First record of Psorophora ferox (Diptera: Culicidae) infested with eggs of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae), in Ucayali: Peru.

INTRODUCTION: Dermatobia hominis belongs to the Cuterebridae family, Diptera order; These flies inhabit tropical regions where they are called "fly of death" since the larvae are capable of causing lesions in domestic animals, wild animals including humans, the adult females of D. hominis capture other dipteran to oviposit their eggs on them (phoresis), when hematophagous mosquitoes land on an animal and / or human in order to feed on their blood, the eggs hatch and the larvae immediately penetrate the skin where they will develop to later abandon the host, then in the soil and / or other moist substrate the pupal stage develops, finally new adult flies will emerge from the pupae. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of the present study was to determine as first record, the presence of Psorophora ferox infested with eggs of Dermatobia hominis, Peru. METHODOLOGY: The present study was carried out in an area of the private reserve "El Vencedor", located within the city of Pucallpa, Ucayali Region-Perú. The area is characterized by being humid tropical, with an average temperature of 26ºC and humidity of 92%, while the annual precipitation is approximately 1570 mm3. The capture method was carried out with the help of a hand net type "butterfly" or also called Jama. RESULTS: A total of 668 mosquitoes of different species were collected, the most abundant being Psorophora albigenu and Psorophora ferox, which represented 88.72% and the least abundant was Culex coronator and Uranotaenia apicalis with 0.15% of the total sample collected. CONCLUSIONS: Within these specimens it was captured a mosquito of the species Ps. ferox with the presence of 8 eggs of D. hominis, of which 3 would have hatched, while in the remaining 5, the larvae would remain inside the eggs.

Determination of bioavailable fluoride in toothpastes marketed in Medellín, Colombia, through capillary electrophoresis / Fluoruro biodisponible en cremas dentales comercializadas en Medellín ­ Colombia mediante electroforesis capilar

Currently, the FDI recommendation (World Dental Federation) for fluoride concen­tration in toothpastes is that the total fluoride content declared by manufacturers be between 1,000 and 1,500 ppm, and of this amount, at least 800 ppm should be bioavai­lable fluoride. The aim of this study was to describe the market of toothpastes marketed in Medellín and to measure the concentration of bioavailable fluoride by capillary elec­trophoresis to verify their compliance with the FDI recommendation for the prevention of dental caries. After sampling the toothpastes available for sale in the 16 communes of the city of Medellin, a single operator measured in triplicate the concentration of bioavailable fluoride in 36 samples of previously blinded toothpastes using the capi­llary electrophoresis (EC) technique. Most of the evaluated toothpastes that declared a content of 1,000­1,500 ppm fluoride met the recommendation of presenting at least 800 ppm bioavailable fluoride. Measurement of bioavailable fluoride in toothpastes with MFP (sodium monofluorophosphate) is recommended, as it is known that binding to the abrasive can decrease its concentration over time.

Actualmente la recomendación de la FDI (Federación Dental Internacional) sobre la concentración de fluoruro en cremas dentales es que el contenido de fluoruro total de­clarado por los fabricantes sea entre 1.000 y 1.500 ppm, y que de esta cantidad al menos 800 ppm sea fluoruro biodisponible. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el mercado de las cremas dentales comercializadas en Medellín y medir en estas la concentración de fluoruro biodisponible por electroforesis capilar para verificar su cumplimiento de la recomendación de la FDI para la prevención de la caries dental. Luego de realizar un mues­treo en las 16 comunas de la ciudad de Medellín sobre las cremas dentales disponibles a la venta, un solo operador midió por triplicado la concentración de fluoruro biodisponible en 36 muestras de cremas dentales previamente cegadas, mediante la técnica de electroforesis capilar (EC). La mayoría de las cremas dentales evaluadas que declaraban contenido de 1.000 a 1.500 ppm de fluoruro, cumplieron la recomendación de presentar al menos 800 ppm de fluoruro biodisponible. Se recomienda realizar la medición del fluoruro biodisponible en las cremas con MFP, ya que se conoce que la unión al abrasivo puede disminuir su concentración en el tiempo.

