Growth and survival of the native oyster Crassostrea gasar cultured under different stocking densities in two grow-out systems in tropical climate / [Crescimento e sobrevivência da ostra nativa Crassostrea gasar cultivada em diferentes densidades em dois sistemas em clima tropical]

Survival and growth of the native oyster Crassostrea gasar along the juvenile and adult phases were evaluated in three different stocking densities [low (D), medium (2D) and high (3D)] and in two grow-out systems (fixed and floating system). The fixed system consisted of a rack made with PVC, fixed from the bottom with wood sticks. The floating system consisted of floating bags suspended by a rack made with PVC and maintained submerged from the seawater surface by eight floats. Survival and shell height of oysters cultured after 30, 60 and 90 days were registered in each phase and in each grow-out system. Results showed that the grow-out system did not affect survival and growth of C. gasar in the juvenile and adult phases. The tested densities affected the survival of oysters cultured over time in both phases but did not affect oyster growth. At times analyzed, it was observed positive growth in juvenile oysters grow after 90 days of culture. However, in the adult phase, no growth was observed after 90 days of culture. Oyster yield was higher in the density 3D, in both juvenile and adult phases. These findings contributed to the development of the oyster C. gasar culture.(AU)

A sobrevivência e o crescimento da ostra nativa Crassostrea gasar nas fases juvenil e adulta foram avaliados sob três diferentes densidades de estocagem [baixa (D), média (2D) e alta (3D)] e dois sistemas de engorda (fixo e flutuante). O sistema fixo consistiu em uma mesa de PVC, fixada na parte inferior com varas de madeira. O sistema flutuante consistiu em travesseiros flutuantes suspensos por uma mesa de PVC e mantidas submersas da superfície da água do mar por oito flutuadores. Registraram-se sobrevivência e altura da concha de ostras cultivadas após 30, 60 e 90 dias, em cada fase (juvenil e adulta) e em cada sistema (fixo e flutuante). Os resultados mostraram que o sistema de engorda não afetou a sobrevivência e o crescimento de C. gasar nas fases juvenil e adulta. As densidades testadas afetaram a sobrevivência das ostras ao longo do tempo, em ambas as fases, mas não afetaram o crescimento em altura. Nos tempos analisados, ostras juvenis apresentaram crescimento após 90 dias de cultivo. Porém, na fase adulta, não foi observado crescimento após 90 dias de cultivo. A produção de ostras, foi maior na densidade 3D, nas fases juvenil e adulta. Os presentes achados contribuíram para o desenvolvimento do cultivo da ostra C. gasar.(AU)

Obstrução intestinal por Pythium insidiosum em um cão: relato de caso / Intestinal obstruction by Pythium insidiosum in a dog: case report

Relata-se um caso de pitiose intestinal em um Husky Siberiano, de um ano de idade, macho atendido em um Hospital Veterinário Escola com sinais de obstrução intestinal. Ao exame físico, notou-se massa cilíndrica na região abdominal cranial, posteriormente confirmada por meio de radiografia e ultrassonografia. Durante a laparotomia exploratória, constatou-se massa extraluminal envolvendo o jejuno e alterações na parede do órgão. Realizou-se a ressecção da porção afetada do intestino e, posteriormente, anastomose. O exame histológico do tecido evidenciou inflamação piogranulomatosa acentuada. Na coloração de prata metenamina de Grocott, hifas septadas foram observadas. O diagnóstico de infecção por Pythium insidiosum foi confirmado por meio da imunoistoquímica. Após a cirurgia, o animal restabeleceu a defecação; no 30º dia pós-cirúrgico, foi relatada ainda presença de diarreia. O tratamento com itraconazol e terbinafina foi instituído durante 60 dias. Após dois anos do procedimento cirúrgico e do tratamento com antifúngicos orais, o cão não apresentou recidiva.

A case of intestinal pythiosis in a one-year-old male Siberian Husky treated at a Veterinary School Hospital with signs of intestinal obstruction is reported. At physical examination, a cylindrical mass was palpable in the cranial abdomen, later confirmed by radiography and ultrasonography. During the exploratory laparotomy, it was evidenced an extraluminal mass involving the jejunum and alterations of the wall in the organ. After that, a resection of the affected portion of the intestine was made followed by anastomosis. The histologic examination evidenced accented pyogranulomatous inflammation. By the Grocott methenamine silver stain, branching hyphae were observed. The diagnosis of infection by Pythium insidiosum was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The animal reestablished the defecation after the surgery; on the 30th postoperative day, it was also reported the presence of diarrhea. The treatment with itraconazol and terbinafina was instituted for 60 days. Two years after the surgical procedure and treatment with oral antifungals, the dog did not show recurrence.

