BackgroundSpotted fever is a tick-borne rickettsial disease. In Brazil, its notification to the Ministry of Health is compulsory. Since 2007, cases of spotted fever have been integrated to the Notifiable Diseases Information System, and epidemiological analyzes are part of the routines on surveillance programs.MethodsThis descriptive study updates epidemiological information on cases of spotted fever registered in Brazil between 2007 and 2015.ResultsIn Brazil, 17,117 suspected cases of the disease were reported and 1,245 were confirmed in 12 states, mainly in São Paulo (550, 44.2 %) and Santa Catarina (276, 22.2 %). No geographic information was registered for 132 cases (10.6 %). Most of the infected people were men (70.9 %), mainly in rural areas (539, 43.3 %), who had contact with ticks (72.7 %). A higher number of suspected cases were registered between 2011 and 2015, but the number of confirmed cases and the incidence were relatively low. Moreover, 411 deaths were registered between 2007 and 2015, mainly in the southeastern region of the country, where the case-fatality rate was 55 %. Lack of proper filling of important fields of notification forms was also observed.ConclusionsThe results showed expansion of suspected cases of spotted fever and high case-fatality rates, which could be related to diagnostic difficulties and lack of prompt treatment. These factors may comprise limitations to the epidemiological surveillance system in Brazil, hence improvement of notification and investigation are crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality due to spotted fever in Brazil.

BackgroundScorpionism is a serious public health problem in Brazil. Nationwide epidemiological analyses of scorpion stings are scarce. In this context, the present study aims to provide an epidemiological analysis of accidents involving scorpions in Brazil.MethodsAn analytical epidemiological study of the scorpion accidents reported in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) was conducted from 2000 to 2012 in Brazil.ResultsDuring this period, 482,616 accidents and 728 deaths were reported. The annual average incidence and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants were 19.6 and 0.030, respectively, with annual average lethality rate of 0.16%. The highest accident frequency was recorded in male subjects, aged 20–49 years, from September to December and in urban areas, except in the northern region of the country, where accidents were most frequent in June and July, and in rural areas. Males up to age 9 and rural areas were defined as an age group and area for greatest death risk, respectively.ConclusionsScorpionism in Brazil is a predominantly urban health problem that mostly affects people at an economically active age. The Northeast and Southeast hold the majority of cases and deaths, as well as the highest annual incidence and mortality averages, but the Central West and North presented the highest average annual lethality rates. The epidemiological changes described in this study highlight the need for intensifying health surveillance actions to prevent scorpion accidents in Brazil.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(12):1272-1280, dezembro 2012 1272 RESUMO.-Brachiaria spp. é a principal forrageira utilizada para ruminantes no Brasil Central, mas a sua toxicidade, devida à presença de saponinas esteroidais, torna-se um importante entrave à sua utilização. Neste trabalho descrevem-se 34 surtos e um foco de intoxicação por Brachiaria spp em ovinos, que ocorreram em diferentes épocas do ano. is the main pasture for ruminants in Central-Brazil, but the crucial problem for their utilization is the toxicity due to the presence of steroidal saponins. This paper reports 35 outbreaks of poisoning by Brachiaria spp in sheep. The poisoning occurred in different seasons of the year. Mean morbidity was 23.2% and mean lethality was 88.3%. The occurrence of clinical signs after the introduction of the sheep into the pastures varied from 15 days to more than 12 months. In 90.1% of the outbreaks, sheep younger than 12 months of age were affected. Clinical signs and gross lesions were characteristic of hepatogenous photosensitization, but more acute cases showed edema of the face and ears, without dermatitis or jaundice. The main histologic lesions of the liver were the presence of macrophages with foamy cytoplasm, found mainly in sinusoids, and sometimes containing negative images of crystals. In eight out of 11 farms visited the outbreaks occurred in Brachiaria decumbens pastures, two in B. brizantha pastures, and one in a pasture of B. decumbens, B. humidicola, and Andropogon sp. Saponin concentrations in the pastures of 11 outbreaks varied from 0.3 to 2.56%. The information generated by this report allows the proposal of measures for control and prevention of Brachiaria spp. poisoning in Central--Brazil.

