Brazilian State Of Amazonas Research Articles

Infection susceptibility and vector competence of Rhodnius robustus Larrousse, 1927 and R. pictipes Stal, 1872 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) for strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) I, II and IV

BackgroundRhodnius robustus and Rhodnius pictipes are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (CD), that are found in the Brazilian Amazon region. Susceptibility to infection and vector competence depend on the parasite-vector relationship. Our objective was to evaluate the interaction between T. cruzi and these two triatomine vectors in pure and mixed experimental infections of T. cruzi strains from the same or different geographic regions.MethodsFifth-instar nymphs of R. robustus and R. pictipes were fed on mice infected with four T. cruzi strains, namely genotypes TcIAM, TcIMG, TcIIPR, and TcIVAM, respectively, from the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Minas Gerais and Paraná. Over a period of 120 days, excreta were examined every 20 days to assess vector competence, and intestinal contents (IC) were examined every 30 days to determine susceptibility to infection.ResultsThe highest positive rate in the fresh examination (%+FE, 30.0%), the highest number of parasitic forms (PF, n = 1969) and the highest metacyclogenesis rate (%MC, 53.8%) in the excreta were recorded for R. robustus/TcIVAM. Examination of the IC of R. pictipes revealed a higher number of PF in infections with TcIAM (22,680 PF) and TcIIPR (19,845 PF) alone or in association (17,145 PF), as well as a %+FE of 75.0% with TcII, in comparison with the other genotypes. The highest %MC (100%) was recorded for the mixed infections of TcIAM with TcIIPR or TcIVAM in the IC of R. pictipes.ConclusionsOverall, both species were found to be susceptible to the T. cruzi strains studied. Rhodnius robustus showed vector competence for genotypes TcIVAM and TcIAM+TcIVAM and R. pictipes for TcIAM+TcIVAM and TcIAM+TcIIPR; there was elimination of infective forms as early as at 20 days. Our results suggest that both the genetics of the parasite and its geographic origin influence the susceptibility to infection and vector competence, alone or in association.Graphical

A problem-based learning course to teach Brazilian biology students about the viral hepatitis from a health geography perspective

ABSTRACT In this study we designed, implemented, and evaluated a Problem-based Learning (PBL) course to teach undergraduate students about Viral Hepatitis from a Health Geography perspective. The course was attended by undergraduate students with no previous experience with PBL from a college in the Brazilian Amazon state of Acre. The course design was based on a combination of features from different PBL frameworks, allowing the students to gradually switch from a content-centered educational environment to a student-centered one. The PBL unit was based on an ill-structured real-life problem concerning the division of a hypothetical budget among actions to fight Viral Hepatitis in the state’s municipalities. Student problem solutions indicated that they learned basic Viral Hepatitis and Health Geography concepts. Furthermore, perceptions of their own learning demonstrated that students regarded their acquired problem-solving skills and their knowledge of the course subject as their main educational outcomes. We argue that the combination of different PBL frameworks, the gradual transition from lectures to active learning and the social relevance of the course subject to students are among the putative factors that contributed to the course’s success. This study, therefore, provides insights into the design of PBL courses for students inexperienced in active learning.

Dissemination Dynamics of HIV-1 Subtype B Pandemic and Non-pandemic Lineages Circulating in Amazonas, Brazil.

