Avaliação das lesões locais de cães envenenados experimentalmente com Bothrops alternatus após diferentes tratamentos / Evaluation of local lesions in dogs experimentally envenomed by Bothrops alternatus after different treatments

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic action of flunixin meglumine and aqueous extract of Curcuma longa (10 percent) on local lesions caused by bothropic venom, comparing with the specific antivenom. Twelve adult dogs were inoculated in the middle third of the lateral face of the thigh with 0.3mg/kg of venom. The dogs were divided into three groups of four animals and the treatment was done two hours after venom inoculation as follows: Group I- specific antivenom diluted in saline (one dosage sufficient to neutralize the venom), Group II- flunixin meglumine (1.1mg/kg, IM, once a day for five days), Group III- topical application of aqueous extract of C. longa (10 percent) (three times a day for five days). Necrosis was observed in all dogs of groups I and II, and in two dogs of group III. Edema and hemorrhagic halo were observed in all dogs. Better recovery of lesions was observed in dogs of group I and III. The results denote a satisfactory effect of C. longa on treatment of local lesions caused by bothropic venom in dogs.

Aquatic macrophytes as feeding site for small fishes in the Rosana Reservoir, Paranapanema River, Southeastern Brazil

In the present investigation we studied the feeding habits of the fishes associated with aquatic macrophytes in the Rosana Reservoir, southeastern Brazil. Twenty fish species were collected during four field trips, regularly distributed across the dry and wet seasons. Focal snorkeling observations of the fishes were made over a total of six hours. Nine species were present in abundances of more than 1 percent and, therefore, had their feeding habits analyzed. Hemigrammus marginatus, Roeboides paranensis, Hyphessobrycon eques, Astyanax altiparanae, Serrasalmus spilopleura, and Bryconamericus stramineus were predominantly invertivores, with predominance of aquatic insects (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera immatures) among their food items. The predominantly algivores were Apareiodon affinis, Serrapinnus notomelas, and Satanoperca pappaterra, with high frequency of filamentous blue-green algae, diatoms, clorophyts, and periderm. The different microhabitat exploitation plus diet composition suggests partitioning of resources and absence of food competition among the most representative fish species in the studied community, indicating the importance of the naturalistic approach to fish ecology studies

Genetic characterization of the peptidases of Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Starch gel electrophoresis with L-leucyl-beta-naphthylamide as substrate revealed five aminopeptidases in extracts of Polistes versicolor. These enzymes are presumably products of five structural gene loci. All but Lap aminopeptidases exhibited differential distribution in the developmental stages and in the tissues. Five dipeptidases were revealed with different dipeptides. These enzymes exhibited significant differences in their substrate preferences, but a more homogeneous distribution throughout ontogenetic developmental stages than did aminopeptidases. Electrophoretic variants of Lap4 and PepA² were detected and although a low intralocus heterozygosity was found due to the low frequency of these variants, phenotypical segregation observed at these loci in pupae extracts of some colonies points to the occurrence of more than one egg-laying female. Otherwise, the detection of Lap4 allozyme restricted to nests of one area suggests low dispersion ability of the adults of Polistes versicolor

Tratamento tópico de coelhos com Agaricus blazei Murril após envenenamento botrópico experimental

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a utilização do cogumelo Agaricus blazei Murril (5 por cento) na terapêutica tópica do envenenamento experimental de coelhos por Bothrops alternatus, visando a antagonização dos efeitos locais (edema, hemorragia e necrose) provocados por esse veneno. Os resultados finais mostraram um menor grau de edema e do halo hemorrágico no grupo tratado quando comparados com o grupo controle (salina).

In this contribution, the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murril was investigated for its properties against the local effects of Bothrops alternatus venom in rabbits to antagonize the local effects (edema, hemorrhage and necrosis). The results showed that the group treated with Agaricus blazei had smaller edema and hemorrhage than Control group (saline).