Summary :The present work, studied the effect of 0, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 mg of garlic powder/kg dry ration for Piaractus mesopotamicus (Osteichthyes: Characidae), weighting 73.6 ± 39.4 g and measuring 15.0 ± 2.7 cm, fed for a period of 15, 30 and 45 days. Fifteen days after treatment with 1,000 and 2,000 mg of garlic/kg dry ration, significant reduction of Anacanthorus penilabiatus (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) in the gills was related. Nevertheless, the addition of garlic to the ration caused significant increase in the erythrocyte number and in the thrombocyte percentage in the circulating blood. However, a decrease in the lymphocyte percentage was also observed. After 45 days, fish fed with garlic showed significant increase in the erythrocyte number, leucocyte, haemoglobin rate, hematocrit and thrombocyte.

Abstract.-The present study assessed the kinetics of cell accumulation at the site of inflammation induced by thioglycolate, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and heat-inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila, in the pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae), swim bladder. A quantitative, as well as qualitative, assessment was done of all the cells present in the exudate at 6, 24, and 48 h (n 5 8) after inoculation of inflammatory agents. The results show that the thioglycolate was the

In the State of Santa Catarina there is no information about haematological and parasitological characteristics of fish maintained in feefishing operations and manured ponds. This work compared the haematological characteristics of Nile tilapia parasitized or not, captured in a property situated in Nova Trento, SC, Brazil, between August 2003 and July 2004. During the studied period, the water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, ammonia and transparency were measured. Ten fish were collected monthly either in a feefishing or in a pond receiving pig manure, and anesthetized with benzocaine solution for haematological, parasitological and histopathological exams. From a total of 360 analyzed fish, 64 (17.8%) were parasitized with Cichlidogyrus sclerosus and Cichlidogyrus sp. (Monogenoidea: Ancyrocephalidae), 20 (5.5%) with Trichodina sp. (Protozoa: Ciliophora), and four (1.1%) with Lamproglena sp. (Crustacea: Lernaeidae). The total number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes and leucocytes, glucose rate and the percentages of hematocrit, lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils did not show relation with parasitism. Histopathological analysis showed moderate hyperplasia and absence of congestion. The low level of parasitism found in the animals was not responsible for haematological alterations.

This work evaluated the acute inflammatory response induced by injections of 0.5 mL saline solution (control), 500 µg carrageenin and 0.5 mL thioglycollate 3% in the swim bladder of juvenile tambacu hybrid. Fish were distributed in three treatments, three replications and acclimated for a period of 10 days before assay. The cell characterization from the inflammatory exudate was performed in Giemsa and PAS stained smears. Carrageenin, injected in fish, showed an increase on the total number of cells in the inflammatory exudate when compared to saline and thioglycollate injected. Whereas, for carrageenin-injected fish, the percentage of thrombocyte was higher than thioglycollate. On the other hand, granulocyte percentage in thioglycollate-injected fish was higher than the ones injected using carrageenin. Carrageenin provoked the highest migration of macrophage to the inflammatory site. The PAS method confirmed the presence of three types of granulocytes: eosinophilic granular cell (EGC) type 1 with the characteristics of a special granulocytic cell commonly found in the circulating blood; EGC type 2 shorter than the last one and neutrophil. This study contributes to a better understanding of the inflammatory response and infectious processes in native fish.Keywords: fish, hybrid tambacu, inflammation, exudate, carrageenin, thioglycollate. Caracterização da resposta inflamatória aguda no híbrido tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus macho × Colossoma macropomum fêmea) (Osteichthyes) ResumoEste estudo avaliou a resposta inflamatória aguda induzida por injeções de 0,5 mL de solução salina (controle), 500 µg de carragenina e 0,5 mL de tioglicolato a 3% na bexiga natatória de juvenis do híbrido tambacu. Os peixes foram distribuídos em três tratamentos, três repetições e aclimatados durante 10 dias antes do ensaio. A caracterização das células do exsudato inflamatório foi feita após coloração com Giemsa e PAS. Peixes injetados com carragenina apresentaram maior número de células no exsudato inflamatório do que com salina e tioglicolato. A porcentagem de trombócitos no exsudato foi maior nos injetados com carragenina quando comparada com a dos injetados com tioglicolato. Por outro lado, o percentual de granulócitos foi maior em animais injetados com tioglicolato do que em animais injetados com carragenina. A carragenina provocou maior migração de macrófagos para o foco inflamatório. O método de PAS Injection and collection of exudate cellsThe fish were anaesthetized by immersion in benzocaine solution (1 g.10 L -1 ) and injected with 500 µg carrageenin (Marine Colloids) dissolved in 0.5 mL sterile saline solution, 0.5 mL thioglycollate 3% and 0.5 mL sterile saline solution (control). After injection, the fish were maintained in the aquaria for 6 hours until the sacrifice. The interior of the swim bladder was washed with complete phosphate buffered saline containing 0.01 mL EDTA 5% and cell suspensions were centrifuged at 150 × gravity for 10 minutes before staining. The total number of cells was determined with a ha...