The HIV-1 epidemic in the Amazonas state, as in most of Brazil, is dominated by subtype B. The state, nonetheless, is singular for its significant co-circulation of the variants BCAR, which can mostly be found in the Caribbean region, and BPAN, a clade that emerged in the United States and aggregates almost the totality of subtype B infections world-wide. The Amazonian HIV-1 epidemic provides a unique scenario to compare the epidemic potential of BPAN and BCAR clades spreading in the same population. To reconstruct the spatiotemporal dynamic and demographic history of both subtype B lineages circulating in Amazonas, we analyzed 1,272 HIV-1 pol sequences sampled in that state between 2009 and 2018. Our phylogeographic analyses revealed that while most BCAR infections resulted from a single successful founder event that took place in the Amazonas state around the late 1970s, most BPAN infections resulted from the expansion of multiple clusters seeded in the state since the late 1980s. Our data support the existence of at least four large clusters of the pandemic form in Amazonas, two of them nested in Brazil’s largest known subtype B cluster (BBR–I), and two others resulting from new introductions detected here. The reconstruction of the demographic history of the most prevalent BPAN (n = 4) and BCAR (n = 1) clades identified in Amazonas revealed that all clades displayed a continuous expansion [effective reproductive number (Re) > 1] until most recent times. During the period of co-circulation from the late 1990s onward, the Re of Amazonian BPAN and BCAR clusters behaved quite alike, fluctuating between 2.0 and 3.0. These findings support that the BCAR and BPAN variants circulating in the Brazilian state of Amazonas displayed different evolutionary histories, but similar epidemic trajectories and transmissibility over the last two decades, which is consistent with the notion that both subtype B variants display comparable epidemic potential. Our findings also revealed that despite significant advances in the treatment of HIV infections in the Amazonas state, BCAR and BPAN variants continue to expand and show no signs of the epidemic stabilization observed in other parts of the country.

IAEA and Brazilian Navy to provide new arsenal to fight breast cancer: mammography on a ship.

The Amazon River, with its vast extension and many tributaries, is home to numerous small communities living along the riverbank. These communities, known as ribeirinhos, are mostly of Indigenous origin. Reaching their villages can take 5–10 days by boat from Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Access to medical care in these remote areas is very poor or non-existent; diseases are often treated with local plants and herbs.

Six new species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from Amazonian Brazil

Eugenia canumana, E. humaitana, E. jutai, E. multilocellata and E. seislagoana, from the Brazilian state of Amazonas, and E. xinguana, from the Brazilian states of Maranhão and Pará, are proposed as new species. Eugenia canumana is morphologically related to E. laevis, but differs by its twigs with cataphylls and glabrous flowers; E. humaitana is close to E. cribrata, but has glabrous flowers with sepals in two unequal pairs; E. jutai is close to E. campina, but has dull-colored blades with midvein adaxially impressed and longer pedicels and bracteoles; E. multilocellata is related to E. agathopoda, but has pilose flowers and multilocellate anthers; E. seislagoana is related to E. illepida, but has blades with midvein adaxially raised and smaller flowers with sepals fused at its basal portion, and E. xinguana is related to E. stictopetala, but has blades with midvein adaxially raised and larger flowers. All six species are assigned to section Umbellatae.

Predição da distribuição natural e conservação de Urena lobata L. no Brasil

ABSTRACT Urena lobata L. is a commercial species used for fiber extraction in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará that presents relevant socioeconomic importance for the Amazon region. Despite its importance and wide distribution throughout Brazil, there are no data on the species response to global climate change. This study aimed to present the potential geographical distribution of U. lobata in the current period (2009-2019) and predict areas of climatic suitability for its occurrence in two future scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5), at two time intervals (2020-2050 and 2051-2070), in the face of global climate change. A total of 19 bioclimatic variables were obtained from the WorldClim database and four algorithms (Climate Space Model, Envelope Score, Niche Mosaic and Environmental Distance), from which the Envelope Score was the most representative model for the species to verify its occurrence along the Brazilian phytogeographic domains (Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest and Pampa). Vulnerability was observed for the species, since there were losses of favorable areas in the Amazon, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga, becoming practically extinct in the worst scenario (RCP 8.5), in the year 2070. However, for this same scenario and year, there was a significant area increase in the Pampa.

