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Philippe Auffret - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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catastrophe insurance market in the Caribbean Region market failures and recommendations for public sector interventions
Social Science Research Network, 2003Co-Authors: Philippe AuffretAbstract:The Caribbean Region suffers from a high degree of economic volatility. A history of repeated external and domestic shocks has made economic insecurity a major concern across the Region. Of particular concern to all households, especially the poorest segments of the population, is the exposure to shocks that are generated by catastrophic events or natural disasters. Auffret develops a conceptual framework for risk management and shows that the insurance market for catastrophic risk in the Caribbean Region remains a "thin" market characterized by "high" prices and "low" transfer of risk. He analyzes the possible market failures which could explain the lack of development of the catastrophe insurance market. Finally he outlines a set of recommendations for public sector interventions. This paper - a product of the Economic Policy Sector Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean Region - is part of a larger effort in the Region to assess the impacts of catastrophic events on welfare.
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catastrophe insurance market in the Caribbean Region market failures and recommendations for public sector interventions
Research Papers in Economics, 2003Co-Authors: Philippe AuffretAbstract:The Caribbean Region suffers from a high degree of economic volatility. A history of repeated external and domestic shocks has made economic insecurity a major concern across the Region. Of particular concern to all households, especially the poorest segments of the population, is the exposure to shocks that are generated by catastrophic events or natural disasters. The author develops a conceptual framework for risk management and shows that the insurance market for catastrophic risk in the Caribbean Region remains a"thin"market characterized by"high"prices and"low"transfer of risk. He analyzes the possible market failures which could explain the lack of development of the catastrophe insurance market. Finally he outlines a set of recommendations for public sector interventions.
Juan Fornoni - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A potential invasion route of Cactoblastis cactorum within the Caribbean Region matches historical hurricane trajectories
Biological Invasions, 2015Co-Authors: Guadalupe Andraca-gómez, Mariano Ordano, Rubén Pérez-ishiwara, Karina Boege, César A. Domínguez, Daniel Piñero, Jacqueline Pérez-camacho, Maikel Cañizares, Juan FornoniAbstract:The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum mainly distributed throughout central and northeastern Argentina was intentionally introduced in the Caribbean Region in 1957 as a biological control agent of cacti species of the genus Opuntia . This moth invaded during the last 20–30 years the North American continent, threatening the major center of biodiversity of native Opuntia species. Although human induced and natural dispersal have been invocated to explain its expansion in the non-native distribution range, there is still no evidence to support natural dispersal. In particular, hurricanes are one of the major environmental factors affecting species dispersal in the Region. In this study we used mitochondrial DNA to examine whether the spatial distribution of haplotype variation of C. cactorum is at least partially explained by hurricane trajectories within the Caribbean Region. DNA sequences for the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I were obtained for a sample of 110 individuals from the Antillean islands. This information was combined with existing sequences in the GenBank for the same gene for the Caribbean and Florida (N = 132 sequences). Genetic diversity descriptors, a haplotypic network, a spatial analyses of molecular variance and a landscape genetic analysis of migration conditioned by hurricane tracks were conducted to test our hypothesis. Our results revealed a significant spatial grouping of haplotypes consistent with the more frequent hurricane trajectories in the Caribbean Region. Significant isolation by distance conditioned by hurricane tracks was detected. Populations of Florida were genetically closer to those of Cuba than to the rest of the population sampled. Within the Region, Cuba appears as a reservoir of genetic diversity increasing the risk of invasion to Mexico and the US. Despite commercial transportation of Opuntia promoted dispersal to Florida, our results support the hypothesis that natural disturbances such as hurricanes played a role dispersing this invasive insect. Future conservation programs of North American Opuntia species requires taking into account hurricane mediated dispersal events and permanent whole Regional monitoring and international control policies to prevent future range expansions of C. cactorum .
Souvik Ghosh - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Molecular Investigation of Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) Outbreak in Nevis Island: Analysis of the Nearly Complete Genomes of CPV-2 Strains from the Caribbean Region
'MDPI AG', 2021Co-Authors: Kerry Gainor, Andrea Peda, April Bowen, Pompei Bolfa, Yashpal S. Malik, Souvik GhoshAbstract:To date, there is a dearth of information on canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) from the Caribbean Region. During August–October 2020, the veterinary clinic on the Caribbean island of Nevis reported 64 household dogs with CPV-2-like clinical signs (hemorrhagic/non-hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomiting), of which 27 animals died. Rectal swabs/fecal samples were obtained from 43 dogs. A total of 39 of the 43 dogs tested positive for CPV-2 antigen and/or DNA, while 4 samples, negative for CPV-2 antigen, were not available for PCR. Among the 21 untested dogs, 15 had CPV-2 positive littermates. Analysis of the complete VP2 sequences of 32 strains identified new CPV-2a (CPV-2a with Ser297Ala in VP2) as the predominant CPV-2 on Nevis Island. Two nonsynonymous mutations, one rare (Asp373Asn) and the other uncommon (Ala262Thr), were observed in a few VP2 sequences. It was intriguing that new CPV-2a was associated with an outbreak of gastroenteritis on Nevis while found at low frequencies in sporadic cases of diarrhea on the neighboring island of St. Kitts. The nearly complete CPV-2 genomes (4 CPV-2 strains from St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN)) were reported for the first time from the Caribbean Region. Eleven substitutions were found among the SKN genomes, which included nine synonymous substitutions, five of which have been rarely reported, and the two nonsynonymous substitutions. Phylogenetically, the SKN CPV-2 sequences formed a distinct cluster, with CPV-2b/USA/1998 strains constituting the nearest cluster. Our findings suggested that new CPV-2a is endemic in the Region, with the potential to cause severe outbreaks, warranting further studies across the Caribbean Islands. Analysis of the SKN CPV-2 genomes corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in the evolution of CPV-2
