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Abstract Sand flies, vectors capable of transmitting Leishmania spp. and causing leishmaniasis, have been a concern in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, where canine leishmaniasis (CanL) has been documented since 1985. Notably, there has been a surge in CanL cases since 2017, with two autochthonous cases of human visceral leishmaniasis reported in the area in 2021. This study aimed to identify the sand fly fauna potentially involved in disease transmission. Modified Centers for Disease Control light traps were deployed in three neighborhoods of the city where CanL cases had been previously reported, spanning January 2021 to December 2022. Of the 89 collections conducted, 119 sand flies belonging to five species were captured: Pintomyia fischeri (76/119, 63.86%), Migonemyia migonei (23/119, 19.33%), Lutzomyia longipalpis (16/119, 13.45%), Brumptomyia sp. (2/119, 1.68%), and Psathyromyia lanei (2/119, 1.68%), predominantly between February and April in 2021 and 2022. Polymerase chain reaction testing on all female specimens yielded negative results for Leishmania spp. DNA. Although Leishmania spp. was not detected in these vectors, these findings underscore the imperative to implement measures aimed at curtailing the proliferation of these insects.

This research study shows one teacher preparation program's (TPP) attempt to better gauge coteaching implementation and how a TPP can provide more immediate pair support. We present findings from the analysis of 777 weekly coteaching reflection surveys completed by 44 secondary preservice teachers over 20 weeks of the clinical experience. The research team developed "ideal" benchmarks for the coteaching reflection prompts and analyzed the data in respect to these benchmarks to see how close preservice teachers met coplanning, coinstructing, and coassessing benchmarks. Data are reported according to these benchmarks, presenting these data for the entire cohort and by individual disciplines before providing detailed case studies for two pairs within the English cohort. Recommendations are provided for TPPs who want to use a similar coteaching reflection survey and approach to data analysis to inform more immediate pair support.

Cold-Water Corals play a paramount role in marine benthic ecosystems, increasing their complexity and providing spawning and nursery habitats to many species. However, due to their sessile lifestyle and ramified shape they are commonly entangled in nets and even by-caught during the practice of bottom-contact fishing, which includes impacts from both large-scale activities such as trawling and small-scale fishing (e.g., trammel nets or pots). In this context, passive and active restoration measures are crucial to avoid their damage and disappearance, which might cause the consequent loss of complexity and biodiversity of marine benthic communities. With the aim of modifying these fishing practices in the Marine Protected Area of Cap de Creus (North-Western Mediterranean), small-scale fishers and scientists (marine biologists) started a Participatory Process in which they agreed to develop a joint marine conservation program combining two distinct projects: a restoration project of the Cold-Water Corals incidentally captured on fishing nets for their subsequent reintroduction at sea (RESCAP project) and also a project on mitigation of fishing impacts on marine benthic communities (MITICAP project). Collaborative actions were carried out including interviews and exchanges of information with the purpose of collecting all the knowledge required for conducting the actions of the projects. This study shows the results of the assessment throughout five years (2017-2022) of cooperative work and highlights how crucial it is to develop long-term and revisable ocean literacy strategies for ensuring a sustainable ocean governance. An ocean literacy test evaluated the scientific knowledge of fishers at the end of the projects and revealed that despite all the efforts applied, still more work is needed, which reinforces the importance of improving the strategies of knowledge transfer for MPA management. Under the coordination of marine social anthropologists, a Cultural Consensus Analysis was conducted with the fishers. Results revealed a protoculture that should be characterized and considered when developing management strategies in the area. Additionally, the Personal Network Analysis showed that fishers have become agents of change and transmitted the learnings of the projects to their communities, fishers from nearby guilds, local educational centers and even the press. Furthermore, a list of recommendations is provided to optimize the multisector opportunities emerging from collaborative projects with marine scientists and fishers in MPAs.

Abstract Domestic birds such as Gallus gallus, Meleagris gallopavo, Anser anser and Numida meleagris are widely distributed throughout the world and maintain contact with humans and other animal species considered reservoirs of both Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL), including dogs and cats; wild canids, marsupials; and synanthropic animals such as rodents and chiroptera. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the presence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in birds from a rural area of the municipality of Santa Maria, southern Brazil. From May to December 2022, 262 blood samples were collected from 244 chickens, 8 turkeys, 7 guinea fowl and 3 geese, distributed in 27 rural properties in 6 districts. All the sites visited presented positive birds for the presence of Leishmania spp. Thus, it is inferred that, contact with this protozoan can induce the production of antibodies, suggesting that these animals can be used as sentinels for the circulation of this agent. In addition, the blood of these animals is a preferred food source for insects of the subfamily Phlebotominae, which can be used them as bioindicators of the presence of these phlebotomes.

