Diagnostic efficacy of indirect haemagglutination assay for detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) for detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in Dongting Lake region, so as to provide insights into improving the schistosomiasis surveillance program among boatmen and fishermen.@*METHODS@#The boatmen and fishermen were detected for S. japonicum infections using IHA and Kato-Katz technique or miracidium hatching test nylon gauze simultaneously at schistosomiasis testing sites in the anchor sites for boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region during the period from 2014 to 2016, and using IHA for serological screening followed by parasitological testing of seropositives during the period from 2017 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were evaluated for detection of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen, with the 2014-2016 parasitological testing results as a gold standard. In addition, the seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections was compared among boatmen and fishermen with different characteristics and among years.@*RESULTS@#A total of 306 schistosomiasis testing sites were assigned for boatmen and fishermen, and a total of 143 360 person-time boatmen and fishermen were tested for S. japonicum infections in the Dongting Lake region from 2014 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were 69.9%, 97.3% and 96.1% (χ2 = 74.6, P < 0.05), and 70.9%, 74.5% and 71.9% for detection of S. japonicum infections from 2014 to 2016 (χ2 = 29.4, P < 0.05), respectively. The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 30.3% in 2014 to 1.8% in 2019 among boatmen and fishermen, appearing an overall tendency towards a decline (Z = 1 552.4, P < 0.05). In addition, male, individuals at ages of 45 to 60 years, full-time boatmen and fishermen were more likely to be seropositive for S. japonicum infections (all P values < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections appeared a tendency towards a decline among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region year by year from 2014 to 2019. IHA presented a high efficacy for screening of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region.

Development and application of communication materials for participatory health education of schistosomiasis in fishermen and boatmen of Poyang Lake region / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To design and develop new types of health education materials which are suitable for fishermen and boatmen in endemic areas of marshland and lake regions,and to observe their application effects. Methods A total of 292 adult fishmen and boatmen who lived in Houshan Village,Yugan County,the schistosomiasis endemic area of Poyang Lake Re?gion,were selected randomly and investigated by questionnaires to understand the status of their knowledge,attitudes,practic?es on schistosomiasis control as well as the channels for getting information on schistosomiasis control and the materials that they were willing to accept. Then the information and materials suitable for the target population were developed together by the re?searchers and the volunteers of the villagers through focus group discussions,personal interviews and the Delphi method. Re?sults A series of participatory health education materials of schistosomiasis control targeted to the fishmen and boatmen were developed,including 2 live posters,2 picture puzzles,2 short opusculums and one song about schistosomiasis control. The field application showed that 98.97%,84.38%,78.35% and 80.93% of the participants considered those materials had scientificity, intelligibility,interestingness and practicability,respectively. Conclusion The participatory health education materials of schistosomiasis control is suitable for fishmen and boatmen,which can be used for reference by other endemic areas in marsh?land and lake regions.

The "Fisherman`s Waders" Sign on Bone Scan: A Case Report.

Fisherman`s Waders sign is caused by several medical conditions including venous thrombosis, portal hypertension and lymphoma. It is characterized by increased uptake of radiotracer in soft tissues below the mid-thorax level with normal tracer clearance above that level in bone scan. This case reports the Fisherman`s Waders sign in a patient with lymphoma complicated by Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) obstruction by the aid of CT scan and bone scan. Also, literature review of this rare sign is performed in this report. This sign can be found incidentally on bone scan and high level of awareness by the nuclear medicine physicians may alert the treating team for the underlying diagnosis.

Health of subsistence fishermen and challenges for Occupational Health Surveillance / Saúde dos pescadores artesanais e desafios para a Vigilância em Saúde do Trabalhador

There are approximately a million subsistence fishermen in Brazil whose activities expose them to severe occupational hazards without adequate health protection. This article conducts an analysis of working conditions and health risks faced by subsistence fishermen and outlines challenges to the implementation of Occupational Health Surveillance (VISAT) actions. The methodology is based on qualitative analysis of risks and working conditions through observation and interviews, and diagnosis of occupational illnesses with clinical evaluation. Mobile teams conducted eight years of activities together with fishing communities throughout the state of Bahia. The results revealed the challenge of surveying a traditional self-employed category with relative management autonomy. Fishermen face precarious living conditions without access to occupational health services. They are exposed to thirty work-related illnesses without protection, diagnosis, treatment and social security coverage. The conclusion reached is that there is a need for intersectorial VISAT action to reduce excessive working hours, organization of the Unified Health System (SUS) for acknowledgement of occupational illnesses and guaranteeing social security rights through actions focused on health education.

