Characterizing pregnancy losses in Bos indicus beef females receiving a fixed-timed artificial insemination protocol.

This experiment evaluated pregnancy losses from day 30 of gestation to calving in Bos indicus females, and evaluated if serum haptoglobin concentrations during early gestation impacts subsequent pregnancy losses. A total of 4926 Nelore females were used, being 1802 nulliparous heifers inseminated as yearlings (precocious heifers), 1356 nulliparous heifers inseminated at 24 months of age (conventional heifers), 887 suckling primiparous cows, and 881 suckling multiparous cows. Cows were assigned to an ovulation synchronization + fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol from day -11 to 0 of the experiment. Pregnancy status was verified using transrectal ultrasonography on days 30 and 60 after FTAI, via transrectal palpation on day 150 after FTAI, and according to calf birth. Blood samples were collected from all animals diagnosed pregnant on day 30 after FTAI, and analyzed for serum concentrations of haptoglobin and pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAG). Pregnancy loss was greater (P < 0.01) from day 60-150 of gestation (10.2 %) compared with day 30-60 of gestation (6.0 %) and with day 150 of gestation to calving (7.4 %), and differed (P = 0.04) between these latter two periods. Pregnancy loss from day 30-60 of gestation did not differ (P = 0.26) among parities, whereas total pregnancy losses (day 30 to calving) were greater (P < 0.01) in precocious (28.4 %) and conventional (27.1 %) heifers compared with primiparous (16.4 %) and multiparous (13.0 %) cows. Serum PAG concentrations on day 30 after FTAI were less (P ≤ 0.03) in cows that lost the pregnancy (5.63 ng/mL) from day 30-60 of gestation, as well as those that lost the pregnancy from day 30 to calving (8.59 ng/mL) compared with cohorts that maintained the pregnancy (9.39 and 9.32 ng/mL, respectively). No differences in serum PAG concentrations on day 30 after FTAI were noted (P ≥ 0.23) according to pregnancy losses from day 60 to calving. Serum haptoglobin concentration on day 30 after FTAI also did not differ (P ≥ 0.48) between cows that maintained or lost the pregnancy. This experiment provides novel information about pregnancy losses after day 30 of gestation in B. indicus cattle, with most losses occurring as fetal mortality and not affected by systemic inflammation during early gestation. Pregnancy losses were nearly doubled in precocious and conventional heifers compared with parous cows, demonstrating the relevance of this reproductive failure to B. indicus replacement heifers.

Genetic improvement of plant architecture in the common bean.

Knowledge of genetic control of plant architecture in the common bean can help breeders define the most adequate breeding strategy to optimize gains. We examined genetic control of plant architecture in the common bean by means of partial diallel crosses. Fourteen bean lines were crossed under a partial diallel scheme, in which group 1 was composed of 8 erect plant lines and group 2 of 6 carioca-type grain lines. The F1 plants from the crosses and the 14 parents were evaluated during spring (March sowing) for the characteristics plant architecture score, hypocotyl diameter, mean plant height, and grain yield. The additive effects were found to predominate in the genetic control of plant architecture score and hypocotyl diameter. Thus, selection of more erect plants can be done in early generations. Heritability estimate in a wide sense was greater for hypocotyl diameter (0.81) than for plant architecture score (0.60), showing that the latter is a more complex characteristic than the former. Hypocotyl diameter has the potential to be used in the selection of more erect plants, either by considering selection between and within families, or by combined or phenotypic recurrent selection. The reason for this is that the diameter measurements are taken from individual plants inside the plots.

Thyroid hormone concentrations associated with age, sex, reproductive status and apparent reproductive failure in the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).

