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RESUMEN Objetivos. Evaluar la variación de los perfiles hematológicos antes, durante y después del tratamiento de pacientes infectados con malaria no complicada por Plasmodium vivax (Pv) y P. falciparum (Pf) en una población de la región Loreto. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó entre 2010 y 2012, en Zungarococha (Iquitos). Los 425 participantes tuvieron tres visitas (visita 1-día 0-antes del tratamiento, visita 2-día 7-durante tratamiento, visita 3-día 28-después del tratamiento), hemograma completo, diagnóstico microscópico y molecular (PCR). Resultados. En la primera visita, se encontraron 93 (21,9%) positivos a Pv y 34 (8,0%) a Pf. Todos los positivos mostraron una reducción en los indicadores hematológicos de hematocrito, recuento de glóbulos blancos (RGB), neutrófilos abastonados y segmentados, eosinófilos y plaquetas (p

RESUMEN El suelo es la parte superficial de la tierra donde crecen las plantas, entre ellas, especies de importancia económica que proporcionan alimento, medicina y madera para la población; sin embargo, poco se ha estudiado sobre la influencia del suelo en las plantas de la Amazonía peruana. Por estas razones, se evaluó la relación entre las características físico-químicas del suelo con la diversidad y estructura en los bosques del ámbito de la carretera Iquitos-Nauta, Loreto, Perú. Para este estudio se establecieron 102 calicatas para el muestreo del suelo y 37 parcelas de 50 x 20 m para estudio de la vegetación. El índice de correlación de Spearman indicó que la diversidad alfa está relacionada negativamente con la cantidad de potasio, fósforo y materia orgánica y la capacidad de intercambio catiónico; y la estructura (cantidad de individuos) está relacionada negativamente con la cantidad de arcilla y pH. En conclusión, la diversidad alfa y estructura de la vegetación está determinada por las características físico- químicas del suelo. ABSTRACT Soil is the superficial part of the earth where plants grow, among them, species of economic importance that provide food, medicine and wood for local people, however, little has been studied about the influence of the soil on the plants in the Amazon Peruvian. Due to these reasons, the relationship between the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil and the diversity and structure in the forests in the area of the Iquitos-Nauta highway, Loreto, Peru, was evaluated. 102 pits for soil sampling and 37 plots of 50 x 20 m for vegetation study, were settled. Spearman's correlation index indicated that alpha diversity is negatively related to cation exchange capacity, potassium, phosphorus, and organic matter; and the structure (number of individuals) is negatively related to the amount of clay and pH. In conclusion, the alpha diversity and structure of the vegetation is determined by the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil.

RESUMEN: Tomando como punto de partida las reflexiones de estudiosos como Philippe Descola o Boaventura de Sousa Santos sobre la necesidad de repensar las relaciones entre humanos y no-humanos, con el fin de buscar alternativas al proceso autodestructivo conocido con el controvertido nombre de Antropoceno, parece oportuno dirigir la mirada hacia la selva amazónica. En efecto, el espacio amazónico es “altamente transformacional” (Rivière) y se vive en él una frecuente inestabilidad ontológica que difumina las fronteras entre las especies. Las narraciones de las vivencias de los animales, por ejemplo, no son usadas solo como simbolización de algún antagonismo o desequilibrio social, sino que son frecuentemente percibidas como realidades. En el artículo, enmarcado en el ámbito de los estudios ecocríticos, se creará un diálogo entre algunos relatos orales –cuyos protagonistas son animales– y la novela del pintor y escritor peruano César Calvo de Araújo titulada Paiche (1963), nombre que es, además, el de uno de los mayores peces de los ríos amazónicos. A través de estas creaciones de literatura oral y escrita se reflexionará sobre el tema de los desequilibrios sociales y de la conciencia de clase como medio para repensar cómo habitar la Tierra. ABSTRACT: Taking as a starting point the considerations of scholars such as Philippe Descola and Boaventura de Sousa Santos on the need to rethink the relations between humans and non-humans in order to seek alternatives to the self-destructive process known by the controversial label of the Anthropocene, it seems appropriate to look at the Amazon rainforest. Indeed, the Amazonian space is “highly transformational” (Rivière), and there is a frequent ontological instability that blurs the boundaries between species. Narratives of animal experiences, for example, are not only used as a symbolisation of some antagonism or social inequality, but are often perceived as realities. In this article, framed in the field of ecocritical studies, a dialogue will be created between some oral stories whose protagonists are animals and the novel by the Peruvian painter and writer César Calvo de Araújo entitled Paiche (1963), which is also the name of one of the largest fish in the Amazonian rivers. Through these creations of oral and written literature, we will reflect on the theme of social inequalities and class consciousness as a means of rethinking how to inhabit the Earth., Taking as a starting point the considerations of scholars such as Philippe Descola and Boaventura de Sousa Santos on the need to rethink the relations between humans and non-humans in order to seek alternatives to the self-destructive process known by the controversial label of the Anthropocene, it seems appropriate to look at the Amazon rainforest. Indeed, the Amazonian space is “highly transformational” (Rivière), and there is a frequent ontological instability that blurs the boundaries between species. Narratives of animal experiences, for example, are not only used as a symbolisation of some antagonism or social inequality, but are often perceived as realities. In this article, framed in the field of ecocritical studies, a dialogue will be created between some oral stories whose protagonists are animals and the novel by the Peruvian painter and writer César Calvo de Araújo entitled Paiche (1963), which is also the name of one of the largest fish in the Amazonian rivers. Through these creations of oral and written literature, we will reflect on the theme of social inequalities and class consciousness as a means of rethinking how to inhabit the Earth., RESUMEN: Tomando como punto de partida las reflexiones de estudiosos como Philippe Descola o Boaventura de Sousa Santos sobre la necesidad de repensar las relaciones entre humanos y no-humanos, con el fin de buscar alternativas al proceso autodestructivo conocido con el controvertido nombre de Antropoceno, parece oportuno dirigir la mirada hacia la selva amazónica. En efecto, el espacio amazónico es “altamente transformacional” (Rivière) y se vive en él una frecuente inestabilidad ontológica que difumina las fronteras entre las especies. Las narraciones de las vivencias de los animales, por ejemplo, no son usadas solo como simbolización de algún antagonismo o desequilibrio social, sino que son frecuentemente percibidas como realidades. En el artículo, enmarcado en el ámbito de los estudios ecocríticos, se creará un diálogo entre algunos relatos orales –cuyos protagonistas son animales– y la novela del pintor y escritor peruano César Calvo de Araújo titulada Paiche (1963), nombre que es, además, el de uno de los mayores peces de los ríos amazónicos. A través de estas creaciones de literatura oral y escrita se reflexionará sobre el tema de los desequilibrios sociales y de la conciencia de clase como medio para repensar cómo habitar la Tierra.

Diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) visualizes soft tissue from micro‐CT (µCT) scans of specimens to uncover internal features and natural history information without incurring physical damage via dissection. Unlike hard‐tissue imaging, taxonomic sampling within diceCT datasets is currently limited. To initiate best practices for diceCT in a nonmodel group, we outline a guide for staining and high‐throughput µCT scanning in snakes. We scanned the entire body and one region of interest (i.e., head) for 23 specimens representing 23 species from the clades Aniliidae, Dipsadinae, Colubrinae, Elapidae, Lamprophiidae, and Viperidae. We generated 82 scans that include 1.25% Lugol's iodine stained (soft tissue) and unstained (skeletal) data for each specimen. We found that duration of optimal staining time increased linearly with body size; head radius was the best indicator. Postreconstruction of scans, optimal staining was evident by evenly distributed grayscale values and clear differentiation among soft‐tissue anatomy. Under and over stained specimens produced poor contrast among soft tissues, which was often exacerbated by user bias during “digital dissections” (i.e., segmentation). Regardless, all scans produced usable data from which we assessed a range of downstream analytical applications within ecology and evolution (e.g., predator‐prey interactions, life history, and morphological evolution). Ethanol destaining reversed the known effects of iodine on the exterior appearance of physical specimens, but required substantially more time than reported for other destaining methods. We discuss the feasibility of implementing diceCT techniques for a new user, including approximate financial and temporal commitments, required facilities, and potential effects of staining on specimens. We present the first high‐throughput workflow for full‐body skeletal and diceCT scanning in snakes, which can be generalized to any elongate vertebrates, and increases publicly available diceCT scans for reptiles by an order of magnitude., We present the first high‐throughput workflow for full‐body skeletal and soft‐tissue (dice) CT scans in preserved snakes. These methods increase publicly available diceCT scans for reptiles by an order of magnitude and can be generalized to any elongate vertebrates.

