Replacement of corn with pre-dried cassava root silage in the diet for dairy goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacement of corn with pre-dried cassava root silage (CRS) on intake, ingestive behavior, production and composition of goat milk. Five lactating Saanen goats were used, with 42.5 ± 4.2 kg body weight and production of 2 kg milk day-1, distributed in a 5 x 5 Latin square with five treatments: 0, 28.6, 58.0, 81.6 and 100% replacement of corn with CRS in the diet dry matter. Goats were monitored for five periods of 15 days each. The intake of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber decreased linearly (p <0.05) with the replacement of corn with CRS. Feeding (348.5 ± 62.1 min.) and rumination (468.8 ± 83.8 min.) times were not influenced (p >0.05) by the replacement of corn with CRS, but the ingestion and rumination efficiencies had a linear increase (p > 0.05). Milk production (2.17 ± 0.45 kg day-1), fat (3.49 ± 0.42%), protein (3.11 ± 0.13%) and lactose (4.47 ± 0,11%) of goat milk were not influenced (p >0.05) by the replacement of corn with CRS. Therefore, it is recommended the total replacement of corn with pre-dried cassava root silage in the diet for dairy goats with an average production of 2 kg day-1.(AU)

Atenção ao abortamento em instituições hospitalares da rede SUS de Fortaleza, Ceará / Attention to abortion in hospitals of the SUS network in Fortaleza, Ceará

Resumo Introdução O aborto é uma questão relevante para a saúde pública, por sua significância entre as causas de morbidade e mortalidade materna. Objetivo Descrever o perfil sociodemográfico e reprodutivo, bem como a assistência prestada e os custos da internação de mulheres em abortamento nos hospitais vinculados à rede SUS de Fortaleza, Ceará. Métodos Trata-se de estudo transversal, descritivo, por meio de entrevista, prontuários e relatórios da Autorização das Internações Hospitalares. Resultados Entre as 119 mulheres entrevistadas, 65% tinham menos de 30 anos, 78,2% eram não brancas e 54% possuíam baixa renda; a prevalência de mulheres que buscaram mais de um hospital para atendimento foi de 47% e 72,3% buscaram o serviço de saúde em até cinco dias; concentração de 98,3% do procedimento cirúrgico curetagem para finalização do aborto. Conclusão Percebeu-se a existência de pontos frágeis na atenção ao abortamento e a necessidade de discutir a temática aborto nas políticas públicas de saúde.

Abstract Background Abortion is a relevant issue for public health, due to is significance among the causes of maternal and mortality. Objective to describe the sociodemographic and reproductive profile, as well as the assistance provided and the costs of the hospitalization of women in abortion in the hospitals linked in the SUS network in Fortaleza, Ceará. Methods this is a cross-sectional, descriptive study by means of interviews, medical records and reports of the Authorization of Hospitalizations. Results among the 119 women interviewed, 65% were under 30 years of age, 78.2% were non-white and 54% had low income; the prevalence of women who sought more than one hospital for care was 47% and 72.3% of them sought health care within five days; concentration of 98.3% were submitted to a surgical procedure curettage for abortion termination. Conclusion it was noticed the existence of fragile points in the attention to abortion and the need to discuss abortion thematic in public health policies.

Correlation of APRIL with production of inflammatory cytokines during acute malaria in the Brazilian Amazon.

INTRODUCTION: A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and B cell activation factor (BAFF) are known to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including BAFF in malaria. The aim of this study was to investigate whether APRIL and BAFF plasma concentrations could be part of inflammatory responses associated with P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria in patients from the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria patients (n = 52) resident in Porto Velho before and 15 days after the beginning of treatment and from uninfected individuals (n = 12). We investigated APRIL and BAFF circulating levels and their association with parasitaemia, WBC counts, and cytokine/chemokine plasma levels. The expression levels of transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) on PBMC from a subset of 5 P. vivax-infected patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: APRIL plasma levels were transiently increased during acute P. vivax and P. falciparum infections whereas BAFF levels were only increased during acute P. falciparum malaria. Although P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria patients have similar cytokine profiles during infection, in P. vivax acute phase malaria, APRIL but not BAFF levels correlated positively with IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13 levels. We did not find any association between P. vivax parasitaemia and APRIL levels, while an inverse correlation was found between P. falciparum parasitaemia and APRIL levels. The percentage of TACI positive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were increased in the acute phase P. vivax malaria. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the APRIL and BAFF inductions reflect different host strategies for controlling infection with each malaria species.

