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Brazil has earned the moniker "arbovirus hotspot", providing an ideal breeding ground for a multitude of arboviruses thriving in various zoonotic and urban cycles. As the planet warms and vectors expand their habitat range, a nuanced understanding of lesser-known arboviruses and the factors that could drive their emergence becomes imperative. Among these viruses is the Iguape virus (IGUV), a member of the Orthoflavivirus aroaense species, which was first isolated in 1979 from a sentinel mouse in the municipality of Iguape, within the Vale do Ribeira region of São Paulo State. While evidence suggests that IGUV circulates among birds, wild rodents, marsupials, bats, and domestic birds, there is no information available on its pathogenesis in both humans and animals. The existing literature on IGUV spans decades, is outdated, and is often challenging to access. In this review, we have curated information from the known literature, clarifying its elusive nature and investigating the factors that may influence its emergence. As an orthoflavivirus, IGUV poses a potential threat, which demands our attention and vigilance, considering the serious outbreaks that the Zika virus, another neglected orthoflavivirus, has unleashed in the recent past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aedes aegypti is associated with dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission. These arboviruses are responsible for national outbreaks with severe public health implications. Vector control is one of the tools used to prevent mosquito proliferation, and SumiLarv® 2MR is an alternative commercial product based on pyriproxyfen for larval/pupal control. In this study, the residual effectiveness of SumiLarv® 2MR in different regions of Brazil was evaluated in simulated field conditions. Methods: We conducted a multicenter study across four Brazilian states—Amapá, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo—given the importance to the country's climatic variances in the north, northeast, and southeast regions and their influence on product efficiency. The populations of Ae. aegypti from each location were held in an insectary. Third-instar larvae (L3) were added every 2 weeks to water containers with SumiLarv® 2MR discs in 250-, 500- and 1000-l containers in Amapá and Rio de Janeiro, and 100-l containers in Pernambuco and São Paulo, using concentrations of 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 mg/l. Results: Adult emergence inhibition over 420 days was observed in all tests conducted at a concentration of 0.16 mg/l; inhibition for 308–420 days was observed for 0.08 mg/l, and 224–420 days for 0.04 mg/l. Conclusions: Sumilarv® 2MR residual activity demonstrated in this study suggests that this new pyriproxyfen formulation is a promising alternative for Aedes control, regardless of climatic variations and ideal concentration, since the SumiLarv® 2MR showed adult emergence inhibition of over 80% and residual activity greater than 6 months, a period longer than that recommended by the Ministry of Health of Brazil between product re-application in larval breeding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern right whales use the Brazilian coast as a wintering area. This population was severely depleted by whaling up until 1973. Since the 1980s, studies have shown that this species is now restricted to the southern waters of Brazil. Using photo‐identification data obtained via standardized aerial surveys from Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina (SC) (−27.797°/−48.533°) to Torres, State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) (−29.396°/−49.763°), mark‐recapture methods were used to estimate survival capture and recruitment probability, population size using the POPAN model for reproductive females. Data were collected between 2004 and 2021. The final model was selected based on the lowest Akaike Information Criterion value. Of the 396 female whales identified, 41.41% were recaptured at least once. The final POPAN model showed time dependence in all parameters. The population size was estimated to be 397 reproductive females. This is the first update on the population trends for southern right whales in Brazilian breeding grounds since 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmopolitan distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) is largely driven by migrations between winter low-latitude breeding grounds and summer high-latitude feeding grounds. Southern Hemisphere humpback whales faced intensive exploitation during the whaling eras and recently show evidence of population recovery. Gene flow and shared song indicate overlap between the western (A) and eastern (B1, B2) Breeding Stocks in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans (C1). Here, we investigated photo-identification evidence of population interchange using images of individuals photographed during boat-based tourism and