Growth and reproduction of Echeneis naucrates from the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

This study describes growth and reproductive characteristics of a facultative elasmobranch symbiont, Echeneis naucrates. Females grew slower but achieved a larger size than males (growth coefficient, K = 0.25 and 0.38 year-1 , and mean maximum size, L∞ = 603 and 477 mm, respectively). Mean relative batch fecundity was 39.5 (s.d. = 13.1). Gonadosomatic indices peaked in July and August for males and females, respectively, with histology evidence of readiness to spawn or active spawning in August. Host-symbiont length ratios increased linearly with sharksucker length (y = 0.0402 + 0.0003x, adjusted R2 = 0.56).

Number of hummingbird visits determines flower mite abundance on hummingbird feeders.

Members of several genera of mites from the family Melicharidae (Mesostigmata) use hummingbirds as transport host to move from flower to flower, where they feed on pollen and nectar. The factors that influence hummingbird flower mite abundance on host plant flowers are not currently known. Here we tested whether hummingbird flower mite abundance on an artificial nectar source is determined by number of hummingbird visits, nectar energy content or species richness of visiting hummingbirds. We conducted experiments employing hummingbird feeders with sucrose solutions of low, medium, and high energy concentrations, placed in a xeric shrubland. In the first experiment, we recorded the number of visiting hummingbirds and the number of visiting hummingbird species, as well as the abundance of hummingbird flower mites on each feeder. Feeders with the highest sucrose concentration had the most hummingbird visits and the highest flower mite abundances; however, there was no significant effect of hummingbird species richness on mite abundance. In the second experiment, we recorded flower mite abundance on feeders after we standardized the number of hummingbird visits to them. Abundance of flower mites did not differ significantly between feeders when we controlled for hummingbird visits. Our results suggest that nectar energy concentration determines hummingbird visits, which in turn determines flower mite abundance in our feeders. Our results do not support the hypothesis that mites descend from hummingbird nostrils more on richer nectar sources; however, it does not preclude the possibility that flower mites select for nectar concentration at other spatial and temporal scales.

Performance evaluation of Cryo Laser Phoresis technique as biophysical method to promote diclofenac sodium cutaneous perfusion

ABSTRACT Aiming to alter and/or improve permeation of active compounds in the skin, many strategies have been developed, including biophysical methods. One of the physical absorption techniques, currently known as Cryo Laser Phoresis (CLP), consists of an apparatus that emits radiation on polar or nonpolar molecules of the active substance, resulting in faster penetration when in comparison to the standard topical application. The goal of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of a method that proposes to increase cutaneous permeation of diclofenac sodium by using CLP technique. The influence on permeation was evaluated ex vivo, using Franz cell and human skin obtained from cosmetic surgery. The results were evaluated using statistical methods and data exploratory analysis: clusters, k-means and Principal Component Analysis. The results showed a larger increase in the concentration of diclofenac sodium in the dermis with the use of laser. In all samples (with or without laser application) it was observed that skin surface showed an amount of diclofenac sodium and that there was no active passage to the receptor liquid, suggesting that diclofenac sodium was not absorbed. These results indicate that CLP, when used under the conditions described in this study, is able to increase diclofenac sodium penetration and its retention into deeper layers.

RESUMO No sentido de alterar e/ou melhorar a penetração de substâncias na pele, diversas estratégias têm sido desenvolvidas, variando desde a aplicação de novos veículos e ativos encapsulados, até equipamentos que atuam por métodos biofísicos. Uma das técnicas de absorção física, atualmente conhecida como Crio Laser Forese (CLF), consiste em um aparato que emite radiação sobre moléculas polares ou apolares da substância ativa, tornando sua penetração mais rápida, se comparada à administração tópica comum. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de um método que propõe aumentar a permeação cutânea do diclofenaco de sódio incorporado a um gel, por meio do uso da CLF. A influência sobre a permeação foi avaliada ex vivo, utilizando célula de Franz e pele humana obtida de cirurgia plástica. Os resultados foram balizados mediante aplicação de métodos estatísticos e análise exploratória de dados: clusters, k-means e Análise por Componentes Principais. Os resultados demonstraram aumento na concentração do diclofenaco de sódio na derme com o uso do laser. Em todas as amostras (com ou sem aplicação de laser), observou-se, uma quantidade de diclofenaco de sódio na superfície da pele e que não houve passagem de ativo para o líquido do receptor, sugerindo que o diclofenaco de sódio não foi absorvido. Estes resultados indicam que CLF usada sob as condições descritas neste estudo é capaz de aumentar a penetração do diclofenaco de sódio e sua retenção em camadas mais profundas da pele.

