Aeromonas hydrophila is causing substantial economic losses in world aquaculture. This study determined the tolerance limit (LD50-96h) of A. hydrophila in Arapaima gigas, and also investigated the clinical signs after intradermal inoculation. Arapaima gigas fingerlings were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0 (control), 1.0×10(5), 1.0×10(6), 1.0×10(7), 1.0×10(9) and 1.0×10(10)CFU/mL of A. hydrophila for the determination of LD50-96h, which was 1.8×10(8)CFU/mL. In another trial with intradermal inoculation of 1.8×10(8)CFU/mL A. hydrophila, there was a 91.6% of mortality between 8 and 23h, and several clinical signs were found. As follows: depigmentation in the tegument, lesions in the tail and fins, loss of balance, reduction of respiratory movements, hemorrhagic foci, necrotic hemorrhages in the kidney, liver and swim bladder, splenomegaly, ascites in the abdominal cavity and hyperemia, enlargement of the gall bladder, among other clinical signs observed. The results showed that A. gigas has a relative tolerance to A. hydrophila when compared to other Neotropical fish species.

Helminthes and protozoan of farmed pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) in easternAmazon and host-parasite relationship [ ABSTRACTThe parasitofauna in the giant Amazon basin, pirarucu (Arapaima gigas Schinz, 1822) cultured in fish farms from the state of Amapá, in eastern Amazonia (Brazil) was investigated. Of the 100 examined fish, 90.0% were parasitized by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ciliophora), Dawestrema cycloancistrium, Dawestrema cycloancistrioides (Monogenoidea) and Polyacanthorhynchus macrorhynchus (Acanthocephala), which had an aggregated distribution pattern. The highest infection rates were caused by I. multifiliis and the lowest by P. macrorhynchus. Infection rates were different for each fish farm, due to different water quality and management characteristics. A negative correlation was found between the intensity of monogenoideans D. cycloancistrium and D. cycloancistrioides and the relative condition factor (Kn), but the welfare of fish was not affected by parasitism. The number of I. multifiliis was positively correlated with the weight and total length of hosts, while the intensity of monogenoideans was negatively correlated with body weight and total length. This study is the first to record the occurrence of P. macrorhynchus in A. gigas farmed in Amazon.Keywords: Amazonia, fish farm, freshwater fish, parasites, sanity RESUMO Investigou-se a parasitofauna no gigante da bacia amazônica, pirarucu (Arapaima gigas

A participação dos metais pesados nas reações químicas do metabolismo dos peixes tornou esses elementos um dos principais focos nos estudos de contaminação. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as concentrações dos metais Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn e Hg no tecido muscular de peixes da bacia do rio Cassiporé (Estado do Amapá) e ambiente, visando avaliar os riscos de contaminação. As concentrações de Cd em Plagioscion squamosissimus (1,061 µg g ), Hoplias malabaricus (0.570 µg g -1 e Serrasalmus rhombeus (0.548 µg g -1 ) were above the legal limit. The water column showed high concentrations of heavy metals in all analyzed points, showing a contamination of this river basin. Therefore, the high concentrations of heavy metals in the environment and muscle tissue of fish indicate a high degree of contamination in the Cassiporé river basin and risk to human health.

O presente estudo comparou os parâmetros sanguíneos de Arapaima gigas Schinz, 1822 de cultivo, parasitados por uma espécie de protozoário e três espécies de helmintos. Em uma das pisciculturas os peixes foram parasitados somente por Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ciliophora), enquanto na outra foram parasitados por I. multifiliis, Dawestrema cycloancistrium e Dawestrema cycloancistrioides (Monogenoidea) e Polyacanthorhynchus macrorhynchus (Acanthocephala). Determinou-se a contagem total de eritrócitos, trombócitos e leucócitos (total e diferencial), hematócrito, concentração de hemoglobina, volume corpuscular média (VCM), hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM), concentração da hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), glicose e proteínas totais. Os peixes parasitados por I. multifiliis, D. cycloancistrium, D. cycloancistrioides e P. macrorhynchus mostraram menores valores de hematócrito, VCM e níveis de glicose, e maior concentração de hemoglobina, HCM, CHCM, número de eritrócitos, monócitos, neutrófilos e eosinófilos totais quando comparados aos peixes parasitados somente por I. multifiliis. Portanto, esses resultados indicam uma resposta desses parâmetros sanguíneos ao parasitismo em A. gigas.

