Area Of Northeastern Brazil Research Articles

A nectar oasis for urban Glossophaginae bats: Temporal resource dynamics of the chiropterophilous Crescentia cujete (Bignoniaceae)

Pollinator-friendly plants are often a necessary component of the management of urban ecosystem that aim to reduce the impact of the artificial urban matrix on natural pollinator populations. Nectarivorous bats are neglected components of the urban pollinator community and there is a paucity of assessments on pollinator-friendly plants that may provide urban bats with reliable, year-long resources. Crescentia cujete is a bat-pollinated Bignoniaceae with very distinctive chiropterophilous features that is often used as an ornamental species in tropical urban areas worldwide. Its flowers are large and produce copious amounts of nectar, which accumulates in the flower’s storage-shaped flowers. Thus, the species is a potential bat-friendly urban plant. We assessed the species’ year-round flower emission and nightly nectar production dynamics in a green area in northeastern Brazil, and described the behavior of its floral visitors. C. cujete showed a steady, year-round flowering pattern, with no significant seasonality. Its flowers secreted copious amounts of diluted nectar and were visited exclusively by the Pallas long-tongued bat Glossophaga soricina throughout the night at high visiting frequencies, delivering successive visits to individual flowers spaced by short intervals. Our results suggest overexploitation of floral resources from C. cujete by urban bats. Moreover, its continuous flowering and copious nectar production may become a reliable resource in an artificial environment generally lacking bat-pollinated plants, thus mitigating the effects of food shortage for urban nectar bats.

Clinical, epidemiological and climatic factors related to the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area in northeastern Brazil.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease with a wide distribution in the Americas. Brazil is an endemic country and present cases in all states. This study aimed to describe the occurrence, the underlying clinical and epidemiological factors, and the correlation of climatic variables with the frequency of reported CL cases in the municipality of Caxias, state of Maranhão, Brazil. This is a retrospective and descriptive epidemiological study based on data extracted from the Brazilian Information System of Diseases Notification, from 2007 to 2017. Maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative air humidity data were provided by the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology. A total of 201 reported autochthonous CL cases were analyzed. The predominance of cases was observed in males (70.1%). The age range between 31 and 60 years old was the most affected, with 96 cases (47.9%). Of the total number of registered cases, 38.8% of the affected individuals were engaged in agriculture-related activities. The georeferenced distribution revealed the heterogeneity of disease occurrence, with cases concentrated in the Western and Southern regions of the municipality. An association was detected between relative air humidity (monthly mean) and the number of CL cases per month (p = 0.04). CL continues to be a concerning public health issue in Caxias. In this context, there is a pressing need to strengthen measures of prevention and control of the disease through the network of health services of the municipality, considering local and regional particularities.

A new cave-dwelling Maxchernes Feio, 1960 (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) from Brazil

ABSTRACT During a survey of caves in a seasonally dry tropical forest area in northeastern Brazil, a new species of the genus Maxchernes was discovered and it is formally described here. The new species, named Maxchernes kapinawai sp. n., has affinities with M. iporangae, known from São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil. The new species, obtained from Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, is characterized by the robust pedipalps, the measurements of pedipalpal femur, and patella different from other known Maxchernes species, in addition to the number of chelal teeth and males larger than females. This new species also represents the north-most record of Maxchernes genera so far. Ecological and conservation comments are included, as well as a map including reports known about the previous species.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A0E5D949-5441-4F02-A4BE-9BE51DFEEAFA

Predation risk is a function of seasonality rather than habitat complexity in a tropical semiarid forest

Predator–prey dynamics are some of the most important species’ interactions in the natural structuring of communities, and are among the more complex ecological processes studied by ecologists. We measured predation risk using artificial lizard replicas to test two competing hypotheses regarding predation pressure in semi-arid environments: (1) predation risk is dependent on the habitat structural complexity; and (2) predation risk is dependent on seasonality. We placed 960 lizard replicas along three sites with different physical structures and in both dry and rainy seasons for seven consecutive days in a caatinga area in northeastern Brazil at Grota do Angico Natural Monument (GANM). Birds were responsible for the majority of attacks and more frequently on artificial lizards placed in trees. Attacks focused on the most vulnerable areas of the body (head and torso), proving that were perceived by predators as true prey items. We found that predation risk is not dependent on the habitat structural complexity, but rather dependent on the caatinga seasonality, with the overall attack rate being 19% higher in the dry season. Our study suggests that potential predation risk is highly context-dependent and that seasonality consistently drives of trophic interactions strength in the caatinga, an important ecological finding that could contribute to better understanding the complex evolution of predator–prey interactions within communities of animals living in different habitats.

Molecular characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs of the triatomine species in a Chagas disease endemic area.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical infection with great public health importance. This protozoan has triatomine insects as vector but may also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplants, ingestion of contaminated food, or congenitally. It has a heterogeneous population classified into Discrete Typing Units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and TcBat. The aim of this study was to molecularly characterize the DTUs of T. cruzi in triatomines from a Chagas disease endemic area in Northeastern Brazil. Triatomines were collected and the gut content was microscopically analyzed to investigate the presence of trypanosomatid flagellates. In addition, digestive tracts of some specimens were dissected and molecularly analyzed through PCR for Trypanosoma spp. and sequencing. PCR positive samples were further submitted to a multiplex PCR for DTUs of T. cruzi. A total of 117 triatomines were collected, 93.16% being in intradomicile and 6.84% in peridomicile environments. Insects were identified as Panstrongylus lutzi (37.60%), Triatoma pseudomaculata (26.50%), Triatoma brasiliensis (23.08%) and Panstrongylus megistus (12.82%). The specimens herein analyzed presented infection rates by T. cruzi of 5.49% and 12.09% in parasitological and molecular examinations, respectively. Multiplex PCR screening revealed 70.59% of the TcI genotype, detected in all triatomine species identified in this study and 29.41% of the DTU TcIII/TcIV detected in P. megistus and P. lutzi. T. cruzi infect triatomines in intradomicile and peridomicile environments, which brings attention to the risk of human infections and to the importance of the implementation of surveillance and entomological control actions.

Genotypic Trypanosoma cruzi distribution and parasite load differ ecotypically and according to parasite genotypes in Triatoma brasiliensis from endemic and outbreak areas in Northeastern Brazil

This study aimed to identify the Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes and their relationship with parasitic load in distinct geographic and ecotypic populations of Triatoma brasiliensis in two sites, including one where a Chagas disease (ChD) outbreak occurred in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Triatomine captures were performed in peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes in two municipalities: Marcelino Vieira – affected by the outbreak; and Currais Novos – where high pressure of peridomestic triatomine infestation after insecticide spraying have been reported. The kDNA-PCR was used to select 124 T. cruzi positive triatomine samples, of which 117 were successfully genotyped by fluorescent fragment length barcoding (FFLB). Moreover, the T. cruzi load quantification was performed using a multiplex TaqMan qPCR. Our findings showed a clear ecotypic segregation between TcI and TcII harboured by T. brasiliensis (p<0.001). Although no genotypes were ecotypically exclusive, TcI was predominant in peridomestic ecotopes (86%). In general, T. brasiliensis from Rio Grande do Norte had a higher T. cruzi load varying from 3.94 to 7.66 x 106T. cruzi per insect. Additionally, TcII (median value=299,504 T. cruzi/intestine unit equivalents) had more than twice (p=0.1) the parasite load of TcI (median value=149,077 T. cruzi/intestine unit equivalents), which can be attributed to a more ancient co-evolution with T. brasiliensis. The higher prevalence of TcII in the sylvatic T. brasiliensis (70%) could be associated with a more diversified source of bloodmeals for wild insect populations. Either TcI or TcII may have been responsible for the ChD outbreak that occurred in the city of Marcelino Vieira. On the other hand, a smaller portion of T. brasiliensis was infected by TcIII (3%) in the peridomicile, in addition to T. rangeli genotype A (1%), often found in mixed infections. Our results highlight the need of understanding the patterns of T. cruzi genotype´s development and circulation in insect vectors and reservoirs as a mode of tracking situations of epidemiologic importance, as the ChD outbreak recently recorded for Northeastern Brazil.

Risk clusters of Schistosoma mansoni infection in an endemic state of Brazil: space-time modelling and association with socio-economic and environmental factors.

We analysed the spatial distribution and the socio-economic and environmental factors (SEFs) associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection in the state of Alagoas, an important tourist area in northeastern Brazil. We conducted an ecological time-series study (2007-2016) on schistosomiasis cases and SEFs. We evaluated the temporal trends of schistosomiasis cases (annual percentage change [APC]) and their correlation with SEFs. Spatial analysis maps were built using QGIS and TerraView software. We observed that 4.9% of the municipalities had a high prevalence of S. mansoni infection and were located mainly in the coastal strip of Alagoas state. The positivity rate for schistosomiasis decreased during the period (8.1% in 2007 to 4.9% in 2016; APC=-5.71). There was a reduction in the number of tests performed (APC=-5.05). There was a negative correlation between S. mansoni infection and the municipal human development index (ρ=-0.34) and schooling rate (ρ=-0.24). The main species of snail was Biomphalaria glabrata (94.79%), but Biomphalaria straminea showed a higher percentage of S. mansoni detection (10.11%). Lastly, Biomphalaria tenagophila specimens were identified for the first time in Alagoas (n=28). Despite a reduction in the number of cases, intestinal schistosomiasis still represents a serious public health concern in Alagoas. It urgently requires planning and improvements in diagnosis, prevention programs and the state's socio-economic indicators.

Ecological aspects of a population of Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) in a semi-arid area of Northeastern Brazil

Phrynops geoffroanus is a testudine of the family Chelidae that has a wide distribution. However, there are gaps in the knowledge of its biology. This study aimed to characterize demographically and morphometrically a population of Phrynops geoffroanus in an ephemeral water reservoir in a semi-arid area of Paraíba, in the period from April 2016 to March 2017. The individuals were captured manually and by hoop-net trap. Data on size distribution were described by mean and standard deviation. Size and weight were compared between sexes and capture methods using a MANOVA. Sex ratio was compared between capture methods using Pearson's chi-squared test. Population density and biomass were calculated. The number of animals captured was grouped into two shifts and compared. Throughout the year, 113 individuals of P. geoffroanus were captured in the reservoir, with a population of 43.4% males, 47.8% females and 8.8% juveniles, with a density of at least 41.8 individuals / ha and biomass of 33.05kg / ha. There is no significant relationship between the amount of animals captured and the amount of rainfall during the period sampled. Due mainly to the ephemerality of the aquatic environments of the Caatinga and the unpredictability of rainfall in this biome, the populations of aquatic species show large variations in population and in their biological activities. Further studies are needed to fill several gaps in the knowledge of the natural history of Caatinga testudines.

Uses of nonhuman primates by humans in northeastern Brazil.

Humans have used non-human primates (hereafter referred to as primates) as food source, medicine, parts of rituals, pets, and models for various studies worldwide. Here we investigated the extent of the use of primates by humans in three areas in northeastern Brazil, the country's most impoverished region. We carried out our study in three biomes (Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest). The results showed that humans exploited all five primate species occurring in the study sites:Callithrix jacchus,Sapajus flavius,Sapajus libidinosus,Alouatta belzebul, andAlouatta ululata. They used the primates as a food source, as pets and medicines, and for leisure. Despite socioeconomic differences in the study areas, we found similarities in the use of primates. Larger primates were targeted for meat, whereas the small common marmosets were targeted as pets. We found conflicting interactions between humans and bearded capuchins due to crop raiding, but no such conflict was found between humans and blonde capuchins, reflecting the differences in crop type, pattern, and tradition in the sites.A.ululata was used as medicine. We suggest that environmental education actions in the study areas should focus on (i) raising awareness among local people of the ecological importance of primates, (ii) providing alternative activities to hunting whenever possible, and (iii) minimising conflicts.

Visitors’ perception when participating in a poorly planned ecotourism activity: the case of dolphin watching in Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT The present study aimed at assessing the environmental perception of tourists about the impacts of an onboard excursion into nature, referred as an ecotourism activity. We interviewed 347 tourists after they attended a dolphin-watching activity at the Pipa Beach located within a protected area in Northeastern Brazil. We gathered socioeconomic information, such as gender, age, income, and schooling as well as tourists’ perceptions about positive or negative impacts of the excursion, and the knowledge obtained. Of the total of interviewees, 47% identified the activity could bring negative impacts on the environment. This pattern reflects tourists’ inability to detect the environmental impacts their practices can cause. Presumably, the lack of environmental education during the excursion in our study site helped maintaining a misleading perception. We strongly recommend an educational project that firstly aims at the boat owners and employees to inform them about the impacts of the excursion. Secondly, it seems of foremost importance the implementation of an educational program for tourists that attend the excursion in order to raise their environmental awareness and perception.

Rainfall in Brazilian Northeast via in situ data and CHELSA product: mapping, trends, and socio-environmental implications.

Rainfall is a climatic variable that dictates the daily rhythm of urban areas in Northeastern Brazil (NEB) and, therefore, understanding its dynamics is fundamental. The objectives of the study were (i) to validate the CHELSA product with data in situ, (ii) assess the spatial-temporality of the rains, and (iii) assess the trends and socio-environmental implications in the Metropolitan Region of Maceió (MRM). The monthly rainfall data observed between 1960 and 2016 were flawed and were filled with the imputation of data. These series were subjected to descriptive and exploratory statistics, statistical indicators, and the Mann-Kendall (MK) and Pettitt tests. CHELSA product was validated for MRM, and all stations obtained satisfactory determination coefficients (R2) and Pearson correlation (r). The standard error of the estimate (SEE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were satisfactory. The highest annual rainfall accumulated occurred near the Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons. The Pettitt test identified that abrupt changes occur in El Niño and La Niña years (strong and weak). The monthly rain boxplots showed high variability in the rainy season (April-July). Outliers have been associated with extreme rainfall at MRM. The drought period was 5 months in all MRM seasons, except in Satuba and Pilar. The Mann-Kendall test and the Sen method showed a tendency for a significant increase in rainfall in Satuba and not significant in the Pilar, while in the others, there was a tendency for a decrease in rainfall. The MRM rainfall depends on physiographic factors, multiscale meteorological systems, and the coastal environment. These results will assist in planning conservationist practices, especially in areas of socio-environmental vulnerability.

A neotropical canid as seed disperser in semiarid areas of Brazil

Seed dispersal consists of diaspore removal from parental plants and relocation to new locations where seeds can germinate and grow seedlings. Seeds that passage through an animal's digestive tract may have changes in percentages, speed, and synchronization of germination. Cerdocyon thous is an omnivorous canid from South America and we investigated its role as a dispersing agent, in semiarid areas, by analyzing feces in three areas of northeastern Brazil. Seeds found in feces and removed directly from fruit (control) had their viabilities evaluated in germination tests, where germinability, germination time of 50% of viable seeds (t50), the emergence velocity, and synchronization indices were determined. Of the evaluated species, the cactus Pilosocereus gounellei showed differences in the parameters between treatments. The passage of seeds of P. gounellei through the canid digestive tract decreased germinability and the germination speed and increased the t50. For the other species, there were no difference between treatments. Therefore, C. thous influenced the germination success and pattern of this cactus, although it did not influence the reproductive behavior of most species. This canid was considered an effective seed disperser in semiarid areas because it moved seeds from the parental plant to sites suitable for its germination.

Bats in a restinga area in Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil

There is little known about the bats of the Brazilian restinga as most studies have concentrated on the country’s south and southeast regions. In Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil, the only study previously carried out registered 17 species in different restinga habitats. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the bat community in a restinga area in Sergipe and update the list of species that occur in the area. The study was carried out in the Caju Private Natural Heritage Reserve, on the south coast of the state of Sergipe. Monthly campaigns were carried out from October 2016 to September 2017 over two consecutive nights and alternating between two sites to capture the bats. We captured Bats using 10 mist nets that remained open between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. We determined the abundance and trophic guilds of the captured species. In addition, we obtained the occurrence frequency degree through the Constancy Index. We captured 457 individuals distributed over 13 species and two families, where three species represented a new record for the locality. The family Phyllostomidae was the richest and most abundant. Most species were frugivorous (61.5%). According to the Constancy Index, only four species were considered common. Using Jackknife 1 estimator, we estimated 14.83 species for the area, indicating that the richness obtained in this study corresponds to 87.6% of this estimate. This study resulted in an 17.6% increase in bat richness known for the area. The high representativeness of the Phyllostomidae family may be related to the capture method used. The predominance of frugivores bats in this study may be associated with the presence of many fruit trees in the area. The low occurrence of species considered common is often reported and can be explained by the species’ trophic specializations and by the sampling methods. Considering the scarcity of studies in restinga areas in Northeastern Brazil, this work becomes important for the knowledge of the bats in this environment, especially for Sergipe.

Caso autóctone de Leishmaniose Visceral Canina e presença de flebotomíneos em área de elevada altitude

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease that affects dogs. The aim of this study was to describe an autochthonous case of VL and to report the presence of sand flies in a high-altitude area of Northeastern Brazil. In February 2019, a sampling was performed of a suspected animal (n=1), and the presence of sand flies was investigated using CDC light traps. The dog scored positive for Leishmania infantum, and four specimens of sand flies were captured and classified as Lutzomyia evandroi. This study detected the first autochthonous case of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in an area of high altitude were only L. evandroi has been collected.

Intra-urban differentials of congenital and acquired syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women in an urban area in northeastern Brazil.

BackgroundCurrently syphilis is considered an epidemic disease worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify intra-urban differentials in the occurrence of congenital and acquired syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women in the city of Natal, in northeast Brazil.MethodsCases of syphilis recorded by the municipal surveillance system from 1 January 2011 to 30 December 2018 were analysed. Spatial statistical analyses were performed using the kernel density estimator of the quadratic smoothing function (weighted). SaTScan software was applied for the calculation of risk based on a discrete Poisson model.ResultsThere were 2163 cases of acquired syphilis, 738 cases of syphilis in pregnant women and 1279 cases of congenital syphilis. Kernel density maps showed that the occurrence of cases is more prevalent in peripheral areas and in areas with more precarious urban infrastructure. In 2011–2014 and 2015–2018, seven statistically significant clusters of acquired syphilis were identified. From 2011 to 2014, the most likely cluster had a relative risk of 3.54 (log likelihood ratio [LLR] 38 895; p<0.001) and from 2015 to 2018 the relative risk was 0.54 (LLR 69 955; p<0.001).ConclusionsIn the municipality of Natal, there was a clustered pattern of spatial distribution of syphilis, with some areas presenting greater risk for the occurrence of new cases.

Predicting the detection of leprosy in a hyperendemic area of Brazil: Using time series analysis.

