Rural Communities In Northeastern Brazil Research Articles

The Influence of Socio-economic Factors on Distinct Categories of Use in a Rural Community in Northeastern Brazil

The Influence of Socio-economic Factors on Distinct Categories of Use in a Rural Community in Northeastern Brazil

Giardíase em crianças e cães, e o primeiro relato de infecção por assemblage E em cães do nordeste brasileiro

Diagnosis is crucial for controlling giardiasis. We determined the prevalence and genetically characterize isolates of Giardia duodenalis of children and dogs from rural communities in northeastern Brazil. G. duodenalis cysts were concentrated by centrifugal flotation/sedimentation. Molecular characterization was carried out using the loci ssu-rRNA, bg, tpi, and gdh. By parasitological techniques, Giardia spp. infection was detected in 72/192 children (37.5%; 95% CI: 30.6%-44.7%) and 24/139 dogs (17.3%; 95% CI: 11.4%-24.6%). By molecular analysis, infection was detected in 60/141 children (42.5%; 95% CI: 34.3%-51.2%) and 26/92 dogs (28.3%; 95% CI: 19.4%-38.6%). The total prevalence of giardiasis was 54.9% in children (106/193; 95% CI: 47.1%-61.6%) and 32.9% in dogs (47/143; 95% CI: 25.2%-41.2%). Zoonotic assemblages A and B of G. duodenalis were detected in children, and assemblage E of G. duodenalis was detected in one child and two dogs. Parallel use of parasitological and molecular techniques proved to be a more effective strategy for detecting giardiasis in children and dogs from endemic areas.

Taste and chemical composition as drives for utilitarian redundancy and equivalence: a case study in local medical systems in Northeastern Brazil

BackgroundWe aimed to verify whether the taste and chemical composition influence the selection of plants in each medicinal category, whether within a socio-ecological system or between different socio-ecological systems. To this end, we use the theoretical bases of the Utilitarian Redundancy Model and the Utilitarian Equivalence Model. We studied the local medical systems of four rural communities in northeastern Brazil, used as models to test our assumptions.MethodsThe data on medicinal plants and local therapeutic function were obtained from semi-structured interviews associated with the free-listing method, allowing to generate indexes of similarity of therapeutic use between the plants cited in each region. During the interviews, each informer was also asked to report the tastes of the plants cited. Subsequently, we classified each plant in each region according to the most cited taste. The data about the chemical composition of each plant were obtained from a systematic review, using Web of Knowledge and Scopus databases.ResultsPairs of plants with similar tastes are 1.46 times more likely to have the same therapeutic function within a local medical system (redundancy), but not between medical systems (equivalence). We also find that chemical compounds are not primarily responsible for utilitarian redundancy and equivalence. However, there was a tendency for alkaloids to be doubly present with greater expressiveness in pairs of equivalent plants.ConclusionsThe results indicate that each social group can create its means of using the organoleptic characteristics as clues to select new species as medicinal. Furthermore, this study corroborates the main prediction of the Utilitarian Equivalence Model, that people in different environments choose plants with traits in common for the same functions.

Medicinal fungi used by rural communities in Northeastern Brazil

The use of fungi for diversified purposes is part of the history of mankind. We sought to report what is known about fungal species used for medicinal purposes by rural populations in Northeastern Brazil. To this end, semi-structured forms were applied to 176 informants from four rural communities located in the southern region of Piauí. The fungi were deposited in the Graziela Barroso Herbarium (TEPB) of the Federal University of Piauí. The use value (UV) and relative importance (RI) of each species were calculated and similarity was estimated with the Sorensen index. Medicinal use was identified for four basidiomycete species belonging to the families Agaricaceae [Podaxis pistillaris (L.) Fr.], Hymenochaetaceae (Fomitiporia sp.) and Polyporaceae [Hexagonia hydnoides (Sw.) M. Fidalgo and Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill]. Indicated for intestinal colic in infants, P. sanguineus was the species that presented the greatest current and potential UV and greater cultural importance. Studies on the chemical and pharmacological composition of the mentioned species were found, indicating their antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant potential. Knowledge about these fungi has been transmitted from generation to generation, with greater similarity among individuals of the female sex and adult age. The results showed that there is ethnomycological knowledge in rural communities still to be explored in the semi-arid region of Brazil and highlighted the importance of studies about the ethnological knowledge of medicinal fungi.

