Intertidal snail-trematode communities on the southern Thailand before and after the South Asia tsunami.

Intertidal snail-trematode communities in southern Thailand were examined before and after the South Asia tsunami. Infection rates and species diversity of cercaria in the host snail Cerithidea in tidal zones did not change significantly from one year before to one month after the tsunami. However, the host snails C. quadrata, C. alata and C. obtusa disappeared from greatly damaged sites. It is important to follow up on the intertidal snail-trematode community recovery process after destruction of the intertidal ecosystem.

Malacological survey in Phang-Nga Province, southern Thailand, pre- and post-Indian Ocean tsunami.

Three malacological surveys were conducted in the Takua Pa District of Phang-Nga Province, southern Thailand, before and after the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster. Twenty-nine species of fresh- and brackish-water snails were found, in which 10 species of freshwater snails were present, including live Pila polita; 8 species were of medical importance. Two brackish-water snails, Nerita articulata and Littorinopsis scabra, were absent after the tsunami disaster, while brackish-water Cerithidea cingulata and C. djadjariensis harbored 9 types of trematode cercariae.

Brackish-water mollusks of Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand.

Brackish-water mollusks inhabiting the mangrove areas along the Gulf of Thailand of Surat Thani Province were investigated for distribution, abundance and natural infections. Nine families and 32 species of brackish-water snails were recovered from 14 sampling stations. Species belonging to the genus Ceritidea of the family Potamididae were mainly examined and Cerithidea (Cerithideopsilla) Cingulata, C. (C.) djadjariensis, and C. (Cerithidea) charbonnieri were naturally infected with 2 types of trematode cercariae, and one which was undetermined. C. (C.) cingulata had the highest infection rate (38.5%). Viewing two snail communities, the first community on the mainland and the second on Samui Island in Surat Thani Province, 28 brackish-water mollusk species were present on the mainland, 15 species were evident on Samui Island, and 11 snail species were common to both the mainland and Samui Island. Measurement of community similarity based on species presence revealed an index of similarity of 0.51. Concerning land use by the local people in the station areas investigated, brackish-water snails in Surat Thani Province are facing habitat degradation by human use.

Variaciones de la secuencia de nucleótidos en el gen I de subunidad de cytocromo C oxidasa, en especies de Leishmania

Se realizó la determinación de las secuencias parciales de nucleótidos de genes COI de 8 especies de Leishmania como: L (Leishmania) amazonensis, L.(Viannia) equatorensis. L.(V) major-like, L. (L) mexicana, L.(V) major, L.(V) guayanensis, L.(V) brazilensis y L.(V) panamensis por el método de PCR, utilizando primers diseñados para genes COI de paramecium. El presente estudio demostró que los primers son útiles para la amplificación de los genes COI de 4 especies: L.(V) major, L(V) guayanensis, L(V) braziliensis y L.(V) panamensis. Se determinó una secuencia parcial de genes COI de las 4 especies.

Estudios preliminares sobre el diagnóstico de leishmaniasis cutánea utilizando muestras de biopsias de piel por reacción en cadena de polimerasa

Se estudiaron métodos de diagnóstico de leishmaniasis cutánea por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR), utilizando parásitos vultivados y muestras de biopsias de piel del Ecuador. Se prepararon template ADNs por ebullición por 10 minutos en soluciones Chelex al 5 por ciento. Los parásitos Leishmania fueron detectados por PCR, utilizando primers designados desdel el minicírculo (13A y 13B)y gen mini-exon (S-1629 y S-1630. Los primers primero mencionados amplificaron productos no específicos en ADN humano, y la sensibilidad de la reacción fue baja. Los últimos nunca amplificaron productos específicos aún en templete humano y posibilitaron la identificación a nivel de subgénero. Cuando se aumentó la sensibilidad...