Effect of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) sowing season on population dynamics of pest insects

Several factors limit cowpea quality and yield, such as the choice of a cultivar better adapted to the region, the ideal sowing season, as well as diseases and pests. Aimed to evaluate the effect of different sowing seasons on the population dynamics of pest insects of cowpea crops. The study was carried out during the dry season, the rainy season, and the season recommended for sowing by the Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Amazonas (FAEXP–UFAM), Brazil. A total of 33 weekly collections were carried out during the three sowing seasons, distributed in two ways according to the phenological stage of the crop: manual collection per linear meter of plantation and entomological scanning net. The faunistic analysis detected the pest insects Acromyrmex laticeps nigrosetosus, Cerotoma arcuata, Crinocerus sanctus, Euschistus heros, Horciasinus signoreti, Liriomyza sativae, and Nezara viridula. Of these species, H. signoreti stands out for being recorded for the first time as predominant in cowpea crops in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Infections by hemipterans such as C. sanctus, E. heros, H. signoreti, and N. viridula were detected throughout the study, regardless of the sowing season, except for H. signoreti, which was dominant in all three seasons. The highest infestation of C. arcuata occurred during the recommended sowing season for cowpeas (June to August). According to the Jaccard index, plantation I e II share 86% of the species. This study provides important information to programs in insect control and management and to the agronomic decision-making process.

Impacts of greenhouse gases and deforestation in Amazon Basin climate extreme indices

To evaluate the individual and combined impacts of increasing greenhouse gases and deforestation on extreme precipitation events in the Amazon Basin, we carried out 4 numerical experiments with the regional Eta model forced from the initial and boundary conditions of the global HadGEM2-ES model: (1) control experiment (CTRL); (2) RCP8.5 scenario; (3) DEFOREST scenario; and (4) RCP8.5+DEFOREST scenario. To analyze changes in extreme rainy events associated with the increase in greenhouse gases, deforestation, and their combined effect, anomalies were calculated from the sensitivity and control experiments. In the RCP8.5 scenario, there was an increase in the maximum number of consecutive dry days (CDD), a reduction in the maximum number of consecutive wet days (CWD), a reduction in total annual precipitation (PRCPTOT), and an increase in the maximum precipitation accumulated in 5 consecutive days (RX5Day). The DEFOREST scenario evidenced an increased CDD, and a reduction in the other indices (CWD, PRCPTOT, and RX5Day). Furthermore, the RCP8.5+DEFOREST scenario exhibited an increased CDD, and a reduction in the other indices (CWD, PRCPTOT, and RX5Day), but with more intense increases and reductions than observed in the DEFOREST scenario. In general, towards the end of the 21st century, the 3 scenarios are projected to increase the drought period, mainly on the boundary between the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará.

"Cities in the forest" and "cities of the forest": an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) spatial approach to analyzing the urbanization-deforestation relationship in a Brazilian Amazon state

Contemporary urbanization has been reorganizing the territories and the socioeconomic relations in the Brazilian Amazon as a whole. We seek to identify a general typology of relationships between urbanization and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, in the light of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory. We have applied this approach to the 144 municipalities of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon, in the inter-census interval from 2000 to 2010. The EKC approach included the spatial analysis method of geographically weighted regressions (GWR). Deforestation, measured by the PRODES program by Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), was used as a measure of environmental degradation and the urbanization has been restricted to a socioeconomic characterizing, based on a set of 22 variables from the national census database, aggregated at the municipalities level. The results showed two main typologies: (1) the decreasing monotonic and (2)

Impacts of conservation incentives in protected areas: The case of Bolsa Floresta, Brazil

Conditional incentives are a promising complementary approach to conserve tropical forests, for example, in multiple-use protected areas. In this paper we analyze the environmental impacts of Bolsa Floresta, a forest conservation program that combines direct conditional payments with livelihood-focused investments in 15 multiple-use reserves in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. We use grid-based data, nearest-neighbor matching, and panel data econometrics to compare three forest-related program outcomes – deforestation, degradation, and fires – of participating and non-participating reserve areas. Forest threats were low before and after treatment, because the program prioritized low-pressure sites. Thus, we find significant but small additional conservation effects from the implementation of the program. Notwithstanding, treatment effects are relatively larger in areas with higher deforestation pressure and higher potential agricultural income. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that adverse spatial targeting of conservation incentives, i.e. disproportionally enrolling low–pressure sites, is a prime cause for the low additionality found in rigorous impact evaluations of many existing initiatives.

