Rio De Janeiro State Research Articles

Breeding biology review of White‑backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

In Brazil, the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus is distributed in the midwest, south and southeast but breeding information is scarce. In this study, species breeding information in the country was compiled from online platform (WikiAves, eBird) and literature. A case study describing nests and egg biometry were reported in Restinga of Jurubatiba National Park (RJNP), on the north cost of Rio de Janeiro state, as well potential threats to the species. Sampling was carried out in September and December 2018, monthly in 2019 and between January to March and September to December in 2020. Overall, 70 breeding records were compiled, between 1997 and November 2021, being 64 from WikiAves in all regions of Brazil, four records from eBird in São Paulo state (in 2021) and two records in literature (one from São Paulo state, in 2007 and one from Rio de Janeiro in 2012). In RJNP, 44 nests were identified being 34 active, with an average of 3.5 eggs per nest, and overall 118 eggs were measured. The main materials used to build the nests were the saltmarsh plant and mud. Around 60% of nests were degraded or predated. Predation was the main cause of egg loss. Successful nests (with chicks or hatching signs) represented 26% of the total nests monitored. This study reports the first information on the biometry of the species' eggs and nests, confirming the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state as a nesting area for the species.

An ethnogeomorphic case study of conservation practices in Southeast Brazil

Controversy and conflict surround the design and implementation of protected areas in tropical forests in Brazil. This case study applies an ethnogeomorphic perspective to relate local understandings of landscape to conservation goals in a protected area in Rio de Janeiro State. Externally imposed environmental protection areas fail to incorporate understandings of local farmer practices that shaped the landscape notionally being protected. Rather, a focus on reafforestation and technocentric farming techniques ignores flexible and adaptive land use practices in managing the protected area. Findings show that ethnogeomorphic research that generates multiple readings of landscapes could support more inclusive, locally informed conservation programmes.

Estrategias de depredación de Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier y Serville, 1825) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) sobre Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray, 1835 (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae) en cautiverio

Based on the observation of specimens kept in captivity for 69 days, here we describe in detail for the first time the predatory behavior of an assassin bug Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae), on a stick insect Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray, 1835 (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae). The behavior of the generalist predator H. angulosus as well as the evasive reactions of C. phyllinus were detailedly described and illustrated. Because both species occur in the Atlantic Forest biome and were recorded in the same geographic coordinates, in an urbanized green area in the city of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, the ecological relationship here described is also plausible of occurring in nature and opens new venues to be explored. The unprecedented phytophagy of H. angulosus was also recorded.

Theoretical Concepts of Photocatalysis

The mapping of sugarcane plantations and their changes is relevant to the economy and the environment, notably due to sugarcane's interface in the biofuel industry through ethanol. The necessary mapping of sugarcane crop changes is especially challenging when plantation occurs under smallholders' land ownership structures used for heterogeneous crop management. We evaluated two approaches to address this challenge with the example of sugarcane abandonment in the Norte Fluminense Region, Northeastern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The region is characterized by a large share of smallholders. We trained a random forest classifier for sugarcane for 2018 based on all available Landsat imagery. Based on the concept of temporal generalization, we applied the classifier trained in 2018 for the period from 1986 until 2020. The resulting annual sugarcane probability maps were used as input for two abandonment mapping methods: LandtrendR and muti-temporal cropland abandonment mapping. The performance of both approaches was evaluated based on a stratified sampling approach. We detected three distinct trajectories for sugarcane farmland: i) permanently abandoned sugarcane, ii) fallow sugarcane, and iii) and stable sugarcane. The multi-temporal cropland abandonment mapping performed better for the sugarcane abandonment class (F1 = 0.84) than the LandtrendR approach (F1 = 0.21). The LandtrendR results revealed a higher omission (PA = 0.12) in mapping the sugarcane abandonment class. For the multi-temporal cropland abandonment mapping, we found that 66% (67,353 ha) of the stable sugarcane areas were abandoned between 1990 and 2016. The highest abandonment rates occurred between 1990 and 1994 and between 2010 and 2016. The spatial distribution of abandonment was heterogeneous. The earliest abandonment was concentrated in the northern part of the study area. The most recent abandonment was more extensive in the southern part of the study site. Our results highlight the advantages and challenges of using Landsat time series to map sugarcane abandonment in a heterogeneous management system. Our results also highlight the spatially and temporal heterogeneous pattern of sugarcane abandonment in the region and provide the necessary database for subsequent studies to identify underlying and proximate causes for the abandonment.

