Basal levels of inorganic elements, genetic damages, and hematological values in captive Falco peregrinus.

It is essential to determine the basal pattern of different biomarkers for future evaluation of animal health and biomonitoring studies. Due to their great displacement capacity and to being at the top of their food chains, birds of prey are suitable for monitoring purposes. Furthermore, some birds of prey are adapted to using resources in urban places, providing information about this environment. Thus, this study determined the basal frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear alterations in peripheral blood erythrocytes of Falco peregrinus. Hematological and inorganic elements analysis were also performed. For this purpose, 13 individuals (7 females and 6 males) were sampled in private breeding grounds. Micronucleus, nuclear buds, nucleoplasmic bridges, notched nuclei, binucleated cells and nuclear tails were quantified. Inorganic elements detected included the macro-elements Ca, P, Mg, Na, Cl, S and K as well as the micro-elements Fe, Al and Zn. Our study found similar values compared to previous studies determining the reference ranges of hematologic parameters in falcons. The only different value was observed in the relative number of monocytes. Thus, this study is the first approach to obtaining reference values of cytogenetic damage in this species and could be useful for future comparisons in biomonitoring studies.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic relationship of Haemosporida parasites in free-ranging wild raptors from Brazil.

The order Haemosporida is widely distributed parasitizing members of the Aves class. In birds of prey, infection with Plasmodium spp. parasites varies from an apathogenic form to a clinical syndrome. However, studies on Haemosporida in raptors from the neotropical region are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate natural infection by Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. in free-ranging wild raptors from southern Brazil. For this, we sampled 206 individuals of 21 species: 94 live-trapped Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) and 112 raptors from other species that were brought to rehabilitation centers. The presence of infection was investigated using a nested-PCR for Haemosporida performed on blood samples. Overall, 56 out of 206 birds were positive for Plasmodium spp./Haemoproteus spp. Twenty-two percent (21/94) of the C. plancus samples were positive. Of the 112 wild raptors rescued, 31% (35/112) of those belonging to 15 other species tested positive. No sample was positive for Leucocytozoon spp. Herein, we demonstrated nine lineages of Haemosporidian parasites (eight Plasmodium sp. and one Haemoproteus sp.) in free-living species of Brazilian birds of prey, being six of them potential novel lineages. It suggests that information currently available on South-American haemosporidian from these birds greatly underestimate the potential lineage diversity in this region.

Serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis neurona in raptors and risk factor analysis.

Raptors are carnivorous birds with great hunting ability. Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. are intracellular Apicomplexan protozoans which infect a wide range of intermediate hosts, including birds. The aims of this study were to evaluate the serological reactivity of captive raptors serum to T. gondii, N. caninum and S. neurona antigens and identify possible risk factors associated with the infection. From August 2014 to September 2015, blood samples from 72 raptors were collected and serum samples were tested by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Antigen slides were prepared using tachyzoites of T. gondii and N. caninum and using merozoites of S. neurona. Serum samples were tested at the following cut-off dilutions: 1:16 for T. gondii and 1:50 for N. caninum and S. neurona. An anti-chicken IgY antibody conjugated with FITC was used as a secondary antibody at 1:50 dilution. Out of the 72 raptors serum tested by IFAT, 2.7% reacted to N. caninum, 8.3% to T. gondii and 11.1% to S. neurona antigens. The region in which the sample was collected, the reason the raptors were kept in captivity and diet were statistically associated with seropositivity to T. gondii and the use of the birds and diet were statistically associated with seropositivity to N. caninum and S. neurona (p ≤ 0.05). We highlight the occurrence of these protozoans in birds of prey and the importance of good hygiene and feeding management of these birds in captivity to reduce the risk of protozoal infections.

Negacionismo da Covid-19 e educação popular em saúde: para além da necropolítica / Negationism of the COVID-19 and popular health education: to beyond the necropolitics / Negacionismo de la Covid-19 y educación popular en salud: más allá de la necropolítica

Resumo As expressões do negacionismo da pandemia da Covid-19 recorrentes no Brasil estão relacionadas ao crescimento da extrema-direita e produzem o aumento da necropolítica. Percebemos uma 'crise de interpretação' que aponta a 'ignorância' como causa única da popularização do negacionismo. Buscaremos problematizar tal fenômeno, indo além dessa interpretação comum. Ancorado em uma ausência de mundo compartilhado, o negacionismo cresce com o 'déficit de prática comum'. É preciso, entretanto, diferenciar as posições envolvidas: há aqueles que negam visando ao lucro, baseado em um desejo de morte e extermínio, e os que entram em negação por conta de uma realidade tão dura de que são vítimas. Diante disso, as ações educativas que têm por referência a educação popular em saúde são estratégias importantes para se enfrentar tal fenômeno, mobilizando as noções freirianas de diálogo e conflito. Essas ações permitem não 'desconstruir' os cuidados em saúde, mas 'acrescentam realidade' a eles, trazendo a importância de se considerarem as condições de vida das classes populares. Por fim, compreendendo o vínculo indissociável entre educação popular e movimentos sociais, apresentamos como movimentos de favela têm enfrentado o negacionismo em defesa da vida.

