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Green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are predators commonly found in coffee plantations in Brazil that can serve as important biological control agents against insect pests such as the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). However, the efficacy of different lacewing species in controlling L. coffeella needs to be evaluated before they are used in augmentative biological control programs. Here, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the L. coffeella developmental stage on the functional response of 3 species of green lacewings: Chrysoperla externa , Ceraeochrysa cincta , and Ceraeochrysa cornuta. The attack rate, handling time, and the number of prey attacked during 24 h with different densities (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 individuals) of either L. coffeella larvae or pupae were recorded for each of the 3 lacewing species. Based on logistic regression models, all 3 predators showed a Type II functional response when consuming both larvae and pupae of L. coffeella. All 3 species also had similar attack rates (0.0091 larva/h and 0.0095 pupa/h), handling times (3.5 and 3.7 h for larvae and pupae, respectively), and estimated number of prey attacked during the observation period (6.9 larvae and 6.6 pupae) for L. coffeella larvae and pupae. Therefore, our laboratory studies show that the 3 green lacewings Ch. externa , Ce. cincta , and Ce. cornuta have potential for the biological control of L. coffeella , although these results need to be confirmed under field conditions. These findings have implications for the selection of lacewings for augmentative L. coffeella biocontrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article describes a cross-sectional study involving 401 adults with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin glargine in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Health-related quality of life was assessed, and worse scores were found to be associated with a low level of education, self-perceived health reported as poor/very poor, being bedridden and not physically exercised, having seen a doctor more than four times in the past year, and having reported comorbidities and episodes of hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We report a genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Paraná, southern Brazil, from March 2020 to April 2021. Our analysis, based on 333 genomes, revealed that the first variants detected in the state of Paraná in March 2020 were the B.1.1.33 and B.1.1.28 variants. The variants B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33 were predominant throughout 2020 until the introduction of the variant P.2 in August 2020 and a variant of concern (VOC), Gamma (P.1), in January 2021. The VOC Gamma, a ramification of the B.1.1.28 lineage first detected in Manaus (northern Brazil), has grown rapidly since December 2020 and was thought to be responsible for the deadly second wave of COVID-19 throughout Brazil. Methods: The 333 genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from March 2020 to April 2021 were generated as part of the genomic surveillance carried out by Fiocruz in Brazil Genomahcov Fiocruz. SARS-CoV-2 sequencing was performed using representative samples from all geographic areas of Paraná. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the 333 genomes also included other SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the state of Paraná and other states in Brazil that were deposited in the GISAID. In addition, the time-scaled phylogenetic tree was constructed with up to 3 random sequences of the Gamma variant from each state in Brazil in each month of 2021. In this analysis we also added the sequences identified as the B.1.1.28 lineage of the Amazonas state and and the Gamma-like-II (P.1-like-II) lineage identified in different regions of Brazil. Results: Phylogenetic analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes that were previously classified as the VOC Gamma lineage by WHO/PANGO showed that some genomes from February to April 2021 branched in a monophyletic clade and that these samples grouped together with genomes recently described with the lineage Gamma-like-II. Additionally, a new mutation (E661D) in the spike (S) protein has been identified in nearly 10% of the genomes classified as the VOC Gamma from Paraná in March and April 2021.Finally, we analyzed the correlation between the lineage and the Gamma variant frequency, age group (patients younger or older than 60 years old) and the clinical data of 86 cases from the state of Paraná. Conclusions: Our results provided a reliable picture of the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the state of Paraná characterized by the dominance of the Gamma strain, as well as a high frequencies of the Gamma-like-II lineage and the S:E661D mutation. Epidemiological and genomic surveillance efforts should be continued to unveil the biological relevance of the novel mutations detected in the VOC Gamma in Paraná. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With current drug treatments failing due to toxicity, low efficacy and resistance; leishmaniasis is a major global health challenge that desperately needs new validated drug targets. Inspired by activity of the natural chalcone 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (DMC), the nitro-analogue, 3-nitro-2',4',6'- trimethoxychalcone (NAT22, 1c) was identified as potent broad spectrum antileishmanial drug lead. Structural modification provided an alkyne containing chemical probe that labelled a protein within the parasite that was confirmed as cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx). Crucially, labelling is observed in both promastigote and intramacrophage amastigote life forms, with no evidence of host macrophage toxicity. Incubation of the chalcone in the parasite leads to ROS accumulation and parasite death. Deletion of cTXNPx, by CRISPR-Cas9, dramatically impacts upon the parasite phenotype and reduces the antileishmanial activity of the chalcone analogue. Molecular docking studies with a homology model of in-silico cTXNPx suggest that the chalcone is able to bind in the putative active site hindering access to the crucial cysteine residue. Collectively, this work identifies cTXNPx as an important target for antileishmanial chalcones. Author summary: Leishmaniasis is an insect vector-borne parasitic disease. With >350 million people world wide considered at risk, 12 million people currently infected and an economic cost that can be estimated in terms of >3.3 million working life years lost, leishmaniasis is a major global health challenge. The disease is of particular importance in Brazil. Current treatment of leishmaniasis is difficult requiring a long, costly course of drug treatment using old drugs with poor safety indications requiring close medical supervision. Moreover, resistance to current antileishmanials is growing, emphasising a major need for new drug targets. In earlier work we had identified a naturally inspired chalcone which had proimising antileishmanial activity but with no know mode of action. In this work we use an anlogue of this molecule as an activity based probe to identify a protein target of the chalcone. This protein, cTXNPx, has a major role in protecting the parasite against attack by reactive oxygen species in the host cell. By inhibiting this protein the parasite can no longer survive in the host. Collectively this work validates cTXNPx as a drug target with the chalcone as a lead structure for future drug discovery programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The study aim was to identify key factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin or human insulin analog glargine (IGLA). Methods We conducted two cross-sectional studies in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. One with 401 patients treated with IGLA, and the other with 179 T1DM patients treated with NPH. HRQOL was measured by Euroqol (EQ-5D-3L). Key findings Most participants were male (51%), aged between 18 and 40 years (47%), non-black (58%) and from the highest economic strata (A1-B2) (74%). Participants perceived their health as good/very good (51%), had one to three medical consultations in the previous year (51%), were not hospitalized in the previous year (74%), did not report angina (96%), diabetic neuropathy (90%), hearing loss (94%) or kidney disease (89%). Non-severe hypoglycaemia episodes in the last 30 days were reported by 17% of participants.Conclusions Higher HRQOL was associated with younger age (18–40 years), good/very good health self-perception, having had up to three medical consultations in the last year, not being hospitalized in the last year, having none to three comorbidities, not reporting angina, diabetic neuropathy, hearing loss or kidney disease and having had episodes of non-severe hypoglycaemia. In addition, the findings of our study demonstrated inequalities in access to treatment, which will be the subject of future research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the main pests of brassicas, and various insecticides, such as indoxacarb, are used to control it. However, frequent insecticide applications favor the selection of resistant individuals. Thus, the residual and sublethal effects of indoxacarb in two populations of P. xylostella , one collected in the field (FP) and one from the laboratory (LP), were evaluated and compared. The objective of this research was to investigate the toxicity of indoxacarb at residual and sublethal levels in a field population of P. xylostella from Brazil and a population from the laboratory. Leaf-dip bioassays showed high toxicity, with LC50 values after 48 h of 3.7 and 6.9 mg/liter for the LP and FP, respectively. Sublethal effects were indicated by significant reduction in the survival of larvae, pupae, and offspring. There was an increase in foliar consumption and a decrease in adult survival in the LP, and a decrease in fecundity in the FP. For the LP and FP population, the mean values for R 0, r m , and λ for the control treatment were significantly higher than for the treatment groups (CL15 and CL25). Exposure of larvae to sublethal indoxacarb concentrations significantly reduced larval and pupal survival. Larval and pupal survival decreased as the indoxacarb concentration increased. Fecundity was significantly lower for the FP at LC15 (96.2 eggs per female) and LC25 (69.2 eggs per female) concentrations compared with the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), one of the smallest and most isolated island groups in the world, is situated on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, between Brazil and the African continent. SPSPA has low species richness and high endemism; nonetheless, the diversity of fishes from deep habitats (>30 m depth) had not been previously studied in detail. Several expeditions conducted between 2009 and 2018 explored the shallow and deep reefs of SPSPA using scuba, closed‐circuit rebreathers, manned submersibles, baited remote underwater stereo‐videos (stereo‐BRUV) and fishing between 0 and 1050 m depth. These expeditions yielded 41 new records of fishes for SPSPA: 9 in open waters, 9 in shallow waters (0–30 m), 8 in mesophotic ecosystems (30–150 m) and 15 in deeper reefs (>150 m). Combined with literature records of adult pelagic, shallow and deep‐reef species, as well as larvae, the database of the fish biodiversity for SPSPA currently comprises 225 species (169 recorded as adult fishes and 79 as larvae, with 23 species found in both stages). Most of them (112) are pelagic, 86 are reef‐associated species and 27 are deep‐water specialists. Species accumulation curves show that the number of fish species has not yet reached an asymptote. Whereas the number of species recorded in SPSPA is similar to that in other oceanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the proportion of shorefishes is relatively lower, and the endemism level is the third highest in the Atlantic. Twenty‐nine species are listed as threatened with extinction. Observations confirm the paucity of top predators on shallow rocky reefs of the island, despite the presence of several pelagic shark species around SPSPA. Because all of the endemic species are reef associated, it is argued that the new marine‐protected areas created by the Brazilian government do not ensure the protection and recovery of SPSPA's biodiversity because they allow exploitation of the most vulnerable species around the archipelago itself. This study suggests a ban on reef fish exploitation inside an area delimited by the 1000 m isobath around the islands (where all known endemics are concentrated) as the main conservation strategy to be included in the SPSPA management plan being prepared by the Brazilian government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental legislation in most countries mandates a wide range of development projects to obtain environmental licenses prior to construction and operation, thus hoping to prevent and control adverse impacts. Authorities almost always decide to grant such licenses but conditioned to the implementation of mitigation and compensation programs. The effectiveness of such programs has long been a matter of controversy due to the weak accountability of licensed projects' environmental performance. Aware of this knowledge gap, this article set out to: (1) evaluate the norms and procedures of post-approval control in Minas Gerais, a large Brazilian jurisdiction that requires frequent evaluations of environmental performance; and; (2) evaluate post-approval environmental performance and enforcement in a sample of 232 licensed projects. The evaluation of norms and procedures was based on best practice criteria drawn from the literature. The content of hundreds of documents (e.g., performance evaluations, sanctions, license conditions) associated with the 232 projects was coded and organized in spreadsheets, thus allowing for statistical analysis. Findings suggest that the post-approval legal requirements of Minas Gerais are similar and at times stronger than those commonly found in international jurisdictions. However, the content analysis of post-approval records revealed numerous implementation problems. Most projects (74%) reported poor performance issues and almost 90% of the projects received administrative sanctions (e.g., fines) due to legal violations. The state authority lacks clear post-approval decision-making criteria and reacts late to performance problems. Findings suggest that impact assessment and licensing in Minas Gerais are unable to prevent environmental pollution. The study discusses its implications and likely solutions. • Effectiveness of post-approval environmental performance lacks empirical evidence. • This study evaluated performance, compliance and enforcement in 232 licensed projects. • Low-performance, serious sanctions and late reviews were common among licensed projects. • Compelling evidence of EIA's weak capacity to prevent environmental pollution is provided. • Empirical findings have implications to many international jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to analyze self-concept indicators among adolescents, 343 students from public and private schools in the city of São Paulo, aged 11 and 18, answered questions about concerns related to the school, general