This study was conducted to characterize immunoreactive thyroid hormone concentrations in wild Amazon river dolphins, also called boto (Inia geoffrensis) by age group, sex, pregnancy and lactation status, and to determine if thyroid hormone concentration differences could be detected between pregnant females with and without successful parturition outcomes. Radioimmunoassays were used to analyse total T 3 and total T 4 in 182 serum samples collected from 172 botos living in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, in the Brazilian Amazon from 2003 through 2015. Age significantly affected tT 3 and tT 4 concentrations in males, with values in immature males and females being significantly lower than those in adult males, whereas no age effects were noted between immature females and adult non-pregnant, non-lactating females. Significant sex differences were noted in tT 3 concentrations between immature males and females and in tT 4 concentrations between adult males and females. These resulted in significant differences in the tT 3:tT 4 ratio between males and females within the immature and adult groups. Lactating and non-pregnant adult females had significantly higher tT 3 concentrations than pregnant females, and this difference was primarily driven by a 12% drop in tT 3 concentrations during the last two-thirds of pregnancy. No differences in thyroid hormone concentrations were detected between females diagnosed as pregnant and later found to have or not have a live calf. These results are the first to define thyroid hormone reference intervals and normal physiological variations in a wild population of river dolphins.

Placentation in the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis).

Evidence from several sources supports a close phylogenetic relationship between elephants and sirenians. To explore whether this was reflected in similar placentation, we examined eight delivered placentae from the Amazonian manatee using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the fetal placental circulation was described by scanning electron microscopy of vessel casts. The manatee placenta was zonary and endotheliochorial, like that of the elephant. The interhaemal barrier comprised maternal endothelium, cytotrophoblasts and fetal endothelium. We found columnar trophoblast beneath the chorionic plate and lining lacunae in this region, but there was no trace in the term placenta of haemophagous activity. The gross anatomy of the cord and fetal membranes was consistent with previous descriptions and included a four-chambered allantoic sac, as also found in the elephant and other afrotherians. Connective tissue septae descended from the chorionic plate and carried blood vessels to the labyrinth, where they gave rise to a dense capillary network. This appeared to drain into shorter vessels near the chorionic plate. The maternal vasculature could not be examined in the same detail, but maternal capillaries ran rather straight and roughly parallel to the fetal ones. Overall, there is a close resemblance in placentation between the manatee and the elephant.

Genetic Relationships and Spatial Genetic Structure Among Populations of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Colombia and Venezuela Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome-b Sequences.

One hundred twenty Rhodnius prolixus (Stal) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) specimens from 6 Colombian Departments and 1 Venezuelan State had 594-bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene sequenced to improve the understanding of evolutionary processes that shape the main vector of Chagas disease. The levels of genetic diversity for this species were low-medium with reference to other bugs. The genetic heterogeneity among the populations was very limited which means there has been extensive gene flow and/or very recent split processes. The overall sample as well as some individual populations showed evidence of recent population expansions (with the exception of Arauca, which yielded evidence of a bottleneck for a mismatch distribution). This expansion (11,000 or 2000-25,000 year ago depending of two procedures employed) coincides with the ending of the last intense glacial conditions during the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene that had a warmer and wetter climate. Some of our autocorrelation analyses (AIDA and Genetic Landscape Interpolation Analysis) indicated local patches of high genetic similarity but no globally significant spatial structure. We did show an original haplotype distributed throughout the entirety of the geographical area studied.

Spray dried microparticles of chia oil using emulsion stabilized by whey protein concentrate and pectin by electrostatic deposition.

Chia seed oil has a high content of α-linolenic acid (60%) and linoleic acid (20%). Use of this oil in different products is limited due to its liquid state, and the presence of insaturation is a trigger for oxidation. In this context, to facilitate the incorporation of chia oil in food products and increase its protection against oxidation, the aim of this work was to produce chia oil microparticles by spray drying using emulsions stabilized by whey protein concentrate (ζ-potential +13.4 at pH3.8) and pectin (ζ-potential -40.4 at pH3.8) through the electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition technique and emulsions prepared with only whey protein concentrate. Emulsions stabilized by whey protein concentrate and stabilized by whey protein concentrate-pectin were prepared using maltodextrin (10 DE) and modified starch (Hi-Cap® 100). They were characterized in relation to stability, droplet size, ζ-Potential and optical microscopy. The microparticles were characterized in relation to moisture content, water activity, particle size, microstructure and oxidative stability by the Rancimat method. Emulsions stabilized by whey protein concentrate-pectin with added maltodextrin 10 DE and emulsions stabilized by whey protein concentrate with added modified starch (Hi-Cap® 100) were stable after 24h. Emulsions stabilized by whey protein concentrate and by whey protein concentrate-pectin showed droplets with mean diameter ranging from 0.80 to 1.31µm, respectively and ζ-potential varying from -6.9 to -27.43mV, respectively. After spray drying, the microparticles showed an mean diameter ranging from 7.00 to 9.00µm. All samples presented high encapsulation efficiency values, above 99%. Microparticles produced with modified starch showed a smoother spherical surface than particles with maltodextrin 10 DE, which presented a wrinkled surface. All microparticles exhibited higher oxidative stability than chia oil in pure form.

