Veraguas Province Research Articles

Insights into the Naso-Oropharyngeal Bacterial Composition in Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Cases.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While research on COVID-19 has mainly focused on its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment, studies on the naso-oropharyngeal microbiota have emerged in the last few years as an overlooked area of research. Here, we analyzed the bacterial community composition of the naso-oropharynx in 50 suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases (43 detected, 7 not detected) from Veraguas province (Panama) distributed across five age categories. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p < 0.05) in bacterial alpha and beta diversities between the groups categorized by SARS-CoV-2 test results, age, or patient status. The genera Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Tepidiphilus were the most abundant in both detected and not-detected SARS-CoV-2 group. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) for biomarker exploration indicated that Veillonella and Prevotella were enriched in detected and hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 relative to non-detected patients, while Thermoanaerobacterium and Haemophilus were enriched in non-detected patients with SARS-CoV-2. The results also indicated that the genus Corynebacterium was found to decrease in patients with detected SARS-CoV-2 relative to those with non-detected SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the naso-oropharyngeal microbiota provides insights into the diversity, composition, and resilience of the microbial community in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Environmental characterization of the estuarine zone of the Gulf of Montijo, province of Veraguas, Panama.

The study was performed in the Republic of Panama. Panama has a coastline of 2,988.3 km, of which 1,700.6 km corresponds to the Pacific coast. Most of the coast is flat, and several geomorphological features characterize the Panamanian coastal sector, such as the Gulf of Montijo, which is located towards the west of the Panamanian Pacific coast in the province of Veraguas. The Gulf is a remarkable ecosystem of mangroves well preserved and internationally recognized as a Ramsar area. It represents the buffer zone of Coiba Island (Coiba National Park). Sixteen sampling stations were established along the coast to analyze the vertical and spatial variability of physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity). The quality of unexposed marine sediment was evaluated in four samples from the western sector of the Gulf of Montijo. The marine sediment samples were collected with a Dietz-LaFond Snapper dredge, between 1.5 and 3.0 m depth. Physical and chemical observations and marine sediment sampling were carried out during high tide +4 to low tide +3, in negative syzygy phase tide. The analysis of the oceanographic conditions, especially the physical and chemical properties of the water along with the longitudinal profile, showed a conservative distribution increasing gradually towards the outer region in an approximately linear way due to the dilution and mixing processes, both in the surface layer and at the bottom, and a not very developed vertical gradient, with slight stratification. The results of heavy metal analyses in marine sediments report high cadmium concentrations along the west coast, with concentrations above the limit levels of the Canadian marine sediment quality guidelines. The study area requires continuous monitoring that is representative of seasonality (dry, intermediate, and rainy periods), including a more significant number of stations since it is evidence of an affectation of the environmental quality of the marine ecosystem due to possible anthropogenic activities.

Amphibians and reptiles encountered during an expedition to Panama

Abstract.—During a recent expedition to five protected areas in Panama (Parque Nacional Volcán Barú andReserva Forestal Fortuna, Chiriquí Province; Parque Nacional Santa Fe, Veraguas Province; Parque Nacional Darien,Rancho Frío, Darien Province; and Mamoni Valley Private Reserve, Panama Province), we observed 95 species ofamphibians and reptiles (51 amphibians and 44 reptiles). We made opportunistic observations of many of them,including noteworthy updates on the conservation status of critically endangered or endangered taxa (Atelopus glyphus,A. limosus, A. varius, Isthmohyla angustilineata, I. tica, Oedipina grandis), the third and fourth distribution records forPanama of Trilepida macrolepis, the second distribution report of Leptophis cupreus for the country, the fourth countryrecord of Bachia blairi, new behavior and maximum size for Oophaga vicentei, and the second known specimen ofNorops triumphalis.

