Abstract Long-term-ecological-research (LTER) faces many challenges, including the difficulty of obtaining long-term funding, changes in research questions and sampling designs, keeping researchers collecting standardized data for many years, impediments to interactions with local people, and the difficulty of integrating the needs of local decision makers with “big science”. These issues result in a lack of universally accepted guidelines as to how research should be done and integrated among LTER sites. Here we discuss how the RAPELD (standardized field infrastructure system), can help deal with these issues as a complementary technique in LTER studies, allowing comparisons across landscapes and ecosystems and reducing sampling costs. RAPELD uses local surveys to understand broad spatial and temporal patterns while enhancing decision-making and training of researchers, local indigenous groups and traditional communities. Sampling of ecological data can be carried out by different researchers through standardized protocols, resulting in spatial data that can be used to answer temporal questions, and allow new questions to be investigated. Results can also be integrated into existing biodiversity networks. Integrated systems are the most efficient way to save resources, maximize results, and accumulate information that can be used in the face of the unknown unknowns upon which our future depends.

RESUMO: A periodontite é um processo inflamatório de origem infecciosa que afeta os dentes e suas estruturas de suporte, causando perdas econômicas significativas e redução do bem-estar animal. As bactérias do biofilme gengival são um dos principais fatores envolvidos no início das lesões inflamatórias. As bactérias agem diretamente nos tecidos ou indiretamente por meio de substâncias que causam dano tecidual. Estudos sobre a etiopatogenia da periodontite em rebanhos ovinos brasileiros são escassos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar histologicamente as lesões periodontais de ovinos de descarte da raça brasileira Santa Inês. Foram observadas lesões periodontais, como bolsas periodontais contendo tecido vegetal e bactérias, substituição do ligamento periodontal por tecido conjuntivo e células inflamatórias, pústulas superficiais, degeneração hidrópica epitelial e hiperplasia do epitélio. As alterações da submucosa foram caracterizadas por tecido de granulação, edema, tumefação das células endoteliais, bactérias e infiltrado inflamatório linfoplasmocitário predominantemente perivascular. No osso alveolar, observou-se reabsorção osteoclástica e aposição óssea. Este estudo revelou inflamação subaguda a crônica, reabsorção óssea alveolar e aposição de osso cortical na periodontite ovina. Assim, esses achados podem contribuir para a evolução do conhecimento sobre a etiopatogenia da periodontite ovina e para o desenvolvimento de medidas de controle da doença.

ABSTRACT: Periodontitis is an inflammatory process of infectious origin affecting the teeth and their supporting structures, causing significant economic losses and reducing animal welfare. Bacteria in the gingival biofilm are one of the main factors in initiating inflammatory lesions. Bacteria act directly on tissues or indirectly through substances that cause tissue damage. Studies on the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis in Brazilian sheep herds are scarce. The present study aimed to characterize histologically periodontal lesions of culled sheep from the Brazilian breed, Santa Inês. Periodontal lesions, such as periodontal pockets containing plant tissue and bacteria, replacement of the periodontal ligament by connective tissue and inflammatory cells, superficial pustules, hydropic epithelial degeneration, and epithelium hyperplasia, were observed. Submucosal changes were characterized by granulation tissue, edema, swelling of the endothelial cells, bacteria, and predominantly perivascular lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. In the alveolar bone, osteoclastic resorption and bone apposition were observed. This study revealed subacute to chronic inflammation, alveolar bone resorption, and cortical bone apposition in ovine periodontitis. Thus, these findings can contribute to the evolution of knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of ovine periodontitis and, possibly, the development of measures to control the disease.

