Alisson André Ribeiro

Biotic factors and occurrence of Lutzomyia longipalpis in endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

The relationships between environmental exposure to risk agents and health conditions have been studied with the aid of remote sensing imagery, a tool particularly useful in the study of vegetation cover. This study aims to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on the spatial distribution of the abundance of Lutzomyia longipalpis and the reported canine and human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases at an urban area of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The sandfly captures were performed in 13 residences that were selected by raffle considering four residences or collection station for buffer. These buffers were generated from the central house with about 50, 100 and 200 m from it in an endemic area of VL. The abundance of sandflies and human and canine cases were georreferenced using the GIS software PCI Geomatica. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and percentage of land covered by vegetation were the environmental variables extracted from a remote sensing IKONOS-2 image. The average NDVI was considered as the complexity of habitat and the standard deviation as the heterogeneity of habitat. One thousand three hundred sixty-seven specimens were collected during the catch. We found a significant positive linear correlation between the abundance of sandflies and the percentage of vegetation cover and average NDVI. However, there was no significant association between habitat heterogeneity and the abundance of these flies.

Spatial distribution and environmental factors associated to phlebotomine fauna in a border area of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

BackgroundMato Grosso do Sul has been undergoing a process of urbanization which results in loss of native vegetation. This withdrawal makes vectors of man and domestic animals closer, causing changes in the epidemiology of diseases such as American Visceral Leishmaniasis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phlebotomine fauna and environmental issues related to the transmission of AVL in Ponta Porã, Mato Grosso do Sul, between 2009 and 2010.MethodsVegetation of the urban area was evaluated by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI).ResultsThe results showed that the phlebotomine fauna of the city consists of five species, especially Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912), the vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. Predominance of males was observed. The insects were captured in greater quantity in the intradomicile. Lu. longipalpis was the most frequent and abundant species, present throughout the year, with a peak population after the rainy season. Vectors can be found in high amounts in forest and disturbed environments.ConclusionsThe finding of Lu. longipalpis in regions with little vegetation and humidity suggests that the species is adapted to different sorts of environmental conditions, demonstrating its close association with man and the environment it inhabits. The tourist feature of Ponta Porã reinforces its epidemiological importance as a vulnerable city. The geographical location, bordering Paraguay through dry border, makes possible the existence of a corridor of vectors and infected dogs between the two countries.

Behavioral Aspects of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Urban Area Endemic for Visceral Leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT The study of some of the behavioral aspects of the main vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi Cunha & Chagas in the Americas, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), such as dispersion, population size, and vector survival rates, is important for the elucidation of the mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis transmission. These parameters were studied by means of capture-mark-release-recapture experiments in an urban area of Campo Grande municipality, an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, situated in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Six capture-mark-release-recapture experiments were undertaken between November 2009 and November 2010 and once in January 2012 with a view to assessing the population size and survival rate of Lu. longipalpis. The insects were released in a peridomicile surrounded by 13 residences. The recaptures were undertaken with automatic light traps for four consecutive weeks after release in the surrounding area. In total, 3,354 sand flies were captured, marked, and released. The overall recapture rate during the capture-markrelease-recapture experiments was 4.23%, of which 92.45% were recaptured at the release site, indicating limited dispersal. The greatest distance recorded from the release site was 165 m for males and 241 m for females. The male daily survival rate, calculated on the basis of regressions from the numbers of marked recaptured insects during the 15 successive days after release was 0.897. The estimated male population size measured by the Lincoln Index was 10,947.127. Though Lu. longipalpis presented a limited dispersion the physical barriers typical of urban environments did not prevent the sand flies from flying long distances.

A study of structural lineaments in Pantanal (Brazil) using remote sensing data

This paper presents a study of the structural lineaments of the Pantanal extracted visually from satellite images (CBERS-2B satellite, Wide Field Imager sensor, a free image available in INTERNET) and a comparison with the structural lineaments of Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks surrounding the Cenozoic Pantanal Basin. Using a free software for satellite image analysis, the photointerpretation showed that the NS, NE and NW directions observed on the Pantanal satellite images are the same recorded in the older rocks surrounding the basin, suggesting reactivation of these basement structural directions during the Quaternary. So the Pantanal Basin has an active tectonics and its evolution seems to be linked to changes that occurred during the Andean subduction.

Sensoriamento Remoto na Análise do Alinhamento das Lagoas do Pantanal da Nhecolândia, MS

Among the several kinds of pantanais, the Nhecolândia sub-region deserves prominent role for presenting peculiar landscape. Its main feature is the presence of numerous lakes, which are divided into “baias” and “salinas” (fresh and brackish, respectively). The study aimed to quantify and analyze the orientation and aligning intensity of the major axes of these water ponds, in order to contribute for understanding the formation and functioning of this intriguing and yet unknown region. Firstly, we adopted the object-oriented classification method on Landsat 5 satellite image, TM sensor. Then, we used a specific algorithm for identifying the alignment of the ponds. As results, we recognized 17,631 lakes, 17,050 being baias and 577 salinas. These ponds are aligned in two directions - NE and NW -, which would be associated to the directions of the winds prevailing during the origin of the Nhecolândia lakes.

