Population In Southern Brazil Research Articles

Association between cognitive rumination and periodontal disease, tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life in a rural Southern Brazil population.

Rumination is a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy. It has been associated with several psychological disorders and physical problems. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate whether cognitive rumination is associated with periodontal disease (PD), tooth loss (TL), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A population-based sample from a rural area in southern Brazil was evaluated. Calibrated examiners carried out a complete periodontal examination at six sites-per-tooth. Rumination and Reflection (RRQ) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires were administered. Regression modeling was used to assess the prevalence ratio (PR) between rumination and PD and to estimate the rate ratio (RR) between rumination and TL and rumination and OHIP. Severe periodontitis prevalence of 33% was observed in the sample. In the Poisson-adjusted model (n = 587), individuals who ruminate more have 27% more periodontal disease (PR: 1.27, 95%CI:1.02 - 1.60). Regarding TL and OHIP, negative binomial regression (n = 672) showed an association with rumination, but it was not significant (RR 1.14, 95%CI 0.99 - 1.31) and (RR 1.20, 95%CI 0.98 - 1.48), respectively. Cognitive rumination was independently associated with periodontal disease in individuals living in a rural area. Borderline non-significant estimates were observed regarding TL and OHRQoL. More research using different populations and focusing on individual's responses to psychological stress may confirm these results. Emotional regulation is crucial to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression. Since psychopathologies are among the most prevalent diseases in the world, it is critical to understand the role of these issues in dental outcomes.

Medicinal plants with popular names associated with manufactured drugs in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Abstract Medicinal plants used by the population in southern Brazil have been observed to be popularly referred to by the names of manufactured drugs. This study aimed to find a connection between the use of medicinal plant species with popular names associated with manufactured drugs and the actual biomedical system. A database regarding such medicinal plants was established based on thirty-four ethnobotanical studies undertaken in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and chemical and pharmacological information was collected from a scientific article database and crossed referenced to determine whether folk information was correlated. Thirty-one species with a total of twenty-five different popular names of manufactured drugs were found. The greatest number of popular names of manufactured drugs was for Alternanthera brasiliana with eight names, followed by Achillea millefolium with six. The therapeutic indication of the species used in the manufactured formulas was found to differ from the indications of popular use. However, the therapeutic indication of both were correlated for digestive disorders, as well as for popularly named phytotherapic species. Cultural adoption of popular names may be influenced by the biomedical system and the flow of knowledge arising from conventional medicine toward popular medicine.

Family hypercholesterolemia and LDLR mutations in communities of european origin in southern Brazil: a prospective observational cohort study

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by high levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and premature coronary heart events. A quarter of the population of Southern Brazil is affected by hypercholesterolemia and the region has the highest mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease in the country. The aim of this study was to describe LDLR mutations in European descendants with FH living in Southern Brazil. Ten mL of venous blood were taken from 40 patients and used for DNA extraction and subsequent Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The DNA fragments were sequenced and analyzed and the data obtained were compared to reference values from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser. A total of 15 mutations were identified in 38 patients (95% of the total samples). These mutations were located in exons 11 (P518L) and 15 (D727G) in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish descendants and the *105T>G mutation, still undescribed, should be critically evaluated by means of mRNA alteration studies. The present study demonstrated for the first time the presence of the P518L mutation located in exon 11 of the LDLR gene in European descendants living in southern Brazil. This mutation has a high potential to be pathogenic since it is located in a domain responsible for LDLR release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Association between oral hygiene and gingival abrasion in a rural population in southern Brazil: A multilevel secondary analysis.

To evaluate associations between oral hygiene and gingival abrasion (GA) in a rural population from southern Brazil. A population-based sample representative of individuals from a rural community in southern Brazil was included. Individuals aged 15 years or older and who had five teeth or more present were selected for this analysis. GA extent was defined as the total number of abrasions per individual. An adjusted multilevel negative binomial regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between site-, tooth- and individual-level variables and GA. Mean ratios (MR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Five hundred ninety-five dentate individuals aged 15-82 years were analysed. In the adjusted models, brushing more than twice a day (MR=1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.26) and brushing with a hard/medium-bristle toothbrush (MR=1.11; 95% CI 1.01-1.23) were significantly associated with more generalized GA. The extent of GA was independently associated with greater brushing frequency and the use of a toothbrush with harder bristles in residents of a rural area.