Perfil metabólico de filhotes de peixe-boi da Amazônia (Trichechus inunguis) em cativeiro, alimentados com diferentes sucedâneos do leite materno / [Metabolic profile of captive Amazonian manatee calves (Trichechus inunguis), fed different substitutes for maternal milk]

Dez filhotes de peixe-boi da Amazônia criados em cativeiro foram amamentados com diferentes dietas lácteas em duas etapas. Na primeira, com sucedâneo 1 (S1), utilizado rotineiramente no Inpa e, na segunda, com sucedâneo 2 (S2), elaborado com base na composição centesimal do leite materno da espécie. Cada etapa durou 62 dias, realizando-se coleta de sangue ao final de cada uma para avaliação dos valores de proteínas totais (PT), albumina (ALB), globulinas (GLO), glicose (GLI), lipídeos totais (LT), colesterol (COL), triglicerídeos (TRI), cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P), magnésio (Mg), sódio (Na), potássio (K), hematócrito (Ht) e hemoglobina (Hb). Houve redução dos níveis séricos de PT, ALB, GLO, Ca, P, K, GLI, LT, COL e TRI, após a alimentação dos animais com S2 quando comparados aos valores obtidos com S1. Os níveis de Na foram maiores quando administrado o S2 (143,47±0,99mmol/L). Valores de Ht e Mg não diferiram entre os tratamentos. O perfil metabólico, em geral, esteve dentro dos níveis normais para a espécie.(AU)

Ten Amazonian manatee calves who live in captivity were fed with different substitutes for maternal milk in two phases. During the first phase, the calves were fed substitute 1 (S1), which is what was routinely used by INPA, and during the second phase they were fed substitute 2 (S2), which was formulated based on the nutritional composition of T. inunguis maternal milk. Each phase lasted 62 days, when blood samples were collected for analysis of values of total protein (PT), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), glucose (GLI), total lipids (LT), cholesterol (COL), triglycerides (TRI), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb). There was a decrease in PT, ALB, GLO, Ca, P and K after feeding the animals with S2 when compared to values obtained with S1. Sodium levels were higher when S2 was administered (148.16±1.15mmol/L) than when S1 was given (143.47±0.99 mmol/l). Values of Ht and Mg did not differ between treatments. The metabolic profile was within normal levels for this species.(AU)

Factors associated with humoral response to ESAT-6, 38 kDa and 14 kDa in patients with a spectrum of tuberculosis.

SETTING: Tertiary care chest hospital in Montreal, Canada, where the average annual incidence of TB is 10/100,000 population. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical correlates of humoral response to three Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. METHODS: Humoral response to three M. tuberculosis antigens, 38 kDa, 14 kDa and ESAT-6, was measured with ELISA in patients with a spectrum of TB-related conditions. The association of positive tests for each antigen, defined with receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis, and patient characteristics was assessed in multivariate regression. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients underwent serologic testing. In multivariate analysis, humoral response to 38 kDa was associated with active disease, response to 14 kDa was associated with inactive TB and female sex, and response to ESAT-6 with inactive TB, female sex, prior contact with TB, and recent arrival in Canada from high prevalence countries. CONCLUSIONS: Response to the 38 kDa antigen was associated with current active disease, and was very different from response to the 14 kDa and ESAT-6 antigens. These latter two antigens were associated with risk factors for future active, but not current disease, suggesting that they might be useful to identify persons with higher risk of reactivation of latent TB.