RESUMEN El objetivo del estudio fue realizar el recuento de hongos y detectar micotoxinas en insumos y alimento balanceado de granjas porcinas de cuatro distritos de Coronel Portillo, Ucayali. Se recolectaron 50 muestras (35 de alimento de tres etapas de crianza de 20 granjas y 15 de insumos de 10 de estos establecimientos). El recuento de hongos se realizó mediante el método de conteo en placa y la detección de micotoxinas (aflatoxina B1, ocratoxina A y zearalenona) mediante kits comerciales de ELISA. El 50% de establecimientos tuvo al menos una muestra de calidad inaceptable. Asimismo, 6/15 (40%) y 5/35 (14.3%) de las muestras de insumos y alimento, respectivamente, tuvieron calidad inaceptable. El alimento de inicio presentó el mayor promedio en el recuento de hongos (9.6 x 104 UFC/g). Hubo asociación entre calidad y tipo de alimento, pero ninguna entre calidad y procedencia. La mitad de las granjas tuvo al menos una muestra de alimento con micotoxinas por encima al Límite Máximo Permisible (LMP) y el 42.9% (15/35) de las muestras tuvo al menos una micotoxina por encima a los LMP. El promedio más alto de aflatoxina B1 se encontró en el alimento de inicio (26.2 ppb) y el más alto de zearalenona en alimento de reproductores (74.5 ppb). ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to perform a fungal count and detect mycotoxins in feed supplies and balanced feed from pig farms in four districts of Coronel Portillo, Ucayali. Fifty samples were collected (35 of balances feeds [three rearing stages] from 20 farms and 15 of feed supplies from 10 of these farms). The fungal count was performed using the plate count method and the detection of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone) using commercial ELISA kits. Results showed that 50% of farms had at least one sample of unacceptable quality. Likewise, 6/15 (40%) and 5/35 (14.3%) of feed supplies and balanced feed samples, respectively, had unacceptable quality. The starter feed had the highest average fungal count (9.6 x 104 CFU/g). There was an association between quality and type of food, but none between quality and origin. Half of the farms had at least one feed sample with mycotoxins above the Maximum Permissible Level (MPL) and 42.9% (15/35) of the samples had at least one mycotoxin above the MPL. The highest mean for aflatoxin B1 was found in the starter feed (26.2 ppb) and the highest for zearalenone in breeders feed (74.5 ppb).

Animals in nature use many strategies to evade or deter their predators. Within venomous snake mimicry, stereotyped anti-predator behaviours are hypothesized to be effective warning signals under strong selection for independent convergence across species. However, no studies have systematically quantified snake anti-predator displays across taxonomically broad clades to examine how these behaviours evolve within a comparative methods framework. Here we describe a new high-throughput approach for collecting and quantifying anti-predator displays in snakes that demonstrates both low observer bias and infinite extension. Then, we show this method’s utility by comparing 20 species spanning six taxonomic families from Peru. We found that a simple experimental set-up varying simulated predator cues was successful in eliciting displays across species and that high-speed videography captured a great diversity of anti-predator responses. Although display components show complicated patterns of covariance, we found support for behavioural convergence in anti-predator displays among elapid coral snakes and their distantly related mimics. Our approach provides new analytical opportunities for both behaviour and kinematics, especially macroevolutionary analyses across clades with similar difficulty in observing or comparing trait diversity.

Approximately two billion people lack access to microbiologically safe drinking water globally. Boiling is the most popular household water treatment method and significantly reduces diarrheal disease, but is often practiced inconsistently or ineffectively. The use of low-cost technologies to improve boiling is one approach with potential for increasing access to safe drinking water. We conducted household trials to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of water pasteurization indicators (WAPIs) in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. A total of 28 randomly selected households were enrolled from a rural and a peri-urban community. All households trialed two WAPI designs, each for a 2-week period. Ninety-six percent of participants demonstrated the correct use of the WAPIs at the end of each trial, and 88% expressed satisfaction with both WAPI models. Ease of use, short treatment time, knowledge of the association between WAPI use and improved health, and the taste of treated water were among the key factors that influenced acceptability. Ease of use was the key factor that influenced design preference. Participants in both communities preferred a WAPI with a plastic box that floated on the water’s surface compared with a WAPI with a wire that was dipped into the pot of drinking water while it was heating (77% versus 15%, P < 0.001); we selected the box design for a subsequent randomized trial of this intervention. The high feasibility and acceptability of the WAPIs in this study suggest that these interventions have potential to increase access to safe water in resource-limited settings.

Many venomous animals express toxins that show extraordinary levels of variation both within and among species. In snakes, most studies of venom variation focus on front-fanged species in the families Viperidae and Elapidae, even though rear-fanged snakes in other families vary along the same ecological axes important to venom evolution. Here we characterized venom gland transcriptomes from 19 snakes across two dipsadine rear-fanged genera (Leptodeira and Helicops, Colubridae) and two front-fanged genera (Bothrops, Viperidae; Micrurus, Elapidae). We compared patterns of composition, variation, and diversity in venom transcripts within and among all four genera. Venom gland transcriptomes of rear-fanged Helicops and Leptodeira and front-fanged Micrurus are each dominated by expression of single toxin families (C-type lectins, snake venom metalloproteinase, and phospholipase A2, respectively), unlike highly diverse front-fanged Bothrops venoms. In addition, expression patterns of congeners are much more similar to each other than they are to species from other genera. These results illustrate the repeatability of simple venom profiles in rear-fanged snakes and the potential for relatively constrained venom composition within genera.

The carbon pool of Amazonian peatlands is immense and mediates critical ecological functions. As peatlands are dynamic, similar to other wetland systems, modeling of the relationship between organic matter and dry bulk density allows the estimation of the accumulation and/or decomposition of peats. We tested several models: the generalized linear mixed logarithmic, to test depth, and the non-linear logarithmic and power-law models. There is a negative power-law relationship between organic percentage and dry bulk density using peat samples collected in Amazonian peatlands (n = 80). This model is supported by the coefficient of determination (R2) estimates garnered from model fitting, while Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) values further support parsimonious models. We also ran trials of the ideal mixing model with two parameters: k1 representing organic density and k2 representing mineral. The mixture of organic and inorganic components generally falls in accordance with the theory that decreasing k1 trends with increasing k2, although k2 values for these peat samples are negative. The organic k1 coefficient allows us to identify two sites out of the nine investigated, which can be prioritized for their carbon dynamics. The presence of high-density samples, which were not related to depth, indicates clay intrusion in these peatlands. We hope the modeling can explain processes significant to these globally important carbon-rich ecosystems.

Despite recognition that climate change will have a negative impact on nutrition in Low- and Middle-income countries, there is limited information on food consumption and dietary nutrient intake especially among Indigenous populations. As part of a community participatory process we identified the need for a visual aid to support collection of dietary data among Amazon Indigenous communities. Our aim is to identify Indigenous key recipes, measure usual portions, and to create a photo album to assist with collection of dietary information

This intervention seeks to design an intercultural management model in order to carry out an art and design project in co-creation with artisans from the Azulís community of the Amazonian Yánesha people, as well as its subsequent exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art MAC Lima. The proposal is structured in two different stages. The first includes the research, conceptualization, design and evaluation of the workshops where members of the Azulís community and the artists and designers involved in the project participate. The second stage includes the conceptualization, design, assembly and evaluation of the display of the process and the pieces created in the workshops. Esta intervención busca diseñar un modelo de gestión intercultural con el fin de realizar u proyecto de arte y diseño en co-creación con artesanos de la comunidad Azulís del pueblo amazónico yánesha, así como su posterior exposición en el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo MAC Lima. La propuesta se estructura en dos etapas diferenciadas. Una primera incluye la investigación, conceptualización, diseño y evaluación de los talleres donde participan los miembros de la comunidad Azulís y los artistas y diseñadores involucrados en el proyecto. La segunda etapa incluye la conceptualización, diseño, montaje y evaluación de la exhibición del proceso y de las piezas creadas en los talleres.

