Medicinal and ethnoveterinary remedies of hunters in Trinidad

BACKGROUND: Ethnomedicines are used by hunters for themselves and their hunting dogs in Trinidad. Plants are used for snakebites, scorpion stings, for injuries and mange of dogs and to facilitate hunting success. RESULTS: Plants used include Piper hispidum, Pithecelobium unguis-cati, Bauhinia excisa, Bauhinia cumanensis, Cecropia peltata, Aframomum melegueta, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata, Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, Nicotiana tabacum, Vernonia scorpioides, Petiveria alliacea, Renealmia alpinia, Justicia secunda, Phyllanthus urinaria,Phyllanthus niruri,Momordica charantia, Xiphidium caeruleum, Ottonia ovata, Lepianthes peltata, Capsicum frutescens, Costus scaber, Dendropanax arboreus, Siparuma guianensis, Syngonium podophyllum, Monstera dubia, Solanum species, Eclipta prostrata, Spiranthes acaulis, Croton gossypifolius, Barleria lupulina, Cola nitida, Acrocomia ierensis (tentative ID). CONCLUSION: Plant use is based on odour, and plant morphological characteristics and is embedded in a complex cultural context based on indigenous Amerindian beliefs. It is suggested that the medicinal plants exerted a physiological action on the hunter or his dog. Some of the plants mentioned contain chemicals that may explain the ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary use. For instance some of the plants influence the immune system or are effective against internal and external parasites. Plant baths may contribute to the health and well being of the hunting dogs.

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis as the cause of death in captive non-human primates

Fatal eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due Angiostrongylus cantonensis is reported in captive non-human primates. A howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) at the Audubon park and Zoological Gardens, New Orleans,LA, died 21 days after initial clinical symptoms. A white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) died at the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, Nassau, Bahamas, 17 days after onset of symptoms. Both had access to free-ranging by A.cantonensis in non-human primates in the western hemisphere. (AU)

The status of Green Monkey (cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) as a carrier of disease in Barbados - abstract

The vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) was introduced to Barbados from Africa in the 17th Century, and there are now between 5,000 and 10,000 monkeys on the island. Because they live in proximity to man, and because in Africa the species is a well-known carrier of highly pathogenic organism, the disease status of the Barbadian monkey is of interest. Sera from captive, wild-caught monkeys have been examined by several individuals and institutions. so far there is no evidence that Barbadian Cercopithecus carries dengue of yellow fever virus, Marburg virus, HTLV, herpes virus, any other pathogenic virus for which sera were tested, or tuberculosis. Approximately 305 of the population carries antibodies to Leptospira, predominantly to serogroup Ballum. This serogroup causes only 6 percent of severe human cases. In addition, several cases of severe gum infections have been note which may be advanced chronic periodontitis. Some of the cases were fatal. Cercopithecus is not considered to be a public health threat in Barbados at this time (AU)

A further account of the Trinidad outbreak of acute rabic myelitis: histology of the experimental disease

Experimental work proving that the cause of the Trinidad outbreak of acute myelitis in man, and of the so-called botulism in cattle, is the virus of rabies is detailed. The vector has not been determined with certainty but the evidence available suggests that it is the vampire-bat. The histology of spontaneous cases and of the disease in the monkey and rabbit is described. (Summary).