Abstract Cities in northeastern Brazil experience extreme rates of unsolved homicides, a situation that stimulates innovative procedures in the police work, such as forensic entomology. We surveyed necrophagous insects associated with carrion in a city exposed to high rates of homicides in Northeastern Brazil. The experiments were carried out in a rainforest fragment located in Recife, State of Pernambuco. Two pig carcasses were used as models, one in the dry and the other in the rainy season. The collection of adults was performed daily until the complete skeletonization of the carcasses. At least 32 Diptera species from the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Fanniidae, Phoridae, Anthomyiidae, Piophilidae, and Stratiomyidae were registered, some of which have been previously documented on cadavers. A high richness of Diptera species was registered in all stages of decomposition. A strong overlap in the occurrence of most species was observed, which invalidates a defined entomological succession on the carcasses. Two species stood out in terms of abundance: Ophyra chalcogaster (Muscidae) and Chrysomya albiceps (Calliphoridae). The ubiquity of Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Calliphoridae) seems to confirm its preference for forest fragments exposed to low anthropogenic action. Our data contribute to expand the knowledge on the geographical distribution of forensically relevant species in the region and confirm the rapid dissemination of invasive Chrysomya species in forested areas.

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease, is an important public health issue in Brazil, particularly Northern Brazil. Since the first recorded occurrence of Biomphalaria glabrata in the States of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, it has spread to South Brazil. METHODS: Using the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), we assessed the disease spread in Southern Brazil. RESULTS: In Rio Grande do Sul, nine localities had confirmed cases (n = 95, 2001-2013). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed disease expansion to Southern Brazil. We demonstrated the effectiveness of SINAN to monitor notifiable diseases. Our results are useful to develop preventive actions for schistosomiasis control.

Os helmintos podem ser transmitidos ao homem de várias maneiras, mas pouca ênfase é dada para a transmissão vetorial ou mecânica das formas infectantes por insetos. Neste estudo, procurou-se fazer um levantamento das espécies de helmintos presentes em três ordens de insetos que convivem próximo ao ambiente humano. Foram coletados e examinados, externa e individualmente, 700 exemplares sendo 54 pertencentes à ordem Blattodea, 275 à ordem Diptera e 371 à ordem Hymenoptera. Com relação à Blattodea, foi capturada apenas a espécie Periplaneta americana e, em 58,3% dos espécimes, as seguintes formas de helmintos foram encontradas: ovos de Oxyuridae (36,40%), ovos de Ascaridae (28,04%), larvas de Nematoda (4,80%), ovos de Cestoda (3,50%), Nematoda (0,08%) e ovos de Toxocaridae (0,08%). Nos exemplares das ordens Diptera e Hymenoptera, não foi observada qualquer forma de parasita. Este estudo possibilitou avaliar a importância e o papel de insetos como vetores de helmintos parasitas, correlacionando-o às condições ambientais e sociais, sugerindo a aplicação destes dados para medidas profiláticas.

Helminths can be transmitted to human beings in several ways, but little attention has been given to vector or mechanical transmission of infective forms by insects. The present study surveys the helminth species present in three orders of insects that coexist in proximity with the human environment. A total of 700 insects (54 Blattodea, 275 Diptera, and 371 Hymenoptera) were collected and examined externally and individually. In the Blattodea order, only specimens of Periplaneta americana were collected, and 58.3% were carrying the following helminth forms: Oxyuridae eggs (36.4%), Ascaridae eggs (28.04%), Nematoda larvae (4.8%), Cestoda eggs (3.5%), other Nematoda (0.08%), and Toxocaridae eggs (0.08%). No Diptera and Hymenoptera were found to contain parasitic forms. This study evaluates the importance and role of insects as mechanical vectors of helminth parasites, correlated with social and environmental conditions, and suggests the use of these data for preventive purposes.

Os helmintos podem ser transmitidos ao homem de várias maneiras, mas pouca ênfase é dada para a transmissão vetorial ou mecânica das formas infectantes por insetos. Neste estudo, procurou-se fazer um levantamento das espécies de helmintos presentes em três ordens de insetos que convivem próximo ao ambiente humano. Foram coletados e examinados, externa e individualmente, 700 exemplares sendo 54 pertencentes à ordem Blattodea, 275 à ordem Diptera e 371 à ordem Hymenoptera. Com relação à Blattodea, foi capturada apenas a espécie Periplaneta americana e, em 58,3% dos espécimes, as seguintes formas de helmintos foram encontradas: ovos de Oxyuridae (36,40%), ovos de Ascaridae (28,04%), larvas de Nematoda (4,80%), ovos de Cestoda (3,50%), Nematoda (0,08%) e ovos de Toxocaridae (0,08%). Nos exemplares das ordens Diptera e Hymenoptera, não foi observada qualquer forma de parasita. Este estudo possibilitou avaliar a importância e o papel de insetos como vetores de helmintos parasitas, correlacionando-o às condições ambientais e sociais, sugerindo a aplicação destes dados para medidas profiláticas.

Helminths can be transmitted to human beings in several ways, but little attention has been given to vector or mechanical transmission of infective forms by insects. The present study surveys the helminth species present in three orders of insects that coexist in proximity with the human environment. A total of 700 insects (54 Blattodea, 275 Diptera, and 371 Hymenoptera) were collected and examined externally and individually. In the Blattodea order, only specimens of Periplaneta americana were collected, and 58.3% were carrying the following helminth forms: Oxyuridae eggs (36.4%), Ascaridae eggs (28.04%), Nematoda larvae (4.8%), Cestoda eggs (3.5%), other Nematoda (0.08%), and Toxocaridae eggs (0.08%). No Diptera and Hymenoptera were found to contain parasitic forms. This study evaluates the importance and role of insects as mechanical vectors of helminth parasites, correlated with social and environmental conditions, and suggests the use of these data for preventive purposes.