Molecular phylogeny and karyotype differentiation in Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys are leptodactylid frogs endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic forest and their close phylogenetic relationship was recently inferred in an analysis that included Paratelmatobius sp. and S. sawayae. To investigate the interspecific relationships among Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys species, we analyzed a mitochondrial region (approximately 2.4 kb) that included the ribosomal genes 12S and 16S and the tRNAval in representatives of all known localities of these genera and in 54 other species. Maximum parsimony inferences were done using PAUP* and support for the clades was evaluated by bootstrapping. A cytogenetic analysis using Giemsa staining, C-banding and silver staining was also done for those populations of Paratelmatobius not included in previous cytogenetic studies of this genus in order to assess their karyotype differentiation. Our results suggested Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys formed a clade strongly supported by bootstrapping, which corroborated their very close phylogenetic relationship. Among the Paratelmatobius species, two clades were identified and corroborated the groups P. mantiqueira and P. cardosoi previously proposed based on morphological characters. The karyotypes of Paratelmatobius sp. 2 and Paratelmatobius sp. 3 described here had diploid chromosome number 2n = 24 and showed many similarities with karyotypes of other Paratelmatobius representatives. The cytogenetic data and the phylogenetic analysis allowed the proposal/corroboration of several hypotheses for the karyotype differentiation within Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys. Namely the telocentric pair No. 4 represented a synapomorphy of P. cardosoi and Paratelmatobius sp. 2, while chromosome pair No. 5 with interstitial C-bands could be interpreted as a synapomorphy of the P. cardosoi group. The NOR-bearing chromosome No. 10 in the karyotype of P. poecilogaster was considered homeologous to chromosome No. 10 in the karyotype of Scythrophrys sp., chromosome No. 9 in the karyotype of Paratelmatobius sp. 1, chromosome No. 8 in the karyotypes of Paratelmatobius sp. 2 and of Paratelmatobius sp. 3, and chromosome No. 7 in the karyotype of P. cardosoi. A hypothesis for the evolutionary divergence of these NOR-bearing chromosomes, which probably involved events like gain in heteochromatin, was proposed.

Meiosis aspects and nucleolar activity in Triatoma vitticeps (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

Some aspects of both the nucleolar organizer activity and meiosis were studied in the testes of Triatoma vitticeps (Heteroptera, Triatominae). The techniques used included squashing followed by lacto-acetic orcein staining, silver-ion impregnation, fluorescent banding (CMA(3), Quinacrine mustard and DAPI) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A close relationship between heterochromatin and nucleolus in testicular cells was observed. During meiosis, the silver-ion impregnation pattern varied. At metaphase plate, a small body appeared apart from the chromosomes. In the spermatids this small body was seen in preparations stained with orcein and silver- ion impregnation but not with fluorochromes or FISH. These characteristics combined suggest that these corpuscles represent a source of ribonucleoproteins (RNP) - RNA and specific nucleolar proteins. Silver-ion impregnation and (FISH) revealed nucleolar organizer activity in two metaphase sex chromosomes (X). These results indicate that, in these species, nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are located in the sex chromosomes, X chromosomes were were CMA(3)(+) and Y chromosome was DAPI(+).

Molecular characterization and relatedness of Haematobia irritans (horn fly) populations, by RAPD-PCR

Haematobia irritans is a hematophagous parasite of cattle that causes significant economic losses in many parts of the world, including Brazil. In the present work, one American and four Brazilian populations of this species were studied by Random Amplified Polymorpht DNA (RAPD) to assess basically genetic variability within and between populations. Ten different decamer random primers were employed in the genomic DNA amplification, yielding 117 fragments in the five H.. irritans populations. In Drosophila prosaltans, used as an outgroup, 81 fragments were produced. Forty-three of these fragments were shared by both species. Among the H. irritans samples, that from Rio Branco (Acre State, Brazil) produced the smallest numbers of fragments and polymorphic bands. This high genetic homogenity may be ascribed to its geographic origin (in the Northwest of Brazil), which causes high isolation and low gene flow, unlike the other Brazilian populations, from the South Central region, in which cattle trade is very intensive. Marker fragments (exclusive bands) detected in every sample enabled the population origin to be characterized, but they are also potentially useful for further approaches such as the putative origin of Brazilian populations from North America. Similarity indices [Nei & Li, 1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76: 5269-5273] and phylogenetic trees, rooted by using the outgroup and produced by the Phylogenetic Analysis using Parsimony (PAUP 4.0-Swofford, 2001) program showed the closest relationships between flies from Sao Jose do Rio Preto and Turiuba (both from São Paulo State, Brazil) while flies from the geographically distant Rio Branco showed the greatest differentiation relative to the others.

