Development of scleral ossicles in Podocnemis expansa (Testudines: Podocnemididae) embryos exposed to atrazine.

Understanding the effects of atrazine exposure on embryo development in oviparous animals may provide important data regarding the impacts of agrochemical use on wildlife and the ecosystem. This study set out to determine the effects of embryonic atrazine exposure on the development of osseous and cartilaginous components of scleral ossicles in Podocnemis expansa. Eggs were collected at the Environmental Protection Area Meandros do Rio Araguaia, Brazil, and artificially incubated in sand treated with solutions containing 2, 20 or 200 µg/L of atrazine. Sixty embryos were collected per treatment throughout the incubation period. Embryos were diaphanized with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and stained with Alizarin Red S and Alcian blue (bone and cartilage tissue respectively). Scleral ossicles were then counted and examined for skeletal abnormalities at different stages of embryonic development. Scleral ossicle counts were significantly reduced in P. expansa embryos treated with 200 µg/L atrazine solution. Rudimentary ossicles and gaps were also noted in embryos exposed to atrazine concentrations of 2 µg/L or 200 µg/L. Findings of this study emphasize the relevance of ecotoxicological investigations in determining the impacts of agrochemicals on native fauna.

Parasitism by Syngamus trachea in blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna)

Background: Ara ararauna is widely distributed in South America and frequently affected by anthropogenic activities and environmental pressures such as illegal bird trafficking, and habitat loss. Also some endoparasites can threaten their health, and cause their death, or prevent the reintroduction of the animal to its natural environment. The objective of the present work was to report the occurrence of parasitism by Syngamus trachea in an Ara ararauna.Case: An adult, 900-gram female Ara ararauna from a project for the rehabilitation of the Brazilian fauna was kept in a collective nursery together with 12 specimens of the same species. Their diet was composed of typical fruits of the region, which were offered twice a day, and water ad libitum. The macaws had no previous history of anthelmintic treatment. The specimen evaluated presented progressive weight loss, constant sneezing, and reduced appetite for seven days. During physical examination the animal presented apathy, lethargy, spiked feathers, body condition score of 1/4, frequent sneezing, and inspiratory dyspnea. After this examination, the bird died, and the necropsy was performed. The postmortem findings were pale periocular, oral, and cloacal mucosae, cachexia, and presence of parasites of round shape, reddish color, with length of approximately 0.5 cm, in the proximal portion of the trachea. Another parasite with the same characteristics, but smaller in size, showing Y shape was found in the body. The trachea also showed colorless mucus and petechial hemorrhages in the proximal and middle portions of the mucosa. These parasites were subjected to morphological analysis in the Laboratory of Microscopy of the University Center of Triângulo and were identified as Syngamus trachea.[...]

Parasitism by Syngamus trachea in blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna)

Background: Ara ararauna is widely distributed in South America and frequently affected by anthropogenic activities and environmental pressures such as illegal bird trafficking, and habitat loss. Also some endoparasites can threaten their health, and cause their death, or prevent the reintroduction of the animal to its natural environment. The objective of the present work was to report the occurrence of parasitism by Syngamus trachea in an Ara ararauna.Case: An adult, 900-gram female Ara ararauna from a project for the rehabilitation of the Brazilian fauna was kept in a collective nursery together with 12 specimens of the same species. Their diet was composed of typical fruits of the region, which were offered twice a day, and water ad libitum. The macaws had no previous history of anthelmintic treatment. The specimen evaluated presented progressive weight loss, constant sneezing, and reduced appetite for seven days. During physical examination the animal presented apathy, lethargy, spiked feathers, body condition score of 1/4, frequent sneezing, and inspiratory dyspnea. After this examination, the bird died, and the necropsy was performed. The postmortem findings were pale periocular, oral, and cloacal mucosae, cachexia, and presence of parasites of round shape, reddish color, with length of approximately 0.5 cm, in the proximal portion of the trachea. Another parasite with the same characteristics, but smaller in size, showing Y shape was found in the body. The trachea also showed colorless mucus and petechial hemorrhages in the proximal and middle portions of the mucosa. These parasites were subjected to morphological analysis in the Laboratory of Microscopy of the University Center of Triângulo and were identified as Syngamus trachea.[...](AU)

Hemoparasitos de piranhas vermelhas Pygocentrus nattereri (KNER, 1858) (characiformes: characidae) capturadas no Rio Vermelho, região do médio rio Araguaia, estado de goiás, GO / Hemoparasites of red piranha Pygocentrus nattereri (kner, 1858) (characiformes: characidae) captured in red river, middle araguaia river region, state of Goiás (GO), Brazil