research in Brazil and South Africa from 1989 to 2022. Fluke images were uploaded to Happywhale, a global digital database for marine mammal identification. Six whales were recaptured between countries from 2002 to 2021 with resighting intervals ranging from 0.76 to 12.92 years. Four whales originally photographed off Abrolhos Bank, Brazil were photographed off the Western Cape, South Africa (feeding grounds for B2). Two whales originally photographed off the Western Cape were photographed off Brazil, one traveling to the Eastern Cape in the Southwestern Indian Ocean (a migration corridor for C1) before migrating westward to Brazil. These findings photographically confirm interchange of humpback whales across the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the importance of international collaboration to understand population boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) (AMW) is one of the smallest species among baleen whales, occurring in the southern hemisphere from Antarctica to near the equator, and performing seasonal migrations from polar to tropical waters. Information about (AMW) occurrence in the winter breeding grounds is scarce, mostly coming from old records from whaling stations before the 1960's international moratorium, such as Costinha Station in Northeastern Brazil (6° S / 34° W) and some sightings from few dedicated visual surveys. Acoustic methods can provide important data on the occurrence and distribution of migratory species. This work describes the occurrence of the Antarctic minke whale through acoustic detections of their "Bioduck" vocalisations in the Santos Basin, South-Southeastern Brazil (22° and 28° S / 42° and 48° W). Data was recorded between November 12 and December 19, 2015. AMW calls were detected for 12 days. We detected and classified 9 different Bio-duck calls in Brazilian coastal waters, evidencing a highly diverse acoustic behavior for the minke whale breeding ground. This is the first attempt to describe the acoustic diversity of AMW vocalizations in lower latitudes, contributing important information for future conservation efforts and management of AMW populations and their habitat. Therefore, our study presents the foremost acoustic evidence of the Antarctic minke whale in Brazilian coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) is a small intra-tropical migrant songbird. However, little is known about its breeding and wintering grounds, or migratory habits. To investigate potentially distinct breeding populations and the migratory schedule of Lined Seedeaters we analysed its spatial and temporal distribution using published breeding records, museum vouchers, and data from citizen science projects (eBird and WikiAves). Our findings suggest that there are three main breeding areas: northern Argentina and north-western Paraguay, south-eastern Brazil, and north-eastern Brazil, and that the breeding season seems to be restricted to November through May, with slight differences in timing among these three areas. The species winters in the northern part of South America (mostly in grassland areas) and maybe also in the Amazonia. Moreover, rainfall predicts the latitudinal and longitudinal movements of Lined Seedeaters, with the migratory movements associated with an increase in rainfall. Taken together, these results provide a first comprehensive overview on the migration of Lined Seedeater, calling for further empirical field studies. Understanding intra-tropical migratory patterns is paramount to comprehend the potential impacts of environmental change in tropical ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) share a few routes to undertake the longest annual migrations of any organism. To understand how the wide spatial range of their breeding colonies may affect their migration strategies (e.g., departure date), we tracked 53 terns from five North American colonies distributed across 30° of latitude and 90° of longitude. While birds from all colonies arrived in Antarctic waters at a similar time, terns nesting in the Arctic colonies migrated back north more slowly and arrived to their breeding grounds later than those nesting in the colony farther south. Arrival dates in Antarctic waters coincided with the start of favorable foraging conditions (i.e., increased ocean productivity), and similarly arrival dates at breeding colonies coincided with the start of local favorable breeding conditions (i.e., disappearance of snow and ice). Larger birds followed a more direct southbound migration route than smaller birds. On both southbound and northbound migrations, daily distances traveled declined as time spent in contact with the ocean increased, suggesting a trade-off between resting/foraging and traveling. There was more unexplained variation in behavior among individuals than among colonies, and one individual had a distinctive stop around Brazil. Terns nesting in the Arctic have a narrow time window for breeding that will likely increase with continuing