Rio Preto Research Articles

Ultrasonographic findings in the bladder of cattle at different stages of evolution of bovine enzootic hematuria in Brazil

Despite the diagnostic capacity of ultrasonography (US) in cases of bovine enzootic hematuria (BEH), it has been underused in the medical clinic for ruminants. Studies comparing ultrasound findings in healthy animals (HA) with subclinical (SCH) and clinical (CH) BEH are scarce in the literature. As a result, the present work aims to describe the US findings of cattle at different stages of BEH evolution, evaluating the diagnostic capacity and precocity of the technique. The study was carried out on five rural properties in the municipalities of Rio Preto and Bom Jardim de Minas – MG, Brazil, using 46 dairy cattle, females over 18 months of age, evaluated and classified as G1/CH, G2/SCH and G3/HA, according to history, clinical examination and urinalysis, with subsequent ultrasound analysis of the bladder. The mean bladder wall thickness was 36.50 mm in G1/CH, 33.53 mm in G2/SCH and 37.93 mm in G3/HA. Irregular walls were observed in 53.33 % (8/15) of G1/CH, 27 0.78 % (5/18) of G2/SCH and 38.46 % (5/13) of G3/HA. Loss of the architecture of the urothelium layers was observed in 53.33 % (8/15) of G1/CH, 33.33 % (6/18) of G2/SCH and 38.46 % (5/13) of G3/HA. Multifocal and Grade I lesion were the most common. Ultrasonography allowed the identification of lesions in 38.46 % of animals that did not present hematuria and in 33.33 % of animals that presented occult blood and proved to be an efficient technique for detecting pre-clinical cases of BEH, allowing easy identification. and early onset of BEH cases.

Prevalence of COVID-19 Among 8000 Patients at a Hospitalized and Mortality in Old Age.

COVID-19 created a general challenge to healthcare systems throughout the world and was an important cause of mortality. The aim of the present study was to report the general evolution of patients with COVID-19 at a teaching hospital and analyze differences by age group and sex considering mortality rates in the years 2020 and 2021 among patients older than 60 years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR at the São Jose do Rio Preto university hospital between March 2020 and March 2022. The patients were male and female patients, of varying ages belonging to the region of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, were accommodated in the wards or intensive care units (ICUs). Overall mortality was analyzed for the hospital as well as in the ICUs and wards. This analysis was performed separately in two years considering age group, sex, and main comorbidities in patients older than 60 years of age. A total of 8032 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized between March 2020 and March 2022: 2866 patients with 658 deaths (22.92%) in 2020; 4324 patients with 1168 deaths (27.01%) in 2021; and 842 patients with 205 deaths (24.35 %) in 2022 up to the month of March. More than half (53.60%) of the patients were hospitalized in the ICUs and 46.39% were hospitalized in the wards. Differences in the mortality rate were found for the different age groups in the comparison of the years, with more deaths occurring among individuals up to 90 years of age in the second year (p <0.05). Men were affected more and had a higher mortality rate (p <0.0001). The main comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (70.93%), diabetes (37.76%), and obesity (23.68%). The mortality rate of older people hospitalized with COVID-19 was higher than the average, it was higher in 2021 compared to 2020 and increased with age. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity were the main comorbidities.

Methane Production from Sugarcane Vinasse Biodigestion: An Efficient Bioenergy and Environmental Solution for the State of São Paulo, Brazil

This study mapped the bioenergy production from sugarcane vinasse according to the mesoregions of the State of São Paulo (SP), Brazil, assessing the magnitude of biogas-derived electricity and biomethane production and estimating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SP holds 45% of the Brazilian ethanol-producing plants, in which 1.4 million m3 of carbon-rich vinasse are generated daily. The electricity generated from vinasse has the potential to fully supply the residential consumption (ca. 6.5 million inhabitants) in the main sugarcane-producing mesoregions of the state (Ribeirão Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Bauru, Araçatuba and Presidente Prudente). In another approach, biomethane could displace almost 3.5 billion liters of diesel, which represents a 26% abatement in the annual state diesel consumption. Energetically exploiting biogas is mandatory to prevent GHG-related drawbacks, as the eventual emission of methane produced under controlled conditions (261.2 × 106 kg-CO2eq d−1) is ca. 7-fold higher than the total emissions estimated for the entire ethanol production chain. Meanwhile, replacing diesel with biomethane can avoid the emission of 45.4 × 106 kg-CO2eq d−1. Implementing an efficient model of energy recovery from vinasse in SP has great potential to serve as a basis for expanding the utilization of this wastewater in Brazil.