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil.

The sharp increase of COVID-19 cases in late 2020 has made Brazil the new epicenter of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The novel viral lineages P.1 (Variant of Concern Gamma) and P.2, respectively identified in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro, have been associated with potentially higher transmission rates and antibody neutralization escape. In this study, we performed the whole-genome sequencing of 185 samples isolated from three out of the five Brazilian regions, including Amazonas (North region), Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Bahia (Northeast region), and Rio de Janeiro (Southeast region) in order to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Brazil in the first months of 2021. Here, we showed a widespread dispersal of P.1 and P.2 across Brazilian regions and, except for Amazonas, P.2 was the predominant lineage identified in the sampled states. We estimated the origin of P.2 lineage to have happened in February, 2020 and identified that it has differentiated into new clades. Interstate transmission of P.2 was detected since March, but reached its peak in December, 2020 and January, 2021. Transmission of P.1 was also high in December and its origin was inferred to have happened in August 2020. We also confirmed the presence of lineage P.7, recently described in the southernmost region of Brazil, to have spread across the Northeastern states. P.1, P.2 and P.7 are descended from the ancient B.1.1.28 strain, which co-dominated the first phase of the pandemic in Brazil with the B.1.1.33 strain. We also identified the occurrence of a new lineage descending from B.1.1.33 that convergently carries the E484K mutation, N.9. Indeed, the recurrent report of many novel SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Brazil could be due to the absence of effective control measures resulting in high SARS-CoV2 transmission rates. Altogether, our findings provided a landscape of the critical state of SARS-CoV-2 across Brazil and confirm the need to sustain continuous sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 isolates worldwide in order to identify novel variants of interest and monitor for vaccine effectiveness.

VISITOR PERCEPTION AND SATISFACTION: The positives and negatives of visiting the Tapajos National Forest Between 2014-2016

The Tapajós National Forest (FLONA) is a Conservation Unit (UC) located in the Brazilian Amazon state of Pará. The Flona Tapajos, managed by the Instituto Chico Mendez (ICMBio) has extensive public use (recreation and tourism). In order to identify the negative and positive aspects observed during recreation/tourism visits to the FLONA, an in-person visitor use survey was conducted at the FLONA. As part of a larger study, the objective of this manuscript was to identify the positives and negatives of the visitation pointed out by the visitors of the Tapajós National Forest in the period from 2014 to 2016. A total of 14,291 comments were analyzed, of which 9,004 were positive comments and 5,287 were negative comments. Thematic analysis and a qualitative method was used, and the comments were placed into three categories and 22 subcategorys, according to keywords. The results identify the items that may cause either satisfaction or dissatisfaction by the public. The findings help resource managers better understand the Conservation Unit and the data can support better public use programs and visitation management.

Xylopia maasiana (Annonaceae), a New Species from the Brazilian Amazon, and Taxonomic Notes on Xylopia nitida Dunal

Abstract— During a taxonomic and phylogenetic study of Xylopia from the Amazon River basin, South America, we examined collections from the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, and Tocantins that resembled Xylopia nitida by some characteristics of the leaves, but differed consistently from the latter in a number of floral and fruit characters. On the basis of these specimens we describe here a new species, Xylopia maasiana. The new species is a small to medium-sized tree encountered mostly in riparian habitats across the southern Brazilian Amazon and in some transition areas between the Amazon forest and cerrado biomes in Central Brazil. In addition to the detailed description, we include a preliminary assessment of conservation status, taxonomic comments, illustrations, a distribution map of the new species, and comparison with X. nitida.

