This study aimed to detect dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in serum samples obtained in Matamoros Tamaulipas, Mexico, and to determine the concordance of conventional nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a serological test [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA NS1)]. Here, we detected mixed infections consisting of four serotypes of DENV. The most prevalent serotype was DENV-1, followed by DENV-4. This is the first report of DENV-4 in our region. Mixed infections were also detected in 21.5% of samples, and the predominant coinfection consisted of DENV-1 and DENV-2. Therefore, continuous epidemiological surveillance of DENV in this area is required to predict future forms of dengue heterologous infections and the effect of this on health care.

The dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, is a coastal small cetacean widespread in the southern hemisphere. Here, we present the first record of cestode parasites present in the blubber of dusky dolphin off Argentine coast. The host examined, corresponded to a 15 years old mature female and measured 171 cm long. Cysts of helminths belonging to Cestoda were found on the subcutaneous blubber of the ventral surface; parasites were determined as Phyllobothrium delphini (Phyllobothriidae). Probably the presence of this parasite is related to deep pelagic foraging habitats where the most important prey are the squids. In the stomach contents 25 Type II larvae of Anisakis were found and 12 cephalopod beaks, belonging to argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus. Nematodes were found in the intestines, Type II larvae of Anisakis, and another from the genus Stenurus (family, Pseudaliidae). Here a new record of cestodes cysts is described, enriching the parasite-host record for dusky dolphins, enlarging the scarce parasitological information for cetaceans of Argentina.

El delfín oscuro, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, es un cetáceo pequeño de hábitos costeros que se distribuye ampliamente en el Hemisferio Sur. En este trabajo, se presenta el primer registro de cestodes parásitos presentes en el tejido adiposo del delfín oscuro en las costas de Argentina. El hospedero examinado correspondió a una hembra madura de aprox. 15 años de edad y 171 cm de longitud. Se encontraron quistes de helmintos pertenecientes a la clase Cestoda: Phyllobothrium delphini (Phyllobothriidae), en la grasa subcutánea de la superficie ventral del animal. Es probable que la presencia de este parásito se relacione con los hábitats de alimentación pelágicos del delfín y con la profundidad que habita, donde las presas más importantes son los cefalópodos. En el contenido estomacal se encontraron 25 larvas de Anisakis Tipo II y 12 picos de cefalópodos, pertenecientes al calamar, Illex argentinus. Los nemátodos fueron encontrados en los intestinos, larvas Tipo II de Anisakis, y del género Stenurus (familia, Pseudaliidae). En el presente estudio se presenta un nuevo registro de quistes de cestodos, enriqueciendo el registro parásito-hospedero para delfines oscuros. Además el trabajo contribuye y amplía la información parasitológica sobre los cetáceos de Argentina.

Interactions between killer whales and sea lions are widely known. This work describes the predator-prey behaviour of killer whales and South American sea lion associated with a trawling fishery. In Argentina the predatory behaviours of killer whales and anti-predatory behaviours of South American sea lions have been described from costal based observations, but predator-prey behaviour of these species is poorly known at open waters. Here we describe a killer whale group attack on an individual sea lion, using a video recorded from a trawling vessel and an interview of the ship captain. This predator-prey behaviour represents an example of the complexity of interactions between marine mammals and fisheries along the Patagonian coast.

Las interacciones entre orcas y lobos marinos son ampliamente conocidas. Este trabajo describe el comportamiento predador-presa entre orcas y un lobo marino sudamericano asociados a un barco pesquero de arrastre. Particularmente en Argentina el comportamiento predatorio de las orcas y el anti-predatorio de los lobos marinos comunes fueron descriptos mediante observaciones costeras, pero se sabe poco sobre el comportamiento de estas especies en aguas abiertas. En este trabajo, a partir de un video grabado desde un barco de pesca arrastrero, junto con la entrevista del capitán del barco, se describe cómo un grupo de orcas ataca a un lobo marino Sudamericano. Este comportamiento predador-presa representa un ejemplo sobre la complejidad de las interacciones entre mamíferos marinos y las pesquerías a lo largo de la costa patagónica.

