Review of lobomycosis and lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) in Cetacea from South America. Scientific Committee document SC/60/DW13, International Whaling Commission, June 2008, Santiago, Chile

Caused by a yeast-like organism known as Lacazia loboi, Lobomycosis (or lacaziosis) naturally affects humans, common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) inhabiting coastal waters from southern Brazil to Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast of Florida, as well as botos-cinza (Sotalia guianensis). These species are usually found in coastal waters, subject to runoff provided by large rivers and a considerable burden of associated contaminants. Histological and morphological studies demonstrated that the etiological agent of L. loboi infecting humans is different from the one found to infected dolphins. Moreover, it likely that dolphin-human infections do not occur although infected bottlenose dolphins were from populations engaged in cooperative fishing that involve a relative small number of dolphins and humans. The records of Lobomycosis and Lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) in Tramandaí estuary (29o58´S), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, represent the southernmost distribution of L. loboi. On the other hand, the northernmost distribution of this disease is reported in the southern portion of Indian River Lagoon (27°25´N), Florida, USA. LLD seems to be more widespread, infecting both toothed small cetaceans and baleen whales, from the tropical Atlantic to the Pacific. Future studies should evaluate the association with impaired immune function in affected dolphins and the emergency of Lobomycosis. It may be associated with an immunosuppressive factor of environmental origin, such as exposure to pesticides or other agricultural or industrial contaminants, introduced through runoff or point sources of pollution, altering conditions to favour disease emergence. Lobomycosis should be assigned as neglected tropical disease, as should be the case of LLD, if future investigations indicate their connection as an emerging pathogen, its pathogenicity and environment requirements

A PRND polymorphism in Churra do Campo portuguese sheep breed

Prion-like Doppel gene (PRND) is located downstream from priori protein gene (PRNP). Doppel protein is not related to prion disease but to male fertility. Our previous analysis of PRND coding region in 460 animals from 8 Portuguese sheep breeds, by multiple restriction fragment-single strand conformation polymorphism (MRFSSCP), revealed a synonymous substitution (78G>A). An association was found between identified PRND polymorphism and PRNP genotypes, determined by primer extension and grouped into 5 grades of increasing scrapie susceptibility-R1 to R5: PRND was monomorphic (GG) in animals with most resistant ARR/ARR PRNP genotype-R1; higher frequency of heterozygotes (GA) was significantly associated with ARQ/AHQR4. Therefore, EU selection programme to eradicate scrapie in sheep, based on PRNP genotypes, may reduce genetic diversity, with hypothetical repercussions on reproduction. The aim of current work was to evaluate 78G>A PRND polymorphism in highly endangered Churra do Campo Portuguese sheep breed. From a total of 73 animals analysed (16 R1, 36 R3, 18 R4, 3 R5), 72 were GG and 1 GA, the later being ARQ/ARQ (R4). Low incidence of PRND polymorphic variants in this breed may be explained by mating involving small number of related animals, and particular differences in distribution of PRNP genotypes

Long-term resightings of humpback whales off Ecuador

This paper reports on the long-term re-sight histories of fifteen photo-identified humpback whales encountered to date transiting Ecuadorian waters. It also provides information about connections to feeding area destinations. Whale EC1261 has been resighted over a 26 year span and provides insight into age and potential longevity of this species in the stock G. The resighting of whale EC1261 provides the earliest connection from Ecuador to Antarctica. and supports previous findings that Antarctic Peninsula is the main feeding area of humpback whales migrating to Ecuadorian waters. Although there are only a low percentage of re-sighted animals between Ecuador and the Strait of Magellan, two records represent long-term observations of 17 and 21 years. Resightings of these whales previously confirmed the Straits of Magellan as a feeding area (Gibbons et al, 1998; Gibbons et al, 2003; Acevedo et al. 2007; Capella et al. 2008). These results are based on the individual identification of the ventral surface of humpback whale tails. This method has been used extensively by researchers, NGO’s and government institutions in Antarctica, Chile, and Colombi

Antidepressant-like effect of Hoodia gordonii in a forced swimming test in mice: evidence for involvement of the monoaminergic system

Hoodia gordonii is a plant species used traditionally in southern Africa to suppress appetite. Recently, it has been associated with a significant increase in blood pressure and pulse rate in women, suggesting sympathomimetic activity. The present study investigated the possible antidepressant-like effects of acute and repeated (15 days) administration of H. gordonii extract (25 and 50 mg/kg, po) to mice exposed to a forced swimming test (FST). Neurochemical analysis of brain monoamines was also carried out to determine the involvement of the monoaminergic system on these effects. Acute administration of H. gordonii decreased the immobility of mice in the FST without accompanying changes in general activity in the open-field test during acute treatment, suggesting an antidepressant-like effect. The anti-immobility effect of H. gordonii was prevented by pretreatment of mice with PCPA [an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis], NAN-190 (a 5-HT1A antagonist), ritanserin (a 5-HT2A/2C antagonist), ondansetron (a 5-HT3A antagonist), prazosin (an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist), yohimbine (an α2-adrenoceptor antagonist), and sulpiride (a D2 receptor antagonist). A significant increase in 5-HT levels in the striatum was detected after acute administration, while 5-HT, norepinephrine and dopamine were significantly elevated after chronic treatment. Results indicated that H. gordonii possesses antidepressant-like activity in the FST by altering the dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems

Comportamento do boto-cinza, Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénédén) (Cetacea, Delphinidae) na presença de barcos de turismo na Praia de Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil Behavior of estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénédén) (Cetacea, Delphinidae) in the presence of tourist boats in Pipa Beach, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

A crescente indústria do turismo tem se estendido ao ambiente aquático, deste modo tornando os mamíferos aquáticos suscetíveis a interações com humanos. O turismo de observação de golfinhos na praia de Pipa litoral sul do Rio Grande do Norte, tem se desenvolvido aumentando o número de barcos de observação de golfinhos operando nesta área. No presente estudo alterações comportamentais do Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénédén, 1864) causado pela presença destes barcos foi verificada. Registros comportamentais de S. guianensis foram compilados de um ponto fixo do alto de uma falésia próxima à área de estudo. As observações foram realizadas quando não havia barcos, na presença de barcos e após a saída dos barcos. Os resultados mostraram que o tipo de aproximação praticado pelos barcos de observação de golfinhos tinha maior influência no comportamento dos animais, especialmente em grupos com filhotes. Os impactos de curto prazo foram mais discretos, no entanto, novos métodos devem ser aplicados no sentido de verificar impactos de longo prazo no comportamento dos golfinhos.<br>The ever-increasing tourist industry has extended to the aquatic environments, thus making the aquatic mammals susceptible to interactions with humans. Dolphin watching tourism has developed to a great extent in the Pipa Beach, Rio Grande do Norte, consequently the number of dolphin-watching boats operating in this area has increased. In the present study the behavioral alterations of Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénédén, 1864) caused by the presence of these boats were verified. Behavioral registers of S. guianensis were compiled from a fixed point on the cliffs close to the study area. The observations were effected when there were no boats, in the presence of boats and after the departure of boats. The results show that type of approach by the dolphin watching boats had a major influence on the behavior of the dolphins, especially so in the groups with calves. The short term impacts were rather discrete, however, new methods should be applied in order to verify the long term impacts on the dolphins

Crescimento e desenvolvimento de boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) do litoral do Espírito Santo

Estudou-se o desenvolvimento do boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) do litoral do Espírito Santo e verificou-se se a análise das radiografias da aleta peitoral pode ser utilizada para tal. Trinta e sete botos passaram pela determinação do comprimento total (CT), análise do grau de fusionamento das vértebras e radiografia das aletas peitorais. O CT ao nascimento foi de 103,3cm e o de animais maduros fisicamente 187,5cm. Observou-se correlação entre o CT, as epífises distais do rádio e da ulna e correlação entre o grau de fusionamento vertebral e a epífise distal do rádio. Concluiu-se que a análise radiográfica das aletas peitorais é uma boa maneira de avaliar o grau de maturação física do boto

Constituintes químicos fixos e voláteis dos talos e frutos de Piper tuberculatum Jacq. e das raízes de P. hispidum H. B. K. Fixed and volatile chemical constituents from stems and fruits of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. and from roots of P. hispidum H. B. K.

Os óleos essenciais dos frutos e talos finos de Piper tuberculatum e das raízes de P. hispidum, coletados no estado de Rondônia, foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por GC e GC-MS. Foram identificados como constituintes majoritários, nos óleos dos frutos e talos finos de P. tuberculatum, o óxido de cariofileno (32,1%) e (26,6%) e o (E)-cariofileno (17,7%) e (12,3%), respectivamente. No óleo essencial das raízes de P. hispidum, foram identificados, como constituintes majoritários, o dilapiol (57,5%), a elemicina (24,5%) e o apiol (10,2%). Do extrato etanólico dos frutos de P. tuberculatum, foram isolados os esteróides &#946;-sitosterol e estigmasterol, as amidas piplartina e dihidropiplartina e um derivado do ácido cinâmico, o ácido 3,4,5-trimetoxi-dihidrocinâmico.<br>The essential oils of the fruits and fine stems of Piper tuberculatum and of the roots of P. hispidum, collected in the state of Rondônia, had been gotten by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Caryophyllene oxide - 32,1% in fruits and 26,6% in fine stem, and (E)-caryophyllene - 17,7% in fruits and 12,3% in fine stems, were identified as the major constituents in such parts of P. tuberculatum. In the essential oil of the roots of P. hispidum, dillapiol (57,5%), elemicine (24,5%) and apiole (10,2%) were identified as the most abundant constituents. From the ethanolic extract of the fruits of P. tuberculatum, the steroids &#946;-sitosterol and stigmasterol, the amides piplartine and dihidropiplartine and the derivative of the cinâmico acid 3,4,5-trimethoxy-dihidrocinâmic acid were isolated