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

Th e armored suckermouth catfi sh Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau 1855) is an invasive fi sh species in several regionsin Mexico, including the fl uvial lagoon systems of the state of Campeche in southeastern and in Mazatlán, Sinaloa innorthwestern of the country. Although several studies have mentioned the negative impacts of this invasive fi sh in theaquatic environment, few reports exist about the natural predators that may help to control these fi sh populations. Inthis study, we investigate the feeding predation by double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) onP. pardalis in the Palizada River, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, and in the the Laguna del Camarón in northwesternMexico. Th e evidence of feeding found in stomach contents of these birds indicates that feeding habits might beingadapted to changes in the resident fi sh community after the introduction of armored suckermouth invasive catfi sh to thisnew aquatic environments, with the birds exploiting a new food source as a component of their diet.

Th e knowledge of animal species whose populations are being aff ected by their habitats is a real need to conserve biologicaldiversity. Th e populations of black-spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum from the Caribbean and the western Atlanticsuff ered massive mortality that began in January 1983 and lasted until February 1984. In Cuba there is only one record,in a very specifi c locality of West Havana, on the state of populations of D. antillarum before the mortality event. In theprovince of Villa Clara, there have been no population studies of the species and there are only references to the presenceof D. antillarum in 15 localities of the province. Observations made in the West of Cayo Santa María have suggested theexistence of a remarkable abundance which could mean a possible recovery of the species. Th is has laid the foundationsfor the characterization of the D. antillarum population in the west of Cayo Santa María. Samples were taken June 28-30, 2016. Two types of transects were carried out: band transects for urchin studies and linear intercept transects formacroalgae cover, both with a length of 10 m and a total of 28. It is concluded that in the west of Cayo Santa María there is an abundant population of D. antillarum with a predominance of adult specimens, although not at the pre-mortalitylevels of 1983. The structure of the population is biased towards individuals of great size and corresponds to those ofnearby localities in the geographical area.

with greater consequences, both for the populations of vector organisms and for human health. Th e objective of thepresent investigation was to describe the forecast made for Hurricane Irma one year in advance, taking into account theincidence in populations of vector organisms in the meteorological station of Caibarien, Villa Clara, Cuba. Th e studywas carried out based on the forecast of the atmospheric pressure variable, with a series of data, from 1977 to 2016, bymeans of the Regression Objective Regression (ROR) methodology. It was shown that the forecast coincides with whathappened during the passage of Hurricane Irma, except for a diff erence of three days and six hours, according to the datafrom the Caibarien weather station. Increasing the atmospheric pressure increases the larval density of mosquitoes. Th eforecast with one year and eleven years in advance of the tri-horary atmospheric pressure is an important tool to predictthe impact of hurricanes in our territory as well as its direct relationship with the increasing diff usion and presentation indiff erent tropical and subtropical regions of infectious entities of viral and parasitic etiology, and the diff usion, irradiation and propagation of the different genera and species of vector organisms, so it should be a daily service of the group ofweather forecasting in the provincial meteorological centers.

Th e sweet granadilla (Passifl ora ligularis Juss) (Passifl oraceae), native to Tropical America, can be found wild in Peru.However, given the vulnerability of agricultural systems, climate variations, and its relevance to the economy and foodsecurity, it is important to evaluate the impact of climate variability and agricultural systems on the cultivation ofsweet granadilla P. ligularis from Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru. For this purpose, information was collected on the climaticvariables from the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) of Peru as well as variables relatedto crops, such as cultivated area and the yield of sweet granadilla cultivation in diff erent productive plots. Th e annualfi gures obtained from the Statistical Compendium of the Regional Statistical System-INEI of the Department of Pascowere used. Information was obtained through surveys of farmers of the Oxapampa locality and from professionals ofinstitutions related to the cultivation of granadilla: Regional Directorate of Agriculture and the National UniversityDaniel Alcides Carrión (UNDAC) of Peru. Climatic factors had a positive impact on the yield of granadilla fruits, andit was the highly adaptable Colombian ecotype (“Colombian”) that improved the yield of the crop per hectare, whichvaried from 5 tn / ha / year to a range of 10 to 15 tn / ha / year. However, these factors had a negative impact on localecotypes which, despite being the source of genetic resistance to pests and diseases, were displaced by the introducedecotype. Given the superior profi tability of the cultivation of sweet granadilla on livestock, changes were generated inthe use of land, strong indiscriminate felling of native forests, decrease in pasture area, milk production, and in productsderived from primary sources.

Treatment of industrial wastewater was evaluated through coagulation-fl oculation using starch of Solanum tuberosum L.‘potato’ as an alternative to the conventional management. Assays were performed in a laboratory scale by performing JarTest with two coagulants: aluminum sulfate and aluminum polychloride, and two fl occulants: anionic polyacrylamideand gelatinized starch, making variations in dose, concentration and speed. To determine the ideal parameters, thefollowing response variables were used: Willcomb index, absorbance, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand. Th e besttreatment was when using aluminum polychloride as coagulant and anionic polyacrylamide as fl occulant, reaching areduction percentage of 83.05% in chemical oxygen demand. Even then, the results suggest that anionic polyacrylamidecan be replaced by starch of S. tuberosum when applying a primary treatment to industrial wastewater from a foodcompany located in the district of Ate in Lima, Peru to meet the admissible values set in the Supreme Decree No.021-009-VIVIENDA, with respect to organic matter present in wasterwater.

