Fauna de Hymenoptera em Ficus spp. (Moraceae) na Amaz��nia Central, Brasil

A intera����o Ficus (Moraceae) - vespas de figo �� considerada um dos exemplos mais extremos de mutualismo entre planta e inseto. Neste trabalho, descreve-se a fauna de vespas de figo associada a cinco esp��cies de Ficus na Amaz��nia Central, considerando alguns aspectos do modo de poliniza����o nas esp��cies Ficus (Urostigma) cremersii, Ficus (Urostigma) greiffiana, Ficus (Urostigma) mathewsii, Ficus (Urostigma) pertusa e Ficus (Pharmacosycea) maxima. O estudo foi desenvolvido durante o per��odo de abril a julho de 2004 em Manaus e Presidente Figueiredo, Estado do Amazonas. O n��mero de esp��cies de vespas de figo por hospedeiro variou de uma a 13. Vespas do g��nero Pegoscapus Cameron, 1906, polinizadoras de Ficus (Urostigma) spp., apresentam pentes coxais e bolsos tor��cicos adaptados �� coleta e ao transporte de p��len, indicando modo ativo de poliniza����o. No subg��nero Pharmacosycea, a polinizadora do g��nero Tetrapus Mayr, 1885, n��o apresenta estrutura morfol��gica adaptada ao transporte de p��len, condizente com o modo passivo de poliniza����o. Al��m das vespas de figo, F. (Pharmacosyceae) maxima e F. (Urostigma) pertusa apresentaram associa����o com ��caros, formigas (Solenopsis sp., Formicidae), besouros (Staphylinidae) e larvas de Diptera e Lepidoptera.

Les Chalcidiens (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) associ��s au genre Ficus spp. (Moracee) du S��n��gal : r��partition, abondance et diversit��

Cette ��tude est la premi��re portant sur la biodiversit�� ��cologique des Chalcidiens associ��s au genre Ficus au S��n��gal. Sur les 26 esp��ces de figuiers signal��es au S��n��gal, 11 ont ��t�� trouv��es. Chaque esp��ce de Ficus poss��de une microfaune Chalcidienne caract��ristique. La comparaison des niveaux d'infestation r��v��le une diff��rence tr��s significative entre esp��ces de Ficus (P<0.0001). Les figues de F.sycomorus du domaine Nord-Soudanien sont, en valeurs absolues, plus infest��es que celles des domaines Sud-Soudanien et Soudanien Atlantique. Les tests statistiques r��v��lent une diff��rence d'infestation non significative des figues de F.sycomorus entre les 3 domaines (P>0.05). Cependant, entre le domaine Nord-Soudanien et le domaine Soudanien Atlantique, cette diff��rence est significative (P=0.0091).

Measuring the discrepancy between fecundity and lifetime reproductive success in a pollinating fig wasp

Lifetime reproductive success in female insects is often egg- or time-limited. For instance in pro-ovigenic species, when oviposition sites are abundant, females may quickly become devoid of eggs. Conversely, in the absence of suitable oviposition sites, females may die before laying all of their eggs. In pollinating fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae), each species has an obligate mutualism with its host fig tree species [Ficus spp. (Moraceae)]. These pro-ovigenic wasps oviposit in individual ovaries within the inflorescences of monoecious Ficus (syconia, or ���figs���), which contain many flowers. Each female flower can thus become a seed or be converted into a wasp gall. The mystery is that the wasps never oviposit in all fig ovaries, even when a fig contains enough wasp females with enough eggs to do so. The failure of all wasps to translate all of their eggs into offspring clearly contributes to mutualism persistence, but the underlying causal mechanisms are unclear. We found in an undescribed Brazilian Pegoscapus wasp population that the lifetime reproductive success of lone foundresses was relatively unaffected by constraints on oviposition. The number of offspring produced by lone foundresses experimentally introduced into receptive figs was generally lower than the numbers of eggs carried, despite the fact that the wasps were able to lay all or most of their eggs. Because we excluded any effects of intraspecific competitors and parasitic non-pollinating wasps, our data suggest that some pollinators produce few offspring because some of their eggs or larvae are unviable or are victims of plant defences.

