Leukocyte and thrombocyte reference values for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Raf), with an assessment of morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural features

Background: Hematology tests are useful to evaluate physiologic disturbances in fish and can provide important information for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. Objectives: the primary purpose of this study was to define reference intervals for thrombocytes and leukocytes in healthy channel catfish (Ictalurus punctactus). In addition, the morphologic, cytochernical, and ultrastructural features of blood cells were assessed. Methods: Blood samples (0.5 mL were collected into EDTA from 40 clinically healthy catfish on a commercial fish farm in Jaboticabal, Brazil. Thrombocyte, total WBC, and differential WBC counts were determined and reference intervals were calculated as the 25-95th percentiles of data. Thrombocyte and leukocyte morphology was assessed in blood smears stained with May Griinwald-Giemsa-Wright and ultrastructurally by transmission electron microscopy. Cytochemical staining patterns were described using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), peroxidase, nonspecific esterase, alkaline phosphatase, and toluidine blue. Results: Reference intervals were as follows: thrombocytes 58,802-99,569/mu L; total WBCs 27,460-41,523/mu L; lymphocytes 5380-11,581/mu L; monocytes 2949-7459/mu L; neutrophils 12,529-22,748/mu L, and basophils 736-2003/mu L. Neutrophils were positive for peroxidase and PAS; monocytes were positive for nonspecific esterase; and basophils were positive with toluidine blue. Conclusion: the morphologic and staining features of neutrophils and monocytes of channel catfish are similar to those of mammals, and the presence of basophils in this species was verified. These reference intervals and morphologic findings provide a foundation for future investigations on the functions and alterations of blood cells in channel catfish

Histopatologia do intestino de Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (osteichthyes, pimelodidae) parasitados com cestodas proteocefalídeos e nematodas

This work describes intestine histopathology of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum infected by endohelminths. Nineteen specimens were caught from Aquidauna River, Mato Grosso do Sul State, in October 2005 and submitted to necropsy, when intestine of each specimen was fixed with AFA solution during 12 h. Soon after, samples were immersed in buffered formalin and 24 h after, transferred to alcohol 70%. Study of histology sections was made to 5; m and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. It showed structures displaying helminths encapsulated by connective tissue in intestinal muscle with fibroplasy in several stages of capsule development. Were observed focus of necrosis in intestinal mucous and sub-mucous and helminthes cut obliquely in intestinal lumen. In addition, there was discreet mucous desquamation, associated to basal membrane thickness

Análise de efluente e histologia da pele, fígado e rim de Pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) suplementados com cromo trivalente

The objective of this work was to evaluate the skin, liver and kidney histology of young pacus supplemented in diet with trivalent chromium and to evaluate the residue of chromium in water effluent. Randomised delineation by using factorial scheme 4x2, with four levels of chromium (0, 6, 12, 18 mg/L), two stocking densities (4 and 20 kg/m(3)), and four repetitions were used. Pacus with 100 g were used, for 90 days. An increase of the number of mucus cells and club cells in the epidermis of the pacus supplemented with 18 chromium mg/kg was observed in any stocking density. The same effect was observed in the liver, and in the highest density (20 kg/m(3)) the alterations already occurred at the level of 6 mg/kg with the inclusion of chromium, initially with congestion of sinusoids and getting worse at the level of 18 mg/kg with necrosis. The kidney didn't present visible morphologic alterations when supplemented and submitted to the stocking densities. The concentration of chromium in the effluent of pacus was 3.27 mu g/L in the higher level of supplementation (18 mg/L). In conclusion the level of 18 supplement mg/kg was not shown beneficial to the growth of pacus and the stocking density, due to the possible stress, accelerated the alteration histology process of tissues

Inflammation induced by inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia fed diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The inflammatory response and hernatological parameters among Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated six and 24 h after inoculation with inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila into the swim bladder. Six groups were formed (n = 10 each): G1 was treated with non-supplemented feed+injection with 0.65% saline solution; G2 with non-supplemented feed+ inoculation with A. hydrophila: G3 with feed containing 2% yeast+ injection with saline; G4 with feed containing 2% yeast + inoculation with A. hydrophila: G5 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + injection with saline: and G6 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + inoculation with A. hydrophila. In the groups inoculated with bacteria, the responses were more intense (P<0.05) than in those injected with saline. The groups receiving supplement that were inoculated with A. hydrophila accumulated a greater total number of cells at the lesion site (P<0.05) than did the non-supplemented groups, after six and 24 h. The groups receiving cell wall presented greater total accumulation of cells (P<0.005) that did those receiving yeast. The differential count showed that there were significantly greater number of thrombocytes (P< 0.05) and lower number of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes (P<0.05) in the groups that received supplement, after 6 and 24 h, in relation to the non-supplemented groups. The values in the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and blood measurement indices did not differ statistically. The variation in circulating thrombocyte and leukocyte counts suggests that the inflammatory stimulus caused recruitment from reserve compartments to the blood. The groups that received yeast or yeast cell wall supplements presented increased nonspecific acute inflammatory response, thus suggesting that this has a beneficial effect on the immunological defense system. Published by Elsevier B.V

