Molecular Detection of Dengue Virus, Zika Virus, and Chikungunya Virus Arboviruses in Neotropical Bats.

Background: The dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya arboviruses have spread in America in the past year, thus becoming global health issues. These viruses are maintained in nature in two transmission cycles: an urban cycle, transmitted from hematophagous mosquitoes to humans, and a wild cycle, recorded only in Africa and Asia, involving mosquitoes and nonhuman primates as natural hosts. The evidence shows that these arboviruses infect other wild mammals in America, such as rodents, marsupials, and bats. This study aimed to determine the potential natural infection of arboviruses in bats captured in contrasting sites (tropical forests, urban areas, and caves) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Materials and Methods: Liver samples were collected from some bats and tested for RNA from dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya with the quantitative real-time PCR assay. We analyzed 162 samples that encompassed 23 bat species. Results: No natural infection with any of the three arboviruses was detected in any sample tested. Conclusion: The existence of a wild cycle of the three arboviruses in the American continent is not ruled out. However, owing to the low or zero prevalence recorded in other studies and the present study, bats are likely involved in the arbovirus transmission cycle as accidental hosts.

Coronaviruses in Bats: A Review for the Americas.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is the focus of attention as it has caused more than three million human deaths globally. This and other coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV, have been suggested to be related to coronaviruses that are hosted in bats. This work shows, through a bibliographic review, the frequency of detection of coronavirus in bats species of the Americas. The presence of coronavirus in bats has been examined in 25 investigations in 11 countries of the Americas between 2007 and 2020. Coronaviruses have been explored in 9371 individuals from 160 species of bats, and 187 coronavirus sequences have been deposited in GenBank distributed in 43 species of bats. While 91% of the coronaviruses sequences identified infect a single species of bat, the remainder show a change of host, dominating the intragenera change. So far, only Mex-CoV-6 is related to MERS-CoV, a coronavirus pathogenic for humans, so further coronavirus research effort in yet unexplored bat species is warranted.

Current Knowledge and Ecological and Human Impact Variables Involved in the Distribution of the Dengue Virus by Bats in the Americas.

Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is one of the most important reemerging viral diseases transmitted by arthropods worldwide. DENV is maintained in nature in two transmission cycles: urban and sylvatic. The latter has only been recorded in Africa and Asia and involves nonhuman primates as natural hosts, although it has been suggested that other mammals may play a secondary role as potential reservoir host, including bats. The objective of this article is to review the current state of knowledge about DENV-positive bats in the Americas and to determine what ecological and human impact variables could favor DENV infection in bats. We performed a search of published studies on natural and experimental DENV infection in bats. From 1952 to 2019, 14 studies have been carried out (71.4% in the last decade) examining DENV infection in bats in seven countries of the Americas. DENV infection was examined in 1884 bats of 63 species and DENV was detected in 19 of these species. Clench's model estimated that more than 75 species could be carriers of DENV; therefore, considering that at least 350 species of bats are distributed in the Americas, to detect 95% of the DENV-bearing species, it would be necessary to examine about 10,206 bats of ∼287 species that have not been analyzed until 2019. The species with the highest number of positive cases were Molossus sinaloae and Artibeus jamaicensis. Species, colony size, mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, human population size, and bat collection site (site inhabited by humans, vegetation cover, and caves) contributed to explain the variation in DENV detection in bats in the Americas. These results provide evidence on the exposure of bats to DENV in different geographic areas of the Americas and a bat sylvatic transmission cycle is very likely to be occurring, where bats may be either accidental hosts, dead-end hosts, or potential reservoir hosts for DENV.

The Importance of Human Emotions for Wildlife Conservation.

