New records of Amblyomma ticks parasitizing neotropical primates in Brazil.

Amblyomma is an important tick genus for animal and human health, with some species being the vectors of zoonotic pathogens, such as Rickettsia rickettsii, in the Neotropical region. Knowing their hosts may help to understand the distribution of these agents and decrease the occurrence of clinical cases. Primates are intelligent and adaptable animals that can get close to humans in the search for food. So, they may be an important epidemiological link for the spread of these ticks. Beyond that, primates also suffer from these infections, serving as sentinels for different diseases. Thus, the present study aims to report the parasitism by Amblyomma spp. on six species of Neotropical primates from different locations in Brazil. The 337 collected ticks were morphologically identified using stereomicroscopes and taxonomic keys, and six distinct species of ticks were identified. We report here the first record of nymphs of the tick species Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto on Alouatta belzebul, a male of Amblyomma fuscum on Alouatta guariba clamitans, nymphs of Amblyomma sculptum on Leontopithecus chrysopygus and Callithrix aurita, as well as nymphs of Amblyomma geayi on Saimiri collinsi. Of the 337 tick specimens collected, 256 (75,96%) were nymphs. The importance of primates in the life cycle of these species remains to be elucidated.

Detection of Plasmodium in faeces of the New World primate Alouatta clamitans

Abstract Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax have evolved with host switches between non-human primates (NHPs) and humans. Studies on the infection dynamics of Plasmodium species in NHPs will improve our understanding of the evolution of these parasites; however, such studies are hampered by the difficulty of handling animals in the field. The aim of this study was to detect genomic DNA of Plasmodium species from the faeces of New World monkeys. Faecal samples from 23 Alouatta clamitans from the Centre for Biological Research of Indaial (Santa Catarina, Brazil) were collected. Extracted DNA from faecal samples was used for molecular diagnosis of malaria by nested polymerase chain reaction. One natural infection with Plasmodium simium was identified by amplification of DNA extracted from the faeces of A. clamitans. Extracted DNA from a captive NHP was also used for parasite genotyping. The detection limit of the technique was evaluated in vitro using an artificial mixture of cultured P. falciparum in NHP faeces and determined to be 6.5 parasites/µL. Faecal samples of New World primates can be used to detect malaria infections in field surveys and also to monitor the genetic variability of parasites and dynamics of infection.

Plasmodium simium/Plasmodium vivax infections in southern brown howler monkeys from the Atlantic Forest

Blood infection by the simian parasite, Plasmodium simium, was identified in captive (n = 45, 4.4%) and in wild Alouatta clamitans monkeys (n = 20, 35%) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. A single malaria infection was symptomatic and the monkey presented clinical and haematological alterations. A high frequency of Plasmodium vivax-specific antibodies was detected among these monkeys, with 87% of the monkeys testing positive against P. vivax antigens. These findings highlight the possibility of malaria as a zoonosis in the remaining Atlantic Forest and its impact on the epidemiology of the disease.

Bertiellosis in brazilian non-human primates: natural infection in Alouatta guariba climatans (Cabrera, 1940) (Primates: Atelidae) in Santa Catarina state, Brazil

Este artigo descreve o primeiro relato de parasitismo por Bertiella mucronata (Cestoda-Anoplocephalidae) em primata não humano brasileiro, da subespécie Alouatta guariba clamitans (Cabrera, 1940) (Primates: Atelidae), no estado de Santa Catrina. Animais de ambiente natural, provindos de três municípios diferentes da região do Vale do Rio Itajaí-Açu, estavam parasitados. São também descritas a prevalência e a eliminação diária de proglotes nas fezes de 28 bugios ruivos cativos. Alerta-se para a possibilidade de ocorrer bertielose humana na região. Para evitar a introdução deste parasito em áreas indenes, a investigação desta parasitose deve ser realizada sempre em avaliações sanitárias de espécimes de bugios ruivos suscetíveis de serem submetidos a processos de translocação e reintrodução.

Nota sobre infecção por Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp. em bugios-ruivos, Alouatta clamitans Cabrera, 1940 (Primates: atelidae) mantidos em cativeiro / Note about Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. infections in southern brown howler monkeys, Alouatta clamitans Cabrera, 1940 (Primates: atelidae) on captivity

Amostras de fezes de bugios-ruivos cativos foram investigadas quanto a presença de Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp. O padrão de sensibilidade a antibióticos foi testado. Este é o primeiro relato de infecção assintomática por Salmonella sp. nesta espécie. Não foi detectada infecção por Shigella sp. Destaca-se a importância de investigação em animais submetidos a translocação ou a reintrodução e a necessidade de inquéritos periódicos em populações cativas a fim de se evitar agravos ocupacionais.

Fecal samples of captive souther brown howler monkeys were screened for the presence of Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. The sensibility for antibiotics was also measured. This is the first report of asymptomatic infection by Salmonella sp. in this specie. Shigella sp. infection was not detected. Screening for this bacteria should be performed during translocation and reintroduction programs. We recommend periodic investigations to prevent occupational hazard on captivity.

Equidade inversa e desigualdades no acesso à tecnologia no parto em Santa Catarina, Brasil, 2000 a 2004 / Inverse equity and inequalities in the use of technology in childbirth, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2000 to 2004

OBJETIVOS: investigar a evolução temporal das taxas de cesariana e fatores associados em Santa Catarina, no período de 2000 a 2004. MÉTODOS: foram utilizados dados do Sistema de Informações de Nascidos Vivos. As variáveis analisadas foram: escolaridade, idade materna, etnia/cor da pele do recém-nascido, duração da gestação e número de consultas pré-natal. Razões de prevalência de cesariana, brutas e ajustadas para confundimento, foram estimadas para cada uma das variáveis utilizando Regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: as taxas encontradas para o período foram o triplo daquelas preconizadas pela Organização Mundial de Saúde e aumentaram de 43,3 por cento em 2000 para 50,6 por cento em 2004. Para todo o período razões de prevalência brutas e ajustadas mostraram-se positivamente associadas ao mais alto grau de escolaridade (R Paj=1,50; IC95 por cento: 1,47-1,52), idade mais elevada (R Paj=2,10; IC95 por cento: 2,05-2,15), maior freqüência ao pré-natal (RPaj=1,27; IC95 por cento: 1,26-1,29), partos pré-termo (RPaj=1,10; IC95 por cento: 1,06-1,13) e pós-termo (RPaj=1,22; IC95 por cento: 1,14-1,30) e proteção para as etnias "indígena" (RPaj=0,79; IC95 por cento: 0,75-0,85) e "não branca" (RPaj=1,10; IC95 por cento: 1,06-1,14). Uma diminuição significante nas RPs ajustadas ao comparar os extremos do período (2000 e 2004) apareceu para quase todas as categorias estudadas. CONCLUSÕES: as taxas de cesariana encontradas estão bem acima daquelas justificando indicações estritamente médicas. Uma diminuição nas RPs ao comparar os extremos do período nos remete a uma redução temporal nos efeitos da "equidade inversa", provável reflexo de um maior acesso à tecnologia no parto entre as camadas de menor padrão socioeconômico, pelo menos em parte atribuível a uma maior liberalidade da prática obstétrica, incluindo uma ampliação das indicações médicas.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate changes over time and factors associated with caesarean section rates in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between 2000 and 2004. METHODS: data from the Live Births National Information System for the State of Santa Catarina were used. The variables analyzed were maternal age and literacy, ethnicity/skin color of the newborn, duration of gestation and number of prenatal consultations. Crude and adjusted prevalence rates were estimated for each of the variables using Poisson regression. RESULTS: rates for the period were three times higher of those accepted by the World Health Organization and increased from 43.3 percent in 2000 to 50.6 percent in 2004. For the whole period (2000-2004) prevalence rates, both crude and adjusted, were found to be positively associated with higher maternal literacy (PRadj=1.50; 95 percentCI: 1.47-1,52), older age (PRadj=2.10; 95 percentCI: 2.05-2.15), greater number of prenatal consultations (PRaj=1.27; 95 percentCI: 1.26-1.29), pre-term (PRadj=1.10; 95 percentCI: 1.06-1.13) and post-term deliveries (PRadj=1.22; 95 percentCI: 1.14-1.30), and protection for the indigenous (PRadj=0.79; 95 percentCI: 0.75-0.85) and "non-white" newborns (PRadj=1.10; CI95 percent: 1.06-1.14). A significant decrease in the adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) when comparing the extremes in the period (2000 and 2004) appeared for all variables and categories. CONCLUSIONS: the caesarean section rates were well above those justified for medical reasons alone. The decrease in the caesarean section PRs when comparing extremes during the period calls attention to a reduction in the effects of the "inverse equity" probably connected to a higher access to childbirth technology among women of lower socio-economic status, at least partly attributable to more liberal use of this technology in obstetrical practice, including more widespread medical recommendation of caesarean section.