The identification of pathogens of viral (Rotavirus, Coronavirus), parasitic (Toxocara spp.) and bacterial (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Rhodococcus equi) origin shed in feces, and the virulence profile of R. equi and E. coli isolates were investigated in 200 samples of sand obtained from 40 parks, located in central region of state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, using different diagnostic methods. From 200 samples analyzed, 23 (11.5%) strains of R. equi were isolated. None of the R. equi isolates showed a virulent (vapA gene) or intermediately virulent (vapB gene) profiles. Sixty-three (31.5%) strains of E. coli were identified. The following genes encoding virulence factors were identified in E. coli: eae, bfp, saa, iucD, papGI, sfa and hly. Phylogenetic classification showed that 63 E. coli isolates belonged to groups B1 (52.4%), A (25.4%) and B2 (22.2%). No E. coli serotype O157:H7 was identified. Eggs of Toxocara sp. were found in three parks and genetic material of bovine Coronavirus was identified in one sample of one park. No Salmonella spp. and Rotavirus isolates were identified in the samples of sand. The presence of R. equi, Toxocara sp, bovine Coronavirus and virulent E. coli isolates in the environment of parks indicates that the sanitary conditions of the sand should be improved in order to reduce the risks of fecal transmission of pathogens of zoonotic potential to humans in these places.

In this study, we examined the physiochemical properties of nasoenteral feeding tubes made from two different types of polymer: silicone materials and polyurethane. The internal surfaces of the nasoenteral feeding tubes were analyzed for their hydrophobicity, roughness, microtopography, rupture-tension and ability to stretch. We also studied the adhesion of an isolated, multi-drug resistant strain of S. aureus to these polymers. The polyurethane nasoenteral tube, which was classified as hydrophilic, was more resistant to rupture-tension and stretching tests than the silicone tube, which was classified as hydrophobic. Additionally, the polyurethane tube had a rougher surface than the silicone tube. Approximately 1.0 log CFU.cm-2 of S. aureus cells adhered to the tubes and this number was not statistically different between the two types of surfaces (p > 0.05). In future studies, new polymers for nasoenteral feeding tubes should be tested for their ability to support bacterial growth. Bacterial adhesion to these polymers can easily be reduced through modification of the polymer's physicochemical surface characteristics.

RESUMO O presente relato refere-se ao primeiro isolamento no Brasil do herpesvírus eqüino tipo 1 (HVE-1) proveniente de um caso clínico de mieloncefalopatia herpética em uma égua, que evoluiu para o óbito. O isolado do HVE-1, denominado 07/05, foi obtido a partir de uma amostra de líquor na primeira passagem em células Vero, confirmando-se sua identidade pela PCR e pela prova de neutralização viral. Como o isolamento viral a partir do líquor geralmente não é bem sucedido, conforme demonstrado em vários relatos de casos, o presente achado sugere que a doença neurológica foi causada por uma amostra particularmente neurovirulenta de HVE-1.

ABSTRACT This report describes the first Brazilian equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) isolation from a single fatal equine herpes myeloencephalopathy case in a mare. The isolation of EHV-1 was confirmed from the first passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample in Vero cells by PCR and virus neutralization assay. As virus isolation from CSF is unlikely to be successful, as has been shown in several case reports, this circumstantial evidence suggests that the neurological disease was caused by particularly neurovirulent strain of EHV-1.

RESUMO Com o objetivo de identificar a flutuação populacional dos inimigos naturais associados às pragas da cultura do algodoeiro, foram feitos levantamentos populacionais destes artrópodos nas safras 2001/2002 e 2002/2003 em Dourados, MS. Avaliaram-se 100 plantas ao acaso em uma área de 20.000 m2, num total de 20 amostragens dos 7 aos 140 dias após a emergência, utilizando-se as variedades DeltaOpal e Fibermax 986 em 2001/2002 e 2002/2003, respectivamente. Também, em 2002/2003 foram feitos levantamentos dos artrópodes benéficos sobre o solo da cultura, através de avaliações visuais nas entrelinhas das 25 parcelas de 100 m2, e através da instalação de 25 armadilhas do tipo pitfall. Para a espécie mais abundante dos predadores no solo foi realizada a análise padrão de sua distribuição espacial utilizando-se o índice de Morisita. Nas duas safras, a família Coccinellidae foi a mais abundante do complexo de predadores, com níveis populacionais que seguiram a flutuação populacional do pulgão Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemíptera: Aphididae). A subordem Heteroptera (Hemiptera) apresentou a maior diversidade com insetos de 5 famílias, na safra 2001/2002. O método da armadilha pitfall foi mais eficiente que a avaliação visual. Dentre os predadores de solo, o mais abundante foi Calosoma granulatum cujo padrão de distribuição espacial foi agregado.

