Perspectives for mass rearing of Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma é um importante predador de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) em citros no Brasil. O emprego de Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) como fonte de alimento para I. zuluagai em criações de laboratório foi investigado a 25,5 ± 0,5ºC, 88 ± 7% UR e fotofase de 12h. Inicialmente os níveis de oviposição do predador alimentado com ovos, estágios pós-embrionários mortos ou estágios pós-embrionários vivos de T. putrescentiae foram avaliados durante 10 dias. A taxa diária de oviposição foi de 1,3 ovo/ fêmea quando estas foram alimentadas com ovos de T. putrecentiae; 0,7 ovo/ fêmea quando estas foram alimentadas com estágios pós-embrionários mortos e cerca de 0,2 ovo/ fêmea quando alimentadas com estágios pós-embrionários vivos. Posteriormente, elaborou-se a tabela de vida de I. zuluagai, oferecendo-se como alimento ovos de T. putrescentiae. Os estágios imaturos foram observados a cada 8h, para determinar a duração correspondente. Na fase adulta, os ácaros foram observados a cada 24h, para se determinar os parâmetros reprodutivos. A capacidade de aumento populacional (r m) foi de 0,11 fêmea/ fêmea/ dia; resultando em uma razão finita de aumento de 1,11 (l). A taxa líquida de reprodução (R0) foi de 7,1 fêmeas/geração, com um tempo de geração de 18,6 dias. Os resultados obtidos mostram que T. putrescentiae é uma fonte de alimento favorável ao desenvolvimento de I. zuluagai.Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma is an important predator of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) on citrus in Brazil. The suitability of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) as a food source of I. zuluagai in laboratory rearing was investigated at 25.5 ± 0.5ºC, 88 ± 7% RU and photophase of 12h. Initially, levels of oviposition of the predator fed on eggs were evaluated, as well as the dead or live post-embryonic stages of T. putrescentiae, in a period of 10 days. The daily oviposition rate was 1.3 egg per female when they were fed on eggs on T. putrescentiae, 0.7 egg per female when they were fed on dead post embryonic stages and about 0.3 egg per female when they were fed on live post-embryonic stages. Later, the life table of I. zuluagai was constructed, when eggs of T. putrescentiae were offered to the predators as prey. The immature stages were observed every 8h, to determine the corresponding durations. In the adult phase, the mites were observed every 24h, to determine the reproductive parameters. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m) was 0.11 female/ female/day; resulting in a finite rate of increase of 1.11 (l). The net reproductive rate (R0) was 7.1 females/generation, with a mean generation time (T) 18.6 days. The results show that T. putrescentiae is a favorable food source for the development of I. zuluagai

High doses of zinc and copper alter neither cerebral metal levels nor acetylcholinesterase activity of suckling rats

This research investigated the in vivo (ZnCl2 27 mg/kg; CuSO4 10.2 mg/kg) and in vitro effects of zinc and copper on acetylcholinesterase activity of different cerebral areas, Zn and Cu levels in cerebrum, and body weight gain of young Wistar rats. Three-day-old rats were injected (s.c.) with 5 doses (saline, Zn, Cu or Zn+Cu) for 5 consecutive days and were killed 24 h after the last dose. In the other experiment, 7-day-old rats received only 1 dose (saline, Zn or Cu) and were killed at 1, 6 or 24 h after. For the in vitro experiments, the acetylcholinesterase activity from cerebrum of 8-day-old rats was analyzed in presence of Zn or Cu (0.01 to 1 mM). Regarding the in vivo experiments, only body weight gain was decreased by 5 simultaneous administrations of Zn and Cu. The acetylcholinesterase activity from cerebrum and cerebellum and cerebral zinc and copper contents were not altered by the treatments. In vitro, Cu 0.1 and 1 mM, but not Zn, inhibited the enzyme of both cerebrum and cerebellum. The enzymatic activity from cerebrum and cerebellum homogenate was more sensitive to Cu than the enzymatic activity from S2 and S1 fractions, respectively, since less metal was necessary to inhibit the enzyme

Evaluation of the care provided by the outpatient clinic of the league of combat against STD/AIDS, health center, S.P., 1994-1997

