Distribution of abnormal hemoglobins and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants in 1200 school children of Bahia,Brazil

School children from Bahia, Brazil were studied for hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase electrophoretic variants. Eighty-nine heterozygotes Hb AS and 41 Hb AC were identified out of 1200 children. In a subsample of 369 male children there were 38 Gd A^?, 38 Gd A, and six Gd Med. An example of Gd MG was identified and evidence is added to the suggestion that this allele is not rare in Brazil.     

An anthropometric study of northeastern Brazilians

Nearly 200 males from a distinct Brazilian population referred to as “Nordestinos” were examined for 11 bodily measurements, two derived measurements, four indices, and nine anthroposcopic observations. The population, formed principally from a mixture of Portuguese whites, Bantu Negroes, and Brazilian Indians inhabits a marginal area characterized by extreme poverty. They are small to medium in stature with leg length slightly shorter than sitting height. They are broad-headed, and more than half have broad faces and medium nose shapes. The majority have brown eyes and black hair. A total of 36.9% show normal occlusion. The hybrid population is more variable in many metrical traits than Xingú Indians of Brazil. In stature and cephalic index and in a number of other characters the averages do not lie in an intermediate position between those of the parental populations even when these traits are distinct in the latter.     

Plant endemism in two forests in southern Bahia, Brazil

An important factor in determining species rarity is the geographic distribution of species. Estimates were made of the level of endemism of the flora of two sites in the southern Bahian wet forest zone. Estimates were made for endemism in the Atlantic forest biome and for the much more restricted area of southern Bahia and northern Espi´rito Santo and are derived from analyses of the distributions of the species known from each area. The species checklist for each area is based on identified specimens resulting from intensive collecting in a forest near Serra Grande (40km north of Ilhe´us) and the Una Biological Reserve (40km south of Ilhe´us). Slightly less than half of the species (45.2% at Una and 47.7% at Serra Grande) have widespread distributions and 7.4% at each site are disjunct between the coastal forests and Amazonia. In the Una Reserve, 44.1% of the species are endemic to the coastal forest and 28.1% endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espi´rito Santo. At Serra Grande, 41.6% of the species are endemic to the coastal forest and 26.5% endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espi´rito Santo.     

Racial differences in subcutaneous fat patterns in children aged 7–15 years

In a stratified random sample of 278 children aged 7–15 years of an entire biracial community, skinfold measurements were taken on six standard body sites. We found that white children had generally thicker skinfolds than blacks for the same body weight, with a consistent exception: the subscapular skinfold was relatively thicker in blacks. It is suggested that this racial difference in distribution of fat may manifest a genetic adaptive trait developed under circumstances demanding both a caloric reserve and facilitation of convective heat loss in tropical climates.     

Nutrification impacts on coral reefs from northern Bahia,Brazil

Coral reefs extend for 20 km along the north coast of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Over the last 15 years, this region has experienced an acceleration of generally unplanned urbanisation, with the irregular and indiscriminate use of septic tanks in urban centres contaminating the groundwater. This infiltration of nutrients and pathogens is facilitated by both the soil permeability and an accented hydraulic head, which eventually leads to the percolation of nutrient-rich groundwater seaward to the reefs. The groundwater nutrient concentrations (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and silicate) from Guarajuba beach (a highly urbanised area) are over 10 times higher than groundwater from Papa Gente beach, an area of low human occupation. The pH values of the groundwater samples also indicate the predominance of reducing conditions in Guarajuba, due to the high availability of organic matter and consequent bacterial activity. Additionally, faecal coliform data indicate domestic wastewater as the source of groundwater contamination. High densities of macroalgae and heterotrophic organisms on the impacted reefs, as well as higher concentrations of nutrients, evoke the effects of eutrophication on this coral reef ecosystem. These data suggest that the high availability of nutrients is affecting the trophic structure in the study area, especially in Guarajuba, with the increased turf and macroalgae growth reducing light penetration to the coral colonies, competing with them for space and inhibiting the settlement of new coral larvae.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dairy goats from Bahia, Brazil

Sera from 384 dairy goats in nine herds from Bahia State, Brazil, were assayed for Neospora caninum antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Animals were selected and divided in groups by age and breed. Antibodies against N. caninum were found in 15% (58/384) of goats. Serum titers ranged from 1:100 to 1:3200. There was no significant difference between the age groups. Seroprevalence was higher in Alpine breed (24%) than in Saanen (14%) and Nubian (3%) breeds. The 58 N. caninum-positive sera were also tested for Toxoplasma gondii and 71% of the samples reacted solely to N. caninum. These results indicate that N. caninum infection is common in goat herds in Bahia.     

Andreadoxa flava (Rutaceae, Cuspariinae): a new genus and species from Bahia, Brazil

Andreadoxa flava is distinguished from all other genera of the neotropical subtribe Cuspariinae by the combination of a cupular calyx, yellow, free petals narrowed at base, two glandular-punctate anthers joined by their based appendages, five apically subglobose and glandular staminodes, a smooth papery testa, and conduplicate, plicate cotyledons. It is one of 10 monospecific genera of the subtribe and one of 17 species of this subtribe endemic to the coastal forests of Bahia.     

Serjania lancistipula (Sapindaceae), a new species from Bahia,Brazil

A new species ofSerjania (S.lancistipula) from Bahia belonging to theS. paradoxa group is described and illustrated. A key to the species in theparadoxa group is provided.     

Two new species of Mendoncia (Acanthaceae) from Bahia, Brazil

Two new species, Mendoncia bahiensis and Mendoncia blanchetiana, of the subgenus Bremekampia are described and illustrated. A key to four species represented in Bahia and commentary on their taxonomic affinities are provided.     