The contamination of the surface water of lagoons is a common problem in developing countries, and can affect fishing activities. A case study was conducted on water quality and microbiological contamination of the fishing marketing chain in the Peruvian Amazon (Laguna de Yarinacocha). The microbiological, physical–chemical and parasitological parameters of the surface water were evaluated in three points of the lagoon near the landing stage; and microbiological parameters of facilities, handlers and three species of fish (Prochilodus nigricans, Mylossoma duriventre and Siluriforme spp.). In the water, there were coliform counts ≥ 23 (Most probable number—MPN)/100 mL, Escherichia coli ≥ 3.6 MPN/100 mL, and Pseudomona spp. up to 2.2 MPN/100 mL; high turbidity and variable amounts of parasites. In facilities and handlers, high levels of coliforms, mainly Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, were found in M. duriventre meat. A poor quality of the surface water of the lagoon is concluded that compromises part of the fishing marketing chain, mainly facilities and manipulators. Furthermore, the levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in fish meat show poor handling practices and possible risk of contamination by water sources.

During April–June 2014 in a malaria-endemic rural community close to the city of Iquitos in Peru, we detected evidence of Guaroa virus (GROV) infection in 14 febrile persons, of whom 6 also had evidence of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Cases were discovered through a long-term febrile illness surveillance network at local participating health facilities. GROV cases were identified by using a combination of seroconversion and virus isolation, and malaria was diagnosed by thick smear and PCR. GROV mono-infections manifested as nonspecific febrile illness and were clinically indistinguishable from GROV and P. vivax co-infections. This cluster of cases highlights the potential for GROV transmission in the rural Peruvian Amazon, particularly in areas where malaria is endemic. Further study of similar areas of the Amazon may provide insights into the extent of GROV transmission in the Amazon basin.

Indigenous communities usually experience higher levels of mortality and poorer access to healthcare services compared to non-indigenous communities. This study aims to understand the most prevalent health problems and their treatment in the Ash&aacute, ninka indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon. We conducted an ethnographic study in order to explore the perceived health problems, the use of traditional medicine and the resources offered by the official Peruvian healthcare system. Field notes and semi-structured interviews were used. A total of 16 indigenous and four non-indigenous people were interviewed, and interpretative analysis was used to identify themes. The Ash&aacute, ninka community is an overlooked population, which, due to distance restrictions, misconceptions and ethnical disparities, is far away from an appropriate healthcare system and is subjected to acute medical conditions such as infections and gastrointestinal problems. This group tends to seek traditional medicine, mostly herbal medications and traditional healers. The use of a health professional is seen as a last resort. Although the official Peruvian health system incorporates community participation strategies to improve the healthcare of indigenous people, the shortage of material, human resources and cultural sensitivity makes this difficult. Healthcare strategies should be devised and implemented in order to minimize health inequality in this population.

Author(s): Varese, Stefano | Abstract: In this article, I am making the argument that addressing issues of cultural and social representations of Peruvian Amazonia by the national community – both political civil society – with a narrow temporal synchronic and spatial materialistic perspective (three or four hundred years of history and the reduction of bio-physical diversity to a few commoditized “resources”) lessens drastically our ability to fully understand and interact intelligently and ethically with this vast portion of Peru’s national territory. I am proposing the qualitative shift to an emic way of thinking and analyzing Amazonia, that is to say adopting the indigenous way of knowing and co-existing with the forest as a living entity peopled by thinking and feeling entities with will, intentionality and teleological energy-synergy.

Se evaluó la comunidad fitoplanctónica en 21 muestras colectadas en siete lugares de la cuenca del río Itaya. Se identificaron 70 especies pertenecientes a 40 géneros, 21 familias y 6 divisiones. El grupo de mayor abundancia fue Bacillariophytas (51%), seguida de Chlorophytas (31%), Euglenophytas (11%), Cyanophytas (5%), y otros (2%) correspondientes a Xanthophyta y Chrysophyta. Las especies mejor representadas fueron Surirella ovalis, Navicula sp y Pinnularia sp. Para este ecosistema, se registró una densidad entre 100 a 13 000 ind/l-1 (individuos por litro) de un total de 24 500 ind/l-1, con una riqueza de 11 a 27 especies y una abundancia de 23 a 55 individuos. El análisis de diversidad según Shannon-Wiener fue de 7.26 a 25 unidades de especies efectivas, con una equidad de Pielou de 0.84-0.97, lo que indica que las poblaciones fueron homogéneas. En lo que se refiere al índice de similaridad muestra que las comunidades fitoplanctónicas estaban formadas por tres grupos con una similaridad de 35%. Según el índice diatómico (IDG), se concluye que las aguas del río Itaya podrían estar contaminadas en los puntos de muestreo., The phytoplankton community was evaluated in 21 samples collected in seven sites in the Itaya river basin. In total, 70 species belonging to 40 genera, 21 families and 6 divisions were identified. The most abundant group was Bacillariophytas (51%), followed by Chlorophytas (31%), Euglenophytas (11%), Cyanophytas (5%), and others (2%) corresponding to Xanthophyta and Chrysophyta. The best represented species were Surirella ovalis, Navicula sp and Pinnularia sp. For this ecosystem, the density was between 100 to 13 000 ind/l-1 (individuals per litre) out of a total of 24 500 ind/l-1, with a richness of 11 to 27 species and an abundance of 23 to 55 individuals. The analysis of diversity according to Shannon-Wiener was from 7.26 to 25 units of effective species, with an equity of Pielou of 0.84-0.97, which indicates that the populations were homogeneous. Regarding the similarity index, it shows that the phytoplankton communities were formed by three groups with a similarity of 35%. According to the diatomic index (IDG), it is concluded that the water of the Itaya river could be contaminated at the sampling points.

Background Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are dietary surveys widely used in studies of nutritional epidemiology because they are inexpensive, easy to complete and provide significant information on dietary intake over a long period of time. FFQs should be written specifically for each study group since diet may be influenced by ethnicity, culture, economic status and environmental factors. The aim of the authors on this work was to design and validate a food frequency questionnaire for the Peruvian Amazon population. Methods Three hundred three individuals were selected and completed three 24-h recalls (R24). Two FFQs were conducted on two different occasions (FFQ.1 and FFQ.2). The validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing the relationship between the average daily nutrient intake estimated by the FFQs and that obtained by the three R24. The reproducibility was measured by comparing the mean nutrient intake of the two FFQs carried out. The correlations were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the Lin correlation coefficient (CCC) and the Bland–Altman plot. Results The results obtained to establish the validity showed a high correlation, with an average Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.70, a CCI of 0.65 and a CCC of 0.60. Approximately 60% of the nutrients had a CCC above 0.60. In terms of reproducibility, better results were obtained, with an average Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.67, 0.64 for CCI and 0.58 for CCC. Conclusions The correlation coefficients show good validity and reproducibility, and therefore, the FFQ we have developed may be considered a useful and valid tool to estimate the dietary intake of the Peruvian Amazon population.

Los Franciscanos empezaron a ocupar una posición relevante en las misiones católicas en Sudamérica después de la expulsión de los Jesuitas en 1767. El Colegio franciscano de Santa Rosa de Ocopa, situado en el departamento de Junín (en el centro del Perú), extendió su influencia hacia la Amazonía peruana, explorando territorios desconocidos hasta entonces. Para reforzar su presencia y dominio en estos nuevos territorios, los franciscanos se valieron de la cartografía. Dibujaron los primeros mapas correctos de esta zona (de más de 500.000km2) y fueron los primeros en dibujar los cursos de los principales ríos. Estos mapas sirvieron no sólo para fijar las conquistas misionales sino también para fijar la posesión de los nuevos territorios como parte de la Corona española. Algunos de ellos se acompañan de representaciones de los indígenas que contribuyeron a fijar un determinad estereotipo de ellos entre los europeos., The Franciscans take over the relevance of the catholic missions in South American Spanish dominions after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767. The Franciscan college of Santa Rosa de Ocopa, situated in Junin Department (in the central part of Peru), expanded its influence to the Peruvian Amazon, exploring territories unknown until that moment. To reinforce its presence and dominion to these new lands, the Franciscans used cartography. They made the first correct maps of this area (more than 500.000 km2) and they were the first to draw the course of the main rivers. These maps were not only to fix missional conquest but also to express possession of the new territories as part of the Spanish empire. Some of them are illustrated with drawings of the natives contributing to spread a certain stereotype of them among the Europeans.

