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PubMed2000

Paramaritremopsis solielangi n. sp. and Microphallus kinsellai n. sp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) parasites of Charadrii (Aves) of Belize (Central America).

The authors describe and illustrate two trematodes from Belize (Central America): Paramaritremopsis solielangi n. sp. from the small intestine of Arenaria interpres is characterised by a body length of 478 microm, two short and pre-acetabular caeca, part of the uterus in close association with the cirrus-sac and left caecum, vitelline glands in the shape of a horseshoe, a short pre-ovarian cirrus-sac containing a long, cylindrical, voluminous and unarmed cirrus (size when evaginated: 150 x 20-30 microm) and Microphallus kinsellai n. sp. from the caeca of Actitis macularia characterised by a body length of 370 microm and a phallus which is 30 microm in diameter and asymmetrical (basically a pad with a moderately developed accessory lobe) and a straight ejaculatory canal. Levinseniella carteretensis is another microphallid recovered from Arenaria interpres. The term of "phallus" is proposed to name the male copulatory organ which characterizes the Microphallinae.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Asterocheres crinoidicola n. sp., a copepod (Siphonostomatoida: Asterocheridae) parasitic on crinoids in Belize.

A new species of siphonostomatoid copepod, Asterocheres crinoidicola, is parasitic on two closely related comasterid crinoids (Nemaster grandis and Davidaster rubiginosus) in Belize, Central America. An unusually long terminal prolongation of the third segment of the endopod of leg 1 distinguishes this species from all congeners. This is the first report of a copepod parasitic on a crinoid in the Caribbean.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Three Nadejdolepis Spasskii & Spasskaya, 1954 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) parasites of Charadrii (Aves) of Belize].

Three Nadejdolepis from Belize, Central America, represent new geographical records (1) Nadejdolepis paranitidulans (Golikova, 1959) (rostellar hooks 40-44 microm long) from Charadrius alexandrinus; (2) N. arenariae (Cabot, 1969) n. comb. (rostellar hooks 89 microm long) from Arenaria interpres; and (3) N. litoralis (Webster, 1947) (rostellar hooks 81-85 microm long) from Calidris fuscicollis (new host record). Additional descriptions, illustrations and information pertaining to these species are included. In addition, N. saguei Rysavy. 1967 is considered a synonym of N. litoralis (Webster, 1947). N. morenoi Rysavy, 1967 (rostral hooks 80 microm long) needs to be redescribed to confirm its validity. Two species of Nadejdolepis are transferred to the genus Microsomacanthus Lopez-Neyra, 1942 because their rostellar hooks are more diorchoid than nitiduloid, becoming M. cambrensis (Davies, 1939) comb. and M. alaskensis (Deblock & Rausch, 1967) n. comb.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Serum carotenoid concentrations and their reproducibility in children in Belize.

Suggestions that carotenoid-containing foods are beneficial in maintaining health have led to several studies of circulating carotenoid concentrations of adults. Because few data are available for children, we report serum carotenoid concentrations of 493 children in Belize. Carotenoid concentrations were determined as part of a survey of vitamin A status of children, most between 65 and 89 mo of age. Reproducibility was tested by collecting a second blood sample 2 wk after the first collection from a subset of children (n = 23) who consumed their habitual diet with no treatment during the interim. Predominant serum carotenoids were lutein/zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, which accounted for 26% and 24% of median total carotenoids, respectively. The three provitamin A carotenoids, alpha- and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, constituted 51% of median total carotenoid concentrations. Partial correlations of each carotenoid with fasting retinol concentration indicated that beta-carotene had the highest correlation. Concordance correlation coefficients (rc) for fasting carotenoid concentrations determined 2 wk apart were > or = 0.89 for lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and alpha- and beta-carotene. The rc for lutein/zeaxanthin and total carotenoids was lower, 0.59 and 0.68, respectively, because of higher lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations at the second sampling than at the first. The reproducibility of the concentrations suggests both that individuals have characteristic profiles and that serum carotenoid concentrations can be measured randomly over > or = 2 wk without significant bias.

Belize↗
PubMed1998

Fluctuating asymmetry and human male life-history traits in rural Belize.

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), used as a measure of phenotypic quality, has proven to be a useful predictor of human life-history variation, but nothing is known about its effects in humans living in higher fecundity and mortality conditions, typical before industrialization and the demographic transition. In this research, I analyse data on male life histories for a relatively isolated population in rural Belize. Some of the 56 subjects practise subsistence-level slash-and-burn farming, and others are involved in the cash economy. Fecundity levels are quite high in this population, with men over the age of 40 averaging over eight children. Low FA successfully predicted lower morbidity and more offspring fathered, and was marginally associated with a lower age at first reproduction and more lifetime sex partners. These results indicate that FA may be important in predicting human performance in fecundity and morbidity in predemographic transition conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1993

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in British troops from Belize.