USO DE GEOTECNOLOGIAS PARA O ESTABELECIMENTO DE ÁREAS PARA CORREDORES DE BIODIVERSIDADE

Corredores de biodiversidade sao estruturas ambientais com a finalidade de conservar e recuperar a biodiversidade. Aplicam-se, principalmente, a areas degradadas pelo desenvolvimento humano desordenado, que favorece a fragmentacao florestal e a perda da conectividade entre os diversos habitats. Utilizando o sensoriamento remoto e sistemas de informacoes geograficas, buscou-se identificar areas para atuarem como corredores de biodiversidade, possibilitando, assim, o fluxo genico entre os fragmentos remanescentes e as areas de preservacao permanente. Para tanto, foi realizada uma analise espacial dos fragmentos remanescentes em Sao Gabriel do Oeste, Mato Grosso do Sul, atraves de sua forma, tamanho e localizacao. Foram identificadas as areas para os corredores a partir da localizacao de fragmentos com potencial, ou seja, de tamanho e conservacao adequados, alem de considerar a carta de classes das terras para mecanizacao e o mapa de areas prioritarias para a conservacao do Ministerio do Meio Ambiente, permitindo a escolha de melhores areas para corredores de biodiversidade. Verificou-se que as geotecnologias sao importantes ferramentas de auxilio na determinacao de areas propicias para a analise integrada da paisagem, bem como de areas propicias para implantacao de corredores, gerando um cenario alternativo para a recuperacao ambiental, o zoneamento ecologico e a conservacao ambiental.

The expression of neotectonics in the Pantanal da Nhecolândia, State of Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil

Pantanal da Nhecolândia is one of the most well-preserved areas in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Located in the southern part of the Taquari River megafan, it is in tectonic contact with the fault escarpments of the Maracaju-Campo Grande plateaus to the east and with the fault escarpments of the Bodoquena plateau to the west, which continue to north. To the south and to the north, the limits are marked respectively by the lineaments of the Negro and Taquari Rivers. Nhecolândia is characterized by the existence of at least 17,631 lagoons, 17,050 (96.70 %) of which are of fresh water (baías) and 577 (3.3 %) of salty water (salinas). Studies based on (Landsat) satellite images and use of free software (QGIS, version 2.8.3) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) revealed that the major axes of the lagoons are aligned along two directions, NE (62.49 %) and NW (37.51 %), with modes concentrated between N30-40E and N30-40W, suggesting in both cases the role played by tectonic control (neotectonics) in their formation. Evidences of fluvial origin are presented for these groups of lagoons, as well as for their tectonic alignment.

Uso de Geotecnologia Livre na Avaliação das Mudanças na Cobertura Vegetal e da Zona de Amortecimento do Parque Estadual do Pantanal do Rio Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul

The Pantanal of Rio Negro State Park was created by State Decree of Mato Grosso do Sul No. 9941, which provides continuous monitoring of the remaining vegetation using remote sensing and semiannual update. In accordance with this decree the object of this study was to evaluate the changes in Park land cover and its Buffer Zone during the period from the creation of the park in 2000 and 2011, with the use of free geotecnologies. The results showed that deforestation around the Park is very expressive and it was possible to identify deforested areas with more dramatic and larger than 25 hectares. Thus it`s possible to take managerial measures to correct the problems and act effectively for the conservation of this magnificent wildlife sanctuary.

Violencia sexual contra adolescentes en Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

OBJECTIVE To analyze the situation of sexual violence against adolescents. METHODS Cross-sectional study with spatial analysis, covering 172 reporting forms, from January 2009 to January 2013, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Data were grouped by neighborhood for spatial analysis. The statistical analysis was descriptive. RESULTS Adolescents in situations of violence were mostly girls (94.8%) and white (37.8%). Domestic violence prevailed (51.7%) and with one perpetrator (66.9%). Pregnancy (8.7%) was one of the consequences. The cases were evenly distributed in the city without a preferential spatial pattern and regardless of social background. CONCLUSIONS Despite the underreporting of sexual violence cases, the frequency and the individual and collective consequences of this are serious enough to make it a public health issue.

Violência sexual contra adolescentes em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul

OBJECTIVE To analyze the situation of sexual violence against adolescents. METHODS Cross-sectional study with spatial analysis, covering 172 reporting forms, from January 2009 to January 2013, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Data were grouped by neighborhood for spatial analysis. The statistical analysis was descriptive. RESULTS Adolescents in situations of violence were mostly girls (94.8%) and white (37.8%). Domestic violence prevailed (51.7%) and with one perpetrator (66.9%). Pregnancy (8.7%) was one of the consequences. The cases were evenly distributed in the city without a preferential spatial pattern and regardless of social background. CONCLUSIONS Despite the underreporting of sexual violence cases, the frequency and the individual and collective consequences of this are serious enough to make it a public health issue.