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This study investigated the impact of micropollutants on fish health from Segredo hydroelectric reservoir (HRS) along the Iguaçu River, Southern Brazil, contaminated by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities. This is the first comprehensive study assessment in the river after the severe drought in the 2020s in three fish species from different trophic levels Astyanax spp. (water column depth/omnivorous), Hypostomus commersoni (demersal/herbivorous), and Pimelodus maculatus (demersal/omnivorous). Animals, water, and sediment samples were collected from three distinct sites within the reservoir: Floresta (upstream), Iratim (middle), and Station (downstream). The chemical analysis revealed elevated concentrations of metals (Al, Cu, Fe) and the metalloid As in water, or Cu, Zn, and As in sediment, surpassing Brazilian regulatory limits, while the organic pollutants as DDT, PAHs, PCBs, and PBDEs were found under the Brazilian regulatory limits. The metal bioaccumulation was higher in gills with no significant differences among sites. The species Astyanax spp. and H. commersoni displayed variations in hepatosomatic index (HSI) and P. maculatus in the condition factor index (K) between sites, while adverse effects due to micropollutants bioaccumulation were observed by biochemical, genotoxic, and histopathological biomarkers. The principal component analysis and integrated biomarker response highlighted the upstream site Floresta as particularly inhospitable for biota, with distinctions based on trophic level. Consequently, this multifaceted approach, encompassing both fish biomarkers and chemical analyses, furnishes valuable insights into the potential toxic repercussions of micropollutant exposure. These findings offer crucial data for guiding management and conservation endeavors in the Iguaçu River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populist leadership has gained global traction in recent years, often emerging as a voice for the people against established institutions and elites while championing traditional values. However, the repercussions for the business environment remain elusive. This study examines the impact of populist policies on businesses, with a specific focus on the responses of large companies. We analyze two decades of the Brazilian political landscape to identify controversies surrounding populism's rhetoric and its real‐world effects on people's lives and business practices. Through this case study, we introduce a framework that explores the interplay between populism's influence and public policies, shaping market dynamics. In response, companies strategically adapt to maintain their competitiveness. This study, set in the Brazilian context, provides valuable insights and lessons for international businesses operating in politically diverse and dynamic economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bats are critical to maintaining healthy ecosystems and many species are threatened primarily due to global habitat loss. Bats are also important hosts of a range of viruses, several of which have had significant impacts on global public health. The emergence of these viruses has been associated with land-use change and decreased host species richness. Yet, few studies have assessed how bat communities and the viruses they host alter with land-use change, particularly in highly biodiverse sites. Methods: In this study, we investigate the effects of deforestation on bat host species richness and diversity, and viral prevalence and richness across five forested sites and three nearby deforested sites in the interior Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. Nested-PCR and qPCR were used to amplify and detect viral genetic sequence from six viral families (corona-, adeno-, herpes-, hanta-, paramyxo-, and astro-viridae) in 944 blood, saliva and rectal samples collected from 335 bats. Results: We found that deforested sites had a less diverse bat community than forested sites, but higher viral prevalence and richness after controlling for confounding factors. Viral detection was more likely in juvenile males located in deforested sites. Interestingly, we also found a significant effect of host bat species on viral prevalence indicating that viral taxa were detected more frequently in some species than others. In particular, viruses from the Coronaviridae family were detected more frequently in generalist species compared to specialist species. Discussion: Our findings suggest that deforestation may drive changes in the ecosystem which reduce bat host diversity while increasing the abundance of generalist species which host a wider range of viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging leads to the loss of anatomical structures and physiological processes such as postural stability. Poor postural control leads to a shift in the center of gravity, thus overloading the musculature. Muscles overloaded due to postural changes do not show enough muscle contraction, causing the appearance of trigger points (TP). Among the PG deactivation methods, the Dry Needling (DN) has been shown to be a good response method in clinical practice. Objective: To analyze the immediate effect of DN on pressure pain threshold (PPT) of latent trigger points of the sural triceps muscles, in order to verify whether there is improvement in the posture of the lower limbs of active elderly women. Methods: A randomized, controlled and blind clinical trial (patients) was carried out. The sample consisted of physically active elderly women from the community. Divided into two groups: DN Group (DNG) and Control Group (CG). Both groups underwent an initial assessment, treatment (DNG) or sham (CG), and reassessment. The tests were: pressure algometer and biophotogrammetry. Data were analyzed from Normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The characterization of the sample was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for comparison between groups. For inter and intragroup analysis, mixed Anova with post hoc Bonferroni was used. The level of significance used was p<0.05. Results: The PPT showed an increase in the intragroup analysis for the right (14.03%) and left (14.92%) sides in the GDN group, as for the intergroup analysis, the results of the reassessment were higher in the DNG group compared to the GC. Regarding the posture of the lower limbs, there was no significant improvement in the intergroup and intragroup analyses. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the application of Dry Needling in PG in the sural triceps musculature presents an increase in the pressure pain threshold, however, only one session of the technique application was not enough to present a significant improvement in the posture of the lower limbs. of active elderly women. Search registered on the ReBEC (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials) platform under the number RBR-97sqsb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the epidemiological characterization and spatial distribution of bat shelters concerning livestock animal rabies in Paraná State, southern Brazil. A spatiotemporal cluster analysis was performed based on rabies-positive cases and the Desmodus rotundus shelters. A total of 1742 suspect rabies cases submitted for diagnosis from 2011 to 2017 were analyzed; 481 (27.61%) were positive, and 1261 (72.39%) were negative by direct immunofluorescence and biological testing in mice. Out of the positive samples, 413/481 (85.8%) was bovine, 44/481 (9.1%) equine, 6/481 (1.2%) sheep, 5/481 (1.0%) bubaline, and 14/481 (2.9%) were bats. From 22 Regional Units of Agricultural Health, the northeast 129 (26.82%) and central 86 (17.88%) units had the highest recurrence rates of positive cases. Paraná State was continuously endemic for livestock rabies, with the highest caseload seen in the southern-central regions, which was associated with the highest number of vampire bat shelters and natural geographical characteristics favoring bat housing. There was a decrease in the number of rabies cases in livestock in 2013 and 2014. Spatiotemporal analyses of point process mapping and control of D. rotundus shelters and suspected livestock rabies cases in the study area were steady and statistically correlated. However, as bats may travel up to 35–40 km to prey on cattle clusters, bat shelter locations may not be the most sensitive measure of exposure. Furthermore, future studies should consider landscape features such as altitude as potential associated risk factors. Rabies vaccination of livestock and bat hematophagous shelters identification combined with bat control is recommended to increase the efficacy of preventive measures, particularly in natural geographic characteristics favoring local bat housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of four large reservoirs for