Morphological Studies on the Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) Genital Structures and Eggs of Different Chromatic Forms

Triatoma brasiliensis is considered one of the most important Chagas disease vectors being a widespread species in semiarid areas of northeastern Brazil. The species displays distinct chromatic patterns of the cuticle in different localities. Four populations were analyzed in this study: 1-Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, it will be called the brasiliensis population; 2-Espinosa, Minas Gerais, the melanica population; 3-Petrolina, Pernambuco, the macromelasoma population, and 4-Juazeiro, Bahia, the darker one in overall cuticle coloration, the Juazeiro population. In order to differentiate the four populations of T. brasiliensis, a comparative morphological analysis of external genital structures and of eggs were carried out. The analysis of the male genital structures evidenced minor individual structural variations that did not correlate with chromatic differences or the geographical origins, emphasizing the importance of examining sufficiently large and representative samples before using minor genital variations for taxonomic diagnosis. By scanning electron microscopy of the egg exochorion, each chromatic population presented a distinct ornamentation pattern. The melanica population differed mainly from the other populations studied since it had about 40.6%, 69.6% and 76.6% more perforations, on each cell exochorion, than the brasiliensis, the Juazeiro and the macromelasoma populations respectively. In the melanica population the perforation layout is also peculiar, with densely distributed perforations over all the egg surface. Morphometric measures of the eggs showed statistically significant differences: the macromelasoma population presented the longest length (2.43 mm) while the shortest was recorded in the brasiliensis population (2.29 mm)

Evaluation of RbCl and CrCl3 as markers of Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) nymphs: persistence and influence of Rb and Cr on triatomine biology

In order to mark Triatoma brasiliensis, the vector of Chagas disease in Brazil, two chemical compounds, rubidium chloride (RbCl) and chromium chloride (CrCl3), were tested. First, 199 N2-N5 nymphs were fed on blood with 0.025M RbCl. Rb marker positivity ranged from 2.5% (N3)-70% (N2), with a maximum persistence of 98 days. Second, 265 N2-N5 nymphs were fed on blood containing 0.0015M CrCl3. Cr marker positivity ranged up to 93% (N5), with a maximum persistence of 119 days. Finally, we blood fed 213 T. brasiliensis to investigate whether CrCl3 altered the biology of this insect. The developmental time of T. brasiliensis was unaltered, but the survival of the Cr-marked group was lower than that of the control group. Differences in the mean fecundity of the control (mean of 156.1) and experimental (mean of 135.6) groups were not statistically significant and 100% of the egg batches of females Cr-marked as nymphs were positive. In conclusion, CrCl3 is a useful tool for marking T. brasiliensis nymphs due to its high positivity and persistence

Parâmetros bioquímicos e microbiológicos e suas relações com a experiência de cárie em adolescentes sadios Microbiological and biochemical parameters and their relationship with carie in healthy teenagers

OBJETIVOS: verificar a relação da experiência da doença cárie com o grau de ocorrência de Streptococcus mutans, o fluxo salivar e a capacidade tampão da saliva em 111 adolescentes sadios atendidos no Setor de Puericultura do Hospital das Clínicas de Pernambuco MÉTODOS: realizou-se o exame intraoral e o preenchimento de ficha clínica, para determinação do índice CPO-S (Número de superfícies dentárias cariadas, perdidas ou com extração indicada e restauradas). Em seguida coletou-se a saliva para determinação do fluxo salivar e da capacidade tampão. A raspagem dos dentes anteriores foi realizada para quantificação de Streptococcus mutans presente na placa bacteriana. RESULTADOS: a população avaliada foi predominantemente de baixa atividade de cárie, apresentando capacidade tampão da saliva normal e fluxo salivar deficiente. O número de S. mutans da placa bacteriana foi superior a 105 UFC/mg, na maioria da população estudada. CONCLUSÕES: a atividade de cárie foi inversamente proporcional à capacidade tampão e diretamente proporcional a presença de Streptococcus mutans presentes na placa bacteriana. A baixa atividade de cárie na população estudada pode ser atribuída à boa condição do meio bucal promovida pelo número de escovações diárias com dentufícios fluoretados.<br>OBJECTIVES: to establish a relationship between dental caries with the degree of Streptococcus mutans present in the salivary flow and saliva buffer ability in 111 healthy adolescents seen at the Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas de Pernambuco. METHODS: Intraoral examinations were performed and dental records filled to determine DMFS-S (Decayed, missing teeth and filled permanent dental surfaces). Following, saliva was collected to determined salivary flow and buffer ability. Front teeth were scrapped to quantify Streptococcus mutans present in the bacterial plaque. RESULTS: the population assessed had predominantly low caries activities with buffer ability of normal saliva and deficiency of salivary flow. The numbers of S mutans in the bacterial plaque exceeded 105 CFU/mg in the majority of individuals in the population studied. CONCLUSIONS: caries activity was inversely proportional to the buffer capacity and directly proportional to the presence of Streptococus mutans in the bacterial plaque. This low carie activity could be derived from the daily tooth-brushing with fluor dentifrices

Lista dos exemplares tipos de Ceratopogonidae (Diptera: Nematocera) depositados na Coleção Entomológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil List of the type species of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera, Nematocera) deposited in the Entomological Collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

<abstract language="eng">A list of all type specimens of the Family Ceratopogonidae, present in the Entomological Collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil is presented. This list includes the genera Bahiahelea, Culicoides, Dasyhelea, Downeshelea, Forcipomyia, Leptoconops, Mallochohelea, Monohelea, Neobezzia, Palpomyia and Sphaerohelea