Synthetic Antigens Derived from Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoite, Liver, and Blood Stages: Naturally Acquired Immune Response and Human Leukocyte Antigen Associations in Individuals Living in a Brazilian Endemic Area.

Peptide vaccine strategies using Plasmodium-derived antigens have emerged as an attractive approach against malaria. However, relatively few studies have been conducted with malaria-exposed populations from non-African countries. Herein, the seroepidemiological profile against Plasmodium falciparum of naturally exposed individuals from a Brazilian malaria-endemic area against synthetic peptides derived from vaccine candidates circumsporozoite protein (CSP), liver stage antigen-1 (LSA-1), erythrocyte binding antigen-175 (EBA-175), and merozoite surface protein-3 (MSP-3) was investigated. Moreover, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1* and HLA-DQB1* were evaluated to characterize genetic modulation of humoral responsiveness to these antigens. The study was performed using blood samples from 187 individuals living in rural malaria-endemic villages situated near Porto Velho, Rondônia State. Specific IgG and IgM antibodies and IgG subclasses were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and HLA-DRB1* and HLA-DQB1* low-resolution typing was performed by PCR-SSP. All four synthetic peptides were broadly recognized by naturally acquired antibodies. Regarding the IgG subclass profile, only CSP induced IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies, which is an important fact given that the acquisition of protective immunity appears to be associated with the cytophilicity of IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies. HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DQB1*7 had the lowest odds of responding to EBA-175. Our results showed that CSP, LSA-1, EBA, and MSP-3 are immunogenic in natural conditions of exposure and that anti-EBA antibody responses appear to be modulated by HLA class II antigens.

In silico Identification and Validation of a Linear and Naturally Immunogenic B-Cell Epitope of the Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidate Merozoite Surface Protein-9.

Synthetic peptide vaccines provide the advantages of safety, stability and low cost. The success of this approach is highly dependent on efficient epitope identification and synthetic strategies for efficacious delivery. In malaria, the Merozoite Surface Protein-9 of Plasmodium vivax (PvMSP9) has been considered a vaccine candidate based on the evidence that specific antibodies were able to inhibit merozoite invasion and recombinant proteins were highly immunogenic in mice and humans. However the identities of linear B-cell epitopes within PvMSP9 as targets of functional antibodies remain undefined. We used several publicly-available algorithms for in silico analyses and prediction of relevant B cell epitopes within PMSP9. We show that the tandem repeat sequence EAAPENAEPVHENA (PvMSP9E795-A808) present at the C-terminal region is a promising target for antibodies, given its high combined score to be a linear epitope and located in a putative intrinsically unstructured region of the native protein. To confirm the predictive value of the computational approach, plasma samples from 545 naturally exposed individuals were screened for IgG reactivity against the recombinant PvMSP9-RIRII729-972 and a synthetic peptide representing the predicted B cell epitope PvMSP9E795-A808. 316 individuals (58%) were responders to the full repetitive region PvMSP9-RIRII, of which 177 (56%) also presented total IgG reactivity against the synthetic peptide, confirming it validity as a B cell epitope. The reactivity indexes of anti-PvMSP9-RIRII and anti-PvMSP9E795-A808 antibodies were correlated. Interestingly, a potential role in the acquisition of protective immunity was associated with the linear epitope, since the IgG1 subclass against PvMSP9E795-A808 was the prevalent subclass and this directly correlated with time elapsed since the last malaria episode; however this was not observed in the antibody responses against the full PvMSP9-RIRII. In conclusion, our findings identified and experimentally confirmed the potential of PvMSP9E795-A808 as an immunogenic linear B cell epitope within the P. vivax malaria vaccine candidate PvMSP9 and support its inclusion in future subunit vaccines.

Is there an efficient trap or collection method for sampling Anopheles darlingi and other malaria vectors that can describe the essential parameters affecting transmission dynamics as effectively as human landing catches? - A Review.

