Influence of light, plant density and disinfection in spore germination of fern blechnum brasiliense desv. blechnaceae

The present assay had as objective evaluating spore germination of Blechnum brasiliense in relation to light, plant density and disinfection. The assay was carried out at Jaboticabal, Sào Paulo State, Brazil, from February, 22 to June, 30, 1996. The experimental design was randomized blocks on a factorial scheme (3x2x2), consisting of 12 treatments, three environments (shade-house, dark-house and germination camera), 2 densities (0.005 grs and 0.010 grs of spores/treatment) and presence or absence of disinfection. The leaf coverage area (130 days) and the number of days necessary to germinate were evaluated. The germination camera data were not analysed because they were insignificant; consequently, the remining data were analysed on a 2×2×2 scheme. The shade-house provided larger green covering area and a faster germination. The density of 0.0 lOg of spore/treatments presented the largest green covering area. The supply of partial light was necessary for good germination. The interaction between the environment and the density had significant effect on the green covering area.

Amblyomma cajennense ticks induce immediate hypersensitivity in horses and donkeys

Since host immune reaction to ticks interferes with tick-borne pathogen transmission, it is important to recognize naturally occurring tick-host immune relationships to better understand the epidemiology of such infectious diseases. Amblyomma cajennense is an important tick-borne disease vector in the Neotropical region and horses maintain it in domestic environments. In the present work intradermal testing of A. cajennense tick exposed horses and donkeys using crude tick antigens was used to evaluate the type of hypersensitivity induced by infestations. Animals sensitized by A. cajennense infestation displayed an immediate hypersensitivity reaction at the antigen inoculation site. Foals sensitized with experimental infestations and field sensitized horses presented the most intense reactions (40% of ear thickness increase). Field sensitized donkeys presented less intense reaction reaching no more than 22% of mean thickness increase. Control horses (non-sensitized) had the least intense reaction, with a peak of no more 12% of increase. The presence of a prominent immediate hypersensitivity in equids sensitized experimentally or by field infestations indicates that A. cajennense ticks induce in this host an immune response that is associated with IgE production and which is known to be inappropriate against intracellular pathogens. Differences observed between horses and donkeys are discussed.

Caracterização da população portadora de tuberculose do município de Américo Brasiliense/SP, no período de 1992 a 2002

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem all over the world, which was recognized by the WHO in 1993 as a global emergency because of its very high incidence in the 22 countries that concentrate 80% of TB cases. One of these countries is Brazil, where TB occurrences are well-documented in major cities, but little is known of its spread in rural areas and small towns. Therefore, an epidemiological study was done on medical records of TB sufferers in the rural district and small town of Américo Brasiliense, São Paulo state, from 1992 to 2002, with the aim of improving TB prevention and treatment. The results showed that the incidence of TB peaked in the years of intense migration of rural workers, largely cane-cutters. Among these, the disease attacks mainly the men, in their productive years (20 to 40 years old). The predominant clinical form observed was pulmonary tuberculosis. The treatment abandonment rate was less than 1.8%, while the cure rate was around 90%. The disease detection rate by examination of sputum for acid-fast bacilli was around 60%.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships between neotropical species of ticks from genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) inferred from second internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA

The accurate specific identification of ticks is essential for the study, control and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Herein, we determined ribosomal nucleotide sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of 15 Neotropical hard tick species of the genus Amblyomma Koch found in Brazil. Most of the studied ticks accidentally parasite humans and potentially act as vectors of zoonoses. Lengths of the ITS2 sequences ranged from 956 to 1,207 bp, whereas GC content varied from 62.4 to 66.9%. A matrix of ITS2 divergence was calculated with the ITS2 sequence data obtained showing divergence levels varying from 1.5 to 28.8%. The analysis indicated that this molecular marker can be useful for Amblyomma-specific identification. Phylogenetic inferences based on the ITS2 sequences were used to assess some issues in subgenus taxonomy. © 2007 Entomological Society of America.

Morphological description of the nymphal stage of Amblyomma geayi and new nymphal records of Amblyomma parkeri

The external morphology of the nymph of Amblyomma geayi Neumann is described by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Unfed nymphs were obtained from an engorged A. geayi female, which had been collected on a sloth (Bradypus variegatus) from Belém municipality, State of Pará, northern Brazil, and was kept under laboratory conditions. With the present description, we propose a modification of a taxonomic key published in 2010 for the Amblyomma nymphs that occur in Brazil, through the inclusion of A. geayi. The nymph of A. geayi is morphologically very similar to the nymph of Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragão, with only slight morphological differences related to scutal surface and punctuations (more shagreened and less punctuated in A. geayi). These 2 nymphs differ from all other known Amblyomma nymphs from Brazil by the combination of auriculae present as small posterolateral rounded projections, eyes located at the level of the scutal midlength, and a rounded hypostome. These nymphal similarities as well the morphology of the adult stage corroborate previous studies that showed that A. geayi and A. parkeri are genetically closely related. Unpublished host records of the nymphs of both A. geayi and A. parkeri are provided. Established populations of A. geayi and A. parkeri seem to be geographically separated, since all confirmed records of A. geayi are from the northern half of South America (mainly the Amazonian region) and Central America, whereas all known records of A. parkeri are from the Atlantic rainforest biome in northeastern, southeastern, and southern Brazil. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH.

Description of larva of Amblyomma romitii (Acari: Ixodidae) by optical and scanning electron microscopy, including porotaxy and phylogenetic analysis

The description of the larva of Amblyomma romitii Tonelli-Rondelli is based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. Larvae were obtained under laboratory conditions from an engorged female collected on capybara from Rurópolis municipality, State of Pará, Northern Brazil. Several characters are presented including the chaetotaxy of idiosoma, palpi and Haller's organ. The larval porotaxy (topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures) was presented and compared to that of the other Amblyomma spp. larvae. The mitochondrial 16S rDNA partial sequence of A. romitii generated in the present study was aligned with sequences previously determined for other Amblyomma species available in Genbank and with some species presently sequenced. The larval morphology of A. romitii and other Neotropical Amblyomma spp. larvae is discussed as well as the DNA sequence and its phylogenetic position among other species of the genus. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Dinâmica da vitelogêneses de carrapatos Amblyomma triste (Koch, 1844) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estrutura e distribuição espacial de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae), em uma floresta de restinga, no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba - SP

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Avaliação de caracteristicas físico-químicas e bioquímicas do pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) em suas diversas formas de armazenamento

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Tendência da tuberculose em pacientes internados no hospital Nestor Goulart Reis de Américo Brasiliense-SP no período de 1994 a 2004 e prevalência da infecção entre os funcionários deste hospital em 2005

Pós-graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia Aplicadas à Farmácia - FCFAR

Infecção experimental de Amblymma cajennense, Amblyomma ovale e Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari> Ixodidae) com Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae)

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

Crescimento inicial e nutrição de Guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense Cambèss) em função de N, P, K e saturação por bases do solo

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Avaliação da resistência em caprinos a ninfas do carrapato Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) e da reatividade cruzada com A. hebraeum (Koch, 1844) (Acari:Ixodidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variabilidade genética de caracteres relacionados ao enraizamento de estacas de progênies e clones de guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Estudo morfofisiológico dos ovários e do corpo gorduroso do carrapato-estrela Amblyomma cajennense Fabricius (1787) (Acari : Ixodidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)