This study presents the distribution of leishmaniasis in the town of Buriticupu, Maranhão, Brazil, by month, season, occupation, gender, and age from 1996 to 1998. These data were compared with those on sand flies obtained by other authors during the same period. The disease affected all age groups, in the following order: 0-5 years (4.1%), 6-10 (7.1%), 11-15 (13.6%), 16-21 (20.8%), 22-30 (21.1%), and > 30 (33.3%)

No abstract

We investigated the relationships among interstitial salinity, leaf sclerophylly, plant vigor, and population density for the leaf galling insect Cecidomyia avicenniae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on its host plant Avicennia germinans (Avicenniaceae). Sampling was done in six mangrove stands and in one varzea forest of Maranhäo, northeast Brazil. At each site, ten shoots were randomly taken on five A. germinans trees. From each shoot we counted the total number of galls and recorded the shoot length (cm). We also recorded the average length, width, total area, and biomass of leaves per shoot. Leaf sclerophylly was quantified by leaf biomass per unit area (g/cm2). Samples of interstitial water were taken by a 1.3–cm PVC tube with 80 cm of depth, and salinity (ppt) was measured with a refractometer. Leaf sclerophylly showed a positive relationship with interstitial salinity (= 0.77, P 0.05). We also observed positive relationships between gall density per unit of leaf area (cm2) and salinity (r = 0.36, P 0.05), and between gall density and leaf sclerophylly (r = 0.40, P 0.05). The salinity and the leaf sclerophylly together explained 22 percent of the variation in gall density of C. avicenniae, We found a negative relationship between the number of galls per centimeter and shoot length (R2= 0.50, P 0.05). Thus, longer shoots of A. germinans showed lower gall density. Our results suggest that the gall density of C. a.vicenniae on A. germinans is affected by the salinity of host plant habitat and by leaf sclerophylly along an interstitial salinity gradient. RESUMO Investigou‐se a relação entre salinidade intersticial, esclerofilia da folha, vigor da planta e densidade de galhas provocadas pdo inseto gahador foliar, Ceczkbmyia avicenniue (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), em sua planta hospedeira Avicennia germinam (Avicenniaceae). As coletas foram realizadas em seis mangues e em uma mata de várzea, no Maranhão, nordeste do Brasil. Em cada local, dez ramos foram coletados aleatoriamente em cinco irvores de A. germinam. De cada ram foram obtidos o nhnero total de galhas e o comprimento (cm). Mtdias do comprimento, largura, biomassa e Area das folhas por ram0 foram tarnbh registradas. A esclerofilia foliar foi quantificada atravks da biomassa por unidade de Area foliar (g/cmz). Amostras da @a intersticial foram obtidas atravts de urn tubo de PVC de 1,3 cm de dibnetro A uma profundidade de 80 cm, e a salinidade (ppm) medida corn um refratdmetro. A esclerofilia das folhas apresentou uma forte correla@o positiva corn a salinidade intersticial (R = 0,77; P < 0,05). Observou‐se tambtm correlasbes entre a densidade de galhas por unidade de Area foliar (cm2) e a salinidade intersticial (r = 0,36; P < 0,05), e entre densidade de galhas e a esclerofilia das folhas (r = 0,40; P < 0,05). Salinidade e esclerofilia juntas explicaram 22 por cent0 da varia+o na densidade de galhas de C. avicenniae. Observou‐se, ainda, uma relago negativa entre a densidade de galhas por centimetro e o comprimento do ram0 (IP = 0,50; P < 0,05). Portanto, ra...

In recent decades, intense human intervention in the coastal zone has given rise to severe siltation and erosion problems. This scenario is located the São Luís tidal inlet, formed by the mouths of the Anil and Bacanga rivers which due to various kinds of interference have been changing their sediment transport and deposition processes. With these changes in mind, this study sought to evaluate the evolution of the siltation and sedimentation rates in this area, as well as the main anthropogenic influences associated with this process. The methodology consisted in verifying the morphological evolution on the basis of the scanning and vectorization of nautical charts of 1947 and 1966, bathymetric surveys conducted in 2006, and aerial photos dating from 2011. The results show a silting up process coincident with interventions that occurred in the Anil and Bacanga river basins, with a volume of silt estimated at 8.5x106 m3, over the period from 1944 to 2011 (64 years), at a rate of 1.6 cm.yr-1. These processes are associated mainly with the construction of the Bacanga dam and land reclamation projects undertaken for the purpose of providing new areas for urban expansion. The evaluation of the results showed intense and advanced silting up of the São Luís tidal inlet, at rates proportionally greater than those of other estuaries, calling for corrective actions and the implementation of coastal management policies for this area.

No abstract