Macrocyclis peruvianus (Gastropoda, Acavidae), an endemic land snail from Chile

Macrocyclis peruvianus (Lamarck, 1822) is a large terrestrial snail which is endemic in Chile. A detailed description of its shell structure, jaw, radula, palial cavity and reproductive system is presented here for the first time.

Development of trypanosomatids in the phytophagous insect Dysdercus peruvianus (Hemiptera: Pyrrochoridae): a light and eletron microscopic study

Experimental infections of the phytophagous Hemiptera Dysdercus peruvianus with different trypanosomatids were studied for up to 55 days by light microscopy while the course of infection with Leptomonas seymouri and the Leptomonas isolate 49/553G.O. was analyzed by electron microscopy. Rates of infection of D. peruvianus varied according to the infecting flagellate. The lower part of the midgut was found to be the preferential site of colonization where most flagellates were found isolated or arranged in clumps or rosettes. Specialized junctional structures with host cells were never observed. Flagellates could also be seen inside midgut cells within a parasitophorous vacuole. Infection of haemocoele and salivary glands was also observed.

Pauciconfibula patagonensis sp. nov. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) parasitizing the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus (Pisces: Congiopodidae), from the Patagonian Shelf, Argentina

Pauciconfibula patagonensis sp. nov. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae), parasite of gill filaments of the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus (Congiopodidae) collected in the Patagonian Shelf, Argentina, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by having intestinal caeca not confluent and entering into the haptor, vitelline follicles extending from the genital pore to near the posterior portion of haptor, two parallel rows each comprised of 16-20 microcotylid clamps in the haptor, 25-43 testes and a fusiform egg with one very long tangled polar filament. P. patagonensis is the only member of the genus known to parasitize a scorpaeniform host and represents the first record of a representative of this genus in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Cereus peruvianus (Koubo) new cactus fruit for the world

Several different species of the columnar cacti of the genera Stenocereus and Pachycereus, were introduced into different semi-arid ecozones in Israel and most of these efforts were of disappointing outcomes, the only exception being the Cereus peruvianus (L.) Miller,which bore plenty of fruits, some of them of good taste. The original seeds of this plant were obtained from the late Mr. Amram (Ron) Kodish, who collected seeds from various private gardens in Southern California which bore fruits of reasonable qualities. The initial success of this species led us to initiate an intensive research study, and today it is already fruit-crop, marketed mainly in Israel under the name " Koubo" . This paper will describe our work of domestication of this new cactus fruit crop in Israel.

Production of fungal protein by solid substrate fermentation of cactus Cereus peruvianus and Opuntia ficus indica

Agricultural wastes from cactus Cereus peruvianus and Opuntia ficus indica were investigated for protein production by solid substrate fermentation. Firstly, the polyelectrolytes were extracted and used in water cleaning as auxiliary of flocculation and coagulation. The remaining fibrous material and peels were used as substrate for fermentation with Aspergillus niger. Glucoamylase and cellulase were the main enzymes produced. Amino acids were determined by HPLC and protein by Lowry's method. After 120 hours of fermentation the protein increased by 12.8%. Aspartic acid (1.27%), threonine (0.97%), glutamic acid (0.88%), valine (0.70%), serine (0.68%), arginine (0.82%), and phenylalanine (0.51%) were the principal amino acids produced.

Paragonimosis in the Cajabamba and Condebamba districts, Cajamarca, Peru

Stool samples from 409 pre-school and school students, living in six villages of the Cajabamba and Condebamba districts, Cajamarca, Perú, were examined using wet preparations and Lumbreras' method, looking for Paragonimus eggs. Fecal and sputum samples from two children (0.5%) of 6 and 8 year-old showed eggs of Paragonimus. One hundred and twenty freshwater crabs, Hypolobocera chilensis eigenmanni, were collected from the Condebamba valley and 21 (17.5%) of them were infected with P. mexicanus (syn. P. peruvianus) metacercariae. Our results show the persistence of Paragonimus in human beings and in the main source of infection, the crabs.

Sobre a domiciliaçao dos triatomineos

Foram reunidos resultados de testes de precipitina feitos com o conteúdo do tubo digestivo de triatomineos. €ssas informações foram discutidas com base nas proporções de sangue de mamíferos e de ave, encontradas e em diversas observações relativas às espécies de vertebrados a que os triatomíneos estão associados na natureza. O estudo englobou as seguintes espécies: Belminus peruvianus, Panstrongylus geniculatus, Panstrongilus herreri, Panstrongylus megistus, Psammolestes tertius, Rhodnius neglectus, Rhodnius prolixus,Triatoma arthurneivai, Triatoma dimidiata,Triatoma infestans, Triatoma protracta, Triatoma rubrovaria e Triatoma sórdida. As seguintes conclusões puderam ser obtidas: 1 - As espécies que, nos biótopos artificiais, se alimentam principalmente de sangue humano, na natureza, são as mais ecléticas. Sugam mamífero, ave e animais de sangue-frio, mas apresentam marcada preferência por sangue de mamífero. 2 - As espécies que, nos biótopos artificiais, são encontradas com maior freqüência associadas a aves, na natureza ou preferem sangue de ave ou não tem predileção nítida por ave ou mamífero. 3 - As espécies associadas a animais de sangue frio ou restritas a um único grupo de mamíferos, podem colonizar nos domicílios desde que eles sejam previamente colonizados pelo hospedeiro. 4 - Não foram encontrados indícios de que alguma espécie esteja se adaptando aos domicílios. Todos os triatomineos ditos domiciliários já possuíam, na natureza, atributos que permitiam a vida em novos biótopos, habitados ou pelo homem ou por animais domésticos.