Distribution, abundance, feeding behaviour, host preference, parity status and human-biting and infection rates are among the medical entomological parameters evaluated when determining the vector capacity of mosquito species. To evaluate these parameters, mosquitoes must be collected using an appropriate method. Malaria is primarily transmitted by anthropophilic and synanthropic anophelines. Thus, collection methods must result in the identification of the anthropophilic species and efficiently evaluate the parameters involved in malaria transmission dynamics. Consequently, human landing catches would be the most appropriate method if not for their inherent risk. The choice of alternative anopheline collection methods, such as traps, must consider their effectiveness in reproducing the efficiency of human attraction. Collection methods lure mosquitoes by using a mixture of olfactory, visual and thermal cues. Here, we reviewed, classified and compared the efficiency of anopheline collection methods, with an emphasis on Neotropical anthropophilic species, especially Anopheles darlingi, in distinct malaria epidemiological conditions in Brazil.

Evaluation of naturally acquired IgG antibodies to a chimeric and non-chimeric recombinant species of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein-1: lack of association with HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* in malaria exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon.

The development of modular constructs that include antigenic regions targeted by protective immune responses is an attractive approach for subunit vaccine development. However, a main concern of using these vaccine platforms is how to preserve the antigenic identity of conformational B cell epitopes. In the present study we evaluated naturally acquired antibody responses to a chimeric protein engineered to contain a previously defined immunodominant domain of the Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein-1 located between amino acid positions K435-I777. The construct also includes three regions of the cognate protein (F571-D587, I1745-S1786 and L2235-E2263) predicted to contain MHC class II promiscuous T cell epitopes. Plasma samples from 253 naturally exposed individuals were tested against this chimeric protein named PvRMC-RBP1 and a control protein that includes the native sequence PvRBP123-751 in comparative experiments to study the frequency of total IgG and IgG subclass reactivity. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 allelic groups were typed by PCR-SSO to evaluate the association between major HLA class II alleles and antibody responses. We found IgG antibodies that recognized the chimeric PvRMC-RBP1 and the PvRBP123-751 in 47.1% and 60% of the studied population, respectively. Moreover, the reactivity index against both proteins were comparable and associated with time of exposure (p<0.0001) and number of previous malaria episodes (p<0.005). IgG subclass profile showed a predominance of cytophilic IgG1 over other subclasses against both proteins tested. Collectively these studies suggest that the chimeric PvRMC-RBP1 protein retained antigenic determinants in the PvRBP1435-777 native sequence. Although 52.9% of the population did not present detectable titers of antibodies to PvRMC-RBP1, genetic restriction to this chimeric protein does not seem to occur, since no association was observed between the HLA-DRB1* or HLA-DQB1* alleles and the antibody responses. This experimental evidence strongly suggests that the identity of the conformational B cell epitopes is preserved in the chimeric protein.

Is there an efficient trap or collection method for sampling Anopheles darlingi and other malaria vectors that can describe the essential parameters affecting transmission dynamics as effectively as human landing catches? - A Review

Distribution, abundance, feeding behaviour, host preference, parity status and human-biting and infection rates are among the medical entomological parameters evaluated when determining the vector capacity of mosquito species. To evaluate these parameters, mosquitoes must be collected using an appropriate method. Malaria is primarily transmitted by anthropophilic and synanthropic anophelines. Thus, collection methods must result in the identification of the anthropophilic species and efficiently evaluate the parameters involved in malaria transmission dynamics. Consequently, human landing catches would be the most appropriate method if not for their inherent risk. The choice of alternative anopheline collection methods, such as traps, must consider their effectiveness in reproducing the efficiency of human attraction. Collection methods lure mosquitoes by using a mixture of olfactory, visual and thermal cues. Here, we reviewed, classified and compared the efficiency of anopheline collection methods, with an emphasis on Neotropical anthropophilic species, especially Anopheles darlingi, in distinct malaria epidemiological conditions in Brazil.

Alterations in cytokines and haematological parameters during the acute and convalescent phases of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections

Haematological and cytokine alterations in malaria are a broad and controversial subject in the literature. However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated various cytokines in a single patient group during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. The aim of this study was to sequentially characterise alterations in haematological patters and circulating plasma cytokine and chemokine levels in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum from a Brazilian endemic area during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. During the acute phase, thrombocytopaenia, eosinopaenia, lymphopaenia and an increased number of band cells were observed in the majority of the patients. During the convalescent phase, the haematologic parameters returned to normal. During the acute phase, P. vivax and P. falciparum patients had significantly higher interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor levels than controls and maintained high levels during the convalescent phase. IL-10 was detected at high concentrations during the acute phase, but returned to normal levels during the convalescent phase. Plasma IL-10 concentration was positively correlated with parasitaemia in P. vivax and P. falciparum-infected patients. The same was true for the TNF-α concentration in P. falciparum-infected patients. Finally, the haematological and cytokine profiles were similar between uncomplicated P. falciparum and P. vivax infections.