concerns and their most positive aspect. Overall, it was observed that they are skillful to indicate positive aspects of their behavior, with specific responses varying according to gender, age and type of school. Youths concerns are mostly related to the school environment, primarily academic performance. Concerns about the future are presented mainly by older adolescents. The results favor the claim that the context in which the adolescents are inserted is critical to build a positive self-concept, which leads to reflection about the need for household and school environments rich and stimulating, in order to an healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality ofCotesia flavipesfrom different bio-factories as biological control agents. We evaluated biological characteristics of the parasitoids throughout their lifespan, and measured the body length and width, abdomen width, thorax width and width and length of the right forewing of female and male parasitoids. Our results showed that the number of males and pupal viability were similar among the bio-factories; the number of emerged females was greater in bio-factories I and II; the egg-pupa period and the pupal period were shorter in bio-factory IV; and a greater longevity was found in bio-factories II and III. Sex ratio (at approximately 60% females) was satisfactory (in terms of suitability for release) across all bio-factories. For morphometric measurements, the body, abdomen and wing widths were similar in males; however, thorax width was greater in the males from bio-factory I; bio-factory III produced females with the highest body length; bio-factory I produced females with the greatest abdomen width; bio-factories III and IV produced females with the greatest wing length. Among the bio-factories studied, bio-factory IV produced the best qualityC. flavipes, with respect to the greatest number of parasitoids per pupal mass (a mean of 57% more parasitoids) in a satisfactory sex ratio, and with the shortest developmental time, which facilitates faster rearing in the laboratory. Studies such as this, which assess the quality of a mass-producedC. flavipes, are crucial for the continued use of this parasitoid in controllingDiatraea saccharalisin the field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The Iguape and Cananéia Lagoon–Estuarine Complex is a biodiversity hotspot in southeastern Brazil. In recent decades, the region has become an important destination for recreational fishing. The objective of this study was to analyze the socioeconomic characteristics of visiting anglers and fishing guides working in the Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Environmental Protected Area and their views on fisheries management. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between January 2009 and January 2010. We interviewed 278 anglers, who were predominantly male (93%) with a mean age of 47 years and from the state of São Paulo. The targeted species were snooks (Centropomus undecimales and Centropomus parallelus) and weakfishes (Cynoscion leiarchus and Cynoscion acoupa). Only half the anglers had the mandatory fishing license, and many of them lacked knowledge about catch quotas and minimum size requirements for specific species. The fishing guides (n = 80) were all male, with a mean age of 39 years and extensive experience. Most of the guides believe that the study area is somewhat degraded due to the removal of riparian vegetation, siltation, pollution, and especially the depletion of fish stocks. The opinions of the stakeholders (anglers and guides) converge on the high priority needs of the fishery and possible management actions regarding recreational fishing, such as improved fisheries enforcement (first in order of importance), proper training of fishing guides, zoning of fishing areas, and the definition of a maximum size limit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study is to correlate the influence of abiotic factors observed in the west region of Santa Catarina State to the occurrence of accidents caused by the Lonomia obliqua caterpillar. The meteorological data were based on information from Santa Catarina State Enterprise for Agricultural Research and Rural Extension, referring to the period from 1999 to 2009 and the data about the accident incidence were provided by the 10th Regional Health Secretary of Chapecó (SC), based on its Surveillance Database. In that period occurred 260 accidents, in a region which comprises 37 municipalities. The biggest frequency was registered in the period comprised from November to May, periods which coincide with the highest temperatures that oscillated from 21°C to 34.6°C. The rain levels ranged from 138.6mm³ to 190mm³. Climatic factors interfered in the Lonomia obliqua biology, turning possible the increase of accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining of metallic sulfide ore produces acidic water with high metal concentrations that have harmful consequences for aquatic life. To understand the composition and structure of microbial communities in acid mine drainage (AMD) waters associated with Zn mine tailings, molecular diversity of 16S genes was examined using a PCR, cloning, and sequencing approach. A total of 78 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from samples collected at five different sites in and around mining residues in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil. We analyzed metal concentration, physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters related to prokaryotic diversity in low metal impacted compared to highly polluted environments with Zn at level of gram per liter and Cd–Pb at level of microgram per liter. Application of molecular methods for community structure analyses showed that Archaea and Bacteria groups present a phylogenetic relationship with uncultured environmental organisms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that bacteria present at the five sites fell into seven known divisions, α- Proteobacteria (13.4%), β- Proteobacteria (16.3%), γ- Proteobacteria (4.3%), Sphingobacteriales (4.3%), Actinobacteria (3.2%) Acidobacteria (2.1%), Cyanobacteria (11.9%), and unclassified bacteria (44.5%). Almost all archaeal clones were related to uncultivated Crenarchaeota species, which were shared between high impacted and low impacted waters. Rarefaction curves showed that bacterial groups are more diverse than archaeal groups while the overall prokaryotic biodiversity is lower in high metal impacted environments than in less polluted habitats. Knowledge of this microbial community structure will help in understanding prokaryotic diversity, biogeography, and the role of microorganisms in zinc smelting AMD generation and perhaps it may be exploited for environmental remediation procedures in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is a large rodent used for human consumption in certain areas of South America. In the present study, viable Toxoplasma gondii was isolated for the first time from this host. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed in the sera of 64 capybaras from 6 counties of São Paulo State, Brazil, using the modified agglutination test (MAT, ≥1:25 dilution) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, ≥1:16 dilution), and antibodies were found in 48 (75%) by MAT, and 49 (76.6%) by IFAT. Samples of brain, heart, and tongue of 40 seropositive capybaras were pooled, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissue homogenates of 36 capybaras, and the isolates were designated TgCyBr1-36. Most isolates were lethal to mice; 17 of the 36 isolates killed 100% of infected mice, 11 isolates caused mortality in 25-90% of infected mice, and 8 isolates were nonpathogenic to mice. Results indicate that asymptomatic capybaras can harbor mouse-virulent T. gondii, and hence they can serve as a source of infection for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we performed a survey of the bacterial communities associated with the Western Atlantic demosponges Hymeniacidon heliophila and Polymastia janeirensis, based on 16S rRNA sequencing and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We compared diversity and composition of the sponge-associated bacteria to those of environmental bacteria, represented by free-living bacterioplankton and by bacteria attached to organic particulate matter in superficial sediments. Partial bacterial 16S rRNA sequences from seawater, sediment, and sponges were retrieved by PCR, cloning, and sequencing. Sequences were subjected to rarefaction analyses, phylogenetic tree construction, and LIBSHUFF quantitative statistics to verify coverage and similarity between libraries. Community structure of the free-living bacterioplankton was phylogenetically different from that of the sponge-associated bacterial assemblages. On the other hand, some sediment-attached bacteria were also found in the sponge bacterial community, indicating that sponges may incorporate bacteria together with sediment particles. Rare and few prokaryotic morphotypes were found in TEM analyses of sponge mesohyl matrix of both species. Molecular data indicate that bacterial richness and diversity decreases from bacterioplankton, to particulate organic sediment, and to H. heliophila and P. janeirensis. Sponges from Rio de Janeiro harbor a pool of novel and exclusive sponge-associated bacterial taxa. Sponge-associated bacterial communities are composed of both taxons shared by many sponge groups and by species-specific bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to apply a comparative analysis of environmental chemistry, microbiological parameters and bacterioplankton 16S rRNA clone libraries from different areas of a 50 km transect along a trophic gradient in the tropical Guanabara Bay ecosystem. Higher bacterial diversity was found in the coastal area, whereas lower richness was observed in the more polluted inner bay water. The significance of differences between clone libraries was examined withlibshuff statistics. Paired reciprocal comparisons indicated that each of the libraries differs significantly from the others, and this is in agreement with direct interpretation of the phylogenetic tree. Furthermore, correspondence analyses showed that some taxa are related to specific abiotic, trophic and microbiological parameters in Guanabara Bay estuarine system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guanabara Bay is an eutrophic estuarine system located in a humid tropical region surrounded by the second largest metropolitan area of Brazil. This study explores the contrasting environmental chemistry and microbiological parameters that influence the archaeaplankton diversity in a pollution gradient in Guanabara Bay ecosystem. The environments sampled ranged from completely anoxic waters in a polluted inner channel to the adjacent, relatively pristine, coastal Atlantic Ocean. Partial archaeal 16S rDNA sequences in water samples were retrieved by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), cloning, and sequencing. Sequences were subjected to phylogenetic and diversity analyses. Community structure of the free-living archaeal assemblages was different from that of the particle-attached archaea according to DGGE. Gene libraries revealed that phylotype identification was consistent with environmental setting. Archaeal phylotypes found in polluted anoxic waters and in more pristine waters were closely related to organisms that have previously been found in these environments. However, inner bay archaea were related to organisms found in oil, industrial wastes, and sewage, implying that water pollution controls archaea communities in this system. The detection of a substantial number of uncultured phylotypes suggests that Guanabara Bay harbors a pool of novel archaeaplankton taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the development and characterization of 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci for Tabebuia aurea, using genomic library enrichment. Number of alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity ranged from nine to 26 and from 0.808 to 0.955. The high combined probability of genetic identity (1.03 × 10−37) and probability of paternity exclusion (0.9889) showed that multilocus genotypes are likely to be unique and will allow detailed parentage studies in natural populations of T. aurea. Additionally, a high percentage of transferability was achieved for the four species of the same genus studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents new reports on frugivorous flies and their parasitoids associated with the fruits of Pouteria caimito Radlk. (Sapotaceae), a plant native to the Amazon region. In addition to the new reports, this study also presents the infestation and parasitism rates, for dipterous and hymenopteran parasitoids, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies conducted in Brazilian oceanic islands have generated many results of great significance for the understanding of these ecosystems. However, most of these studies have been restricted to shallow waters, not going beyond 200 m depth. In this work, seven exploratory deep-water fishing surveys were carried out with bottom traps at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, between 2012 and 2014, at depths ranging from 300 to 700 m. During these surveys the presence of a deep-sea crab, identified as Chaceon gordonae was recorded, with 458 specimens being caught. Of the sampled specimens, 252 were males and 206 were females. The carapace length (CL) of sampled crabs measured, on the average, 110.81 ± 14.52 mm for males and 102.00 ± 16.55 mm for females. In general, the β1 parameter of the length-weight relationship indicates a positive allometric growth. A comparison of linear regression between the carapace length and right chela length and width for males suggested a morphological maturity of 108.90 and 110.10 mm CL, respectively, whereas the regression between carapace length and abdomen width in females indicated a size at morphological maturity of 84.00 mm CL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The thrips Gynaikothrips ficorum and its predator Montandoniola confusa are associated and spreading alongside one another throughout Brazil. [•] M. confusa prey upon all thrips life stages and exhibits a type II functional response. [•] It is estimated ∼10-fold greater predation on eggs compared to larvae/prepupae and adult thrips. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Plutella xylostella is considered the main pest of cabbage in Brazil and the world, causing damage of up to 100%. Thus, this study evaluated the insecticidal activity of extracts obtained from the fruits, seeds, bark, leaves, and flowers of Handroanthus impetiginosus against the diamondback moth, P. xylostella larvae. The seed extract showed the highest mortality (97.0%) compared to the control treatment. The LC 50 values indicated that the seed and flower extracts (0.01003 and 0.01288 mg/L respectively) assumed the highest toxicity to P. xylostella larvae after 24 h of exposure. The results of this study indicated that the seeds extract is the most promising toxic extract, with measured mortality of approximately 97.0% for P. xylostella larvae after 144 h of exposure in kale plants. Seed extract showed the best insecticidal activity. Thus, this extract can be applied to develop an insecticide based on H. impetiginosus seed.

Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and its associated factors in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who would start treatment with biologic drugs at the Brazilian Unified Health System., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at a single center pharmacy in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. EQ-5D was used to assess the patients' QOL. The functional status was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, whereas disease activity was evaluated through the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and the Clinical Disease Activity Index. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with QOL., Results: A total of 212 patients with PsA were included, of which 185 (87.3%) reported having some pain/discomfort, and 148 (69.8%) presented some level of anxiety/depression. Patients with PsA had a mean QOL score of 0.651 (SD 0.12) with a significant reduction in female patients, concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, comorbidity, and worse clinical and functional status. Poor QOL was associated with worse functional status by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, disease activity by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, and with diagnoses of osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, and depression., Conclusion: PsA and its associated comorbidities negatively affect the QOL, evidencing the need for a comprehensive and effective clinical approach., (Copyright © 2021 ISPOR--The professional society for health economics and outcomes research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To estimate the pooled prevalence of multimorbidity (≥2 non-communicable diseases in the same individual) among adults of the general population of Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC)., Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Scopus and LILACS up to 1 July 2020., Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies: The outcome was the prevalence of multimorbidity. Reports were selected whether they enrolled adult individuals (age ≥18 years) from the general population., Data Extraction and Synthesis: Reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed risk of bias independently. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to report pooled prevalence estimates of multimorbidity; pooled estimates by pre-specified subgroups (eg, national studies) were also pursued., Results: From 5830 results, we selected 28 reports, mostly from Brazil and 16 were based on a nationally representative sample. From the 28 selected reports, 26 were further included in the meta-analysis revealing a pooled multimorbidity prevalence of 43% (95% CI: 35% to 51%; I 2 : 99.9%). When only reports with a nationally representative sample were combined, the pooled prevalence was 37% (95% CI: 27% to 47%; I 2 : 99.9%). When the ascertainment of multimorbidity was based on self-reports alone, the pooled prevalence was 40% (95% CI: 31% to 48%; I 2 : 99.9%); this raised to 52% (95% CI: 33% to 70%; I 2 : 99.9%) for reports including self-reported and objective diagnosis., Conclusions: Our results complement and advance those from global efforts by incorporating much more reports from LAC. We revealed a larger presence of multimorbidity in LAC than previously reported., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42020196177., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NAIN) is caused by maternal alloimmunisation to fetal human neutrophil antigens (HNAs). This study investigated maternal HNA/HLA alloantibodies involved with NAIN and identified the frequency of NAIN in Brazilian neonates. Neonatal neutropenia (neutrophil count < 1.5 × 10 9 /L) was investigated in samples from 10,000 unselected neonates, resulting in 88 neutropenic newborns (NBs) and their 83 mothers. Genotyping was performed by PCR-SSP (HNA-1/-4) and PCR-RFLP (HNA-3/-5). Serologic studies were performed by GAT (granulocyte agglutination test), Flow-WIFT (white blood cells immunofluorescence test) and LABScreen-Multi-HNA-Kit (OneLambda®) (LSM). Neonatal neutropenia was identified in 88/10,000 (0·9%) NBs. Genotyping revealed 60·2% maternal-fetal HNA incompatibilities (31·8% for HNA-1; 14·8% for HNA-3; 15·9% for HNA-4; 21·6% for HNA-5). Serologic studies revealed 37·3% of mothers with positive results with at least one technique. The detected anti-HNA specificities were confirmed in eight positive cases related to HNA-1/-3 systems. In cases with maternal-fetal HNA-4/-5 incompatibility, no specific neutrophil alloantibodies were found but anti-HLA I/II were present. Anti-HNA-2 was not identified. This is a large Brazilian study which involved the investigation of antibodies against all five HNA systems in neutropenia cases and showed a frequency of NAIN in 8/10,000 neonates. Among the HNA antibodies identified, we highlight the anti-HNA-1d and anti-HNA-3b, antibodies unusual in alloimmunised women, and rarely related to NAIN cases., (© 2021 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Three valid species of the genus Physiculus are known from the Brazilian marinewaters. A fourth, new species, Physiculus cirm n. sp.., is described based on seventeen specimens collected in the surroundings of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, equatorial Atlantic. A review of the Brazilian species of Physiculus is provided, as well as a key to the species of the genus reported from the Atlantic Ocean. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners, except P. cynodon and P. karrerae, by the large number of longitudinal series of scales (156-189 vs. 70-150). P. cynodon from the Northern Pacific has about 200 longitudinal series of scales, and it differs from the new species by the number of rays of the first dorsal fin (6-8 vs. 10 in P. cynodon), pectoral-fin rays (20-25 vs. 27 in P. cynodon), and the presence of an outer row of large canine teeth on upper and lower jaw. From P. karrerae, which has 134-160 longitudinal series of scales, the new species differs by the presence of scales on the tip of the snout and dorsal-fin membrane, and the number of pectoral-fin rays (20-25 vs. 24-27 in P. karrerae). [Zoobank URL: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1AFBC251-2BB1-4479-98A4-307188EC5D66].

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) elicits an intense acute inflammatory response that is essential for cardiac repair. However, an excessive inflammatory response also favors myocardial apoptosis, cardiac remodeling, and cardiovascular mortality. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) bear anti-inflammatory effects, which may mitigate the inflammatory response during MI. This study investigated whether ω-3 intake is associated with attenuation of the MI-related inflammatory response and cardiac remodeling., Methods: ST-elevation MI (STEMI) patients (n = 421) underwent clinical, biochemical, nutritional, 3D echocardiogram, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging (CMRi) at 30 days and 3D echocardiogram imaging at six months after the MI. Blood tests were performed at day one (D1) and day five (D5) of hospitalization. Changes in inflammatory markers (ΔD5-D1) were calculated. A validated food frequency questionnaire estimated the nutritional consumption and ω-3 intake in the last 3 months before admission., Results: The intake of ω-3 below the median (< 1.7 g/day) was associated with a short-term increase in hs-C-reactive protein [OR:1.96(1.24-3.10); p = 0.004], Interleukin-2 [OR:2.46(1.20-5.04); p = 0.014], brain-type natriuretic peptide [OR:2.66(1.30-5.44); p = 0.007], left-ventricle end-diastolic volume [OR:5.12(1.11-23.52)]; p = 0.036] and decreases in left-ventricle ejection fraction [OR:2.86(1.47-6.88); p = 0.017] after adjustment for covariates. No differences were observed in the extension of infarcted mass obtained by CMRi., Conclusion: These findings suggest that a reduced daily intake of ω-3 may intensify outcome-determining mechanisms after STEMI, such as acute inflammatory response and late left ventricular remodeling., Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry number and website: NCT02062554 .

The crimson speckled moth, Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758), is recorded in Brazilian Amazon for the first time. A moth (male) was collected with light trap in a multiple cropping area, in Mojuí dos Campos municipality, Pará State, Brazil. This record expands the area of occurrence and distribution of this rare species in the Neotropical Region. In addition, the occurrence of U. pulchella in the Amazon was unexpected, since this species is generally associated with open ecosystems and drier climates.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) has an important role in the body composition of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (CD), and spondyloarthritis (SpA). We aimed to assess the nutritional profile of patients with RA, CD, and SpA undergoing remission with multiple therapies comparing to controls and to analyze the effect of anti-TNFα medications in the nutritional parameters of these patients. One hundred thirty-one patients were included: 44 with RA, 43 with CD, and 44 with SpA. Patients receiving anti-TNFα were compared with those receiving non-biological treatment as well as to controls. Nutritional profile included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference, and triceps skinfold measurement. Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent on three assessed groups. In patients with RA, BMI was > 25 kg/m 2 in 74.9% patients and 49.2% controls (p < 0.0005); in CD, in 55.7% patients and 41.2% controls (p < 0.0001); and in SpA, in 68.1% patients and 43.5% controls (p < 0.0001). Central obesity was higher in all three disease groups when compared to healthy controls. There was no significant difference on nutritional parameters in patients using or not using anti-TNFα medications, except in patients with SpA, in which biologic therapy was significantly associated with lower BMI and WC, when compared to other therapies. Overweight, obesity, and elevated WC were more prevalent in patients with RA, CD, and SpA undergoing remission when compared to controls despite of used therapy. The use of biologic drugs in patients with SpA was associated with a lower BMI and lower WC.

