Three new species of Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) endemic to the north-wet-arc in the Maya Highlands of Guatemala

Three new Magnolia species and a new record from Guatemala are described and illustrated. Two of the new species, M. javieri and M. oscarrodrigoi, are from Alta Verapaz Department and one, M. veliziana, is from Quiché Department. Additionally, M. faustinomirandae is newly reported for the flora of Guatemala. With this contribution, the number of native Guatemalan species increases from 11 to 15 species. An updated distribution map and a key to species are provided. Guatemala, particularly the north-wet-arc in the Maya Highlands, is now an important centre of diversification and endemism for Magnolia. The conservation status of the newly proposed species was unofficially assessed using IUCN criteria.

Uso y conocimiento de la fauna silvestre de la comunidad q’eqchi’ de Santa Lucía Lachuá, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala: un abordaje etnozoológico

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo sistematizar información etnozoológica de los usos y elementos del conocimiento local de la comunidad q’eqchi’ de Santa Lucía Lachuá, Alta Verapaz, en relación al sexo y grupo etario de los habitantes. La metodología consistió en realizar entrevistas semiestructuradas, con un muestreo por conveniencia a 41 personas, 21 hombres y 20 mujeres, entre adultos y adultos mayores, a quienes se les mostraron fotografías de especies de vertebrados para su reconocimiento. A partir del Índice de valor de uso (IVU), se calculó el número de especies reconocidas por las personas entrevistadas. Los mamíferos fueron de los vertebrados más reconocidos y aprovechados por la comunidad, seguido por las aves, reptiles y anfibios y por último los peces. Las especies con mayor valor de uso por la comunidad q’eqchi’ son Odocoileus virginanus (0.4759), Dasypus novemcinctus (0.4747) Cuniculus paca (0.4735), Amazona farinosa guatemalensis (0.4462) Iguana iguana (0.4747), y Parachromis friedrichsthalii (0.4700). No se observó una diferencia en el conocimiento adquirido por sexo y grupo etario. Se resalta la importancia de continuar con los estudios etnozoológicos en la ecorregión Lachuá y otros territorios del país para fortalecer los procesos de gestión y conservación de la diversidad biocultural.

Leishmaniasis cutánea en extremidad superior

En Guatemala, la leishmaniasis continúa siendo un problema de salud pública, siendo endémica en los departamentos de Petén, Alta Verapaz, Izabal, Quiché Huehuetenango y El Progreso. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 38 años, originario y residente de Alta Verapaz, con leishmaniasis ulcerada en miembro superior izquierdo.

A STORY OF AWE AND CLAY: MOLD-MADE HIEROGLYPHS FROM ALTA VERAPAZ, GUATEMALA

The recent discovery of an ancient Late Classic ceramic production facility in a valley floor, east of the current capital of Cobán in Guatemala, reveals a new ceramic form and provides data concerning regional chronology. Among the remains are thin, mold-made fragments identified as ceramic plaques that have epigraphic information providing a Long Count date for the first time in the Alta Verapaz region. These data correlate with the preliminary ceramic sequences and assist with understanding political-economic interactions that occurred at a time of societal collapse within the southern lowland region.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis control in Alta Verapaz (northern Guatemala): evaluating current efforts through stakeholders’ experiences

Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), endemic in Guatemala, mostly affects poor people living in the northern region. A national control program that includes surveillance, diagnose, and treatment offered free of cost by the Ministry of Health (MoH) has been in place since 2003. However, the incidence is increasing and treatment rates are not optimal, suggesting that current efforts are not being effective. This study aimed to understand barriers and facilitators of CL control in Guatemala as experienced and perceived by key stakeholders in order to comprehend what works well and does not and suggest evidence-informed interventions. Methods The study was conducted in the Cobán municipality, the most endemic of Guatemala, situated in the Department of Alta Verapaz. Data were collected during May and June 2019 via focus groups and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including local and national health personnel and residents of four communities of the endemic region. Thematic and content analysis of the collected data was conducted using NVIVO. Results Three overarching issues hamper the effectiveness of current CL efforts: resource scarcity, treatment challenges, and knowledge-action gaps. Scarce economic resources from the MoH and community residents negatively impact incidence, detection of cases and treatment rates in that preventive action is insufficient and healthcare access is low. In addition, local health workers often lack specialized CL training and access to the national CL control guidelines. With regards to the population living in the study area, misunderstanding of disease causation, shame associated with CL lesions, treatment pain fear, and long (often uncertain) waiting times for diagnose and treatment negatively affect people’s willingness to seek help, treatment adherence, and their trust on the healthcare provided. Conclusions Culturally sensitive CL preventive action must be developed. Given the scarce economic resources available for CL control in the country, the involvement of trained community health workers and the inclusion of thermotherapy as a treatment option is also advised. Other cost-effective actions include: ensuring all health workers receive CL training and have access to national CL control guidelines, improving national procurement system to avoid treatment shortages, and provision of motorized vehicles to increase active surveillance and treatment rates. Graphical abstract