Spatio-temporal analysis of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis incidences in the Brazilian state of Amazonas: 2011 to 2022

This study aimed to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of tegumentary leishmaniasis occurrences in the Amazonas state, Brazil. An ecological study encompassing time series and spatial analysis was performed, exploring the geographic distribution and temporal trends of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) in Amazonas between 2011 and 2022. Secondary data extracted from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) were utilized for this analysis. The study evaluated the relationship between disease cases and environmental/climatic variables (deforestation, temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity). Over the study period, 19,730 cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis were recorded, averaging an incidence of 41.4/100,000 inhabitants across the 62 municipalities of Amazonas state. Disease intensity varied with seasons. Generally, Amazonas state displayed a declining trend in ATL cases. However, certain municipalities, notably Rio Preto da Eva and Presidente Figueiredo, exhibited high incidence rates, while Canutama, Envira, Eirunepé, and Pauini municipalities demand closer attention due to their demonstrated increasing temporal trend of ATL cases. The analysis indicated a correlation between the number of ATL cases reported and relative humidity as well as precipitation. These findings underscore the significance of tegumentary leishmaniasis as a public health issue in the region and emphasize the necessity for public initiatives aimed at preventing this endemic illness.

Spatial analysis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the state of Amazonas.

To evaluate, using spatial analysis, the occurrence of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) and analyze its association with the municipal human development index (MHDI) and deforestation in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, from 2016 to 2020. This ecological study, carried out from January 2016 to December 2020, included the 62 municipalities of the state of Amazonas. The incidence rate of ACL was determined in space and time. Using Multiple Linear Regression by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Spatial Autoregressive Regression (SAR) models, the relationship between incidence rates and Human Development Index (HDI) and deforestation was analyzed., The high- and low-risk clusters were identified by employing the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. A total of 7,499 cases of ACL were registered in all 62 municipalities in the state. Most cases were in male (n=5,924; 79.24%), with the greatest frequency in the population aged from 20 to 39 years (n=3,356; 44.7%). The incidence rate in the state of Amazonas was 7.34 cases per 100,000 inhabitants-year, with the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Presidente Figueiredo showing the highest rates (1,377.5 and 817.5 cases per 100,000 population-year, respectively). The ACL cases were clustered into specific areas related to those municipalities with the highest incidence rates. The SAR model revealed a positive relationship between ACL and deforestation. The occurrence of ACL was evident in a variety of patterns in the state of Amazonas; the high incidence rates and persistence of this disease in this state were linked to deforestation. The temporal distribution showed variations in the incidence rates during each year. Our results can help optimize the measures needed to prevent and control this disease in the state.

The Early Paleozoic sedimentary record in northeastern Brazil: Unravelling the sedimentary provenance and evolution of fluvial systems after the Western Gondwana assembly

The sedimentary units of the geographically isolated basins of NE Brazil are historically interpreted as coeval and part of the same depositional system that was ultimately responsible to the deposition of the first sedimentary sequence of the intracratonic Parnaíba Basin. We present the first integrated detrital zircon U-Pb age dataset from the Early Paleozoic basins of NE Brazil, providing new insights into the depositional evolution and erosional history after Western Gondwana assembly. The lowermost sedimentary units (Ipu, Cariri, and Tacaratu formations) of eleven NE Brazil sedimentary basins (Parnaíba, Araripe, Tucano-Jatobá, Lavras da Mangabeira, Fátima, São José do Belmonte, and Mirandiba) were analyzed by a multi-proxy approach aiming to propose new insights on the paleogeographic reconstruction and stratigraphic correlations. Sedimentary provenance data, together with paleocurrents measurements consistently towards NNW-NW, suggests that the primary source for all the Early Paleozoic sedimentary units of NE Brazil were elevated orogenic areas related to the Brasiliano Orogeny to the south of Borborema Province (e.g., Riacho do Ponta, Rio Preto, and Sergipano belts). Based on detrital zircon U-Pb ages, we position the beginning of sedimentation of these basins in the Ordovician. The U-Pb age spectra for all analyzed sedimentary successions are remarkably similar. The analysis of KDE plots, CA-DA gap curves, and (dis)similarity tests, reinforced the correlation and contemporaneity of all the Ordovician sedimentary successions of NE Brazil. The conceived paleogeography model points to deposition of all the analyzed successions in a ramp, slightly tilted towards NW, where continental-scale fluvial system drained Neoproterozoic orogenic areas (i.e., Brasiliano Orogeny) dispersing huge volumes of sediments towards Borborema Province interior.