The medical records of 306 British soldiers in whom a clinical diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis had been made following a tour of duty in Belize were analysed. Parasitological confirmation of the diagnosis was established in 187 cases; leishmania were cultured in 117 cases and Leishman-Donovan bodies were identified histologically in a further 70 cases. Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis was identified in 78 cases and Leishmania mexicana mexicana in a further 29 cases. Seventy-one per cent of patients had a single lesion which, in most cases, occurred on the exposed extremities. The mean diameter of the ulcers was 14.4 mm. Treatment with sodium stibogluconate was effective. Two regimens were used, consisting of either 600-800 mg daily given initially for 10 days, or 600 mg b.d. given initially for 14 days. Of those allocated to the lower dose regimen 48.5% were cured after the initial 10-day course, and ultimately the ulcers of 93% of patients healed following more prolonged treatment at this dose. Of those allocated to the higher dose regimen 63.9% were cured after the initial 14-day course and ultimately the ulcers of all patients healed after more prolonged treatment at this dose. A transient leucopenia and a rise in liver enzymes were noted during treatment, and these changes were dose-dependent. No cases of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis were encountered.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The interaction of disturbances and small mammal community dynamics in a lowland forest in Belize.

1. Three floods (July 2000, August 2002, September 2003) and a hurricane (October 2001) that occurred in a lowland forest in the southern Maya Mountains of Belize presented an opportunity to evaluate the influence of these disturbances on the structure of a small mammal assemblage. 2. Four terrestrial and four primarily scansorial/arboreal species were trapped July 2000-March 2005 in six grids over 14 irregularly spaced trapping periods. 3. Community dynamics were characterized more by changes in species composition than changes in diversity. The dynamics were driven by species-specific variation in abundance, with changes in composition generally, but not exclusively, due to the occurrence or disappearance of species at low abundance. Despite the disturbances, species richness remained relatively constant. Evenness within the assemblage was consistently low, primarily as a result of dominance by one species, Heteromys desmarestianus. 4. Effects of flooding on community structure were direct but relatively brief (< 1 year), and varied with the duration and intensity of flooding. Effects from the hurricane were indirect but long-lasting and strongly related to severely reduced food resources. 5. This study suggests that long-term dynamics in the structure of many animal communities in the tropics often results from interactions between direct and indirect effects of disturbance. It also suggests that community resistance will depend on variation in disturbance type and regime, but resilience will be determined by the life-history characteristics of each species.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Blood pressure, ethnic group, and salt intake in Belize.

A total of 1316 individuals were studied in seven villages in Belize, Central America. This represented 92% of the area population aged over 18. Generally, they were members of three ethnic groups--Maya, Spanish, and Creole. The systolic and diastolic IV and V blood pressures were recorded using standardised procedure. Significant differences in blood pressure, weight, and obesity were found between ethnic groups in both sexes, Creoles having higher means than the other groups. Significant relationships with blood pressure were found with obesity, age, and number of children. An early morning urine specimen was obtained from a random 50% of the men, and only in Creoles was there an association between raised blood pressure and sodium/potassium urinary excretion ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Post-operative wound infections in Belize.

The incidence of post-operative wound infections in Belize in 1986 and 1987 was studied. Both military practice in the military hospital and civilian practice in the rural hospitals of the local towns were included. Despite previous misgivings and sub-optimal conditions in the rural hospitals an acceptably low incidence was found in both areas of work.

Belize↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The short-term effects of a hurricane on the diet and activity of black howlers (Alouatta pigra) in Monkey River, Belize.

The diet and activity of a population of Alouatta pigra were compared before and immediately after a major hurricane to begin to explore how the monkeys cope with severe habitat destruction. Focal animal data were collected from January to April (dry season) for two seasons before (368 h) and one season after the storm (149 h) on a population of black howlers in Monkey River, Belize. During the first dry season after the storm, the monkeys changed their diet in direct accordance with the availability of food. The absence of fruit and flower production and the increase in new leaf availability forced the monkeys to adopt a completely folivorous diet. The activity budget of the monkeys also changed, and they spent more time inactive, which may be linked to the change in the distribution and type of food available. They also spent less time in social interactions, which may be due to the lower number of juveniles in the population or to the formation of new groups between unfamiliar individuals following the hurricane. The ability to live for long periods of time on leaves alone has allowed the remaining population to survive in the short term.

