Sustained COVID-19 community transmission and potential super spreading events at neglected afro-ecuadorian communities assessed by massive RT-qPCR and serological testing of community dwelling population.

Background: Neglected ethnic minorities from underserved rural populations in Latin America are highly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to poor health infrastructure and limited access to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis. Esmeraldas is a mainly rural province of the Coastal Region of Ecuador characterized by a high presence of Afro-Ecuadorian population living under poverty conditions. Objective: We herein present a retrospective analysis of the surveillance SARS-CoV-2 testing in community-dwelling population from Esmeraldas carried out by our university laboratory in collaboration with regional health authorities during the first week of October 2020, in a region where no public SARS-CoV-2 detection laboratory was available at that time. Results: A total number of 1,259 people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by Reverse Transcription quantitative Polimerasa Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), resulting in an overall infection rate of 7.7% (97/1259, 95% CI: [6.32-9.35%]) for SARS-CoV-2, up to 12.1% in some communities. Interestingly, community-dwelling super spreaders with viral loads over 108 copies/ml represented 6.2% of the SARS-CoV-2-infected population. Furthermore, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG serological tests were applied to the same study group, yielding an overall seroprevalence of 11.68% (95% CI: [9.98-13.62%]) but as high as 24.47% at some communities. Conclusion: These results support active COVID-19 community transmission in Esmeraldas province during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has been shown for other rural communities in the Ecuadorian Coastal Region.

Genetic ancestry and ethnic identity in Ecuador.

We investigated the ancestral origins of four Ecuadorian ethnic groups-Afro-Ecuadorian, Mestizo, Montubio, and the Indigenous Tsáchila-in an effort to gain insight on the relationship between ancestry, culture, and the formation of ethnic identities in Latin America. The observed patterns of genetic ancestry are largely concordant with ethnic identities and historical records of conquest and colonization in Ecuador. Nevertheless, a number of exceptional findings highlight the complex relationship between genetic ancestry and ethnicity in Ecuador. Afro-Ecuadorians show far less African ancestry, and the highest levels of Native American ancestry, seen for any Afro-descendant population in the Americas. Mestizos in Ecuador show high levels of Native American ancestry, with substantially less European ancestry, despite the relatively low Indigenous population in the country. The recently recognized Montubio ethnic group is highly admixed, with substantial contributions from all three continental ancestries. The Tsáchila show two distinct ancestry subgroups, with most individuals showing almost exclusively Native American ancestry and a smaller group showing a Mestizo characteristic pattern. Considered together with historical data and sociological studies, our results indicate the extent to which ancestry and culture interact, often in unexpected ways, to shape ethnic identity in Ecuador.

Multiple burdens of malnutrition and relative remoteness in rural Ecuadorian communities.

OBJECTIVE: Social and economic changes associated with new roads can bring about rapid nutritional transitions. To study this process, we: (1) describe trends in adult overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among rural Afro-Ecuadorians over time and across a gradient of community remoteness from the nearest commercial centre; (2) examine the relationship between male and female adult OW/OB and factors associated with market integration such as changing livelihoods and (3) examine the co-occurrence of adult OW/OB and under-five stunting and anaemia. DESIGN: Adult anthropometry was collected through serial case-control studies repeated over a decade across twenty-eight communities. At the same time, anthropometry and Hb were measured for all children under 5 years of age in every community. SETTING: Northern coastal Ecuador. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n 1665) and children under 5 years of age (n 2618). RESULTS: From 2003 and 2013, OW/OB increased from 25·1 % to 44·8 % among men and 59·9 % to 70·2 % among women. The inverse relationship between remoteness and OW/OB in men was attenuated when adjusting for urban employment, suggesting that livelihoods mediated the remoteness-OW/OB relationship. No such relationship was observed among women. Communities with a higher prevalence of male OW/OB also had a greater prevalence of stunting, but not anaemia, in children under 5 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The association between male OW/OB and child stunting at the community level, but not the household level, suggests that changing food environments, rather than household- or individual-level factors, drove these trends. A closer examination of changing socio-economic structures and food environments in communities undergoing rapid development could help mitigate future public health burdens.