Medical students at risk of nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

SETTING: University and teaching hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a city with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether medical students are at increased risk of nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis relative to other university students. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of medical and chemical engineering students in different levels of their training programmes. Information about socio-demographic characteristics, BCG vaccination history, and potential exposures to TB were obtained using a standardised questionnaire. Tuberculin skin testing (TST) was used to determine the prevalence of infection with TB. RESULTS: Medical students have an increasing prevalence of TST positivity as they advance in their training programme to increasing levels of study (4.6%, 7.8%, 16.2%, respectively, P < 0.001), but chemical engineering students do not (4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, respectively, P = 0.913). The risks are greatest during the years of clinical training, when medical students have increased contact with patients. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students in this setting may be at increased risk of M. tuberculosis infection, relative to chemical engineering students. A programme of routine tuberculin skin testing is needed, combined with interventions to reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission in the workplace.

Repeated dosing with the peroxisome proliferator clofibrate decreases the toxicity of model hepatotoxic agents in male mice.

Pretreatment of mice with clofibrate (CFB) has been shown to protect against acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. To determine if pretreatment with CFB prevents the toxicity of other model hepatotoxicants, male C57BL6J or CD-1 mice received 500 mg CFB/kg, i.p., daily for 10 days, and then were challenged with either 250 mg bromobenzene (BrB)/kg, 0.025 ml carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/kg or 0.5 ml chloroform (CHCl3)/kg. Liver and kidney injury was assessed by plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity (SDH) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), respectively and histopathology. Challenge with BrB significantly elevated plasma SDH activity in C57Bl6J mice. This was prevented in CFB pretreated mice receiving the same dose of BrB. Changes in BUN were not detected in either group of BrB treated mice. Similarly, pretreatment of male CD-1 mice with CFB significantly reduced CCl4-induced elevation in plasma SDH activity, with no BUN elevation detected in either group. CFB pretreatment also diminished elevation in plasma SDH activity produced by CHCl3 in CD-1 mice, while BUN was significantly elevated in both groups, indicating that CFB did not protect against CHCl3-induced nephrotoxicity. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney sections confirmed these results. This study shows that mice pretreated with CFB were protected from toxicity at 24 h after challenge with other model hepatotoxic agents besides APAP.

Changes in susceptibility to acetaminophen-induced liver injury by the organic anion indocyanine green.

The non-metabolizable organic anion indocyanine green (ICG) has been shown previously to reduce markedly the biliary secretion of acetaminophen, particularly the glutathione conjugate of APAP (APAP-GSH), suggesting that this APAP metabolite may compete with other xenobiotics for excretion into the bile via a canalicular organic anion transport process. This study was conducted to determine whether changes in the biliary disposition of APAP induced by ICG could lead to alterations in susceptibility to APAP hepatotoxicity. To investigate this, groups of overnight-fasted male CD-1 mice received 30 micromol ICG/kg, intravenously, immediately prior to APAP dosing (500 mg/kg, ip). Controls were given propylene glycol vehicle. Mice were killed at 4 h after APAP challenge for immunochemical analysis of cytosolic protein arylation and determination of non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH) depletion, or at 12 and 24 h for biochemical and histological assessment of liver injury. Elevated plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis was present in control mice receiving APAP at 12 and 24 h. Treatment with ICG did not alter susceptibility to APAP toxicity when measured at 12 h after challenge. However, the severity of histologic lesions in the ICG-APAP group was significantly lower at 24 h after challenge. Furthermore, treatment with ICG did not alter APAP-induced glutathione depletion or cytosolic protein arylation. These data suggest that the organic anion ICG has a protective effect on APAP toxicity that promotes a faster recovery from liver injury.

The PPAR activator docosahexaenoic acid prevents acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in male CD-1 mice.