The objectives of this study were to characterize the pathogen frequency and severity of clinical mastitis (CM) in 20 dairy herds of southeastern Brazil; and to determine the incidence rate of clinical mastitis (IRCM; overall and based on specific-pathogen groups) based on quarter time at risk and its association with risk factors at the herd-level. Data were recorded in each herd for a period of 8 to 15 months. The association between herd-level risk factors and IRCM were determined by two groups of mixed regression models: one based on the overall IRCM, and five based on the following specific-pathogen groups: contagious, other Gram-positive, Gram-negative, other, and negative culture. The following herd-level risk factors were evaluated: herd size, housing system, average daily milk yield per cow, bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC), and bulk milk total bacterial count (BMTBC). A total of 5957 quarter-cases of CM were recorded from 2637 cows, but only 4212 cases had milk samples collected for culture. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (6.6% of total cultures), Streptococcus uberis (6.1%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (5.9%). The majority of CM cases were mild (60.3%), while 34.1% were moderate and 5.6% severe. The frequency of severe CM cases was lower for those with a Gram-positive result (4.6%) compared to a Gram-negative result (11.4%). Overall, monthly mean IRCM was 9.7 cases per 10,000 quarter-days at risk (QDAR). Herds with a geometric mean BMSCC ≥ 601 × 10 3 cell/mL had higher overall IRCM (16/10,000 QDAR) than those with BMSCC ≤ 600 × 10 3 cell/mL (≤7.7/10,000 QDAR). When the specific-pathogen groups were evaluated, for contagious pathogens, variables housing (free-stalls or compost-bedded pack barns), BMSCC (≥601 × 10 3 cells/mL), and average daily milk yield per cow (21 and 25 Kg/d) presented the highest IRCM. Furthermore, in Gram-negative group, herds with BMTBC ≥ 31 × 10 3 cfu/mL had higher IRCM compared with herds with BMTBC ≤ 30 × 10 3 cfu/mL. Although environmental pathogens were the most common cause of CM in this study, contagious pathogens (e.g., Strep. agalactiae and Staph. aureus) are still a concern in dairy herds of Brazil. Additionally, as there were some herd-level risk factors associated with the IRCM, there may be opportunity for management strategies aiming to improve the control of CM in dairy herds., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potentialities and limitations of the agricultural use of representative classes of semi-arid regions of the state of Bahia, based on the pedological and evaluation of their soil characteristics. Five areas were selected where trenches were opened to collect samples for the analyses: Eutric Haplustept which presents vulnerability to physical and chemical degradation due to poor drainage with risks of erosion, waterlogging, salinization and compaction but having good natural fertility; Abrupt Kandiustalf with high vulnerability to physical degradation due to the presence of gravel and pebbles which may limit the development of deep rooting plants and mechanization but also with good natural fertility; Typic quartzipsaments and Typic Eutrustalf with no limitations related to drainage as low risk of compaction but featuring limitation of low moisture-holding capacity and nutrients; and Arenic Haplustulf wose characteristics are high vulnerability to degradation due to the drainage limitation related to the Btx horizon cementing in addition to low natural fertility and therefore is not recommended to agricultural use. However, in general, they feature no serious impediments for agricultural use. The amounts of OM is low in all soils but the use of management systems aiming at their accumulation and maintenance in appropriate levels will contribute to the CEC increase as well as to improve the chemical and physical properties.

Introduction: Insulin analog glargine (GLA) has been available as one of the therapeutic options for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus to enhance glycemic control. Studies have shown that a decrease in the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes improves the quality of life (QoL) of diabetic patients. However, there are appreciable acquisition cost differences between different insulins. Consequently, there is a need to assess their impact on QoL to provide future guidance to health authorities., Method: A systematic review of multiple databases including Medline, LILACS, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases with several combinations of agreed terms involving randomized controlled trials and cohorts, as well as manual searches and gray literature, was undertaken. The primary outcome measure was a change in QoL. The quality of the studies and the risk of bias was also assessed., Results: Eight studies were eventually included in the systematic review out of 634 publications. Eight different QoL instruments were used (two generic, two mixed, and four specific), in which the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) was the most used. The systematic review did not consistently show any significant difference overall in QoL scores, whether as part of subsets or combined into a single score, with the use of GLA versus neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin. Only in patient satisfaction measured by DTSQ was a better result consistently seen with GLA versus NPH insulin, but not using the Well-being Inquiry for Diabetics (WED) scale. However, none of the cohort studies scored a maximum on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for quality, and they generally were of moderate quality with bias in the studies., Conclusion: There was no consistent difference in QoL or patient-reported outcomes when the findings from the eight studies were collated. In view of this, we believe the current price differential between GLA and NPH insulin in Brazil cannot be justified by these findings.

Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) was investigated in the central nervous system of cattle with neurological syndrome. Two-hundred-ninety samples were analyzed by histology, and molecular methods to detect ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) were optimized and validated. The qualitative polymerase chain reaction (qualitative PCR) analytical sensitivity was 10 1 DNA copies/μL and found 4.8% (14/290) positive for OvHV-2. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analytical sensitivity was 10 0 DNA copy/μL and 5.9% (17/290) positivity, with 47.1% (8/17) of the positive samples presenting histological evidence of non-purulent meningo-encephalitis. The qualitative PCR products (422bp of the ORF75 region) were sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis. Identity matrices showed 100% similarity in OvHV-2 samples obtained in this study and those recovered from GenBank, corroborating other studies., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

In Brazil, the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) has been used as a biological control agent against Diatraea saccharalis (F.) since 1976, because of its effectiveness in reducing populations of this pest. Three million plastic cups are used annually to release C. flavipes, which remain in the environment. This study aimed to develop fully biodegradable packaging, so that releases occur without damaging the environment. The biological characteristics of C. flavipes were studied for five generations in the packaging developed (biodegradable boxes) and in the packaging currently used (non-biodegradable plastic cups and biodegradable cups), as were the costs. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using completely biodegradable and inexpensive packaging for the rearing, transport, and release of adult C. flavipes in the field., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cryptosporidium spp. are cosmopolitan protozoa that infect fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. More than 20 species are recognized within this genus. Rodents are a group of abundant and ubiquitous organisms that have been considered reservoirs of Cryptosporidium for humans and livestock. The aim of this study was to design specific primers for the gene encoding 18S rRNA, potentially capable of amplifying any species or genotype of Cryptosporidium spp. and evaluate the diagnostic attributes of the nested-PCR based on such probes. The primers were designed to amplify the shortest segment as possible to maximize the sensitivity of the test, but preserving the discriminatory potential of the amplified sequences for phylogenetic inferences. The nested-PCR standardized in this study (nPCR-SH) was compared in terms of sensitivity with another similar assay (nPCR-XIAO) that has been largely used for the detection and identification of Cryptosporidium spp. worldwide. We also aimed to molecularly characterize samples of Cryptosporidum spp. isolated from synanthropic rodents using these probes. Forty-five rodents were captured in urban areas of the municipality of Umuarama, Paraná State, Brazil. Fecal samples were submitted to three molecular tests (nested-PCRs), two of them targeted to the 18S rDNA gene (nPCR-SH and nPCR-XIAO) and the third targeted to the gene encoding actin (nPCR-actin). The nPCR-SH was tested positive on samples of Cryptosporidum parvum, Cryptosporidum andersoni, Cryptosporidum meleagridis, Cryptosporidum hominis, Cryptosporidum canis, and Cryptosporidum serpentis. Sixteen samples of rodents were positive by nPCR-SH, six by nPCR-XIAO and five by nPCR-actin. Sequencing of amplified fragments allowed the identification of Cryptosporidum muris in three samples of Rattus rattus, and two genotypes of Cryptosporidium, the genotypes mouse II and III. Cryptosporidium genotype mouse II was found in one sample of Mus musculus and genotype mouse III, in twelve samples, being five from R. rattus and seven from M. musculus. The results of this study demonstrated that the primers designed for detection of Cryptosporidium spp. were more efficient than those used in the nPCR-XIAO. Genotypes or species of Cryptosporidium that can be usually transmitted for human beings and livestock were not found in synanthropic rodents, suggesting that the importance of these animals in zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis should be revisited., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been associated with several disease complexes, including reproductive failure. The aim of this study was to identify the subtypes of PCV2 that are associated with reproductive failure in pigs from the State of São Paulo, Brazil and to investigate co-infections with other infectious organisms., Findings: Samples of 168 aborted foetuses or mummified foetuses from five farrow-to-finish swine farms known to be infected with PCV2 and located in the State of São Paulo were tested for PCV2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were additionally tested for porcine parvovirus (PPV), Leptospira spp. and Brucella spp. by PCR. PCV2 was detected in 18 of the samples (10.7%). PPV, Brucella spp. and Leptospira spp were found in 2, 10 and 0 cases, respectively. Eleven PCV2 strains were sequenced and determined to be either genotype 2a (n = 1) or 2b (n = 10)., Conclusions: The findings indicate that the frequency of PCV2 infections in aborted porcine foetuses from the State of São Paulo is rather low (10.7%) and that co-infection with other pathogens is common and may be involved in PCV2 associated reproductive failure. No repeatable, characteristic amino acid motifs for regions of the PCV2 capsid protein seemed to be associated with abortion in sows.

A culture-independent molecular phylogenetic analysis was carried out to study for the first time the diversity of bacterial ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) and nitrogenase reductase subunit H (nifH) genes from Urca inlet at Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most bacterial amoA and nifH sequences exhibited identities of less than 95% to those in the GenBank database revealing that novel ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms may exist in this tropical marine environment. The observation of a large number of clones related to uncultured bacteria also indicates the necessity to describe these microorganisms and to develop new cultivation methodologies.

This paper promotes a reflection on the relationship between daily practices and consumption. Understanding how conflicts, resistance and consensus are generated from daily consumption practices opens up possibilities for reflecting on the construction of sustainability in the context of diversity, one of the landmarks of the globalized world. Within this socio-cultural context, the central issue is: can consumption generate citizenship practices? The concepts of subject and agent help one think about collective action and subjectivation processes and their interferences on the collective consuming behavior. Based on empirical data from a research carried out in the municipality of Estrela in 2007, in the Taquari Valley - Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil) on local reality consumption practices, it was possible to conclude that various reasoning mechanisms and values underlie the daily consumption practices. Citizenship construction, based on consumption practices, depends on the subject's reflection capacity on his/her daily practices or on what goes through the circulation of environmental information based on sociability spaces.

Recent studies indicated that Toxoplasma gondii isolates of many domestic animal hosts from Brazil are genetically and biologically different from those in USA and Europe. Despite of high pathogenicity of this parasite to small ruminants, the epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii in these animals are not well understood in Brazil. In this study, a total of 28 T. gondii samples (16 isolates from sheep in São Paulo state, and 12 isolates from goats in the states of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Norte) were genotyped using genetic markers SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico and CS3. Eleven genotypes were identified from these T. gondii isolates. Eight isolates (4 from sheep and 4 from goats) were grouped into the common clonal type BrI lineage. One sheep isolate was grouped to the type BrIII lineage. Five isolates grouped to three previously identified genotypes in Brazil, and 13 isolates grouped to six novel genotypes. Mixed genotype was found in one isolate from goat in São Paulo. No classical clonal Type I, II or III isolates were found, confirming previous reports that these clonal lineages are rare in Brazil. The allele types at the CS3 locus are strongly linked to mouse virulence of the parasite. The results of this study indicate that even though a large number of T. gondii genotypes have been identified from a variety of animal hosts in Brazil, high percentage of new genotypes are continuously identified from different animal species, suggesting extremely high diversity of T. gondii in the population., ((c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In order to characterize the bacterial community diversity associated to mucus of the coral Mussismilia hispida, four 16S rDNA libraries were constructed and 400 clones from each library were analyzed from two healthy colonies, one diseased colony and the surrounding water. Nine bacterial phyla were identified in healthy M. hispida, with a dominance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Lentisphaerae, and Nitrospira. The most commonly found species were related to the genera Azospirillum, Hirschia, Fabibacter, Blastochloris, Stella, Vibrio, Flavobacterium, Ochrobactrum, Terasakiella, Alkalibacter, Staphylococcus, Azospirillum, Propionibacterium, Arcobacter, and Paenibacillus. In contrast, diseased M. hispida had a predominance of one single species of Bacteroidetes, corresponding to more than 70% of the sequences. Rarefaction curves using evolutionary distance of 1% showed a greater decrease in bacterial diversity in the diseased M. hispida, with a reduction of almost 85% in OTUs in comparison to healthy colonies. integral-Libshuff analyses show that significant p values obtained were <0.0001, demonstrating that the four libraries are significantly different. Furthermore, the sympatric corals M. hispida and Mussismilia braziliensis appear to have different bacterial community compositions according to Principal Component Analysis and Lineage-specific Analysis. Moreover, lineages that contribute to those differences were identified as alpha-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. The results obtained in this study suggest host-microbe co-evolution in Mussismilia, and it was the first study on the diversity of the microbiota of the endemic and endangered of extinction Brazilian coral M. hispida from Abrolhos bank.

