Human migration and the spread of malaria parasites to the New World

We examined the mitogenomes of a large global collection of human malaria parasites to explore how and when Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax entered the Americas. We found evidence of a significant contribution of African and South Asian lineages to present-day New World malaria parasites with additional P. vivax lineages appearing to originate from Melanesia that were putatively carried by the Australasian peoples who contributed genes to Native Americans. Importantly, mitochondrial lineages of the P. vivax-like species P. simium are shared by platyrrhine monkeys and humans in the Atlantic Forest ecosystem, but not across the Amazon, which most likely resulted from one or a few recent human-to-monkey transfers. While enslaved Africans were likely the main carriers of P.falciparum mitochondrial lineages into the Americas after the conquest, additional parasites carried by Australasian peoples in pre-Columbian times may have contributed to the extensive diversity of extant local populations of P. vivax...

Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular - LBBM

O Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular (LBBM) se aproxima hoje de um espaço de ciência, de prática e aplicação do conhecimento genético, evolutivo, ecológico, parasitológico, com alto poder de resolução de questões aplicadas à vigilância epidemiológica de doenças. As atividades do LBBM não podem ser resumidas ao simples uso da biologia molecular, como uma técnica ou um instrumento, como por exemplo, um microscópio...

Natural infection in anopheline species and its implications for autochthonous malaria in the Atlantic forest in Brazil

A descriptive study was carried out in an area of the Atlantic Forest with autochthonous malaria inthe Parelheiros subdistrict on the periphery of the municipality of São Paulo to identify anopheline fauna andanophelines naturally infected with Plasmodium as well as to discuss their role in this peculiar epidemiologicalcontext.Methods: Entomological captures were made from May 2009 to April 2011 using Shannon traps and automaticCDC traps in four areas chosen for their different patterns of human presence and incidences of malaria (anthropiczone 1, anthropic zone 2, transition zone and sylvatic zone). Natural Plasmodium infection was detected by nestedPCR based on amplification of the 18S rRNA gene.Results: In total, 6,073 anophelines were collected from May 2009 to April 2011, and six species were identified inthe four zones. Anopheles cruzii was the predominant species in the three environments but was more abundant inthe sylvatic zone...

Mosquitoes in degraded and preserved areas of the Atlantic Forest and potential for vector-borne disease risk in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil

In order to assess the epidemiological potential of the Culicidae species in remaining areas of the Brazilian AtlanticForest, specimens of this family were collected in wild and anthropic environments. A total of 9,403 adult mosquitoes was collected from May, 2009 to June, 2010. The most prevalent among species collected in the wild environment were Anopheles(Kerteszia) cruzii, the Melanoconion section of Culex (Melanoconion), and Aedes serratus, while the most common in theanthropic site were Coquillettidia chrysonotum/albifera, Culex (Culex) Coronator group, and An. (Ker.) cruzii. Mosquito richnesswas similar between environments, although the abundance of individuals from different species varied. When comparing diversity patterns between environments, anthropic sites exhibited higher richness and evenness, suggesting that environmental stress increased the number of favorable niches for culicids, promoting diversity. Increased abundance of opportunistic species in the anthropic environment enhances contact with culicids that transmit vector-borne diseases...

Effects of Artificial Flooding for Hydroelectric Development on the Population of Mansonia humeralis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Paraná River, São Paulo, Brazil

The closure of two phases of the dam at the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Plant on the Paraná River flooded a flawed system located in the Municipality of Presidente Epitácio, São Paulo state, favoring the proliferation of aquatic weeds. This study aimedto observe the population of Mansonia humeralis in the area, monitoring the richness, diversity, and dominance of this species both before and during different phases of reservoir flooding as well as evaluate its possible consequences concerning human and animal contact. Adult mosquitoes were collected monthly in the following periods: at the original level, after the first flood, and after the maximum level had been reached between 1997 and 2002. Collection methods used were an aspirator, a Shannontrap, and the Human Attractive Technique. A total of 30,723 mosquitoes were collected, Ma. humeralis accounting for 3.1% in the preflood phase, 59.6% in the intermediate, and 53.8% at maximum level. This species is relevant to public health, since the prospect of continued contact between Ma. humeralis and the human population enhances the dam’s importance in the production of nuisance mosquitoes, possibly facilitating the transmission of arboviruses. Local authorities should continue to monitor culicidactivity through sustainable entomological surveillance...

Detection of etiological agents of malaria in howler monkeys from Atlantic Forests, rescued in regions of São Paulo city, Brazil

In some states of the Brazilian extra-Amazonian region, such as the Atlantic Forest area, autochthonous human cases of malaria were related to simian malarias and vice versa. METHODS:To verify the presence of Plasmodium, 50 blood samples of howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) rescued from the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo city, where the Atlantic Forest is present, were analyzed. The samples were submitted to microscopy (thin and thick blood smears), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)...

Levantamento e propostas de ação para as principais zoonoses dos parques estaduais ALBERTO LÖFGREN e da CANTAREIRA

Realizou-se um levantamento das principais zoonoses de ocorrência nas áreas do Parque EstadualAlberto Löfgren - PEAL, Parque Estadual da Cantareira - PEC e entorno. Foram efetuados a suacaracterização, o diagnóstico situacional dos vetores e os respectivos hospedeiros. Os estudos revelaram queas principais zoonoses de importância para a região são Dengue, Doença de Chagas, Esquistossomose, FebreAmarela, Febre Maculosa, Leishmanioses, Leptospirose, Malária e Raiva. Os dados encontrados foramgeorreferenciados. Recomendações de monitoramento, vigilância e ações de prevenção e promoção da saúdesão apresentadas...