RESUMO

A inibição da enzima colinesterase plasmática (BChE) pode ser utilizada como biomarcador para os efeitos da intoxicação por organofosforados e carbamatos. Nas aves, esta inibição ocorre de forma mais acentuada que nos mamíferos, porém poucos são os trabalhos publicados nestas espécies. O objetivo do estudo fo a dosagem da BChE em gansos-egípcios (Alopochen aegyptiacus) e nos anseriformes domésticos: gansos-domésticos (Anser anser domesticus) e marrecos (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), para o estabelecimento de valores de referência normais. O trabalho possui ineditismo com relação à determinação desta enzima nos gansos-egípcios e domésticos. Os gansos e marrecos são mantidos em confinamento com fornecimento de alimentos e água ad libitum e em espaço adequado à sua manutenção no Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL), com a finalidade de fornecimento de sangue para a alimentação de triatomídeos do insetário de criação no Núcleo de Parasitoses Sistêmicas. Nos Alopochen aegyptiacus a média e o desvio padrão da BChE foram de 1.868 + 263,6 U/L, nos Anser anser domesticus 2.311 + 673,2 U/L e nos Anas platyrhynchos domesticus 4.290 + 86,11 U/L. (AU)

The inhibition of the plasma cholinesterase enzyme (BChE) can be used as a biomarker for the effects of intoxication by organophosphates and carbamates. In birds, this inhibition is more pronounced than in mammals, however there are few specific studies were conducted in this field. The aim of this study was to measure BChE in Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) and domestic anseriforms: domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), not exposed to pesticides, for the establishment of normal values. The work is unprecedented regarding the determination of this enzyme in egyptian geese and domestic geese. Geese and mallards are kept in confinement with ad liditum food and water supply and in adequate space for their maintenance at the Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), for the purpose of supplying blood for the feeding of triatomines from the insectary of the Nucleus of Systemic Parasitoses. In Alopochen aegyptiacus the mean and standard deviation of BChE were 1,868 + 263,6 U/L, in Anser anser domesticus 2,311 + 673,2 U/L and in Anas platyrhynchos domesticus 4,290 + 86.11 U/L. (AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Serum samples (n=687) from Gallus gallus domesticus were collected for the investigation of antibodies to avian influenza virus (AIV-A) in the family poultry of the surrounding counties of Santa Maria/RS and the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte/MG, totaling twenty different counties. Additional samples of seventeen (n=17) free-flying ducks (C. moschata pure or hybrid with Anas platyrhynchos) were collected in Belo Horizonte. The chosen tests for the survey were performed as described by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), including agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for antibodies to AIV-A nucleoprotein (N) and haemagglutination- inhibition (HI) for antibodies to subtype H1. Out of the 704 serum tests performed by AGID, eight (8/704) were revealed positive for antibodies to AIV-A N protein, with six (6/704) retested positive for subtype H1. Two sera tested positive by AGID were shown to be non reactive to the H1 subtype, suggesting specificity to another subtype. A low occurrence of antibodies to influenza A (1.13%) was found, and mostly (75%) specific to subtype H1. This represents an approximately 0,85% overall occurrence for subtype H1 antibodies, with an unknown subtype specific antibodies detected in one free-flying anatid. The low occurrence of antibodies in the family poultry may suggest a low AIV-A activity during the period of study, information which remains to be confirmed by virus detection.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Serum samples (n=687) from Gallus gallus domesticus were collected for the investigation of antibodies to avian influenza virus (AIV-A) in the family poultry of the surrounding counties of Santa Maria/RS and the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte/MG, totaling twenty different counties. Additional samples of seventeen (n=17) free-flying ducks (C. moschata pure or hybrid with Anas platyrhynchos) were collected in Belo Horizonte. The chosen tests for the survey were performed as described by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), including agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for antibodies to AIV-A nucleoprotein (N) and haemagglutination- inhibition (HI) for antibodies to subtype H1. Out of the 704 serum tests performed by AGID, eight (8/704) were revealed positive for antibodies to AIV-A N protein, with six (6/704) retested positive for subtype H1. Two sera tested positive by AGID were shown to be non reactive to the H1 subtype, suggesting specificity to another subtype. A low occurrence of antibodies to influenza A (1.13%) was found, and mostly (75%) specific to subtype H1. This represents an approximately 0,85% overall occurrence for subtype H1 antibodies, with an unknown subtype specific antibodies detected in one free-flying anatid. The low occurrence of antibodies in the family poultry may suggest a low AIV-A activity during the period of study, information which remains to be confirmed by virus detection.

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RESUMO

The Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) is an unusual member of the Anatidae found in South America, from the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego through Chile and Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as far north as Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. The species is not threatened globally, but some local populations have declined and the status of others is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the plasma chemistry of a wild population of Coscoroba Swans in southern Brazil during their molting period. We captured 12 chicks, 14 juveniles, and 31 mature birds. The following blood parameters were measured: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, uric acid, creatine-kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and pancreatic amylase. Significant differences between males and females were not observed for any of the parameters, and only the levels of alkaline phosphatase differed significantly among age groups.

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Living organisms are continuously faced with several forms of environmental perturbation, one of the most important being human activity. In this scenario, the role of physiological studies on wildlife has proved to be important given that in vivo physiological variables reflect a great deal how sensitive animals are to acute environmental changes. We studied the haematological parameters in black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus) at the Ramsar site at the Carlos Anwandter Sanctuary, which were experiencing a drastic population decrease. Through seven months, body mass (body mass corrected by total length) was reduced 30%, which was followed by significant reductions of haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and red blood cell count. Mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration did not change with time, whereas there was a significant increase of the white blood cells and heterophile / lymphocyte ratio. Our results, together with the published evidence, suggests that the proximal factors associated with the mass mortality and emigration of the black - necked swan population at the "Carlos Anwandter Sanctuary" was a drastic nutritional deficiency, and the potentially toxic effects of iron pollution in the waters of the Ramsar site.

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RESUMO

The application of clinical biochemical techniques to determine the products of intermediary metabolism has proved to be a reliable approach for the study of the physiological state of animals in nature. More specifically, the determination of plasma metabolites, such as glucose, total proteins (PRO), albumin (ALB), globulins (GL), urea, uric acid, triglycerides (TG) and beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BHB), and plasma enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in wild animals is a valuable possibility for a non-destructive assessment of health in endangered populations. Since August 2004 to January 2005, we conducted a temporal study in a conservation priority site, the "Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary" to determine blood biochemistry of a wild population of black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus). This population was experiencing a drastic reduction, according to the actual knowledge about yearly fluctuations in numbers and breeding pairs. In six months, we periodically sampled about 12 swans (a total of 122 individuals), which exhibited a reduction near 30% in body mass (body mass corrected by total length). Our results showed reductions in most plasma biochemical parameters (glucose, PRO, ALB, uric acid, TG) and increase in BHB, which taken together indicated signs of chronic malnutrition. Also, the increase in AST and CK that we found, together with additional evidences of sub-lethal hepatic damage (in dead individuals), and iron pollution in aquatic plants and water confirmed that water pollution was the ultimate cause of this population reduction.

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