Government conservation policies on Mexican coastal areas: is "top-down" management working?

Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are declining globally due to environmental degradation and poorly planned resource use. Traditionally, local government agencies have been responsible of the management of natural reserves to preserve biodiversity. Nonetheless, much of these approaches have failed, suggesting the development of more integrative strategies. In order to discuss the importance of a holistic approach in conservation initiatives, coastal and underwater landscape value and biological/environmental indicators of coral reef degradation were assessed using the study case of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero coastal area. This area shelters representative coral reef structures of the Eastern Pacific coast and its terrestrial biodiversity and archaeology enhance the high value of its coastal area. This study explored the landscape value of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems using the geomorphosite approach in two sites on the Zihuatanejo coastal area: Caleta de Chon and Manzanillo Beach. Sedimentation rate, water transparency, chlorophyll and total suspended solids were recorded underwater in each site for environmental characterization. 50 photo-quadrants on five transects were surveyed between 3-4m depth to record coverage (%) of living corals, dead corals, algae, sand and rocks. The conservation status of coral reefs was assessed by the coral mortality index (MI). Landscape values showed that both terrestrial and marine ecosystems had important scientific and aesthetic values, being Manzanillo Beach the site with the highest potential for conservation initiatives (TtV=14.2). However, coral reefs face elevated sedimentation rates (up to 1.16kg/m2d) and low water transparency (less of 5m) generated by coastal land use changes that have increased soil erosion in the adjacent coastal area. High coverage of dead corals (23.6%) and algae (up to 29%) confirm the low values in conservation status of coral reefs (MI=0.5), reflecting a poorly-planned management. Current conditions are the result of "top-down" conservation strategies in Zihuatanejo, as Federal and Municipal authorities do not coordinate, disregard local community in coral reef management, and ignore the intimate relationship between the coastal and marine realms. This work confirms the importance of conservation strategies with a holistic approach, considering both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in coastal areas; and that these initiatives should include local coastal communities in management and decision-taking processes done by government authorities. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (4): 1487-1501. Epub 2011 December 01.

Las estrategias integrales son clave para lograr efectividad en la conservación de las áreas costeras. Para discutir la importancia de las estrategias holísticas en iniciativas de conservación, usamos como caso de estudio los arrecifes coralinos de Zihuatanejo Guerrero. En primer lugar, analizamos el valor paisajístico terrestre y marino de la zona costera y posteriormente usamos indicadores biológicos y ambientales de degradación en arrecifes coralinos. El valor paisajístico mostró que Manzanillo Beach tiene el mayor potencial para desarrollar iniciativas de conservación (TtV=14.2). No obstante, ambos arrecifes se enfrentan a elevados niveles de sedimentación (hasta 1.16kg/m2d) y baja transparencia del agua (<5m) causados por el aumento de la erosión de la costa, como consecuencia del cambio de uso del suelo. La alta cobertura de corales muertos (23.6%) y algas (hasta un 29%) en los arrecifes reflejan su manejo inadecuado. Estas condiciones son resultado de las estrategias de conservación usadas principalmente por las autoridades gubernamentales, que en muchos casos no se encuentran coordinadas y no consideran a la población local en el manejo de los recursos. Estos resultados confirman la importancia de las estrategias de conservación con una visión holística del ecosistema terrestre-marino en las áreas costeras. Estas iniciativas deben incluir a la población local en el manejo y la toma de decisiones.

Government conservation policies on Mexican coastal areas: is "top-down" management working?

Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are declining globally due to environmental degradation and poorly planned resource use. Traditionally, local government agencies have been responsible of the management of natural reserves to preserve biodiversity. Nonetheless, much of these approaches have failed, suggesting the development of more integrative strategies. In order to discuss the importance of a holistic approach in conservation initiatives, coastal and underwater landscape value and biological/environmental indicators of coral reef degradation were assessed using the study case of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero coastal area. This area shelters representative coral reef structures of the Eastern Pacific coast and its terrestrial biodiversity and archaeology enhance the high value of its coastal area. This study explored the landscape value of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems using the geomorphosite approach in two sites on the Zihuatanejo coastal area: Caleta de Chon and Manzanillo Beach. Sedimentation rate, water transparency, chlorophyll and total suspended solids were recorded underwater in each site for environmental characterization. 50 photo-quadrants on five transects were surveyed between 3-4m depth to record coverage (%) of living corals, dead corals, algae, sand and rocks. The conservation status of coral reefs was assessed by the coral mortality index (MI). Landscape values showed that both terrestrial and marine ecosystems had important scientific and aesthetic values, being Manzanillo Beach the site with the highest potential for conservation initiatives (TtV = 14.2). However, coral reefs face elevated sedimentation rates (up to 1.16 kg/m2d) and low water transparency (less of 5m) generated by coastal land use changes that have increased soil erosion in the adjacent coastal area. High coverage of dead corals (23.6%) and algae (up to 29%) confirm the low values in conservation status of coral reefs (MI = 0.5), reflecting a poorly-planned management. Current conditions are the result of "top-down" conservation strategies in Zihuatanejo, as Federal and Municipal authorities do not coordinate, disregard local community in coral reef management, and ignore the intimate relationship between the coastal and marine realms. This work confirms the importance of conservation strategies with a holistic approach, considering both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in coastal areas; and that these initiatives should include local coastal communities in management and decision-taking processes done by government authorities.

Cytotoxic effect of curcumin on Giardia lamblia trophozoites.

Giardia lamblia is one of the most important worldwide causes of intestinal infections produced by protozoa. Thus, the search for new alternative therapeutic approaches for this parasitic disease is very important. Common drugs used to control and eradicate this infection, frequently exhibit side effects that force patients to abandon treatment. The present work evaluates the anti-protozoan activity of curcumin, the main constituent of turmeric. Axenic G. lamblia (Portland 1 strain) cultures were exposed to different concentrations of curcumin. Its effects were evaluated on parasite growth, adhesion capacity and parasite morphology. We also evaluated the capacity of curcumin to induce an apoptosis-like effect. All curcumin concentrations inhibited trophozoite growth and adhesion in more than 50% in dose and time dependent manner. Morphological changes were described as protrusions formed under the cytoplasmic membrane, deformation due to swelling and cell agglutination. Curcumin induced apoptosis-like nuclear staining in dose and time dependent manner. In conclusion, curcumin exhibited a cytotoxic effect in G. lamblia inhibiting the parasite growth and adherent capacity, induced morphological alterations, provoked apoptosis-like changes. Future in vitro and in vivo experiments are endowed to elucidate the effect of curcumin in an experimental model of G. lamblia infection, analyze the involvement of ion channels in the swelling effect of curcumin during an apparent osmotic deregulation in G. lamblia trophozoites. This will lead to the proposal of the action mechanism of curcumin as well as the description of mechanism involved during the activation process for the apoptotic-like effect.

Electrophysiological and morphological alterations in peripheral nerves by the pig paramyxovirus of blue eye disease in neonatal pigs.

The pig paramyxovirus of blue eye disease (PPBED) produces central nervous system (CNS) damage leading to death in piglets. However, when PPBED was injected into the muscle and came into contact with hind limb peripheral nerves and was transported to the CNS, it did not cause death and could be a mechanism by which to induce protection. This study analyses whether PPBED causes electrophysiological and morphological alterations in infected hind limb peripheral nerves. It also studies, whether PPBED induces the onset of haemagglutination inhibitory antibodies (HIA) when it is transported to the spinal cord after medial gastrocnemius (MG) intramuscular injection. PPBED was detected by an immunohistochemical method and nerve morphology was studied using electron microscopy. The physiological status of the nerve was evaluated with electrophysiological techniques. The electrical threshold of the infected MG nerve increased four- or five fold compared to that in the ipsilateral lateral gastrocnemius or in the MG nerve on the control side. The infected nerve fibres underwent myelin sheet disarrangement and their internal fibre diameter decreased. PPBED induced the onset of HIA.