The hematological and biochemical responses of pirarucu fingerlings (Arapaima gigas) fed with diets containing different concentrations of a glucomannan product derived from yeast and algae were evaluated in order to ascertain the effect of these diets on fish physiology. Four treatments were conducted, with three replications, with 12 fish in each tank. The product evaluated (MycosorbA+(r)) was incorporated into the commercial diet, at four concentrations: 0, 1, 2 and 4 g.kg-1, called M0%, M0.1%, M0.2% and M0.4%, respectively. After 45 days of feeding, blood samples from six fish in each replicate were collected to perform the analyses. Their weight and length were determined to calculate the condition factor and weight gain, but no differences (P > 0.05) were observed among the treatments. No changes to the hematocrit, hemoglobin or erythrocyte levels or to the hematimetric indices of the pirarucus were observed. The glucose and triglyceride levels of the pirarucus in the M0.1% and M0.2% groups were significantly lower than those of the M0% group. The M0.2% group showed higher albumin levels (P < 0.05) than M0% and M0.4%. The M0.4% group showed a total cholesterol level that was significantly higher than in all other treatments. MycosorbA+(r) contributed towards increasing the levels of defense cells in A. gigas. It would be possible to use this product at concentrations of between 0.1% and 0.2%, given that they increase the levels of some defense cells and plasma albumin concentrations, without changes to hematological parameters, cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels or condition factor.

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The objective of this work was to evaluate a recirculating aquaculture system using biological aerated filters in tanks for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fingerlings farming, with two initial stocking densities (1.4 and 2.5 kg m -³). The biofilters had similar materials (media) and the same granulometric standards, but inverted orders of the media (classic and inverted). The following were monitored for 90 days: water quality; zootechnical, parasitological, and hematological parameters; and hematimetric indices. Water temperature, oxygen levels, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved solids concentration were compatible with tambaqui farming and did not differ between the different biofilters and densities. The ammonia and nitrite value was associated with the stocking densities and not with biofilter. The zootechnical and hematological parameters and the hematimetric indices evaluated were not influenced either by the type of biofilter or by the stocking densities. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Anacanthorus spathulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis, and Mymarothecium boegeri were the parasites found. The aerated, classical, and inverted biological filters have similar efficiency in maintaining water quality parameters for tambaqui fingerling farming.

To treat metabolic syndrome, fat tissue dysfunction should be corrected rather than controlling conventional risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. For this purpose, accumulating evidence suggests increasing plasma adiponectin levels can be a key treatment strategy, especially in setting of food or drug selection. Here we report that adipocyte precursors obtained from several sites of fat tissue, which we call Metabolic Stem Cells (MSC), could be used as a novel screening system to identify adiponectin enhancing drugs or food for individual patients. MSC were prepared from fat tissues collected from 29 patients. They were differentiated in cultures into mature adipocytes. The time course of adiponectin production was independent of the number of mature adipocytes and gradually decreased at 48 h after differentiation. Pioglitazone, a full PPARgamma agonist, stabilized adiponectin production at days 8-16 after differentiation, whereas telmisartan, a partial PPARgamma agonist, showed variable response. Dividing the adiponectin secretion of day 12 by that of day 10 provided an estimate of adiponectin-producing activity irrespective of the number of MSC-derived adipocytes in culture. Using this score of adiponectin-production activity, we successfully assessed 16 agents in a 96-well plate. The effect of each agent on adiponectin production showed a similar pattern, independent of the site of isolated adipose tissue. Our results show that MSC can be used as a tool for selecting drugs that enhance adiponectin-production activity.