Sorologia Anti PGL-1 e risco de ocorrência de hanseníase em área de alta endemicidade do Estado de São Paulo: quatro anos de seguimento

Os testes sorológicos para diagnóstico de hanseníase, usando o glicolipídeo-fenólico-1 (PGL-1), considerado antígeno específico do M. leprae, têm aberto algumas possibilidades de estudo do comportamento epidemiológico desta doença. Algumas questões, como tempo de latência da doença, infecção subclínica e importância do contato intra-domiciliar (contatos) no controle da endemia, puderam ser melhor analisadas usando este instrumental. Este estudo teve por objetivo verificar a existência de associação entre a situação sorológica e a ocorrência de hanseníase. Foram seguidas, durante 4 anos, 6.520 pessoas com idade igual ou superior a 5 anos, submetidas no início do seguimento ao teste sorológico Anti PGL-1, pertencentes ao universo de 7.416 habitantes da área urbana de um município paulista caracterizado por elevada endemicidade de hanseníase. Foi identificado um grupo de 590 indivíduos soropositivos (9,0 %). Foram diagnosticados, no período, 82 casos novos de hanseníase, 26 no grupo de soropositivos (441 casos novos/10.000 indivíduos) e 48 no de soronegativos (81/10.000). Entre os que não fizeram sorologia, surgiram 8 casos novos (89/10.000). Procurou-se controlar, na análise, a condição de contato, dado que a taxa de soropositividade padronizada por idade e sexo era de 9,61% no grupo de contatos e 7,65% no de não-contatos. Tomando-se os não-contatos soronegativos como o grupo de não expostos, foram calculados os riscos relativos de adoecimento no período, a partir das taxas de detecção padronizadas por idade, resultando no seguinte: os contatos ID soropositivos apresentaram a taxa de 1.704/10.000, 27 vezes maior que a dos não-expostos, igual a 63/10.000; os não-contatos soropositivos e os contatos soronegativos apresentaram taxas, respectivamente, de 274 e 198/10.000, ambas maiores que as dos não-expostos e iguais entre si. A soropositividade associou-se à elevação de 8,6 vezes do risco de hanseníase entre os contatos e de 4,4 entre os não-contatos. Na situação epidemiológica estudada, caracterizada por elevada endemicidade de hanseníase, 50% dos casos novos surgiram entre os não-contatos soronegativos, ou seja, sem fonte de infecção conhecida. Portanto, o teste anti-PGL-1 usado revela-se, na prática, de pouca aplicabilidade. Resta estudar ainda o comportamento da sorologia anti-PGL-1 em áreas de média e baixa endemicidade para que se possa tirar conclusões mais consubstanciadas sobre sua utilidade no controle da endemia. Recomenda-se o aprofundamento das pesquisas sorológicas e de outras que aprimorem o diagnóstico precoce da infecção subclínica, inclusive para detecção de formas paucibacilares, para se ampliar as possibilidades de influir no controle endêmico.

Inatividade física e fatores associados em adultos, São Paulo, Brasil

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

Ocorrência de parasitos gastrintestinais em amostras fecais de felinos no município de Andradina, São Paulo

The purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from cats of the Andradina city, SP. This work was carried out from March to November of 2007, and used 51 cats delivered to the Center of Zoonoses Control of that city. Techniques of Willis and Faust were used in the fecal examination and resulted in detection of Ancylostoma spp. in 96.1% of the animals; Toxocara spp. in 43.1%; Cystoisospora spp. in 43.1%; Dipylidium caninum in 21.6% and Giardia spp. in 5.9% samples. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in 3.9% fecal samples by the use of malachite green negative stain. There was no significant association between the occurrence of endoparasites and consistency of fecal samples. The results confirm that these cats represent important hosts of parasites, some of those with high zoonotic potential.

