Diversity analysis and an updated list of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) found in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil.

Cantareira State Park (CSP) is located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Recently, a yellow-fever epidemic practically annihilated the howler monkey population in this park, and human infections were reported in the vicinity. As simian and human plasmodia also circulate in CSP, the present study sought to provide an update on the mosquito fauna in this park, including an analysis of the diversity in areas with different degrees of conservation and a comparison of the yields achieved with different collection techniques. From October 2015 to April 2017, adult mosquitoes were collected with CDC traps, hand-held battery-powered aspirators and Shannon traps, and larvae and pupae were collected with larval dippers and suction samplers in natural and artificial breeding sites. In total, 11,038 specimens distributed in 103 taxa represented by 16 genera were collected. Both the observed species richness and diversity were greater in the environments with the highest degree of preservation. The 'wild' (most preserved) area in CSP had the greatest species richness, followed by the transition area and human-impacted area. The estimated richness indicated that the three environments may have a greater number of species than observed in this study, and Sorensen's index showed that the average degree of similarity varies little between areas. In the inventory of local species, the Shannon trap was the most efficient collection technique for adult mosquitoes, and the suction sampler the most efficient for immatures. The results highlight the increase in the number of different taxa collected as different mosquito capture techniques were included, confirming the importance of using several strategies to sample the local mosquito fauna satisfactorily when exploring a greater number of ecotopes. CSP is a refuge and shelter for native and introduced mosquito species where new biocenoses including pathogens, vertebrate hosts and vectors can form, allowing zoonotic outbreaks in the local human population to occur.

Epidemiology of capybara-associated Brazilian spotted fever.

BACKGROUND: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, has been associated with the transmission by the tick Amblyomma sculptum, and one of its main hosts, the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). METHODS: During 2015-2019, we captured capybaras and ticks in seven highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state (three endemic and four nonendemic for BSF) and in two natural areas of the Pantanal biome, all with established populations of capybaras. RESULTS: The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by much higher tick burdens on both capybaras and in the environment, when compared to the BSF-nonendemic areas. Only two tick species (A. sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum) were found in the anthropic areas; however, with a great predominance of A. sculptum (≈90% of all ticks) in the endemic areas, in contrast to a slight predominance of A. dubitatum (≈60%) in the nonendemic areas. Tick species richness was higher in the natural areas, where six species were found, albeit with a predominance of A. sculptum (≈95% of all ticks) and environmental tick burdens much lower than in the anthropic areas. The BSF-endemic areas were characterized by overgrowth populations of A. sculptum that were sustained chiefly by capybaras, and decreased populations of A. dubitatum. In contrast, the BSF-nonendemic areas with landscape similar to the endemic areas differed by having lower tick burdens and a slight predominance of A. dubitatum over A.sculptum, both sustained chiefly by capybaras. While multiple medium- to large-sized mammals have been incriminated as important hosts for A. sculptum in the natural areas, the capybara was the only important host for this tick in the anthropic areas. CONCLUSIONS: The uneven distribution of R. rickettsii infection among A. sculptum populations in highly anthropic areas of São Paulo state could be related to the tick population size and its proportion to sympatric A. dubitatum populations.

Dieta, comportamento e densidade populacional do cuxiú-preto, Chiropotes satanás satanás (Primates: Pitheciinae) na paisagem fragmentada do oeste do Maranhão

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi alvaliar os efeitos da fragmentação de hábitat sobre populações de cuxiú-preto (Chropotes satanas satanas) no oeste do Estado do Maranhão, limite meridional de sua distribuição geográfica, contribuindo assim para a formulação de diretrizes para a sua conservação. Foram coletados dados a respeito da abundância, comportamento e dieta dos cuxiús em fragmentos florestais de diferentes dimensões: dezenas, centenas e milhares de hectares. Para a realização dos levantamentos sobre a da densidade populacional de cuxiús e demais mamíferos diurnos utilizou-se o método de transecção linear. O fragmento de menor dimensão, devido a facilidade de acesso e encontro freqüente com os animais, foi escolhido para a coleta dos dados comportamentais. Esta foi realizada pela técnica de varredura com intervalo de cinco minutos entre cada amostragem. Os resultados dos levantamentos populacionais evidenciaram a presença de grupos de cuxiús em todos os fragmentos amostrados, com uma forte correlação negativa entre a abundância e o tamanho do fragmento. A taxa de avistamento registrada no fragmento menor - 3,2 encontro a cada 10 km percorridos - foi a mais alta já registrada para o gênero. Os cuxiús demonstraram uma preferência significativa por vegetação primária, e uma tendência forte para o uso dos estrados médios da floresta. A lomoção foi o comportamento predominante com 58,5 por cento dos registros, embora a alimentação tenha constituído 19,8 por cento do tempo de atividade (AU)