Alterations in cytokines and haematological parameters during the acute and convalescent phases of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections.

Haematological and cytokine alterations in malaria are a broad and controversial subject in the literature. However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated various cytokines in a single patient group during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. The aim of this study was to sequentially characterise alterations in haematological patters and circulating plasma cytokine and chemokine levels in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum from a Brazilian endemic area during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. During the acute phase, thrombocytopaenia, eosinopaenia, lymphopaenia and an increased number of band cells were observed in the majority of the patients. During the convalescent phase, the haematologic parameters returned to normal. During the acute phase, P. vivax and P. falciparum patients had significantly higher interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor levels than controls and maintained high levels during the convalescent phase. IL-10 was detected at high concentrations during the acute phase, but returned to normal levels during the convalescent phase. Plasma IL-10 concentration was positively correlated with parasitaemia in P. vivax and P. falciparum-infected patients. The same was true for the TNF-α concentration in P. falciparum-infected patients. Finally, the haematological and cytokine profiles were similar between uncomplicated P. falciparum and P. vivax infections.

Genetic polymorphisms in the glutamate-rich protein of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from a malaria-endemic area of Brazil.

The genetic diversity displayed by Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly Plasmodium species, is a significant obstacle for effective malaria vaccine development. In this study, we identified genetic polymorphisms in P. falciparum glutamate-rich protein (GLURP), which is currently being tested in clinical trials as a malaria vaccine candidate, from isolates found circulating in the Brazilian Amazon at variable transmission levels. The study was performed using samples collected in 1993 and 2008 from rural villages situated near Porto Velho, in the state of Rondônia. DNA was extracted from 126 P. falciparum-positive thick blood smears using the phenol-chloroform method and subjected to a nested polymerase chain reaction protocol with specific primers against two immunodominant regions of GLURP, R0 and R2. Only one R0 fragment and four variants of the R2 fragment were detected. No differences were observed between the two time points with regard to the frequencies of the fragment variants. Mixed infections were uncommon. Our results demonstrate conservation of GLURP-R0 and limited polymorphic variation of GLURP-R2 in P. falciparum isolates from individuals living in Porto Velho. This is an important finding, as genetic polymorphisms in B and T-cell epitopes could have implications for the immunological properties of the antigen.

Genetic polymorphisms in the glutamate-rich protein of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from a malaria-endemic area of Brazil

The genetic diversity displayed by Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly Plasmodium species, is a significant obstacle for effective malaria vaccine development. In this study, we identified genetic polymorphisms in P. falciparum glutamate-rich protein (GLURP), which is currently being tested in clinical trials as a malaria vaccine candidate, from isolates found circulating in the Brazilian Amazon at variable transmission levels. The study was performed using samples collected in 1993 and 2008 from rural villages situated near Porto Velho, in the state of Rondônia. DNA was extracted from 126 P. falciparum-positive thick blood smears using the phenol-chloroform method and subjected to a nested polymerase chain reaction protocol with specific primers against two immunodominant regions of GLURP, R0 and R2. Only one R0 fragment and four variants of the R2 fragment were detected. No differences were observed between the two time points with regard to the frequencies of the fragment variants. Mixed infections were uncommon. Our results demonstrate conservation of GLURP-R0 and limited polymorphic variation of GLURP-R2 in P. falciparum isolates from individuals living in Porto Velho. This is an important finding, as genetic polymorphisms in B and T-cell epitopes could have implications for the immunological properties of the antigen.

