Genomic evidence for ancient human migration routes along South America's Atlantic coast.

An increasing body of archaeological and genomic evidence has hinted at a complex settlement process of the Americas by humans. This is especially true for South America, where unexpected ancestral signals have raised perplexing scenarios for the early migrations into different regions of the continent. Here, we present ancient human genomes from the archaeologically rich Northeast Brazil and compare them to ancient and present-day genomic data. We find a distinct relationship between ancient genomes from Northeast Brazil, Lagoa Santa, Uruguay and Panama, representing evidence for ancient migration routes along South America's Atlantic coast. To further add to the existing complexity, we also detect greater Denisovan than Neanderthal ancestry in ancient Uruguay and Panama individuals. Moreover, we find a strong Australasian signal in an ancient genome from Panama. This work sheds light on the deep demographic history of eastern South America and presents a starting point for future fine-scale investigations on the regional level.

Reproductive biology of the whitespotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari (Myliobatiformes) captured in the coast of Paraíba and Pernambuco, Brazil.

The present study analysed aspects of reproductive biology based on macroscopic and microscopic structures of whitespotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari captured by artisanal fishing off the coast of Paraíba and Pernambuco (7° 30' S, 34° 49' W; 7° 47' S, 34° 51' W), northeast Brazil. Of the 71 individuals in the sample, 55% were female (disc width - WD : 532-1698 mm) and 45% were male (WD : 442-1410 mm). The body size at which 50% of the individuals are mature (WD50 ) for males was 1155.8 mm; the clasper length varied between 24 and 184 mm. The WD50 for females was 1293.9 mm; the diameter of the largest vitellogenic follicle varied between 11 and 31 mm; and only the left ovary and uterus were functional. The microanatomy of the reproductive tract of males and females agrees with that of other elasmobranch species. In males, the highest hepato-somatic index (IH ) average and gonado-somatic index (IG ) average occurred in the third bimester of the year, whereas in females the highest values (average IH and IG , respectively) were in the second bimester of the year. Based on the information on reproduction of A. narinari from this study, it will be possible to contribute to the correct management and protection of this species.

High-risk transmission clusters of leprosy in an endemic area in the Northeastern Brazil: A retrospective spatiotemporal modelling (2001-2019).

OBJECTIVES: To analyse and map the leprosy risk areas in the state of Alagoas, an endemic region in the Northeastern Brazil, between 2001 and 2019. METHODS: Ecological and time series study, using spatial analysis techniques. First, we analyse the epidemiological aspects of leprosy cases, using the data available in the Notifiable Diseases Information System; then, we used the segmented log-linear regression model to assess time trends. Spatial distribution was analysed by the Local Empirical Bayesian Estimator and by calculating the Global and Local Moran Index. Finally, spatiotemporal clusters were identified through scanning statistics, using the Kulldorf method of retrospective analysis. RESULTS: We observed that Alagoas showed an average new case detection rate of 14.43/100,000 inhabitants between 2001 and 2019, being classified as highly endemic. The area of highest risk was the 9th health region (state hinterland), with increasing time trend (Annual Percentage Change/APC = 7.2; p-value < 0.05). Several clusters of high risk of leprosy transmission were verified in Alagoas, including the state capital and hinterland municipalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that active M. leprae transmission persists in Alagoas; that diagnosis is delayed and that there are high-risk areas, especially in inland municipalities.

Serologic and molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs, horses and ticks from the Atlantic rainforest of the state of Bahia, Brazil.

Tick-borne spotted fever in Brazil is known to be caused by two agents, Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia parkeri. Nothing was known about these agents in one area of the Atlantic rainforest biome of Bahia state, where during March to June 2016, 356 rural dogs and 69 horses were sampled and their sera were processed through indirect immunofluorescence assay against antigens of R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia bellii. Ticks collected from these dogs and horses were molecularly tested for the presence of rickettsial DNA. Overall, 16.4% (58/356) dogs and 24.6% (17/69) horses were seroreactive to Rickettsia spp. Five tick species, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Amblyomma ovale, A. sculptum, R. microplus, and A. naponense, were collected from dogs, whereas horses were infested by A. sculptum and Dermacentor nitens. A total of 242 ticks from dogs and 62 from horses were analyzed by PCR targeting rickettsiae, which were detected in only 4/27 (14.8%) A. ovale. Fragments of the rickettsial gltA and ompA genes from these four ticks were 100% identical to the Atlantic rainforest strain of R. parkeri. The presence of A. ovale on dogs was positively associated with local canine seroreactivity to R. parkeri. Our results provide evidence for the transmission of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest from A. ovale to domestic dogs within the rural area of Ilhéus, similarly to other areas of the Atlantic rainforest biome of Brazil, where human cases of R. parkeri-caused spotted fever have been reported.

