Search

Spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is a very important resource for countries in the Caribbean area, however catch trends have shown important changes in the last decade. Lobster fishers in Mexico are organized in fishing cooperatives and have long tradition fishing this resource. Concerns from government, fishers, and scientist regarding the conditions of the resources have promoted collaborative actions to contribute to the knowledge and management of this important resource and its fishery. In this paper we present two case studies undertaken in Yucatan, Mexico to show how fisher's knowledge and technical knowledge matched when evaluating preferential habitats of lobster. We also report on the government program implemented in the region using this knowledge to introduce artificial habitats (AH) to catch lobster selectively, involving fishers and scientist. The actions that allowed gathering knowledge regarding the best options to place the AH were: a) interviews to fishers who had used artificial habitats previously, enquiring for the best places and conditions to place the AH, b) undertaking workshops with fishers and government officials to develop the project for introduction of AH, c) gathering scientific information about lobster habitat and preferential areas for different population components. The matching information on scientific and fishers knowledge confirm the wide experience fishers gather along their life, that allow them to be an important source of information about coastal resources and their behavior. The successful experience on the implementation of the government program is another way to appreciate the usefulness of taking into account fisher's knowledge to manage fishing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Biologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 2 howler species that occur in southern Mexico, Alouatta palliata mexicana and Alouatta pigra are endangered, mainly as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation from human activity. Little is known about the gastrointestinal parasite communities affecting their populations, and lack of baseline information for populations of howler species in continuous forest habitats, makes evaluations of gastrointestinal parasite prevalence in populations in fragmented landscapes difficult. We report the results of a one-time broad survey of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples of individuals from several demographically stable populations of Alouatta palliata mexicana and A. pigra existing in continuous and/or protected forests. We further report similar data for populations of both species in human-fragmented landscapes. We detected 6 parasites for each howler monkey species, but only 3 of them (Trematode I, Controrchis biliophilus, Trypanoxyuris sp.) were common to both species. While parasitic prevalence in populations of both howler species was, in general, higher in the fragmented habitat than in continuous and/or protected forests. The difference is only marginally significant in Alouatta pigra. Some parasites (Coccidia and Strongylid) only appeared in populations in fragmented landscapes. Preliminary data suggest that adult males tended to have higher parasite prevalence values than those of adult females in both howler species. Parasite prevalence is associated to average group size, but not to population density in Alouatta pigra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presence and abundance of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis annectens) were established in the locality of Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, during north and hurricane seasons in 2007 and dry season in 2008, where it was carried out a monitoring process in two zones (i) the Papaloapan River margins, and (ii) streams and lagoons near to the locality. Furthermore, interviews to local inhabitants were carried out in order to obtain information about biological aspects of the species based on the local knowledge shown by the inhabitants. On the other hand, 61 feces, 13 latrines, and two borrows were located. Moreover, two individuals were observed and recorded. During November 2007 the abundance recorded in two zones within the study area was 1.22 and 0.61 otters/km. In April 2008 the same two zones showed 0.43 and 0.21 otters/km. Finally, 100% of the interviewees know the river otter, and 99% of them consider that the species is relevant to the aquatic ecosystems and it must be protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect that the fructans of Cichorium intybus and Agave salmiana have on health, as well as on the growth of some Lactobacillus species, has been demonstrated. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of linear and branched fructans on the growth of seven strains and some probiotic characteristics. The molecular identification of seven strains was performed. Moreover, the growth, resistance to antibiotics and simulated gastrointestinal conditions were also evaluated when these microorganisms were grown in a culture medium containing agave and chicory fructans. The strains were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Lactiplantibacillus fabifermentans and Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum. The results suggest that the seven Lactobacillus strains were able to grow using agave (branched) and chicory (linear) fructans. The linear and branched fructans statistically influenced the kinetic parameters. The specific growth rate varied between 0.270 and 0.573 h -1 and the generation time between 1.21 and 2.45 h for all strains and culture media. All strains showed a growth of 9 Log CFU/mL in all the culture media. Production of lactic, acetic, propionic, butyric, formic and succinic acid was influenced by linear and branched fructans (p < 0.05). All the strains survived simulated gastrointestinal conditions greater than 83%. The resistance of Lactobacillus against ciprofloxacin and rifaximin was significantly affected by linear and branched fructans, but survival to gastrointestinal conditions was not affected by the type of substrate. These results highlight the use of the seven strains, which have probiotic potential; therefore, these could be applied in several biotechnological products., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Two female advanced third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma turgidum recovered from the liver of one naturally infected four-eyed opossum Philander opossum pallidus collected in Oaxaca, Mexico, were morphologically examined. Because of some characteristics, the larvae do not fit into the typical advanced third-stage. The body shows a size at least three times larger than expected and rows of spines only in the anterior part of the body surface. Consequently, in this research, we document for the first time the precocity in third-stage larvae of G. turgidum, and we also highlight some facts about the fourth larval stage occurring in spirurins.