Clinical and macroscopic morphological features of canine tungiasis.

Tungiasis is a public health problem in endemic resource-poor communities, where dogs are important reservoirs of Tunga spp., contributing significantly to the process of transmission of this zoonosis. In order to optimize the diagnosis of canine tungiasis, macroscopic morphological characteristics and clinical signs of the lesions were investigated, based on the inspection of 40 dogs infested by T. penetrans from an endemic rural community in northeastern Brazil. Of the 1546 lesions found in these dogs, including all stages of development of the parasite, 89.1% (1378) were located on the paw pads. Dogs aged up to 5years had the greatest number of lesions. Dark pigmentation and hyperkeratosis of the paw pads made it difficult to identify the lesions. Among all the clinical signs observed were hyperemia (38; 95%), pain (32; 80%), fissure (11; 27.5%), onychogryphosis (29; 72.5%), cluster of lesions (26; 65%), hyperkeratosis (25; 62.5%), lameness (15; 37.5%), and fissure (11; 27.5%). Ectopic lesions were found especially in the nipples (64; 4.1%) and abdomen (51; 3.3%). The maximum diameter of the stage III neosomes was 6mm. Dogs with a higher number of lesions had a higher degree of hyperkeratosis. Age over 1year was associated with a higher rate of dispersion of the parasite in the environment (p = 0.04). The identification of the initial stages of tungiasis can guarantee a more effective control of the disease in dogs, which will mainly depend on the treatment of adult animals and the application of continuous preventive actions based on One Health in these communities.

Utilitarian and cognitive aspects in the ethnotaxonomy of plants from the Caatinga in two rural communities in Northeastern Brazil

This research sought to contribute to plant ethnotaxonomic studies and aimed to describe cognitive and utilitarian aspects used in communities in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The question asked in the interview was: "What plants do you know?" The interviews were conducted with local specialists, using plant names written on cards randomly placed on a table. The informants were asked to organize the cards according to their understanding. Two hundred and one folk generics were recorded in Cachoeira and 185 in Barrocas, both communities located in the Municipality of Soledade (Paraíba). These generics were divided into 65 trees/shrubs, 138 herbs, 10 lianas/creepers, 7 cacti, and 4 bromeliads. A total of 146 monotypic and 24 polytypic folk generic were identified. The life forms were abundant; some of them had already been recorded in the literature but others were recorded for the first time. The morphological and utilitarian aspects were the most used classification criteria. The informants followed no consensus model to organize their classification.

Can medicinal use protect plant species from wood uses? Evidence from Northeastern Brazil

Several ethnobotanical studies have attempted to understand the criteria for the differential use of plant resources. However, we need more effort to understand the interaction between local uses: how using a species for a given purpose may affect its use for another purpose. Thus, we hypothesize that high importance species in a more specialized category of use may have their use reduced for other categories with a more generalist nature. We have conducted the study in three rural communities in northeastern Brazil, set in seasonally dry tropical forest areas. We applied the free-list technique to identify woody species used for medicinal and/or wood purposes (fuelwood, construction and technology). Respondents rated the species according to their efficiency for wood purposes and their local availability. We performed a multiple regression to assess the effects of medicinal popularity, perceived availability, and perceived efficiency for wood uses over the species popularity for wood uses. Our results showed that medicinal use has a significant protective effect against wood uses. Perceived availability and efficiency were significant explanatory variables for wood use. Maintaining the medicinal importance of certain species can be a powerful tool in protecting their populations against more harmful uses.

Local criteria for the selection of wild food plants for consumption and sale in Alagoas, Brazil

Understanding the reasons for the consumption of certain plant resources instead of others has important implications for biological conservation. This study aimed to answer the following question: What are the factors that determine the consumption and perceived commercial potential of certain wild fruit species among extractivists from two rural communities in northeastern Brazil? This study developed a participatory approach to identify the fruit species known and/or used by extractivists. The selected species were presented to the extractivists using semi-structured interviews. A Likert scale (from 1 to 5) was used by interviewees to assign scores to 17 wild fruits in terms of local consumption, commercial potential, taste, nutritional potential, adverse effects, post-harvest durability, additional uses, temporal availability (fruit), spatial availability (fruit), spatial availability (plant), ease of collection, and ease of cultivation. Multiple regression analysis was performed to show the variables that best explained the selection of plants for consumption and sale. The results showed that only taste determined the commercial potential of plants, while taste and nutritional potential were the variables that best explained domestic consumption. In contexts in which edible wild plants do not form the base of the local diet, taste may be more relevant in relation to other variables such as availability and nutritional potential.