Infecção mista pelo Sugarcane mosaic virus e Maize rayado fino virus provoca danos na cultura do milho no estado de São Paulo

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

Seasonal population dynamics and the genetic structure of the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti in São Paulo, Brazil

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

Short report: Application of an alternative Aedes species (Diptera : Culicidae) surveillance method in Botucatu City, São Paulo, Brazil

One of the main problems with dengue is the control of Aedes aegypti, its major vector. In Brazil, the current control program for Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus populations includes larval density surveys. An interesting alternative is the use of a distinct index, the Premise Condition Index (PCI). This tool relates conditions of property, such as houses and yards, and the degree of shade with the occurrence of Aedes sp. oviposition, and is calculated as scores from 3 to 9. The lowest score indicates property in good condition and an unfavorable breeding environment, while the highest score indicates property at high risk for infestation by Aedes sp. The present study is based on the application of the PCI in an urban area of Botucatu, Brazil to confirm its effectiveness.

Blastocystis hominis: occurrence in children and staff members of municipal day-care centers from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

To study the frequency of Blastocystis hominis among healthy individuals, feces were collected from 153 children and 20 staff members of some municipal day-care centers. Three separate stool specimens of each individual were processed by Lutz and Faust methods. From 173 studied individuals, 60 (34.7%) showed B. hominis, frequently in association with other intestinal parasites and/or commensals. B. hominis was found mainly in adults and children between 36 and 72 months old. All positive cases were detected only by Lutz method and the use of three stool specimens increased the positivity of the parasitological diagnostic.

Helminths of toad Rhinella icterica (Bufonidae), from the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Fifteen specimens of bufonid toad Rhinella icterica (Spix, 1824), 7 males and 8 females, collected in the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, from March 2002 to January 2003, were examined for helminth parasites. All toads were infected with at least one parasite species (overall prevalence = 100%). Five helminth species were found, including four nematode species, Rhabdias fuelleborni Travassos, 1926, Oswaldocruzia subauricularis (Rudolphi, 1819), gen. sp. no identified Cosmocercidae Travassos, 1925 and larvae of Physaloptera Rudolphi, 1819, and one acanthocephalan species, Acanthocephalus saopaulensis Smales, 2007. Rhabdias fuelleborni and A. saopaulensis were the most abundant species. Except for Physalopteridae larvae, all helminths occur in high prevalence (> 70%). All helminth species presented a distribution toward to more aggregated pattern in these host samples.

NEW HOSTS and DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR NEMATODE PARASITES of FRESHWATER FISHES FROM São Paulo STATE, BRAZIL.

A study on the nematode parasites of nine species of freshwater fishes from Peixe River São Paulo, State, Brazil. was conducted. Fish were collected between February 2010 and March 2011 and the following species were found: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and Contracaecum sp. (larvae) in Astyanax altiparanae; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Dioctophyma renale (larvae), Philometroides caudata, P. (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, P. (Spirocamallanus) neocaballeroi (larvae) and P. (Spirocamallanus) saofranciscensis in Acestrorhynchus lacustris; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Guyanema sp., Hysterothylacium sp. (larvae) and Icthyouris sp. in Cyphocharax modestus; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Cosmoxynemoides aguirrei and Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. in C. nagelii; Dioctophyma renale (larvae), Hysterothylacium sp. (larvae) and Rhabdochona sp. in Gymnotus sylvius; Capillariidae gen. sp. in Hoplosternum littorale; Cosmoxynema vianai, Guyanema sp., Ichthyouris sp. and Travnema travnema in Steindachnerina insculpta; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rebecae (larvae) in Triportheus angulatus and Rhabdochona acuminata in Triportheus nematurus. This is first study of nematode parasites from the Peixe River, therefore all the species found are new geographical records and 19 are new host records.

Ecological distribution and reproductive period of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Anomura, Diogenidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

The present study aimed to determine the ecological distribution of Loxopagurus loxochelis as a function of selected environmental factors, as well as its reproductive period based on the combined analysis of the presence of ovigerous females and the development of the gonad. The collections were carried out monthly from January to December 2000 in the region of Ubatuba (SP), using a fishing boat equipped with two double rig nets, in isobaths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 m, at which depths samples of sediment and water were collected. The cephalothoracic shield length and sex of the animals were determined; the abdomen was dissected to verify gonad development stages. A total of 334 individuals was obtained ( 196 males, 48 ovigerous females and 90 non-ovigerous females) with sizes varying from 3.0 to 8.6 mm (5.7 +/- 1.0 mm). A greater abundance of L. loxochelis (95.2%) was observed at depths of 20 and 25 m. These sites mainly revealed a substratum stable with a very fine sand fraction, which facilitates the habit of embedding shown by this hermit. With regard to gonadal analysis, it was possible to classify four gonad development stages for each sex: immature, rudimentary, developing and developed. It was observed that in the winter months about 71% of the females had gonads either developing or developed and 67% were ovigerous. Therefore, the winter period can be considered the peak of reproduction for this species, characterizing a typical seasonal-continuous reproduction.

