guidelines for the design and operation of rain gardens in different geographical areas. Given the small spatial scale of rain gardens, the use of existing infiltration models often leads to design errors. (2) The purpose of this paper is to develop a hydrological model by introducing a system of equations that extends the ability to calculate the rate, flow rate and time of saturation of layers with moisture and rainwater leakage from the rain garden system. (3) The results obtained allow us to describe the dynamic processes of passage and saturation of layers of the rain garden at a certain point in time, which extends the ability to calculate the flow rate. It was established that the smaller the area of the rain garden compared to the area of the catchment basin, the faster it reaches its full saturation. Increasing the thickness of the rain garden layers allows for an increase in the efficiency of water retention at a lower value of the area ratio. (4) The practical significance of the results obtained is especially important for the correct description of hydrodynamics in the system and determining the optimal conditions for the effective functioning and management of the rain garden structure for any climatic region. Full article

Urban floods caused by extreme rainstorm events have increased in recent decades, particularly in concave-down bridge zones. To simulate urban flooding processes accurately, an integrated urban flood model (IUFM) was constructed by coupling a distributed urban surface runoff model based on the cellular automata framework (CA-DUSRM), a widely used pipe convergence module in the storm water management model (SWMM), with an inundation module that describes the overflow expansion process associated with terrain and land-cover. The IUFM was used in a case study of the Anhua Bridge (a typical concave-down overpass) study area in Beijing, China. The spatial-temporal variations in flood depth modeled by the IUFM were verified to be reliable by comparison with actual measurements and other simulations. The validated IUFM was used to obtain temporal variations in flood range, depth, and volume under four rainstorm scenarios (return periods of 3-year, 10-year, 50-year, and 100-year). The results showed that the surface runoff process, overflow from drainage networks, and overflow expansion process could affect the flooding status by changing the composition and spatial configuration of pervious or impervious patches, drainage capacity, and underlying surface characteristics (such as terrain and land-cover). Overall, although the simulation results from the IUFM contain uncertainties from the model structures and inputs, the IUFM is an effective tool that can provide accurate and timely information to prevent and control urban flood disasters and provide decision-making support for long-term storm water management and sponge city construction. Full article

This research emphasizes a meta-heuristic modified ant lion optimizer (MALO) optimization approach for the simultaneous utilization of DSTATCOM devices and distributed photovoltaic (PV) sources with network reconfiguration in a radial power distribution scheme. In a radial power distribution network with network reconfiguration, the majority of the research is based on constant power model analysis. However, it is noticed that load models have a substantial impact on the distributed PV sources and the DSTATCOM device’s optimal size and position. The effect of the constant power (CP) and polynomial (ZIP) with load growth load models for the simultaneous insertion of distributed PV sources and DSTATCOM devices with network reconfiguration is examined in this research work for power system planning. The penetration levels of distributed PV sources considered for the investigation are 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The principal objective of this research is to reduce network total power losses, enhance the voltage magnitude profile at all buses, and reduce the overall operating cost while adhering to equality and inequality constraints. The proposed algorithm is verified on 118-node test systems. The investigation is carried out for planning network upgrading to a high-voltage distribution system (HVDS) on 317 nodes in the rural Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) radial distribution scheme. The simulated results obtained with this method are validated with the BAT algorithm and techniques available in the literature. It is observed that in the IEEE 118-bus system, via the simultaneous placement and sizing of PV sources considering a 25% penetration level and DSTATCOM devices during network reconfiguration, the total power loss reduction is 41.47% and 42.98% for the constant power model and ZIP with the load growth model. For the 317-bus system, the total power loss reduction observed for 11 kV is 49.77% and 59.34% for the constant power model and ZIP model with load growth. Similarly, for the 22 kV system, the power loss reduction observed is 51.69% and 55.75% for the constant power model and ZIP with the load growth model. Full article

The organizational effectiveness of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) has received considerable attention from the scientific research community and society. Nonprofit scholars call for more empirical research that tests existing theories and develops multidimensional frameworks at the organizational level, with a focus on actual management practices. Previous studies have suggested that a broad set of management practices at the program and organizational levels have positive implications for the perceived effectiveness of NPOs. This study evaluates and refines a conceptual model of the antecedents of organizational effectiveness and validates its applicability in the context of charitable foundations established by corporations. Based on survey data from their executive leaders, this study’s empirical findings suggest that perceived organizational effectiveness is less affected by a broad set of management practices and is driven by a few selected best practices that focus on specific stakeholder groups (i.e., experts). Moreover, the results show that certain organizational characteristics, such as organizational experience, can strengthen the perceived effectiveness of charitable foundations. Overall, the results of this study may help nonprofit executive leaders to better understand that a careful selection and implementation of specific practices might be more beneficial for an organization’s effectiveness than an extensive list of practices. Moreover, this study contributes on a broader theoretical level to the study of multidimensional frameworks as a suitable measure for identifying key antecedents of leader-perceived organizational effectiveness across different types of NPOs. Full article