Aislamiento de parásitos intestinales en la cucaracha americana (Periplaneta americana) en Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela / Isolation of intestinal parasites from American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela

La cucaracha americana (Periplaneta americana)(Insecta: Dyctioptera, Blattodea) posee una amplia distribución y adaptación a los ambientes humanos, y representa un problema de salud pública en áreas con un manejo sanitario inadecuado. El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificarlos taxones enteroparásitos en tegumento y tracto gastro intestinal de ninfas y adultos de P. americana. Entre abril y noviembre de 2014 fueron recolectados 149 ejemplares (102 imagos y 47 ninfas), en tres sitios de la ciudad de Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela: mercado municipal (N=32), recinto universitario (N= 62) y Hospital Universitario “Alfredo Van Grieken” (HUAVG) (N=55).El análisis parasitológico reveló la presencia en el 97,99% (146/149) de las cucarachas muestreadas de 13 taxa entero-parasitarias, de las cuales siete son consideradas de interés sanitario (Blastocystis spp., Leptomonas spp., Cyclospora spp., Cystoisospora spp., Lophomonas blattarum, Ascaris spp. y Enterobius vermicularis). Las taxa más prevalentes fueron Blastocystis spp. (82,6%: 123/149) y Leptomonas spp. (70,5%: 105/149). Se discute las implicaciones de estos hallazgos en el contexto de la salud pública.

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) (Insecta: Dyctioptera, Blattodea) is a specie with a cosmopolitan distribution and well adapted to human environments. Cockroaches constitute a health hazard in areas with poor sanitary facilities. The aim of this study was to identify parasitic enteric taxa on tegument and intestinal tract of nymphs and adults of P. americana. Between April and November 2014, 149 specimens (102 adults and 47 nymphs) were collected in 3 municipal environments:an out market (N= 32), a university (N=62) and a hospital (HUAVG) (N=55), from Coro city, Falcon state, Venezuela.Parasitological analysis revealed the presence of 13 parasitic taxa in 97,99% (146/149) of cockroaches; seven of these parasites are considered to be for sanitary importance (Blastocystis spp., Leptomonas spp., Cyclospora spp., Cystoisospora spp., Lophomonas blattarum, Ascaris spp. and Enterobius vermicularis). Blastocystis spp. (82,6%: 123/149) and Leptomonas spp. (70,5%: 105/149) were the most prevalent taxa.The implications of these findings for public health were discussed.

Aislamiento de enterobacterias en la mosca común (Musca domestica) en Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela / Isolation of enterobacteria from Musca domestica in Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela

La mosca común (Musca domestica) es una especie con una amplia ubicuidad adaptada a los ambientes humanos, y que constituye un problema de salud pública en aquellas áreas rurales y urbanas con un inadecuado manejo sanitario. En un intento por aislar enterobacterias en adultos de M. domestica, entre Enero y Mayo de 2006 se han recolectado, mediante mallas entomológicas ad hoc, 30 ejemplares en tres sitios de la ciudad de Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela: mercado municipal (N=10), Hospital Universitario “Alfredo Van Grieken” (HUAVG) (N=10) y basurero municipal (N=10). El análisis bacteriológico reveló la presencia en el 96,67% de las moscas sembradas de seis géneros y diez especies de bacterias Gram negativas de la familia Enterobacteriaceae, incluyendo: Enterobacter cloacae, E. gergoviae, E. aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pantoea agglomerans, Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, P. alcalifaciens y Morganella morganii. De éstas, se aislaron siete especies de enterobacterias en las moscas capturadas en los alrededores del HUAVG, y seis en el mercado y el basurero municipales. P. agglomerans (30%: 9/30), P. mirabilis (23,33%: 7/30) y E. cloacae (16,67%: 5/30) fueron las especies bacterianas más frecuentemente aisladas. Como las especies de Enterobacteriaceae detectadas en el presente trabajo en M. domestica también han sido aisladas en infecciones dérmicas, urinarias, pulmonares y gastrointestinales de humanos del HUAVG, se sugiere por lo tanto que la mosca común pudiera estar jugando un papel importante como forente en la transmisión de bacterias potencialmente patógenas para el hombre en ambientes hospitalarios, domiciliarios y establecimientos de ventas de alimentos (mercados) de la ciudad de Coro, estado Falcón, Venezuela.

