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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Siparuna species are used in Brazilian Folk Medicine for the treatment and prophylaxis of colds, fever, headache, gastrointestinal disorders and rheumatic pain., Aim of the Study: This study aimed to investigate a possible anti-influenza activity of 25 extracts from leaves of Amazonian S. cristata, S. decipiens, S. glycycarpa, S. reginae and S. sarmentosa based on their folk medicinal uses as well as to investigate their metabolic fingerprinting. The chemical composition of the active extracts was further dereplicated., Material and Methods: The chemical composition of the crude EtOH extracts from five Siparuna species were investigated by ESI (±) LC-QTOF-MS 2 . Organic extracts were obtained by liquid-liquid partition with solvents of increasing polarity, generating 25 extracts which were subjected to a quick DI-ESI (±) IT-MS fingerprint analysis. These extracts were tested against influenza virus replication and cellular toxicity using MDCK cells and influenza A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 virus. The compounds in the active BuOH extracts from S. glycycarpa and S. sarmentosa were annotated by ESI (±) LC-QTOF-MS 2 ., Results: Analysis of the EtOH extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids, in the positive and negative ionization modes. Out of the 25 organic extracts screened for their antiviral activity, the BuOH extracts from S. glycycarpa and S. sarmentosa were the most active, inhibiting 96.0 ± 1.3% and 89.5 ± 0.8% of influenza virus replication 24 h post-infection. These inhibitory effects were maintained until 72hpi. Alkaloids, O- and C-flavonoid glycosides, dihydrochalcones and a procyanidin dimer were annotated in these extracts., Conclusions: The inhibitory effect against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus replication shown by Amazonian Siparuna species corroborates the use of these plants in Brazilian Folk Medicine, showing their potential as anti-influenza agents. These promising results stimulate the continuation of this study with the aim of isolating the compound(s) responsible for this bioactivity, thus contributing to a better knowledge of those species and to the research of natural products with potential anti-influenza activity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to perform an epidemiological survey to determine the areas at risk of visceral leishmaniasis through the detection and quantification of natural infection by Leishmania infantum in Lutzomyia longipalpis. The sandflies were captured between February 2009 and January 2010, at 21 sites in four regions of the Fortaleza municipality. Samples were screened for the presence of Leishmania DNA by Real Time PCR (qPCR), amplification of kDNA minicircle sequence. Out of the 123 pools of analyzed sandflies, 45 were positive for L.infantum, and the minimum infection rate was 3.7%. In the north, south, east and west regions, the pool screen assay predicted sand-fly infection prevalence of 3.4%, 4.7%, 4.9% and 8.4%, respectively. The parasite load ranged from 2.45 ± 0.96 to 2,820,246 ± 106,072. No statistical differences were found with respect to the frequency of sand-fly infection between the regions (P=0.3014), seasons (P = 0.3906) or trap locations (P = 0.8486). Statistical differences were found with respect to the frequency of sand-fly infection between the two seasons only in the west region (P=0.0152). The qPCR was able to detect and quantify L. infantum in L. longipalpis, therefore succeeding in identifying the areas of greatest risk of VL transmission.

