Evaluation of immune response and performance of silver catfish fed functional linseed fibres in response to hypoxia stress

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunostimulating activity and growth promoting of diets supplemented with different rations of soluble and insoluble linseed fibre to Rhamdia quelen under hypoxia‐induced acute stress. For this reason, soluble and insoluble fractions of linseed fibre were concentrated separately and combined into four ratios (1:0.5; 1:1; 1:2 and 1:4), which were added to the diets of silver catfish (6.43 ± 0.12 g) and evaluated in a biological assay, along with a control diet (without addition of linseed fibre). After being fed the experimental diets for 45 days, specimens of silver catfish were submitted to hypoxia‐induced acute stress. They were kept out of water for 60 s. Immediately afterwards, blood and cutaneous mucus were collected for subsequent determination of immunological indicators and stress. After stress, the fish were weighed and measured for performance parameter calculation. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and four replications. The data underwent analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey's test (p < .05). The fish fed diets containing the 1:2 and 1:4 soluble:insoluble fibre ratios, showed higher total protein content, globulin, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, and performance in addition to higher mucoprotein content in the cutaneous mucus of the fish. Regardless of their ratio in the diet, linseed fibre provided higher plasma levels of total immunoglobulins and reduction in cortisol levels. The 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 diets led to higher levels of total immunoglobulins and alkaline phosphatase activity in cutaneous mucus. The results indicate that linseed fibre has a stress‐ reduction, immunostimulant and a growth promoter effect on silver catfish. The 1:2 or 1:4 soluble: insoluble fibre ratios provided greater stimulation of the target immunological indicators and performance.     

The role of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart. 1824) as a chemoprotective agent in the evaluation of antioxidant defence,oxidative damage and histology of juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (BOONE, 1931) exposed to ammonia

This study investigated the effects of the use of the inclusion of açaí on the diet of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei on antioxidant and histopathological responses after exposure to ammonia. The shrimps were fed two experimental diets: control and with 10% of açaí inclusion (W/W), for 35 days. Afterwards, the organisms were exposed at four concentrations of ammonia (0.01‐control; 0.26; 0.48 and 0.91 mg NH₃‐N L^?1) for 96 hr. The total antioxidant capacity (ACAP) of the gills decreased significantly in both diets when exposed to ammonia, whereas in the muscle, the açaí promoted an increase in ACAP. Concomitantly, lipid peroxidation levels increased in the gills and decreased in muscle. After exposure to ammonia, glutathione‐S‐transferase activity increased in hepatopancreas in shrimps fed with açaí facilitating the detoxification of lipid peroxidation by‐products, and the concentration of protein sulfhydryl groups decreased in the gills and muscle of the shrimp of the control diet, evidencing protein damage, an unobserved response in shrimps that received the açaí diet. Histopathological changes decreased in açaí‐fed shrimps about the control diet after exposure to ammonia. It is concluded that açaí mitigated ammonia‐induced histopathological changes, improved the antioxidant defence system (gills and muscle) and attenuated the lipid damage in the muscle.     

Evolution of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil Polluted with Crude Oil Treated with a Natural Product

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated/polluted soils has been recognized as an efficient, economic, versatile and environmentally good treatment. This method is limited by the microorganisms activity in degrading the spills hydrocarbons. Low solubility of the hydrocarbons involves low bioavailability to microorganisms. The main objective of this research is to increase biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by treating the crude oil polluted soil with the natural biodegradable product and bacterial inoculum. Biodegradation was quantified by total petroleum hydrocarbons （TPH） analyses. The paper presents data obtained in biodegradation process of an artificial polluted soil with 5% and 10% crude oil, treated with a natural biodegradable product and bacterial inoculum during two years of experiment. Biodegradation process takes time to rehabilitate and reuse of the soil in agricultural scopes.     

Immobilization of free-ranging maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) with tiletamine and zolazepam in central Brazil.

A tiletamine hydrochloride-zolazepam hydrochloride combination was used successfully to immobilize 27 free-ranging maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) at a mean dose of 2.77+/-0.56 (mean+/-SD) mg/kg. The induction time ranged from 3-15 min. Animals remained immobilized for periods of 48.56 +/-12.65 min. Compulsive licking, excessive salivation, muscle twitching, muscle tremors, tachypnea, and bradycardia were observed associated with the induction of the anesthesia in 13 of 27 maned wolves. Muscle twitching, pedal withdrawal reflex, muscle tremors, and ataxia were observed during recovery in three (11%) maned wolves. There were no significant differences in heart rates (P = 0.44), respiratory rates (P = 0.82), and rectal temperatures (P = 0.54) recorded at 5, 15, and 25 min after induction at these dosages. The tiletamine hydrochloride-zolazepam hydrochloride combination was shown to be an effective and safe immobilizing agent for free-ranging maned wolves.     