Morphological abnormalities were observed on the cephalic bulb hooklets of advanced third-stage larvae (AdvL(3)) of genus Gnathostoma. The larvae were obtained from the fish "Mexican rivulus" Millerichthys robustus collected from a seasonal pond near Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, Mexico. The abnormalities involved (1) extra rudimentary hooklets, located between the four rows and after the fourth row, (2) branched or lobulated hooklets, and (3) fragmented hooklets not uniformly disposed in rows. The alterations observed on the cephalic bulb hooklets do not represent intraspecific variations, and they may be considered as a potential tool for assessing the presence of pollutants or stressors located within the ecosystem.

In order to clarify the role of Gnathostoma turgidum as an etiological agent involved in human gnathostomiasis in Mexico, establish the taxonomic identity of the advanced third-stage larvae (AdvL(3)), and contribute to the knowledge of its life cycle, experimental host infections, examination of potential natural hosts, and morphological comparisons were carried out. Examination of ten species of potential hosts at San Pedro las Playas and Tres Palos Lagoon in Guerrero state, Mexico revealed that two (Kinosternon integrum and Rana zweifeli) were infected by 15 AdvL(3) of G. turgidum. A specific identity was obtained comparing these larvae with those recovered from hosts experimentally infected. The AdvL(3) measured 1.6 mm in length, with two cervical papillae (both in 12th row) and an excretory pore on the 19th row. The average of cephalic hooklets, from first to fourth row, was 30.8, 34.0, 36.7, and 39.6, respectively. This is the first record of AdvL(3) of G. turgidum in America, and it represents a significant contribution for the understanding of the life cycle of this species.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious complication of treatment and extension of survival in premature infants and leads to blindness unless recognized and treated early. An ROP prospective screening survey was performed, enrolling all premature newborns weighing <2000 g at delivery., Methods: A total of 2014 infants had a retinal evaluation by indirect ophthalmoscopy at 4-6 weeks of age. If any ROP stage was detected, the patient was followed periodically to assess treatment. All premature infants with threshold retinopathy were treated by transscleral cryotherapy at the time of detection., Results: We found 449 infants (22.2%) with ROP in any stage, and 230 (11.42%) with threshold retinopathy who underwent cryotherapy. In the 500-1000 g group (n = 334), 48.2% had ROP in any stage and 92 (27.5%) had threshold retinopathy. In the 1001-1500 g group (n = 1374), 257 (18.7%) had any ROP stage and 122 (8.8%) had stage 3. In the 1501-2000 g group, 306 neonates were evaluated, 31 (10%) had any ROP stage and 16 (5.2%) underwent cryotherapy. A total of 198/230 infants (86%) with threshold retinopathy who received cryotherapy had complete recovery, but 5% developed unilateral and 9% bilateral retinal detachment. There were no complications related to anesthesia., Conclusions: Overall ROP rate was 2.68/1000 deliveries and 22.2% of premature infants <2000 g had any ROP stage, 11.42% with retinal detachment risk received cryotherapy with 86% successful results.