RESUMO Acanthodoras é o único gênero de bagre conhecido por secretar uma substância de aparência leitosa conspícua e abundante através de um poro axilar localizado logo abaixo da base do processo cleitral posterior. Apesar dessa característica marcante, não há informações publicadas sobre as estruturas anatômicas que produzem a secreção, nem sobre suas possíveis funções biológicas/ecológicas. A dissecção e análise histológica de espécimes preservados de A. spinosissimus revelaram a presença de uma glândula axilar sacular com células secretoras binucleares, semelhantes às encontradas em outros bagres venenosos. As células secretoras próximas ao lúmen parecem perder os núcleos e são preenchidas com produtos secretores, possivelmente com elementos proteicos, conforme indicado por sua aparência eosinofílica. Até onde sabemos, a morfologia sacular da glândula parece constituir uma característica única de Acanthodoras entre os bagres Doradidae. Mais estudos são necessários para determinar a composição química da secreção, bem como seus possíveis usos pelo bagre em seu ambiente natural.

ABSTRACT Acanthodoras is the only genus of catfish known to secrete a conspicuous and abundant milky-looking substance through an axillary pore located just below the base of the posterior cleithral process. Despite this remarkable feature, there is no published information on the anatomical structures that produce the secretion and its possible biological/ecological functions. Dissection and histological analysis of preserved specimens of A. spinosissimus revealed the presence of a saccular axillary gland with large, binuclear secretory cells, similar to those found in other poisonous catfish. Secretory cells near the lumen appear to lose nuclei and become filled with secretory products, possibly with proteinaceous elements, as indicated by their eosinophilic appearance. As far as we know, the saccular morphology of the gland appears to constitute a unique characteristic of Acanthodoras among Doradidae catfishes. Further studies are necessary to determine the chemical composition of the secretion, as well as its possible uses by the catfish in its natural environment.

RESUMO Dimorfismo sexual é caracterizado por diferenças entre machos e fêmeas de uma espécie. Pode estar presente em qualquer ser vivo dioico que se reproduza sexualmente, inclusive peixes. Analisamos 63 fêmeas e 63 machos adultos de Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Gymnotiformes) coletados por nós ou obtidos em coleções. O sexo foi determinado por dissecção abdominal. Medimos o comprimento do focinho até o final da origem da nadadeira anal, comprimento da nadadeira anal, distância da papila genital até a origem da nadadeira anal, distância do ânus até a origem da nadadeira anal, altura do corpo e comprimento da cabeça. Dados morfométricos submetidos a uma Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA) agruparam machos e fêmeas de G. rondoni em função de variáveis relacionadas ao tamanho do corpo ao longo do primeiro componente, ao comprimento da cabeça e à altura do corpo ao longo do segundo e terceiro componentes. Fêmeas foram maiores que os machos, enquanto machos tiveram a cabeça proporcionalmente maior e o corpo mais alto que as fêmeas. A papila urogenital de machos e fêmeas diferiu no formato, tamanho e posição relativa no corpo. A papila das fêmeas foi alongada horizontalmente, maior que a dos machos e localizada na linha vertical abaixo do olho, enquanto que a papila dos machos foi alongada verticalmente e localizada na linha vertical abaixo do opérculo. Até onde sabemos, esse é o primeiro caso registrado de dimorfismo sexual em uma espécie de Rhamphichthyidae, uma condição que é agora conhecida para todas as famílias atualmente reconhecidas de Gymnotiformes.

ABSTRACT Sexual dimorfism refers to morphological differences between males and females of a species. It may be a result of different selection pressures acting on either or both sexes and may occur in any sexually-reproducing dioecious species, including fishes. We analyzed 63 females and 63 adult males of Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Gymnotiformes) collected by us or deposited in museum collections. Sex was identified through abdominal dissection. We measured length from snout to posterior end of anal-fin, anal-fin length, distance from anus to anal-fin origin, distance from genital papilla to anal-fin origin, body width at beginning of anal-fin, and head length. Morphometric data submitted to a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) grouped males and females according to variables related to body size (along the first component) and to head length and body height along the second and third components. Females were larger than males, whereas males had proportionally larger heads and higher bodies than females. The urogenital papilla of males and females showed differences in shape, size and relative position on the body. The female papilla was elongated horizontally, larger than that of males, and was located on a vertical line below the eye, while the papilla of the males was vertically elongated and located on a vertical line below the operculum. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of sexual dimorphism in a species of Rhamphichthyidae, a condition that is now known in all the currently recognized families of Gymnotiformes.