Agroforestry systems in the highlands of the Tehuacán Valley,Mexico: indigenous cultures and biodiversity conservation

In this study we analysed: (1) the biodiversity conservation capacity of Agroforestry Systems (AFS) in temperate highlands of the Tehuacán–Cuicatlán Valley, Central Mexico, (2) human cultural motives and actions for conserving such diversity and (3) problems endangering that capacity. We evaluated the richness and diversity of perennial plant species maintained in AFS through vegetation sampling of 14 agricultural plots and compared their composition with that of natural forests (14 plots of 500 m² each). We examined the situations among communities of Náhuatl, Ixcatec and Cuicatec people, documenting through interviews the management practices of plant species and the whole system, reasons why people maintain vegetation cover within AFS, and factors influencing changes in decisions favouring agriculture intensification. In the AFS studied we recorded a total of 79 species of trees and shrubs, 86 % of them being native species and representing 43 % of all species of trees and shrubs recorded in the sampling of the natural forests the AFS derive from. People leave standing on average a total of 40 individual trees and shrubs per agricultural plot. Reasons for leave plant species standing were more frequently associated with their use as fruit trees, firewood, shade, beauty, respect to nature and other environmental benefits. Water availability for irrigation, land tenure, and dependence on agriculture and forest for peasant's subsistence were main decision factors influencing AFS variation in their composition. AFS in temperate zones are important reservoirs of biodiversity and biocultural heritage and should be keystones for conservation policies in the Tehuacán–Cuicatlán Valley.     

Rickettsia lusitaniae sp. nov. isolated from the soft tick Ornithodoros erraticus (Acarina: Argasidae)

In this study a novel Rickettsia from the spotted fever group, isolated from Ornithodoros erraticus soft ticks collected from pigpens in the south of Portugal, is described. After initial screening revealed Rickettsia-positive ticks, isolation attempts were then performed. Successful isolates were achieved by shell-vial technique using Vero E6 cells at 28 °C. Molecular characterization of the isolate was performed based on analysis of five rickettsial genes gltA, ompA, ompB, sca1 and htr with their subsequent concatenation along with other rickettsial species resulting in a clustering of the new isolate with Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia hoogstraalii. The degree of nucleotide sequence similarity with other rickettsiae fulfills the criteria for classification of our isolate as a novel species. The name Rickettsia lusitaniae sp. nov. (= CEVDI PoTiRo) is proposed for this new species found in O. erraticus.     

Assessment of qualitative and quantitative parameters of healthy thyroid gland in adult horses by magnetic resonance imaging

In humans and pets, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides important adjunctive anatomic information about the thyroid and its adjacent structures. To the best of our knowledge, however, no studies have been reported regarding the use of MRI for thyroid evaluation in horses. The aim of this study was to obtain qualitative and quantitative parameters of healthy thyroid gland in adult horses by MRI. Eleven horses were submitted to thyroid MRI evaluation. The healthy thyroid of these animals was ensured by normal examinations performed before (free thyroxine and ultrasound) and after (cytology) to MRI. It was concluded that the dorsal spin-echo T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, sagittal STIR and a three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo were the sequences that best characterized the thyroid lobes. Qualitatively, there was a significant variation in the elliptical format of some lobes considering the sagittal plane, which oscillated between rounded and flattened conformation. Excellent reproducibility of the quantitative thyroid parameters obtained was verified. The thyroid gland total volume mean of observers was 14.31 cm³ (±0.69). In relation with comparisons between quantitative parameters of left and right lobes, only differences regarding their respective lengths were observed. Thus, we can infer that the difference in some thyroid lobes format can be explained by the significant variation identified between left and right lobes lengths.     

Effects of a diet enriched with eicosapentaenoic,docosahexaenoic and glutamine on cytokines as immunological markers for systemic inflammation in bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy

The post-operative period can generate immunological stress and can be modulated through supplementation with the omega-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets enriched with high doses of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and glutamine on inflammatory mediators in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Twelve female dogs were divided into two groups: group A was fed a commercial diet without the addition of EPA and DHA, and group B was fed an experimental diet enriched with EPA and DHA (0.2 g/100 kcal). Experimental diet intake initiated 21 days before surgery and continued until 30 days after OVH. Parameters measured were serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), IGF-1, lymphoproliferation and body composition before and after surgery. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software considering the effects of age and diet and their interactions, and means were compared by the Tukey test. There was no difference between groups in body weight (p = .682), lean mass (p = .101) and body fat (p = .103). There were no group differences in serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IGF-1, CRP and the percentage of lymphocyte proliferation. However, a time effect for TNF-α was observed (p < .001), in which T_0P (10 days after the surgical procedure) presented lower values of this cytokine when compared to the other evaluation time points; and interaction effects between group and time were observed for serum concentrations of IL-6 (p < .001) and IL-10 (p = .002). OVH procedure was not considered invasive enough to increase inflammatory cytokines after 30 days of surgery, as well as the dosage of the EPA and DHA used before and after the surgery did not modulate the inflammatory markers.