Cryptic circulation of chikungunya virus in São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, 2015-2019.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has spread across Brazil with varying incidence rates depending on the affected areas. Due to cocirculation of arboviruses and overlapping disease symptoms, CHIKV infection may be underdiagnosed. To understand the lack of CHIKV epidemics in São José do Rio Preto (SJdRP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil, we evaluated viral circulation by investigating anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion in a prospective study of asymptomatic individuals and detecting anti-CHIKV IgM in individuals suspected of dengue infection, as well as CHIKV presence in Aedes mosquitoes. The opportunity to assess two different groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) exposed at the same geographic region aimed to broaden the possibility of identifying the viral circulation, which had been previously considered absent. Based on a prospective population study model and demographic characteristics (sex and age), we analyzed the anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion rate in 341 subjects by ELISA over four years. The seroprevalence increased from 0.35% in the first year to 2.3% after 3 years of follow-up. Additionally, we investigated 497 samples from a blood panel collected from dengue-suspected individuals during the 2019 dengue outbreak in SJdRP. In total, 4.4% were positive for anti-CHIKV IgM, and 8.6% were positive for IgG. To exclude alphavirus cross-reactivity, we evaluated the presence of anti-Mayaro virus (MAYV) IgG by ELISA, and the positivity rate was 0.3% in the population study and 0.8% in the blood panel samples. In CHIKV and MAYV plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), the positivity rate for CHIKV-neutralizing antibodies in these ELISA-positive samples was 46.7%, while no MAYV-neutralizing antibodies were detected. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed CHIKV genotype ECSA in São José do Rio Preto, SP. Finally, mosquitoes collected to complement human surveillance revealed CHIKV positivity of 2.76% of A. aegypti and 9.09% of A. albopictus (although it was far less abundant than A. aegypti) by RT-qPCR. Our data suggest cryptic CHIKV circulation in SJdRP detected by continual active surveillance. These low levels, but increasing, of viral circulation highlight the possibility of CHIKV outbreaks, as there is a large naïve population. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological situation might aid in outbreaks prevention.

POTENTIALS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE TRACEABILITY PROCESS OF ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION

Organic production is one of the driving engines of a large gear, as on the basis of organic production all food is grown sustainably. The organic food production traceability system emerges as a strategic tool to guarantee safe food and environmental dynamics in the use of biodiversity, identifying and exposing the links between spatially distributed structures differentiating places and processes. The study was carried out in the municipality of Rio Preto da Eva, specifically in the São Francisco community in Ramal Cachoeira, as a survey of information on traceability, theoretical methodological procedures were taken as a basis through documentary and bibliographical research. In this specific case, we work with OCS, from the municipality of Rio Preto da Eva, which is located in the metropolitan region of Manaus. OCS's are formal or informal organizations that carry out social control as a way of guaranteeing the quality of organic production through the organization of farmers themselves. Therefore, the data allowed us to confirm the hypothesis that the traceability of organic products can ensure family farmers through reliability to offer safe, quality food and consequently promote a sustainable market.

ECR Spotlight – Igor Noll Guagnoni

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Igor Noll Guagnoni is an author on ‘ Cardiovascular responses and the role of the neurohumoral cardiac regulation during digestion in the herbivorous lizard Iguana iguana’, published in JEB. Igor conducted the research described in this article while a master’s student in Luiz Henrique Florindo's lab at São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Igor is now a PhD student in the lab of Luiz Henrique Florindo at São Paulo State University, Brazil, and Tobias Wang’s lab at Aarhus University, Denmark, investigating cardiorespiratory physiology applied to animal conservation and evolution.

