To report a case of avian dermatitis associated with Microlichus sp. (Acari: Epidermoptidae) in a free-ranging Pitangus sulphuratus (Great Kiskadee) from southern Brazil, emphasizing the clinical presentation and parasitological diagnosis. A juvenile P. sulphuratus was rescued and admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center presenting feather loss and cutaneous lesions. Crust samples were collected from affected areas and examined microscopically after clarification in lactophenol. Mites were identified morphologically using classical and contemporary taxonomic keys. Topical ivermectin (0.4mg/kg) was administered once daily for 10 consecutive days, and clinical evolution was monitored during rehabilitation. Numerous mites morphologically consistent with Microlichus sp. were observed, supporting the diagnosis of epidermoptid infestation. Progressive resolution of dermatological lesions and complete feather regrowth were observed following treatment; however, no post-treatment parasitological reassessment was performed. To our knowledge, this represents the first clinical report of Microlichus sp. associated with dermatitis in P. sulphuratus in Brazil. This case highlights the relevance of integrating clinical and parasitological investigations in wildlife rehabilitation settings and contributes to expanding current knowledge on the host range and potential health impacts of epidermoptid mites in free-ranging Neotropical birds.

Artisanal fisheries and sea turtles: Traditional knowledge applied to conservation in southern Brazil

Mutagenesis of PM2.5 water-bioavailable fraction in reference area for atmospheric pollution.

Global mapping of pharmaceutical ecological risk in rivers using machine learning: drivers, hotspots, and compounded water stress.

Effects of rock fragments on water infiltration and physical properties of volcanic soils in southern Brazil

Late Holocene vegetation dynamics, fire regimes, and human impact in Southern Brazil: A multi-proxy palaeoecological record from the Matematico Lake

Colorimetry vs. spectrophotometry: which is better for discrimination of 13 native tree species in Southern Brazil?

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide and a leading infectious cause of preventable blindness, yet ocular infection outside classical trachoma-endemic settings remains poorly documented in Brazil. Revisiting a conjunctivitis cohort from southern Brazil (2004–2007), before widespread access to nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and the implementation of the National Policy for Comprehensive Child Health Care (PNAISC), provides a historical baseline of an overlooked transmission reservoir. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 660 conjunctival scraping samples from patients with clinical suspicion of conjunctivitis, examined in a reference molecular laboratory in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis (southern Brazil) between January 2004 and June 2007, were analysed. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction, a NAAT currently regarded as the diagnostic gold standard for chlamydial infection. Results: Overall, 359/660 samples were positive for C. trachomatis (prevalence 54.4%). Women accounted for most positive cases and children aged 0–15 years represented a substantial proportion of the affected population. A marked temporal clustering was observed, with a sharp increase in cases during the first semester of 2006 (p<0.001), consistent with an unrecognised outbreak in a region officially classified as non-endemic for trachoma. Compared with contemporary Brazilian estimates of genital chlamydia (9–13%), this ocular prevalence suggests a distinct, highly loaded reservoir that escaped routine sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening strategies. Conclusions: This historical rescue analysis documents a large, silent burden of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in southern Brazil at a time when syndromic management predominated and molecular testing was not integrated into surveillance. These findings establish the only molecular baseline for ocular chlamydia in this region in the mid-2000s, offering a point of comparison for subsequent child health and trachoma elimination policies. Integrating NAAT-based diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis into current surveillance systems may prevent similar missed outbreaks and better align ocular and genital chlamydia control efforts.

Dynapenia, an age-related loss of muscle strength, is associated with adverse outcomes in older people. Elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels may accelerate muscle decline, especially in individuals with diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine whether HbA1c levels are associated with dynapenia in community-dwelling older people, and whether this association differs between those with and without diabetes mellitus. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a probabilistic sample of 404 community-dwelling older people in southern Brazil. Data collection included home interviews, physical assessments, and laboratory tests. Dynapenia was defined as mean handgrip strength below 26kg for men and 16kg for women. HbA1c was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between HbA1c and dynapenia, stratified by diabetes status. The sample was predominantly female (72.0%) and aged 60-69 years (44.3%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 36.4%, and dynapenia was observed in 23.5% of participants. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher HbA1c levels were independently associated with dynapenia among older people with diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio = 1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.71), regardless of sex, age, body mass index, and physical activity. Glycemic control is crucial to prevent muscle strength decline in older people with diabetes mellitus. Monitoring muscle strength should be part of clinical care to reduce functional impairment and adverse outcomes in this population.