A new species of Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) of the Bolitoglossa franklini group from an isolated cloud forest in northern Guatemala

We describe Bolitoglossa qeqom sp. nov. from an isolated cloud forest in Cerro Guachmalén, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, based on multiple lines of evidence (morphological, molecular, and biogeographic data). This region comprises a mountain ridge without previous herpetological surveys. The new species is a large salamander with uniform purplish-black coloration and is distinguished by having relatively long legs with only one costal groove between adpressed limbs, numerous maxillary teeth, few vomerine teeth, only one phalange free of webbing in digit III of feet, and a relatively short tail. It is geographically closest to its sister clade of B. lincolni + B. franklini and the xeric Chixoy river canyon appears to be the major biogeographic barrier that isolated the new taxon. The cloud forest inhabited by this species has undergone severe habitat destruction in the region and land conservation actions are urgent.

La imposición de un modelo energético neoliberal: los complejos Oxec y Renace en territorio maya q’eqchi’

This article discusses the socio-ecological impacts of the privatization and extractivist development model that has been imposed in Guatemala since the 1990s, in the regional context of the Puebla-Panama Plan. Specifically, it analyses the case of the Oxec and Renace hydroelectric complexes in Alta Verapaz. Built on the rivers Cahabón and Ox-eek’, sacred to the Mayan Q’eqchi’ peoples these projects directly undermine the economic and cultural life of communities. By the way they are imposed, they violate the right to consultation of indigenous peoples, destroy the community social fabric, and lead to great conflict materialized in aggression, criminalization and the deepening of sexist relations. Finally, the article raises awareness of the work of indigenous organizations and resistances in defending their rights and territory.

NOTAS EN LA DISTRIBUCIÓN DE COLEONYX ELEGANS (SQUAMATA- EUBLEPHARIDAE) CON REGISTROS DE EXTENSIÓN DE RANGO EN GUATEMALA

Coleonyx elegans es una especie de lagartija que se distribuye en dos vertientes (Pacífico y Caribe) en Guatemala, aunque los límites a su rango de distribución no siguen barreras naturales y los registros de distribución en el país son escasos. A través de tres nuevos registros de C. elegans (dos fotografías y un espécimen preservado) en un departamento donde no había sido registrada (Alta Verapaz, en la Ecorregión Lachuá) ampliamos el rango de distribución. Llenar los vacíos de información sobre la distribución de C. elegans es importante para mejorar los planes de conservación y manejo del área protegida.

Envenenamientos por mordedura de serpiente en Guatemala: revisión de literatura

El accidente ofídico es una enfermedad tropical desatendida que ocasiona un problema de salud pública en el mundo, siendo una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en las áreas empobrecidas de América Latina. En Guatemala se distribuyen 23 especies de serpientes venenosas de importancia médica. La composición de los venenos es compleja y diversa, resultando en una variedad de manifestaciones clínicas. Los departamentos con mayor incidencia de ofidismo son Petén, Alta Verapaz, Quiché, Escuintla e Izabal. Estos accidentes afectan más a hombres que a mujeres, siendo la mayoría agricultores; el rango de edad más comprometido es de 10-19 años y principalmente ocurren en miembros inferiores. El tiempo medio que tarda la víctima en llegar al hospital es de 5.6 h, siendo el retraso en la atención médica, un factor de riesgo para severidad y mortalidad. Los servicios de salud en ocasiones no cuentan con recursos idóneos para atender a las víctimas, brindando tratamiento sintomático. Simultáneamente, el tratamiento empírico tiene gran aceptación, sin embargo, los resultados de investigaciones realizadas con algunas plantas de uso común en casos de ofidismo, concluyeron que no es recomendable su uso aislado en el tratamiento del envenenamiento. Dada la falta de información se debe promover más investigación sobre el ofidismo en el país, siendo indispensable la elaboración de una ficha de reporte obligatoria. Además, deben elaborarse guías de tratamiento e identificación de serpientes para uso del personal médico, incluyendo programas de educación a nivel comunitario.

Magnolia poqomchi, a new species of subsection Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) from San Cristóbal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

In the last decade, several species of magnolias have been described for Guatemala, five of which are found in Alta Verapaz, where, during an exploratory survey, we found a specimen that did not correspond morphologically to any previously reported species. To obtain material and determine phenology, several individuals were monitored for a year. Here, we describe this as a new species of Magnolia subsection Magnolia (Magnoliaceae). It is distributed in the cloud forest of San Cristóbal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz, and is culturally important for the local villagers. It differs from other similar species, M. montebelloensis and M. tribouillierana, in having an abruptly acuminate leaf apex (drip tip), larger flowers, purple staminophores and more stamens, among other traits. According to IUCN criteria, M. poqomchi is critically endangered [B1ab (iii), B2ab (iii)]. Additionally, we include a dichotomous key and distribution map for the genus in Guatemala. Taking this record into account, there are a total of ten native species reported for Guatemala, making it an important centre of species diversity for magnolias.