Waltecio Almeida

Universidade Regional do Cariri · Química Biológica

Pentastomida are lung parasites of a variety of hosts, mainly reptiles. Raillietiella is the genus with the largest number of species, whose taxonomic identification is still largely based on morphological data alone. In this classification, differences divide the genus into morphotypic groups. The Raillietiella parasites of insectivorous lizards,...

Recent evidence suggests that the invasive air sac system evolved at least three times independently in avemetatarsalians: in pterosaurs, sauropodomorphs and theropods. Data from sauropodomorphs showed that the pneumatic architecture in vertebrae first developed in camellate‐like trabeculae in the Triassic, later in camerate systems in Jurassic neo...

The parasitic fauna of reptiles is considered understudied compared to that of other vertebrates and is even less well known than the parasitic fauna of chelonians. Yet parasites are considered one of the main controllers of host populations because they can strongly impact population structure and species diversity. The objective of the present st...

Amphibians are a widespread Chordata taxon and are important for maintaining the balance of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Brazil has a rich amphibian fauna; however, little is known about the role of their ecology and phylogenetic relationships during the assembly processes of associated endoparasite communities. Herein, we describe an e...

Studies that seek to understand which factors influence the patterns of infection in the lizard Coleodactylus meridionalis are non-existent. In this way, we recorded the infection rates for these lizards from three different sized fragments of the Atlantic rainforest and investigated if there is influence of the size, mass and sex of the host regar...

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal potential of the essential oil of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. against Candida strains. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was assessed by the microdilution method using the essential oil at a concentration range of 8192 to 8 μg/mL. The minimum fungicide concentr...

In the current study, the structural characteristics of the egg and larva of the pentastomid Raillietiella mottae (Almeida, Freire, & Lopes 2008), are described and compared with those of other pentastomids. The eggs and larvae were obtained from lizards Phyllopezus periosus (Rodrigues 1986) and Phyllopezus pollicaris (Spix 1825) which were collect...

Proceratophrys aridus is endemic to the Brazilian Caatinga and was described from specimens from the municipality of Milagres, Ceará, Brazil (Cruz et al. 2012. South Am. J. Herpetol. 7:110–122). Understanding food networks and energy transfer in a community requires knowledge of the food habits of the species (Brito et al. 2012. Herpetol. Notes 5:8...

Aplectana membranosa is a nematode (Cosmocercidae) that is widely distributed in the neotropics (Campião et al. 2014. Zootaxa 1:1–19). The Cosmocercidae are mainly parasites of vertebrates (Vanderburgh and Anderson 1987. Can. J. Zool. 65:1650–1661), and have been described from the gastrointestinal systems of anurans (Campião et al. 2014, op. cit.;...

Background/Purpose The fractions were tested to investigate their chemical composition and antifungal potential in vitro. Methods/Results The results obtained through the chromatographic analysis allowed the identification of 28 compounds. Microbiological assays were carried out in order to determine the IC50, cell viability curve and inhibitory e...

Predation is one of the main negative pressures affecting natural populations (Passos et al. 2016. Biota Neotropica 16:1–5), but it can also be of extreme importance to reduce prey population densities (Vitt and Lacher 1981. Herpetologica 37:53–63; Rocha and Vrcibradic 1998. Revista Ciência e Cultura 50:364–368; Teixeira 2001. Atlântica 23:121–132)...

The distribution of parasites within host populations and communities, and the mechanisms responsible for these patterns, are poorly understood aspects of wildlife parasitology. Here, we evaluate the influence of the average abundance of endoparasite variance, using endoparasites of lizards from the Caatinga domain (semiarid region), north-eastern...

We compared lizard endoparasite assemblages between the Atlantic Forest and naturally isolated forest enclaves to test the ecological release hypothesis, which predicts that host specificity should be lower (large niche breadth) and parasite abundance should be greater for parasites from isolated forest enclaves (poor assemblages) than for parasite...

The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the chemical compositions and effects of the S. tuberosa leaf and root hydroalcoholic extracts (HELST and HERST) against different strains of Candida. Chemical analysis was performed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole/Time of Flight System (UPLC-MS-ESI-QTOF). The Inhib...

We evaluated the activity period, thermal ecology, habitats, and preference for microhabitats of the skink Mabuya arajara in a humid forest environment on the slope of the Araripe Plateau, Brazil. A total of 283 lizards were observed. The lizards were found to be diurnally active (unimodal type pattern), with peak activity during the hottest hours...