The present work relates diagnosticated cases of fish diseases in the state of São Paulo, Brazil between January/1999 and December/2000. During 1999, the monogenean was the most important parasite (72.9%), followed by Piscinoodinium pillulare (43.2%), Henneguya piaractus (34.2%), Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (23.4%) and copepodids of Lernaea cyprinacea (9.0%). However, in 2000, monogenean showed 78.9%, trichodinids 52.1%, P. pillulare 35.7%, I. multifiliis 29.8% and L. cyprinacea 11.9%. The most infected fish was Piaractus mesopotamicus, followed by Leporinus macrocephalus, hybrid "tambacu" and Oreochromis niloticus. This work showed the highest susceptibility of "tambacu" and L. macrocephalus to P. pillulare and P. mesopotamicus to monogenean Anacanthorus penilabiatus. The authors emphasize the importance of prophylaxis in farmed-fish, as well as adequate transport and water quality. The regular accompaniment of fish health, strategic applications of sodium chloride in the water and vitamin C supplementation in the ration to avoid the unbalance of the host/parasite/environment system. RESUMO. Recentes estudos de infecções parasitárias em peixes cultivados noEstado de São Paulo, Brasil. O presente trabalho relata os casos de doenças diagnosticadas em peixes no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, entre janeiro/1999 e dezembro/2000. Durante o ano de 1999, os monogenéticos foram os parasitos mais importantes, com ocorrência de 72,9%, seguidos de Piscinoodinium pillulare (43,2%), Henneguya piaractus (34,2%), Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (23,4%) e copepoditos de Lernaea cyprinacea (9,0%). No ano de 2000, os monogenéticos mostraram 78,9% de ocorrência, tricodinídeos 52,1%, P. pillulare 35,7%, I. multifiliis 29,8% e L. cyprinacea 11,9%. O peixe mais infectado foi Piaractus mesopotamicus, seguido de Leporinus macrocephalus, híbrido tambacu e Oreochromis niloticus. Este trabalho mostrou a maior susceptibilidade do tambacu e do L. macrocephalus ao P. pillulare e do P. mesopotamicus ao monogenético Anacanthorus penilabiatus. Os autores enfatizam a importância da profilaxia na criação, como o acompanhamento regular da saúde dos animais, aplicações de cloreto de sódio na água e suplementação com vitamina C para evitar o desequilíbrio do sistema hospedeiro/parasito/ambiente. Palavras-chave: Brasil, peixes cultivados, diagnóstico, parasitos, profilaxia.

The effects of swim bladder injection with thioglycolate, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and heat-inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila were assessed on hematological responses in pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae). A quantitative assessment was done on erythrocytes, thrombocytes e leucocytes at 6, 24, and 48 h pos-injection of the inflammatory agents and compared with fish injected with saline solution (control). Fish injected with inactivated A. hydrophila showed a reduction of erythrocytes and hemoglobin, whereas the hematocrit increased 6 h pos-injection. The results show that thioglycolate and LPS also induced a reduction on hemoglobin and an increase on the hematocrit. The thrombocytes count decreased 6 h post A. hydrophila injection, whereas increased 48 hours post LPS injection. The leukocytes count increased after 6 h post A. hydrophila injection, while the lymphocytes and PAS-positive granular leukocytes (PAS-LG) count decreased after 24 h post injection. In fish injected with thioglycolate or with LPS showed an increase in the LG-PAS counts when compared to A. hydrophila or control groups. The monocytes count was not affected by the different inflammatory agents.

Vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants that reduces the harmful effects of stress in several species including fish. In this study, it was evaluated the effect of vitamins C, E and their combination in the acute aerocystitis induced by inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila in pacu. 288 fish were distributed into 4 groups supplemented for 90 days: G1-control; G2-supplemented with 500 mg of Vitamin C; G3-supplemented with 500 mg of Vitamin E; G4-supplemented with 500 mg of Vitamin C + 500 mg of Vitamin E. The fish were divided in three groups, the first was not inoculated; second were inoculated in the swim bladder with 3 x 109 CFU of inactivated A. hydrophila and the last one with saline. The inflammatory exudate was collected from the swim bladder for assessment of cellular component and cytochemistry. The results showed higher accumulation of leukocytes in fish inoculated with bacteria. Cytochemistry was effective identifying thrombocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages and, granulocytes present in the exudate. It was also observed fish that received supplementation with vitamins presented higher accumulation of total cells in the exudate with a predominance of lymphocytes and thrombocytes. These results suggested that supplementation with vitamins improved the immunological responses.

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