Life history and ecology of the elusive European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus.

To improve the understanding of the life history and ecology of one of Europe's most elusive fishes, the short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus, data from wild populations in a shallow coastal lagoon in southern Portugal were analysed. The data were collected from 17 tagged seahorses on a focal-study grid as well as from >350 seahorses encountered during underwater visual surveys and a fishery-independent study using beach seines. These populations of settled juveniles and adults had a mean population density of 0·009 m-2 . During the study period (2000-2004), reproduction peaked in July and August. Juveniles recruited to the lagoon at c. 66 mm standard length (LS ) and 0·5 years of age and established small home ranges (0·8 to 18·2 m2 ). First reproduction was estimated at 100 mm and 1 year of age. Based on a fitted von Bertalanffy model, H. hippocampus grew quickly (growth coefficient K = 0·93) to a maximum theoretical size L∞ = 150 mm and have a maximum lifespan of c. 3·2 years. Courtship behaviours were consistent with the maintenance of pair bonds and males brooded multiple batches of young per year. Estimated annual reproductive output averaged 871 young (±632). Together these analyses provide the first life-history parameters for this species and indicate that H. hippocampus bears characteristics of opportunist and intermediate strategists. Such populations are predicted to exhibit large fluctuations in abundance, making them vulnerable to extended periods of poor recruitment.

Basic life support knowledge of first-year university students from Brazil

We aimed to evaluate knowledge of first aid among new undergraduates and whether it is affected by their chosen course. A questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge of how to activate the Mobile Emergency Attendance Service - MEAS (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência; SAMU), recognize a pre-hospital emergency situation and the first aid required for cardiac arrest. The students were also asked about enrolling in a first aid course. Responses were received from 1038 of 1365 (76.04%) new undergraduates. The questionnaires were completed in a 2-week period 1 month after the beginning of classes. Of the 1038 respondents (59.5% studying biological sciences, 11.6% physical sciences, and 28.6% humanities), 58.5% knew how to activate the MEAS/SAMU (54.3% non-biological vs 61.4% biological, P=0.02), with an odds ratio (OR)=1.39 (95%CI=1.07-1.81) regardless of age, sex, origin, having a previous degree or having a relative with cardiac disease. The majority could distinguish emergency from non-emergency situations. When faced with a possible cardiac arrest, 17.7% of the students would perform chest compressions (15.5% non-biological vs 19.1% biological first-year university students, P=0.16) and 65.2% would enroll in a first aid course (51.1% non-biological vs 74.7% biological, P<0.01), with an OR=2.61 (95%CI=1.98-3.44) adjusted for the same confounders. Even though a high percentage of the students recognized emergency situations, a significant proportion did not know the MEAS/SAMU number and only a minority had sufficient basic life support skills to help with cardiac arrest. A significant proportion would not enroll in a first aid course. Biological first-year university students were more prone to enroll in a basic life support course.

Basic life support knowledge of first-year university students from Brazil.

We aimed to evaluate knowledge of first aid among new undergraduates and whether it is affected by their chosen course. A questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge of how to activate the Mobile Emergency Attendance Service - MEAS (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência; SAMU), recognize a pre-hospital emergency situation and the first aid required for cardiac arrest. The students were also asked about enrolling in a first aid course. Responses were received from 1038 of 1365 (76.04%) new undergraduates. The questionnaires were completed in a 2-week period 1 month after the beginning of classes. Of the 1038 respondents (59.5% studying biological sciences, 11.6% physical sciences, and 28.6% humanities), 58.5% knew how to activate the MEAS/SAMU (54.3% non-biological vs 61.4% biological, P=0.02), with an odds ratio (OR)=1.39 (95%CI=1.07-1.81) regardless of age, sex, origin, having a previous degree or having a relative with cardiac disease. The majority could distinguish emergency from non-emergency situations. When faced with a possible cardiac arrest, 17.7% of the students would perform chest compressions (15.5% non-biological vs 19.1% biological first-year university students, P=0.16) and 65.2% would enroll in a first aid course (51.1% non-biological vs 74.7% biological, P<0.01), with an OR=2.61 (95%CI=1.98-3.44) adjusted for the same confounders. Even though a high percentage of the students recognized emergency situations, a significant proportion did not know the MEAS/SAMU number and only a minority had sufficient basic life support skills to help with cardiac arrest. A significant proportion would not enroll in a first aid course. Biological first-year university students were more prone to enroll in a basic life support course.

