ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Leishmaniasis is endemic to the Northern, Northeastern, Central-Western, and Southeastern regions of Brazil. We aimed to assess the epidemiological situation of leishmaniasis in humans and dogs in indigenous villages located in the States of Mato Grosso and Tocantins using a serological survey conducted in May 2011. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 470 humans and 327 dogs living in villages of the Urubu Branco and Tapirapé Karajá indigenous reserves. The samples were analyzed for the presence of Leishmania spp. antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a crude antigen (CA) and soluble antigen (SA), and Dual Path Platform (DPP®) immunoassay for canine visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS: Of 470 human samples tested, two (0.4%) were positive using IFAT. Among 327 dog samples tested, 28 (8.6%) were positive using ELISA CA, five (1.5%) using ELISA SA, two (0.6%) using IFAT, and none using DPP® immunoassay with Leishmania infantum chagasi antigen. When Leishmania amazonensis antigen was used, 20 (6.1%) samples were positive using ELISA CA and four (1.2%) using IFAT. CONCLUSIONS: There was a low prevalence of infection in the region, and significant differences among the main serological methods used for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. These findings indicated that the detection of Leishmania spp. requires further study and improvement.

ResumoItabaiana (SE) é considerada a capital nacional dos caminhoneiros. A rota mais frequentemente utilizada por esses profissionais liga o nordeste do Brasil à cidade de Santos (SP), considerada, no passado, a capital mundial da AIDS. Levando-se em conta, ainda, características como baixa escolaridade, constante trânsito e cultura machista relacionadas com esse grupo, justificam-se os objetivos dessa pesquisa, que buscou identificar os conhecimentos e as crenças socialmente compartilhadas entre os profissionais do transporte de carga do município de Itabaiana a respeito da AIDS e da prevenção do HIV, especialmente a eficácia dos materiais impressos no processo de educação em saúde. Foram entrevistados sete profissionais, e o relato obtido mostrou indicadores sobre os seus saberes acerca da contaminação, da prevenção e do portador de HIV, além da (in)eficácia dos materiais impressos utilizados nas campanhas de prevenção com relação aos propósitos educativos a que se destinam.

AbstractThe city of Itabaiana, Sergipe State, Brazil, is considered the national capital of truckers. Besides, it is one of the most used routes connecting the northeastern of Brazil to the city of Santos, in São Paulo State, considered, in the past, the world capital of AIDS. To justify this study, we took into consideration also other features, such as low education and the well-characterized macho culture in this group. We aimed to identify how much knowledge and beliefs about AIDS and HIV prevention are socially shared among these professionals in the city of Itabaiana, focusing in the effectiveness of the printed materials in the process of health education. Seven individuals were interviewed and their answers were structured and analyzed to obtain their knowledge profiles about AIDS-related important factors such as contamination/transmission, prevention and HIV status. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of the printed materials used in campaigns for prevention and educational purposes from the point of view of these workers.

Ten specimens of paiche Arapaima gigas from a semi-intensive fish farm located in the province of Maynas, Loreto, Peru were examined between June and October 2011 to identify the presence of parasitic helminths. This study identified a high infection of the nematode species Nilomena senticosum. The prevalence was 100% and a mean intensity of 80 parasites per fish

Se colectaron 10 especímenes de paiche Arapaima gigas de un centro de cultivo piscícola semiintensivo de Maynas, Loreto, Perú, entre junio y octubre de 2011, para investigar la presencia de parásitos. Se identificó una alta infección de nematodos de la especie Nilomena senticosum. Se encontró una prevalencia de 100% y una intensidad media de 80 parásitos por pez

El manatí amazónico (Trichechus inunguis) es un mamífero acuático que habita en ambientes de agua dulce y es endémico de la cuenca del Amazonas. La presencia de Toxoplasma gondii se investigó en 19 manatíes, en una unidad de rescate en la región norte del Perú. Los anticuerpos contra T. gondii fueron detectados en 12 (63,2 %), de 19 animales mediante el uso de la prueba de aglutinación modificada (título, 1:25). No fue observada asociación entre el sexo y edad de los animales con la presencia de anticuerpos de T. gondii (p < 0,05). Los resultados sugieren la contaminación por ooquistes de T. gondii en el medio acuático donde viven estos animales.

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is an aquatic mammal that inhabits freshwater environments and is endemic to the Amazon Basin. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was investigated in 19 manatees in one rescue unit in the northern region of Peru. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 12 (63.2 %) of 19 animals by using the modified agglutination test (titer, 1:25), and no association between sex and age of the animals and the presence of T. gondii antibodies was observed (p < 0.05). The results suggest a contamination by T. gondii oocysts in the aquatic environment where these animals live.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a composição e estrutura de um estrato arbóreo da floresta tropical úmida em Alta Floresta - MT, determinando os padrões de semelhança com outras regiões da Amazônia brasileira. O estudo foi realizado em uma área de 2 hectares, dividida em 20 parcelas de 10x 100m, onde foram mensurados a altura e o DAP ≥ 10 cm de todos os indivíduos. Para avaliação do grau de similaridade entre a composição florística e estrutura arbórea de Alta Floresta com as nove regiões pertencentes à Amazônia Legal brasileira, utilizou-se o método de agrupamento hierárquico aglomerativo com ligações pela média dos grupos (UPGMA), por meio do índice de Sorensen (qualitativo). Para a ordenação, foi utilizado o mesmo programa, utilizando a Escalonamento Multidimensional não-métrica (NMS) por meio do índice de Jaccard aplicado à presença e ausência de famílias e gêneros. Para análise de similaridade entre as 10 regiões, comparando a matriz de distâncias físicas entre elas com as matrizes de composição de famílias e gêneros, utilizou-se o programa PATN por meio do Teste de Mantel com o índice de Jaccard. A região apresentou 1101 indivíduos, pertencentes a 32 famílias, 54 gêneros e 68 espécies. A família com maior riqueza de espécie foi Leguminosae. A espécie Helicostilys podogyne e o gênero Cecropia sp. foram as mais importantes no levantamento. A floresta tropical úmida de Alta Floresta não se assemelhou com nenhuma das nove regiões comparadas neste estudo.

This paper deals with the composition and structure of a pristine tropical rainforest using likelihood patterns to compare it with other Amazonian sites. This work was carried out in Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso. Our ground truth was obtained from a two-hectare plot, which was divided into 20 plots of 10 by 100 m each. In each plot, all trees with dbh = 10 cm were recorded. To evaluate the level of similarity between the Alta Floresta and other nine Amazonian sites we used the hierarchy clustering method linked by group means (UPGMA) through Sorensen index (qualitative). For ordination, we used the same method based on multidimensional non-metric scaling (NMS) through Jaccard index applied to presence or absence of botanical families or genera. The software PATN was used to run Mantel test with Jaccard index, which was, in turn, used for the similarity analysis among sites. The studied site presented 1,101 individuals distributed in 32 botanical families, 54 genera e 68 species. The richest family was Leguminosae. Helicostilys podogyne and Cecropia sp. were the most important species of the studied area. The Alta Floresta site did not present any similarity when compared to other Amazonian sites.