Uso de drogas sob a perspectiva de gênero: uma análise das histórias de vida de jovens das camadas médias no Rio de Janeiro / Drug Use and Gender in the Life Histories of young, middle class adults in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resumo O consumo de drogas por mulheres jovens tem apresentado índices cada vez mais próximos aos dos homens, chegando a atingir índices superiores dependendo da substância em análise. Levando-se em conta a escassez de pesquisas realizadas com usuárias de drogas, em especial com as pertencentes às camadas socioeconômicas mais altas, a questão central neste trabalho é o gênero no uso de drogas. Este texto é baseado em etnografia realizada em bares e boates da Zona Sul e Centro da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e de entrevistas com jovens - homens e mulheres - pertencentes às camadas médias cariocas. Argumentamos que as relações desiguais de gênero e os modelos normativos de feminilidade e masculinidade são reproduzidos na iniciação e manutenção do uso de drogas, o que evidenciará particularidades de gênero, inclusive no que diz respeito às consequências danosas à saúde e sociais do uso para as mulheres. Identificamos que o uso de drogas por jovens é feito num ir e vir de contestações e acomodações em relação às normativas de gênero, no entanto, usuárias são mais estigmatizadas e marginalizadas socialmente, dependem do homem para acesso a droga e experienciam violência de gênero por parte parceiro sexo-afetivo e nos pontos de venda de drogas.

Abstract Drug use by young women has shown rates increasingly closer to those of men, or even higher depending on the substance. Considering the scarcity of research conducted with female drug users, especially those of higher socioeconomic status, this study focused on gender and drug use. Ethnographic research was conducted in bars and nightclubs in the southern and downtown regions of the city of Rio de Janeiro. We argue that unequal gender relations and normative models of femininity and masculinity are reproduced in the initiation and maintenance of drug use, revealing gender specificities, including the harmful health and social consequences of drug use for women. Although drug use by young adults alternates between challenging and accepting gender norms, female users are more stigmatized and socially marginalized, depend on men for access to drugs, and experience gender- based violence from their intimate partners and at drug sales points.

Mente e Awareness nos Tantras Indianos: fundamentos da Meditação, do Hatha Yoga e do Ayurveda / Mind and Awareness in Indian Tantras: foundations for Meditation, Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda

Apesar da crítica à concepção cartesiana do ser humano, faltam modelos teórico-conceituais que superaram suas limitações, a despeito do destaque dado à integralidade no Brasil. A base filosófica que fundamenta as abordagens dominantes é implícita, até nos modelos orientais importados como nas medicinas tradicionais e Práticas Integrativas Complementares (PICs) que, a partir de 2006, são promovidas no SUS pela Política Nacional das Práticas Integrativas Complementares e portarias. Descontextualizadas, as adaptações e criações de novas modalidades de PICs orientais se desfiguram a partir de interesses comerciais e desconhecimento de seu histórico. A integralidade é perdida, pois a PIC é fragmentada e isolada no modelo biomédico mecanicista e biologicista. Este artigo objetiva apresentar as premissas filosóficas indianas dos tantras em seu contexto histórico, como fundamento para o Ayurveda, e as práticas contemplativas que visam o desenvolvimento espiritual. Sua breve contextualização baseia-se nas análises acadêmicas de textos históricos em sânscrito, como também de autores e mestres de tradições espirituais asiáticos e ocidentais. Os conceitos de mente, corpo, awareness e energia integram esta abordagem não dual, onde predomina a imanência. Revelam uma compreensão da natureza humana integrada com o universo de modo complexo e dinâmico, desenvolvida e pesquisada ao longo de milhares de anos.(AU)

Abstract Despite the widespread critique of the hegemonic Cartesian view of human nature, no alternatives adequately surpass its limitations in the field of health. The philosophical base which informs these western dominant approaches is implicit, even when eastern health practices are imported. These have been acknowledged and promoted in the public healthcare system in Brazil since the 2006 health policy and later government decrees. Adaptations and western creations based on eastern practices are severed from their original tenets, fueled by commercialism and ignorance of its history. In the process, its integrative approach is lost, as the complementary health practice is used in psychology or in the mechanical and biologizing biomedical model. This article thus presents the philosophical Indian tenets of the Tantras in their historical context, as a foundation for Ayurveda and the contemplative practices aimed at spiritual development. Its brief and necessarily incomplete contextualization is based on academic analysis of historical sanskrit texts by scholars, Indian, American and Tibetan authors and teachers of lineage traditions. The concepts of mind, body, awareness and energy compose this nondual approach to human nature integrated with the universe in a complex and dynamic way, developed and researched throughout thousands of years.(AU)

