Spermatozoa ultrastructure in Sciaenidae and Polynemidae (Teleostei : Perciformes) with some consideration on Percoidei spermatozoa ultrastructure

Spermatozoa ultrastructure was studied in five marines (Paralonchurus brasiliensis, Larimus breviceps, Cynoscion striatus, Micropogonias furnieri, Menticirrhus americanus, Umbrina coroides, Stellifer rastrifer), and one freshwater (Plagioscion squamosissimus) species of Sciaenidae and one species of Polynemidae (Polydactylus virginicus). The investigation revealed that, in all species, spermatozoa display a round head, a nucleus containing highly condensed, filamentous chromatin clusters, no acrosome, a short midpiece with a short cytoplasmic channel, and a flagellum showing the classic axoneme structure (9 + 2) and short irregular lateral fins. In Sciaenidae, the spermatozoa are type II, the flagellar axis is parallel to the nucleus, the lateral nuclear fossa is double arched, the centriolar complex is outside the nuclear fossa, the proximal centriole is anterior and perpendicular to the distal centriole, and no more than ten spherical (marine species) or elongate (freshwater species) mitochondria are observed. Polynemidae spermatozoa are of the intermediate type with the flagellar axis eccentric to the hemi-arc-shaped nucleus, and exhibit no nuclear fossa, the centriolar complex close to the upper nuclear end, the proximal centriole lateral and oblique to the distal centriole, and one large ring-shaped mitocondrion. The data available show that no characteristic is exclusively found in the spermatozoa of members of the Sciaenidae family when compared to other Percoidei with type II spermatozoa. However, three characteristics were exclusively found in Polynemidae: (1) the hemi-arched nucleus; the positioning of the centrioles; and (2) the ring-shaped mitocondrion. The interrelationships between Sciaenidae and Polynemidae as well as between these two families and other Percoidei are herein discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Food resources partitioning among sciaenid fishes (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) of the Flamengo bay, Ubatuba, southeastern Brazil

The determination of the diet and feeding habits is one of the principal aspects of the study on fish biology, as feeding is a basic process and its study is necessary for the understanding of the populations' dynamic and ecology. The Sciaenidae family has a significant occurrence in the bay's demersal ichthyofauna, constituting an important fishing resource. The goal of this work was to analyze how the partitioning of available food resources takes place among the ten sciaenid species which live in the Flamengo Bay. One single survey, consisting of three trawls, was carried out with a fishing boat equipped with two otter-trawl. Diet analysis showed that all species are exclusively carnivore, using several items as food, but crustaceans are the main food ingested. The use of the ''Proportional Overlap Index'' showed possible overlapping between six couples of species but in the majority of cases, morphologic differences between these species, such as the mouth position, probably determine different foraging strategies.

Sciaenidae fish of the Caeté River estuary, Northern Brazil: mitochondrial DNA suggests explosive radiation for the Western Atlantic assemblage

Sciaenids are fish which are normally abundant in tropical estuaries of the western Atlantic. Studies on the Caeté river estuary in the northern Brazilian state of Pará have revealed that in this area Sciaenidae is the dominant family, comprising almost 50% of all teleosts sampled. In this paper we present the results of the first phylogenetic study on South American estuarine sciaenids, during which we obtained mitochondrial gene 16S sequences from 15 species belonging to eight genera occurring in the Caeté estuary. Intergeneric nucleotide divergences varied from 5 to 15%, Lonchurus and Menticirrhus being the most divergent lineages. Nucleotide divergences were quite variable amongst species of the same genus, ranging from 1.2% (Stellifer microps x Stellifer naso) to 8.4% (Menticirrhus americanus x Menticirrhus littoralis). Cladograms based on maximum parsimony, minimum evolution and maximum likelihood depicted an explosive diversification pattern for the western Atlantic sciaenid assemblage. Our analysis further reveals a very close relationship between Bairdiella and Stellifer, a monophyletic clade which emerged during the more recent diversification events of the Sciaenidae family. The phylogenetic reconstruction suggests the need for a revision of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Bairdiella/Stellifer group.

Distribuição espaço-temporal das larvas de peixe e sua relação à hidrodinâmica e à qualidade da água no entorno das ilhas do Combu e Murucutu, Belém - PA

No intuito de suprir a carência de informações sobre a comunidade ictioplanctônica da região amazônica, o presente trabalho procurou investigar as variações espaciais e temporais de densidade, diversidade e dos estágios ontogênicos das larvas de peixe, além disso, visou relacionar essas informações à qualidade ambiental da água e às características hidrodinâmicas dos cursos amostrados. As amostragens foram realizadas em outubro/2008, janeiro, abril e julho/2009 de acordo com os períodos climáticos que caracterizam a região. As capturas foram realizadas nos cursos hídricos que margeiam as ilhas do Combu e Murucutu, ou seja, nas águas do rio Guamá, do canal do Benedito e do furo da Paciência, o qual separa as duas ilhas. As larvas foram capturadas através de arrastos superficiais na coluna de água, com uma rede de plâncton cônico-cilíndrica de malha 330 μm, com 0,5 m de diâmetro e 2,5 m de comprimento. Em paralelo a captura das larvas, foram realizadas amostragens superficiais da água para análise de sua qualidade, assim como, foram coletados dados referentes à hidrodinâmica. A análise dos dados consistiu na aplicação das técnicas univariadas (ANOVA) e multivariadas (ACP; RDA). A comunidade de larvas de peixe representada por 4.983 indivíduos que se distribuíram entre as famílias Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Sciaenidae, Carangidae, Tetraodontidae e Hemiramphidae. As famílias Engraulidae e Clupeidae foram dominantes, seguidos pela família Sciaenidae. O pico larval, assim como, a maior densidade do estágio de pré-flexão, ocorreram em outubro/2008, mês incluso na estação seca, o que indica um período de desova na área. No furo da Paciência as larvas foram mais abundantes na extremidade Norte, devido ao maior fluxo de água oriunda do rio Guamá. Além disso, o furo da Paciência que diferiu em termos de densidade larval, representou um local de maior proteção às larvas de peixe, por concentrar a maior quantidade de indivíduos, sobretudo no mês de outubro/2008. Na área Leste do rio Guamá as larvas também foram abundantes, provavelmente por representar uma área menos agitada que a área Oeste. Entre todos os parâmetros analisados, os hidrodinâmicos foram os que apresentaram melhores associações com a comunidade ictioplanctônica. Não houve variação espacial dos estágios ontogênicos durante os quatro meses amostrados, porém ocorreu uma ocupação diferenciada ao nível taxonômico no mês de outubro/2008. Quanto à diversidade e a densidade larval, estas foram consideradas baixas, o que pode estar relacionado à grande influência das águas fluviais na área de estudo. A qualidade de água no entorno das ilhas Combu e Murucutu não representou um fator limitante para as larvas de peixe, portanto o impacto antrópico na área pode ser considerado um fator que ainda não está afetando a desova dos peixes. A dinâmica do fluxo de água no furo da Paciência permitiu definir que existe uma restrição quanto ao transporte de larvas de peixe entre o rio Guamá e o canal do Benedito.

A pesca de curral no município de São Caetano de Odivelas-PA

A pesca de curral é uma das artes de pesca mais tradicionais e produtivas da costa paraense e com uma produção que chega a representar 10% da produção pesqueira do Nordeste paraense (Santos et al., 2005). Sua produtividade depende tanto do modo como o curral é feito quanto do local onde é instalado. Para a realização desse trabalho, 12 currais de pesca foram selecionados em relação ao tipo (coração, enfia e cachimbo), ao local de instalação (“de beira” ou “de fora”) e ao tipo de ambiente em que se encontra (beira de rio, beira de praia e banco de areia), foram georreferenciados e tiveram sua produtividade pesqueira acompanhada durante o período de safra (junho, julho e agosto) de 2012. Na comunidade de São João de Ramos, foram monitorados 3 currais de beira do tipo coração, instalados as margens do rio Paruipema, e 3 currais de fora do tipo enfia, instalados em bancos de areia nas praias do rato e do marinheiro. Na comunidade do Aê, foram monitorados os 6 currais classificados como currais de beira, sendo 3 do tipo coração e 3 do tipo cachimbo, e todos se encontravam instalados na praia Ponta de Itaipu. Foram capturados 4.274 indivíduos, distribuídos em 9 ordens, 20 famílias e 43 espécies de peixes. A ordem Perciformes foi a que apresentou o maior número de famílias (10 famílias ou 50% do total), o maior número de espécies (19 ou 44%) e o maior número de indivíduos (3.190 ou 75% do total). As famílias Sciaenidae e Ariidae são as mais abundantes na região tanto em número de espécies quanto em indivíduos. A família Sciaenidae foi a que apresentou o maior número de indivíduos (2.855 ou 67%), mas apresentou menos espécies (8 ou 19%) que a família Ariidae, com 10 espécies ou 23% do total. Das 43 espécies capturadas, as quatro mais representadas foram: Macrodon ancylodon (51%), Arius couma (9%), Cynoscion virescens (9%) e Mugil incilis (4%). A comparação da captura entre os currais e localidades ao longo dos meses de monitoramento indicou que a produção total dos currais diferiu entre os tipos de currais associados com sua localidade.