ABOVE-GROUND BIOMASS ESTIMATION OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA (L.) MILL. FOR FORAGE CROP IN A MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT BY USING NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHODS

In marginal lands Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) could be used as an alternative fruit and forage crop. The plant vigour and the biomass production were evaluated in Portuguese germplasm (15 individuals from 16 ecotypes) by non-destructive methods, 2 years following planting in a marginal soil and dryland conditions. Two Italian cultivars (Gialla and Bianca) were included in the study for comparison purposes. The biomass production and the plant vigour were estimated by measuring the cladodes number and area, and the fresh (FW) and dry weight (DW) per plant. We selected linear models by using the biometric data from 60 cladodes to predict the cladode area, the FW and the DW per plant. Among ecotypes, significant differences were found in the studied biomass-related parameters and several homogeneous groups were established. Four Portuguese ecotypes had higher biomass production than the others, 3.20 Mg ha���1 on average, a value not significantly different to the improved ���Gialla��� cultivar, which averaged 3.87 Mg ha���1. Those ecotypes could be used to start a breeding program and to deploy material for animal feeding and fruit production.

��cido asc��rbico, betala��nas, e fen��is totais em ec��tipos de Opuntia spp.

O g��nero Opuntia spp. pertence �� fam��lia Cactaceae, sendo a esp��cie Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) a que tem maior import��ncia econ��mica. Em frutos de vinte popula����es provenientes de quatro esp��cies do g��nero Opuntia spp. (OFI, O. robusta, O. dillenii and O. elata), com origem em Portugal, foram estudadas as caracter��sticas crom��ticas, a acidez, o pH, o teor em s��lidos sol��veis totais (SST) e ainda os teores em ��cido asc��rbico (AA), betala��nas e fen��is totais (FT). As cultivares Italianas de OFI ���Bianca���, ���Gialla��� e ���Rossa��� foram inclu��das como termo de compara����o. Os valores mais elevados de acidez foram registados nos frutos de O. dillenii e O. elata e os menores em OFI. Os frutos de O. dillenii apresentaram os teores mais elevados de betala��nas e FT, ao passo que as concentra����es mais elevadas de AA foram registadas nos frutos de O. elata. Os ec��tipos de OFI mostraram varia����o na concentra����o de compostos bioativos. Em OFI, a cv. de polpa vermelha ���Rossa��� �� a que apresenta maior concentra����o de betala��nas, seguida pelos ec��tipos de polpa laranja e, finalmente, os ec��tipos de polpa branca. Os valores mais elevados de FT foram encontrados nos ec��tipos de polpa branca. O g��nero Opuntia spp. �� uma fonte de compostos bioativos, pelo que o consumo dos seus frutos representa uma boa forma de ingest��o de compostos de elevado valor nutricional.

Identification Of Corynebacterium Spp. Isolated From Bovine Intramammary Infections By Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Corynebacterium species (spp.) are among the most frequently isolated pathogens associated with subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. However, simple, fast, and reliable methods for the identification of species of the genus Corynebacterium are not currently available. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identifying Corynebacterium spp. isolated from the mammary glands of dairy cows. Corynebacterium spp. were isolated from milk samples via microbiological culture (n=180) and were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Using MALDI-TOF MS methodology, 161 Corynebacterium spp. isolates (89.4%) were correctly identified at the species level, whereas 12 isolates (6.7%) were identified at the genus level. Most isolates that were identified at the species level with 16 S rRNA gene sequencing were identified as Corynebacterium bovis (n=156; 86.7%) were also identified as C. bovis with MALDI-TOF MS. Five Corynebacterium spp. isolates (2.8%) were not correctly identified at the species level with MALDI-TOF MS and 2 isolates (1.1%) were considered unidentified because despite having MALDI-TOF MS scores >2, only the genus level was correctly identified. Therefore, MALDI-TOF MS could serve as an alternative method for species-level diagnoses of bovine intramammary infections caused by Corynebacterium spp.

Behavioral Changes Caused By Austrodiplostomum Spp. In Hoplias Malabaricus From The S��o Francisco River, Brazil.

Traira (Hoplias malabaricus) is a neotropical fish that is widely distributed in freshwater environments in South America. In the present study, we documented the occurrence of metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum spp. (Diplostomidae) in the eyes and cranial cavity of H. malabaricus and described parasite-induced behavioral changes in the host. The fish were collected from the upper S��o Francisco River, in the Serra da Canastra mountain range, Minas Gerais, transported alive to the laboratory, observed for 2 weeks, and subsequently examined for parasites. Of the 35 fish examined, 28 (80 %) had free metacercariae in the vitreous humor (mean intensity=95.4; mean abundance=76.3), and 24 (68.57 %) had free metacercariae in the cranial cavity, mainly concentrated below the floor of the brain, at the height of the ophthalmic lobe (mean intensity=12.91; mean abundance=8.85). Specimens of H. malabaricus with a high intensity of infection in the brain displayed changes in swimming behavior.

Molecular Genetic Variability Of Commercial And Wild Accessions Of Passion Fruit (passiflora Spp.) Targeting Ex Situ Conservation And Breeding.

