Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Fruits reaching the floor of tropical forests constitute an attractive resource for a variety of mammals. Study of the characteristics of the frugivory interaction can help to advance in the understanding of the mechanisms favoring animal’s coexistence. However, there are few studies focused on analyzing patterns of activity of mammals feeding on fruits in the forest floor. Camera traps were used to record consumption of Licania platypus and Pouteria sapota fruits by Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta punctata, Nasua narica, Dycotiles crassus and Tapirella bairdii. Patterns of mammal activity were characterized based on the day, time and tree in which they were recorded. Overlap in daily (delta coefficient) and spatial occurrence (same tree and day, Jaccard, Ochiai indices and V ratio) was assessed. High segregation in the activity of frugivores occurred during the day (mean 0.291 and 0.191 for L. platypus and P. sapota, respectively) and among trees/days (max. Jaccard = 0.14 and 0.19 for L. platypus and P. sapota, respectively). Our results suggest that activity overlap among mammalian frugivores feeding in the forest floor is lower than expected. This likely relates to the fact we conducted our analysis at a finer detail than previous studies (for example those focusing exclusively on dietary overlap). Thus, our study increases our understanding of the possible factor that can favor coexistence of tropical frugivorous mammals.

The present study reports for the first time the occurrence of Hydatigera taeniaeformis (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in the Yucatán squirrel Sciurus yucatanensis (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Yucatán, Mexico. Thirty larval stages of cestodes were collected in the liver and mesenteries of an adult male squirrel. This study increases to 11 the total number of helminth taxa known from squirrels in Mexico.

Linear landscape features are used by many species of insectivorous bats as flight routes and foraging zones, as well as for providing protection against environmental factors and predation. However, very little is known about the role that these landscape features play for non-insectivorous species. In this study, we evaluated the use of linear features by the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) in a cattle-ranching landscape in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. We selected 24 sampling sites in 2014 and 24 independent sites in 2016 to 2017, all adjacent to three types of linear landscape features: forest edges, live fences and streams . We monitored each site for two non-consecutive nights between February and April 2014, and every two months from February 2016 to June 2017. We placed 24 m (2014) or 12 m (2016 to 2017) of mist nets perpendicular to the linear feature from its edge. We recorded the height and distance from the edge for each individual captured. In total we captured 50 D. rotundus individuals in 2014 and 58 in 2016 to 2017. The average flight height was 77 cm for the 2014 data and 69 cm for 2016 to 2017. According to our results, the most used linear features were forest edges, followed by live fences and streams. Overall, 52 % of the 2014 captures and 62 % of the 2016 to 2017 ones occurred in the first 2 m from the edge, with the number of captures gradually decreasing with increasing distance. This study provides information on the commuting patterns of D. rotundus in predominantly open cattle-ranching landscapes.

Few studies have focused on rodent communities at the margins of an ecoregion or the limits of species’ distributions, where the community may be more sensitive to extrinsic variables, both biotic and abiotic. This study evaluates sigmodontine rodent species diversity and overall abundance, and variation associated with climatic variables, in three locations with differing levels of habitat degradation. The study was conducted in northeastern Paraguay, near the western limit of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and near the distributional limits of the three most abundant species in the study sites. Three mark-recapture grids were established and classified as least, moderately and most-degraded based on an analysis of several vegetation parameters. The grids were sampled for five consecutive nights, six times during two years. Shannon diversity and overall abundance were calculated for each sample. Monthly Multivariate ENSO Index and rainfall values were obtained from publicly available resources. Product-moment correlations were calculated between community and climatic parameters, including cumulative values for the climatic variables. The same correlations were calculated for the three common sigmodontine species. 1,632 captures were recorded, representing 13 sigmodontine species. Species richness in the samples (one session on one grid) varied from four to seven. Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus and Oligoryzomys nigripes were the three most abundant species. In general, species diversity was negatively correlated with ENSO index, precipitation and precipitation anomaly, including cumulative one- to six-month cumulative values of each. Total sigmodontine abundance was positively correlated with the climatic variables. However, these correlations were not uniform among the three levels of habitat degradation, nor did the three abundant species show similar correlation patterns. The three most abundant species are each near their distributional limits, whereas several less abundant species have distributions that extend well beyond the study area. This somewhat counterintuitive result bears further investigation in other sites at ecoregional margins, to determine whether it is a commonly observed pattern, or an exception. Overall sigmodontine abundances were generally reflective of Akodon montensis abundance, which generally correlated with precipitation (including cumulative amounts). Our analyses of these longitudinal data showed two major effects on sigmodontine species diversity and population. First, they are impacted by habitat and secondly, they are affected by climate (ENSO, precipitation). However, individual species are not impacted similarly. Akodon montensis abundances primarily were correlated with abiotic (climatic) variables, and the correlations were consistent across habitats (biotic factors). In contrast, Hylaeamys megacephalus abundance was correlated with climatic variables in two habitats, but not the moderately-degraded habitat, and Oligoryzomys nigripes abundance was not correlated with climate in the most-degraded habitat.

