Massive testing in the Galapagos Islands and low positivity rate to control SARS-CoV-2 spread during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic: a story of success for Ecuador and South America.

INTRODUCTION: During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America, countries like Ecuador, Peru and Colombia experienced chaotic scenarios with public health systems collapsing and lack of testing capacity to control the spread of the virus. In main cities like Guayaquil in Ecuador, dramatic situations such as corpses in the streets were internationally broadcasted. METHODS: While the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating South America, SARS-CoV-2 transmission was successfully managed in the Galapagos Islands due to the implementation of a massive screening strategy including hospitalized and community-dwelling populations, and travel restrictions facilitated by its geographical location (972 km from the Ecuadorian continental territory). Floreana Island was one of the few locations in the world that remained COVID-19 free during 2020. RESULTS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the data related to SARS-CoV-2 massive testing campaigns from April to September 2020 in the Galapagos Islands, and found this territory to have the lowest positivity rate in South America (4.8-6.7%) and the highest testing ratio among Ecuadorian provinces (9.87% of the population, which is 2480 out of 25 124 inhabitants) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: This story of success was possible because of the interinstitutional collaboration between the regional government of Galapagos Islands (Consejo de Gobierno), the local authorities (Gobiernos Autonomos Descentralizados de Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela), the regional authorities from Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, the Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos and Universidad de Las Américas.

Correction: Culda et al. The Presence of Dirofilaria immitis in Domestic Dogs on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. Pathogens 2022, 11, 1287.

There was an error in the original publication [...].

The Presence of Dirofilaria immitis in Domestic Dogs on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos.

This study's concept was outlined around the principle of conservation medicine in a biodiversity hotspot from the Neotropical realm: the Galapagos Islands. The wildlife balance has been modified by multi-host parasites introduced with some domestic animals (dogs and cats). The endemic and endangered species, the Galapagos sea lion (GSL, Zalophus wollebaeki), has been exposed to pathogens of canine and feline origin that could become a significant conservation problem for this species. One of these potential cases is the filarial heartworm infection, Dirofilaria immitis, which has been reported on other pinnipeds, with fatalities and clinical symptoms. Therefore, this study evaluated the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in dogs from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, where the largest rookery of GSLs lives and where the proximity to domestic dogs is the most intimate compared to other rookeries of the archipelago. Between July and September 2021, 587 blood samples were collected from owned dogs of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Overall, 10 dogs (1.7%) were positive for the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis with a confidence interval of 0.7%-2.8%. No other filarial species were identified. Significant differences in prevalence between different dog categories were observed only for the age (p = 0.001). This study represents the first report of D. immitis, the agent of canine heartworm disease, in dogs from San Cristobal Island. Hence, the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in the blood of dogs could increase the risk of infection to which the GSL is exposed in the region.

Sexualidad y Género en el Proyecto de Personas con Discapacidad Buscando Mi Espacio. Un reto social / Sexuality and gender in a disability persons project Buscando mi Espacio, a social challeng

Por constituir la sexualidad un área de conflicto en jóvenes y adultas con discapacidad en el proyecto de calidad de vida Buscando mi Espacio y siendo coherente con el III Plan de Acción Nacional para la Atención de las Personas con Discapacidad 2006 2010 se aplica una estrategia participativa a lo largo de 2 años con grandes resultados que a constituido un pilar importante en la reinserción social de esta población antes mencionada. En este artículo se realiza un corte longitudinal en año que muestra la evolución satisfactoria de este grupo a partir de la aplicación de las diferentes terapias establecidas(AU)

To constitute the sexuality a conflict area in disabled young and mature women in the project of quality of life Buscando mi Espacio and being coherent with the III Plan of National Action for the Attention of People with Discapacidad 2006 20101 a participative strategy is applied along 2 years with great results that had constituted an important pillar before in this population's social reinsertion mentioned. This article shows a longitudinal cut in one year with satisfactory evolution of this group, starting from the application of the different established therapies(AU)

Terapeuticas noffarmacologicas en jovenes y adutos con discapacidad, desde la atencion primaria de salud / Non pharmacologic therapeutics in young and adults with incapacity from Primary Health Care

Buscando mejorar la calidad de vida en un grupo de jóvenes y adultos con discapacidad, se decide crear un taller comunitario compuesto por 15 miembros, en el cual se aplican técnicas de enfoque multidisciplinario, que han garantizado la plena reinserción social de los miembros que componen este colectivo. Para este artículo se realiza un corte longitudinal a lo largo de 3 años que muestra la evolución satisfactoria de este grupo a partir de la aplicación de las diferentes terapias establecidas.

In order to improve the quality of life of several disabled persons, a community group was created with 15 members, in which several multidisciplinary techniques were applied to guarantee the full social reinsertion of the participants. This article describes results of the work done during 8 years, showing the satisfactory evolution of the group due to the application of the different established therapies.

Terapeúticas no farmacológicas en jóvenes y adultos con discapacidad, desde la atención primaria de salud / Non pharmacologic therapeutics in young and adults with incapacity from Primary Health Care

Buscando mejorar la calidad de vida en un grupo de jóvenes y adultos con discapacidad, se decide crear un taller comunitario compuesto por 15 miembros, en el cual se aplican técnicas de enfoque multidisciplinario, que han garantizado la plena reinserción social de los miembros que componen este colectivo. Para este artículo se realiza un corte longitudinal a lo largo de 3 años que muestra la evolución satisfactoria de este grupo a partir de la aplicación de las diferentes terapias establecidas(AU)

In order to improve the quality of life of several disabled persons, a community group was created with 15 members, in which several multidisciplinary techniques were applied to guarantee the full social reinsertion of the participants. This article describes results of the work done during 8 years, showing the satisfactory evolution of the group due to the application of the different established therapies(AU)