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatocellular necrosis can be prevented by treatment with peroxisome proliferators. This protection is associated with lowered protein arylation and glutathione depletion in mice. Peroxisome proliferators have been shown to activate nuclear receptors. These receptors, termed peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), can also be activated by free fatty acids. This study was designed to determine if treatment with the PPAR activator docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) would also lower APAP toxicity. Male CD-1 mice received 250 mg DHA/kg or 500 mg clofibrate (CFB)/kg, i.p., for 5 d. Controls received corn oil vehicle, i.p. After overnight fasting, mice received 800 mg APAP/kg, p.o. At 24 h after APAP, hepatotoxicity was evident in control mice by elevated plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity (SDH) and histologic evidence of hepatic degeneration and necrosis. As expected, CFB pretreatment significantly decreased this. Similarly, DHA protected against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity at 24 h after challenge. However, treatment with DHA did not increase hepatic glutathione prior to APAP, as previously shown with CFB. Interestingly, DHA did not increase palmitoyl coenzyme A (CoA) oxidase activity or other biochemical parameters associated with peroxisome proliferation after 5 d of treatment at 250 mg/kg. No significant alterations in microsomal APAP glucuronidation or cytochrome P-450-mediated bioactivation were detected either. Collectively, these results show that DHA also prevents APAP-induced hepatotoxicity at 24 h after challenge. However, the association between resistance against APAP-induced liver injury, PPAR activation, and peroxisome proliferation is not clearly understood.

Could the increase in natural killer activity induced by the tumor-promoting agent TPA depend on the TPA-adherent, nonphagocytic mononuclear cells?

The tumor-promoting agent phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) has been studied for its effects upon Natural Killer (NK) activity. The removal of phagocytic cells prior to incubation of the effectors with TPA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in NK activity in accordance with the results of other workers. When total mononuclear cells were exposed to TPA and used as effector cells, no clear-cut results were obtained, in contrast to the suppression of NK activity already described in this situation. This lack of suppression could be due to the way effector cells are recovered after TPA incubation, since it was found that there was an enrichment of NK activity among cells which adhered after TPA treatment.

Determination of aldehydes in fish by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new analytical method to determine trace volatile aldehydes isolated from the headspace of fish meat at room temperature by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the form of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPHo) derivatives has been developed. Aliquots (50 g) of the fish purée were introduced into a 500-mL glass recipient and were purged with N2 for 40 min through two SEP-PAK C18 cartridges (connected in series) coated with an acid solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The cartridges were then eluted with acetonitrile (2 mL) and the 2,4-DNPHo formed was quantitated by HPLC-UV analysis using a Zorbax C18 column. The isolated compounds from the dynamic headspace sampling of four kinds of fish species were saturated aldehydes, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, and hexanal. Under optimized conditions the detection limits of the HPLC method were in the range of 0.75 nmol/g (formaldehyde) to 2.19 nmol/g (hexanal). The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range from 1.3 nmol/mL to 12.5 nmol/mL. Propanal and acetaldehyde were the major carbonyl compounds identified (ranging from 3.9 nmol/g and 10 nmol/g). This study has revealed the widespread occurrence of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, and hexanal in fish meat.

Hemogasometria arterial pré e pós-rinoplastia em cães braquicefálicos portadores de estenose de narina / Arterial hemogasometry pre and post rhinoplasty in brachyphalic dogs with nostril stenosis

Vinte e seis cães braquicefálicos portadores de estenose de narina, 22 machos e quatro fêmeas, foram submetidos à rinoplastia bilateral. Dezesseis cães eram Buldogues Franceses; dois, Buldogues Ingleses; seis, Pugs; e dois, Shih Tzus, com idade variando de seis meses a seis anos. Foram efetuadas coletas de sangue arterial para análises hemogasométricas no pré-operatório e 30 dias após a cirurgia. Para cada avaliação, foi obtida uma amostra de 0,5mL de sangue coletado da artéria femoral, em seringa plástica heparinizada. Em seguida, procedeu-se à avaliação hemogasométrica em analisador de gases sanguíneos (I-stat-Abbot®). Os resultados da hemogasometria pré e pós-rinoplastia mostraram uma redução nos valores médios de pCO2, TCO2 , HCO3- e BEecf, hematócrito e hemoglobina, e aumento de pH, pO2 e SO2, indicando melhora na condição ventilatória dos animais após a correção cirúrgica da estenose de narina. Isso posto, conclui-se que a hemogasometria arterial é um exame importante no diagnóstico da síndrome respiratória dos cães braquicefálicos, e extremamente útil no acompanhamento da resposta do paciente ao tratamento. A rinoplastia mostrou-se eficaz no tratamento da síndrome respiratória, promovendo melhora nos parâmetros hemogasométricos que indicam acidose respiratória secundária à obstrução das vias aéreas, comum nas raças braquicefálicas.(AU)