The housefly (Musca domestica) is a species and is characteristically associated with human activity. Houseflies constitute a health hazard in rural and urban areas with poor sanitary facilities. Between January and May 2006, enterobacteria were isolated in 30 adults of Musca domestica captured in 3 municipal environments: an out market (N=10), a dumping ground (N=10) and a hospital (HUAVG) (N=10), from Coro city, Falcón state, Venezuela. Bacteriological analysis revealed the presence of 10 Gram negative bacterial species (Enterobacteriaceae) in 96.67% of the flies cultured, including: Enterobacter cloacae, E. gergoviae, E. aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pantoea agglomerans, Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, P. alcalifaciens y Morganella morganii. Of these, seven enterobacteria species were isolated from flies collected in HUAVG, and six each from those caught in market and dumping ground areas. Pantoea agglomerans (30%: 9/30), P. mirabilis (23.33%: 7/30) and E. cloacae (16.67%: 5/30) were the enterobacteria most frequently detected. The Enterobacteriaceae specie isolated here from M. domestica also has been detected in human dermal, urinary, pulmonary and gastrointestinal infections at HUAVG. Therefore, the role of the housefly as a potential mechanical vector of potentially pathogenic enterobacteria to humans in hospital, domiciliary and food supply environments from Coro city, Falcón state, Venezuela, is suggested.

Turtle riders: remoras on marine turtles in Southwest Atlantic

An overview is presented for a poorly documented relationship between reef vertebrates in Southwest Atlantic: remoras (Echeneidae) associated with marine turtles. Two remora species (Echeneis naucrates and Remora remora) and four turtle species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Dermochelys coriacea) are here recorded in symbiotic associations in the SW Atlantic. Echeneis naucrates was recorded both on the coast and on oceanic islands, whereas R. remora was recorded only at oceanic islands and in the open sea. The remora-turtle association is usually regarded as an instance of phoresis (hitchhiking), albeit feeding by the fish is also involved in this symbiosis type. This association seems to be rare in SW Atlantic.

Uma visão geé apresentada sobre uma relação pouco documentada entre vertebrados recifais no Atlântico Sul Ocidental: rêmoras (Echeneidae) associadas a tartarugas marinhas. Duas espécies de rêmora ou pegador (Echeneis naucrates e Remora remora) e quatro de tartarugas (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata e Dermochelys coriacea) são aqui registradas em associações simbiônticas para o Atlântico Sul Ocidental. Echeneis naucrates foi registrada tanto na costa como em ilhas oceânicas, ao passo que R. remora foi registrada somente em ilhas oceânicas e região pelágica. A associação entre rêmoras e tartarugas é habitualmente considerada como forese, embora forrageamento, por parte das rêmoras, também esteja envolvido neste tipo de simbiose. Esta associação parece ser rara no Atlântico Sul Ocidental.

Turtle riders: remoras on marine turtles in Southwest Atlantic

An overview is presented for a poorly documented relationship between reef vertebrates in Southwest Atlantic: remoras (Echeneidae) associated with marine turtles. Two remora species (Echeneis naucrates and Remora remora) and four turtle species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Dermochelys coriacea) are here recorded in symbiotic associations in the SW Atlantic. Echeneis naucrates was recorded both on the coast and on oceanic islands, whereas R. remora was recorded only at oceanic islands and in the open sea. The remora-turtle association is usually regarded as an instance of phoresis (hitchhiking), albeit feeding by the fish is also involved in this symbiosis type. This association seems to be rare in SW Atlantic.