A major concern during the translocation of higher plant species is related to habitat suitability and the availability of pollination services. Should these not meet the requirements of the plant, then successful reproduction and establishment cannot occur. We studied an endangered succulent, Frithia humilis, which had previously been translocated to typical and atypical habitats, to assess the occurrence of potential pollinators at these sites. Insects visiting F. humilis flowers and showing signs of pollen were captured, preserved and studied using a scanning electron microscope. Pollen of F. humilis was searched for. Abundance and diversity patterns of these pollen carriers across edaphic habitats of translocated populations were compared with those in a natural occurring population. Pollination success of guilds was compared amongst translocated F. humilis populations by considering the number of seedlings in a new season. Across F. humilis populations, Hymenopteran species had the largest pollen loads, making this a Melittophilous pollination system, typical for the Aizoaceae. Additionally, Anemophilous syndrome was described for translocation sites which provide reserve pollinators. Fruit formation was more favourable in suitable edaphic habitat on Ecca sandstones. Presence of seedlings at both translocation sites was indicative of successful pollination events of the self-incompatible species, but recruitment was proportionally higher in suitable habitat. Habitat suitability, in the case of this threatened species, is more of a limiting factor than pollination services after a translocation event. CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS: Translocations are fast becoming an attractive alternative for developers. This study cautions that the presence of pollinators and successful reproduction in translocated populations are only effective if the populations were translocated to an ideal habitat.

The role played by different mammal species in the maintenance of Trypanosoma cruzi is not constant and varies in time and place. This study aimed to characterise the importance of domestic, wild and peridomestic hosts in the transmission of T. cruzi in Tauá, state of Ceará, Caatinga area, Brazil, with an emphasis on those environments colonised by Triatoma brasiliensis. Direct parasitological examinations were performed on insects and mammals, serologic tests were performed on household and outdoor mammals and multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used on wild mammals. Cytochrome b was used as a food source for wild insects. The serum prevalence in dogs was 38% (20/53), while in pigs it was 6% (2/34). The percentages of the most abundantly infected wild animals were as follows: Thrichomys laurentius 74% (83/112) and Kerodon rupestris 10% (11/112). Of the 749 triatomines collected in the household research, 49.3% (369/749) were positive for T. brasiliensis, while 6.8% were infected with T. cruzi (25/369). In captured animals, T. brasiliensis shares a natural environment with T. laurentius, K. rupestris, Didelphis albiventris, Monodelphis domestica, Galea spixii, Wiedomys pyrrhorhinos, Conepatus semistriatus and Mus musculus. In animals identified via their food source, T. brasiliensis shares a natural environment with G. spixii, K. rupestris, Capra hircus, Gallus gallus, Tropidurus oreadicus and Tupinambis merianae. The high prevalence of T. cruzi in household and peridomiciliar animals reinforces the narrow relationship between the enzootic cycle and humans in environments with T. brasiliensis and characterises it as ubiquitous.