Sugarcane abandonment mapping in Rio de Janeiro state Brazil

The mapping of sugarcane plantations and their changes is relevant to the economy and the environment, notably due to sugarcane's interface in the biofuel industry through ethanol. The necessary mapping of sugarcane crop changes is especially challenging when plantation occurs under smallholders' land ownership structures used for heterogeneous crop management. We evaluated two approaches to address this challenge with the example of sugarcane abandonment in the Norte Fluminense Region, Northeastern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The region is characterized by a large share of smallholders. We trained a random forest classifier for sugarcane for 2018 based on all available Landsat imagery. Based on the concept of temporal generalization, we applied the classifier trained in 2018 for the period from 1986 until 2020. The resulting annual sugarcane probability maps were used as input for two abandonment mapping methods: LandtrendR and muti-temporal cropland abandonment mapping. The performance of both approaches was evaluated based on a stratified sampling approach. We detected three distinct trajectories for sugarcane farmland: i) permanently abandoned sugarcane, ii) fallow sugarcane, and iii) and stable sugarcane. The multi-temporal cropland abandonment mapping performed better for the sugarcane abandonment class (F1 = 0.84) than the LandtrendR approach (F1 = 0.21). The LandtrendR results revealed a higher omission (PA = 0.12) in mapping the sugarcane abandonment class. For the multi-temporal cropland abandonment mapping, we found that 66% (67,353 ha) of the stable sugarcane areas were abandoned between 1990 and 2016. The highest abandonment rates occurred between 1990 and 1994 and between 2010 and 2016. The spatial distribution of abandonment was heterogeneous. The earliest abandonment was concentrated in the northern part of the study area. The most recent abandonment was more extensive in the southern part of the study site. Our results highlight the advantages and challenges of using Landsat time series to map sugarcane abandonment in a heterogeneous management system. Our results also highlight the spatially and temporal heterogeneous pattern of sugarcane abandonment in the region and provide the necessary database for subsequent studies to identify underlying and proximate causes for the abandonment.

Tracking the turnover of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Gamma to Delta in a Brazilian state (Minas Gerais) with a high-vaccination status.

The emergence and global dissemination of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) have been described as the main factor driving the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. In Brazil, the Gamma variant dominated the epidemiological scenario during the first period of 2021. Many Brazilian regions detected the Delta variant after its first description and documented its spread. To monitor the introduction and spread of VOC Delta, we performed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) genotyping and genome sequencing in ten regional sentinel units from June to October 2021 in the State of Minas Gerais (MG). We documented the introduction and spread of Delta, comprising 70 per cent of the cases 8 weeks later. Comparing the viral loads of the Gamma and Delta dominance periods, we provide additional evidence that the latter is more transmissible. The spread and dominance of Delta did not culminate in the increase in cases and deaths, suggesting that the vaccination may have restrained the epidemic growth. Analysis of 224 novel Delta genomes revealed that Rio de Janeiro state was the primary source for disseminating this variant in the state of MG. We present the establishment of Delta, providing evidence of its enhanced transmissibility and showing that this variant shift did not aggravate the epidemiological scenario in a high immunity setting.

Species distribution modeling allied with land-use reveal priority sites and species for palm (Arecaceae) conservation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Palms species (Arecaceae) are abundant in tropical forests and influence ecosystems in important ways. Moreover, they are a relevant feature in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. In this study, we seek to better understand the distribution of palm richness in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with the aim to support conservation decisions and actions. Maps for 15 palm species were generated through species distribution modeling and then stacked into a palm richness map, which was further combined with current land-use and protected area maps to generate a realistic portrayal of the current situation of Arecaceae in the state. Our results revealed an increasing inland-to-coast pattern of richness that matches the biogeographical subdivision of the Atlantic Forest. Considering the land-use information, the palm species potential distribution is drastically reduced, especially for some species which already have a restricted distribution in the state. We also identified the most relevant protected areas for the conservation of palms in the state and those which might have been overlooked in floristic inventories, thus requiring more detailed investigation. Moreover, we point out those species with few points, for which species distribution models could not be built, and argue that they are the ones more likely to be threatened by habitat loss and should be the focus of specimen collection and recording. Finally, we draw attention to a large medium-richness remnant located between two protected areas which probably functions as a connection between them and should be a priority area for conservation.