International audience; Ethnopharmacological relevance : In the Peruvian Amazon as in the tropical countries of South America, the use of medicinal Piper species (cordoncillos) is common practice, particularly against symptoms of infection by protozoal parasites. However, there is few documented information about the practical aspects of their use and few scientific validation. The starting point of this work was a set of interviews of people living in six rural communities from the Peruvian Amazon (Alto Amazonas Province) about their uses of plants from Piper genus: one community of Amerindian native people (Shawi community) and five communities of mestizos. Infections caused by parasitic protozoa take a huge toll on public health in the Amazonian communities, who partly fight it using traditional remedies. Validation of these traditional practices contributes to public health care efficiency and may help to identify new antiprotozoal compounds.Aims of study : To record and validate the use of medicinal Piper species by rural people of Alto Amazonas Province (Peru) and annotate active compounds using a correlation study and a data mining approach.Materials and methods : Rural communities were interviewed about traditional medication against parasite infections with medicinal Piper species. Ethnopharmacological surveys were undertaken in five mestizo villages, namely: Nueva Arica, Shucushuyacu, Parinari, Lagunas and Esperanza, and one Shawi community (Balsapuerto village). All communities belong to the Alto Amazonas Province (Loreto region, Peru). Seventeen Piper species were collected according to their traditional use for the treatment of parasitic diseases, 35 extracts (leaves or leaves and stems) were tested in vitro on P. falciparum (3D7 chloroquine-sensitive strain and W2 chloroquine-resistant strain), Leishmania donovani LV9 strain and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Assessments were performed on HUVEC cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. The annotation of active compounds was realized by metabolomic analysis and molecular networking approach.Results : Nine extracts were active (IC50 ≤ 10 μg/mL) on 3D7 P. falciparum and only one on W2 P. falciparum, six on L. donovani (axenic and intramacrophagic amastigotes) and seven on Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Only one extract was active on all three parasites (P. lineatum). After metabolomic analyses and annotation of compounds active on Leishmania, P. strigosum and P. pseudoarboreum were considered as potential sources of leishmanicidal compounds.Conclusions : This ethnopharmacological study and the associated in vitro bioassays corroborated the relevance of use of Piper species in the Amazonian traditional medicine, especially in Peru. A series of Piper species with few previously available phytochemical data have good antiprotozoal activity and could be a starting point for subsequent promising work. Metabolomic approach appears to be a smart, quick but still limited methodology to identify compounds with high probability of biological activity.

Resumo O artigo aborda um movimento inovador da pintura liderado por artistas indígenas, nascidos e escolarizados na Amazônia, que migraram para Lima, a capital do Peru, onde se destacaram por suas obras. O estudo centra-se em dois pintores eminentes deste cenário, Roldán Pinedo e Enrique Casanto, analisando as conexões entre suas pinturas e os entornos sociocosmológicos nos quais se inserem. O texto ressalta o alcance político de suas propostas plásticas e argumenta que os artistas amazônicos introduzem novos modos de conceber as imagens e as relações com as plantas que desafiam as percepções da floresta e dos povos indígenas impostas pela cidade. Resumen El artículo aborda un movimiento de pintura innovador liderado por artistas indígenas, nacidos y escolarizados en la Amazonia, que migraron a Lima, la capital del Perú, donde lograron destacarse por sus obras. El estudio enfoca a dos eminentes pintores de este escenario, Roldán Pinedo y Enrique Casanto, analizando las conexiones entre sus pinturas y los entornos sociocosmológicos en que se insieren. El texto resalta el alcance político de sus propuestas plásticas y argumenta que los artistas amazónicos introducen nuevos modos de concebir las imágenes y las relaciones con las plantas que desafían las percepciones del bosque y de los pueblos indígenas impuestas por la ciudad. Abstract The paper examines a new painting movement led by indigenous artists born and schooled in the Amazon who migrated to Lima, the Capital of Peru, where their works of art obtained outstanding recognition. The study focuses upon two eminent painters of this scene, Roldán Pinedo and Enrique Casanto, analysing the connections between their paintings and their socio-cosmological surroundings. The text highlights the political scope of their visual proposals and argues that Amazonian artists introduce new modes of conceiving images and their relationships with plants, defying the perception of the forest and indigenous peoples imposed by the city.

Cet article explore un moment fondateur de la politique autochtone en Amazonie péruvienne : le face-à-face entre un dirigeant et une assemblée — entre un représentant et ceux qu’il représente. Le cas choisi est l’assemblée d’une fédération locale, car c’est là que s’articulent les deux principales institutions politiques autochtones : les communautés et les fédérations. De ce lieu intermédiaire et transitoire émergent la plupart des dirigeants, et c’est là aussi qu’il est possible d’observer la manière dont des identités indigènes se construisent sur le plan politique. Or, cette fabrique identitaire n’a rien d’univoque, elle ne produit pas une essence, mais plutôt une tension entre des interprétations parfois divergentes de ce qu’être indigène veut dire. À travers la confrontation d’un dirigeant quechua du Pastaza avec ses bases, cet article s’attache à montrer la manière dont se composent mutuellement les identités et la politique. Celle-ci, de fait, permet de réinvestir les critères traditionnellement admis de l’ethnicité pour les indexer à un ethos distinctif du leader indigène. Este artículo explora un momento fundamental de la política indígena en la Amazonía peruana: la confrontación entre un dirigente y una asamblea —entre un representante y los que representa—. El caso que se presenta es el de la asamblea de una federación local, porque es donde se conectan las dos principales instituciones políticas indígenas: las comunidades nativas y las federaciones. De este lugar intermedio y transitorio surgen la mayoría de los dirigentes, y es también allí que se puede observar cómo se construyen las identidades indígenas en clave política. Pero esta fábrica de identidades no es uniforme, no produce una esencia, sino más bien un debate (y a veces un disenso) entre varias interpretaciones de lo que significa ser indígena. A través de la confrontación de un dirigente quechua del Pastaza con sus bases, este artículo muestra cómo se van formando mutuamente la identidad y la política indígenas. Esta, de hecho, permite reevaluar los criterios tradicionales de la etnicidad para ajustarlos a un ethos característico del líder indígena. This article explores a founding moment in indigenous politics in the Peruvian Amazon: the encounter between a leader and an assembly —that is, between a representative and those he is representing. It analyzes the case of a local federation’s assembly. The assembly is where the main indigenous political institutions —the native communities and the federations— connect with each other. The assembly, a transitional and temporary space, is the place from which most indigenous leaders emerge, and it’ is also where one can observe how indigenous identities are politically produced. However, this construction of identity is not unequivocal or essentialistic, but rather it is a constant debate between different —and sometimes dissentient— interpretations of what being indigenous means. By examining the confrontation between a Quechua leader from the Pastaza River and his constituency, this article shows how identities and politics are created. Politics enables a reinterpretation of the traditional view of ethnicity by placing certain criteria within the context of an ethos that is distinctive to the indigenous leader.

The honeys from stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) are recognized for their medicinal properties. They are commonly used by many indigenous groups around the world. However, in Peru stingless beekeeping is practiced in an artisanal way and the honeys remain products whose qualities are still little studied. The objective of this work was to analyze physicochemical characteristics and microbiological quality of honeys produced by Scaptotrigona polysticta Moure, Melipona illota Cockerell and Tetragonisca angustula Latreille in apiaries of department of San Martin, Peru. In June and November 2019, 30 honey samples were collected from 24 colonies housed in two apiaries in the towns of Tarapoto and Chasuta. Significant differences (p 10 CFU / mL) according Peruvian sanitary norm № 071-Minsa/Digesa-V.01, in 30 and 50% of the samples of S. polysticta and T. angustula, respectively. These results contribute to the knowledge of the stingless bee honeys of Peru providing important references for the quality standard setting process and the advancement of stingless beekeeping.

