Environmental education for sustainable management of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Parapanema IV / Educação ambiental para a gestão sustentável das bacias hidrográficas dos rios Pirapó, Paranapanema III e Parapanema IV

The growing concern about the quantity and quality of water has led managers and researchers from various countries to concentrate efforts in the study, planning and management of watersheds, considered appropriate units for the rational and sustainable management of water resources. This experience report presents results of the Program for Communication, Environmental Education and Social Mobilization, which is part of the project “Monitoring Network of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Paranapanema IV – analysis and monitoring of the hydrological behavior”, developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students of the State University of Maringá (Paraná, Brazil). The goals of the program were: a) To develop continuing education for teachers of basic education, active in state schools located in the basins studied; b) To raise awareness and to promote training of various local social actors; c) To produce educational and promotional materials for teachers and general community, respectively. The methodology was the action research, on the basis of collaborative work between university researchers and participants of the program. The results evidence that teachers and representatives of different social groups had a limited view of issues related to water resources of their region. Courses, workshops and itinerant exhibitions, beyond teaching aids and promotional material prepared by the group of researchers and graduate students contributed to broaden the view of social actors about watersheds to which they are part, from the perspective of an active, critical and responsible participation focused on sustainable use and management of water resources.

Resumo A crescente preocupação em relação à quantidade e qualidade da água tem levado gestores e pesquisadores das várias nações a concentrarem esforços no estudo, planejamento e gerenciamento das bacias hidrográficas, consideradas como unidades territoriais adequadas para a gestão racional e sustentável dos recursos hídricos. O presente relato de experiência traz resultados do Programa de Comunicação, Educação Ambiental e Mobilização Social, que faz parte do projeto “Rede de Monitoramento das Bacias dos rios Pirapó, Paranapanema III e Paranapanema IV – Análise e Monitoramento do Comportamento Hidrológico”, desenvolvido por um grupo multidisciplinar de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Paraná – Brasil). Os objetivos do programa foram: a) Desenvolver a formação continuada de professores do ensino básico, atuantes nas escolas estaduais localizadas nas bacias em estudo; b) Promover a sensibilização e a capacitação dos diferentes atores sociais locais; c) Produzir material didático e de divulgação para, respectivamente, professores e comunidade em geral. A metodologia de trabalho foi a pesquisa ação, com base no trabalho colaborativo entre os pesquisadores da universidade e participantes representativos do programa. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que professores e representantes de diferentes segmentos sociais tinham uma visão limitada das questões relacionadas aos recursos hídricos de sua região. Os cursos, oficinas e mostras itinerantes realizadas, além do material de apoio didático e de divulgação elaborados pelo grupo de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos contribuíram para que os vários atores sociais pudessem ampliar sua visão sobre as bacias hidrográficas das quais fazem parte, na perspectiva de uma participação ativa, crítica e responsável voltada ao uso e gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos.

Environmental education for sustainable management of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Parapanema IV / Educação ambiental para a gestão sustentável das bacias hidrográficas dos rios Pirapó, Paranapanema III e Parapanema IV

The growing concern about the quantity and quality of water has led managers and researchers from various countries to concentrate efforts in the study, planning and management of watersheds, considered appropriate units for the rational and sustainable management of water resources. This experience report presents results of the Program for Communication, Environmental Education and Social Mobilization, which is part of the project “Monitoring Network of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Paranapanema IV analysis and monitoring of the hydrological behavior”, developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students of the State University of Maringá (Paraná, Brazil). The goals of the program were: a) To develop continuing education for teachers of basic education, active in state schools located in the basins studied; b) To raise awareness and to promote training of various local social actors; c) To produce educational and promotional materials for teachers and general community, respectively. The methodology was the action research, on the basis of collaborative work between university researchers and participants of the program. The results evidence that teachers and representatives of different social groups had a limited view of issues related to water resources of their region. Courses, workshops and itinerant exhibitions, beyond teaching aids and promotional material prepared by the group of researchers and graduate students contributed to broaden the view of social actors about watersheds to which they are part, from the perspective of an active, critical and responsible participation focused on sustainable use and management of water resources.(AU)

A crescente preocupação em relação à quantidade e qualidade da água tem levado gestores e pesquisadores das várias nações a concentrarem esforços no estudo, planejamento e gerenciamento das bacias hidrográficas, consideradas como unidades territoriais adequadas para a gestão racional e sustentável dos recursos hídricos. O presente relato de experiência traz resultados do Programa de Comunicação, Educação Ambiental e Mobilização Social, que faz parte do projeto “Rede de Monitoramento das Bacias dos rios Pirapó, Paranapanema III e Paranapanema IV Análise e Monitoramento do Comportamento Hidrológico”, desenvolvido por um grupo multidisciplinar de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Paraná Brasil). Os objetivos do programa foram: a) Desenvolver a formação continuada de professores do ensino básico, atuantes nas escolas estaduais localizadas nas bacias em estudo; b) Promover a sensibilização e a capacitação dos diferentes atores sociais locais; c) Produzir material didático e de divulgação para, respectivamente, professores e comunidade em geral. A metodologia de trabalho foi a pesquisa ação, com base no trabalho colaborativo entre os pesquisadores da universidade e participantes representativos do programa. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que professores e representantes de diferentes segmentos sociais tinham uma visão limitada das questões relacionadas aos recursos hídricos de sua região. Os cursos, oficinas e mostras itinerantes realizadas, além do material de apoio didático e de divulgação elaborados pelo grupo de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos contribuíram para que os vários atores sociais pudessem ampliar sua visão sobre as bacias hidrográficas das quais fazem parte, na perspectiva de uma participação ativa, crítica e responsável voltada ao uso e gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos.(AU)