This article presents a gravity data integration and a regional geophysical overview of the geological framework in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. For data processing, we used open-source computational tools based on Python libraries from the Fatiando a Terra Project. Data processing included determining theoretical gravity on the physical surface of the Earth, calculating the Gravity Disturbance, modeling topographic masses to obtain the complete Bouguer Disturbance, data gridding using the equivalent source method, and the application of enhancement techniques. The products obtained were compared with previous geological studies, revealing a robust correlation between our results and the main geological characteristics from literature. Some relatively high values of the Bouguer Disturbance indicate important structural features, such as the Paranapanema Block and the Ponta Grossa Arch. Additionally, enhancement techniques highlighted relevant geological structures, in both the Paraná Basin and the Proterozoic orogenic basement. Using the gravity method and open-source tools, this work aims to serve as a reference for future geophysical and geological investigations in the State of Paraná. The gravity maps of the Paraná are a valuable unified database for the scientific community and for future geophysical investigations. These data will be made available in an open repository, facilitating access and encouraging use in subsequent research and practical applications.

Tracking physical activity (PA) levels during the COVID-19 pandemic was important to understand how an unexpected disease outbreak impacted people's behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the trajectory of leisure-time PA among adults throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data of 5 waves of the PAMPA (Prospective Study on Mental and Physical Health in Adults) Cohort, from June 2020 to June 2023. Self-reported leisure-time PA practice, frequency, and duration in the previous week were assessed. PA trajectories were analyzed by latent growth curve analysis using mean PA scores per week across all waves. Inequalities were evaluated by slope index of inequality and concentration index. Most of the sample were women (72.9%-79.0% across follow-ups), with ages ranging from 18 to 39years. There was a significant increase in leisure-time PA from waves 1 to 5, with the lowest prevalence observed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the highest prevalence observed after the emergency ended. Men were more likely to be active than women at all time points. In adults aged 18-39years, there was an increase in PA across follow-ups. From waves 2 to 5, those with the lowest schooling were consistently less active when compared with those with more schooling. Black and Pardo participants were less active than white ones. After the first few months of the pandemic, there was a trend to increase PA in adults from southern Brazil. Public policies should focus on increasing leisure-time PA in vulnerable population groups. In future disease outbreaks, policies to keep the population active are needed.

Nutritional disorders and dental caries share common risk factors, including diet and socioeconomic position, but the association between these two conditions remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between overweight/obesity and the occurrence of dental caries in primary dentition. This longitudinal study, conducted using data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort, utilised information collected at birth, 24 months and 4 years of age. The exposure variable was the obesity collected by BMI (body mass index), at 24 months, using anthropometric measures (weight and height) and classified according to WHO guidelines. Covariates included sex, child's and maternal age, socioeconomic factors (family income and maternal education) and sugar consumption data. The outcome was dental caries at the age of four, assessed using several variables: early childhood caries (ECC), encompassing all activity including white spots and restorations; severe early childhood caries (S-ECC), which refers exclusively to cavitated lesions; and the dmft (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth) index. Descriptive analysis was carried out and regression models were tested. From the 4275 eligible participants, 3374 children (50.5% boys and 49.5% girls) composed the analytical sample. At 24 months, 2474 (73.3%) children were healthy weight (95% CI 71.8; 74.8) and 900 (26.7%) presented overweight/obesity (18.8% overweight and 7.9% obese). Concerning dental caries at the age of four, 37.6% had ECC (including white spots and restorations) and 21.4% had S-ECC. Among children classified as healthy weight at 24 months, 38.6% presented ECC at 4 years of age. Among obese children, the prevalence of ECC was 34.8%. A similar pattern was observed for S-ECC: the prevalence was 22.0% among healthy weight children, 19.9% among overweight and 19.1% among obese children. The Poisson regression analysis adjusting for confounding factors showed no difference between groups. In conclusion, this cohort study in Brazilian children at the age of four did not observe meaningful associations between overweight/obesity and dental caries in primary dentition. The findings suggest that obesity in childhood should not be considered a risk factor for caries development in children.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of leisure noise-induced tinnitus among school-aged children and adolescents in Southern Brazil. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with sixth-grade students from 32 municipal schools in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire from the Dangerous Decibels program, assessing demographics, hearing habits, noise exposure, and related symptoms, such as hearing loss and tinnitus. Statistical analyses included descriptive and multivariate methods, with a significance level set at 5%. The final sample included 1,835 participants (997 boys, 838 girls; Mage = 11.5 ± 0.8 years). The overall prevalence of leisure noise-induced tinnitus was 72.15%. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between tinnitus and male gender (boys were 1.47 times more likely to report tinnitus than girls), older age, and a higher number of noise-related risk behaviors. However, no significant associations were found between tinnitus and socioeconomic risk factors or prior knowledge about noise exposure risks. These findings reveal the high prevalence of leisure noise-induced tinnitus in this population, with male gender, older age, and increased engagement in noise-related activities as key risk factors. These results emphasize the need for targeted prevention strategies and educational initiatives to protect the hearing health of children and adolescents.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the tonal song harmonisation strategies of young instrumentalists of melodic instruments who had no experience with harmonisation tasks. A quasi-experimental design was employed with 14 volunteer participants belonging to a single musical teaching and learning context in southern Brazil. The following tasks were tested: (a) harmonising two widely known Brazilian folk songs [I and II] with three previously stipulated chords (I, IV or V), (b) harmonising song II after some melodic modifications, and (c) harmonising song II in a different key (not informed) without pre-established chords. The results revealed thinking patterns involving a cognitive approach, in which participants applied expectations about the basic hierarchy of chords, and a perceptual approach, in which participants’ choice of chords was guided by consonance and dissonance (a combination of notes and pitches). This study discusses how melodic instrumentalist students approach harmonisation tasks, highlighting their difficulties. It also discusses the influence of formal music education and melodic instrumental practices.

