Artículos científicos

Potential distribution of the oncilla Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae) based on highresolution spatial data and camera traps in a national park in Peru

2026-04-16T21:33:26Z

Potential distribution of the oncilla Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae) based on highresolution spatial data and camera traps in a national park in Peru Briceño, Nicole; Cano, Deyvis; Cámara, Frank; Campos, Bertha; Sandoval, Homer; Ricra, Alex; Rojas-Briceño, Nilton Potential species distribution models (SDMs) are typically evaluated over large territories via low-resolution spatial data and biased presence records. The Parque Nacional de Tingo María (National Park; PNTM, by their initials in Spanish), a small territory, presents challenges for this type of study. This study aimed to analyze the SDM of an oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) and evaluate the most influential spatial data and specific distribution areas. The Maxent (Maximum Entropy) algorithm was used with 32 high-resolution spatial data layers derived from a PlanetScope multispectral satellite image, DEM, and bioclimatic, social, and infrastructure variables, resampled to 4.5 m resolution, along with 13 presence records from camera traps. The zones were overlaid to identify the species' habitat. The model has an AUC of 0.992, covering 54 hectares, favoring areas with the coldest quarter precipitation (Bio 19), dense vegetation (NDVI), and avoiding roadways and areas with lower elevations. The species is located in Buffer Zones (72.06%), Strict Protection Zones (3.93%), Recovery Zones (3.41%), Special Use Zones (0.54%), Tourist Zone I (10.66%), Tourist Zone II (0%), and Wilderness Zone (9.4%). The viability of the SDM in small spaces with precise, high-resolution data is highlighted. The current zoning of PNTM may not be sufficient to protect the critical habitats of most oncilla species.

Uncovering the Resistome of a Peruvian City through a Metagenomic Analysis of Sewage Samples

2026-04-16T21:20:49Z

Uncovering the Resistome of a Peruvian City through a Metagenomic Analysis of Sewage Samples Poterico, Julio A.; Jaramillo-Valverde, Luis; Pablo-Ramirez, Nelis; Roa-Linares, Vicky C.; Martinez-Jaramillo, Catalina; Alvites-Arrieta, Sandra; Ubillus, Milward; Palma-Lozano, Diana; Castrejon-Cabanillas, Rony; Davison, Samuel; Gomez, Andres; Guio, Heinner Background: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern globally. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in sewage water samples from two hospitals and an adjacent community or urban setting in Huanuco, a Peruvian city located in the highlands. Methods: We collected samples from the community wastewater system and from sewage pipes from the two hospitals in Huanuco. DNA was extracted from 250 mL of sewage water samples (n = 6) and subjected to microbiome profiling using 16S rRNA short amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. We analyzed the taxonomic and functional content in all samples, including alpha and beta diversity metrics, and searched for ARGs. Results: Our results showed that samples taken from the community wastewater system were compositionally different and harbored greater bacterial taxonomic and functional diversity compared to samples collected from the hospitals’ wastewater system. We found a high abundance of bacteria associated with resistance to beta-lactams, macrolides, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines in all samples. However, there were no significant differences in the abundance or composition of ARGs between the community wastewater samples and those taken from the two hospitals. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that metagenomics analyses in wastewater sewage could be a useful tool for monitoring antibiotic resistance in urban settings. These data could be used to develop local public health policies, particularly in cities or countries with limited resources to establish large-scale One Health projects.

Agro-morphological characterization of tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) accessions using descriptors and spectral metrics derived from UAVs

2026-04-16T21:09:48Z

Agro-morphological characterization of tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) accessions using descriptors and spectral metrics derived from UAVs Peña-Elme, Eunice; Ortega-Quispe, Kevin; Enriquez-Pinedo, Lucia; Cerrón-Mercado, Francis; Amaro-Camarena, Nery; Girón-Aguilar, Carolina; Loayza-Loza, Hildo; Pizarro-Carcausto, Samuel Tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis S.) is a legume native to the Andes, recognized for its high nutritional value, which gives it great potential in food security programs. Therefore, understanding and advancing the conservation of its morphological diversity is essential. In this study, 140 accessions from the national germplasm collection of the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation of Peru were evaluated, along with two cultivars ("INIA 445 Masacanchino" and "Andenes 90"). A traditional agro-morphological characterization was conducted using 16 quantitative and 40 qualitative descriptors, complemented by phenological data obtained from time series of reflectance indices generated by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, a principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to select the most relevant variables, and a clustering analysis along with a dendrogram was developed to classify the accessions. The results revealed significant differences between groups (p < 0.05) in terms of inflorescence length, number of pods on the main axis, number of primary branches, and yield per plant. Likewise, the morphological groups exhibited variations in phenophases derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Four morphological groups were identified: group 3 (G3) showed the highest growth rate followed by a decline, while group 4 (G4) stood out for its highest initial growth rate. Furthermore, the observed homogeneous phenological conditions indicated that groups 1 (G1) and 4 (G4) matured earlier, making them promising candidates for selection. These findings demonstrate the wide genetic variability of tarwi, which can be exploited in breeding programs for the development of new cultivars. Thus, the study highlights the importance of morphological characterization in understanding the variability of an understudied crop such as tarwi, contributing to conservation and promoting its protection and sustainability.

blaOXA-51-Negative Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii Complex as a Cause of Human Infection in Peru

2026-04-16T17:55:42Z

blaOXA-51-Negative Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii Complex as a Cause of Human Infection in Peru Oporto-Llerena, Rosario; Huerto-Huánuco, Rosario; Quispe-Hualpa, Yaneth; Palomino-Kobayashi, Luciano A.; Soza, Gabriela; Rojas-Jaimes, Jesús; Gonzales, Patricia; Pollack, Luis; Gomez, Andrea C.; Salvador-Luján, Gina; Cuaresma, Edwin; Luque, Nestor; Casapia, Martín; Arteaga-Livias, Kovy; Sáenz, Yolanda; Pons, Maria J.; Ruiz, Joaquim Background: Common identification techniques do not differentiate among members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACB) complex, and the presence of non-baumannii Acinetobacter is often misinterpreted. The bla OXA-51 gene is located within the chromosome of Acinetobacter baumannii. Despite its plasmid dissemination to other members of the genus, it may be considered in initial species screening. Thus, this study aimed to determine the presence of bla OXA-51-negative Acinetobacter spp. as a cause of infection in Peru. Methods: Two hundred ninety-eight ACB complex isolates from different regions of Peru were isolated between January 2018 and March 2024. Of these, 272 and 25 were confirmed as hospital-acquired and community infections, respectively. The presence of bla OXA-51 was determined by polymerase chain reaction, and the susceptibility levels to 12 antimicrobial agents were determined. Results: The results showed that 38 (12.7%) isolates were bla OXA-51-negative. These isolates were frequent among community infections (13/25, p < 0.0001), often causing urine infections. They showed significantly lower levels of resistance to almost all antimicrobial agents tested, and most of them were recovered from regions outside metropolitan Lima. Conclusion: A relevant number of infections by non-baumannii Acinetobacter species in Peru is suggested, highlighting the need for systematic identification of these species in the country. Keywords: Acinetobacter spp.; OXA-51; antibiotic resistance; community-acquired infection; hospital-acquired infection.