ABSTRACT Poverty, malnutrition and neglected tropical diseases such as soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) interact in a multi-causal feedback network. This study aimed to assess the relationships between STHs, income and nutritional status of children in impoverished communities in the city of Caxias, Maranhao State, Northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional survey (n=259 children) was carried out with the collection of fecal samples and assessment of sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and sanitation data. Hookworm infection and ascariasis presented prevalence rates of 14.3% and 9.3%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis showed that hookworm infection was more frequent in males (odds ratio [OR]=3.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.45-8.08), children aged 11-15 years old (OR=3.72; 95% CI=1.19-11.62), children living in poor families (OR=2.44; 95% CI=1.04-5.68) and those living in rented houses (OR=5.74; 95%CI=1.91-17.25). Concerning ascariasis, living in the Caldeiroes community (OR=0.01; 95%CI=0-0.17) and belonging to the 11-15 years age group (OR=0.21; 95%CI=0.04-1.02) were protection factors. Poor children have a significantly lower frequency of consumption of meat, milk, vegetables, tubers and fruits than not poor children. The frequent consumption of meat, milk and tubers was associated with significant higher values in the parameter height-for-age, whereas the consumption of meat and milk positively influenced the weight-for-age. The frequencies of stunting, underweight and wasting were 8.1%, 4.9% and 2.9%, respectively. The multivariate model demonstrated that stunting was significantly associated with economic poverty (OR=2.82; 95%CI=1.03-7.70) and low weight was associated with male sex (OR=6.43; 95% CI=1.35-30.68). In conclusion, the study describes the interactions between the dimensions of development represented by income, STHs and nutritional status revealing the importance of raising income levels to improve the living conditions of families in impoverished communities in Northeastern Brazil.

This study aimed to estimate the frequency, associated factors, and molecular characterisation of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, andEntamoeba hartmanni infections. We performed a survey (n = 213 subjects) to obtain parasitological, sanitation, and sociodemographic data. Faecal samples were processed through flotation and centrifugation methods.E. histolytica, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. hartmanni were identified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall prevalence of infection was 22/213 (10.3%). The infection rate among subjects who drink rainwater collected from roofs in tanks was higher than the rate in subjects who drink desalinated water pumped from wells; similarly, the infection rate among subjects who practice open defecation was significantly higher than that of subjects with latrines. Out of the 22 samples positive for morphologically indistinguishableEntamoeba species, the differentiation by PCR was successful for 21. The species distribution was as follows: 57.1% to E. dispar, 23.8% to E. histolytica, 14.3% toE. histolytica and E. dispar, and 4.8% E. dispar and E. hartmanni. These data suggest a high prevalence of asymptomatic infection by the group of morphologically indistinguishable Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskiicomplex and E. hartmanni species. In this context of water scarcity, the sanitary and socioenvironmental characteristics of the region appear to favour transmission.

Apesar de o sistema integrado de produção agropecuária (SIPA) sob plantio direto (PD) ser uma prática atrativa para intensificação das áreas agrícolas, faltam informações regionalizadas concernentes aos efeitos do pastejo/pastoreio animal, particularmente de novilhas leiteiras, sobre os principais atributos químicos e físicos do solo. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar os efeitos do pastejo animal sobre alguns atributos químicos e físicos do solo, após 21 meses de SIPA sob PD, em uma sucessão pastagens anuais de inverno (2008) / soja (2008/09) / pastagens anuais de inverno (2009) / milho (2009/10). O experimento foi realizado no município de Castro (PR), em um Latossolo Bruno Distrófico com textura argilosa, empregando-se delineamento experimental de blocos completos ao acaso com 12 repetições. Os tratamentos incluíram combinações de duas pastagens (azevém anual solteiro, e azevém anual consorciado com aveia preta, trevo branco e trevo vermelho) submetidas ao pastejo animal durante o período outono-inverno e duas e categorias de animais (leves e pesados). Após a colheita do milho (2010), amostras de solo foram retiradas visando determinar os atributos químicos e físicos do solo nas camadas de 0-10 e 10-20 cm. Os tipos de pastagens e categorias animais não alteraram as concentrações de carbono orgânico e nitrogênio total, mas influenciaram os atributos acidez e cátions trocáveis. O cultivo de azevém solteiro favoreceu mais a acidificação do solo em relação ao consórcio de pastagens. Este, por sua vez, resultou em menor densidade e maior macroporosidade do solo no tratamento com animais mais pesados.

