Total mercury has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in the hair of several Indian tribes living in the Xingu Park, located in the Amazonic region of Brazil. Methylmercury and total mercury have been determined in selected samples using cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy, at the Nuclear Chemistry Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Mercury levels were found to be much higher in the Indian hair samples as compared to the samples from the control population. The arithmetic and geometric means for total mercury in the Indian hair samples ranged from 10 to 20 ppm, compared to values of about 1 ppm for the means of the control group. The results obtained for methylmercury have shown that the majority of the mercury is present in the hair of the Indians as the organic form. The Indian study populations living in the Xingu Park can thus be considered as being at risk with regards to contamination by mercury. With the aim of applying neutron activation analysis for the determination of methylmercury in hair, experiments were done at the IEAR1 nuclear research reactor irradiating cysteineand also thioacetamideimpregnated filter papers, on which a methylmercury solution was pipetted. The results obtained have shown that all the mercury was lost from the cysteine-impregnated paper and about 90 % of the mercury remained on the paper impregnated with thioacetamide.

Measles vaccination efficiency was evaluated in children from two Indian tribes - Caiabi and Metuktire - living in the Amazon region, in the Parque Indigena do Xingu (PIX). The population sample, selected at random, made up 37 Caiabi and 28 Metuktire children, aged from 20-75 months (40%). For operational and epidemiological reasons, measles vaccine is given from 6 months of age. The average age of children when they received the vaccine was 11.5 months for the first dose and 20 months for the second. The search for IgG antibodies against measles virus and Plasmodium falciparum was made through immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Measles vaccine coverage has reached 60% at 12 months of age and 92% at 18 months, whereas post-vaccine serum conversion was 95% in Caiabi children (geometric mean of titres (GMT) 126) and 89% in Metuktire (GMT 109). The difference in GMT is not statistically significant. Seventy-three per cent of Caiabi children (GMT 101) and 100% of Metuktire children (GMT135) were plasmodium antibody positive, showing they had been exposed to malarial infection. Despite the differences detected, the immune response to measles vaccine was satisfactory in both groups, with a positive percentage consistent with that achieved in non-malarial areas in Americas. The results show the efficiency of a vaccination programme in an indigenous area despite the difficulties in reaching the villages and maintaining the cold chain, and also despite the malaria endemicity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the nutritional status and dietary habits of children of the Alto Xingu, Central Brazil, according to age. SUBJECTS 172 Indian children (<10 years of age) of Alto Xingu tribes. METHODS Date of birth, sex, weight, height (NCHS reference) and questionnaire of dietary habits at the time of field work. RESULTS Of the 103 children less than 5 years of age, 34% presented protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), according to Gomez's criteria, of which only 2% with grade II malnutrition and no child presented severe PEM. In relation to the Z scores for the 172 children studied, it was observed that those younger than 1 year (n=25) presented weight for age (median, M=+0.43) and weight for height (M=+1.33) greater (p<0.05) than the children with ages between 12 and 60 months (n=78) (weight for age, M=-0.54; weight for height, M=+0.29) and between 60 and 120 months (n=69) (weight for age, M=-0.78; weight for height, M=+0.27). The height for age Z scores for the population studied showed a shift to the left in relation to the reference population in the three age groups (<12 months, M=-0.95; 12 to 60 months, M=-1.22 and 60 to 120 months, M=-1.40). The mothers nursed, without exception, to the age of 24 months, and the frequency of breastfeeding decreased progressively to age 42 months. The introduction of solid foods started at the age of 6 months and after the 10th month all the children ate "beiju" (flat bread), fruit and fish. CONCLUSION The nutritional status of Alto Xingu Indian children, in 1992, is adequate and similar to that previously observed between 1974 and 1980.

NephrologyVolume 4, Issue s2 p. S25-S28 Free Access Renal-related diseases in Brazilian Amerindians JHR SUASSUNA, Corresponding Author JHR SUASSUNA Division of Nephrology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de JanerioJHR Suassuna, Division of Nephrology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeir, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Search for more papers by this authorLJ FRANCO, LJ FRANCO Department of Preventive Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorRC BARUZZI, RC BARUZZI Department of Preventive Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, BrazilSearch for more papers by this author JHR SUASSUNA, Corresponding Author JHR SUASSUNA Division of Nephrology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de JanerioJHR Suassuna, Division of Nephrology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeir, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Search for more papers by this authorLJ FRANCO, LJ FRANCO Department of Preventive Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, BrazilSearch for more papers by this authorRC BARUZZI, RC BARUZZI Department of Preventive Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, BrazilSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 March 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1797.1998.tb00467.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume4, Issues2September 1998Pages S25-S28 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Lobomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis are two different mycoses caused by Loboa loboi and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, respectively. To verify cross-antigenicity between them, lobomycosis sera were tested by immunoblotting, ELISA and capture-EIA against crude exo-antigen, 'cell-free antigen' and gp43 from P. brasiliensis. The majority of lobomycosis serum samples recognized crude exo-antigens and gp43 from P. brasiliensis. Gp43 was eluted from an affinity column prepared with IgG from a patient with active lobomycosis. In lower frequencies and intensities, lobomycosis sera also recognized proteins of 29 kDa, 36 kDa, 39 kDa, 52 kDa, 63 kDa, 70 kDa, 83 kDa, and 108 kDa from P. brasiliensis.