This work aimed to evaluate blood smears of 128 red piranha specimens Pygocentrus nattereri (Kner, 1858) (Characiformes: Characidae) as for the presence of hemoparasites and blood cells that were visualized. Samples were collected in Rio Vermelho (Red River) (1510"44.73""S and 5109"55.83W""), in the Brazilian state of Goiás, between April 2012 and August 2013, including ebb, full and dry phases. After identificating and numbering the piranhas, we collected approximately 0.5 mL of blood from each animal, from the caudal vein or through intracardiac puncture, and two blood smears were done and stained with May GrünwaldGiemsa and Fast Panoptic stains. After euthanasia, the body mass and biometrics of every fish were measured. Abiotic factors of the river water were also analyzed, such as temperature and transparency. In general, the biometric parameters were higher in the full phase of the river, and the values obtained on water quality were similar in relation to the average temperature of the water, which was around 82,4F. The average transparency of the water varied, being greater at low tide. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, heterophile and lymphocytes were identified as blood cells of red piranhas and hemogregarines have been found in about 25% (32/128) of the blood smears.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar extensões sanguíneas de 128 espécimes de piranha vermelha Pygocentrus nattereri (Kner, 1858) (Characiformes: Characidae) quanto à presença de hemoparasitos e células sanguíneas visibilizadas. Foram realizadas coletas no Rio Vermelho (15º1044.73S e 51º0955.83O), no estado de Goiás, no período de abril de 2012 a agosto de 2013, abrangendo as fases vazante, cheia e seca. Após a identificação e numeração das piranhas, coletou-se cerca de 0,5 mL de sangue de cada animal por punção da veia caudal ou intracardíaca e confeccionou-se duas extensões sanguíneas, coradas pelo método de May Grünwald-Giemsa e Panótico Rápido. Depois de realizar a eutanásia, mediu-se a massa corporal e foi feita a biometria de cada peixe. Também foram analisados fatores abióticos da água no local, como a temperatura e a transparência. De maneira geral, os parâmetros biométricos foram superiores na enchente e os valores obtidos sobre a qualidade da água foram semelhantes em relação à temperatura média da água, que ficou em torno de 28C. A transparência média da água variou, sendo maior na vazante. Identificou-se eritrócitos, trombócitos, neutrófilos, heterófilos, eosinófilos, monócitos e linfócitos como células sanguíneas de piranhas vermelhas e hemogregarinas foram encontradas em cerca de 25% (32/128) das extensões.

Hemoparasitos de piranhas vermelhas Pygocentrus nattereri (KNER, 1858) (characiformes: characidae) capturadas no Rio Vermelho, região do médio rio Araguaia, estado de goiás, GO / Hemoparasites of red piranha Pygocentrus nattereri (kner, 1858) (characiformes: characidae) captured in red river, middle araguaia river region, state of Goiás (GO), Brazil

This work aimed to evaluate blood smears of 128 red piranha specimens Pygocentrus nattereri (Kner, 1858) (Characiformes: Characidae) as for the presence of hemoparasites and blood cells that were visualized. Samples were collected in Rio Vermelho (Red River) (1510"44.73""S and 5109"55.83W""), in the Brazilian state of Goiás, between April 2012 and August 2013, including ebb, full and dry phases. After identificating and numbering the piranhas, we collected approximately 0.5 mL of blood from each animal, from the caudal vein or through intracardiac puncture, and two blood smears were done and stained with May GrünwaldGiemsa and Fast Panoptic stains. After euthanasia, the body mass and biometrics of every fish were measured. Abiotic factors of the river water were also analyzed, such as temperature and transparency. In general, the biometric parameters were higher in the full phase of the river, and the values obtained on water quality were similar in relation to the average temperature of the water, which was around 82,4F. The average transparency of the water varied, being greater at low tide. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, heterophile and lymphocytes were identified as blood cells of red piranhas and hemogregarines have been found in about 25% (32/128) of the blood smears.(AU)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar extensões sanguíneas de 128 espécimes de piranha vermelha Pygocentrus nattereri (Kner, 1858) (Characiformes: Characidae) quanto à presença de hemoparasitos e células sanguíneas visibilizadas. Foram realizadas coletas no Rio Vermelho (15º1044.73S e 51º0955.83O), no estado de Goiás, no período de abril de 2012 a agosto de 2013, abrangendo as fases vazante, cheia e seca. Após a identificação e numeração das piranhas, coletou-se cerca de 0,5 mL de sangue de cada animal por punção da veia caudal ou intracardíaca e confeccionou-se duas extensões sanguíneas, coradas pelo método de May Grünwald-Giemsa e Panótico Rápido. Depois de realizar a eutanásia, mediu-se a massa corporal e foi feita a biometria de cada peixe. Também foram analisados fatores abióticos da água no local, como a temperatura e a transparência. De maneira geral, os parâmetros biométricos foram superiores na enchente e os valores obtidos sobre a qualidade da água foram semelhantes em relação à temperatura média da água, que ficou em torno de 28C. A transparência média da água variou, sendo maior na vazante. Identificou-se eritrócitos, trombócitos, neutrófilos, heterófilos, eosinófilos, monócitos e linfócitos como células sanguíneas de piranhas vermelhas e hemogregarinas foram encontradas em cerca de 25% (32/128) das extensões.(AU)