Haematological response of curimbas Prochilodus lineatus, naturally infected with Neoechinorhynchus curemai

This study evaluated the haematological response of curimbas Prochilodus lineatus, naturally infected with Neoechinorhynchus curemai (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae). Thirty-seven fish were captured in October 2010 from the Mogi Guaçu River, Porto Ferreira, SP, Brazil. Infected fish presented increased mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes, and lower thrombocyte and higher monocyte counts than uninfected fish. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology © 2013 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Neoechinorhynchus curemai (Acanthocephala : Neoechinorhynchidae) in Prochilodus lineatus (Osteichthyes : Prochilodontidae)from the Parana River, Brazil

This work evaluated, parasitic infections by Neoechinorhynchus curemai (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) in Prochilodus lineatus captured between August 2000 and August 2001 in the Parana River, Presidente Epitacio, São Paulo, Brazil. of 87 fishes examined, 59 were infected (25 males and 34 females). High mean intensities occurred in August 2000 (45.2, range 2-204), September 2000 (28.5, range 11-73), October 2000 (59.3, range 2-250) and February 2001 (27.3, range 3-73). There was no relationship of rainfall with mean intensity and prevalence. Males were more parasitized (P < 0.05) than females. This work contributes to the knowledge of helminth parasites of fish from a little studied region of the Parana River, showing diversity in their fauna when compared to other places in the same river. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and histopathology of Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) in Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836 from Volta Grande Reservoir, MG, Brazil

O presente trabalho estudou a prevalência e a histopatologia de Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) em curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836. Dezoito peixes com comprimento total médio de 46,7 + 1,1 cm e peso médio de 1.674,8 + 75,6 g foram coletados com rede, bimestralmente, de dezembro de 1995 a dezembro de 1996 na usina hidrelétrica do Reservatório de Volta Grande (Cemig), Minas Gerais, Brasil. Dos peixes analisados, 15 estavam infectados com acantocéfalos no intestino (prevalência de 83,3%). A maior intensidade média ocorreu em agosto de 1996, com 66,5 (16 a 208) parasitos. A análise histopatológica revelou completa descamação do epitélio intestinal com severa hiperplasia e hipertrofia das células caliciformes. Observou-se, ainda, forte reação inflamatória na submucosa, deslocamento de feixes, associado a edemas, bem como infiltração mononuclear e eosinofílica.

Recent Studies on Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae), in Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836, from Volta Grande Reservoir, MG, Brazil

O presente trabalho estudou a helmintofauna do curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836, do reservatório de Volta Grande, MG, Brasil. Foram analisados 18 peixes com comprimento médio de 46,7 ± 1,1 cm e peso médio de 1.674,8 ± 75,6 g, sendo que 15 apresentaram acantocéfalos no intestino com prevalência de 83,3%. O helminto foi identificado como Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae), que diferiu das outras espécies descritas pelas dimensões dos caracteres e pela morfologia. da descrição original de N. curemai difere pelas maiores dimensões dos testículos, pela glândula de cimento alongada, pela presença de núcleos nos lemniscos, pelas dimensões dos ovos e pelos maiores ganchos da probóscide presentes na segunda e na terceira fileiras nos machos e na primeira fileira nas fêmeas. Foi observada menor porcentagem ocupada pelo sistema reprodutivo em relação ao tronco da fêmea. A observação dos parátipos de N. curemai de Noronha (1973) mostrou grande semelhança com os do presente trabalho. Este fato complementa a descrição do helminto em outra localidade.

Molecular insights on the evolution of the lateral and head lantern luciferases and bioluminescence colors in Mastinocerini railroad-worms (Coleoptera: Phengodidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrasonographic, computed tomographic, and operative findings in dogs infested with giant kidney worms (Dioctophyme renale)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen for experimental treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni using praziquantel-free and encapsulated into liposomes: Assay in adult worms and oviposition

The treatment of schistosomiasis depends on a single drug: praziquantel (PZQ). However, this treatment presents limitations such as low and/or erratic bioavailability that can contribute to cases of tolerance. Improvements to the available drug are urgently needed and studies with a controlled system of drug release, like liposomes, have been gaining prominence. The present study evaluated the activity and synergy between liposomal-praziquantel (lip.PZQ) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Mice received doses of 60 or 100mg/kg PZQ or lip.PZQ, 50 days post-infection, and after the treatment, were exposed to HBO (3 atmosphere absolute - ATA) for 1h. The viability of adult worms and oviposition were analyzed, by necropsy and Kato-Katz examination performed after 15 days of treatment. A concentration of 100mg/kg of lip.PZQ+HBO was more effective (48.0% reduction of worms, 83.3% reduction of eggs/gram of feces) and 100% of the mice had altered of oograms (indicating interruption of oviposition) compared to other treatments and to the Control group (infected and untreated). It is known that PZQ requires participation of the host immune system to complete its antischistosomal activity and that HBO is able to stimulate the immune system. The drug became more available in the body when incorporated into liposomes and, used with HBO, the HBO worked as an adjuvant. This explains the decreases of oviposition and worms recovered form hepatic portal system.