Apical periodontitis and associated factors in a rural population of southern Brazil: a multilevel analysis.

This study aims to evaluate the association between apical periodontitis (AP) and sociodemographic/clinical factors in a probability sample of individuals living in a rural area of southern Brazilian. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 584 non-edentulous adult individuals who had undergone a full-mouth radiographic survey. Periapical status was analysed using the periapical index (PAI). Endodontic status was evaluated considering the occurrence of voids in the filling material and the root filling length. Crown status was classified based on the presence of caries, restorations, and prosthetic crowns. Sociodemographic variables, frequency of dental care, and periodontal disease were also registered. The data were analysed using hierarchical multilevel Poisson regression analysis. The multilevel structure was composed of three models: sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, and clinical variables adjusted by sociodemographic variables (α = 5%). The prevalence of AP in the sample was 60.45%. AP was significantly associated with age, skin colour, schooling, periodontal disease, and frequency of dental care (P < 0.005). Among the 10,396 teeth evaluated, 868 (8.35%) had AP, which was significantly associated with tooth group, dental arch, crown status, and endodontic treatment (P < 0.005). The prevalence of AP was high in the population studied. An older age, black/brown skin colour, low level of schooling, infrequent dental care, severe periodontal disease, mandibular teeth, posterior teeth, inadequate crown status, and having undergone endodontic treatment were significantly associated with the outcome. Clinical relevance This study about a rural probability sample reinforces that AP is still a recurrent oral health problem.

New insights on tuberculosis transmission dynamics and drug susceptibility profiles among the prison population in Southern Brazil based on whole-genome sequencing.

The rate of tuberculosis (TB) infection among the prison population (PP) in Brazil is 28 times higher than that in the general population, and prison environment favors the spread of TB. To describe TB transmission dynamics and drug resistance profiles in PP using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). This was a retrospective study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultivated from people incarcerated in 55 prisons between 2016 and 2019; only one isolate per prisoner was included. Information about movement from one prison to another was tracked. Clinical information was collected, and WGS was performed on isolates obtained at the time of TB diagnosis. Among 134 prisoners included in the study, we detected 16 clusters with a total of 58 (43%) cases of M. tuberculosis. Clusters ranged from two to seven isolates with five or fewer single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences, suggesting a recent transmission. Six (4.4%) isolates were resistant to at least one anti-TB drug. Two of these clustered together and showed resistance to rifampicin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones, with 100% concordance between WGS and phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing. Prisoners with clustered isolates had a high amount of movement between prisons (two to eight moves) during the study period. WGS demonstrated the recent transmission of TB within prisons in Brazil. The high movement among prisoners seems to be related to the transmission of the same M. tuberculosis strain within the prison system. Screening for TB before and after the movement of prisoners using rapid molecular tests could play a role in reducing transmission.

Different classifications of body mass index and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in an elderly population in southern Brazil

Different classifications of body mass index and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in an elderly population in southern Brazil

Periodontitis Is Associated with Consumption of Processed and Ultra-Processed Foods: Findings from a Population-Based Study.

The association between periodontitis and lifestyle factors has been widely investigated. However, an association between periodontitis and dietary patterns has not been explored. Therefore, this study investigated the association between periodontitis and food consumption among a Southern Brazil population. Data from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort were used (n = 537). The exposure, periodontitis, was clinically measured and classified using the AAP/CDC system, then two latent variables were defined: ‘initial’ and ‘moderate/severe’ periodontitis. The consumption of in natura, processed, and ultra-processed foods (NOVA classification) was the outcome and measured in calories using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Confounders were sex, maternal education, smoking status, xerostomia, and halitosis. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. ‘Initial’ periodontitis was associated with a higher consumption of in natura food (standardized coefficient (SC) 0.102; p-value = 0.040), versus processed (SC 0.078; p-value = 0.129) and ultra-processed (SC 0.043; p-value = 0.400) foods. ‘Moderate/severe’ periodontitis was associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (SC 0.108; p-value = 0.024), versus processed (SC 0.093; p-value = 0.053) and in natura (SC 0.014; p-value = 0.762) foods. ‘Moderate/severe’ periodontitis appears to be associated with the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods.

