Revista de Ciencias del Mar y Acuicultura YAKU. ISSN: 2600-5824.

PREVALENCE OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC VIBRIOS IN RETAIL TRADE SHRIMP IN MARKETS OF THE MANTA MUNICIPALITY, MANABÍ, ECUADOR

Dariel Intriago-Bermúdez — 2024-11-27

Outbreaks of foodborne diseases are transmitted daily worldwide, and bacteria of the genus Vibrio are a major cause associated to this problem in food of marine origin. This poses an ongoing threat to consumer food security. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria of the genus Vibrio in retail shrimp in markets of Manta Municipality, Manabí, Ecuador. For this purpose, Manta´s Central market, Playita Mia fish market and Eloy Alfaro street market were characterized using a checklist according to Ecuadorian norm INEN 2687: 2013 Healthy Markets. Detection of potentially pathogenic vibrios, Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus was performed by microbiological tests of quantitative PCR in real time, method AOAC RI 050902. Overall percent quality of all markets (48.8%) was found below the expected minimum (70.0%) and was reflected in significant differences (P<0.05) in the level of compliance with the standard referred to. Among the three Vibrio species detected, V. cholerae showed the highest average prevalence (69.7%), followed by V. parahaemolyticus (49.2%), while V. vulnificus showed a low prevalence (6,7%). The prevalence of potentially pathogenic vibrios did not differ significantly among markets for the three Vibrio species evaluated (P>0.05). It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of Vibrio spp. in shrimp samples from the three retail seafood markets in Manta municipality and authorities should warn people about the need to consume cooked shrimp, and not raw or just lemon sautéed shrimp.

Variation of the potential geographic distribution of the invasive Lithobates catesbeianus (Ranidae) in Ecuador in the face of climate change

Yarelys Ferrer-Sánchez — 2024-11-28

Ecuador, with its wide range of climates and biodiversity, faces the challenge of the expansion of invasive species such as Lithobates catesbeianus, which may benefit from future climate variations. This study modeled the potential distribution of L. catesbeianus in Ecuador under climate change scenarios using international baseline records and scientific literature. Bioclimatic variables relevant to the species were downloaded and 1581 candidate models were constructed with the KUENM package and Maximum Entropy algorithm in R. The species prevailed mainly in the coastal region, especially in Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena and Esmeraldas, and in the eastern part in Napo, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe, the latter being especially favorable for its habitat. Climate favorability decreased in the Sierra. In the moderate scenario (SSP 2 4.5), tolerable changes are expected in areas where the bullfrog is already present. Ecuador's climatic diversity could even favor its expansion. However, in the extreme scenario (SSP 5 8.5), a considerable loss of areas with favorable climatic conditions is expected, but the species could still maintain populations, especially within protected areas. The range of expansion for the bullfrog's distribution is expected to increase in areas such as the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve, Cotacachi Cayapas, Churute Mangroves and Sangay and Llanganates National Parks. This will result in a higher prevalence of the species in the SNAP but will also cause the loss of biodiversity and local fauna.

Morphological description of otoliths of marine fishes of the family Sciaenidae reported from the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean

Ronald Zambrano-Zambrano — 2024-11-29

Knowing the morphology of bony fish otoliths is important for trophic ecology studies, age determination, among others. The aim of this study was to describe the otolith morphology of several species of the family Sciaenidae captured in the Ecuadorian Pacific. Samples were collected from five fishing coves in Ecuador: Esmeraldas, Manta, Santa Rosa, Anconcito and Playas. Through the extraction of the sagitta otolith, 20 species of the family Sciaenidae, distributed in 10 genera, were characterized. The most representative genera were Cynoscion and Menticirrhus. Other genera were differentiated as Ophiscion, Umbrina, Micropogonias, Paralonchurus, Pareques, Stellifer, Ctenosciaena and Larimus.