Amphibians (Amphibia, Anura and Caudata) and reptiles (Reptilia, Squamata) from the headwaters of R&amp;iacute;o Gu&amp;aacute;zaro on the Caribbean versant of Veraguas province, western Panama

We present a list of amphibian and reptile species encountered from 16&amp;ndash;20 July 2016 in the upper drainage of R&amp;iacute;o Gu&amp;aacute;zaro, Parque Nacional Santa F&amp;eacute;, Veraguas, Panama. We collected 10 amphibian and 10 reptile species and observed three additional amphibian and one additional reptile species. Our collected material provides the first records from Veraguas province for the amphibians Bolitoglossa schizodactyla Wake &amp;amp; Brame, 1966 and Diasporus aff. quidditus (Lynch, 2001), as well as for the reptiles Basiliscus plumifrons Cope, 1876, Micrurus stewarti Barbour &amp;amp; Amaral, 1928, and Sibon argus (Cope, 1876). Although relatively small in species and specimen numbers, our collection represents the first documented herpetological inventory on the largely unexplored Caribbean versant of Veraguas in 50 years.

Three new species of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) from Panama.

Aristotelia barriosi sp. nov. (Veraguas Province, Santa Fe NP), Agnippe tarakanovi sp. nov. (Herrera Province, Sarigua NP) and Chionodes sariguaensis sp. nov. (Herrera Province, Sarigua NP) are described from Panama. Adults and the genitalia of both sexes for all species and the habitats of two latter species are illustrated.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Three new species of &lt;em&gt;Lycianthes&lt;/em&gt; (Solanaceae) from Panama&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Three Panamanian cloud forest species in the genus Lycianthes are newly described: L. coloradensis, from the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca; L. fortunensis from Chiriquí Province, Veraguas Province, and the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca; and L. talamancensis from Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí provinces. All three species are woody vines with tan, yellow, or orange-brown multangulate-stellate trichomes and entire to nearly entire white to purple corollas. In terms of vegetative morphology and trichome characteristics, L. coloradensis most closely resembles L. purpusii of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, L. fortunensis resembles the widespread L. multiflora, and L. talamancensis resembles L. hortulana of Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This article provides species descriptions, maps of geographic distributions, specimen images of each species, and comparison tables of morphological characters used to separate L. coloradensis, L. fortunensis and L. talamancensis from similar species.

Biodiversidad y distribución de Gasterópoda en Playa Reina, Mariato, Veraguas, Panamá.

Este artículo es sobre las especies de Gasteropoda recolectadas en playa Reina, en el distrito de Montijo, provincia de Veraguas, depositadas en la Colección Nacional de Referencia del Museo de Malacología de la Universidad de Panamá (MUMAUP). Mariato, se ubica a 7°37’16.99” LN y 80°59’42.79” LO. La playa tiene un extenso litoral rocoso de piedras y rocas, pocas secciones arenosas con parches de fango-arena, el agua es turbia, y está llena de mucho sedimento. Los ejemplares se recolectaron manualmente de seis biotopos (rocas, piedras, fango-arena, arena, coral muerto y estero); registrándose un total de 26 324 individuos, 133 especies, 82 géneros, 42 familias, 38 superfamilias y ocho órdenes; 99 especies estuvieron en las rocas, 38 en las piedras y 15 en ambos lugares del litoral rocoso. Las rocas fueron el biotopo donde más especies se recolectaron, ninguna se encontró en más de dos biotopos. Se recolectaron ejemplares de importancia económica como Malea ringens (Swainson, 1822), Hexaplex radix (Gmelin, 1791), H. regius (Swainson 1821) y Vasula melones (Duclos 1832). Las poblaciones de caracoles que dominaron en el área fueron las adaptadas a los fuertes oleajes y las que se adhieren al biotopo duro para resistir las corrientes de las aguas marinas.

