Resumen Introducción: La reintroducción es un procedimiento utilizado para restablecer las poblaciones de animales silvestres. Objetivo: Evaluar el éxito de la reintroducción de Amazona aestiva e investigar si los factores abióticos (temperatura, humedad y luminosidad) interfieren en la búsqueda de la complementación alimenticia en los comederos instalados en el área de liberación. Métodos: Se iniciaron evaluaciones previas a la liberación con 59 Amazonas spp. Se realizaron pruebas de parasitología en heces, leucocitos, capacidad de vuelo y nivel de interacción animal-humano. En total, 33 animales fueron seleccionados y enviados al área de liberación, que es una región de ecotono entre los biomas de la Mata Atlántica y la Caatinga. Después de la liberación, se monitorearon durante un año las visitas a los comederos y la supervivencia en el área. En estos períodos también se registraron factores abióticos. Resultados: Las pruebas parasitológicas de huevos y parásitos en heces revelaron la presencia de Heterakis spp. y Eimeira spp. Los parámetros leucocitarios estuvieron dentro de los valores de referencia para la especie. Al menos el 50 % de los animales liberados sobrevivieron después de un año, con registros de eventos reproductivos. Los factores abióticos no interfirieron con las visitas de los animales al comedero. Sin embargo, la variable humedad explicó mejor las visitas por la mañana, mientras que las variables temperatura y luminosidad influyeron en la mayoría de las visitas por la tarde. Conclusión: La reintroducción está en el umbral de ser clasificada como exitosa. Los comederos y nidos artificiales instalados provocaron que los animales permanecieran en el área para ser monitoreados. Los factores abióticos pueden influir en la toma de decisiones de comportamiento diario relacionadas con el uso de alimentación complementaria en loros reintroducidos.

Abstract Introduction: Reintroduction is a procedure used to reestablish wild animal populations. Objective: To evaluate the success of reintroducing Amazona aestiva and investigate whether abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, and luminosity) interfere with the search for food supplementation in feeders installed in the release area. Methods: Pre-release evaluations were initiated with 59 Amazonas spp. Tests were run to stool parasitological tests, leukocytes, flight capacity, and level of animal-human interaction. In all, 33 animals were selected and sent to the release area, which is an ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga biomes. After release, visits to the feeders and survival in the area were monitored for a year. Abiotic factors were also recorded in these periods. Results: The stool parasitological tests revealed the presence of Heterakis spp. and Eimeira spp. The leukocyte parameters were within the reference values for the species. At least 50 % of the released animals survived after one year, with recordings of reproductive events. Abiotic factors did not interfere with the animal visits to the feeder. However, the variable humidity best explained visits in the morning, while the variables temperature and luminosity most influenced visits in the afternoon. Conclusion: The reintroduction observed and presented here is on the threshold of being classified as successful. The installed feeders and artificial nests caused the animals to stay in the area for monitoring. Abiotic factors may influence daily behavioral decision-making related to the use of supplementary feeding in reintroduced parrots.

Abstract Arboviral diseases are disseminated all over the world. In Brazil, they remain neglected, alerting public authorities to possible outbreaks. Over here, we report the epidemiological indicators of Dengue from 2010 to 2015, Zika between 2015 and 2016, and Chikungunya from 2014 to 2016, within 19 municipalities of Southwestern Region of Bahia, Brazil. The data were collected from Brazilian national public information systems (SISFAD, SINAN, and IBGE) and by Endemic Control Agents. The analysis consisted of a description of vector characteristics, Home Infestation Index and characterization of human reported cases. The years 2011 and 2013 were recorded as having the highest frequencies of positive properties for the presence of the arboviruse vectors. Most municipalities presented high annual values of Home Infestation Index indicating an alert situation (62.28%). In the evaluated period, there were (i) 9,196 cases of Dengue, (ii) 636 cases of Zika and (iii) 224 cases of Chikungunya reported. This is the first report of the epidemiological characteristics of these arboviruses in the 19 municipalities of Bahia. It is believed that the data collected may contribute to public health policies aimed at controlling future epidemics of these arboviruses.

Abstract Reintroducing apprehended wild animal in a natural environment is a complex process that involves many steps, including rehabilitating individuals and ensuring viable populations for reproduction; as such, the proportion between males and females to be reintroduced need to be considered carefully. The need of specialized techniques to identify sex on species that do not present discernible sexual dimorphisms can be a hardship to a successful reintroduction. Amazona aestiva, one of the most apprehended species on Brazil, is an example of such case, as sexing techniques employed for it often involves molecular or surgical procedures. Some authors, however, describe potential sexual dimorphisms that could be discernible to the human eye, one of those being an iris color dichromatism between males and females that could present a more conventional way to discern sex on this species. We analyzed the viability of sex identification by direct observation of iris sexual dichromatism, comparing suggestions by professionals familiarized with the species to molecular sexing by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and measuring color similarity between individuals using digital colorimetry. We found no significant correspondence between sex indication based on direct observation and molecular sexing results, and no relationship between iris color and sex by colorimetric analysis.

