Salsuginus neotropicalis n. sp. (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalinae) from the pike killifish Belonesox belizanus (Atheriniformes: Poeciliidae) from southeastern Mexico.

Salsuginus neotropicalis n. sp. is described from the gills of Belonesox belizanus (Kner), the pike killifish (Poeciliidae), from the southeastern Mexico. S. neotropicalis is distinguished from all other congeners by the morphology of the haptoral sclerites, especially by the presence of a ventral bar with notably enlarged ends, and by possessing overlapping gonads. The diagnosis of Salsuginus is amended based on the position of gonads in this species. This is the first known Salsuginus species occurring in a freshwater fish from the Neotropical Region.

Monogeneans of freshwater fishes from cenotes (sinkholes) of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

During a survey of the parasites of freshwater fishes from cenotes (sinkholes) of the Yucatan Peninsula the following species of monogeneans were found on cichlid, pimelodid, characid and poeciliid fishes: Sciadicleithrum mexicanum Kritsky, Vidal-Martinez et Rodriguez-Canul, 1994 from Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Günther) (type host), Cichlasoma friedrichsthali (Heckel), Cichlasoma octofasciatum (Regan), and Cichlasoma synspilum Hubbs, all new host records; Sciadicleithrum meekii Mendoza-Franco, Scholz et Vidal-Martínez, 1997 from Cichlasoma meeki (Brind); Urocleidoides chavarriai (Price, 1938) and Urocleidoides travassosi (Price, 1938) from Rhamdia guatemalensis (Günther); Urocleidoides costaricensis (Price et Bussing, 1967), Urocleidoides heteroancistrium (Price et Bussing, 1968), Urocleidoides anops Kritsky et Thatcher, 1974, Anacanthocotyle anacanthocotyle Kritsky et Fritts, 1970, and Gyrodactylus neotropicalis Kritsky et Fritts, 1970 from Astyanax fasciatus; and Gyrodactylus sp. from Gambusia yucatana Regan. Urocleidoides chavarriai, U. travassosi, U. costaricensis, U. heteroancistrium, U. anops, Anacanthocotyle anacanthocotyle and Gyrodactylus neotropicalis are reported from North America (Mexico) for the first time. These findings support the idea about the dispersion of freshwater fishes and their monogenean parasites from South America through Central America to southeastern Mexico, following the emergence of the Panamanian isthmus between 2 and 5 million years ago.

Pseudorhabdosynochus yucatanensis sp. n. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gills of the red grouper Epinephelus morio (Pisces: Serranidae) of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Pseudorhabdosynochus yucatanensis sp. n. (Diplectanidae) is described from the gills of the red grouper, Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes, 1824) (Serranidae), from the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This new species is characterized by having both the ventral and the dorsal squamodiscs composed of 10-12 rows of rods, with 0-1 innermost row forming a closed circle. Furthermore, the vagina of P. yucatanensis has a non-sclerotized ampulla with a fine, sclerotized duct leading to a sclerotized seminal receptacle. Prevalence (percentage of infected fish) and abundance (mean number of worms per examined fish) were estimated for P. yucatanensis from 8 localities along the coast of Yucatan. Prevalence varies from 38% to 100%, while abundance was between 1.2 +/- 0.6 and 43.2 +/- 17.8 worms per fish. The lack of linear relationship between the host length and the number of monogeneans per fish (regression F1,188 = 0.56, p = 0.45) was probably due to the fact that the sample was restricted to juvenile hosts.

The impact of mass media advertising on a voluntary sterilization program in Brazil.

The effect of magazine advertising on vasectomy acceptance was tested in São Paulo, Brazil. Four advertisements ran for ten weeks in eight magazines. Clinic performance doubled during the campaign and stabilized at 54 percent higher than baseline. The advertisements selectively attracted the target audience without bringing in large numbers of ineligible candidates, completely avoided negative reactions, and recruited men previously unexposed to vasectomy. The cost of the advertising campaign was offset by additional revenue generated by the increase in vasectomies performed. The results suggest that while interpersonal communications can maintain performance in voluntary sterilization programs, mass media promotion may be necessary for program growth.

PIP: A simple before-and-after time-series analysis was employed to study the effect of magazine advertising on vasectomy acceptance in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The study design used the single Pro-Pater Sao Paulo clinic and a single intervention, i.e., the mass media promotional campaign. Service statistics for the years 1984-85 provided the baseline; clinic performance was continuously monitored during the intervention and for a 12-month postintervention period. The formal campaign was initiated during September 1985. 4 advertisements ran for 10 weeks in 8 magazines. By the end of the study, the patient file included 3403 records for the baseline period, 1475 records for the campaign, and 5388 records for the post-campaign period. The telephone calls file contained 4393 records and the letters file 386 records. A clear impact of the advertising campaign was demonstrated, both in terms of total number of telephone calls received and in terms of referral source. The advertisements generated 32% of all telephone calls received, 47% of calls received during the campaign itself, and 9-10% of the calls received in the 2nd half of the post-campaign year. As referrals by advertisements dropped off, they were replaced in part by increased referrals from traditional sources, providing the 1st evidence of a "multiplier effect." Magazine referrals were significantly less likely to schedule an intake interview than were callers referred by traditional sources -- 51% versus 78%. Clinic performance was positively and significantly affected by the advertising campaign. The mean daily number of new clients doubled during the campaign as compared to the baseline period and remained 60% higher in the post-campaign period. The mean daily number of vasectomies performed increased 76% from the baseline to the campaign period and stabilized at a level 54% higher than baseline during the post-campaign period. 18% of the new clients arriving during the campaign reporting having seen a magazine advertisement; this figure was 4 of the new clients in the post-campaign period. New clients referred by the campaign were, on the average, 1 year older than those referred by traditional sources. Number of living children did not vary by period. The mean educational level rose slightly during the campaign, after which it returned to baseline levels. The cost of the advertising campaign was offset by the additional revenue gained from the increase in vasectomies performed. In sum, the study findings support the conclusion that mass media that mass media advertising as an effective and cost-effective means to increase the demand for vasectomy services in Sao Paulo, Brazil.