Are birds more afraid in urban parks or cemeteries? A Latin American study contrasts with results from Europe.

The escape behaviour, measured as flight initiation distance (FID; the distance at which individuals take flight when approached by a potential predator, usually a human in the study systems), is a measure widely used to study fearfulness and risk-taking in animals. Previous studies have shown significant differences in the escape behaviour of birds inhabiting cemeteries and urban parks in European cities, where birds seem to be shyer in the latter. We collected a regional dataset of the FID of birds inhabiting cemeteries and parks across Latin America in peri-urban, suburban and urban parks and cemeteries. FIDs were recorded for eighty-one bird species. Mean species-specific FIDs ranged from 1.9 to 19.7 m for species with at least two observations (fifty-seven species). Using Bayesian regression modelling and controlling for the phylogenetic relatedness of the FID among bird species and city and country, we found that, in contrast to a recent publication from Europe, birds escape earlier in cemeteries than parks in the studied Latin American cities. FIDs were also significantly shorter in urban areas than in peri-urban areas and in areas with higher human density. Our results indicate that some idiosyncratic patterns in animal fearfulness towards humans may emerge among different geographic regions, highlighting difficulties with scaling up and application of regional findings to other ecosystems and world regions. Such differences could be associated with intrinsic differences between the pool of bird species from temperate European and mostly tropical Latin American cities, characterized by different evolutionary histories, but also with differences in the historical process of urbanization.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase através de exame de contato no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ / Epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with leprosy by contact exam in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Realizou-se esse estudo para obter informações pontuais visando estabelecer e valorizar medidas de controle da cadeia epidemiológica da doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a prevalência de pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase por exame de contato assim como o seu perfil epidemiológico. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal composto por 82 pacientes diagnosticados por exame de contato entre 2006 e 2010, a partir da análise das fichas de notificação do SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) disponíveis no Programa Municipal de Controle da Hanseníase. Foi determinada a prevalência deste modo de detecção em relação ao número total de casos e as variáveis analisadas foram: sexo, idade, formas clínicas e classificação operacional. RESULTADOS: Constatou-se prevalência de 16% de pacientes detectados por exame de contato do total de 564 casos notificados. Observou-se que 51% eram do sexo feminino. A faixa etária mais acometida englobou crianças até 15 anos, correspondendo a 25% (21 casos). A classificação operacional paucibacilar foi a mais prevalente com 75% do total, sendo a forma tuberculoide presente em 50% dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se a importância do exame de contato para interromper a cadeia epidemiológica da doença, diagnosticando precocemente sinais e sintomas e instituindo o tratamento adequado, para que possam evitar as formas graves da doença, incluindo suas incapacidades.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to obtain specific information to establish and enhance measures to control disease epidemiological chair. The objective of this study were investigated the prevalence of patients diagnosed with leprosy by examination of contact as well as the epidemiological profile of them. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study comprising 82 patients diagnosed by examination of contact between 2006 and 2010, from the analysis of reporting forms SINAN (Information System for Notifiable Diseases) available in the Municipal Program for the Control of Leprosy. We determined the prevalence of this mode of detection in the total number of cases and the variables analyzed were gender, age, clinical forms and clinical classification. RESULTS: We found prevalence of 16% of patients detected by contact exam of the total 564 cases reported. It was observed that 51% were female. The most affected age group comprised children less than 15 years, corresponding to 25% (21 cases). The operational classification paucibacillary was most prevalent with 75% of the total, with the tuberculoid form present in 50% of cases. CONCLUSION: It may be noted the importance of this contact to stop the epidemiology of the disease, diagnosing early signsand symptoms and instituting proper treatment so they can prevent serious disease, including their disabilities the total number of cases and the variables analyzed were gender, age, clinical forms and clinical classification.