Portable color retinography findings in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ward

Retinal lesions, including cotton-wool exudates, microbleeds, vascular occlusions and vasculitis, occur in a minority of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Retinal assessments using retinography can help document these lesions. The objective of this work was to identify retinal changes in patients admitted to the ward with a positive Real Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) exam for COVID-19. A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out of patients with mild and moderate symptoms admitted to the Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto. The Eyer® portable retinal camera (Phelcom® Technologies) was used to evaluate 30 male and 21 female patients. The ages ranged from 21 to 83 years (mean: 47 years). Systemic arterial hypertension was identified in 21 (41.2 %) and diabetes mellitus in 12 (23.5 %) patients. Six (11.7 %) reported worsening visual acuity, however, none of these patients had ocular findings to justify this complaint. Ten patients (19.6 %) had intraretinal hemorrhages; one (1.9 %) had cotton-wool exudates and seven (13.7 %) had dilations of veins. Thirteen patients (25.4 %) had vascular tortuosity and six (11.7 %) had pathological arteriovenous crossings. Portable retinography is useful to evaluate patients admitted to isolation wards due to COVID-19. It is important to remember that some of the patients investigated had comorbidities like diabetic maculopathy and systemic arterial hypertension. Hence, some care should be taken in attributing these observations uniquely to COVID-19 infection.

EVALUATION OF SPECTRAL INDICES FOR DETECTION OF BURNED AREAS IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA USING SPOT-5 IMAGES

The Cerrado biome has great importance in ecological biodiversity, but deforestation has accelerated in recent decades. The Rio Preto-BA Environmental Preservation Area, known for the high agricultural activity of grains, continually suffers from forest fires and loss of native vegetation. Satellite remote sensing is proposed as an alternative to accurately locate and quantify fire-affected surfaces and their impacts on the landscape. With the recent free availability of SPOT-5 images, it has made it possible to detect burned areas with considerable spatial and spectral resolution. The objective of the present study was to determine the ideal spectral index for detection of the burned area inserted in the APA Rio Preto through two SPOT-5 scenes and the application of the Support Vector Machines (SVM) model. The burned areas detected were submitted to the calculation of five spectral indices, BAI, BAIM, NBR, NDVI and EVI2. The ability of each index to discriminate burned areas was estimated by comparing them with each other using a statistical separability index, SVM regression and accuracy analysis. BAIM was identified as the index with the greatest potential for discriminating burnt areas with maximum separability and classification accuracy above 90%, while the NDVI and EVI2 indices had low performance. It is hoped that these results can be used to evaluate and prioritize monitoring areas, contribute to the implementation of a fire management plan in the APA and to support subsequent studies on fire dynamics in forest systems integrated with advanced computational technologies.

Anurans from the upper basins of the Rio Grande and Rio Preto: eastern portion of the Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The Neotropical zone stands out for having the greatest richness of amphibians in the world. About 625 species of anurans are known on Atlantic Forest. The southeastern mountainous regions of Brazil called Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira, are very important areas for the diversity of anurans in the country because they shelter remaining strata of the Atlantic Forest that have several endemic species. The present study aims to expand the knowledge about the Serra da Mantiqueira anurans, specifically from the Rio Preto and Rio Grande upper basins. The study area comprised 10 sample centers. We realized 38 campaigns, lasting two days each. During this period, we used active search as visual and auditory cues. The passive search was comprised of pitfall traps. Bioacoustic analyses were used to determine the cryptic species. The sufficiency of the sampling effort was estimated through the accumulation curve using Bootstrap and Jackknife-1 as estimators. During the study 55 species were found, 40 of them in the basin of the Rio Preto, and 44 in the basin of the Rio Grande. Twenty-nine species were found in both areas. The Hylidae family was predominant, followed by Leptodactylidae. In addition to species of the Atlantic Forest, the place houses typical components of the Cerrado biome and altitudinal swamps with unexpected sympatries. This inventory expands the area of occurrence of Scinax duartei, a species considered threatened. Although adjacent to the oldest national park in Brazil, the composition of anuran species of this area was unknown until then.

