Ecotoxicological assessment of sediments from the Port of Santos and the disposal sites of dredged material

A dragagem dos sedimentos do Canal de Santos é necessária para permitir o trânsito de navios que operam no Porto de Santos. As áreas de disposição do material dragado estão situadas na zona costeira, em frente à Baía de Santos. Este estudo visou avaliar a qualidade dos sedimentos do Canal de Santos e das áreas de disposição atuais e antigas, utilizando testes de toxicidade de sedimento integral com anfípodos e de toxicidade de elutriatos com embriões de ouriço do mar. As amostras do Canal de Santos foram consideradas as mais tóxicas: todas as amostras dessa área foram consideradas significativamente tóxicas. Além disso, algumas amostras das áreas de disposição exibiram toxicidade. Os resultados mostraram, portanto, que os sedimentos apresentam evidências de degradação em sua qualidade, porém novos estudos devem ser conduzidos visando determinar as relações entre contaminação e toxicidade. Os resultados sugerem ainda que a disposição dos sedimentos dragados deva ser reavaliada.

Kinetic Analysis of Gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase Activity in Selected Ontogenetic Stages of the Amazon River Shrimp, (Decapoda, Palaemonidae): Interactions at ATP- and Cation-Binding Sites

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

Influence of food restriction on the reproduction and larval performance of matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus (Spix and Agassiz, 1829)

Este estudo avaliou o efeito da restrição alimentar e realimentação na reprodução de fêmeas e no crescimento inicial e sobrevivência de larvas de matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus. Matrizes distribuídas em 8 viveiros (15 peixes/tanque) foram alimentadas diariamente (em 4 tanques - G1) e alimentados em ciclos de 3 dias de alimentação seguidos de 2 dias de restrição (em 4 tanques - G2) por 6 meses antes da desova. Na indução à desova, 57% das fêmeas no G1 e 45% no G2 desovaram. Os pesos médios dos oócitos foram 208,1 g (G1) e 131,6 g (G2), sendo os oócitos G2 menores (1,017 ± 0,003 mm) que os oócitos de G1 (1,048 ± 0,002 mm). As taxas de fertilização (71,9 ± 12,6% e 61,2 ± 13,7%) e de eclosão (61,3 ± 33,9% e 67,5 ± 23,4%) entre os G1 e G2 não diferiram. Larvas foram coletadas na eclosão e às 24, 48 e 72 horas de incubação para medida do crescimento e as restantes transferidas para aquários e amostradas 1, 5, 9 e 15 dias depois. Na transferência, as larvas G1 e G2 tinham pesos similares (1,5 ± 0,15 e 1,46 ± 0,07 mg), mas o comprimento das larvas G2 era maior (6,2 ± 0,13 e 6,7 ± 0,14 mm). Ao 9° dia, quando é recomendada a transferência dos juvenis para tanques externos, os juvenis G2 tinham peso (13,6 ± 0,26 e 18,9 ± 0,07 mg) e comprimento (11,8 ± 0,09 e 14,5 ± 0,04 mm) maiores, mas no 15º dia os juvenis G1 eram maiores em peso (90,2 ± 1,19 e 68,6 ± 0,77 mg) e comprimento (18,8 ± 0,16 e 18,5 ± 0,04 mm). Aos 15 dias, a prole das fêmeas submetidas à restrição alimentar apresentou sobrevivência mais alta que a prole das fêmeas alimentadas diariamente (24,7 ± 2,07% e 19,2 ± 1,91%). A restrição alimentar imposta às fêmeas de matrinxã, apesar de reduzir o número de fêmeas que desovaram e a quantidade de oócitos extrusados, não afetou a fertilização e eclosão das larvas e melhorou a sobrevivência final das larvas.

