Blue shark (Prionace glauca) occurrence and relative abundance in the western South Atlantic Ocean influenced by spatiotemporal variability, environmental variables, and oceanographic processes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate spatiotemporal patterns in the distribution and relative abundance of blue sharks and their relationship with environmental variables and oceanographic processes in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. We modeled data on catch records from the Brazilian pelagic tuna longline fleet using generalized additive models (GAMs). The distribution of Prionace glauca was influenced by salinity, chlorophyll-a and temperature. Our models showed that both the catch per unit of fishing effort (CPUE) and the probability of presence increased mainly between March and August. The CPUE was also influenced by ocean depth and sea surface height, and the probability of occurrence by ocean fronts and slope. The highest CPUE values and probability of occurrence of blue sharks tended to occur mainly in parts of the continental slope off Brazil and at the Rio Grande Rise, characterized by the presence of seamounts. Such hotspots for P. glauca could potentially be considered in fisheries management plans.

A comparison of baleen whale density estimates derived from overlapping satellite imagery and a shipborne survey.

As whales recover from commercial exploitation, they are increasing in abundance in habitats that they have been absent from for decades. However, studying the recovery and habitat use patterns of whales, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions, frequently poses logistical and economic challenges. Here we trial a new approach for measuring whale density in a remote area, using Very-High-Resolution WorldView-3 satellite imagery. This approach has capacity to provide sightings data to complement and assist traditional sightings surveys. We compare at-sea whale density estimates to estimates derived from satellite imagery collected at a similar time, and use suction-cup archival logger data to make an adjustment for surface availability. We demonstrate that satellite imagery can provide useful data on whale occurrence and density. Densities, when unadjusted for surface availability are shown to be considerably lower than those estimated by the ship survey. However, adjusted for surface availability and weather conditions (0.13 whales per km2, CV = 0.38), they fall within an order of magnitude of those derived by traditional line-transect estimates (0.33 whales per km2, CV = 0.09). Satellite surveys represent an exciting development for high-resolution image-based cetacean observation at sea, particularly in inaccessible regions, presenting opportunities for ongoing and future research.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Cavia porcellus (guinea pig): case report / Leishmaniose cutânea em Cavia porcellus (cobaia): relato de caso

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease of worldwide spread. It is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and is transmitted to animals and humans through the bite of sand flies. In Brazil, leishmaniasis is one of the zoonoses of major importance and expansion. The objective of this work is to describe the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania enriettii in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). Three animals had nodular and alopecia lesions on the muzzle, ears and ulcerated lesions on the distal extremities of the pelvic limbs. The males (2) also had diffuse thickening of the scrotal skin. Samples of the ulcerated cutaneous lesions were evaluated by cytology which were observed as amastigote forms of Leishmania. One of the animals was euthanized and necropsied. Histopathology showed abundant dermal infiltrate of macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells. Numerous macrophages contained parasitoid vacuoles with amastigote forms, evidenced by immunohistochemical examination. The molecular characterization based on the SSUrDNA gene identified the species as L. enrietti. The diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in these cases was based on pathological findings and confirmed by immunohistochemistry, PCR and sequencing.(AU)

A leishmaniose é uma doença parasitária de distribuição mundial. É causada por protozoários do gênero Leishmania e é transmitida para animais e seres humanos por meio da picada de flebotomíneos. No Brasil, a leishmaniose é uma das zoonoses de maior importância e expansão. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever os achados clínicos, patológicos, imuno-histoquímicos e moleculares de leishmaniose cutânea por Leishmania enriettii em cobaia (Cavia porcellus). Três animais apresentavam lesões nodulares e alopécicas no focinho e orelhas, além de lesões ulceradas nas extremidades distais dos membros pélvicos. Nos machos (2), foi observado espessamento difuso da pele escrotal. Amostras das lesões cutâneas ulceradas foram avaliadas por citologia, nas quais foram observadas formas amastigotas de Leishmania. Um dos animais foi submetido à eutanásia e necropsiado. Na histopatologia, foi observado infiltrado dérmico abundante de macrófagos, plasmócitos, linfócitos e com células gigantes multinucleadas. Numerosos macrófagos continham vacúolos parasitóforos com formas amastigotas, evidenciados por meio do exame de imuno-histoquímica. A caracterização molecular baseada no gene de SSUrDNA identificou a espécie como L. enrietti. O diagnóstico de leishmaniose cutânea nesses casos foi baseado nos achados patológicos e confirmado pelas técnicas de imuno-histoquímica, PCR e sequenciamento.(AU)

Trypanocidal activity of free and nanoencapsulated curcumin on Trypanosoma evansi.

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of free and nanoencapsulated curcumin against Trypanosoma evansi. In vitro efficacy of free curcumin (CURC) and curcumin-loaded in lipid-core nanocapsules (C-LNCs) was evaluated to verify their lethal effect on T. evansi. To perform the in vivo tests, T. evansi-infected animals were treated with CURC (10 and 100 mg kg(-1), intraperitoneally [i.p.]) and C-LNCs (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) during 6 days, with the results showing that these treatments significantly attenuated the parasitaemia. Infected untreated rats showed protein peroxidation and an increase of nitrites/nitrates, whereas animals treated with curcumin showed a reduction on these variables. As a result, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) differs between groups (P<0.05). Infected animals and treated with CURC exhibited a reduction in the levels of alanine aminotransferase and creatinine, when compared with the positive control group. The use of curcumin in vitro resulted in a better parasitaemia control, an antioxidant activity and a protective effect on liver and kidney functions of T. evansi-infected adult male Wistar rats.

Characteristics of whistles from resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in southern Brazil.

Little is known of the whistles produced by bottlenose dolphins in the South Atlantic Ocean. A total of 788 whistles were recorded from free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Patos Lagoon estuary, southern Brazil. The mean number of whistles emitted per minute per animal was 0.8. Bottlenose dolphins emitted a varied repertoire of whistles, in which those with more than one inflection point were the most frequent and there was no predominance of ascending or descending whistles. Whistles recorded had a great frequency range, between 1.2 and 22.3 kHz. Whistle duration was 553.3 (+/- 393.9 ms) and 66.6% of the whistles lasted < 800 ms. Differences in the mean values of the whistles' characters were found between this study and other values previously reported for Tursiops. Bottlenose dolphins in the Patos Lagoon estuary emitted repeated whistle contours and individuals may be sharing some whistle types, as it has been suggested for Tursiops.