Parasite communities and their ecological implications: comparative approach on three sympatric clupeiform fish populations (Actinopterygii: Clupeiformes), off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Fish parasite communities can be directly influenced by characteristics of host species. However, little is known about the host-parasite relationships in commercially important fish of the southeastern Atlantic. To address this knowledge gap, a comparative analysis of the parasite communities of three sympatric Clupeiformes was conducted. Cetengraulis edentulus (Engraulidae), Opisthonema oglinum (Clupeidae) and Sardinella brasiliensis (Clupeidae) were collected from an estuarine lagoon near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prevalence, abundance and aggregation were estimated for infrapopulations; richness, diversity, evenness and dominance for infracommunities. The three component communities were compared using both quantitative and qualitative components. Canonical discriminant analysis was used to determine if a host population could be characterised by the component community of its parasites. Multivariate models revealed that host species, a proxy for diet and phylogenetic relationships, was the main factor influencing the composition of parasite infracommunities. Diet was found to be the main factor shaping the communities of endoparasites, in which digeneans were dominant and best indicator of host population. Ectoparasites (copepods, isopods and monogeneans) displayed strong host-specificity with some species restricted to a single host population. The similarity of the component communities of the two clupeid populations demonstrated the influence of host phylogeny. Parasite infracommunities exhibited low diversity and high dominance, with many taxa restricted to a single host species (specialists) and few occurring in more than one (generalists). Host phylogeny and by extension, diet, morphology and coevolution with parasites appear to be important factors in determining the host-parasite relationships of clupeiform fish in the southeastern Atlantic.

Health and Sexual Rights: Design, Development, and Assessment of the Massive Open Online Course on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Health Promotion in Brazil.

Background: Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a teaching format with universal access and the potential and viability to be implemented by health professionals. Despite their proven success in providing high-quality continuing education, usage and offerings of this technology are still scarce in Brazil. Materials and Methods: This article describes the development of an online-based education strategy (MOOC) on the topic of health policies aimed at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI+) population and analyzes its performance and reach after 6 months. Results: This introductory MOOC course on LGBTI+ health included an assortment of multimedia material and consisted of 30 h of autonomous learning activities divided into two modules, with problem-based evaluation strategies. During its 6-month promotion period, the course had a total of 3,000 people enrolled with a completion rate of ∼20%. Conclusions: Results point to a high interest in LGBTI+ health and high demand for training on this topic among health professionals. This was the first course of its kind administered in Brazil. The MOOC format was successful and reliable in enabling the teaching-learning process.

Profile of notification of violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual people recorded in the National Information System on Notifiable Diseases, Brazil, 2015-2017. / Perfil das notificações de violências em lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais registradas no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, Brasil, 2015 a 2017.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the profile of notifications of violence against LGBT people in Brazil, from 2015 to 2017. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with secondary data on records of violence against LGBT people. The study population included individuals aged 10 and older with homosexual or bisexual orientation as well as transvestites or transgender identities. RESULTS: Throughout the study period, 24,564 reports of violence were recorded. Regarding the victim's profile, 69.1% were 20 to 59 years old, 50.0% were black, 46.6% were transsexual or transvestites and 57.6% were homosexual, of which 32.6% were lesbian and 25.0%, gay. In all age groups, the most frequent nature of violence was physical violence (75.0%). The probable author was male in 66.2% of the cases, being intimate partners the most frequent aggressors (27.2%), followed by strangers (16.5%). CONCLUSION: This study expands knowledge of violence against LGBT people in Brazil, reinforces the need to report these events and improve quality of information on individual's sexual orientation and gender identity in order to produce evidence to support actions to tackle this problem.