Region Of Honduras Research Articles

Genetic Purity of Cacao Criollo from Honduras Is Revealed by SSR Molecular Markers

The cultivation of cacao represents an income option and a source of employment for thousands of small producers in Central America. In Honduras, due to the demand for fine flavor cacao to produce high-quality chocolate, the number of hectares planted is increasing. In addition, cacao clones belonging to the genetic group named Criollo are in great demand since their white beans lack of bitterness and excellent aroma are used in the manufacturing of premium chocolate. Unfortunately, the low resistance to pests and diseases and less productive potential of Criollo cacao leads to the replacement with vigorous new cultivars belonging to the other genetic groups or admixture of them. In this study, 89 samples showing phenotypic traits of Criollo cacao from four regions of Honduras (Copán, Santa Bárbara, Intibucá, and Olancho) were selected to study their genetic purity using 16 SSR molecular markers. The results showed that some samples belong to the Criollo group while other accessions have genetic characteristics of “Trinitario” or other admixtures cacao types. These results confirm the genetic purity of Criollo cacao in Honduras, reaffirming the theory that Mesoamerica is a cacao domestication center and also serves to generate interest in the conservation of this genetic wealth both in-situ and ex-situ.

Próspera: Partnering for Economic Development in Honduras

Erick A. Brimen's vision was on the verge of reality. As CEO of Prospera LLC, an economic development platform based in Washington, DC, he had devoted years to fostering efforts to bring economic development and stability to a small region in Honduras. He had worked with government officials, scholars of economics and law, and local residents to develop a zone for employment and economic development (in Spanish, zona de empleo y desarrollo economico, or ZEDE). ZEDEs were similar to special economic zones (SEZs), which typically relied on tax and industry incentives to attract foreign direct investment. ZEDEs took it one step further. Through changes to the Honduran Constitution, ZEDEs had semiautonomous governance that allowed them to establish their own laws, taxes, courts, utilities, infrastructure, and even security forces. For Brimen, the governance model was key to reducing risk in the investment. And it offered a way to address what he and many others believed was the fundamental issue that kept people in poverty—the lack of better-paying jobs. At last, Prospera ZEDE's public launch was scheduled for May 2020, as Prospera prepared to close with investors for series A funding. The funding would support its first major project within the ZEDE, called Prospera Village.Yet just as Prospera was about to close on the series A funding, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. In addition to the human tragedy, supply chains were severed and markets reacted. Investors were nervous as businesses looked to relocate or diversify supply chains out of Asia. How would investors respond to this innovative business model in a developing economy during this time of uncertainty? Excerpt UVA-F-1980 Jun. 10, 2021 Prospera: Partnering for Economic Development in Honduras Break a paradigm—the world changes. —Erick A. Brimen . . .

On the conservation of Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae) in the core of Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras

Abstract The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (RPBR) represents the most important region in Honduras for conservation of the biodiversity of the country. From May 2017 to January 2019, we installed 24 camera traps in the RPBR to monitor big mammals, including Myrmecophaga tridactyla. In 1512 camera-trapping hours, the giant anteater was recorded in two photos. The photos presented herein of M. tridactyla are the first records of the species in the core of the RPBR. The protection of a vulnerable species such as M. tridactyla in the RPBR could also help to protect other species (Pecari tajacu, Tayassu pecari, Panthera onca) that are strongly threatened by illegal activities such as hunting, unauthorized access to the core zone, increased lands used for agriculture, and unsustainable exploitation of the natural resources.