Abstract The recurring expressions of Covid-19 negationism in Brazil are connected to the growth of the extreme right and produces a significant expansion of necropolitics. We realized a "crisis of interpretation" according to which "ignorance" is responsible for the spread of negationism. We sought to go beyond this interpretation, as we problematize the phenomenon in its complexity. Anchored in an absence of a shared world, negationism grows out of the "deficit in common practices". However, it is necessary to differentiate the positions involved: there are those who deny seeking profit, from a desire for death and extermination, and those who enter into denial because of such a harsh reality of which they are victims. In view of this, education actions that have popular health education as a reference are important strategies to face this phenomenon, mobilizing the freirian notions of dialogue and conflict. These actions allow not to "deconstruct" health care, but "add reality" to them, bringing the importance of considering the living conditions of the popular classes. Finally, understanding the inseparable link between popular education and social movements, we present how favela movements have faced negationism in defense of life.

Resumen Las expresiones del negacionismo de la pandemia de la Covid-19 en Brasil están relacionadas con el crecimiento de la extrema derecha y producen el aumento de la necropolítica. Percibimos una "crisis de interpretación" que apunta a la "ignorancia" como la única causa de la popularización del negacionismo. Trataremos de problematizar este fenómeno, más allá de esta interpretación común. Anclado en ausencia de un mundo compartido, el negacionismo crece con el "déficit de práctica común". Sin embargo, es necesario diferenciar las posiciones en cuestión: hay quienes niegan con el objetivo de obtener lucro, basados en un deseo de muerte y exterminio, y los que entran en negación debido a una realidad tan dura de que son víctimas. Por lo tanto, las acciones educativas que tienen como referência a la educación popular en salud son estrategias importantes para hacer frente a este fenómeno, movilizando los conceptos freirianos de diálogo y de conflicto. Estas acciones permiten no "deconstruir" los cuidados en salud, sino "añadirles realidad", aportando la importancia de considerar las condiciones de vida de las clases populares. Por último, entendiendo el vínculo inseparable entre educación popular y movimientos sociales, presentamos cómo los movimientos de las favelas han enfrentado el negacionismo en defensa de la vida.

Molecular and Serological Survey of the Cat-Scratch Disease Agent (Bartonella henselae) in Free-Ranging Leopardus geoffroyi and Leopardus wiedii (Carnivora: Felidae) From Pampa Biome, Brazil.

The genus Bartonella comprises emerging bacteria that affect humans and other mammals worldwide. Felids represent an important reservoir for several Bartonella species. Domestic cats are the main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease (CSD). It can be transmitted directly by scratches and bites from infected cats and via cat fleas. This study aims to investigate the circulation of Bartonella spp. in free-ranging Neotropical wild felids from Southern Brazil using serological and molecular methods. In this study, 53 live-trapped free-ranging wild felids were sampled, 39 Leopardus geoffroyi and 14 Leopardus wiedii, from five municipalities in the Rio Grande, do Sul state, southern Brazil. All captured animals were clinically healthy. Two blood samples of L. geoffroyi were positive, by PCR, for the presence of B. henselae DNA. Conversely, none of L. wiedii blood samples were positive when tested using PCR. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed that 28% of serum samples of wild felids were reactive (seropositive) for B. henselae by immunofluorescence, with titers ranging from 64 to 256. The results presented here provide the first evidence of a Bartonella-enzootic cycle involving L. geoffroyi and L. wiedii, which may account for the spillover of the emerging zoonotic pathogen B. henselae for the indigenous fauna in Southern Brazil.

Serosurvey of West Nile virus (WNV) in free-ranging raptors from Brazil.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus that can affect birds, horses, and humans, and is the only zoonotic Flavivirus that has been identified in six continents. In Brazil, until 2010, there was no evidence of WNV circulation. Recently, the virus was isolated from a horse with encephalitis, and the first human cases were registered in Brazil. Despite that, there is still no information on the enzootic cycle of this virus in birds or wildlife. This study aimed to investigate whether there is evidence of WNV circulation among wild birds from Southern Brazil. For this, we used free-living wild raptors (live-trapped or rescued) as potential sentinels to investigate the presence of WNV antibodies using ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) assay. In addition, the presence of nucleic acids from Flavivirus family members was investigated. None of the birds sampled presented clinical findings compatible with WNV. Of the 200 serum samples from birds of prey belonging to 21 species, ten (5%) were positive for the presence of WNV antibodies on ELISA testing. The PRNT test did not confirm the ELISA results, but indicated that three birds had possibly been exposed to Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV). All samples were negative for Flavivirus RNA. The results presented here evince the need for permanent surveillance for emerging flaviviruses in Brazil, as well as for a contingency policy in the case of human/animal outbreaks, particularly in high-risk areas.