Animals have always been important for human life due to the ecological, cultural, and economic functions that they represent. This has allowed building several kinds of relationships that have promoted different emotions in human societies. The objective of this review was to identify the main emotions that humans show toward wildlife species and the impact of such emotions on animal population management. We reviewed academic databases to identify previous studies on this topic worldwide. An analysis of the emotions on wildlife and factors causing them is described in this study. We identified a controversy about these emotions. Large predators such as wolves, coyotes, bears, big felids, and reptiles, such as snakes and geckos, promote mainly anger, fear, and disgust. This is likely due to the perceptions, beliefs, and experiences that societies have historically built around them. However, in some social groups these animals have promoted emotions such as happiness due to their values for people. Likewise, sadness is an emotion expressed for the threatening situations that animals are currently facing. Furthermore, we associated the conservation status of wildlife species identified in the study with human emotions to discuss their relevance for emerging conservation strategies, particularly focused on endangered species promoting ambiguous emotions in different social groups.

Cerclaje laparoscópico transabdominal en el primer trimestre con nacimiento a término / Succesful pregnancy outcome after first trimester laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage

El parto pretérmino es una de las principales causas de muerte neonatal y de hospitalización antenatal. La insuficiencia cervical constituye un factor de riesgo para dicha patología, el objetivo del artículo es describir un caso de insuficiencia cervical manejado con cerclaje transabdominal por vía laparoscópica. Presentación del caso: Paciente de 37 años con antecedente de tabique uterino corregido por histeroscopia a quien en su primera gestación se le realizó cerclaje vaginal fallido por parto pretérmino a las 24 semanas de gestación con producto fallecido por prematurez extrema. En el siguiente embarazo se le realizó un cerclaje transabdominal por vía laparoscópica, consiguiendo embarazo a término con recién nacido sano de 38 semanas de gestación y peso de 2840 gramos. Conclusiones: el cerclaje transabdominal por vía laparoscópica presenta tasas elevadas de éxito durante el embarazo, asociado a bajas complicaciones, menor perdida sanguínea intraoperatoria y menor estancia hospitalaria constituyéndose como una técnica factible y segura en pacientes con diagnóstico de insuficiencia cervical con algunas indicaciones tales como cerclaje vaginal previo fallido.

Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal mortality and antenatal hospitalization. Cervical insufficiency constitutes a risk factor for premature birth. This article aims to describe a case of cervical insufficiency managed with laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage. A case is presented in a 37-year-old patient with septate uterus corrected by hysteroscopic surgery and a failed transvaginal cerclage with a preterm stillbirth as a result of severe prematurity in her first pregnancy. A laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage was done during her next pregnancy resulting in a healthy, full-term (38 weeks) newborn who weighed 2840 grams. Conclusions: laparoscopic cerclage in pregnancy has a high success rate with minimum complications and reduced blood loss and hospital stay. It is a feasible and safe technique for patients with cervical insufficiency and is effective in specific circumstances such as previous failed vaginal cerclage.

Symbolism and ritual practices related to hunting in Maya communities from central Quintana Roo, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Some Mayan peasant-hunters across the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico still carry out a hunting ritual -Loojil Ts'oon, Loj Ts'oon or Carbine Ceremony- in which they renew the divine permission for hunting in order to continue deserving the gift of prey after a period of hunt. Thus they are granted access to game by the gods and the Lords of the Animals, particularly the spirit/evil-wind call. This paper focuses on the acts within the Loojil Ts'oon -which is performed in the X-Pichil community and surrounding area- that make it unique among the hunting rituals performed in other parts of the Peninsula. METHODS: The Loojil Ts'oon hunting ritual was observed and registered in audiovisual format in two different occasions in X-Pichil (Friday 04/29/2011 and Friday 07/29/2011). Afterwards, we delivered digital videodisks (DVD) to hunters and their families and to the j-men (the magic-medic-ritual specialist) who participated in these ceremonies. This delivery produced confidence among participants to talk more openly and in-depth about the Loojil Ts'oon, revealing symbolic, psychological, and material details previously unknown to outsiders. Qualitative information was obtained through the ethnographic method using techniques such as participant observation and guided tours. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain complementary information. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: On one hand, we describe the preparation and cleansing of the "Sip soup", as well as its parading and distribution -delivery to the spirit/evil-wind Sip- on the streets of the community (highlingting the role of the rooster as a counter-gift). On the other hand, the cleansing of the jaws (of deer: Odocoileus virginianus, Mazama spp.; and peccaries: Tayassuidae) and their return to the Lords of Animals in the hills so that they may give these animals new life. CONCLUSIONS: By performing the Loojil Ts'oon, the act of killing an animal is legitimized. The kill transforms into an exchange to perpetuate life, in which gods and Lords of animals grant the hunter the solicited new game if he has completed his ritual duties and has not broken the prescribed hunting rules. The Loojil Ts'oon does not only represent the continuity and regeneration of animals, that is, fauna as a resource, but also of the whole hunting cycle. The hunter does so to maintain and recreate order and equilibrium in one's relationship with nature as a whole, with the rest of one's social group, and with oneself. Thus, hunting transcends the exclusively material dimension of a subsistence activity.