Passiflora species are distributed throughout Latin America, and Brazil and Colombia serve as the centers of diversity for this genus. We performed cross-species amplification to evaluate 109 microsatellite loci in 14 Passiflora species and estimated the diversity and genetic structure of Passiflora cincinnata, Passiflora setaceae and Passiflora edulis. A total of 127 accessions, including 85 accessions of P. edulis, a commercial species, and 42 accessions of 13 wild species, were examined. The cross-species amplification was effective for obtaining microsatellite loci (average cross-amplification of 70%). The average number of alleles per locus (five) was relatively low, and the average diversity ranged from 0.52 in P. cincinnata to 0.32 in P. setacea. The Bayesian analyses indicated that the P. cincinnata and P. setacea accessions were distributed into two groups, and the P. edulis accessions were distributed into five groups. Private alleles were identified, and suggestions for core collections are presented. Further collections are necessary, and the information generated may be useful for breeding and conservation.

Bartonella Spp. Bacteremia In Blood Donors From Campinas, Brazil.

Bartonella species are blood-borne, re-emerging organisms, capable of causing prolonged infection with diverse disease manifestations, from asymptomatic bacteremia to chronic debilitating disease and death. This pathogen can survive for over a month in stored blood. However, its prevalence among blood donors is unknown, and screening of blood supplies for this pathogen is not routinely performed. We investigated Bartonella spp. prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil, based on a cross-sectional design. Blood samples were inoculated into an enrichment liquid growth medium and sub-inoculated onto blood agar. Liquid culture samples and Gram-negative isolates were tested using a genus specific ITS PCR with amplicons sequenced for species identification. Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence. B. henselae was isolated from six donors (1.2%). Sixteen donors (3.2%) were Bartonella-PCR positive after culture in liquid or on solid media, with 15 donors infected with B. henselae and one donor infected with Bartonella clarridgeiae. Antibodies against B. henselae or B. quintana were found in 16% and 32% of 500 blood donors, respectively. Serology was not associated with infection, with only three of 16 Bartonella-infected subjects seropositive for B. henselae or B. quintana. Bartonella DNA was present in the bloodstream of approximately one out of 30 donors from a major blood bank in South America. Negative serology does not rule out Bartonella spp. infection in healthy subjects. Using a combination of liquid and solid cultures, PCR, and DNA sequencing, this study documents for the first time that Bartonella spp. bacteremia occurs in asymptomatic blood donors. Our findings support further evaluation of Bartonella spp. transmission which can occur through blood transfusions.

Prevalence Of Treponema Spp. In Endodontic Retreatment-resistant Periapical Lesions.

This study investigated the presence of the Treponema species in longstanding endodontic retreatment-resistant lesions of teeth with apical periodontitis, the association of this species with clinical/radiographic features, and the association among the different target species. Microbial samples of apical lesions were collected from twenty-five adult patients referred to endodontic surgery after unsuccessful root canal retreatment. Nested-PCR and conventional PCR were used for Treponema detection. Twenty-three periradicular tissue samples showed detectable levels of bacterial DNA. Treponema species were detected in 28% (7/25) of the cases. The most frequently detected species were T. socranskii (6/25), followed by T. maltophilum (3/25), T. amylovorum (3/25), T. lecithinolyticum (3/25), T. denticola (3/25), T. pectinovorum (2/25) and T. medium (2/25). T. vicentii was not detected in any sample. Positive statistical association was found between T. socranskii and T. denticola, and between T. maltophilum and T. lecithinolyticum . No association was detected between the presence of any target microorganism and the clinical or radiographic features. Treponema spp. are present, in a low percentage, in longstanding apical lesions from teeth with endodontic retreatment failure.

Condutividade e difusividade t��rmica do figo (Ficus carica L.) Roxo de Valinhos

The post harvest cooling and/or freezing processes for horticultural products have been carried out with the objective of removing the heat from these products, allowing them a bigger period of conservation. Therefore, the knowledge of the physical properties that involve heat transference in the fig fruit Roxo de Valinhos is useful for calculating projects and systems of food engineering in general, as well as, for using in equations of thermodynamic mathematical models. The values of conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the whole fig fruit-rami index were determined, and from these values it was determined the value of the specific heat. For these determination it was used the transient method of the Line Heat Source. The results shown that the fig fruit has a thermal conductivity of 0.52 W m-1��C, thermal diffusivity of 1.56 x 10-7 m�� s-1, pulp density of 815.6 kg m-3 and specific heat of 4.07 kJ kg-1 ��C.