Improvement of the oral praziquantel anthelmintic effect by cyclodextrin complexation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Growth, fat content and fatty acid profile of South American catfish, surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles fed live, commercial and formulated diets

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Resistência de genótipos de feijão-vagem ao ataque de Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

O feijão-vagem (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pode sofrer ataque de carunchos, como os da espécie Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), afetando, diretamente, a qualidade das vagens e sementes e deixando-as inviáveis para o consumo e comercialização. A fim de buscar uma alternativa para o controle deste inseto, foram determinados os tipos e graus de resistência, envolvidos em genótipos de feijão-vagem, ao ataque de Z. subfasciatus, em testes com e sem chance de escolha. Os genótipos utilizados foram UEGD7, UEG05, UEG06, UEG11, UEG13, UEG15, UEG18, UEG19 e UEG26, com quatro repetições. No teste com chance de escolha, os parâmetros avaliados foram o número de ovos viáveis, inviáveis e total e a atratividade dos adultos pelos genótipos. No teste sem chance de escolha, foram avaliados o número de ovos viáveis, inviáveis e total, massa seca consumida e massa seca consumida por inseto, massa e longevidade dos adultos, período de ovo a adulto, razão sexual e número e percentagem de insetos emergidos. Concluiu-se que o genótipo UEG05 foi o menos preferido por Z. subfasciatus, para oviposição, em teste com chance de escolha. O UEG13 foi altamente resistente e UEG05, UEG15 e UEG19 foram moderadamente resistentes. O UEG18 foi susceptível e os demais genótipos foram altamente susceptíveis a Z. subfasciatus.

Infecções naturais em cervídeos (Mammalia: Cervidae) procedentes dos Estados do Mato Grosso do Sul e São Paulo, por nematódeos Trichostrongyloidea Cram, 1927

No período compreendido entre 1985 e 1996 foram necropsiados, para pesquisa de helmintos, 42 cervídeos, sendo sete Mazama americana, 16 M. gouazoubira, 13 Ozotoceros bezoarticus e seis Blastocerus dichotomus. Desses animais, foram colhidos 14.426 nematódeos Trichostrongyloidea, sendo 13.281 (92,06%) parasitos de abomaso e 1.145 (7,94%), de intestino delgado. Nesses órgãos, foram identificadas seis espécies de nematódeos: Haemonchus contortus, H. similis, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, Cooperia punctata e C. pectinata. Todos os animais apresentaram infecções helmínticas por uma ou mais espécies, ocorrendo grande variação na intensidade de infecção (1 a 4.345 nematódeos). Ainda com relação à intensidade de infecção, os dados expressavam valores menores que 100 parasitos em 25 (59,52%) animais. Os valores mais altos de intensidade média das infecções foram observados em M. gouazoubira (596,37 helmintos) e em O. bezoarticus (331), e os menores, em M. americana (17,57) e B. dichotomus (75,5). Os dados mais expressivos de intensidade de infecção, abundância e prevalência foram observados para Haemonchus (larvas de 4º estágio), H. contortus, H. similis e T. axei. O gênero Haemonchus foi constatado em 35 animais, com prevalência de 83,33%; apresentou carga parasitária de 11.616 exemplares, representando 80,52% dos nematódeos verificados, sendo a maioria (8.903) constituída por formas imaturas. Por outro lado, H. similis foi a espécie predominante nas infecções e, portanto, a que apresentou maiores valores de abundância. Verificou-se o gênero Trichostrongylus em 24 (57,14%) animais, com carga parasitária de 2.444 exemplares, sendo 1.665 espécimes de T. axei, que representou 11,54% da carga parasitária obtida. As seis espécies de vermes identificadas nos cervídeos são comuns aos ruminantes domésticos nos Estados de São Paulo e Mato Grosso do Sul e dessa maneira não se observou nenhuma espécie de Trichostrongyloidea exclusiva dos cervídeos.