Knowledge, practice and perception of human-marsupial interactions in health promotion.

Approximately 60% of emerging pathogens originate from wild animals, with mammals being the main hosts. Among Didelphis, which are restricted to the Americas, the species Didelphis aurita and Didelphis albiventris are particularly widely distributed throughout Brazil, where they act as hosts for several pathogens transmissible to humans. The reduction of their natural habitat has resulted in the adaptation of these species to human environments. Animals hunting, due to food necessity or cultural habit, may increase pathogen exposure with a potential to zoonotic disease transmission. From November to December 2016, we administered semi-structured questionnaires in a rural community in northeastern Brazil to assess knowledge, practices and perceptions regarding human-didelphis interactions and possible exposure to zoonoses. There were 213 respondents. Based on photographs of D. albiventris and D. aurita, 91.2% and 78% respondents, respectively, identified the animal by the popular name "sariguê", 61% (130/213) believed the animal could convey any disease, 4.7% stated they did not, and 34% did not know. Opossum meat consumption was reported by 20.2% (43/213), of which 58.1% admitted disease transmission possibility. Only 15.9% of respondents had a secondary or higher education level. The distribution of these frequencies is discussed according to the respondents educational level. The results reveal the need to carry out health educational activities, including better community knowledge regarding the possible exposure to pathogens due to marsupial consumption.

What matters when prioritizing a medicinal plant? A study of local criteria for their differential use

ABSTRACT The ethnobotanical literature lacks joint analyses of the factors that may influence the differential use of medicinal plants. This study intends to fill that void by evaluating the local criteria for the differential use of medicinal plants in a rural community in Northeastern Brazil. We chose two health problems (influenza and constipation) characterized as diseases by local (emic) classification to address the following hypotheses: (1) the most important medicinal plants are easier to acquire; (2) the most important medicinal plants are perceived as being more efficient; and (3) the most important medicinal plants taste better (greater palatability). The plants mentioned in interviews were ranked according to the perception of their use (dependent variable), the difficulty of their acquisition, their taste and their efficiency (independent variables). The perceived efficiency explained the use of medicinal plants for both diseases, while taste explained the use only for constipation. The final models for ‘influenza’ contained only efficiency, while those for ‘constipation’ contained all three variables. These findings indicate that medicinal categories many not be homogeneous and that different targets may be influenced by different variables.

Plants used to feed ruminants in semi-arid Brazil: A study of nutritional composition guided by local ecological knowledge

This study evaluated the plants of the Caatinga (seasonal dry forest) used as forage in rural communities in northeastern Brazil by comparing the known nutritional composition of species with the nutritional attributes described by the local people. Key informants were selected using the snowball technique, and these informants used their local knowledge to characterize 30 species according to their nutritional attributes and local preferences regarding their use. The nutritional composition of all of the previously described species was favorable for ruminant diets, but for some species (22), there were no prior records of their nutritional or anti-nutritional properties. The most culturally salient species included Waltheria rotundifolia Schrank, Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urb., Croton blanchetianus Baill., Spondias tuberosa Arruda and Tragus berteronianus Schult. The salience values (local importance) were significantly correlated with crude protein (CP) levels but not with the anti-nutritional constituents, such as tannins, indicating that these factors did not affect local preferences. The data confirm the reliability of local knowledge in evaluating the nutritional value of forage species.

Mental health, well-being, and poverty: A study in urban and rural communities in Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the relations between mental health and well-being in urban and rural contexts marked by poverty. The analysis takes as its basis a quantitative research conducted with 417 adult inhabitants of two communities, one rural and the other urban, in Northeastern Brazil. The data were constructed using questionnaires composed of sociodemographic data, the Personal Wellbeing Index and Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) scales. We found significant differences between the inhabitants of the rural and urban communities regarding well-being and the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD), with a higher average well-being score in the rural context; the urban sample had a higher average regarding the prevalence of CMD. The variable income significantly influenced the SRQ-20 average scores; the same was not observed with well-being scores. Besides, it was observed that there is a negative correlation with well-being and CMD.

