A região Norte do Brasil é considerada zona endêmica de diversas doenças infectocontagiosas, das quais podemos citar a meningite. A doença possui diversos fatores causais, sendo que a etiologia viral é a mais comum, porém a de origem bacteriana apresenta-se como responsável pela maior taxa de mortalidade. Entretanto, apesar da sua relevância no contexto de saúde pública na região Norte do país, poucos são os estudos publicados sobre a meningite na região. Nesse sentido, foi realizado um estudo transversal com o objetivo de traçar o perfil dos indivíduos acometidos por essa doença no Norte do Brasil entre os anos de 2012 e 2015. Os dados foram obtidos no banco de dados oficial do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). No período de estudo, ocorreu queda no número de casos notificados, houve predominância do sexo masculino, da faixa etária entre 0 e 19 anos e de etiologia bacteriana. Este trabalho, associado a estimativas globais, pode fornecer subsídios para ações de prevenção e controle da meningite na região Norte.     Palavras-chave: Meningite; Região Norte; Brasil; Epidemiologia. ABSTRACT Northern region of Brazil is considered an endemic area of several infectious diseases, such as meningitis. The disease has several causal factors, and the viral etiology is the most common, but the bacterial origin is responsible for the highest mortality rate. However, despite its relevance in the context of public health in the northern region of the country, there are a few published studies on meningitis in the region. So, a cross-sectional study was carried out with the objective of tracing the profile of the individuals affected by this disease in Northern Brazil between the years of 2012 and 2015. Data were collected from the official database of the notification of injury information system. During the study period, there was a decrease in the number of cases reported, there was a predominance of males, ages ranging from 0 to 19 years and bacterial etiology. This work, combined with global estimates, can provide subsidies for prevention and control of meningitis in the North.                                   Keywords: Meningitis; Northern Brazil; Epidemiology.

No abstract

Bovine cysticercosis, caused by Taenia saginata metacestodes, is the cause of significant economic losses to the meat production chain by condemnation and downgrading of infected carcasses. It is also a public health issue causing human taeniasis. This study evaluated the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis at the meat inspection procedures in slaughterhouses of south and north regions of the Tocantins State in Brazil. Specimens identified as cysts of T. saginata were collected and analyzed by molecular (PCR) and histopathological techniques. The cysts were collected from March to December of 2010 in slaughterhouses located in the cities of Alvorada (South) and Araguaína (North). The frequency of cystic lesions during the study was 0.033% (53/164,091) with 69.81% of calcified lesions and 30.9% of live cysts at meat inspection. From 14 samples submitted to molecular analysis, 28.57% (4/14) were positive for T. saginata. The histopathological analysis of the non-T. saginata samples showed lesions suggestive of granuloma and hydatid disease. The results indicated that the identification of the etiological agent is difficult by macroscopic inspection, emphasizing the need to associate specific diagnostic methods at meat inspection in abattoirs. In addition, species-specific PCR would be an effective tool for diagnosis, monitoring, and identifying cysticercosis, assisting the conventional tests.

Direitos Autorais: © 2017 Rodrigues Junior et al. Este é um artigo de acesso aberto que permite o uso, a distribuição e a reprodução sem restrições em qualquer meio, desde que o autor original e a fonte sejam creditados. Conflito de interesses ABSTRACTSchistosomiasis is an endemic disease in Brazil. It is caused by the worm Schistosoma mansoni, presenting itself as a serious public health problem. However, despite the relevance of the disease, there are few studies about the disease in the northern region of Brazil, so the present study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of schistosomiasis in the region between 2012 and 2015. A cross-sectional study of the information collected in the bank of the national health information system, of the Ministry of Health. During this period, there was a trend in the growth of reported cases in the region, with 65,09% observed in males and 34, 91% of the female sex, 71,60% of the brown race, 17,16% of the white race, 71,01% were urban dwellers and 26,63% were rural. In addition, the majority of the population studied was between 20 and 59 years old. According to previously published studies, there is a trend of increasing incidence of human infection by Schistosoma sp. This perspective of growth of reported cases can be observed in the data found by this study, relevant data for providing information for the construction of control and prevention policies.

<p><em>Samanea tubulosa</em> é uma planta utilizada na fitoterapia e na alimentação animal. Entretanto, a ingestão de vagens de <em>S. tubulosa</em> tem sido associada à ocorrência de abortos em bovinos. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi investigar os efeitos da dieta contendo 5% de vagens de <em>S. tubulosa</em> em ratos machos e fêmeas Wistar. A dieta foi administrada para ratos machos (n = 10) por 60 dias antes do acasalamento. Ratos fêmeas (n = 10) receberam o tratamento por 30 dias, durante a coabitação e do dia gestacional (GD) 0 ao GD 20. As fêmeas tratadas foram acasaladas com ratos não tratados. Em machos, o consumo da planta causou diminuição no consumo de ração e redução de 20% no índice de fertilidade. A prole de machos tratados apresentou menor ganho de peso e comprimento cabeça cauda. Fêmeas tratadas com a planta apresentaram aumento do consumo de ração e água e do peso corporal. Ainda, foram observadas diminuição na fertilidade, fecundidade e no índice de gestação e aumento do peso da placenta e no número médio de corpos lúteos. Desse modo, em decorrência aos possíveis efeitos tóxicos sistêmicos e reprodutivos, o consumo prolongado de <em>S. tubulosa</em> não é recomendado para fins fitoterápicos ou alimentar.</p>