First report of an accident with the speckled forest pit viper (Bothriopsis taeniata) in Brazil

The first reported case of an accident with Bothriopsis taeniata in Brazil is described. The victim, a 43-year-old man, was bitten just above his right heel and presented a clinical condition compatible with mild Bothrops poisoning: local edema with hemorrhage at the bite site and pain, although without coagulopathy.

Report of a human accident caused by Conus regius (Gastropoda, Conidae)

Conus regius is a venomous mollusc in the Conidae family, which includes species responsible for severe or even fatal accidents affecting human beings. This is the first report on a clinical case involving this species. It consisted a puncture in the right hand of a diver who presented paresthesia and movement difficulty in the whole limb. The manifestations disappeared after around twelve hours, without sequelae.

Cirrose hepática enzoótica no cavalo

As lesões histopatológicas observadas no fígado de 12 cavalos de procedências diversas, descritas neste trabalho, sugerem a interferência de um mesmo agente etiológico, possìvelmente uma intoxicação crônica provocada pela infestão de vegetais do gen. Senecio ou de plantas contendo alcalóides afins. Nota: - Já estava redigido o presente trabalho, quando deparamos com o artigo de VANEK (Vanek, J., 1958), Vergiftung mit Kreuskraut (Senecio) als ursache der Zdárer Pferdseuche. - Schveiz. Z. Allg. Path. Bakt., 21:821-848), onde o autor, baseado em dados clínicos, anatõmicos, botânicos, toxicológicos e experimentais, conclui que a doença dos cavalos de Zdar é devida a uma intoxicação crônica pelos alcalóides do Senecio erraticus ssp. barbaraeifolius. As alterações histopatológicas descritas no referido trabalho, coincidem com as observadas nos nossos casos.

Hiperglicemia na intoxicação escorpiônica experimental em cão

The production of hyperglycemia during the acute phase of scorpion poisoning produced by T. bahiensis in dogs is confirmed now. The highest degree on average, was reached 10 minutes after the injection of venom. In our hands, the previous bilateral adrenalectomy did not avoid the hyperglycemia. The average of the blood sugar level has been similar to that observed in dogs with adrenal glands, the highest blood sugar level was also registered after 10 minutes. The hyperglycemia obtained in adrenolectomized dogs is, probably, due to the liberation of Sympatin (Nor-adrenalin and adrenalin) as a consequence of the central excitation by the poison on the hepatic nerves and other ganglionar terminations of the Sympathetic Nervous System. Our present researches suggest that the venom has adrenergic action besides the central action.

Use of an indirect haemagglutination test, for the detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin

An indirect haemagglutination (IH) test is described for the detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin, produced by strains isolated from human cases of food poisoning and from contaminated food. Though no strict relationship could be observed between titers in the IH test and the time it took mice to die from the intravenous inoculation of mice (IIM), results of the supernatants examined by both methods demonstrated that the IH test was more sensitive than the ILM one. No unspecific reaction was obtanined int he IH wirh a negative control and the inhibitions of the IH and IIM tests by specific antiserum against C. perfringens enterotoxin showed that the IH test is very spcific. The IH assay is recommended for its sensitivity and easy performance by less-equipped laboratories, by these and other data.

Incoordination, Paralysis and Recovery after Pyrethroid Treatment on Nymphs III of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Symptoms of poisoning for deltamethrin and cis-permethrin on nymphs III of Triatoma infestans were described. The time required for incoordination and paralysis were determined. Deltamethrin was equal or more rapid in the onset of the first effect (accordingly to dose), and cis-permethrin in the onset of the second one. There were no significant differences between incoordination doses 50% (IncD50s) at different times for the two pyrethroids. They showed equivalent incoordination power, but the nymphs treated with deltamethrin recovered slightly more rapid and in greater amount than the nymphs treated with cis-permethrin. The recovery was inhibited by the simultaneus application of piperonyl butoxide. This result suggests that biotransformation by mixed-function microsomal oxidases are involved in the process of recovery