Propriedades mec��nicas de pe��as com dimens��es estruturais de Pinus spp: correla����o entre resist��ncia �� tra����o e classifica����o visual

A redu����o da disponibilidade de esp��cies de madeiras nativas e seus efeitos na economia, associada ao fortalecimento dos conceitos de preserva����o ambiental, criou a necessidade de desenvolvimento de alternativas vi��veis para utiliza����o racional de esp��cies de reflorestamento. E uma das op����es �� a realiza����o de classifica����o visual das pe��as. Autores de trabalhos desenvolvidos nessa linha de pesquisa verificaram a adequa����o das regras de classifica����o visual do Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB) dos EUA �� madeira de Pinus do Brasil e apresentaram proposta para normalizar o processo de classifica����o visual dessa madeira. Nessa classifica����o, os aspectos com maior influ��ncia s��o: presen��a de n��s, desvio de gr�� em rela����o ao eixo da pe��a e densidade de an��is de crescimento. Assim, esta pesquisa apresenta um estudo experimental que consistiu na classifica����o visual e determina����o da resist��ncia �� tra����o de 85 pe��as de Pinus spp e um estudo te��rico, que prop��s uma equa����o para determinar a resist��ncia �� tra����o m��dia de pe��as estruturais em fun����o da classifica����o visual. Com este trabalho, foi poss��vel observar a influ��ncia dos n��s e dos an��is de crescimento sobre a resist��ncia �� tra����o das pe��as analisadas.

Leishmania spp. parasite isolation through inoculation of patient biopsy macerates in interferon gamma knockout mice

Isolation of Leishmania parasite and species identification are important for confirmation and to help define the epidemiology of the leishmaniasis. Mice are often used to isolate pathogens, but the most common mouse strains are resistant to infection with parasites from the Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus. In this study we tested the inoculation of interferon gamma knockout (IFNγ KO) mice with biopsy macerates from Leishmania-infected patients to increase the possibility of isolating parasites. Biopsies from twenty five patients with clinical signs of leishmaniasis were taken and tested for the presence of parasites. Immunohistochemical assay (IHC) and conventional histopathology detected the parasite in 88% and 83% of the patients, respectively. Leishmania sp. were isolated in biopsy macerates from 52% of the patients by culture in Grace's insect medium, but 13% of isolates were lost due to contamination. Inoculation of macerates in IFNγ KO mice provides isolation of parasites in 31.8% of the biopsies. Most isolates belong to L. (Viannia) subgenus, as confirmed by PCR, except one that belongs to L. (Leishmania) subgenus. Our preliminary results support the use of IFNγ KO mice to improve the possibility to isolate New World Leishmania species.

Protocol for DNA extraction of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in fecal samples

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp.oocysts in clinical samples is useful for public health since it allows the study of sources of contamination as well as the transmission in different geographical regions. Although widely used in developed countries, in Brazil it is restricted to academic studies, mostly using commercial kits for the extraction of genomic DNA, or in collaboration with external reference centers, rendering the method expensive and limited. The study proposes the application of the modifications recently introduced in the method improving feasibility with lower cost. This method was efficient for clinical samples preserved at -20 ��C for up to six years and the low number of oocysts may be overcomed by repetitions of extraction.

Perfil de sensibilidade microbiana in vitro de linhagens de Staphylococcus spp. isoladas de vacas com mastite subcl��nica

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a sensibilidade antimicrobiana in vitro de 291 isolados de Staphylococcus spp. recuperados de amostras de leite de vacas com mastite subcl��nica, em 15 propriedades rurais localizadas na Regi��o Metropolitana do Recife (A), Agreste (B) e Zona da Mata (C) do estado de Pernambuco. Dos 291 isolados, 170(58,4%) foram classificados como Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (SCN), 84(28,9%) como Staphylococcus aureus e 37(12,7%) como Staphylococcus coagulase positiva (SCP). Para o estudo do perfil de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos empregou-se a t��cnica de difus��o em discos, foram avaliadas 16 drogas antimicrobianas utilizadas no tratamento das mastites. O antibi��tico que apresentou melhor efic��cia in vitro foi a associa����o entre neomicina + bacitracina + tetraciclina com percentuais de 98,4%, 99,3%, 89,7% para as regi��es A, B e C, respectivamente. O antibi��tico menos eficaz foi a ampicilina que apresentou 56,5% de resist��ncia para as amostras da regi��o A, 72,8% para a regi��o B e 71,8% na regi��o C. Os resultados obtidos mostram a necessidade da realiza����o peri��dica de testes de sensibilidade in vitro, pois existem varia����es no perfil de sensibilidade e resist��ncia que podem comprometer o tratamento do animal bem como os programas de controle da mastite bovina causada pelo Staphylococcus spp.