Análisis de la promoción cultural como herramienta para fortalecer la identidad afro esmeraldeña / Analysis of cultural promotion as a tool to strengthen the identity of afro-emeraldeña / Análise da promoção cultural como instrumento de fortalecimento da identidade da afro-emeraldeña

Resumen Introducción: La identidad cultural representa los valores, orgullos, costumbres, creencias y comportamientos que forman parte de un grupo social y que actúan con la misión de engendrar un sentimiento de pertenencia. Esta cultura se puede convertir en el pilar primordial de cada localidad; por lo cual es necesario resguardar la, defenderla y ampararse, para que dicha fortaleza pueda convertirse en una ventaja competitiva. Objetivo: Analizar la promoción cultural como herramienta para fortalecer la identidad afro esmeraldeña. Materiales y métodos: Constan entrevistas efectuadas a personas expertas en el área de arte, cultura y promoción, así como a personajes destacados en las distintas disciplinas que enmarcan la cultura de Esmeraldas como lo son la poesía, el canto, la pintura, la escultura, la música, la marimba y el deporte. Además del aporte de la ciudadanía a través de encuestas y entrevistas. Resultados: Los personajes destacados dentro de la cultura esmeraldeña indican que se sienten satisfechos por la labor que han realizado. Se identificó que los ciudadanos se sienten muy identificados (35%) o identificados (47%) con la cultura afroesmeraldeña; y el mayor rasgo identitario es la marimba, con un 45%. Sin embargo el 23% no asiste a ningún evento cultural en la ciudad por falta de difusión. Conclusiones: La investigación permitió determinar que fortalecer la identidad afro esmeraldeña es una tarea compleja que debe de fomentarse en el hogar y las instituciones educativas. Finalmente las investigadoras recomiendan ejecutar estrategias de creación y difusión de productos culturales para conservar y proteger la identidad cultural afro esmeraldeña.

Abstract Introduction: The cultural identity represents the values, pride, customs, beliefs and behaviors that are part of a social group and that act with the mission of engendering a feeling of belonging. This culture can become the main pillar of each locality; Therefore, it is necessary to protect, defend and protect it, so that this strength can become a competitive advantage. Objective: Analyze cultural promotion as a tool to strengthen the Afro-Emerald identity. Materials and methods: They include interviews conducted with experts in the area of art, culture and promotion, as well as prominent figures in the different disciplines that frame the culture of Esmeraldas such as poetry, song, painting, sculpture, music, Marimba and sports. In addition to the contribution of citizenship through surveys and pentrevistas. Results: The prominent figures in the Esmeralda culture indicate that they are satisfied with the work they have done. It was identified that citizens feel very identified (35%) or identified (47%) with the Afro-Emerald culture; and the biggest identity feature is the marimba, with 45%. However, 23% do not attend any cultural event in the city due to lack of dissemination. Conclusions The investigation made it possible to determine that strengthening the Afro-Emerald identity is a complex task that should be fostered in the home and educational institutions. Finally, the researchers recommend implementing strategies for the creation and dissemination of cultural products to conserve and protect the Afro-Emerald identity.

Resumo Introdução: A identidade cultural representa os valores, orgulho, costumes, crenças e comportamentos que fazem parte de um grupo social e que atuam com a missão de gerar um sentimento de pertencimento. Essa cultura pode se tornar o principal pilar de cada localidade; Portanto, é necessário protegê-lo, defendê-lo e protegê-lo, para que essa força possa se tornar uma vantagem competitiva. Objetivo: Analisar a promoção cultural como ferramenta para fortalecer a identidade afro-esmeralda. Materiais e métodos: entrevistas constan com especialistas na área de arte, cultura e promoção, bem como figuras proeminentes nas várias disciplinas que emolduram a cultura de Esmeraldas tais como poesia, canto, pintura, escultura, música, Marimba e esportes. Além da contribuição da cidadania através de pesquisas e pentrevistas. Resultados: As figuras proeminentes da cultura Esmeralda indicam que estão satisfeitas com o trabalho que fizeram. Foi identificado que os cidadãos se sentem muito identificados (35%) ou identificados (47%) com a cultura afro-esmeralda; e a maior característica de identidade é a marimba, com 45%. No entanto, 23% não participam de nenhum evento cultural na cidade devido à falta de divulgação. Conclusões: A investigação permitiu determinar que o fortalecimento da identidade afro-esmeralda é uma tarefa complexa que deve ser promovida nas instituições de origem e de ensino. Finalmente, os pesquisadores recomendam implementar estratégias para a criação e disseminação de produtos culturais para conservar e proteger a identidade afro-esmeralda.

Analysis of ancestry informative markers in three main ethnic groups from Ecuador supports a trihybrid origin of Ecuadorians.