Twenty-six brachycephalic dogs with nostril stenosis, 22 males and four females, underwent bilateral rhinoplasty. Sixteen dogs were French Bulldogs; two, English Bulldogs; Six, Pugs; and two, Shih tzus, ranging in age from six months to six years. Blood samples were collected for hemogasometric analysis in the preoperative period and 30 days after surgery. For each evaluation, a 0.5ml sample of blood collected from the femoral artery was obtained in a heparinized plastic syringe. Hemogasometric evaluation was then performed on a blood gas analyzer (I-stat-Abbot®). The results of hemogasometry before and after rhinoplasty showed a reduction in the mean values of pCO2, TCO2, HCO3- and BEecf, hematocrit and hemoglobin, and an increase in pH, pO2 and SO2, indicating an improvement in the ventilatory condition of the animals after surgical correction of Nostril stenosis. Therefore, it is concluded that arterial hemogasometry is an important diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of brachycephalic respiratory syndrome and is extremely useful in monitoring the patient's response to treatment. Rhinoplasty was effective in the treatment of respiratory syndrome, promoting improvement in hemogasometric parameters that indicate respiratory acidosis secondary to airway obstruction, common in the brachycephalic races.(AU)

Levels of oxidative stress markers: correlation with hepatic function and worm burden patients with schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma mansoni and is a public health problem in Brazil. The typical granulomatous lesion is associated with the increase in the oxidative damage by generation of free radicals. The aim of this work was to correlate some oxidative stress markers with the worm burden on carriers of schistosomiasis (n = 30) in the acute phase in comparison to healthy subjects (n = 30). The pro-oxidant parameter used was the colorimetric quantification of reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid, while the antioxidant markers used were blood content of reduced glutathione and determination of the activity of catalase. The worm burden was assessed by Kato-Katz method. The results pointed out that initially there was no difference in the catalase activity. However, there was a positive correlation between the increase in parasitic load and intensity of lipid peroxidation, and decrease in the content of reduced glutathione. Additionally, only the aspartate aminotransferase levels presented to be high, while there was a decrease in bilirubin level. Therefore, a possible association between the establishment of the oxidative stress in tissue and the parasitic load of Schistosoma mansoni is suggested.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-living Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) from central Amazon, Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogen in aquatic mammals and its presence in these animals may indicate the water contamination of aquatic environment by oocysts. Serum samples from 95 free-living Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) from the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (RDSM), Tefé, Amazonas, Central Amazon, Brazil were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies (MAT ≥ 25) to T. gondii were found in 82 (86.3%) dolphins with titers of 1:25 in 24, 1:50 in 56, and 1:500 in 2. Results suggest a high level contamination of the aquatic environment of the home range of these animals.

Urinary parameters of Trichechus inunguis (Mammalia, Sirenia): reference values for the Amazonian Manatee.

The Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis (Natterer 1883) is endemic to the Amazon Basin and is currently considered a vulnerable species. In order to establish normality ranges of urinary parameters to help monitor the health of this species in captivity, chemical urinalyses were performed on twelve males and nine females of various age groups. Urine was collected once a month for twelve months in the tanks just after being drained, by placing stainless steel containers under the genital slit of females and applying abdominal massages to males in order to stimulate urination. Quantitative data of glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid and amylase levels were obtained using colorimetric spectrophotometry. Dip strips were also useful for routine analyses, despite only providing qualitative results. Normal range to glucose levels, regardless of sex or age class, was 3.0 to 3.6 mgxdL-1, coinciding with qualitative values of glucose measured by dip strips. Statistical differences observed in some parameter levels suggest that some urine parameters analysed must take into consideration the sex and the age class of the animal studied, being these differences less remarkable in creatinine and amylase levels. To this last one, statistical difference was detected only in the calve's urine (7.0 to 11.5 mgxdL-1) compared to other age classes samples (4.1 to 5.3 mgxdL-1). The results presented here may be used as comparative data in future research on urinalysis in related species.