Este trabalho analisou a assistência médica prestada pelos alunos da Liga de Combate a DST/AIDS, da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP, no curso de três anos emeio, junto ao Programa de Prevenção e Controle de Aids do Centro de Saúde Escola. Foi utilizada a metodologia de avaliação em saúde (processo e resultados), que contemplou o estudo da assistência médica em um período contínuo de seguimento, sendo analisados os diagnósticos formulados, os exames laboratoriais e complementares prescritos, as medidas curativas e de promoção da saúde e prevenção de doenças. Foram estudados sessenta e seis (66) indivíduos, sendo 48,5% comunicantes de portadores do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana ou de doentes de aids, 27,3% portadores do HIV e 24,2% de doentes de aids. Houve maioria de pacientes masculinos, embora a relação homem:mulher cresça de 1:1, 2:1 e 3,5:1 no sentido comunicantes, portadores e doentes, com uma frequência modal de 40,9% na faixa etária de trinta (30) e trinta e nove (39) anos, o grau de escolaridade e as ocupações foram característicos de nível socioeconômico baixo. Formularam-se diagnósticos de deficiência da imunidade celular, exposição a doenças transmissíveis (aids, tuberculose e outras doenças infecciosas), infecções respiratórias agudas, doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, parasitoses, entre as principais. Em média, a clientela permaneceu 3,2 meses em seguimento, recebeu 2,4 consultas e 47,7% dela abandonouo atendimento. Os alunos participaram ativamente da pesquisa; a metodologia e as informações quantitativas contribuíram para a avaliação da qualidade da assistência médica, tendo o serviço de saúde correspondido como alternativa institucional para formação e assistência mais próxima da comunidade.The medical care provided by the students of the League of Combat against STD/AIDS belonging to the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP over a period of three and a half years was evaluated. We used the method of health evaluation based on the study of medical care during a continuous period of monitoring. The aim was to assess the quality of the care provided, analyzed in terms of the diagnoses formulated, of laboratory and complementary tests, of curative measures and of health promotion and disease prevention. A total of 66 individuals were studied, 48.5% of them being communicants of patients with HIV and AIDS, 27.3% HIVinfected patients, and 24.2% patients with AIDS. Most patients were males, although the man:woman ratio has been growing from 1:1, 2:1 and 3.5:1 in the following order: communicants, infected subjects and patients, with a modal frequency of 40.9% in the 30 to 39 year age range. Educational level and occupation were characteristic of a low socioeconomic level. The followingdiagnoses were made: cell immune deficiency; contacts with patients with aids, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases; infectious respiratory disease; sexually transmitted diseases; and parasitosis. The clients were followed up on average for a period of 3.2 months and received 2.4 visits, and 47.7% of them abandoned treatment. The students participated actively in the research, the methodology and the quantitative information obtained permitted the assessment of the quality of care, with the health service corresponding to the expectations for an institutional alternative for training and for providing care closer to the community

Determinação de fósforo biodisponível em rações de peixes utilizando extração assistida por ultra-som e espectrofotometria no visível

The aim of the present work was to develop and optimize a method for determination of bioavailable phosphorus in samples of feces and fish feed using ultrasound extraction and subsequent quantification by visible spectrophotometry. Using as extractor solution HNO3 0.50 mol L-1, the great conditions of extraction established were: sample mass - 100 mg, samples granulometry - < 60 µm, sonification time - five cycles of 40 s and ultrasound potency - 136 W. The proposed method was applied in studies of digestibility of this nutrient in different feeds used in diets of juvenile of Nile tilapia

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets

Para que servem os inventários de fauna?

Inventários de fauna acessam diretamente a diversidade de uma localidade, em um determinado espaço e tempo. Os dados primários gerados pelos inventários compõem uma das ferramentas mais importantes na tomada de decisões a respeito do manejo de áreas naturais. Entretanto, vários problemas têm sido observados em diversos níveis relacionados aos inventários de fauna no Brasil e vão desde a formação de recursos humanos até a ausência de padronização, de desenho experimental e de seleção de métodos inadequados. São apresentados estudos de caso com mamíferos, répteis, anfíbios e peixes, nos quais são discutidos problemas como variabilidade temporal e métodos para detecção de fauna terrestre, sugerindo que tanto os inventários quanto os programas de monitoramento devam se estender por prazos maiores e que os inventários devem incluir diferentes metodologias para que os seus objetivos sejam plenamente alcançados.Inventories of fauna directly access the diversity of a locality in a certain period of time. The primary data generated by these inventories comprise one of the most important steps in decisions making regarding the management of natural areas. However, several problems have been observed at different levels related to inventories of fauna in Brazil, and range from the training of humans to the lack of standardization of experimental design and selection of inappropriate methods. We present case studies of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, where they discussed issues such temporal variability and methods for detection of terrestrial fauna, suggesting that both inventories and monitoring programs should be extended for longer terms and that inventories should include different methodologies to ensure that their goals are fully achieved