Helminths from Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Goias State, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Helminths from Seven Species of Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Feeding behaviour and ecosystem role of the red mangrove crab Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) (Decapoda, Grapsoidea) in a subtropical estuary on the brazilian coast

This study provides information concerning the feeding behaviour of Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803), through analysis of stomach contents according to demographic categories. Collections were carried out monthly from May 2005 through April 2006 in a subtropical estuary on the southeastern Brazilian coast (23 degrees 29'24 '' S 45 degrees 10'12 '' W). The crabs were collected by hand, with a 2-hour sampling effort by three people. In the laboratory, the crabs were sexed and measured for greatest carapace width, and grouped into demographic categories: adult males, juvenile males, adult females, juvenile females, and ovigerous females. For the fullness analysis, the stomachs were grouped into two categories: (1) E = Empty, with no food; and (2) F = Full, whether partially filled or totally. The frequency-of-occurrence method was used to characterize feeding behaviour, and the demographic categories recognired were compared. We obtained stomachs from 171 adult males, 69 juvenile males, 136 adult females, 72 juvenile females, and 41 ovigerous females, of which 85.6% were full. of the eight food items recorded, sediment was the most frequent, and unidentified material was the least. Goniopsis cruentata can be characterized as a generalist feeder, exploiting most of the food items available in the mangrove swamps. In spite of this generalist behaviour, the dominant presence of sediment suggests that G. cruentata is primarily a detritivore that exploits particulate organic matter from microbial biodegradation, one of the most important mangrove functions. The trophic role of this crab in the ecosystem showed no significant differences among the demographic categories, and seems to be wider than those observed for sesarmid and ocypodid mangrove crabs. These ecosystem engineers may occupy different positions in the trophic chains of estuarine environments.

Diet of the ichthyofauna associated with marginal vegetation of a mangrove forest in southeastern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Filamentous fungi found in Atta sexdens rubropilosa colonies after treatment with different toxic bait formulations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diet of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Mammalia : Canidae), during wet and dry seasons at Ibitipoca State Park, Brazil

Analysis of 141 seats of maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus collected in a region of upland forest and meadows of south-eastern Brazil yielded 351 food items in the wet season (60 seats) and 407 in the dry season (81 seats). Scarabaeidae and rodents were the most frequent animal food in both seasons, complemented by birds in the wet season and unidentified mammals in the dry season. Seeds revealed Solanum lycocarpum to be the most frequent plant food in the dry season and an Annonaceae and a Cactaceae the most frequent in the wet season. A total of 33 seed morphospecies were retrieved. Although our results reveal some shared and some divergent trends from dietary studies undertaken in savanna ('cerrado') areas, we found a very high frequency of potentially harmful tourists' garbage. This highlights the necessity for better environmental education and confirms that the maned wolf is a generalist and opportunist omnivore.

On the identity of Hyla strigilata Spix, 1824 (Anura : Hylidae): redescription and neotype designation for a ghost taxon

Recent field work in Atlantic Rain Forest patches in the southern region of the State of Bahia, Brazil, resulted in the discovery of some populations of an unidentified species of the Scinax catharinae group. An extensive literature review, along with the examination of specimens and distribution patterns of all known species of this group, showed that Hyla strigilata Spix, 1824, a long confused species with lost type material, is an available name for the specimens from Bahia. In order to clarify the taxonomic problems surrounding this taxon, the nomenclatural history of Hyla strigilata is reviewed and a neotype is designated, described, and figured. The association of this name to extant populations from southern Bahia and its consequent stabilization is considered important since it is the type species of the genus Ololygon, a name available for the clade of Scinax catharinae. Data on habits, habitat, and geographic distribution are also presented.

Stomach contents and notes on the reproduction of the Onefin Skate Gurgesiella dorsalifera (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) off Southern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Isolation and identification of mycobacteria from livestock specimens and milk obtained in Brazil

The prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis and other mycobacterial species in livestock specimens and milk was evaluated. An emphasis was placed upon the distribution of these organisms in milk that is readily available to the public that was either untreated, pasteurized, or treated using ultra high temperature. Twenty-two pathologic specimens from livestock (bovine, swine and bubaline) in five Brazilian states and 128 bovine milk samples from retail markets in the State of São Paulo were examined for mycobacteria. Identification was made by classical biochemical tests, thin layer chromatography of mycolic acids and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Mycobacteria were isolated from 15 (68.2%) caseous lesions and from 23 (18%) milk samples. Eleven isolates were identified as M. bovis, and the remaining 27 nontuberculous mycobacterial isolates were represented by five species and six unidentified rapidly growing mycobacterial strains. The data demonstrate that animal products in Brazil are frequent reservoirs of mycobacteria and may pose a risk to the public.

Efeito do cultivo do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) em ambiente protegido sobre a ocorrência de ácaros fitófagos e moscas-brancas

O efeito do cultivo do mamoeiro em ambiente protegido foi estudado em três condições: sem cobertura e em dois telados construídos com tela de propileno branca, com malhas de 2 x 2 mm e 2 x 1 mm. Nessa área foram feitas avaliações na cultivar Baixinho de Santa Amália, contando-se o número de plantas com sintomas de ataque recente, para o ácaro branco Polyphagotarsonemus latus, com sintomas e presença de ácaros, para o ácaro rajado Tetranychus urticae e com presença de adultos ou ninfas nas folhas, no caso das moscas-brancas Trialeurodes sp., Bemisia tabaci biótipo B e uma terceira espécie não identificada. Para moscas-brancas, também foram realizadas contagens de ninfas e exúvias em laboratório. O cultivo em ambiente protegido favoreceu a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento populacional das espécies estudadas, sendo que algumas possíveis causas são discutidas no texto. Considerando-se que o cultivo protegido pode ser uma boa alternativa para o controle de viroses, como o mosaico do mamoeiro, problema limitante para a cultura, estratégias de manejo de pragas nesses ambientes devem ser desenvolvidas, para viabilizar o seu uso.

