Adaptação do índice de massa corporal humano para cães Adaptation of human body mass index for dogs

O índice de massa corporal (IMC) é amplamente utilizado por médicos para quantificar a massa corporal de pessoas adultas. O índice elevado de gordura, ou seja, o peso em excesso, está relacionado com problemas cardiovasculares, infertilidade, diabetes, artrite, dificuldade em se locomover ou respirar e prejuízos na cicatrização de feridas. Apesar de todo o estudo que se tem a respeito desses problemas, não há um método preciso e objetivo para se quantificar o excesso de peso em cães. A proposta deste trabalho foi determinar um índice de massa corporal canino (IMCC), a partir do IMC existente para humanos. Foram medidos e pesados 246 animais, sem raça definida e com diferentes condições corporais. Para dar validade ao índice de massa corporal obtido, os animais também foram avaliados por dois veterinários segundo os padrões subjetivos, já existentes. Verificou-se que valores do IMCC entre 11,8 e 15kg m-2 refletem o peso ideal para cães de porte médio, cujo tipo físico possui média de peso entre 10 e 25kg.<br>The index of corporal mass (ICM) is broadlly used to measure the corporal mass of adults. A high fat index is related to heart and circulation problems, infertility, diabetes, arthritis, difficulty to move around or breath and problems with cicatrization. Even though there are several studies about these problems, there is no specific method to evaluate weight excess in dogs objectively and precisely. The purpose of this research was to determine an index of corporal mass for dogs based on the existing IMC for human beings. Two hundred and forty six dogs without defined-breed and with different body conditions were analysed. They were not only measured and weighed, but also evaluated by two distinct veterinarians based on real subjective patterns, which can determine the corporal score. These procedures enabled the acknowledgement of the attained index. The conclusion was that IMCC between 11,8 and 15kg m-2 represent the ideal pattern for dogs of average size that weigh between 10 and 25kilos

Perylene toxicity in the estuarine environment of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal)

Perylene, a 5-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon is common in estuarine sediments and its toxicity in the benthic and planktonic compartments is not yet clarified. The objectives of this work were: (1) to follow the toxicity of high concentrations of perylene (110 mg l−1) on benthic bacteria and macrofauna (amphipod Corophium multisetosum); (2) to determine the effects of a low load of perylene (2 μg l−1) on the metabolism of suspended bacteriobenthos after 9-day exposure, mimicking the effects of tidal erosion; (3) to contrast the effects of this low perylene load on the particle-free bacterioplankton and on the suspended and particle-adhered bacteriobenthos. No impact was detected in bacterial abundance exposed to 110 mg perylene l−1 for 9 days. This concentration of perylene evoked no acute effects in C. multisetosum but, chronic toxicity assays revealed statistically significant negative effects on survival, growth and number of pregnant females. The bacterioplankton and the suspended bacteriobenthos, exposed to 2 μg perylene l−1 during 2 weeks, responded with altered profiles of activity when compared to the control suspension. These values ranged, respectively, for bacterial biomass production from 134 to 210 and from 24 to 184 μg C l−1 h−1, for aminopeptidase from 1824 to 11,127 and from 1464 to 15,488 nmol l−1 h−1, and for β-glucosidase from 87 to 400 and from 57 to 1278 nmol l−1 h−1. The rate of oxygen consumption in the perylene-exposed suspension (0.04–2.85 mmol O2 kg−1 dw sed h−1) exhibited a clearly distinct profile in relation to the control (0.57–1.60 mmol O2 kg−1 dw sed h−1). The overall reactivity of the bacteriobenthos to perylene was interpreted as the result of toxic pressure followed by evolution of a diverse bacterial community