Antinociceptive properties in mice of a lectin isolated from the marine alga Amansia multifida Lamouroux

The antinociceptive effects of a lectin (LEC) isolated from the marine alga Amansia multifida were determined in Swiss mice. The LEC (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal writhings in a dose-dependent manner after intraperitoneal or oral administration. A partial but significant inhibition of writhings was observed after the combination of LEC (10 mg/kg) with avidin (1 mg/kg), a potent inhibitor of the hemmaglutinant activity of the lectin. However, total writhing inhibition was demonstrable in the group of mice treated with LEC plus mannose (1 mg/kg), as compared to LEC alone or to control groups. Furthermore, avidin and mainly mannose also play a role in antinociception, somehow facilitating the interaction of LEC with its active cell sites. In the formalin test, although both phases of the response were significantly inhibited, the effect of LEC was predominant during phase 2, causing inhibition of licking time that ranged from 48 to 88 percent after oral (5 and 10 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal (1 to 5 mg/kg) administration. As is the case with morphine, the effect of LEC (2 mg/kg) was reversed by naloxone (2 mg/kg), indicating the involvement of the opioid system. LEC was also effective in the hot-plate test, producing inhibitory responses to the thermal stimulus, and its effects were blocked by naloxone. In the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, although LEC did not alter the onset of sleep significantly, it increased the time of sleep within the same dose range compared to control. These results show that LEC presents antinociceptive effects of both central and peripheral origin, possibly involving the participation of the opioid system.

Safety and efficacy of reduced doses of ritonavir (RTV) plus saquinavir (SQV) in the treatment of AIDS patients in Brazil

The use of reduced doses of Ritonavir (RIT) and Saquinavir (SQV) is considered a potent alternative in treating patients infected by HIV-1. We tested a combination of 300mg of RIT plus 600mg of SQV, twice daily, in association with two reverse transcriptase inhibitors to treat AIDS patients for a period of 6 monts. Evaluation of HIV-1 RNA plasma levels, CD4+/CD8+ cell count and biochemical/hematological parameters (liver enzymes, serum electrolytes, creatinin, blood glucose, uric acid, white blood cell count, platelet count, and hemoglobin level) were performed after 30, 90 and 180 days of therapy. Clinical failure and adverse reactions were also recorded in order to assess safety and efficacy of the treatment. A total of 30 AIDS patients (25 male; 5 female) were enrolled in the study. Eight patients discontinuede the therapy due to intolerance, 2 patients presented clinical failure (onset of AIDS defining events during the study period), 2 patients were excluded due to protocol violation. Five patients tolerated only a lower dose of RIT (400mg/day). Patients who completed 6 months of therapy had a drop in viral load from 4.8ñ.7log10median4.9log) to 3.4ñ1.0log10(median 2.6log), and an increase in CD4+ count from 109ñ86 cells/ml(median 84 cells/ml) to 249ñ114 cells/ml(median 265cells/ml), compared to baseline values. However, patients who used a lower dose of RIT (400mg/day) had a less impressive drop in viral load values(mean0.6log10RNA copies/ml) when compared with those using the 600mg/day of the drug(mean 2.4log10). The percentage of patients presenting undetectable levels of HIV-1 RNA in plasma was quite different for the 2 groups: 92 percent of patients with a viral load <400 RNA copies/ml were using 600mg of RIT. The combination of reduced doses of RIT and SQV reduced viral load >1.0log10 after 6 months in 83 percent of study patients. The dose of 600mg/day of RIT was more effective in reducing viral load than 400mg/day, but was less well-tolerated. CD4+ cell counts increased in all patients regardless of the RIT dose used.

Serum interferon activity of patients with leishmaniasis

Serum from a significant proportion of 29 cutaneous and 12 mucocutaneous leishmaniasis patients exhibited interferon activity in a cytopathic assay: positive tests were obtained for 24.1% and 41.7% of the patients, respectively. Similar positive frequencies were observed in other parasitic diseases (schistosomiasis, 12.5%; toxoplasmosis, 20%; Chagas' disease, 16%; leprosy, 12.5%; tuberculosis, 30%). In contrast, none of the 44 serum samples from American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) patients had interferon activity during the active stage of the disease. However, 13% of the samples obtained from patients recovered from AVL were positive