Population genetics of two chromatic morphs of the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius pallescens Barber, 1932 in Panamá

Rhodnius pallescens is the principal vector of Chagas disease in Panama. Recently a dark chromatic morph has been discovered in the highlands of Veraguas Province. Limited genetic studies have been conducted with regards to the population structure and dispersal potential of Triatominae vectors, particularly in R. pallescens. Next generation sequencing methods such as RADseq and complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome sequencing have great potential for examining vector biology across space and time. Here we utilize a RADseq method (3RAD), along with complete mtDNA sequencing, to examine the population structure of the two chromatic morpho types of R. pallescens in Panama. We sequenced 105 R. pallescens samples from five localities in Panama. We generated a 2216 SNP dataset and 6 complete mtDNA genomes. RADseq showed significant differentiation among the five localities (FCT = 0.695; P = .004), but most of this was between localities with the dark vs. light chromatic morphs (Veraguas vs. Panama Oeste). The mtDNA genomes showed a 97–98% similarity between dark and light chromatic morphs across all genes and a 502 bp insert in light morphs. Thus, both the RADseq and mtDNA data showed highly differentiated clades with essentially no gene flow between the dark and light chromatic morphs from Veraguas and central Panama respectively. We discuss the growing evidence showing clear distinctions between these two morpho types with the possibility that these are separate species, an area of research that requires further investigation. Finally, we discuss the cost-effectiveness of 3RAD which is a third of the cost compared to other RADseq methods used recently in Chagas disease vector research.

Regional biogeography of microbiota composition in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius pallescens

BackgroundTriatomine bugs are vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. Rhodnius pallescens is a major vector of Chagas disease in Panama. Understanding the microbial ecology of disease vectors is important in the development of vector management strategies that target vector survival and fitness. In this study we examined the whole-body microbial composition of R. pallescens from three locations in Panama.MethodsWe collected 89 R. pallescens specimens using Noireau traps in Attalea butyracea palms. We then extracted total DNA from whole-bodies of specimens and amplified bacterial microbiota using 16S rRNA metabarcoding PCR. The 16S libraries were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq and analyzed using QIIME2 software.ResultsWe found Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes to be the most abundant bacterial phyla across all samples. Geographical location showed the largest difference in microbial composition with northern Veraguas Province having the most diversity and Panama Oeste Province localities being most similar to each other. Wolbachia was detected in high abundance (48–72%) at Panama Oeste area localities with a complete absence of detection in Veraguas Province. No significant differences in microbial composition were detected between triatomine age class, primary blood meal source, or T. cruzi infection status.ConclusionsWe found biogeographical regions differ in microbial composition among R. pallescens populations in Panama. While overall the microbiota has bacterial taxa consistent with previous studies in triatomine microbial ecology, locality differences are an important observation for future studies. Geographical heterogeneity in microbiomes of vectors is an important consideration for future developments that leverage microbiomes for disease control.

Descriptive epidemiology of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama, 2007-2008.

Panama has the highest incidence of snakebites in Central America, however, few studies have looked at the epidemiology of human snakebites in Panama. This retrospective, single-center study reviewed individuals who sustained a snakebite from 2007-2008. Demographic data, disease severity, species of snake, treatment, infectious complications and antibiotic usage were collected from the hospital records. Data were collected over a 2-y period, with a total of 390 records of snakebites. Bothrops asper was responsible for 43.8% of cases and the majority of the cases occurred during the rainy season. The majority of bites (74.7%) occurred on the hands, feet or toes. Antivenom was used in 55% of patients and 67% of patients received tetanus toxoid. Only 8.7% of individuals presented to the hospital within 1 h of envenomation and more than 25% presented >6 h after envenomation. B. asper is responsible for the majority of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama. Snakebites tend to occur during the rainy season, with the majority of bites occurring on the feet. Several management factors need to improve in Panama: time to presentation, which is prolonged in the majority of cases, and antivenom, antibiotic and tetanus toxoid delivery should be standardized to optimize care.

A darker chromatic variation of Rhodnius pallescens infected by specific genetic groups of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi from Panama