Climate change does not impact on Coffea arabica yield in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world. Studies on climate change estimate large impacts on the production of Coffea arabica (C. arabica). In this context, it is necessary to know the quantitative production values to provide evidence for policy makers to target the prompt answer. RESULTS: Using data from 18 municipalities located in five Brazilian states that produce more coffee in Brazil, in an unprecedented way, in this work it is shown that although the minimum temperature is the most important climatic variable for the production, its effect, although positive, and its degree of explanation, were technically too small to explain the volume of production in Brazilian conditions. According to the model of non-stationary time series ARIMA (1, 1, 0) coffee production in the future may reach almost four million tons, and the productivity almost 2500 kg ha-1 on average, with the advancement of technology as the main factor that should promote simultaneous increases in production and productivity. However, despite natural climate variations, which make it the most responsible for the variability of annual coffee production, the producer must increase the use of the technologies to support the Brazilian coffee agribusiness. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal that coffee production in Brazil is due much more to productivity than to the minimum ambient temperature change over the long term; despite this, the climate variable should be considered the most influential on the production and productivity of coffee. © 2017 Embrapa. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Prevalence of celiac disease and celiac autoimmunity in the Toba Native Amerindian community of Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is mostly recognized among subjects with a Caucasian ethnic ancestry. No studies have explored conditions predisposing Amerindians to CD. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess environmental, genetic and serological conditions associated with CD among members of the Toba native population attending a multidisciplinary sanitary mission. METHODS: An expert nutritionist determined daily gluten intake using an established questionnaire. Gene typing for the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles was performed on DNA extracted from peripheral blood (HLA DQ2/DQ8 haplotype). Serum antibodies were immunoglobulin (Ig) A tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and the composite deamidated gliadin peptides/tTG Screen test. Positive cases were tested for IgA endomysial antibodies. RESULTS: A total of 144 subjects (55% female) were screened. The estimated mean gluten consumption was 43 g/day (range 3 g/day to 185 g/day). Genetic typing showed that 73 of 144 (50.7%) subjects had alleles associated with CD; 69 (94.5%) of these subjects had alleles for HLA DQ8 and four had DQ2 (5.5%). Four and six subjects had antibody concentrations above the cut-off established by the authors' laboratory (>3 times the upper limit of normal) for IgA tTG and deamidated gliadin peptides/tTG screen, respectively. Four of these had concomitant positivity for both assays and endomysial antibodies were positive in three subjects who also presented a predisposing haplotype. CONCLUSION: The present study was the first to detect CD in Amerindians. The native Toba ethnic population has very high daily gluten consumption and a predisposing genetic background. We detected subjects with persistent CD autoimmunity and, at least, three of them fulfilled serological criteria for CD diagnosis.

Longitudinal study of Salmonella spp., diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, and Coronavirus isolated from healthy and diarrheic calves in a Brazilian dairy herd.

This prospective longitudinal study investigated the epidemiology of enteric disease associated with infections in calves aging up to 70 days. A total of 850 fecal samples were collected from 67 calves. Seventeen isolates of Salmonella spp. were recovered from feces of 11 calves (16.4%), and statistical analysis revealed no association between the presence of Salmonella spp. and clinical signs of diarrhea or age. Virulence factors of Escherichia coli were identified in 103 strains: eae (7), K99/STa (7), Stx1 (7), Stx1/eae (36), Stx1/Stx2/eae (2), Stx2 (43), and Stx2/eae (1). There was statistical association between diarrheic animals carrying E. coli Stx1/eae (+) in their feces at 2 and 4 weeks of age (P = 0.003) and E. coli Stx2 (+) at 5 weeks of age (P = 0.03). Rotavirus was detected in 49 (5.76%) fecal samples collected from 33 calves (49.2%). The presence of rotavirus was correlated with diarrheic feces (P < 0.0001) rather than feces with normal consistency. There was a significant relationship between age group and diarrhea (P = 0.001). Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was detected in 93 fecal samples collected from 46 calves (68.6%). There was an association (P < 0.0001) between diarrheic animals positive for BCoV and age groups. The results demonstrate the importance of the pathogens studied in the etiology of diarrhea in calves.