Os pescadores artesanais compõem aproximadamente um milhão de pessoas no país, exercem atividades expostos a graves riscos ocupacionais e convivem sem proteção à saúde. Este artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar análise das condições de trabalho e riscos à saúde dos trabalhadores da pesca artesanal e indicar desafios para implementar ações da VISAT. A metodologia se fundamenta na análise qualitativa dos riscos e condições de trabalho, por meio de observações, entrevistas, diagnóstico de doenças do trabalho com avaliação clínica, e deslocamento de equipes itinerantes em oito anos de atividades junto às comunidades de pescadores da Bahia. Os resultados evidenciam desafio da atuação em uma categoria não assalariada e tradicional, com relativa autonomia da gestão, que permanece em precárias condições de vida e sem acesso aos serviços de saúde do trabalhador. Essa comunidade expõe-se sem proteção, diagnóstico, tratamento e reconhecimento previdenciário, a trinta doenças relacionadas ao trabalho. Essa análise é concluída indicando a necessidade de ações intersetoriais da VISAT, na perspectiva de redução da excessiva jornada de trabalho e organização do SUS, para reconhecimento das doenças do trabalho e garantia dos direitos previdenciários por meio de ações centradas na educação em saúde.

Por um diálogo de saberes entre pescadores artesanais, marisqueiras e o direito ambiental do trabalho / Towards a dialogue of knowledge between subsistence fishermen, shellfish gatherers and environmental labor law

O diálogo de saberes entre pescadores artesanais e marisqueiras sobre o direito a um meio ambiente de trabalho saudável se estabelece como um novo processo de reivindicação para as melhorias das condições de trabalho de populações afetadas por problemas ambientais em geral, e especialmente na Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS). As comunidades do entorno da BTS queixam-se ao Ministério Público Estadual dos efeitos danosos à saúde e ao ambiente das indústrias instaladas no Centro Industrial de Aratu e Porto de Aratu. Diversos pesquisadores das áreas de química, toxicologia, oceanografia, biologia e medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) vêm aprofundando estudos sobre os efeitos da contaminação da BTS em variadas publicações científicas. O objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre a contribuição desse diálogo na área do direito ambiental do trabalho (DAT) no Brasil. A metodologia deste estudo envolveu entrevistas semiestruturada, observação participante, análise documental. Conclui-se que legislação ambientalista/trabalhista do Brasil necessita incluir o diálogo de saberes para garantir o acesso a um meio ambiente de trabalho saudável para pescadores artesanais e marisqueiras.

The dialogue of knowledge between subsistence fishermen and shellfish gatherers on the right to a healthy working environment is established as a new process for claims for an improvement in working conditions by populations affected by environmental problems, and especially in Todos os Santos Bay (BTS). The communities surrounding the BTS have complained to the State Public Prosecutor about the harmful effects to health and the environment caused by the Aratu Industrial Complex and the Port of Aratu. Researchers in the fields of, chemistry, toxicology, oceanography, biology and medicine from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) have demonstrated the effects of contamination on the BTS in sundry scientific publications. The scope of this article is to reflect on the contribution of that dialogue on environmental labor law (DAT) in Brazil. The methodology of this study involved semi-structured interviews, participant observation and document analysis. The conclusion reached is that environmental labor law in Brazil must include the dialogue of knowledge to ensure access to a healthy working environment for subsistence fishermen and shellfish gatherers.

Por uma política para a saúde do trabalhador não assalariado: o caso dos pescadores artesanais e das marisqueiras / Approving a policy to promote self-employed workers' health: the case of the artisanal fishermen and shellfish pickers

O Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no Brasil não tem garantido o direito universal à saúde do trabalhador das categorias não assalariadas que não dispõem de proteção empregatícia ou suporte institucional típicos do mercado formal de trabalho. O presente estudo teve o objetivo de analisar os riscos e os agravos relacionados ao trabalho de pescadores e marisqueiras artesanais para contribuir com a construção de uma política de saúde do trabalhador não assalariado. Trata-se de um estudo de caso com metodologia qualitativa e abordagens etnográfica, ergonômica e de vigilância em saúde. O estudo foi realizado em comunidades de pescadores artesanais e marisqueiras, durante o período de 2005 a 2010. Os resultados evidenciaram: sobrecarga ergonômica condicionada por exposição a riscos variados; precárias condições de vida; invisibilidade dos acidentes e das doenças do trabalho, como lesões por esforço repetitivo; inexistência de ações de prevenção e de assistência à saúde; e a importância dos saberes tradicionais na organização do trabalho na pesca artesanal. O SUS e a Rede Nacional de Saúde do Trabalhador poderiam assegurar ações de vigilância em saúde do trabalhador, realização de exames médicos ocupacionais e melhoria do reconhecimento das doenças do trabalho, garantindo a inclusão do direito à saúde do trabalhador às categorias artesanais e não assalariadas.

The Brazilian public health system (SUS) has not been able to assure self-employed workers their universal right for health. These workers have neither the employment protection, nor the institutional support that is typical in the formal labor market. The present study aimed at analyzing the risks and health problems related to the artisanal fishermen's and shellfish pickers' work in order to contribute for the development of a workers' health policy toward the self-employed. It is a case study which adopts a qualitative methodology with ethnographic, ergonomic and health surveillance approaches. The study was conducted in artisanal fishing communities between 2005 and 2010. The results showed ergonomic overload caused by exposure to different risks; precarious living conditions; invisibility of accidents and occupational diseases, such as repetitive strain injuries; lack of actions concerning prevention and health care, and the relevance of traditional knowledge within the artisanal fisheries' labor organization. The Brazilian public health system and the National Occupational Health Network should provide both occupational health surveillance actions and occupational medical exams. These organizations should also contribute to increase awareness of occupational diseases, ensuring artisanal fishermen's and self-employed workers' right for health.

