Neoctangium travassosi (Digenea: Microscaphidiidae) in sea turtles from South America / Neoctangium travassosi (Digenea: Microscaphidiidae) em tartarugas marinhas da América do Sul

Sea turtles are endangered animals that present cosmopolitan distribution. Anthropic actions have been considered important causes for the reduction of sea turtle population, but natural aspects such as parasitism may also contribute to their decline. This study aimed to report the occurrence of parasites in stranded dead sea turtles found in an area known as Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil, from 2010 to 2019. They were identified and classified according to the carapace length. At post-mortem analyses all organs were examined, parasites collected and morphologically identified. Ecological parasitic indexes as prevalence (P), mean intensity (MI) and mean abundance (MA) were calculated. A total of 80 Chelonia mydas and 5 Eretmochelys imbricata were assessed. Neoctangium travassosi was detected in both species presenting P = 20%, MI = 4.19 and MA = 0.84 for C. mydas and P = 60%, MI = 1.67 and MA = 1.0 for E. imbricata. This is the first report of N. travassosi parasitizing E. imbricata in South America. Finally, the retrieval of these parasites is a warning regarding the need for further studies to assess the impact of this parasitism on the health and conservation of sea turtles.

As tartarugas marinhas são animais ameaçados de extinção que apresentam distribuição cosmopolita. Ações antrópicas têm sido consideradas causas importantes para a redução da população de tartarugas marinhas, mas aspectos naturais, como o parasitismo, também, podem contribuir para o seu declínio. Este estudo objetivou relatar a ocorrência de parasitos em tartarugas marinhas, encalhadas mortas, encontradas em uma área conhecida como Bacia Potiguar, nordeste do Brasil, de 2010 a 2019. Essas foram identificadas e classificadas de acordo com o comprimento da carapaça. Nas análises post mortem, todos os órgãos foram examinados, e os parasitos coletados e identificados morfologicamente. Foram calculados índices parasitários ecológicos, como prevalência (P), intensidade média (IM) e abundância média (AM). Um total de 80 Chelonia mydas e cinco Eretmochelys imbricata foi estudado. Neoctangium travassosi foi detectado em ambas as espécies, apresentando P = 20%, MI = 4,19 e MA = 0,84 para C. mydas e P = 60%, IM = 1,67 e AM = 1,0 para E. imbricata. Este é o primeiro relato de N. travassossi parasitando E. imbricata na América do Sul. Conclui-se que a recuperação desses parasitos soa como um alerta para a necessidade de mais estudos para avaliar o impacto desse parasitismo na saúde e na conservação das tartarugas marinhas.

Thermal stability and electronic properties of boron nitride nanoflakes.

Nowadays, boron nitride has attracted a great deal of attention due to its physical (chemical) properties, facile synthesis, and experimental characterization, indicating great potential for industrial application. Based on this, we develop here a theoretical study on boron nitride nanoflakes built-up from hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets exhibiting hexagonal, rectangular, and triangular shapes. In order to investigate geometry effects such as those due to the presence of armchair and zigzag edges and distinct shapes, we analyzed their properties from both classical and quantum viewpoints. Using classical molecular dynamics calculations, we show that the nanosheets preserve their structural stability at high temperatures, while DFT calculations demonstrate HOMO-LUMO energy gap variation within the theoretical energy gaps of h-BN in bulk and 2D crystals. Besides that, we have also found that boron nitride nanoflakes structures have spatially symmetrical spin densities.

Prospectus of waste stabilization ponds in Ceará, Northeast Brazil.

WSP technology has been used in Ceará, Northeast Brazil, since middle 1970s. There are presently 96 ponds plants and most of them are comprised by single cells (40%) and series of 3 ponds (35%). They were under loaded due to incomplete house connections to the sewerage network and low per capita wastewater contributions. Highest removal rates of organic material, ammonia and faecal coliform were found in 3 pond series. Faecal coliform removal was in accordance with the literature and series of ponds reached numbers ≤10(5) cells/100 ml. In series with 4 and 5 ponds FC was below 10(3) cells/100 ml. Ammonia removal varied from 30 to 80% and total phosphorus the removal was not significant. An increase in the number of maturation ponds enhances nutrient and coliform removal. Up-grading schemes should be investigated as well as effluent reuse potential.

Unravelling feeding territoriality in the Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, in Cananéia, Brazil.

Habitat use by the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) and discovery of feeding territoriality are discussed here. The results showed the existence of a territorial individual defending an area (2,564.46 +/- 943.56 m(2)) close to the mangrove, and non-territorial individuals (9.17 +/- 2.54) in the rest of a demarcated area (mean area for the non-territorial: 893.25 +/- 676.72). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.47, df = 46, p < 0.05) was found between the overlapping of territorial and non-territorial individuals (2.85 +/- 3.07 m(2)) and the mean overlapped area for territorial individuals (171.41 +/- 131.40 m(2)). Higher capture (1.52 +/- 1.14 x 1.00 +/- 1.37 catches/minutes) and success rates (0.45 +/- 0.31 x 0.21 +/- 0.27) and lower energy expenditure rates (45.21 +/- 14.96 x 51.22 +/- 14.37 steps/minutes; and 3.65 +/- 2.55 x 4.94 +/- 3.28 stabs/minutes) were observed for individuals foraging in areas close to the mangrove. The results suggest that the observed territorial behaviour is more related to a number of food parameters than to intruder pressure, and also that the observed territoriality might be related to defense of areas with higher prey availability.