Retalho de grande dorsal para reconstrução de perda de substância por queimadura elétrica em membro superior / Latissimus dorsi flap for reconstruction of loss of substance caused by electric burn on upper limb

As queimaduras elétricas podem causar lesões graves e o músculo grande dorsal é uma opção para reconstrução dessas lesões. Paciente vítima de queimadura elétrica com lesão grave em membro superior esquerdo foi submetido à reconstrução com retalho pediculado do músculo grande dorsal. O paciente evoluiu bem, com resultado satisfatório. O retalho do músculo grande dorsal pediculado se mostrou seguro para cobrir exposição óssea em queimaduras elétricas em membro superior esquerdo.

Electrical burns can cause serious injuries and the latissimus dorsi reconstruction is an option for these lesions. Victim of electrical burn patient with severe lesions in the left upper limb underwent reconstruction with pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle. The patient progressed well, with satisfactory results. The flap of the large dorsal muscle pedicle proved insurance to cover exposed bone in electrical burns in the left upper limb.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes atendidos pelo serviço de cirurgia plástica do hospital João XXIII em Belo Horizonte/MG no período de março à agosto de 2013 / Epidemiological profile of patients treated by the plastic surgery service of the João XXIII hospital in Belo Horizonte/MG from March to August 2013

Introdução: O Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica Programada do Hospital João XXIII exerce o suporte às demais especialidades através de inter-consultas e, realiza atendimento aos pacientes com entrada no Hospital pela cirurgia plástica. O escopo deste estudo foi analisar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes atendidos durante o período de Março à Agosto de 2013. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional prospectivo com coleta de dados realizada através de anamnese e exame físico. Resultados: Dentre os pacientes avaliados 75,23% eram do sexo masculino e 21,34% do sexo feminino. A faixa etária predominante foi a economicamente ativa com 62,86% dos pacientes entre 16 e 45 anos. Foi observado que os acidentes de trânsito figuraram como os principais determinantes de atendimentos (44,85%). As escaras constituíram os diagnósticos mais frequentes e dentre as outras lesões avaliadas, observou-se que se concentraram nos membros. A Clínica Médica e a Ortopedia solicitaram o maior número de inter-consultas. Evidenciou-se que o tratamento através de abordagem cirúrgica (52,9%) e o acompanhamento com cuidados locais (47,1%) apresentaram frequências aproximadas. Conclusão: Na busca por propor medidas para prevenir e tratar as lesões próprias de abrangência da cirurgia plástica reparadora destacaram-se dois pontos: os acidentes de trânsito e as escaras de decúbito. Ambos com fatores determinantes bem elucidados, porém mantendo alta prevalência. Torna-se evidente a necessidade de atuação nas esferas públicas para uma melhor educação no trânsito e redução da ocorrência de acidentes. No âmbito hospitalar é primordial que se adotem medidas eficazes que impeçam o surgimento das temíveis escaras de decúbito.

Introduction: The Plastic Surgery Service of the João XXIII Hospital provides support to other specialties through interdepartmental consultation and follows patients admitted to the hospital for plastic surgery. This study analyzed the epidemiological profile of patients treated from March to August 2013. Methods: This was a prospective observational study with data collection performed by medical history and physical examination. Results: Of the patients evaluated, 75.23% were male and 21.34% female. The predominant age group was economically active, with 62.86% of the patients between 16 and 45 years. Traffic accidents were the main reason for care (44.85%). Pressure ulcers were the most frequent diagnoses, and other lesions evaluated were predominantly of the extremities. Internal Medicine and Orthopedics requested most consultations. Surgical treatment (52.9%) and follow-up with local care (47.1%) showed similar frequencies. Conclusion: In order to propose measures for prevention and treatment of injuries within the scope of reconstructive plastic surgery, two issues were highlighted: traffic accidents and pressure ulcers. Both have well-defined causes, but remain at high prevalence. The need for public action that promotes better traffic education and reduction of accidents is clear. In the hospital environment, it is essential to take effective measures to prevent the emergence of dreaded pressure ulcers.