Although integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) under no-tillage (NT) is an attractive practice for intensify agricultural production, little regional information is available on the effects of animal grazing and trampling, particularly dairy heifers, on the soil chemical and physical attributes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of animal grazing on the chemical and physical attributes of the soil after 21 months of ICLS under NT in a succession of annual winter pastures (2008), soybeans (2008/2009), annual winter pastures (2009), and maize (2009/10). The experiment was performed in the municipality of Castro (PR) in a dystrophic Humic Rhodic Hapludox with a clay texture. The treatments included a combination of two pasture (annual ryegrass monoculture and multicropping - annual ryegrass, black oat, white clover and red clover) with animal grazing during the fall-winter period with two animal weight categories (light and heavy), in a completely randomized block experimental design with 12 replications. After the maize harvest (21 months after beginning), soil samples were collected at 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers to measure soil chemical and physical attributes. The different combinations of pasture and animal weight did not alter the total organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil, but they influence the attributes of soil acidity and exchangeable cations. The monoculture pasture of ryegrass showed greater soil acidification process compared to the multicropping pasture. When using heavier animals, the multicropping pasture showed lesser increase in soil bulk density and greater macroporosity.

A adoção do sistema de plantio direto (SPD), aliado a integração lavoura pecuária (ILP) tem sido uma estratégia fomentada no Brasil, visando maximizar o rendimento das áreas e aumentar a lucratividade do agronegócio. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o rendimento de grãos e atributos fitotécnicos nas culturas de milho e soja, em sistema de ILP, sob plantio direto, após o cultivo de pastos anuais de inverno, puros ou diversificados, com ausência ou presença de animais em pastejo de diferentes categorias. O experimento foi instalado no município de Castro (PR), em um Latossolo Bruno distrófico textura argilosa, empregando-se delineamento experimental de blocos completos aleatorizados, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com três repetições. Os tratamentos incluíram quatro combinações de pastagens (diversificadas ou puras) e categorias de animais (leves e pesados), submetidas ou não ao pastejo animal durante o inverno. Durante o verão de 2008/09 e 2009/10 a área foi cultivada com soja e milho, respectivamente, e procederam-se avaliações de rendimento de grãos e atributos fitotécnicos. Os tratamentos não alteraram o rendimento e o peso de mil sementes (PMS) de soja. Na cultura do milho, o pastejo animal, durante o inverno, aumentou a população de plantas e o rendimento de grãos, mas proporcionou ligeira diminuição no PMS. As combinações de pastos (diversificados ou puros) e categorias de animais (leves e pesados) não interferiram na cultura da soja, mas beneficiaram a cultura do milho.

The adoption of no-till system (NTS) combined with crop-livestock integration (CLI) has been a strategy promoted in Brazil, aiming to maximize areas yield and increase agribusiness profitability. This study aimed to evaluate grains yield and phytotechnical attributes from maize and soybean culture by CLI system under NTS after winter annual pure and diversified pastures with the absence or presence of grazing animals. The experiment was installed in Castro (Paraná State, Brazil) on in a dystrophic Humic Rhodic Hapludox with a clay texture, using experimental design of randomized complete blocks in 4 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications. Treatments included four pasture combinations (diversified or pure) and animal categories (light and heavy) subjected or not to grazing animals during the winter. During 2008/09 and 2009/10 summers, the area was cultivated with soybeans and maize, respectively, with yield assessment of grains and phytotechnical attributes. Treatments did not alter the yield and weight of a thousand seeds (WTS) of soybeans. In maize culture, the grazing animal during the winter increased the plant population and grains yield, but gave slight decrease in WTS. Pasture combinations (diversified or pure) and animal categories (light and heavy) did not interfere in soybean culture, but benefited the maize crop.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o teste rápido de antígeno de H. pylori nas fezes (One step H. pylori antigen test, ACON laboratories, San Diego, USA; Prime diagnostics, São Paulo), usando teste respiratório com uréia marcada com 13C (TRU-13C), como padrão ouro. Noventa e oito pacientes assintomáticos ou com dispepsia participaram do estudo. Sessenta e nove eram mulheres; a média de idade dos pacientes foi de 45.76 ± 14.59 (14 a 79 anos). No grupo H. pylori positivo, o teste rápido detectou antígenos de H. pylori nas fezes em 44 dos 50 pacientes positivos (sensibilidade de 88%; 95% IC: 75.7-95.5%), com seis falso-negativos; e no grupo H. pylori negativo, 42 apresentaram resultados negativos (especificidade de 87,5%; 95% IC: 74.7-95.3%), com seis falso-positivos, mostrando concordância substancial (índice Kappa = 0.75; p < 0.0001; 95% IC: 0.6-0.9). Quarenta e quatro dos 50 que tiveram teste de antígeno fecal positivo eram H. pylori positivos, sendo o VPP do teste 88% (95% IC: 75.7-95.5%), e 42 pacientes com teste de antígeno fecal negativo eram H. pylori negativos, com VPN de 87,5% (95% IC: 74.7-95.3%). Concluímos que o teste de antígeno fecal imunocromatográfico pode ser usado como alternativa ao teste respiratório para diagnóstico de infecção pelo H. pylori, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento.