Screening of Asteraceae (Compositae) Plant Extracts for Larvicidal Activity against Aedes fluviatilis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Ethanol extracts of 83 plants species belonging to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, collected in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were tested for larvicidal activity against the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis - Diptera: Culicidae). The extract from Tagetes minuta was the most active with a LC90 of 1.5 mg/l and LC50 of 1.0 mg/l. This plant has been the object of several studies by other groups and its active components have already been identified as thiophene derivatives, a class of compounds present in many Asteraceae species. The extract of Eclipta paniculata was also significantly active, with a LC90 of 17.2 mg/l and LC50 of 3.3 mg/l and no previous studies on its larvicidal activity or chemical composition could be found in the literature. Extracts of Achryrocline satureoides, Gnaphalium spicatum, Senecio brasiliensis, Trixis vauthieri, Tagetes patula and Vernonia ammophila were less active, killing more than 50% of the larvae only at the higher dose tested (100 mg/l).

Toxicity of pyrethroids and repellency of diethyltoluamide in two deltamethrin-resistant colonies of Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

The aim of the currrent investigation was to evaluate (a) the toxicity of three pyrethroids (deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and tetramethrin); (b) the effect of these insecticides on the locomotor activity; and (c) the repellent effect of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) on two deltamethrin-resistant strains of Triatoma infestans from Argentina (El Chorro and La Toma), and one susceptible strain. The resistance ratios (RRs) obtained for the La Toma strain were: > 10,769, 50.7, and > 5.2 for deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and tetramethrin respectively. The RRs for the El Chorro strain were: > 10,769, 85.8, and > 5.2 for deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and tetramethrin respectively. The hyperactivity usually caused by the three pyrethroids was in both the deltamethrin-resistant strains compared to the susceptible reference strain. No differences were observed in the repellent effect of DEET between the three groups. These results indicate that the deltamethrin-resistant insects have a cross resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin and tetramethrin, and are also resistant to the first symptom of pyrethroid poisoning (hyperactivity). However, the sensorial process related to DEET repellency does not appear to be altered.

Accidental intoxication of the infant-juvenile population in households: profiles of emergency care

OBJECTIVE Analyzing profiles of intoxication and accidental poisoning of infant-juvenile population (0-24 years) in the household, treated at a reference facility for Emergency and Primary Care, during the year 2013. METHOD A descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using Epi-Info, by way of simple and bivariate analyzes. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (protocol 405.578). RESULTS There were 45 intoxications, with a prevalence of males (60.0%), aged 1-4 years (71.1%). Among children under one, there was a higher frequency of pesticide poisoning (66.6%), between the ages of 1-4 by cleaning products (34.4%), and between 5-9 years of age by pharmacological substances (66.6%). The primary assistance was provided only at health institutions, with hospital admissions in 24.4% of the cases. CONCLUSION The importance of prevention through legislation is evident, in order to ensure greater safety in packaging of various products, and community awareness to eliminate risks in the household environment.

Comportamento e ciclo de vida de Phaedon confinis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) em condições de laboratório

Alguns aspectos do comportamento e da biologia de Phaedon confinis Klug, 1829 foram avaliados em Senecio brasiliensis (Spreng.) Less. Os insetos adultos foram coletados em Ponta Grossa (Paraná, Brasil) e mantidos a uma temperatura média ambiente de 20,03º C. Os ovos de P. confinis são alongados e amarelados, obtendo-se um total médio de 756,75 ± 50,19 ovos por fêmea, com média de 7,54 ± 0,99 ovos por postura. O período de incubação médio foi de 7,38 ± 0,21 dias e a viabilidade média dos ovos de 44,69% ± 7,45. As larvas têm coloração castanho-escura, com cerdas curtas distribuídas por todo corpo e a forma foi semelhante nos três estágios larvais, aumentando de tamanho em cada ecdise. Os três estágios duraram em média 5,81 dias, 4,82 dias e 21,84 dias, respectivamente; e a sobrevivência média alcançada no 3º estágio foi de 5,27%. O estágio de pupa apresentou duração média de 5,58 dias e sobrevivência média de 3,88%. A longevidade média das fêmeas foi de 229 dias e dos machos de 213,75 dias.