MEK inhibitors (MEKi) represent innovative and promising treatments for managing manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). To mitigate potential ophthalmic side effects, such as MEKi-associated retinopathy (MEKAR), patients undergoing MEKi therapy routinely receive ophthalmology evaluations. Our study aims to assess the necessity of this regular screening within a predominantly pediatric NF1 population by examining the occurrence of ocular adverse events (OAE). A retrospective study evaluated 45 NF1 patients receiving MEKi. Inclusion criteria included baseline and follow-up examinations following the initiation of MEKi therapy. At each assessment, a comprehensive eye evaluation was performed, comprising a dilated fundus examination, ocular coherence tomography of the macula and nerve fiber layer, and Humphrey visual field testing. Twenty-six patients, with an average age of 13 years (range 2–23 years) and an average follow-up duration of 413 days were included in the analysis. Three different MEKi were used: selumetinib (77%), trametinib (23%), and mirdametinib (4%). None of the patients experienced retinopathy at any point during the study. Some patients had pre-existing optic neuropathies (27%), but no instances of nerve changes occurred after commencing MEKi therapy. Four patients (15%) exhibited symptoms of dry eye, all of which were effectively managed with topical lubrication. Full article

In the study of English denominal adjectives, scholarly attention has predominantly centred on those with Latinate suffixes (e.g., -al, -ary, and -ic/-ical), which are well-known as relational adjectives (RAdjs) and are extensively scrutinised in the existing literature. Conversely, those with English native suffixes (e.g., -en, -ern, -y, and -ed) have not undergone thorough examination to date. In the present study, I delve specifically into denominal adjectives with the suffix -ed (-ed Adjs), such as bearded, long-tailed, and shirt-sleeved. I present a novel basic picture of these adjectives, setting forth the following two central propositions: (i) -ed Adjs are a type of RAdj and (ii) undergo conversion to qualitative adjectives (QAdjs) (e.g., bearded man vs. bearded rock) akin to the better-known Latinate RAdjs (e.g., grammatical error vs. grammatical sentence). The analysis is conducted by examining suffixal etymology (i.e., Latinate or Germanic), suffixal properties (i.e., all-purpose or dedicated), and the driving factor for QAdj-forming conversion (i.e., the modal attribute true). These propositions and analyses collectively enrich our comprehensive understanding of the semantic and morphosyntactic properties of -ed Adjs within the realm of English morphology. Full article

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) for patient-specific medical care products offers great opportunities. However, evidence about the supply chain (SC) performance impact based on empirical data is limited. Methods: In this case study, we gathered real-life data about a traditional manufacturing orthopedic shoe SC and developed future scenarios in which AM is introduced at various points and with different degrees of penetration in the SC. Results: Presently, AM can only replace traditional manufacturing of tools and shoe components at a higher total cost. However, with maturing technology, the complete AM production of orthopedic shoes is expected to become feasible. Theoretically, that could disrupt existing SCs, eliminating 70% of the SC steps, improving SC lead time by 90%, and altering SC relations. However, certain thresholds currently prevent disruption. Specifically, the AM of complete orthopedic shoes has to become possible, manufacturing prices have to drop, and traditional craftsmanship has to be integrated into the digital product design. Conclusions: A framework for transition pathways, including directions for future research, is formed. Findings provide valuable insights for scholars and decision makers in the patient-specific products industry, health insurance providers, and healthcare policy makers to be better prepared by adjusting SC designs, relationships, and remuneration programs while AM technology develops towards maturity. Full article

We studied some fibrotic aspects of chronic interstitial pneumonitis in the lungs of dogs infected with Leishmania infantum. The lungs of eleven naturally infected dogs, twelve experimentally infected with two distinct strains of L. infantum (BH401 and BH46), and six uninfected (controls) dogs, were analyzed by histological, parasitological, and immunohistochemical studies. Conventional histology (HE), collagen deposition (Gomori’s silver staining for reticulin collagen fibers), and immunohistochemistry for myofibroblast characterization were carried out based on the cellular expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, cytokeratin, E-cadherin, snail antigen homologue 1 (SNAI1) (Snail), and the cytokine expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Parasitological screening was carried out using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the immunohistochemical reaction of streptavidin–peroxidase for visualizing Leishmania amastigotes. Dogs naturally infected with L. infantum and experimentally infected with L. infantum BH401 strains showed intense interstitial pneumonitis characterized by thickening of the alveolar septa as a consequence of an intense diffuse and focal (plaques) chronic exudate of mononuclear cells associated with fibrogenesis. The expression of alpha-actin, vimentin, and TGF-β was higher in the lung interstitium of all infected dogs than in the other two groups (BH46 strain and controls). Moreover, in both the naturally and experimentally infected dog (BH401 strain) groups, the expression of Snail was moderate to intense in contrast to the other groups. Based on these immunohistochemical results, we concluded that mesenchymal cells are active in promoting changes in the extracellular matrix in the lungs of dogs naturally and experimentally infected with L. infantum, but it depends on the virulence of the parasite. Full article