Eastern Amazon Region Research Articles

Infection of Henneguya sp. on the gills of Metynnis lippincottianus from Curiaú River, in eastern Amazon region (Brazil).

Infection of fish gills by Henneguya causes greater contact between the secondary gill lamellae, thereby giving rise to decreased absorption surface area at the end of the filaments. This ectoparasite can cause damages on the gills infected fish. In the present study, fresh gills of Metynnis lippincottianus were analyzed using optical microscopy techniques. The myxoporean Henneguya sp. was found to be infecting 80% of the gills of this host fish. Presence of this parasite caused hyperplasia and fusion of the gill lamellae, but without inflammation in the parasitized organ.

New records of crustaceans infesting Phractocephalus hemioliopterus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), the large catfish from the Amazon

The aim of the present study was to investigate the infracommunities of ectoparasitic crustaceans in Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Bloch and Schneider, 1801, a catfish from the lower Amazon River, in the state of Pará, eastern Amazon region, Brazil. From 12 hosts examined, a total of 45 specimens of crustacean ectoparasites from 5 species were found in the tegument, oral cavity or dorsal fins. The species were: Argulus multicolor, Argulus violaceus, Dolops nana, Dolops discoidalis, and Braga patagonica . Dolops discoidalis was the dominant ectoparasite, while D. nana had the highest mean intensity in the tegument, which was the most infested host site. This is the first record of A. multicolor , A. violaceus , D. nana and B. patagonica parasiting P. hemioliopterus .

Haemogregarina daviesensis sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) from South American lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa (Sarcopterygii: Lepidosirenidae) in the eastern Amazon region.

Based on morphology and morphometry of gametocytes in blood and molecular phylogenetic analysis, we described a new species of hemoparasite from the genus Haemogregarina isolated from Lepidosiren paradoxa in the eastern Amazon region. Haemogregarina daviesensis sp. nov. is characterized by monomorphic gametocytes of varying maturity stage and their dimensions were 16 ± 0.12μm (range 13-18) in length and 6 ± 0.97μm (range 5-8) in width. The morphological and morphometric data were not identical with other haemogregarine species from fish. All specimens of L. paradoxa analyzed were infected by H. daviesensis sp. nov. and the parasitemia level was moderate (1-28/2000 blood erythrocytes). Two sequences were obtained from L. paradoxa, and these constituted a monophyletic sister clade to the Haemogregarina species. In addition, H. daviesensis sp. nov. detected here grouped with Haemogregarina sp. sequences isolated from chelonian Macrochelys temminckii, with 99% bootstrap support. This study provides the first data on the molecular phylogeny of an intraerythrocytic haemogregarine of freshwater fish and highlights the importance of obtaining additional information on aspects of the general biology of these hemoparasites in fish populations, in order to achieve correct taxonomic classification.

HELMINTHIC ENDOFAUNA OF FOUR SPECIES OF FISH FROM LOWER JARI RIVER, A TRIBUTARY OF THE AMAZON BASIN IN BRAZIL

Studies on parasites of wild fish populations are important for knowledge of biodiversity, since parasites represent a great fraction of the planet's biodiversity. The present study investigated the helminths fauna of Leporinus friderici, Mylossoma duriventre, Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum collected from the lower Jari River, in the state of Amapá in the eastern Amazon region, Brazil. These fish, which have varying eating habits, were caught using gill nets with different mesh sizes for analysis of helminths, using standard methodologies. The helminths collected from these hosts were: Procamallanus (Spirocamallnus) inopinatus, Guyanema seriei seriei, Contracaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda), Clinostomum marginatum, Dadaytrema oxycephala, Caballerotrema aruanense, Posthodiplostomum sp. (Digenea), Quadrigyrus nickoli and Neoechinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus presented the highest prevalence, intensity and mean abundance of C. marginatum, while M. duriventre was the host with lowest level of this parasite. The greatest diversity was of Contracaecum sp., sole helminth found in all species of fish studied. The presence of larvae of endoparasites indicates that these fish are intermediate hosts in the Jari River basin.

