Development of Hepatozoon caimani (Carini, 1909) Pessôa, De Biasi & De Souza, 1972 in the Caiman Caiman c. crocodilus, the Frog Rana catesbeiana and the Mosquito Culex fatigans

The sporogony of Hepatozoon caimani has been studied, by light microscopy, in the mosquito Culex fatigans fed on specimens of the caiman Caiman c. crocodilus showing gametocytes in their peripheral blood. Sporonts iniciate development in the space between the epithelium of the insect gut and the elastic membrane covering the haemocoele surface of the stomach. Sporulating oocysts are clustered on the gut, still invested by the gut surface membrane. Fully mature oocysts were first seen 21 days after the blood-meal. No sporogonic stages were found in some unidentified leeches fed on an infected caiman, up to 30 days following the blood-meal. When mosquitoes containing mature oocysts were fed to frogs (Leptodactylus fuscus and Rana catesbeiana), cysts containing cystozoites developed in the internal organs, principally the liver. Feeding these frogs to farm-bred caimans resulted in the appearance of gametocytes in their peripheral blood at some time between 59 and 79 days later, and the development of tissue cysts in the liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. Transmission of the parasite was also obtained by feeding young caimans with infected mosquitoes and it is suggested that both methods occur in nature. The finding of similar cysts containing cystozoites in the semi-aquatic lizard Neusticurus bicarinatus, experimentally fed with infected C. fatigans, suggests that other secondary hosts may be involved

Winter survival of immature instars of Mansonia indubitans Dyar & Shannon and Mansonia titillans Walker (Diptera: Culicidae), in Buenos Aires, Argentina

We conducted a whole year research on the ecology of Mansonia indubitans and Ma. titillans in Macáes Pond, Costanera Sur Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The usage of different floating plants by immature instars and their overwintering was analized. The percentage of usage of the available floating macrophytes (Pistia, Limnobium, and Salvinia) by the larvae and pupae was studied. Also, we defined positivity (P+) as the percentage of plants with immature instars for each plant genus on a monthly basis. Ma. immature instars were captured throughout the year and Pistia was the resource most commonly exploited by the mosquitoes. The percentage of fourth-instar larvae and pupae on Pistia roots with respect to total immature instars captured was assessed on a monthly and seasonal basis. The proportion of fourth-instar larvae and pupae from both species of Mansonia on water lettuce roots, showed significant differences between months and seasons. Our results suggest that the populations of Ma. indubitans and Ma. titillans in Macáes Pond, survive during winter mainly as fourth-instar larvae

Percepção das usuárias sobre as ações de Prevenção do Câncer do Colo do Útero na Estratégia Saúde da Família em uma Distrital de Saúde do município de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil User perception on the actions of Cervix Cancer Prevention of Family Health Strategy in a Health District of the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, in São Paulo, Brazil

OBJETIVOS: analisar a percepção das mulheres atendidas nas Unidades de Saúde da Família (USF), da Área Básica de uma Distrital de Saúde do Município de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, sobre as práticas de Prevenção do câncer do colo do útero (PCCU) desenvolvidas nestes serviços. MÉTODOS: utilizou-se como referencial teórico a Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo exploratória e descritiva. Foram entrevistadas 14 mulheres. Utilizou-se para coleta de dados a entrevista semi-estruturada, procedendo à análise dos dados, orientados pela análise temática. A análise dos dados foi estruturada em três temas: Temática 1 - O Olhar da Mulher sobre o Processo Saúde-Doença; Temática 2 - A Mulher e a Prevenção do Câncer do Colo do Útero; Temática 3 - As Práticas de Prevenção do Câncer do Colo do Útero nos Núcleos de Saúde da Família. RESULTADOS: a maioria das mulheres envolvidas apresentam um conceito holístico de saúde, tendo inclusive um conhecimento popular bastante elaborado do conceito de prevenção. CONCLUSÕES: as práticas de educação em saúde precisam ser reforçadas a partir da inclusão de toda equipe. As USF têm potencialidades para qualificar a prática da PCCU e promover maior integralidade das ações em saúde, utilizando o conhecimento da APS.<br>OBJECTIVES: to analyze the perception of women seen at the Family Health Units (FHU) of the Basic Health District in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, on the practices of cervix cancer prevention developed by these services. METHODS: a theoretical reference of primary healthcare was utilized. This is a qualitative survey of the exploratory, descriptive type. Fourteen women were interviewed. A semi-structured interview was used for data collection, data analysis oriented by thematic analysis. Data analysis was structured in three themes: Theme 1 - Women's view of the Health-Disease Process; Theme 2 - Women and Cervix Cancer Prevention; Theme 3: Cervix Cancer Prevention in Family Health Centers. RESULTS: the majority of women involved demonstrated a holistic concept of health and a rather elaborate concept of prevention. CONCLUSIONS: education practices in healthcare need to be reinforced based on staff inclusion. Family Health Units have the potential to improve cervix cancer prevention practices and to further integrate primary health care programs