Medium- and large-sized mammals from Estação Biológica Fiocruz Mata Atlântica, Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil.

The Pedra Branca Forest is in a highly urbanised region of the central portion of Rio de Janeiro City and comprises the largest urban forest in the world (> 12,000 ha). The local flora and fauna are protected by three conservation units and the Estação Biológica Fiocruz Mata Atlântica (EFMA), which comprises 462 hectares on the east side of the remnant. The local biodiversity is still little known compared to other Atlantic Forest remnants from the Rio de Janeiro State. Here, we provide results of a survey of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals from the EFMA. In addition, we analysed the distribution of this fauna along three habitat types defined as Peridomicile, Transitional Forest and Forest Core. Sampling was performed from 2017 to 2020 and comprised a camera-trap survey, interviews with residents and local workers and occasional records. Results include occurrence records for 16 autochthonous and one allochthonous (Callithrix sp.) wild mammals, which are distributed into 14 families and seven orders, in addition to the presence of free-ranging domestic dogs and cats. Four species are in some category of threat of extinction at national or global levels. Amongst them, Leontopithecusrosalia (first record for the Rio de Janeiro City in more than a century) and Leopardusguttulus are classified as Vulnerable by IUCN. Most wild native species were registered in the three habitat types, but with differences in the frequency of records. Our results indicate that the presence of domestic dogs and cats influenced the species composition in each area, with Nasuanasua, Dasyproctaleporina and Didelphisaurita less frequent in places where domestic dogs and cats are more frequent. This is the first systematic effort to understand the occurrence and distribution of mid- and large-sized mammals in the Pedra Branca Forest.

Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika: Spatial and Temporal Distribution in Rio de Janeiro State, 2015–2019

Simultaneous spatial circulation of urban arboviral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, is a major challenge. In this ecological study of urban arboviruses performed from 2015 to 2019, we analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of these arboviruses in all 92 municipalities and nine health regions of Rio de Janeiro state. Annual cumulative incidences are presented for all three arboviruses throughout the study period. Spatial analyses of the three studied arboviruses showed distinct behaviors among municipalities and health regions. Co-circulation of the three arboviruses in the state and a heterogeneous spatiotemporal pattern was observed for each disease and region, with dengue having a higher annual incidence during the five years of the study, as well as two consecutive epidemic years in the state. The increase in transmission in different regions of the state in one year culminated in an epidemic in the state in the following year. A high annual cumulative incidence of chikungunya occurred in municipalities from 2017 to 2019 and of Zika only in 2016. Some municipalities with higher population densities showed higher incidences for some arboviruses and appeared to contribute to the dissemination to cities of lower demographic density and maintenance of these urban arboviruses. Thus, regions recording increased incidences of the three diseases in their territories for long periods should be considered municipal poles, as they initiated and sustained high transmission within their region.

The first Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae recovered from a sheep with respiratory disease in Brazil - draft genome and genomic analysis.

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is an important etiological agent of sheep respiratory disease worldwide. Here, we describe the first isolation and draft genome sequence of M. ovipneumoniae strain USP-BR2017 retrieved from tracheobronchial lavage of a sheep showing clinical signs of respiratory disease in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The culture of tracheobronchial lavage resulted in glucose-fermenting fried egg colonies, which were identified as M. ovipneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction. The genome was sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 2000 and de novo assembled using SPAdes. The genome of the sequenced organism presented an approximate size of 1,122,253bp.The annotation revealed 773 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 806 genes, three rRNAs, and 30 tRNAs. Data analysis revealed M. ovipneumoniae strain USP-BR2017 contains a few virulence genes, including the hemolysing C gene (hlyC). In addition, strain USP-BR2017 showed high identity over the 16S rRNA gene with other sheep isolates from China and United States. This first description of M. ovipneumoniae in diseased Brazilian sheep demonstrates the importance of continuous surveillance and diagnostics of pathogens causing respiratory disease in sheep in Brazil.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF THE INLAND WATERS IN THE NORTHERN OF RIO DE JANEIRO STATE: CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS IN THE LOWER PARAÍBA DO SUL RIVER

The 1993 inauguration of UENF (Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro) has made research on aquatic ecosystems in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State a reality, most notably that pertaining to the lower Paraíba do Sul River (PSR) and associated ecosystems (e.g. mangroves, coastal lagoons and coastal zone). These researches were, in part, leveraged by the scientific training provided by Dr Francisco Esteves. Within the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, the PSR has been monitored with biweekly samplings since 1994 by UENF in a long-term project highlighting the river’s role in supplying water for 90% of the municipality’s population. However, potamological conditions such as low outflow and eutrophication have fostered episodic cyanobacterial blooms, especially during the dry season. One such event caused water supply interruptions in the municipalities located in the lower PSR basin, a fact that highlights the importance of pluriannual monitoring of its hydrochemical conditions.