Eighty years ago the chair of "Zuid-Afrikaanse taal, letterkunde en geschiedenis" (South African Language, Literature and History) in Amsterdam came into existence under the auspices of the "Stichting ter bevordering van de studie van taal, letterkunde, cultuur en geschiedenis van Zuid-Afrika" (The Foundation for the Advancement of the Study of Language, Literature, Culture and History of South Africa). This Foundation was established on the 14th November 1932 in The Hague and has since then been a subsection of the so-called "Suid-Afrikaanse Instituut" (South African Institute), one of the institutions based in the "Zuid-Afrika Huis" (South Africa House) at 141 Keizersgracht in Amsterdam. The chair has since its inception been managed in close cooperation with a supervisory council of the University of Amsterdam. Due to long periods of inactivity only four people have been professors of Afrikaans literature in Amsterdam since the instalment of the chair. On 9th October 1933 dr. Gerrit Besselaar (1874-1947) gave his inaugural lecture as so-called "bijzonder hoogleraar" (professor by special appointment). The Dutchman Besselaar was born in Rotterdam and became a teacher in England before leaving for South Africa in 1903, shortly after the end of the Anglo-Boer War. He soon became an advocate for Afrikaans and was one of the founding members of the "Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns" (South African Academy for Science and Arts) in 1909. He was professor in the department "Nieuwe Talen" (Modern Languages) at the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg before returning to Europe in 1932. After teaching Afrikaans to German missionaries in Berlin he became the first holder of the chair of Afrikaans literature in Amsterdam. Afrikaanse taal- en letterkunde universitair studievak te Amsterdam, the title of Besselaar 's inaugural address, emphasised the status and pedagogical value of the Afrikaans language and literature. The establishment of the chair was an important acknowledgement on the side of the Dutch academy that Afrikaans, besides Dutch and Flemish, was an empowered and independent member of the Germanic group of languages. Following Besselaar 's retirement the chair of South African literature has always been occupied by South Africans. Temporary lecturers such as dr. Elizabeth Conradie (1903-1939) were also always South Africans. During the year when she took over from the ailing Besselaar she was praised not only for her enthusiastic lectures and networking skills but also for laying the foundation for the extensive library of the South Africa House. Because of World War Two and its aftermath the chair was vacant for more than a decade. The famous Afrikaans poet N.P. van Wyk Louw (1906-1970) was professor between 1950 and 1958, during which time many South African literary scholars came to study under his guidance. He wrote his most important literary work whilst living in Amsterdam. After his return to South Africa he was succeeded in 1959 by H. van der Merwe Scholtz (1924-2005) who had just completed his PhD in Amsterdam. After three years he returned to South Africa to take up a teaching post in Pretoria. Louw was a so-called "buitengewoon hoogleraar" (special chair) whilst Scholtz was "gewoon hoogleraar" (regular professor - actually the position with the most clout because of being part of the regular group of faculty professors). Louw's famous inaugural address delivered on 22nd May 1950 carried the title Die digter as intellektueel (The Poet as Intellectual), whilst the title of Scholtz's lecture delivered on 26th October 1959 was In en om die gedig (In and About the Poem). After Scholtz's departure the chair remained vacant for forty years. South African scholars such as Roy H. Pheiffer and Johan Uys, who had been studying in The Netherlands themselves, taught Afrikaans at the University for some years. After them dr. Truida Lijphart-Bezuidenhout held the fort from 1969 until her untimely death in 1987, teaching Afrikaans literature to a handful of students. During the strident years of Dutch opposition to the South African government's racial policy which resulted in an academic boycott of South African scholars and authors, the chair was suspended and only re-installed in 2000. A year later the position was advertised and on 13 September 2001 the "curatorium" (curating body) of the University of Amsterdam proposed dr. Ena Jansen as new "bijzonder hoogleraar". In April 2002 her appointment was finalised and she commenced teaching. Seventyyears after Besselaar, on the 11th April 2003, she gave her inaugural address entitled "Eva, wat sê hulle?" Konstruksies van Krotoa in Suid-Afrikaanse tekste ("Eva, what are they saying?" Constructions of Krotoa in South African texts). In this article the focus is on the founding years of the Amsterdam chair and its ties with the "Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns".

