Leptospirosis serosurvey in bovines from Brazilian Pantanal using IGG ELISA with recombinant protein LipL32 and microscopic agglutination test

This investigation was carried out in Brazilian Pantanal: region with important biodiversity. This region's climatic conditions, hydrology and geomorphology as well as the existence of great variety of wild species favor the maintenance of the Leptospira in the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate IgG ELISA with recombinant protein LipL32 in comparison with microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and additionally contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of the one of most important worldwide zoonotic infection, assessing the seropositivity of bovine leptospirosis in beef cattle herds of Brazilian Pantanal, an important ecological preserved area, where cattle constitute not only the most important economic resource but also the major activity compatible of the conservation of natural resource of the region. Out of 282 samples of cattle serum analyzed, 143 (50.71%) were positive in MAT. The serovar Hardjo (genotypic Hardjoprajitno and Hardjobovis), Wolffi and Ballum showed the largest frequency of reactive samples. In the IgG ELISA rLipL32, 161 samples (57.09%) were positive. This result was higher than obtained by MAT (p<0.001). The sensitivity of the ELISA test was 99.30% and the specificity was 86.33%, based on the MAT. This test was shown to be a more sensitive, specific and accurate test for the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis compared to the MAT

Localização de áreas permanentes de vegetação aquática na planície de inundação do Rio Paraguai e adjacências

Our present research makes use of a time series of Landsat-5/TM (1987 to 2009) to examine the interannual variability and identify areas permanently occupied by floating aquatic vegetation. The study area comprises the floodplain of the Paraguay River and adjacency, with an extension of 17948,5 km², encompassing parts of sub-regions of Cáceres, Paraguay, Poconé and Paiaguás wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul e Mato Grosso. We performed a k-means unsupervised classification on bands 3, 4 and 5, which resulted in the following classes: aquatic vegetation, open water and surroundings. For each date analyzed, the value of the area occupied by aquatic plants has been rectified, especially confusion with the surrounding class (confusion with the shadow of hills), and the final areas were correlated with the annual flood values. It was verified that the area of occupation of the aquatic plants was somehow proportional to the period of flood larger (p<0.05). The permanently areas occupied by aquatic plants from 1987 to 2009 were identified through Boolean intersection operations in the Spatial Language for Algebraic Geoprocessing (LEGAL). It was found that the plants occupy permanently about 70 km² of the Paraguay River floodplain. These areas shall been considered hotspots for conservation if such resource, when exported by the river, would be used as a biomass source for materials and bioenergy. The conservation of these areas is priority for the sustainable use of this Pantanal´s natural resource, without prejudice the ecosystem and the sustainable development.Pages: 2036-204

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

Alirocumab and cardiovascular outcomes after acute coronary syndrome

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Alirocumab and Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndrome

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