LONG-TERM CHANGES IN SANITARY CONDITIONS AND ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITY IN THE IMBOASSICA LAGOON (RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL): EFFECTS OF SANDBAR OPENINGS

The present study investigated the intra-ecosystem variability of nutrient enrichment (nitrogen -N- and phosphorus -P-), density of faecal coliforms (i.e., as a proxy of sanitary conditions), and ecological responses of the zooplankton community structure in a tropical urban coastal lagoon, following eutrophication, changes in rainfall, and episodic sandbar openings. Surface waters were monthly taken over 14 years (1992-2005) within the long-term monitoring program ECOlagoas from two sampling stations at the Imboassica lagoon (Northern of the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil): near a domestic wastewater channel (SEWAGE station), and at the limit to the sea (SANDBAR station). Changes in faecal coliforms and nutrient concentration reduced water quality due to untreated sewage inputs, which was intensified by artificial sandbar openings mainly under low rainfall, such as observed in February 2001. Indeed, a greater depth and subsequent volume of water of the Imboassica lagoon during the acidification period (i.e., attributed to the increased rainfall, and lower frequency of sandbar openings) contributed to dilute the faecal coliform only in the SANDBAR station. In turn, the zooplankton community structure showed that episodic sandbar openings promoted the loss of their functional features derived from a reduction and replacement of species over time, even in the period of lower frequency of sandbar opening and dilution of nutrient concentrations. Our findings indicate that sandbar openings are not the best management practice when facing coastal eutrophication, once it may cause harmful effects on sanitary conditions and ecological community related to zooplankton, mainly in periods of decline in rainfall.

Mapping potential risks for the transmission of spotted fever rickettsiosis: The case study from the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Spotted fever rickettsiosis is a zoonosis transmitted by ticks, having a varied clinical course that can lead to death if not managed properly. In Brazil it is more commonly observed in the Southeast, being an emerging public health problem. Hazard mapping models are common in different areas of knowledge, including public health, as a way of inferring reality and seeking to reduce or prevent damage. The aim of this study is to offer a spatial heuristic methodology for assessing the potential risk of transmission of spotted fever in the Rio de Janeiro state, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. For this, we used geospatial tools associated with eco-epidemiological data related to the clinical profile of the disease. The results achieved were substantially encouraging, considering that there are territories with greater or lesser expectation of risk for spotted fever in the study area. We observed that there are important distinctions between the two rickettsiosis scenarios in the same geographic space and that the areas where there is a greater potential risk of contracting rickettsiosis coincide with the administrative regions that concentrated the cases of hospitalization and deaths from the disease, concluding that the scenery found are relevant to the case series for the disease and that the planning of surveillance actions can gain in quality if the use of this spatial analysis tool is incorporated into the routine of local health management.

Geotechnologies as decision support strategies for the identification of fire-susceptible areas in Rio de Janeiro State.

Forest fires have global, regional, and local socioeconomic and environmental consequences, with negative effects on ecosystem services, air quality, population health, and other relevant aspects, emphasizing their significance in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The study identified areas in the Rio de Janeiro State (RJS) with varying degrees of susceptibility to fire focis using remote sensing data derived from topographic, anthropogenic, meteorological, and hydrological factors based on seasonality and integrated into geographic information systems. The analytical hierarchy process was used as a method of integration and normalized hierarchy of variables, generating susceptibility maps in the annual, summer, and winter periods in the RJS's hydrographic regions (HR), with the application of the associated chi-square test to records of fire focis from the AQUA satellite, period 2003 to 2017, without methodological variation for data acquisition, whose susceptibility was classified as very low to very high. The results show that the years with the most fire foci in the adopted time series are 2007 and 2014, with a peak in September and a fall from October onwards. According to the susceptibility map, 9% of the RJS is highly susceptible during the annual period, with HR-IX being especially vulnerable. In the summer, 0.2% of RJS is extremely vulnerable, while 32% is highly vulnerable in the winter, with 6402 km2 of HR-IX areas being extremely vulnerable. A statistical correlation was discovered between the chi-square test and susceptible areas. This work contributes as a decision-making tool in fire planning and emergency response, with the potential to assist control bodies (city halls, civil defense, environmental protection bodies, health systems) in the local and regional context in the assessment, analysis, and management of these phenomena.