Efecto de la densidad larvaria y secuencial alimentaria en el cultivo larvario de corvina (Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801) durante el primer mes de vida

Effect of larval density and feeding sequence on meagre (Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801) larval rearing during the first month of life. In the present work two comparative studies of the effect of larval density and feeding sequence were performed. For such, two initial larval densities, 50 larvae.l-1 and 100 larvae.l-1 were established. In each density three feeding sequences were tested, applying different combinations of rotifers (Brachionus sp.) and Artemia sp. at different larval ages. After 30dah, standard length, dry weight and final survival were determined. Final survival was affected by initial larval density and feeding sequence. Lower density promotes better growth in dry weight and standard length for all the feeding sequences tested. In addition, feeding sequences affects larval growth and survival. Best result in survival (62,81±4,77%) were obtained with high larval density and T2 feeding sequence.

Application of DNA parentage analyses for determining relative growth rates of Penaeus japonicus families reared in commercial ponds

The ability to track large numbers of individuals and families is a key determinant of the power and precision of breeding programs, including the capacity to quantify interactions between genotypes and their environment. Until recently, most family based selective breeding programs for shrimp, and other highly fecund aquaculture species, have been restricted by the number of animals that can be physically tagged and individually selected. Advances in the development of molecular markers, such as microsatellite loci, are now providing the means to track large numbers of individuals and families in commercial production systems. In this study microsatellites, coupled with DNA parentage analyses, were used to determine the relative performance of 22 families of R japonicus reared in commercial production ponds. In the experimental design 6000 post-larvae from each of 22 families, whose maternal parents had been genotyped at 8 microsatellite loci, were stocked into each of four I ha ponds. After 6 months the ponds were harvested and a total of 6000 individuals were randomly weighed from each pond. Mean wet weight of the shrimp from one pond was significantly lower than that of the other three ponds demonstrating a possible pond effect on growth rate. The representation of families in the top 10% of each pond's weight distribution was then determined by randomly genotyping up to 300 individuals from this upper weight class. Parentage analyses based on individual genotypic data demonstrated that some families were over-represented in the top 10% in all ponds, while others were under-represented due to slower growth rates. The results also revealed some weak, but significant, male genotype x environment (G x E) interactions in the expression of shrimp growth for some families. This indicates that G x E effects may need to be factored into future R japonicus selective breeding programs. This study demonstrated the utility of DNA parentage analyses for tracking individual family performance in communally stocked shrimp pond populations and, its application to examining G x E effects on trait expression under commercial culture conditions. Crown Copyright (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The murine chaperonin 10 gene family contains an intronless, putative gene for early pregnancy factor, Cpn10-rs1

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a secreted protein with growth regulatory and immunomodulatory properties. Human platelet-derived EPF shares amino acid sequence identity with chaperonin 10 (Cpn10), a mitochondrial matrix protein which functions as a molecular chaperone. The striking differences in cellular localization and function of the two proteins suggest differential regulation of production reflecting either alternative transcription of the same gene or transcription from different genes. In mammals and more distantly related genera, there is a large gene family with homology to CPN 10 cDNA, which includes intronless copies of the coding sequence. To determine whether this could represent the gene for EPF, we have screened a mouse genomic library and sequenced representative Cpn10 family members, looking for a functional gene distinct from that of Cpn 10, which could encode EPF. Eight distinct genes were identified. Cpn10 contains introns, while other members are intronless. Six of these appear to be pseudogenes, and the remaining member, Cpn10-rs1, would encode a full-length protein. The 309-bp open reading frame (ORF) is identical to that of mouse Cpn10 cDNA with the exception of three single-base changes, two resulting in amino acid changes. Only one further single nucleotide difference between the Cpn10-rs1 and Cpn10 cDNAs is observed, located in the 3' UTR. Single nucleotide primer extension was applied to discriminate between Cpn10-rs1 and Cpn10 expression. Cpn10, which is ubiquitous, was detected in all tissue samples tested, whereas Cpn10-rs1 was expressed selectively. The pattern was completely coincident with known patterns of EPF activity, strongly suggesting that Cpn10-rs1 does encode EPF. The complete ORF of Cpn10-rs1 was expressed in E. coli. The purified recombinant protein was found to be equipotent with native human platelet-derived EPF in the bioassay for EPF, the rosette inhibition test.