hydroelectric power generation in the main channel of the Paraná River and many others in the tributaries has eliminated important wetlands, except over an area of ∼2000 km2 between the reservoirs of the UHE Engenheiro Sérgio Motta (Porto Primavera) and the Itaipu. The up-river reservoirs created large changes in the river's hydrology and in its loads of suspended, bed and dissolved material. A detailed assessment of the impact of these changes requires a description and classification of the floodplain's different subunits, called macrohabitats, according to hydrological, hydromorphological, and vegetational parameters. The classification system presented herein is hierarchical and is embedded in the classifications of Brazilian wetlands. The system differentiates the Paraná River floodplain into 6 functional units, 13 subclasses, and 23 macrohabitats, which are presented in this paper. Changes in hydrology have reduced the flood amplitude, frequency and permanence, and thus confined the macrohabitats to an area currently subjected to a regular flood pulse of ∼3 m rather than the previous ∼6 m. The gradual terrestrialization of macrohabitats at the upper end of the flood gradient is expected, accompanied by a loss of macrohabitats at its lower end because of long-term flooding. The retention of sediments and dissolved nutrients in the reservoirs will lead to the oligotrophication of aquatic macrohabitats, the degradation of near-channel hydromorphic structures and their vegetation, and a general reduction of overall primary production in the floodplain, which may extend also to higher trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis has been widely reported in insular environments worldwide, characterizing a major public health threat. Although low‐genetic biodiversity is expected in these regions, the introduction of domestic and synanthropic mammals may contribute to the wider diversity of leptospiral strains in insular settings. This study proposes a large‐scale seroepidemiological investigation of Leptospira infection in animals from Fernando de Noronha archipelago and describes the characterization of the first leptospiral strain ever isolated from an insular setting in Brazil. A total of 1,265 blood samples from domestic (n = 682), synanthropic (n = 133) and wild (n = 450) animals were collected between 2007 and 2014, totalling 12 species. The presence of anti‐Leptospira spp. antibodies was investigated by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and kidney samples from 20 synanthropic rodents were collected for the isolation of Leptospira spp. The leptospires recovered were further characterized by serogrouping with polyclonal antibodies, whole‐genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The MAT results revealed the presence of agglutinins in 90 samples (7.1%) and the most frequently found serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 57) in practically all species included. Viable leptospires were recovered from one brown rat, and characterization revealed that the isolate belongs to L. interrogans serogroup Pyrogenes. The results suggest that synanthropic rodents might play an important role in leptospiral infection among wildlife and domestic species in the archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of aquatic ecosystems impacted by toxic metals is widely distributed throughout the world. The application of metallothionein (MT) as an early warning sign of metal exposure in freshwater fish is important in biomonitoring, but a more accessible, sensitive, safe, and efficient new methodological strategy is necessary. On this way, a fish MT synthetic gene from Oreochromis aureos was expressed in Escherichia coli to produce polyclonal antibodies against the protein. In the validation assays, these antibodies were able to detect hepatic MT from freshwater fishes Oreochromis niloticus, Pimelodus maculatus, Prochilodus lineatus, and Salminus brasiliensis showing a potential tool for toxic metals biomarker in biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems. The current results showed the applicability of this molecule in quantitative immunoassays as a sensor for monitoring aquatic environments impacted by toxic metals. Due to the lack of methods focusing on metal pollution diagnostics in aquatic ecosystems, the current proposal revealed a promising tool to applications in biomonitoring programs of water resources, mainly in Brazil where the mining activity is very developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of natural mineral waters commercialized in 20 L returnable packs in Brazil by investigating the presence of bacteria and viruses in packs with different manufacturing times (Tm). With this purpose, 99 water samples from 33 lots (n  = 3/batch) of 15 brands, obtained from packs with three intervals of Tm, were analyzed. Total coliforms (16.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.9%), sulphite-reducing Clostridium (5.0%) and Escherichia coli (2.0%) were detected but enterococci and norovirus GII not. Regarding brands, 11 (73.3%) presented unsatisfactory results for at least one of the lots analyzed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa analysis revealed six sequence types and strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested and were able to produce biofilms. Human adenovirus (4) and norovirus GI (9) were also identified in nine samples randomly selected. Natural mineral waters commercialized in 20 L packs with Tm ≥ 2 years presented more microbiological contamination (P  ≤ 0.012) than ones with a Tm of 0–1 year or a Tm of 1–2 years. These results suggest that the validity period of reusable 20 L packs should be reduced or that they can no longer be reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonosis in Brazil. Dogs are considered the main domestic reservoirs of the disease in the country; hence, control measures are focused on these reservoirs. Despite efforts to prevent and control VL, important reductions in disease prevalence and incidence have not been identified, stimulating the development and application of new strategies. The choice and implementation of new control strategies can benefit from the application of mathematical models that allow the simulation of different strategies in different scenarios. Selecting the best strategy to be implemented is also supported by cost-effectiveness studies. Here we used the results of a mathematical model in which scenarios, including isolated use of the vaccine and insecticide-impregnated collar (IIC), both at different coverage rates, were simulated to conduct a cost-effectiveness study. The costs were calculated for each scenario considering a simulation period of four years. Collar application in both infected and non-infected animals was the most cost-effective strategy. For example, to reduce the prevalence in humans and dogs by approximately 70%, the costs ranged from $250,000 and $550,000 for the IICs and vaccination, respectively. Even in the scenario with 40% loss/replacement of IICs, this measure was more advantageous in terms of cost-effectiveness than vaccination. If the vaccine were applied with culling of seropositive tested dogs, then the measure became more effective with a reduced cost compared with the vaccine alone. The use of the three first consecutive vaccine doses had the greatest impact on the cost of the vaccination strategy. The advantage of using IICs is that there is no need for a prior diagnosis, unlike vaccination, reducing costs and facilitating implementation. The present study aims to contribute to strategies to reduce hosts infected with VL by reducing public expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Leptospirosis is considered a neglected zoonosis associated with infrastructure problems and low socioeconomic status, particularly slums. Since the disease is mainly transmitted in urban settings by rat urine, this risk factor may be important predictor tool for prompt control and effective prevention at the local level in urban endemic areas. Accordingly, the present study aimed to propose an early spatial predictor tool for human leptospirosis in urban settings, to test the methodology of molecular methods for assessing Leptospira spp. in trapped rats, and report associated environmental data. Methodology/Principal findings: Official city records and previous study were used to select risk factors for human leptospirosis in an endemic neighborhood of Curitiba, Brazil. Neighborhood census sectors were divided in high- and low-risk areas using 12 selected factors: flood area, water supply, water course, green coverage, afforestation, sewage network, open sewage, open garbage, garbage collection, dumpster, pavement, and rodent complaints. In addition, rats were captured in pre-determined sites from January through March 2017, euthanized, and individual kidneys samples sent for molecular diagnosis. Human cases were obtained from official city records. In total, 95/112 (84.8%) census sectors were classified as low-risk to human leptospirosis. No significant statistical differences were found in human case frequencies between high and low-risk areas. Kidney samples from 17/25 (68.0%) trapped rats were positive for Leptospira spp. The main risk factors associated with rodent presence included inadequate water supply (p = 0.04), sanitary sewage (p = 0.04), unpaved streets (p = 0.04), and complaint of rodents (p = 0.04). Conclusions/Significance: This study offers a new approach to score leptospirosis transmission risk, and to compare small areas and their heterogeneity in the same census sector of endemic areas. Environmental risk factors for Leptospira spp. transmission within the neighborhood were mainly due to differences in infrastructure and basic services. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study using Leptospira spp. in rats as predictor for human disease in an urban setting of a major city. Although the number of rats trapped was low, this methodology may be used as basis for early and effective interventions, focused on high risk areas for leptospirosis prior to human cases, and potentially reducing morbidity and mortality in low-income areas of urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last years, the new science of cities has been established as a fertile quantitative approach to systematically understand the urban phenomena. One of its main pillars is the proposition that urban systems display universal scaling behavior regarding socioeconomic, infrastructural and individual basic services variables. This paper discusses the extension of the universality proposition by testing it against a broad range of urban metrics in a developing country urban system. We present an exploration of the scaling exponents for over 60 variables for the Brazilian urban system. Estimating those exponents is challenging from the technical point of view because the Brazilian municipalities’ definition follows local political criteria and does not regard characteristics of the landscape, density, and basic utilities. As Brazilian municipalities can deviate significantly from urban settlements, urban-like municipalities were selected based on a systematic density cut-off procedure and the scaling exponents were estimated for this new subset of municipalities. To validate our findings we compared the results for overlaying variables with other studies based on alternative methods. It was found that the analyzed socioeconomic variables follow a superlinear scaling relationship with the population size, and most of the infrastructure and individual basic services variables follow expected sublinear and linear scaling, respectively. However, some infrastructural and individual basic services variables deviated from their expected regimes, challenging the universality hypothesis of urban scaling. We propose that these deviations are a product of top-down decisions/policies. Our analysis spreads over a time-range of 10 years, what is not enough to draw conclusive observations, nevertheless we found hints that the scaling exponent of these variables are evolving towards the expected scaling regime, indicating that the deviations might be temporally constrained and that the urban systems might eventually reach the expected scaling regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One of the cornerstones of the National Program for Control and Eradication of Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in Brazil is the voluntary accreditation of free herds. We developed a stochastic cost–benefit analysis model for two types of dairy herds (high yield Holstein‐Zebu crossbred females and lower productivity smaller scale herds) to identify the technical and economic constraints of this process. The initial prevalence of infected animals and the impact of the disease in the structure and performance of the herd were derived from secondary data. Information on the costs and benefits of herd sanitation were compiled into a cost–benefit model at the herd level. The last step consisted of a scenario simulation to evaluate the impact of alternative policies to the certification process. For each scenario, we calculate the probability over time of a Benefit–Cost Ratio greater than 1 and of an Internal Rate of Return above 1% (the discount rate used in the model). Results show that larger and more intensive dairy farms, and also herds affected by brucellosis compared with tuberculosis‐positive herds, are more likely to achieve financial gains from the certification investment. The compensation for culled animals is important in the initial phase of herd sanitation and the premium payment on milk would help farmers to achieve a return on the investment over time. The model can be adapted to different and dynamic production, epidemiological and economic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of Vaccinia virus (VACV) outbreaks in Brazil remains unknown, but since the isolation of VACV in Mus musculus mice during a zoonotic outbreak affecting cattle and milkers, peridomestic rodents have been suggested to be a link between cows and wild animals. Considering that experimentally infected mice eliminate viral particles in their feces, we investigated the presence of VACV in the feces and urine of wild rodents that were captured in the forest areas surrounding milking farms in the central west region of São Paulo State. For the first time, this work reports the detection of VACV by PCR in the feces of naturally infected Oligoryzomys flavescens, Oligoryzomys nigripes, and Sooretamys angouya, and in the urine of Oligorizomys flavescens, which raises important questions about the spread of VACV by rodent feces and its potential to induce clinical infections in cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main threats to primates worldwide are the degradation, fragmentation, and loss of their habitats; hunting (especially for bushmeat); and illegal trade. For many species, the most important threat is forest fragmentation, resulting in small populations that are restricted to isolated forest patches. In this situation, primates are particularly vulnerable to disease. The Endangered blonde capuchin ( Sapajus flavius) is now restricted to a few forest patches in Northeast Brazil. We investigated the occurrence of parasites and bacterial diseases in one of three free-ranging groups of S. flavius in a small forest patch in Paraíba state, Northeast Brazil. We tested for antibodies against Leishmania spp ., Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp. (24 strains), and Brucella spp.. We used molecular analysis to detect Plasmodium spp., and evaluated blood smears for the presence of hemoparasites. All individuals tested negative for Leptospira spp. and B. abortus, but 8 of 48 (16%) presented antibodies for both Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. We identified antibodies to T. gondii in 12% of the individuals tested. Plasmodium brasilianum infection was present in 4% of the individuals tested, and blood smears showed microfilariae parasites in 46% of the individuals tested. The occurrence of these infectious diseases in S. flavius may pose a significant threat in terms of reduced recruitment and poor survival rates, and an understanding of the influence of pathogens is crucial for the management of small populations of primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the effect of managers' uncertainty on cooperative behavior in interorganizational relationships, and how this affects operational performance. We conducted a survey with 225 Brazilian managers, and analyzed data using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Results present: a) a negative influence of uncertainty of state on operational performance; b) a positive influence of uncertainty of effect on uncertainty of response; c) a significant influence of uncertainty of response on cooperative behavior; and d) a positive influence of cooperative behavior on performance. The results indicated that cooperation and uncertainty accounted for 18.8% of the variability of operational performance. Considering the uncertainty that plagues Latin societies, this study can help to create more efficient ways to deal with the phenomenon. Rather than turning a blind eye to uncertainty, our study underscores it and treats it like another business environment issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is the tick-borne disease that generates the largest number of human deaths in the world. In Brazil, the current increase of BSF human cases has been associated with the presence and expansion of capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, which act as primary hosts for the tick Amblyomma sculptum, vector of the R. rickettsii in this area. Methods: We proposed