We present a new record of sperm whale with notes on diet, age determination and a review of strandings along the continental Argentine coast. A complete necropsy was made in the field, and morphometric data were taken. The specimen stranded was a mature male of 64+ years old. This is the oldest specimen determined for a sperm whale in the Southwest Atlantic coast. In the stomach contents a total of 302 cephalopod lower beaks were recovered. Cestodes were present in the blubber but parasites were not found in stomach and intestine contents.

Presentamos un nuevo registro de un cachalote, con notas sobre la dieta, la determinación de edad y la presencia de parásitos, junto con una revisión de los varamientos a lo largo de toda la costa continental argentina. El animal varado fue un macho maduro de 64+ años. Este es el individuo más longevo registrado para esta especie en el Atlántico Sudoccidental. En el contenido estomacal se colectaron 302 picos inferiores de cefalópodos. Los únicos parásitos presentes fueron cestodes en la capa de grasa; no se encotraron helmintos gastrointestinales.

Chitinase is an enzyme able to hydrolyze chitin into its oligo and monomeric components. The chitin-oligosacharids, the acetylchitobiose dimer and the acetylglucosamine monomers are very important to industry due their wide range of medical, agricultural and industrial applications. In the present report was made the characterization of an extracellular chitinolitic enzyme obtained from BIOMI-363706 bacterial isolate, molecularly characterized as Serratia sp. This bacterium uses colloidal chitin as unique carbon and nitrogen source. While inoculated into a media containing 2% colloidal chitin (QC), 0,1% K2HPO4 and 0,05% MgSO4.7H2O, at pH 7,2, the bacteria yields optimally extracellular chitinase after incubation along 72 hours at 37 ºC. Optimal temperature, pH as well as thermostability of the enzyme were 50 ºC, pH 6,5 and < 70 ºC. Chitinase was activated by Mn+2 y Co+2. Activity upon different subtracts was according the following order: Colloidal chitin > chitin powder (< 1mm) > glycol-chitin. The enzyme showed a Vmax value of 0,015 mol/min and a Km of 1,278 mg/ml, using colloidal chitin as substrate. The studied enzyme shown, as one of their characteristics, an thermostability that can be an advantage in order to maximize the reactions at industrial scales that improve and potentiate the enzymatic chitin degradation.

La quitinasa es una enzima capaz de hidrolizar quitina en sus componentes oligo y monoméricos. Los quito-oligosacáridos, el dímero acetilquitobiosa y los monómeros de N-acetilglucosamina son de gran interés para la industria debido a su amplio rango de aplicaciones médicas, agrícolas e industriales. En el presente trabajo se realizó la caracterización de una enzima quitinolítica extracelular obtenida del aislado bacteriano BIOMI-363706, caracterizado molecularmente como Serratia sp. Esta bacteria usa la quitina coloidal como única fuente de carbono y nitrógeno. Al ser inoculada en un medio que contenía 2% de quitina coloidal (QC), 0,1% K2HPO4 y 0,05% MgSO4.7H2O, a pH 7,2, la bacteria produjo óptimamente quitinasa extracelular después de 72 horas de incubación a 37 °C. La temperatura y pH óptimos, así como la termoestabilidad de la enzima, fueron 50 °C, pH 6,5 y < 70 °C. La quitinasa fue activada por Mn+2 y Co+2. La actividad sobre diferentes sustratos siguió este orden: quitina coloidal > polvo de quitina (<1mm) > glicol-quitina. La enzima presentó un valor de Vmax de 0,015 µmol/min y un Km de 1,278 mg/ml, utilizando quitina coloidal como sustrato. La enzima estudiada mostró, entre sus características, una termoestabilidad que puede ser una ventaja para la maximización de reacciones en escalas industriales que mejoren y potencien la degradación enzimática de la quitina.

