Evaluation of dog population in an urban area of Southeastern Brazil

Planning control programs, for diseases such as rabies requires information on the size and structure of the dog and cat population. In order to evaluate the dog population of the urban area of Ara��atuba city, S. Paulo State, Brazil, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire to interview members of households. Eighty-eight districts were visited (37,778 houses) and the interview was possible at 77.93% of these. Human population size evaluated was 113,157 inhabitants. Houses that owned animals represented 55.2%, 26,926 of the animals concerned were dogs and 5,755 were cats. Of the dogs, 56.64% were 1-4 year olds and males represented 56.2% of the total population. Dog: person ratio was estimated at 2.8 dogs to every 10 persons, almost 3 times the ratio hitherto estimated and used in the planning of rabies vaccination campaigns.

PREVALENCE OF Calodium hepaticum (SYN. Capillaria hepatica) IN Rattus norvegicus IN THE URBAN AREA OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

The nematode Calodium hepaticum (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a zoonotic helminth found mainly infecting rats. It was studied the prevalence of C. hepaticum infection in Rattus norvegicus in an urban area of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), with low urban planning and sanitation. The presence of C. hepaticum was identified through visible yellowish-white lesions in liver tissue and histological analyses. The total prevalence of infection was 45%, with no significant differences between sex and age. The presence of infected rodents near the peridomestic area poses substantial risk to human health.

Schistosomiasis in a low prevalence area: incomplete urbanization increasing risk of infection in Paracambi, RJ, Brazil

The risk of schistosomiais infection and heavy infection in the locality of Sabugo was evaluated in relation to housing in areas with different urbanization development and to residential supply with snail-infested water. Critical sanitary conditions were found in areas of incomplete urbanization, where healthy water supply sources were scarce, and draining of sewage, without previous treatment, was made directly to the water-bodies used for domestic and leisure activities, despite being Biomphalaria tenagophila snail breeding-places. Stool examinations (Kato-Katz and Lutz methods) showed prevalence of 2.9%, mean intensity of 79 eggs per gram of stool and 47% of positive cases presenting intense infection. The use of snail-contaminated water for domestic purposes was considered a risk factor for infection. It is concluded that incomplete urbanization would facilitate transmission, probably enhancing the intensity of infection and that a low prevalence could hide a highly focal transmission. The relevance of these facts upon the efficiency of epidemiologic study methods and disease control planning are then discussed.

Detection of all four dengue serotypes in Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes collected in a rural area in Colombia

The Aedes aegypti vector for dengue virus (DENV) has been reported in urban and periurban areas. The information about DENV circulation in mosquitoes in Colombian rural areas is limited, so we aimed to evaluate the presence of DENV in Ae. aegypti females caught in rural locations of two Colombian municipalities, Anapoima and La Mesa. Mosquitoes from 497 rural households in 44 different rural settlements were collected. Pools of about 20 Ae. aegypti females were processed for DENV serotype detection. DENV in mosquitoes was detected in 74% of the analysed settlements with a pool positivity rate of 62%. The estimated individual mosquito infection rate was 4.12% and the minimum infection rate was 33.3/1,000 mosquitoes. All four serotypes were detected; the most frequent being DENV-2 (50%) and DENV-1 (35%). Two-three serotypes were detected simultaneously in separate pools. This is the first report on the co-occurrence of natural DENV infection of mosquitoes in Colombian rural areas. The findings are important for understanding dengue transmission and planning control strategies. A potential latent virus reservoir in rural areas could spill over to urban areas during population movements. Detecting DENV in wild-caught adult mosquitoes should be included in the development of dengue epidemic forecasting models.

USE OF SCALED SEMIVARIOGRAMS IN THE PLANNING SAMPLE OF SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN SOUTHERN AMAZONAS, BRAZIL

There is a great lack of information from soil surveys in the southern part of the State of Amazonas, Brazil. The use of tools such as geostatistics may improve environmental planning, use and management. In this study, we aimed to use scaled semivariograms in sample design of soil physical properties of some environments in Amazonas. We selected five areas located in the south of the state of Amazonas, Brazil, with varied soil uses, such as forest, archaeological dark earth (ADE), pasture, sugarcane cropping, and agroforestry. Regular mesh grids were set up in these areas with 64 sample points spaced at 10 m from each other. At these points, we determined the particle size composition, soil resistance to penetration, moisture, soil bulk density and particle density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and aggregate stability in water at a depth of 0.00-0.20 m. Descriptive and geostatistical analyses were performed. The sample density requirements were lower in the pasture area but higher in the forest. We concluded that managed-environments had differences in their soil physical properties compared to the natural forest; notably, the soil in the ADE environment is physically improved in relation to the others. The physical properties evaluated showed a structure of spatial dependence with a slight variability of the forest compared to the others. The use of the range parameter of the semivariogram analysis proved to be effective in determining an ideal sample density.

