Leishmania spp. and/or Trypanosoma cruzi diagnosis in dogs from endemic and nonendemic areas for canine visceral leishmaniasis

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

Age-related changes in muscle fiber type frequencies and cross-sectional areas in straightbred and crossbred rabbits

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

Population size and survivorship for juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) on their nursery grounds at a marine protected area in Brazil

Os tubarões enfrentam muitos obstáculos para sobreviver nos primeiros anos de vida e muitas espécies ocupam áreas de berçário. Embora estimativas de sobrevivência, particularmente para jovens, sejam essenciais para acessar, monitorar e manejar efetivamente populações animais, existem poucos cálculos destas estimativas para populações de tubarões e poucas estimativas baseadas em métodos diretos para estes animais em suas áreas de berçário. Métodos de marcação e recaptura foram utilizados no presente estudo para estimar o tamanho populacional e a sobrevivência de jovens tubarões-limão (Negaprion brevirostris) em uma área de berçário na Reserva Biológica do Atol das Rocas, Brasil. Os indivíduos foram amostrados entre 1999 e 2003 e as estimativas de tamanho populacional variaram entre 12 a 100 indivíduos jovens e a taxa de sobrevivência entre 24 e 54%, com média de 44,6% durante o período de amostragem mais robusto. A população destes tubarões jovens diminuiu ao longo de nosso estudo, ainda que as taxas de sobrevivência tenham aumentado durante o mesmo período. Mesmo um nível moderado de pesca e a remoção de fêmeas maduras em áreas adjacentes podem afetar dramaticamente pequenas populações de tubarões num berçário pequeno e isolado como o Atol das Rocas. As taxas de sobrevivência e tamanho populacional relativamente mais baixos em Rocas podem ser resultado das diferenças nas características físicas deste berçário, comparadas a outros utilizados pela espécie no Atlântico norte-ocidental. Tais parâmetros comparativamente mais baixos no Atol das Rocas sugerem a fragilidade da população jovem de tubarões-limão neste berçário.

Identification of the shark species Rhizoprionodon lalandii and R-porosus (Elasmobranchii, Carcharhinidae) by multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP techniques

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

Recursos pesqueiros oriundos da pesca artesanal no reservatório de jurumirim, rio Paranapanema, Alto Paraná, Brasil

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the artisanal fisheries in the village of fishermen of Bairro da Ponte, Jurumirim reservoir. Data were collected using production forms which were filled daily by a data collector, in 2005 and 2006. The fishery yield was estimated at 15.7 kg ha(-1) year(-1), the average yield was 12.5 t year(-1) and catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 10.5 kg fisherman(-1) day(-1). We recorded 26 species of landed fish in this activity, being the "traira" (Hoplias malabaricus) the most landed fish in terms of biomass with 6,158.5 kg, representing 24.5%, of the total landed. Seasonally, the CPUE ranged from 14.5 kg fisherman(-1) day(-1) in summer/2005 to 9.0 kg fisherman(-1) day(-1) in spring/2006. The average CPUE by type of fish also showed a marked seasonality. In summer of 2005 and 2006, "curimbata" was the most landed fish, with CPUE kg fisherman(-1) day(-1) of 6.9 and 6.2, respectively. The "piavas" were the most landed fish in autumn with CPUE of 2.4 (year 2005) and 2.3 (year 2006) kg fisherman(-1) day(-1), and "traira" in winter with CPUE ranging from 3.0 to 4.0 kg fishrman(-1) day(-1), in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The mathematical modeling of simple linear regression indicated positive relationships between the monthly fish production and the number of boats in activity and of fishing trips. The study concluded that fishing is sustained only by native species; with marked seasonality for catching fish and that the area of fishing examined of the Jurumirim reservoir is among the most productive areas of the Upper Parana basin.

Hepatozoon canis infection associated with dog ticks of rural areas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Hepatozoon canis is a tick-borne protozoan that infects dogs and has been reported throughout the world. Manifestation of H. canis infection varies from being sub-clinical in apparently healthy dogs to severe illness. The main vector of the infection is the dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus although other species may also transmit this agent. H. canis has been reported previously in Brazil, but mostly as an occasional finding during laboratory exams and always associated with other diseases. The prevalence of H. canis in dogs of rural areas of Brazil has been little studied. For this study, 250 dogs from seven counties of Rio de Janeiro state were examined. All the dogs were from rural areas, near forest. of the dogs examined, 26 dogs were from Seropedica, 82 from Itaguai, 41 from Paracambi, 26 from Mangaratiba, 32 from Barra do Pirai, 32 from Pirai and 11 from Miguel Pereira. Blood smears from the peripheral blood of the ear were taken and ticks found on the dogs were collected for identification in the laboratory. Using blood smear evaluation, H. canis was identified in 39.2% of the animals examined. Other hemoparasites identified were Babesia canis (5.2%) and Ehrlichia canis (4.8%). Four tick species were found parasitizing the dogs: Amblyomma cajennense (23.6%), R. sanguineus (12.4%), Amblyomma aureolatum (2.8%) and Amblyomma ovale (2.0%). There was a positive correlation between the presence of A. cajennense and H. canis infection. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

The status of Babesia spp. infection in dogs from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil was Studied. For this, l 50 animals were examined by blood smears and by PCR; the presence of tick infestation was also investigated. By the blood smear examination, 3 animals (2%) were detected positive and by PCR for Babesia spp. 12 (8%) were positive, with bands Visualized in 450 bp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus or Amblyomma spp. were found on 36 (24%) of the 150 dogs. Amblyomma species found were A. cajennense (9/36-25%) and A. ovale (9/36-25%). It was not possible to correlate the presence of R. sanguineus and the infection with Babesia spp. The sequencing of four positive samples demonstrated close identity with B. canis vogeli already characterized in Brazil.

Abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (Crustacea : Penaeidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

The abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp R. constrictus were compared among three different embayments within the northern coast of São Paulo State (23degreesS, 45degreesW); i.e. Mar Virado (MV), Ubatuba (UBA) and Ubatumirim (UBM). Key environmental factors were monitored for a better understanding of the distributional patterns of this species, namely temperature, salinity, depth, organic matter content and texture of sediments. In each bay, six transects were delimited, four parallel to the coastline and the other two in areas adjacent to rocky shores. Monthly samples were taken over a 2-year period (1998 and 1999), using a shrimp fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. Abundance data were treated separately according to environmental characteristics. A total of 4978 specimens was obtained; 921 at MV, 1948 at UBA and 2109 at UBM. The spatial distribution of R. constrictus differed among bays. Higher abundance values were recorded at areas where silt and clay comprised less than 70% of the sediment. A more diversified sediment at UBM and UBA apparently favours the establishment of this species in the region. Its abundance also followed a seasonal trend, higher during spring and summer when intrusions of cold South Atlantic Coastal Waters (SACW) are frequent, promoting the migration of this shrimp to more sheltered areas. These results suggest that sediment type and temperature are the most important variables affecting the spatial and seasonal distribution of this species.

Latitudinal variation in population structure and reproductive pattern of the endemic south american shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda : Penaeoidea)

Population Structure and reproductive Maturity of females were investigated in the shrimp Artemesia longinaris Bate, 1888 from coastal waters of northern São Paulo State (Brazil. 23 degrees S) and Mar del Plata (Argentina, 38 degrees S) from June 2001 to May 2002. Monthly collections were taken by, commercial shrimp fishing boats equipped with bottom trawl nets. Population parameters from size frequency distributions and size (carapace length = CL) of female reproductive maturity were analyzed and compared front the two sampling areas. Latitudinal trends in reproductive parameters of A. longinaris were shown in overall body size and size of reproductive maturity, both of which were smaller in females from the tropical location than those front the cold-temperate sampling area. Largest females (> 30 turn CL) were collected in Argentina, while Brazilian specimens reached maximum size at 27 nun CL. The smallest Size of female sexual maturity was estimated at 13.6 nun CL in Brazilian samples compared to 22.1 mm CL calculated for those from Argentina. Populations from both regions exhibited a bimodal size distribution in the spring, with the peak at small body size probably corresponding to recent recruits and the peak at larger body, size to reproductive females or shrimps migrating in from deeper waters or other latitudinal regions. In late spring and summer. an intrusion of the cold South Atlantic Coastal Water mass was observed which lowered water temperature and stimulated plankton production. The primary food source for the larvae of a typically cold-temperate species such as A. longinaris. The trend of increasing body size and delay of sexual maturity with increasing latitude appears to be correlated with the decreasing water temperature and increasing plankton productivity at higher latitudes.

Annual, seasonal and spatial variation of abundance of the shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda : Penaeoidea) in south-eastern Brazil

The influence of several environmental factors oil the abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of the shrimp Artemesia longinaris were investigated from January 1998 to December 1999 in the Ubatuba region of São Paulo State, Brazil. Collections were performed monthly in the bays of Ubatumirim (UBM), Ubatuba (UBA) and Mar Virado (MV). Six sampling transects were estabilshed in each bay, four were parallel to the shore line, and two were next to the rocky shores. A commercial shrimp fishing boat equipped with two 'double-rig' nets was used. A total of 11,503 individuals was collected, including 1633 from UBM, 6344 from UBA and 3526 from MV the majority of the captured specimens came from the deeper areas (15 to 20 m) with high salinity (34 to 36 ppt). The highest abundance of A. longinaris in Ubatuba bay was recorded in areas where fine and very fine sand comprised more than 70% of the sediment. Moreover, the abundance of A. longinaris followed a seasonal trend, being higher during the summer, when intrusions of cold South Atlantic Coastal Waters (SACW) are frequent. Thus, type of sediment, temperature and salinity are determinant factors in the distribution of A. longinaris in the studied region.

Species composition and spatial distribution of a stream fish assemblage in the east coast of Brazil: comparison of two field study methodologies

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Input of litter in deforested and forested areas of a tropical headstream

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Growth and reproductive dynamics of the South American red shrimp, Pleoticus muelleri (Crustacea: Solenoceridae), from the southeastern coast of Brazil

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