ABSTRACT. Population characteristics of Microphrys bicornutus (Brachyura, Mithracidae) on the phytal Halimeda opuntia (Chlorophyta, Halimedaceae), on reef area submitted to human visitation, in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the population structure and dynamic of Microphrys bicornutus Latreille, 1825 on the phytal Halimeda opuntia (Halimedaceae) collected on the reef areas of Picãozinho (visited by tourists) and São Gonçalo (control area), in João Pessoa coast (Northeastern of Brazil), under the influence of environmental conditions and visitant numbers. In both study areas the populations analyzed were composed similarly of mature and immature males and females, with predominance of males and immature animals, and similar size frequency and reproductive period. Sex-ratio, size frequency distribution, and size of the biggest specimens differed from those estimated in others latitudes and habitats for this species. Sex ratio estimation has made evident that independently of maturation stage, males tended to predominate significantly and the proportion of females to decrease with sexual maturation. Without exhibiting influence of the alga biomass, and of the salinity and temperature of the water, significant population variations were associated to the increase of juvenile during rainy periods. The low population density and the largest disproportion of the relationship male: female in Picãozinho subarea with larger flow of people, are suggestive that the trampling of the alga might have induced this population variation. KEYWORDS.Population composition, population density, sex ratio, algae trampling, seasonal effect. RESUMO. Este trabalho teve como objetivos caracterizar e comparar a estrutura e a dinâmica populacional de Microphrys bicornutusLatreille, 1825 no fital Halimeda opuntia (Halimedaceae) coletado nas formações recifais de Picãozinho (submetida à visitação turística) e São Gonçalo (área controle), na costa de João Pessoa (Nordeste do Brasil), sob influência de fatores ambientais e do número de visitantes. Nas duas áreas de estudo as populações analisadas estiveram compostas por fêmeas e machos maduros e imaturos com significativa predominância de machos e de animais imaturos, freqüência de tamanho e períodos reprodutivos similares. O tamanho máximo dos exemplares, a freqüência de distribuição de tamanho e a razão sexual diferiram dos resultados obtidos para a espécie em outras latitudes e habitats. Dados de razão sexual evidenciam que independentemente do estágio de maturação, os machos apresentam predominância significativa (RS>1,0), e que a proporção de fêmeas diminui com o amadurecimento sexual. Sem sofrer influência da biomassa da alga, e da salinidade e temperatura da água, variações populacionais significativas foram associadas ao aumento de juvenis durante períodos chuvosos. A baixa densidade populacional e a maior desproporção da relação macho: fêmea em subárea de Picãozinho com maior fluxo de pessoas sugerem que estas variações podem ter sid...

Background Mobility restrictions and overloaded health services during the COVID-19 pandemic compromised services dedicated to the prevention and care of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). In this study, we present client's responses to standardized questionnaires applied during the COVID-19 pandemic period as part of the strategy to measure impacts on social and sexual vulnerability, access to STI prevention services, and access to STI care. Methods The questionnaires included variables on sociodemographics, behavior, risk perception, prevention attitudes, barriers to service-based HIV rapid test, reasons for taking an HIV self-test, and access to health services for STI diagnosis and treatment. We explored demographic variables associated with income reduction, reduced access to HIV/STI testing/treatment and increased vulnerability to HIV/STI. Results 847 participants responded to the study questionnaire between May 2020 and January 2021. Most were young, cisgender male, and 63% self-reported as men who have sex with men. Income reductions were reported by 50%, with 30% reporting a decline over 50% of total income. An increase in heavy episodic drinking (>5 doses) was reported by 18%; 7% reported more sexual partners and 6% reported using condoms less often. Difficulties in obtaining HIV tests, tests for other STI and treatment for STI were reported by 5%, 6% and 6%, respectively. Lower schooling was significantly associated with income reduction ( p = 0.004) and with reduced access to HIV/STI testing or STI treatment ( p = 0.024); employment status was associated with income reduction ( p < 0.001) and increased vulnerability to HIV/STI ( p = 0.027). Having access to an expedite test result, avoiding physical attendance in health units during the pandemic, and undertaking the test with privacy with a trusted person were reported as motivators for HIV self-test. Conclusions Our findings are relevant to promote service improvements tailored to subgroups more likely to struggle with detrimental effects during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Society is concerned about the large presence of animals without owners that are observed in all cities and that can be transmitters of numerous diseases to other animals as well as humans, the so-called zoonoses. This is why the concern to promote population control of these animals has been increasingly discussed among public administrators, public bodies and organized civil society. In the city of João Pessoa-PB an estimated population of 75,000 dogs is estimated. In order to minimize the possibility of an increased growth of street animals, the Center for Environmental Monitoring and Zoonoses through Dogs and Cats Population Control Unit develops out a very important work in this sense that is the Performing of castrations surgeries in both dogs and cats. Using documentary research methodology in specific material to the said Institution and by performing statistical weightings in the data collected, well expressive results were obtained. In 2017, it was scientifically verified that there was a difference of 0.05% of significance in the observations made between male and female dogs that were submitted to castration this year. Over the 12-month analysis period, there was a monthly average of surgical procedures involving male canines of 14 animals/month and 19 animals/month for females, resulting in 166 male and 224 castrated females, totalizing 390 sterile canines in the municipality of João Pessoa - PB during the year. This number is very significant, as each female can generate an average of eight pups per gestation and get pregnant six times per year, which would have a high population impact on the total number of animals without owners in the city. It is concluded that castration presents methodologically, as a safe technique for the reduction of domestic animals, with and without tutors, contributing to the population control of the species involved and the Prevention of the spread of zoonoses.

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é considerada o tipo mais grave dentre as leishmanioses. O agente etiológico é a Leishmania infantum, transmitido entre hospedeiros vertebrados por meio do inseto, Lutzomyia longipalpis, sendo os cães os principais reservatórios urbanos. As leishmanias são parasitas intracelulares obrigatórios que se reproduzem por divisão binária no interior das células do Sistema Fagocítico Mononuclear. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar as alterações morfológicas do baço e do fígado de cães acometidos por LV. Esse trabalho foi realizado no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses (CCZ) de João Pessoa Paraíba. Foram avaliados 30 cães, 25 com característica reagente para a imunofluorescência indireta e 05 não reagente, e agrupados em 03 grupos: sintomáticos, assintomáticos e controle. Após o procedimento eutanásico, foram tomadas as medidas externas das carcaças, necropsias e avaliações de baço e fígado e realizado à análise macroscópica destas vísceras: peso, coloração, textura e presença de lesões superficiais. A análise cadavérica evidenciou que, o peso relativo do fígado e o escore corporal dos animais apresentaram diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos estudados. 75% do grupo dos reagentes apresentaram fígados normais, 17% fígados anêmicos e 8% um quadro de congestão ou hiperemia. No baço 15% apresentavam-se normais, 18% anêmicos com hemorragias, 33% exclusivamente anêmico e 34% congestos com hemorragias. De acordo com os resultados é possível concluir que mesmo os animais sem nenhuma sintomatologia aparente (assintomáticos) apresentaram comprometimento visceral. Além disso, o baço é o órgão que apresenta mais injúrias superficiais, como hemorragias, congestão e anemia.