Abstract C116: High-risk HPV screening and typing shows high co-infection rate and potential for low vaccine coverage in a low- and middle-income country

Abstract Introduction. Cervical cancer is almost always a result of infection with a high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) of which there are 14 different types. This type of cancer is prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where screening programs for pre- or invasive cervical cancer by Pap test or visual inspection with ascetic acid are limited in scope as is local expertise in evaluating Pap smears. Since 2006, a HPV vaccine protecting against hrHPV types 16 and 18 has been recommended by the WHO, and through the GAVI Alliance, is provided to some fractions of populations in more than 70 countries. A newer and more expensive vaccine protects again 9 types of HPV A broader spectrum 9-valent vaccine released in 2014 protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Preventing cervical cancer by vaccination against HPV is considered to be a promising strategy. Materials and Methods. In three separate studies, we implemented molecular screening for hrHPV from cervical swab specimens, providing access to pre-cancer testing for women from several regions of Honduras, which is ranked the poorest country in the northern hemisphere. We screened 2,645 women from two rural regions and an urban region of Honduras. In the final study of 1725 Honduran factory workers, we substituted a large-capacity rice cooker for a standard laboratory hotplate to accelerate laboratory throughput for DNA extraction. A DNA-based multi-color melt curve analysis by PCR followed, and we were able to rapidly screen for all 14 hrHPV types. Results. Across all three studies, there was an average hrHPV positivity prevalence of 22%. The most common types of hrHPV found in each study were as follows: Study 1 hrHPV types 16, 31, 58, 59, and 68; Study 2 hrHPV types 16, 39, 52, 58, and 68; and Study 3 were hrHPV types 16, 35, 58, 63, and 64 were the most common. Among those infected with a hrHPV type, 18% had co-infections with multiple hrHPV types. Based on these results, the vast majority of infected women would not have been protected by the divalent HPV vaccine and a significant proportion of women would still not be protected by the multivalent vaccine, which does not cover the hrHPV types 35, 39, 52, 59, 63, 64, 88 found in these samples. Conclusions. Cervical cancer remains a prevalent and deadly disease in LMICs. Our studies examining the prevalence of hrHPV types in several different regions of Honduras identified high prevalence rates of viral types not targeted by commercially available vaccines. These findings suggest that vaccination programs alone should not be considered complete coverage against cervical cancer-causing high-risk HPV, and that further location-specific testing of cervical tissue for hrHPV typing is warranted. Citation Format: Aaron E Atkinson, Carlos Alberto Matute Mandujano, Suyapa Bejarano, Linda S Kennedy, Gregory J Tsongalis. High-risk HPV screening and typing shows high co-infection rate and potential for low vaccine coverage in a low- and middle-income country [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C116.

Interrogating the dimensions of human security within the context of migration and rural livelihoods in Honduras

ABSTRACT Security concerns, including poverty and violence, are viewed as critical factors in understanding the drivers of and experiences with internal and international migration from Honduras. Drawing on a broad definition of human security that encompasses ‘freedom from fear’ and ‘freedom from want’, in addition to insights from critical and feminist security studies, we interrogate different dimensions of human security for rural households from one region of Honduras. We include data from 248 household surveys and a qualitative activity with 60 secondary school students to explore how experiences of security influence migration decisions and outcomes from this setting. For surveyed households, we find that migration contributed to enhanced economic and emotional security among family members left behind. Fear of violence was a prominent barrier to migration rather than a motivation for migration. Additionally, educational attainment raised personal and household expectations concerning the feasibility of migration to mitigate insecurity. Overall, we find human security to be a useful framework to understand motivations for and outcomes from migration among these rural households. However, the relationship between experiences of security and migration needs to be situated in the context of broader rural livelihoods, including local economic realities and intrahousehold characteristics.

Habitat selection and habitat quality for wintering wood thrushes in a coffee growing region in Honduras