Seroepidemiological characterization and risk factors associated with seroconversion to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in goats from Northeastern Brazil.

Goat breeding in the Northeast region of Brazil plays an important socioeconomic role. However, there are significant losses caused by sanitary deficits and infectious diseases, particularly caseous lymphadenitis (CL). Although CL is considered endemic in Northeastern Brazil, a comprehensive and up-to-date study of this disease in goat herds in this region is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine the farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences for the disease and to identify the possible risk factors that characterize CL in the caprine species of five Northeastern's states (Ceará, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Sergipe). A total of 2744 goat serum samples from 230 farms were collected between 2010 and 2012. The diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection was performed using the indirect ELISA technique. Farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences were 87.8% and 30.3%, respectively, suggesting that C. pseudotuberculosis is widespread in goat herds of the Northeast region. The risk factors were as follows: absence of forage silage (odds ratio = 5.39), not separating animals by sex (odds ratio = 4.16) or by age (odds ratio = 6.30), not replacing old goat breeders (odds ratio = 7.80), and non-treatment of CL lumps prior to spontaneous rupture (odds ratio = 10.34). This study supports the idea that caseous lymphadenitis is widely disseminated in goats from Northeastern Brazil and based on the risk factor analysis attention should be given to the need to establish adequate control measures, such as incision and early drainage of superficial abscesses, quarantine and elimination of affected animals, periodic inspection of the herd, non-introduction of infected animals, and early disposal of animals with recurrent CL.

Trichosporon inkin meningitis in Northeast Brazil: first case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Trichosporon species may colonize the skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract of human beings. The yeast is recognized as etiological agent of white piedra, a superficial mycosis. Nevertheless, immunocompromised hosts may develop invasive Trichosporonosis. Central nervous system trichosporonosis is a very rare clinical manifestation. In fact, only a few cases have been published in the literature and none of them was caused by Trichosporon inkin. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report the first clinical case of meningoencephalitis due to this species in a female previously healthy patient under corticosteroids and antibiotics therapy for several months. She was submitted to an invasive procedure to remove a left sided acoustic neuroma and further developed a cerebrospinal fistula. After some days of the procedure, she presented a predominantly and intensive occipital holocranial headache, followed by vomiting, hyporexia, weight loss, asthenia, irritability, difficulty to concentrate and rotator vertigo. The patient further developed a cerebrospinal fistula in the occipital region and was submitted to a surgical correction. After several months of clinical interventions, she was diagnosed with CNS Trichosporonosis, after Magnetic Resonance Imaging and positive microbiological cultures obtained within two different occasions (2 weeks apart). Despite the antifungal therapy with Amphotericin B and Voriconazole, the patient did not survive. CONCLUSIONS: Despite CNS Fungal infections are mostly due to Cryptococcus spp., other emergent yeasts, such as T. inkin may be considered as a likely etiological agent. This is the first case report of CNS Trichosporonosis, where species identification was performed with rDNA sequencing.

Comparative study of trophic organization of juvenile fish assemblages of three tidal creeks in a tropical semi-arid estuary.

A comparison of three tidal creeks assessed the effects of the hydrological regime on trophic organization in juvenile fish assemblages of 21 species in a tropical estuary in north-eastern Brazil. There were seven trophic guilds represented spatially. Zooplanktivore and zoobenthivore guilds dominated the lower estuary, whereas omnivores and detritivores dominated the upper estuary. In the rainy season, the zooplanktivore and omnivore guilds were more common throughout the estuary, but in the dry season, zoobenthivores and piscivores occurred throughout. The trophic organization results show that (1) there was a higher complexity in tidal creeks in the upper estuary compared with the first tidal creek in the lower region and (2) trophic linkages increased in the upper estuary, principally the number of omnivore and detritivore species. Spatial variation in trophic structure was primarily associated with differences in the location of the tidal creeks along the estuary, and this variability was partly attributed to fish species richness; the number of species increased towards the upper estuary, and additional species occupied different trophic levels or used additional resources.

HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance and genetic diversity among patients from Piauí State, Northeast Brazil.