The medical literature has shown that the inhabitants of the Amazon region are highly affected by hepatitis B and delta viruses infection, but this has never been studied in Indian children by age group. A study of the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and delta viruses in Indian children aged 0 to 14 years living in the PIX was carried out. This Park is located in Central Brazil, a region which is in the transition between the savannab to the south and the Amazon jungle to the north. To determine the prevalence of HBV and HDV markers in Indian children and to characterize the route of HBV transmission in this region. Out of the 17 tribes living in the PIX, two--the Caiabi and the Txucarramãe--were chosen because both live in the North part of the Park, but have quite different ways of life. The overall prevalence of HBV serum markers was: HBsAg, 4.5%; anti-HBs, 39.6%; anti-HBc, 44.1%; any marker of HBV, 47.3%; and anti-HDV, 0.0%. However, a striking difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B markers was observed between the two tribes: younger Caiabi children were much less affected than the Txucarramãe ones. The prevalence of HBsAg in fertile women was 12%, being anti-HBe positive. Our data suggest that HBV infection is highly prevalent among Indian children living in this Indigenous Park and vertical infection is not an important route of transmission in either tribes.

O Parque Indígena do Xingu (PIX) está localizado no estado do Mato Grosso, na região de transição de cenado ao sul e da floresta Amazônica ao norte. Dados de literatura mostram que a população adulta apresenta elevada prevalência de marcadores do vírus da hepatite B (HBV). O presente estudo visa determinar a prevalência dos marcadores do HBV e do HDV na população indígena do PIX de zero a 14 anos, e investigar a forma de transmissão do HBV na região. Entre as 17 tribos existentes no PIX escolheu-se os Caiabi e os Txucairamãe que diferem em seus hábitos de vida e habitam a região Norte do parque com características de clima, vegetação e fauna semelhantes ás da região Amazônica. Avaliaram-se 222 crianças (116 Txucarramãe e 106 Caiabi) e 33 mulheres em idade fértil. A pesquisa de marcadores sorológicos para HBV e HDV foi feita por técnica imunoenzimãtica. A prevalência global dos marcadores sorológicos nas crianças foi: HBsAg 4,5%; anti-HBs 39,6%; anti- HBc 44,1%; presença de algum marcador do HBV 47,3% e anti-HDV 0,0%, enquanto que nas mulheres em idade fértil foi: HBsAg 12%, todas anti-HBe positivas. A infecção pelo HBV ocoireu mais precocemente entre os Txucarramãe, quando se considerou algum marcador do HBV (p < 0,001). No PIX, área de alta endemicidadepara infecção pelo HBV, a transmissão do vírus ocorre provavelmente de maneira horizontal e não vertical como seria de se esperar, características culturais, condições de habitação e presença de insetos hematófagos são importantes determinantes na sua transmissão. Apesar de não ter sido detectado nenhum caso com hepatite Delta, o PIX é uma área propícia para a sua disseminação.

In the present work, determination of mercury in the head hair of populational groups living near a heavily industrialized region in São Paulo and of Indians living in the Xingu park in the Amazonic region, was carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. A control group of people with no suspicion of contamination by mercury was also studied. The range of mercury concentrations found up to now were: for the control group from 0.26 to 02.5 ppm; for the Indians from 6.9 to 34 ppm, and for the industrialized region inhabitants: from 0.30 to 3.0 ppm.

STUDY OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of malnutrition in indian children of Alto Xingu region in Brazil, and to evaluate the usefulness of arm circumference and QUAC index in the diagnosis of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). SITE: The indian population of Alto Xingu maintains most of its traditional customs.PATIENTS:335 children were studied prospectively in at least one of seven consecutive years between 1974 and 1980, and 1278 measurements were obtained of weight, height, and arm circumference.MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:The annual prevalence of PEM (weight-for-height) less than 90% according to Brazilian reference tables was 4.1% in children aged under 1 year, 7.3% in children from 1 to 5 years of age, and 7.5% in children older than 5. According NCHS tables, however, values of 1.0%, 2.8%, and 1.1% were obtained for the respective age groups. The sensitivity and specificity of arm circumference and QUAC index were calculated in relation to the weight-for-height relation. According to Brazilian reference tables, arm circumference had a sensitivity of 8.9% and specificity of 99.3%, whereas the QUAC index had a sensitivity of 11.1% and specificity of 98.3%. However, according to NCHS tables, slightly different values were obtained. The sensitivity and specificity in this case were 23.5% and 99.3%, respectively, for arm circumference and 35.3% and 98.3%, respectively, for the QUAC index.CONCLUSIONS:The authors concluded that the prevalence of PEM was low in the Alto Xingu and that arm circumference and the QUAC index should only be used in situations suited to their sensitivity and specificity.