Efeito de APRIL na migração de timócitos / Effect of APRIL in the migration of thymocytes

As proteínas da família do Fator de Necrose Tumoral (TNF) possuem papel importante na indução de processos biológicos como proliferação, diferenciação, sobrevivência e morte celular. APRIL (ligante indutor de proliferação) é uma citocina desta família que promove proliferação e sobrevivência tumoral, modulando, também, a atividade de linfócitos B, favorecendo a sobrevivência e produção de anticorpos. Por outro lado, seus efeitos em linfócitos T ainda não pouco conhecidos. APRIL interage com os receptores BCMA e TACI expressos em linfócitos. Além destes, APRIL pode ligar-se a proteoglicanas de heparan-sulfato (HSPG) nas superfícies celulares. Camundongos transgênicos para APRIL que expressam a proteína em excesso desenvolvem neoplasia associada às células B-1. Em análise preliminar por imunohistoquímica encontramos um aumento de células B220+ no timo destes animais comparado aos controles. O timo é o órgão linfóide primário onde ocorre a maturação de linfócitos T, processo altamente dependente da migração dos timócitos no microambiente tímico. Para isto, os timócitos interagem com células epiteliais tímicas (TEC) e com uma rede de matriz extracelular complexa, que apresenta entre outros componentes, fibronectina e laminina. No entanto, os efeitos de APRIL no timo ainda não são conhecidos. Neste sentido, nosso objetivo foi estudar o efeito de APRIL na migração de timócitos de camundongos normais através de ensaios de migração em câmaras de transwell. Inicialmente, investigamos o impacto de APRIL na sobrevivência e proliferação de timócitos, porém, não encontramos alterações após o tratamento in vitro com a proteína recombinante. Por outro lado, os ensaios de migração ex vivo revelaram que APRIL possui efeito quimiorrepulsor, provavelmente, em conseqüência da diminuição da adesão dos timócitos conforme análise do co-cultivo com linhagens de TEC. A modulação destes eventos não estava relacionada com alteração do perfil de expressão dos receptores para fibronectina e laminina (VLA-4/VLA-5 e VLA-6) nas subpopulações de timócitos. Além disso, o efeito quimiorrepulsor de APRIL foi potencializado por CXCL12 e laminina (mas não por fibronectina). E ainda, os timócitos, ao contrário das TEC, não expressam receptor TACI. No entanto, o pré tratamento com heparina bloqueia parcialmente o efeito de APRIL na migração dos timócitos, sugerindo que este seja mediado pela interação com HSPG. Assim, concluímos que APRIL estimule a migração de timócitos, e module negativamente a adesão celular, através da interação com HSPG.

[Right atrium myxoid chondrosarcoma]. / Condrossarcoma mixóide de átrio direito.

We report a case of a 46 years-old woman, Caucasian, with hypertension and a primary diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed suggesting right atrium myxoma. The patient was submitted to surgery, which found a tumor mass with a jelly-like exterior. The mass was sent to anatomo-pathological analysis which diagnosed a myxoid chondrosarcoma tumor. After surgical resection, the patient achieved complete recovery with no signs of recidivation after 14 months.

Condrossarcoma mixóide de átrio direito / Right atrium myxoid chondrosarcoma

Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 46 anos, cor branca, hipertensa há 20 anos, com suspeita de endocardite infecciosa. Foi realizado ecocardiograma transtorácico, o qual levou à hipótese de mixoma de átrio direito. A paciente foi submetida à cirurgia, observando-se massa tumoral de aspecto muco-gelatinoso friável. A massa foi submetida a congelação para exame anatomopatológico, com laudo sugestivo de tumor maligno mesenquimal. Foi realizado exame imunohistoquímico compatível com condrossarcoma mixóide. A paciente evoluiu com remissão espontânea do quadro após ressecção completa da neoplasia. Realizou acompanhamento ambulatorial por 14 meses, sem apresentar sinais de recidiva do tumor.