ABSTRACT With the objective of identifying and quantifying the natural enemies associated to cotton pests sampling was made of these arthropods during the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 crop season in Dourados, MS, Brazil. Evaluation was made of 100 plants in 20,000 m2, in a total of 20 samplings from 7 to 140 days after the plants' emergence, making use of the cotton cultivars DeltaOpal and Fibermax 986, in 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, respectively. In 2002/2003 samplings of the beneficial arthropods on the ground in the experimental area were made, through visual evaluations in the spaces between lines of plants in 25 plots of 100 m2 and through the utilization of 25 pitfall traps installed in each plot. For species most abundant in the ground the standard analysis was made of their spatial distribution using the Morisita index. In the two crop seasons, the Coccinellidae family was the most abundant of the complex of predators, with population levels following the fluctuation of a cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover population (Hemíptera: Aphididae). The suborder Heteroptera (Hemiptera) presented the highest diversity, with insects from 5 families, during the crop season 2001/2002. The pitfall trap method was more efficient than visual evaluation. Amongst the soil predators, the most abundant was Calosoma granulatumwhose standard of spatial distribution was aggregated in the experimental area.

RESUMO Para o manejo de pragas é necessária a busca constante de inseticidas que, além de serem eficientes no controle de pragas, apresentem seletividade em favor de seus predadores. É crescente o número de ensaios que comparam estratégias de controle de pragas do algodoeiro por meio de inseticidas, porém, é muito pequeno o número de experimentos que identifica o impacto desses inseticidas sobre predadores de pragas de algodoeiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar dois métodos de amostragem de artrópodos (plantas individualizadas e batida de pano) como subsídio para a quantificação do impacto de inseticidas sobre os predadores de pragas do algodoeiro. O melhor método para a amostragem de predadores foi o método de batida de pano, apresentando uma série de vantagens como ser menos monótono, mais simples, mais prático e muito mais rápido para ser utilizado. Este método ainda possibilitou a coleta de maior diversidade de inimigos naturais, porém não permite amostrar ovos e pupas. plantas pano monótono simples utilizado naturais pupas

ABSTRACT Pest management demands the permanent search of chemical products that, besides being efficient in pest control, present selectivity to their predators. There is an increasing number of trials that compare strategies of cotton pests control through chemical products, although There is a very small the number of experiments able to identify the impact of these insecticides over the cotton pest predators. The objective of this paper was to compare two sampling methods of arthropods (individualized plants and beat cloth methods) for the quantification of the impact of the insecticides over the cotton pest predators. The best method for the sampling of predators was the beat cloth method, which presented several advantages like being less boring, simpler, more practical, and much faster to be utilized. Moreover, this method still permitted the harvesting of a greater variety of natural enemies, although it is not able to sample eggs and pupas. individualized boring simpler practical utilized Moreover enemies pupas

RESUMO O objetivo da pesquisa foi determinar o efeito da pulverização aérea de inseticidas sobre o padrão de distribuição espacial das lagartas Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1818) e Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) na cultura do algodoeiro cultivar CNPA-ITA 90, em quatro campos diferentes na região de Ponta Porã, MS, Brasil. As pulverizações aéreas de inseticidas não alteraram significativamente o padrão de distribuição espacial agregada de ambas as espécies, interferindo mais sobre a densidade populacional de lagartas pequenas e grandes/planta, sendo que a densidade populacional de lagartas médias foi pouco afetada. Hübner, Hübner (Hübner 1818 J.E. JE J E (J.E Smith 1797 CNPAITA CNPA ITA 90 Porã MS Brasil espécies grandesplanta grandes planta grandes/planta afetada 181 J.E 179 9 18 17 1

ABSTRACT The objective of the research was to determine the effect of the aerial insecticides spraying on the pattern of clumping distribution of the caterpillars Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1818) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) on the cotton crop. The cultivar used was CNPA-ITA 90, with aerial application in four different fields in the area of Ponta Porã’s area, MS, Brazil. The aerial application of insecticides did not alter significantly the pattern of aggregated distribution of the caterpillars of both species significantly, affecting more the population density of little and large larvae, but the population density of the medium larvae was low affected. Hübner, Hübner (Hübner 1818 J.E. JE J E (J.E Smith 1797 crop CNPAITA CNPA ITA 90 Porãs Porã s MS Brazil affected 181 J.E 179 9 18 17 1