a semi-discrete-time stochastic model to evaluate the role of capybaras in the transmission dynamics of R. rickettsii. Through a sensitivity analysis, we identified the parameters with significant influence on the R. rickettsii establishment. Afterward, we implemented the Gillespie’s algorithm to simulate the impact of potential public health interventions to prevent BSF human cases. Results: The introduction of a single infected capybara with at least one infected attached tick is enough to trigger the disease in a non-endemic area. We found that to avoid the formation of new BSF-endemic areas, it is crucial to impede the emigration of capybaras from endemic areas by reducing their birth rate by more than 58%. Model results were corroborated by ex-situ data generated from field studies, and this supports our proposal to prevent BSF human cases by implementing control strategies focused on capybaras. Conclusion: The proposed stochastic model illustrates how strategies for the control and prevention of vector-borne infectious diseases can be focused on amplifier hosts management practices. This work provides a basis for future prevention strategies for other neglected vector-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonosis caused by Brucella abortus that negatively impacts livestock productivity. In 2001, Brazil launched a new national program aimed at eradicating animal brucellosis that included large-scale studies of the prevalence and risk factors to support strategic decision-making. These studies were implemented by the animal health authorities and were underpinned by the scientific coordination of the University of São Paulo and the University of Brasília. The state-level results were published and revealed important differences in herd prevalence among regions. The risk factors varied across states and did not clearly explain the observed spatial disease spread. This study used a consolidated herd-level database of 14 states and 17,100 herds, from the prevalence surveys’ data, to gain insights into herd profiles and cattle production practices that might be associated with the risk of brucellosis. At the time of data collection, the study area comprised just over 56 million bovine females aged over 24 months and approximately 1.8 million herds. After an exploratory univariable analysis, all factors with p ≤ 0.20 were included in a multiple logistic regression model, using the design-based method in order to take herd sampling weights into account. The number of females in the herd markedly increased the risk of infection; compared with smaller herds (less than 30 females), the odds ratio was 3.42 [CI 95% 2.98–3.91] for herds with 31 to 100 females, 5.68 [4.92–6.55] for herds with 101 to 400 females, and 13.14 [10.94–15.78] for herds with more than 400 females. The risk was higher for extensive cattle production farms (OR = 1.23 [1.07–1.42]) and for farms that purchased replacement stock from cattle traders (OR = 1.27 [1.08–1.47]) or directly from other farms (OR = 1.19 [1.07–1.32]). The exclusive use of artificial insemination (OR = 0.57 [0.4–0.81]) and regular veterinary support (OR = 0.68 [0.6–0.77]) appeared to be protective factors. These findings are consistent with the regional prevalence trends observed in the study and provide key guidance for the planning of the national effort to control and eradicate brucellosis. High vaccination coverage of heifers is recommended, especially when targeted to areas where large-scale extensive cattle production predominates. The smaller, more intensive herds, are good candidates for disease accreditation schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis found worldwide. Its incidence has increased in Brazil in recent years, representing a serious public and animal health problem. The strategies applied in Brazil are questionable and are not sufficient to control the disease. Thus, we have compared the efficacy of some of the currently available strategies focused on dogs to prevent and control zoonotic VL in endemic areas by optimizing a mathematical model. The simulations showed that the elimination of seropositive dogs, the use of insecticide-impregnated dog collars, and the vaccination of dogs significantly contribute to reducing the prevalence of infection in both canines and humans. The use of insecticide-impregnated collars presented the highest level of efficacy mainly because it directly affected the force of infection and vector-dog contact. In addition, when used at a coverage rate of 90%, insecticide-impregnated collar was able to decrease the prevalence of seropositive dogs and humans to zero; moreover, because of the easy application and acceptance by the targeted population, these collars may be considered the most feasible for inclusion in public policies among the three simulated measures. Vaccination and euthanasia were efficacious, but the latter method is strongly criticized on ethical grounds, and both methods present difficulties for inclusion in public policies. When we compared the use of euthanasia and vaccination at coverages of 70 and 90%, respectively, the proportion of infected populations were similar. However, on evaluating the implications of both of these methods, particularly the negative aspects of culling dogs and the proportion of animals protected by vaccination, the latter measure appears to be the better option if the total cost is not significantly higher. The comparison of complications and advantages of different control strategies allows us to analyze the optimal measure and offer strategies to veterinary and public health authorities for making decisions to prevent and control zoonotic VL. Hence, improvements in both public and animal health can be achieved in regions with scenarios similar to that considered in the present study; such scenarios are characteristically found in some areas of Brazil and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visceral leishmaniasis is a life-threatening disease of great public health relevance in Brazil. The municipality of Petrolina is an endemic area in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. This study was designed to assess the recent expansion of VL in the municipality of Petrolina, Pernambuco. Patients data were obtained from the Brazilian National Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN). A total of 111 records from 2007 to 2013 were investigated, of which 69 were residents in Petrolina. The disease has predominantly affected 1-4 year old children (34.8%). Most of the patients were males (59.4%). Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus occurred in 14.5% of the cases. The criterion most frequently used was the clinical and epidemiological confirmation (59.4%), with clinical cure in 78.3% of cases and one fatal outcome. Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Petrolina with transmission levels varying from moderate to high. The present study has shown the precariousness of the use of diagnostic tests in primary healthcare units, and this misuse has interfered with the diagnosis and treatment of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccinia virus (VACV), the etiological agent of an exanthematic disease, has been associated with several bovine outbreaks in Brazil since the end of the global vaccination campaign against smallpox. It was previously believed that the vaccine virus used for the WHO global campaign had adapted to an unknown wild reservoir and was sporadically re-emerging in outbreaks in cattle and milkers. At present, it is known that Brazilian VACV is phylogenetically different from the vaccinia virus vaccinal strain, but its origin remains unknown. This study assessed the seroprevalence of orthopoxviruses in domestic and wild animals and farmers from 47 farms in three cities in the southwest region of the state of São Paulo with or without official reports of outbreaks in cattle or humans. Our data indicate a low seroprevalence of antibodies in wild animals and raise interesting questions about the real potential of wild rodents and marsupials as VACV reservoirs, suggesting other routes through which VACV can be spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Serum samples from 19 jaguars ( Panthera onca), nine pumas ( Puma concolor), and two ocelots ( Leopardus pardalis) were collected between January 1999 and March of 2005 and tested for presence of canine distemper virus (CDV). All cats were free-ranging animals living in two protected areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In addition, 111 domestic dogs from nearby areas were sampled for CDV. Our results show the first evidence of CDV exposure in Brazilian free-ranging felids. From the 30 samples analyzed, six jaguars and one puma were tested seropositive for CDV. All seropositive large felids were from Ivinhema State Park, resulting in 31.5% of the sampled jaguars or 60% of the total