Spatio-temporal study of diagnosis of rabies in vampire bats in Sergipe (Brazil), between 1987 and 2014 / Estudo espaço-temporal de diagnósticos da raiva em morcegos hematófagos em sergipe (brasil), entre 1987 e 2014

Rabies is a zoonosis of great importance for human and animal health, being responsible for a progressive and acute encephalitis in humans and animals. Considering that the correct viral identification has serious implications for the prophylaxis and treatment, is important a diagnostic system specifically designed for monitoring the infection cases. The objective of the study was to describe the occurrence of rabies in hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus) analyzing many diagnoses performed in the state of Sergipe. The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of rabies in hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus) from an analysis of the diagnoses performed in the state of Sergipe. An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted with the evaluation of 935 rabies diagnoses in bats (D. rotundus) between 1987 and 2014. It was noticed that only one case was positive in the city of Aracaju in the year 2000 and no positive bat was identified with the rabies virus in the rural area. The results show the need to increase the monitoring of rabies in other species of non-hematophagous bats, and especially in other wild reservoirs. It is suggested that the monitoring of rabies take into account the specific ecosystem of each region, since Brazil has continental dimensions and a great biological diversity.

Araiva é uma zoonose de grande importância para a saúde humana e animal, sendo responsável por uma encefalite progressiva e aguda em humanos e animais. Considerando que a correta identificação viral tem sérias implicações para a profilaxia e tratamento, é importante um sistema de diagnóstico especificamente projetado para monitorar os casos de infecção. O estudo teve como objetivo descrever a ocorrência da raiva em morcegos hematófagos (Desmodus rotundus) a partir da análise dos diagnósticos realizados no estado de Sergipe. Foi realizado um estudo observacional, descritivo e retrospectivo com avaliação de 935 diagnósticos de raiva em morcegos (D. rotundus) entre os anos de 1987 a 2014. Percebeu-se que apenas um caso foi positivo na cidade de Aracaju no ano 2000 e nenhum morcego positivo foi identificado com o vírus da raiva na área rural. Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de ampliar o monitoramento da raiva em outras espécies de morcegos não hematófagos e sobretudo em outros reservatórios selvagens. Sugere-se que o monitoramento da raiva leve em consideração o ecossistema específico de cada região brasileira, já que o Brasil tem dimensões continentais e uma grande diversidade biológica.

Shoot and root interference of morning glory on the initial growth of sugarcane

ABSTRACT Among weeds, morning glories comprise a very important group of climbing plants that infest sugarcane crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the shoot and root interference of Merremia cissoides on the initial growth of sugarcane cultivar RB 966928. The experiment consisted of five treatment groups: (i) sugarcane monocropping, (ii) morning glory monocropping, (iii) sugarcane intertwined with morning glory but inseparate boxes, (iv) sugarcane intertwined with morning glory in attached boxes and (v) sugarcane with morning glory in attached boxes with morning glory prevented from intertwining with the sugarcane. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates. Merremia cissoides adversely affected the initial growth of the RB 966928 sugarcane starting at 90 days after transplanting (DAT). This effect increased with the time of intercropping, reaching at 180 DAT with a reduction of 57.3% in height,15.5% in stalk diameter, 90.4% in leaf areas, 86.6 and 75.2% in stalk and leaf dry mass, respectively. These reductions primarily due to the weed intertwining with the sugarcane plants because the weed had a physical choking and shading effect. This negative effect of morning glory on the sugarcane plants increased when they shared the substrate (i.e., when they competed for space and water), which also adversely affected weed growth, reducing 50.2% leaf areas and 42.1% shoot dry mass. The leaf area and the stalk and leaf dry mass of sugarcane are the characteristics more sensitive to the weed interference. Thus, both the shoot and root of M. cissoides interferes negatively in the growth of sugarcane, with the effect proportional to the period of coexistence, highlighting the detrimental effect on the stem (greater economic interest), and may also compromise the mechanical harvesting of the crop.

Host selection behavior of diaeretiella rapae mclntosh [hymenoptera: braconidae] attacking cereal aphids in Upper Egypt

The present investigation was carried out in Assiut Governorate to study the relative abundance of cereal aphid parasitoids and evaluate the host selection and host-instar preference of Schizaphis graminum [Rondani] and Rhopalosiphum padi L. by the braconid parasitoid, Diaeretielia rapae Mclntosh during 2015 wheat growing season

The obtained results revealed that the dominance percentages of the primary parasitoids were so high and presented by 81.53% of the total caught parasitoids* However, the secondary parasitoids showed low dominance percentages and presented by 18.47%

The parasitoids, D. rapae and Alloxysta australiae [Ashmead] revealed the highest dominance percentage and presented by 76.38 and 47.93% of the total collected primary and secondary parasitoids, respectively

The aphid, S. graminum appeared as more relatively preferred for. rapae than K. padi species

The development of D. rapae was found to be possible in any instar of 5. graminum and R. padi

The second and third instars of S. graminum presented the optimal response for D. rapae growth and survival, while the third and fourth instars of R. padi presented the optimal response for parasitization by the same parasitoid species

The averages of the development times from oviposition until the appearance of the mummified aphid were 7.68 and 8.01 days for S. graminum and R. padL respectively. Offspring production per female was high in the adult stage than others. Nymphs parasitized and mummified by D. rapae during the first and second instars may be reach to maturity but not produce any progeny

The study of insect blood-feeding behaviour: 2. Recording techniques and the use of flow charts

This paper continues a discussion of approaches and methodologies we have used in our studies of feeding in haematophagous insects. Described are techniques for directly monitoring behaviour: electrical recording of feeding behaviour via resistance changes in the food canal, optical methods for monitoring mouthpart activity, and a computer technique for behavioural event recording. Also described is the use of "flow charts" or "decision diagrams" to model interrelated sequences of behaviours.