Genetic variability of Anisakis simplex s.s. parasitizing European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Little Sole Bank area in the Northeast Atlantic

In this study, we researched the presence of anisakids in specimens of Merluccius merluccius caught in the area of Little Sole Bank, in the Northeast Atlantic, and found that 100% of the European hake examined were infected and showed high average values of abundance (976.88) and intensity (976.88). The larvae were identified in morphological terms as morphotype type I and in molecular terms as Anisakis simplex s.s via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rDNA. The genetic variability of the A. simplex s.s population in the North Atlantic is notable, with at least two ribosomal and three mitochondrial haplotypes which are different from the specimen used as control, reflecting the diversity of this species, an aspect which has scarcely been studied to date. The cox-2 gene appears to be an interesting candidate for generating new genetic markers which can be applied to differentiate between A. simplex s.s and Anisakis pegreffii. We detected 11 fixed differences in this gene, and it also offers the advantage of being easily amplified by PCR. The high prevalence of infection by A. simplex s.s and the extremely high average intensity and abundance values can have significant repercussions on public health, especially among populations which regularly eat insufficiently cooked or raw fish and have a certain genetic predisposition; the genetic variability of the parasite could be another factor to take into account. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.Peer Reviewe

Geology of the late Pliocene - Pleistocene Acoculco caldera complex, eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Mexico)

We present a new 1:80,000-scale geologic map of the Acoculco caldera (Ac) located between the states of Puebla and Hidalgo in eastern México. The map, encompassing an area of 856 km2, is grounded on an ArcMap data set and is supported by nine new 40Ar/39Ar dates. The caldera lies upon Cretaceous limestones and Miocene to Pliocene volcanic rocks (13–3 Ma). The caldera consists of 31 lithostatrigraphic units formed between 2.7 and 0.06 Ma that include a wide variety of volcanic landforms (cinder cones, lava domes). The caldera has a semi-circular shape (18–16 km) bounded by the Atotonilco scarp to the north, the NW–SE Manzanito fault to the west, and scattered vents to the east and southern parts. The distribution of the Acoculco ignimbrite, the lithic breccia, and lacustrine sediments define the caldera ring fault. Late Pleistocene activity and pervasive hydrothermal alteration suggest a high geothermal potential in the area. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of Journal of MapsThis study was funded by Grant 207032 of the Centro Mexicano de Inovación en Energía Geotérmica (CeMIE Geo) project P15 to J.L. Macías. JM is grateful for the MECD (PRX16/00056) grant.Peer reviewe