Inter-relation of sylvatic and domestic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in areas with and without domestic vectorial transmission in Minas Gerais, Brazil

During the period 1980-1986, we captured triatomine bugs and mammalian reservoir hosts from sylvatic and domestic situations in different municipalities of the State of Minas Gerais. Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated from captured bugs, mammals and patients. After cultivation in LIT medium, the electrophoretic enzyme profiles were determined. We obtained a total of 32 parasite isolates from regions with active domestic transmission, and 24 isolates from areas under control. For the first areas the results suggest introduction of T. cruzi from sylvatic habitats, through incursion of infected opossums and/or sylvatic T. sordida, which appears to have given rise to at least one acute human infection. Of particular interest is the finding of sylvatic opossums and a T. sordida nymph infected with ZB, that could indicate return of parasites from chronic human infections to sylvatic transmission cycles. For the areas under control we also interpret the results as interaction between sylvatic and domestic cycles of transmission, here through the invasion of houses by bugs carrying the Z1 zymodeme from the sylvatic environment. The Multivariate Correspondence Analysis gives a spatial description between the different parasite isolates and confirms the existence of a bridge in the opposite direction in the region with active vectorial transmission including the exporting of Z2 through the peridomestic environment into the sylvatic cycle. For the other areas this bridge corresponds especially to Panstrongylus megistus, importing Z1 into the domestic environment

Ecologia do Triatoma sordida no ambiente silvestre de duas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

A study was undertaken about T. sordida in the natural environment in two different regions of the state of Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), an area of cerrado modified by the formation of fields of pasture and agriculture, and Mato Verde (north) an area of transition between caatinga and cerrado with profound deforestation in the last years due to the expansion of cotton cultivation. In both regions the principal ecotopes identified were hollow trees and the bark of live or dead trees, where the occurrence of a food source is not frequent. In this environment, the triatomines utilize various food sources; opposums appear to represent an important source of infection. In the north of Minas, a greater concentration of reservoirs and vectors was observed than in the Triángulo which could explain the higher level of infection of the triatomines in the north. Close attention to the process of domiciliation of T. sordida in the north of Minas is recommended where an extensive intervention by man in the natural environment has occurred and where a rise in the population of triatomines in the peridomestic environment has been observed in recent years.Foi realizado um estudo sobre o T. sordida em ambiente silvestre em duas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), área de cerrado modificado para formação de campos de pastagem e agricultura, e Mato Verde (norte) uma área de transição entre a caatinga e o cerrado, profundamente desmatada nos últimos anos com a finalidade de expansão do cultivo de algodão. Em ambas as regiões, os principais ecotopos identificados corresponderam a buracos e cascas de árvores vivas ou mortas, onde a ocorrência de fontes de alimentação não é frequente. Neste ambiente, os triatomíneos utilizam-se de variadas fontes de alimentação; gambás parecem representar urna importante fonte de infecção. No norte de Minas, observou-se urna maior concentração de reservatórios e vetores em comparação com o Triângulo, o que pode explicar a maior taxa de infecção dos triatomíneos no norte. Maior atenção ao processo de domiciliação do T. sordida no norte de Minas Gerais é recomendada, onde, nos últimos anos, tem-se observado urna profunda intervenção do homem sobre o ambiente natural, paralelamente ao aumento da população deste triatomíneo nos peridomicílios

The ecology of Triatoma sordida in natural environments in two different regions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil Ecologia do Triatoma sordida no ambiente silvestre de duas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

A study was undertaken about T. sordida in the natural environment in two different regions of the state of Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), an area of cerrado modified by the formation of fields of pasture and agriculture, and Mato Verde (north) an area of transition between caatinga and cerrado with profound deforestation in the last years due to the expansion of cotton cultivation. In both regions the principal ecotopes identified were hollow trees and the bark of live or dead trees, where the occurrence of a food source is not frequent. In this environment, the triatomines utilize various food sources; opposums appear to represent an important source of infection. In the north of Minas, a greater concentration of reservoirs and vectors was observed than in the Triángulo which could explain the higher level of infection of the triatomines in the north. Close attention to the process of domiciliation of T. sordida in the north of Minas is recommended where an extensive intervention by man in the natural environment has occurred and where a rise in the population of triatomines in the peridomestic environment has been observed in recent years.<br>Foi realizado um estudo sobre o T. sordida em ambiente silvestre em duas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), área de cerrado modificado para formação de campos de pastagem e agricultura, e Mato Verde (norte) uma área de transição entre a caatinga e o cerrado, profundamente desmatada nos últimos anos com a finalidade de expansão do cultivo de algodão. Em ambas as regiões, os principais ecotopos identificados corresponderam a buracos e cascas de árvores vivas ou mortas, onde a ocorrência de fontes de alimentação não é frequente. Neste ambiente, os triatomíneos utilizam-se de variadas fontes de alimentação; gambás parecem representar urna importante fonte de infecção. No norte de Minas, observou-se urna maior concentração de reservatórios e vetores em comparação com o Triângulo, o que pode explicar a maior taxa de infecção dos triatomíneos no norte. Maior atenção ao processo de domiciliação do T. sordida no norte de Minas Gerais é recomendada, onde, nos últimos anos, tem-se observado urna profunda intervenção do homem sobre o ambiente natural, paralelamente ao aumento da população deste triatomíneo nos peridomicílios

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora