Brazilian Amazon Region Research Articles

Potential Soil Remineralizers from Silicate Rock Powders (SRP) as Alternative Sources of Nutrients for Agricultural Production (Amazon Region)

The demand for mineral fertilizers has increased over the years. In the states of Amazonas and Roraima, acquiring conventional fertilizers used in agriculture is challenging due to the distance from large production centers. In these regions, alternative fertilizers are needed to maintain food security. However, research in agrominerals of silicate rock powders (SRP) is still incipient. The objective of this research was to characterize three important Units of Agrogeological Interest in the Manaus/Boa Vista axis in the Amazon region of Brazil: (i) EBAM Quarry: quartz monzonites from the Água Branca suite, partially potassified, (ii) Granada Mining Quarry: basalts from the Apoteri formation, and (iii) Samauma Quarry: riolites from the Iricoumé Group. Samplings were carried out followed by chemical analyses for determining macro and micronutrients, in addition to potentially toxic elements; petrographic analyses were performed for mineralogical characterization as well as granulometric analyses of the powders collected in the quarries. The results showed that the EBAM quarry rock powder meets the standards established by Brazilian legislation. It also has low levels of potentially toxic elements and only 15% quartz, indicating good safety in the use of this SRP, in addition to the large supply of the material already crushed, for which there is still no market. At the Granada Mineração quarry, SRP also has the necessary characteristics to classify as a soil remineralizer, including K2O content above 1%. At Pedreira Samauma, although SRP does not qualify as an agromineral, it has more than 5% K2O and 77% aphanitic matrix, which could result in a more accessible release of abundant K and Si to the soil–plant system. Using laser granulometry analysis, it was possible to make some considerations about the effects of the crushing process in such different lithotypes and, finally, to characterize and classify the prospects of greatest interest for “rochagem” in the Amazon.

Exposure to Treponema pallidum Infection among Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Roraima, Amazon Region of Brazil.

Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease, and its prevalence has been described since the 15th century. Because of the high prevalence of this infection in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of syphilis and its associated factors among adolescent and young women living in the city of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. The present study was cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical and quantitative. It involved 200 young and adolescent women. Laboratory tests were performed to diagnose syphilis, and a sociodemographic and epidemiological questionnaire was employed. In the studied sample, 10 women had a positive result for syphilis, characterizing a prevalence of 5% for infection with Treponema pallidum. There was a statistically significant association between a monthly family income of less than 1 minimum wage and syphilis (p = 0.0449) and between illicit drug use and syphilis (p = 0.0234). These results indicate the need for public health interventions, action plans, and the implementation of risk reduction strategies focused on this population.

Temporal Characteristics and Sources of PM2.5 in Porto Velho of Amazon Region in Brazil from 2020 to 2022

Our study analyzed PM2.5 concentrations in Porto Velho, Rondônia, during the April 2020 and October 2022 wildfire seasons. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal characteristics of PM2.5 and the influence of long-distance pollution sources. Using PurpleAir data, we found that the average PM2.5 concentration was 17.7 ± 24.0 µg m−3, with significant spikes in August. PM2.5 concentrations decreased during the day but rose from nighttime to morning. The PM2.5 concentration was observed to be distributed at a high level of 36.3 ± 31.1 µg m−3 in slow westerly winds. Moreover, even in the dominant northerly wind conditions, a similarly high concentration of PM2.5 was detected, measuring at 33.2 ± 28.3 µg m−3. Air masses mainly originated from northeastern, southeastern, and southern regions, passing through Paraguay and Bolivia. Furthermore, PM2.5 in Porto Velho was influenced by Brazil’s northern and Central-West areas. To meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 11.6.2 for clean air, it is recommended that wildfires in Porto Velho’s northern and western regions be reduced, and more robust deforestation policies are needed in areas with long-distance pollution sources.

The potential impact of PM2.5 on the covid-19 crisis in the Brazilian Amazon region.

This study aims to assess covid-19 morbidity, mortality, and severity from 2020 to 2021 in five Brazilian Amazon states with the highest records of wildfires. A distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the potential exposure risk association with particulate matter smaller than 2.5-µm in diameter (PM2.5). Daily mean temperature, relative humidity, percentual of community mobility, number of hospital beds, days of the week, and holidays were considered in the final models for controlling the confounding factors. The states of Para, Mato Grosso, and Amazonas have reported the highest values of overall cases, deaths, and severe cases of covid-19. The worrying growth in the percentual rates in 2020/2021 for the incidence, severity, and mortality were highlighted in Rondônia and Mato Grosso. The growth in 2020/2021 in the estimations of PM2.5 concentrations was higher in Mato Grosso, with an increase of 24.4%, followed by Rondônia (14.9%). This study establishes an association between wildfire-generated PM2.5 and increasing covid-19 incidence, mortality, and severity within the studied area. The findings showed that the risk of covid-19 morbidity and mortality is nearly two times higher among individuals exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5. The attributable fraction to PM2.5 in the studied area represents an important role in the risk associated with covid-19 in the Brazilian Amazon region.

Hepatitis C and Human Pegivirus Coinfection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C from the Brazilian Amazon Region: Prevalence, Genotypes and Clinical Data.

Coinfection of HPgV-1 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common due to shared modes of transmission, with a prevalence of HPgV-1 viremia of approximately 20% among individuals with chronic HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and circulating genotypes in patients with hepatitis C from a health service located in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil. A total of 147 samples were included in the study from February to December 2019. Among the participants, 72.1% (106/147) were monoinfected with HCV, with detectable HCV viral RNA, and 27.9% (41/147) were coinfected with HCV/HPgV-1. The most frequently found genotypes were HPgV-1 genotypes 1 and 2 (36.6% and 63.4%), respectively. While for HCV there was a predominance of genotypes 1 and 3 (58.5% and 41.5%). No significant differences were found when comparing any risk, sociodemographic, or clinical factors between groups. Also, there was no statistically significant difference when relating the viral genotypes of both agents. This study indicated that the prevalence of infection by HPgV-1 is high in HCV carriers in Belém, Pará, and probably does not change the clinical course of HCV infection, however, further studies are still needed.

Decay resistance and weathering properties of thermally-modified amazon woods – Parkia pendula (Willd.) and Simarouba amara (Aubl.)

ABSTRACT Thermal modification is a technique that can be used to increase the resistance of wood to the biodeterioration processes. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the durability of Parkia pendula (angelim-saia) and Simarouba amara (marupá) woods thermally modified in rotting field tests and by the action of natural weathering. The tests were carried out in the Brazilian Amazon region, in the Mato Grosso State. The thermal modification of the wood was set with four treatments: control (T1); electric-oven treatment, 180°C for 3 h (T2); combination of autoclave and electric-oven, 125°C for 3 h, and 180°C for 3 h respectively (T3), and immersion in vegetable oil, 180°C for 3 h (T4). The samples were partially buried for the field rotting assays, and the mass loss and deterioration index were seasonally evaluated after the experiment was installed. These analyses were performed on the same samples which has been exposed to rotting essays. The action of natural weathering was assessed through the CIELAB* colour system. T4 was the most efficient for increasing the resistance to biological deterioration, under the tested conditions. T2 and T3 treatments conferred higher colorimetric stability for both types of woods after natural weathering, under the tested conditions.

Paint and Coloring Materials from the Brazilian Amazon Forest: Beyond Urucum and Jenipapo

The Brazilian Legal Amazon region is divided into at least 155 ethnic groups and has the largest concentration of Indigenous people globally. It represents one of the most extraordinary levels of human, cultural, and artistic diversity, but its material culture is one of the least well-studied. This is especially true in technical art history and conservation science, largely due to (1) the limited international awareness of the richness of materials and techniques used by these Indigenous people and (2) the limitations of knowledge access for many scientists to literature usually published in Portuguese within social sciences and humanities. One result is that these arts are marginalized within technical art history, conservation, and conservation science. To address this knowledge gap, the authors explore 70 materials—among them pigments, dyes, binding media, and varnishes—used for paint production and coloring processes, including syntheses. The authors facilitate research possibilities within technical art history, conservation, and conservation science by presenting data from historical texts from the 18th and 19th centuries and more recent scientific literature. The work aims to build a more global, inclusive, and decentralized vision of art history and to create a more pluralistic narrative of Indigenous art history from South America.

Amazon development and climate change: socioeconomic analysis

The objective of this article was to examine the relationship between municipal socioeconomic development within the nine Brazilian states of the Legal Amazon and the emission of greenhouse gas, CO2e GWP-AR5. The hypothesis tested posited that a higher municipal development indicator would be associated with greater CO2e GWP-AR5 emissions in the atmosphere. The methodological approach comprised two stages: the first involved spatial analysis utilizing a heat map, while the second employed a multilevel model. The results revealed that the impact of municipal development on CO2e GWP-AR5 emissions varied depending on the state. The Legal Amazon region confronts substantial challenges concerning greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, alterations in land use have emerged as the primary contributor to emissions within this area, with deforestation representing a particularly devastating aspect. Effective governance of public policies in the Brazilian Legal Amazon region must promote agricultural practices that embrace sustainable techniques and methods.

Impacts of natural rubber export trajectories on the regional development of the Brazilian Amazon Region between 1827 and 2021

This study has the following objectives: a - to estimate the instabilities and behavior of the trajectories of prices and exports of Brazilian natural rubber in each of the periods; b - to estimate forecast models of prices and exports of natural rubber from 1827 to 2021; c - to estimate the impacts of price forecast errors on the forecast errors of Brazilian rubber exports in the three periods that classify the trajectory of natural rubber exports. The research used data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Trade. ARIMA models are estimated to predict the series of exports and prices of Brazilian natural rubber. From these models the forecast errors are generated and the influence of price forecast errors on the forecast errors of natural rubber exports is evaluated. Growth rates of exports and prices in the three periods studied were estimated, as well as the levels of instability of exports and prices. The results showed that both prices and exports of Brazilian natural rubber were quite unstable in the three periods evaluated and that the forecast errors of prices, as was one of the hypotheses of the research, interfered differently in the forecast errors of natural rubber exports and that exports had positive growth rates before and during the rubber cycle, while prices only had positive growth rates before and during the rubber cycle.

On the symphytognathoid spider genus Mysmenopsis Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Mysmenidae) from the Brazilian Amazonian region: description of five new species and new records.

Five new species of Mysmenopsis from the Brazilian Amazonian region are described: M. rodriguesae n. sp. and M. nadineae n. sp. known by males and females, M snethlageae n. sp., M. lopardoae n. sp. and M. regiae n. sp. known only by males. Three species, M. cienaga Müller, 1987 (previously known from Peru and Colombia), M. penai Platnick & Shadab, 1978 (Ecuador and Colombia), and M. shushufindi Dupérré & Tapia, 2020 (Ecuador) are recorded for the first time in Brazilian Amazonian region. An additional record of M. penai from northeastern Brazil is included.

A Modeling Approach for Analyzing the Hydrological Impacts of the Agribusiness Land-Use Scenarios in an Amazon Basin

The Xingu River Basin (XRB) in the Brazilian Amazon region has a great relevance to the development of northern Brazil because of the Belo Monte hydropower plant and its crescent agribusiness expansion. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the Lavras Simulation of the Hydrology (LASH) model to represent the main hydrological processes in the XRB and simulate the hydrological impacts in the face of land-use change scenarios. Following the trend of the most relevant agribusiness evolution in the XRB, four agribusiness scenarios (S) were structured considering the increase in grasslands (S1: 50% over the native forest; S2: 100% over the native forest) and soybean plantations (S3: 50% over the native forest; S4: 100% over native forest). Average hydrographs were simulated, and the frequency duration curves (FDC) and average annual values of the main hydrological components for each scenario were compared. The results showed that, in general, changes in land use based on deforestation in the XRB would lead to an increase in flood streamflow and a reduction in baseflow. The increases in direct surface runoff varied from 4.4% for S1 to 29.8% for S4 scenarios. The reduction in baseflow varied from −1.6% for S1 to −4.9% for S2. These changes were reduced when the entire XRB was analyzed, but notable for the sub-basins in its headwater region, where the scenarios were more effective.

Long-term prevalence follow-up (1967-2022) of HTLV-2 among vulnerable indigenous populations in the Amazon region of Brazil.

Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 (HTLV-2) has been described for more than 30 years as an endemic infection in Brazilian indigenous populations, with its occurrence varying by age and sex, maintained mainly by sexual intercourse and mother-to-child transmission, favoring intrafamilial aggregation. The epidemiological scenario of HTLV-2 infection has been described among communities of the Amazon region of Brazil (ARB), with the number of retrospective positive blood samples increasing for more than 50 years. Five publications were selected that showed the presence of HTLV-2 in 24 of 41 communities; the prevalence of infection was described among 5,429 individuals at five points in time. Among the Kayapó villages, the prevalence rates were described according to age and sex and reached up to 41.2%. Three communities (Asurini, Araweté, and Kaapor) were kept virus free for 27 to 38 years of surveillance. Low, medium and high prevalence levels of infection were defined, and two pockets of high endemicity were shown in the state of Pará, pointing to the Kikretum and Kubenkokrê Kayapó villages as the epicenter of HTLV-2 in the ARB. The prevalence rates over the years have shown a decline among the Kayapó (from 37.8 to 18.4%) and an apparent change to a higher prevalence among females, but not during the first decade of life, usually associated with transmission from mother to child. Sociocultural and behavioral aspects, as well as public health policies directed toward sexually transmitted infections, might have positively influenced the decline in HTLV-2 infections.

Clonal dissemination of highly virulent Serratia marcescens strains producing KPC-2 in food-producing animals

Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacterium presenting intrinsic resistance to polymyxins that has emerged as an important human pathogen. Although previous studies reported the occurrence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) S. marcescens isolates in the nosocomial settings, herein, we described isolates of this extensively drug-resistant (XDR) species recovered from stool samples of food-producing animals in the Brazilian Amazon region. Three carbapenem-resistant S. marcescens strains were recovered from stool samples of poultry and cattle. Genetic similarity analysis showed that these strains belonged to the same clone. Whole-genome sequencing of a representative strain (SMA412) revealed a resistome composed of genes encoding resistance to β-lactams [blaKPC-2, blaSRT-2], aminoglycosides [aac(6′)-Ib3, aac(6′)-Ic, aph(3′)-VIa], quinolones [aac(6′)-Ib-cr], sulfonamides [sul2], and tetracyclines [tet(41)]. In addition, the analysis of the virulome demonstrated the presence of important genes involved in the pathogenicity of this species (lipBCD, pigP, flhC, flhD, phlA, shlA, and shlB). Our data demonstrate that food-animal production can act as reservoirs for MDR and virulent strains of S. marcescens.

Political violence and mobilisation in Brazil’s Amazonian region during Bolsonaro’s government (2019–2022)

In recent years, Brazil has experienced rising violence against activists and increasing deforestation levels in the Amazon. The processes leading to those events are not new. However, various discourses and events have intensified and underpinned extractive interests during Bolsonaro’s government. Hence, this article analyses the relationship between the State and activists in the Brazilian Amazon region between 2019 and 2022. It focuses on three regional paradigmatic case studies: (1) the ongoing gold miners’ (garimpeiros) invasion of the Yanomami territory; (2) the arrest of four environmentalists accused of setting fire to the forest in 2019; and (3) the murder of the journalist Dominic Phillips and the Indigenist Bruno Pereira in 2022. The case studies utilise publicly available data from reports, interviews, press releases and newspaper articles. Our main objective is to provide an overview of the characteristics of an increasingly antagonistic relationship between activists and the State. Drawing on those cases, the article builds on mobilisation theories, particularly Political Process Theories. Our central argument is that there are evident differences in the forms of repression activists face during far-right governments. This context shapes activism distinctively in the Amazonian region because violence routinely challenges social and environmental justice activism. Moreover, the current violence points to broader social questions and struggles between activists and agents of repression.

Regional Disparities in Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Cataract Surgical Coverage and Ocular Findings in Adults 50 Years and Older in Brazil: A Comparative Analysis between Two Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys Performed Within a 10-Year Interval

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate disparities in the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness, cataract surgical coverage, and ocular findings in older adults from two Brazilian geo-socio-demographic areas, São Paulo and Parintins cities. Methods Data from two population-based studies including participants 50 years and older from the cities of São Paulo (São Paulo Eye Study – SPES, 2004) and Parintins (Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey – BARES, 2014) were aggregated. Results A total of 5318 participants (3677 from SPES;1641 from BARES) were included. The prevalence of severe visual impairment (SVI) and blindness were, respectively, 0.74% (0.46–1.02) and 0.77% (0.48–1.05) in SPES and 1.72% (1.09–2.35) and 3.44% (2.55–4.33) in BARES. SVI and blindness were associated with BARES study [OR = 2.27 (1.30–3.95); p = .004 - SVI] [OR:4.07 (2.51–6.60); p < .001- blindness]; and older age [OR = 10.93 (4.20–28.45); p < .001 - SPES; OR = 17.96 (8.75–36.83); p < .001 - BARES] while higher education level was a protective factor [OR = 0.21 (0.05–0.95) - SPES; p = .042; OR = 0.21 (0.05–0.91); p = .037 - BARES]. Cataract was the main cause of bilateral severe visual impairment (25.93% in SPES and 64.29% in BARES) and bilateral blindness (21.43% in SPES and 35.71% in BARES). Cataract surgical coverage was significantly lower in BARES (36.32%) compared to SPES (57.75%). Conclusion The prevalence of SVI and blindness was three times higher in older adults from the Brazilian Amazon compared to those living in São Paulo city, despite a 10-year interval between the two studies. These disparities should be mitigated by initiatives to promote access to eye care services targeting underprivileged and remote Brazilian areas.

The use of pracaxi oil collector in the selective flotation of xenotime from silicates

Rare earth elements have played a key role in technological advancement, attracting great visibility in the global commodity market. Xenotime, a heavy rare earth resource (YPO4), can be found associated with granitic rocks, as in the Pitinga deposit, located in the Brazilian Amazon region, where the main gangue minerals are quartz, microcline and albite. This research investigates the application of a new collector produced from pracaxi oil, an Amazon oil abundant in Brazil, in the selective flotation between xenotime and its main gangue minerals. The study conducted the synthesis and characterization of the collector, the chemical, mineralogical and surface characterization of minerals, as well as the evaluation of collector adsorption and flotability via microflotation tests, zeta potential measurements, surface tension determination and XRD, WDXRF, ICP-MS, FTIR and XPS analyses. The pracaxi collector was found to be mainly composed of oleic acid (56.2%), linoleic acid (14.1%) and behenic acid (10.6%), in addition to exhibiting a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of approximately 150 mg/L. Microflotation tests indicated that the best condition for selective recovery of xenotime occur at alkaline condition (pH 9.0), presenting selectivity of approximately 90% with collector concentration of 10.0 mg/L. The zeta potential data confirmed a selective adsorption of pracaxi collector onto xenotime, with an increase in the surface charge from −30 mV to −68 mV, whereas no significant changes were detected in the silicates. The FTIR spectra showed the appearance of a band at 1545 cm−1 on the surface of the xenotime after collector adsorption, which indicates, along with the zeta potential data, the chemical nature of the adsorption. The presence of small amounts of iron in the lattice structure of silicate gangues can act as an activator, and therefore, may be responsible for the small flotability of these minerals. The performance of the pracaxi oil collector presented in this study indicates the great potential of this Amazonian oil for application in the selective flotation of xenotime ores found in the region.

Malaria: a historical, eminent and persistent problem

The sub-Saharan Africa region concentrates more than 90% of notifications of malaria infections. However, the disease is not concentrated only in the African continent, being endemic even in the Amazon region of Brazil. Thus, it is imperative that there are effective actions to mitigate and eradicate the disease. In this sense, a bibliometric analysis was carried out to address current facts related to the characterization of the parasite, vector control, disease diagnosis and treatment of patients. The results indicate that methods for vector control, although effective, are not available for the entire population of endemic countries and their effectiveness has been circumvented by the vector over time. Chemical treatments with antimalarials also suffer from acquired resistance by the pathogen. Furthermore, the most current therapy is the developed and tested anti-malarial vaccine, with results that proved to be viable in economic and public health terms. In view of the high number of deaths caused by malaria, especially in children living in areas of high contagion, the World Health Organization has started to recommend the use of this resource, which could save thousands of lives every year.