A pesca comercial na bacia do rio Madeira no estado de Rondônia, Amazônia brasileira / The Commercial fisheries of the Madeira river basin in the Rondônia state, brazilian Amazon

Este estudo caracteriza quali e quantitativamente a atividade pesqueira comercial na bacia do rio Madeira, afluente do rio Amazonas, no trecho entre Guajará-Mirim e Porto Velho, estado de Rondônia. No período de janeiro a dezembro/2004, foram registrados 460 t, correspondendo 935 viagens. A análise dos dados oriundos do monitoramento dos desembarques demonstrou que a pesca na região tem caráter artesanal de pequena escala, destacando a maior participação das canoas motorizadas (131 unidades) do que barcos pesqueiros (45 unidades; capacidade média: 3.000kg) na frota pesqueira. Os peixes migradores jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.), dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), sardinha (Triportheus spp.), jatuarana/matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus e B. cephalus), curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans) e filhote (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) se destacaram na composição das espécies desembarcadas. As informações técnicas geradas são importantes para subsidiar ações de ordenamento pesqueiro, bem como para avaliar futuras variações que possam ocorrer na atividade frente aos impactos dos empreendimentos hidrelétricos em construção na região.

This study presents qualitative and quantitative information about commercial fishery in the basin of the Madeira River, tributary of the Amazon River, describing the fishing activity in the segment between Guajará-Mirim and Porto Velho, in Rondônia State. From January to December/2004, 219 fishermen and 935 trips were registered, corresponding to the capture of 460 t of fish. Data from fish landings demonstrate that fisheries in the region are small-scaled and point to a higher participation of small motorized canoes (130 units) than of fishing boats (45 units; average capacity: 3000 kg) in the fishing fleet. Migratory species like jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.), dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), sardinha (Triportheus spp.), jatuarana/matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus e B. cephalus), curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans) and filhote (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) were the most important in terms of landings. The technical information produced are very important in order to subsidize fishery management, as well as to assess future variations that might happen due to the hydro-electric enterprises under construction in the region.

Conhecimento local sobre a importância de um reflorestamento ciliar para a conservação ambiental do Alto São Francisco, Minas Gerais / Local knowledge about the importance of the reforested gallery forest in the environmental conservation of the upper Rio São Francisco, Minas Gerais

O objetivo deste trabalho foi resgatar junto a um grupo de pescadores profissionais (N = 10) e ambientalistas (N = 10) na região do Alto São Francisco, no estado de Minas Gerais, o conhecimento empírico sobre a importância de um reflorestamento ciliar para a manutenção da integridade ambiental do rio São Francisco. Os grupos foram selecionados a partir de um contato inicial para a escolha dos membros participantes e, posteriormente, submetidos a questionários semi-estruturados com questões variadas sobre o tema abordado. As entrevistas ocorreram no período de outubro/2001 a fevereiro/2002. Embora revelassem perfis sociais distintos, especialmente no tocante à formação escolar e diferente motivação para o convívio com as matas ciliares da região, os dois grupos reconheceram a importância da vegetação ribeirinha, nativa e reflorestada, para a preservação da qualidade ambiental dos ecossistemas aquáticos da bacia hidrográfica do rio São Francisco. Tal percepção foi motivada pelo trabalho de conscientização ambientalista das ONGs locais junto aos diferentes segmentos sociais da população dos municípios envolvidos. Ao manterem um convívio permanente com as matas ciliares, os dois grupos demonstraram percepções que se sobrepuseram à literatura técnico-científica, revelando-se uma fonte rica de informações para o aprimoramento das estratégias de preservação e recuperação da vegetação ribeirinha da região.

The aim of this study was to recoup, together with professional fisherman (N = 10) and environmentalists (N = 10), empirical knowledge concerning the importance of the reforestation of the riparian zone in the upper Rio São Francisco region, in Minas Gerais state. Such reforestation is vital for maintaining the environmental integrity of the river. Working groups were selected based on an initial contact, made expressly in order to choose participating members. These members were submitted to semi-structured questionnaires with several questions regarding the importance of preserving riparian vegetation. Interviews were conducted from October/2001 to February/2002. Although interviews revealed distinct social profiles, especially with respect to level of formal education received by participants and their different reasons for coexisting with the gallery forest of the region, both groups recognized, equally, the importance of the riparian vegetation, both native and reforested, in preserving the environmental quality of the surrounding aquatic ecosystem. Such perception has been motivated by the work of local NGO's in raising environmental awareness in the different social segments of the municipalities population involved. By maintaining a permanent coexistence with the surrounding gallery forest, both groups displayed an ecological understanding which overlapped with current scientific knowledge, revealing a rich source of information from which to improve preservation and recuperation strategies of the region riparian vegetation.