An ethnopharmacological assessment of the use of plants against parasitic diseases in humans and animals

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEthnobotanical surveys are detecting an increasing frequency of exotic plant species in pharmacopeias, which has led researchers to investigate the role of such species in traditional medical systems. According to the diversification hypothesis, exotic species are included to complete pharmacopeias, i.e., to treat diseases for which no native species are known, thus broadening the scope of the plant repertoire. Materials and methodsThe present study was conducted at two rural communities in northeastern Brazil aiming at a survey of the plants known or used by the population to treat endo- and ectoparasitic diseases in humans and animals. In addition, plant extracts exhibiting acaricide activity were assessed using the engorged female immersion and larval packet tests (LPT). ResultsThe results of the present study showed a tendency for native species to be used against ectoparasites and exhibit a broader scope of use compared to exotic species. In turn, exotic species were predominantly indicated to treat diseases caused by endoparasites, although there was an overlap of native and exotic species relative to some therapeutic purpose, e.g., ticks. Only two of the plant species tested exhibited acaricide activity (Nicotiana glauca Graham and Croton blanchetianus Baill.), and in both cases, the activity was weak. ConclusionThe ethnobotanical data do not fully support the suggested hypothesis. Overall, the wide versatility of exotic species was not exclusively used to treat parasitic diseases in humans and animals. In addition, the selection of acaricide plants based on the ethnopharmacological study generated uninteresting results.

Traditional Knowledge and Management of Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Pequi) in the Brazilian Savanna, Northeastern Brazil1

Traditional Knowledge and Management ofCaryocar coriaceumWittm. (Pequi) in the Brazilian Savanna, Northeastern BrazilCaryocar coriaceum Wittm. (pequi) is a tree native to northeastern Brazil that produces fruits of importance to human populations of the region. This species serves as a resource for the livelihoods of many people and represents a source of income in many rural communities in northeastern Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, use, collection practices, and forms of local management related to C. coriaceum in a rural community in the state of Ceara, Chapada do Araripe, northeast Brazil. Pequi collectors were identified and constituted the sample of respondents (N = 56). The knowledge of C. coriaceum is uniformly distributed in the community. The categories food and derivatives (oil) were the most relevant. Considering all use categories, there was a significant difference between the knowledge of men and women (p <0.05, 95% confidence interval) based on the Shannon-Wiener and Hurlbert’s PIE diversity indices. The main form of management applied to pequi trees was collection of its fruits, followed by the practice locally referred to as zelar (similar to the management practice “protection”) and sowing seeds. All of the informants stated that they commercialize pequi fruits. The mean income from fruit sales is less than the mean income obtained via selling pequi oil, as the latter product is of greater commercial value. Among the nine most relevant collection sites, Barreiro Novo (savanna) was highlighted, which is part of both a protected area and the anthropogenic landscape of the region, and has great economic and cultural importance for pequi collectors.

Knowledge and Use of Wild Food Plants in Areas of Dry Seasonal Forests in Brazil

The investigation aimed to compare the knowledge about food plants in rural communities of the Caatinga. The study was conducted in two rural communities in northeastern Brazil. Data collection utilized different ethnobotanical methods, including free listing, semi-structured interviews, and recall. Native species are less frequently consumed as food in both locations. Fruits are the most frequently cited wild resource, but in practice, most of this food availability potential is wasted. Despite community knowledge about wild species with potential food, few species are actually utilized, and thus, many plants are not included in the diets of the populations studied.

Dynamics of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in a rural community in the Brazilian semi-arid region

Human beings have accumulated rich experience with natural resources over time, but such knowledge can be strongly influenced by several factors, such as age, sex and occupation. This study focuses on the influence of these factors on knowledge of medicinal plants in a rural community in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 102 people, with the number of plants and uses cited studied for quantitative analysis. Through this research, it was possible to show that the social variables studied (age, sex and informants occupation) have contributed to the formation of different patterns of knowledge regarding medicinal resources. The results indicate that awareness of this dynamic is necessary for the proper implementation of projects where the goal is the sustainable use of natural resources (because it indicates the different levels of knowledge within a community), for studies intended to discover new drugs (because it indicates the peculiarities of certain groups), and for biodiversity conservation strategies.