In this study, the Piper cernuum Essential Oil (EOPC) was tested against bacterial and fungal strains using the microdilution method to evaluate its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), as well as its antibiotic modifying effect, in addition to observing the oils ability to cause fungal dimorphism and t...

We investigated the infection by pulmonary parasites in the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) inhabiting the Environmental Protection Area of Araripe (APA-Araripe). A total of 45 specimens were collected in three areas between the cities of Várzea Alegre and Barbalha. A Pentastomid species (Raillietiella mottae) was parasitizing (nine specimens) a mal...

The bioprospection of zootherapeutic products can be a source of new drugs and to the creation of new strategies of natural resources conservation and management of endangered species. This fact is supported by ethnobiological studies indicating that the usage of zootherapeutic products can be replaced by the use of natural products isolated from p...

Bioprospecting of biotherapeutics focusing on the search for new drugs is still underdeveloped. Consequently, methodological bioprospecting aspects are also scarce. In this chapter, the reader will be exposed to a brief explanation of antibacterial and modulatory activity evaluation of zootherapeutics body fat.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Northeast Brazilian ethnoveterinary studies associated with the medicinal use of zootherapies have shown that ruminants’ body fat such as sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus) and cows (Bos taurus) are used in diseases affecting domestic animals. Aim of the study: The objective of this study was to evaluate the an...

We analysed the patterns of infection by helminthes in populations of the teiid lizard Kentropyx calcarata from two Atlantic Forest fragments in Northeast Brazil. From 303 lizards, only two specimens from a single population were infected by Physaloptera lutzi (P%: 0.66 and II: range 2-38). Our study showed a very low prevalence of infection in K....

We analyzed the patterns of infection by helminths in populations of the Gymnophthalmidae lizard Dryadosaura nordestina from three Atlantic Forest fragments in Northeast Brazil. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection by location showed the following results: ARIE Mata de Goiamunduba (60.8 % and 10.4 ± 8), RPPN Engenho Gargaú (83.3 % and 20.8 ±...

In the Northeast of Brazil, ethnoveterinary studies have shown that the body fat from Gallus gallus domesticus and Meleagris gallopavo are used for diseases that affect domestic animals. The objective of this study was to identify the chemical composition and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Gallus gallus domesticus (OFGG) and Meleagri...

Iguana iguana is a lizard found in South America, and its metabolism is directly related to ambient heat. However, the physiology underlying the effect of temperature change on the metabolism of these reptiles has not been fully elucidated. I. iguana hemoglobin (iHb) was isolated and purified by exclusion chromatography. Mass spectrometry, circular...

We examined 31 specimens of Rhinella granulosa from the semiarid Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil for the presence of gastrointestinal nematodes. We found 7 nematode taxa: Rhabdias androgyna, Raillietnema spectans, Aplectana membranosa, Oswaldocruzia sp., Physaloptera sp., Raillietnema sp., and cosmocercidae larvae. The total prevalence was 2...

In this study, the Kinosternon scorpioides, Mesoclemmys tuberculata and Phrynops geoffroanus freshwater turtles collected in the Cariús River, State of Ceará, were analysed as to their diet composition and presence of helminths. Among the 63 examined turtles 55 (87.3%) were parasitized. We found three Nematoda species (Physaloptera retusa, Serpinem...

In Brazil, although a large number of animals are used in traditional medicine (at least 354 species), information about their biological activities is scarce. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal potential of zootherapeutic by-products from animals used in Brazilian traditional medicine and discuss the ecol...

The development of fungal resistance to antifungal drugs has been worsening over the years and as a result research on new antifungal agents derived from plants has intensified. Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga) has been studied for its various biological actions. In this study the chemical composition and antifungal effects of the E. uniflora essentia...

We tested the role of sex, size, and mass of the lizards Phyllopezus pollicaris, Gymnodactylus geck-oides, Hemidactylus agrius, Lygodactylus klugei, and Hemidactylus brasilianus on the rates of pen-tastomid infection in the Brazilian Caatinga. We collected 355 individuals of these fi ve species, of which four (prevalence of infection: P. pollicaris...

We investigated the parasites of five lizard species belonging to Phyllodactylidae (Phyllopezus pollicaris and Gymnodactylus geckoides) and Gekkonidae (Hemidactylus agrius, Lygodactylus klugei and Hemidactylus brasilianus) families in a semiarid region of Brazil. Six nematode species were identified: Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Spauligodon oxkut...

