Browsing by Author "Celi Cruz, Jorge Luis"

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    Ecohydrological disturbances associated with roads: current knowledge, research needs, and management concerns with reference to the tropics
    (2018) Wemple , Beverley C.; Browning, Trevor N.; Ziegler, Alan D.; Celi Cruz, Jorge Luis; Chun Sun, Kwak Pan; Jaramillo Carvajal, Flavio Fernando; Leite, Nei K.; Ramchunder, Sorain J.; Negish, Junjiro N.; Palomeque Pesántez, Fanny Ximena; Sawyer, Derek; Palomeque Pesántez, Fanny Ximena
    Roads are a pervasive form of disturbance with potential to negatively affect ecohydrological processes. Some of the fastest and most rapid growth is occurring in developing countries, particularly in the tropics, where political agendas are often focused on strengthening the economy, improving infrastructure, bolstering national security, achieving self-sufficiency, and increasing citizen well-being, often at the expense of the environment. We review what is known about road impacts on ecohydrological processes, focusing on aquatic systems, both temperate and tropical. We present seven cases that represent the broader trends of road development and impacts in tropical settings. Many of these process dynamics and impacts are not different from those experienced in temperate settings, although the magnitude of impacts in the tropics may be amplified with intense rainfall and lack of best-management practices applied to road construction/maintenance. Impacts of roads in tropical settings may also be unique because of particular organisms or ecosystems effected. We outline a set of best practices to improve road-network management and provide recommendations for adopting an agenda of research and road management in tropical settings. Importantly, we call for incorporation of transdisciplinary approaches to further study of the effects of roads on ecohydrological processes in the tropics. Specific emphasis should also be placed on collaboration with governments and developers that are championing road development to help identify the drivers of road expansion and thresholds of negative impact, as well as methods of sustainable road construction and maintenance.
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    Evaluación del reconocimiento del antígeno IalB de Bartonella hanselae por anticuerpos de caninos (Canis lupus familiaris)
    (Universidad de Cuenca, 2025-09-30) Celi Cruz, Jorge Luis; Corte Suqui, Jonathan Fabricio; Vallecillo Maza, Antonio Javier
    Bartonella henselae (B. henselae), a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for bartonellosis, is a chronic disease that affects both animals and humans. In this context, cats (Felis catus domesticus) are the main carriers, and the disease is transmitted through their fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). In dogs, infection with this bacterium often does not induce the appearance of obvious clinical signs, which complicates its diagnosis at points of care. In addition, there are few diagnostic tools available to identify chronically infected animals. A possible indicator for detecting this infection in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) is the IalB antigen, a protein found in the outer membrane of B. henselae. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the possible recognition of IalB by antibodies in dogs potentially exposed to B. henselae in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. To achieve this objective, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed, using the recombinant IalB protein as the antigen together with a modified version of the same by adding a polystyrene-binding peptide. This assay was carried out on two types of plates. In the indirect ELISA assay, 92 canine sera were evaluated, in which the presence of fleas had been reported in a previous three-month period. MultiSorp and MaxiSorp plates were used for the analysis, and statistical tests were applied to compare reactivity. The Friedman test showed that, in the MultiSorp plates, there were no significant differences between the two antigens, indicating equivalent reactivity. However, in the MaxiSorp plates, lower antibody binding was observed. In addition, a high correlation between IalB and IalB-PoBP was evident in MultiSorp (ρ = 0.87; p < 0.0001), while a moderate correlation was observed in MaxiSorp (ρ = 0.65), suggesting that fusion to the peptide does not substantially alter recognition. Finally, no correlation was found between the presence of fleas and antibody detection (ρ ≈ 0.0; p > 0.7), which could be attributed to limitations in risk assessment based on medical history and physical examination.