Introduction Our objective was to evaluate the influence of rainfall regime on the population dynamics of Biomphalaria in a potential urban focus of schistosomiasis in Aracaju, Brazil, during 2009-2010. Methods Snails were collected monthly and were counted, measured and identified; the level of infection and fecal contamination at the sampling sites was determined; rainfall data were obtained. Results High levels of fecal contamination were observed, and the abundance of Biomphalaria glabrata increased during the rainy and post-rainy seasons. The snails' size was variable, and infected snails were identified independently of rainfall. Conclusions These results provide evidence of anthropogenic and climate interference in an urban focus of schistosomiasis in the Aracaju metropolitan area.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade e a perda de matéria seca em grãos de milho armazenados em bolsas herméticas sob diferentes temperaturas. Para isso, grãos de milho com teor de água inicial de 14,8 e 17,9% foram acondicionados em bolsas de polietileno lacradas e armazenados em temperaturas de 15; 25 e 35 ºC. Ao longo de 150 dias, em intervalos de 30 dias, as concentrações de oxigênio (O2) e dióxido de carbono (CO2) nas bolsas foram medidas e amostras dos grãos foram retiradas para a determinação do teor de água, massa específica aparente da matéria seca, percentual de germinação e classificação comercial. A perda de matéria seca foi estimada por meio de um modelo obtido como função da taxa respiratória dos grãos. Em 150 dias, a perda de matéria seca dos grãos de milho armazenados com teor de água de 14,8% foi aproximadamente 3,5 vezes inferior à verificada para o produto armazenado com teor de água de 17,9%. Com base nos resultados de percentual de germinação e massa específica aparente da matéria seca, o limite de 0,015% de perda de matéria seca pode ser considerado como máximo admissível para a manutenção da integridade dos grãos no armazenamento em bolsas herméticas. Aos 150 dias, apenas, os grãos de milho armazenados com teor de água de 17,9% em temperatura de 35 ºC apresentam classificação inferior (Tipo 2) à do início do experimento e esta condição coincidiu com a perda de matéria seca de 0,037%.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and loss of dry matter of corn grain stored in airtight bags at different temperatures. To do this, corn grain with an initial moisture content of 14.8 and 17.9% was placed into polyethylene bags which were sealed and stored at temperatures of 15, 25 and 35 ºC. For 150 days, at 30-day intervals, the concentrations of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bags were measured, and grain samples were taken to determine the moisture content, apparent specific dry matter weight, percentage of germination and commercial classification. Dry matter loss was estimated by means of a model obtained as a function of the respiratory rate of the grains. At 150 days, the loss of dry matter of the corn grains with a moisture content of 14.8% when stored, was approximately 3.5 times lower than that of the product with a moisture content of 17.9% when stored. Based on the results of the percentage of germination and apparent specific dry matter weight, the limit of a 0.015% loss in dry matter can be considered as the maximum permissible to maintain the integrity of corn grain in storage in sealed bags. At 150 days, only the corn grain, stored with moisture content of 17.9% and at a temperature of 35 ºC, showed a lower classification (Type 2) than at the beginning of the experiment, and this condition coincided with a dry matter loss of 0.037 %.