We report a case of a 46 years-old woman, Caucasian, with hypertension and a primary dianosis of infectious endocarditis. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed suggesting right atrium myxoma. The patient was submitted to surgery, which found a tumor mass with a jelly-like exterior. The mass was sent to anatomo-pathological analysis which diagnosed a myxoid chondrosarcoma tumor. After surgical resection, the patient achieved complete recovery with no signs of recidivation after 14 months.

Produção volumétrica de metano: dejetos de suínos / Methane volumetric yield: swine wastes

O presente trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o potencial de produção de biogás de dejetos de suínos, especificamente a produção de metano. O substrato, no qual a concentração de sólidos totais foi de 6 por cento, foi composto por dejeto sólido diluído em água. Os dejetos foram coletados por raspagem, em instalações de terminação de suínos, compostas de baias, com paredes de alvenaria de tijolos e piso de cimento. Os suínos experimentais receberam ração balanceada à base de milho e soja. O sistema de tratamento, em escala laboratorial, foi composto por três baterias com oito biodigestores em cada, instalados dentro de caixas de cimento amianto de 500 litros, contendo 270 litros de água aquecida. Em cada caixa, uma resistência elétrica e uma bomba d'água foram instaladas para manter a temperatura e misturar a água aquecida. O sistema foi submetido a Tempos de Retenção Hidráulica (TRH) de 30, 25, 15 e 10 dias e a temperaturas de 25, 35 e 40 ºC, com e sem agitação do substrato. Foi avaliado, nessas condições, o processo de degradação da matéria orgânica e a produção resultante de metano (PM). Os maiores valores de PM foram observados nos TRH de 10 dias, à temperatura de 40 ºC, nos biodigestores com agitação do substrato.

The present work was carried out to evaluate the swine wastes biogas potential yield, specifically the methane yield. The total solid content in the substratum was 6 percent composed by the solid waste diluted to water. The wastes was collected by scratching, in swine ending facilities, composed by boxes, in which the walls were constructed of masonry and the floor was constructed of cement. The experimental swines received corn and soybean balanced ration. The waste treatment system, in laboratorial scale, was composed by three batteries with eight digesters each, installed inside of 500 liters asbestos boxes, containing 270 liters of heated water. In each box, an eletric resistance and water pump were installed to mantain the temperature and to mix the heated water. The system was submitted to Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT) of 30, 25, 15 and 10 days and to temperatures (T) of 25, 35 and 40 ºC, with and whithout substratum agitation. It was evaluated, under these conditions, the organic matter degradation process and resultant methane volumetric yield (MP). The largest values of MP were observed in HRT of 10 days, at the temperature of 40 ºC, in the digesters with substratum agitation.

Vulnerabilidade ao HIV em favela do Rio de Janeiro: impacto de uma intervenção territorial / HIV vulnerability in a shantytown: the impact of a territorial intervention, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / HIV vulnerability in a shantytown: the impact of a territorial intervention, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Analisar o impacto da implementação de um programa participativo de promoção da saúde sexual em uma comunidade empobrecida, e descrever como o uso dos espaços públicos e privados para práticas sexuais constitui-se um fator que exacerba a vulnerabilidade ao HIV/Aids. MÉTODOS: Estudo etnográfico conduzido em 2002, em favela localizada no município do Rio de Janeiro. Os 6.000 moradores viviam em condições de vida deficitárias em que se verificou a ausência de políticas públicas, postos de saúde, lazer, oportunidades de emprego e segurança, o que consolida o poder de grupos criminosos. Foram abordadas as condições referentes à saúde sexual e à implantação do programa participativo de promoção da saúde sexual pelo Núcleo Comunitário de Prevenção, criado por uma organização não-governamental. Após dois meses de observação participante, foram realizadas 35 entrevistas semi-estruturadas em profundidade com moradores com idade entre 17 e 65 anos. Foram analisadas 11 histórias de vida de líderes comunitários e agentes comunitários de prevenção e sete grupos focais formados a partir dos grupos pré-existentes na comunidade. O material foi categorizado e analisado qualitativamente. RESULTADOS: A precariedade das moradias favorecia maior exposição às práticas sexuais, acentuando o estigma de ser morador de favela vivenciado pela comunidade. Com a implantação do programa do Núcleo, crianças, jovens e adultos se familiarizaram e passaram a ter conhecimento sobre prevenção do HIV/Aids; e jovens e adultos passaram a ter acesso a preservativos. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados decorrentes da intervenção mostraram que embora a vulnerabilidade permaneça, a prevenção pode ser inserida na cultura local. A prevenção da Aids pode ser fomentada por meio de uma abordagem territorial com base na participação dos moradores e no fortalecimento da organização coletiva.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of a participatory sexual health promotion program implemented in a poor community and describe how the use of public and private spaces for sex is a factor that exacerbates vulnerability to HIV/Aids. METHODS: This ethnographic study was conducted in a Rio de Janeiro shantytown in 2002. Six thousand people live in precarious living conditions in which the lack of public policies, health posts, recreational activities, employment opportunities, and security consolidates power in criminal groups. Issues related to sexual health were addressed in addition to a participatory sexual health program implemented by a Community HIV Prevention Center established by a non-governmental organization. After two months of participatory observation, 35 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with community members between the ages of 17 and 65. Eleven life histories of community leaders and HIV prevention promoters and seven focus groups formed from pre-existent community groups were analyzed. The material was categorized and analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The precarious nature of living conditions contributes to increased exposure to sexual practices while also enhancing the stigma experienced by the community for living in a shantytown. Through the implementation of the program by the Community HIV Prevention Center, children, teenagers and adults have become familiar with and knowledgeable of HIV/AIDS prevention; and teenagers and adults gained access to condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although vulnerability to HIV was not affected, research results reveal that HIV prevention can become part of the local culture. HIV/AIDS prevention can be fomented by a local approach based on community participation and strengthening collective organizing.