Uma visão geé apresentada sobre uma relação pouco documentada entre vertebrados recifais no Atlântico Sul Ocidental: rêmoras (Echeneidae) associadas a tartarugas marinhas. Duas espécies de rêmora ou pegador (Echeneis naucrates e Remora remora) e quatro de tartarugas (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata e Dermochelys coriacea) são aqui registradas em associações simbiônticas para o Atlântico Sul Ocidental. Echeneis naucrates foi registrada tanto na costa como em ilhas oceânicas, ao passo que R. remora foi registrada somente em ilhas oceânicas e região pelágica. A associação entre rêmoras e tartarugas é habitualmente considerada como forese, embora forrageamento, por parte das rêmoras, também esteja envolvido neste tipo de simbiose. Esta associação parece ser rara no Atlântico Sul Ocidental.

Free meals on long-distance cruisers: the vampire fish rides giant catfishes in the Amazon

The trichomycterid catfishes known as candirus are renowned for their blood feeding, but information on their habits under natural conditions is very fragmentary and generally restricted to hosts or habitats. We recorded an undescribed species of the vandelliine genus Paracanthopoma riding the giant jau catfish, Zungaro zungaro (Pimelodidae), in the upper Amazon. The candirus were found on the host's caudal and pectoral fins, as well as the base of the dorsal fin, with their snouts buried up to the eyes in the tough skin of the catfish host. All of them had small amounts of partly digested blood in the distal part of the gut. Along the host's dorsal fin base we found a few additional tiny holes, most of them healed. We suggest that Paracanthopoma feeds on the gill chamber of its hosts, and that the individuals we found were taking a ride partly buried into the host's skin. Our assumption seems supported by the widespread behaviour of vandelliine candirus taking blood from the gill region of their hosts, and by a report of Paracanthopoma parva found on the gills of another species of giant catfish, Brachyplatystoma vaillanti. Additionally, the Paracanthopoma sp. individuals we examined were not gorged with blood as usual for several vandelliines. Species within the genus Paracanthopoma have the longest and most robust snout, and the longest and strongest dentary teeth among blood-feeding candirus, which fit their drilling needs. Taking a ride on a giant host would be advantageous for Paracanthopoma candirus for several reasons: 1) dispersal; 2) no need to search for hosts to feed; and 3) protection from predators. The alternative explanation that Paracanthopoma takes blood from the tiny holes it drills in the skin seems unlikely, due to the recent finding that species of the genus Vandellia are unable to take blood from their hosts actively and cut open a major branchial artery to gorge themselves with blood due to the host's arterial...

Os bagres tricomicterídeos conhecidos como candirus são famosos por se alimentarem de sangue, mas as informações sobre seus hábitos, em condições naturais, são fragmentárias e restritas aos seus hospedeiros ou ambientes. Registramos uma espécie não descrita de candiru do gênero Paracanthopoma (Vandelliinae) sobre um jaú, Zungaro zungaro (Pimelodidae), no alto Rio Amazonas. Os candirus estavam sobre as nadadeiras caudal e peitoral e junto à base da dorsal, com seus focinhos enterrados até a altura dos olhos, no tegumento espesso do bagre hospedeiro. Os candirus continham pequenas quantidades de sangue parcialmente digerido na porção distal de seus tubos digestórios. Havia diversos orifícios rasos próximos à base da nadadeira dorsal do hospedeiro, a maioria cicatrizada. Sugerimos que Paracanthopoma se alimente na câmara branquial dos seus hospedeiros e que os candirus estejam viajando parcialmente enterrados na pele do jaú. Nossa suposição está apoiada no hábito de tomar sangue na região branquial dos hospedeiros, predominante entre os Vandelliinae, bem como por um registro de Paracanthopoma parva sobre as brânquias de uma outra espécie de grande bagre (Brachyplatystoma vaillanti). Além disso, os indivíduos de Paracanthopoma sp. não estavam empanturrados com sangue, como é usual para Vandelliinae. As espécies de Paracanthopoma têm o focinho mais longo e robusto entre os candirus hematófagos, além de dentes mandibulares longos e muito fortes, características adequadas ao hábito de perfurar a pele do hospedeiro. Viajar no corpo do hospedeiro seria vantajoso por diversos motivos: 1) dispersão; 2) não haver necessidade de procurar hospedeiros para se alimentar; 3) proteção contra predadores. A explicação alternativa, de que Paracanthopoma toma sangue nos pequenos furos que escava, não parece plausível, devido à recente descoberta de que espécies de Vandellia são incapazes de tomar sangue ativamente, pois fazem uma incisão numa das artérias...