Pig paramyxovirus of the blue eye disease binding to a 116 kDa glycoprotein expressed in pig neuronal membranes.

UNLABELLED: Pig paramyxovirus of the blue eye disease (PPBED) is a novel member of the paramyxoviridac family which infects pigs. In neonatal pigs it causes neurological damage, whereas in adult pigs it affects the reproductive function. As PPBED damages the new-born pig central nervous system (CNS), it is important to study whether PPBED binds to the membrane proteins of all brain tissue, or selectively binds to neuronal tissue of the brain stem, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebellum, frontal, temporal and parietal brain cortex. It is also important to establish whether it also infects neurones obtained from new-born, 60-day-old and adult pigs, and the role of carbohydrate residues in virus binding. The effect on virus binding of polyclonal antibodies against viral envelope proteins was also studied. Binding studies were performed using dot blot and virus overlay protein binding assays. PPBED was able to bind to membrane proteins from all brain regions, particularly to a protein band of approximately 116 kDa. Neuraminidase treatment of neuronal membrane proteins decreased virus binding; subsequent treatments with beta-galactosidase and manosidase did not increase virus binding inhibition. N-glycosidase F and trypsin also decreased virus binding, but not the O-glycanase. Antibodies against viral haemagglutinin-neuraminidase blocked virus binding more efficiently than antibodies against viral fusion protein. IN CONCLUSION: (1) PPBFD is able to bind to pig neurones of all brain regions studied and at all ages analysed; (2) a 116 kDa membrane protein containing sialic acid residues with an N-linked oligosaccharide chain was specifically recognized; (3) PPBED haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein seems to play a central role in neural receptor recognition.

Experimental infection of swine and cat central nervous systems by the pig paramyxovirus of the blue eye disease.

This study analyses whether the pig paramyxovirus of blue eye disease (PPBED) infects the central nervous system (CNS) utilizing anterograde and retrograde peripheral nerve transport systems. The virus was injected into muscle and skin, and inoculated per nasum. The presence of PPBED was detected by an immunohistochemical method using polyclonal mouse antibodies against the whole inactivated virus, and was revealed with polyclonal rabbit antibodies against mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) labelled with peroxidase. The PPBED injected into the pig medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was detected in a terminal branch innervating the MG muscle, in neural fibres of the sciatic nerve, in fibres of the ventral and dorsal spinal roots and in ventral horn neurones of the spinal cord. When PPBED was injected into the skin area innervated by the sural nerve, it was detected in neural fibres of the sural and sciatic nerves and in spinal cord dorsal horn neurones. The per nasum inoculum rapidly invaded the CNS through the olfactory nerve. The study concluded that, in order to invade the CNS, PPBED was transported retrogradely by peripheral cutaneous and muscular nerves, and anterogradely by the olfactory nerve. No PPBED was detected in either cat peripheral nerves or in cat CNS.

[Experimental testicular fibrosis and atrophy induced by intratesticular propylene glycol injection]. / Atrofia y fibrosis testicular experimentalmente inducida por inyección intratesticular de propilenglicol.

Fifty-four 15 day old male Wistar rats were given single intratesticular injection of experimental preparations which contained formaldehyde, xylocaine and epinephrine diluted in propylene glycol (FXEP); xylocaine in propylene glycol (XP): epinephrine in propylene glycol (EP) propylene glycol (P); formaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (F); an one control group. The group of rats that were given FXEP underwent testicular weight reduction; body weight and size were not affected. Also the treatment with P produced atrophy and fibrosis in testis and a more severe testicular weight reduction. The sclerosing effect of P treatment was more satisfactory than treatment with FXEP, and apparently no one affected body weight and size, thus, this could be a safe, easy and inexpensive method for non surgical castration.