Most Neotropical migrant birds spend the majority of the annual cycle in the tropics, and the continued population declines of some species is attributed at least in part to habitat degradation and destruction on the tropical wintering grounds. Many Neotropical migrants have been observed to use a range of disturbed, agricultural, and primary forest habitats on the wintering grounds, and this habitat-use information helps us better understand the potential effects of land use in the tropics on their populations as well as to develop programs and strategies to conserve these species. Although indices and estimates of habitat-specific abundance can be informative, some wintering migrants are reported to occur in similar or even greater numbers in marginal habitats due to despotic interactions with conspecifics. Thus, investigations of habitat-specific survival and other metrics potentially related to survival are a valuable supplement, and provide a more refined indicator of habitat quality. The wood thrush is a Neotropical migrant bird that has been undergoing range-wide population declines for the past half century or more, and although their numbers appear to be greater in disturbed habitats on the wintering grounds, they are reported to experience higher survival in primary forest. We captured and tracked wintering wood thrushes with radio-telemetry in a coffee growing region in Honduras, Central America, to evaluate habitat selection in this species, as well as to determine the habitat types and microhabitat characteristics associated with survival, movement metrics, and body condition. We found that wood thrushes preferred heavily-shaded coffee over forest and open agricultural habitats, although the probability of survival and of exhibiting stationary behavior was lower in heavily-shaded coffee compared to forest, especially at higher elevations. Our findings illustrate the hazards in assuming the presence of a species in a given habitat actually reflects habitat quality, as well as the importance of conserving forest within coffee producing landscapes.

Estudio Comparativo de la Resistencia a la Compresión, Absorción y Dimensionamiento del Ladrillo Rafón Producido en Quimistán, Chamelecón y Florida, Honduras

El presente estudio realiza una comparación de las principales propiedades físicas y mecánicas del ladrillo rafón, producido en la zona noroccidental de Honduras, específicamente en los municipios de Chamelecón, departamento de Cortés; Quimistán, departamento de Santa Bárbara; y Florida, departamento de Copán. Las propiedades analizadas incluyen dimensionamiento, porcentaje de absorción y resistencia a la compresión del ladrillo. Los ensayos necesarios para el análisis se encuentran estandarizados bajo la norma ASTM C 67. Para la prueba de compresión se sometieron los especímenes a cargas verticales de compresión con una velocidad de carga controlada; para obtener el porcentaje de absorción se realizó la prueba de inmersión a 5 y 24 horas y se midió la tasa inicial de absorción; para el dimensionamiento se midieron las variaciones en las dimensiones de los especímenes con respecto a los valores estándar. Los resultados obtenidos son comparados con los valores límite establecidos en la norma ASTM C 62. Adicionalmente, se presenta una breve caracterización de las arcillas extraídas de cada fábrica artesanal de ladrillos, obteniendo como resultado la relación de cada tipo de arcilla con el producto final y sus propiedades.

Costumbres, creencias y tradiciones como expresiones de identidad cultural en la región occidental de Honduras

En el marco de las líneas prioritarias de investigación definidas por la UNAH y patrocinado por la Dirección de Investigación Científica, se realizó un estudio que describe e interpreta el estado de las creencias, costumbres y tradiciones vigentes en el imaginario colectivo de la región occidental de Honduras. Este trabajo contempló una serie de entrevistas a diferentes actores fundamentales para la investigación; posteriormente se diseñó un instrumento para confirmar y validar la información, el cual fue aplicado en al menos seiscientas personas de las cabeceras departamentales, aldeas y caseríos de la región.Los resultados demuestran un mimetismo cultural fuertemente arraigado principalmente en la gente mayor, muchas expresiones de identidad cultural son desconocidas o desvalorizadas por las generaciones jóvenes. Las creencias o tradiciones propias de los pueblos maya chortí y lenca tratan de sobrevivir resistiéndose a caer en el vacío del olvido. El sincretismo religioso ha producido una hibridación, conservando rasgos prehispánicos y aquellos impuestos a partir de la Colonia.Existe un cúmulo importante de saberes locales, que son formas de existencia que a la población les ha servido en su diario vivir. Es un conocimiento lleno de valores y sentimientos, una sabiduría mítica, subjetiva, espiritual y supersticiosa desaparecida del paisaje científico. Todas esas expresiones culturales es la vida de los pueblos de esta noble región; les ha funcionado y les sigue funcionando; sus ideas, sueños, esperanzas y posibilidades están ahí, quieren mostrarnos que existen, son ángeles con una sola ala y culturalmente necesitan del otro para volar.Revista Ciencia y Tecnología, N° 15, diciembre 2014: 94-110

Aplicación de tecnologías de información geográfica para el estudio arqueológico del corredor mesoamericano en el sur de Honduras