Nematodes were analyzed in Iguana iguana, a large lizard Iguanidae that is widely distributed throughout the Americas. The aims of the study were investigate the helminths associated with the lizard, I. iguana in semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil and analyze the parasitological indices (prevalence, and mean intensity of infection). A total of...

The lizard Salvator merianae is a widely distributed species in South America, occurring from southern Amazonia to the eastern Andes and northern Patagonia. Studies on the parasitic fauna of this lizard have revealed that it is a host for helminths in various Brazilian biomes. The present work provides new parasitological data on the gastrointestin...

The increase in microorganisms with resistance to medications has caused a strong preoccupation within the medical and scientific community. Animal toxins studies, such as parotoid glandular secretions from amphibians, possesses a great potential in the development of drugs, such as antimicrobials, as these possess bioactive compounds. It was evalu...

Ecological characteristics and environmental variation influence both host species composition and parasite abundance. Abiotic factors such as rainfall and temperature can improve parasite development and increase its reproduction rate. The comparison of these assemblages between different environments may give us a more refined analysis of how env...

This report comprises the first record of Phrynops geoffroanus in the diet of Salvator merianae

This represents the first record of B. erythromelas as definitive host for C. tretapoda

Tropidurus hispidus has been used in traditional medicine in several regions of Northeastern Region of Brazil. Its medicinal use involves the treatment of diseases such as warts, sore throat, tonsillitis, chicken pox, varicella, measles, asthma, alcoholism, and dermatomycosis. The present study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Tr...

Parapharyngodon silvoi n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) is described from the large and small intestine of the Muller's termite frog Dermatonotus muelleri (Boettger, 1885) from the biome Caatinga, Exu municipality, Pernambuco State, Brazil, Dermatonotus muelleri is a fossorial species with a specialized termite diet, and feeding and reproductive...

We studied diet, reproduction, and sexual dimorphism in Mabuya arajara (Arajara Skink; Scincidae) in a rainforest on the slopes of the Araripe Plateau, northeastern Brazil. Diet was composed mainly of arthropods, mostly termites, when considering both number (93.5%, n = 58) and volume (58.5%, n = 58). Mabuya arajara can be classified as a forager t...

The use and trade of animals in traditional medicine involves many different species, some of which are threatened with extinction. Thus, evaluating biological and cultural aspects associated with this business is essential for the conservation of these species. The aim of this study was to analyze the viability of replacing wild animal with plant...

Helminths and pentastomids were examined in exotic Hemidactylus mabouia and native Phyllopezus pollicaris lizards, living synanthropically in an urban area in the municipality of Crato, Ceará state, northeastern Brazil. A total of 194 lizards were collected, being 76 specimens of H. mabouia e 118 specimens of P. pollicaris. Six parasite species wer...

We present data on nematode infracommunity of the arboreal lizard Polycrhus acutirostris in the semiarid Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil. Twenty-twolizard specimens collected in the municipality of Várzea Alegre in Ceará State and in the municipality of Exu in Pernambuco State were analyzed. Two species of nematodes were found, an Oxyuridae,Gyn...

Context: The toad Rhinella jimi (Stevaux, 2002) (Bufonidae) is used in traditional medicine to treat a number of illnesses (inflammation, infections, and wounds) in humans as well as animals. Objectives: The present work examined the antimicrobial actions of the extracted oils from the body fat of R. jimi (ORJ) against fungi and standard and mul...

The Titanosauria were much diversified during the Late Cretaceous, but paleobiological information concerning these sauropods continues to be scarce and no studies have been conducted utilizing modern methods of community analysis to infer possible structural patterns of extinct assemblages. The present study sought to estimate species richness and...

Trophic networks can have architectonic configurations influenced by historical and ecological factors. The objective of this study was to analyze the architecture of networks between lizards, their endoparasites, diet, and micro-habitat, aiming to understand which factors exert an influence on the composition of the species of parasites. All netwo...

ABSTRACT: Abstract Context: Animals are used for the treatment of diseases caused by inflammatory processes, although few studies evaluate their potential for these purposes. Objectives: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of zootherapeutic products derived from vertebrates used in Brazilian traditional medicine. Material and methods: The s...

Context: Animals are used for the treatment of diseases caused by inflammatory processes, although few studies evaluate their potential for these purposes. Objectives: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of zootherapeutic products derived from vertebrates used in Brazilian traditional medicine. Material and methods: The species analyze...