The effects of temperature on the growth, survival and biomass of different families of juvenile Penaeus japonicus Bate

Variation in the growth, survival and change in total biomass (termed biomass increase) of different families of juvenile Penaeus japonicus was investigated over a range of temperatures in controlled laboratory experiments. In the first experiment, the effects of temperature on six families of juveniles were examined over a broad range of temperatures (24 to 30 degreesC). In the second experiment, the effects of temperature on six more families of juveniles were examined over a narrower range of temperatures (27.5 to 31.2 degreesC). Over the broad temperature range, mean growth and biomass increase were highest at 27 degreesC and mean survival was highest at 24 degreesC. Mean growth was lowest at 24 degreesC, whilst survival and biomass increase were lowest at 30 degreesC. However, there was a significant interaction between family and temperature, with some families tolerating a broader range of temperatures than others. As a result, the ranking of families in relation to growth, survival and biomass increase changed at each temperature. This effect was more pronounced for survival than for growth. Over the narrower range, temperature significantly affected growth, survival and biomass increase, but there was no significant interaction between family and temperature. Growth, survival and biomass increase were significantly lower at 31.2 than at 27.5 and 29.2 degreesC. These results suggest that if grow-out conditions for P. japonicus vary by more than a few degrees, interactions between family and temperature could affect the efficiency of selection. The results also suggest that the family x temperature interaction may have a more pronounced effect on survival than on growth. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS TO CONTROL LEPROSY AND THE PERSPECTIVE OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BRAZIL: A PRIMER FOR NON-EPIDEMIOLOGISTS

The occurrence of leprosy has decreased in the world but the perspective of its elimination has been questioned. A proposed control measure is the use of post-exposure chemoprophylaxis (PEP) among contacts, but there are still questions about its operational aspects. In this text we discuss the evidence available in literature, explain some concepts in epidemiology commonly used in the research on this topic, analyze the appropriateness of implementing PEP in the context of Brazil, and answer a set of key questions. We argue some points: (1) the number of contacts that need to receive PEP in order to prevent one additional case of disease is not easy to be generalized from the studies; (2) areas covered by the family health program are the priority settings where PEP could be implemented; (3) there is no need for a second dose; (4) risk for drug resistance seems to be very small; (5) the usefulness of a serological test to identify a higher risk group of individuals among contacts is questionable. Given that, we recommend that, if it is decided to start PEP in Brazil, it should start on a small scale and, as new evidence can be generated in terms of feasibility, sustainability and impact, it could move up a scale, or not, for a wider intervention.

High similarity of Trypanosoma cruzikDNA genetic profiles detected by LSSP-PCR within family groups in an endemic area of Chagas disease in Brazil

IntroductionDetermining the genetic similarities among Trypanosoma cruzi populations isolated from different hosts and vectors is very important to clarify the epidemiology of Chagas disease.MethodsAn epidemiological study was conducted in a Brazilian endemic area for Chagas disease, including 76 chronic chagasic individuals (96.1% with an indeterminate form; 46.1% with positive hemoculture).ResultsT. cruzi I (TcI) was isolated from one child and TcII was found in the remaining (97.1%) subjects. Low-stringency single-specific-primer-polymerase chain reaction (LSSP-PCR) showed high heterogeneity among TcII populations (46% of shared bands); however, high similarities (80-100%) among pairs of mothers/children, siblings, or cousins were detected.ConclusionsLSSP-PCR showed potential for identifying similar parasite populations among individuals with close kinship in epidemiological studies of Chagas disease.

Primer mes. Información básica para la crianza

Información elaborada a partir de: Proyecto de Humanización de la Atención Perinatal en Andalucía; Plan para la Promoción de la Actividad Física y la Alimentación Equilibrada; Plan Integral de Obesidad Infantil de Andalucía; Programas de Promoción de Salud Bucodental "Sonrisitas" y "Aprende a sonreir"; Plan Integral de Atención a la Accidentabilidad de Andalucía; Plan Integral de Tabaquismo de Andalucía; Plan Integral de Oncología de Andalucía. Publicado en el Portal Web de Ventana Abierta a la familia: www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/ventanafamilias.

Primer mes. Información básica para la crianza

Información elaborada a partir de: Proyecto de Humanización de la Atención Perinatal en Andalucía; Plan para la Promoción de la Actividad Física y la Alimentación Equilibrada; Plan Integral de Obesidad Infantil de Andalucía; Programas de Promoción de Salud Bucodental "Sonrisitas" y "Aprende a sonreir"; Plan Integral de Atención a la Accidentabilidad de Andalucía; Plan Integral de Tabaquismo de Andalucía; Plan Integral de Oncología de Andalucía. Publicado en el Portal Web de Ventana Abierta a la familia: www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/ventanafamilias.