Rotational and selective protocols using acaricides to control a multi-resistant strain of Rhipicephalus microplus under field conditions in Southern Brazil

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, causes severe economic losses to beef and dairy production in several countries. The control of the cattle tick is based mostly on chemical acaricides. Currently, there are reports of tick populations resistant to all six classes of acaricides available on the market. The aim of this work was to evaluate two protocols for the control of the cattle tick, R. microplus, under field conditions. For that, an acaricide rotational-based approach and selective (partial)-based protocols were tested against a multi-resistant tick strain. Eighteen Brangus cattle were divided into three experimental groups: Group 1, a rotational-based approach aiming at six treatments per year (spring–spring period) using four different classes of acaricide (IPV6 protocol); Group 2, a selective (partial) and rotational-based protocol, in which only half of the animals with the highest tick counts were treated (IPV7S protocol); and Group 3 (non-treated). The protocols were able to maintain low tick infestation during the 57 weeks of study. The two experimental groups showed lower tick counts than the non-treated group, but not between them. Weekly efficacy of the experimental protocols reached 95% in Group 1 and 88% in Group 2. Herein, we proposed two protocols of cattle tick control (IPV6 and IPV7S) for use in multi-resistant tick populations in Southern Brazil.

Factors associated with genetic damage - an analysis integrating human populations from Southern Brazil.

Socioeconomic and demographic factors, lifestyle and cultural characteristics may play an important role in the development of genetic damage. This damage represents a potential health risk to an individual and increases the risk of developing negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of a set of factors and genetic damage by gathering data from previously studied populations in southern Brazil. This study analyzed data related to genetic damage and socioeconomic, demographic, and lifestyle variables of 514 individuals aged 18 to 64years, residing in 8 cities located in the extreme south of the Brazil. A total of twelve factors were considered in the analysis, and of these seven had some association with the frequency of micronucleus or some parameter of the comet assay. Interestingly, age was a factor weakly associated with genetic damage, while skin color, occupational exposure, drug use, exposure to radiation, and the cultural habit of consuming chimarrão were shown to be associated with genetic damage when analyzed using multivariate regression. Therefore, we suggest that yerba mate consumption is a confounding factor and should be considered in cytogenetic studies in the southern region of South America. These results reinforce the need for human biomonitoring studies to include consideration of a broad range of population and cultural characteristics when seeking to identify relevant associations.

Intra‐annual variation in activity budgets of a wild Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) population in Southern Brazil

AbstractAssessing animal behaviour is essential for understanding their relationship with the environment and assisting in the management and conservation of species in natural habitats, especially those that present large range distribution and occupy very dynamic environments. The Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis, Aves: Phoenicopteridae) breeds in the temperate regions of South America, going from Ecuador to the south of Argentina, but moves to regions on the southern coast of Brazil and Uruguay during the non‐breeding season. To understand activity patterns and behavioural variations on wild Chilean Flamingos in Brazil, we carried out monthly field trips to the Lagoa do Peixe National Park, on the middle coast of Rio Grande do Sul state, between May and November 2019, totalling 99.8 total hours of observation. Forty‐one different behaviours were detected, divided into six categories: Feeding, Locomotion, Resting, Preening, Social Agonist and Social Non‐Agonist. A significant variation in frequency, total duration and mean duration was detected for the behavioural categories over the months, mainly in the social categories, possibly indicating a strong influence of climatic aspects, such as temperature, rainfall and wind, but also of population aspects, such as flock density and stage of the reproductive cycle, in the behaviours observed in the lagoon. We also detected a variation in behavioural richness and active behaviours among the months, indicating that contranuptial areas like Lagoa do Peixe can be used for more than only feeding and resting.

