Cyanobacteria community in two tropical eutrophic reservoirs in northeastern Brazil / Comunidade de cianobactérias em dois reservatórios eutróficos e tropicais no nordeste do Brasil

This study investigated the effect of seasonality on the Cyanobacteria community in two tropical eutrophic reservoirs in northeastern Brazil. Monthly samplings were conducted in the sub-surface of reservoirs. The following abiotic variables were analyzed: apparent color, turbidity, conductivity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, total phosphorous, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, chlorides, total hardness and chlorophyll-a, according to APHA (2012). Cyanobacteria density was quantified through biomass. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Higher mean values of Cyanobacteria biomass occurred in the dry (9.9mm3 L-1) and rainy (19.0mm3 L-1) season in Jucazinho and Carpina reservoirs, respectively, especially Planktothrix agardhii, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Geiterinema amphibium, which occurred in 100% of the samples. RDA analysis revealed that the variables nitrite, ammonia, conductivity, calcium, sulfate, chlorides and alkalinity influenced most the Cyanobacteria community in both reservoirs. High trophic state index was observed throughout the year. Seasonality affected both biotic and abiotic variables.

Este estudo investigou o efeito da sazonalidade sobre a comunidade de cianobactérias em dois reservatórios eutróficos tropicais no nordeste do Brasil. Mensalmente, amostras foram coletadas na subsuperfície dos reservatórios. Foram analisados os seguintes fatores abióticos: cor aparente, turbidez, condutividade, alcalinidade, cálcio, magnésio, sódio, potássio, sulfato, fósforo total, amônia, nitrato, nitrito, cloretos, dureza total e clorofila-a, de acordo com APHA (2012). A densidade de cianobactérias foi quantificada por meio de sua biomassa. Os dados foram analisados usando Anova (one-way) e Análise de Redundância (RDA). Maiores valores médios de biomassa de cianobactérias ocorreram na estação seca (9,9 mm3 L-1) e chuvosa (19,0 mm3 L-1) nos reservatórios de Jucazinho e Carpina, respectivamente, especialmente Planktothrix agardhii, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii e Geitlerinema amphibium que ocorreram em 100% das amostras. A análise de RDA revelou que os parâmetros nitrito, amônia, condutividade, cálcio, sulfato, cloretos e alcalinidade foram mais influentes na comunidade de Cyanobacteria em ambos os reservatórios. Elevado índice de estado trófico foi detectado durante todo o ano. A sazonalidade exerceu influência tanto nas variáveis bióticas como abióticas.

Dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) for schistosomiasis diagnosis using dacron as solid-phase / Dot-ELISA (dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), utilizando o dacron como suporte sólido para o diagnóstico da esquistossomose

Dacron and nitrocellulose were evaluated as matrices for the dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) for schistosomiasis and compared to indirect immunofluorescence (IMF). Titration of sera from 18 schistosomiasis patients against soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) was carried out and sera from healthy individuals from non-endemic areas were used as controls. The IMF was less sensitive than the dot-ELISAs, although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The dot-ELISA based on nitrocellulose was as sensitive as that using dacron. Stability did not differ between nitrocellulose and dacron. Specificity was lower when dacron was used than when nitrocellulose was used, although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, this work showed that nitrocellulose and dacron performed similarly in dot-ELISA, suggesting that they may be used altenatively in population surveillance in endemic areas