Humoral immune response of water buffalo monitored with three different antigens of Toxocara vitulorum

Humoral immune response of water buffalo naturally infected with Toxocara vitulorum was monitored using three different antigens of this parasite in serum and colostrum of buffalo cows and calves. Soluble extract (Ex) and excretory/secretory (ES) larval antigens and perienteric fluid antigen (Pe) of adult T vitulorum were used to measure the antibody levels by an indirect ELISA. Serum of 7-12 buffalo cows for the first 365 days and colostrum of the same number of buffalo cows for the first 60 days of parturition, and serum of 8-10 buffalo calves for the first 365 days afterbirth were assayed. The ELISA detected antibodies against all three T vitulorum antigens in the colostrum and serum of 100% of buffalo cows and calves examined. The highest antibody levels against Ex, ES and Pe antigens were detected in the buffalo cow sera during the perinatal period and were maintained at high levels through 300 days after parturition. on the other hand, colostrum antibody concentrations of all three antigens were highest on the first day post-parturition, but decreased sharply during the first 15 days. Concomitantly to the monitoring of immune response, the parasitic status of the calves was also evaluated. In calves, antibodies passively acquired were at the highest concentrations 24 h after birth and remained at high levels until 45 days coincidentally with the peak of T vitulorum infection. The rejection of the worms by the calves occurred simultaneously with the decline of antibody levels, which reached their lowest levels between 76 and 150 days. Thereafter, probably because of the presence of adults/larvae stimulation, the calves acquired active immunity and the antibodies started to increase slightly in the serum and plateaued between the days 211 and 365. All three antigens were detected by the serum antibodies of buffalo calves; however, the concentration of anti-Pe antibody was higher than anti-EX and anti-ES, particularly after 90 days of age. By conclusion, the buffalo cows develop immunity and keep high levels of antibodies against T vitulorum-Ex, ES and Pe antigens and these antibodies are transferred to their calves through the colostrum. This passively acquired immunity does not protect the calves against the acquisition of the infection, but these antibodies, passively or actively acquired, may have an important role during worm rejection by the calves and prevention of intestinal reinfection. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Parasitismo por Mermithidae (Nematoda) em larvas do gênero Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae) no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, SP, Brasil

Registramos a incidência de parasitismo por vermes Mermithidae em larvas de Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae), no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, região centro-oeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Neste estudo, de um total de 791 larvas amostradas, 205 (25,9%) estavam infectadas por mermitídeos, indicando que larvas de Chironomidae são comumente parasitadas por vermes mermitídeos.

Mast cell and eosinophils in the wall of the gut and eosinophils in the blood stream during Toxocara vitulorum infection of the water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Toxocara vitulorum is a pathogenic nematode from the small intestine of very young buffalo calves. To understand the development of the inflammatory responses in the wall of the gut, samples of tissues were removed from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of buffalo calves naturally infected with T. vitulorum during the beginning of the infection, at the peak of egg output, as well as during the periods of rejection of the worms and post-rejection. Two additional control groups of uninfected calves (by anti-helminthic therapy of their mothers and after the birth) were also necropsied on days 30 and 50 after birth. Blood samples were fortnightly collected from birth to 174 days post-birth. Blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa for eosinophils. The parasitological status of buffalo calves was evaluated through weekly fecal egg counts (EPG) from 1 to 106 days after birth, which revealed that T. vitulorum egg shedding started on day 11, reached the peak of the infection on day 49 and finally expelled the parasites between days 50 and 85 after birth. In the infected buffalo calves, the mast cell population increased significantly, by two-fold in the mucosa (villus-crypt unit (VCU)) of the duodenum and four-fold in the proximal jejunum; but these increases were statistically significant only at the peak of the infection. Although mast cell numbers increased in the mucosa of the ileum as well as in both the submucosal and muscle tissues of the duodenum, proximal jejunum and ileum, the data was not significantly different from the controls. Eosinophil numbers increased in the mucosa of the duodenum (two-five times higher than the control) and proximal jejunum (three-five-fold) during the period of the infection (beginning, peak and rejection). The relative numbers of eosinophils increased in the blood stream from the second to the seventh week. In conclusion, T. vitulorum infection elicited mastocytosis and tissue eosinophilia in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, as well as eosinophilia in the blood stream, during the beginning, at the peak and during the rejection of the worm. After the rejection of the worms, the numbers of these cells returned to normal levels suggesting that these cells may have a role in the process of rejection of T. vitulorum by the host. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.