Hunting practices of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and predation by vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) as a potential route of rabies in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Exotic species are known to cause an impact on native species and the environment through various ecological processes. Their impact on disease dynamics is not completely understood, but their relationship with the local fauna can favour the emergence of zoonoses. We reported records of predation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) by common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland and detailed how the traditional hunting, which involves castration management and hunting dogs, can represent a risk to emergency of rabies virus. With 1.43% of attack probability recorded by camera traps, we highlight the potential role of this interaction in disseminating zoonosis, especially in a scenario where hunting management has been prioritised as a policy tool in the control of exotic species. We alerted for the danger of rabies onset. Moreover, we suggested that the ranchers avoid contact with the pigs’ salivary secretions during hunting, to maintain up to date rabies vaccination on domestic animals, and pay attention to the clinical behaviours of rabies in their hunting dogs. Therefore, we must be aware of all the risks involved in interactions between humans and wildlife to reevaluate our practices and prevent viral outbreaks as we currently witness

Camera trap feasibility for ecological studies of elusive forest deer.

The difficulty in observing and capturing elusive species in the wild is one of the main reasons for the limited number of studies on such species. This knowledge gap affects the development of conservation and management plans. Hence, testing the feasibility of research tools is essential for the future use and reliability of such tools. Camera traps increasingly are used as an alternative to capturing animals for wildlife research, and to generate important data for the management and conservation of many species. We identified individual free&#8208;ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from the Brazilian Pantanal by their natural markings. From October 2011 through September 2012, we investigated the feasibility of using camera traps for home range, habitat use, and activity period studies based on individuals with natural marks compared with the concurrent data collected from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. Home range studies based on camera traps have limitations related to the quantity of individuals with natural marks and need for population premonitoring to detect them. The irregular performance of camera traps and lower detection probability in open habitats restricted its application in the habitat use study, especially among highly heterogeneous habitats. However, the positive correlation (r = 0.98, P < 0.001) between the frequency of photographic records and distances travelled by deer with GPS locations indicated reliable use of camera traps for research into activity periods. Camera traps can be used as an alternative to telemetry,potentially expanding the perspective and scope of noninvasive ecological studies for elusive and cryptic species

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Low Accuracy Of Identifying Neotropical Deer Species By Scat Morphology

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Morphometric feces data are used to identify ungulates, but their effectiveness is questioned by numerous authors. Herein, we evaluated the efficiency of this tool in discriminating scat samples from Neotropical deer with sympatric distributions. We performed discriminant analysis of previously identified scat samples (n = 204). The accuracy of discriminant analysis (56–92%) was lower than the confidence limit established in this study in all sympatric combinations expected in these biomes. These results demonstrate serious limitations regarding the use of scat morphometry for species identification of Neotropical deer and reinforce the need to use non-invasive genetic techniques. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.521374215/2007, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico2010/50748-3, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo2012/50206-1, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Desempenho dinâmico de um trator agrícola utilizando biodiesel destilado de óleo residual Dynamic performance of an agricultural tractor utilizing distilled biodiesel from spent oil

Propôs-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o desempenho dinâmico de um trator agrícola funcionando com biodiesel destilado (50% etílico + 50% metílico) em função das proporções de biodiesel e diesel de petróleo (0 e 100%, 5 e 95%, 15 e 85%, 25 e 75%, 50 e 50%, 75 e 25% e 100 e 0%) respectivamente. O experimento foi realizado na área do Departamento de Engenharia Rural da Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Campus de Jaboticabal, SP, localizado na latitude 21º 14' 28" S e longitude 48º 17'12" W. Utilizou-se um trator 4 x 2 TDA com potência de 73,6 kW (100 cv) no motor e um trator de lastro. O biodiesel utilizado foi produzido à base de óleo residual de fritura de alimentos, o delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com 7 tratamentos e 5 repetições, totalizando 35 observações, e os resultados evidenciaram que a mistura biodiesel e diesel de petróleo influenciou significativamente as variáveis consumo horário volumétrico, consumo horário mássico, consumo de combustível por área trabalhada e consumo específico. Quando o trator operou com 100% de biodiesel (B100) o consumo específico aumentou em média 18% em relação ao diesel (B0).<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamic performance of an agricultural tractor utilizing distilled biodiesel (50% ethylic + 50% methylic) as a function of the proportion of biodiesel and diesel of petroleum (0 and 100%, 5 and 95%, 15 and 85%, 25 and 75%, 50 and 50%, 75 and 25% and 100 and 0%), respectively. This research was done in the area of the Department of Rural Engineering of the Paulista State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal Campus, SP, located in the latitude 21º 14' 28" S and longitude 48º 17'12" W. A tractor 4 x 2 FWA was used, with a 73.6 kW (100 HP) motor and a ballast tractor. The biodiesel used was produced from spent oil from food frying. The experimental design was entirely randomized, with 7 treatments and 5 repetitions, totaling 35 observations. The results showed that the biodiesel and diesel blend significantly influenced the hourly volumetric consumption, hourly mass consumption, fuel consumption per worked area and specific fuel consumption variables. When the tractor operated with 100% of biodiesel (B100) the specific fuel consumption increased 18% on average in relation to diesel (B0)

Curitiba acute ischemic stroke protocol: a university hospital and EMS initiative in a large Brazilian city