Sedimentological and geochemical characterization of microbial mats from Lagoa Vermelha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

ABSTRACT The presence of microbialites in the hypersaline lagoons of Rio de Janeiro is especially important in the study of recent analogs of carbonate rocks with microbial origins, mostly after the discovery of giant petroleum reservoirs in the Brazilian pre-salt section and their similarities with stromatolites from Lagoa Salgada (Rio de Janeiro State). Many studies have been conducted to analyze the biology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and geomicrobiology of these microbialites. This paper, however, focuses on the petrography, sedimentology, and geochemistry of recent and superficial microbial mats from Lagoa Vermelha to understand the interaction of carbonate and siliciclastic grains with an organic matrix and discuss their similarities and differences with pre-salt rocks. A sedimentologic description was performed to understand the sediment dynamics in microbial mats. A petrographic description involved the characterization of components and textures in microscale. Furthermore, geochemical analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction for detailed mineralogical characterization. This multitechnique study showed the lamellar and cracked texture of the matrix being displaced by biologically induced carbonate growth and siliciclastic grains. In addition, chemical analysis showed the concentration of magnesium and silica in the matrix, with the absence of Mg-clay minerals. Even though the studied microbial mats present relevant similarities with some pre-salt facies, a microbially dominated genesis for the pre-salt limestones cannot be supported by the studied data.

A tutela do voto: clientelismo, chaguismo e outros dilemas da política no Rio de Janeiro

This article aims to discuss the subject of the guardianship of the vote. Our aim is to use a structured exploratory methodology based on an analysis of cases located in the state of Rio de Janeiro to discuss several mechanisms allowing Brazilian democracy to be directed within these parameters, within a historical dynamic featuring the relativization or kidnapping of citizen autonomy. First, we raise the question of guardianship based on the concepts of clientelism, mandonismo [bossism], and Chaguism, before providing a typology of candidates useful in a reflection on the profiles to be henceforth considered as representative of Rio’s political elite. In the second part of the text, we outline the particular structural features we understand as the particular pathos of Rio de Janeiro state politics, by means of analyzing two cases. First, that of smuggler Toninho Turco, which provides a useful illustration of the clash between the public machine and organized crime in the state. Second, the mayor of Duque de Caxias, Washington Reis (MDB), appears as a synthesis of the two archetypes of political elite revealed in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This reflection results in an effort to contest the theory of scarcity of supply, or, in other words, that the crisis in the state stems from a lack of electoral alternatives. Finally, we analyze the guardianship by means of the connection between the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary Powers, as well as the connection between such authorities and organized crime, using the concept of Litigância Militante [militant litigation] to reflect on the search and seizure operations carried out by the Public Ministry in an election year, with a focus on the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Barriers faced by patients in the diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Brazil.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To understand patients’ narratives about the barriers they faced in the diagnosis and treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and their consequences in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.METHODS This is a qualitative cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic sampling. A theoretical saturation criterion was considered for composing the number of interviewees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from August to December 2019 with 31 patients undergoing treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis at an outpatient referral center in Rio de Janeiro. Data were transcribed and processed with the aid of the NVIVO software. Interviews were evaluated by content analysis, and their themes, cross-referenced with participants’ characterization data.RESULTS Our main findings were: a) participants show a high proportion of primary drug resistance, b) patients experience delays in the diagnosis and effective treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis ; c) healthcare providers fail to value or seek the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis, thus beginning the inadequate treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis, d) primary health units show low report rates of active case-finding and contact monitoring, and e) patients show poor knowledge about the disease.CONCLUSIONS We need to improve referral systems, and access to the diagnosis and effective treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; conduct an active investigation of contacts; intensify the training of healthcare providers, in collaboration with medical and nursing schools, in both public and private systems; and promote campaigns to educate the population on tuberculosis signs and symptoms.

Redescription of Anchoviella cayennensis (Puyo, 1945) (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae), with the synonymization of Anchoviella sanfranciscana Barbosa, Gomes da Silva, da Rocha Araújo & Carvalho, 2017 and remarks on Anchoviella perfasciata (Poey,1860).