Ancestry inference is traditionally done using autosomal SNPs that present great allele frequency differences among populations from different geographic regions. These ancestry informative markers (AIMs) are useful for determining the most likely biogeographic ancestry or population of origin of an individual. Due to the growing interest in AIMs and their applicability in different fields, commercial companies have started to develop AIM multiplexes targeted for Massive Parallel Sequencing platforms. This project focused on the study of three main ethnic groups from Ecuador (Kichwa, Mestizo, and Afro-Ecuadorian) using the Precision ID Ancestry panel (Thermo Fisher Scientific). In total, 162 Ecuadorian individuals were investigated. The Afro-Ecuadorian and Mestizo showed higher average genetic diversities compared to the Kichwa. These results are consistent with the highly admixed nature of the first two groups. The Kichwa showed the highest proportion of Native Amerindian (NAM) ancestry relative to the other two groups. The Mestizo had an admixed ancestry of NAM and European with a larger European component, whereas the Afro-Ecuadorian were highly admixed presenting proportions of African, Native Amerindian, and European ancestries. The comparison of our results with previous studies based on uniparental markers (i.e. Y chromosome and mtDNA) highlighted the sex-biased admixture process in the Ecuadorian Mestizo. Overall, the data generated in this work represent one important step to assess the application of ancestry inference in admixed populations in a forensic context.

Subsistence huniing for turtles in northwestern Ecuaoor / Aprovechamiento de subsistencia de la fauna de tortugas en el noroccidente de Ecuador

We describe the subsistence exploitation of an entire turtle fauna in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. We collected first-hand accounts and witnessed a number of capture techniques used by rural Afroecuadorian and Chachi inhabitants of the Cayapas-Santiago river basin. The diversity of techniques indicated a practical knowledge of the ecology of the species. Chelydra acutirostris, Kinosternon leucostomum, Rhinoclemmys annulata, melanosterna, and R. nasuta were captured and eaten. Poziando involved cleaning pools in a stream bed during the relatively dry season by removing live plants, organic detritus, and then seining with baskets; we observed R. melanosterna and K. leucostomum captured in this way. Pitfall traps baited with fruit were used to catch R. melanosterna during forays on land. Basket traps ("canasto tortuguero") with a wooden slat funnel across the opening are floated with balsa lashed to the sides. Banana or Xanthosoma leaf bait in the basket traps caught R. melanosterna, R. nasuta, and K. leucostomum. Marshy areas were probed for R. melanosterna and K. leucostomum. Direct capture by hand was also common. Turtles were relished as food items; all turtles captured were consumed, usually in soup or stew. Use of turtles for food in the region was pervasive, perhaps because fish and game populations were depleted.

Describimos la cacería de subsistencia de la fauna de tortugas en la provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Hemos recogido testimonios de primera mano y fuimos testigos de una serie de técnicas de captura utilizadas por los habitantes rurales afroecuatorianos y chachis de la cuenca de los ríos Cayapas-Santiago. La diversidad de técnicas indica un conocimiento práctico de la ecología de las especies. Chelydra acutirostris, Kinosternon leucostomum, Rhinoclemmys annulata, R. melanosterna y R. nasuta fueron capturadas y utilizadas como alimento. El método de "pozeo" consiste en limpiar las pozas o quebradas durante la estación de menos lluvia; en el proceso se remueven las plantas vivas y detritus orgánicos y las tortugas se cazan con la ayuda de canastas, y observamos que R. melanosterna y K. leucostomum fueron capturadas de esta manera. Las trampas de caída, cebadas con frutas, se utilizaron para capturar R. melanosterna durante incursiones a tierra firme. El "canasto tortuguero" es un cesto de fibra vegetal que tiene la parte interna en forma de embudo, construido con listones de madera (generalmente chonta) y en su exterior se atan dos trozos de madera de balsa para darle flotabilidad. Los canastos fueron cebados con plátanos u hojas de malanga (Xanthosoma) para atrapar especies de Rhinoclemmys y K. leucostomum. En las zonas pantanosas, se usó la técnica de tanteo o pisoteo para colectar R. melanosterna y K. leucostomum. La captura directa o a mano también es un método común de caza. Las tortugas fueron preparadas como alimento principalmente en sopas o guisos. El uso de las tortugas en la alimentación se ha generalizado en la región, posiblemente porque ha disminuido la cacería de animales grandes.