Acute norovirus gastroenteritis in up to five years children highly rotavirus-vaccinated population in southern Brazil

The acute gastroenteritis remains a problem social, economic and of the public health of the global impact and among the main causative agents are the viruses. This study aimed to show the circulation of rotavirus (RoV) and norovirus (NoV) infections in children under 5 years, vaccinated or not against RoV, enrolled in the health system presented gastroenteritis. From March 2011 to February 2012 a total of 160 stool samples were collected, overall positivity rates were 11.9% (19/160) for NoV and was not found infected patients with RV. The children include had a mean of 2.8 and a median of 3 years of old, and the average of rotavirus vaccination rate was 83.85%. This result shows that this circulating NoV and suggests a reduction in the occurrence of RoV infection in children with high vaccination coverage rate.

Misinformation in nutrition through the case of coconut oil: An online before-and-after study

Background and aimsDespite recent scientific evidence indicating absence of cardiometabolic benefit resulting from coconut oil intake, its consumption has increased in recent years, which can be attributed to a promotion of its use on social networks. We evaluated the patterns, reasons and beliefs related to coconut oil consumption and its perceived benefits in an online survey of a population in southern Brazil. Methods and resultsWe conducted a before-and-after study using an 11-item online questionnaire that evaluated coconut oil consumption. In the same survey, participants who consumed coconut oil received an intervention to increase literacy about the health effects of coconut oil intake. We obtained 3160 valid responses. Among participants who consumed coconut oil (59.1%), 82.5% considered it healthy and 65.4% used it at least once a month. 81.2% coconut oil consumers did not observe any health improvements. After being exposed to the conclusions of a meta-analysis showing that coconut oil does not show superior health benefits when compared to other oils and fats, 73.5% of those who considered coconut oil healthy did not change their opinion. Among individuals who did not consume coconut oil, 47.6% considered it expensive and 11.6% deemed it unhealthy. ConclusionsCoconut oil consumption is motivated by the responders’ own beliefs in its supposed health benefits, despite what scientific research demonstrates. This highlights the difficulty in deconstructing inappropriate concepts of healthy diets that are disseminated in society.

Prevalence of gastric cancer precursor lesions in patients of a secondary care center in a state in south of Brazil

Background: Atrophy of the gastric mucosa and intestinal metaplasia is considered malignant precursor lesions of gastric cancer, which is considered the fifth most common neoplasm in the world and the third cause of death from cancer. The main risk factor is the infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which increases up to six times the risk of gastric cancer, through gastritis, atrophy, and hypochlorhydria, consequences of the infection. Other risk factors are also worth noting, like smoking and a family history of gastric cancer. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of malignant precursor lesions and their associated factors in patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: A descriptive, observational study was performed based on an analysis of endoscopic gastric biopsies performed in two affiliated private laboratories to the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde [SUS]) in a city in Paraná state. Patients were assessed for age, sex, active or recent smoking, family history of gastric cancer, and previous treatment for H. pylori. The samples were evaluated for the presence of glandular atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and H. pylori infection. Results: A total of 1,549 medical records and patient reports were evaluated and 945 were eligible, the average age was 52.2 (±14.3) years old and most patients (73.3%) were female. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 47.5% (n= 449) and the highest percentage was between 30-39 years (58.7%). Among H. pylori-positive (+) patients who had developed intestinal metaplasia, there is more risk of having incomplete than complete metaplasia (OR: 4.34; 1.1–17.1; 95%CI). Patients who smoke are more increase the risk to developed glandular atrophy (OR: 1.91; 1.09-3.33; 95%CI) and intestinal metaplasia (OR: 1.93; 0.72-5.11; 95%CI). Conclusion: The study reinforces risk factors such as smoking and H. pylori infection as precursors for developing pre-neoplastic lesions in a population in southern Brazil, highlighting the importance of smoking cessation and prevention of H. pylori infection and the treatment of infected patients.