jaguar population in Ivinhema State Park, and 11.28% of the sampled pumas. From the total 111 domestic dogs sampled, 45 were tested seropositive for CDV. At Morro do Diabo State Park, 34.6% of the dogs sampled were positive for CDV, and 100% at Ivinhema State Park. Canine distemper virus in wild felids seems to be related with home range use and in close association with domestic dogs living in nearby areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are new economy companies really different? This papers aims at investigating the structure of variability in the financial performance of information technology (IT) companies in Brazil, and also at determining the relation between financial performance and two factors specific to companies, namely economies of scale and productivity. Secondary data of the 200 biggest IT companies of Brazil, referring to years 2000 to 2004, was used. The analysis used the techniques of components of variance and multiple regression. The structure of variability of performance was very similar to companies of other sectors, indicating the predominance of the individual firm effect and limited sector and year effects. These findings might raise a question over the "distinction" of the new economy. The results also indicated a significative effect of producitvity on performance, but the same could not be observed on scale. The practical significance of the relation between productivity and performance is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella infection can pose serious health issues, especially to children, elders or immunosuppressed humans. Wild populations of reptiles can reach Salmonella prevalence of up to 100% and the direct or indirect transmission from reptiles to humans have been extensively reported. Fernando de Noronha (FN) is an inhabited oceanic archipelago in the northeast coast of Brazil, with an economy based on tourism. The tegu (Salvator merianae) is the largest lizard native to South America and was introduced to the archipelago in the early 20th century. This study determines the prevalence, serotypes, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular epidemiology of Salmonella enterica in the tegu population from FN archipelago. Results show that S. enterica is widely distributed in the FN tegu population, with 43.8% prevalence. The bacteria were isolated from 70.5% of the sampled sites and a total of 15 serotypes were detected in 98 S. enterica isolates. Strains were further classified into 31 genotypes. Recaptured animals presented distinct genotypes in each season, demonstrating a seasonal strain turnover. Most S. enterica isolates from FN tegus presented low antimicrobial resistance. This is possibly due to geographical isolation of the island population, hampering contact with strains from livestock from the continent, where antimicrobial resistance is common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We evaluated the presence of Rickettsia infection among fleas collected on domestic dogs in two Guarani Indian communities in the suburban area of São Paulo Municipality, Brazil. A total of 114 Ctenocephalides felis felis and 47 Ctenocephalides canis were collected from 40 dogs. A total of 41 C. felis felis (36.0%) and 9 C. canis (19.1%) fleas yielded expected bands by PCR, which were all shown by DNA sequencing to be indentical to the corresponding sequence of a fragment of the Rickettsia felis gltA gene deposited in GenBank. The overall prevalence of R. felis was 31.0% (49/161). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An innovative diagnosis classification system was developed and regulated in Brazil. • An online system was developed and made available to all physical therapists in the country. • The new system will help professionals to define the prognosis and therapeutic goals. • This classification will allow a standardized physical therapy diagnosis. The Brazilian Classification of Physical Therapy Diagnosis, developed by the Federal Council of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (COFFITO), has the constitutional objectives of standardizing ethical, scientific and social aspects of the Physical Therapy profession. To describe the work process, rationale and proposal for standardization of a physical therapy diagnosis classification system in Brazil. A working group was created to propose a standardized classification for the description and codification of physical therapy diagnoses. Some terminologies common to the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) were used to make the nomenclature of diagnoses compatible with the outcomes inherent in the field of physical therapy. The Brazilian Classification of Physical Therapy Diagnosis project culminated in a physical therapy diagnosis model consisting of terms grouped by organic systems and identifying codes. In addition, an application was developed to allow professionals to use the standardized diagnostic classification in an online system. The diagnostic classification system is expected to advance the Physical Therapy profession allowing the identification of structural and/or functional alterations in a simplified and standardised manner. From a physical therapy perspective, this classification may help to consolidate the autonomy of the Brazilian physical therapists by establishing a clearer pathway between the diagnosis and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze the evolution and determinants of income-related inequalities in the Brazilian health system between 1998 and 2008. Methods. Data from the National Household Sampling Surveys of 1998, 2003, and 2008 were used to analyze inequalities in health and health care. Health was measured by self-reported health status, physical limitations, and chronic illness. Hospitalization and physician and dentist visits were proxies for health care utilization. Income was a proxy for socioeconomic status. Concentration indices were calculated before and after standardization for all dependent variables. Decomposition analysis was used to identify the main determinants of inequality in health care utilization. Results. In all three periods analyzed, the poor reported worse health status, while the wealthy reported more chronic diseases; health care utilization was pro-rich for medical and dental services. Yet, income-related inequality in health care utilization has been declining. Private health insurance, education, and income are the major contributors to the inequalities identified. Conclusions. Income-related inequality in the use of medical and dental health care is gradually declining in Brazil. The decline is associated with implementation of pro-equity policies and programs, such as the Community Health Agents Program and the Family Health Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze, through mathematical modeling, the potential ability of sterilization campaigns to reduce the population density of pet dogs. Methods. Mathematical models were constructed to simulate the canine population dynamics and project the results of control strategies based on several sterilization rates. Results. Even at high sterilization rates (for example, 0.80 year-1), it would take approximately 5 years to reduce density by 20%. Even so, other sources of population growth, such as the importing of dogs from other geographic areas, could outweigh the effects of a sterilization program. Conclusions. A program's effectiveness is contingent upon not only on the sterilization rate, but also the rate of population growth. Sterilization campaigns may potentially reduce population density, but this reduction may not be immediately evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to discuss if and how Brazilian media outlets make use of automated strategies and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to produce convenient social media metrics about themselves and amplify their relevance on Twitter. We examine how media bots can manipulate online ratings, change social perception of what is relevant and increase engagement with both on- and offline media entities. We extracted three types of data: (i) 530,942 tweets containing at least one URL from Globo Group or Folha Group collected via Twitter API; (ii) URL metadata from 158,690 articles by Globo Group and Folha Group; (iii) Twitter trending topics in Brazil. Profiles that posted links were later sampled and classified using the Botometer. Automated and human accounts were analyzed regarding their posting frequency and speed. In this paper, we assess the hypothesis that the existence of media bots is affecting the Twittersphere in Brazil, where automated accounts, empowered by AI, might be responsible for a substantial share of the links to popular Brazilian media outlets on Twitter. Our research provides quantitative empirical evidence that bots are particularly active in amplifying news media links in the