declines in sea ice and snow. Departing Arctic Terns likely have few clues about the environmental conditions they will encounter on arrival, and their response to environmental changes at both poles may be assisted by large individual variation in migration strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite imagery has been used to improve scientific research worldwide. In this study, the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) was chosen to test the use of medium, high, and very high resolution (VHR) satellite images, on the Brazilian breeding ground. These images were used to identify the whales and were compared to aerial survey data collected in the same area. The VHR satellite images from the Pleiades‐1A satellite, available on Google Earth, displayed the best results when compared to those from Sentinel 2, Landsat 8, Rapid Eye, and Planet Scope. No significant differences were observed (Mann‐Whitney U test) between the possible whales recorded in the satellite images and of real whales recorded in situ by aerial surveys, while considering either the number of groups (p =.841, n = 5) or the total number of animals (p =.222, n = 5). Further, when using VHR images, the geographical positions of the whales recorded in situ had a positive correlation with the positions generated from the satellite images (Mantel test: r = 0.52, p =.001, n = 13). This technique may represent an important tool for detecting right whales, especially in countries where research funding is scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The humpback whale (HW; Megaptera novaeangliae) population that seasonally resides along the Brazilian coast concentrates in the Abrolhos Bank (Bahia and Espírito Santo states) for breeding during austral winter and spring. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV, Paramyxoviridae family) is currently one of the most significant biological threats to cetaceans worldwide with high infection and mortality rates. CeMV is pleiotropic yet it has special tropism for the respiratory, lymphoid and nervous system and is primarily transmitted by the aerogenous route. A new lineage of CeMV, the Guiana dolphin morbillivirus (GDMV), is known to affect cetaceans off Brazil. GDMV was first detected in a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) stranded in the Abrolhos Bank region, in 2010. In addition to pathologic examinations on stranded HW, pathogen survey of free‐ranging HW may provide valuable insight into the epidemiology of diseases. We hypothesized that HW in the Brazilian breeding ground could be exposed to CeMV. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the presence of CeMV in exhaled breath condensates (EBC) of HW in the Abrolhos Bank. Overall, 73 samples of EBC from 48 groups of HW were collected during the breeding seasons of 2011 (n = 16) and 2012 (n = 57). One sample failed to have the reference gene amplified and was excluded from the study. CeMV was detected by a RT‐qPCR method in 2 EBC samples, representing 2 whale groups. Phylogenetic analysis of partial morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene showed 100% homology to GDMV. Our results show that HW in Brazil are infected by CeMV with a relative prevalence of 4.3% (2/47) and demonstrate the suitability of using EBC and RT‐qPCR as a non‐invasive tool for CeMV survey in free‐ranging whales. This pioneer study provides scientific basis for non‐invasive CeMV monitoring of HW, suggests HW may play a role in the dynamics of CeMV and raises concern for potential conservation implications for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Santa Catarina State, in southern Brazil, is an important breeding ground for the southern right whale and it is possible to record mother‐calf pairs and unaccompanied adults that migrate to this coast to either give birth, mate, or socialize. From the geographical position of the sightings, spatial segregation was evaluated between mother‐calf pairs and unaccompanied whales. Using GAM, we analyzed 15 years of aerial survey data from 2003 to 2018. The study area (780 km2) was divided into 500 × 500 m grid cells. Whale count per grid cell was modeled using a set of explanatory variables. The explanatory variables of latitude, coast distance, seabed, and maximum SST were selected for both classes. However, coast type was also selected for unaccompanied whales, while coast linearity and bathymetric slope were additionally selected for mother‐calf pairs. The response curves fitted by models indicated a certain degree of spatial segregation, by which mother‐calf pairs remained closer to the coast, where the curve peak is reached at 500 m from the coast, compared to unaccompanied whales where the curve peaked near 1,000 m from the coast. Also, unaccompanied whales more frequently appeared in the southern boundaries of the study area, at latitudes south from 28.4°S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to discuss both a typology of articulation