Abstract In this study, we investigated the infection by pulmonary parasites in the water snake Helicops angulatus. We found four nymphs of the pentastomide parasite Sebekia oxycephala, parasitizing two adult females H. angulatus collected in the municipality of Rio Tinto, Paraíba, Brazil. This occurrence is likely due to the nymphs of this parasite directly infecting aquatic intermediate hosts, such as fish. The result of this study represents the first record of pentastomid infecting H. angulatus.

Resumo Neste estudo investigamos a infecção por parasitos pulmonares na serpente Helicops angulatus. Encontramos quatro ninfas de pentastomídeos (Sebekia oxycephala) parasitando duas fêmeas adultas de H. angulatus oriundas do município de Rio Tinto, Paraíba, Brasil. A ocorrência das ninfas na serpente sugere que a transmissão ocorra através da cadeia trófica, uma vez que peixes atuam como hospedeiros intermediários do parasito e fazem parte da dieta H. angulatus . O resultado deste estudo representa o primeiro registro de pentastomídeos infectando H. angulatus.

Clinical studies show that physical exercise has anxiolytic and pro-cognitive properties for both healthy individuals and psychiatric patients. Most of these data refer to the effects of aerobic exercise. However, other modalities such as resistance exercise deserve more attention because they may also modulate brain function. This study aimed to compare the effects of an aerobic exercise protocol on a treadmill and a resistance exercise protocol on a ladder apparatus on anxiety-like behavior, cognitive flexibility, and neuroplasticity parameters in healthy animals. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sedentary control, aerobic training, and resistance training. Subsequently, they were evaluated in the elevated plus-maze (EPM), light-dark box, and modified hole board (mHB) tests. The expressions of synaptophysin and postsynaptic plasticity protein 95 in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus were analyzed by immunofluorescence. The results demonstrated an anxiolytic effect promoted by exercise in the EPM, particularly in the animals submitted to aerobic training, and a mild pro-learning effect of both exercise modalities was observed in the mHB test. All groups showed similar outcomes in the other evaluations. Therefore, the exercise modalities investigated in the present study did not provide considerable modifications to such aspects of the emotional/cognitive functions and neuroplasticity under physiological contexts. Perhaps the two types of exercise acted in neurobiological pathways not analyzed in this study, or the effects may emerge under pathological contexts. These hypotheses should be tested in future studies.

Resumo Neste estudo investigamos a infecção por parasitas pulmonares no lagarto teiídeo Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) habitando a Área de Proteção Ambiental do Araripe – APA Araripe. Um total de 45 espécimes foram coletados em três áreas entre os municípios de Várzea Alegre e Barbalha. Uma espécie de pentastomida (Raillietiella mottae) estava parasitando (nove espécimes) um macho de A. ameiva com uma prevalência de 2,22%, considerando todos os lagartos da região, e uma prevalência de 50% considerando apenas a floresta úmida. A taxa de infecção por pentastomídeos demonstrado no presente estudo é semelhante aos dados de infecção encontrados para outros lagartos insetívoros. Raillietiella mottae é considerado um parasita generalista, que usa insetos como hospedeiros intermediários. O resultado do presente estudo representa o primeiro registro de um pentastomídeo infectando lagartos do gênero Ameiva na América do Sul.

Abstract We investigated the infection by pulmonary parasites in the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) inhabiting the Environmental Protection Area of Araripe (APA-Araripe). A total of 45 specimens were collected in three areas between the cities of Várzea Alegre and Barbalha. A Pentastomid species (Raillietiella mottae) was parasitizing (nine specimens) a male of A. ameiva with a prevalence of 2.22% considering all lizards collected in the region and prevalence of 50% considering only rainforest environment. The Pentastomids infection rates shown in this study are similar to data found for infections of other insectivorous lizards. Raillietiella mottae is considered a generalist parasite, which uses insects as intermediate hosts. The results of this study represent the first record of a Pentastomid infecting this species of lizard in South America.