Background Insects are known to be able to provide valuable nutrients to indigenous populations across the Amazon. However, studies on traditional insect use in the Peruvian Amazon are scarce. This study documents edible insect diversity and characterizes their food and collection patterns in eight Awajún communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Additionally, we reviewed what has been known to date about the nutrient composition of the documented species. Methods The survey was conducted among the Awajún populations living in the Huampami, Paisa, Achu, and Tseasim communities in the Cenepa district and the Shijap, San Mateo, Kusu, and Listra communities in the Imaza district. Data collection was conducted through a freelisting exercise complemented by a semi-structured inquiry form in the Awajún language. In total, 104 informants (72 men and 32 women) aged between 16 to 73 years were interviewed. Results The Awajún people use at least 12 insect species, with Rhynchophorus palmarum, Atta cephalotes, and Rhinostomus barbirostris being the most important ones. Beetles of the family Curculionidae represent the culturally most salient taxon. In the more accessible and developed Imaza district, the Awajún tend to eat almost exclusively R. palmarum, while in the more isolated and preserved Cenepa district, the community’s preferences are linked with more species. Although men are the main insect collectors, women cited more edible insects on average. The insects are eaten mainly roasted or raw. Further use patterns and differences between the districts are discussed. Conclusion Traditional knowledge related to edible insects and the ecosystems they occur in is widespread among the Awajún populations, and insects still represent an important part of the indigenous food system. This ethnobiological survey discovered five species that are newly recorded as edible insects. Chemical composition of insects deemed edible by the Awajún ought to be analyzed in the future and awareness about their nutritional importance should be raised to harness the potential of this underutilized yet nutrient-rich traditional food.

Background In Loreto Department, Peru, a successful 2005–2010 malaria control programme (known as PAMAFRO) included massive distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Additional local distribution of LLINs occurred in individual villages, but not between 2012 and 2015. A 2011–2012 study of the primary regional malaria vector Anopheles darlingi detected a trend of increased exophagy compared with pre-PAMAFRO behaviour. For the present study, An. darlingi were collected in three villages in Loreto in 2013–2015 to test two hypotheses: (1) that between LLIN distributions, An. darlingi reverted to pre-intervention biting behaviour; and, (2) that there are separate sub-populations of An. darlingi in Loreto with distinct biting behaviour. Results In 2013–2015 An. darlingi were collected by human landing catch during the rainy and dry seasons in the villages of Lupuna and Cahuide. The abundance of An. darlingi varied substantially across years, villages and time periods, and there was a twofold decrease in the ratio of exophagic:endophagic An. darlingi over the study period. Unexpectedly, there was evidence of a rainy season population decline in An. darlingi. Plasmodium-infected An. darlingi were detected indoors and outdoors throughout the night, and the monthly An. darlingi human biting rate was correlated with the number of malaria cases. Using nextRAD genotyping-by-sequencing, 162 exophagic and endophagic An. darlingi collected at different times during the night were genotyped at 1021 loci. Based on model-based and non-model-based analyses, all genotyped An. darlingi belonged to a homogeneous population, with no evidence for genetic differentiation by biting location or time. Conclusions This study identified a decreasing proportion of exophagic An. darlingi in two villages in the years between LLIN distributions. As there was no evidence for genetic differentiation between endophagic and exophagic An. darlingi, this shift in biting behaviour may be the result of behavioural plasticity in An. darlingi, which shifted towards increased exophagy due to repellence by insecticides used to impregnate LLINs and subsequently reverted to increased endophagy as the nets aged. This study highlights the need to target vector control interventions to the biting behaviour of local vectors, which, like malaria risk, shows high temporal and spatial heterogeneity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2234-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The configuration of a heterogeneous landscape has an important effect on species composition and landscape processes. The importance of the size, shape and habitat suitability of forest patches has been widely studied, but there is increasing evidence that the spatial context, e.g. adjacency or contact between two landscape elements, can have positive effects on ecological interactions, such as the movement of frugivorous bat species and seed dispersal. We compared the composition, diversity and richness of seed species transported by bats in rainforests and in secondary forests that were either partially or largely surrounded by rainforest, in relation to the fruit species’ life form and successional stage. To capture frugivorous bats we used mist nets with a plastic sheet placed below to allow dropped fruit and seeds from bat feces to be retrieved. Similar species composition and the highest diversity of transported seeds were found in rainforest and secondary forest largely surrounded by rainforest, while the highest number of seed species was recorded in rainforest and secondary forest partially surrounded by rainforest. More bats were captured transporting late-successional stage seeds in secondary forest largely surrounded by rainforest. This study demonstrates the importance of rainforest surrounding secondary forests to bat species’ movement and its positive effect on diversity and late-successional seed dispersal by bats. Maintaining large areas of rainforest around secondary forests is a useful management strategy for supporting high bat species diversity and abundance, and positively affects the transportation and potential dispersal of seed species of different successional stages.

El proceso de ramificación basal de Astrocaryum carnosum y A. huicungo es descrito y su frecuencia y expresión estructural es analizado en el nivel poblacional. Dos poblaciones de palmeras fueron utilizadas en este estudio, A. carnosum del valle del Alto Huallaga y A. huicungo del valle del Alto Mayo. Los sistemas de ramificación subterráneos fueron examinados y dibujados. Para ambas especies, se establecieron 25 cuadrantes de 20x20 m, en los cuales se contó el número de individuos solitarios y cespitosos, y para estos últimos se registró el número de ejes que conformaban el individuo. Los ejes tanto de los individuos solitarios como de los cespitosos se repartieron por estadio de desarrollo (plántula/juvenil-1/juvenil-2/adulto). El proceso de ramificación basal comienza en individuos al estadio juvenil-2, no se observó en juvenil-1, ni en plántula. A. huicungo presentó mayor densidad de ejes producido por ramificación basal que A. carnosum. Este proceso de ramificación en las dos especies por formaciones de clones a partir de rizomas cortos permite una explotación óptima del espacio y asegura la continuidad de la población en el tiempo. Sin embargo su papel en la propagación espacial de la población es muy reducido, siendo los rizomas de muy poca extensión., The basal branching process of Astrocaryum carnosum and A. huicungo is described and its rate and structural expression at the population level is analyzed. Two populations of palms were used in this study, A. carnosum from the Alto Huallaga valley and A. huicungo from the Alto Mayo valley. Branching systems underground were exposed and drawn. For both species, it was established 25 quadrants of 20x20m, in which were counted (i) the number of solitary and caespitose individuals, and (ii) the numbers of axes composing the caespitose individuals. The axes of solitary and caespitose individuals were distributed by growth stages (seedling/juvenile-1/juvenile-2/adult). Seedling and juvenile-1 are not caespitose, basal branching starts in juvenile-2. A. huicungo presents a higher density of axes produced by basal branching than A. carnosum. This branching process in both species by formations of clones from short rhizomes allows an optimized exploitation of space and ensures the continuity of the population over time. However, its role in the spatial propagation of the species is very limited by the shortness of the rhizomes.

Diffuse multibacillary leprosy of Lucio and Latapí is mainly reported in Mexico and Central America. We report a case in a 65-year-old man in Peru. He also had Lucio’s phenomenon, characterized by vascular thrombosis and invasion of blood vessel walls by leprosy bacilli, causing extensive skin ulcers.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a primary contributor to global mercury and its rapid expansion raises concern for human exposure. Non-occupational exposure risks are presumed to be strongly tied to environmental contamination; however, the relationship between environmental and human mercury exposure, how exposure has changed over time, and risk factors beyond fish consumption are not well understood in ASGM settings. In Peruvian riverine communities (n = 12), where ASGM has increased 4–6 fold over the past decade, we provide a large-scale assessment of the connection between environmental and human mercury exposure by comparing total mercury contents in human hair (2-cm segment, n = 231) to locally caught fish tissue, analyzing temporal exposure in women of child bearing age (WCBA, 15–49 years, n = 46) over one year, and evaluating general mercury exposure risks including fish and non-fish dietary items through household surveys and linear mixed models. Calculations of an individual’s oral reference dose using the total mercury content in locally-sourced fish underestimated the observed mercury exposure for individuals in many communities. This discrepancy was particularly evident in communities upstream of ASGM, where mercury levels in river fish, water, and sediment measurements from a previous study were low, yet hair mercury was chronically elevated. Hair from 86% of individuals and 77% of children exceeded a USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) provisional level (1.2 µg/g) that could result in child developmental impairment. Chronically elevated mercury exposure was observed in the temporal analysis in WCBA. If the most recent exposure exceeded the USEPA level, there was a 97% probability that the individual exceeded that level 8–10 months of the previous year. Frequent household consumption of some fruits (tomato, banana) and grains (quinoa) was significantly associated with 29–75% reductions in hair mercury. Collectively, these data demonstrate that communities located hundreds of kilometers from ASGM are vulnerable to chronically elevated mercury exposure. Furthermore, unexpected associations with fish mercury contents and non-fish dietary intake highlight the need for more in-depth analyses of exposure regimes to identify the most vulnerable populations and to establish potential interventions.

