Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Health survey in Quilombola communities (descendants of Afro-Brazilian slaves who escaped from slave plantations that existed in Brazil until abolition in 1888) in Vitória da Conquista in the state of Bahia (COMQUISTA Project), Brazil : methodological aspects and descriptive analysis.

O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar a metodologia, resultados descritivos preliminares e a confiabilidade dos instrumentos utilizados no Projeto COMQUISTA. Estudo transversal com indivíduos adultos (≥18 anos) e crianças (até cinco anos) de comunidades quilombolas de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. A coleta de dados compreendeu a realização de entrevistas individuais e domiciliares, aferição de medidas antropométricas e pressão arterial. Utilizou-se o questionário semiestruturado da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS), adaptado para a população quilombola, e as entrevistas foram realizadas em computadores portáteis. Foram visitados 397 domicílios e entrevistados 797 adultos e 130 crianças. O perfil demográfico dos quilombolas foi semelhante ao dos brasileiros quanto ao sexo e idade, porém, eles apresentaram precário acesso ao saneamento básico e baixo nível socioeconômico. A análise de confiabilidade demonstrou a adequação das estratégias adotadas para garantia e controle de qualidade no estudo. A metodologia empregada foi considerada adequada para o alcance dos objetivos e pode ser utilizada em outras populações. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade da implantação de estratégias para melhorar a qualidade de vida e reduzir o grau de vulnerabilidade dos quilombolas.The scope of this article was to present the methodology, preliminary descriptive results and the reliability of the instruments used in the COMQUISTA Project. It involved a cross-sectional study with adults (≥18 years) and children (up to 5 years old) of Quilombola communities in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Data collection consisted of individual and household interviews, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS) was used and the interviews were conducted using handheld computers. 397 housing units were visited and 797 adults and 130 children were interviewed. The demographic profile of the Quilombolas was similar to the Brazilian population with respect to sex and age, however, they had precarious access to basic sanitation and a low socioeconomic status. The analysis of reliability revealed the adequacy of strategies adopted for quality assurance and control in the study. The methodology used was considered adequate to achieve the objectives and can be used in other populations. The results indicate the need for implementing strategies to improve the quality of life and reduce the degree of vulnerability of the Quilombolas