Caracterização sazonal de acúmulos isolados de própolis em colônias de Plebeia emerina (Hymenoptera, Apidae) no sul do Brasil

Em colônias de abelhas sem ferrão a aplicação da própolis é ampla, sendo utilizada como matéria-prima nas construções e defesa contra inimigos. Há registros de armazenamento de própolis viscosa, sob forma de acúmulos isolados. Neste trabalho propõe-se a caracterização sazonal da área, do número e da distribuição espacial dos acúmulos isolados de própolis em colônias de Plebeia emerina (Friese, 1900). Colônias foram avaliadas entre outubro/2003 e setembro/2004, medindo-se mensalmente os acúmulos isolados de própolis e registrando-se a posição relativa dos mesmos nas colméias. Entre outubro e março, a área dos acúmulos de própolis nas colônias variou entre 0,50 e 4,92 cm² e o número de acúmulos foi de 3 a 16. No período de abril a setembro, a área foi de 4,54 a 18,48 cm² e o número de acúmulos de 9 a 36. Sugere-se que o aumento da própolis acumulada possa estar relacionado à preparação das colônias para o outonoinverno quando a coleta do produto é reduzida. A análise sazonal da distribuição dos depósitos isolados de própolis corrobora com os registros da área total, indicando preferência da posição anterior da colônia para acumular a própolis. Esta constatação fortalece a hipótese do uso da própolis viscosa dos depósitos isolados na defesa, principalmente junto à entrada das colônias.

Ixodidas brasileiros e de alguns paizes limitrophes

The knowledge of the Ixodidae becomes every day, more and more important owing to the fact of the increasing number of diseases of man and animals they can transmit. In Brasil besides transmitting treponemosis, piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis to several domestic animals, the ticks are also responsible fo the transmission of the brazilian rocky mountain spotted fever (A. cajennense and Amblyomma striatum) and they can also harbour the virus of the yellow fever and even to transmit it in laboratory experiments (A. cajennense, O. rostratus). The Brazilian fauna of ticks is a small one and has no more than 45 well-established species belonging to the genus Argas, Ornithodoros, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Amblyomma and Spaelaeorhynchus. The genus Amblyomma is the best represented one, with 67% of all species of ticks known in Brazil. One of the most important species in the Amblyomma cajennense owing to its abundance and its wide parasitism in many vertebrates: reptiles, birds and mammals, incluing man, who is much attacked by the larva, the nymph and the adult of this species. The other ticks who attack the man are the Amblyomma brasiliense (the pecari tick), in the forests, and the Ornithodoros, especially the species. O. rostratus and brasiliensis. Other species can bite the man, but only occasionally, like Amblyomma fossum, striatum, oblongogutatum etc. Argas persicus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Boophilus are very important species not only as parasites but specially because they transmit several diseases to animals. Some of the ticks of the brazilian wild animals are now also parasites of the domestic ones and vice-versa. Arga persicus var. dissimilis is very common among the poultry and transmits the Treponema anserinum (gallinarum). Boophilus microplus is very abundant on our domestic and wild ruminants (Bos, Cervus, Mazama etc.) and can also ben found on horse, dogs, Felis onca, Felis concolor etc., and it transmits to cattle piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (an introduced species) is now very common on the dog, over all the country. The author recommend to give popular names to some brazilian ticks in order to make them more acquainted with the non scientific people. The author gives a classification of the superfamilia Ixoidoidea and keys to the determination of the different species of brazilian ticks. He creates a new family of Nuttallielidae to the so interesting tick, described by Bedford with the name of Nuttaliella namaqua in South Africa, a new variety of Argas persicus, the Argas persicus var. dissimilis nov. var. owing to the differences on the segment and on the size and morphology of the peritrema. He describes also the female of Amblyomma fuscum Nn. A great part of the author's work deals with the biology, life conditions and parasitism of many of the brazilian ticks in accordance with his personal and from other author's researches, especially in reference to Argas persicus, Ornithodoros rostratus, O. brasiliensis, Boophilus microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense, A. pseudoconcolor, A. auriculare, A. rotundatum (= A. agamum) etc. The author gives a detailed report upon the parthenogenesis of A. rotundatum (A. agamum) that he first described in 1912 and gives also many references to other species of brazilian ticks, to teratological forms etc. He also gives a detailed report of the geographical distribution of brazilian ticks and of the peculiar conditions of its parasitism. The last part of this article deals with references to the species of ticks of some of the South American Republics namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela. Amblyomma testudinis Conil, A. neumanni Ribaga 1902 (= A. furcula Dõnitz 1909) and A. parvitarsum Nn. 1899 (= A. altiplanum Dios 1917), are found only in Argentina. It is given a special bibliography dealing with the brazilian ticks and four text figures and one plate.

Preparo de antígenos (Leprolinas Souza-Araujo) de culturas de bacilos ácido-álcool resistentes isolados de leprosos: seu emprêgo intradérmico, comparativamente com o da Lepromina, e subcutâneo ou intravenoso como tentativa terapêutica

The A. prepared five antigens from his leprosy cultures which by analogy with ROST's product he called Leprolins. The methods of its preparation and use are given. After a few tests to prove its innocuity for man the A. in cooperation with Dr. JOSÉ MARIANO, injected all five antigens intracutaneously in 120 patients. Now the products are being tested in 17 Leper Colonies of Brazil, in Argentina by Dr. SALOMON SCHUJMAN and in two leprosaria of Colombia. As antigen for skin tests the first results obtained are more or less identical with the results with Lepromin. Its use in serology for leprosy diagnosis will be made by Dr. T. PINTO of Rio, and Prof. LUIZ PRADO BARRIENTOS, of La Paz, Bolivia. As curative means the Leprolins are being injected into resistent lesions of leprosy and also by intraven injections, whose results Dr. José Mariano will publish soon. The Leprolins Souza-Araujo are put at disposal of all leprologists interested in its use.

Culturas de bacilos ácido-álcool resistentes isolados de hematófagos infectados em leprosos: evidências de se tratar do bacilo de Hansen

The A. summarises the history of his first culture of acidfast bacillus isolated directly from leprosy lesions (Sample José) and refers about two samples recovered from guinea pig and white rat inoculated with said culture. Then the A. completes his previous descriptions of four cultures of acidfast bacilli isolated by him from ticks (Amblyomma cajaennense and Boophilus microplus, two cultures from each species) infected experimentally in lepers. The A. having found specimens of two species of Triatomidae (Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus) naturally infected with HANSEN bacillus in huts habited by lepers in the State of Minas Gerais (Dec. 1942), started a series of experiments, using larvae and nymphs of T. infestans bred in laboratory at the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, to infect in active cases of leprosy, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, could obtain two new samples of cultures of acid-fast bacilli (Ns. 6 and 7 of his set). In this papaer the A. studies the biological properties of said cultures, proving that Penicilin has not effect upon them, like other substances. The sulphuric and acetic acids were used to purify some of the cultures, with good results, the cultures becoming more rich and growing faster. Potassium hydroxide Sodium (10% solution) was also used with success to isolate and to purify the cultures, but it seems that it affects the bacilli in some way. In flud glycerinated media the majority of such cultures produce velum suitable for the preparation of antigens for skin tests and for therapeutical use. At last the A. says that he is becoming convinced that the HANSEN bacillus is in cause, especially after thee evidences of culturing the bacillus from one patient, in different opportunities.

Notas sôbre Tabânidas brasileiros: I. Fidena longipalpis Enderlein, 1925

The male of Fidena longipalpis End., 1925 is described, and femme femme that were referred to Pangonia incisuralis Macq., 1847 by Lutz in 1909 are now identified as belonging to Enderlein's species. It is emphasised that in his addenda to Macquart's description Lutz gave a characterization which though short is diagnostic for F. longipalpis.

