The influence of increased water temperature on the duration of spermatogenesis in a neotropical fish, Astyanax altiparanae (Characiformes, Characidae).

In view of the established climate change scenario and the consequent changes in global temperature, it is essential to study its effects on animal spermatogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the duration of spermatogenesis at different temperatures. For this purpose, 96 male and adult specimens of Astyanax altiparanae were kept in a closed circulation system with water temperature stabilized at 27 °C and 32 °C. Subsequently, the specimens received pulses of BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) at a concentration of 100 mg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days, and the samples were collected daily for a period of 15 days. Their testes were removed, fixed, processed in historesin, and sectioned in 3 µm, submitted to hematoxylin/eosin staining and to bromodeoxyuridine immunodetection. Partial results of the optimum temperature experiments allowed the classification of A. altiparanae spermatogenic cells in Aund, Adiff, and type B spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa. The duration of spermatogenesis was determined as approximately 6 days for animals at a temperature of 27 °C and 1 day for animals at 32 °C. The elevated temperature was also responsible for increasing cell proliferation, resulting in an increase in the number of spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoa, and cell death (cell pyknotic). The duration of spermatogenesis in A. altiparanae was directly affected by the elevated water temperature, causing a reduction in the estimated time of spermatogenesis.

Myocardium Arrangement and Coronary Vessel Distribution in the Ventricle of Three Neotropical Freshwater Teleosts.

The ventricle of the fish heart is a chamber that exhibits great morphological and vascular variability among species. However, although the Neotropical region has the greatest taxonomic and functional diversity in freshwater fish, many considerations have been formed without previous knowledge of the ventricular morphology of these fishes. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to describe the anatomy, myoarchitecture, and distribution of coronary vessels in the ventricle of three species belonging to two representative groups from this geographical area, Leporinus elongatus, Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes) and Pterodoras granulosus (Siluriformes), using gross anatomy and light microscopy. The species L. elongatus and H. malabaricus presented a pyramidal ventricle associated to a mixed myocardium, formed by compact and spongy layers. The mixed myocardium was also observed in P. granulosus, but associated with a sac-like ventricle. The compact layer of the species studied was formed by muscular bundles in longitudinal and circular disposition. The spongy layer constituted most of the ventricular myocardium and was formed by a complex network of trabecular sheets presenting muscle fibers also in longitudinal and circular disposition. Coronary vessels were present in the three species and were observed primarily on the surface of the bulbus arteriosus, later branching on the ventricular surface and penetrating the myocardium only at the compact layer level. These characteristics allow classification of the ventricles studied as type II. Although the type I ventricle is the most common type in teleosts, it is important to emphasize that this type has not been observed in any Neotropical freshwater teleosts studied to date.

Ultrastructure of the digestive tract in neotropical carnivorous catfish Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (Valenciennes, 1840) (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae).

The surface of the digestive tract of Hemisorubim platyrhynchos was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric studies by transmission electron microscopy were performed to analysis the intestinal microvilli. H. platyrhynchos is a Neotropical carnivorous freshwater catfish featuring a short digestive tract composed of a short esophagus, saccular stomach, and intestine with four regions: anterior, middle, posterior, and rectal. The esophageal surface is constituted by fingerprint-like microridges that anchor the mucosubstances secreted by goblet cells facilitating the passage of food. Goblet cells present the opening to the esophageal lumen, between the microridges. Club cells are in basal epithelium and they do not present the opening to the lumen. The gastric luminal surface shows polygon-shaped epithelial cells which secrete granules by exocytose to protect the gastric surface. The intestinal luminal surface reveals folds that are thicker in the anterior intestine than in the posterior intestine, increasing the absorptive surface area. The intestinal surface presents the microvilli of enterocytes and the opening of goblet cells. The morphometric analysis showed that the microvilli are longer in the anterior intestine, significantly decreasing towards the posterior intestine. The microvilli surface area significantly is greater in the anterior and middle intestine than in the posterior intestine. Numerous openings of goblet cells were observed in the posterior intestine acting in epithelial protection and lubrication. SCANNING 38:336-343, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prevalence of ectoparasites and bacteriological diagnosis in Nile tilapia bred in net-tanks in the Corvos River, Paraná, Brazil / Prevalência de ectoparasitos e diagnóstico bacteriológico em tilápia do Nilo criadas em tanques-rede no Rio do Corvo, Paraná, Brasil