Chemical characterization of native wild plants of dry seasonal forests of the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

The present study seeks to increase the knowledge of the chemical and nutritional characteristics of the species in the Caatinga (semi-arid region from northeastern Brazil) and quantify total anthocyanins, flavonols and carotenoids that are in the native food resources. Nine species were selected from ethnobotanical survey conducted in two rural communities in northeastern Brazil. The study revealed the potential of various food plants in the Caatinga, especially in comparison to other wild species of the same genus that have been investigated in other studies. The following species are of interest for future studies on bioactive substances: Eugenia sp. and Sideroxylon obtusifolium. It is interesting to investigate the potential agroindustry of the latter species, along with Syagrus cearensis and Ziziphus joazeiro. Nevertheless, the most immediate impact of this study may be to improve the populations' use of species such as S. cearensis, S. obtusifolium, and Eugenia sp., which have elevated nutritional potential and could be used in programs to improve the quality of food among the rural population.

Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniosis in dogs from a rural community in northeastern Brazil

A community-based epidemiological study was carried out in a rural area in northeastern Brazil, where visceral leishmaniosis is endemic, but the primary vector Lutzomyia longipalpis has never been found. Forty-one dogs were screened by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of anti- Leishmania antibodies and 12 (29.3%) of them were positive. One of the IFAT-positive dogs was also positive for Leishmania amastigotes in bone marrow cytology and for Leishmania infantum by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood. One IFAT-negative dog was positive for L. infantum by PCR on bone marrow and other for Leishmania amastigotes in skin stained-smears. When tested for L. braziliensis by PCR, 20 dogs were positive. Considering all diagnostic tests, the estimated prevalence of Leishmania spp. infection in the studied rural dog population was 58.5%. There was no significant difference in IFAT-positivity in relation to age, gender, and clinical status of the dogs. When tested for L. infantum by real-time PCR, 20 ticks collected from IFAT-positive dogs were all negative. This study shows a high level of exposure to Leishmania spp. infection in dogs from a rural community in northeastern Brazil. In general, the results do not support the participation of ticks as vectors of L. infantum in this area, which is likely to be transmitted by Lutzomyia spp. other than L. longipalpis. Finally, this study highlights that the use of IFAT in areas where both L. infantum and L. braziliensis are present should be withdraw in order to avoid the unnecessary culling of dogs that are actually infected only by L. braziliensis.

The Inclusion and Selection of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Pharmacopoeias—Evidence in Support of the Diversification Hypothesis

The Inclusion and Selection of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Pharmacopoeias—Evidence in Support of the Diversification Hypothesis. An ethnobotanical study with phytochemical analyses was undertaken to examine the medicinal plants used by residents of a small rural community in northeastern Brazil. The present work tested two ideas that attempt to explain the inclusion and selection of medicinal plants in a given culture: the diversification hypothesis and the concept of versatility. The study involved 101 people and used semistructured interviews. A total of 61 plants were selected, including 25 exotic and 36 native species. Plants were classified according to their habit and analyzed for their phytochemical components. In addition, the relative importance (RI) of these plants was calculated, and a chemical diversity index (CDI) was created and applied to each of the species. Exotic and native plants were found to have significantly different occurrences of certain classes of compounds; this result supports the diversification hypothesis. It was therefore concluded that exotic plants are included in traditional pharmacopoeias to fill therapeutic vacancies that native plants cannot satisfy.

Medicinal plants of the caatinga (semi-arid) vegetation of NE Brazil: A quantitative approach

The caatinga (semi-arid vegetation) is a Brazilian biome with a significant but poorly studied biodiversity closely associated with a diverse cultural heritage. The present work focused on analyzing published information available concerning medicinal plants used by traditional communities. We sought to contribute to future phytochemical and pharmacological investigations by documenting the therapeutic uses of native caatinga plants within the aims of modern ethnopharmacological research. Twenty-one published works cited a total of 389 plant species used by indigenous and rural communities in northeastern Brazil for medicinal purposes. The relative importance index (RI) of each species in these inventories was calculated, and information concerning the plant's local status (spontaneous or cultivated), distribution, and habit was recorded. Of the 275 spontaneous (non-cultivated) species cited, 15.3% were endemic to the caatinga. A statistical relationship was verified between the relative importance of the species and their endemic status ( p < 0.05). Herbaceous plants were more numerous (169) than trees (90) or shrubs and sub-shrubs (130) at a statistically significant level ( p < 0.05). A survey of published information on the phytochemical and pharmacological status of the plants demonstrating the highest RI supported the veracity of their attributed folk uses.