Serranía de San Lucas is an isolated mountain ridge in the Northern Andes, reaching above 2,500 masl, located between the Central and the Eastern Cordilleras in northeast Colombia, including parts of Bolívar and Antioquia departments. Due to its particular location and difficult access, there are few studies on its biological diversity. In order to clarify the geographical affinities of its bat fauna, we conducted a survey at four representative localities of this mountain range. Between 2015 and 2017, we conducted four assessments to characterize the bat species richness in San Lucas; these localities represent the dominant habitats in the area, including lowland and premontane forests, and swamps. We used three to six mist nets per night, between 17:30 and 23:00 h and identified species in the field, collecting specimens to corroborate and document the diversity in each location. Species accumulation curves and non-parametric estimators assessed efficiency of sampling; in addition, Jaccard’s similarity index was used to assess beta diversity. Each species was assigned to a trophic guild for ecological analyses and comparisons of the assemblages. We recorded 47 species from six families (Table 2), with Phyllostomidae being the most diverse (35 species). Although species richness at a local scale varied between 14 and 23 species, the heterogeneity among them shows a particular richness for San Lucas as a whole. A notable geographic record was Mimon cozumelae, which extends its known distribution in northern South America, while other four species are confirmed for the Magdalena Valley, reinforcing a trans-Andean influence. Our records reinforce a biogeographical connection with the region of Chocó-Nechí-Magdalena (sensu Hernández-Camacho et al. 1992), thus contributing to validation of the perception that San Lucas shows greater affinity to the Central Cordillera than to the Eastern one. It is evident that several groups (i. e., insectivorous) have not been fully sampled, and that new methods (diurnal roost searches and acoustical sampling) and longer survey efforts might reveal more additions to this list. Our study reveals some peculiarities in the diversity of bats of Serranía de San Lucas, including species typical of inter-Andean valleys and suggesting an influence of the trans-Andean zone, resulting in major similarities to assemblages from northwestern Colombia and South America, but with a specific composition that is indicative of the good state of conservation of the habitats in the study area and its relevance as a future, and necessary, protected area for the country.

Introduction:  Determine the support needs of families who has a member with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) in early ages, in terms of quality of life, is essential for early intervention programs. Costa Rica does not have research around the theme, nor adapted scales for evaluation of family needs. Consequently, the objective of this study is to validate the Scale for the Evaluation of Family Needs (EFNS), for the Costa Rican population. Methodology:  Observational, quantitative study of psychometric type, which was carried out in a sample of families of people with IDD under 18 years of age, using as a population framework the  Register of the Special Education Centers of Costa Rica, providing by the Ministry of Public Education. Three stages were carried out: first the Expert Judgment to review the items, using Cohen's Kappa indicator in order to determine the level of concordance; second, a pilot test with 12 families was carried out. As a result of both phases, the first version of the ENF-CR was obtained, with a total of 68 items culturally validated. In the third phase, the ENF-CR, as well as the Costa Rican Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL-CR), was applied to the selected sample. Results:  The results show that the psychometric properties of the EFNS-CR are good. The exploratory factor analysis corroborated the construct validity that is specified in a solution of 61 items distributed in seven factors. Likewise, the estimation of the reliability coefficient shows an excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 97.78%. While, regarding the validity of the criterion, the evidence showed that there is no significant linear correlation between the mean scores of the FQoL-CR and the EFNS-CR scales. Conclusion:  the EFNS-CR, has contrasted psychometric properties to be considered a tool with very good reliability and validity, to be used in the Costa Rican context. Keywords:  Family needs assessment; Intellectual disability; Family quality of life, validation, Costa Rica.  

Introduction: In view of the growing impact of congenital anomalies incompatible with life and perinatal conditions that result in fetal deaths, a literature review was carried out on the subject of Perinatal Palliative Care (PCC) and its current status in obstetric and gynecological services and neonatology in the world and its possible benefits. Methodology: A descriptive, observational study was conducted on the current scientific evidence of PPC programs around the world, published from 2008 to 2018. The Medline database was used, as well as PubMed, Google Scholar and EBSCO. Original articles, guides and protocols of clinical practices published by different health entities were included. Results: The early attention of families that carry pregnancies where he or the baby has a disease with limiting living conditions, within the framework of a program of PPC, facilitates the affective bond, the farewell and the grief. The lack of information and awareness among health professionals to care for these families, as well as the lack of defined spaces, guides and protocols create an environment of insecurity and despair in families. Costa Rica, like most other countries in Latin America, does not have specific PPC programs or quality criteria to conform or evaluate them. Conclusion: It is possible to confirm the need in the national scope of protocols or work guides in the area of PPC, also to carry out more research, this with the purpose of establishing greater preparation of professionals related to the care of families that face these situations and thus provide a more favorable environment for them.

Oncological rehabilitation is directed to patients with a diagnosis of cancer, which derives in a disability due to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The case report corresponds to a male, 63-year-old patient diagnosed in 2017 with an epidermoid carcinoma of the palatine tonsils (T3N2M0). He underwent tonsillectomy one month after diagnosis. Afterwards, he received 30 sessions of radiotherapy and 2 sessions of chemotherapy in total. He was referred to the Physical Therapy service at the Santa Paula Clinic four months after surgery due to the postural alterations that it caused. He attended rehabilitation sessions once a week for a year. The approach consisted in the application of cryotherapy, manual lymphatic drainage, scar-releasing massage, trigger point release, electrotherapy, spinal stability and manual therapy techniques which greatly improved the results obtained during the initial evaluation. A timely, and at the same time continuous (at least 1 year), rehabilitation process in patients after tonsil cancer surgery could be beneficial for the management of the postural alterations caused; proving more effective the combination of physiotherapeutic techniques than their isolated use.

This article presents the case of a 2 year old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated with severe neutropenia that presented with septic shock due to a Pneumocystis jirovecii bronchopneumonia during the 22nd day of the consolidation phase of his chemotherapy. His critical condition led to the patient requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). On the fifth day of ECMO, once the septic shock was resolved, the patient underwent decannulation without any complications and continued his course of treatment in the Hematology Department.