INTRODUCTION: The present study shows a descriptive analysis of triatomine occurrence and its natural Trypanosoma infection rates in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, between 2006 and 2007. METHODS: Entomological data for the species, such as specimens captured in both intra and peridomiciles and natural infection index, were obtained via domiciliary capture in 147 municipalities from 11 Regional Managements of Health. The database was obtained from a sample of insects (100% infected and 20% non-infected) sent to the Central Laboratory of Pernambuco. RESULTS: A total of 18,029 triatomines were analyzed from 138 municipalities of the state. Triatoma pseudomaculata (35%), Triatoma brasiliensis (34%), and Panstrongylus lutzi (25%) were the most captured species. These species also showed a widespread geographical distribution in the state. Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma petrocchiae, Triatoma melanocephala, Triatoma sordida, Rhodnius nasutus, Rhodnius neglectus, and Triatoma infestans showed more limited geographical distribution and lower relative abundance. The parasitological research showed that 8.8% of the triatomines were naturally infected with flagellates morphologically similar to Trypanosoma cruzi and 91.3% of them were captured inside houses in 113 municipalities. P. lutzi showed the highest rates of natural infection. CONCLUSIONS: After the control of T. infestans, synanthropic species, such as T. brasiliensis, T. pseudomaculata, and P. lutzi, maintain the risk of T. cruzi transmission to humans in the state of Pernambuco. These species are widely distributed, and infected specimens have been found inside houses. Thus, an enhanced surveillance and vector control of Chagas disease is recommended in Pernambuco.

ResumoObjetivo: analisar a tendência da positividade da esquistossomose em exames coproscópicos na população de área endê-mica do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, de 2005 a 2010. Métodos: estudo ecológico de serie temporal, com dados secundários do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose, analisados por Regional de Saúde; foram avaliadas as tendências por regressão linear, considerando-se p<0,05 significativo. Resultados: Pernambuco apresentou média de 9,2% de positividade; a Regional de Saúde III (Palmares) apresentou maior média de positividade (13,8%), seguida das regionais II (Limoeiro: 9,9%) e I (Recife: 7,8%); a Regional V (Garanhuns) apresentou melhor média de tratamento (95,6%), seguida da III (86,6%); Pernambuco apresentou tendência decrescente na positividade para esquistossomose (p=0,005). Conclusão: em geral, há uma tendência decrescente da positividade de esquistossomose em Pernambuco, apesar da queda no número de exames; é importante manter e intensificar as intervenções de controle, com prioridades estratégicas focalizadas em localidades com elevadas prevalências.

Objetivos: Ressaltar a importância da distribuição geográfica e do comportamento dos vetores da doença de Chagas no estado de Pernambuco. Métodos: O material analisado incluiu 100% dos insetos infectados por Trypanosoma sp. e 40% dos insetos negativos, examinados no Laboratório de Endemias para confirmação taxonômica, pesquisa do parasito nas fezes dos triatomíneos e Controle da Qualidade na confirmação do diagnóstico. Resultados: Foram examinados 3.323 triatomíneos. A infecção natural por tripanossomatídeos foi detectada em 21,3% dos exemplares. Triatoma brasiliensis foi a espécie mais frequente no intradomicílio (24,3%), Triatoma pseudomaculata (14,9%) e Panstrongylus megistus apresentaram proporcionalmente taxa de infecção natural superior às demais (40,8%) no peridomicílio. Conclusão: O conhecimento atualizado da distribuição geográfica dos vetores da doença de Chagas é importante para fundamentar ações integradas entre os serviços de saúde, o que contribui para a vigilância entomológica no controle dos triatomíneos. DESCRITORES: Triatomíneos; doença de Chagas; controle de qualidade; Pernambuco.

Introduction: Studying the feeding preferences of triatomines is an important entomological surveillance tool, since continuous surveillance of the disease is necessary. Methods: The precipitin reaction was used to describe the feeding preferences of triatomines along with their natural infection by flagellates similar to Tyrpanosoma cruzi. Six hundred eighty-seven insects were examined, including Triatoma brasiliensis, Triatoma pseudomaculata, and Panstrongylus lutzi. Results: Sixty-nine (10%) of 687 triatomines examined tested positive for flagellates similar to T. cruzi, and 8 (1.2%) of these fed on human blood. Conclusions: This study found potential transmitters of Chagas disease both inside and outside the domiciliar environment.

Objective: To assess the quality of life related to health for heart failure patients and to relate sociodemographic and clinical data. Method: It is an observational and transversal study, with quantitative approach, carried out in a heart failure ambulatory in the state of Pernambuco. Results: In the sample (n=101), there was prevalence of men older than 60 years old, married and professionally inactive. The quality of life related to health, based on the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire, was considered moderate (34.3±21.6), being significantly related to age (p=0.004), functional class (p<0.001), and patients with chagasic cardiopathy (p=0.02). Conclusion: The quality of life in the HF group of chagasic etiology was more compromised, specially in the emotional dimension. It is suggested that studies on the hypothesis that longer ambulatory follow-up improves quality of life and that having Chagas disease interferes negatively with the quality of life of heart failure patients.

The ultrastructural morphology of the ventral region of the head (rostrum and buccula) and proesternum (stridulatory sulcus) of nymphs from the 1st to 5th instars of Triatoma guazu Wygodzinsky, 1979 and Triatoma jurbergi Carcavallo, Galvão & was described. Morphological differences between the two species and of the five nymphal stages development of each species were observed. These structures showed systematic differential characteristics of the studied species and may be used to increase their taxonomic range.

Objective: to describe schistosomiasis control actions and its epidemiological situation in Pernambuco, Brazil, 2010-2016. Methods: this was a descriptive study using data from the Schistosomiasis Surveillance and Control Program Information System for 116 municipalities, including indicators related to control actions (population surveyed, tests performed, treatment coverage) and epidemiological actions (positivity, parasite load, other helminthiases). Results: Health Regions II, III, IV, V and XII, which are traditionally endemic, registered higher average percentages for control actions (population surveyed [6.5%,

No abstract