ANTICORPOS CONTRA Leptospira spp. EM ANIMAIS DOMÉSTICOS E SILVESTRES PRESENTES NO CAMPUS UNIVERSITÁRIO DA FCAV, UNESP, JABOTICABAL/SP

O presente estudo objetivou detectar anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em animais domésticos e silvestres presentes no Campus Universitário da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Unesp, Jaboticabal. Em outubro de 2007, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 279 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos e cães. Desses animais, 87 (31,1%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela prova de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM). Em março de 2008, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 236 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos, cães, coelho, gambás e cervídeos. Desses animais, 75 (31,7%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela SAM. Em julho de 2008, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 167 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos e gambás. Desses animais, 75 (44,9%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela SAM. Houve influência sazonal na ocorrência de anticorpos, e as diferenças entre as prevalências de anticorpos durante o inverno e a primavera e durante o inverno e o verão foram significativas pelo teste X2; a maior frequência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. foi observada durante o inverno. Dos 25 gambás analisados, 11 (44,0%) foram reagentes pela SAM, sendo 5 (20,0%) ao sorovar Patoc, 3 (12,0%) ao Autumnalis e 3 (12,0%) ao Icterohaemorrhagiae. Entre as diferentes regiões de captura e colheita de amostras de sangue

Anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em animais domésticos e silvestres presentes no campus universitário da FCAV, UNESP, Jaboticabal/SP / Antibodies against Leptospira spp. in domestic and wild animals at the university campus of FCAV, UNESP, Jaboticabal/SP

O presente estudo objetivou detectar anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em animais domésticos e silvestres presentes no Campus Universitário da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Unesp, Jaboticabal. Em outubro de 2007, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 279 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos e cães. Desses animais, 87 (31,1%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela prova de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM). Em março de 2008, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 236 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos, cães, coelho, gambás e cervídeos. Desses animais, 75 (31,7%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela SAM. Em julho de 2008, foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 167 animais, entre equinos, suínos, caprinos, ovinos, bovinos e gambás. Desses animais, 75 (44,9%) foram reagentes à Leptospira spp., pela SAM. Houve influência sazonal na ocorrência de anticorpos, e as diferenças entre as prevalências de anticorpos durante o inverno e a primavera e durante o inverno e o verão foram significativas pelo teste X'; a maior frequência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. foi observada durante o inverno. Dos 25 gambás analisados, 11 (44,0%) foram reagentes pela SAM, sendo 5 (20,0%) ao sorovar Patoc, 3 (12,0%) ao Autumnalis e 3 (12,0%) ao Icterohaemorrhagiae. Entre as diferentes regiões de captura e colheita de amostras de sangue de gambás (Didelphis albiventris), não houve diferença significativa quanto à ocorrência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp., pelo teste exato de Fisher. No mês de julho de 2008 observou-se maior ocorrência de anticorpos nos gambás. Os sorovares encontrados neste Campus, durante todo o período de estudo, foram: Andamana, Autumnalis, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Patoc, Pomona e Pyrogenes.

This study aimed to detect antibodies against Leptospira spp. in domestic and wild animals present in the Campus of FCAV, Unesp, Jaboticabal. In October 2007, blood samples were taken from 279 animals, including horses, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and dogs. Of these animals, 87 (31.1%) were positive to Leptospira spp., by the microscopic agglutination test. In March 2008, blood samples were taken from 236 animals, including horses, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, dogs, rabbits, opossums and deer. Of these animals, 75 (31.7%) were positive for Leptospira spp.. In July 2008, blood samples were taken from 167 animals, including horses, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and skunks. Of these animals, 75 (44.9%) were positive to Leptospira spp.. Seasonal influence on the occurrence of antibodies was detected, and the differences between the prevalence of antibodies during the winter and spring and during the winter and summer were significant by X 2 test - Chi-square, and the higher frequency of antibodies against Leptospira spp. was observed during the winter. Of the 25 opossums examined, 11 (44.0%) were positive by SAM, 5 (20.0%) to serovar Patoc, 3 (12.0%) to autumnalis and 3 (12.0%) to Icterohaemorrhagiae. Among the several regions of capture and collection of blood samples from opossums (Didelphis albiventris), no significant difference in the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp was detected by Fisher's exact test. Serovars found in this Campus throughout the study period were: Andaman, Autumnalis, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Patoc, Pomona and Pyrogenes.