Behavioural changes and muscle strength in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected with Toxocara cati and T. canis.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are nematode parasites in dogs and cats, respectively, transmitted by ingestion of embryonated eggs, transmammary and transplacental (T. canis) routes and paratenic host predation. Many parasites use mechanisms that change the behaviour of their hosts to ensure continued transmission. Several researchers have demonstrated behavioural changes in mouse models as paratenic hosts for T. canis. However, there have been no studies on behavioural changes in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) experimentally infected with T. cati. This study investigated behavioural changes and muscle strength in male and female rats experimentally infected with T. cati or T. canis in acute and chronic phases of infection. Regardless of sex, rats infected with T. cati showed a greater decrease in muscle strength 42 days post infection compared to rats infected with T. canis. However, behavioural changes were only observed in female rats infected with T. canis.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in two southern Wooly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides-Geoffroy, 1806) from the Rio de Janeiro primate center, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis led to the death of two Brachyteles arachnoides, an endangered atelid. METHODS: The diagnosis was established by necropsy, histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes. RESULTS: The analysis confirms the presence of Toxoplasma gondii. CONCLUSIONS: This report contributes to the development of protocols for health surveillance on maintenance and conservation of southern muriquis.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia in a southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides).

BACKGROUND: An adult male Brachyteles arachanoides, kept in captivity since 1990, was found dead without apparent clinical evidence. METHODS: Necropsy report, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural examination were conducted. RESULTS: Pulmonary syncytial cells were positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and ultrastructural examination revealed viral particles inside macrophages compatible with the Paramyxoviridae family. CONCLUSIONS: Muriquis are susceptible to RSV pneumonia followed by respiratory distress syndrome and death.

First occurrence of the lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

A seahorse specimen from Banco Açores (Azores Archipelago) was identified using morphological and molecular genetic data as Hippocampus erectus. This specimen represents the first record of H. erectus in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, well outside its reported range, and may provide evidence of long-distance translocation in what are assumed to be relatively sedentary fish.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid release from synaptosomes as influenced by Ca2+ and Ca2+ channel blockers.

We studied the correlation between the high affinity binding of Ca2+ channel blockers to purified synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) and the effect of these drugs in blocking the 45Ca2+ uptake and the release of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid [( 3H]GABA) by preloaded synaptosomes. The Ca2+ channel blocker binding sites were characterized by studying the binding of the dihydropyridine, [3H]nimodipine, and of the phenylalkylamine, (-)-[3H]desmethoxyverapamil, to purified SPM isolated from sheep brain cortex synaptosomes. The purified SPM had high affinity binding sites for both Ca2+ channel blockers. The binding parameters were similar to those previously reported for whole brain homogenates: KD = 0.64 nM and Bmax = 160 fmol/mg of protein for [3H]nimodipine, and KD = 7.9 nM and Bmax = 1,500 fmol/mg of protein for (-)-[3H]desmethoxyverapamil. The Ca2+ channel blockers inhibited the release of [3H]GABA induced by K+ depolarization in the presence or in the absence of Ca2+. The Ca2+-dependent component of [3H]GABA release was inhibited by verapamil, (-)-D 600, d-cis-diltiazem, nifedipine and PY 108-86 with IC50 values of 2.2 X 10(-5) M, 6.3 X 10(-5) M, 3 X 10(-4) M, greater than 10(-4) M and 3 X 10(-5) M, respectively. Furthermore, the Ca2+ channel blockers also inhibited the Ca2+-independent [3H]GABA release which occurred in the presence, but not in the absence, of external Na+. The Ca2+ channel blockers at concentrations which inhibited [3H]GABA release inhibited the entry of Ca2+ through the Ca2+ channels and also the entry of Ca2+ by Na+/Ca2+ exchange. We conclude that the concentrations of Ca2+ blockers necessary to block Ca2+ uptake through the Ca2+ channels and by Na+/Ca2+ exchange coincide with the concentrations at which they inhibit [3H]GABA release, but that their effect on the relationship between Ca2+ uptake and [3H]GABA release is different for the various blockers. The effects of the drugs on Ca2+ movements and [3H]GABA release are not specifically mediated through the high affinity binding of the drugs since relatively high concentrations were necessary (greater than 10(-5) M) for the effects reported here.