HIV-1 transmitted-drug-resistance and genetic diversity are dynamic and may differ in distinct locations/risk groups. In Brazil, increased AIDS incidence and related mortality have been detected in the Northeast region, differently from the epicenter in the Southeast. This cross-sectional study describes transmitted-dru- resistance and HIV-1 subtypes in protease/PR and reverse transcriptase/RT regions among antiretroviral naïve patients from Piauí State, Northeast Brazil. Among 96 patients recruited 89 (92.7%) had HIV-1 PR/RT regions sequenced: 44 females and 45 males, 22 self-declared as men who have sex with men. Transmitted-drug-resistance was investigated by CPR tool (Stanford HIV-1 Drug Resistance/SDRM). HIV-1 subtypes were assigned by REGA and phylogenetic inference. Overall, transmitted-drug-resistance rate was 11.2% (10/89; CI 95%: 5.8-19.1%); 22.7% among men who have sex with men (5/22; CI 95%: 8.8-43.4%), 10% in heterosexual men (2/20; CI 95%: 1.7-29.3%) and 6.8% in women (3/44; CI 95%: 1.8-17.4%). Singleton mutations to protease-inhibitor/PI, nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor/NRTI or non-nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor/NNRTI predominated (8/10): PI mutations (M46L, V82F, L90M); NRTI mutations (M41L, D67N) and NNRTI mutations (K103N/S). Dual class resistance mutations to NRTI and NNRTI were observed: T215L (NRTI), Y188L (NNRTI) and T215N (NRTI), F227L (NNRTI). Subtype B prevailed (86.6%; 77/89), followed by subtype F1 (1.1%, 1/89) and subtype C (1.1%, 1/89). B/F1 and B/C intersubtype recombinants represented 11.2% (10/89). In Piauí State extensive testing of incidence and transmitted-drug-resistance in all populations with risk behaviors may help control AIDS epidemic locally.

Phoebella queirozae, a New Species of Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) with Notes on the Male Genitalia.

Phoebella Lane, 1966 is a Neotropical genus of flat-faced longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Hemilophini) with three species. Here, a new species, Phoebella queirozae sp. nov., is described from the state of Ceará (Brazil). The male terminalia of Phoebella phoebe (Lepeletier and Audinet-Serville, 1825) is described for the first time. The external morphology and male terminalia of the new species and P. phoebe are compared, and the value of male terminalia characters in the taxonomy of longhorned beetles is briefly discussed.

Biocultural heritage of the Caatinga: a systematic review of Myrtaceae and its multiple uses.

The Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, stands as a reservoir of remarkable biodiversity. Its significance transcends ecological dimensions, given the direct reliance of the local population on its resources for sustenance and healthcare. While Myrtaceae, a pivotal botanical family within the Brazilian flora, has been extensively explored for its medicinal and nutritional attributes, scant attention has been directed towards its contextual relevance within the Caatinga's local communities. Consequently, this inaugural systematic review addresses the ethnobotanical roles of Myrtaceae within the Caatinga, meticulously anchored in the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched Scopus, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scielo, and LILIACS. No date-range filter was applied. An initial pool of 203 articles was carefully scrutinized, ultimately yielding 31 pertinent ethnobotanical studies elucidating the utility of Myrtaceae amongst the Caatinga's indigenous populations. Collectively, they revealed seven distinct utilization categories spanning ~54 species and 11 genera. Psidium and Eugenia were the genera with the most applications. The most cited categories of use were food (27 species) and medicinal (22 species). The importance of accurate species identification was highlighted, as many studies did not provide enough information for reliable identification. Additionally, the potential contribution of Myrtaceae fruits to food security and human health was explored. The diversity of uses demonstrates how this family is a valuable resource for local communities, providing sources of food, medicine, energy, and construction materials. This systematic review also highlights the need for more ethnobotanical studies to understand fully the relevance of Myrtaceae species in the Caatinga, promoting biodiversity conservation, as well as support for local populations.

Drastic reduction in the notification of acute cases of Chagas disease in the Northeast region of Brazil. Epidemiological evaluation in the period 2001-2021.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is a neglected disease endemic to some Latin American countries, including Brazil. Soon after infection, individuals develop an acute phase, which in most cases is asymptomatic and may go undetected. However, when CD is detected early, notification in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), is mandatory. This study aimed to evaluate the information registered in the SINAN database and to determine the epidemiological profile of acute CD in Northeast Brazil, an endemic region, from 2001 to 2021. According to this survey, 1,444 cases of acute CD were reported in the Northeastern region of Brazil during this period. During the first six years, referred to as period 1, 90.24% of the notifications were registered, while the number of notifications significantly decreased in the subsequent years, referred to as period 2. Most individuals diagnosed with acute CD were Afro-Brazilian adults. All known routes of infection by the parasite were reported. Vector-borne transmission was predominant during period 1 (73.29%) and oral transmission during period 2 (58.87%). All nine states in Northeast Brazil reported cases in both periods. A higher incidence of disease was reported in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) during period 1, and in Maranhão (MA) during period 2. Our results show that CD remains a significant public health challenge.