Harvesting and wood transport planning with SNAP III program (Scheduling and Network Analysis Program) in a pine plantation in Southeast Brazil

The objective of this study was to verify the potential of SNAP III (Scheduling and Network Analysis Program) as a support tool for harvesting and wood transport planning in Brazil harvesting subsystem definition and establishment of a compatible route were assessed. Initially, machine operational and production costs were determined in seven subsystems for the study area, and quality indexes, construction and maintenance costs of forest roads were obtained and used as SNAP III program input data. The results showed, that three categories of forest road occurrence were observed in the study area: main, secondary and tertiary which, based on quality index, allowed a medium vehicle speed of about 41, 30 and 24 km/hours and a construction cost of about US$ 5,084.30, US$ 2,275.28 and US$ 1,650.00/km, respectively. The SNAP III program used as a support tool for the planning, was found to have a high potential tool in the harvesting and wood transport planning. The program was capable of defining efficiently, the harvesting subsystem on technical and economical basis, the best wood transport route and the forest road to be used in each period of the horizon planning.

POPULATION STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTION OF COPAIBA OLEORESIN BETWEEN VALLEYS AND HILLSIDES OF THE MINING AREA OFTROMBETAS RIVER - PAR��1

ABSTRACT We aimed in this work to study natural populations of copaiba (Copaifera multijuga Hayne) on the Monte Branco mountain at Porto Trombetas-PA, in order to support sustainable management and the exploitation of oleoresin from copaiba. We studied the population structure of copaiba on hillsides and valleys of the south face of Monte Branco, within Sarac�� Taquera National Forest, where bauxite ore was extracted in the biennium 2013-2014 by Minera����o Rio do Norte (MRN). We produced a 100% forest inventory of the specie and of oleoresin extraction in order to quantify the potential production of the remaining area. The density of copaiba individuals with DBH > 30 cm was 0.33 individuals per hectare in the hillside and 0.25 individuals per hectare in the valley. Both environments presented a density of 0.28 individuals per hectare. The average copaiba oleoresin yield was 0.661��0.334 liters in the hillside and 0.765��0.280 liters in the valley. The average value of both environments together (hillside and valley) was 0.714��0.218 liters. From all individuals with DBH over 30 cm, 38 (58%) produced some amount of oleoresin, averaging 1.113��0.562 liters in the hillside, 1.329��0.448 liters in the valley and 1.190��0.355 liters in both environments together. The results show the need for planning the use of the surroundings of the study area in order to reach the required volume of copaiba to make feasible the sustainable management of oleoresin extraction in the region.

Nasolaringoscopia ou laringotraqueoscopia: qual o melhor exame para avalia����o da via a��rea infantil?

�� comum crian��as com quadro de desconforto respirat��rio alto, sendo importante uma avalia����o atrav��s de endoscopia da via a��rea. OBJETIVO: Avaliar qual o melhor exame para via a��rea infantil. MATERIAIS E M��TODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com 16 crian��as do ambulat��rio de via a��rea infantil do Setor de Otorrinolaringologia Pedi��trica da UNICAMP, com hist��ria de stress respirat��rio, submetidas �� nasolaringoscopia e laringotraqueoscopia de mar��o de 2001 a mar��o de 2004. Dados coletados foram equiparados e comparados. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 16 crian��as, sendo a indica����o mais comum do exame avalia����o de traqueotomia prolongada em 10 pacientes (62%), seguida de avalia����o de estenose subgl��tica em tr��s casos (31,3%). Em 44% dos exames houve falha da NL em mostrar les��es em subglote. CONCLUS��O: A avalia����o endosc��pica da via a��rea infantil em crian��as com dificuldade respirat��ria �� essencial para o diagn��stico. Conclu��mos que todas as crian��as com patologia de via a��rea superior devem ser submetidas �� nasolaringoscopia inicialmente, a qual �� um exame barato, de f��cil execu����o e que fornece dados importantes inclusive a respeito da funcionalidade da laringe. No entanto, se houver suspeita de patologia subgl��tica ou traqueal, ou ainda quando os dados nasolaringoscopia n��o s��o condizentes com exame f��sico, �� essencial a realiza����o da laringotraqueoscopia.