Anchoviella cayennensis (Puyo, 1945) is a relatively small-sized, coastal and estuarine western Atlantic species of anchovy distributed from Suriname to southeastern Brazil. The species is morphologically similar to Anchoviella perfasciata (Poey, 1860) from the Central and western North Atlantic, and it has been suggested in the literature that both are actually synonyms. The recently described Anchoviella sanfranciscana (Barbosa et al., 2017) was reported as endemic to the estuary of the São Francisco River, northeastern Brazil. Most characters proposed as diagnostic for A. sanfranciscana in the description are, however, similar to the ones reported for A. cayennensis and A. perfasciata. To determine the complex taxonomic scenario involving the three species, 24 morphometric and 13 meristic characters of 171 specimens tentatively identified as A. perfasciata (including the holotype) and A. cayennensis from the Central and South Atlantic in addition to the holotype and 19 paratypes of A. sanfranciscana (total: 191 specimens) were analysed. The PCAs of morphometric characters indicate the existence of two groups, which are recognized as A. perfasciata and A. cayennensis, with A. sanfranciscana proposed as a junior synonym of the later. Further evidence from gill arch dentition also indicates that A. perfasciata and A. cayennensis are distinct valid species. A redescription of A. cayennensis is presented, with a neotype proposed for the species. Confirmation of the identity of specimens attributed to A. cayennensis indicates that its southern limitof distribution is in the Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. An updated taxonomic key for the estuarine and coastal Atlantic species of Anchoviella is also presented.

Beyond Domestic Cats: Environmental Detection of Sporothrix brasiliensis DNA in a Hyperendemic Area of Sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

In Brazil, sporotrichosis has transitioned from a rural to urban disease, driven by a shift in the initiation of infection from the accidental inoculation of organic matter to the traumatic implantation of the fungus by cats. Since the emergence of zoonotic sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis, investigations have largely ignored the environmental habitat of the pathogen due to its association with domestic cats. Therefore, we investigated 18 environmental samples collected from rural areas of two cities where zoonotic sporotrichosis is endemic, but where domestic cats are scarce. We utilized traditional culture methods, and samples were also examined with two molecular methods used for the clinical diagnosis of sporotrichosis: a nested-PCR targeting the ITS region and a species-specific PCR targeting the calmodulin gene. No Sporothrix colonies were identified by traditional culture methods. However, the nested-PCR and the species-specific PCR for S. brasiliensis were positive for 18 and 5 samples, respectively. Sequencing revealed that positive results with the nested-PCR were due to non-specific amplification of other Ophiostomatales DNA, rather than Sporothrix spp. Three of the five amplicons from the species-specific PCR were suitable for sequencing and confirmed the presence of S. brasiliensis DNA. Hence, we confirmed that S. brasiliensis, as with other Sporothrix species, has an environmental habitat. Our findings underscore the challenges of nested-PCR for Sporothrix environmental studies and highlight that sequencing must follow PCR protocols to definitively identify Sporothrix spp. in environmental samples.

Method development and application to sediments for multi-residue analysis of organic contaminants using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A method for the determination of four classes of potentially toxic substances (PTSs) was developed and applied in marine sediments, including (i) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), (ii) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (iii) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and (iv) organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs). The method is based on ultrasonic extraction with a mixture of dichloromethane:methanol (9:1 v/v) and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. A total of 89 compounds were identified using two precursor-product ion standards for each analyte. The method detection limit (MDL; 0.001-0.055ngg-1 dw) and method quantification limit (MQL; 0.002-0.184ngg-1 dw) are below the usual thresholds of pollution adopted by international sediment quality guidelines. The method proved to be selective, sensitive, accurate, and linear, with the advantage of reducing sample handling time and consumable expenses (solvent, adsorbents). The developed method was successfully applied to surface sediments of Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Total concentrations of PAH (29.20-209.5ngg-1 dw), PCB (0.06-2.16ngg-1 dw), OCP (0.03-0.33ngg-1 dw), and PBDE (0.06-0.21ngg-1 dw) represent a baseline for these compounds and revealed mild to low levels of contamination in comparison to other coastal bays in SE Brazil. By using the proposed method, we expect this preliminary dataset can be expanded and include other similar coastal systems from developing countries marked by scarcity of information about levels, risk assessment, and specific sediment quality guidelines encompassing multiple classes of regulated and emerging organic contaminants.