Epidemiological and Liver Biomarkers Profile of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Its Coinfection with Cytomegalovirus in Patients with Hematological Diseases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are viruses globally distributed that have been associated with the development and prognosis of many pathologies, including hematological diseases. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of EBV infection and the infection-correlated hepatic manifestations in patients with hematological diseases of the northern Brazilian state of Amazonas. A total of 228 patients were serologically tested for the presence of anti-EBV and anti-CMV IgG antibodies through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The coinfection with CMV, sociodemographic and laboratory records of all patients were also assessed. The overall prevalence observed among the study population for EBV infection and EBV/CMV coinfection was 85.09% (95% CI: 0.80–0.90) and 78.51% (95% CI: 0.73–0.84), respectively. The age group 31–40 years old were more susceptible to EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 1.59–93.41, p = 0.011), while young people aged 1–10 years old were less affected for both EBV infection (CI 95%; 0.66–0.91, p = 0.001) and EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 0.52–0.81, p < 0.0001). High serum levels of the liver biomarker ferritin were associated with EBV infection (95% CI: 1.03–1.54, p = 0.031) and EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 1.02–1.70, p = 0.038). Our findings indicated that the elevated prevalence of EBV infection is not associated with the hematological diseases or transfusion rates, but with the socioeconomic status of the study population. Also, this study suggests that the EBV infection and its coinfection with CMV are related to the increase of serum ferritin levels.

Two new species of Ceratolejeunea (Lejeuneaceae) and five noteworthy records for Brazil

The Brazilian state of Amazonas harbors an exceptionally high number of bryophyte species for its size, yet many taxa remain to be discovered. Herein, we continue by further describing and illustrating two new species, as well as by providing evidence for substantial geographical extensions of another five taxa. Two new species, Ceratolejeunea ocirii and Ceratolejeunea semicornua are herein described. Cololejeunea appressa is newly recorded for Brazil, and Cheilolejeunea savannae, Cololejeunea clavatopapillata, Prionolejeunea galliotii and Plagiochila eggersii are new records for the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variant P.1 in Amazonas (Brazil) was temporally associated with a change in the age and sex profile of COVID-19 mortality: A population based ecological study

BackgroundSince the end of 2020, there has been a great deal of international concern about the variants of SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.7, identified in the United Kingdom; B.1.351 discovered in South Africa and P.1, originating from the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The three variants were associated with an increase in transmissibility and worsening of the epidemiological situation in the places where they expanded. The lineage B.1.1.7 was associated with the increase in case fatality rate in the United Kingdom. There are still no studies on the case fatality rate of the other two variants. The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality profile before and after the emergence of the P.1 strain in the Amazonas state. MethodsWe analyzed data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System, SIVEP-Gripe (Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe), comparing two distinct epidemiological periods: during the peak of the first wave, between April and May 2020, and in January 2021 (the second wave), the month in which the new variant came to predominate. We calculated mortality rates, overall case fatality rate and case fatality rate among hospitalized patients; all rates were calculated by age and gender and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined. FindingsWe observed that in the second wave there were a higher incidence and an increase in the proportion of cases of COVID-19 in the younger age groups. There was also an increase in the proportion of women among Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases from 40% (2,709) in the first wave to 47% (2,898) in the second wave and in the proportion of deaths due to COVID-19 between the two periods varying from 34% (1,051) to 47% (1,724), respectively. In addition, the proportion of deaths among people between 20 and 59 years old has increased in both sexes. The case fatality rate among those hospitalized in the population between 20 and 39 years old during the second wave was 2.7 times the rate observed in the first wave (female rate ratio = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.9-3.9], p <0.0001; male rate ratio = 2.70, 95%CI:2.0-3.7), and in the general population the rate ratios were 1.15 (95% CI: 1.1-1.2) in females and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.7-0.8) in males]. InterpretationBased on this prompt analysis of the epidemiological scenario in the Amazonas state, the observed changes in the pattern of mortality due to COVID-19 between age groups and gender simultaneously with the emergence of the P.1 strain suggest changes in the pathogenicity and virulence profile of this new variant. Further studies are needed to better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 variants profile and their impact for the health population. FundingThere was no funding for this study.