Entomofauna em capítulos de picão-preto

A ocorrência de insetos fitófagos e de himenópteros parasitóides a eles associados, presentes em capítulos de Bidens pilosa são descritas para as condições do município de Botucatu, SP. Foram encontrados predadores de sementes da ordem Diptera, pertencentes aos gêneros Dioxyna, Melanagromysa e outro não identificado. As moscas Dioxyna depositam seus ovos no interior dos aquênios em estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento, permanecendo no interior do fruto até a emergência do adulto. Melanagromysa localiza-se entre as flores centrais desenvolvendose externamente aos aquênios. Foram observadas oscilações cíclicas e acopladas entre as curvas de abundância dos fitófagos e dos himenópteros parasitóides.

Referral letters in oral medicine: an approach for the general dental practitioner

The aim of this study was to analyze the contents of referral letters related to clinical history and reason for consultation. A total of 236 consecutive referral letters were evaluated. Analysis of the referral letters was based on key items concerning patient identification. chief complaint, previous consultation. laboratory investigation and use of drugs for the chief complaint. A database was organized (Epinfo 6.04) and the chi (2) test (a = 0.05) was applied to the results. of the 800 files examined. only 30%, (236) had a referral letter. of the 236 referral letters. 67% were from dentists, 22% from physicians and 11% from unidentified professionals. Patient age did not appear in 70%, of the letters and the chief complaint was mentioned only in 55%. The letters had no details such as description of the oral lesion (80%), anatomical site (34%), size (99%), symptoms (83%), or period of evolution (92%). Clinical diagnosis was not included in 84% of the letters. Less than 5% of the referral letters contained information about previous consultation and laboratory investigation. The chi (2) test showed significant differences for ail items of the referral letter. Referral letters did not satisfy minimal requirements about clinical history or reason for consultation. leading to failed communication among professionals. Based on this study, we suggest that standard letters are important to improve the quality of the letters, reducing the rate of omission of relevant items.

GLUCOCORTICOID-REGULATED GENE IN TRANSFORMED TO NORMAL PHENOTYPIC REVERSION

Glucocorticoid hormones modulate the actions of peptide growth factors and constitute important therapeutic tools as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agents. The C6 rat glioma cell line responds to glucocorticoids with changes in morphology and growth block. The hyper-responsive ST1 cell variant displays a dramatic phenotypic reversion under the influence of these hormones. Thus, the transformed and tumorigenic cells reversibly change to a normal and non-tumorigenic phenotype. In addition, the cells also produce a C-type retrovirus. We used poly A(+) mRNA from ST1 cells that had been treated with hydrocortisone to generate a cDNA library that was then screened, by differential hybridization,for glucocorticoid-responsive cellular sequences. The retroviral genomic RNA was used to generate a viral-specific probe. Cross hybridization led to the isolation of at least 4 cDNA clones of which 3 are cellular sequences and one corresponds to a retroviral gene. These clones were characterized by DNA sequencing and Northern blot hybridization analysis.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor expression from transduced vascular smooth muscle cells provides sustained neutrophil increases in rats

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) regulates granulocyte precursor cell proliferation, neutrophil survival, and activation. Cyclic hematopoiesis, a disease that occurs both in humans and grey collie dogs is characterized by cyclical variations in blood neutrophils. Although the underlying molecular defect is not known, long-term daily administration of recombinant G-CSF eliminates the severe recurrent neutropenia, indicating that expression of G-CSF by gene therapy would be beneficial. As a prelude to preclinical studies in affected collie dogs, we monitored hematopoiesis in rats receiving vascular smooth muscle cells transduced to express G-CSF. Cells transduced with LrGSN, a retrovirus expressing rat G-CSF, were implanted in the carotid artery and control animals received cells transduced with LASN, a retrovirus expressing human adenosine deaminase (ADA). Test animals showed significant increases in neutrophil counts for at least 7 weeks, with mean values of 3,670 +/- 740 cells/mu l in comparison to 1,870 +/- 460 cells/mu l in controls (p < 0.001). Thus, in rats G-CSF gene transfer targeted at vascular smooth muscle cells initiated sustained production of 1,800 neutrophils/mu l, a cell number that would provide clinical benefit to patients. Lymphocytes, red cells and platelets were not different between control and test animals (p > 0.05). These studies indicate that retrovirally transduced vascular smooth muscle cells can provide sustained clinically useful levels of neutrophils in vivo.

Chemical composition of flavonoids and styrylpyrones and the genetic variability of isozymes in natural populations of Cryptocarya mandioccana Meisner (Lauraceae)

The chemical composition of leaves of 57 trees of Cryptocarya mandioccana from three populations of southeastern Brazil was investigated through HPLC, assaying six flavonoids, seven styrylpyrones, and seven unidentified compounds. From 51 of the former trees, genotypes were obtained from 40 polymorphic loci of 19 isozymes. Cluster analyses of the phytochemical and genetical variation revealed that trees exhibited four chemotypes and five clusters from isozymes, respectively. Discriminant analyses from selected variables of the isozymic and chemical data sets were performed, respectively, in relation to the four chemotypes and the five isozyme clusters. The classification of individuals presented respective error estimates of 9.16% and 13.57%, indicating that the genetic data could explain the clusters from chernotypes and vice versa at acceptable error levels. Linear regressions with Dummy variable showed significant association of locus Skdh-2 with quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and cryptofolione, indicating that its alleles would be responsible for the chemotype variation between individuals. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.