Genomic analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae high-risk clone ST11 co-harbouring MCR-1.27 and KPC-2 recovered at a paediatric oncologic hospital in the Brazilian Amazon region

Phenotypic and genomic characterization of a KPC-2 and MCR-1.27 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated from a pediatric patient at an oncologic hospital in Belém, Pará State, Brazilian Amazon region. Antibiotic susceptibility test, whole genome sequencing and in silico analysis were used to characterize the bacterial isolate (IEC 48020) received in the Evandro Chagas Institute. The isolate was resistant to carbapenens, colistin, polymyxin B and several other antimicrobials, and was susceptible in vitro just to tigecycline, classified as an extensively drug resistance phenotype. Genomic analysis revealed IEC48020 strain belonged to sequence type 11, clonal complex 258 high-risk clone and the presence of eight plasmids, two of them harboring mcr-1.27 and blaKPC-2 genes, and the presence of virulence-related genes encoding yersiniabactin, phospholipase D and traT genes. The presence and dissemination of high-risk clone bacteria with high disseminating plasmids containing antibiotic resistance genes for last resources antibiotics treatment options is a threat to the health care system and demands efforts in surveillance and epidemiological research for better knowledge of the actual situation of antibiotic resistance in health care system, especially in Amazon region, Brazil.

Deaths by COVID-19 in a hospital from a city from Legal Amazon region: what lessons could be learned?

Objectives: Describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 deaths within a hospital in the Amazon region in a period of 64 days, which corresponds to the growth curve of the COVID-19 first-wave pandemic in 2020. Methods: The data were obtained from medical records of 152 deaths registered for adults and elderly hospitalized. The data were also compared with the number of deaths in previous years during the same period studied to assess the impact of the pandemic on this hospital. The study also assesses the impact of intra-hospital transfers, accounting for the number of times patients who died performed transfers between sectors of the hospital. Results: During the period analyzed, there was an increase in deaths compared to the previous years. The majority of dead patients were male, aged between 34 and 96 years. The deaths were associated comorbidities such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and kidney disease. The SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 91 cases. Among them, 15 individuals were admitted without conditions related to SARS-CoV-2 infection; they had a three-fold higher number of hospital transfers than those admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms. Sixteen patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection developed respiratory symptoms just after hospitalization. The diagnostic exam for SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed on average 4 (± 6) days after the onset of symptoms and 6 (± 6) days after admission, and the average time from the onset of respiratory symptoms to death was 4 (± 6) days. Conclusions: These data suggest the high presence of hospital infection by SARS-CoV-2 in the Brazilian Amazon region, which may be related to the number of sectorial transfers, delay in confirming the diagnosis, and lack of management. We report a serious public health problem, as it demonstrates the fragility of healthcare institutions in the hospital environment.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of BIM-1, a novel acquired subgroup B1 MBL found in a Pseudomonas sp. strain from the Brazilian Amazon region.

To characterize a novel acquired MBL, BIM-1, in a Pseudomonas #2 (subgroup P. guariconensis) strain isolated from the Aurá river located in the Brazilian Amazon hydrographic basin. WGS using an Illumina® MiSeq System was used to characterize the genome of Pseudomonas sp. IEC33019 strain. Southern blotting/hybridization assays were performed to confirm the location of the MBL-encoding gene, blaBIM-1 (Belém Imipenemase). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, cloning, and biochemical and phenotypic characterization were performed to determine BIM-1 kinetics. The IEC33019 strain showed high resistance rates to β-lactams, ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides, being susceptible only to polymyxins and susceptible, increased exposure to aztreonam. WGS analysis revealed a novel acquired MBL-encoding gene, blaBIM-1, found as a gene cassette inserted into a class 1 integron (In1326) that also carried qnrVC1 and aadA11e. In1326 was located in a complex transposon, Tn7122, carried by a 52.7 kb conjugative plasmid (pIEC33019) with a toxin/antitoxin system (vapB/vapC). BIM-1 belongs to the molecular subgroup B1 and shares 70.2% and 64.9% similarity with SIM-1 and IMP-1, respectively. Kinetics analysis of BIM-1 showed hydrolytic activity against all β-lactams tested. BIM-1 is a novel acquired MBL encoded by a gene carried by mobile genetic elements, which can be transferred to other Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Because the IEC33019 strain was recovered from a river impacted by a populous metropolitan region with poor basic sanitation and served by limited potable freshwater, it would be important to establish the role of the BIM-1-producing GNB as nosocomial pathogens and/or as colonizers of the riverside population in this geographical region.