Resumo Objetivo Determinar a prevalência da hipertensão arterial (HA) e investigar fatores associados em uma comunidade quilombola da Bahia, Brasil. Métodos A HA foi determinada por autorreferimento de diagnóstico feito por um médico ou enfermeiro. Por meio de questionário, foram coletados dados demográficos, socioeconômicos, hábitos de vida e alimentares e presença de comorbidades. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas e dosagens bioquímicas para determinação de sobrepeso/obesidade, diabetes e dislipidemias. Empregaram-se análise univariada para determinar associação entre HA e variáveis de interesse, e análise múltipla por regressão de Poisson para estimativa das razões de prevalência. Resultados A população estudada foi de 213 indivíduos maiores de 18 anos. A prevalência de HA foi de 38,5%. Após análise ajustada, permaneceram associados à HA: sexo feminino, idade, menor escolaridade, maior renda per capita, uso de medicamentos nos últimos 15 dias, obesidade e diabetes mellitus. Conclusões Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade de ações intersetoriais voltadas para a melhoria das condições de vida e saúde dessa comunidade. A adequação da infraestrutura e do funcionamento do serviço de saúde local, bem como a realização de campanhas de promoção da saúde, pode contribuir para a prevenção, diagnóstico precoce e tratamento da hipertensão e outros agravos.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of hypertension and investigate associated factors in a Quilombola community of Bahia (Brazil). Methods Hypertension was based on diagnosis made by a physician or a nurse and self-reported by participants; demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, food habits, and comorbidities data were collected through a previously validated questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements for overweight/obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia were performed. Univariate and multivariable analysis using Poisson regression were conducted to estimate the association between hypertension and the variables of interest to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios. Results The study population comprised 213 individuals older than 18 years. The hypertension prevalence was 38.5%. In the adjusted analysis hypertension was associated with female sex, age, lower education, higher per capita income, use of drugs in the last 15 days, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions The results highlight the need for intersectorial actions to improve the community living conditions and health. The adequacy of local health service infrastructure and operation as well as health promotion campaigns can contribute to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other diseases.

RESUMO A doença de Chagas, causada pelo Trypanosoma cruzi, possui uma ampla distribuição na América do Sul, e tem como principal método de controle a eliminação de triatomíneos. Apresenta-se aqui a distribuição geográfica e a taxa de infecção natural por T. cruzi de triatomíneos coletados e avaliados de 2008 a 2013, no sudoeste da Bahia. Os triatomíneos foram capturados nas áreas intradomiciliares e peridomiciliares de cinco cidades localizadas no sudoeste da Bahia, identificados e analisados quanto à presença de tripanossomatídeos em suas fezes. Durante o período de estudo o número de pacientes com suspeita de doença de Chagas aguda foi recuperado a partir do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). 8966 triatomíneos foram capturados e identificados como pertencentes a oito espécies. Vinte e seis apresentaram-se infectados, sendo Triatoma sordida o que mostrou maior percentagem de infecção pelo T. cruzi. Tremedal foi a cidade com o maior número de casos de doença de Chagas aguda relatado pelo SINAN. Todas as cidades apresentaram triatomíneos infectados com o T. cruzi, por isso, existe um risco considerável de transmissão vetorial da doença de Chagas no sudoeste da Bahia, evidenciando a necessidade de programas de controle de vetores de transmissão e medidas de vigilância preventiva.

ABSTRACT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi, has a wide distribution in South America, and its main method of control is the elimination of triatomines. It is presented here the geographic distribution and the rate of natural infection by T. cruzi of triatomines collected and evaluated from 2008 to 2013 in southwest of Bahia. Triatomines were captured in the intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary areas of five cities located in the southwest of Bahia state, identified, and analyzed for the presence of trypanosomatids in their feces. During the study period the number of patients suspected for acute Chagas disease was recovered from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). 8966 triatomines were captured and identified as belonging to eight species. Twenty-six presented themselves infected, being Triatoma sordida the most abundant and with the highest percentage of infection by T. cruzi. Tremedal was the city with the highest number of cases of acute Chagas' disease reported to SINAN. All cities showed triatomines infected with T. cruzi, so there is considerable risk of vectorial transmission of Chagas disease in the southwestern Bahia state, evidencing the need for vector transmission control programs and preventive surveillance measures.