Desempenho reprodutivo do beijupirá (Rachycentron canadum) capturado no litoral de Pernambuco / Reproductive performance of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) captured of Pernambuco, Brazil

O desempenho reprodutivo de exemplares selvagens de beijupirá capturados no litoral de Pernambuco e aclimatados ao cativeiro foi avaliado durante 10 meses. Um plantel composto por duas fêmeas (peso de 14 a 16kg) e quatro machos (cerca de 12kg) mantidos em um único tanque de 70t produziu 48,7 milhões de ovos no período de outubro a junho. As fêmeas foram capazes de desovar 21 vezes, com uma frequência média (±DP) de uma desova a cada 11,9 dias (±2,9). Em média, cada desova produziu 2,4 milhões de ovos, com fertilização de 52,4 por cento, o que resultou em aproximadamente 1,0 milhão de larvas por desova. Os resultados demonstram a viabilidade da metodologia empregada na formação do plantel e no manejo de reprodutores e confirmam a relativa facilidade de obtenção de desovas espontâneas do beijupirá em cativeiro. Também foi confirmado que o período reprodutivo dessa espécie em cativeiro se estende além do observado na natureza. Este é o primeiro relato sobre o desempenho reprodutivo do beijupirá em cativeiro no Brasil...

The reproductive performance of wild cobia caught off the coast of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, was assessed. Six breeders (two females with 14-16kg and four males with approximately 12kg each) were maintained in a 70 ton tank from October to June and produced 48.7 million eggs. Females were able to spawn every 11.9 days (±2.9), which resulted in 21 spawns. On average each spawn produced 2.4 million eggs with a fertilization of 52.4 percent, which resulted in approximately 1.0 million larvae per spawn. The present results demonstrate the feasibility of the methodology employed here in the formation and management of a cobia breeding stock and confirm the ease of spawning cobia in captivity. It was also confirmed that the spawning season may be extended under captivity when compared to the wild stock. This is the first report on the reproductive performance of cobia in captivity in Brazil...

Hypersensitivity to inhalants and food in balance disturbances.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of allergy in patients with Menière's disease was established as approximately 41.6% for inhalants and 26.6% for food. These are elevated values in relation to the prevalence of allergy in the general population, which varies from 9% to 30% for inhalants (in Brazil) and from 1% to 3% for food. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of type I hypersensitivity reactions to inhalants and food in the patients of the Neurotology Sector of the 'Hospital das Clinicas' of the University of São Paulo Medical School and to describe vestibular symptoms of these patients. METHOD: Seventy-five patients with imbalance due to peripheral origin were evaluated by a questionnaire for the clinical characterization of the cochleo-vestibular symptoms and underwent the prick test for 13 inhalants and 5 food stuffs. RESULTS: Twenty-five (33.3%) patients presented positive prick tests and, at least, one food allergen. Four patients presented positive prick tests without allergy symptoms. The prevalence of the complaint of rotatory dizziness was similar among the patients with positive and negative prick tests. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Type I hypersensitivity reactions to inhalants and food in the population evaluated was greater than in the general population. The vestibular symptoms did not differ among the patients with either positive or negative prick tests. However, a larger sample size should be obtained for the data to be more reliable.