The aim of this study was to validate the rapid lateral flow Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test (One step H. pylori antigen test, ACON laboratories, San Diego, USA; Prime diagnostics, São Paulo), using 13C-Urea Breath Test as the gold standard for H. pylori infection diagnosis. A total of 98 consecutive patients, asymptomatic or dyspeptic, entered the study. Sixty-nine were women, with a mean age of 45.76 ± 14.59 years (14 to 79 years). In the H. pylori-positive group, the rapid stool antigen test detected H. pylori antigen in 44 of the 50 positive patients (sensitivity 88%; 95% CI: 75.7-95.5%), and six false-negative; and in the H. pylori-negative group 42 presented negative results (specificity 87.5%; 95% CI: 74.7-95.3%), and six false-positive, showing a substantial agreement (Kappa Index = 0.75; p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9). Forty four of fifty patients that had positive stool antigen were H. pylori-positive, the PPV of the stool antigen test was 88% (95% CI: 75.7-95.5%), and 42 patients with negative stool antigen test were H. pylori-negative, the NPV of the stool antigen test was 87.5% (95% CI: 74.7-95.3%). We conclude that the lateral flow stool antigen test can be used as an alternative to breath test for H. pylori infection diagnosis especially in developing countries.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o padrão de desfolhação em pastagens de capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum, Jacq.), novilhas leiteiras da raça HPB foram submetidas, em testes de pastejo, a cinco alturas de dossel (60, 80, 100, 120 e 140 cm), em um delineamento completamente casualizado, com duas repetições. Caracterizou-se a estrutura do dossel por meio de: altura; oferta de forragem, massa de forragem e de lâminas foliares; densidade volumétrica da forragem, de colmos mais bainhas e de lâminas foliares; densidade populacional de perfilhos; número e comprimento de lâminas foliares expandidas e em expansão. Com o aumento da altura do dossel, observou-se redução linear (Y= 0,369606 + 0,001555 x, R² = 0,5560, P = 0,008) na probabilidade de desfolhação das plantas, como resultado da maior massa de forragem. Com o incremento em altura do dossel, notadamente à altura de 85 cm, os animais passaram a ingerir maior proporção de lâminas foliares expandidas à medida que as mesmas apresentaram-se mais acessíveis, apesar da maior preferência por lâminas foliares em expansão. A intensidade de desfolhação das folhas expandidas diminuiu linearmente (Y= 80,866791 – 0,370979 x, R² = 0,6076, P = 0,004), refletindo o aumento em seu comprimento (Y= -104,311106 + 2,877570 x – 0,012035 x², R² = 0,9271, P = 0,002) e também a maior resistência à apreensão, imposta pela idade das folhas. Com o aumento em altura do dossel, o padrão de desfolhação foi alterado, de maneira que os animais passaram a executar um pastejo mais periférico nas touceiras e com acesso reduzido às folhas em expansão, de melhor valor nutritivo.

To evaluate the pattern of defoliation in a Mombaça (Panicum maximum) grass pasture, experimental paddocks were grazed by Holstein heifers to maintain canopy height of: 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 cm height. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replications. The assessed sward structures were: canopy height; herbage and leaf lamina mass; canopy, sheath plus stems and leaves bulk density; tiller density and number and length of fully-expanded and emerging leaves. Linear decrease in plant defoliation probability (Y= 0.369606 + 0.001555 x, R² = 0.5560, P = 0.008) was observed as pasture height increased, as a reflection of increasing canopy herbage mass. Ingestion of fully expanded leaves increased with canopy height, mainly for the 85 cm canopy, in spite of the animal preference for emerging leaves. The intensity of defoliation of fully expanded leaves decreased linearly (Y= 80.866791 – 0.370979 x, R² = 0.6076, P = 0.004), reflecting their increased length (Y= -104.311106 + 2.877570 x – 0.012035 x², R² = 0.9271, P = 0.002) and their greater resistance to apprehension by the animal, as well. The increase in canopy heights changed defoliation pattern of the animals, as the animals began to graze around the plants, due to the restricted access to the younger leaves, of greater nutritive value.