Introduction:We present a review of injuries in humans caused by aquatic animals in Brazil using the Information System for Notifi able Diseases [Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notifi cação (SINAN)] database. Methods: A descriptive and retrospective epidemiological study was conducted from 2007 to 2013. Results: A total of 4,118 accidents were recorded. Of these accidents, 88.7% (3,651) were caused by venomous species, and 11.3% (467) were caused by poisonous, traumatic or unidentifi ed aquatic animals. Most of the events were injuries by stingrays (69%) and jellyfi sh (13.1%). The North region was responsible for the majority of reports (66.2%), with a signifi cant emphasis on accidents caused by freshwater stingrays (92.2% or 2,317 cases). In the South region, the region with the second highest number of records (15.7%), jellyfi sh caused the majority of accidents (83.7% or 452 cases). The Northeastern region, with 12.5% of the records, was notable because almost all accidents were caused by toadfi sh (95.6% or 174 cases). Conclusions: Although a comparison of different databases has not been performed, the data presented in this study, compared to local and regional surveys, raises the hypothesis of underreporting of accidents. As the SINAN is the offi cial system for the notifi cation of accidents by venomous animals in Brazil, it is imperative that its operation be reviewed and improved, given that effective measures to prevent accidents by venomous animals depend on a reliable database and the ability to accurately report the true conditions.

Introdução: Escorpiões são artrópodes da classe Arachinida capazes de causar envenenamentos em humanos com importante gravidade. No Brasil, encontram-se distribuídos em todas as macrorregiões e nos diversos ecossistemas. Apresentamse mais ativos nos períodos quentes e chuvosos do ano. São reconhecidos como escorpiões de importância médica no Brasil os pertencentes ao gênero Tityus, em especial quatro espécies: T. serrulatus, T. stigmurus, T. bahiensis e T. obscurus. O escorpionismo no Brasil apresenta-se como problema de saúde frente ao crescente número de acidentes e óbitos. Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicoepidemiológicas dos acidentes escorpiônicos no Brasil. Método: Foi realizado estudo clínico-epidemiológico descritivo e analítico dos acidentes escorpiônicos notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, no período de 2000 a 2010. Utilizou-se para tabulação dos dados e análises os softwares TabWin32 3.6b, EpiInfo 3.5.3 e Microsoft Excel 2010. Resultados: As taxas médias de incidência e mortalidade, para cada 100.000 habitantes, foram de 17,7 e 0,028, respectivamente; sendo de 0,16% a taxa média de letalidade. As Regiões Nordeste e Sudeste apresentaram as maiores taxas de incidência e mortalidade, sendo a taxa de letalidade maior nas Regiões Centro-Oeste e Norte. Os acidentes foram mais frequentes em homens, em idade economicamente ativa e em zona urbana. Óbitos foram mais frequentes em crianças de até 9 anos de idade. Obteve-se como fatores de risco para o óbito os acidentes em zona rural, em crianças de até 9 anos de idade, os casos graves, e o atendimento soroterápico tardio (acima de 3 horas). Conclusão: Nos últimos anos observou-se aumento das taxas de incidência e mortalidade, devendo ser estimulada a intensificação dos programas de prevenção e controle. O perfil epidemiológico descrito reforça a necessidade de capacitação contínua dos profissionais de saúde envolvidos no diagnóstico e tratamento dos acidentados, visando, em tempo oportuno, a identificação do gênero do escorpião agressor e a classificação clínica do caso para instituição do tratamento adequado. O reforço da área assistencial é essencial para que se diminua a letalidade do agravo, principalmente nos grupos mais vulneráveis.

No abstract

The fatal outcome of a defensive attack by a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is reported. The attack occurred while the victim was hunting, and his dogs cornered the adult anteater, which assumed an erect, threatening position. The hunter did not fire his rifle because of concern about accidentally shooting his dogs. He approached the animal armed with a knife, but was grabbed by its forelimbs. When his sons freed him, he had puncture wounds and severe bleeding in the left inguinal region; he died at the scene. Necroscopic examination showed femoral artery lesions and a large hematoma in the left thigh, with death caused by hypovolemic shock. A similar case is cited, and recommendations are made that boundaries between wildlife and humans be respected, especially when they coinhabit a given area.

Este experimento se realizó para evaluar el rendimiento de los cerdos criados en una camada.480 animales se distribuyeron en un diseño de bloques al azar en una disposición factorial 2 x 2 (cruces x sexos), con tres repeticiones de cuarenta animales por unidad experimental. El grosor del tocino (ET) entre las costillas 10 y 11 y la altura de P2 y el área del ojo del lomo (AOL) se evaluaron mediante ultrasonido en tiempo real y características de rendimiento. Se verificó que hubo un efecto sexual, donde los machos mostraron resultados más altos para el consumo de alimento semanal (CS) y diario (CD), sin embargo, la conversión (CA) y la eficiencia alimenticia (AE) presentaron resultados más bajos en comparación con las hembras. No hubo efecto sobre el aumento de peso diario (GPD) y el peso final (PF) entre hombres y mujeres.