Effects of the use of synthetic astaxanthin in the feeding of Lophiosilurus alexandri, a neotropical siluriform fish.

Aiming to test the capacity of retention of carotenoids in tissues, Lophiosilurus alexandri juveniles were fed diets containing 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of synthetic astaxanthin for 62 days. The inclusion of astaxanthin did not result in significant differences in growth, weight gain, apparent feed conversion, and feed efficiency of the fish. Blood biochemistry and liver histology did not change with the different treatments. At the level of 100 mg/kg of inclusion, there were the highest levels of carotenoids in the blood, and muscle and the smallest difference between the muscle x integument ratio.

Efficiency of eugenol as anesthetic for the early life stages of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

In aquaculture, activities with anesthetic compounds are usually used in order to ensure the welfare of farmed fish, allowing handling out of water with decreased trauma by stress. Presently, there is no information about anesthetic action of eugenol in early life stages of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The objective of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of eugenol for larvae and juveniles of Nile tilapia. Sixty animals were used for each group of weight, group I = 0.02 g; group II = 0.08 g; group III = 0.22 g; group IV = 2.62 g; and group V = 11.64 g. The eugenol concentrations tested were 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 mg L-1. No mortality was reported during the tests with eugenol. Tilapia larvae with 0.02 g and juveniles around 11.64 g can be anesthetized with eugenol concentrations between 150 and 175 mg L-1, since they determine the shortest sedation time (23 and 72 seconds, for the group of lowest and highest weights, respectively).

Short-term toxicity of ammonia, sodium hydroxide and a commercial biocide to golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857).

Macrofouling bivalves are considered an ecological and technological problem worldwide. Control measures have been researched with Limnoperna fortunei, but without success. The aim of the manuscript is to test some alternatives to regulate this harmful invasive mollusk. Mortality and behavioral response (shell gaping) of Limnoperna fortunei exposed to three chemical compounds were evaluated. Values for LC50 96h were: 0.25 (0.24-0.27)mg/L NH3-N, 11.10 (7.45-16.55) mg/L MXD-100 and 88.51 (74.61-105.01)mg/L NaOH. Reduced gaping was observed beginning at concentrations of 0.31mg/L (NH3-N), 100mg/L (MXD-100) and 160mg/L (NaOH) and increased above these values. The percentage of individuals gaping after two hours at LC50 96h differed significantly (χ(2)=79.9; DF=3; p<0.001) in MXD-100 (50%), NaOH (0%), NH3-N (96.7%) and the controls (93.3%). This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between toxicity and behavioral effects of some toxicants in L. fortunei.

Serum immunoglobulin G concentration in Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus, 1758), from Elephant Island (Antarctica): sexual and adrenal steroid hormones effects.

Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG; indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), as well as sexual and adrenal steroid hormones' concentrations (radioimmunoassay) were determined in 63 (male and female) Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonine) at different developmental stages (weaned pups, juveniles and adults). In females, IgG values (mean+/-S.D.) were higher (P<0.05) in adults (15.9+/-6.5mg ml(-1)) than in juveniles (7.9+/-4.0mg ml(-1)), but similar to weaned pups (12.0+/-5.0mg ml(-1)). Estrogen concentration was higher (P<0.05) in adults than in the weaned pups. In females, a significant (P<0.05) correlation (R=0.4) between serum IgG level and progesterone concentration was observed. In males, testosterone concentration was higher (P<0.05) in adults than in the juveniles and weaned pups. Aldosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher (P<0.05) in weaned pups (1056.0+/-643.1pmol 1(-1) and 272.7+/-110.0 nmol 1(-1), respectively) than in the juveniles (638.6+/-579.7pmol1(-1) and 152.9+/-97.3nmol 1(-1), respectively) and adults (386.5+/-209.1pmol (-1) and 145.7+/-67.3nmol 1(-1), respectively). These findings indicate that weaned pups are subjected to a higher natural stressful condition in the field. Despite this, humoral immunity, measured through IgG concentration, is not impaired in weaned pups.

Lactational transfer of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in pups of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Antarctica.

Seven pairs of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) pups and their dams were sampled during the late weaning season among a breeding population of seals on Elephant Island in Antarctica. The blubber of the pups and the milk and blubber of their dams were analyzed for lipid-normalized concentrations of PCBs and organochlorines compounds in order to evaluate the lactational transfer of these contaminants. The lipid-normalized concentrations in these tissues were in the ppb range (i.e., ngg(-1) lipid). The levels of contaminants in southern elephant seals were low in comparison with residues that have been reported in pinnipeds from the northern hemisphere. The relative tissue concentrations of the analytes measured followed the pattern: SigmaDDT>mirex>SigmaPCB>Sigmachlordane>HCB>heptachlor epoxide>dieldrin>methoxychlor>SigmaHCH>other organochlorines. The very high DDE/SigmaDDT ratio (0.91) in the blubber of dams and pups was an indicative of long-term, extremely distant pollution. On the other hand, the relatively high levels of some other organochlorine pesticides (e.g. mirex, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, methoxychor) may reflect the continued use of these insecticides in developing countries located in the southern hemisphere. For most of the analytes measured, the lipid-normalized concentrations were lower in pup blubber and in the milk than in the maternal blubber. Lactational transfer rates were dependent on the logK(ow) (octanol/water partition coefficient) values of the analytes measured, less lipophilic compounds being more readily transferred to the pups by the lactational route.

Residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Elephant Island, Antarctica.

Contamination of blubber tissues by organochlorine pesticides (OC) and PCBs was assessed in female and male pups and juveniles, as well as in adult females and subdominant adult males of the Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, from Elephant Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. All residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants analyzed were found in blubber samples, except for beta-HCH, endosulfan II, endrin, heptachlor, and aldrin. The relative concentrations of the analytes detected were sigmaDDT > sigmaPCB > sigmachlordane > mirex > dieldrin > HCB> sigmaendosulfan > methoxychlor > sigmaHCHs > other OC pesticides. OC and PCBs concentrations were 1 or 2 orders of magnitude lower than those found in pinnipeds from northern hemisphere. The ratio sigmaDDT/sigmaPCB was higher in southern elephant seals. The relative importance of some OC residues indicates that pesticides used either currently or in the recent past in countries in the southern hemisphere are the sources of contamination in the Antarctic region. Data showed that concentrations of contaminants generally increased from pups < juveniles < adults and suggested that pups accumulated contaminants through transfer from the mother seals via transplacental and lactational routes.