Genetic Instability among Hitnü People Living in Colombian Crude-Oil Exploitation Areas.

Oil exploitation, drilling, transportation, and processing in refineries produces a complex mixture of chemical compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which may affect the health of populations living in the zone of influence of mining activities (PZOI). Thus, to better understand the effects of oil exploitation activities on cytogenetic endpoint frequency, we conducted a biomonitoring study in the Hitnü indigenous populations from eastern Colombia by using the cytokinesis micronucleus cytome assay (CBMN-cyt). PAH exposure was also measured by determine urine 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) using HPLC. We also evaluated the relationship between DNA damage and 1-OHP levels in the oil exploitation area, as well as the modulating effects of community health factors, such as Chagas infection; nutritional status; and consumption of traditional hallucinogens, tobacco, and wine from traditional palms. The frequencies of the CBMN-cyt assay parameters were comparable between PZOI and Hitnü populations outside the zone of influence of mining activities (POZOI); however, a non-significant incremental trend among individuals from the PZOI for most of the DNA damage parameters was also observed. In agreement with these observations, levels of 1-OHP were also identified as a risk factor for increased MN frequency (PR = 1.20) compared to POZOI (PR = 0.7). Proximity to oil exploitation areas also constituted a risk factor for elevated frequencies of nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and APOP-type cell death. Our results suggest that genetic instability and its potential effects among Hitnü individuals from PZOI and POZOI could be modulated by the combination of multiple factors, including the levels of 1-OHP in urine, malnutrition, and some traditional consumption practices.

Caracterización cromosómica y morfométrica de Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus 1758) en la región Caribe colombiano / Chromosomal and morphometric characterization of Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus 1758) in Colombian Caribbean region

El género Carollia es un grupo diverso de murciélagos neotropicales. La similitud de caracteres morfométricos y alto grado de diversidad, dificulta la identificación precisa de las especies del género. Pese a ser un género común en Colombia, no existen reportes citogenéticos para la región Caribe, por tanto, se caracterizó su cariotipo y morfometría craneal, aportando datos citogenéticos útiles para dilucidar la taxonomía del género. Se realizaron muestreos en fragmentos de bosque y reservas de la sociedad civil del departamento de Córdoba. Se capturaron 15 individuos (6 machos, 9 hembras) obteniendo valores promedios de antebrazo de 41.92 mm, tibia de 18.49 mm y peso de 16.80 g, además de los valores obtenidos para las medidas craneales, dentales y mandibulares que confirman que el material fue correctamente catalogado como C. perspicillata. Cinco ejemplares fueron cariotipados (3 machos, 2 hembras), contabilizando 262 metafases. El número diploide de C. perspicillata se determinó de 2n = 20/XX para hembras y 2n = 21XY1Y2 para machos con Número Fundamental = 36. Por bandeo G se encontró homogeneidad en los pares 1, 2, 3 y 5. Con este trabajo, se incrementa la representatividad geográfica de los estudios citogenéticos de C. perspicillata para la costa norte de Colombia, conservando normalidad en cuanto al número cromosómico reportado.

The Carollia genus is a diverse group of bats from the Neotropical region, the similarity of its morphometric characters and high level diversity make it difficult to pinpoint the exact identification of species from this genus along its distribution. However, despite the Carollia being common for Colombia, there does not exist some cytogenetic research for Colombian Caribbean region, therefore, it characterized its karyotype and cranial morphometry, providing useful data that can contribute to taxonomic identification of the genus. The specimens of C. perspicillata samples were collected in forest fragments and civil society reserves in the Córdoba department, Colombia. Captured 15 individuals (6 males and 9 females) obtaining average forearm values of 41.92 mm, tibia 18.49 mm and weight 16.80 g, in addition to the values obtained for the cranial, dental and mandibular measurements that confirm that the material was catalogued correctly as C. perspicillata. Five specimens were used for the karyotype analysis (3 males, 2 females), counting 262 metaphases. The diploid number of C. perspicillata was determined from 2n = 20/XX for females and 2n = 21XY1Y2 for males with Fundamental Number = 36. By band G, homogeneity was found in pairs 1, 2, 3 and 5. This research increases the geographic representativeness of the cytogenetic studies of C. perspicillata for the northern of Colombia, preserving normality in terms of the chromosomal number reported.