Comparative osteology of the fossorial frogs of the genus Synapturanus (Anura, Microhylidae) with the description of three new species from the Eastern Guiana Shield

The genus Synapturanus includes three nominal species of fossorial Amazonian frogs. A previous study combining molecular, morphological and acoustic data suggested that there may be six times more species than currently recognized. Herein we describe and name three of these new species and compare their osteology. Synapturanus zombie sp. nov. occurs in French Guiana and Amapá (Brazil), Synapturanus mesomorphus sp. nov. in Guyana and adjacent Venezuela, and Synapturanus ajuricaba sp. nov. in the northern part of the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará. These species are readily differentiated from congeners by a combination of external morphological characters such as body size, development of fringes on fingers and coloration, by advertisement call variables, and by osteological traits. Along with osteological reinforcement of the skull, atlas and scapular region, the reduction of the size of phalanges, more developed fringes on fingers, smaller eyes and larger body size, altogether suggest an overall increase of the fossorial habits in the easternmost species. In contrast, the relatively conserved morphology of the posterior part of the body across the genus suggests that fossoriality mostly involves the anterior part. Furthermore, the fusion of tarsal bones in the species of the western clade may indicate locomotory adaptation to more epigean habits.

EmTimnewia/em García Aldrete (Psocodea: 'Psocoptera': Ptiloneuridae): new species and variation in the wing venation of emT. jeaneae/em Silva-Neto, García Aldrete amp; Rafael.

A new species of Timnewia from the Brazilian state of Amazonas, is here described, illustrated and named as: Timnewia amazonense n. sp. This new species differs from T. greeni and T. jeaneae in details of the hypandrium and phallosome. New observations on variation in the forewing venation of T. jeaneae are also presented.

The Emergence of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in Amazonas (Brazil) Was Temporally Associated with a Change in the Age and Gender Profile of COVID-19 Mortality

Background: Since the end of 2020, there has been a great deal of international concern about the variants of SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.7, identified in the United Kingdom; B.1.351 discovered in South Africa and P.1, originating from the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The three variants were associated with an increase in transmissibility and worsening of the epidemiological situation in the places where they expanded. The lineage B.1.1.7 was associated with the increase in case fatality rate in the United Kingdom. There are still no studies on the case fatality rate of the other two variants. The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality profile before and after the emergence of the P.1 strain in the Amazonas state.Methods: We analyzed data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System, SIVEP-Gripe (Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe), comparing two distinct epidemiological periods: during the peak of the first wave, between April and May 2020, and in January 2021 (the second wave), the month in which the new variant came to predominate. We calculated mortality rates, overall case fatality rate and case fatality rate among hospitalized patients; all rates were calculated by age and gender and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined.Findings: We observed that in the second wave there were a higher incidence and an increase in the proportion of cases of COVID-19 in the younger age groups. There was also an increase in the proportion of women among Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases from 40% (2,709) in the first wave to 47% (2,898) in the second wave and in the proportion of deaths due to COVID-19 between the two periods varying from 34% (1,051) to 47% (1,724), respectively. In addition, the proportion of deaths among people between 20 and 59 years old has increased in both sexes. The case fatality rate among those hospitalized in the population between 20 and 39 years old during the second wave was 2.7 times the rate observed in the first wave (female rate ratio = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.9-3.9], p Interpretation: Based on this prompt analysis of the epidemiological scenario in the Amazonas state, the observed changes in the pattern of mortality due to COVID-19 between age groups and gender simultaneously with the emergence of the P.1 strain suggest changes in the pathogenicity and virulence profile of this new variant. Further studies are needed to better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 variants profile and their impact for the health population.Funding: There was no funding for this study.Declaration of Interest: None to declare.