Estudo dos limiares eletrofisiol��gicos das vias a��rea e ��ssea em crian��as com at�� 2 meses de idade

O diagn��stico diferencial de perdas auditivas com potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encef��lico por via a��rea e por via ��ssea em crian��as pequenas tem sido pouco estudado no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Comparar as respostas do potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encef��lico por vias a��rea e ��ssea em crian��as de at�� 2 meses de idade sem perdas auditivas. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Cl��nico prospectivo com coorte transversal. MATERIAL E M��TODO: Foram avaliadas 12 crian��as que passaram na triagem auditiva, por meio do potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encef��lico por via a��rea e via ��ssea. A via ��ssea foi realizada sem mascaramento contralateral. As respostas foram comparadas e analisadas por meio do teste de McNemar e pela an��lise de vari��ncia com medidas repetidas. RESULTADOS: N��o houve diferen��a estat��stica no limiar eletrofisiol��gico por via a��rea e via ��ssea (p>0,05). O tempo de lat��ncia por via ��ssea foi estatisticamente maior do que o tempo de lat��ncia por via a��rea (p=0,000). CONCLUS��O: Houve concord��ncia no registro do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encef��lico captado por vias a��rea e ��ssea nas intensidades pr��ximas ao limiar auditivo; a lat��ncia da onda V registrada por via ��ssea foi estatisticamente maior que a registrada por via a��rea.

Avalia����o da obstru����o da via a��rea superior atrav��s da videonasofaringoscopia: compara����o da manobra de M��ller com o sono induzido

A nasofaringoscopia com realiza����o de Manobra de M��ller �� freq��entemente utilizada para determinar o local da obstru����o na via a��rea superior. No entanto, sua utilidade �� controversa, uma vez que �� realizada com o paciente acordado e pode n��o reproduzir os fen��menos obstrutivos que ocorrem durante o sono. OBJETIVOS: Comparar o grau de obstru����o far��ngea nas regi��es retropalatal e retrolingual que ocorrem durante a manobra de M��ller com aquelas que ocorrem durante o sono induzido. MATERIAL E M��TODOS: Estudo prospectivo de 8 pacientes (3 homens e 5 mulheres) com idade (m��dia ±desvio padr��o) de 48,6 ± 9,2 anos de idade atrav��s de videonasofaringoscopia durante a manobra de M��ller e durante o sono induzido por midazolam endovenoso. RESULTADOS: Observamos obstru����o retropalatal similar durante a manobra de M��ller e sono induzido (m��dia + desvio padr��o 3,13 + 0,99 e 2,75 + 0,46, respectivamente, p= 0,234). Em contraste, a obstru����o retrolingual foi significantemente menor durante a manobra de M��ller (m��dia + desvio padr��o 0,63 + 1,06 e 2,63 + 1,30, respectivamente, p= 0,005). CONCLUS��O: O m��todo do sono induzido foi seguro sob as condi����es de monitoriza����o adotadas, tendo detectado maior ocorr��ncia de colapso retrolingual do que a manobra de M��ller.

The effect of leaf area reduction on corn plants during the reproduction phase

Reduction in leaf area in corn plants during reproduction changes physiological metabolism and consequently the accumulation of dry matter in grains. The aim of this work was to study changes in agronomic characteristics caused by defoliation in corn during the reproduction phase. The experiment was carried out in Uberl��ndia, Minas Gerais state, in the agricultural year 2007/2008. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, consisting of seven treatments: control without defoliation, removal of two apical leaves, removal of four apical leaves, removal of all leaves above spike, removal of four intermediate leaves, removal of all leaves below spike, and removal of all plant leaves, with five repetitions. The genotype used for the evaluations was hybrid NB 7376. Defoliation was carried out when plants were at the growth stage R2. The variables assessed were: yield, density of spikes and corncobs, root resistance and stem integrity. When all leaves above the spike were removed, grain yield was reduced by 20%. Corncob density, stem integrity and root resistance to uprooting were also affected. Spike density was only affected when all plant leaves were removed. The leaf area remaining physiologically active above the spike was found to be most efficient in terms of grain yield.

