Although visceral leishmaniasis is primarily transmitted by a biological invertebrate vector, transmission in the absence of the vector has been reported, including venereal transmission in humans. Considering the possibility of venereal transmission, we studied genital lesions in dogs naturally infected with visceral leishmaniasis and shedding of Leishmania sp. in the semen. Approximately 200 dogs were serologically tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies and divided into three groups: 1) serologically negative dogs (n = 20), 2) asymptomatic serologically positive dogs (n = 20), and 3) symptomatic serologically positive dogs (n = 20). Samples from both testes, all segments of both epididymes, prostate gland, glans penis, and prepuce were histologically evaluated and processed for immunodetection of Leishmania sp. Semen samples were obtained from 22 symptomatic serologically positive dogs and processed for detecting Leishmania DNA by polymerase chain reaction. A significantly higher frequency of inflammation was observed in the epididymes, glans penis, and prepuce of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis, which was associated with a high frequency of immunohistochemically positive tissues (up to 95% of tissues from symptomatic dogs were positive by immunohistochemistry). Leishmania DNA was detected in eight of 22 semen samples from symptomatic dogs. Together these findings indicate that genital lesions and shedding of Leishmania sp. (donovani complex) in the semen are associated with visceral leishmaniasis. Additional studies should address the possibility of venereal transmission of the disease in the dog.

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Este artigo empreende uma discussão de natureza teórico-metodológica da problemática levantada por Robert D. Putnam em Making Democracy Work, de 1993. Perseguindo tanto sua estrutura lógica quanto afinidades analíticas com literatura anterior, o trabalho procura enfocar principalmente os significados teóricos e empíricos dos conceitos de "capital social" e "confiança". Conclui pela identificação de uma agenda de pesquisa certamente promissora, mas patentemente "imatura", do ponto de vista tanto da operacionalização empírica da teoria quanto mesmo da especificação analítica precisa do significado de suas categorias centrais.

This paper analyzes the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Brazil, focusing on the debates that preceded the enactment in 2005 of the current Biosafety Law and the factors (both domestic and international) that influenced the policy‐making process. More specifically, it identifies the social and governmental actors that influenced the congressional debates, showing how their interests and agenda were translated into two different institutional frameworks. Here, the policy outcome was what we call a “hybrid” and “conciliatory” regulatory model, which formally acknowledges the importance of both technical/scientific and social/political considerations in the evaluation of GMO biosafety and engages most of the stakeholders in the regulatory process. The new policy regime also establishes a middle ground between the conflicting demands of promoting agricultural development and protecting the country's biodiversity.

O presente ensaio procura analisar o problema das relações entre o Estado e o mercado, entre a democracia e o desenvolvimento, a partir da clássica proposição segundo a qual a plena operação de uma economia de mercado requer a existência de um Estado formalmente institucionalizado, não só para assegurar a operação impessoal das normas vigentes, mas também para atuar distributivamente de maneira a minimizar as inevitáveis externalidades provocadas pela intensificação dos laços de interdependência humana que a própria expansão do mercado favorece. Aquialém da reafirmação dessa tese em sua dimensão

This case study deals with the regulation of human embryonic stem-cell (hESC) research in Brazil. It aims to analyze the process that led to the authorization, in 2005, of the use of stem cells obtained from so-called supernumerary embryos for purposes of research and therapy. We argue that the pro-research lobby in Brazil had considerable success because it framed the issue by referring to Brazil's peculiar policy background in the fields of assisted reproduction and embryo research. Moreover, this group of actors strategically avoided associating hESC research with abortion, highlighting the humanitarian aspects of this kind of research, rather than the motto of freedom of scientific research. Finally, it was able to rely on the judgment of a fairly progressive Supreme Court, which was also sensitive to public opinion at a time of 'court activism' or the 'judicialization of politics' in Brazil. RésuméL'article est une étude de cas qui concerne la régulation de la recherche sur les cellules souches embryonnaires humaines (hESC) au Brésil. Les auteurs tentent d'analyser le processus qui a conduit à autoriser en 2005 l'utilisation des cellules-souches obtenues à

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