[HIV vulnerability in a shantytown: the impact of a territorial intervention, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Vulnerabilidade ao HIV em favela do Rio de Janeiro: impacto de uma intervenção territorial.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of a participatory sexual health promotion program implemented in a poor community and describe how the use of public and private spaces for sex is a factor that exacerbates vulnerability to HIV/Aids. METHODS: This ethnographic study was conducted in a Rio de Janeiro shantytown in 2002. Six thousand people live in precarious living conditions in which the lack of public policies, health posts, recreational activities, employment opportunities, and security consolidates power in criminal groups. Issues related to sexual health were addressed in addition to a participatory sexual health program implemented by a Community HIV Prevention Center established by a non-governmental organization. After two months of participatory observation, 35 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with community members between the ages of 17 and 65. Eleven life histories of community leaders and HIV prevention promoters and seven focus groups formed from pre-existent community groups were analyzed. The material was categorized and analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The precarious nature of living conditions contributes to increased exposure to sexual practices while also enhancing the stigma experienced by the community for living in a shantytown. Through the implementation of the program by the Community HIV Prevention Center, children, teenagers and adults have become familiar with and knowledgeable of HIV/AIDS prevention; and teenagers and adults gained access to condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although vulnerability to HIV was not affected, research results reveal that HIV prevention can become part of the local culture. HIV/AIDS prevention can be fomented by a local approach based on community participation and strengthening collective organizing.

Origin and diversification of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni is the most widespread of the human-infecting schistosomes, present in 54 countries, predominantly in Africa, but also in Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Neotropics. Adult-stage parasites that infect humans are also occasionally recovered from baboons, rodents, and other mammals. Larval stages of the parasite are dependent upon certain species of freshwater snails in the genus Biomphalaria, which largely determine the parasite's geographical range. How S. mansoni genetic diversity is distributed geographically and among isolates using different hosts has never been examined with DNA sequence data. Here we describe the global phylogeography of S. mansoni using more than 2500 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 143 parasites collected in 53 geographically widespread localities. Considerable within-species mtDNA diversity was found, with 85 unique haplotypes grouping into five distinct lineages. Geographical separation, and not host use, appears to be the most important factor in the diversification of the parasite. East African specimens showed a remarkable amount of variation, comprising three clades and basal members of a fourth, strongly suggesting an East African origin for the parasite 0.30-0.43 million years ago, a time frame that follows the arrival of its snail host. Less but still substantial variation was found in the rest of Africa. A recent colonization of the New World is supported by finding only seven closely related New World haplotypes which have West African affinities. All Brazilian isolates have nearly identical mtDNA haplotypes, suggesting a founder effect from the establishment and spread of the parasite in this large country.

