Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in body temperature (Tb) regulation of mammals, acting on the brain to stimulate heat loss. Regarding birds, the putative participation of NO in the maintenance of Tb in thermoneutrality or during heat stress and the site of its action (periphery or brain) is unknown. Thus, we tested if NO participates in the maintenance of chicks' Tb in those conditions. We investigated the effect of intramuscular (im; 25, 50, 100mg/kg) or intracerebroventricular (icv; 22.5, 45, 90, 180 microg/animal) injections of the non selective NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME on Tb of 5-day-old chicks at thermoneutral zone (TNZ; 31-32 degrees C) and under heat stress (37 degrees C for 5-6h). We also verified plasma and diencephalic nitrite/nitrate levels in non-injected chicks under both conditions. At TNZ, 100mg/kg (im) or 45, 90, 180 microg (icv) of L-NAME decreased Tb. A significant correlation between Tb and diencephalic, but not plasma, nitrite/nitrate levels was observed. Heat stress-induced hyperthermia was inhibited by all tested doses of L-NAME (im and icv). Tb was correlated neither with plasma nor with diencephalic nitrite/nitrate levels during heat stress. These results indicate the involvement of brain NO in the maintenance of Tb of chicks, an opposite action of that observed in mammals, and may modulate hyperthermia.

Dengue transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, species aegypti, is a major public health concern in Brazil. The chemical control of the mosquito larvae has been performed with the larvicide temephos since 1967. However, vector resistance was reported to temephos in several Brazilian states, and the Ministry of Health ordered the replacement of this larvicide by diflubenzuron (DFB), an inhibitor of chitin synthesis. Both insecticides are diluted in water with larvae and are able to reach aquatic environments in which they subsequently adversely damage nontarget organisms. The aims of this study were to (1) determine the acute toxicity (EC50) and environmental risk (RQ) of DFB and temephos to the microcrustacean Daphnia magna, and (2) evaluate the chronic toxicity (no-observed-effect concentration [NOEC] and lowest-observed-effect concentration [LOEC]) of these larvicides to D. magna. The experiments were performed according to a completely randomized design. The estimated 48-h EC50 of temephos was 0.15 μg/L (lower limit = 0.1 and upper limit = 0.2 μg/L) and the 48-h EC50 of DFB was 0.06 μg/L (lower limit = 0.03 and upper limit = 0.1 μg/L). RQ values were 4.166.7 to DFB and 6.666.6 to temephos. NOEC and LOEC values were respectively 2.5 and 5 ng/L for DFB, and respectively 6.2 and 12.5 ng/L for temephos. Thus, temephos and DFB are classified as highly toxic to Daphnia magna and pose a high environmental risk to this species. Mortality of D. magna was observed at concentrations lower than those used in the field to control A. aegypti larvae.

No abstract

Dengue is one of the major public health problems nowadays. It is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, and the Aedes aegypti specie is the vector responsible for transmission in Brazil. The main target to control the disease is its vector, and the chemical control is widely used in all affected regions. As a preventive measure or in epidemic periods, it becomes necessary to eliminate adult mosquitoes, being indicated the ultralow volume nebulization of malathion organophosphate in cold way through the use of sprinklers attached to vehicles. This used insecticide can suffer deviation during and after application ULV, characterizing itself as a potential agent of environmental imbalance, with the possibility of reach and generate harmful effects on aquatic and terrestrial non-target organisms. This work had the objective to develop and validate a method of analysis for malathion in high performance liquid chromatography and obtain recovery of insecticide in acceptable levels in water and soil, evaluate its dissipation period and half-life time in these matrices and classify it on acute toxicity and environmental risk according to different authors, to the microcrustacean Daphnia magna, to the earthworm Eisenia foetida, to the fish Hyphessobrycon eques and to the macrophyte Lemna minor. The method was considered appropriate for analysis of malathion. The obtained recovery for water was 97 % and for soil, 96 %. Toxic effects resulting from exposure to the insecticide were observed for all organisms, resulting that Daphnia magna is the most sensitive species to the acute toxicity tests, with high risk of environmental intoxication originated from malathion peridomicilary use. In soil, the compound remained on the surface with t 1/2 of 4.5 h and suffered lixiviation after rain occurrence, being detected for up to 29 days after application. In water, the t 1/2 was 0.1 h in pH 9.0 and was not detected from the second day after application. In pH 7.0 and 5.0, this period was extended for up to 7 days, being the t 1/2 of 3.2 and 4.4 d, respectively.

No abstract