Phylogenetic Reconstructions Reveal the Circulation of a Novel Dengue Virus-1V Clade and the Persistence of a Dengue Virus-2 III Genotype in Northeast Brazil.

Dengue fever is among the most significant public health concerns in Brazil. To date, the highest number of Dengue notifications in the Americas has been reported in Brazil, with cases accounting for a total number of 3,418,796 reported cases as of mid-December 2022. Furthermore, the northeastern region of Brazil registered the second-highest incidence of Dengue fever in 2022. Due to the alarming epidemiological scenario, in this study, we used a combination of portable whole-genome sequencing, phylodynamic, and epidemiological analyses to reveal a novel DENV-1 genotype V clade and the persistence of DENV-2 genotype III in the region. We further report the presence of non-synonymous mutations associated with non-structural domains, especially the NS2A (non-structural protein 2A), as well as describe synonymous mutations in envelope and membrane proteins, distributed differently between clades. However, the absence of clinical data at the time of collection and notification, as well as the impossibility of monitoring patients in order to observe worsening or death, restricts our possibility of correlating mutational findings with possible clinical prognoses. Together, these results reinforce the crucial role of genomic surveillance to follow the evolution of circulating DENV strains and understand their spread across the region through inter-regional importation events, likely mediated by human mobility, and also the possible impacts on public health and outbreak management.

Factors associated with small ruminant lentivirus infection in goat herds from Pernambuco state, Northeast region of Brazil.

Serum samples (n = 1532) were collected between May 2011 to April 2012 from goats from 76 herds (49 from dairy farms and 27 herds for genetic improvement) from three geographical regions from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: Zona da Mata, Agreste, and Sertão. Samples were processed using agar gel immunodiffusion test, with p28 CAEV antigen. The objective was to determine the risk factors for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) in dairy goats and goats with high genetic value. Overall, seroprevalence was 13.7% (210/1532) [95% CI: 12-15.4%] in animals and 67.1% (51/76) [95% CI: 56.5%- 77.7%] in herds. In dairy farms the seroprevalence was 73.5% (36/49) [95% CI: 61.1%- 85.8%], and in properties with animals of high genetic value it was 55.6% (15/27) [95% CI: 36.8%- 74.3%]. Robust Poisson regression analysis adjusted by the random effect of the herd showed that risk factors were: importing bucks from another Brazilian state (prevalence ratio [PR] = 4.73 [95% CI: 2.05; 10.88]), not isolating sick animals (PR = 3.27 [95% CI: 2.24; 4.76]), and participating in fairs/animal crowding (PR = 1.52 [95% CI: 1.09; 2.11]). Prevalence results show that SRLV is present in caprine herds in the state of Pernambuco and identified risk factors are strongly related to animal transit. Considering the epidemiological situation, the first step for mitigating the consequences of this disease would be controlling animal transit.

Abortion and congenital transmission of Trypanosoma vivax in goats and ewes in semiarid northeastern Brazil.

The main effects of trypanosomosis in Brazil are related to reproductive alterations. In this context, the present study aimed to report the occurrence of abortions in goats and sheeps in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil, associated with Trypanosoma vivax. Trypomastigotes forms visualized by Buffy coat technique (BCT) method in 68.7% of the goats and 50.0% of the ewes that aborted. PCR identified that 100% of the goats and ewes that aborted were infected with T. vivax. The goats and ewes that aborted showed high parasitemia and developed clinical signs of trypanosomosis. The presence of T. vivax DNA was identified in the blood of fetuses by the PCR technique, proving infection by T. vivax in aborted fetuses, as well as confirming the congenital transmission of the parasite.

Hereditary Breast Cancer in the Brazilian State of Ceará (The CHANCE Cohort): Higher-Than-Expected Prevalence of Recurrent Germline Pathogenic Variants.