Medicinal plants are important components of traditional medicine and sources of novel antimicrobial compounds against drug resistance pathogen strains. This study tested the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of medicinally used Neotropical tree ferns Cyathea microdonta and Alsophila cuspidata against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Highest antimicrobial activity was observed in ethanolic extracts, and extracts were more active against gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria. No difference was observed in antimicrobial activity between species or between extracts made from the leaves, stipe, or caudex. These results suggest that the traditional use of tree fern mucilage as a topical agent for cuts and leishmaniasis lesions may reduce risk of secondary infection with skin bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and that Neotropical Cyatheaceae are a potential source of novel antimicrobial compounds.

Diffuse multibacillary leprosy of Lucio and Latapí is mainly reported in Mexico and Central America. We report a case in a 65-year-old man in Peru. He also had Lucio's phenomenon, characterized by vascular thrombosis and invasion of blood vessel walls by leprosy bacilli, causing extensive skin ulcers.

The case is a private initiative in Peruvian Amazon reforesting with native tree species on degraded lands for timber and carbon purposes. By 2018 around 870 hectares have been reforested and additionally 124 hectares are being restored through protection measures and assisted natural regeneration. The paper describes the local context and project design, the technical and social aspects of project implementation, the outcomes and challenges after 12 years, including some reflections on success factors, lessons learned and implications for other forest landscape restoration (FLR) projects.

Fragmentation caused by linear infrastructures is a threat to forest-dwelling wildlife globally. Loss of canopy connectivity is particularly problematic for highly arboreal species such as those of the Neotropics. We explored the use of both natural canopy bridges (NCBs) and a semi-artificial one over a natural gas pipeline right-of-way (RoW) in the Peruvian Amazon to provide more information on both a proven and a novel solution to the problem of fragmentation. We monitored seven NCBs over 14 months and found crossing rates higher than previously recorded (57.70 crossings/100 trap nights by 16 species). We also constructed a semi-artificial canopy bridge (SACB) out of a liana and found it to be used quickly (seven days after installation) and frequently (90.23 crossings/100 trap nights—nearly nightly) by five species (two procyonids, one didelphid, one primate, and one rodent). This information contributes to our knowledge of mitigation solutions for fragmentation. As linear infrastructure grows globally, more solutions must be developed and tested.

The impact of a changing climate on the Amazon basin is a subject of intensive research because of its rich biodiversity and the significant role of rainforests in carbon cycling. Climate change has also a direct hydrological impact, and increasing efforts have focused on understanding the hydrological dynamics at continental and subregional scales, such as the Western Amazon. New projections from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 ensemble indicate consistent climatic warming and increasing seasonality of precipitation in the Peruvian Amazon basin. Here we use a distributed land surface model to quantify the potential impact of this change in the climate on the hydrological regime of the upper Amazon river. Using extreme value analysis, historical and future projections of the annual minimum, mean, and maximum river flows are produced for a range of return periods between 1 and 100 yr.Weshow that the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios of climate change project an increased severity of the wet season flood pulse (7.5% and 12% increases respectively for the 100 yr return floods). These findings agree with previously projected increases in high extremes under the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios climate projections, and are important to highlight due to the potential consequences on reproductive processes of in-stream species, swamp forest ecology, and socio-economy in the floodplain, amidst a growing literature that more strongly emphasises future droughts and their impact on the viability of the rainforest system over greater Amazonia. This paper became research highlight 'Amazon flooding’ in Nature Climate Change, 6, 232; doi:10.1038/nclimate2949 ispartof: Environmental Research Letters vol:11 issue:1 pages:1-9 status: published

Introduction: Large nutritional surveys in Peru have identified the magnitude and location of the different types of malnutrition. The chronic type is the most prevalent one. However, although rates may be considered as alarming (even more in rural areas), only one of these studies contains information about intake characteristics, using 24-hour recalls (R24). That is, it lacks some other systems, adapted to the gastronomical characteristics of their regions and to the bioavailability of food in each area, in order to locate the origin of this situation and, thus, propose truly effective and efficient solutions. Aim: To determine the nutritional value of the main dishes consumed by the residents of a slum in Peruvian Amazon. Methods: Ninety-eight participants completed three 24-h recalls. Based on these data, we selected the 25 most commonly eaten dishes and evaluated their nutritional composition. We took note of the homemade recipes, weights and measures. In addition, we observed preparation and cooking. The mean nutritional composition of each dish was calculated per 100 g using the Nutriplato 4.6. software. We also calculated gains or losses resulting from culinary treatments. Results: Within those which include milk, the highest energy density is the mingado de arroz. In the group of fish, the most energetic is pescado frito, while within meat-based recipes tallarín con pollo, res asada and chancho frito are the most energetic ones. Regarding prepared dishes, the juane is the highest energy density of all recipes. Inside garnish, using bananas as the main ingredient, plátano frito and madurito are the most energetic. Fats are higher in fried dishes and those which contribute most fat ratio. The same thing happens with garnish as 100 grams of plátano frito or madurito contain more than 70% of the RDA. Res asada and juane present the highest sodium level. Conclusions: If we wish to offer healthier dishes, it is necessary to change their composition and/or cooking methods, reducing the consumption of fried foods. Sodium intake should also be reduced. Two foods could be important to that aim: menudencia de pollo, rich in B vitamins and low in fat, and frijol hervido, which is rich in vegetable protein and, with rice dishes ubiquitous in this area, increases the biological value of ingested proteins. Introducción: un gran número de encuestas nutricionales en Perú han identificado la magnitud y la ubicación de los diferentes tipos de desnutrición, siendo la forma crónica la más prevalente. Sin embargo, aunque las tasas pueden considerarse alarmantes (aún más en las zonas rurales), sólo un trabajo contiene información sobre las características de la ingesta, usando recordatorios de 24 horas (R24). Es decir, se carece de otros sistemas de estudio centrados en conocer las características gastronómicas de sus regiones y la biodisponibilidad de los alimentos, con el fin de localizar el origen de esta situación en cada área y proponer soluciones verdaderamente eficaces y eficientes. Objetivo: determinar el valor nutricional de los platos principales consumidos por los residentes de un barrio pobre de la Amazonía Peruana, para identificar las causas de la pérdida de un estado nutricional saludable. Métodos: noventa y ocho participantes completaron tres R24. Basándonos en estos datos, se seleccionaron los 25 platos más comúnmente consumidos y evaluamos su composición nutricional. Tomamos nota de las recetas, pesos y medidas caseras. Además, se observó la preparación y cocción. La composición nutricional media de cada plato se calculó por 100 g utilizando el software Nutriplato 4.6. También se calcularon las ganancias o pérdidas derivadas de los tratamientos culinarios. Resultados: dentro de los platos basados en la leche, el de más alta densidad de energía es el mingado de arroz. En el grupo de los pescados, la mayor cantidad de energía es aportada por el pescado frito, mientras que en las recetas a base de carne, las más energéticas son el tallarín con pollo, la res asada y el cerdo frito. Como platos preparados, el juane tiene la más alta densidad de energía de todas las recetas. Dentro de las guarniciones, aquellas que utilizan los plátanos como el ingrediente principal, el plátano frito y el madurito, son las más energéticas. Las grasas son más elevadas en los platos fritos y son estos platos los que más contribuyen al porcentaje total de grasa consumida. Lo mismo ocurre en las guarniciones, donde 100 g de plátano frito o madurito contienen más del 70% de la dosis diaria recomendada. La res asada y el juane tienen el nivel más alto de sodio. Conclusiones: si se desea ofrecer platos más saludables, es necesario cambiar algunos hábitos alimenticios, lo que supone reducir el consumo de alimentos fritos porque probablemente está relacionado con la obesidad y otras enfermedades crónicas cardiovasculares. También se debe reducir la ingesta de sodio. Dos alimentos que podrían ser importantes son la menudencia de pollo, rica en vitaminas del grupo B y baja en grasas, y el frijol hervido, rico en proteínas vegetales, que con platos de arroz, omnipresentes en esta área, incrementaría el valor biológico de las proteínas ingeridas.