Inhibitory Effects of the Lipophilic Extracts and An Isolated Meroditerpene of Brown Alga in Pasture Weeds in the Eastern Amazon Region

ABSTRACT: Two lipophilic extracts and atomaric acid (1), an isolated natural product, were obtained from the marine brown alga Stypopodium zonale (Dictyotaceae) to identify and characterize their potential inhibitory effects on the seed germination, radicle elongation, and hypocotyl development of the weeds Mimosa pudica and Senna obtusifolia. The extracts were prepared with hexane and dichloromethane, and atomaric acid (1) was isolated from hexane extract by way of conventional chromatographic methods. During a 15 days period, germination bioassays were performed at 25 oC with a 12 h photoperiod, whereas radicle elongation and hypocotyl development were assayed at 25 oC with a 24 h photoperiod. After, Petri dishes 9.0 cm in diameter were coated with qualitative filter paper, 25 seeds were placed in a germination chamber, while six pregerminated seeds were placed in the Petri dish for 2-3 days. After 10 days, radicle and hypocotyl extension were measured; and the inhibitory potential of the extracts was assessed at 10 ppm and that of the atomaric acid at 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm. In both M. pudica and S. obtusifolia, dichloromethane extract achieved the greatest rates of inhibition during seed germination (34% and 22%, respectively), radical germination (38% and 30%, respectively), and hypocotyl development (29% and 22%, respectively). At a concentration of 20 ppm, atomaric acid (1) also demonstrated reduced inhibitory potential, with mean values of 58.67% for M. pudica and 48.67% for S. obtusifolia.

Physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes of a representative group of soils from the eastern Amazon region in Brazil

Abstract. Amazonian soils are heterogeneous. However, few studies have been carried out in the Amazon, mainly because of its considerable size, which complicates the collection of data and the ability to plan for the sustainable use of natural resources. In this study, the physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes of soils in the state of Pará, Brazil, were characterized by examining the particle size, fertility, silicon extracted by sodium hydroxide, iron, and aluminum, and manganese extracted by sulfuric acid, sodium citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite, and ammonium oxalate + oxalic acid. A descriptive analysis, multivariate principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were performed. The soils had low concentrations of bioavailable P, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K and had high concentrations of Al3+, Si, and Al oxide in the Cambisols. Concentrations of Fe and Mn oxides were higher in both the Cambisols and Nitosols, which are rich in oxidic minerals. The multivariate analysis indicated an association between the organic carbon content and pH, P, Ca, Mg, and K concentrations. An additional association was observed between clay, potential acidity, and the Fe and Al oxide concentrations.

Antioxidant activity and physicochemical characteristics of honeys from the eastern Amazon region, Brazil

RESUMO O mel é um produto natural que apresenta várias propriedades benéficas para a saúde, tais como atividade antinflamatória, antioxidante e antimicrobiana, as quais dependem de sua composição. Neste contexto, as propriedades físico-químicas (cor, pH, conteúdo de cinzas, umidade, açúcares e compostos fenólicos totais) e a atividade antioxidadente (capacidade de remoção do radical DPPH) de méis de abelhas Apis mellifera de Santarém, na principal região de produção de mel na Amazônia Oriental, Brasil, foram avaliadas. A maioria das amostras teve cor escura e apresentaram-se ácidas. Os teores de cinzas e a umidade variaram de 0,112 a 0,318 e de 14,751 a 17,514, respectivamente. O teor de açúcares redutores vairou entre 62,873 e 91,563%. O teor total de compostos fenólicos foi mais elevado que os já reportados na literatura, variando entre 15,22 e 16,51 mg g−1 e 17,70 e 18,94 mg g−1 para amostras de mel protegidas e expostas à radiação UV, respectivamente. A quercetina foi encontrada apenas no mel que foi protegido da luz, com teores variando entre 0,24 e 0,43 mg g−1. A ausência de quercetina nas amostras de mel expostas à luz sugere que a radiação UV pode ter degradado esse composto. Todas as amostras apresentaram máxima capacidade de remover o radical DPPH próxima a 50%. Houve correlação inversa entre a cor e o pH, cinzas, açúcares redutores e teor de umidade, e correlação positiva entre a cor e o teor de composto fenólicos e a atividade antioxidante.

MINING-RAILROAD-PORT: “AT THE END OF THE LINE”, A CITY IN QUESTION

Abstract The effects of iron ore mining carried out in the Southeast of Pará state, located in Northern Brazil, are present alongside the Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Carajás Railroad), especially in the city of São Luís do Maranhão, located in Northeastern Brazil, which is the port of export. Combined with the processes of mining, transport and exportation of the iron ore, infrastructure projects, factories, extensive cattle farming and monoculture, and lumber exploitation damage the landscape of the Eastern Amazon region and impair the local traditional way of life. Regarding the city of São Luís, such effects are more strongly felt in the rural zone, where they result in environmental conflicts. The present article discusses the relationship between the extended effects of mining and the backlash provoked by them in São Luís. Such a discussion comprises, among other subjects, the demands for Extractive Reserve, ways to guarantee the control over the territory, debates on urban legislation, opposition to the building of port terminals.

