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Carbon studies clearly demonstrate the capacity of forests as sinks for greenhouse gases and directly contribute to mitigate climate change. Therefore, the present research report aimed to estimate the total aerial biomass and carbon content in Pinus maximinoi H. E. Moore, adjusting allometric equations from the data of a forest inventory. Biomass was the product of wood volume by average basic density and carbon concentration. The modified Meyer model showed highly reliable coefficients of determination of 0.99, with very low standard error, demonstrating high correlation in the estimation of total aerial biomass and carbon content in the trees of P. maximinoi H. E. Moore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, piscine francisellosis in various warm-, temperate-, and coldwater fish hosts has been attributed to Francisella noatunensis. From 2015 to 2016, an undescribed Francisella sp. was recovered during mortality events in cultured spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) off the Pacific coast of Central America. Despite high mortality and emaciation, limited gross findings were observed in affected fish. Histological examination revealed multifocal granulomatous lesions, with the presence of numerous small, pleomorphic coccobacilli, predominantly in the peritoneum, spleen, kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart, and intestine. Sequencing of an ~1,400-bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene demonstrated these isolates to be most similar (99.9% identity) to Francisella sp. isolate TX077308 cultured from seawater in the Gulf of Mexico, while sharing >99% similarity to other Fransicella spp. Biochemical analysis, multilocus sequence comparisons of select housekeeping genes, repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR fingerprinting, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed marked differences between these isolates and other described members of the genus. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by experimental intracoelomic injection and immersion trials using Nile (Oreochromis niloticus) and blue (Oreochromis aureus) tilapia. Based on observed phenotypic and genotypic differences from recognized Francisella spp., the name Francisella marina sp. nov. (NRRL B-65518) is proposed to accommodate these novel strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, stranded along the Costa Rican Pacific coast, had meningoencephalitis and antibodies against Brucella spp. Brucella ceti was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 6 dolphins and 1 fetus. S. coeruleoalba constitutes a highly susceptible host and a potential reservoir for B. ceti transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The relationships between soil and coffee beans variables were evaluated and then the influence of bean composition on cup quality attributes was computed by means of relation studies. A total of 139 coffee and soil samples were collected directly from the same number of coffee plantations in Chiapas, Mexico. RESULTS: In the elemental composition, only phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and copper in coffee beans had a significant (P < 0.05) relationship with the content of the same elements in soil. The level of macro‑ and microelements in the coffee bean affected some of the cup quality attributes, but variables such as texture, titratable acidity, and pH of water in soil had a major influence on those attributes. Caffeine, trigonelline, and 5‐caffeoylquinic acid in green coffee beans also had a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the sensory attributes of the beverage. CONCLUSION: The elemental composition of soil and coffee beans was important in explaining the cup quality attributes, but the most important variables influencing the sensory quality of coffee were altitude of plantations and moisture of coffee beans. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown Dengue Virus (DENV) nucleic acids and/or antibodies present in Neotropical wildlife including bats, suggesting that some bat species may be susceptible to DENV infection. Here we aim to elucidate the role of house-roosting bats in the DENV transmission cycle. Bats were sampled in households located in high and low dengue incidence regions during rainy and dry seasons in Costa Rica. We captured 318 bats from 12 different species in 29 households. Necropsies were performed in 205 bats to analyze virus presence in heart, lung, spleen, liver, intestine, kidney, and brain tissue. Histopathology studies from all organs showed no significant findings of disease or infection. Sera were analyzed by PRNT90 for a seroprevalence of 21.2% (51/241), and by PCR for 8.8% (28/318) positive bats for DENV RNA. From these 28 bats, 11 intestine samples were analyzed by RT-PCR. Two intestines were DENV RNA positive for the same dengue serotype detected in blood. Viral isolation from all positive organs or blood was unsuccessful. Additionally, viral load analyses in positive blood samples by qRT-PCR showed virus concentrations under the minimal dose required for mosquito infection. Simultaneously, 651 mosquitoes were collected using EVS-CO2 traps and analyzed for DENV and feeding preferences (bat cytochrome b). Only three mosquitoes were found DENV positive and none was positive for bat cytochrome b. Our results suggest an accidental presence of DENV in bats probably caused from oral ingestion of infected mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analyses suggest also a spillover event from humans to bats. Therefore, we conclude that bats in these urban environments do not sustain DENV amplification, they do not have a role as reservoirs, but function as epidemiological dead end hosts for this virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was based on determining the natural potential of Abies guatemalensis Redher (Guatemalan fir) in the Forest Management Unit (UMAFOR) 07 Sierra of the state of Chiapas, to identify the optimal sites for its establishment. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used as a technological tool to model the variables that determine the distribution of the species. The information collected in the field was: altitude, exposure, slope, coordinates, as well as thematic maps of soil, vegetation, climate, precipitation and a digital elevation model, with which slope, exposure and altitude cover were generated. The variables that showed the best results were: altitude, humid temperate climate and annual precipitation greater than 2,000 mm. The vegetation corresponds to coniferous and coniferous-broadleaf trees with a slope of 25 to 50%, respectively. This is due to the fact that the productivity of the forests is linked to the ecological attributes of the territory. In this context, the study showed an area of 15,380.71 hectares with the potential to establish A. guatemalensis Redher., in five municipalities of UMAFOR 07 Sierra. With the use of GIS technology, the results were reliable enough to establish reforestations or plantations for the recovery or conservation of the pine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella spp. are frequently shed by wildlife including turtles, but S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium or lesions associated with Salmonella are rare in turtles. Between 1996 and 2016, we necropsied 127 apparently healthy pelagic olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that died from drowning bycatch in fisheries and 44 live or freshly dead stranded turtles from the west coast of North and Central America and Hawaii. Seven percent (9/127) of pelagic and 47% (21/44) of stranded turtles had renal granulomas associated with S. Typhimurium. Stranded animals were 12 times more likely than pelagic animals to have Salmonella-induced nephritis suggesting that Salmonella may have been a contributing cause of stranding. S. Typhimurium was the only Salmonella serovar detected in L. olivacea, and phylogenetic analysis from whole genome sequencing showed that the isolates from L. olivacea formed a single clade distinct from other S. Typhimurium. Molecular clock analysis revealed that this novel clade may have originated as recently as a few decades ago. The phylogenetic lineage leading to this group is enriched for non-synonymous changes within the genomic area of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 suggesting that these genes are important for host adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]