Introduction: Large nutritional surveys in Peru have identified the magnitude and location of the different types of malnutrition. The chronic type is the most prevalent one. However, although rates may be considered as alarming (even more in rural areas), only one of these studies contains information about intake characteristics, using 24-hour recalls (R24). That is, it lacks some other systems, adapted to the gastronomical characteristics of their regions and to the bioavailability of food in each area, in order to locate the origin of this situation and, thus, propose truly effective and efficient solutions. Aim: To determine the nutritional value of the main dishes consumed by the residents of a slum in Peruvian Amazon. Methods: Ninety-eight participants completed three 24-h recalls. Based on these data, we selected the 25 most commonly eaten dishes and evaluated their nutritional composition. We took note of the homemade recipes, weights and measures. In addition, we observed preparation and cooking. The mean nutritional composition of each dish was calculated per 100 g using the Nutriplato 4.6. software. We also calculated gains or losses resulting from culinary treatments. Results: Within those which include milk, the highest energy density is the mingado de arroz. In the group of fish, the most energetic is pescado frito, while within meat-based recipes tallarín con pollo, res asada and chancho frito are the most energetic ones. Regarding prepared dishes, the juane is the highest energy density of all recipes. Inside garnish, using bananas as the main ingredient, plátano frito and madurito are the most energetic. Fats are higher in fried dishes and those which contribute most fat ratio. The same thing happens with garnish as 100 grams of plátano frito or madurito contain more than 70% of the RDA. Res asada and juane present the highest sodium level. Conclusions: If we wish to offer healthier dishes, it is necessary to change their composition and/or cooking methods, reducing the consumption of fried foods. Sodium intake should also be reduced. Two foods could be important to that aim: menudencia de pollo, rich in B vitamins and low in fat, and frijol hervido, which is rich in vegetable protein and, with rice dishes ubiquitous in this area, increases the biological value of ingested proteins.

Se evaluó la presencia de agentes bacterianos y micóticos en 120 paiches (Arapaimagigas) de dos centros de cultivo de la Amazonía peruana. Se reporta la presencia de siete agentes bacterianos: Pseudomonas spp, Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp, Escherichia spp, Aeromonas hydrophila y Corynebacterium spp, y de un hongo: Saprolegnia spp., This study evaluated the presence of bacterial and micotic agents in 120 paiches(Arapaima gigas) in two fish farms in the Peruvian Amazon. Findings included sevenbacterial agents: Pseudomonas spp, Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcusspp, Escherichia spp, Aeromonas hydrophila and Corynebacterium spp, and one fungus:Saprolegnia spp.

Background Fruit from the palm Mauritia flexuosa (aguaje) is harvested throughout the Peruvian Amazon for subsistence and commercial purposes. Recent estimates suggest that residents of Iquitos, the largest city in the region, consume approximately 148.8 metric tons of aguaje fruit per month, the vast majority of which is harvested by felling and killing adult female trees. In this study, we sought to better understand and document the importance of M. flexuosa palm swamps (aguajales) in two Maijuna indigenous communities to inform the sustainable management of this habitat and species. Methods Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and household surveys were carried out to assess the significance of aguajales and their associated plant and animal resources as well as to determine how the relationship that the Maijuna have with aguajales has changed over time. Results Aguajales and their associated resources are culturally significant and useful to the Maijuna in a wide variety of ways. In addition to M. flexuosa, the Maijuna use over 60 different species of plants from aguajales. When M. flexuosa is in fruit, aguajales are important hunting areas with a total of 20 different animal species hunted. The Maijuna also have traditional beliefs about aguajales, believing that malevolent supernatural beings reside in them. Notably, the relationship that the Maijuna have with aguajales has changed considerably over the years as aguaje fruit went from a subsistence item collected opportunistically from the ground to a market good destructively harvested beginning in the early 1990s. The Maijuna are concerned not only about how this has affected the future commercial harvest of aguaje but also about its effects on game animals given the importance of hunting to Maijuna cultural identity, subsistence, and income generation. Conclusions In order to meet the multiple socio-cultural and economic needs of the Maijuna, sustainable management efforts must be expanded to not only focus on the commercial harvest of aguaje but also other facets of their relationship with this habitat. Our study suggests that the research and development of multi-use forest management plans must not be restricted to commercial forest products and ecosystem services given that many communities rely on tropical forests for a wide range of non-market cultural, economic, and subsistence goods and services.

After the experience of the massacre in Bagua ( Peruvian Amazon) on June 2009, the AIDESEP dramatically learned its level of vulnerability against the possibility of the Peruvian state. During this year, the taking of conscience sacrificing activities has led the association to an elaboration of a deep change in the political strategy : we can translate it as an extension of the fight for the recognition of the indigenous population’s rights across the border of the Amazon Rainforest, trying to create a relationship with the Andeans communities and the public opinion. Keywords: Peruvian Amazon, indigenous movements, Peru, AIDESEP, Bagua. In seguito all’esperienza del massacro a Bagua (Amazzonia peruviana) del giugno 2009, l’AIDESEP apprende in maniera drammatica il suo livello di vulnerabilità rispetto alle possibilità dello Stato Peruviano. Questa presa di coscienza condurrà l’associazione nell’ultimo anno (estate 2009-estate 2010) all’elaborazione di un cambio di strategia politica: esso si traduce nell’espansione della lotta per il riconoscimento dei diritti delle popolazioni indigene oltre ai confini della foresta amazzonica, per creare un vincolo di alleanza sia con le comunità andine che con l’opinione pubblica nazionale. Parole chiave: Amazzonia peruviana, movimenti indigeni, Perù, AIDESEP, Bagua.

As part of a prospective study of leptospirosis and biodiversity of Leptospira in the Peruvian Amazon, a new Leptospira species was isolated from humans with acute febrile illness. Field trapping identified this leptospire in peridomestic rats (Rattus norvegicus, six isolates; R. rattus, two isolates) obtained in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas of the Iquitos region. Novelty of this species was proven by serological typing, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and DNA-DNA hybridization analysis. We have named this species “Leptospira licerasiae” serovar Varillal, and have determined that it is phylogenetically related to, but genetically distinct from, other intermediate Leptospira such as L. fainei and L. inadai. The type strain is serovar Varillal strain VAR 010T, which has been deposited into internationally accessible culture collections. By microscopic agglutination test, “Leptospira licerasiae” serovar Varillal was antigenically distinct from all known serogroups of Leptospira except for low level cross-reaction with rabbit anti–L. fainei serovar Hurstbridge at a titer of 1∶100. LipL32, although not detectable by PCR, was detectable in “Leptospira licerasiae” serovar Varillal by both Southern blot hybridization and Western immunoblot, although on immunoblot, the predicted protein was significantly smaller (27 kDa) than that of L. interrogans and L. kirschneri (32 kDa). Isolation was rare from humans (2/45 Leptospira isolates from 881 febrile patients sampled), but high titers of MAT antibodies against “Leptospira licerasiae” serovar Varillal were common (30%) among patients fulfilling serological criteria for acute leptospirosis in the Iquitos region, and uncommon (7%) elsewhere in Peru. This new leptospiral species reflects Amazonian biodiversity and has evolved to become an important cause of leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon., Author Summary Leptospirosis has emerged as a globally important infectious disease. Its impact on public health is often difficult to determine, sometimes because of low clinical suspicion, or, as is more common, difficulty in laboratory diagnosis. Gold-standard serology-based diagnosis has a number of important limitations, including the need to use live leptospires that have a sufficient diversity of antigens to be able to detect specific anti-leptospiral antibodies; such antigens vary greatly from region to region. In this paper, we report the discovery of a new species of Leptospira in the highly biodiverse region of the Peruvian Amazon, and demonstrate that the animal source of infection for humans is the domestic rat. Detailed biological characterization of this new species shows that it is antigenically unique and represents a new serogroup and serovar, proposed as Leptospira licerasiae serogroup Iquitos serovar Varillal. Incorporation of this new isolate into serological testing of patients presenting with acute febrile illness in Iquitos, Peru, showed a far higher incidence of leptospirosis than previously suspected, showing the important of using region-specific Leptospira in diagnosis. The field-to-laboratory approach presented here has general application to the discovery of other emerging pathogens and their impact on human health.