initial moments of spreading. Additionally, automated accounts play an important role in promoting TV broadcast programs in Brazil. Based on these evidences, we discuss the strategies adopted by Brazilian media corporations to sustain their omnipresence online that boosts their online audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fish aquaculture is rapidly growing in Brazil. Nile tilapia is the most cultivated species, mainly through an intensive production system carried out in floating cages installed in large reservoirs. However, fish pathogens pose a major challenge to production chain sustainability, and tilapia farmers may have limited knowledge of prevailing health problems and rarely implement effective biosecurity practices to prevent introduction of economically important infectious agents. This study aimed to identify the key disease risks of tilapia farming in a tropical reservoir and characterize the dynamics of the prevalent pathogens, as a basis for development of effective control measures for tilapia health and surveillance programs. From August 2015 to October 2016, a longitudinal study was carried out at the Três Marias reservoir, in the municipality of Morada Nova de Minas in the southeast of Brazil. Daily and monthly data were collected from six out of 32 existing fish farms, including fish samples, mortality counts, and measurements of temperature and water quality parameters. The main bacteria detected were Streptococcus agalactiae, infecting mostly adult tilapia throughout the period, with higher frequency as the average temperature increased, and Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno), infecting mainly younger tilapia, only during the cooler months. Coinfections with multiple pathogens were detected in 33 fish. The detection of Fno in one farm in two consecutive winters, after months of unfavorable water temperature conditions and without evidence of introduction of infected stock, strengthens the case for investigating if this pathogen can survive and remain infective causing new outbreaks. Furthermore, variation in mortality was likely associated with the dynamics of the studied pathogens. Highlights • Several pathogenic bacteria were isolated from Nile tilapia raised in a tropical reservoir. • Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated throughout the year with higher frequency when water temperature was > 28 °C. • Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis infection was limited to some farms and more likely to be isolated when water temperature was < 25 °C. • This is the first longitudinal study that describes the seasonal dynamics of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although pet population management programs have been established worldwide, few reports on program evaluation have been carried out to date. Accordingly, a 3-year longitudinal study has been carried out in a 4000 household neighborhood located within the metropolitan area of Curitiba, the eighth most populated city of Brazil. Visits were conducted and questionnaires completed to estimate and characterize the local pet population (animal sex, reproductive and vaccination status, street access). Care provided by owners, community perception on stray dog management and the possible changes were compared in these variables over time (2010 and 2013) were evaluated, after the establishment of a city pet population management program. In addition, associations between having children, owning dogs and cats, responsible pet ownership education and owner’s perception on stray dogs were statistically tested. A total of 354/4000 (8.9%) household families were interviewed in 2010 and 70/354 (19.8%) of the same families again in 2013. No significant changes were found in overall number of dogs and cats and average pet age, animal care and owner’s perception on stray dogs following the 3-year population management program. In 2010, an average of 1.6 dogs and 0.3 cats were found per family, with slightly more females (51.3% dogs and 51.1% cats), adults (4.0 ± 3.5 years for dogs and 2.1 ± 2.4 for cats), intact (not neutered; 94.2% dogs and 84.0% cats) and lacking regular visit to veterinarian (71.6%). Although more families (53.1%) had children under 12 years old, no association was found between having children and having dogs and cats. Questionnaires revealed that owners perceived neutering/spaying to be the best pet population control method (42.4%), with “society” (50%) and “government” (49.4%) as responsible for pet population management. A significant positive association has been found between education level and the best way to control stray dogs (p = 0.03), between having dogs and in favor of neutering/spaying (p = 0.04) and considering neutering/spaying as the best control method (p = 0.02). The chances of thinking the best way to control stray dogs by neutering/spaying and adoption were almost 2.0 fold higher than other methods. In conclusion, the present study has provided indicators (education level, having dogs) for pet population control program assessment and effectiveness evaluation. Moreover, this study may serve as a warning on the real long-term effect of such programs, which should be periodically evaluated to identify necessary adjustments and/or improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to compare different sterilization scenarios allowing the adoption of the most adequate strategy to control owned dog and cat population sizes as the official veterinary public policy for animal control in an urban area of Campinas municipality, Brazil. To achieve this goal, the vital parameters of the owned pet population were measured in a neighborhood of Campinas called Jardim Vila Olimpia through questionnaires used in two census studies performed in February 2012 and June 2013. Different hypothetical sterilization scenarios were compared with the scenario of a single sterilization campaign performed in the study area between the census studies. Using a deterministic mathematical model, population dynamics were simulated for these different scenarios. We have observed that for both owned dogs and cats, the impact on the population size achieved by a single sterilization campaign would be diluted over the years, equating to the impact achieved by the usual sterilization rate practiced before the sterilization campaign yearly. Moreover, using local and global sensitivity analyses, we assessed the relative influence on animal population evolution of each vital parameter used in the mathematical models. The more influential parameters for both species were the carrying capacity of the environment and sterilization rates of males and females (for both species). We observed that even with sterilizing 100% of the intact animals annually, it would not be possible to obtain proportions greater than 86% and 88% of sterilized dogs and cats, respectively, after 20 years due to the high introduction of new intact animals. There is no public dog and cat sterilization service in place in the city, and sporadic and local sterilization campaigns are performed with a prior communication to the owners to bring their animals to be sterilized in a selected veterinary facility. If a sterilization campaign was performed annually in the study area, it would have the most favorable cost effectiveness ratio after 20 years compared to the scenarios of 50% and 100% sterilization of intact animals annually. These results allowed the veterinary public policy stakeholders to make decisions based on scientific evidence to implement adequate control of dog and cat populations in urban areas, aiming to reduce zoonosis transmission to humans and other problems associated with uncontrolled animal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bats are less vulnerable to forest fragmentation than any other mammal, and for that reason, some species can disperse to peri-urban or urban areas. Insectivorous bats are abundant in urban areas due to the density of artificial roosts and insects attracted by city lights. Inter-species transmission of the rabies virus between bats can occur, and this is the most probable mechanism of virus circulation in bat populations. Bats can also transmit the rabies virus to other mammal species, like dogs and cats. With the halt of dog and cat vaccination campaigns in 2010, the importance of rabies surveillance in bats has increased in Brazil. A cross-sectional study performed in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, using data from the passive surveillance system for bats showed that rabies-positive bats from the families Molossidae, Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae were found in a peri-urban area. In these areas, dog and cat emergency vaccination (vaccination blockage) was recommended after the halt of the massive vaccination campaign in 2010. This control strategy was able to increase the proportion of vaccinated animals around a critical value of 50% and even with a higher probability of infectious contact between bats and dogs or cats in the vaccination blockage areas, no dog or cat rabies case was observed, evidencing the importance of the implementation of strategic rabies control measures in this new epidemiological scenario. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serum samples collected from 547 equids in the Pantanal region of Brazil were evaluated for antibodies to Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) by the agar gel immunodiffusion test. Risk factors associated with EIAV seropositivity were evaluated and spatial dependence investigated using a Spatial Lag Model. EIAV prevalence on farms in the Pantanal was 52.0% (13/25) with adjusted prevalence between equids of 31.5% (17.4-48.8% 95% CI). Intra-herd prevalence ranged from 5.0 to 77.0%. Statistical analysis demonstrated that farms and animals in regularly flooded areas had respectively 60 and 146 fold higher chance to be sero-positive than farms and animals located in non-flooded areas. Spatial Lag Model results were generally consistent with this conclusion although there was a negative spatial correlation between farms located within in regularly inundated regions, suggesting that other factors, such as management practices, probably play a significant role in transmission of EIAV. Equids with clinical signs were 3.74- fold more likely to be sero-positive than those without clinical signs. The results of this work reveal a high prevalence of EIAV in the Pantanal area of Brazil demonstrating that equids reared in this region are at great risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A longitudinal study was carried out to describe the size and spatial distribution of the stray dog population in the University of São Paulo campus, Brazil from November 2010 to November 2011. The campus is located within the urban area of São Paulo, the largest city of Brazil, with a population over 11million. The 4.2km2 that comprise the university grounds are walled, with 10 access gates, allowing stray dogs to move in and out freely. Over 100,000 people and 50,000 vehicles circulate in the campus daily. Five observations were made during the study period, using a mark-resight method. The same route was performed in all observations, being traveled twice on each observation day. Observed animals were photographed and the sight coordinates were obtained using a GPS device. The estimated size of the stray dog population varied from 32 (CI 95% 23–56) to 56 (CI 95% 45–77) individuals. Differences between in- and outward dog movements influenced dog population estimates. Overlapping home ranges of docile dogs were observed in areas where most people circulate. An elusive group was observed close to a protected rain forest area and the estimated home range for this group did not overlap with the home ranges for other dogs within the campus. A kernel density map showed that higher densities of stray dog sighting is associated with large organic matter generators, such as university restaurants. We conclude that the preferred source of food of the stray dogs on the University of São Paulo campus was leftover food deliberately offered by restaurant users. The population was stable during the study period and the constant source of food was the main reason to retain this population within the campus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pet owner characteristics such as age, gender, income/social class, marital status, rural/urban residence and household type have been shown to be associated with the number of owned pets. However, few studies to date have attempted to evaluate these associations in Brazil. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between age and income of owners and the number of owned dogs and cats in a Brazilian urban center. Pinhais, metropolitan area of Curitiba, Southern Brazil, the seventh largest city in Brazil, was chosen for this study. Questionnaires were administered door-to-door between January and February 2007 and data were analyzed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models. A total of 13,555 of 30,380 (44.62%) households were interviewed. The majority (62.43%) of households reported having one or more dogs, with one or two dogs being the most common (29.97% and 19.71%, respectively). Cat ownership per household was much lower (P =0.001) than dog ownership, with 90% of the households reported having no owned cats. ZINB analyses indicated that income is not associated with the number of both dogs and cats among households that have pets. However, households from higher income categories were more likely to have dogs (but not cats) when compared to the lowest income category (P <0.05), contradicting a common belief that the poorer the family, the more likely they have pets. Certain age categories were significantly associated with the number of dogs or cats in households that have pets. In addition, most age categories were significantly associated with having dogs and/or cats (P <0.05). In conclusion, our study has found that age but not household income is associated with the number of dogs or cats in households that have pets; higher income households were more likely to have dogs when compared to low-income households. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aquatic plants have great influence on the structure and dynamics of aquatic ecosystems, thereby contributing considerably to biodiversity. In Brazil, knowledge of the biodiversity of aquatic macroflora is still limited. We present a checklist of aquatic macrophytes occurring in the northeastern region of Brazil through a bibliographic search. We recorded a total of 412 species, 217 genera and 72 families. The most representative families were Cyperaceae (70 species), Poaceae (38), Fabaceae (27) and Asteraceae (20). The States with highest number of species were Pernambuco (370), Bahia (360), Ceará (267) and Paraíba (261). The best-represented life forms were amphibious (193 species) and emergent (100). The aquatic flora of Northeastern Brazil exhibits high species richness; however, there is a scarcity of records of aquatic macrophytes for the States of Alagoas, Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhão, Sergipe and Piauí. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To propose a qualitative risk assessment model for the study of livestock exposure to rabies virus from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus (antigenic variant 3) in the Paraíba do Sul river valley, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods. Based on scenario trees generated considering rabies exposure and its spread, we estimated the probability of rabies cases in large livestock and its association with the geographic location of livestock farms. Results. Assessment of the historical series of rabies focal points in the first semester of 2006, which was used to validate the risk assessment model, revealed that 81.8% of the focal points were adequately foreseen by the model and could have been prevented with strategic vaccination in high-risk areas. Conclusions. The adoption of control measures specifically targeting high-risk areas might entail a substantial decrease in the number of rabies focal points, at a low cost and with optimal movement of field teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the southern region of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic started in September 2005. A total of 33 outbreaks were detected and 33,741 FMD-susceptible animals were slaughtered and destroyed. There were no reports of FMD cases in other species than bovines. Based on the data of this epidemic, it was carried out an analysis using the K-function and it was observed spatial clustering of outbreaks within a range of 25km. This observation may be related to the dynamics of foot-and-mouth disease spread and to the measures undertaken to control the disease dissemination. The control measures were effective once the disease did not spread to farms more than 47 km apart from the initial outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) control strategy based on the application of 4 % deltamethrin impregnated collars (DIC) exclusively in seropositive dogs was assessed between 2018 and 2019, through a prospective study. The effectiveness of DIC-collaring was evaluated by comparing the incidence rate of anti-leishmanial antibodies among dogs from two endemic districts in Brazil. In one of the areas, the conventional control measure which is based on the non-compulsory euthanasia of LV seropositive dogs, was practiced by the official healthy service as a regular procedure, whereas strategic collaring, conceived in this study, was carried out in the other. Results of serological tests applied to serum samples collected from all domiciled dogs were evaluated in three