Influ��ncia da nutri����o mineral foliar sobre doen��as da parte a��rea da cultura do trigo

A utiliza����o de fungicida para o controle de doen��as foliares na cultura do trigo �� pr��tica comum entre os triticultores. Contudo, devido ao impacto ambiental provocado pelo seu uso generalizado, buscam-se alternativas para controle dos fitopat��genos. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da nutri����o mineral foliar sobre as doen��as foliares do trigo, bem como seu efeito sobre o desenvolvimento da planta. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repeti����es e quatro tratamentos: 1- testemunha; 2- aduba����o foliar aos 30 dias ap��s a emerg��ncia (DAE) e aos 75 DAE; 3- fungicida aos 30 e 75 DAE; e 4- aduba����o foliar aos 30 DAE e aduba����o foliar mais fungicida aos 75 DAE. Foram realizadas nove avalia����es da incid��ncia e da severidade do o��dio, cujos dados foram utilizados para o c��lculo das ��reas abaixo das curvas de progresso da doen��a; tr��s avalia����es da severidade da ferrugem e da mancha da gluma; e duas avalia����es da mancha amarela. Foram determinadas a massa de mat��ria fresca e seca da parte a��rea e do sistema radicular e a produtividade da cultura. Foi observada redu����o da incid��ncia e da severidade de o��dio em fun����o da aduba����o foliar, apenas na primeira avalia����o de incid��ncia e nas segunda e quinta avalia����es de severidade da doen��a. O efeito complementar dos nutrientes com o fungicida para redu����o das doen��as foi observado apenas para a mancha amarela, com redu����o de aproximadamente 11,16 % da severidade. Os maiores valores de produtividade foram observados para os tratamentos apenas com fungicida e, com fungicida mais nutrientes. A aduba����o foliar proporcionou aumento da massa fresca de ra��zes e massa seca de ra��zes. Apesar disso, n��o houve aumento da massa fresca da parte a��rea em fun����o da aduba����o foliar.

Mat��ria e nutrientes da parte a��rea de adubos verdes em cultivos exclusivo e consorciado

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os efeitos de diferentes coberturas do solo utilizando leguminosas (guandu, crotal��ria juncea, feij��o-de-porco e mucuna-preta) e uma gram��nea (milheto) isolada e em cons��rcio leguminosa/gram��nea e uma ��rea de pousio, sobre a produ����o de mat��ria, nos teores e no ac��mulo de nutrientes. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados, com 10 tratamentos (guandu, crotal��ria, feij��o-de-porco, mucuna-preta, milheto, guandu + milheto, crotal��ria + miheto, feij��o-de-porco + milheto, mucuna-preta + milheto e uma ��rea de pousio) e oito repeti����es. O experimento foi conduzido, no ano agr��cola 2006/07, na ��rea experimental da UNESP - Campus de Ilha Solteira, localizada no munic��pio de Selv��ria-MS, em solo anteriormente ocupado por vegeta����o de cerrado. A produ����o de mat��ria fresca e seca das plantas e os teores e ac��mulo de nutrientes das plantas de cobertura foram obtidos por meio da coleta de oito amostras aleat��rias de cada planta . Verificou-se que ocorreram diferen��as significativas entre as esp��cies tanto isoladamente como em cons��rcio em cada unidade experimental. A combina����o que proporcionou maiores resultados para a mat��ria seca foi mucuna + milheto, seguida de crotal��ria + milheto com 23,3 e 14,8 t ha-1 respectivamente. Para ac��mulo de nitrog��nio foram obtidos os valores m��ximos de 35,1 e 31,0 g kg-1 para mucuna e o feij��o-de-porco e para f��sforo 3,0; 2,7 e 2,5 g kg-1 para feij��o-de-porco, guandu e mucuna, evidenciando o potencial das culturas consorciadas com milheto e da mucuna, feij��o-de-porco e guandu para utiliza����o como esp��cies de cobertura.

Leaf area and epicuticular wax content of Sida spp

Morpho-physiological characteristics and chemical composition are directly related to superior competitive ability of crops. This study intended to make a comparative analysis of dry matter production, leaf area and amount of epicuticular wax of three species of Sida spp: S. urens L., S. rhombifolia L. and S. spinosa L. Plants were collected at three growth stages: V1: stage described as up to 10 fully expanded leaves; V2: between 11 leaves and flowering; and R: after flowering. At stages V2 and R, the highest number of leaves was recorded for S. rhombifolia, followed by S. spinosa at V2 and S. urens at R. These results were relatively proportional to leaf area for all species. S. spinosa at the vegetative stage produced the highest values of specific leaf area (SLA), with no significant differences between species at the stage R. The amount of wax per unit of leaf area between species at the same developmental stage was significantly different only at the reproductive stage, where S. spinosa produced 23.18 and 6.23 fold more wax than S. urens and S. rhombifolia respectively. Between the growth stages of each species, there was decrease in the amount of wax with plant age and increase in leaf area (AFE), number of leaves and dry matter. The leaves of the Sida species exhibit different characteristics and this information can be used to optimize the use of herbicides in the control of these weeds.