Haemonchus contortus is the most prevalent nematode in Brazil. The objective of this study was to select 6 populations of H. contortus of known or suspected benzimidazole resistance status and characterize these using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) F200Y, F167Y and E198A in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene. qPCR was performed using DNA from a pool of 10 adult male H. contortus from a single animal per farm. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and egg hatch test (EHT) were used to determine the resistance status. Samples were obtained from 6 farms located in 5 counties in the Ceará State: Tauá, Boa Viagem, Quixadá, Santa Quitéria and Solonópole. The inbred-susceptible-Edinburgh (ISE) isolate was used as reference for comparative purposes in the qPCR. Benzimidazole resistance was detected by FECRT on all farms with efficacy values ranging from 0 to 51%. EC50 values as determined by EHT were all above 1.49μg/ml. High frequencies of the resistant SNPs F200Y and F167Y alleles were detected but no resistance was detected at SNP E198A. Our results suggest that the SNPs F167Y and F200Y are both important for benzimidazole resistance in the studied populations., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study represents the first survey of the parasitic fauna of cetaceans off the northeastern coast of Brazil. Parasites were collected from 82 animals rescued from the states of Ceará to Bahia, including the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. A total of 14 species of cetaceans were evaluated: Sotalia guianensis, Stenella sp., Stenella clymene, Stenella longirostris, Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella frontalis, Megaptera novaeangliae, Peponocephala electra, Steno bredanensis, Kogia breviceps, Kogia sima, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Tursiops truncatus, Physeter macrocephalus and Lagenodelphis hosei. The parasites were fixed and preserved in 70% ethanol or alcohol-formalin-acetic acid solution (AFA), clarified in phenol and mounted on slides for morphological identification. In total, 11 species and 8 genera of endo- and ectoparasites were identified: Halocercus brasiliensis, Halocercus kleinenbergi, Stenurus globicephalae, Halocercus sp., Anisakis sp., Crassicauda sp. (Nematoda), Phyllobothrium delphini, Monorygma grimaldii, Scolex pleuronectis, Strobicephalus triangularis, Tetrabothrius forsteri, Tetrabothrius sp., Trigonocotyle sp., Diphyllobothrium sp. (Cestoda), Campula sp. (Trematoda), Bolbosoma sp. (Acanthocephala), Cyamus boopis, Syncyamus pseudorcae and Xenobalanus globicipitis (Crustacea). The identification of some species represented novel records for the country and increased the occurrence of some parasites to new hosts. The use of standardized methodologies for collecting and evaluating a larger number of animals is essential for a better understanding of host-parasite relationships in cetaceans and their use as biological indicators in the region., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a major public health challenge in Brazil, especially in states where it is endemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of sand fly population density with environmental variables (temperature, rainfall and relative humidity) in urban areas of the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil. Sand flies were captured with Center Disease Control (CDC) traps installed monthly in the intra and peridomicile of three houses. Data analysis was based on the chi-square test and linear regression. A total of 7,347 sand flies were captured, being 93.85% Lutzomyia longipalpis and 6.15% Lutzomyia evandroi. Sand flies were more commonly found in the peridomicile and there was no difference between the number of males and females. The variables rainy season as well as relative humidity and rainfall, alone or together, did not have an effect on sand fly population density. However, high temperatures had a negative effect. The study of the behavior of sand flies in specific units of endemic areas can provide input to public health authorities for planning appropriate VL vector control measures.

Urban increase of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is associated with the adaptation of its vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, to environments modified by humans. The present study reports the results of an entomological monitoring of L. longipalpis and the effect of environmental variables on its population density. Sandflies were captured in the municipality of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil, from January 2005 to December 2006. Two CDC light traps were placed monthly for four consecutive nights in the peridomicile of selected households. Data analysis was based on the chi-square test and linear regression. A total of 2,087 sandflies were captured, 99.86% of which were L. longipalpis. A higher proportion of females were captured (p < 0.05). Monthly analysis of the variables temperature, relative humidity and rainfall did not show a significant influence on population density. However, there were seasonal differences: approximately 70% of sand flies were captured during the rainy season (p < 0.05). The predominant species, L. longipalpis, is present in substantial number, representing a public health risk. Therefore, because of higher prevalence during the rainy season, we recommend intensified VL control measures before and during this season to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

This cross-sectional study included 20,084 students from urban schools (first to fourth-grade) in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Weight and height were measured, and nutritional status was classified according to the World Health Organization (height deficit) and International Obesity Task Force (overweight and obesity) criteria. The study also recorded the variables age, gender, type of school, and schooling (grade-for-age adequacy). Prevalence of height-for-age deficit was 3.5% (3.9% in boys and 3.1% in girls). Prevalence rates for overweight and obesity were 29.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Overweight and obesity were more frequent in private schools, while height-for-age deficit was more frequent in municipal or State schools. For both boys and girls, age was positively associated with underweight and inversely related to overweight and obesity. Inadequate schooling was associated with increased risk of height deficit and decreased risk of overweight and obesity. In conclusion, primary students' nutritional status depends not only on demographic and socioeconomic factors, but also on type of school.