Prevalência da esquistossomose mansoni e de parasitoses intestinais em escolares da área rural do Município de Jaboticatubas, MG, 1992-1993

Estagiários do Internato Rural da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG realizaram levantamento da prevalência da esquistossomose mansoni e de parasitoses intestinais em 20 escolas da área rural do município de Jaboticatubas, MG. Foi feita avaliação sumária das condições de habitação e saneamento, e os escolares foram submetidos a exame clínico e parasitológico de fezes. Observou-se que 15,43% dos escolares apresentaram ovos de S. mansoni nas fezes, o que representou a parasitose de maior prevalência. Foram encontrados 13,76% de exames com a presença de G. lamblia; 12,89% de S. stercoralis; 11,13% de A. lumbricoides; 9,96% de ancilostomideos; 9,57% de E. histolytica, tendo os outros parasitas apresentado prevalências inferiores às citadas. Todas as crianças que apresentaram ovos de parasitas nas fezes foram tratadas. Os resultados encontrados mostram que a esquistossomose mansoni é um grave problema de saúde pública e que medidas na área do saneamento básico se fazem necessárias para controle da endemia.

Serological diagnosis of Chagas disease in HIV-infected patients

INTRODUCTION: This study assessed the rate of request for the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients treated at the Specialized Care Service of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used secondary data obtained from the medical records of 252 patients aged between 18 and 75 years. RESULTS: The serological diagnosis of Chagas disease was requested only in 3.2% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate poor adherence to protocols on the part of healthcare professionals, indicating the need to reevaluate the procedures applied to HIV-infected patients from endemic regions for both diseases.

On occurrence, habitat specificity and natural history of adult tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) near Manaus, Central Amazonia, and key to the larvae of tiger beetle genera

Over a seven year period from 1991 to 1997, 22 species of tiger beetles, representing nine genera, were recorded near Manaus, Brazil. In the Whitewaterfloodplains along the Rio Solimões-Amazonas (Ilha de Marchantaria), three diurnal species inhabit inundation forests and six species (two diurnal, four nocturnal) live in open areas. Data on their natural history and adaptation to living conditions in floodplains are presented. Fifteen species were located on non-flooded uplands (Reserva Florestal A. Ducke). Five diurnal species inhabit the forest floor, two species are canopy dwellers, and eight species (seven diurnal, one nocturnal) live in open areas on whitesand or laterite. Only one species, Pentacomia lacordairei, was found in both floodplain and upland forests. A key to the larvae of tiger beetle genera located near Manaus is presented.

The species of Notiobia Perty (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalini) from Brazil

The new species Notiobia glabrata, N. maxima and N. pseudolimbipennis are described. A key to the 11 Notiobia (s.str.) species known from Brazil, data about the distribution of each species and taxonomical remarks are provided. Notiobia parilis Bates, 1878 is a junior synonym of N. nebrioides Perty, 1830, and Notiobia umbrata Bates, 1882 is a junior synonym of N. jlavicinctus Erichson, 1847. The Brazilian Notiobia species belong to at least three different species groups, each distributed from Brazil over the North-Western part of South America, Central America to Mexico.