Predominance of ectoparasites and bacteria diagnosis were identified in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), GIFT strain, bred in net-tanks at different densities. Current experiment was performed in the Corvos river, State of Paraná, Brazil, in two cycles: cycle A installed in August 2010 with 155 days, and cycle B, installed in February 2011 with 128 days. Twenty 6.8 m-3 (2.0 x 2.0 x 1.7 m) net-tanks were employed, using 6.0 m-3 and five densities (150, 175, 200, 225 and 250 fish/m-3), with four replications each. No significant difference was registered with regard to the prevalence of ectoparasites due to densities in the two experimental cycles. In the months of September to November cycle A displayed increase in the predominance of Trichodina and a decrease in the prevalence of Monogenoidea and mixed parasites. Further, an inverse relationship with a decrease in the prevalence of Trichodina and an increase in the prevalence of Monogenoidea and mixed parasites occurred during October and November. Trochodina prevalence occurred in October and November. Cycle B showed a significant difference in total prevalence of ectoparasites due to months. There was an increase in tricodinid infestation between March and June in proportion to increase of density and throughout the experiment. More care should be taken with regard to densities during the period. No positive result was...(AU)

Foram identificados a prevalência de ectoparasitos e o diagnóstico de bactérias em tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) da variedade GIFT, criadas em tanques-rede, utilizando diferentes densidades. O experimento foi conduzido no Rio do Corvo, PR, em dois ciclos: ciclo A, implantado em agosto de 2010 com duração de 155 dias e ciclo B, implantado em fevereiro de 2011 com duração de 128 dias. Para cada ciclo foram instalados 20 tanques-rede de 6,8 m-3 (2,0 x 2,0 x 1,7 m), com 6,0 m-3 úteis, adotando cinco densidades (150, 175, 200, 225 e 250 peixes/m-3), com quatro repetições. Não houve diferença significativa na prevalência de ectoparasitos em relação às densidades nos dois ciclos de experimento. Observou-se no nos meses de setembro a novembro do ciclo A um aumento na prevalência de Trichodina e decréscimo na prevalência de Monogenoidea e parasitismo misto, nos meses de outubro e novembro observou-se uma relação inversa com uma diminuição na prevalência de Trichodina e aumento na prevalência de Monogenoidea e parasitismo misto. Os meses de outubro e novembro apresentaram a maior prevalência de Trichodina do ciclo A. No ciclo B ocorreu uma diferença significativa na prevalência total de ectoparasitos em relação aos meses. Em relação à categoria de infestação por tricodinídeos, nos meses de março a junho houve um aumento na medida em que aumentava-se a densidade e no decorrer...(AU)

Prevalence of ectoparasites and bacteriological diagnosis in Nile tilapia bred in net-tanks in the Corvos River, Paraná, Brazil / Prevalência de ectoparasitos e diagnóstico bacteriológico em tilápia do Nilo criadas em tanques-rede no Rio do Corvo, Paraná, Brasil

Predominance of ectoparasites and bacteria diagnosis were identified in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), GIFT strain, bred in net-tanks at different densities. Current experiment was performed in the Corvos river, State of Paraná, Brazil, in two cycles: cycle A installed in August 2010 with 155 days, and cycle B, installed in February 2011 with 128 days. Twenty 6.8 m-3 (2.0 x 2.0 x 1.7 m) net-tanks were employed, using 6.0 m-3 and five densities (150, 175, 200, 225 and 250 fish/m-3), with four replications each. No significant difference was registered with regard to the prevalence of ectoparasites due to densities in the two experimental cycles. In the months of September to November cycle A displayed increase in the predominance of Trichodina and a decrease in the prevalence of Monogenoidea and mixed parasites. Further, an inverse relationship with a decrease in the prevalence of Trichodina and an increase in the prevalence of Monogenoidea and mixed parasites occurred during October and November. Trochodina prevalence occurred in October and November. Cycle B showed a significant difference in total prevalence of ectoparasites due to months. There was an increase in tricodinid infestation between March and June in proportion to increase of density and throughout the experiment. More care should be taken with regard to densities during the period. No positive result was...