Few healthcare centers in Brazil perform thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe an interinstitutional protocol for the rapid identification and thrombolytic treatment of AIS patients at a public health hospital in a large Brazilian city. METHOD: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel evaluated 433 patients with possible stroke during a six-month period. After a standard checklist, patients with suspected AIS and symptoms onset of less than two hours were evaluated at our University Hospital (UH). RESULTS: Sixty-five (15%) patients met the checklist criteria and had a symptom onset of less than two hours, but only 50 (11%) patients were evaluated at the UH. Among them, 35 (70%) patients had ischemic stroke, 10 (20%) had hemorrhagic stroke, and 5 (10%) had other diagnoses. Of the 35 ischemic stroke patients, 15 (43%) underwent IV thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that trained EMS workers could help to improve the rate of thrombolytic treatment in large Brazilian cities. Permanent training programs for EMS and hospital staff, with quality control and correct identification of AIS patients, should be implemented to increase appropriate thrombolytic therapy rates in Brazil

Conhecimento tradicional das marisqueiras de Barra Grande, área de proteção ambiental do delta do Rio Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil

Na comunidade de Barra Grande localizada no litoral do Piauí, as mulheres dos pescadores, conhecidas localmente como marisqueiras, extraem do manguezal vários tipos de moluscos para comercialização e em maior escala para a subsistência. Dados sobre a atividade de mariscagem, conceitos de conservação e aspectos socioeconômicos do contexto em que ocorre a atividade de cata dos moluscos, foram revelados após a aplicação de protocolos estruturados e semiestruturados. O molusco bivalve Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), popularmente denominado de marisco, é caracterizado por ser um importante recurso para a subsistência, sendo o mais coletado pela comunidade, seguido da Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842), o sururu, explorado para a comercialização por ter o maior valor de mercado. O conhecimento das marisqueiras sobre A. brasiliana foi comparado com literatura especializada, muitas vezes mostrando-se em harmonia com esta. Demonstra-se assim que o conhecimento tradicional deve ser valorizado para delineamento de programas de gestão de recursos pesqueiros da região. Quanto aos modos de pensar, foi revelado que 82,81% das marisqueiras praticam manejo para a conservação da A. brasiliana ao coletar apenas os indivíduos de maior tamanho, e 80,86% consideram que não existe poluição nos pontos de coletas. O surgimento de uma Associação exclusiva e cooperativa para as marisqueiras é necessário para a valorização do trabalho por elas desenvolvido, visto que há uma média estimada de 351 kg de carne sendo extraídos mensalmente.<br>En la comunidad de Barra Grande, situada en la costa del estado de Piaui, las esposas de los pescadores, localmente llamadas de "marisqueiras", extraen de los manglares diversos tipos de moluscos para su comercialización, haciendo de esta actividad en una fuente de subsistencia. Informaciones detalladas y sistemáticas sobre la actividad de cosecha de mariscos, del contexto en el que se desarrolla la recolección y sus aspectos socioeconómicos, asi como la percepción ambiental y los conceptos relacionados a la preservación que tienen las "marisqueiras", sólo fueron conocidas luego de la aplicación de protocolos estructurados y semi-estructurados. El molusco Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), popularmente conocido como "marisco", es una importante fuente de recursos, siendo el más cosechado por la comunidad; le sigue en importancia el Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842), conocido como "sururu", cuya explotación se destina principalmente a la comercialización debido a su superior valor de mercado. El conocimiento que las "marisqueiras" tienen de la A. brasiliana fue comparado con el disponible en la literatura especializada, quedando evidente su compatibilidad, lo cual fundamenta la importancia de su valorización en el diseño de programas de gestión de los recursos pesqueros en la región. Estudios sobre el impacto ambiental de la actividad revelaron que el 82,81% de las "marisqueiras" tienen en cuenta las consecuencias de su actividad sobre la preservación, cosechando sólo los ejemplares más grandes, mientras que 80,86% de las trabajadoras considera que no hay contaminación en las zonas de cosecha. En el contexto actual se hace necesaria la creación de una Asociación de "marisqueiras", así como una cooperativa, con el propósito de jerarquizar la actividad, la cual es responsable por la producción estimada en promedio de 351 kg de carne por mes.<br>In the community of Barra Grande located at the coast of Piauí, the wives of fishermen, locally known as "marisqueiras" (female shellfish catcher), extract from the mangrove various kinds of shellfish for commercial purposes and a great amount for subsistence. For a better understanding, data on the activity of "marisqueiras", concepts of conservation and socioeconomic aspects of the context in which occurs the activity of shellfish catching were revealed after the application of semi-structured and structured protocols. The bivalve mussel Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), popularly known as "marisco", is characterized as an important resource for subsistence being most of it collected by the community, followed by Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842) the "sururu", extract for commercial purposes due to its highest market value. The knowledge of the "marisqueiras" about A. brasiliana was compared with literature which proved to be compatible, thus showing that it should be valued for the design of programs for the management of fishing resources in the region. About the way of thinking, it was revealed that 82.81% of "marisqueiras" practice the conservation of the A. brasiliana by collecting only the larger individuals and 80.86% consider that there is no pollution at the collection points. The creation of a unique association and a cooperative for the "marisqueiras" is required to value the work by themselves developed, since there are an estimated average of 351 kg of meat being extracted monthly