BackgroundRhodnius pallescens, the only species of this genus reported in Panama, has a wide geographical distribution and is associated with most cases of Chagas disease and human infections with Trypanosoma rangeli in this country. Thus far, no phenotypic variants of this triatomine have been registered. Similarly, genotyping of the trypanosomes that infect this vector has only been partially evaluated.ResultsA total of 347 specimens of R. pallescens were collected in Attalea butyracea palm trees located near a mountainous community of the district of Santa Fe, province of Veraguas. Bugs were slightly longer and had a darker coloration compared to that reported for this species. Infection rates for trypanosomes performed with three PCR analyses showed that 41.3% of the adult triatomines were positive for T. cruzi, 52.4% were positive for T. rangeli and 28.6% had mixed T. cruzi/T. rangeli infections. Based on cox2 analysis, TcI was the single T. cruzi discrete typing unit (DTU) detected, and a genetic variant of KP1(-)/lineage C was the only genetic group found for T. rangeli.ConclusionsA darker chromatic variation of R. pallescens predominates in a mountainous region of Panama. These triatomines show high trypanosome infection rates, especially with T. rangeli. Regarding T. rangeli genetic diversity, complementary studies using other molecular markers are necessary to better define its phylogenetic position.

Primer registro fotográfico de Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora: Mephitidae) en el Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya, Provincia de Veraguas, Panamá

Este es el primer registro fotográfico para la provincia de Veraguas y el Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya, siendo la localidad conocida más al sur para Panamá y Centroamérica del Gato Cañero (Figura 1). Anteriormente se documentaron algunas observaciones realizadas en la Península de Azuero, tales como: (i) un informe de observación en la Reserva Forestal El Montuoso, Distrito de Las Minas, provincia de Herrera

Two new species of Anthurium section Xialophyllium (Araceae) from Panama

Two new species of Anthurium section Xialophyllium from Panama are described here. Both species have close affinities with Anthurium microspadix, A. davidsoniae and A. myosuroides. Anthurium monteazulense sp. nov., known only from Chiriquí Province, is characterized by its epiphytic habit, internodes somewhat longer than broad, loosely intact cataphylls, leaf blades subcordate, bullate, ovate with two pairs of basal veins and short-stipitate green to greenish yellow cylindroid spadix. The other species, Anthurium batistae sp. nov., known only from Veraguas Province, is characterized by its terrestrial habit, elongate internodes, deciduous cataphylls, leaf blades rounded at base, ovate with one pair of basal veins and prominently stipitate purplish red cylindroid spadix.

Two new fringe-limbed frogs of the genus Ecnomiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Panama.

Forest canopy-dwelling frogs are usually among the rarest anuran species observed in the neotropical forest, mainly because they fall outside of the scope of the standard search methods used by herpetologists. During field explorations undertaken in western and eastern Panama in recent years, we discovered two species belonging to the genus Ecnomiohyla, which showed significant differences in genetic distances (16S mtDNA gene) and morphological characteristics different from any known Ecnomiohyla species. The first specimen originates from the Serranía de Jingurudó, Darién province, southeastern Panamá, and is described herein as E. bailarina sp. nov., and the second specimen was found at Santa Fe National Park, Veraguas province, central-western Panama, and is described as E. veraguensis sp. nov. We provide a detailed description of both new species, including comparisons of morphological and molecular characters of almost all members of the genus in lower Central America, as well as an identification key for the entire genus.

Enteric parasites and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in children from Cañazas County, Veraguas Province, Panama.

This study was designed to examine the height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), and the prevalence of intestinal inflammation, gastrointestinal infections with parasites, and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in rural Panamanian children. Stool microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for EAEC detected Giardia lamblia (32%, 32 of 100) and EAEC (13%, 11 of 87) in the study participants, respectively. Anthropometric analyses showed that those children who were > 12 months of age had lower HAZ scores (mean of -1.449) than the reference population. As a group, the children in the study 1 to 5 years of age did not show recovery from the previously mentioned decline in terms of their HAZ. The HAZ means of the children infected with G. lamblia, EAEC, and Ascaris lumbricoides were -1.49, -1.67, and -2.11, respectively. Furthermore, the study participants with A. lumbricoides and EAEC infections in the presence of lactoferrin showed another decrease of 0.19 and 0.13, respectively, in their HAZ means.

Guzmania panamensis (Bromeliaceae) – a new species from Talamanca Mountain in Veraguas province, Western Panama

Guzmania panamensis (Bromeliaceae), a new species so far endemic to Veraguas province, Western Panama, is described and illustrated. The new species is recognized due to its peduncle much longer than the leaves and its red floral bracts, shorter than the yellow flowers. The new species is compared to morphologically similar species, namely Guzmania monostachia, Guzmania berteroniana, Guzmania elvallensis, and Guzmania skotakii.