Foram identificados a prevalência de ectoparasitos e o diagnóstico de bactérias em tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) da variedade GIFT, criadas em tanques-rede, utilizando diferentes densidades. O experimento foi conduzido no Rio do Corvo, PR, em dois ciclos: ciclo A, implantado em agosto de 2010 com duração de 155 dias e ciclo B, implantado em fevereiro de 2011 com duração de 128 dias. Para cada ciclo foram instalados 20 tanques-rede de 6,8 m-3 (2,0 x 2,0 x 1,7 m), com 6,0 m-3 úteis, adotando cinco densidades (150, 175, 200, 225 e 250 peixes/m-3), com quatro repetições. Não houve diferença significativa na prevalência de ectoparasitos em relação às densidades nos dois ciclos de experimento. Observou-se no nos meses de setembro a novembro do ciclo A um aumento na prevalência de Trichodina e decréscimo na prevalência de Monogenoidea e parasitismo misto, nos meses de outubro e novembro observou-se uma relação inversa com uma diminuição na prevalência de Trichodina e aumento na prevalência de Monogenoidea e parasitismo misto. Os meses de outubro e novembro apresentaram a maior prevalência de Trichodina do ciclo A. No ciclo B ocorreu uma diferença significativa na prevalência total de ectoparasitos em relação aos meses. Em relação à categoria de infestação por tricodinídeos, nos meses de março a junho houve um aumento na medida em que aumentava-se a densidade e no decorrer...

Morpho-functional response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to a homeopathic complex.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the performance, prevalence of ectoparasites and morpho-functional response of the liver and the branchiae of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised on fish meal with added of the homeopathic complex Homeopatila 100(®) at different concentrations. METHODS: Post-reversed juvenile Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) of the GIFT (Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia) strain were used in this study. The performance, ectoparasite prevalence and parasite load in the branchiae and skin as well as the liver and branchial histology. Fish were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments: control, 20 mL hydroalcoholic solution (alcohol 30° GL); 20 mL Homeopatila 100(®) per kg of meal; 40 mL Homeopatila 100(®) per kg of meal; or 60 mL of Homeopatila 100(®) per kg of meal, compared to control with out the addition of the complex. There were four replications per treatment type (16 experimental units total) at a density of 40 fish per m(3) over a period of 57 days. The Kruskal-Wallis H test (p < 0.05) was employed to analyse the physical and chemical parameters of water as well as for parasite prevalence; whereas analysis of variance was used for liver performance. If the values were significant (p < 0.05), they were compared by Tukey's test. Multiple comparisons of averages were performed using Student's t test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There were no significant between the physical and chemical parameters of the water between the different groups at the end of the experiment. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mixed parasite conditions were found within the different Homeopatila 100(®) treatments. The hepatosomatic ratio of fish treated with Homeopatila 100(®) was significantly lower than that of fish from the control group. The best results in the liver and branchiae occurred in fish receiving Homeopatila 100(®) at 40 mL/kg in terms of the number of hepatocytes/mm(2), the intercellular glycogenic behaviour, the rates of histological changes (hyperplasia, lamella fusion and telangiectasia) and the percentage of neutral and acidic mucin-producing cells. CONCLUSION: The addition of Homeopatila 100(®) at a concentration 40 mL per kg/meal to the diet of juvenile Nile tilapias resulted in improved hepatocytes and intracellular glycogen levels as well as the lowest mean rate of branchial histological changes with an increase in acidic mucin-producing cells compared to neutral mucin-producing cells, compared to control.