Spermatogenesis and nucleolar activity in Triatoma klugi (Triatomine, Heteroptera)

Triatoma klugi is a Chagas disease vector in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Triatominae chromosomes are holocentric and sex chromosomes segregation is post-reductional. In this paper we describe the karyotype of male T. klugi and a meiotic analysis including the nucleolar behavior during spermatogenesis. Testis cells were analyzed after lacto-acetic orcein and silver nitrate staining. Two autosomes and the heterochromosomes presented nucleolar activity (Ag-NORs) during diplotene-diakinesis. The analysis of metaphase I and II revealed a karyotype with 2n = 20+XY. In metaphase I a prominent nucleolar mass was observed in the cell periphery and small silver grains were detected in metaphase II. During anaphase, the chromosomes segregated in parallel and a typical holocentric late migration behavior was observed. The restoration of the nucleolus was an important feature in this phase. During telophase nucleolar masses persisted and in early spermiogenesis the spermatids presented a small peripheral mass until elongation. The present study is a contribution to the study of chromatin behavior and nucleolar persistence in meiosis.

Esterase profile in the postembryonic development of Rhipicephalusmicroplus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Richards growth model and viability indicators for populations subject to interventions

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

Isolation of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) in monolayers of HmLu-1 cells

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

Isolation of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli from butcheries in Taquaritinga city, State of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Eficácia do diflubenzuron 25% no controle da Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae): desafio in vitro e a campo

Avaliou-se, neste experimento, a eficácia in vitro e in vivo do diflubenzuron a 25% para uso em bovinos, no controle da infestação por Haematobia irritans. Para o teste in vitro, ovos de moscas-dos-chifres foram mantidos em recipientes contendo fezes de animais não-tratados ou tratados com diflubenzuron a 25%, e acompanhados até emergência dos adultos. No teste in vivo, foram utilizadas 40 fêmeas aneloradas, divididas em dois grupos: controle (C) e tratado (T) com intensidade parasitária equivalente. Durante o experimento, o grupo C recebeu apenas suplementação mineral, enquanto o grupo T recebeu suplementação mineral e diflubenzuron a 25%. A contagem de moscas nos animais foi realizada na região dorsal, desde a nuca até as pontas da anca de cada animal, no início e ao final de um período de cinco meses. Na avaliação in vitro, o grupo controle apresentou média de emergência de 86% (± 8,4%), enquanto o grupo cultivado em fezes de bovinos tratados com diflubenzuron a 25% apresentou taxa de emergência média de 1% (± 0,2%), sendo a eficácia calculada de 98,83%. No teste in vivo, não foi observada redução significativa na contagem de moscas no grupo C, porém, no grupo T houve significativa redução da infestação por H. irritans (t = 16,46, p < 0,0001). A eficácia do produto, em condições de campo, foi de 99,20%. O diflubenzuron a 25% adicionado ao sal mineral mostrou-se eficaz contra H. irritans, sendo indicado para esse fim.

Gastrointestinal helminths in calves and cows in an organic milk production system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Decomposição de estercos dispostos em diferentes profundidades em área degradada no semi-árido da Paraíba

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito de métodos de coleta de fluido ruminal em bovinos sobre alguns parâmetros ruminais e microbiológicos

Estudou-se o efeito de três métodos de coleta (manual, bomba a vácuo e sonda nasoesofageana) sobre os teores de ácidos graxos voláteis totais (AGVt), nitrogênio amoniacal e número de protozoários no fluido ruminal de bovino. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os resultados revelaram que o método da sonda nasoesofageana proporcionou valores menores dos ácidos propiônico, butírico, AGVt e de nitrogênio amoniacal no fluido ruminal. O número total de protozoários não foi afetado pelos métodos de coleta de conteúdo ruminal. O método de coleta manual e por meio de bomba a vácuo mostraram-se eficientes para os parâmetros estudados.

Eficácia do tratamento Ovsynch associado à inseminação artificial prefixada em rebanhos Bos taurus e Bos indicus

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficácia do tratamento Ovsynch associado à inseminação artificial em tempo prefixado em vacas Bos taurus e Bos indicus. Foram utilizados rebanhos das raças Holandesa, Caracu, Nelore e Mantiqueira. Também foi incluído um rebanho de vacas Gir, com problemas de fertilidade. Cada rebanho foi dividido em três grupos. O grupo 1 recebeu o tratamento Ovsynch e foi inseminado em tempo prefixado. O grupo 2 foi inseminado no cio induzido com cloprostenol. O grupo 3 foi inseminado no cio natural. As taxas de concepção e de prenhez foram determinadas por ultra-sonografia. Não existiu interação significativa das variáveis reprodutivas analisadas para rebanho, idade, período pós-parto, número de parição e presença do bezerro. A taxa de concepção não diferiu (P>0,05) entre os grupos, ao passo que a taxa de prenhez foi superior (P<0,05) nos grupos 1 e 2 em comparação ao grupo 3. No rebanho Gir, o tratamento Ovsynch não alterou a taxa de concepção nem a de prenhez. Independentemente da raça, os tratamentos Ovsynch e cloprostenol não afetam a taxa de concepção, mas melhoram a taxa de prenhez. O tratamento Ovsynch não aumenta a fertilidade de vacas com problemas reprodutivos inespecíficos.

Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of the Pantaneiro cattle breed

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito de diferentes substratos na produção de mudas de mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)