RESUMO O vírus herpes simplex tipo 2 (HVS-2) é uma das infecções mais prevalentes em todo o mundo. Considera-se um co-factor na aquisição do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e na persistência do papilomavirus humano (HPV). Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a prevalência de HSV-2 usando a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) e fatores associados em pacientes atendidos na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande e em Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do Rio Grande, Brasil. A prevalência de HSV-2 encontrada neste estudo foi de 15,6%. Entre as 302 mulheres estudadas, 158 haviam recebido assistência na UBS e 144 foram atendidos na FURG. A prevalência de HSV-2 nestes grupos foi de 10,8 e 20,8%, respectivamente, com RR: 1,9 e p = 0,012. Conhecer o exame de Papanicolaou, e presença de lesão não teve associação com infecção HSV-2. A análise multivariada mostrou que a variável que influencia no risco de infecção HSV-2 foi o paciente ter HIV, com risco relativo 1,9 e p = 0,04. Discussão: As úlceras genitais são importante porta de entrada para o vírus HIV e o uso do preservativo é estratégia importante para reduzir a transmissão do HIV e do HSV-2.

SUMMARY The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HVS-2) is the most prevalent infection worldwide. It is a cofactor in the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV). This study evaluated the prevalence of HSV-2, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and associated factors in patients treated at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) and Basic Health Units (BHU) in Rio Grande, Brazil. The observed prevalence of HSV-2 was 15.6%. Among the 302 women studied, 158 had received assistance in BHU and 144 were treated at FURG. The prevalence of HSV-2 in these groups was 10.8% and 20.8%, respectively, RR 1.9 and p = 0.012. Knowledge about the Pap smear, and the presence of lesions showed no association with HSV-2 infection. Multivariate analysis showed that the variable that most influenced the risk of HSV-2 infection was the presence of HIV infection, with a relative risk of 1.9 and p = 0.04. Discussion: Genital ulcers are an important entry point for HIV, and condom use is an important strategy to reduce transmission of HIV and HSV-2.

In social insects, the typical mode of colony foundation occurs when a single queen is inseminated by a male and establishes a new colony, although we can find interspecific and intraspecific variations in queen number and queen-mating frequencies in a single colony. This study aimed to verify the queen number in Pachycondyla striata (Smith) colonies and to evaluate the level of aggressiveness among workers. We collected 14 colonies of P. striata. The behaviors of individuals from five multiple-queen colonies maintained in laboratory were studied by the method of scan sampling. In order to evaluate aggressiveness, dyadic encounters among heterocolonial and homocolonial workers were performed. The results showed that colonies of P. striata can have two or more mated queens (polygynous colonies) besides to monogynous ones (colony containing one queen). Because in polygynous colonies the number of workers was relatively low, such colonies could represent colonies in the foundation phase that characterize a pleometrosis state. In fact, ovarian development analysis from queens showed that the number of queens in the colonies seemed to be unstable. Despite a few cases of oophagy (egg cannibalism), social hierarchy among queens is unclear in comparison to other Pachycondyla species. In addition, aggressiveness increased with distance among nests. Nearby colonies (less than 1 m apart) showed a low level of aggressiveness, suggesting the presence of polydomy, that is, a unique colony can occupy multiple nests. Polygyny associated to polydomy in founding colonies may confer benefits on growth and dispersion of colonies in the studied environments.