Resumo Foram analisados os nematóides em Iguana iguana, um grande lagarto Iguanidae que possui ampla distribuição pelas Américas. Os objetivos do estudo foram investigar os helmintos associados ao lagarto I. iguana e seus índices parasitológicos (prevalência e intensidade média de infecção). Foram examinados 18 espécimes (oito machos e 10 fêmeas). A prevalência total foi de 66,6% (12/18), nos machos foi de 75% (6/8) e nas fêmeas 60% (6/10). Iguana iguana foi identificado como um novo hospedeiro para Physaloptera sp., Atractis sp., Piratuba sp., e Subulura sp. Este registro contribui para o conhecimento da diversidade de helmintos associados a este hospedeiro.

Abstract Nematodes were analyzed in Iguana iguana, a large lizard Iguanidae that is widely distributed throughout the Americas. The aims of the study were investigate the helminths associated with the lizard, I. iguana in semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil and analyze the parasitological indices (prevalence, and mean intensity of infection). A total of 18 specimens of I. iguana were examined (8 males and 10 females). The overall prevalence of infection was 66.6% (12/18), while in males, it was 75% (6/8) and in females, 60% (6/10). Iguana iguana was identified as a new host for Physaloptera sp., Atractis sp., Piratuba sp. and Subulura sp. This registered contributes to the knowledge of helminth diversity associated with this host.

Abstract This study assessed the feasibility of an anaerobic sequencing batch and fed-batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) with mechanical stirring for vinasse treatment and biomethane production. The amount of liquid medium used was 3 L, and the treated volume was 1 L per cycle. The cycle time was 8 h, with feeding times of 10 min (batch mode) and 240 min (fed-batch mode). Methane productivity increased with the increase in organic load from 1.0 to 10.0 gCOD.L-1.d-1. The maximum molar productivity and yield of methane were 123.4 molCH4.m-3.d-1 and 13.8 mmolCH4.gCOD-1 (88% of the theoretical), respectively. These parameters were lower in fed-batch mode than in batch mode and were lower at 45°C than at 30°C due to biomass adaptation. In general, the values of the kinetic parameters increased with organic load and were similar for the batch and fed-batch modes. Therefore, the increase in organic load positively influenced the process by increased COD removal and lower volatile acids accumulation as the load increased. The batch mode performed better than did the fed-batch mode and 30°C was more suitable than 45°C to produce methane under the studied conditions.

Resumo O lagarto Salvator merianae é uma espécie bem distribuída na América do Sul, ocorrendo do sul da Amazônia até o leste dos Andes e norte da Patagônia. Estudos com a fauna parasitária desse lagarto revelaram que ele hospeda helmintos em vários biomas brasileiros. O presente trabalho fornece novo dado parasitológico sobre nematoda gastrointestinal associado ao lagarto S. merianae. Dezesseis amostras foram analisadas a partir de nove localidades diferentes na região semiárida do nordeste do Brasil. Foram identificadas cinco espécies de nematóide. Oswaldofilaria petersi foi registrado pela primeira vez parasitando S. merianae, aumentando assim o conhecimento da fauna de parasitas que infectam grandes lagartos neotropicais.

Abstract The lizard Salvator merianae is a widely distributed species in South America, occurring from southern Amazonia to the eastern Andes and northern Patagonia. Studies on the parasitic fauna of this lizard have revealed that it is a host for helminths in various Brazilian biomes. The present work provides new parasitological data on the gastrointestinal nematodes associated with the lizard S. merianae. Sixteen specimens were analyzed from nine different locations in a semi-arid region in northeastern Brazil. Five species of nematodes were identified. Oswaldofilaria petersi was first recorded as a parasite of the S. merianae, thus increasing the knowledge of the fauna of parasites that infect large Neotropical lizards.

