BackgroundThe aim of this study was to detect and molecularly identify Rickettsia spp. in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) collected from free-roaming dogs in 30 communities from five municipalities in the south of Coahuila State, northern Mexico, where Rocky Mountain spotted fever is endemic.MethodsIn total, 60 dogs from each municipality were examined for engorged ticks. DNA was isolated from tick pools and conventional PCR assays targeting the 23S-5S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer and outer membrane protein (ompA) gene of Rickettsia spp. were performed.ResultsAll ticks (n = 1238) were morphologically identified as R. sanguineus (s.l.). Six pools (each with six engorged females) from four municipalities were positive to Rickettsia spp. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of R. rickettsii and R. rhipicephali in R. sanguineus (s.l.) in these ticks.ConclusionsThis study confirms the presence of R. rickettsii and R. rhipicephali in R. sanguineus (s.l.) from stray dogs in the south of Coahuila. This suggests that stray dogs may play a role in the inter-municipal dissemination of infected ticks in this region. Further research is required to assess whether ticks from stray dogs could serve as good indicators for the molecular xenomonitoring of R. rickettsii in this region. Considering that R. sanguineus (s.l.) is a proven vector of R. rickettsii in Mexico, increased awareness regarding permanent tick control in dogs is warranted.

RESUMEN. La Fiebre Manchada de las Montañas Rocosas es una enfermedad reemergente en la Comarca Lagunera, ya que en los últimos años se han reportado numerosos casos en pacientes humanos. Para detectar la presencia de Rickettsia rickettsii (Brumpt, 1922) en la garrapata café del perro, se realizaron colectas aisladas en siete áreas rurales y una área periurbana de la Comarca Lagunera de Coahuila y Durango, durante junio 2015 a febrero 2016. Se colectaron de manera directa 840 garrapatas hembras a repleción sobre 168 perros domésticos (cinco garrapatas por perro), las cuales se depositaron en viales de 2 ml. Las garrapatas se llevaron al Laboratorio de Parasitología de la Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, donde se identificaron como Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806). Para el análisis molecular se eligieron al azar 3 garrapatas por muestra para conformar 195 pools, en cada uno de los cuales se realizó la extracción de órganos internos y contenido estomacal. Para obtener ADN de cada pool se empleó la técnica del CTAB, se amplificó el gen gltA mediante ensayos de PCR usando un termociclador y un iniciador genérico (Forward: RpCS.877p, Reverse: RpCS.1258n). Ocho pools resultaron positivos a Rickettsia rickettsii con una frecuencia del 6.9% (2/29) en la colonia Leticia Herrera (Gómez Palacio, Durango), taxonóun pool positivo (1/26= 3.85%) para Parras (Coahuila) y cinco pools para el municipio de Matamoros, Coahuila correspondientes a los ejidos Granada (2/28=7.1%), Alamito (1/23=4.35%), Consuelo (1/32=3.13%) y Vizcaya (1/19=5.25%). Por medio de una secuenciación se obtuvo una identidad del 100% a la cepa Brasileña 647 (KJ588069.1) de Rickettsia rickettsii y 99% de similitud con las extracciones del In-DRE (KU587806.1 y KT881097.1).

Extreme geomorphological and hydrometeorological events cause landslides (gravitational processes) in vulnerable and marginalized communities, where the risk and effects of a natural disaster reduce responsiveness to environmental adversities. In the state of Hidalgo (Mexico) exists dangers as slope instability and processes of massive removal of soil, but in some municipalities of the Sierra Otomí-Tepehua (SOT) does not exist a municipal instrument that provides information on high-risk localities. This study evaluated landslide risk in 220 localities located in three municipalities of the Sierra Otomí-Tepehua region (SOT) using information from the 2020 national census. A geospatial analysis was built in localities with landslide risk, further social vulnerability was evaluated in 33 localities located on hillsides, and the Social Vulnerability Index of Housing (IVSV) was determined. 109 localities with a high and very high level of social vulnerability were identified due to the physical condition of the dwellings located in areas with landslide risk. Finally, risk map of landslides was developed through multi-criteria analysis to focus on mitigate and prevent disasters in the most vulnerable localities of the SOT.

Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews es una orquídea endémica de México que está sujeta a protección especial en la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de sustratos orgánicos y un biofertilizante en el desarrollo de raíces en esquejes de V. planifolia. El experimento se realizó en un diseño completamente al azar. Los tratamientos fueron: vermicomposta (T1), bocashi (T2), combinación de 50 por ciento bocashi y 50 por ciento suelo agrícola (T3), suelo agrícola con biofertilizante (T4) y suelo agrícola (testigo; T5). Los abonos orgánicos y el biofertilizante favorecieron el porcentaje de enraizamiento de los esquejes en 90 por ciento e influyeron en el periodo de brotación (49 días) respecto al testigo (80% y 71 días). La vermicomposta mostró mayor longitud y diámetro de raíces primarias (15.3 y 0.33 cm) y secundarias (2.9 y 0.168 cm). Los abonos orgánicos como sustratos tuvieron un efecto positivo en la formación de raíces y brotes en esquejes de vainilla.

In Mexico, 99 tick species have been registered and 26 species of Amblyomma genus are known; the Hidalgo state does not have updated catalogs of Amblyomma spp. Between October 2019 and March 2020, were samples of ticks done in the Otomi-Tepehua Region directly from cattle, horses, dogs, cats, humans, leaf litter, weeds, resting places of animals and animal corpses. In the municipalities of Huehuetla, Tenango de Doria and San Bartolo Tutotepec were gathered 735 samples from warm weather rangelands; 494 of the no engorged ticks were randomly selected and taxonomically recognized as A. mixtum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae). The ticks were caught from domestic hosts (n = 177), horses (n = 172), animals resting places (n = 51), humans (n = 34), animal corpses (n = 31) and cattle (n = 29). The locality that yielded the highest number of ectoparasites was Río Blanco (16.5%), followed by San Antonio (12.7%), El Canjoy (11.1%), San Isidro (9.5%) and La Esperanza Uno (8.9%); the highest infestation rates found were in horses (34.8%) and canines (32.9%), with all other host types under 10%. 13 ixodides A. mixtum were identified from humans that presented a clinical profile of fever (≥ 102.2 °F), severe muscle pain, lethargy, headache, papules and scoriations at the point of the tick bite. The tick A. mixtum is present in peridomestic environments of the Otomi Tepehua Region, where animal horses and canines serve as the principal disseminators from the rangelands to the rural housing.