En el presente artículo se describe la aplicación de la teledetección espacial y los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) en una primera aproximación a la investigación arqueológica del corredor mesoamericano a su paso por el sur de Honduras. El área de estudio cubre amplias zonas de los departamentos de Choluteca y Valle, representando un espacio poco investigado de gran relevancia antropológica.Uno de los objetivos principales del trabajo ha sido el reconocimiento y registro de sitios arqueológicos mediante técnicas no intrusivas, acción necesaria en un estadio inicial para la protección del patrimonio cultural hondureño en la región. Se han utilizado imágenes de los sensores ALI, TM y ETM+ en un período comprendido entre 1990 y 2011, que han sido co-registradas y procesadas para transformarlas a una misma escala radiométrica. Se han aplicado filtros y se han calculado índices que han permitido correlacionar parámetros del suelo y vegetación con la identificación de estructuras arqueológicas. Las muestras de materiales tomadas in situ se han medido en campo y en laboratorio con un espectro radiómetro ASD Field- Pro, con el objeto de generar patrones espectrales que faciliten el reconocimiento automático de otros restos arqueológicos homólogos. Los emplazamientos han sido verificados y geo referenciados por posicionamiento global GPS, validando los casos positivos en la cartografía temática generada a partir de las imágenes. Finalmente, se exponen los resultados obtenidos así como los análisis exploratorios iniciados por técnicas SIG para el conocimiento de las relaciones espaciales y geomorfológicas entre los principales asentamientos y culturas pre hispanos en el camino conductor que supone el corredor de Centroamérica.Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Volumen 8, Número 2 Otoño, 2015; 371-390

ELCSA, a Survey for Measuring Household Food Security, Reveals an Extremely High Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the Montaña de la Flor and Santa Maria Regions of Honduras

ELCSA, a Survey for Measuring Household Food Security, Reveals an Extremely High Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the Montaña de la Flor and Santa Maria Regions of Honduras

Creating equitable water institutions on disputed land: a Honduran case study

This article explores the decade-long process by which village-level water committees established a reserve in 2002 to protect communal mountain springs in the Montaña Camapara region of Honduras. In so doing, it considers the conditions under which shared dependence on water resources may motivate cooperation and foster equitable access to water in the face of difficult challenges posed by conflicts over land and water rights claims and degradation of the resource.

Cycles of Land Grabbing in Central America: an argument for history and a case study in the Bajo Aguán, Honduras

The lack of historical perspective in many studies of land grabbing leads researchers to ignore or underestimate the extent to which pre-existing social relations shape rural spaces in which contemporary land deals occur. Bringing history back in to land grabbing research is essential for understanding antecedents, establishing baselines to measure impacts and restoring the agency of contending agrarian social classes. In Central America each of several cycles of land grabbing—liberal reforms, banana concessions and agrarian counter-reform—has profoundly shaped the period that succeeded it. In the Bajo Aguán region of Honduras—a centre of agrarian reform and then counter-reform—violent conflicts over land have been materially shaped by both peasant, landowner and state repertoires of contention and repression, as well as by peasants’ memories of dispossession.

Mejoramiento genético del frijol común mediante enfoques participativos en Honduras.

This work presents the results of the applicationof participatory methods for the genetic improvement ofbeans in two regions of Honduras. The methodology andresults obtained from the evaluation and selection activities,from early generation to advanced trials compare the linesselected by conventional and participatory methods, and thetrials to estimate the potential of adoption of promising lines,are shown and described. Evaluation and selection criteriaused by farmers to choose promising lines and varieties arementioned. The results are discussed, trying to explain themaccording to the basic plant breeding principles and practicesfor the improvement of cultivated plants. Finally, the benefitsof participatory plant breeding for farmers are identified,including those that are related to knowledge and skillacquisitions, and the increase on individual and collectivecapacity to take decisions; as well as the advantages forbreeding programs under these participatory approaches.