Purpose: There is a significant lack of epidemiological data on hereditary cancer in Northeast Brazil. This is the largest study on the prevalence and mutational spectrum of cancer predisposition genes conducted in this region and the first in the State of Ceará. Methods: Patients ≥18 years of age that were referred to CHANCE (Grupo de Câncer Hereditário do Ceará) from March 2014 to December 2020 with testing criteria for breast cancer susceptibility genes according to NCCN v.1.2021 were eligible to participate. The inclusion of patients was limited to one individual per family and to those born in the State of Ceará. All patients underwent a hereditary cancer panel testing with at least 30 genes. Results: A total of 355 patients were included, and 97 (27.3%) carried a P/LP germline variant in 18 different genes. Among the 97 P/LP carriers, BRCA1 (31, 31.9%) and BRCA2 (25, 25.7%) were the most frequently mutated genes, followed by PALB2 (10, 10.3%), CHEK2 (7, 7.2%) and ATM (4, 4.1%). A small number of recurrent variants (detected in three or more individuals) in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 and ATM represented the majority of the P/LP variants described in this cohort. Conclusion: In this cohort, the prevalence of L/PL was high, particularly involving the BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2 and ATM genes and, to a lesser extent than expected, the TP53 gene. A high frequency of recurrent variants was also observed, for which further and larger analyses should clarify the presence of any possible founder effect. Characterizing the mutational profile of cancer predisposition genes in diverse populations may contribute to cancer prevention and therapeutic management.

Chikungunya virus ECSA lineage reintroduction in the northeasternmost region of Brazil.

The Northeast region of Brazil registered the second-highest incidence proportion of Chikungunya fever in 2019. In that year, an outbreak consisting of patients presenting with febrile disease associated with joint pain was reported by the public primary health care service in the city of Natal, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in March 2019. At first, the aetiological agent of the disease was undetermined. Since much is still unknown about chikungunya virus' (CHIKV) genomic diversity and evolutionary history in this northeasternmost state, we used a combination of portable whole-genome sequencing, molecular clock, and epidemiological analyses that revealed the reintroduction of the CHIKV East-Central-South-African (ECSA) lineage into Rio Grande do Norte. We estimated that the CHIKV ECSA lineage was first introduced into Rio Grande do Norte in early June 2014, while the 2019 outbreak clade diverged around April 2018, during a period of increased Chikungunya incidence in the Southeast region, which might have acted as a source of virus dispersion towards the Northeast region. Together, these results confirm that the ECSA lineage continues to spread across the country through interregional importation events, likely mediated by human mobility.

Cellular accumulation of crude oil compounds reduces the competitive fitness of the coral symbiont Symbiodinium glynnii.

Oil spill events in the marine environment can have a deleterious impact on the affected ecosystems, such as coral reefs, with direct consequences for their socioeconomic value. The mutualistic relationship between tropical corals and their dinoflagellate symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) provide structural and nutritional basis for a high local biodiversity in oligotrophic waters. Here, we investigated effects of crude oil water-accommodated fraction on the competitive fitness of the model zooxanthellae species Symbiodinium glynnii. Results of laboratory essays demonstrate that crude oil carbon is incorporated into the cellular biomass with a concomitant change of δ13C isotopic value. Carcinogenic/mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were identified in the culture media and were responsible for a linear reduction in population growth of S. glynnii, presumably related to energy relocation for DNA repair. Additionally, the experiments revealed that physiological effects induced by crude oil compounds are genetically inherited by the following generations under non-contaminated growth conditions, and induce a reduction in the competitive fitness to cope with other environmental parameters, such as low salinity. We suggest that the effects of crude oil contamination represent an imparing factor for S. glynnii coping with anthropogenic drivers (e.g. warming and acidification) and interfere with the delicate symbiont-host relationship of tropical corals. This is especially relevant in the coastal areas of northeastern Brazil where an oil spill event deposited crude oil on shallow water sediments with the potential to be resuspended to the water column by physical and/or biological activity, enhancing the risk of future coral bleaching events.

Return of the founder Chikungunya virus to its place of introduction into Brazil is revealed by genomic characterization of exanthematic disease cases.

Between June 2017 and August 2018, several municipalities located in Bahia state (Brazil) reported a large increase in the number of patients presenting with febrile illness similar to that of arboviral infections. Using a combination of portable whole genome sequencing, molecular clock and epidemiological analyses, we revealed the return of the CHIKV-ECSA genotype into Bahia. Our results show local persistence of lineages in some municipalities and the re-introduction of new epidemiological strains from different Brazilian regions, highlighting a complex dynamic of transmission between epidemic seasons and sampled locations. Estimated climate-driven transmission potential of CHIKV remained at similar levels throughout the years, such that large reductions in the total number of confirmed cases suggests a slow, but gradual accumulation of herd-immunity over the 4 years of the epidemic in Bahia after its introduction in 2014. Bahia remains a reservoir of the genetic diversity of CHIKV in the Americas, and genomic surveillance strategies are essential to assist in monitoring and understanding arboviral transmission and persistence both locally and over large distances.