It is well-known that systemic arterial hypertension is one of the pathologies more prevalent in developed and developingsocieties. Th e use of experimental animal models has provided valuable information on many aspects of arterialhypertension including its etiology, physiopathology, complications and treatment. Because the etiology of arterialhypertension is heterogeneous, many of the experimental models with animals have been developed to imitate thediff erent facets of human arterial hypertension. In the past, most studies in experimental hypertension were performedon dogs; currently, in addition to the rat, chosen as the preferred animal species, other species, such as mice and rabbits,are also used in research protocols In the Experimental Toxicology Unit, there are numerous animal biomodels, butthere is no biomodel of arterial hypertension, so its creation would be of vital importance so that new natural productsand therapies can be tried to combat this disease that aff ects the world. Th erefore, the objective of our project was todescribe the existing biomodels of arterial hypertension in Wistar rats with the purpose of testing natural products withhypotension eff ects. Th ere was an increase in body weight of rats administered 10% saline compared to control rats.Blood pressure values at the second week showed signifi cant diff erences with respect to the control group. At the end of the third week, mean blood pressure in the administered group was SBP (systolic blood pressure) -152.0 mmHg andDBP (diastolic blood pressure) -110.0 mmHg, indicating hypertensive rats.

Th e objective of this research was to estimate the canine population and describe its main demographic characteristics inthe district of Mirafl ores, Lima, Peru. It was developed through surveys as an instrument for data collection. Samplingfollowed the guidelines designated in the Animal Population Characterization guide of the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center, which were intended for the residents of the district and should be distributed by surveyors whowere properly trained, and registered their signature at the end of the survey. Th e instrument used was validated by theexpert evaluation method, having as representatives of MINSA (Ministry of Health), DIGESA (General Directorate ofEnvironmental Health), and professors of the Ricardo Palma University (URP), Lima, Peru. For the estimation of thedogs, the data of the population census of the INEI (National Institute of Statistics and Informatics), Lima, Peru, wasused. Th e survey was conducted between October and December 2016. It was seen that the percentage of householdswith dogs was 53% and the average number of dogs per household of 1.25. Th e ratio of person: dog was 4.98: 1. Th eestimate of dogs reached 17,081. Th e ratio of males and females was 1.06, determining 51.4% of the cases as malesand 48.6% females. 94.95% have a companion function. Th e birth rate was calculated at 19.1%, the general fertility at52.7% and the average litter size was 3.04 off spring. Th e data presented are intended to favor the programs related to theresponsible possession of dogs as the basis for future studies.

Th e objective of the investigation was to report the species of culicids registered in the Department of Jutiapa, Guatemalaassociated with bio-ecological aspects between 2009 and 2017. A retrospective–descriptive study was carried out througha documental review of the sample register of the Departmental Laboratory of Entomology of Jutiapa. Th is informationis the result of inspections made inside and around domiciles three times per year in 100% of the urban and rural areasthat include houses, vacant lots and natural breeding grounds. Seven genera with 17 species were collected. Aedes aegypti(Linnaeus, 1762), Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1824) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823) had the widest distribution. ElAdelanto and Moyuta as well as Agua Blanca, Atescatempa and Santa Catarina Mita were the municipalities with thehighest variety of species. Uranotaenia sapphirina (Osten Sacken, 1868) was registered as a new species in the Department.

A study was performed to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis sp. in alpacas and alpacas’ sheep dogs in a livestockcompany from the central highlands in Perú. Skeletal and cardiac muscle were examined to look for micro or macro cystsof Sarcocystis in alpacas slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. Th e macroscopic cysts were detected by direct observationand microscopic cysts by the Trichinoscope method. Fecal samples from 30% of the sheep dogs were examined by theZinc Sulphate Method. High infection levels for micro or macro cysts (75% to 100%) were found in 2, 3 and 4-yearsold alpacas, respectively, and 36% of alpaca sheep dogs were infected with oocysts or sporocysts. We discuss someepidemiological factors which contribute to the dissemination of this parasite.

All contingency plans aim to allow the operation of institutions, even when some of its functions come to a halt because of some incident, either internal or external to the organization. Th e objective of this investigation consisted on establishing the precise and opportune actions for a contingency plan that will allow reducing the vulnerability state and risks before heavy rains and fl oods for the inhabitants of the city of Puyo. Th e investigation was carried out in fi ve places inside the city Puyo, canton Pastaza (Dike of Fatima, Neighborhood Worker-Tideland Citayacu, Sector the Island, Sector Union Bases and Neighborhood Paradise River Big Pindo), Ecuador. Th e climatic variables, temperature and precipitation, as well as the geologic and demographic characteristics of the canton and the time of evacuation were taken into consideration. A contingency plan was elaborated that contemplated the inhabitants of the canton, with higher risks and vulnerability, being focused in the children, pregnant women and seniors, where organizations and state and private entities were involved, to better face the natural disasters, among those entities stand out: Fire department, Red Cross, homes and senior centers, public dining halls and rehabilitation clinics. Th e development of a signage proposal to highlight the areas of higher fl ood danger. We conclude that the proposal of a contingency plan for the city of Puyo is pertinent and necessary, due to the evidence of marked fl oods that aff ect the entire canton of Pastaza.