Effect of micronutrient supplementation on diarrhea and acute bronchitis morbidity in rural Honduran children

Diarrhea and acute bronchitis are among the top 10 diagnoses among children 84 months and younger in the southern Intibucá region of Honduras. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of iron and zinc, likely contribute to this high rate of morbidity. This study investigated the relationship between micronutrient supplementation and diarrhea and acute bronchitis morbidity. Children (n=2,686) from six municipalities in Intibucá, ages 6–60 months at study initiation, received the supplement Chispuditos® daily for 12 months. Chispuditos is a corn‐ and soy‐based beverage fortified with 21 vitamins/minerals including iron (12 mg/serving) and zinc (9 mg/serving). Number of clinic visits at two main health centers with a diagnosis of diarrhea or acute bronchitis was collected for all children under 84 months. Monthly incidences of diarrhea and acute bronchitis were reduced by 46% (p<.01) and 21% (p<.20) respectively for the intervention period compared to the 12 months prior. Monthly incidences of diarrhea and acute bronchitis were reduced by 78% (p<.01) and 73% (p<.01) respectively for the intervention period compared to children 0–84 months in the same region that did not receive Chispuditos. These results support a relationship between micronutrient supplementation and decreased diarrhea and acute bronchitis morbidity in a community based setting. This study was funded by the Mathile Institute.

Fit of Wood's function to daily milk records and estimation of environmental and additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters of crossbred dual purpose cattle

The objectives of this study were to estimate the environmental and additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters of crosses of Holstein (H), Brahman (B) and Brown Swiss (BS) in Olancho region in Honduras. The data consisted of 54,517 milk yield records from 192 dual-purpose crossbred cows lactating from 2000 to 2005 at the Universidad Nacional de Agricultura de Honduras (UNA). The lactation curve and lactation parameters of interest were the scaling factor to represent yield at the beginning of lactation ( a), the factor associated with the inclining ( b) and declining ( c) slopes of the lactation curves, and the milk yield at initial day of lactation ( MY 20), peak milk yield ( MY max), day at peak milk yield ( t max), and the total milk yield ( TM) per lactation, respectively. The incomplete gamma function (Wood function) was used to estimate lactation curve and lactation parameters from daily milk records of H × B, H × BS and BS × B crossbred cows. The environmental, additive and non-additive genetic effects on lactation curve and lactation parameters were estimated using Dickerson and Kinghorn models. The coefficients of determination of fitness of Wood's function ( R 2) ranged from 80% to 97% with an average of 93%. The lactation curve of the crossbred cows was similar to those reported for dairy cows grazing in the tropics. Lactation parameters such as MY max, t max and TM were significantly ( P < 0.05) influenced by environmental sources of variation suggesting the necessity of differential management strategies. The moderate to large positive phenotypic correlation of MY max and TM indicate that one of the milk yield parameters could be used as a selection criterion to improve either one or both traits. Despite the fact that both genetic models showed similar patterns, the absolute value of the parameters varied. For both models, individual additive genetic breed effect for H breed were significant ( P < 0.05) and contributed more to TM than the BS breed. In the Dickerson model, highly positive significant ( P < 0.01) effect on TM for H×BS and BS×B crosses was found. The Kinghorn model did not show significant effects of dominance on this parameter. The estimate of recombination effect for all crosses involving B breed were negative and significant ( P < 0.05) for positive correlated lactation curve parameters. Although the inclusion of non-additive effects on crossbreeding genetic effects were not all significant for lactation curve and lactation parameters, non-additive effects should be taken into account to improve the Honduran dairy cattle production management.

Knowledge and use of folic acid for prevention of birth defects amongst Honduran women

Purpose To characterize determinants of folic acid (FA) use among women of reproductive age and patient education practices of health care professionals in one region of Honduras. Methods 508 female outpatients and 128 health workers were interviewed in six primary care clinics in Honduras. Results were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression models. Results The survey showed that 45% patients were familiar with FA. Of that number, 30% knew appropriate timing of consumption and 25% reported proper pre-natal supplementation. Increasing education was strongly correlated with knowledge of folic acid function (OR = 252.52, P < 0.0001) and actual use (OR = 12.65, P < 0.000). Age is associated with knowledge of proper timing of FA usage (OR = 3.94, P < 0.01). Most women learned about FA from medical professionals, but only half of providers educate their female patients about FA. Conclusions Healthcare providers should remember to discuss the role of folic acid with their patients, particularly those of low education and at the extremes of reproductive age. While long-term efforts to develop fortification programs continue, interim Honduran health campaigns to increase proper consumption of folic acid should target these particularly vulnerable populations.

