The natural habitat of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis remains undefined but the repeated demonstration of infection by this fungus in the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus has opened interesting research avenues. We report here the isolation of this fungus from the spleen of a naked-tailed armadillo Cabassous centralis (Miller 1899) captured in a coffee farm localized in the Colombian endemic area for paracoccidioidomycosis. This particular isolate was identified by its dimorphism and also by comparison of the PbGP43 gene and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) with recognized P brasiliensis strains. This finding extends the range of naturally acquired infections in mammals of the family Dasypodidae and confirms the existence of this human pathogen in areas where human paracoccidioidomycosis is known to occur.
SUMMARYThe precise microenvironment of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has not yet been discovered perhaps because the methods used are not sensitive enough. We applied to this purpose the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using three sets of specific primers corresponding to two P. brasiliensis genes. This fungus as well as several other fungi, were grown and their DNA obtained by mechanical disruption and a phenol chloroform isoamylalcohol-based purification method. The DNA served for a PCR reaction that employed specific primers from two P. brasiliensis genes that codify for antigenic proteins, namely, the 27 kDa and the 43 kDa. The lowest detection range for the 27 kDa gene was 3 pg. The amplification for both genes was positive only with DNA from P. brasiliensis; additionally, the mRNA for the 27 kDa gene was present only in P. brasiliensis, as indicated by the Northern analysis. The standardization of PCR technology permitted the amplification of P. brasiliensis DNA in artificially contaminated soils and in tissues of armadillos naturally infected with the fungus. These results indicate that PCR technology could play an important role in the search for P. brasiliensis' habitat and could also be used in other ecological studies.
SummaryThe original 24,900 km 2 distribution of the Cauca Guan Penelope perspicax is currently reduced to less than 750 km 2 . In addition, forest within this range is fragmented and populations are isolated. We conducted surveys to determine the presence of the Cauca Guan at several locations within its present range, and mapped all known localities with guan records. Cauca Guan populations are confirmed to occur at only four sites, and the guan is absent from several localities with historic records. Some sites where the Cauca Guan is potentially present are highlighted. In particular, the possible existence of populations on the Pacific slope of the Andes requires confirmation, since a large habitat block is available. Population density estimates were obtained in two protected areas. In Yotoco Forest Reserve (559 ha) we estimated 8.6 guans km
22. At Otú n-Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (489 ha), guans fed seasonally on leaves of Chinese ash Fraxinus chinensis, an exotic tree planted in a revegetation programme. Seasonal densities in ash plantations were over 100 guans km
22, whereas in mixed forest, mean density was 41.6 birds km
22. Ash has apparently become a key resource for this population. Although these two populations are within protected areas and have relatively high densities, they are small and isolated and require continued monitoring.
El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la composición, estructura y diversidad florística de bosque, matorral y pastizal en un paisaje rural del piedemonte de los Farallones de Cali en el año 2013. Se realizaron muestreos con tres repeticiones en cada elemento del paisaje. En bosque y matorral se muestrearon en 24 parcelas en total de 200 m2 para registrar árboles, y 24 subparcelas de 50 m2 para registrar arbustos y plántulas. En pastizales, se muestrearon 36 cuadrantes de 1 m2. En total, se encontraron 140 especies (69 en bosque, 60 en matorral y 53 en pastizal). Las familias con mayor índice de importancia fueron: en bosque Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae y Lacistemataceae; en matorral, Melastomataceae; y en pastizal, Poaceae y Asteraceae. El elemento del paisaje más diverso fue matorral. Se concluye que la comunidad vegetal se encuentra en estados sucesionales tempranos, dominada por plantas pioneras intermedias y ricas en plántulas.
Amphibians are facing a massive crisis: one‐third of the world's amphibians are threatened with extinction. The International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources – The World Conservation Union has urged that ‘All Critically and Extinct in the Wild taxa should be subject to ex situ management to ensure recovery of wild populations.’ Comparable calls are included in Global Amphibian Assessment documents. Cali Zoological Foundation, Colombia, and Zoo Zürich, Switzerland, are committed to contribute to amphibian conservation by running an ex situ conservation centre and conservation research and education programmes. This project may serve as a model for further amphibian conservation activities in neotropical countries.
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