EDITORIAL

Alexandre C. Linhares, MD

Scientific Editor of RPAS

The Revista Pan-Amazónica de Saúde (RPAS) releases its second issue aiming at consolidating its identity as a tool for systematic dissemination of scientific knowledge in the Amazon region, adding to the limited number of journals that have local roots. Similarly to the first issue, its contents comprise several subjects related to the proposed scope, which is comprehensive and coherent with the Amazonian prevailing nosology. Despite its primary focus on the Pan-Amazon region, the RPAS also gathers national and international studies on public health topics that have global impact.

As established in the journal's conception, this second issue has a historical article, which presents aspects related to the discovery, ecology and taxonomy of the neotropical species of Leishmanias, a fascinating theme that has been investigated by the Instituto Evandro Chagas, an institute linked to Brazil's Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, since its beginning. The 15 original articles build a very broad and diversified context related to several subjects in Virology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Epidemiology and Collective Health. Relevant data on the /Amazonian nosology are the main focus of at least nine of these contributions, with emphasis on viral hepatitides, bacterial diarrhea, Chagas disease, leishmaniases, arbovirus infections, among others.

This issue also features a review article that discusses the origin of Leishmania chagasi Cunha and Chagas 1937, and a thesis summary on genetic aspects of an Amazonian community and the infection by Plasmodium vivax.

It should be noted that 9 of the 15 original articles were authored by external institutions, which is very encouraging because it proves the increasing range of the RPAS. Indeed, a significant part of these studies were executed by scientific institutions and universities from the Amazon and the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil. It is also important to highlight the relevant contributions on maternal periodontal diseases and hantaviruses sent by major academic and scientific institutions in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Particularly significant was the RPAS's recent subscription to the Digital Object Identifier (DOI®) system, which will enable the identification of all its electronic documents.

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone for having contributed to the successful release of this second issue. We sincerely hope that this journal will keep playing its role as a reliable and valuable tool for the dissemination of the extensive and rich intellectual production in the Pan-Amazon region.

We hope you enjoy your reading!