Detection of infection with toxoplasma gondii in manatees (trichechus inunguis) of the peruvian amazon

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is an aquatic mammal that inhabits freshwater environments and is endemic to the Amazon Basin. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was investigated in 19 manatees in one rescue unit in the northern region of Peru. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 12 (63.2 %) of 19 animals by using the modified agglutination test (titer, 1:25), and no association between sex and age of the animals and the presence of T. gondii antibodies was observed (p and lt; 0.05). The results suggest a contamination by T. gondii oocysts in the aquatic environment where these animals live

Detection of infection with Leptospira spp. in manatees (Trichechus inunguis) of the Peruvian Amazon

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is an aquatic mammal (Family Trichechidae) that inhabits freshwater environments. It is endemic to the Amazon Basin, and occurs from Marajó Island (at the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil) to the headwaters of the floodplain in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. Little is known of the causes of death or the prevalence of zoonotic organisms in manatees from Peru; however, Leptospira spp. have been reported to cause mortalities in marine mammals. Here we evaluated the presence of Leptospira spp. antibodies in Amazonian manatees. To our knowledge, this is the first report of presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in aquatic mammals maintained in captivity in the Peruvian Amazon

Ni/SiO2 AND Ni/ZrO2 CATALYSTS FOR THE STEAM REFORMING OF ETHANOL

SiO2 and ZrO2 supported Ni catalysts were prepared for use in the steam reforming of ethanol. The catalytic performances, in terms of both H2 productivity and stability towards coking and sintering, were related to the physico-chemical properties of the catalysts. The samples were prepared either by synthesis of the support by precipitation and subsequent impregnation with the active phase, or by direct synthesis through flame pyrolysis. Many techniques have been used to assess the physico-chemical properties of the catalysts. The samples showed different textural, structural and morphological properties, as well as different reducibility and thermal resistance, depending on the preparation method and support. However, the fundamental parameter governing the final catalyst properties was metal-support interaction. In particular, the stronger the latter parameter, the higher was metal dispersion, leading to small and stable Ni clusters. This influenced both activity and the resistance towards coking. Surface acidity was also taken into account considering the effect of the different nature of acid sites (silanols or Lewis a.s.) of both support and metal phase on catalyst deactivation