Renato Torres Pinheiro

Prevalence and Lineage Diversity of Avian Haemosporidians from Three Distinct Cerrado Habitats in Brazil

Habitat alteration can disrupt host–parasite interactions and lead to the emergence of new diseases in wild populations. The cerrado habitat of Brazil is being fragmented and degraded rapidly by agriculture and urbanization. We screened 676 wild birds from three habitats (intact cerrado, disturbed cerrado and transition area Amazonian rainforest-cerrado) for the presence of haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) to determine whether different habitats were associated with differences in the prevalence and diversity of infectious diseases in natural populations. Twenty one mitochondrial lineages, including 11 from Plasmodium and 10 from Haemoproteus were identified. Neither prevalence nor diversity of infections by Plasmodium spp. or Haemoproteus spp. differed significantly among the three habitats. However, 15 of the parasite lineages had not been previously described and might be restricted to these habitats or to the region. Six haemosporidian lineages previously known from other regions, particularly the Caribbean Basin, comprised 50–80% of the infections in each of the samples, indicating a regional relationship between parasite distribution and abundance.

Distribuição e conservação das aves na região do Cantão, Tocantins: ecótono Amazônia/Cerrado

The Cantao region is a complex transition between Amazonia and Cerrado. Human interference is widespread even though the region is covered by two protected areas: the Cantao State Park and the Bananal Island/Cantao Environmental Protection Area. Bird inventories identified 418 species in the region, 382 on the present study. Of those, 27 are Amazonian and 9 Cerrado endemics. Four bird species are listed in the IUCNs red list as vulnerable: Penelope ochrogaster, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, Cercomacra ferdinandi and Synallaxis simoni. This study also added eight species to the Cerrado biome list. The Cantao region is important for ten nearctic migrant species, including Pluvialis dominica, Actites macularia, Falco peregrinus and Progne subis. Habitat loss and deterioration caused by unsustainable tourism within the State Park, as well as cattle ranching and agriculture expansion within the Environmental Protected Area may have a strong impact on the populations of several bird species. We suggest that management actions should be focused on improving management and increasing coverage of protected areas to encompass marshlands and the Ipucas (natural forest patches) that are still well preserved in the region.

Análise espacial e determinação de áreas prioritárias para o controle da malária, no Estado no Tocantins, 2003-2008

INTRODUCTION: In Tocantins, the behavior of malaria differs between microregions, with predominance of imported cases. This study describes a spatial analysis on malaria in the state covering 2003 to 2008, which sought to identify the incidence of autochthonous and imported cases, and the origin of the latter, in the microregions. METHODS: This was a retrospective study using secondary data. The data source was the epidemiological surveillance information system for malaria (SIVEP-Malaria), and the data were analyzed using the Epi Info version 3.5.1 and Bioestat version 5.0 statistical software. RESULTS: It was found that malaria was not homogeneously distributed in all municipalities. The area of highest priority comprised municipalities located in microregions in the west of the state, at the border of Para, which also had the highest number of autochthonous cases. The association between the autochthonous and imported cases and the Plasmodium species showed a statistically significant difference (G = 54.25; p < 0.0001). Among the eight microregions, Miracema do Tocantins, Araguaina and Bico do Papagaio accounted for 75.8% of the cases and, among these, eleven municipalities stood out. Regarding provenance, the State of Para showed widespread distribution with 85.5% of the total, followed by French Guiana with 7.4%. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated the predominance of imported cases and the difference between municipalities and microregions, and showed the influence of neighboring states in determining the areas of greatest risk. These data are important, since they contribute towards guiding and directing public policies regarding this disease in Tocantins.

Microfilariae Infection in Wild Birds from the Brazilian Cerrado

We report the occurrence of microfilariae in wild birds of a cerrado area in northern Brazil (Tocantins State). Analyses of 166 passerine birds belonging to 46 species and 17 families captured between 2006 and 2008 revealed that 11 individuals (6.6%) were hosts for microfilariae. Two bird species, Formicivora grisea and Formicivora rufa (Thamnophilidae), were identified as hosts for microfilariae for the first time, and had high intensities of microfilaremia (65 and 107 in 100 microscopic fields, respectively). The prevalence and intensity of microfilariae described in the present study are among the highest reported for wild bird communities in the neotropics.

Range extension and conservation of Psophia interjecta Griscom & Greenway, 1937 (Aves: Psophidae) in the Tocantins–Araguaia interfluve, state of Tocantins, Brazil

The genus Psophia includes terrestrial birds endemic to the Amazon. The number of species in this genus is still controversial, with alternative taxonomic treatments currently available. We present new and historical records of P. interjecta for the state of Tocantins, which extend this species’ range to the Tocantins–Araguaia interfluve, in southeasternmost Amazonia. Psophia interjecta is considered Vulnerable in Brazil, but we discuss that the species is likely more Critically Endangered in Tocantins due to drastic deforestation and hunting.

Reptilia, Testudines, Geoemydidae, Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Daudin, 1802): new geographical distribution and first record for the state of Tocantins, Brazil

We present new records of the Spot-legged Turtle ( Rhinoclemmys punctularia ) for the states of Para and Tocantins, Brazil. These records increase the known geographical distribution of R. punctularia ca. 500 km southward, reaching the southeastern extreme of the Amazon biome. The Tocantins records are from Amazon rainforests habitats as in most of the known range of the species. These new findings highlight the importance of future investigations in order to better understand the distribution of R. punctularia in the South Amazon Basin and ecotones areas.