between verbal and pictorial modalities in the construal of metaphors and the potential pragmatic and rhetorical effects of the activation of multimodal metaphors in practical argumentation. To do so, we analyze six texts from governmental health campaigns in Brazil oriented towards the elimination of Aedes aegypti breeding grounds, the mosquito mainly responsible for the transmission of dengue fever, chikungunya and zika in the country. In terms of the expression of metaphorical vehicles and topics in each modality, we could identify, as a result, three main modes of articulation: autonomy, correlation and interdependence. For each mode, we showed some pragmatic and semantic effects, such as increasing metaphoricity, inducing reframing and refining referentiality. We frame this discussion by critically considering a series of different frameworks on metaphor studies, such as Lakoff and Johnson (1980), Forceville (2007), Müller (2008), Vereza (2007, 2017, 2018), Gonçalves-Segundo and Zelic (2016) and Steen (2017). In terms of argumentative roles, we concluded that multimodal metaphors were relevant in construing the Negative Consequences of inaction in regard to the elimination of breeding grounds, hyperbolizing the lethal potential of the infections; in inducing the reader's readiness and tendency towards working collectively to achieve the campaign's intended Goals; and, finally, in generating humor in the construal of the campaign's Motivating Circumstances, in order to draw the reader's attention and identification towards this necessary social action. To support this debate, we drew mainly on Fairclough and Fairclough (2012), Macagno and Walton (2019) and Gonçalves-Segundo (2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) is to phase out this endemic disease as a public health problem by 2020. Validation of elimination is obtained from the World Health Organization through evidence of non-transmission in countries that have already been subjected to mass drug administration (MDA) and in places adjoining these endemic areas. While three municipalities in Brazil have completed MDA, the epidemiological situation remains uncertain in nine adjoining municipalities. To determine the epidemiological status, this study was to perform a review of the literature and a school-based survey to describe the past and recent endemicity of lymphatic filariasis (LF) theses nine municipalities in Brazil. Methodology/Principle findings: For review of the literature, both formal and informal literature sources were accessed since the first reports of filariasis in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Brazil. We conducted a school-based survey in 2016 using immunochromatographic card tests (ICTs) among schoolchildren aged 6–10 years living in nine municipalities contiguous with the endemic areas in which MDA was conducted. Our review of the literature identified eight studies involving surveys demonstrating that microfilariae had been circulating in eight of the municipalities since 1967, with a low prevalence of microfilaremia, isolated autochthonous cases, and treatment of individual cases. The school-based survey included 17,222 children in 185 urban schools in the nine areas of Brazil with uncertain endemicity. One child affected by allochthonous transmission was antigen positive based on ICT and lived in a municipality adjacent to Recife; this child's family came from Recife, but no other case was diagnosed within the family. Conclusions/Significance: The study results suggest that there is no transmission of LF in the municipalities investigated. However, these areas have population migration and socioenvironmental conditions favorable to mosquito breeding grounds; therefore, surveillance is strongly recommended in these areas. Author summary: Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease that can cause incapacity and chronic complications. The World Health Organization aims to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem worldwide by 2020. Four municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (Brazil) are endemic, of which three have undergone mass drug administration (MDA). However, the epidemiological status of filariasis in nine adjoining areas is unknown. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to identify reports of the vector and human cases in these nine municipalities. A review of data starting in 1967 from eight scientific reports highlighted the circulation of microfilaremia, infection of Culex quinquefasciatus with Wuchereria bancrofti, and morbidity owing to lymphatic filariasis. However, no surveillance was proposed in these areas. Therefore, in 2016, a survey of 17,222 children aged 6–10 years and enrolled in urban schools in the nine municipalities was conducted. One child from a municipality in which MDA was conducted tested positive for lymphatic filariasis, but no other case was diagnosed in her family. Our results showed no transmission of lymphatic filariasis in these nine municipalities. However, population migration and socioenvironmental conditions that favor mosquito breeding grounds indicate the need for surveillance in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bycatch in gillnet fisheries is one of the main threats to several penguin species. Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are caught by gillnets during their wintering in southern Brazil. However, current information is based only on a small number of sets observed during a single fishing trip.This study assesses bycatch rates of bottom and drift gillnets operating in southern Brazil, and describes the sex and age classes of individuals captured.In 80 bottom gillnet sets, 33 penguins were captured (85% adults), 14 were sexed of which 13 were females. In 41 drift gillnet sets, four penguins were captured, three of which were juveniles.The mean bycatch rates, measured as number of penguins km−2 of net and number of penguins km−2 h−1, were significantly higher for the drift gillnets.Despite the lower bycatch rates, owing to the higher fishing effort in terms of number of boats, net length, net area, soak time and fishing season, the magnitude of penguin bycatch in the bottom gillnet fishery cannot be ignored.Despite based on small sample size, the predominance of adult and female Magellanic penguins as bycatch in gillnet fisheries in southern Brazil agrees with previous studies suggesting that females displace further north than males. In addition, such evidence contributes to the male‐biased sex ratio in breeding grounds, and the long‐term decline of major Patagonian colonies owing to higher female mortality during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes aegypti is currently a critical disease agent and is responsible for viruses such as Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue's four serotypes. This mosquito's relevance to the current social body has come to the fore and triggered urgent EcoHealth investigations since this approach aims to articulate different theoretical fields to understand the historical linkages between nature, society and health. Based on an ethnographic premise, this study considered the unequal and unfair conditions that make women's health vulnerable to dengue, analyzing their practices and perceptions about the potential breeding grounds in the public space. A semi-structured interview and participant observation, as well as a field diary, were used to compose the study. The research included the participation of ten women living in the outskirts of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from January to August 2014. The category "Social inequality, context and practices in the public space" emerged from the content analysis. The narratives revealed that unstable living conditions and evident social inequality might influence in a context permeated by waste, with great potential for dengue's mosquito proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The scarcity of information on the immature stages of sand flies and their preferred breeding sites has resulted in the focus of vectorial control on the adult stage using residual insecticide house-spraying. This strategy, along with the treatment of human cases and the euthanasia of infected dogs, has proven inefficient and visceral leishmaniasis continues to expand in Brazil. Identifying the breeding sites of sand flies is essential to the understanding of the vector's population dynamic and could be used to develop novel control strategies. Methodology/Principal finding: In the present study, an intensive search for the breeding sites of Lutzomyia longipalpis was conducted in urban and peri-urban areas of two municipalities, Promissão and Dracena, which are endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in São Paulo State, Brazil. During an exploratory period, a total of 962 soil emergence traps were used to investigate possible peridomiciliary breeding site microhabitats such as: leaf litter under tree, chicken sheds, other animal sheds and uncovered debris. A total of 160 sand flies were collected and 148 (92.5%) were L. longipalpis. In Promissão the proportion of chicken sheds positive was significantly higher than in leaf litter under trees. Chicken shed microhabitats presented the highest density of L. longipalpis in both municipalities: 17.29 and 5.71 individuals per square meter sampled in Promissão and Dracena respectively. A contagious spatial distribution pattern of L. longipalpis was identified in the emergence traps located in the chicken sheds. Conclusion: The results indicate that chicken sheds are the preferential breeding site for L. longipalpis in the present study areas. Thus, control measures targeting the immature stages in chicken sheds could have a great effect on reducing the number of adult flies and consequently the transmission rate of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. Author Summary: Sand flies are the vectors of a