Cultural significance of wild mammals in Mayan and mestizo communities of the Lacandon Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Several ethnobiology studies evaluate the cultural significance (CS) of plants and mushrooms. However, this is not the case for mammals. It is important to make studies of CS allowing the comparison of cultural groups because the value given to groups of organisms may be based on different criteria. Such information would be valuable for wildlife preservation plans. In this study, the most culturally significant species of mammals from the Lacandon Rainforest (Chiapas, Mexico) for people from two Mayan-Lacandon and mestizo communities were identified. The reasons behind the CS of the studied species were explored and the existence of differences among the cultural groups was evaluated. METHODS: One hundred ninety-eight semi-structured and structured interviews were applied to compile socio-demographic information, qualitative data on CS categories, and free listings. Frequency of mention was a relative indicator to evaluate the CS of each species of mammal. Comparison of responses between communities was carried out through multivariate analyses. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the number of mentioned species by Lacandons and mestizos as well as different responses in the qualitative categories. A χ2 test was used to compare frequency of categories. RESULTS: 38 wild mammal species were identified. The classification and Principal Components Analyses show an apparent separation between Lacandon and mestizo sites based on the relative importance of species. All four communities mentioned the lowland paca the most, followed by peccary, white-tailed deer, armadillo, and jaguar. No significant difference was found in the number of mentioned species between the two groups. Eight CS categories were identified. The most important category was "harmful mammals", which included 28 species. Other relevant categories were edible, medicinal, and appearing in narratives. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained in this study demonstrates the existence of differential cultural patterns in the relationships that Lacandon and mestizo groups establish with mammals. Species are deemed important either because they are eaten of because of the harm they cause. We suggest the incorporation of local conceptions about wild animals in conservation frameworks for the fauna in the Lacandon Rainforest.

Distribution, habitat and adaptability of the genus Tapirus.

In this manuscript, as a starting point, the ancient and current distribution of the genus Tapirus are summarized, from its origins, apparently in Europe, to current ranges. Subsequently, original and current tapir habitats are described, as well as changes in ancient habitats. As the manuscript goes on, we examine the ways in which tapir species interact with their habitats and the main aspects of habitat use, spatial ecology and adaptability. Having reviewed the historic and current distribution of tapirs, as well as their use and selection of habitats, we introduce the concept of adaptability, considering that some of the tapir physiological characteristics and behavioral strategies can reduce the negative impact of habitat alteration and climate change. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research priorities. The conservation community is still missing important pieces of information for the effective conservation of tapirs and their remaining habitats in Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Reconstructing how tapir species reached their current distribution ranges, interpreting how they interact with their habitats and gathering information regarding the strategies they use to cope with habitat changes will increase our understanding about these animals and contribute to the development of conservation strategies.