Abstract Bovine trypanosomosis, caused by Trypanosoma vivax, is a disease that originated in Africa and currently affects cattle in several South American countries, including almost all Brazilian states. Despite the reports on T. vivax infection in southern Brazil, data on its circulation status is currently unavailable. In this study, we aimed to detect anti-Trypanosoma spp. IgG antibodies in cattle from Rio Grande do Sul and suggest areas with T. vivax transmission risk. A total of 691 serum samples from cattle in the intermediate regions of Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The overall seroprevalence of anti-Trypanosoma antibodies in cattle was 24.6% (170/691). The detection rate ranged from 0-37.3%, with a high prevalence in the intermediate regions of Ijuí (37.3%), Uruguaiana (30.7%), and Passo Fundo (28.9%). Thus, these regions were suggested as possible bovine trypanosomosis risk areas due to the high seroprevalence. This is the first serological study to determine Trypanosoma spp. infection status in cattle from Rio Grande do Sul, providing data on the epidemiology of trypanosomosis in the state.

This study enlists a transformative approach to mixed methods research in order to problematize what different methods can offer for expanding understandings of educator language attitudes and ideologies. Analyses consider Likert-scale survey responses and linguistic autobiography data from a sociolinguistics course in an online Educating Multilingual Learners master's degree program at a Southwestern U.S. university. A regression analysis of survey data suggests that older participants are predicted to orient more positively to linguistic diversity and participants with more teaching experience are predicted to orient less positively. Meanwhile, a discursive analysis of autobiographical essays from the oldest participants (over 45) and those with the most teaching experience (over 10 years) illuminate reflexively constructed stances, which we draw on to complicate (not necessarily triangulate) statistically significant findings. Discussion considers the methods by which we examine educators' language ideologies with implications for both research and teacher education.

Abstract Despite cold-water coral (CWC) reefs being considered biodiversity hotspots, very little is known about the main processes driving their morphological development. Indeed, there is a considerable knowledge gap in quantitative experimental studies that help understand the interaction between reef morphology, near-bed hydrodynamics, coral growth, and (food) particle transport processes. In the present study, we performed a 2-month long flume experiment in which living coral nubbins were placed on a reef patch to determine the effect of a unidirectional flow on the growth and physiological condition of Lophelia pertusa. Measurements revealed how the presence of coral framework increased current speed and turbulence above the frontal part of the reef patch, while conditions immediately behind it were characterised by an almost stagnant flow and reduced turbulence. Owing to the higher current speeds that likely promoted a higher food encounter rate and intake of ions involved in the calcification process, the coral nubbins located on the upstream part of the reef presented a significantly enhanced average growth and a lower expression of stress-related enzymes than the downstream ones. Yet, further experiments would be needed to fully quantify how the variations in water hydrodynamics modify particle encounter and ion intake rates by coral nubbins located in different parts of a reef, and how such discrepancies may ultimately affect coral growth. Nonetheless, the results acquired here denote that a reef influenced by a unidirectional water flow would grow into the current: a pattern of reef development that coincides with that of actual coral reefs located in similar water flow settings. Ultimately, the results of this study suggest that at the local scale coral reef morphology has a direct effect on coral growth thus, indicating that the spatial patterns of living CWC colonies in reef patches are the result of spatial self-organisation.

With an increase in children from refugee backgrounds entering schools around the world, it has grown increasingly important to examine educational policy design and implementation to understand how policies shape teachers' interactions with this student population. This article focuses on Structured English Immersion, the language policy that frames the educational experiences for refugee students in Arizona. Through a review of the literature and data collected from teacher interviews, we explore how teachers appropriate a restrictive language policy to construct "de facto" policies in their classrooms. Innovative practices that teachers employ are highlighted, and recommendations for further research, policy, and practice are provided.

ABSTRACT: Cattle are considered intermediate hosts of Sarcocystis, which can cause clinical signs and lower performance in the acute phase of infection. Sarcocystis spp. are usually not visible to the naked eye during the post mortem inspection. Moreover, fresh microscopic examination and transmission electron microscopy techniques are difficult to apply to large samples. Therefore, extensive studies on Sarcocystis infection in cattle using molecular and serological methods are required. Here, we investigated Sarcocystis spp. infection in cattle using fresh microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction of myocardium samples and compared the results with the presence of antibodies against Sarcocystis spp. in corresponding serum samples detected using indirect fluorescent antibody test. Microscopic Sarcocystis were observed in 100% of the myocardial samples, and Sarcocystis DNA was present in 86% (43/50) of these samples. Antibodies against Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 96% (48/50) and 80% (40/50) of the serum samples at 1:25 and 1:200 dilutions, respectively. The three associated methods (fresh microscopic examination, PCR and serology) showed good sensitivity and detection for Sarcocystis spp. compared with fresh microscopic examination (only), and they may facilitate diagnosis in live animals on a large scale as well as monitoring of the herd status.