Die Amsterdamse leerstoel Zuid-Afrikaanse letterkunde is in 1933 deur die "Stichting tot bevordering van de studie van taal, letterkunde, cultuur en geschiedenis van Zuid-Afrika" ingestel aan wat toe nog de Gemeentelijke Universiteit van Amsterdam geheet het. Dit was 'n teken van erkenning deur die Nederlandse wetenskap dat Afrikaans uit Nederlands ontwikkel het tot 'n taal in eie reg, tot 'n "selfstandige loot aan die Germaanse taalboom". Op 9 Oktober 1933 het prof. dr. Gerrit Besselaar (1874-1947) sy intreerede as "bijzonder hoogleraar Zuid-Afrikaanse taal-, letterkunde en geschiedenis" gehou. Die leerstoel is ná 'n lang onderbreking tydens en na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog hervat en in die jare '50 en '60 van die vorige eeu beklee deur agtereenvolgens N.P. van Wyk Louw (1950-1958) en H. van der Merwe Scholtz (1959-1962). As gevolg van politieke druk en akademiese boikotaksies is die leerstoel later opgehef, maar ná die demokratiese omwenteling in Suid-Afrika is die tyd ryp geag vir die herinstelling daarvan. In Junie 1999 is 'n konsepvoorstel ingedien by die Fakulteit Geesteswetenskap van die Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) en 'njaar later het die "College van Bestuur" toestemming gegee vir die instelling van weer 'n "bijzondere" leerstoel. In September 2001 is Ena Jansen (gebore 1951) benoem, in April 2002 het sy met haar eerste lesingreeks begin en op 11 April 2003 haar intreerede gehou. In die artikel word veral aandag gegee aan die ontstaansjare van die leerstoel en aan kontakte tussen Amsterdam en die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.

Centromochlus abriga atualmente onze espécies, sendo o gênero mais problemático dentre os Centromochlinae, incluindo táxons morfologicamente heterogêneos. As espécies de Centromochlus apresentam uma ampla área de distribuição no norte da América do Sul. Centromochlus meridionalis, espécie nova, é descrita para as cabeceiras do rio Teles Pires, formador do rio Tapajós, Mato Grosso, Brasil, e representa um dos registros mais ao sul de um bagre centromoclíneo para os riachos da Amazônia meridional. Centromochlus meridionalis é prontamente distinguido de todos os seus congêneres, pelo diâmetro orbital pequeno (em relação ao comprimento da cabeça), e ainda pela combinação da ausência de primeira placa nucal, margem anterior do espinho da nadadeira dorsal lisa, seis raios ramificados na nadadeira anal, sete pares de costelas e 34 vértebras. São bagres de pequeno porte com adultos entre 33 e 61 mm de comprimento padrão. A nadadeira anal de machos sexualmente maduros é conspicuamente modificada, na qual o terceiro raio indiviso é muito largo, cerca do dobro da espessura do primeiro raio ramificado. O registro desta espécie nova ocorre em uma região fortemente ameaçada por alterações ambientais decorrentes da expansão de atividades agropecuárias na Amazônia Brasileira, a qual coloca esta espécie em uma situação incerta quanto ao estado de conservação da sua população natural.

Centromochlus actually comprises eleven species, being the most problematic genus among the Centromochlinae, including morphologically heterogeneous taxa. The Centromochlus species have a wide distributional area on northern South America. Centromochlus meridionalis, new species, is described from headwaters of rio Teles Pires, contributor of rio Tapajós, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, and represents one of the southernmost records of a centromochlin catfish for Meridional Amazon rivers. Centromochlus meridionalis is promptly distinguished from its congeners by the small orbital diameter (relative to head length), and also by the combination of absence of first nuchal plate, anterior margin of dorsal-fin spine smooth, six branched rays in anal fin, seven pairs of ribs and 34 vertebrae. They are small sized catfishes with adults between 33 to 61 mm in standard length. The modified male anal fin is conspicuous, with the third unbranched ray enlarged, about twice the width of first unbranched ray. The new species inhabits a region strongly endangered by environmental changes due to expansion of agropecuary activities on Brazilian Amazon, which include this species in an uncertain situation regarding the conservation status of its natural population.