Lekil kuxlejal: Bem Viver na saúde autônoma do movimento zapatista / Lekil kuxlejal: Good Living in the autonomous health of the zapatista movement / Lekil kuxlejal: Buen Vivir en la salud autónoma del movimiento zapatista

O Exército Zapatista de Liberação Nacional (EZLN) e suas bases de apoio são formados predominantemente por indígenas que vivem na região de Chiapas, no México. O movimento constrói uma profunda experiência de autonomia, o que passa por diferentes dimensões da vida coletiva. Neste artigo, pretendemos, a partir de um trabalho de campo realizado na região, nos focar na saúde autônoma. A concepção de saúde está estritamente relacionada com a noção de terra, já que para ter saúde é preciso pertencer a um cosmos, permeado pelo respeito recíproco entre os mais diferentes seres, em uma luta constante para engrandecer o ch'ulel (espírito) e, com isso, caminhar rumo ao lekil kuxlejal (Bem Viver). Para colocar em prática esses princípios, o cuidado em saúde é protagonizado pelos promotores autônomos de saúde e pelas assembleias comunitárias.

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN, in Spanish) and its bases are formed predominantly by indigenous languages living in the region of Chiapas, Mexico. The movement builds a profound experience of autonomy, which goes through different dimensions of collective life. In this article, we intend, from a fieldwork carried out in the region, to focus on autonomous health. The conception of health is closely related to the notion of land, since in order to have health it is necessary to belong to a cosmos, permeated by mutual respect between the most different beings, in a constant struggle to ennoble the ch'ulel (spirit) and thus to walk to the lekil kuxlejal (Good Living). To put these principles into practice, healthcare is carried out by autonomous health promoters and communal assemblies.

El Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) y sus bases de apoyo son formados predominantemente por indígenas que viven en la región de Chiapas, México. El movimiento construye una experiencia profunda de autonomía, que atraviesa diferentes dimensiones de la vida colectiva. En este artículo, nos proponemos, a partir de un trabajo de campo realizado en la región, enfocar la salud autónoma. La concepción de salud guarda una estrecha relación con la noción de tierra, ya que para tener salud es necesario pertenecer a un cosmos, impregnado por el respeto mutuo entre los seres más diferentes, en una lucha constante para engrandecer el ch'ulel (espíritu) y, de este modo, caminar hasta el lekil kuxlejal (Buen Vivir, también llamado Vivir Bien). Para poner en práctica estos principios, la asistencia en salud se lleva a cabo por los promotores autónomos de salud y por las asambleas comunitarias.

Educação popular em saúde e organização comunitária: um relato sobre os promotores de salud autónomos zapatistas em Chiapas/México / Popular health education and community organization: a report on the zapatista autonomous health promoters in Chiapas / Mexico

O presente relato de experiência aborda as práticas dos promotores de salud autónomos zapatistas em uma comunidade indígena tojolabal localizada no estado de Chiapas, no México. O relato foi desenvolvido, a partir de trabalho de campo na região, onde foi possível acompanhar o início da formação dos promotores, como também entrevistar alguns deles. Essa experiência nos possibilita refletir sobre a organização comunitária na sua relação com os princí- pios da Educação Popular em Saúde, em uma situação específica em que os promotores de saúde não estão vinculados nem às políticas públicas, nem ao setor privado, mas à própria organização do movimento popular.

This experience report discusses the practices of the promotores de salud autónomos zapatistas in a tojolabal indigenous community in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The report was developed from field work in the region, where it was possible to follow the formation of the promotores, as well as interview some of them. This experience enables us to reflect on the community organization in its relationship with the principles of Popular Education in Health, in a specific situation where promoters of health are bound neither to public policies nor to the private sector, but to the organization itself of the popular movement.