The bacterial chromosome segregation protein Spo0J spreads along DNA from parS nucleation sites

Regulation of chromosome inheritance is essential to ensure proper transmission of genetic information. To accomplish accurate genome segregation, cells organize their chromosomes and actively separate them prior to cytokinesis. In Bacillus subtilis the Spo0J protein is required for accurate chromosome segregation and it regulates the developmental switch from vegetative growth to sporulation. Spo0J is a DNA-binding protein that recognizes at least eight identified parS sites located near the origin of replication. As judged by fluorescence microscopy, Spo0J forms discrete foci associated with the oriC region of the chromosome throughout the cell cycle. In an attempt to determine the mechanisms utilized by Spo0J to facilitate productive chromosome segregation, we have investigated the DNA binding activity of Spo0J. In vivo we find Spo0J associates with several kilobases of DNA flanking its specific binding sites (parS) through a parS-dependent nucleation event that promotes lateral spreading of Spo0J along the chromosome. Using purified components we find that Spo0J has the ability to coat non-specific DNA substrates. These 'Spo0J domains' provide large structures near oriC that could potentially demark, organize or localize the origin region of the chromosome.

Preferential infection sites of Cysticercus bovis in cattle experimentally infected with Taenia saginata eggs

The preferential sites of infection of Cysticercus bovis were evaluated in the skeletal muscle and entrails of 25 cattle that were experimentally infected with Taenia saginata (2 x 10(4) eggs). Two other animals were not inoculated (control). Ninety days after inoculation, all the cattle were euthanized. The carcasses were deboned and dissected into 26 anatomical sections (masseter muscles, brain, tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, top sirloin butt, bottom sirloin butt, outside round, top (inside) round, transversus abdominus, top sirloin cap, strip loin, full tenderloin, eye of round, knuckle, shoulder clod, foreshank, shank, chuck, back ribs, and tail muscles). The dissected tissues were sliced into 5 mm sections. From the 25 cattle, 9258 C. bovis (cysticerci) were recovered; 75.02% (6946) of these were recovered from skeletal muscles and 24.98% (2312) from the entrails. A high parasitism level was found in the shoulder clod (12.55%), heart (11.02%), liver (9.48%), masseter muscles (8.51%), chuck (8.25%), strip loin and full tenderloin (7.26%), knuckle (6.63%), and back ribs (5.53%), totaling 69.23% (5738) of all of the detected cysticerci. on the other hand, there was a low C. bovis parasitism level in the brain, spleen, tail muscles, kidneys, esophagus, and diaphragm, representing just 3.9% of the total number of cysticerci. Given these results, we conclude that specific skeletal musculature regions, such as the shoulder blade, chuck, strip loin and full tenderloin, knuckle, back ribs and top round, which are not officially examined in many countries, are effective sites to efficiently screen C. bovis infection. To date, these regions have not been considered as preferential sites of C. bovis infection. Based on our work, however, these regions deserve greater attention from health inspectors because they contained a greater number of Cysticercus than the other regions of carcasses that are parasitized by T. saginata larvae. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus isolates at different sites in the milk producing dairy farms

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

Influence of early quantitative food restriction on long bone growth at different environmental temperatures in broiler chickens

1. This investigation was carried out to study the influence of early quantitative food restriction (40% of ad libitum intake from 7 to 14 d of age) and environmental rearing temperature (thermoneutral, cold and hot) on long bone (tibia, femur and humerus) development in broiler chickens.2. Tibia, femur and humerus were obtained at the ages of 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 d; and the variables studied were: length and width (mm, expressed as absolute values), bone breaking strength (kgf) and bone weight/bone length index (BW/BL, mg/mm).3. All bone variables increased with bird age. Food restriction reduced bone length and width but did not affect bone weight. High environmental rearing temperature reduced bone length and width at 42 d of age. Bone strength was not affected by environmental temperature but the calculated BW/BL index was reduced by heat exposure.4. The findings suggest that food restriction and high environmental rearing temperature reduce long bone growth; bone breaking strength was affected by bird age but not by food restriction nor rearing ambient temperature.

Ornithine decarboxylase expression in the small intestine of broilers submitted to feed restriction and glutamine supplementation

Six hundred and forty one-day-old Cobb male broilers were used to evaluate ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression in the mucosa of the small intestine. Birds were submitted to early feed restriction from 7 to 14 days of age. The provided feed was supplemented with glutamine. A completely randomized design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used (with or without glutamine, with or without feed restriction). Restricted-fed birds were fed at 30% the amount of the ad libitum fed group from 7 to 14 days of age. Glutamine was added at the level of 1% in the diet supplied from 1 to 28 days of age. Protein concentration in the small intestine mucosa was determined, and ODC expression at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age was evaluated by dot blotting. ODC was present in the mucosa of broilers, and the presence of glutamine in the diet increased ODC activation. Glutamine prevented mucosa atrophy by stimulating protein synthesis, and was effective against the effects of feed restriction. Dot blotting can be used to quantify ODC expression in the intestinal mucosa of broilers.

