First exploratory study of bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts in head lice from a Mayan community in southern Mexico.

Lice represent one of the most neglected group of vectors worldwide, particularly in Latin America. Records of bacterial agents related to head lice are non-existent in this region of the continent. Many of these communities often do not have adequate access to public services and/or health protection. The normalization of this condition prevents them from manifesting discomfort, such as bites and itching, which further aggravates the situation, as they can be vectors of important diseases. For this reason, the aim of this work was to identify the richness of bacterial pathogens (Acinetobacter, Bartonella, and Rickettsia) and endosymbionts (Wolbachia) in head lice of paediatric patients from the indigenous municipality of Hoctun, Yucatan, Mexico. DNA extraction was performed using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit. For the detection of bacterial pathogens, fragments of the gltA, rpoB, and 16S rDNA genes were amplified. For the detection of Wolbachia, the wsp gene was amplified. Of the 28 lice analysed, the presence of two genera of bacterial pathogens was detected Acinetobacter (42.9% = 12/28) and Bartonella (7.14% = 2/28). We also detected the endosymbiont Wolbachia (71.42% = 20/28). Our results showed that DNA from three bacteria species (Acinetobacter baumannii, Bartonella quintana, and Wolbachia pipientis) was present with frequencies ranging from 3.57% to 71.42%. This work represents the first exploratory study of the diversity of agents associated with head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) in Mexico and Latin America. Due to the findings generated in the present study, it is important to perform surveillance of head lice populations to identify the degree of spread of these pathogens and their impact on populations in the region.

Experiencias del diagnóstico comunitario participativo en Dzityá, Yucatán, México / Experiences of the community participative diagnosis in Dzitya, Yucatan, Mexico

Objetivos: Identificar los determinantes que afectan las condiciones de salud de una población desde la perspectiva de los actores sociales. Abordaje Metodológico: se trata de un diagnóstico comunitario participativo, realizado en la localidad de Dzityá, perteneciente al municipio de Mérida, Yucatán, México, durante los meses de enero a abril de 2014, de tipo exploratorio, basado en la comunidad y con enfoque metodológico mixto. Se privilegió el enfoque cualitativo para obtener información a través del análisis del discurso de 13 entrevistas semiestructuradas, y 2 ejercicios de cartografía social a actores clave de la localidad. Resultados: la contaminación ambiental generada por las partículas de polvo de piedra, originadas de la actividad artesanal, fue el determinante que la comunidad eligió como prioritario de atención, por los efectos que esta provoca en la salud de los pobladores. Conclusiones: Con base a la perspectiva de los actores sociales, en esta comunidad se encontraron diferentes comorbilidades y factores de riesgo de tipo ambiental y social, que pueden ser modificables a través de intervenciones eficientes y oportunas con enfoque de promoción a la salud; mediante la voluntad política y la acción conjunta del sector salud, académico y la comunidad.

Objectives: identify determinants that affect the health conditions of a population from the perspective of social actors. Material and methods: this is a participative community diagnosis, conducted in the town of Dzityá, in the municipality of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, during the months of January to April 2014, it was exploratory, cross-sectional and community based. The qualitative approach was privileged to obtain information through discourse analysis of 13 semi-structured interviews, and 2 social mapping exercises with key actors of the town. Results: environmental pollution from stone dust particles originated from the artisanal activity, was the determining factor that the community chose as priority attention due to the effects that this has on the health of residents. Conclusions: with base to the perspective of the social actors, in this community were found various comorbidities and environmental and social risk factors, which can be modified through efficient and timely interventions with a focus on health promotion; as well as through political will and joint action of health, academic and active participation of the community.

Annotation of differentially expressed genes in the somatic embryogenesis of musa and their location in the banana genome.

Analysis of cDNA-AFLP was used to study the genes expressed in zygotic and somatic embryogenesis of Musa acuminata Colla ssp. malaccensis, and a comparison was made between their differential transcribed fragments (TDFs) and the sequenced genome of the double haploid- (DH-) Pahang of the malaccensis subspecies that is available in the network. A total of 253 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were detected with apparent size of 100-4000 bp using 5 pairs of AFLP primers, of which 21 were differentially expressed during the different stages of banana embryogenesis; 15 of the sequences have matched DH-Pahang chromosomes, with 7 of them being homologous to gene sequences encoding either known or putative protein domains of higher plants. Four TDF sequences were located in all Musa chromosomes, while the rest were located in one or two chromosomes. Their putative individual function is briefly reviewed based on published information, and the potential roles of these genes in embryo development are discussed. Thus the availability of the genome of Musa and the information of TDFs sequences presented here opens new possibilities for an in-depth study of the molecular and biochemical research of zygotic and somatic embryogenesis of Musa.