A educação popular em saúde como base da preceptoria na formação técnica de agentes comunitários de saúde / Popular health education as the basis of preceptorship in community health agents' technical training

A Educação Popular em Saúde (EPS) é fruto da aproximação dos trabalhadores da saúde e da educação na luta pela democratização em nosso país. No presente texto, a entendemos como perspectiva teórica e prática orientada para o trabalho social emancipatório e prática educativa, direcionados à promoção da autonomia das pessoas e à superação das desigualdades sociais. Imbuída da crítica ao autoritarismo da ciência e voltada para a escuta e valorização do saber popular, compreendemos que a EPS é importante instrumento teórico-prático para a constru- ção de um Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) democrático. O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar a sistematização do processo de construção da EPS como eixo transversal do curso técnico de Agente Comunitário de Saúde (CTACS), a partir da preceptoria, experiência datada dos anos de 2013 e 2014. Foram utilizados como fonte, a experiência dos preceptores, docentes e coordenador de curso, registros nos diários de classe, documentos de planejamento das unidades curriculares, atas das reuni- ões de planejamento e dos conselhos de classe, termos de referência e parte da produção dos próprios alunos. Buscou-se identificar duas dimensões: o processo educativo dos alunos, considerando não só a apropriação dos saberes técnicos, mas fundamentalmente, a integralidade de sua formação; e os efeitos pedagógicos percebidos no desenrolar do CTACS. O preceptor teve como atribuições a integração e articulação dos conteúdos apresentados aos ACS, durante os módulos teóricos do curso, a partir das "práticas profissionais", que eram encontros coordenados pelos preceptores e relacionados a temas dos diferentes eixos do curso ou apresentados pelos ACS como necessidades de aprendizagem. As "práticas profissionais" foram elaboradas em conjunto com a coordenação e docentes do CTACS e possibilitaram intervenções e debates em relação a temas caros, como gênero e sexualidade, movimentos sociais, mídia, violência, cotidiano de trabalho, dentre outros. Outra linha de atuação da preceptoria foi a construção de diagnósticos comunitários e a orientação dos Trabalhos de Conclusão do Curso. A convivência cotidiana e a confiança estabelecida entre preceptores e educandos do curso permitiram desenvolver uma série de discussões políticas que contribuíram para a politização dos Agentes em relação às questões do seu próprio trabalho enquanto ACS, como também em relação às questões do contexto sociopolítico mais geral, compreendendo a saúde como parte desse contexto. Nesse processo, vimos também como foi fundamental a discussão sobre o papel do ACS, incentivando sua atuação como educador popular, o que se deu não apenas por meio de discursos sobre educação popular, mas através de prática educativa do curso potencializada pelos preceptores. Acreditamos que isso resultou em um aumento da autoestima dos Agentes, permeado pela valorização de seu trabalho, o que passou pela compreensão da importância destes para um SUS e uma sociedade mais democráticos.

Popular Health Education (EPS) is the result of closer ties between health and education workers in the struggle for democratization of our country. In this paper we understand it as a theoretical and practical perspective oriented toward emancipatory social work and educational practice, aimed at promoting empowerment of people and overcoming social inequalities. Imbued with a criticism of science's authoritarianism and focused on listening to and placing value on popular knowledge, we understand that EPS is an important theoretical-practical tool for building a democratic Unified Health System (SUS). The historical constitution of the work of the Community Health Agent (ACS) on a popular education basis, and its public institutionalization via the biomedical model, point to tensions and disputes as to the profile of these workers and their role for both the National Policy of Primary Care, as well as in relation to their place in relation to the families it serves, to the service, and to the State. This article aims to present the systemization of the Popular Health Education construction process as a transverse axis of the Community Health Agent Technical Course (CTACS), based on mentoring experience dating from the years 2013 and 2014. Beside the experience of tutors, teachers, and course coordinators, the following were used as sources for this paper: daily class records, course planning documents, minutes of planning meetings and teacher conferences, terms of reference and of the students' own production. The intent was to identify two dimensions: the process of educating students, considering not only the appropriation of technical knowledge, but fundamentally, the completeness of their training; and the educational effects noted during the CTACS course. The tutor's assignments were integration and coordination of the content presented to the ACS during the theoretical course modules, based on "professional practices", which were meetings coordinated by the tutors and related to themes of the different axes of the course or presented by the ACS as learning needs. The "professional practices" were prepared in conjunction with the coordinators and teachers of the CTACS, and enabled interventions and debates regarding relevant themes, like gender and sexuality, social movements, media, violence, daily work routine, among others. Another line of action of the tutors was to build community diagnosis and guidance for Term Papers/Projects. The daily contact and the trust established between tutors and students made it possible to develop a series of political discussions that contributed to the politicization of Community Health Agents on the issues of their own work as ACS, as well as on the issues of overall social-political context, including health as part of that context. In the process, it was also seen how fundamental was the discussion on the role of the ACS, encouraging actions as a popular educator, which worked not only through discourse on popular education, but through educational practice of the course empowered by the tutors. We believe that this resulted in an increase in self-esteem of the agents, permeated by the appreciation of their work, which took place through the understanding of its importance for the SUS and a more democratic society.