Para determinar si la exposición laboral a plaguicidas produce daño al material genético se utilizó como biomarcador de efecto la presencia de micronúcleos en células del epitelio oral de trabajadoras de Guápiles y Siquirres, Costa Rica. También se analizaron otras anormalidades nucleares que pueden ser indicio de genotoxicidad o de citotoxicidad. El grupo de mujeres expuestas a plaguicidastrabajaban en plantas empacadoras de diferentes fincas bananeras independientes. El grupo de mujeres no expuestas nunca habían trabajado en labores agrícolas, no vivían dentro de una finca bananera, así como tampoco sus esposos o compañeros. Se obtuvo información acerca del estilo de vida, historia médica y familiar de las participantes mediante una entrevista. No se encontró un aumento significativo en la frecuencia de micronúcleos en el grupo de expuestas con respecto a las no expuestas. Las otras anormalidades nucleares mostraron indicios de citotoxicidad y genotoxicidad en el grupo de no expuestas, asociados a ingesta de café y a radiografías dentales. Estos resultados no descartan a los plaguicidas como agentes capaces de causar daño genético, sino que más bien los micronúcleos de la mucosa oral no parecen ser el biomarcador más adecuado para medirlo.

Micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in the oral epithelium of female workers exposed to pesticides. In order to study if banana fields labour exposure to pesticides produces some kind of DNA damage, we determine the presence of micronuclei in epithelial oral cells in working women in Guapiles and Siquirres, Costa Rica, as an effect biomarker. We also analyzed other abnormalities in the nucleus of those cells such as broken-egg, karyolysis or kariorrhexis, to see if there was some kind of genotoxicity or citotoxicity. The women group exposed to pesticides worked in packing bananas plant from different independent farms. The control group of women had never done any farming tasks; they did not live in the banana fields, neither their husband. We got information about the life style, medical and familial history of the participants through an interview. We did not found any significant increment in the frequency of micronuclei form the exposed group compared with the controls. The other nuclei abnormalities showed signs of citotoxicity or genotoxicity in the controls, associated with the intake of coffee and dental x-rays. These results do not rule out at that pesticides used in packing bananas are agents capable of producing damage to the DNA, but it seems that micronuclei from the oral epithelium is not the most adequate marker to measure it. Rev. Biol. Trop. 52(3): 611-621. Epub 2004 Dic 15.

o contexto da globalização e da Reforma do Estado, as comunidades, socialmente, têm recuperado protagonismo, mesmo que seja para tentar proporcionar o que os Estados nação têm falhado em resolver, o que na América Latina poderíamos resumir nestas palavras: condições de cidadania. Com base neste pressuposto este trabalho analisa os conselhos municipais em Salvador (Bahia) como instrumento de desenvolvimento local implicado com a participação cidadã. Retomamos as teorias da Reforma do Estado à luz das teorias de gênero, onde a autonomia constitui-se como uma questão chave ainda não resolvida, e analisamos também a contribuição das mulheres para que os conselhos sejam espaços de construção da cidadania e de democracia participativa. A análise deste trabalho está baseada, fundamentalmente, nos depoimentos dos entrevistados, membros dos Conselhos de Saúde, Assistência Social, Educação, Emprego, Criança e Adolescente, e Conselho da Mulher, bem como nas observações de suas reuniões.

In the context of globalization and State reform, the communities, socially, have covered protagonism, even to provide what nation-states have failed on providing, that in Latinoamerica we could resume on these words: conditions of citezenship. Based on this pressuposição, the article analyses the municipal councils in Salvador as an instrument of local development envolved with citizen participation. We retake the State reform theories brightened by the gender theories, where authonomy is a key question not resolved yet, and we also analyse women contribution to the construction of citizenship and participative democracy on the municipal councils. The analyse of this work is based basically on the interviewed declarations: members of the Health, Social Assitance, Education, Employment and Rent, Childand Adolescent, and Woman municipal councils, as well as meetings observations.