Simulating the upper ocean circulation on the belize shelf: An application of a triply nested-grid ocean circulation model

We present a three-level nested-grid ocean circulation modeling system for the Belize shelf of the western Caribbean Sea. The nested-grid system has three subcomponents: a coarse-resolution outer model of the western Caribbean Sea; an intermediate-resolution middle model of the southern Meso-American Barrier Reef System; and a fine-resolution inner model of the Belize shelf. The two-way nesting technique based on the semi-prognostic method is used to exchange information between the three subcomponents. We discuss two applications of the nested-grid system in this study. In the first application we simulate the seasonal mean circulation in the region, with the nested system forced by monthly mean surface fluxes and boundary forcing. The model results reproduce the general circulation features on the western Caribbean Sea and meso-scale circulation features on the Belize shelf. In the second application, we simulate the storm-induced circulation during Hurricane Mitch in 1998, with the nested-grid system forced by the combination of monthly mean forcing and idealized wind stress associated with the storm. The model results demonstrate that the storm-induced currents transport a large amount of estuarine waters from coastal regions of Honduras and Guatemala to offshore reef atolls.

Nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in three hurricane-affected areas of Honduras.

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can produce crop destruction, population displacement, infrastructure damage, and long-term public health consequences that include increased malnutrition among the affected populations. This paper presents the results of anthropometric measurements taken of 295 children under 5 years of age from three regions of Honduras that were affected by Hurricane Mitch, a major storm that struck Central America in the fall of 1998. The children in our study were sampled in three shelters in the capital city of Tegucigalpa; in the resettlement zone of Nueva Choluteca, Choluteca; and in the small urban area of Catacamas, Olancho. Our data indicated that, in comparison to the period before the hurricane, there was an elevated prevalence of wasting in all three of the study areas, and that there were also high levels of underweight in the Tegucigalpa and Nueva Choluteca study areas. There were statistically significant differences between the mean values of malnutrition indicators for Catacamas and those for the Tegucigalpa and Nueva Choluteca settlements. These differences suggest that resettled families were confronting a nutritional crisis in July and August of 1999, some 9 months after the hurricane struck.

Fungal contamination and selected mycotoxins in pre- and post-harvest maize in Honduras.

Sixty nine samples of maize were collected from pre-harvest standing crops and on-farm storage facilities from 52 smallholder farms located within 4 regions of Honduras during October 1992 and November 1993. Samples were visually assessed for insect damage and fungal spoilage, and the mycoflora quantified on artificial media. The major components of the ear rot complex were: Fusarium moniliforme, F. moniliforme var. subglutinans, Penicillium species, Stenocarpella maydis, S. macrospora and Acremonium spp. Representative samples were also assayed for mycotoxin content. Fumonisin B1 was detected in all 24 samples tested at levels of between 68-6,555 (micrograms/kg), and aflatoxin was detected in 2 samples heavily contaminated with Aspergillus flavus. Moniliformin and tenuazonic acid were not detected in the samples tested. The implications of these findings for human and livestock health risk are discussed, together with possible strategies for controlling these pathogens.

Natural enemies ofPlutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae) on crucifers in Honduras

Three primary parasitoids in three genera were reared fromPlutella xylostella (L.) larvae and pupae collected in various crucifer producing regions of Honduras. The ichneumonidDiadegma insulare (Cresson) was by far the most abundant species. TwoSpilochalcis species, facultative hyperparasitoids attackingP. xylostella andD. insulare, were encountered as well as eleven species in nine genera of obligate hyperparasitoids attackingD. insulare. Three vespid predators are noted as predating on larvae.