In an experimental microcosm, an analysis was performed of the influence exerted by freshwater Mesocyclops longisetus copepods on the survival of Vibrio cholerae O1 serovar Inaba. In the State of Ceará, copepods are used in the control of Aedes aegypti larvae. The system consisted of water with a salinity of 0.27 per 10,000 habitants and pH 7.5, which after sterilizing filtration was distributed into seven flasks with a volume of 400 ml; in each of six flasks, 10 live copepods were inoculated along with 1 ml of an 8-hour culture of Vibrio cholerae O1 at 37oC in Alkaline Peptone Water, resulting in a concentration of 3.80x10(4) colony-forming units. The control flask contained only the water with the same bacterial suspension. The system was maintained for six days at room temperature (25-28oC), and daily duplicate counts were performed in TCBS Agar. Results confirmed a clear association between Vibrio cholerae O1 and the live copepods, based on survival of the bacteria at compatible levels with the initial inoculation until the sixth day of the analysis.

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In order to evaluate the aplicability of the Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) as a method of detection of the natural canine infection for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, it was realized a study involving the serum of naive dogs from Serra de Baturite, Ceara State, an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis, and others from Curitiba, Parana State, a non endemic area. The results indicate the possibility of using this sorologic test to the epidemiologic research of the infection in the reservoir host; in this case, the dog.