Renal tubular dysfunction in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis

Renal dysfunction seen in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has been attributed to the use of antimonials for treatment. To determine whether ACL itself causes tubular dysfunction, we measured renal function in 37 patients with ACL prior to their treatment and compared results to that in 10 healthy volunteers of similar mean age. None of the patients presented with glomerular dysfunction; however, 27 had a urinary concentrating defect. There was no statistical difference between groups in the pre- and post-desmopressin test of urine osmolality, but the post-test urine osmolality of the controls was significantly higher. Urinary AQP2 levels, determined by western blot of isolated exosomes, were found to be significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas that of the cotransporter (NKCC2) was significantly higher. A urinary acidification defect (post-test pH greater than 5.50 following calcium chloride) was found in 15 patients. Pretest plasma bicarbonate was below normal in 12 patients as was the pretest plasma pH in 14. Expression of the Na/H exchanger (NHE3), H+-ATPase, and pendrin were all significantly higher in patients with ACL than in controls. A combined urinary concentration and acidification defect was found in 12 patients. Thus, the urinary concentrating defect of ACL may be caused by decreased AQP2, with increased NKCC2 compensatory. Pendrin upregulation may be related to the urinary acidification defect with increased NHE3 and H+-ATPase also compensatory. Hence, ACL can cause asymptomatic renal tubular dysfunction

Broad-scale patterns of body size in squamate reptiles of Europe and North America

Aim To document geographical interspecific patterns of body size of European and North American squamate reptile assemblages and explore the relationship between body size patterns and environmental gradients. Location North America and western Europe. Methods We processed distribution maps for native species of squamate reptiles to document interspecific spatial variation of body size at a grain size of 110 x 110 km. We also examined seven environmental variables linked to four hypotheses possibly influencing body size gradients. We used simple and multiple regression, evaluated using information theory, to identify the set of models best supported by the data. Results Europe is characterized by clear latitudinal trends in body size, whereas geographical variation in body size in North America is complex. There is a consistent association of mean body size with measures of ambient energy in both regions, although lizards increase in size northwards whereas snakes show the opposite pattern. Our best models accounted for almost 60% of the variation in body size of lizards and snakes within Europe, but the proportions of variance explained in North America were less than 20%. Main conclusions Although body size influences the energy balance of thermoregulating ectotherms, inconsistent biogeographical patterns and contrasting associations with energy in lizards and snakes suggest that no single mechanism can explain variation of reptile body size in the northern temperate zone

Desempenho produtivo e econômico de três grupos genéticos de bovinos recriados a pasto com suplementação e terminados em confinamento

Avaliou-se o desempenho produtivo e econômico de três grupos genéticos de bovinos em sistema com recria a pasto e terminação em confinamento, com ciclo de produção de um ano. Foram utilizados 36 bovinos não castrados, com média de 270±50 dias de idade e peso médio inicial de 241,3±34kg, sendo 12 Guzolandos (1/2 Guzerá x 1/2 Holandês), 12 Guzonel (1/2 Guzerá x 1/2 Nelore) e 12 Tricross (1/2 Simental x 1/2 Guzonel). O delineamento estatístico foi inteiramente ao acaso. Os animais permaneceram em pastejo rotacionado de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, com suplementação comercial; na terminação, receberam dieta composta por silagem de sorgo e concentrado (50:50) durante 61 dias. Os índices de desempenho avaliados foram o ganho médio de peso diário (GMD), ganho médio de peso no período, peso corporal final e, como indicadores econômicos, a receita total, custo operacional total por arroba (COT/@), margem bruta e margem líquida. O GMD na recria foi semelhante (P>0,05) entre os grupos que apresentaram média de 746 e 456 gramas, respectivamente, para os períodos águas/transição águas-seca e seca. O COT/@ da recria do grupo Tricross (R$69,44) foi superior aos dos grupos Guzonel (R$66,75) e Guzolando (R$64,86). No período de terminação, o GMD foi semelhante entre os grupamentos, apresentanto o valor médio de 1,55kg. O COT/@ da terminação em confinamento foi R$ 91,48, R$114,15 e R$122,78, para Tricross, Guzonel e Guzolando, respectivamente. Considerando-se o sistema de ciclo curto completo, obteve-se COT/@ menor para o grupamento Tricross (R$77,92), seguido pelo grupamento Guzonel (R$ 74,89) e Guzolando (R$ 78,43). Nas condições de produção avaliadas, o grupo Tricross foi o mais eficiente economicamente

Morphological and hematological studies of Trypanosoma spp. infecting ornamental armored catfish from Guamá River-PA, Brazil

A total of 281 specimens of freshwater armored ornamental fish species (Leporacanthicus galaxias, Lasiancistrus saetiger, Cochliodon sp., Hypostomus sp., Pseudacanthicus spinosus, Ancistrus sp. and Rineloricaria cf. lanceolata) were captured at the hydrological basin of Guamá River, Pará, Brazil. The infection by Trypanosoma spp. was inspected. The morphological and morphometric characterization of the parasites and the hematological parameters were determined. Leporacanthicus galaxias and Pseudacanthicus spinosus presented 100% infection prevalence, and the other species showed a variable prevalence of infection. The parasites showed clearly different morphotypes and dimensions, and probably belong to different species. The hematological response to the infection varied with the host. Cochliodon sp. showed no differences between infected and not infected fish. In other species several modifications on some hematological parameters were found, but apparently without causing disease. It is emphasized the possibility of introduction of the parasites in new environments due to the artificial movements of these ornamental fish