Ocular onchocerciasis in the Yanomami communities from Brazilian Amazon: effects on intraocular pressure.

To determine the influence of onchocercal eye disease on the intraocular pressure of the Yanomami Tribe Aratha-ú of Roraima State, Brazil, considered endemic for onchocerciasis, a total of 86 patients were submitted to an ophthalmologic exam that included external examination, slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, and a fundus ophthalmoscope examination. A high prevalence of onchocerciasis-related eye lesions was encountered in 68.6% of the patients. Punctate keratitis and microfilariae in the anterior chamber were found in ∼28%. The mean of intraocular eye pressure found was 10.47 mm of Hg.

New records of the black fly fauna (Diptera: Simuliidae) in two rivers of the western Amazonia, Brazil.

Our goal was to verify the presence and the composition of black floy species in the Antimari and Acre rivers, located in the end of Western Amazonia, where this entomological inquiry was accomplished. Along the Antimari and Acre rivers, 19 localities were studied and 133 larvae and 197 pupae were collected, totalizing 330 black floy immatures. The following species are recorded for the first time in this area: Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) amazonicum Goeldi, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) oyapockense Floch & Abonnenc, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) quadrifidum Lutz, Simulium (Psilopelmia) lutzianum Pinto, Simulium (Psilopelmia) perfloavum Roubaud and Simulium (Notolepria) exiguum Roubaud. Our data suggest that S. amazonicum, S. oyapockense and S. quadrifidum have a wide geographical distribution as well as population density.

New records of the black fly fauna (Diptera: Simuliidae) in two rivers of the western Amazonia, Brazil / Novos registros da simuliofauna (Diptera: Simuliidae) em dois rios da Amazônia Ocidental, Brasil

Our goal was to verify the presence and the composition of black floy species in the Antimari and Acre rivers, located in the end of Western Amazonia, where this entomological inquiry was accomplished. Along the Antimari and Acre rivers, 19 localities were studied and 133 larvae and 197 pupae were collected, totalizing 330 black floy immatures. The following species are recorded for the first time in this area: Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) amazonicum Goeldi, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) oyapockense Floch & Abonnenc, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) quadrifidum Lutz, Simulium (Psilopelmia) lutzianum Pinto, Simulium (Psilopelmia) perfloavum Roubaud and Simulium (Notolepria) exiguum Roubaud. Our data suggest that S. amazonicum, S. oyapockense and S. quadrifidum have a wide geographical distribution as well as population density.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a presença e composição de simulídeos nos rios Antimari e Acre, localizados no extremo oeste da Amazônia Ocidental. Foram levantados 19 pontos de coleta ao longo dos rios Antimari e Acre, onde foram coletadas 133 larvas e 197 pupas, totalizando 330 imaturos de simulídeos. As seguintes espécies foram encontradas pela primeira vez na região: Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) amazonicum Goeldi, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) oyapockense Floch & Abonnenc, Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) quadrifidum Lutz, Simulium (Psilopelmia) lutzianum Pinto, Simulium (Psilopelmia) perfloavum Roubaud e Simulium (Notolepria) exiguum Roubaud. Os resultados sugerem que S. amazonicum, S. oyapockense e S. quadrifidum têm distribuição geográfica mais ampla e são mais frequentes nessa região.

Spatial and temporal distribution of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil.

The distribution of the blackfly larval taxocenoses of different altitudes in the Itatiaia National Park (located in the southeast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil 44 degrees 34' - 44 degrees 42' W, 22 degrees 16' - 22 degrees 28' S) was investigated on four campaigns, one in each season of 2003. On each campaign 60 samples were collected, using 30 x 30 cm wooden quadrats, distributed at four sites: Taquaral, Véu da Noiva, Três Picos and Brejo da Lapa. The winter and spring campaigns included two additional sampling sites: Alsene and Agulhas Negras. A total of 3578 larvae and 292 pupae were sampled, representative of six species: Simulium clavibranchium Lutz, S. subnigrum Lutz, S. rappae Py-Daniel, S. incrustatum Lutz, S. stellatum Gil-Azevedo, Figueiró & Maia-Herzog and Lutzsimulium pernigrum Lutz 1910. The highest larvae abundance and diversity were reported at the intermediate altitude site, Brejo da Lapa. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed that L. pernigrum, S. stellatum and S. incrustatum were associated with the smaller breeding sites, the first two species being associated with sunny sites, while S. incrustatum occurred in sites with little sunlight.

Spatial and temporal distribution of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

The distribution of the blackfly larval taxocenoses of different altitudes in the Itatiaia National Park (located in the southeast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil 44°34' - 44°42' W , 22°16' - 22°28' S) was investigated on four campaigns, one in each season of 2003. On each campaign 60 samples were collected, using 30 x 30 cm wooden quadrats, distributed at four sites: Taquaral, Véu da Noiva, Três Picos and Brejo da Lapa. The winter and spring campaigns included two additional sampling sites: Alsene and Agulhas Negras. A total of 3578 larvae and 292 pupae were sampled, representative of six species: Simulium clavibranchium Lutz, S. subnigrum Lutz, S. rappae Py-Daniel, S. incrustatum Lutz, S. stellatum Gil-Azevedo, Figueiró & Maia-Herzog and Lutzsimulium pernigrum Lutz 1910. The highest larvae abundance and diversity were reported at the intermediate altitude site, Brejo da Lapa. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed that L. pernigrum, S. stellatum and S. incrustatum were associated with the smaller breeding sites, the first two species being associated with sunny sites, while S. incrustatum occurred in sites with little sunlight.

A distribuição das taxocenoses de larvas de simulídeos (Diptera: Simuliidae) de diferentes altitudes no Parque Nacional de Itatiaia ( localizado no sudeste do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 44°34' - 44°42' W , 22°16' - 22°28' S ) foi investigada ao longo de quatro campanhas, cada uma em uma diferente estação do ano de 2003. Cada campanha foi composta de 60 amostras, obtidas a partir de "quadrats" de madeira de 30 x 30 cm, distribuídos através de quatro áreas: Taquaral, Véu da Noiva, Três Picos e Brejo da Lapa. Nas campanhas do inverno e da primavera, dois outros sítios, Alsene e Agulhas Negras, foram adicionados. Foram coletadas 3578 larvas e 292 pupas, sendo identificadas seis espécies: Simulium clavibranchium Lutz, S. subnigrum Lutz, S. rappae Py-Daniel, S. incrustatum Lutz, S. stellatum Gil-Azevedo, Figueiró & Maia-Herzog e Lutzsimulium pernigrum Lutz. As maiores abundância e diversidade foram encontradas no sítio de altura intermediária, o Brejo da Lapa. A análise de componentes principais (PCA) revelou que L. pernigrum, S. stellatum e S. incrustatum se mostraram associadas a rios de menor porte, com as duas primeiras espécies associadas a sítios com maior insolação e S. incrustatum com pouca insolação.

A bioassay method for black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) using larvicides

Esta nota apresenta um método alternativo para bioensaios com larvas de simulídeos, com que se espera proporcionar aos pesquisadores uma ferramenta mais simples, porém igualmente efetiva para a obtenção de dados referentes à eficácia de larvicidas.