Environmental education for sustainable management of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Parapanema IV

The growing concern about the quantity and quality of water has led managers and researchers from various countries to concentrate efforts in the study, planning and management of watersheds, considered appropriate units for the rational and sustainable management of water resources. This experience report presents results of the Program for Communication, Environmental Education and Social Mobilization, which is part of the project Monitoring Network of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Paranapanema IV analysis and monitoring of the hydrological behavior, developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students of the State University of Maringá (Paraná, Brazil). The goals of the program were: a) To develop continuing education for teachers of basic education, active in state schools located in the basins studied; b) To raise awareness and to promote training of various local social actors; c) To produce educational and promotional materials for teachers and general community, respectively. The methodology was the action research, on the basis of collaborative work between university researchers and participants of the program. The results evidence that teachers and representatives of different social groups had a limited view of issues related to water resources of their region. Courses, workshops and itinerant exhibitions, beyond teaching aids and promotional material prepared by the group of researchers and graduate students contributed to broaden the view of social actors about watersheds to which they are part, from the perspective of an active, critical and responsible participation focused on sustainable use and management of water resources.

Resumo A crescente preocupação em relação à quantidade e qualidade da água tem levado gestores e pesquisadores das várias nações a concentrarem esforços no estudo, planejamento e gerenciamento das bacias hidrográficas, consideradas como unidades territoriais adequadas para a gestão racional e sustentável dos recursos hídricos. O presente relato de experiência traz resultados do Programa de Comunicação, Educação Ambiental e Mobilização Social, que faz parte do projeto Rede de Monitoramento das Bacias dos rios Pirapó, Paranapanema III e Paranapanema IV Análise e Monitoramento do Comportamento Hidrológico, desenvolvido por um grupo multidisciplinar de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Paraná Brasil). Os objetivos do programa foram: a) Desenvolver a formação continuada de professores do ensino básico, atuantes nas escolas estaduais localizadas nas bacias em estudo; b) Promover a sensibilização e a capacitação dos diferentes atores sociais locais; c) Produzir material didático e de divulgação para, respectivamente, professores e comunidade em geral. A metodologia de trabalho foi a pesquisa ação, com base no trabalho colaborativo entre os pesquisadores da universidade e participantes representativos do programa. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que professores e representantes de diferentes segmentos sociais tinham uma visão limitada das questões relacionadas aos recursos hídricos de sua região. Os cursos, oficinas e mostras itinerantes realizadas, além do material de apoio didático e de divulgação elaborados pelo grupo de pesquisadores e pós-graduandos contribuíram para que os vários atores sociais pudessem ampliar sua visão sobre as bacias hidrográficas das quais fazem parte, na perspectiva de uma participação ativa, crítica e responsável voltada ao uso e gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos.

Environmental education for sustainable management of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Parapanema IV.

The growing concern about the quantity and quality of water has led managers and researchers from various countries to concentrate efforts in the study, planning and management of watersheds, considered appropriate units for the rational and sustainable management of water resources. This experience report presents results of the Program for Communication, Environmental Education and Social Mobilization, which is part of the project "Monitoring Network of the basins of the rivers Pirapó, Paranapanema III and Paranapanema IV - analysis and monitoring of the hydrological behavior", developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and graduate students of the State University of Maringá (Paraná, Brazil). The goals of the program were: a) To develop continuing education for teachers of basic education, active in state schools located in the basins studied; b) To raise awareness and to promote training of various local social actors; c) To produce educational and promotional materials for teachers and general community, respectively. The methodology was the action research, on the basis of collaborative work between university researchers and participants of the program. The results evidence that teachers and representatives of different social groups had a limited view of issues related to water resources of their region. Courses, workshops and itinerant exhibitions, beyond teaching aids and promotional material prepared by the group of researchers and graduate students contributed to broaden the view of social actors about watersheds to which they are part, from the perspective of an active, critical and responsible participation focused on sustainable use and management of water resources.

Trypanosoma cruzi: genetic structure of populations and relevance of genetic variability to the pathogenesis of chagas disease.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, has a variable clinical course, ranging from symptomless infection to severe chronic disease with cardiovascular or gastrointestinal involvement or, occasionally, overwhelming acute episodes. The factors influencing this clinical variability have not been elucidated, but it is likely that the genetic variability of both the host and the parasite are of importance. In this work we review the the genetic structure of T. cruzi populations and analyze the importance of genetic variation of the parasite in the pathogenesis of the disease under the light of the histotropic-clonal model.