Patterns of shell utilization in Petrochirus diogenes (Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae) in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of this study is to investigate the patterns of shell utilization in Petrochirus diogenes in the Ubatuba region, SP, Brazil. Hermit crabs were obtained from 1993 to 1996 with the aid of a shrimp fishery boat equipped with two double-rigged trawling nets. Shells were identified and weighed, and their maximum aperture width was measured. Hermit crabs were weighed, and their shield length was recorded. A total of 634 P. diogenes specimens, occupying shells of 12 gastropod species, was obtained. The shells of Tonna galea, Zidona dufresnei and Strombus pugilis were the most frequently occupied, the first marked by its larger aperture width and lower average weight. Small hermit crabs inhabited a wide variety of gastropod shells due to their higher availability. However, the utilization of T. galea shells became predominant as the crabs attained larger sizes. Differences in weight and aperture width are known to encourage certain shell utilization patterns and may affect growth and reproduction of hermit crabs.

Relative growth of Petrochirus diogenes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Crustacea, Anomura, Diogenidae) in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

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

Influência da ação antrópica sobre a fauna de macroinvertebrados aquáticos em riachos de uma região de cerrado do sudoeste do Estado de São Paulo

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

Sazonalidade e dieta frugívora do saí-andorinha Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1911) em reflorestamento da mata ciliar do Rio Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, Brasil

Segundo a literatura, Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1911) possui hábito gregário sazonal em deslocamentos locais. Os reais motivos desses deslocamentos ainda são poucos conhecidos. em reflorestamento de mata ciliar do rio Mogi-Guaçu, SP, foi possível quantificar a variação sazonal mensal na densidade populacional durante um ano. O número de indivíduos aumentou substancialmente durante a estação seca e ausência durante a estação chuvosa, assim, caracterizando um comportamento fortemente sazonal de ocorrência nesse local. Provavelmente T. viridis possui algumas rotas de deslocamentos quando aparecem em grandes agregados no período mais seco na região do interior do estado de São Paulo e vizinhanças. A grande abundância de algumas espécies de plantas ornitocóricas pode ser alguns dos motivos que determinam a rota desses deslocamentos na região estudada, e não o padrão geral da fenologia da frutificação das espécies ornitocóricas.

Contextualização da pesca mundial de lagostas e características de comercialização de Scyllarides spp. E Panulirus spp. na Baixada Santista, estado de São Paulo, Brasil

This study aimed to contextualize the world's lobster fishing and identify the characteristics of their trades in Santos region (SP). For this purpose, were realized surveys about the captures of 56 years referring the families traded in the world through the informations supplied by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). To State of São Paulo, consults were made in the data base Propesq (Fishing Institute) about the fishing and prices. Besides interviews in fishmonger, businessmen of fishing and restaurant, we observed the trade and the economical potential compared the lobsters Scyllarides spp. and Panulirus spp. The worldwide the family Nephropidae is the one that has been presenting bigger growth in the captures from 1950 and the one that has the biggest observed captures, the Palinuridae showed a little growth of the captures up to the 80' years, and leaving from there it is oscillating without many expressive changes; Scyllarides began to stand out as fisheries only 70' in Asia, precisely where the other two Families had low catches proportional. In the State of São Paulo, two types of lobsters are sold in Baixada Santista, with conspicuous differences in prices between them. There is also a difference in the flow of trade in relation to active fishing gear. Traders notice a decrease in both abundance and size of individuals of both genders and a clear preference to sell the slippers lobsters (Scyllarides spp.) both for the quality of meat as the lowest price.