Rhipicephalus microplus é uma espécie de carrapato amplamente distribuída que causa perdas diretas e indiretas à produção de gado; portanto, o controle de infestações de carrapatos é essencial. Métodos de tratamento corretos são necessários para evitar sobredosagem ou subdosagem de acaricidas químicos e controlar a resistência aos carrapatos. Além disso, estudos que evidenciem os fatores associados à eficácia dos produtos químicos são extremamente necessários. Portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da intensidade e do tempo de precipitação sobre a eficácia da aplicação tópica de acaricidas. Fêmeas ingurgitadas foram coletadas de bovinos em fazendas localizadas no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil e tratadas com Colosso FC30® Ouro Fino Animal Health (15% cipermetrina, 30% clorpirifós, and 15% fention). Após 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h ou 24 h de tratamento, foram submetidas à simulações de precipitação em intensidade leve ou intensa, para cada tempo. Os resultados mostraram eficácia acaricida de 100% para todos os grupos avaliados e demonstraram que a precipitação de 30 min após o tratamento e em qualquer intensidade, não afetou a eficácia do Colosso FC30. Portanto, este estudo esclareceu a influência da precipitação simulada na eficácia do tratamento tópico Colosso FC30 no controle de R. microplus.

Estudos sobre doenças de aves silvestres são essenciais no contexto da saúde pública, pois esses animais atuam como sentinelas, permitindo obter informações sobre uma determinada área geográfica. Além disso, as aves são fontes de proteína alimentar para os animais e, portanto, desempenham um papel importante no ciclo de vida do Sarcocystis. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar Sarcocystis spp. nos músculos do peito de aves de cativeiro naturalmente infectadas. Os músculos do peito de 89 aves foram coletados, e o DNA amplificado pela PCR do gene RNA ribossômico 18S para detecção de Sarcocystis spp. Os produtos da PCR foram sequenciados e 5,61% (5/89) amostras apresentaram 100% de similaridade com o Sarcocystis spp. (um Cyanoliseus patagonus, um Psittacula krameri, dois Pyrrhura frontalis e um Ramphastos dicolorus). O grande número de espécies naturalmente infectadas analisadas por métodos moleculares permitiu a detecção de Sarcocystis spp. em diferentes espécies de aves, corroborando a epidemiologia de Sarcocystis spp. Até onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato especificando a presença de Sarcocystis spp. no músculo do peito de espécies de aves.

Cryptosporidium protozoa genus are parasites that cause acute enteric disease in young and immunocompromised animals, resulting in anorexia, loss and decrease in weight gain, and, in severe cases, death. Therefore, this study aimed: i) to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves with clinical diarrhea in different regions of Santa Catarina, Brazil; ii) to evaluate the risk factors involved with the frequency of infection. iii) to determine the species most involved with the disease in the region. For this, 425 samples were collected in 141 dairy farms, from animals with ages ranging from 0 to 150 days. For this purpose, the samples were submitted to the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique, with molecular analysis of the positive samples being performed. It was observed 62.1% occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in this sampling, especially between 8 to 15 days. Regarding the risk factors evaluated, such as age, management, facilities, water source and Koppen climate (CFA and CFB), none showed statistical significance. Samples positive by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique (32 samples) were randomly selected for molecular diagnosis. Of these, 10 were sequenced, allowing the identification of Crypstosporidium parvum in 6 samples. However, this study proves the existence and high occurrence of the protozoan in different regions of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Lysine acetylation regulates the function of soluble proteins in vivo, yet it remains largely unexplored whether lysine acetylation regulates the function of membrane proteins. Here, the authors map lysine acetylation predominantly in membrane-interaction regions in peripheral membrane proteins and show with three candidate proteins how lysine acetylation is a regulator of membrane protein function.

Abstract The seroprevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii was researched in swine raised in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Serum samples from 84 pigs from 31 farms were tested using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for both agents. Additionally, 53 samples of pork sausages and tissues destined for human consumption, including: salami, sausage, black pudding, heart, tongue, brain, and rib muscle, were submitted to PCR to detect DNA for each agent. The frequency of anti-Sarcocystis spp. antibodies was 36.9% (31/84), with titers ranging from 32 to 1024, and 25% (21/84) for anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titers ranging from 64 to 2048. Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii DNA were detected in 67.9% (36/53) and 13.2% (7/53) of samples, respectively. The presence of antibodies and the detection of DNA from Sarcocystis spp., and T. gondii suggests that the pigs were infected and may serve as an important reservoir for both parasites. The infection by these protozoa in the swine population is relevant to public health due to their zoonotic potential.

ABSTRACT: Reproductive tests in cattle are of great economic importance, given the impact it can have on the production system and may be caused by agents. Neospora caninum and Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus (BVDV) are considered of great importance as reproductive and should be considered responsible for keeping animals persistently infected. The present study included 479 calf serum samples for export in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). All samples were screened for BVDV by an ELISA antigen. BVDV antigen-positive ELISA samples were isolated from BVDV in cell culture. An indirect immunofluorescence (IFT) technique was used to detect anti-N. caninum antibodies. Of the 479 export-treated serum samples, 361 were positive for BVDV antigens by ELISA and/or viral isolation test (361/479-75.36%), and 109 IFT-positive samples for N. caninum (109/479-22.75%). Despite detection of antibodies anti-N. caninum did not differ statistically between naturally infected BVDV and non-BVDV infected animals suggesting that there is no interference of BVDV infection on infection or detection rate of animals with N. caninum, positive animals in viral isolation and high DO in BVDV-Ag ELISA. may present active disease and consequent immunosuppression, contributing to a potential reactivation of N. caninum.