A new species of Chamaecrista Moench (Caesalpiniaceae) from interior Bahia,Brazil

Chamaecrista arboae, a species of sect.Absus ser.Absoideae newly discovered on Chapada Diamantina in interior Bahia, Brazil, is described, figured, and discussed.     

Abundance and Flower Visits of Bees in a Cerrado of Bahia,Tropical Brazil

Abundance, seasonal phenology and flower visits of eusocial bees were studied in Diamantina, a national park with cerrado vegetation in Bahia, tropical Brazil. About 700 bees were collected, mainly native stingless bees and the introduced Africanized honey bee. Sampling along a transect was most effective March through September during the dry season. The foraging worker bees were observed on flowers of over 60 angiosperm species of which a few were visited with high frequency. Foraging activity concentrated on flowering plants of the families Leguminosae and Asteraceae. The results are discussed under aspects of nutritional resource partitioning by bee communities in neotropical habitats and the specific composition of a cerrado apifauna.     

Stylotrichium glomeratum (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae), a new species from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Stylotrichium glomeratum (Asteraceae, tribe Eupatorieae, subtribe Gyptidinae) is described from Chapada Diamantina (Bahia, Brazil), where the genus is endemic. A key to the five species ofStylotrichium is presented.

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Descreve-seStylotrichium glomeratum (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae), uma nova espécie da Chapada Diamantina (Bahia, Brasil), onde este gênero é endêmico. é apresentada uma chave para as cinco espécies deStylotrichium.

     

Prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in children with diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

We report the frequency of the different diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) categories isolated from children with acute endemic diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia. The E. coli isolates were investigated by colony blot hybridization with the following genes probes: eae, EAF, bfpA, Stx1, Stx2, ST-Ih, ST-Ip, LT-I, LT-II, INV, and EAEC, as virulence markers to distinguish typical and atypical EPEC, EHEC/STEC, ETEC, EIEC, and EAEC. Seven of the eight categories of DEC were detected. The most frequently isolated was atypical EPEC (10.1%) followed by ETEC (7.5%), and EAEC (4.2%). EHEC, STEC, EIEC, and typical EPEC were each detected once. The strains of ETEC, EAEC, and atypical EPEC belonged to a wide variety of serotypes. The serotypes of the others categories were O26:H11 (EHEC), O21:H21 (STEC), O142:H34 (typical EPEC), and O:H55 (EIEC). We also present the clinical manifestations and other pathogenic species observed in children with DEC. This is the first report of EHEC and STEC in Salvador, and one of the first in Brazil.     

The Use of Insects in Folk Medicine in the State of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, with Notes on Insects Reported Elsewhere in Brazilian Folk Medicine

At least 42 insects have been reported as used in folk medicine in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. These resources are distributed in nine orders, with Hymenopterans the most prevalent with 22 specimens. Medicinal insects, which are used live, cooked, ground, in infusions, in plasters, or as ointments, provide honey, nests, eggs, cocoons, sting, wax, and parts of their bodies for the elaboration of folk remedies to treat a great variety of locally diagnosed ailments. Most of the folk remedies are administered in the form of teas made using the powder produced by grinding the toasted or scraped part of the body of the insects or the whole toasted animal. Traditional knowledge concerning entomotherapy in the state of Bahia is very important since folk medicine is still one of the most important resources for discovery of unknown natural drug resources.     

A new species of Heteropterys (Malpighiaceae) from the semideciduous forests of Bahia, Brazil

Heteropterys andersonii, related to seriesMetallophyllis Nied., is described as new and illustrated.

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Resumen   Heteropterys andersonii, relacionada a sérieMetallophyllis Nied., é descrita como nova e ilustrada.

     

Adiantum diphyllum, a rare and endemic species of Bahia State, Brazil, and its close relatives

Adiantum diphyllum, a species endemic to the coastal forests of Bahia State, Brazil, is characterized and distinguished from other species ofAdiantum with anastomosing veins, elongate sori, and venuloid idioblasts.

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Adiantum diphyllum, uma espécie endêmica das florestas costeiras do leste do Brasil. é caracterizada e distinta das outras espécies deAdiantum com nervuras anastomosadas, soros alongados e idioblastos entre as nervuras.

     

Discocarpus pedicellatus, a new species of Phyllanthaceae (Euphorbiaceae s.l.) from southern Bahia, Brazil

Discocarpus pedicellatus, a new species from semideciduous forests of southern Bahia, is here described and illustrated. Pistillate flowers with pedicels 8–10 mm long and styles usually connate into a column 2.5–3 mm long are diagnostic for this species.     

Detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli from children with and without diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

We identified different diarrheagenic (DEC) Escherichia coli pathotypes isolated from 1,207 children with and without acute endemic diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil collected as part of a case-control study. Since the identification of DEC cannot be based on only biochemical and culture criteria, we used a multiplex polymerase chain reaction developed by combining five specific primer pairs for Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli/ Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (STEC/EHEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) to detect these pathotypes simultaneously in a single-step reaction. In order to distinguish typical and atypical EPEC strains, these were tested for the presence of EAF plasmid. The prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli in this sample of a global case-control study was 25.4% (259 patients) and 18.7% (35 patients) in the diarrhea group (1,020 patients) and the control group (187 patients), respectively. The most frequently isolated pathotype was EAEC (10.7%), followed by atypical EPEC (9.4%), ETEC (3.7%), and STEC (0.6%). Typical EPEC was detected only in one sample. The prevalence of the pathotypes studied in children with diarrhea was not significantly different from that in children without diarrhea.