Protein profile of leprosy patients with plantar ulcers from the Eastern Amazon region

BackgroundStudies investigating the nutritional status of patients with leprosy and plantar ulcers are sparse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the protein profile of leprosy patients with plantar ulcers from the Eastern Amazon region.MethodsA case record form was created for 75 patients with leprosy (31 with plantar ulcers and 44 without plantar ulcers) with the following data: sociodemographic characteristics, clinical form of leprosy, presence or absence of plantar ulcers, and nutritional assessment using anthropometry consisting of the measurement of body mass index, arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, and triceps skinfold. Levels of blood albumin, transferrin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured. Data regarding protein intake were obtained using a Food Frequency Questionnaire.ResultsPlantar ulcers occurred more frequently in male patients (67.7%), patients aged 40–49 years (mean ± SD: 47.3 ± 8.0 years), and patients receiving 300 or 600 USD (71.0%). The mean weight and height of patients were 71.6 ± 11.4 kg and 1.62 ± 0.1 m, respectively. High levels of CRP were detected in 51.6% of leprosy patients with plantar ulcers and only 9.1% of patients without plantar ulcers (P < 0.001). Nutritional depletion of transferrin was observed in 14.3% of patients with paucibacillary leprosy and 44.3% of patients with multibacillary leprosy (P = 0.0447). Most patients had normal levels of serum albumin (74.2% with plantar ulcers and 77.3% without plantar ulcers).ConclusionsMost leprosy patients with plantar ulcers have normal levels of serum albumin and transferrin and high CRP levels, which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process. Our findings suggest the need to monitor patients with leprosy to prevent the occurrence of plantar ulcers and to provide adequate treatment for patients with existing plantar ulcers.

Population structure, mortality, and recruitment of Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) (Caridea: Palaemonidae) in the eastern Amazon region, Brazil

Univ Estado Amazonas, Parintins Ctr Adv Studies CESP UEA, Amazon Crustacean Studies Lab LECAM, Estr Odovaldo Novo,Km 1, BR-69151470 Parintins, Amazonas Am, Brazil

Infections of Hypostomus spp. by Trypanosoma spp. and leeches: a study of hematology and record of these hirudineans as potential vectors of these hemoflagellates.

Among Kinetoplastida, the Trypanosoma is the genus with the highest occurrence infecting populations of marine fish and freshwater in the world, with high levels of prevalence, causing influences fish health and consequent economic losses, mainly for fish populations in situation stress. This study investigated infections of Hypostomus spp. by Trypanosoma spp. and leeches, as well as blood parameters of this host in the network of tributaries of the Tapajós River in the state of Pará, in the eastern Amazon region in Brazil. Of the 47 hosts examined, 89.4% were parasitized by Trypanosoma spp. and 55.4% also had leeches attached around the mouth. The intensity of Trypanosoma spp. increased with the size of the host, but the body conditions were not influenced by the parasitism. The number of red blood cells, and hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), total number of leukocytes and thrombocytes showed variations and negative correlation with the intensity of Trypanosoma spp. in the blood of the hosts. The results suggest that the leeches were vectors of Trypanosoma spp. in Hypostomus spp.

First Record in Brazil of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Epistylis &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; sp. (Ciliophora) Adhered to &amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Argulus &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; sp. (Argulidae), a Parasite of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Hoplias aimara &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; (Eritrhinidae)

This paper records the first occurrence of Epistylis sp. on the body surface of Argulus sp. parasitizing Hoplias aimara from the upper Araguari River, in the eastern Amazon region, in the north of Brazil. Of the 16 specimens of H. aimara examined, 93.7% had their pelvic, caudal and pectoral fins and tegument infested by Argulus sp. (n = 73), which in turn were infested by Epistylis sp. The specimens of Epistylis sp. from the body surface of Argulus sp. were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The present study also identified a widening of the geographic distribution of these two species of ectoparasites to the eastern Amazon region of Brazil.

