VIROLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES IN BATS FROM AN URBAN AREA IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON / Diagnóstico virológico e sorológico de raiva em morcegos de uma área urbana na Amazônia Brasileira

The outbreaks of rabies in humans transmitted by Desmodus rotundus in 2004 and 2005, in the northeast of the Brazilian State of Para, eastern Amazon basin, made this a priority area for studies on this zoonosis. Given this, the present study provides data on this phenomenon in an urban context, in order to assess the possible circulation of the classic rabies virus (RABV) among bat species in Capanema, a town in the Amazon basin. Bats were collected, in 2011, with mist nets during the wet and dry seasons. Samples of brain tissue and blood were collected for virological and serological survey, respectively. None of the 153 brain tissue samples analyzed tested positive for RABV infection, but 50.34% (95% CI: 45.67-55.01%) of the serum samples analyzed were seropositive. Artibeus planirostris was the most common species, with a high percentage of seropositive individuals (52.46%, 95% CI: 52.31 52.60%). Statistically, equal proportions of seropositive results were obtained in the rainy and dry seasons (c2 = 0.057, d.f. = 1, p = 0.88). Significantly higher proportions of males (55.96%, 95% CI: 48.96-62.96%) and adults (52.37%, 95% CI: 47.35-57.39%) were seropositive. While none of the brain tissue samples tested positive for infection, the high proportion of seropositive specimens indicates that RABV may be widespread in this urban area.

Os surtos de raiva em humanos transmitida por Desmodus rotundus em 2004 e 2005 no nordeste do estado do Pará, Brasil, Amazônia Oriental, fizeram desta uma área prioritária para estudos sobre essa zoonose. Diante disso, o presente estudo fornece dados sobre esse fenômeno em contexto urbano, afim de avaliar uma possível circulação do vírus clássico da raiva (RABV) entre espécies de morcegos em Capanema, cidade localizada na bacia Amazônica. Os morcegos foram coletados em 2011, com auxílio de redes de espera durante as estações seca e chuvosa. Amostras de encéfalo e de sangue foram coletadas para o diagnóstico virológico e sorológico, respectivamente. Das 153 amostras de encéfalo analisadas, nenhuma encontrou-se positiva para infecção pelo RABV, porém, 50,34% (95% CI: 45,67-55,01) das amostras de soro analisadas estavam soropositivas. Artibeus planirostris foi a espécie mais comum, e seu percentual de indivíduos soropositivos foi bem elevado (52.46%, 95% CI: 52,31-52,60). Porções estatisticamente iguais de soropositivos foram registrados nas estações (c2 = 0,057, d.f. = 1, p = 0,88). Uma porção significativamente elevada de machos (55,96%, 95% CI: 48,96%-62,96%), e adultos (52,37%, 95% CI: 47,35%-57,39%) foram soropositivos. Apesar de nenhuma das amostras de encéfalo terem sido positivas para raiva, a alta proporção de espécimes soropositivos indica uma possível circulação do RABV nessa área urbana.

Crescimento de mudas de mangue sob diferentes níveis de sombreamento na península de Ajuruteua, Bragança, Pará / Growth of mangrove seedlings under different levels of shading at the Peninsula of Ajuruteua, Bragança, Pará

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of shading on the development of seedlings of three mangrove species (Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn., Rhizophora mangle L. and Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f.). The experiment was conducted at the community of Tamatateua, Ajuruteua peninsula, Bragança, PA, Brazil. For seedling production, the propagules and seeds of the mangrove species were planted in polyethylene bags (17 x 27 cm), filled with a typical mangrove substrate. The seedlings of the three species were grown under full sun (0), 30% and 60% shading, in a completely randomized design, a 3 x 3 factorial (three species and three shading levels), with eight seedlings per replication. After nine months under shading, plant samples were taken. The variables evaluated were: the shoot/height ratio, stem diameter, shoot dry matter, stem mass, root dry matter, total dry mass matter and morphological indices. Growth of seedlings of R. mangle occurred at all light levels. Seedlings of A. germinans grew faster at full sun and at 30% shading. Whereas, seedlings of L. racemosa were able to grow at 30 and 60% shading, but they also grew faster at full sunlight.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes níveis de sombreamento sobre o desenvolvimento de mudas das espécies arbóreas de mangue Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn., Rhizophora mangle L. e Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f. O experimento foi conduzido na comunidade de Tamatateua, na península de Ajuruteua, município de Bragança. Para a produção das mudas, os propágulos das espécies arbóreas de mangue foram semeados em embalagens de polietileno (17 x 27 cm), preenchidas com substrato típico de manguezal. As mudas das três espécies foram testadas a pleno sol, 30% e 60% de sombreamento em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (3 x 3) x 3 (3 espécies arbóreas e 3 níveis de sombreamento). Após as plantas atingirem a idade de nove meses, retiraram-se amostras de oito mudas por repetição de cada tratamento. As variáveis avaliadas foram: altura da parte aérea, diâmetro do coleto, massa da parte aérea, massa seca do caule, matéria seca das raízes e matéria seca total e índices morfológicos. O crescimento das mudas de R. mangle ocorreu em todos os níveis de luminosidade. As mudas de A. germinans apresentaram maior crescimento a pleno sol e a 30% de sombreamento. Já as mudas de L. racemosa foram tolerantes a 30% e 60% de sombra, mas se desenvolveram melhor a pleno sol.

Rabies in humans and non-human in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

We evaluate the relationship of positive cases of rabies with the continuing expansion of livestock production, and analyse the trends of this zoonosis in human population in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. The distribution of rabies cases was recorded between 1999 and 2004. Of 148 cases of rabies, 21% were in humans and 79% in non-human mammals. The rapid growth in livestock numbers seems to be associated with the increase of positive cases in bovine livestock transmitted by vampire bats. This idea is supported by positive and significant relationship of both events in time (p < 0.01), but failed when spatial distribution among regions of the state was considered. However, rabies cases tend to occur toward the northeastern of the state of Pará, where rabies cases are proportionally five times greater than other mesoregions, suggesting that increased livestock production may influence the increase of this zoonosis.