BRACHIARIA IN SELENIUM-CONTAMINATED SOIL UNDER SULPHUR SOURCE APPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT High contents of plant-available selenium in the soil in the form of selenate, resulting from natural or anthropogenic action, jeopardizes agricultural areas and requires research for solutions to establish or re-establish agricultural or livestock operation, avoiding the risk of poisoning of plants, animals and humans. The purpose was to evaluate sulfur sources in the form of sulfate, e.g., ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate, ferric sulfate, in the remediation of tropical soils anthropogenically contaminated with Se under the tropical forage grass Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf cv. Marandu. More clayey soils are less able to supply plants with Se, which influences the effects of S sources, but it was found that high soil Se concentrations negatively affected forage biomass production, regardless of the soil. Of the tested S sources, the highly soluble ammonium sulfate and ferric sulfate reduced plant Se uptake and raised the available sulfur content in the soil.

Vegetação campestre de areais do Sudoeste do Rio Grande do Sul sob pastejo e com exclusão do pastejo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar os efeitos de dois manejos do pastejo, sobre a vegetação natural do entorno de areais, da região Sudeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram estudadas 41 parcelas de comunidades de 4,5x9 m: 30 sob pastejo e 11 em areais excluídos do pastejo. A composição da vegetação foi analisada por meio de inventário das espécies de plantas vasculares, presentes nas parcelas, e por meio de estimativa da abundância/cobertura de cada espécie e substrato exposto. Foram identificadas 53 espécies, distribuídas em 43 gêneros e 16 famílias. Apareceram em mais de 50% das comunidades estudadas: Axonopus pressus, Elionurus sp., Schizachyrium microstachyum, Bulbostylis sp., Senecio sp., Baccharis coridifolia, Psidium sp., Cardionema ramosissima e Borreria verticillata. Andropogon lateralis esteve restrita ao município de Alegrete, próximo ao rio Ibicuí. A exclusão do pastejo aumenta a cobertura vegetal e a diversidade em comparação a comunidades pastejadas. Vegetação natural sob pastejo é mais suscetível ao processo de arenização. Areais manejados sob pastejo apresentam mais substrato exposto e Elionurus sp., Axonopus pressus e Cardionema ramosissima.

Estudo do efeito do cloreto em catalisadores de paládio usando a análise no infravermelho e de fotoelétrons excitados por raios x

Chloride poisoning is known as having an inhibitor effect in the activity of metal catalysis. In this work in situ infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of adsorbed carbon monoxide and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the effect of chloride presence in the electronic metal density in the d subshell of palladium dispersed on alumina. The chloride poisoning effect was interpreted as an electronic effect since a weak back-bonded Pd-CO was formed due to the decrease in the electronic density of the d subshell of palladium, which could be also detected by the higher Pd 3d5/2 binding energy in the chloride presence. A similar poisoning effect was also observed for chloride free Pd/Al2O3 reduced at 500 ºC, and it was interpreted based on the interaction of metal with the alumina surface. The use of molybdena/alumina binary system as support, yield a contrary effect due to the metal-support interaction.

Contaminação ambiental por compostos organoestânicos

The occurrence and the effects of organotin compounds (OTs) have been studied since a long time, due to their widespread use and deleterious effects. Some OTs are used as pesticides in crops, or as biocides in antifouling paints, applied in the ship hulls to avoid attachment and growth of tube worms, mussels and barnacles. However, "nontarget" organisms may be exposed, resulting in the poisoning of biological system, originating mutations and sentencing species to extinction. In this work we reported a revision study on the history of OTs and the techniques developed for its assessment and control.

Decomposição catalítica de óxidos de nitrogênio

Contaminant gases in the atmosphere constitute an important problem to be solved in the world. The NOx gases produced as a consequence of engine high temperatures are deleterious to environment and human health, as they promote acid rain and can act in the same way as freons in the destruction of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. In this review, three way and selective reduction catalysts for decomposition of these contaminant gases are described. Details about conditions and problems, such as catalyst poisoning, and the search for new catalysts are shown.