The activity of laurel essential oil (crude and fractions) in the control of adult bovine ticks and larvae

Ectoparasites cause direct and indirect losses to farmers, affecting the production of meat and milk and increasing the production costs due to the acquisition of acaricides to maintain cattle health. The financial losses caused by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, which is the main livestock ectoparasite in Brazil, reach approximately US$ 3 billion annually. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal effect of the crude essential oil (EO) and EO’s fractions (FR) obtained from Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) leaves on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Eight fractions were obtained, wherein five major compounds were identified (sabinene, α-terpinyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, linalool, and α-terpineol). The acaricidal activity of these FR was tested by the larval packet test. The EO was tested by the adult immersion test, and, at concentrations of 200, 100 and 50 µL/mL, the oil caused mortality of engorged females, egg mass reduction, and hatching inhibition. The fractions with α-terpineol and sabinene, as the major compounds, were the most active larvicides (LC50=0.13 µL/mL, LC99=0.51 µL/mL; and LC50=0.20 µL/mL, LC99=0.56 µL/mL, respectively). This assessment also indicated that fractionation was important since most of the fractions obtained were more active than the EO. Furthermore, this is the first report of laurel EO and its fractions employed in the control of cattle ticks. Thereby, new prospects for the use of this essential oil or its chromatographic fractions in products applied for cattle tick control can be opened up. However, studies in other stages of development of cattle ticks for the active fractions, and studies under field conditions, the effect on non-target organisms and residual effect on the environment are still needed to evaluate the acaricidal activity of EO and its active fractions

Rosemary essential oil microemulsions as antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in tomato paste

The objective of this research was to evaluate the antifungal and antibacterial action of rosemary essential oil (REO) microemulsion applied in tomato paste (TP). TP is a food sensitive to degradation since several fungi and bacteria benefit from their storage conditions. Data related to the essential oil (EO) chemical composition as well as its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activity are reported. REO antioxidant analysis returned an IC50 value of 154.25 ± 3.11 mg·L −1, with the EO presenting also an interesting inhibition of growth and bactericidal characteristics for several bacteria considered, with the best results obtained for the gram-negative Escherichia coli and S. typhi (values for both of 5.19 ± 0.08 µL·mL−1 and 20.75± 0.36 µL·mL−1 for MIC and MBC, respectively). Antifungal activity was analyzed for the fungi isolated from TP containing mycelia Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp., and Penicillium sp. For all genera, at a concentration of 4.0 μg·mL−1, the inhibition halo was superior even to the antifungal Clotrimazol at a concentration of 3.0 μg·mL−1. A concentration of 1.0 wt.% of REO microemulsion applied to TP showed values of negative fields after 7 days twice as high compared to TP without the presence of EO. After 14 days, values of the negative fields continued to be higher, proving the antifungal power of REO applied to this food

Valores de referência para plumbemia em uma população urbana do Sul do Brasil Reference values for lead in blood in an urban population in southern Brazil

Objetivo. Descrever os valores de referência para chumbo em sangue em uma população urbana do Município de Londrina, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Métodos. A população de referência foi constituída por 520 voluntários adultos avaliados de novembro de 1994 a dezembro de 1996. Os critérios de exclusão foram: exposição ocupacional ao chumbo, exposição através de hábitos, fumar mais de 10 cigarros por dia e morar perto de indústrias ou de locais que utilizam o chumbo em seus processos produtivos. Também foram excluídos indivíduos com valores de exames clínicos e laboratoriais fora da normalidade, doenças crônicas e distúrbios cardiovasculares. Os teores de chumbo em sangue foram determinados por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica com chama de ar-acetileno. O limite de detecção obtido foi 1,23 mig/dL. Após as análises de chumbo em sangue, foram determinados valor mínimo, primeiro quartil, mediana, terceiro quartil e valor máximo; média geométrica; intervalo de confiança de 95%; intervalo experimental; e valor de referência. Resultados. Os valores de referência para plumbemia variaram de 1,20 a 13,72 mig/dL. A média geométrica foi igual a 5,5 mig/dL. Conclusões. Em geral, os valores obtidos no presente estudo são mais baixos do que aqueles obtidos em outros países. Estudos adicionais deveriam enfocar a obtenção de valores de referência em outras populações brasileiras que vivem em regiões mais industrializadas.<br>Objective. To describe the reference values for lead in blood in an urban population in the city of Londrina, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Materials and methods. The reference population was composed of 520 adult volunteers who were assessed from November 1994 to December 1996. Exclusion criteria were: occupational exposure to lead, exposure through personal habits or practices, smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day, and living near industrial plants or other places that use lead in their production processes. Also excluded were individuals with abnormal clinical or laboratory results or with chronic diseases or cardiovascular disorders. Lead blood levels were determined using air-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The detectable limit was 1.23 mug/dL. After the analyses of lead in blood, the following values were determined: minimum value, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum value; geometric mean; 95% confidence interval; experimental interval; and reference value. Results. The reference values for lead in blood ranged from 1.20 mug/dL to 13.72 mug/ dL. The geometric mean was 5.5 mug/dL. Conclusions. In general, the values found in this study are lower than those that have been reported for other countries. Additional data should be gathered from Brazilian populations living in more-industrialized areas

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data