Alouatta↗
PubMed2004

Hunting restraint by Creoles at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize: a preliminary survey.

This study surveyed 33 male hunters between the ages of 17 and 54 at the Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS), Belize, to evaluate attitudes and behaviors in relation to hunting black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). The study defined hunting restraint as a learned predisposition not to hunt 1 or more species of nonhuman animal. Consistent with Belizean folklore, Creoles at the CBS exhibited hunting restraint with respect to black howlers, preferring to kill bushmeat other than monkeys. The most cited reasons for the observed hunting restraint were utilitarian. Historical and cultural factors also appeared significant. The study results are interpreted in terms of economic theory and suggest that disinhibition of hunting restraint might depend on changes in opportunity costs of hunting these primates. Nonetheless, a change in hunting attitudes and behaviors by Belizean Creoles seems unlikely in the near future because the local and national government and the benefits of ecotourism economically and legally protect howlers. The Creoles' culturally transmitted hunting restraint also culturally protects A. pigra, and the species is not a preferred source of food.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of a hypertension screening programme in Independence, Belize.

This study assesses the effectiveness of a hypertension-screening programme in Independence, Belize. Forty-nine of the 101 patients screened were found to have elevated blood pressure readings and were advised to seek medical care. Four months later, interviews with 35 of the 49 patients from the hypertensive group revealed that 85.7% of the patients had sought medical care. Women, elderly patients and patients with a previous history of hypertension were more likely than men, younger patients and those without a history of hypertension to seek follow-up medical care. The screening programme successfully directed a high proportion of patients with elevated blood pressure to seek appropriate medical care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Helminth parasites in six species of shorebirds (Charadrii) from the coast of Belize.

Thirteen species of helminth parasites were recovered from six species of charadriid shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) from Belize: the ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres, the snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, the semipalmated plover, C. semipalmatus, the killdeer, C. vociferus, the white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, and the black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola. Cestode species were predominant (N = 8), followed by trematode species (N = 3) and acanthocephala (N = 2). The trematode, Paramaritremopsis solielangi infected four of the six species of hosts. The cestodes, Nadejdolepis litoralis and N. paranitidulans infected three and two host species respectively. Helminth parasite species were contagious (clumped) and not evenly distributed among hosts. Twelve of the 13 species were generalists. The one specialist Microphallus kinsellae was recovered from one C. fuscicollis. Three of the four types of feeding guilds were present and in approximately the same number. All but M. kinsellae have been reported from other species of hosts, mostly from Eurasia and North America.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Use of remote sensing and geographic information systems to predict locations of Anopheles darlingi-positive breeding sites within the Sibun River in Belize, Central America.

Previous studies have identified several anopheline species integral to the transmission of malaria in Belize. The highly efficient vector, Anopheles darlingi Root, is currently considered the most important. The preferred larval habitat of An. darlingi has been described as floating detritus patches, which are commonly associated with overhanging spiny bamboo, Guadua longifolia (E. Fourn.), along river margins. The objectives of this study were to use remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) tools to 1) define the landscape features (i.e., river curvature, land cover, and house locations) associated with An. darlingi-positive breeding habitats and 2) determine the association between cleared land cover and the growth of spiny bamboo. A systematic survey was conducted in which all detritus patches of at least 1 m2 were sampled, mapped using GPS, and characterized by cause of habitat lodging. Bamboo stretches growing along the river margins also were mapped. Spatial analyses of satellite imagery found no associations between river characteristics or land cover with positive An. darlingi habitats. In addition, there was no significant difference in cleared versus forested land cover in relation to the presence or absence of bamboo. Results indicate that the average distance from homes to negative habitats was significantly greater than from positive detritus mats. Based on the land cover and river characteristics used, our results do not support the use of remote sensing as a predictive tool to locate specific areas within rivers positive for An. darlingi habitats.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Distribution of Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles vestitipennis, and Anopheles crucians associated with land use in northern Belize.