Suplementação alimentar com vitamina C e desempenho zootécnico de girinos de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) = Alimentary supplementation of Vitamin C and the performance indexes of bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana)

Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho zootécnico de girinos de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) cuja dieta foi suplementada com vitamina C. Girinos com peso médio inicial de 12,3 mg ± 2 mg foram distribuídos em 16 caixas de água de 40 L, na densidade deum girino L-1. Os animais foram alimentados com dieta suplementada com zero (controle), 1.000, 1.500 e 2.000 mg de vitamina C kg-1 de ração, durante 75 dias. Após esse período foram avaliados quanto à sobrevivência, porcentagem de metamorfose, ganho de peso e taxade crescimento específico. As maiores taxas de sobrevivência (93%), porcentagem de metamorfose (29%), ganho de peso (4,22 g) e taxa de crescimento específico (6,03% dia-1) foram dos animais que receberam 2.000 mg de vitamina C kg-1. O grupo não-suplementado foi o que apresentou o pior desempenho. Os resultados sugerem que a adição de 2.000 mg de vitamina C kg-1 produz efeitos benéficos para o ganho de peso, crescimento específico, metamorfose e sobrevivência de girinos de rã-touro.<br><br>The present study had as objective to evaluate the effects of vitamin C supplementation on the performance indices of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles. The tadpoles, with an average weight of 12.3 ± 2 mg, were distributed in 16 boxes (40 L), with 1 tadpole L-1. They received diets supplemented with zero (control), 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 mg of vitamin C kg-1 of diet, during 75 days. After this period, the survival, metamorphosis percentage, weight gain and specific growth rate were evaluated. The tadpoles that received 2,000 mg vitamin C kg-1 ration showed the best results in survival (93%), the best percentage of metamorphosis (29%), the greatest weight gain (4.22 g) and the best specific growth rate (6.03% day-1). The worst performance was observed in the tadpoles that did not receive vitamin C. The results suggest that ration with 2,000 mg of vitamin C kg-1 improves weight gain, specific growth rate, metamorphosis andsurvival of the bullfrog tadpoles

First report of Myxobolus sp infection in the skeletal muscle of Neotropical freshwater fish Piaractus mesopotamicus

Although there are several reports of Myxobolus species infecting the somatic muscle of teleost fish, species of this genus have not been described parasitizing the muscle tissue of pacus, Piaractus mesopotamicus. This study presented the first report of natural infection by Myxobolus sp. in the skeletal muscle of pacus reared in intensive system. Twenty-one fish (+/- 142.2 g; +/- 23.1 cm) were captured (April 2013) from an intensive fish farm in So Paulo State, southeast Brazil. Spores of Myxobolus sp. were contained within plasmodia and showed oval morphology with the apical portion slightly pyriform and two polar capsules pyriform retaining the same ratio to each other. In the histopathological study, the skeletal muscle do not present signs of inflammation. The integrity of myofibrils within the infected fibers showed some degree of degeneration, with partial loss of myofibrillar details and striations. Spores were found infecting the skeletal muscle of 18 fish (85.7 %). Finally, the high prevalence of Myxobolus sp. infection in the skeletal muscle of P. mesopotamicus and the absence of macroscopic lesions in the muscle tissue indicate the necessity of more meticulous examinations during the health management in the rearing system and at slaughter of pacus to ensure best quality of meat.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Deleterious effects of low level of vitamin E and high stocking density on the hematology response of pacus, during chronic inflammatory reaction

The effects of dietary supplementation with 12.6, 58.2 and 310.4 mg of vitamin E/kg dry diet on the hematology response of pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus), submitted to different stocking densities (5 kg/m(3) and 20 kg/m(3)), were investigated during chronic inflammatory reaction. After a feeding period of 18 weeks, pacu juveniles were anesthetized for inserting round glass coverslips 13 mm in diameter into the subcutaneous connective tissue. 126 fish from 18 groups (i.e., seven fish per aquaria) were sampled for blood collection 2, 7 and 15 days post-implantation to determine levels of plasma cortisol, erythrocyte, thrombocyte and leucocyte counts. In the presence of chronic inflammation, pacus fed with 12.6 mg/kg of vitamin E and kept in high stocking density (20 kg/m(3)) resulted in increased number of circulating red blood cells and hematocrit percentage associated with microcytosis. Thrombocytosis and neutrophilia were observed in the acute phase of pacu defense response. However, it was found that a significant increase in monocyte counts and decrease in thrombocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in animals were maintained at high stocking density. Pacus fed with 12.6 mg of vitamin E/kg of dry diet presented low number of lymphocytes and LG-PAS+, and these animals showed elevated cortisol levels associated to low counts of monocytes. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B. V.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP