Jesús Olivero Verbel

Nematode infection in fish from Cartagena Bay, North of Colombia

Parasitic nematode infection indices were recorded in different fish species collected at Cartagena Bay, North of Colombia. Among 19 studied species, the Mugil genus presented the highest prevalence (83.9-100%), although Sciades herzbergii, Caranx hippos and Centropomus undecimalis were also found infected with nematodes. Parasites were found in the liver, intestinal mesenteries and encysted near the intervertebral joints, with an average parasite abundance of 4.0 ± 0.3 nematodes per fish. Morphological analysis allowed the identification of these nematodes as Contracaecum sp. A small, but positive correlation was found between parasite abundance and length (R=0.294, P<0.001) and weight (R=0.244, P<0.001). In contrast, the correlation between parasite abundance and condition factor was negative (R=-0.191, P<0.001). These results are the first describing the presence of nematodes in several fish species of this ecosystem, and it highlights the need for monitoring parasitism in Mugil species in order to avoid parasite ingestion during fish consumption.

Nanotecnología aplicada a la medicina

La nanotecnologia comprende la creacion, manipulacion y utilizacion de materiales en el orden nanometrico (10-9 m) y su aplicacion en los campos de la quimica, la biologia, la fisica, la ingenieria y en especial la medicina, se ha traducido en trascendentales avances en la ciencia. La hoy denominada nanomedicina ha comportado significativos adelantos en la monitorizacion, la reparacion de tejidos, el diagnostico, el tratamiento y la prevencion de enfermedades mediante el uso de herramientas como nanosensores, nanoparticulas y nanotubos, y en el futuro cercano nanorrobots capaces de penetrar en el organismo humano para repararlo. La nanotecnologia se encuentra en una fase de crecimiento y ha capturado el interes de empresas, gobiernos e inversionistas que buscan desarrollar productos utiles para aplicarlos en diferentes esferas, especialmente en medicina.

COMPARACIÓN DE LA COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA Y DE LA ACTIVIDAD BIOLÓGICA DE LOS ACEITES ESENCIALES DE Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br., OBTENIDOS VARIANDO LAS CONDICIONES DE EXTRACCIÓN Y SECADO

A comparison was made between the chemical composition and biological activity of Lippia alba essential oils, obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation, MWHD under different extraction times and plant drying (in the shade) levels. The essential oils were analyzed by GC -MS. Although the oils were qualitatively similar, quantitative differences in the composition and significant oil yield differences were observed. The oil with the highest yield (2.2 % w/w) and limonene and carvone content was obtained after 45 min extraction from plant material dried for 4 days . The highest toxicity against Artemia franciscana was shown by the oil obtained after 60 min extraction from plant material dried for 3 days.