Anthropogenic land use changes often alter natural patterns of disease transmission. The goal of this study was to determine whether phosphorus input from sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L., cultivation in northern Belize could pose a significant environmental impact on malaria transmission by changing vegetation structure and composition of wetlands and associated larval habitats. Our primary focus was on the increased dominance of cattail, Typha domingensis Pers., a favored habitat for Anopheles vestitipennis Dyar & Knab. A land cover classification based on satellite imagery was used to select 20 marshes impacted by agricultural runoff and 20 marshes surrounded by forest (nonimpacted). A 100-m transect was established into each of the 40 marshes. Water, vegetation, and larval sampling were conducted at the 0-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-m locations along the transect. Analyses of larval density data indicated that Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann was negatively correlated with percentage of cover of Typha (R2 = 0.39, P < 0.001) but positively correlated with sparse Eleocharis cellulosa Torr. (rush) cover (R2 = 0.19, P < 0.05) and presence of cyanobacterial mats (CBM) (R2 = 0.33, P < 0.0001). An. vestitipennis was found to be positively correlated with percentage of cover of Typha (R2 = 0.19, P < 0.001). Canonical correspondence analysis identified CBM and light as the variables associated with the presence of An. albimanuts larvae, Typha cover with An. vestitipennis larvae, and Eleocharis and absence of light with Anopheles crucians (Wiedemann). A positive correlation also existed between marshes adjacent to agricultural activities and presence of An. vestitipennis (R2 = 0.37, P < 0.05). These results indicate that marshes in proximity to agricultural fields are conducive for Typha growth, thereby providing habitat for the more efficient malaria vector

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

A remarkable new species of Stephensia Stainton (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) from Belize rainforest (Central America).

Stephensia armata sp. n., a remarkable species is described from Belize (Central America). The external features and genitalia of the male are figured and described in detail. A distribution map for all six Elachistidae species, currently recorded from tropical America, is given: Perittia smaragdophanes (Meyrick), P. punatensis Kaila, Elachista albisquamella Zeller, E. saccharella (Busck), E. vasrana Kaila and Stephensia armata Sruoga, sp. n.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Experimental evaluation of overhanging bamboo in Anopheles darlingi larval habitat selection in Belize, Central America.

Previous studies in Belize have shown the preferred breeding habitats of the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi were floating detritus patches within riverine systems that were associated with overhanging bamboo. The present study focused on an experimental evaluation of overhanging bamboo in An. darlingi habitat selection using larval counts as an indicator of attractiveness. Four sets of 1-m2 floating screened enclosures were placed at a location with a documented presence of both larval and adult An. darlingi populations. Each enclosure set comprised a control (i.e., open water) and three other experimental treatments consisting of: 1) detritus, 2) detritus with overhanging bamboo, and 3) overhanging bamboo alone. Larvae were sampled from all treatments on Day 5, Day 11, and Day 17 post-setup. A total of 2,461 An. darlingi larvae were collected and identified from three trials conducted from March-May 2002. Of these, 1,997 larvae were sampled from detritus treatments, 256 from enclosures with bamboo and detritus, 139 from bamboo treatments, and 69 from control enclosures. The detritus treatment had a significantly higher average count of An. darlingi larvae than the other treatments (P<0.01), and no difference existed between the control treatment and the treatment containing overhanging bamboo alone (P=0.423). More importantly, enclosures containing the overhanging bamboo with detritus treatments did not have greater larval populations than the enclosures with only detritus. These data suggest that bamboo does not contribute to An. darlingi larval habitat attractiveness but may function as a barrier to surface water flow causing the lodging of debris, the preferred habitat, that will then attract gravid females for oviposition.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Biting patterns and seasonal densities of Anopheles mosquitoes in the Cayo District, Belize, Central America with emphasis on Anopheles darlingi.

The present study utilized an experimental hut to conduct human-baited landing collections for characterizing the all-night biting patterns and seasonal densities of adult Anopheles darlingi in the centrally located Cayo District of Belize, Central America. A total of 25 all-night collections (i.e., sunset to sunrise) were conducted from January 2002 to May 2003, capturing a total of 18,878 An. darlingi females. Anopheles darlingi exhibited a bimodal nightly biting pattern with one predominate peak occurring three h after sunset and a smaller peak occurring one h prior to sunrise. Biting females were collected throughout the night in higher densities indoors (9,611) than outside (9,267) the experimental hut (O:I=1.00:1.04). Seasonal adult collections show An. darlingi densities were highest during the transitional months between the end of the wet and beginning of the dry season (January) and the end of the dry season and beginning of the wet season (May). A total of 2,010 An. darlingi females was captured in 31 two-h, human-baited landing collections performed from January to October 2002. Anopheles darlingi monthly population densities were found to have no significant associations with high or low temperatures, precipitation, or river level. However, qualitative data examination indicates an inverse relationship between river level and An. darlingi adult collections suggesting a disturbance of larval habitats. All-night biting and seasonal distribution patterns for other anopheline species are also described. None of the adult specimens collected throughout the entire study tested positive for Plasmodium spp. infection using the VecTest rapid diagnostic kit.

Animals↗