Keywords: Chagas disease; Vector; Domestic reservoir; Diagnosis; Zoonosis

In recent years, wind power in Brazil has emerged as an alternative to diversify the country′s energy mix and minimize the emission of pollutants derived from fossil fuels. The state of Rio Grande do Norte, in the Brazilian Northeast, has considerable potential for the generation of wind energy due to the occurrence of strong winds in many areas along the coast and in the interior of the state, in places with higher altitudes. However, wind energy, despite being considered clean and renewable, can cause environmental impacts in those places. Thus, the present study analyzed the perception of environmental impacts caused by the installation of wind farms in the agricultural areas of Northeast Brazil. The study was carried out in the municipality of Serra do Mel, in the western region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, based on a survey of local farmers. The study concluded that farmers live without major problems and without apparent conflicts with wind farms but have little knowledge about the environmental impacts. In the perception of most farmers, there are few negative environmental impacts, and those that exist are barely noticed or still do not cause damage to most farmers in the region.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an anthropozoonosis with high prevalence and incidence in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed to determine whether people living near the Mossoró River in the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, have knowledge of VL and to characterize the environmental properties of this region. Questionnaires were administered to 478 residents in three neighborhoods near the Mossoró River, addressing the population’s knowledge about VL and environmental characteristics. Most survey participants were female, with ages between 18 and 40 years, 53.8% had completed primary education, and 61.5% owned pet dogs (p < 0.05). The majority (95.9%) showed little knowledge about the characteristics inherent to sandflies, and 85.3% were unaware of the environments preferred by this vector (p < 0.05). Sewage from the homes of respondents was mainly dumped into the river (44.6%), and 76.6% of the respondents complained about the accumulation of garbage in the streets (p < 0.05). The association between education and knowledge about the transmission of VL and preferred vector locations was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The lack of knowledge in the population about VL and the residential environment indicates a risk of maintaining sand fly habitats and hence disease transmission.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of infection by Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis in dogs from the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte state. Also, we evaluated the characteristics that favor the infection by E. canis and the presence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. ticks. For that, 120 dogs were included, from which blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and molecular diagnosis of these four pathogens. Anamnesis and physical examination were performed on each patient, and all properties were characterized. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to verify the association of the studied variables. The most prevalent pathogen in the study was E. canis (13.3%), followed by A. platys (11.7%), H. canis (6%) and B. vogeli (6%). Correspondence analysis performed between E. canis positivity and the variables studied showed the influence of factors such as tick history, non-vaccination and non-use of antiparasitic medications. The main environmental factor observed in the infection by E. canis was the presence of trees and vegetation in the residences. Recognizing these characteristics can help elaborate prevention and control strategies since environmental management activities seek to reduce the interaction between vector and host and, consequently, the exposure to diseases.

The present study identified professional training aspects in veterinary medicine at a federal public university in the Northeast of Brazil based on the graduates perception. The outcome of this study is anticipated to facilitate updating of pedagogical project execution of the courses in related areas to improve their curriculum. Hence, the course coordination started monitoring the graduates using an online questionnaire on the course webpage. The form consisted of questions about the graduate's sociodemographic information; academic training; professional performance; evaluation about the humanistic and technical skills; expertise and knowledge areas; job market perception; and curriculum evaluation. This survey was performed following the ethical criteria. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test ( p < .05). Graduates work mainly in the Northeast region of the country, and are employed less than a year after graduation. Moreover, they are working in their training area with a compatible salary. They recognized the generalist profile of their training. They also believed that the course promotes articulation between teaching, and research and extension, as well as consider the discipline contents more theoretical than practical. Upon completing the course, 41% of the graduates felt prepared for the job market, especially in the area of animal health. The results obtained allowed us to understand the socioeconomic, demographic, and professional profiles of the trained professionals. Therefore, monitoring the trajectory of graduates can support decisions about the didactic-pedagogical adjustments aimed at promoting the quality of professional training, thereby meeting the job market demands.

Os produtores da agricultura familiar são considerados uma classe específica no sistema social, visto que reúnem características das duas outras classes sociais, assim, ao mesmo tempo em que atuam como donos dos meios de produção também são trabalhadores. Nesse sentido o sistema de criação deve evitar erros de manejo sanitário para possibilitar uma maximização do lucro para os produtores. Dentre os erros mais comuns estão os que possibilitam as doenças parasitárias constituindo um dos principais entraves quando o manejo é inadequado. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar a influência das doenças parasitárias na produção de subsistência do pequeno produtor da agricultura familiar. Foram visitadas 30 propriedades rurais escolhidas aleatoriamente na região Oeste Potiguar da zona rural do município de Mossoró, onde foi realizado um diagnóstico parasitário de endoparasitos (contagem de ovos por grama e larvas) e ectoparasitos. De acordo com o local e diagnóstico parasitários foram identificados ovos de Strongyloidea em 100% (30/30) das propriedades, Moniezia 23,3% (7/30) e oocistos de Eimeria 73,3% (22/30). As larvas identificadas por propriedade foram Haemonchus spp 90% (27/30), Trichostrongylus spp 86,6% (26/30), Oesophagostomum spp 20% (6/30) e Trichuris spp 3,3% (1/30). Quanto aos ectoparasitos foram identificados por locais de coleta em Damalinia caprae 46,6% (14/30) e Rhipicephalus microplus 10% (3/30). Concluindo que os produtores pesquisados apresentam criação de rebanhos caprinos com erros de manejo sanitário, ocasionando a presença de ecto e endoparasitos que podem influenciar nos baixos lucros associado a elevados gastos.