Effects of Artificial Flooding for Hydroelectric Development on the Population of Mansonia humeralis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Paraná River, São Paulo, Brazil.

The closure of two phases of the dam at the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Plant on the Paraná River flooded a flawed system located in the Municipality of Presidente Epitácio, São Paulo state, favoring the proliferation of aquatic weeds. This study aimed to observe the population of Mansonia humeralis in the area, monitoring the richness, diversity, and dominance of this species both before and during different phases of reservoir flooding as well as evaluate its possible consequences concerning human and animal contact. Adult mosquitoes were collected monthly in the following periods: at the original level, after the first flood, and after the maximum level had been reached between 1997 and 2002.

QUADAS and STARD: evaluating the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies.

Objective: To compare the performance of two approaches, one based on the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) and another on the Standards for Reporting Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD), in evaluating the quality of studies validating the OptiMal® rapid malaria diagnostic test.

Methods: Articles validating the rapid test published until 2007 were searched in the Medline/PubMed database. This search retrieved 13 articles.

Effects of flooding of the River Paraná on the temporal activity of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root (Diptera: Culicidae), at the border state of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Study of the temporal activity of malaria vectors during the implantation of a hydroelectric power station on the River Paraná, intended to generate electrical energy. The river separates the States of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil. The objective was to verify whether alterations occurred in the wealth and diversity indices of Anopheles, following two successive floods, extended to the temporal activity and nycthemeral rhythm followed over a five year period.

Mosquitoes infected with dengue viruses in Brazil.

Dengue epidemics have been reported in Brazil since 1985. The scenery has worsened in the last decade because several serotypes are circulating and producing a hyper-endemic situation, with an increase of DHF/DSS cases as well as the number of fatalities. Herein, we report dengue virus surveillance in mosquitoes using a Flavivirus genus-specific RT-Hemi-Nested-PCR assay.

[Ecology of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root in the installation area of a hydroelectric scheme on the border between the States of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo].

Introduction: Hydroelectric schemes modify the water flow and cause an impact on mosquito composition, thus justifying investigations. The aim of this study was to study anophelines in the area under the influence of a new lake and to evaluate their relative vulnerability to malaria.

Methods: Anopheles specimens were collected from the edges of the Porto Primavera reservoir, during the phases of reservoir filling until its maximum level was reached.

TG-ROC analysis of immunofluorescence assays in canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis.

Objective: To analyze the accuracy of the diagnosis of two protocols of indirect immunofluorescence assays for canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Methods: Dogs from the seroepidemiological survey conducted in an endemic area of the cities of Araçatuba and Andradina, in Northwestern São Paulo state, in 2003, and in a non-endemic area of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, were used to assess two protocols of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for leishmaniasis: one using a Leishmania major heterologous antigen (IFA-BM) and another using a Leishmania chagasi homologous antigen (IFA-CH). Two-graph receiver operating characteristic (TG-ROC) analysis was used to estimate accuracy.

Control of vector populations using genetically modified mosquitoes.

The ineffectiveness of current strategies for chemical control of mosquito vectors raises the need for developing novel approaches. Thus, we carried out a literature review of strategies for genetic control of mosquito populations based on the sterile insect technique. One of these strategies consists of releasing radiation-sterilized males into the population; another, of integrating a dominant lethal gene under the control of a specific promoter into immature females.

Epidemiological and ecological aspects related to malaria in the area of influence of the lake at Porto Primavera dam, in western São Paulo State, Brazil.

A study was carried out in the area of influence of the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Power Station, in western São Paulo State, to investigate ecological and epidemiological aspects of malaria in the area and monitor the profile of the anopheline populations following the environmental changes brought about by the construction of the lake. Mosquitoes captured were analyzed by standardized indicator species analysis (ISA) before and during different flooding phases (253 m and 257 m elevations). The local human population was studied by means of parasitological (thin/thick blood smears), molecular (PCR) and serological tests.

Natural Plasmodium infections in Brazilian wild monkeys: reservoirs for human infections?

Four hundred and forty-eight samples of total blood from wild monkeys living in areas where human autochthonous malaria cases have been reported were screened for the presence of Plasmodium using microscopy and PCR analysis. Samples came from the following distinct ecological areas of Brazil: Atlantic forest (N=140), semideciduous Atlantic forest (N=257) and Cerrado (a savannah-like habitat) (N=51). Thick and thin blood smears of each specimen were examined and Plasmodium infection was screened by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR).

[Finding of Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae), in the municipality of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul].

In November 2006, an entomological investigation was carried out in a native forest in the municipality of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul. The result was the capture of several Culicidae species, including the first recording of the presence of Haemagogus leucocelaenus in this locality. This species is considered to be a vector for the yellow fever virus in some municipalities of this State, and this was the motivation for the present communication, in order to warn regarding the potential of this area for circulation of the etiological agent for this disease.

[Richness and abundance of Culicidae (Diptera) in an area impacted, Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwestern Brazil].

The damming of Paraná River for the construction of Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Power Plant, between the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwestern Brazil and São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, has changed the ecological relationships in the area. The objective of the study was to describe the fauna that can be potential vectors in this reservoir, 2 km away from its right bank, in Bataguassu, Mato Grosso do Sul, before flooding. Mosquitoes were monthly captured in different environments from July 1997 to November 1999.

[Specificity of the Adultrap for capturing females of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)].

The Adultrap is a new trap built for capturing females of Aedes aegypti. Tests were carried out to evaluate the specificity of this trap in comparison with the technique of aspiration of specimens in artificial shelters. Adultraps were kept for 24 hours inside and outside 120 randomly selected homes in two districts of the city of Foz do Iguaçú, State of Paraná.

[Culicidae (Diptera) in a dam construction area in the state of São Paulo, Brazil].

Objective: To describe the culicidae fauna in an area impacted by environmental changes caused by the construction of a dam.

Methods: The studied area was the Porto Primavera dam construction site in Southeastern Brazil. Monthly culicidae samples were taken in six exploratory sites in the pre-filling period and in one fixed site, one year before (1997-1998) and after the first filling (1999-2000).

Widespread occurrence of antibodies against circumsporozoite protein and against blood forms of Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum and P. malariae in Brazilian wild monkeys.

Background: A survey of malaria antibodies was carried out over 7 years and a total of 777 serum samples from wild monkeys were collected in three distinct ecological areas of Brazil where autochthonous malaria has been reported: the 'Cerrado' (similar to savanna), the Atlantic Forest and the Atlantic Semideciduous Forest.

Methods: We carried out enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate the presence of IgG antibodies against peptides of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) repeat region of 'classic'Plasmodium vivax, P. vivax VK247, human P.

Entomological investigation of a sylvatic yellow fever area in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Following reports of two autochthonous cases of sylvatic yellow fever in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2000, entomological surveys were conducted with the objective of verifying the occurrence of vector species in forest environments close to or associated with riparian areas located in the western and northwestern regions of the State. Culicidae were captured in 39 sites distributed in four regions. Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Aedes albopictus were the most abundant species and were captured in all the regions studied.

[Anthropophilic activity of Aedes aegypti and of Aedes albopictus in area under control and surveillance].

Objective: To describe the hematophagous activity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in an area under control and surveillance.

[Correlation of the presence of phlebotominae species (Diptera: Psichodidae) with records of American tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in the State of São Paulo, Brazil].

The study used environmental parameters associated with standardized coefficients incidence of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between 1986 and 1995. In the 140 municipalities with leishmaniasis transmission, the entomological collection of sandflies showed the most frequent species collected in the domestic environment: Lutzomyia intermedia was present in 87.7% of the surveyed municipalities, L.