New distribution records and variation of the two common lowland salamanders Bolitoglossa colonnea (Dunn, 1924) and B. lignicolor (Peters, 1873) in Panama (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae)

We revise the geographic distribution of two common lowland salamanders in western Panama. We close the widest gap in the known distribution of Bolitoglossa colonnea with a first record for the province of Veraguas and extend its known vertical distribution to a third life zone. For B. lignicolor we present additional localities in the province of Chiriquí and the first record from Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé that close the gap between extreme western Panama and the Azuero Peninsula. We present morphological, molecular, and coloration data for both species.

A new species of Sibon (Squamata: Colubroidea: Dipsadidae) from the Cordillera Central of western Panama, with comments on other species of the genus in the area

We describe Sibon noalamina sp. nov. from the Caribbean versant of the Cordillera Central, in the Comarca Ngöbe-Bugléand the province of Veraguas of western Panama. Due to its coral snake-like, bicolored pattern, the new species superfi-cially resembles Sibon anthracops, Dipsas articulata, D. bicolor, D. temporalis, and D. viguieri. It differs from these spe-cies, and from all its congeners, by having only five supralabials, by the unique shape of the posterior supralabial, and bya slight keeling on some dorsal rows in adults. We discuss its conservation perspectives, and provide new distributional records for S. annulatus and S. longifrenis, as well as an updated key to the Lower Central American species of Sibon.

Distribution extension for Anolis gruuo Köhler, Ponce, Sunyer and Batista, 2007 (Reptilia: Squamata: Dactyloidae) in the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé of western Panama, and first records from Veraguas province

We report on new localities for Anolis gruuo Köhler, Ponce, Sunyer and Batista, 2007 along the Serranía de Tabasará in the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé and Veraguas province of western Panama. These records extend the known geographic distribution of this lizard about 80 km eastward, and the known vertical distribution approximately 40 m lower and 630 m higher. We provide photos of specimens from different localities and comment on their morphology. Only the easternmost populations of this Panamanian endemic live inside a protected area.

A New Endemic Focus of Chagas Disease in the Northern Region of Veraguas Province, Western Half Panama, Central America

BackgroundChagas disease was originally reported in Panama in 1931. Currently, the best knowledge of this zoonosis is restricted to studies done in historically endemic regions. However, little is known about the distribution and epidemiology of Chagas disease in other rural areas of the country.Methods and FindingsA cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between May 2005 – July 2008 in four rural communities of the Santa Fe District, Veraguas Province. The study included an entomologic search to collect triatomines, bloodmeal type identification and infection rate with trypanosomes in collected vectors using a dot- blot and PCR analysis, genotyping of circulating Trypanosoma cruzi (mini-exon gene PCR analysis) and the detection of chagasic antibodies among inhabitants. The vector Rhodnius pallescens was more frequently found in La Culaca and El Pantano communities (788 specimens), where it was a sporadic household visitor. These triatomines presented darker coloration and larger sizescompared with typical specimens collected in Central Panama. Triatoma dimidiata was more common in Sabaneta de El Macho (162 specimens). In one small sub-region (El Macho), 60% of the houses were colonized by this vector. Of the examined R. pallescens, 54.7.0% (88/161) had fed on Didelphis marsupialis, and 24.6% (34/138) of T. dimidiata specimens collected inside houses were positive for human blood. R. pallescens presented an infection index with T. cruzi of 17.7% (24/136), with T. rangeli of 12.5% (17/136) and 50.7% (69/136) were mixed infections. In 117 T. dimidiata domestic specimens the infection index with T. cruzi was 21.4%. Lineage I of T. cruzi was confirmed circulating in these vectors. A T. cruzi infection seroprevalence of 2.3% (24/1,056) was found in this population.ConclusionsThis is the first report of Chagas disease endemicity in Santa Fe District, and it should be considered a neglected public health problem in this area of Panama.