Mycoses in northeastern Brazil: epidemiology and prevalence of fungal species in 8 years of retrospective analysis in Alagoas.

Superficial and cutaneous mycoses are common in tropical countries, caused by dermatophytes, yeast, and non-dermatophyte molds in different clinical specimens. In order to define the epidemiology of mycoses and the profile of their etiological agents in Alagoas (northeastern Brazil) between 2009 and 2016, we obtained data of patients from the main laboratories of Alagoas, by examining clinical samples with direct microscopy and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar and Chromagar®Candida. A total of 3316 patients were confirmed with mycoses (595 men/2716 women) and 40.25 of average age. Positive samples totaled 3776, mainly vaginal secretion (1593/42.2%), toenails (876/23.2%), and fingernails (589/15.6%). Yeasts were the most isolated (3129/82.9%), including 3012 Candida spp. (79.8%), 57 Malassezia spp. (1.5%), 42 Trichosporon sp. (1.1%), 10 Geotrichum spp. (0.3%), and 8 Rhodotorula spp. (0.2%). Candida albicans was the most frequent species (715/18.9%), followed by C. krusei (194/5.1%), C. tropicalis (24/0.6%), and 2079 unspecified species (55.1%). Among 17.1% filamentous fungi, 14.8% dermatophytes were distributed as 211 Trichophyton sp. (5.6%), 125 T. rubrum (3.3%), 106 T. tonsurans (2.8%), 72 T. mentagrophytes (1.9%), 2 Microsporum sp. (0.1%), 15 M. canis (0.4%), and 26 Epidermophyton sp. (0.7%). Other fungi represented the minority: Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. These are the first clinical data on the Alagoas population affected by fungi pathogens, confirming a higher incidence of candidiasis (mainly vulvovaginal and onychomycosis) and dermatophytes, providing a better understanding of different mycoses in northeastern Brazil.

New records of Ceratocampinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) species from the Cerrado of Maranhão, Brazil / Novos registros de espécies de Ceratocampinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) para o Cerrado do Maranhão, Brasil

Abstract Ceratocampinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is the second most diverse subfamily of Saturniidae with 300 species described in 30 genera from southern Canada to northern Argentina. Species of this subfamily are widely distributed in Southeast Brazil, with many endemics to the Cerrado, and important as indicators of ecosystem quality. Specimens of Ceratocampinae were collected in the Parque Estadual do Mirador, Maranhão state, Brazil. Adeloneivaia acuta (Schaus, 1896), Adeloneivaia schubarti Barros & O. Mielke, 1970, Eacles penelope (Cramer, 1775) and Megaceresa pulchra (Bouvier, 1923) are recorded for the first time in Maranhão state and Northeast Brazil and Eacles fairchildi May & Oiticica, 1941, only for Maranhão. The record of five Ceratocampinae (Saturniidae) species increases the knowledge on the diversity and the importance of preserving those of this subfamily in the Cerrado biome of Maranhão state and the Northeast region of Brazil.

Resumo Ceratocampinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) é a segunda subfamília mais diversa de Saturniidae com 300 espécies descritas em 30 gêneros do sul do Canadá ao norte da Argentina. Espécies desta subfamília estão amplamente distribuídas no Sudeste do Brasil, com muitas endêmicas do Cerrado e importantes como indicadores da qualidade do ecossistema. Espécimes de Ceratocampinae foram coletados no Parque Estadual do Mirador, estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Adeloneivaia acuta (Schaus, 1896), Adeloneivaia schubarti Barros & O. Mielke, 1970, Eacles penelope (Cramer, 1775) e Megaceresa pulchra (Bouvier, 1923) são registradas pela primeira vez no estado do Maranhão e Nordeste do Brasil e Eacles fairchildi May & Oiticica, 1941 apenas para o Maranhão. O registro de cinco espécies de Ceratocampinae (Saturniidae) aumenta o conhecimento sobre a diversidade e a importância da preservação das espécies dessa subfamília no bioma Cerrado maranhense e na região Nordeste do Brasil.