Women's organizations in informal settlements located in peri-urban areas of Peruvian Amazon cities have been carrying out programs for solving nutrition, food, health, and income generation problems in their communities. This is a way of women's local action of self-help and self-reliance to transform their marginalized ways of living. This study focuses on two factors in the scope of women's organizations: (1) to examine what causes household participation in women's organizations. (2) To explore what type of women's empowerment leads to social development, assuming that women go through a process of empowerment as a result of their participation in women's organizations. The study data consists of a case study in one informal settlement in Pucallpa, 9 de Octubre, and key-informant interviews of women participating in women's organizations, and life histories of four women leaders. The quantitative analysis focuses on three hypotheses: (1) Single women-headed households participate more frequently in women's organizations than men-headed households. (2) Households with children under six years old are more likely to participate in women's organizations than households without. (3) Households in remote locations of the informal settlement are more likely to participate in women's organizations. The qualitative analysis focuses in three areas: (1) women's roles as community managers, (2) women's organizations as agents to produce structural change and (3) the relationship between women's organizations and women's empowerment. Findings cast doubt upon the first hypothesis by showing that single women-headed households were not economically vulnerable as it was expected and that their participation in women's organizations was not as frequent as the participation of men-headed households. Furthermore, men-headed households seem to benefit more from women's organizations than single women-headed households. The presence of children does not predict participation in women's organizations. Also, it is interesting that households in more remote and inaccessible locations seem to participate more in women's organizations. The study develops the argument that women's organizations, which bring in knowledge and more than partial problem-solving solutions, contribute to women's empowerment and household change that lead to social development. The study concludes that the types of empowerment that lead to social development are the cultural, and social because they are the ones that are more effective in bringing changes at the household and community levels. However, the economic empowerment should not be disregarded and should be considered in the formula because it provides one of the prime needs of urban poor women: income in their household. Master of Urban and Regional Planning

La llanura amazónica peruana se caracteriza por la presencia de múltiples formaciones vegetales. Éstas cada vez reciben mayor impacto por actividades antropogénicas tales como la minería y tala. Todo esto, sumado al cambio climático global, genera desconcierto sobre el futuro de los bosques. La identificación de los niveles de almacenamiento de carbono en áreas boscosas, y específicamente en cada formación vegetal, permitiría un mejor manejo de las zonas de conservación, así como identificar las áreas potenciales que servirían para el financiamiento de la absorción de carbono y otros servicios ambientales. El presente estudio fue desarrollado en la estación Biológica del Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Río Los Amigos (CICRA). En el CICRA se identificaron tres formaciones vegetales principales, el bosque de terraza, el bosque inundable y el aguajal. Siendo los bosques de terraza los de mayor extensión y mayor cantidad de carbono acumulado. Como resultado se valorizó la vegetación presente en el CICRA, en alrededor de 11 millones de dólares americanos. El ingreso a la oferta de los bonos de carbono promovería la conservación de los bosques. The Peruvian Amazon Basin is characterized by the presence of multiple vegetation types. They are being given great impact by human activities such as mining and, logging. All this, coupled with global climate change, creates confusion about the future of our forests. The identification of levels of carbon storage in forested areas, and specifically in each vegetation type, would allow better management of conservation areas, and then identify potential areas that could serve to finance carbon sequestration and other environmental services. This study was conducted at the Biological Station for Research and Training Center Rio Los Amigos (CICRA, Spanish acronym). At the station three main formations were identified, alluvial terrace forests, flood terrace forests and Mauritia swamps. The alluvial terrace forest presents the most extensive area and the highest amount of carbon stored. As result, CICRA vegetations were valued at approx. 11 millions U.S. dollars. Admission to the supply of carbon credits could promote Amazon forest conservation.

A study was conducted to determine the morphological and biometric characteristics of Trypanosoma isolated from 50 capybaras animals, raised in captivity in the Peruvian Amazon. Trypanosoma was found in 14 blood samples using the microhaematocrit, wide drop, and Giemsa-stain methods and T. evansi was identified through morphological details in all 14 positive samples (the subterminal kinetoplast, the developed undulating membrane, and a long free flagellum were used for the identification of the agent).

Five compost piles with different initial C : N ratios have been investigated in this study. As a primary feedstock Imperata sp. was used. The primary feedstock was mixed with poultry litter and vegetable refuse in order to obtain different C : N ratio. The results show that during 64 days of well managed composting under tropical conditions the initial C : N ratio between 30:1 and 50:1 decreased to ratio 11:1 to 15:1, respectively. Results of bioassay tests expressed as the germination index (GI) indicate particular compost phytotoxicity. The value of GI was 51.4%, 48.6%, 47.8%, 46.7% and 40.0% for samples from the compost with initial C : N ratios of 30:1, 37:1, 40:1, 44:1 and 50:1, respectively.

RESUMEN Las tilapias son peces introducidos a América Latina y son considerados como perjudiciales para los ecosistemas naturales. Se ha detectado la presencia de estos peces en cuerpos de agua naturales y en estanques de cría en la Región de Loreto, Perú. En el presente estudio se analizaron las branquias de Oreochromis niloticus «tilapia» procedentes de un estanque de cultivo del eje carretero Iquitos-Nauta, pudiendo identificar al monogenoideo Cichlidogyrus tilapiae parasitando a O. niloticus. Este sería el primer reporte en la región de una especie de Monogenoidea colectada de las branquias de un pez exótico. ABSTRACT Tilapias are fish introduced to Latin America and are considered harmful to natural ecosystems. The presence of these fish has been detected in natural water bodies and in breeding ponds in the Loreto Region, Peru. In the present study, the gills of Oreochromis niloticus «tilapia» from a culture pond on the Iquitos-Nauta highway were analysed, and the monogenoid Cichlidogyrus tilapiae parasitizing O. niloticus was identified. This would be the first report in the region of a species of Monogenoidea collected from the gills of an exotic fish.

Este artículo propone algunas pistas para la comprensión de las movilizaciones indígenas ocurridas en los últimos años en la región amazónica peruana, especialmente para la que terminó con los trágicos sucesos ocurridos en la cercanías de la ciudad de Bagua en junio del año 2009. Así, en una primera parte se revisa la construcción histórica de algunos de las imágenes y prejuicios que tiene la sociedad peruana sobre los indígenas amazónicos. En esta sección se presta especial atención a dos de estas imágenes: la del indígena «salvaje» (y su forma más extrema: el caníbal) y la del indígena «manso» e «ignorante». En una segunda parte, se revisa brevemente la larga lucha histórica de los indígenas por la defensa de sus territorios y de sus modos de vida, así como los cambios en su forma de organizar esta defensa durante las últimas décadas. Finalmente, nos detendremos a analizar lo que realmente está en juego detrás de las demandas y movilizaciones de los últimos años. This article aims to provide some clues for understanding indigenous mobilizations occurred in recent years in the Peruvian Amazon, especially for the tragic events that took place in the vicinity of the city of Bagua in June 2009. The first part depicts the historical construction of some of the images and prejudices that Peruvian society has had about the Amazonian indigenous people. This section gives special attention to two of these images: that of the «savage» indian (and its most extreme form: the cannibal) as well as the image of the indian as «naive» and «ignorant». The second part briefly reviews the long history of indigenous struggle for the defense of their territories and culture, as well as the changes in the way they organized this struggle during the last decades. A final step is to analyze what is at stake and lies behind the demands and mobilizations of recent years.