Aspects of the maintenance of the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica in Lymnaea columella in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Fascioliasis is a parasitic disease of domestic ruminants that occurs worldwide. The lymnaeid intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica include Lymnaea columella, which is widely distributed in Brazil. A colony of L. columella from Belo Horizonte, MG, was reared in our laboratory to be used in studies of the F. hepatica life cycle, the intermediate host-parasite relationship and development of an anti-helminthic vaccine. In the first experiment 1,180 snails were exposed to miracidia of F. hepatica eggs removed from the biliary tracts of cattle from the State of Rio Grande do Sul. In the second and third experiments the snails were exposed to miracidia that had emerged from F. hepatica eggs from Uruguay, maintained in rabbits. The rates of infection in the first, second and third experiments were 0, 42.1 and 0% respectively. Over 15,806 metacercariae were obtained and stored at 4 degrees C. Four rabbits weighing 1.5 kg each were infected with 32-44 metacercariae and two with 200. Three rabbits begin to eliminate eggs of the parasite in the feces from 84 days after infection onwards. The biological cycle of F. hepatica in L. columella and the rabbit was completed within 124 days.

Aspects of the Maintenance of the Life Cycle of Fasciola hepatica in Lymnaea columella in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Fascioliasis is a parasitic disease of domestic ruminants that occurs worldwide. The lymnaeid intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica include Lymnaea columella, which is widely distributed in Brazil. A colony of L. columella from Belo Horizonte, MG, was reared in our laboratory to be used in studies of the F. hepatica life cycle, the intermediate host-parasite relationship and development of an anti-helminthic vaccine. In the first experiment 1,180 snails were exposed to miracidia of F. hepatica eggs removed from the biliary tracts of cattle from the State of Rio Grande do Sul. In the second and third experiments the snails were exposed to miracidia that had emerged from F. hepatica eggs from Uruguay, maintained in rabbits. The rates of infection in the first, second and third experiments were 0, 42.1 and 0 percent respectively. Over 15,806 metacercariae were obtained and stored at 4ºC. Four rabbits weighing 1.5 kg each were infected with 32-44 metacercariae and two with 200. Three rabbits begin to eliminate eggs of the parasite in the feces from 84 days after infection onwards. The biological cycle of F. hepatica in L. columella and the rabbit was completed within 124 days

Possible competitive displacement of planorbids by Melanoides tuberculata in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Several species of snails, including Pomacea haustrum, Marisa cornuarietis and Helisoma duryi, have been identified as probable competitors and/or predators of planorbid intermediate hosts of Schistosoma. During the last few years, studies carried out in the Caribbean region have shown reductions and even disappearances of populations of Biomphalaria glabrata and B. straminea in breeding places where the snail Melanoides tuberculata was introduced. Observations made over a period of 10 years in two lakes close to Belo Horizonte, MG, showed that there were marked reductions in autochthonous populations of B. glabrata and B. straminea after the arrival of M. tuberculata, both Biomphalaria species disappearing completely after eight years

The distribution of Biomphalaria spp. in different habitats in relation to physical, biological, water contact and cognitive factors in a rural area in Minas Gerais, Brazil

A total of 256 sites in 11 habitats were surveyed for Biomphalaria in Melquiades rural area (State of Minas Gerais) in August and November 1999 and in March 2000. Of the 1,780 Biomphalaria collected, 1,721 (96.7 percent) were B. glabrata and 59 (3.3 percent) B. straminea. Snails were found in all habitats except in wells, with the largest mean numbers in tanks, seepage ponds and canals, and the smallest numbers in springs, rice fields and fishponds. People's knowledge of the occurrence of Biomphalaria at the collection sites and the presence of Biomphalaria ova were strongly correlated with the occurrence of snails, and distance between houses and collection sites, as well as water velocity were inversely correlated with Biomphalaria occurrence (p < 0.001). The strongest predictor o f Biomphalaria occurrence was the presence of tilapia fish in fishponds. Fourteen Biomphalaria (0.8 percent of all snails) found at 6 sites were infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Suggestions are made for the utilization of local people's knowledge in snail surveys and further studies are recommended on the possible use of tilapia for biological control of Biomphalaria in fishponds, as well as modeling of S. mansoni transmission and reinfection