Ectoparasites and endoparasites of fish form networks with different structures.

Hosts and parasites interact with each other in a variety of ways, and this diversity of interactions is reflected in the networks they form. To test for differences in interaction patterns of ecto- and endoparasites we analysed subnetworks formed by each kind of parasites and their host fish species in fish-parasite networks for 22 localities. We assessed the proportion of parasite species per host species, the relationship between parasite fauna composition and host taxonomy, connectance, nestedness and modularity of each subnetwork (n = 44). Furthermore, we evaluated the similarity in host species composition among modules in ecto- and endoparasite subnetworks. We found several differences between subnetworks of fish ecto- and endoparasites. The association with a higher number of host species observed among endoparasites resulted in higher connectance and nestedness, and lower values of modularity in their subnetworks than in those of ectoparasites. Taxonomically related host species tended to share ecto- or endoparasites with the same interaction intensity, but the species composition of hosts tended to differ between modules formed by ecto- and endoparasites. Our results suggest that different evolutionary and ecological processes are responsible for organizing the networks formed by ecto- and endoparasites and fish.

Behavioral aspects of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in urban area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis.

The study of some of the behavioral aspects of the main vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi Cunha & Chagas in the Americas, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), such as dispersion, population size, and vector survival rates, is important for the elucidation of the mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis transmission. These parameters were studied by means of capture-mark-release-recapture experiments in an urban area of Campo Grande municipality, an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, situated in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Six capture-mark-release-recapture experiments were undertaken between November 2009 and November 2010 and once in January 2012 with a view to assessing the population size and survival rate of Lu. longipalpis. The insects were released in a peridomicile surrounded by 13 residences. The recaptures were undertaken with automatic light traps for four consecutive weeks after release in the surrounding area. In total, 3,354 sand flies were captured, marked, and released. The overall recapture rate during the capture-mark-release-recapture experiments was 4.23%, of which 92.45% were recaptured at the release site, indicating limited dispersal. The greatest distance recorded from the release site was 165 m for males and 241 m for females. The male daily survival rate, calculated on the basis of regressions from the numbers of marked recaptured insects during the 15 successive days after release was 0.897. The estimated male population size measured by the Lincoln Index was 10,947.127. Though Lu. longipalpis presented a limited dispersion the physical barriers typical of urban environments did not prevent the sand flies from flying long distances.

Conventional caries removal and sealed caries in permanent teeth: a microbiological evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare microbiological infection after conventional carious dentine removal with incomplete carious dentine removal and sealing. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients (12-50 years of age) under treatment at the Dental Clinics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, participated in the study. The patients presented 90 posterior permanent teeth with primary caries. The lesions were coronal, active, and reached at least the middle third of the dentine. None of the teeth exhibited spontaneous pain, sensitivity to percussion or apical pathology (detected through radiographic exams). Pulp sensibility was confirmed by the cold test. The lesions were divided into 2 experimental groups: complete caries removal (CCR) based on hardness criteria (n=60 lesions) and incomplete caries removal (ICR) and sealing (n=32 lesions). Microbiological samples were obtained from the initial demineralized dentine, after CCR and after ICR-Seal. RESULTS: The number of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, and mutans streptococci decreased at the end of treatment (p<0.05). Significantly less anaerobic bacteria (p<0.01), aerobic bacteria (p=0.02), and mutans streptococci (p<0.01) growth was observed after ICR-Seal compared to CCR. The difference in lactobacilli was insignificant (p=0.08). The amount of bacteria detected after conventional caries removal was higher than that which remained in sealed caries lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest it is not necessary to remove all carious dentine before the restoration is placed because over time, sealing of carious dentine results in lower levels of infection than traditional dentine caries removal. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study indicate that sealed carious dentine was less infected than the remaining dentine left after conventional caries removal and sealing. Our results support treatment of deep carious lesions in one session with incomplete removal of carious dentine.

[Physical examination in children: a nurse's guide]. / Exame físico na criança: um guia para o enfermeiro.

The physical exam is constituted inside in an important stage of the evaluation process to the child, through which the nurse enriches the information obtained during the interview and it bases the nursing care. At the present time, by means of the nurses growing interest in applying the nursing process in whole its stages, the physical exam has been occupying prominence place, for allowing the nurses to know the its customers' needs, in what says respect to its physical and physiologic aspects, allowing the identification of the nursing diagnoses, besides serving as resource for evaluation effective of the nursing interventions. This study, of bibliographical character, objectified to elaborate a guide for accomplishment of the physical exam in the child, to be used by nurses, during the evaluation process to the child. In him we presented the physical exam in a systematic way, using the sequence cephalic-flow, presenting the possible normal and abnormal discoveries to the we examine the child.

Isolation of Pseudomonas cepacia in cystic fibrosis patient.

Pulmonary infection on cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are associated with a limited qualitative number of microorganisms. During the colonization process, Staphylococcus aureus usually precedes Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This latter is at first non-mucoid, being replaced or associated to a mucoid morphotype which is rare in other diseases. In 1980, Pseudomonas cepacia appeared as an important agent in CF pulmonary infections with a mean frequency of about 6.1% isolations in different parts of the world. The primus colonization mainly occurs in the presence of pre-existent tissue lesions and the clinical progress of the disease is variable. In some patients it can be fulminant; in others it can cause a gradual and slow decrease in their pulmonary functions. The concern with this germ isolation is justified by its antibiotic multiple resistance and the possibility of direct transmission from a colonized patient to a non-colonized one. We reported the first case of P. cepacia infection in a CF patient in our area. The microbiological attendance to this patient had been made from 1986 to 1991 and the first positive culture appeared in 1988. The sensitivity profile showed that the primus colonization strain was sensitive to 9 of 17 tested antibiotics, however in the last culture the strain was resistant to all antibiotics. These data corroborate the need for monitoring the bacterial flora on CF patients respiratory system.