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Trichodinids are mobile peritrichous ciliated protozoa, and widely known as ectocommensals and/or parasites of fish andother aquatic organisms. Little is known about the trichodinid fauna in Brazilian fish. This study reports Trichodina het-erodentata Duncan, 1977 as a new parasite for freshwater fish Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887. This is the firstrecord of this trichodinid in southeastern Brazil. Fifty specimens impregnated with 2% silver nitrate and another fiftystained with Giemsa were used for morphometry on the taxonomic characteristics. T. heterodentata in this study is medi-um size, with a disc-shaped body measuring 49.0 to 61.0 µm, parasitizing the skin, fins and gills of pacu. Measurement comparisons between the present material and other records from different countries are presented.

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The aims of this research were to evaluate the efficacy of copper oxychloride (CuCl2.3Cu(OH)2), copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) and diquat (1.1'-ethylene-2.2'-bipyridyldiylium dibromide), isolated and in association with 0.1% of both copper sources, in the control of the unicellular algae Ankistrodesmus gracilis and the filamentous algae Pithophora kewesis, and to determine the acute toxicity of the tested chemicals in Hyphressobrycon eques, Pomacea canaliculata, Lemna minor and Azolla caroliniana. The efficacy was estimated by the methods of chlorophyll a and pheophytin a readings, changed into growth inhibition percentage. Both algae were exposed to the following concentrations: 0.2; 0.4; 0.8; 1.2 mg L(-1) of diquat and its association with the copper sources; and 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 0.7; 1.0 and 1.5 mg L(-1) in the isolated applications of copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride. An untreated control was kept. The acute toxicity was estimatedby 50% lethal concentration (LC50). The copper sources were effective for A. gracilis control, at rates as high as 0.1 mg L(-1) (>95% efficacy). Isolated diquat and its association with copper hydroxide were both effective at rates as high as 0.4 mg L(-1), with 95 and 88% control efficacy, respectively. The copper oxychloride was effective at 0.2 mg L(-1), with 93% efficacy. None of the tested chemicals and associations was effective on P. kewesis control. The most sensitive non target organism to the tested chemicals was L. minor; the less sensitive was H. eques.

Bacterial diseases cause tilapia's high‐mortality outbreak. This study investigated the toxicity of azithromycin (AZT), a macrolide antibiotic that has been considered a possible therapeutic drug for tilapia aquacultural use. The 48‐h acute toxicity (50% lethal concentration, LC50; 48 h) of AZT was determined for Oreochromis niloticus. Thereafter, fish were exposed to 0, 1, 50 and 100 mg L−1 AZT during 14 days (chronic exposure) and measured the haematological variables, the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and the concentration of glutathione (GSH), protein carbonyl and lipid peroxidation in the liver; histopathology was analysed the liver, gills and kidneys. The LC50; 48 h was >100 mg L−1. No fish died during chronic exposure. Haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration increased in fish exposed to 50 and 100 mg L−1, and the total number of leucocyte and thrombocyte increased after exposure to 100 mg L−1 AZT, suggesting a stimulation of defence cell production. In the liver, the antioxidant enzyme activities did not change, but GST activity and the GSH level increased in fish exposed to 100 mg L−1 AZT. Oxidative stress did not occur. Histopathological index (HIL) indicates moderate liver damage; minor histological changes in the gill and no change in the kidneys. AZT was considered non‐toxic for O. niloticus after acute exposure and, although it causes moderated histopathology in the liver after chronic exposure, this antibiotic may be an alternative against bacterial infections, depending on its efficacy to control bacterial disease in fish.

Eficácia do florfenicol e da oxitetraciclina no controle de Aeromonas hydrophila em pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)[Efficacy of the florfenicol and of the oxytetracycline in the control in Aeromonas hydrophila in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)]

The aim of this study was to determine the environmental concentration of atrazine (ATZ) in five streams located in the north of São Paulo state (Brazil) and evaluate its toxicological impact on young specimens of the pacu fish Piaractus mesopotamicus. Samples of water were collected on three occasions between 2010 and 2011, corresponding to periods signifying the beginning, middle, and end of rain season. ATZ levels were estimated by a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) triple quadrupole. Later, the quotient of environmental risk (QR) was determined based on the medium lethal concentration (LC50 48 h), non-observable effect concentration (NOEC), and the estimated environmental concentration (EEC) of ATZ detected in the environment. Histological changes in gills and liver were also studied, along with the brain activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The highest concentration of ATZ measured was 10.4 μg L(-1). The ATZ LC50 (48 h) for young P. mesopotamicus was 24.46 mg L(-1) and the QR was classified as "safe". Although the QR indicated that ATZ could be safe for the tested species, it caused many histological alterations in the liver and gills of the exposed specimens, and an increase in the AChE levels.

Aquatic macrophytes are important components of aquatic ecosystems, but these plants have become a problem due to their occurrence in different regions. Some studies aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of herbicides to control these macrophytes; however, few studies report the possible ecotoxicological effects. The objective of this study was to estimate the acute toxicity (LC (I)50;96h) and assess water quality variables for glyphosate in the Rodeo ® formulation, Aterbane ® BR surfactant and mixtures of glyphosate + 0.5% and 1.0% of surfactant, for the guaru fish (Phallocerus caudimaculatus). The guaru was exposed to increasing concentrations of glyphosate and a mixture of glyphosate + 0.5 and 1.0% of surfactant. The mixture of glyphosate and glyphosate + 0.5 and 1.0% of surfactant showed (LC (I)50;96h) > 975.0 mg L -1 . For the surfactant, the rate was 5.81 mg L -1 . The glyphosate and mixtures of glyphosate + 0.5% and 1.0% of surfactant caused a decrease in pH and dissolved oxygen and increased the electrical conductivity of water. Glyphosate in the Rodeo ® formulation and the mixtures with surfactant Aterbane ® BR can be classified as practically nontoxic, whereas surfactant Aterbane ® BR can be considered as moderately toxic to guaru. RESUMO. Ecotoxicologia do glifosato e surfactante aterbane ® br para guaru (Phalloceros caudimaculatus).As macrófitas aquáticas são importantes componentes dos ecossistemas, porém elas têm se tornado um problema pela sua ocorrência em diversas regiões. Alguns estudos visam comprovar a eficácia dos herbicidas no controle dessas macrófitas, porém, poucos trabalhos relatam os possíveis efeitos ecotoxicológicos. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a toxicidade aguda (LC (I)50;96h) e avaliar as variáveis de qualidade de água para o glifosato na formulação Rodeo ® , o surfactante Aterbane ® BR e das misturas de glifosato + 0,5 e 1,0% do surfactante, para o peixe guaru (Phallocerus caudimaculatus). Para tanto, o guaru foi exposto a concentrações de glifosato e da mistura do glifosato + 0,5 e 1,0% do surfactante. O glifosato e a mistura do glifosato + 0,5 e 1,0% do surfactante apresentaram (LC (I)50;96h) > 975,0 mg L -1 . Para o surfactante, foi de 5,81 mg L -1 . O glifosato e as misturas de glifosato + 0,5 e 1,0% de surfactante causaram diminuição do pH e do oxigênio dissolvido e aumento da condutividade elétrica da água. O glifosato na formulação Rodeo ® e as misturas com surfactante Aterbane ® BR podem ser classificados como praticamente não-tóxicos, enquanto que o surfactante Aterbane ® BR pode ser considerado como moderadamente tóxico para o guaru.Palavras-chave: peixe tropical, toxicidade, herbicida.