Introduction: El Salvador is one of the most densely populated and most deforested countries of the American continent, where social insecurity make field research difficult. Here we present an experience in which rural and indigenous communities were part of a mammal survey. Objectives: To identify the mammals of Río Sapo basin, and establish the potential of local communities in scientific studies of mammals in El Salvador. Methods: We studied 17 sites in Joateca and Arambala, Río Sapo basin; 14 volunteers were organized, including local former hunters, forest owners, indigenous communities, and researchers. Fieldwork was done from August 2018 to December 2019. Mammals were identified during field visits and with camera traps. We also included the socio-cultural importance of wildlife within the Kakawira-Lenca indigenous worldview. Results: Twenty-two species were identified, including six that are threatened or endangered. We expanded the local range of Tamandua mexicana and Pecari tajacu for the department of Morazán, also, we added Glaucomys volans to the country's species list. We list traditional uses of mammals of the Kakawira-Lenca culture and report the indigenous names of 15 species. Conclusion: The participation of local communities is a valid option for field work in El Salvador, and probably in other areas where social insecurity makes field research dangerous.
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections and diarrheal illness affect billions of people yearly. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Nueva Santa Rosa, Guatemala to identify factors associated with STH infections and diarrhea using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. On multivariable analyses, we found associations between STH infections and two factors: school-aged children (odds ratio (OR) vs. adults: 2.35, 95% CI 1.10–4.99) and household drinking water supply classified as ‘other improved’ (OR vs. ‘improved’: 7.00, CI 1.22–40.14). Finished floors in the household vs. natural floors were highly protective (OR 0.16, CI 0.05–0.50) for STH infection. In crowded households (>2.5 people/bedroom), observing water present at handwashing stations was also protective (OR 0.32, CI 0.11–0.98). When adjusted for drying hands, diarrhea was associated with preschool-age children (OR vs. adults: 3.33, CI 1.83–6.04), spending >10 min per round trip collecting water (OR 1.90, CI 1.02–3.56), and having a handwashing station ≤10 m near a sanitation facility (OR 3.69, CI 1.33–10.21). Our study indicates that familiar WASH interventions, such as increasing drinking water quantity and water at handwashing stations in crowded homes, coupled with a hygiene intervention like finished flooring may hold promise for STH and diarrhea control programs.
Introduction: Glass frogs occur from Mexico to South America, and, their taxonomy and distribution are currently debated. In El Salvador, the only species is thought to be Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni, but it may instead be Hyalinobatrachium viridissimum. In any case, the species is scarcely recorded and understudied. Objective: To estimate the species distribution in the Río Lempa basin, and to compare its call with available records. Methods: We used local volunteers to sample 53 sites in Cabañas and Morazán, El Salvador, during the rainy season (September to November); these were visited once in 2019 and once in 2020. Volunteers counted individuals along transects from 6 to 8 pm and recorded some calls with cell phones. Results: We counted 361 individuals, added 53 new localities (mainly deciduous broad-leaved forest and agricultural systems). Abundance was more related with elevation and forest cover, than with river characteristics. Our evaluation of 32 calls found differences in the peak frequency between these glass frog populations and those of H. fleischmanni and H. viridissimum comb. nov. Conclusion: Salvadorian glass frogs are more widespread than previously recorded, their distribution is more related with elevation and forest than with rivers types, and their taxonomic status remains unsolved.
BackgroundAerial images are being used more often to map residential structures on the ground in a study area (the sample frame). However, non-coverage bias associated with overhead imagery has not been fully explored. Non-coverage occurs when residential structures are not included in a particular sampling frame. Our study aimed to evaluate non-coverage bias and sensitivity of an aerial photograph methodology in Nueva Santa Rosa, Guatemala, which was used to generate the sampling frame for a larger cross-sectional survey of sanitation, disease, and water quality. MethodsHigh-resolution aerial photographs of Nueva Santa Rosa were overlaid with a grid, and roof images were geo-located within randomly sampled cells, dichotomized by population as very high-density (VHD) or non-VHD. Roofs found on-site were compared to roofs found in photographs to evaluate the numbers and sizes of residences excluded from the sampling frame. Non-coverage proportions were estimated, and sensitivity and specificity were assessed. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference (1.2%; 95% confidence interval, CI= -12.1-14.6) in non-coverage proportion between VHD segments (39.6%) and non-VHD cells (38.4%). Roof-size range sensitivity and specificity were 66.4% (95% CI=57.6-74.2) and 69.4% (95% CI=54.4-81.3). ConclusionsApproximately one-third of residential roofs were missed, perhaps due to outdated photographs. No substantial bias concerning population density appeared to influence our sampling frame. Further assessment of non-coverage bias, possibly expanding the roof size range to modify sensitivity and specificity, should be performed to generate geographically based best practices for overhead-image use.
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