The Pantanal is a South American biome characterized by extensive plains and stark environmental seasonality. Several habitats are subject to annual flooding, forcing small mammal species to aggregate in dry forest patches, which most likely influences their population dynamics and life history strategies. In order to investigate the seasonal influence on the life history traits of these small mammals, we conducted a 2-year mark-recapture study in the southeastern region of the Brazilian Pantanal (Nhecolândia) and analyzed the population dynamics of the most abundant small mammal species with the jackknife estimator. A trapping effort of 21,560 trap-nights resulted in 615 individuals in 1,171 captures (success = 5.43%). Three species of rodents - Oecomys mamorae (Thomas, 1906), Thrichomys pachyurus (Wagner, 1845), and Clyomys laticeps (Thomas, 1841) - and three species of marsupials - Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854), Thylamys macrurus (Olfers, 1818), and Monodelphis domestica (Wagner, 1842) - were obtained. The most abundant species was O. mamorae, followed by G. agilis and T. pachyurus. Oecomys mamorae was more abundant in the wet season and presented an opportunistic reproductive strategy. Gracilianus agilis displayed increased population sizes in the dry season and synchronized, seasonal reproduction during the rainy season. Thrichomys pachyurus had a small population size, delayed response to variations in environmental conditions and higher reproductive rates in the dry season. All species revealed different life history strategies (seasonal, opportunistic or delayed response to environmental variations), coinciding with periods of higher resource availability in order to maximize survival.

A relação entre a distribuição dos canais da linha lateral e a sua funcionalidade é pouco conhecida para os elasmobrânquios, especialmente para as raias neotropicais da família Potamotrygonidae. A distribuição espacial dos canais e seus túbulos e a quantificação dos neuromastos foram analisadas em exemplares preservados das raias Potamotrygon motoro, P. orbignyi, Potamotrygon sp. "cururu" e Paratrygon aiereba, provenientes do médio rio Negro, Amazonas, Brasil. Foram identificados os canais hiomandibular, infra-orbital, linha lateral posterior, mandibular, nasal e supra-orbital, e os poros e neuromastos de cada um foram quantificados. Nossos resultados mostram que os canais dorsais podem ter a função de identificar a presença de predadores ou presas posicionadas acima do corpo da raia, enquanto os canais ventrais provavelmente permitem uma localização precisa da posição de presas sob o corpo. A existência de canais sem poros na região ventral pode estar relacionada com a alta concentração de neuromastos, que compensaria a falta de contato direto dos neuromastos com o meio externo na detecção de estímulos mecânicos. A concentração dos canais sem poros na proximidade da boca indica sua importância para a localização e captura de presas enterradas no substrato, possivelmente auxiliadas pela presença das vesículas de Savi.

The relationship between the distribution of the lateral line canals and their functionality has not been well examined in elasmobranchs, especially among Neotropical freshwater stingrays of the family Potamotrygonidae. The spatial distribution of the canals and their tubules and the quantification of the neuromasts were analyzed in preserved specimens of Potamotrygon motoro, P. orbignyi, Potamotrygon sp. "cururu", and Paratrygon aiereba from the middle Negro River, Amazonas, Brazil. The hyomandibular, infraorbital, posterior lateral line, mandibular, nasal and supraorbital canals were characterized and their pores and neuromasts quantified. The ventral canals are known to facilitate the accurate localization of prey items under the body, and our results indicate that the dorsal canals may be employed in identifying the presence of predators or potential prey positioned above the stingray's body. The presence of non-pored canals in the ventral region may be compensated by the high concentration of neuromasts found in the same area, which possibly allow the accurate detection of mechanical stimuli. The concentration of non-pored canals near the mouth indicates their importance in locating and capturing prey buried in the bottom substrate, possibly aided by the presence of vesicles of Savi.