Standard equine management practices contribute to the high prevalence of strongyles and to the need for deworming. Horse performance can be evaluated by following early body development. This study aimed to determine the behavior and body growth associated with strongyle fecal egg count (FEC) in 25 Thoroughbred foals aged from birth to 10 months in southern Brazil. Body weight, withers height, and FEC were determined monthly, and foals' behavior/personality was recorded twice daily by resident veterinarians following standard welfare protocols. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze body growth and FEC variance. There was a high correlation between weight gain before six months of age and between height and age. Although males exhibited greater variability in weight and height, no statistically significant differences were observed between sexes (P > 0.05). There was no significant association between strongyle FEC and body weight or height in any animals. Descriptive behavioral analysis revealed that only four animals were treated based on behavior/personality alterations and clinical signs (i.e., abdominal discomfort). The data showed a null-to-weak correlation between FEC and the animals' age (R² = −0.025 for females and R² = 0.168 for males). Moreover, foals had a low (0.206) FEC repeatability coefficient for sex and age, while individual overdispersion indicated a high (3.919) value. This information is crucial when designing health protocols for horses, as the expected rise in FEC after treatment may indicate a new infection that accompanies a suppressive drug strategy. These preliminary data showed that foals experienced steady body growth, independent of FEC, allowing selective treatment to be guided by a combination of periodic clinical and analytical parasitological examinations. Furthermore, this study highlights the intrinsic influence of constant veterinary care and the protection of horse health as a strong component of farm resilience.

The Vel antigen is clinically significant and its alloantibody is involved in haemolytic transfusion reactions. This antigen has a high prevalence in the population. The Vel-negative phenotype is the result of a homozygous deletion in the SMIM1 gene (c.64_80del) and hinders the expression of the SMIM1 protein. A total of 17,472 blood donor samples from the Center for Hematology and Hemotherapy of Santa Catarina State were genotyped targeting the 17-nucleotide (c.64_80del) deletion in the SMIM1 gene. The same method was applied to the siblings of the donors identified as Vel-negative. The frequency of the c.64_80del17 deletion was 0.90%, and 0.03% of the donors were Vel-negative. In the family study, two individuals were identified as having the homozygous c.64_80del. These findings underscore the relevance of identifying Vel-negative donors for enhancing rare donor registries and improving transfusion safety.

