Pedrowygomyia (Diptera: Simuliidae): Discovery of a New Species After 30 yr.

Pedrowygomyia is a Neotropical genus of Simuliidae composed of four species; all were described in 1989 from high-elevation (above 3,000 m) areas in the Andean region. In this article, a new species for this genus, Pedrowygomyia hanaq n. sp., is described based on all stages of development. The new species was collected in the south-central Andes of Peru at an altitude above 4,000 m, and its known distribution is currently restricted to the type-locality. Based on the pupal stage, the new species appears to be more closely related to Pedrowygomyia punapi (Wygodzinsky & Coscarón) (Diptera: Simuliidae), a species known from Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.

A new species of Rheotanytarsus Thienemann amp; Bause (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Peruvian Andes, with updated key to South American species.

Rheotanytarsus is a speciose genus, currently composed by more than 100 nominal species distributed worldwide, 19 are known from the Neotropical region, four from South America and only one is registered for Peru. In the present study, a new species is described and illustrated based on males collected in the Peruvian Andes. In addition, the key to the South American species is updated and a distribution map of them is provided. Rheotanytarsus amaru sp. n. is easily distinguished from the congeneric species by the dark general coloration and the hypopygial morphology.

Variación espacial de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados acuáticos en la zona litoral del humedal costero Santa Rosa, Lima, Perú

Los humedales costeros son ecosistemas sensibles de alta productividad por los servicios ecosistémicos que brindan: purificación del agua, reducción de las inundaciones, protección de las costas marinas y; además, son lugares de gran diversidad biológica. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la estructura comunitaria de los macroinvertebrados acuáticos en relación con las variaciones espaciales en la zona litoral del humedal costero Santa Rosa en Lima, Perú. El estudio fue realizado en seis periodos bimestrales desde agosto 2015 a junio 2016. Se establecieron ocho estaciones de muestreo: tres estaciones en la laguna principal, tres estaciones en el brazo de la laguna y dos estaciones en pozas pequeñas aisladas. Los muestreos se realizaron con una red tipo D de 250 μm de apertura de malla y tres réplicas por cada estación. Las ocho estaciones evaluadas se caracterizaron ambientalmente y se registraron los parámetros fisicoquímicos del agua para cada estación. Se recolectaron en total 28 655 macroinvertebrados distribuidos en 76 géneros. Los órdenes de mayor riqueza fueron: Diptera y Coleoptera con 24 y 19 géneros respectivamente. De estos últimos, los más abundantes fueron: Buenoa (Hemiptera: Notonectidae), Ischnura (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), Chironomus y Goeldichironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae). Estos cuatro representaron el 62.43 % de la abundancia total. En cuanto a la variación espacial, la mayor parte de las estaciones de estudio compartieron la misma estructura y composición de macroinvertebrados debido a que se conectan al cuerpo de agua principal de manera temporal o permanente, lo cual les confirió una estabilidad y resiliencia mayor. Solo las estaciones con una baja profundidad, menor extensión, escasa vegetación acuática e impacto antropogénico mayor se apartaron del conjunto general. A pesar de los variados impactos producidos por la agricultura, ganadería y la actividad urbana que sufre el humedal, se observó que las estaciones más profundas y con cobertura vegetal son más resilientes que las zonas expuestas al impacto y con menor volumen de agua y vegetación. Por otro lado, los parámetros fisicoquímicos del agua en la primera estación (E1) se diferencian al resto de la comunidad por su ausencia de impacto.

Coastal wetlands are sensitive ecosystems of high productivity due to ecological services they provide: water purification, flood reduction, and protection of marine coasts. In addition, these zones are places of great biological diversity. The objective of the present study was to determine the community structure of the aquatic macroinvertebratesin relation to the spatial variations in the littoral zone of the Santa Rosa coastal wetland in Lima, Peru. The study was carried out during six bimonthly periods from August 2015 to June 2016. We established eight sampling sites: three sites in the main lagoon, three sites in the lagoon arm and two sites in isolated small pools. We carried out the sampling with a D-frame of 250 μm mesh aperture with three replicates for each site. The eight evaluated sites were environmentally characterized, and the physicochemical parameters of the water were recorded for each sampling site. We collected 28 655 macroinvertebrates distributed in 76 genera. Diptera and Coleoptera were the orders with the greatest richness: 24 and 19 genera respectively. The most abundant genera were: Buenoa (Hemiptera: Notonectidae), Ischnura (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), Chironomus and Goeldichironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae); these four represented 62.43 % of the total abundance. In the spatial variation, most sites shared the same structure and composition of macroinvertebrates. This was expected because they are connected to the main water body temporarily or permanently, which consequently gives them greater stability and resilience. The sites with shallow depth, smaller extension, scarce aquatic vegetation and greater anthropogenic impact were the only ones with results separated from the general set. Due to the variety of environmental impacts produced by agriculture, livestock, and urban activity on the wetland, it was observed that the sites with deeper and more abundant vegetation were more resilient than the areas exposed to environmental impacts and with less water and vegetation. On the other hand, the physicochemical parameters of water at one site (E1) differentiate the community in the absence of impact.

Composición y estructura de la comunidad de coleópteros acuáticos (Insecta: Coleoptera) a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal, Cusco, Perú / Composition and structure of water beetles community (Insecta: Coleoptera) along an altitudinal gradient, Cusco, Peru

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la composición y estructura de la comunidad de coleópteros acuáticos en diferentes quebradas a lo largo de un amplio gradiente altitudinal (476-4411 m de altitud) en Cusco, Perú. Para ello, se establecieron 12 estaciones de muestreo y se realizaron dos colectas durante los meses de mayo y julio-agosto del 2013 (época seca), en la zona de rápidos y sustrato pedregoso. Fueron colectados 3069 individuos entre larvas y adultos de coleópteros acuáticos, pertenecientes a 23 géneros, agrupados en 10 familias. Elmidae presentó la mayor riqueza (13 géneros) y abundancia (90.4 %), distribuyéndose a lo largo de todo el gradiente. Los géneros más representativos por abundancia fueron: Austrelmis, Neoelmis, Heterelmis y Anchytarsus. Las pruebas estadísticas no paramétricas Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney y Kruskall-Wallis para la riqueza, abundancia y estructura comunitaria, así como, el análisis de agrupamiento (CLUSTER) y el análisis de similitud (ANOSIM) mostraron diferencias significativas en la composición de la comunidad de coleópteros acuáticos a lo largo del gradiente estudiado. El análisis de similitud porcentual (SIMPER) permitió identificar los géneros que más influyeron en la estructura comunitaria, destacando Neoelmis y Heterelmis en estaciones ubicadas a baja y media altitud, y Austrelmis en estaciones de mayor altitud. Se evidenció una correlación positiva de la temperatura con la riqueza, diversidad y equidad, y una correlación negativa de la altitud con estas mismas variables.

The aim of this paper was to know the composition and structure of water beetles community in different streams along a wide altitudinal gradient (476-4411 m altitude) in Cusco, Peru. For that, 12 sampling stations were established and two collects were carried out during May and July-August 2013 (dry season), in the running water and stony substrate. A total of 3069 individuals were collected between larvae and adults of aquatic beetles, belonging to 23 genera, grouped into 10 families. Elmidae presented the highest richness (13 genera) and abundance (90.4%), being distributed along the whole gradient. The most representative genera by abundance were: Austrelmis, Neoelmis, Heterelmis and Anchytarsus. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric statistical tests for richness, abundance and community structure, clustering analysis (CLUSTER) and similarity analysis (ANOSIM) showed significant differences in the composition of the beetles community along the gradient studied. The percentage similarity analysis (SIMPER) allowed to identify the genera that most influenced the community structure, stand out Neoelmis and Heterelmis in stations located at low and medium altitude, and Austrelmis in stations of higher altitude. A positive correlation of temperature with the richness, diversity and equity, and a negative correlation with these variables altitude was evident.

New morphological information on Simulium wygodzinskyorum Coscarón & Py-Daniel, 1989 (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Simulium wygodzinskyorum Coscarón & Py-Daniel was originally described based on a small number of specimens collected in Junín Province, Peru. We sampled in the same province as the type locality of this species, collecting last-instar larvae and pupae. Since the original larval description of this species was based on a single immature individual, our objective is to provide a last-instar larval description and also to provide additional morphological information on the pupa and male genitalia of this species. Some morphological characteristics not reported before for this species, such as, dorsal tubercles on larval abdominal segments, are described. Abdominal chaetotaxy of pupae is revised and the male ventral plate is fully illustrated, also it is discussed the importance of standardizing the position in which the ventral plate is illustrated. This species was collected in a stream with 2-8 m in width, exposed to sunlight with rocks of different sizes, in low density.

A new species of Metapelopia Silva, Oliveira & Trivinho-Strixino (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Peru.

A new species of the monotypic genus Metapelopia is described and illustrated based on all life stages. Adults of the Metapelopia peruensis sp. n. can be easily distinguished from those of M. corbii by the color pattern of the legs and abdomen. Larvae and pupae were collected associated with algae accumulated on rocks.

Streptococcus agalactiae in Brazil: serotype distribution, virulence determinants and antimicrobial susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a major cause of neonatal sepsis and is also associated with invasive and noninvasive infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant adults, elderly and patients with underlying medical conditions. Ten capsular serotypes have been recognized, and determination of their distribution within a specific population or geographical region is important as they are major targets for the development of vaccine strategies. We have evaluated the characteristics of GBS isolates recovered from individuals with infections or colonization by this microorganism, living in different geographic regions of Brazil. METHODS: A total of 434 isolates were identified and serotyped by conventional phenotypic tests. The determination of antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by the disk diffusion method. Genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (ermA, ermB, mefA) and tetracycline (tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO) as well as virulence-associated genes (bac, bca, lmb, scpB) were investigated using PCR. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to examine the genetic diversity of macrolide-resistant and of a number of selected macrolide-susceptible isolates. RESULTS: Overall, serotypes Ia (27.6%), II (19.1%), Ib (18.7%) and V (13.6%) were the most predominant, followed by serotypes IV (8.1%) and III (6.7%). All the isolates were susceptible to the beta-lactam antimicrobials tested and 97% were resistant to tetracycline. Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin were found in 4.1% and 3% of the isolates, respectively. Among the resistance genes investigated, tetM (99.3%) and tetO (1.8%) were detected among tetracycline-resistant isolates and ermA (39%) and ermB (27.6%) were found among macrolide-resistant isolates. The lmb and scpB virulence genes were detected in all isolates, while bac and bca were detected in 57 (13.1%) and 237 (54.6%) isolates, respectively. Molecular typing by PFGE showed that resistance to erythromycin was associated with a variety of clones. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that GBS isolates circulating in Brazil have a variety of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and suggest that macrolide-resistant isolates may arise by both clonal spread and independent acquisition of resistance genes.