Estudo retrospectivo e espacial de diagnósticos anatomopatológicos da criptococose canina e felina em municípios do estado de São Paulo

ABSTRACT Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the genus Cryptococcus that affects humans and animals. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiological and anatomopathological profiles, occurrence, and distribution of the infection by Cryptococcus spp. in 30 dogs and 110 cats residing in the State of São Paulo, from 2014 to 2020. The study evaluated the results from 140 necropsies and histopathology and cytopathology tests provided by Veterinary Pathology services. A higher occurrence of positive diagnosis was observed in females of both cats and dogs, adults, and mixed breeds of both species. The main diagnostic method used was histopathology, with a predominance of integumentary lesions in dogs and cats (skin pattern), with no significant difference between species and lesion location (p≤ 0.827). The time-spatial distribution showed a significant increase in the diagnoses in dogs and cats over the seven years, the identification of areas with a higher rate of diagnosis of cryptococcosis such as Campinas and São José do Rio Preto, and the positive correlation of a diagnosis with climatic data. Retrospective studies of anatomopathological data help to identify suspected cases of cryptococcosis and demonstrate the importance of monitoring and surveillance of cryptococcosis.

Wrapping a Craton: A Review of Neoproterozoic Fold Belts Surrounding the São Francisco Craton, Eastern Brazil

A synthesis of the evolution of the Neoproterozoic belts or orogens surrounding the São Francisco craton (SFC) in northeastern and southeastern Brazil is presented. Emphasis is placed on recognizing the superposition of sedimentary basins, from rift to passive margin to retroarc and foreland, as well as identifying three diachronic continental collisions in the formation of the SFC. The Tonian passive margin occurs in the southern Brasília Belt with the Vazante, Canastra, and Araxá Groups. During the Tonian, island magmatic arcs and basins developed in front and behind these arcs (fore- and back-arcs). Subsequently, in the Cryogenian–Ediacaran, a retroarc foreland basin developed with part of the Araxá Group and the Ibiá Group, and finally, a foreland basin developed, which was filled by the Bambuí Group. A tectonic structure of superimposed nappes, with subhorizontal S1–2 foliation, formed between 650 and 610 Ma, is striking. In the northern Brasília Belt, there is the Stenian passive margin of the Paranoá Group, the Tonian intrusion of the Mafic–Ultramafic Complexes, and the Mara Rosa Island magmatic arc, active since the Tonian, with limited volcanic–sedimentary basins associated with the arc. A thrust–fold belt structure is prominent, with S1 foliation and late transcurrent, transpressive tectonics characterized by the Transbrasiliano (TB) lineament. The Cryogenian–Ediacaran collision between the Paranapanema and São Francisco cratons is the first collisional orogenic event to the west. In the Rio Preto belt, on the northwestern margin of the São Francisco craton, the Cryogenian–Ediacaran Canabravinha rift basin is prominent, with gravitational sediments that represent the intracontinental termination of the passive margin that occurs further northeast. The rift basin was intensely deformed at the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary, as was the Bambuí Group. On the northern and northeastern margins of the São Francisco craton, the Riacho do Pontal and Sergipano orogens stand out, showing a comparable evolution with Tonian and Cryogenian rifts (Brejo Seco, Miaba, and Canindé); Cryogenian–Ediacaran passive margin, where the Monte Orebe ophiolite is located; and Cordilleran magmatic arcs, which developed between 620 and 610 Ma. In the Sergipano fold belt, with a better-preserved outer domain, gravitational sedimentation occurs with glacial influence. A continental collision between the SFC and the PEAL (Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif) occurred between 610 and 540 Ma, with intense deformation of nappes and thrusts, with vergence to the south and accommodation by dextral transcurrent shear zones, such as the Pernambuco Lineament (PE). The Araçuaí belt or orogen was formed at the southeastern limit of the SFC by a Tonian intracontinental rift, later superimposed by a Cryogenian–Ediacaran rift–passive margin of the Macaúbas Group, with gravitational sedimentation and glacial influence, and distally by oceanic crust. It is overlain by a retroarc basin with syn-orogenic sedimentation of the Salinas Formation, partly derived from the Rio Doce cordilleran magmatic arc and associated basins, such as the Rio Doce and Nova Venécia Groups. A third continental collision event (SF and Congo cratons), at the end of the Ediacaran (580–530 Ma), developed a thrust–fold belt that deforms the sediments of the Araçuaí Belt and penetrates the Paramirim Corridor, transitioning to the south to a dextral strike-slip shear zone that characterizes the Ribeira Belt.