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molecular characterization of canine parvovirus and canine enteric coronavirus in diarrheic dogs on the island of st kitts first report from the Caribbean Region
Virus Research, 2017Co-Authors: Ryan Navarro, Rajeev Nair, Andrea Peda, Meiji Soe Aung, G S Ashwinie, Christa A Gallagher, Yashpal Singh Malik, Nobumichi Kobayashi, Souvik GhoshAbstract:Abstract Although canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV) are important enteric pathogens of dogs and have been studied extensively in different parts of the world, there are no reports on these viruses from the Caribbean Region. During 2015–2016, a total of 104 diarrheic fecal samples were collected from puppies and adult dogs, with or without hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts (KNA). By PCR, 25 (24%, n = 104) samples tested positive for CPV. Based on analysis of the complete deduced VP2 amino acid sequences, 20 of the KNA CPV strains were assigned to new CPV-2a (also designated as CPV-2a-297A). On the other hand, the VP2 genes of the remaining 5 strains were partially characterized, or could not be sequenced. New CPV-2a was the predominant CPV variant in St. Kitts, contrasting the molecular epidemiology of CPV variants reported in most studies from nearby North and South American countries. By RT-PCR, CCoVs were detected in 5 samples (4.8%, n = 104). Based on analysis of partial M-protein gene, the KNA CCoV strains were assigned to CCoV-I genotype, and were closely related to CCoV-I strains from Brazil. To our knowledge, this is the first report on detection and genetic diversity of CPV and CCoV in dogs from the Caribbean Region, and underscores the importance of similar studies in the other Caribbean islands.
Guadalupe Andraca-gómez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A potential invasion route of Cactoblastis cactorum within the Caribbean Region matches historical hurricane trajectories
Biological Invasions, 2015Co-Authors: Guadalupe Andraca-gómez, Mariano Ordano, Rubén Pérez-ishiwara, Karina Boege, César A. Domínguez, Daniel Piñero, Jacqueline Pérez-camacho, Maikel Cañizares, Juan FornoniAbstract:The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum mainly distributed throughout central and northeastern Argentina was intentionally introduced in the Caribbean Region in 1957 as a biological control agent of cacti species of the genus Opuntia . This moth invaded during the last 20–30 years the North American continent, threatening the major center of biodiversity of native Opuntia species. Although human induced and natural dispersal have been invocated to explain its expansion in the non-native distribution range, there is still no evidence to support natural dispersal. In particular, hurricanes are one of the major environmental factors affecting species dispersal in the Region. In this study we used mitochondrial DNA to examine whether the spatial distribution of haplotype variation of C. cactorum is at least partially explained by hurricane trajectories within the Caribbean Region. DNA sequences for the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I were obtained for a sample of 110 individuals from the Antillean islands. This information was combined with existing sequences in the GenBank for the same gene for the Caribbean and Florida (N = 132 sequences). Genetic diversity descriptors, a haplotypic network, a spatial analyses of molecular variance and a landscape genetic analysis of migration conditioned by hurricane tracks were conducted to test our hypothesis. Our results revealed a significant spatial grouping of haplotypes consistent with the more frequent hurricane trajectories in the Caribbean Region. Significant isolation by distance conditioned by hurricane tracks was detected. Populations of Florida were genetically closer to those of Cuba than to the rest of the population sampled. Within the Region, Cuba appears as a reservoir of genetic diversity increasing the risk of invasion to Mexico and the US. Despite commercial transportation of Opuntia promoted dispersal to Florida, our results support the hypothesis that natural disturbances such as hurricanes played a role dispersing this invasive insect. Future conservation programs of North American Opuntia species requires taking into account hurricane mediated dispersal events and permanent whole Regional monitoring and international control policies to prevent future range expansions of C. cactorum .
Perry L. Gnivecki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Pre-Columbian jadeitite artifacts from San Salvador Island, Bahamas and comparison with jades of the eastern Caribbean and jadeitites of the greater Caribbean Region
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2019Co-Authors: George E. Harlow, Mary Jane Berman, Juan Cárdenas Párraga, A. T. Hertwig, Antonio García-casco, Perry L. GniveckiAbstract:Abstract Four artifacts from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, with affinities to jadeite jade were studied by mineralogical and petrographical techniques and compared to similar studies of jadeite rock (jadeitite) from sources in the greater Caribbean Region: Guatemala (both north and south Motagua melange occurrences); the Sierra del Convento Melange, Cuba; and the Rio San Juan Complex, Dominican Republic. Three of the four artifacts are jadeite jade. The fourth is a metavolcanic rock of greenschist facies metamorphism. Each of the three jadeitite objects is distinct in terms of mineral assemblage and microscopic minerals intergrowth textures. One artifact manifests strong similarities with a variety of jadeitite known from Cuba, the closest source geographically to the Bahamas. The other two artifacts display unique characteristics of either mineral assemblage or texture that have not been observed to date in rocks from the known sources. Consequently, search must continue for greater diversity within the documented sources or new sources of jadeite jade that conform to what was observed must be found.