Cells and mediators of inflammation (C-reactive protein, nitric oxide, platelets and neutrophils) in the acute and convalescent phases of uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infection

The haematological changes and release of soluble mediators, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO), during uncomplicated malaria have not been well studied, especially in Brazilian areas in which the disease is endemic. Therefore, the present study examined these factors in acute (day 0) and convalescent phase (day 15) patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. Haematologic parameters were measured using automated cell counting, CRP levels were measured with ELISA and NO plasma levels were measured by the Griess reaction. Our data indicate that individuals with uncomplicated P. vivax and P. falciparum infection presented similar inflammatory profiles with respect to white blood cells, with high band cell production and a considerable degree of thrombocytopaenia during the acute phase of infection. Higher CRP levels were detected in acute P. vivax infection than in acute P. falciparum infection, while higher NO was detected in patients with acute and convalescent P. falciparum infections. Although changes in these mediators cannot predict malaria infection, the haematological aspects associated with malaria infection, especially the roles of platelets and band cells, need to be investigated further.

Cells and mediators of inflammation (C-reactive protein, nitric oxide, platelets and neutrophils) in the acute and convalescent phases of uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infection.

The haematological changes and release of soluble mediators, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO), during uncomplicated malaria have not been well studied, especially in Brazilian areas in which the disease is endemic. Therefore, the present study examined these factors in acute (day 0) and convalescent phase (day 15) patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. Haematologic parameters were measured using automated cell counting, CRP levels were measured with ELISA and NO plasma levels were measured by the Griess reaction. Our data indicate that individuals with uncomplicated P. vivax and P. falciparum infection presented similar inflammatory profiles with respect to white blood cells, with high band cell production and a considerable degree of thrombocytopaenia during the acute phase of infection. Higher CRP levels were detected in acute P. vivax infection than in acute P. falciparum infection, while higher NO was detected in patients with acute and convalescent P. falciparum infections. Although changes in these mediators cannot predict malaria infection, the haematological aspects associated with malaria infection, especially the roles of platelets and band cells, need to be investigated further.

Evaluation of allelic forms of the erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Brazilian endemic area.

BACKGROUND: The Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Binding Antigen-175 (EBA-175) is an antigen considered to be one of the leading malaria vaccine candidates. EBA-175 mediates sialic acid-dependent binding to glycophorin A on the erythrocytes playing a crucial role during invasion of the P. falciparum in the host cell. Dimorphic allele segments, termed C-fragment and F-fragment, have been found in high endemicity malaria areas and associations between the dimorphism and severe malaria have been described. In this study, the genetic dimorphism of EBA-175 was evaluated in P. falciparum field isolates from Brazilian malaria endemic area. METHODS: The study was carried out in rural villages situated near Porto Velho, Rondonia State in the Brazilian Amazon in three time points between 1993 and 2008. The allelic dimorphism of the EBA-175 was analysed by Nested PCR. RESULTS: The classical allelic dimorphism of the EBA-175 was identified in the studied area. Overall, C-fragment was amplified in a higher frequency than F-fragment. The same was observed in the three time points where C-fragment was observed in a higher frequency than F-fragment. Single infections (one fragment amplified) were more frequent than mixed infection (two fragments amplified). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the dimorphism of EBA175, since only the two types of fragments were amplified, C-fragment and F-fragment. Also, the results show the remarkable predominance of CAMP allele in the studied area. The comparative analysis in three time points indicates that the allelic dimorphism of the EBA-175 is stable over time.

Brazilian Plasmodium falciparum isolates: investigation of candidate polymorphisms for artemisinin resistance before introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to better understand the genetic diversity of known polymorphisms in pfatpase6 and pfmdr1 genes before the introduction of ACT in Brazil, in order to get a genotypic snapshot of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that may be used as baseline reference for future studies. METHODS: Parasites from P. falciparum samples collected in 2002, 2004 and 2006-2007 were genotyped using PCR and DNA sequencing at codons 86, 130, 184, 1034, 1042, 1109 and 1246 for pfmdr1 gene, and 243, 263, 402, 431, 623, 630, 639, 683, 716, 776, 769 and 771 for pfatpase6 gene. RESULTS: A pfmdr1 haplotype NEF/CDVY was found in 97% of the samples. In the case of pfatpase6, four haplotypes, wild-type (37%), 630 S (35%), 402 V (5%) and double-mutant 630 S + 402 V (23%), were detected. CONCLUSION: Although some polymorphism in pfmdr1 and pfatpase6 were verified, no reported haplotypes in both genes that may mediate altered response to ACT was detected before the introduction of this therapy in Brazil. Thus, the haplotypes herein described can be very useful as a baseline reference of P. falciparum populations without ACT drug pressure.