Challenges of soybean production and its difficulties in the region of Tocantins/Bahia

The study refers to the activities developed in the soybean harvest period being carried out in an agricultural Farm, most of it is in the municipality of “Formosa do Rio Preto” - BA, and another part in the forests of Tocantins which borders the “Jalapão” and “Serra Gerais” state park. Throughout the study period, some practices related to soybean production were followed, such as the production of bioproducts (Trichoderma spp. and complex of bacteria of the genus Bacillus), plant stand evaluation, pest and disease monitoring, plant monitoring. The activities carried out helped to expand knowledge about the obstacles in soybean production, in addition to demonstrating the main problems of the region to seek ways to improve agricultural production. The knowledge passed on about the entire soybean production process was of great importance, showing how to obtain greater grain production potential.

ANÁLISE DA DISTRIBUIÇÃO ESPAÇO-TEMPORAL DAS NOTIFICAÇÕES DE LESÃO AUTOPROVOCADA NO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO ENTRE 2018 E 2021

Self-harm is considered a public health problem and can be categorized as a form of interpersonal and self-harm violence, characterized by significant rates of occurrence on a global scale. In Brazil, few spatial analysis studies have explored this problem. The present work aims to detect and identify the spatial distribution of the rate of self-harm between the years 2018 and 2021. The methodology includes obtaining and organizing data, descriptive analysis of the rates calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, exploratory analysis with statistical tests and quantitative thematic mapping, as well as analysis of the spatial pattern using global and local Moran indices. The results reveal large clusters of high rates of self-inflicted violence in municipalities that are in the regional health department of São José do Rio Preto, and large clusters of low rates in the regional health department of Greater São Paulo and surroundings, throughout the four years studied. Comparing the two periods, during the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, there was a reduction in the absolute number of occurrences. Despite this, the spatial patterns were consistent over the four years. These findings can guide future research on the problem of self-inflicted injury.

Phylogeographic inference for Bichromomyia flaviscutellata sensu stricto (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phebotominae) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, based on the 3' region of the COI gene.

Bichromomyia flaviscutellata (Mangabeira, 1942) sensu stricto (Diptera: Psychodidae) has been recognized as the main vector of Leishmania amazonensis in the Brazilian Amazon. For this reason, it is of paramount importance to understand the distribution of genetic diversity of populations of this vector, particularly the genetic structure and gene flow, for its management and control efforts. This study investigated the phylogeographic structure of five B. flaviscutellata s.s. populations from the central Brazilian Amazon region by analyzing 1,141 bp fragment of the 3' region of the COI gene. A total of 85 specimens of B. flaviscutellata s.s. were sequenced from Manaus (14), Rio Preto da Eva (10), Pitinga (14), Novo Airão (21), and Autazes (26); all in the state of Amazonas. The dataset yielded 59 haplotypes, most of them connected to each other in the main network. There were high levels of intrapopulation genetic variability (h = 0.945 ± 0.035 - 0.978 ± 0.054). The genetic distance values among populations varied from moderate (0.0873) to very high (0.3535), and all comparisons were significant, as well as the hierarchical analysis (ΦST = 0.2145). In contrast, these comparisons revealed a high number of shared sites (Ss = 6-34) and no difference in fixed sites (Sf = 0) among populations indicating absence of historical isolation. The Mantel test indicated that 67.92% (r = 0.6792; P = 0.06) of the genetic structure observed in B. flaviscutellata s.s. cannot be explained by the isolation-by-distance (IBD) model. This genetic structure, weakly explained by the IBD, may be due mainly by the forest habitat fragmentation and the low dispersal (flight) capacity of sand flies. Both factors could lead to population fragmentation and isolation, which promote genetic differentiation. Taken together, these findings suggest that the genetic structure observed in the studied populations of B. flaviscutellata s.s. is likely generated by microevolutionary processes acting at the population level at the present time and, therefore, evolutionary lineages were not recognized among the populations analyzed.