Wildlife uses and hunting patterns in rural communities of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Subsistence hunting is a traditional practice providing food and many other goods for households in the Yucatan Peninsula, southeast Mexico. Economic, demographic, and cultural change in this region drive wildlife habitat loss and local extinctions. Improving our understanding about current practices of wildlife use may support better management strategies for conserving game species and their habitat. We aimed to evaluate if wildlife use remained relevant for the subsistence of rural residents of the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as if local hunting practices were related to environmental, geographical, and cultural factors. METHODS: Fieldwork was done between March 2010 and March 2011. Information was obtained through conversations, interviews, and participant observation. Record forms allowed recording animals hunted, biomass extracted, distance intervals to hunting sites, habitat types and seasonality of wildlife harvests. Data were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance, and Generalized Linear Models. RESULTS: Forty-six terrestrial vertebrate species were used for obtaining food, medicine, tools, adornments, pets, ritual objects, and for sale and mitigating damage. We recorded 968 animals taken in 664 successful hunting events. The Great Curassow, Ocellated Turkey, paca, white-tailed deer, and collared peccary were the top harvested species, providing 80.7% of biomass (10,190 kg). The numbers of animals hunted and biomass extracted declined as hunting distances increased from villages. Average per capita consumption was 4.65 ± 2.7 kg/person/year. Hunting frequencies were similar in forested and agricultural areas. DISCUSSION: Wildlife use, hunting patterns, and technologies observed in our study sites were similar to those recorded in previous studies for rural Mayan and mestizo communities in the Yucatan Peninsula and other Neotropical sites. The most heavily hunted species were those providing more products and by-products for residents. Large birds such as the Great Curassow and the Ocellated Turkey were extremely important for local hunters, representing around 40% of total prey taken. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Our results suggest that hunting is frequent in our study areas. Low human densities allow low hunting pressure on most game species and favor conservation of the tropical forest. We suggest that co-management may help regulating hunting, prioritizing cultural practices of sustainable use and conservation for benefiting local users and animal populations.

Prevalencia de lesión escamosa intraepitelial de cérvix en pacientes con diagnóstico citológico de atipia escamosa de significado indeterminado (ASCUS), en una institución de complejidad media en Bogotá, Colombia / Prevalence of cervical intraepithelial squamous lesions in patients attending a teaching hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, being cytologically diagnosed as suffering from atypical squamous cells having undefined significance (ASCUS)

Objetivo: describir los hallazgos colposcópicos e histopatológicos de pacientes con diagnóstico citológico de atipias de células escamosas de significado indeterminado (ASCUS). Materiales y métodos: estudio de corte transversal entre febrero del 2003 y abril del 2005, en mujeres con diagnóstico citológico de ASCUS, en el Hospital Universitario de la Samaritana. Se evaluaron antecedentes ginecobstétricos y datos poblacionales de cada paciente con el programa estadístico SSPS 10.0 Resultados: se analizaron 339 mujeres con una edad promedio de 39 años. Por colposcopia se diagnosticó un 37,8 por ciento de lesión escamosa intraepitelial de bajo grado (LEI BG) y un 10,9 por ciento de lesión escamosa intraepitelial de alto grado (LEI AG). En el diagnóstico por histopatología se detectó infección por virus del papiloma humano (VPH) en el 29,5 por ciento de los casos, LEI BG en el 15 por ciento y LEI AG en el 10,3 por ciento. Se encontró carcinoma (CA) invasivo en el 0,6 por ciento de los casos. Conclusión: en pacientes con ASCUS se encuentra una prevalencia importante de lesiones preneoplásicas que ameritan estudio colposcópico para impactar la mortalidad por esta patología.

Daños ocasionados por vertebrados silvestres al cultivo de maíz en la selva lacandona, Chiapas México / Damages caused by wild vertebrate species in corn crops at the lacandon forest Chiapas Mexico

Los propósitos de este trabajo fueron identificar las especies de vertebrados silvestres causantes de daños en la Selva Lacandona de Chiapas, México, y estimar y comparar las pérdidas en parcelas con distintas características como vegetación adyacente, disponibilidad de agua, árboles muertos, forma, pendiente, fecha de siembra, distancia a poblados y presencia de parcelas agrupadas. Entre febrero y septiembre de 2004 se muestrearon 22 parcelas de maíz en dos comunidades adyacentes a la Reserva de la Biósfera Montes Azules, estableciendo aleatoriamente 10 transectos lineales de 100m y 10 cuadrantes de 25m2 por ha. Las especies dañinas identificadas en el área de estudio fueron mapache (Procyon lotor), pecarí de collar (Tayassu tajacu), coatí (Nasua narica), tepezcuintle (Agouti paca), ardilla gris (Sciurus aureogaster), tuza (Orthogeomys hispidus), ratón mexicano (Peromyscus mexicanus), loro coroniblanco (Pionus senilis), pea (Cyanocorax morio) y carpintero lineado (Dryocopus lineatus). Las pérdidas promedio estimadas fueron de 8,9 ±1 por ciento de la cosecha de maíz, equivalentes a 90kg·ha-1. Los mayores daños ocasionados por cada especie se presentaron en parcelas con presencia de arroyos (pecarí de collar), árboles muertos (carpintero lineado), selvas secundarias (coatí), y durante las primeras siembras y distantes de la comunidad (loro coroniblanco)