ABSTRACT The Elements of Metacommunity Structure (EMS; coherence, turnover, and boundary clumping) framework allows the evaluation of species distribution patterns, including Clementsian patterns (discrete communities) and Gleasonian patterns (individualistic responses to environmental gradients). Quasi‐structures can also occur, representing intermediate patterns when results do not fully fit a specific model, such as stochastic species loss (quasi‐nested) or quasi‐Clementsian and quasi‐Gleasonian patterns. We applied the EMS to the total macrophyte metacommunity and to three functional groups (emergent, floating, and submerged) across 29 coastal wetlands in southern Brazil. We first hypothesized that the total metacommunity would show a Clementsian pattern driven by environmental heterogeneity and climate, with high turnover and well‐defined community boundaries. Our second hypothesis was that emergent species would form Clementsian communities, whereas floating and submerged groups would follow Gleasonian patterns driven by limnological gradients. After applying the EMS, we used regression trees to assess environmental influences on the observed patterns. The total metacommunity exhibited a Clementsian pattern, with clustered turnover and discrete boundaries influenced by mean annual temperature and total phosphorus. Emergent species also showed a Clementsian pattern shaped by temperature. Floating species, influenced by total phosphorus and altitude, exhibited a quasi‐nested, stochastic species loss structure, indicating a tendency toward nestedness without complete ordering. The submerged group, determined by temperature, exhibited a Gleasonian pattern with turnover and random distribution of species ranges. Our findings highlight the influence of environmental and climatic variables on macrophyte structure in wetlands, revealing distinct functional group responses and enhancing the understanding of species distribution in continental aquatic environments.

Edaphoclimatic zoning for walnut trees is a modeling of climate and soil properties for favorable planting conditions. The evaluated areas as Preferential class, Recommended class and Few Recommended, fertility-only restricted class occupied 236 ha or 0.04% of total territory, 49,207 ha or 8.5%, and 146,074 ha or 12.7%, respectively. That is almost 120 times the planting area of pecan orchards, with 1,652 hectares. Thus, there is a significant potential for pecan production in the region. Rio Grande do Sul is the most favored state with 42,832 ha of recommended areas, for varieties of 200-300 chilling hours or 300-500 chilling hours, followed by Parana and Santa Catarina states, both with 1,056 ha. While Parana concentrates 1,045 ha as recommended aptitude for varieties of 300-500 chilling hours, Santa Catarina has a somewhat more balanced distribution. These states have more areas of “Few Recommended, fertility-only restricted” class, whose aptitude is adequate in all properties as recommended class, except for fertility, which is a property easy to adjust at field, incorporating inputs. Southern Brazil region covers 576,257 km2, 35% correspond to Preferential, Recommended and Few Recommended areas, 61.5% of territory is related to not recommended or restricted areas, 3% represent body waters, and 0.5% are urban areas.

Objective: To explore the perceptions of nurses working in hospital pediatric settings and primary health care regarding the implementation of a telenursing service to follow children with continuous and complex care needs after discharge. Method: This is a qualitative study based on 18 semi-structured interviews with nurses from pediatric units of a university hospital and primary health care services in a city in Southern Brazil. Data were collected from March to June 2025 and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Nurses viewed telenursing as a strategy that supports care for these children and noted the high prevalence of such cases in hospital settings. They reported structural and organizational barriers that hinder adherence, including workload burden, technological limitations, and families’ social vulnerability. Participants suggested establishing a municipal call center and implementing shared care across levels of the health system. Conclusion: Telenursing was considered feasible and innovative for caring for children with chronic and complex conditions; however, successful implementation requires investment in infrastructure and reorganization of the Health Care Network. The development of shared care models between hospital services and primary health care, strengthened counter-referral pathways, and clinical protocols is recommended to consolidate this model.

ABSTRACTBackgroundViolence experienced by women has serious consequences for maternal and child health, generating short‐ and long‐term damage.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between violence experienced by women and the mother–child bond in the first 6 months after childbirth and on the child's mental health at preschool age, mediated by stress, postpartum depression (PPD), breastfeeding and infant sleep. Participants were recruited from three public hospitals in the city of Porto Alegre (Southern Brazil).MethodsThis study is part of a larger research project with the objective to assess the reflex of different intrauterine environments on the child's health. Five mother–child pair assessment interviews were carried out in order to identify the interrelation between violence and mother–child bond and the influence of this bond on preschool children's mental health, mediated by stress, PPD, breastfeeding and infant sleep, tested using a path analysis model.ResultsFrom the 295 mother–child pairs analysed, 48.8% of the women experienced violence in their lives and 15.9% during their pregnancy. There was a statistically significant association among violence, stress, PPD, mother–child bond and externalization problems for preschoolers. Violence is correlated with the mother's stress, which is directly linked to the PPD, and thus, indirectly, to the mother–child bond.ConclusionsThis study found that the violence experienced by women before and during pregnancy interferes negatively both in the mother's health and in the mother–child bond, and the weakened mother–child bond can positively explain the externalization problems for preschoolers. Early prevention and identification of the occurrence of violence against women could avoid negative outcomes for the mother–child bond and behavioural problems for preschool‐aged children, as well as in their future life.