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon is an urban ecosystem undergoing accelerated degradation, therefore selected as a model for microbiological quality studies of tropical lagoons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the abundance and the spatial distribution of fecal pollution indicators and pathogenic microorganisms in the lagoon. The relationships between microbial groups and abiotic measurements were also determined to evaluate the influence of environmental conditions on bacterial distribution and to identify the capability of coliforms and Enterococcus to predict the occurrence of Vibrio, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella. Surface water samples were collected monthly, from December 1999 to October 2000. Analyses were performed by traditional culture techniques. A uniform spatial distribution was observed for all bacterial groups. The fecal pollution indicators occurred in low abundances while potentially pathogenic microorganisms were consistently found. Therefore, our study supported the use of counts of coliforms and Enterococcus to indicate only recent fecal contamination.

Recent studies indicate that Toxoplasma gondii isolates of many domestic hosts from Brazil are genetically and biologically different from T. gondii isolates from USA and Europe. However, little is known about genetics of T. gondii isolates from wild mammals in Brazil. In this study, genotypes of 36 T. gondii isolates from capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from six counties in São Paulo state, Brazil, were determined. Sixteen genotypes were identified using 11 genetic markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico and CS3. No classical clonal Type I and Type II isolates were found, confirming other findings that these lineages are rare in Brazil. Eight of these 36 isolates were grouped into the common clonal lineages in Brazil, previously designed as Types BrI, BrII and BrIII. Seven of the 16 genotypes were reported for the first time in this study. Three of the 36 isolates showed mixed infections. Analysis of mortality rates in infected mice indicated that Type BrI is highly virulent, Type BrII is intermediately virulent and Type BrIII is non-virulent, which is in agreement with previous report. The allele types at the CS3 locus are strongly linked to mouse-virulence of the parasite. These genotyping results support previous findings that the T. gondii population is highly diverse in Brazil.

Prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies was measured in serum samples randomly collected from dairy (40 cows from four farms) and beef cattle (120 animals from 12 farms) from the municipality of Santarém, Pará State, Brazil, calculated by using the Win Episcope 2.0 statistical program. The presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was determined by indirect immunofluorescence-antibody test with a cut-off value of 1:100. We found that 13 farms (81.25%) showed infection rates above 10%, which indicates widespread distribution of N. caninum in the region. The frequency per animal was 19%. No difference was observed between the prevalence values in dairy and beef animals or between farms, which was probably due to the small number of dairy farms examined. The results confirm, for the first time, the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in cattle from Pará State and the necessity to further investigate the epidemiology of N. caninum in the Amazon region.

Objective: The purpose is to assess current medical practice in the diagnosis of endometriosis by Brazilian gynecologists., Methods: A Cross-sectional study using questionnaires was sent to all gynecologists of the São Paulo State Ob/Gyn Association., Results: A total of 1,660 (31.8%) replies was received. Multiple logistic regression showed that physicians who stated that endometriosis can affect women of all ages was the variable significantly associated with suspicion of endometriosis. Diagnosis was delayed less than 12 months after the first consultation when patients complained of: infertility (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.01-3.22), dysmenorrhea (OR=2.16, 95% CI 1.18-3.93) or chronic pelvic pain (CPP) (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.17-4.00). Time until diagnosis was shorter when the complaint was dysmenorrhea (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.69) or CPP (OR=1.51, 95% CI 1.19-1.91) and when physicians had participated in congresses and lectures on gynecological endoscopy and endometriosis., Conclusion: Gynaecologists who are better informed suspect and diagnose endometriosis at an early stage.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is widely prevalent in humans in Brazil. Among the food animals, pigs are considered the most important meat source of T. gondii for infection in humans. In the present study, we report the first isolation of viable T. gondii from finishing pigs in Brazil. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 49 (17%) of 286 pigs prior slaughter using the modified agglutination test (MAT) at a serum dilution of 1:25. Attempts were made to isolate T. gondii from 28 seropositive pigs. Samples of heart, brain, and tongue from each pig were pooled, digested in acid pepsin, and bioassayed in five mice per pig. Viable T. gondii was isolated from seven pigs; all isolates were lethal for mice. Restriction fragment length polymorphism on products of SAG2 locus amplified by PCR revealed that two isolates were Type I and five were Type III. The results indicate that phenotypically and genetically T. gondii isolates from pigs from Brazil are distinct from isolates of T. gondii from pigs in the USA.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the Malar-Check trade mark Pf test, an immunochromatographic assay that detects Plasmodium falciparum Histidine Rich Protein II, does not require equipment, and is easy and rapid to perform. In dilution assays performed to test sensitivity against known parasite density, Malar-Check were compared with thick blood smear (TBS), the gold standard for diagnosis. Palo Alto isolate or P. falciparum blood from patients with different parasitemias was used. The average cut-off points for each technique in three independent experiments were 12 and 71 parasites/mm3 (TBS and Malar-Check, respectively). In the field assays, samples were collected from patients with fever who visited endemic regions. Compared to TBS, Malar-Check yielded true-positive results in 38 patients, false-positive results in 3, true-negative results in 23, and false-negative result in 1. Malar-Check performed with samples from falciparum-infected patients after treatment showed persistence of antigen up to 30 days. Malar-Check should aid the diagnosis of P. falciparum in remote areas and improve routine diagnosis even when microscopy is available. Previous P. falciparum infection, which can determine a false-positive test in cured individuals, should be considered. The prompt results obtained with the Malar-Check for early diagnosis could avoid disease evolution to severe cases.