Diversidade Florística e Padrões Ecológicos de Palmeiras da Área de Proteção Ambiental, Ilha do Combu, Belém, Pará, Brasil

The objective was to characterize the floristic diversity and ecological patterns of communities of palm trees in the Environmental Protection Area, Island of do Combu, Belem, Para to contribute to a better understanding of patterns of species distribution in the eastern Amazon region and subsidizing politics publics for Urban Conservations Units. 60 random plots of 50 m x 50 m were demarcated (15 ha) and analyzed the floristic composition and ecological standards by growth habit, ecological status, occurrence of environmental and ecological groups. Were recorded 14 genera and 23 species with 8.072 individuals. The most representative species in genera were Astrocaryum , Bactris , Desmoncus and Geonoma as Euterpe oleracea , Astrocaryum murumuru , Socratea exorrhiza , Bactris major , Astrocaryum tucuma , Astrocaryum vulgare , Raphia taedigera , Bactris minor , Desmoncus polyacanthos and Mauritia flexuosa with ≥ 100 individuals. Ecological patterns showed the dominance of the shrub and native habit of the high floodplain environment and climax. The floristic diversity associated with ecological standards characterizes the APA as important germplasm bank of palm trees for conservation and environmental quality of life for local residents. Keywords: Arecaceae; environmental quality; unit conservation.

Seasonality affects the parasitism levels in two fish species in the eastern Amazon region

Summary Fish parasite communities have strong interactions with the environment, the host fish, and the aquatic invertebrate communities. Thus, factors directly involving their different life cycles, such as different host populations and environments, as well as seasonal fluctuations in water levels can cause different responses. The main factors structuring parasite communities may be the hydrodynamic variations, together with seasonal variations in the availability of infectious stages of parasites in the environment. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of the rainy and dry seasons on parasite infracommunities in fish species in the Amazon River System of Brazil. Between October 2009 and April 2011, specimens of Colossoma macropomum and Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus brachypomus hybrids (tambatinga) were examined for the presence of parasites. The parasite communities were similar in these two species that both showed aggregate dispersion, although the hybrid specimens were less parasitized. For both hosts, the Brillouin diversity, species richness, evenness and Berger-Parker dominance indices were similar in the rainy season and dry season, except that the Berger-Parker dominance index for the C. macropomum × P. brachypomus hybrid was higher during the dry season. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was the dominant parasite, followed by Piscinoodinium pillulare, in both hosts. However, C. macropomum had a higher prevalence and abundance in the dry season, while in the C. macropomum × P. brachypomus hybrid, only the I. multifiliis prevalence increased. The abundance of monogenean species (Anacanthorus spathulatus, Linguadactyloides brinkmanni, Mymarothecium and Notozothecium janauachensis) was higher during the dry season in the gills of C. macropomum. Despite overdispersion of the lernaeid Perulernaea gamitanae, a seasonal pattern was seen only in the C. macropomum × P. brachypomus hybrid, with higher prevalence in the rainy season. The low prevalence and abundance of the ectoparasites Tetrahymena sp., Trichodina sp. and Braga patagonica, as well as of the endoparasites Procamallalus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, were not affected by seasonality. This information is applicable in farming practice for these economically important fish, as it indicates the best time for prophylactic management and treatment against parasites, in order to prevent economic losses in fish farms.

Record of postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical social wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) on pig carcasses in the Eastern Amazon region: implications in forensic taphonomy

Postmortem injuries are a source of misinterpretations in forensic analysis and therefore are subject matter of taphonomic interest. Many types of injuries can cause different artifacts, which deserve attention of the forensic pathologists when evaluating corpses, either at the crime scene or during an autopsy. Insects can be important biotaphonomic agents and their activity may result in artifacts that resemble antemortem injuries. Here, we describe postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer, 1773) on domestic pig carcasses weighting 15kg. The specimens showed extensive injuries to the lower lip, similar to lacerations, and some minor lesions on the snout and anus. In addition, we observed the same wasp species preying on larvae of Sarcophagidae (Peckia sp.). Besides causing postmortem injuries, the ability of this species to detect carcasses in the early and fresh decomposition stages should be noted. Thus, future applications aiming criminal, any biotaphonomic events caused by carrion insects need to be disclosed.

Palaemonidae, Euryrhynchidae, and Sergestidae (Crustacea: Decapoda): records of native species from the states of Amapá and Pará, Brazil, with maps of geographic distribution

A list of the distribution records for 18 species of freshwater shrimps of the families Euryrhynchidae (3 spp.), Palaemonidae (13 spp.) and Sergestidae (2 spp.) from the states of Amapá and Pará are presented. All records are documented by voucher specimens deposited in the three main carcinological collections from northern Brazil: Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Amapá (Macapá), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (Manaus), and Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (Belém). Maps of the geographic distribution of these records in the eastern Amazon region are offered, and comments on the zoogeography of the species are made.