Comparison between DAS28-ESR and DAS28- CRPus for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: application in a population of southern Brazil

The Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) shows discrepancies when using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) scores to assess rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to verify the agreement between the DAS28-CRP and DAS28-ESR scores in patients with RA from the south of Brazil. A unicentric cross-sectional study was performed (n = 56). The diagnosis of the patients followed the American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism criteria, and their DAS28 were calculated. The DAS28- ESR score was higher than the DAS28-CRP (DAS28-ESR mean 4.8±1.6; DAS28-CRP mean 4.3±1.4) for 83.9% of the patients. The DAS28-CRP and DAS28-ESR scores showed a very strong correlation (Pearson’s coefficient = 0.922; P<0.0001, 95% CI +0.87 to +0.95, statistical power 100%). Spearman’s correlation coefficient (0.49; P=0.0001, 95% CI +0.25 to +0.67, statistical power 47.54%) showed a moderate correlation between the unique components of the DAS28 formulas. There was agreement between the tests in only 36 of the patients (64.29%). Among the discordant categories, DAS28-ESR overestimated the classification in 16 patients (28.5%). The Kappa coefficient between the categories was 0.465 (SE 0.084, 95% CI +0.301 to +0.630), showing a moderate degree of agreement between the instruments. Although the DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP were highly correlated, they differed significantly in terms of patient categorization and should not be used interchangeably.

Factors related to apical periodontitis in a southern Brazilian population: a multilevel analysis.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the effects of individual-level and tooth-level factors on apical periodontitis (AP) in an urban population in southern Brazil. A random sample of digital panoramic radiographs (n = 545) from a dental school database was evaluated. The diagnosis of AP was determined by using a dichotomous scale (yes/no). AP was assessed according to gender, age, presence and quality of endodontic treatment (ET), presence of an intracanal post, coronal condition, and dental group. Data were analyzed descriptively and through multilevel Poisson regression analysis, considering teeth characteristics (level 1) nested in individuals (level 2). In this sample of 545 participants, the prevalence of AP was 49.5% (n =2 70) and ET was 43.5% (n = 237). Considering 13,595 teeth, AP was identified in 596 (4.4%) and ET in 617 (4.5%). Of the teeth with ET, 153 (24.8%) presented AP. Among individual-level factors, the disease was not significantly associated with gender or age. For tooth-level factors, AP was significantly associated with ET quality: teeth with short fillings (< 3 mm) and teeth with over-fillings had 2.77 (CI: 1.95-3.94, p < 0.001) and 1.08 (CI: 0.39-2.98, p < 0.001) higher prevalence of AP, respectively. There was no association between AP and age, gender, dental group, coronal condition, or the presence of an intracanal post. AP was highly prevalent in this population, and multilevel analysis indicated a significant association with ET quality.

HÉRNIA INCISIONAL PRECOCE APÓS TRANSPLANTE HEPÁTICO: FATORES DE RISCO E RESULTADOS DO REPARO CIRÚRGICO

Liver transplantation is a complex and valuable therapy. However, complications that burden postoperative quality of life, such as incisional hernia, are to be better elucidated, such as risk factors and prophylactic measures. This study aimed to define the rate of incisional hernia in patients who underwent liver transplantation in a population in southern Brazil and to assess the related risk factors in order to establish measures for prior optimization and specific prophylactic care in the future. Patients undergoing adult Liver transplantation from January 2004 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, assessing demographic features, surgical outcomes, and predisposing factors. Among 261 liver transplantation patients included, incisional hernia was diagnosed in 71 (27.2%). Of the 71 incisional hernia patients, 28 (39.4%) developed IH during the first post-transplant. Majority of the patients were male (52/71, 73.2%); of the 71 patients, 52 had hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 33 (46.5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male gender (p=0.044), diabetes mellitus (p=0.008), and acute cellular rejection (p<0.001) were risk factors for IH. In all, 28 (39.4%) patients were submitted for hernia repair with mesh, with a recurrence rate of 17.8%. Incisional hernia after liver transplantation is a relatively common problem associated with male gender, diabetes, and acute cellular rejection. This is a problem that should not be trivialized in view of the complexity of liver transplantation, as it can lead to a reduction in quality of life as well as jeopardize late liver transplantation results and lead to incarceration and strangulation.

Oscillation, synchrony, and multi-factor patterns between cereal aphids and parasitoid populations in southern Brazil.