Foraging ecology of howler monkeys in a cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantation in Comalcalco, Mexico.

Recent evidence indicates that primate populations may persist in neotropical fragmented landscapes by using arboreal agroecosystems, which may provide temporary habitats, increased areas of vegetation, and connectivity, among other benefits. However, limited data are available on how primates are able to sustain themselves in such manmade habitats. We report the results of a 9-month-long investigation of the feeding ecology of a troop of howler monkeys (n = 24) that have lived for the past 25 years in a 12-ha cacao plantation in the lowlands of Tabasco, Mexico. A vegetation census indicated the presence of 630 trees (> or =20 cm diameter at breast height (DBH)) of 32 shade species in the plantation. The howlers used 16 plant species (13 of which were trees) as sources of leaves, fruits, and flowers. Five shade tree species (Ficus cotinifolia, Pithecellobium saman, Gliricidia sepium, F. obtusifolia, and Ficus sp.) accounted for slightly over 80% of the total feeding time and 78% of the total number trees (n = 139) used by the howlers, and were consistently used by the howlers from month to month. The howlers spent an average of 51% of their monthly feeding time exploiting young leaves, 29% exploiting mature fruit, and 20% exploiting flowers and other plant items. Monthly consumption of young leaves varied from 23% to 67%, and monthly consumption of ripe fruit varied from 12% to 64%. Differences in the protein-to-fiber ratio of young vs. mature leaves influenced diet selection by the monkeys. The howlers used 8.3 ha of the plantation area, and on average traveled 388 m per day in each month. The howlers preferred tree species whose contribution to the total tree biomass and density was above average for the shade-tree population in the plantation. Given the right conditions of management and protection, shaded arboreal plantations in fragmented landscapes can sustain segments of howler monkey populations for many decades.

Comportamiento de las ondas de flujo de arterias uterinas e iliacas externas durante contracciones de trabajo de parto / Behavior of flow waves of uterine and external iliac arteries during labor contractions

Para comprender mejor la adaptación fisiológica de los flujos sanguíneos durante el trabajo de parto observamos los comportamientos de las velocidades de flujo en las arterias uterinas e íliacas externas en 15 embarazadas de término, sin patologías y en trabajo de parto franco. La edad materna fue de 21,6 ñ 5,2 años promedio ñ DS, la paridad de 0,6 ñ 0,5 partos y la edad gestacional de 39,2 ñ 1,1 semanas. Todos los partos fueron vaginales sin complicaciones, el peso de los recién nacidos fue de 3,440 ñ 621g, y el apgar de 8,6 ñ 1,6 y 9,0 ñ 0,7 al 1-5 min. En la arteria uterina la relación sístole/diástole y el índice de resistencia aumentaron de 1,83 ñ 0,25 durante la relajación a 4,24 ñ 1,55 durante la contracción p<0,05 y de 0,46 ñ 0,05 durante la relajación a 0,74 ñ 0,08 durante la contracción p<0,01 respectivamente. En todas las pacientes se observó en la arteria ilíaca externa un flujo diastólico reverso durante la relajación uterina, el cual persistió sólo en 2 pacientes durante la contracción p<0,01, además esta onda de flujo modificada con la hiperventilación materna. Concluimos que la contracción uterina produce cambios significativos en las velocidades de flujo en las arterias uterinas e ilíacas externas, las cuales pudieran ser explicadas por un aumento de la resistencia durante la contracción uterina, con un desvío del flujo sanguíneo hacia territorios de menor resistencia