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a não-preferência do bicudo do algodoeiro (Anthonomus grandis Boh., 1843) para alimentação e oviposição, em dez genótipos de algodão herbáceo, Gossypium hirsutum L. Os seguintes genótipos, escolhidos na VII Reunión de Coordenación de la Investigación Algodonera en el Cono Sul, Paysandú-Uruguai, foram avaliados: IAN 338, IAN 93-64, CHACO 520, CACIQUE, OC 95-621, CD 401, OC 94-146, IAC 96-280, CNPA 7H e CCA 331. As avaliações do ataque do bicudo em botões florais e maçãs encontrados nas plantas ocorreram aos 64, 85 e 112 dias após a emergência, enquanto as avaliações do ataque da praga em botões florais e maçãs encontrados no solo, foram realizados aos 81, 98, 105, 112, 116, 125 e 144 dias após a emergência. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste de Duncan (α = 0,05), e foram constatadas diferenças significativas para total de maçãs atacadas com orifícios de alimentação e oviposição dentre as caídas (TMAC) e para total de botões com orifícios de alimentação e oviposição dentre os caídos (TBAC), apresentando menor índice de ataque o genótipo CD 401 para TMAC e TBAC, contudo, sem diferir estatisticamente, para esta última variável, dos genótipos CCA 331, IAC 96280, CHACO 520 e CNPA 7H. Como o genótipo CD 401 mostrou-se mais precoce em relação aos outros materiais; os resultados podem estar relacionados a assincronia fenológica ou evasão hospedeira. nãopreferência não preferência Anthonomus Boh Boh. 1843 herbáceo L Sul PaysandúUruguai, PaysandúUruguai Paysandú Uruguai, Uruguai Paysandú-Uruguai avaliados 338 9364, 9364 93 64 93-64 CACIQUE 95621, 95621 95 621, 621 95-621 94146, 94146 94 146, 146 94-146 96280 96 280, 280 96-280 H 331 8 11 emergência solo 81 98 105 116 12 14 α 0,05, 005 0,05 , 0 05 0,05) (TMAC TBAC (TBAC) 40 contudo estatisticamente variável 52 mostrouse mostrou se materiais hospedeira 184 33 936 9 6 93-6 9562 62 95-62 9414 94-14 9628 28 96-28 1 10 00 0,0 (TBAC 4 5 18 3 93- 956 95-6 941 94-1 962 2 96-2 0, 95- 94- 96-

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the non-preference of cotton bollweevil (Anthonomus grandis Boh., 1843) feeding and egg laying for ten upland cotton genotypes, Gossypium hirsutum L. Cotton genotypes ( IAN 338, IAN 93-64, CHACO 520, CACIQUE, OC 95-621, CD 401, OC 94-146, IAC 96-280, CNPA 7H, and CCA 331) were chosen based on recommendation by the VII Reunión de Coordenación de la Investigación Algodonera en el Cono Sul, Paysandú-Uruguai. Evaluations were made on squares and bolls attacked to the plants at 64, 85, and 122 days after emergence and we did evaluations on squares and cotton bolls present on the ground at 81, 98, 105, 112, 116, 125 and 144 days after emergence. After statistical analysis (Duncan, α = 0.05), significative differences were detected for total number of bolls showing feeding lesions and egg laying puncture and total number of squares (TMAC) and egg laying with feeding lesions/punctures among the evaluated fallen materials (TBAC), showing smaller attack grades CD 401for TMAC and TBAC, with no detected differences CCA 331, IAC 96-280, CHACO 520 and CNPA 7h. Considering that CD 401 had a shorter cycle compared to the other genotypes, it is possible that there was a phenological asynchrony or host escape. nonpreference non preference Anthonomus Boh Boh. 1843 L 338 9364, 9364 93 64 93-64 CACIQUE 95621, 95621 95 621, 621 95-621 94146, 94146 94 146, 146 94-146 96280, 96280 96 280, 280 96-280 7H H 331 Sul PaysandúUruguai. PaysandúUruguai Paysandú Uruguai. Uruguai Paysandú-Uruguai 85 12 81 98 105 112 116 14 Duncan, Duncan (Duncan 0.05, 005 0.05 , 0 05 0.05) (TMAC lesionspunctures punctures TBAC (TBAC) 52 7h h 40 escape 184 33 936 9 6 93-6 9562 62 95-62 9414 94-14 9628 28 96-28 8 1 10 11 00 0.0 (TBAC 5 4 18 3 93- 956 95-6 941 94-1 962 2 96-2 0. 95- 94- 96-