Radical Cartographies: Participatory Mapmaking from Latin America ed. by Bjørn Sletto et al.

Reviewed by: Radical Cartographies: Participatory Mapmaking from Latin America ed. by Bjørn Sletto et al. Jacquelyn Chase Bjørn Sletto, Joe Bryan, Alfredo Wagner, Charles Hale, eds. Radical Cartographies: Participatory Mapmaking from Latin America. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2020. 242 pp. Figures, references, index. $45.00 cloth (978-1-4773-2088-4). This volume took shape during the Forum on Participatory Mapping and Forest Rights, held in Bogotá, Colombia in 2011, which was followed by an encounter in Rosario, Argentina in 2012. Several of the volume's authors are from the communities they write about while others are engaged intellectuals who have worked with the communities for years or decades. Chapters are on lowland indigenous and Black (Afro-de-scendant) [End Page 181] communities in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela and Mexico. The book contains abundant samples of maps and photographs from each community mapping project. Participatory mapping is a response to land grabbing, resource depletion, and enclosures, often traced to extraction, and the Forum meetings (2011–2012) coincided with an extraction boom in Latin America (including hydroelectric projects that provided the energy demands, and roads the connective tissue, of the extractive economy). The term radical in the title refers to the "mobilizations from below" (p. 219) of marginalized communities. First, through mapping, radical cartography repudiates the authoritarian practice since the colonial period of "disappearing" indigenous and Black communities from maps. Second, communities' production of maps challenges the "historic monopoly over cartography" (p. 164) by planners, corporations, government, land speculators and the military. Third, the projects are spaces of collaboration where people debate and create visions of their own communities' territories. Radical cartography can foster cultural "recovery and identity formation" (p. 57). Fourth, radical community mapping has succeeded in stopping extraction, dams and other projects that threaten people's cultures, livelihoods and territory. One recurring indignity is the myth of empty spaces in cartography since the colonial period, which continues with devastating implications for forest dwellers. Pineda (Chapter 4) relates how oil companies in Peru created the "political fiction" of the selectively empty map—rich in detail on oil reserves yet silent about the indigenous people who live there (p. 68). Zoning for development is another example. Almeida Farias Junior (Chapter 9) describes an indigenous village that exists perilously close to the sprawling capital city of Manaus, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Community members there often lack title (p. 75). This omission led a land developer to mark up a map of the aldeia (village) with urban lots in a classic land grabbing move. Facing displacement, people made maps to register their own territorial existence that went much deeper than asserting property ownership. Their maps not only registered the presence of households in the area; they showed that community members could not be bought off through resettlement schemes. Map design is another facet of a cartography of resistance. Radical mapping represents territory as a network of relations, not just the boundaries that governments are so eager to demarcate as private property. This intention calls for a different cartography where map elements coexist. As Álvarez notes in Chapter 2, "territory is a living fabric…" (p. 35) "… woven together by memory, culture, and nature" (p. 35). Livelihoods are similarly represented as networked. Pineda (Chapter 4) describes how Achuar participants in a mapping project of the Corrientes River basin in Peru chose polygons over points, given the community's reliance on hunting. Trails that link people to resources need to be made visible on maps and protected from fences and other impediments to livelihood strategies. Conflict maps reject the standard cartographic abstractions of terms such as: school, church, road, store, river, Indian. These are [End Page 182] replaced with more meaningful symbols of struggle—a polluted stream, an impeded access to resources, an illegal encampment, abandoned machinery, or individual trees that had been destroyed. These symbols document "the socio-environmental disasters" communities face (p. 121). Symbols are made to recognize and to defend resources, as well. A map might show the location of a spring, or the area offshore where salt and freshwater comingle. Radical cartography is a cultural hearth around which communities have inter-generational conversations...