Water security threats and solutions in the Grande River basin – One of the Brazilian agricultural frontiers

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of sustainable agricultural management solutions at a farm level to mitigate water security threats in one of Brazil's agricultural frontiers – the Grande River basin. The paper addresses future challenges to water security in the river basin and explores how effective solutions are at a farm level to mitigate current and future water security threats at a basin scale. Based on the assessment of multiple drivers, higher future water security threats in the region are predicted in 2040 due to climate change, land use modification and corresponding changes in water use. The paper finds that the Formosa do Rio Preto region, which is not currently water-insecure, may turn into a water security hotspot area by 2040. The effective response index for water security (ERI-WS), based on the qualitative assessment of the impact at the farm scale, is used to evaluate the effectiveness of current sustainable management practices in addressing water security challenges. The water security dimensions approach of the ERI-WS shows that >50 % of the sites have technologies that can have positive impacts on the “Drinking water and human well-being”, “Economic activities and development”, “Ecosystem” and the “Resilience” dimensions. The paper finds that 66 % of the farms have efficient soil, land, and water management solutions (ERI-WS > 0.5) to address current and future water security issues. These solutions range from sustainable grazing land management to integrated plant nutrition management to enhanced soil productivity. However, 15 % of the farms located in vulnerable areas of the municipalities of São Desidério, Barreiras and Catolândia have lower effectiveness. Results also indicate that 36 % of the sites, distributed in 8 municipalities, employ nature-based solutions to mitigate water security threats, mainly those related to water quality conditions in downstream areas, indicating the relevance of these practices in the region.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in blood donors in a population from the northwestern region of São Paulo state, Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide with varying prevalence between human populations. These variations are mainly associated with human exposure to risk factors. In this article, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and the risk factors associated with infection in 1729 blood donors from São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil were analysed. The serological tests for detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-T. gondii were used. The risk factors associated with the infection were identified through the application of an epidemiological questionnaire. The prevalence of T. gondii infection was 48.0%. The following factors were identified in the final model after multiple logistic regression analysis: drinking raw milk (p=0.003; odds ratio [OR] 1.364 [confidence interval {CI} 1.1 to 1.7]), residing in a rural area (p<0.0001; OR 2.764 [CI 1.7 to 4.6]) and receiving a blood transfusion (p=0.015; OR 1.856 [CI 1.1 to 3.0]). The data obtained in this study showed that the blood donor population is exposed to risk factors related to infection by T. gondii. These data allow the establishment of control programs to contribute to public health in northwestern São Paulo state.

Seasonal and Circadian Evaluation of the Essential Oil of Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae), a Wild Flavoring Herb from East Maranhão, Brazil.

Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae) is an aromatic herbal species known as "Melosa", endemic to the Municipality of São Benedito do Rio Preto, East Maranhão state, Brazil. It has a refreshing and pleasant aroma and is used for food flavoring and controlling domestic animal parasites. This work aimed to evaluate the seasonal and circadian influence on the composition and production of essential oils (EOs) from D. riparius. The plant aerial parts were hydrodistilled, and the oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The seasonal study was conducted from August 2019 to July 2020, and the circadian study in dry (November) and rainy (May) periods, at 6 am, 12 am, and 6 pm. The results showed that the medium EOs yield was 2.8 %, and the primary constituents (>2 %) were endo-fenchyl acetate (30.5-42.1 %) and endo-fenchol (31.6-37.4 %), (E)-caryophyllene (2.8-7.6 %), α-fenchene (3.3-6.5 %), p-cymene (0.7-4.5 %), and caryophyllene oxide (1.4-2.7 %). Yield and composition of EOs did not significantly correlate with the climatic parameters, but their seasonal percentages influenced their two main components due to precipitation and solar radiation environmental factors. Quantitative variability in the EOs composition during the dry and rainy seasons was observed in the circadian period. These data may be significant for the plant's economic use.