Brazil has the second highest prevalence of leprosy worldwide. Autoregressive integrated moving average models are useful tools in surveillance systems because they provide reliable forecasts from epidemiological time series. To evaluate the temporal patterns of leprosy detection from 2001 to 2015 and forecast for 2020 in a hyperendemic area in northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted using monthly leprosy detection from the Brazil information system for notifiable diseases. The Box-Jenkins method was applied to fit a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model. Forecasting models (95% prediction interval) were developed to predict leprosy detection for 2020. A total of 44,578 cases were registered with a mean of 247.7 cases per month. The best-fitted model to make forecasts was the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average ((1,1,1); (1,1,1)). It was predicted 0.32 cases/100,000 inhabitants to January of 2016 and 0.38 cases/100,000 inhabitants to December of 2020. This study used secondary data from Brazil information system for notifiable diseases; hence, leprosy data may be underreported. The forecast for leprosy detection rate for December 2020 was < 1 case/100,000 inhabitants. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model has been shown to be appropriate and could be used to forecast leprosy detection rates. Thus, this strategy can be used to facilitate prevention and elimination programmes.

Impact of the Social Determinants of Health on COVID-19-Related Mortality in a Northeastern Area of Brazil: A Spatiotemporal Modelling Study

Background: Social inequalities in health have been linked to disproportional impacts in COVID-19 mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of the COVID-19-related mortality and its association with the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) in Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil.Method: Ecological study using spatiotemporal analysis tools. All confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in Sergipe, Brazil, from March 14 th to October 31 st 2020, were included and we calculated moving averages. Mortality crude rates were smoothed through Empirical Bayesian Method and were used for spatial analysis. We carried out the retrospective spatiotemporal scan statistics using the Poisson’s probability model. We used the spatial regression models to identify the association between COVID-19 mortality and Social Determinants of Health.Findings: 2,206 deaths by COVID-19 were registered in Sergipe. There was an increase of the moving averages, reaching the peak at of July 2020. A spatiotemporal cluster of mortality, comprising the metropolitan area and the neighboring cities. Illiteracy rate of people ≥15 years-old, percentage of children Interpretation: COVID-19 mortality in Sergipe was increasing until the end of July 2020 and it showed a spatiotemporal risk cluster in the metropolitan area. Educational and aging indicators were associated to mortality, which points out the necessity of prioritization and resources redirection to risk areas.Funding Information: No funding source was required for this study.Declaration of Interests: None to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: This study followed national ethical recommendations and the rules of Helsinki Convention. The research project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Federal University of Sergipe (CEP/UFS), registered under the approval 4,086,909.

Small mammals in restinga areas of north-eastern Brazil

Small mammals in restinga areas of north-eastern Brazil

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in the northeastern Brazilian states of Alagoas and Bahia is described and illustrated. Eriothecaalversonii inhabits Atlantic coastal forest and is found principally on sandy soils in restinga vegetation. It is most similar morphologically to E.parvifolia. Both species have 3-foliolate leaves and short petioles on fertile branches, but the new species has smaller flowers, truncate to crenulate calyces, and smaller globose to subglobose capsules. The affinities of E.alversonii to morphologically similar species and its phenology are discussed. A distribution map and preliminary assessment of its conservation status are provided.

Diagnostic comparison of stool exam and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test for schistosomiasis mansoni diagnosis in a high endemicity area in northeastern Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test in a highly endemic area in Brazil, comparing it to the Kato-Katz (KK) technique for sensitivity, specificity and the intensity of the reaction of the test in relation to the parasitic load. The community in Sergipe, Brazil, participated in the study, providing three stool samples, one of urine (POC-CCA) and fingers tick blood sample was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, kappa coefficient and Spearman's correlation were calculated for the POC-CCA test using the KK as the reference. The prevalence of schistosomiasis by KK testing was 48.82%; POC-CCA (t+) 66.14%; POC-CCA (t-) 45.24%. ELISA results showed 100% agreement in individuals with high and moderate eggs per gram (EPG). POC-CCA presented good diagnostic performance in individuals with medium and high EPG, but there were a high number of false negatives in individuals with low intensity infections. As observed, POC-CCA-filter test improves accuracy and sensitivity compared to a conventional test.