consecutive times, spaced by around 200 days. Incidence rates of VL seroreactivity were compared between districts in the same period of time as well as within the same district, in consecutive periods. Based on the results, the risk of infection in the population under conventional control measure was up to four times higher than the risk of infection where DIC-collaring was used. The strategic use of collar proposed here emerged as a promising measure for VL control in dogs from endemic areas. Strategic collaring does not rely on the euthanasia of infected animals, an extremely controversial procedure, and instead of being used in all dogs, as collaring is normally recommended; only seropositive dogs are intervened. Strategic use of DIC has the potential to drastically reduce costs, if compared to mass collaring canine population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bioaccumulation studies in fish mark the initial phase of assessing the risk of chemical exposure to biota and human populations. The Iguaçu River boasting a diverse endemic ichthyofauna, is grappling with the repercussions of human activities. This study delved into the bioaccumulation of micropollutants, the early-warning effects on Rhamdia quelen and Oreochomis niloticus in the Segredo Reservoir (HRS) and the potential risk of human exposure. Two groups of caged fish in three sites of the reservoir were exposed during the autumn-winter and spring-summer, while a third group (O. niloticus) underwent a twelve-month exposure, and inorganic and organic chemicals analysis in water, sediment, and biota. Additionally, metallothionein expression and genotoxicity were employed as biomarkers. PAHs, PCBs, Al, Cu, Fe, and As in water and DDTs, Cu, Zn, and As in sediment surpassed the thresholds set by Brazilian regulations, where DDT exhibited bioaccumulation in muscle, alongside metals in liver, kidney, gills, and muscle tissues. R. quelen showed metallothionein expression whereas DNA damage and NMA frequencies were elevated in target organs and in brain and erythrocytes of O. niloticus during summer. In this species the DNA damage in liver was remarkable after twelve months. Target Hazard Quotients and Cancer Risk values shedding light on the vulnerability of both children and adults. The reservoir's conditions led to heightened sensitivity to micropollutants for R. quelen species. The data presented herein provides decision-makers with pertinent insights to facilitate effective management and conservation initiatives within the Iguaçu Basin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bovine brucellosis, mainly caused by Brucella abortus, is a worldwide distribution anthropozoonosis that causes great economic losses. In 2001, Brazil launched the National Program for the Control and Eradication of Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (PNCEBT). Contemporaneously, a great effort to characterize the epidemiology of the disease in Brazilian states was started. In the state of Rondônia, a first epidemiological study was carried out in 2004, revealing a prevalence of 35.2% of infected herds and 6.22% of seropositive females. In 2014, after a successful heifer vaccination program with strain 19 (S19), a second study detected a reduction in the prevalence of infected herds to 12.3% and of seropositive females to 1.9%. The present study aimed to quantify and compare the costs and benefits related to the control of bovine brucellosis in the state through an accounting analysis. Vaccinating heifers and performing serological tests to move animals were computed as private costs. The expenditures of the state official veterinary service for brucellosis control were considered public cost. The considered benefits of lowering prevalence were decreased cow replacement, decreased abortions, decreased perinatal and cow mortality, and increased milk production. Considering private and public costs, the net present value (NPV) was estimated at US$ 18.3 million, the internal rate of return (IRR) was calculated at 23%, and the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was 1.7. When considering only the private costs, the NPV was US$34.9 million, the IRR was 49%, and the BCR was 3.0, meaning that the bovine producer had a return of 3 for each unit of currency invested. The results showed that the bovine brucellosis control measures implemented in the state of Rondônia, which had as its main strategy the vaccination of heifers with S19, produced highly advantageous economic results. The state should continue with its vaccination program, stimulating the use of the RB51 vaccine in addition to S19, to achieve further reductions in prevalence at low cost., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This study assessed the sources of contamination of water matrices in a rural area using detection of a host-specific virus (human adenovirus [HAdV], porcine adenovirus [PAdV] and bovine polyomaviruses [BoPyV]) as potential microbial source-tracking tool, and rotavirus A [RVA], given its epidemiological importance in Brazil. From July 2017 to June 2018, 92 samples were collected from eight points (P1-P8) of surface and raw waters in southeastern region of Brazil. Fifty-five (59.8%) were positive for HAdV, 41 (44.5%) for RVA, 10 (10.9%) for PAdV and four (4.3%) for BoPyV. HAdV and RVA were detected at all sites, and over the entire sampling period, PAdV was detected at a porcine breeding area and at Guarda River site, presenting high concentrations up to 2.6 × 10 9 genome copies per liter [GC/L], and viral concentrations ranging from 9.6 × 10 1 to 7.1 × 10 7 , while BoPyV (1.5 × 10 4 GC/L-9.2 × 10 5 GC/L) was only detected in samples from the bovine breeding areas. The combination of human and animal virus circulation presents a potential impact in the environment due to raw sewage discharge from regional communities, as well as potential hazard to human and animal health., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) impacts considerably animal production and one health worldwide. To describe the prevalence, risk factors, and spatial pattern of the disease in the state of Paraná, Brazil, a cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. The area was divided into seven regions. Within each region, farms were randomly selected, and a predetermined number of cows was selected and tested by a comparative cervical tuberculin test. 17,210 animals were tested across 1757 farms. Herd prevalence of bTB-infected herds in Paraná was 2.5% [1.87-3.00%]. It has varied from 0.8 to 3.98% among seven regions, with clustering being detected in the west, central, and northeast areas. Animal prevalence was 0.35% [0.21-0.59%] and has varied from 0.08 to 0.6% among the pre-set regions. No major shifts in the prevalence of bTB were detected since 2007. Large-sized herds, dairy production, and feeding with whey were detected to be correlated with the presence of bTB. Exclusively among dairy herds, veterinary assistance from cooperatives, possession of self-owned equipment to cool milk, and feeding with whey were correlated with the disease. Considering these results, it is recommended that the state of Paraná seek to implement a surveillance system for the detection of bTB-infected herds transforming them into free ones, if possible, incorporating elements of risk-based surveillance. Health education is also recommended to inform farmers about the risks of introducing animals without testing and of feeding raw whey to calves., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Stormwater harvesting and reuse in the urban environment is emerging as an alternative water source, despite human pathogens in the stormwater may represent a hazard to public health. This study presents the results of 1-year monitoring to evaluate the quality of stormwater obtained in a high-income neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro for a set of microbiological parameters as total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), human adenovirus (HAdV), human JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), Group A rotavirus (RVA), and norovirus GI and GII. Forty-eight stormwater samples obtained from two multiplex units presented total coliforms and E. coli in 91.7% (n = 44) and 58.3% (n = 28) of samples, while HAdV and JCPyV were detected in 20.8% (n = 10) and 12.5% (n = 6), respectively. Viral quantification ranged from 10 3 to 10 4 genomic copies/liter (GC/L) for HAdV and from 10 1 to 10 4 GC/L for JCPyV. Neither RVA nor norovirus GI and GII was detected. Fifteen out of sixteen (93.8%) samples containing viruses were compliant as per fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) according to Brazilian standards for rainwater reuse and US EPA Guidelines for Water Reuse, suggesting that viruses monitoring should complement the study of bacterial indicators., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)