Weather forecasting for Eastern Amazon with OLAM model

The OLAM model has as its characteristics the advantage to represent simultaneously the global and regional meteorological phenomena using the application of a grid refinement scheme. During the REMAM project the model was applied for a few case studies to evaluate its performance on numerical weather prediction for the eastern Amazon region. Case studies were performed for the twelve months of the year of 2009. The model results for those numerical experiments were compared with the observed data for the region of study. Precipitation data analysis showed that OLAM is able to represent the average mean accumulated precipitation and the seasonal features of the events occurrence, but can't predict the local total amount of precipitation. However, individual evaluation for a few cases had shown that OLAM was able to represent the dynamics and forecast a few days in advance the development of coastal meteorological systems such as the squall lines that are one of the most important precipitating systems of the Amazon.

First study on parasites of Hemibrycon surinamensis (Characidae), a host from the eastern Amazon region

This study was the first investigation of communities and infracommunities of parasites of Hemibrycon surinamensis. All the fish collected in a tributary of the Amazon river were parasitized by one or more parasite species. The Brillouin diversity index (HB) was 0.46 ± 0.28 and the mean species richness was 3.5 ± 1.2 parasites per host. A total of 14,734 parasites were collected, including Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Piscinoodinium pillulare (Protozoa); Jainus hexops and Tereancistrum sp. (Monogenoidea); Ergasilus turucuyus and Argulus sp. (Crustacea); metacercariae of Derogenidae gen. sp.; metacercariae and adults of Genarchella genarchella (Digenea); and Cucullanus larvae and Contracaecum larvae (Nematoda). The dominant parasite was I. multifiliis, followed by P. pillulare. The parasites showed aggregated dispersion, except for E. turucuyus, which had random dispersion. The condition factor (Kn) indicated that the parasitism levels had not affected host body condition. The high levels of infection observed were due to host behavior, and this was discussed. This was the first report of I. multifiliis, P. pillulare, Argulus sp., E. turucuyus, G. genarchella, J. hexops and Tereancistrum sp. in H. surinamensis, and it expanded the occurrence of E. turucuyus and G. genarchella to the eastern Amazon region.

Evaluation of STARNET lightning detection performance in the Amazon region

The lightning detection performance of the very low frequency (VLF) long-range Sferics Tracking and Ranging Network (STARNET) was evaluated by comparison with a simultaneous data collection made by the Sistema de Proteção da Amazônia Lightning Detection Network (SIPAM-LDN). The study period was 110 days between August 2008 and March 2009, corresponding to a stable period of the STARNET network when it was operating with five sensors to cover the eastern Amazon region. The selected area of study corresponded to a circle of 130 km diameter within a homogeneous zone of detection efficiency (DE) of the SIPAM network. A method of coinciding flash identification (time window of 1 ms and spatial range of 50 km) was used for these two networks. The coinciding cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes were discriminated by polarity and peak current values from the SIPAM-LDN measurements. The total number of coincident CG flashes represented about 9.7% of the CG SIPAM data set. Moreover, 94 % of the coinciding CG flashes had a time error <300 µs. The spatial error of the coincident CG flashes yielded a mean of around 16 km. The final result shows that the relative detection efficiency (RDE) of the coincident CG flashes decreased with the value of their peak currents. RDE values were below 10% for peak currents lower than 20 kA, between 10% and 30% for peak currents between 20 and 40 kA, and above 30% for peak currents greater than 40 kA.

Development of microsatellite markers in sweet passion fruit, and identification of length and conformation polymorphisms within repeat sequences

AbstractThe aim of this study was to construct and characterize an SSR‐enriched genomic library for Passiflora alata, a fruit species native to the Brazilian plateau and the eastern Amazon region. There is potential to improve this crop, as the fruit is attractive because of its pleasant aroma and flavour characteristics. Of 862 sequences, 391 (45%) were found to have SSRs. We identified 412 microsatellites: 69% were classified as perfect, 23% imperfect, 5% interrupted and 3% were compound microsatellites. The main types of repeat sequences were dinucleotide (62.5%) and trinucleotide (23%) repeats. It was possible to design 312 primer pairs, and 229 of them were synthesized and tested. The amplicons were electrophoresed using denaturing and non‐denaturing gels to screen for divergence between two phenotypically distinct parents of a mapping population of P. alata. Length and conformation polymorphisms within repeat sequences amounted to 35% and 28%, respectively. The importance of the development of SSR markers for sweet passion fruit and the effectiveness of the SSCP approach to increase the available number of polymorphic SSRs are discussed.