number of pathogens that infect man, especially cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The control of sand flies through residual house-spraying insecticide has proven inefficient in preventing the spread of these diseases in several areas of the globe. Sand flies have a life cycle including eggs, larvae and pupae that are found in the ground, and winged adults. We developed a soil emergence trap that allowed us to identify chicken sheds as the preferred breeding sites for L. longipalpis that is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in urban areas of municipalities in South-eastern region of Brazil. This finding opens up the possibility of controlling the immature stages which could complement the usual control strategies that focus on the adult fly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians are an imperiled group of vertebrate animals that typically have biphasic life histories involving a shift from aquatic larval habitats to terrestrial adult habitats. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to amphibians and the importance of the spatial configuration of terrestrial and breeding habitats upon the landscape in determining amphibian persistence is poorly known. The information gap is particularly acute in tropical landscapes that simultaneously host the greatest and most imperiled amphibian fauna on Earth. We installed 125 artificial ponds at different distances from forest fragments embedded in an agricultural matrix in southeastern Brazil. Constructed ponds attracted 13 anuran species; ponds at the forest fragment-matrix transition hosted a greater abundance and higher species richness of frogs and toads than those installed either far from or well within forest fragments. Forest fragments larger than 70 ha in agricultural areas harbored more individuals than smaller fragments. Our results indicate that landscape configuration has an important influence on frog and toad distribution and abundance in tropical agricultural landscapes and we suggest guidelines for maintaining favorable configurations of aquatic and terrestrial habitats for conserving this rich and imperiled species suite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which analyzed the breeding habitat and natural history notes of the toad Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus in southern Brazil. It claims that the toad specie belongs to the M. tumifrons group, which are mainly present in South American countries, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. It cites that the calling behaviour of the M. pachyrhynus is similar to that of the male M. devincenzii and male M. orejasmirandai. It states that the M. pachyrhynus exhibited diurnal and nocturnal calling activity.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic correlations among real-time ultrasound carcass, BW, and scrotal circumference (SC) traits in Nelore cattle. Carcass traits, measured by real-time ultrasound of the live animal, were recorded from 2002 to 2004 on 10 farms across 6 Brazilian states on 2,590 males and females ranging in age from 450 to 599 d. Ultrasound records of LM area (LMA) and backfat thickness (BF) were obtained from cross-sectional images between the 12th and 13th ribs, and rump fat thickness (RF) was measured between the hook and pin bones over the junction between gluteus medius and biceps femoris muscles. Also, BW (n = 22,778) and SC (n = 5,695) were recorded on animals born between 1998 and 2003. The BW traits were 120, 210, 365, 450, and 550-d standardized BW (W120, W210, W365, W450, and W550), plus BW (WS) and hip height (HH) on the ultrasound scanning date. The SC traits were 365-, 450-, and 550-d standardized SC (SC365, SC450, and SC550). For the BW and SC traits, the database used was from the Nelore Breeding Program–Nelore Brazil. The genetic parameters were estimated with multivariate animal models and REML. Estimated genetic correlations between LMA and other traits were 0.06 (BF), -0.04 (RF), 0.05 (HH), 0.58 (WS), 0.53 (W120), 0.62 (W210), 0.67 (W365), 0.64 (W450 and W550), 0.28 (SC365), 0.24 (SC450), and 0.00 (SC550). Estimated genetic correlations between BF and with other traits were 0.74 (RF), -0.32 (HH), 0.19 (WS), -0.03 (W120), -0.10 (W210), 0.04 (W365), 0.01 (W450), 0.06 (W550), 0.17 (SC365 and SC450), and -0.19 (SC550). Estimated genetic correlations between RF and other traits were -0.41 (HH), -0.09 (WS), -0.13 (W120), -0.09 (W210), -0.01 (W365), 0.02 (W450), 0.03 (W550), 0.05 (SC365), 0.11 (SC450), and -0.18 (SC550). These estimates indicate that selection for carcass traits measured by real-time ultrasound should not cause antagonism in the genetic improvement of SC and BW traits. Also, selection to increase HH might de- crease subcutaneous fat as correlated response. There- fore, to obtain animals suited to specific tropical production systems, carcass, BW, and sc traits should be considered in selection programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]