Invasive alien species management in Patagonia, Argentina: Prioritization, achievements and science-policy integration challenges identified by the National Parks Administration: Invasive alien species are a threat to biodiversity. Management options encompass prevention, early detection, eradication, control, exclusion and even"no action." More technical information is needed to achieve complex management actions successfully. In addition, managers and researchers address the problem with different approaches. Managers seek to prioritize management actions, and for researchers, these species are an opportunity to study basic and/or theoretical aspects, but not always applied to management. However, the management strategies offer a unique opportunity for both groups to work together seeking mutual benefits. Currently, management decisions are often based on experiences or information from other countries, which is not always useful for local problems. We present several management experiences in the Argentine National Parks Administration to show achievements, difficulties and challenges usually faced by managers. We found that: a) it is important, when resources are scarce, to generate effective prioritization tools and networks; b) it is also vital to involve the community in the management actions; c) on the other hand, research directly applied to pilot eradication is required; and d) also, a careful planning, and continuity and monitoring of management actions and environmental results based on different types of first class technical information, are key aspects for successful management. Finally, managers and researchers must ensure that the results of applied research are known and understood by decision makers and the general public, to secure management support.

Las especies exóticas invasoras amenazan la biodiversidad. Existen diferentes opciones para su manejo: prevención, detección temprana, erradicación, control, exclusión e incluso la"no acción". A mayor complejidad de manejo, más información se requiere para ejecutarlo exitosamente. Además, gestores e investigadores abordan la problemática con enfoques e intereses diferentes. Mientras los primeros priorizan acciones de manejo, los segundos encuentran una oportunidad para estudiar aspectos básicos y/o teóricos, no siempre aplicados al manejo. La gestión de estas especies ofrece una ocasión única para que ambos grupos trabajen juntos en busca de beneficios mutuos. Actualmente, las decisiones de manejo suelen basarse en experiencias o información de otros países, no siempre adaptables a la problemática local. En este trabajo presentamos varias experiencias de manejo en la Administración de Parques Nacionales para exponer logros, dificultades y desafíos a los que usualmente se enfrenta la gestión institucional. Encontramos que: a) ante recursos escasos es importante generar herramientas de priorización efectivas y redes de trabajo; b) es imprescindible involucrar a la comunidad en las acciones de manejo; c) se requieren investigaciones aplicadas al manejo específico; y d) es necesario una detallada planificación previa y un monitoreo de las acciones ejecutadas y de sus resultados, basados en información técnica de primer nivel, ya que son aspectos claves para un manejo exitoso. Finalmente, gestores e investigadores deben cerciorarse que los resultados de estas investigaciones aplicadas sean conocidos y comprendidos por los tomadores de decisiones y la opinión pública, para asegurar el apoyo a la gestión.

Dados a respeito do impacto das gastrenterites virais têm implicações importantes para o monitoraramento do impacto das políticas de saúde pública. O presente estudo, feito na cidade de Córdoba, Argentina, documenta a epidemiologia da diarréia viral severa como também o impacto que a mesma representa na admissão hospitalar de crianças. Pesquisou-se a presença de Rotavírus grupo A, Astrovírus e Adenovírus 40/41 por ensaio imuno-enzimático em 133 amostras de fezes obtidas durante o período de novembro de 1997 a outubro de 1998, de crianças hospitalizadas por diarréia aguda. Os virus entéricos constituíram 42,1% do total de casos de diarréia analisados. Encontraram-se Rotavírus Grupo A, Astrovírus, Adenovírus 40/41 e infecções mistas em 35,3; 4,5; 1,5 e 0,8% das amostrras estudadas, respectivamente. Observamos que uma de cada 27 crianças entre 0-35 meses de idade seria hospitalizada por ano devido a uma gastrenterite viral. O principal impacto da diarréia viral é representado pela infecção por Rotavírus, correspondendo a 84,0% dos casos analisados e cerca de um terço das diarréias graves que precisam hospitalização em Córdoba, Argentina.

Information concerning the disease burden of viral gastroenteritis has important implications for the use and monitoring the impact of public health policies. The present study, carried out in Córdoba city, Argentina, documents the epidemiology of severe viral diarrhea as well as the burden of viral gastrointestinal disease in the hospital children admission. A total of 133 stools were collected from hospitalized children (Town Childhood Hospital) suffering from acute diarrhea and studied for the presence of Group A rotavirus, astrovirus and adenovirus 40/41 by enzyme-immuno assay, between November 1997 and October 1998. Enteric viruses accounted for 42.1% of the total diarrheal cases analyzed. Group A rotaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses 40/41 and mixed infections were found in 35.3, 4.5, 1.5, and 0.8% studied specimens respectively. We estimated that 1 in 27 children in the 0-35 month-old cohort/range would be annually hospitalized for a viral gastroenteritis illness. The major impact on viral diarrhea lies on rotaviral infection, accouting for 84.0% of the viral diarrheal cases analyzed and for approximately one third of severe diarrheas requiring hospital admission in Córdoba City, Argentina.