Espécies de Pilocarpus Vahl (Rutaceae) da Amazônia brasileira

Pilocarpus é gênero neotropical constituído de 16 espécies distribuídas desde o sul do México e América Central até o sul da América do Sul. O Brasil abriga 13 espécies, sendo que 11 delas ocorrem exclusivamente no território brasileiro. O objetivo do trabalho é apresentar as espécies ocorrentes na Amazônia brasileira, à luz dos dados mais recentes obtidos com a revisão taxonômica do gênero pelo autor. Antes disso, eram reconhecidas apenas duas espécies de Pilocarpus naquela região, a saber: P. microphyllus Stapf ex Wardl. na porção leste, e P. peruvianus (Macbride) Kaastra na porção oeste. Os últimos dados revelaram a existência de mais dois táxons: P. alatus J. C. Joseph ex Skorupa e P. carajaensis Skorupa. São apresentadas chave de identificação, descrições, ilustrações, assim como informações sobre a distribuição geográfica, habitats e fenologia das espécies consideradas.

A genitália externa na tribo Bolboderini (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Sete espécies da tribo bolboderini, pertencentes aos gêneros Bolbodera, Belminus, Microtriatoma e Parabelminus, duas das quais já encontradas naturalmente infectadas com Trypanosoma cruzi, foram analisadas e comparadas tendo como enfoque oito estruturas da genitália externa dos machos: Processo mediano do pigóforo (PrP), Processo da conjuntiva (PrCj), Extensão mediana da placa basal (EPIb), Processo do endosoma (PrEn), Suporte do falosoma (SPh), Falosoma (Ph), Processo do gonoporo (PrG) e a Vesica (V). Microtriatoma trinidadensis (lent, 1951) e M. borbai Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979 mostraram um plano estrutural morfológico semelhante a Parabelminus yurupucu Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979 e P. carioca Lent, 1943 e deferindo nitidamente de Belminus peruvianus Herrer, Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1954 e B. herreri Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979 e de Bolbodera scabrosa, Valdés, 1910, não só pela ausência como pela forma de determinadas estruturas. Estas observações comparativas confirmam as afinidades entre Microtriatoma e Parabelminus e suas relações com belminus e Bolbodera.

The Triatomines of Northern Peru, with Emphasis on the Ecology and Infection by Trypanosomes of Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Triatominae)

Information on the distribution and synanthropic behaviour of triatomines is essential for Chagas disease vector control. This work summarises such information from northern Peru, and presents new data on Rhodnius ecuadoriensis - an important local vector infesting 10-35% of dwellings in some zones. Three species are strongly synanthropic and may be suitable targets for chemical control of domestic/peridomestic bug populations. Panstrongylus herreri, the main domestic vector in the area, is probably present in sylvatic ecotopes in the Marañón river system. R. ecuadoriensis and Triatoma dimidiata seem exclusively domestic; biogeographical and ecological data suggest they might have spread in association with humans in northern Peru. Confirmation of this hypothesis would result in a local eradication strategy being recommended. Presence of trypanosome natural infection was assessed in 257 R. ecuadoriensis; Trypanosoma rangeli was detected in 4% of bugs. Six further triatomine species are potential disease vectors in the region (T. carrioni, P. chinai, P. rufotuberculatus, P. geniculatus, R. pictipes, and R. robustus), whilst Eratyrus mucronatus, E. cuspidatus, Cavernicola pilosa, Hermanlentia matsunoi, and Belminus peruvianus have little or no epidemiological significance. A strong community-based entomological surveillance system and collaboration with Ecuadorian public health authorities and researchers are recommended.

Two new Culicoides of the paraensis species group (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae) from the Amazonian region of Peru

Two new species of the Culicoides paraensis species group, C. diversus Felippe-Bauer and C. peruvianus Felippe-Bauer, are described and illustrated based on female specimens from Amazonian region of Peru. A systematic key, table with numerical characters of females, and distribution of species of the C. paraensis group are given.

Taxonomia, análise cladística e descrição de uma espécie nova de Palpibracus Rondani (Diptera, Muscidae)

Palpibracus Rondani é um gênero de Muscidae que aloca 16 espécies, incluindo Palpibracus darwini sp. nov., descrita com base em espécimens macho de Concepción, Chile. Foi realizada uma análise cladística baseada em 31 caracteres morfológicos de adultos e utilizando 12 espécies como grupos externos. A análise mostrou que Palpibracus é um gênero monofilético cujo grupo-irmão é o gênero Brachygasterina. O relacionamento entre as espécies foi: (P. veneris ((P. albuquerquei (P. peruvianus, P. trivittatus)) (P. fasciculatus, P. nigriventris)) ((P. spicatus, P. uvivittatus) (P. lancifer (P. darwini sp. nov. (P. chilensis, P. confusus (P. pilosus ( P. similis (P. separatus, P. carvalhoi)))))))). Palpibracus apicalis Malloch foi alocada tentativamente em Psilochaeta Stein. É apresentada também uma chave para as espécies de Palpibracus.

Redução de poluentes de efluentes das indústrias de papel e celulose pela floculação/coagulação e degradação fotoquímica

The abatement of recalcitrant lignin macromolecules from effluents of pulp and paper industry was investigated by combined process. Flocculation and coagulation with aluminum sulfate and natural polyelectrolytes extracted from cactus Cereus peruvianus were used in the first step. After separation of solid residues by filtration, the photochemical methods using TiO2 as catalyst were employed for photocatalytic degradation of lignin compounds from solution. The abatement of lignin compounds after flocculation and coagulation was 46%, and after the overall process, the pollutants reduction observed were 66%. The remaining organic compounds may be removed by any biological treatment.