Four remote population samples (Yanomamo and Xingu Indians of Brazil and rural populations in Kenya and Papua New Guinea) had the lowest average blood pressures among all 52 populations studied in INTERSALT, an international cooperative investigation of electrolytes and blood pressure. Average systolic blood pressure was 103 versus 120 mm Hg in the remaining INTERSALT centers; diastolic blood pressure in these four population samples averaged 63 versus 74 mm Hg in the 48 other centers. There was little or no upward slope of blood pressure with age; hypertension was present in only 5% of the rural Kenyan sample and virtually absent in the other three centers. Also in marked contrast with the rest of the centers was level of daily salt intake, as estimated by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Median salt intake ranged from under 1 g to 3 g daily versus more than 9 g in the rest of INTERSALT populations. Average body weight was also low in these four centers, with no or low average alcohol intake, again unlike the other centers. The association within these four centers between the above variables and blood pressure was low, possibly reflecting their limited variability. While several other INTERSALT centers also had low average body weight or low prevalence of alcohol drinking, when this was accompanied by much higher salt intake (7-12 g salt or 120-210 mmol sodium daily), hypertension prevalence ranged from 8% to 19%. These findings confirm previous reports that in populations with a low salt intake, there is little or no hypertension or rise of blood pressure with age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lesioned, cutaneous, tissue fragments from five indians of the Caiabi tribe with lobomycosis, living in the Xingu National Park (Central Brazil), are analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Clusters of macrophages filled with parasite and/or cell wall debris, separated by collagen fiber bundles, characterize the morphological pattern seen in thick and thin sections. Paracoccidioides loboi within the phagocytic cells are multinucleate organisms whose cytoplasm contains mitochondria with few cristae, ribosomes and vacuoles; a large, dense, globular body and peculiarly curved mitochondrial profiles are described. From the outer portion of the double layered parasite cell wall, radial projections commonly emerge, rendering the structure conspicuously thicker and more irregularly surfaced than that seen in many other phagocytized yeast cell species. The cell wall layers from fungi possessing distinct subcellular organization show a weak or no reaction for acid phosphatase. Most of the foamy cells commonly seen by light microscopy are macrophages filled with fungal cell wall remnants which exhibit marked acid phosphatase activity. Occasionally, microchannels extending from the outer layer of the parasite cell wall to the macrophage surface and exocytic-like openings, possibly derived from the fusion of the macrophage membrane covering the parasite cell wall and the macrophage plasmalemma can be seen. Through such routes, material of texture and density similar to that of the outermost cell wall layer appears to be deposited extracellularly.

Lesioned skin tissues from a female Caiabi indian with lobomycosis were processed for routine electron microscopy using, in the initial steps, solutions containing 2% lanthanum nitrate. The pattern of tracer distribution suggests that the tracer penetrates into the cavity containing the parasite through exocytotic-like apertures situated at the cell wall outer region. The tracer also infiltrates the virtual space between the cell wall and its recovering membrane, spreading over varying areas of the outer surface of the cell wall. The contrast imparted to the pericellular macrophage space by the lanthanum nitrate enabled easy localization of fibrillar, cell wall derived material which reaches the adjacent extracellular milieu.

SUMMARYInfluenza A antibodies in serum samples obtained in 1980 from two Indian populations in Central Brazil were compared. The Kren-Akorore, who were first contacted in 1973 and two years later transferred to the Xingu Indian Park (PIX), were compared with Indians from other tribes already living in the PIX before 1975. An analysis was made of the prevalence and distribution of antibodies against the influenza A viruses which have circulated in the civilized world since 1918. Antibodies to the early influenza A viruses were absent in both Indian populations, but A/Hong Kong/1/68 (H3N2) virus apparently circulated in the PIX. No antibody to influenza A/Bangkok/I/79 or to A/Brazil/11/78 (H1N1) was found in any of the sera, whereas antibodies to these viruses were commonly found in urban populations in Brazil. The evidence from influenza antibodies agrees with the information that the Kren-Akorore Indians had been living in complete isolation until 1973, when they were first contacted.