Dujardinascaris helicina (Nematoda: Ascarididae) parásito de Crocodylus acutus (Reptilia: Crocodylidae) en Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México

ResumenEl cocodrilo de río (Crocodylus acutus, Cuvier, 1807) es una especie protegida en México. En este trabajo se han estudiado los contenidos obtenidos por medio de lavados gástricos a 53C. acutus, en las áreas del estero el Salado, estero Boca Negra-Boca de Tomates y en la UMA Reptilario Cipactli, ubicadas en Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México, con el fin de conocer la helmintofauna de la especie. Se identificó solamente al nemátodo, Dujardinascaris helicina (Molin, 1860). La mayor prevalencia fue del 74% y la abundancia 3.17 en el área del estero Boca Negra-Boca de Tomates; y la menor prevalencia fue del 12%, con una abundancia de 0.76 en los ejemplares en la UMA Reptilario Cipactli. Suponemos que esta diferencia se debe principalmente al tipo de alimento suministrado a los cocodrilos en cautiverio. En esta investigación se registra por primera vez a D. helicina como parásito de C. acutus en la región.AbstractThe river crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, Cuvier, 1807) is a protected species in Mexico. In this work the stomach contents obtained through gastric lavage of 53 C. acutus from the estuarine systems “El Salado”, “Boca Negra-Boca de Tomates” and from the “UMA (Unidad de Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre” for its meaning in Spanish) Reptilario Cipactli” located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico were collected to study the helminth fauna of the species. Only Dujardinascaris helicina (Molin, 1860) was identified. The highest prevalence occurred in “Boca Negra-Boca de Tomates” with 74% and an abundance of 3.17, and the lowest in “UMA Reptilario Cipactli” with 12% and an abundance of 0.76. The dissimilarity is assumed to be caused primarily by the different feeding habits between wildlife and captivity raised crocodiles. During this investigation D. helicina is registered for the first time as a parasite for C. acutus in the region

Ecología alimentaria de camarones peneidos en los sistemas lagunar-estuarinos tropicales

Shrimps are an important resource in coastal lagoons because they use these ecosystems for their development. Although some authors classified the Penaeidae as detritivores, it was shown that their diet comprises a greater variety of food items. Many authors had reported that shrimps have a diversified diet that includes several elements of the benthic community. This review describes the feeding ecology of the shrimps in coastal lagoon-estuarine systems, with emphasis on the following: the effect of the environment on the shrimps’ natural food; techniques for identification of items in shrimps gut contents and stable isotope compositions; consideration of the importance of plants and small animals in the diet; and the effect of mangroves and lagoon-estuarine system on feed ecology. The abundance of penaeid appears to be primarily affected by stochastic variations in environmental factors. However, it has been found that the relationships between macroinfauna, macrofauna and environmental conditions in a tropical estuary may result in more interactions with their predators than a direct response to physical-chemical factors. The combination of the study of shrimps guts contents and stable isotopes shows a composition and seasonal variation in the diets, as well as the source of carbon and nitrogen contained in the shrimp’s tissues. In general, the studies suggest that herbaceous detrital inputs to the food web are dominant in supporting shrimps in salt marshes, but phytoplankton or benthic algae may be equally or more important food sources.Los camarones son recursos importantes en las lagunas costeras porque utilizan el ecosistema para su desarrollo. Aunque algunos autores clasifican a los camarones Penaeidae como detritívoros, se encontró que su dieta comprende una gran variedad de ítems. Muchos autores han reportado que los camarones tienen una dieta diversificada que incluye varios elementos de la comunidad béntica. Esta revisión describe la ecología alimentaria de los camarones en los sistemas lagunar- estuarinos, con énfasis sobre los siguientes aspectos: el efecto del ambiente sobre el alimento natural de los camarones; técnicas para la identificación de ítems en los contenidos estomacales de los camarones y la composición de isotopos estables; consideraciones sobre la importancia de las plantas y pequeños animales en la dieta; y el efecto de los manglares y sistema lagunar-estuarino sobre la ecología alimentaria. La abundancia de peneidos parece ser principalmente afectado por variaciones estocásticas en factores ambientales. Sin embargo, se ha encontrado que las relaciones entre macroinfauna, macrofauna y condiciones ambientales en un estuario tropical pueden resultar en más interacciones con sus depredadores que una respuesta directa a factores fisico-químicos. La combinación del estudio de los contenidos estomacales e isotopos estables muestra la composición y las variaciones estacionales en las dietas, también, como la fuente de carbón y nitrógeno contenida en el tejido de los camarones. En general, los estudio sugieren que la entrada de detritus herbáceos al tejido de alimentos son dominantes en la alimentación de los camarones en las marismas, pero el fitoplancton o las algas bénticas pueden ser fuentes de alimento igual o más importantes que los detritus herbáceos

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field