Neste artigo são relatadas geometrias, propriedades magnéticas e espectroscópicas de complexos de croconato [M(C5O5)(H2O)4] (M= Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ e Zn2+), calculados com Teoria do Funcional de Densidade. O estado fundamental de todos os complexos obtido foi de alto spin, em acordo com a proposta experimental. As estruturas e freqüências vibracionais calculadas também estão em acordo com o experimento, embora as comparações feitas sejam com estruturas do estado sólido. As propriedades ópticas não lineares (ONL) foram calculadas para todos os compostos analisados, usando o método Time Dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) dentro da abordagem estática, sugerindo que estes complexos de metais de transição possam ser utilizados no desenvolvimento de novos materiais baseados em moléculas.

In this paper we report geometries, magnetic and vibrational spectroscopic properties of croconate complexes [M(C5O5)(H2O)4] (M= Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) calculated at the Density Functional Theory level. The ground state of all complexes was found to be of high spin, in accordance with the experimental proposal. The calculated structures and vibrational frequencies were also in agreement with experiment, even though comparisons were made with the solid state structure. The calculated nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were for all the compounds analyzed, using the Time Dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) method within the static approach, suggesting that these transition metal complexes might be considered as lead molecules to the development of novel based-molecular materials.

Os Cephalobaenidae constituem um dos principais grupos de pentastomídeos que parasitam o trato respiratório de serpentes. Foram coletados seis espécimes de Liophis lineatus pela utilização de coleta ativa e pitfalls instalados às margens da nascente do rio Batateiras, próximo à nascente, ‘APA - Área de Proteção Ambiental’ (um ambiente protegido pelo ‘IBAMA - Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Renováveis’), e em um remanescente de floresta úmida, "FLONA - Floresta Nacional do Araripe". Os dois pontos de coleta estão localizados no município de Crato, Estado do Ceará. Dos seis espécimes de L. lineatus examinados apenas um estava infectado por Cephalobaena tetrapoda em seu pulmão. Isso representa o primeiro registro de C. tetrapoda parasitando uma cobra no Nordeste brasileiro, assim como é o primeiro registro de um colubridae servindo de hospedeiro para C. tetrapoda no Brasil.

Cephalobaenidae constitutes one of the main pentastomid groups infecting the respiratory tract of snakes. Six specimens of Liophis lineatus, a colubrid, were collected by active capture and pitfalls installed on the banks of the Batateiras river, close to its source, in the ‘APA - Área de Proteção Ambiental’ (a protected environmental area of the ‘IBAMA - Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources’), and in a remnant of the humid tropical forest ‘FLONA - Floresta Nacional do Araripe’, both in the municipality of Crato, state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Out of the six specimens of L. lineatus examined, only one had its lung infected by the pentastomid Cephalobaena tetrapoda. This represents the first record of C. tetrapoda as a parasite of a snake in Northeast Brazil, as well as the first record of a colubrid, L. lineatus, as a new host for the pentastomid in Brazil.

The most interesting observations were: 1 - The "mal de cadeiras" (believed to be an equine trypanosomose, due to Trypanosoma equinum) is a syndrome originated from malnutrition, overwork, intense blood-loss through blood-sucking arthropods (chiefly tabanids and bot-flies) and aggravated by the conditions prevailing in the "Pantanal" region of Mato-Grosso, when the waters of the Paraguay river basin ebb, after the periodic flood. The trypanosomes act only as one more factor contributing to the horses debility. 2 - The "curso preto dos bezerros" (calves black scour), usually attributed to poly-helminthoses, was observed to be related exclusively to pure Strongyloides papillosus infestations.

Protozoa were collected by means of dry smears and cultures in Cleveland's medium contained in 2cm3 ampules. The isolation and subsequent cultivation of trichomonad organisms in ampules were generally successfull; but the cultures went down, when transferred to test-tubes in the same medium, apparently because of the liberation of characteristic pigment by Bacillus pyocyaneus.