Effects of feed restriction on yield, retail cuts and tissue composition of carcass of Saanen kids

Com o objetivo de estudar o efeito da restrição alimentar sobre as características de carcaça de caprinos leiteiros, realizou-se um experimento utilizando 27 cabritos machos Saanen distribuídos nos tratamentos 0 (alimentação à vontade), 30 ou 60% de restrição. Os animais apresentavam 5 kg de PV inicial e foram abatidos quando atingiram 20 kg de PV. Foram avaliados os rendimentos comercial e biológico, os cortes comerciais, a composição tecidual da perna, a área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) e a compacidade da carcaça. Utilizaram-se o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso e a análise de regressão em função da restrição alimentar. A restrição alimentar provocou redução do peso da carcaça e dos cortes comerciais, aumento da proporção do pescoço e diminuição da proporção do lombo. A proporção de ossos aumentou e a do tecido muscular e da gordura total diminuiu com o aumento da restrição. A proporção de gordura subcutânea diminuiu com o aumento da restrição alimentar. A área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) e a compacidade da carcaça foram afetadas pela restrição alimentar, mas ambas as medidas podem ser utilizadas para predizer a proporção de músculo da carcaça. O tratamento com 30% de restrição alimentar não prejudica a qualidade da carcaça de cabritos leiteiros.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in Exon 2 of the BoLA-DRB3 gene in South American cattle

The Bola-DRB3 gene participates in the development of the immune response and is highly polymorphic. For these reasons, it has been a candidate gene in studies of the genetic basis of disease resistance and in population genetic analysis. South American native cattle breeds have been widely replaced by improved exotic breeds leading to a loss of genetic resources. In particular South American native breeds have high levels of fertility and disease resistance. This work describes genetic variability in the BoLA-DRB3 gene in native (Caracu, Pantaneiro, Argentinean Creole) and exotic (Holstein, Jersey, Nelore, Gir) cattle breeds in Brazil and Argentina. PCR-RFLP alleles were identified by combining the restriction patterns for the BoLA-DRB3.2 locus obtained with RsaI, BstY, and HaeIII restriction enzymes. Allelic frequencies and deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were also calculated. Analysis of the 24 BoLA-DRB3 PCR-RFLP alleles identified showed differences in the allele distributions among breeds.

Performance and hormonal profile in broiler chickens fed with different energy levels during post restriction period

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Water balance in goats subjected to feed restriction

The effect of feed restriction on water balance and nutrient utilization was investigated in individually penned Boer x Saanen kids. Twenty-two male Boer x Saanen kids with an initial average live weight (LW) of 15 kg were used. Seven kids were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference animals) and the remainders were allocated to one of the three treatments (0, 30 and 60% restriction) and therefore there were five kids per treatment. The feed intake for the 0% restriction treatment animals determined the intake for the animals in the 30 and 60% restriction treatment. When the animals in the 0% restriction treatment group reached 25 kg LW, the animals in the 30 and 60% restriction treatment groups were also slaughtered. There was a negative relationship between DMI and water intake. The digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, carbohydrates, ash, ether extract, energy, NDF, ADF and lignin did not differ between treatments, whereas the digestibility coefficient for CP was different between treatment groups. The highest metabolic water production was in animals in the 0% restriction treatment group. No significant differences were observed in the composition of gastro-intestinal tract contents of the goats in the different treatments. Lower water retention was found in the animals in the 60% restriction treatment group. The study showed that feed restriction affected water intake, CP digestibility and water retention in the body of the kid goats. This experiment demonstrated that DM:water intake ratio changed when severe feed restriction was applied (60% restriction) and water was freely available. It shows a different pattern of behaviour of penned goats, particularly if feed intake is restricted and perhaps caution is needed to extrapolate results from nutritional and physiological trials in pens to goats at pasture. (c) 2005 Elsevier BX All rights reserved.