Abstract Background: The leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) is associated with losses in the agricultural sector, due to its defoliating activity; for its control, biological, mechanical and chemical methods have been developed, the latter associated with adverse effects on human and environmental health. This research validated in the field for the control of the leafcutter ant (A. cephalotes) using a mixture of Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma lignorum spores. Methods: The effectiveness from the combination of spores of B. bassiana and T lignorum with an initial concentration of 2 × 109 spores/ml, in the following proportions of B. bassiana and T. lignorum, A (1:1), of each fungus. It was evaluated within the university campus, comparing it with two commercial formulations, Mycotrol (B. bassiana) and Mycobac (T. lignorum). Additionally, this formulation was evaluated in 49 nests distributed 16 in 14 locations in Colombia. The formulation application was carried out by direct application, using a pump at a speed of 10 ml/m2. The effectiveness was estimated from the reduction of the flow of ants, evaluating the statistically significant differences using the ANOVA and Tukey-test. Results: Effective control of 90% of the nests was observed in the field phase in 60 days, except in nests with areas > 50 m2 that were located in regions with high rainfall (annual average precipitation above 7000 mm), such as Buenaventura. Conclusions: In this work, it was demonstrated that the combination of B. bassiana and T. lignorum spores represent a viable alternative for the control of the leafcutter ant, in which the effectiveness is related to several factors, including the size of the nest and the rainfall in the area.

RESUMO O presente trabalho objetivou a avaliar a eficiência de herbicida na redução dos efeitos das tensões de crescimento quanto à incidência de rachaduras de topo e empenamentos em tábuas oriundas de árvores de Eucalyptus grandis.Para tanto, selecionaram-se ao acaso 40 indivíduos arbóreos,subdivididos em quatro tratamentos com aplicação de herbicida (princípio ativo "Imazapyr") e um tratamento testemunha (sem aplicação de herbicida), com oito repetições cada. Após a ação do herbicida, as árvores foram derrubadas e a primeira tora de cada indivíduo foi seccionada. Estas foram desdobradas em peças de madeira serrada para análise antes e depois da operação de secagem ao ar livre. Os resultados indicaram maior eficiência do herbicida nos tratamentos 4 e 5 quanto ao efeito das tensões de crescimento na forma de rachaduras de topo nas tábuas. Para o arqueamento, os tratamentos 2 e 4 apresentaram os menores graus de defeitos. A flecha de encurvamento sofreu influência da operação de secagem ao ar livre, enquanto o encanoamento não foi verificado de forma significativa nas peças de madeira serrada dos cinco tratamentos estudados

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of herbicide in reduction of growth stress effects on the incidence of splits and warps on boards originated fromEcalyptus grandis trees. For this, 40 trees were randomly selected, subdivided into four chemical treatments with application of herbicide ("Imazapyr" active principle) and one treatment without herbicide application, with eight repetitions each. After the action of herbicide, the trees were harvested and the first log of each tree was cut. The logs were sawn to perform the analyzes before and after air drying operation. The results indicated higher efficiency of herbicide in treatments 4 and 5 on the effect of growth stresses in the form of splits in the boards. For the crook, the treatments 2 and 4 showed the lowest levels of defects. The bow had influence of air drying operation, while the cup was not observed significantly in the pieces of sawn timber from five treatments.

La infección por virus del dengue ha adquirido importancia debido al crecimiento poblacional, de manera que se la ha posicionado como la arbovirosis de mayor importancia a nivel mundial. En el presente artículo se describen dos casos de síndrome de Guillain Barre que ocurrieron en el departamento del Huila en el segundo semestre del año 2013 y en los que se detectó como agente causal la infección aguda por virus del dengue mediante pruebas indirectas (IgM Dengue). El primer caso tuvo una presentación típica y el segundo a una presentación atípica; se encontró que de las manifestaciones neurológicas que produce este virus aún se conoce poco, y que en las regiones endémicas se debe sospechar y buscar activamente como etiología de los diversos síndromes neurológicos.

Infection with dengue virus has increased its importance due to the growth of population and has positioned itself as the most important arbovirus worldwide. Two cases of Guillain Barre syndrome are described, which occurred in the department of Huila in the second half of 2013 and which was detected as a causal agent of acute dengue virus infection by indirect evidence (Dengue IgM). The first case had a typical presentation and the second an atypical presentation; we found that neurological manifestations produced by this virus are still poorly understood, and in endemic regions it should be suspected and actively sought as an etiology of various neurological syndromes.

Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCL) known as "chiclero's ulcer" in southeast Mexico, was described by SEIDELIN in 1912. Since then the sylvatic region of the Yucatan peninsula has been documented as an endemic focus of LCL. This study of 73 biopsies from parasitological confirmed lesions of LCL cases of Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana infection was undertaken: 1) to examine host response at tissue level; and 2) to relate manifestations of this response to some characteristics of clinical presentation. Based on Magalhães' classification we found that the most common pattern in our LCL cases caused by L. (L.) mexicana was predominantly characterized by the presence of unorganized granuloma without necrosis, (43.8%). Another important finding to be highlighted is the fact that in 50/73 (68.5%) parasite identification was positive. There was direct relation between the size of the lesion and time of evolution (r s = 0.3079, p = 0.03), and inverse correlation between size of the lesion and abundance of amastigotes (r s = -0.2467, p = 0.03). In view of the complexity of clinical and histopathological findings, cell-mediated immune response of the disease related to clinical and histopathological features, as so genetic background should be studied.

La Leishmaniosis Cutánea Localizada (LCL) mejor conocida como "úlcera del chiclero" en el sureste de México fue descrita por SEIDELIN en 1912. Desde entonces la región selvática de la península de Yucatán ha sido identificada como un área endémica de LCL. En el presente estudio se analizaron 73 biopsias de lesiones de casos de LCL causados por Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana con el fin de: 1) examinar la respuesta a nivel tisular; y 2) relacionar las manifestaciones de esta respuesta con ciertas características de la presentación clínica. Con base en la clasificación histopatológica de Magalhães el patrón histopatológico más frecuente se caracterizó por la presencia de granuloma desorganizado y ausencia de necrosis (43.83%). Otro hallazgo importante a señalar fue la presencia de parásito en 50/73 (68.5%) de las biopsias estudiadas. Respecto a las posibles relaciones significativas hubo una relación directa entre el tamaño de la lesión y el tiempo de evolución (r s = 0.3079, p = 0.03); una correlación inversa entre el tamaño de la lesión y la abundancia de promastigostes (r s = -0.2467, p = 0.03). Con base en la complejidad de los hallazgos clínicos e histopatológicos, consideramos necesario estudiar la respuesta inmune mediada por células relacionada con los cambios histopatológicos, así como el papel de los factores genéticos.

In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana is a typical wild zoonosis restricted to the forest, and humans are only accidentally involved. The transmission of L. (L.) mexicana has been related to the patient's occupation: "chicleros"(gum collectors) and agricultural workers. The objective of this study was to document L. (L.) mexicana seasonally of transmission in endemic areas of LCL in the state of Campeche, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The timing of incidence of LCL in humans during 1993-1994, as well as the rate and time of infection in rodents and sand flies between February 1993 and March 1995 were analyzed. Rodents and sand flies were found infected between November and March, when men carried out their field activities and are exposed. Based on results analyzed, it is concluded that L. (L.) mexicana in the endemic area of LCL in the state of Campeche, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, presents a seasonal transmission restricted to the months of November to March. The knowledge of the timing of the transmission cycle in an endemic area of leishmaniasis is very important because intervention measures on the high-risk focus and population might be restricted.