Morbidade e mortalidade da população idosa de Florianópolis: um estudo comparativo entre homens e mulheres / Morbidity and mortality of the elderly population in Florianopolis city: a comparative study between men and women

Identificar e comparar as principais causas de morbi-mortalidade, entre homens e mulheres com 60 anos ou mais, residentes no município de Florianópolis - Santa Catarina, ano de 2007. Métodos: Estudo descritivo por meio de dados secundários disponíveis no Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade (SIM/SUS), do Sistema de Internações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) e para os dados demográficos segundo o IBGE. Resultados: Identificou-se a doença isquêmica do coração, seguida da cerebrovascular e do câncer de pulmão, com os maiores coeficientes de mortalidade nos idosos. Ao comparar as principais causas de mortalidade e sexo, os homens apresentaram maior risco para câncer de pulmão, septicemia e cirrose e doença crônica do fígado (razão igual a 2,9; 2,4; 2,4, respectivamente). Entre as causas mais prevalentes de morbidade, destacam-se as doenças circulatórias, neoplasias e doenças respiratórias. Ao comparar as causas de morbidade ao sexo, as doenças circulatórias, seguidas das neoplasias e doenças geniturinárias, destacaram-se pela maior razão nas mulheres (razão igual a 0,93; 0,90; 0,89, respectivamente) embora com pequena diferença. Conclusão: A doença isquêmica do coração, doença cerebrovascular e câncer de pulmão foram as principais causas de óbito entre os idosos, mas comparadas ao sexo, observou-se que câncer de pulmão, septicemia e cirrose e doença crônica do fígado apresentaram-se como as principais responsáveis pela sobremortalidade masculina. As doenças circulatórias, seguidas das neoplasias e doenças respiratórias, destacaram-se pela maior causa de morbidade nos idosos, com predomínio nas mulheres, exceto as respiratórias, dando lugar às doenças geniturinárias.

[Periodicity of capture of the Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera: Culicidae) in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil]. / Periodicidade de captura de Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera: Culicidae) em Porto Velho, RO.

Anopheles darlingi Root is the principal malaria vector in Amazonia region. The objectives of this work were to study the periodicity of Anopheles darlingi Root, the host preference for peri or extra-domestic environments and the parous rate in four field sites in Porto Velho (RO) by human-landing. All of the Anopheles specimens collected were identified, but only A. darlingi was dissected for the parous study. The results showed that human-landing colleted a total of 985 anophelines, with A. darlingi (972) being the most abundant species. Female mosquitoes were more abundant at extra-domestic environments in two of the locations studied (São João e Candeias do Jamari) (P < 0.05). The parous rate was 96% and no periodicity was observed for captures of females of A. darlingi in the field sites.

Periodicidade de captura de Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera: Culicidae) em Porto Velho, RO / Periodicity of capture of the Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera: Culicidae) in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil

Anopheles darlingi Root é o principal vetor de malária na Amazônia brasileira. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a periodicidade de captura, a preferência por peri ou extradomicílio e a taxa de paridade de A. darlingi em quatro localidades em Porto Velho, RO, utilizando a atração humana. Todos os anofelinos capturados foram identificados e A. darlingi foi dissecada para caracterização da paridade. Do total de 985 anofelinos coletados, 972 eram A. darlingi. O número de fêmeas foi significativamente maior no extradomicílio em duas das localidades estudadas (São João e Candeias do Jamari) (P < 0,05). A taxa de paridade foi de 96 por cento e não foi observado horário preferencial para captura de fêmeas de A. darlingi nas localidades estudadas.

Anopheles darlingi Root is the principal malaria vector in Amazonia region. The objectives of this work were to study the periodicity of Anopheles darlingi Root, the host preference for peri or extra-domestic environments and the parous rate in four field sites in Porto Velho (RO) by human-landing. All of the Anopheles specimens collected were identified, but only A. darlingi was dissected for the parous study. The results showed that human-landing colleted a total of 985 anophelines, with A. darlingi (972) being the most abundant species. Female mosquitoes were more abundant at extra-domestic environments in two of the locations studied (São João e Candeias do Jamari) (P < 0.05). The parous rate was 96 percent and no periodicity was observed for captures of females of A. darlingi in the field sites.