Trypanosoma cruzi: genetic structure of populations and relevance of genetic variability to the pathogenesis of chagas disease

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, has a variable clinical course, ranging from symptomless infection to severe chronic disease with cardiovascular or gastrointestinal involvement or, occasionally, overwhelming acute episodes. The factors influencing this clinical variability have not been elucidated, but it is likely that the genetic variability of both the host and the parasite are of importance. In this work we review the the genetic structure of T. cruzi populations and analyze the importance of genetic variation of the parasite in the pathogenesis of the disease under the light of the histotropic-clonal model.

Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides spp. fleas, Brazil.

In June 2000, suspected cases of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) occurred in Coronel Fabriciano Municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Pooled fleas collected near two fatal cases contained rickettsial DNA. The nucleotide sequence alignment of the 391-bp segment of the 17-kDa protein gene showed that the products were identical to each other and to the R. felis 17-kDa gene, confirming circulation of R. felis in Brazil.

Chagas disease: role of parasite genetic variation in pathogenesis.

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is characterised by a variable clinical course, from symptomless cases to severe chronic disease with cardiac and/or gastrointestinal involvement. This variability has been attributed both to differences in the host response and to genomic heterogeneity of the parasite. This article reviews the evidence in favour of an important role of the genetic constitution of T. cruzi in determining the clinical characteristics of Chagas disease and discusses the basis of the 'Clonal-Histotropic Model' for the pathogenesis of this disease.

Usefulness of microsatellite typing in population genetic studies of Trypanosoma cruzi

Through microsatellite analysis of 53 monoclonal populations of Trypanosoma cruzi, we found a remarkable degree of genetic polymorphism with no single multilocus genotype being observed more than once. The microsatellite profile proved to be stable during 70 generations of the CL Brener clone in culture. The microsatellite profiling presented also high diagnostic sensitivity since DNA amplifications could be achieved with less than 100 fg DNA, corresponding to half parasite total DNA content. Based on these technical attributes the microsatellite assay turns out to be an important tool for direct typing T. cruzi in biological samples. By using this approach we were able to type T. cruzi in feces of artificially infected bugs and in single cells sorted by FACS. The microsatellites have shown to be excellent markers for T. cruzi phylogenetic reconstruction. We used maximum parsimony based on the minimum number of mutational steps to build an unrooted Wagner network, which confirms previous conclusions based on the analysis of the D7 domain of the LSU rDNA gene that T. cruzi is composed by two major groups. We also obtained evidence that strains belonging to rRNA group 2 are subdivided into two genetically distant clusters, and that one of these clusters is more related to rRNA group 1/2. These results suggest different origins for these strains

The population structure of Trypanosoma cruzi: expanded analysis of 54 strains using eight polymorphic CA-repeat microsatellites

Recently we cloned and sequenced the first eight Trypanosoma cruzi polymorphic microsatellite loci and studied 31 clones and strains to obtain valuable information about the population structure of the parasite. We have now studied 23 further strains, increasing from 11 to 31 the number of strains obtained from patients with chronic Chagas disease. This expanded set of 54 strains and clones analyzed with the eight microsatellites markers confirmed the previously observed diploidy, clonal population organization and very high polymorphism of T. cruzi. Moreover, this new study disclosed two new features of the population genetic structure of T. cruzi. The first was the discovery that, similarly to what we had previously shown for strains isolated from insect vectors, mammals and humans with acute disease, isolates from patients in the chronic phase of Chagas disease could also be multiclonal, albeit at a reduced proportion. Second, when we used parsimony to display the genetic relationship among the clonal lineages in an unrooted Wagner network we observed, like before, a good correlation of the tree topography with the classification in three clusters on the basis of single locus analysis of the ribosomal RNA genes. However, a significant new finding was that now the strains belonging to cluster 2 split in two distant sub-clusters. This observation suggests that the evolutionary history of T. cruzi may be more complex than we previously thought.

Biological parameters and molecular markers of clone CL brener - the reference organism of the Trypanosoma cruzi genome project

Clone CL Brener is the reference organism used in the Trypanosma cruzi Genome Project. Some biological paramenters of CL Brener were determined: (a) the doubling time of epimastigote forms cultured in liver infusion-tryptose (LIT) medium at 28ºC is 58ñ13 hr; (b) differentiation of epimastigotes to metacyclic trypomastigotes is obtained by incubation in LIT-20 per cent Grace's medium; (c) trypomastigotes infect mammalian cultured cells and perform the complete intracellular cycle at 33 and 37ºC; (c) blood forms are highly infective to mice; (e) blood forms are susceptible to nifurtimox and benznidazole. The molecular typing of CL Brener has been determined: (a) isoenzymatic profiles are characteristic of zymodeme ZB; (b) PCR amplification of a 24 alpha ribosomal RNA sequence indicates it belongs to T. cruzi lineage 1; (c) schizodeme, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and DNA fingerprinting analyses were performed.