In different parts of the world, aphid populations and their natural enemies are influenced by landscapes and climate. In the Neotropical region, few long-term studies have been conducted, maintaining a gap for comprehension of the effect of meteorological variables on aphid population patterns and their parasitoids in field conditions. This study describes the general patterns of oscillation in cereal winged aphids and their parasitoids, selecting meteorological variables and evaluating their effects on these insects. Aphids exhibit two annual peaks, one in summer-fall transition and the other in winter-spring transition. For parasitoids, the highest annual peak takes place during winter and a second peak occurs in winter-spring transition. Temperature was the principal meteorological regulator of population fluctuation in winged aphids and parasitoids during the year. The favorable temperature range is not the same for aphids and parasitoids. For aphids, temperature increase resulted in population growth, with maximum positive effect at 25°C. Temperature also positively influenced parasitoid populations, but the growth was asymptotic around 20°C. Although rainfall showed no regulatory function on aphid seasonality, it influenced the final number of insects over the year. The response of aphids and parasitoids to temperature has implications for trophic compatibility and regulation of their populations. Such functions should be taken into account in predictive models.

Improvement of the Mass-Rearing Protocols for the South American Fruit Fly for Application of the Sterile Insect Technique.

Simple SummarySignificant advances in the domestication and artificial rearing techniques for the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera, Tephritidae), have been achieved since the FAO/IAEA Workshop held in 1996 in Chile. Despite the availability of rearing protocols that allow the production of a high number of flies, they must be optimized to increase insect yields and decrease production costs. In addition, evidence of sexual incompatibility between a long-term mass-reared Brazilian strain and wild populations has been found. To address these issues, this study refined rearing protocols and assessed the suitability of a bisexual A. fraterculus strain established from a target population in southern Brazil for the mass production of sterile flies.The existing rearing protocols for Anastrepha fraterculus must be reviewed to make economically viable the production of sterile flies for their area-wide application. Additionally, evidence of sexual incompatibility between a long-term mass-reared Brazilian strain and wild populations has been found. To address these issues, this study aimed to refine rearing protocols and to assess the suitability of an A. fraterculus strain for the mass production of sterile flies. A series of bioassays were carried out to evaluate incubation times for eggs in a bubbling bath and to assess the temporal variation of egg production from ovipositing cages at different adult densities. A novel larval diet containing carrageenan was also evaluated. Egg incubation times higher than 48 h in water at 25 °C showed reduced larval and pupal yields. Based on egg production and hatchability, the density of 0.3 flies/cm2 can be recommended for adult cages. The diet with carrageenan was suitable for mass production at egg-seeding densities between 1.0 and 1.5 mL of eggs/kg of diet, providing higher insect yields than a corn-based diet from Embrapa. Even after two years of being reared under the new rearing protocols, no sexual isolation was found between the bisexual strain and wild flies.

Weedy rice (Oryzaspp.) diversity in southern Brazil

AbstractWeedy rice (Oryzaspp.) is one of the most troublesome weeds affecting rice (Oryza sativaL.) production in many countries. Weedy rice control is difficult in rice fields, because the weed and crop are phenotypically and morphologically similar. Weedy rice can be a source of genetic diversity for cultivated rice. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the morphological diversity of weedy rice in southern Brazil. Qualitative and quantitative traits of 249 accessions from eight rice-growing mesoregions in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC) states were analyzed. For each accession, 24 morphological descriptors (14 qualitative and 10 quantitative) were evaluated. All 249 accessions from RS and SC are ofindicalineage. Considering all the phenotypic traits evaluated, the accessions separated into 14 distinct groups. One of the largest groups consisted of plants that were predominantly tall with green leaves, intermediate shattering, and variable flowering time. Distinct subgroups exist within larger clusters, showing discernible phenotypic diversity within the main clusters. The variability in flowering time was high (77 to 110 d after emergence), indicating high potential for flowering synchrony with rice cultivars and, consequently, gene flow. This indicates the need to remove escapes when planting herbicide-resistant rice. Thus, weedy rice populations in southern Brazil are highly diverse, and this diversity could result in variable response to weed management.