Notas sôbre Tabânidas brasileiros: II. Fidena callipyga n. sp.

Fidena callipyga n. sp. is described from three specimens, in the collections of the INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ. It is related to Fidena ornata kröb., 1931 and Fidena aureopygia Kröb., 1931. It can be distinguished from both by the postfrons which is comparatively broader in relation to the high, by the light golden-yellow color of the beard, in striking contrast to the hairs on the propleurae and anterior coxae, and by the extent of the golden-yellow on the abdomen. In size, ornamentation and principally in the form of the palpi it is nearer to aureopygia. Fidena callipyga n. sp. and Melpia miniatistola (End.), 1925 constitute a pair of convergent forms, they differ however not only as to hairs on the mesonotum, femora and hind tibiae and form of the abdomen, but also as to the color of the beard.

Notas sôbre Tabânidas brasileiros: III. Fidena adnaticornis n. sp

Fidena adnaticornis n. sp. is described from female specimens. It closely resembles Fidena besckii (WIED. ), 1828 and indeed more closely Fidena soledadei (LUTZ), 1911. It can be distinguished from both by the antenna which are so close together that the distance between their basis is less that the width of the first antennal segment; also by the prevalence of yellow hairs on the coxae. In F. soledadei and chiefly in F. besckii the antennae an evidently more separated; they have also few yellow hairs limited to the base extremity of the coxae with prevalence of brown or black hairs. In F. besck the prealar hairs are predominantly yellow ones and there exist yellow hair around the edge of the scutellum, which does not occours in F. adnaticorn and in F. soledadei. In the abdomen the following areas, covered by whit hairs are more extensive in F. besckii: the mid row of white patches on the sternites is more conspicuous and involves the fifth segment; on the sternites instead of stripes the hairs form bands somewhat broader at the middle the respective segment, they may even form triangles with the base as with as the whole segment. Both cotypes of F. soledadei have the hairs damages but, at least, in the 1+2 sternites the areas covered by the white hairs see to be larger than in F. adnaticornis; they have also a higher frons: index : = 2.9.

Novos cultivos cromogênicos de bacilos ácido-alcool resistentes isolados de mosquitos (Culicini), capturados sobre leprosos: II nota

1. O autor obteve três novas culturas de bacilos ácido-alcool resisten¬tes, isolados de mosquitos (Culicini) capturados sôbre leprosos, em condições naturais, no campo livre a um quilômetro aproximadamente de distância da Colônia Santa Fe. 2. As semeaduras praticadas com mosquistos normais,, capturados sôbre um cavalo, até hoje foram negativas, para bacilos ácido-alcool resistentes. 3. Os exames microscópicos de esfregaços de diferentes tribus de mosquitos silvestres, capturados em condições naturais, sôbre enfermos lepro-matosos, nas margens do rio "Peixe", deram um total de 22% de positivos, com 111 bacilos contaveis e algumas massas de bacilos ácido-alcool resistentes na laminas observadas. (V. quadro I). 4. Os mosquitos urbanos Cutex fatigans, capturados dentro da Colônia nos Pavilhões e vivendas isoladas com lepromatosos, deram um total de 20% de positivos, com 55 bacilos contaveis e alguns grupos de bacilos e globias de bacilos ácido-alcool resistentes. (V. quadro II). 5. Em 50 laminas com esfregaços de mosquitos Culicini normais, cap¬turados sôbre cavalo, encontramos uma só lamina 4 bacilos duvidosos. No resto, as laminas foram negativas para bacilos ácido-alcool resistentes. Estes estudos estão sendo continuados no Laboratório de Leprologia do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Assim também temos empreendido novas experiências trabalhando com mosquitos capturados sôbre leprosos nas proximidades do Hospital-Colônia Curupaity e com mosquitos capturados nos Pavilhões do Leprosário, contando com a colaboração do Prof. Oliveira Castro, na classificação do material, determinando rigorosamente as espécies dos mosquitos.