Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a clinically and radiologically heterogeneous parasitic disease caused by the establishment of larval Taenia solium in the human central nervous system. Host and/or parasite variations may be related to this observed heterogeneity. Genetic differences between pig and human-derived T. solium cysticerci have been reported previously. In this study, 28 cysticerci were surgically removed from 12 human NC patients, the mitochondrial gene that encodes cytochrome b was amplified from the cysticerci and genetic variations that may be related to NC heterogeneity were characterised. Nine different haplotypes (Ht), which were clustered in four haplogroups (Hg), were identified. Hg 3 and 4 exhibited a tendency to associate with age and gender, respectively. However, no significant associations were found between NC heterogeneity and the different T. solium cysticerci Ht or Hg. Parasite variants obtained from patients with similar NC clinical or radiological features were genetically closer than those found in groups of patients with a different NC profile when using the Mantel test. Overall, this study establishes the presence of genetic differences in the Cytb gene of T. solium isolated from human cysticerci and suggests that parasite variation could contribute to NC heterogeneity.

Neste estudo, desenvolvido na entressafra do arroz (Julho-Outubro) de 1995, no Projeto Rio Formoso, município de Formoso do Araguaia - TO, com o objetivo de verificar o comportamento da população das pragas e seus inimigos naturais em soja, foram realizados levantamentos semanais com o método do pano de batida, em três cultivares de soja de ciclo médio: EMGOPA 308, DOKO RC e EMBRAPA 31 (BR 81). Entre os percevejos fitófagos somente foi constatada a ocorrência de Piezodorus guildinii, com picos populacionais no período de enchimento de grãos, porém não atingindo o nível de controle. As lagartas desfolhadoras encontradas foram Anticarsia gemmatalis, Hedylepta indicata e Chrysodeixis íncludens, em ordem decrescente de abundância. Dos coleópteros desfolhadores, a espécie encontrada em maior abundância foi Cerotoma sp. com picos populacionais próximos ao período reprodutivo, diferindo significativamente entre as cultivares. Dentre os inimigos naturais, foi verificada a ocorrência, em maior abundância de Cycloneda sanguínea (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Geocoris sp. (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae) e Lebia sp. (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

This experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Universidade do Tocantins in Formoso do Araguaia-TO, to study the population dinamics of soybean pests and their natural enemies. The weekly surveys were made using the plant-shaking method, in three cultivars of the medium cycle, during the period from July to October 1995, installed in a randomized block design, with four blocks. The majority of species collected ocurred in low numbers, and from the stink bug complex, only ocurred the species Piezodorus guildinii, (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), with population peaks in the stage of grain filling. The defoliator catterpilars were found Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), Hedylepta indicata (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) and Chrysodeixis íncludens (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), in decrease order of the abundance. Cerotoma sp., was the most abundant defoliator beetle found in the extension of the culture development cycle, with populations peaks closely the reprodutive stage. Among the natural enemies collected, Cicloneda sanguinea (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae); Geocoris sp. (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae) and Lebia sp. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were the most abundants.