Bark beetles are among the primary drivers of tree mortality in coniferous forests worldwide. Individuals belonging to the order Coleoptera were identified across different forest areas in Honduras. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the number of families, subfamilies, genera, and species collected per department. Moreover, the barcoding approach was used by amplifying and sequencing the mitochondrial COI gene. The intraspecific genetic diversity of Ips apache was also analyzed. 1,131 individuals were examined and 27 genera were identified. Most of the specimens were identified as belonging to the genus Ips, accounting for 53.2% of the total. Xyleborus accounted for 16.5% and Temnoscheila accounted for 10%. Fewer than four individuals were found for fifteen genera. 68% of the specimens were identified to the species level, and all the specimens were identified to the genus level. Ips, Temnoscheila, Xyleborus, Hypothenemus, and Pityophthorus exhibited the most extensive geographic distribution among the sampled sites. At the genus level, Olancho, El Paraíso, and Copán displayed the highest diversity. This study also marks the first report of the genera Xylomeira and Stephanopachys in Honduran pine forests. Within I. apache, evidence of intraspecific genetic diversity was observed, although no population structure was detected. While this research provides an updated inventory of beetle species associated with Honduran coniferous forests, further taxonomic surveys and ecological studies are essential to better understand the spread and impact of bark beetles in pine ecosystems.

Asymptomatic Malaria Infections in an Endemic City of Honduras

Integrated One Health studies are essential for assessing the risks of leishmaniasis transmission. In Honduras, the most prevalent clinical presentation of leishmaniasis is the non-ulcerated cutaneous form caused by Leishmania infantum; however, research on its transmission dynamics remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the eco-epidemiology of leishmaniasis and identify potential zoonotic risk factors in the municipality of Ojos de Agua, Department of Comayagua, central Honduras, using a One Health approach. We collected sand flies using CDC light traps placed in intra- and peridomestic settings of households with a history of leishmaniasis. Concurrently, we evaluated domestic dogs and collected blood samples for serological and molecular testing. We also conducted active surveillance among community residents to identify human infections. We collected a total of 644 phlebotomine sand flies, including 186 females. We identified eight sandfly species, with Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis as the predominant species, followed by Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi. Among the 64 engorged females screened, the overall PCR positivity rate for Leishmania spp. was 14.1% (9/64). Blood meal analysis of PCR-positive sand flies identified humans and pigs as blood and meal sources. Additionally, 18.6% (8/43) of domestic dogs were seropositive for Leishmania spp., and 23.3% (10/43) tested positive by PCR. DNA sequencing identified the infecting species as Leishmania infantum. We detected no active human cases during the study period. These findings highlight the value of a One Health approach for improving transmission risk monitoring in newly emerging areas with a history of ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras.

Bark beetles are one of the major causes of tree mortality in coniferous forests worldwide. The large-scale disturbances by beetle outbreaks have strongly increased in Honduras and other countries, leading to significant ecological, economic, and social consequences. However, the taxonomy, local distribution, and environmental aspects of most bark beetles and their biological predators remain poorly studied. Here, we applied a morphological approach to identify Scolytinae individuals across different forest areas in Honduras. Moreover, the barcoding approach was used by amplifying and sequencing the mitochondrial COI gene. The intraspecific genetic diversity of Ips apache was also analyzed. 1,131 individuals were examined, and 27 genera were identified. Most of the specimens were identified as belonging to the genus Ips, accounting for 53.2% of the total. Xyleborus accounted for 16.5% and Temnoscheila accounted for 10%. Less than four individuals were found for fifteen genera. Ips, Temnoscheila, Xyleborus, Hypothenemus and Pityophthorus exhibited the most extensive geographic distribution among the sampled sites. At the genus level, Olancho, El Paraíso, and Copán displayed the highest diversity. This study is the first report of two genera (Xylomeira and Stephanopachys) in Honduran pine forests. Among individuals of I. apache, there was evidence of intraspecific genetic diversity, but no population structure was detected. While our findings update the list of bark beetles and biological predators associated with Honduran coniferous forests, more taxonomic inventories and ecological studies are required to understand the spread of bark beetles in pine forests.

There has been considerable progress in the fight against malaria in the world. In Honduras we find a reduction of cases from more than 17,000 to 3,564 in the last decade. To meet malaria elimination goals, strategies should consider all malaria-infected individuals in its interventions, so efforts to identify asymptomatic infections become of greater value and interest. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of cases of asymptomatic malaria infection in 3 communities in the municipality of Iriona, Colón, Honduras by January 2015. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the communities of Ciriboya, Punta Piedra and Cusuna, Colón during January 2015. A simple random sample of 145 participants was included. The diagnosis of infection of asymptomatic malaria was made by thick blood smear, conventional PCR and nested PCR. Microscopic analysis did not detect thick blood smear positive samples, resulting in a prevalence of 0.00%. The molecular approach did not detect infections either. The findings of this study agree with the pattern of previous studies in Honduras and with the progress that has been made against malaria in the country. Active case detection is recommended for interventions where malaria transmission has been reduced to low levels, and its implementation in Honduras should be part of the comprehensive strategy of elimination programs.