Antes de nossas pesquisas, nas zonas emque trabalhamos, haviam sido asinalados cinco casos vivos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana, três no Ceará e dois em Pernambuco. Alem desses, oito tinham sido evidenciados por viscerotomia na Baía, município de Jacobina. Já se tinha conhecimento tambem, de um caso de Doença de Chagas no Ceará. Na confecção do presente trabalho visitamos regiões dos Estados do Ceará, Pernambuco e Baía, onde realizamos rápidos inquéritos epidemiológicos sobre as duas protozooses. No Ceará, região do Cariri, encontramos dois novos casos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana, cujo diagnóstico foi confirmado pelo exame de esfregaços de polpa esplênica, e cinco de Doença de Chagas, evidenciandos pelos xenodiagnóstico. Foram capturados Flebotomus longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, F. villelai Mangabeira., F. limai Fonseca e F. nordestinus Mangabeira, assim com Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.), 13.5% dos quais infectados. Examinamos animais domésticos (cães e gatos) e silvestres com resultado negativo. Em Pernambuco, município de Exú, fizemos um inquérito sobre os dois casos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana anteriormente assinalados, não encontrando outros. foram capturados F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, alem de Panstrongylus magistus (Burm.) e Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva; nenhum deles estava infectado. Dos animais domésticos foram autopsiados três cães sendo encontrado um com leishmanias no fígado e no baço. O exame de 43 animais silvestres nada revelou. Na Baía, município de Jacobina, encontramos, na zona periférica da cidade, um caso de Leishmaniose visceral Americana e, em outras localidades do município, três outros casos, cujos diagnósticos foram confirmados pelo exame de esfregaços de polpa esplênica; encontramos, também dois casos de Doença de Chagas, evidenciados pelo xenodiagnóstico. Foram capturados F. evandroi Costa Lima, F. lenti Mangabeira e F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva; Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.) (65.5% infectados) e um exemplar de Eutriatoma maculata (Erich.). Encontramos, tambem, em oco de pau, longe das habitações, um exemplar de P. megistus (Burm.) infectado. Examinamos quatro animais domésticos (cães e gatos), tendo sido encontrado um cão portador de S. cruzi.

In the regions we have worked in there had been found five patients of american visceral leishmaniasis before our researches, three in the State of Ceará and two in the State of Pernambuco. Eight other cases had been reported by viscerotomy in the State of Baía, district of jacobina. One case of Chagas' disease has been found in the State of Ceará. For the execution of our work we travelled through the States of Ceará, Pernambuco and Baía, in the very regions where the reported cases were found. At these places we made rapid epidemiological reports about those diseases. At the State of Ceará, zone of Cariri, we found two new cases of american visceral leismaniasis, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by the examination of the material of spleen punctures. Five cases of Chagas' disease shown by xenodiagnostic were found too. We collected flebotomus longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, F. villelai Mangabeira, F. limai fonseca and F. nordestinus Mangabeira and Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.) with 13.5% infected. We had negative results in the examination of domestic (dogs and cats) and wild animals. At the State of Pernambuco, district of Exú, we made inquiries about two cases of american visceral leishmaniasis previously refered and found no new cases. We collected, F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.) and Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva; none was infected. Among the domestic animals (3 dogs) we found leishmaniae in liver and spleen of one of them. the results of the examination of 43 wild animals were negative. In the State of Baía, district of jacobina, we found along the cityline one case of american visceral leishmaniasis and in others regions of this district, three new cases, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by the examination of the pulp of the spleen; we also found two cases of Chagas' disease, by xenodiagnostic. We collected F. evandroi Costa Lima. F. lenti Mangabeira, and F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva; Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.) (65.5% infected) and one single specimen Eutriatoma maculata (Erich.) Further we have found an infected specimen of p. megistus (Burm.) in tree burrows some distance from the houses. We examined four domestic animals (dogs and cats) and found one dog infected with S. cruzi.