ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effect of pre and postnatal exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide on glucose metabolism and liver histology in adult F1 mice offspring. Methods: Female mice (C57Bl/6) received 0.5% of glyphosate (Roundup Original DI®) in drinking water or purified water (Glyphosate Group and Control Group respectively) during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring (F1) were submitted to glucose and insulin tolerance tests and euthanized on postnatal day 150. Body and plasma parameters, and liver histology were analyzed. Results: Exposure to glyphosate reduced maternal body weight gain during pregnancy and lactation, with no impacts on litter size. Pre and postnatal exposure to glyphosate did not affect body parameters but increased glucose tolerance on postnatal day 60. In spite of glucose tolerance normalization by postnatal day 143, this effect was associated with higher insulin sensitivity relative to mice in the Control-F1 Group. Mice in the Glyphosate-F1 Group had mild and moderate lobular inflammation in the liver. Conclusion: Maternal exposure to glyphosate affected insulin sensitivity and caused hepatic inflammation in adult F1 mice offspring.

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the influence of autonomic vagal and splenic activities on renal histomorphometric aspects in obese rats. Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were used, of which, 24 received subcutaneous injections of monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the first 5 days of life (4 g/kg body weight) and six control animals received injections of saline solution (CON). Five experimental groups were organized (n = 6/group): falsely-operated control (CON-FO); falsely-operated obese (MSG-FO); vagotomized obese (MSG-VAG); splenectomized obese (MSG-SPL); vagotomized and splenectomized obese (MSG-VAG-SPL). Results The MSG-FO group animals showed a significant reduction in body weight and nasal-anal length when compared to CON-FO group animals (p < 0.05). The MSG-VAG-SPL group showed significant reduced in most biometric parameters associated with obesity. Falsely-operated obese animals showed a significant reduction in renal weight, glomerular diameters, glomerular tuff and capsule areas and Bowman’s space compared to CON-FO group animals (p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in diameter, glomerular tuft and capsule areas, and Bowman’s space in MSG-VAG, MSG-SPL, MSG-VAG-SPL groups when compared to the MSG-FO group. Conclusions Vagotomy associated with splenectomy induces a reduction in the adiposity and causes histological changes in the kidney of obese rats.

Resumo Epistilíase tem sido caracterizada como uma doença emergente de grande impacto nas pisciculturas, especialmente em sistemas de produção de Oreochromis niloticus. Embora seja importante epidemiologicamente, informações sobre a dispersão desses parasitas e seus vetores mecânicos são escassos. O presente estudo relata a coocorrência de Epistylis sp. como um epibionte de Dolops carvalhoi, um crustáceo parasita de espécimes cultivados e silvestres (de escapes acidentais) de O. niloticus em área de piscicultura de tanques-rede no reservatório de Ilha Solteira, Rio Grande, SP, Brasil. A coocorrência de Epistylis sp. e D. carvalhoi, e sua relação epibionte registrada neste estudo, supõem que Epistylis sp. possa utilizar os crustáceos para dispersão e como vetores mecânicos para a disseminação de doenças em hospedeiros silvestres e cultivados. Além disso, a troca de parasitas entre hospedeiros silvestres e cultivados é possível, considerando ambos os organismos (protozoários e argulídeos). Os resultados deste estudo, também demonstram a necessidade de monitorar as áreas adjacentes às pisciculturas como medida preventiva para a dispersão de patógenos. Este é o primeiro relato de epibiose entre Epistylis sp. e parasitas argulídeos de O. niloticus cultivados e silvestres, contribuindo para o conhecimento da especificidade parasitária do hospedeiro, distribuição geográfica, dispersão de agentes etiológicos e epidemiologia na aquicultura.

Abstract Epistyliasis has been characterized as an emergent disease which has a great impact on fish farms, especially on Oreochromis niloticus production systems. Although epidemiological important, information about the dispersion of these parasites and their mechanical vectors is scarce. The present study reported the cooccurrence of Epistylis sp. as an epibiont of Dolops carvalhoi, a parasitic crustacean of cultivated/wild specimens (from accidental release) of O. niloticus from a cage fish farm area in the Ilha Solteira Reservoir, Grande River, SP, Brazil. The co-occurrence of Epistylis sp. and D. carvalhoi, and their epibiont relationship registered in this study suppose that the Epistylis may use the crustaceans for dispersion and as mechanical vectors for the dissemination of diseases in wild and cultivated hosts. Moreover, exchange of parasites between wild and cultivated hosts is possible, considering both organisms (protozoan and argulid). Furthermore, the results of the present study demonstrate the need to monitor the areas adjacent to cage fish farms as a preventive measure for the dispersion of pathogens. This is the first report of epibiosis between Epistylis sp. and argulid parasites of cultivated and wild O. niloticus, contributing to knowledge about host-parasite specificity, geographical distribution, dispersion of etiological agents and epidemiology in aquaculture.

RESUMO Esse estudo avaliou brânquias e fígado de Astyanax bifasciatus como biomarcadores histológicos para biomonitoramento de riachos em áreas com diferentes usos do solo. Os peixes foram coletados por pesca elétrica em seis riachos na bacia do baixo rio Iguaçu. O objetivo foi correlacionar a presença e o grau de alterações histopatológicas em brânquias e fígado com as variáveis ambientais entre riachos com diferentes usos do solo. A baixa frequência de alterações histopatológicas encontradas em peixes de riachos florestados indicou funcionamento normal do órgão. Em peixes de riachos rurais e urbanos, as alterações histopatológicas encontradas foram em maior frequência, indicando danos leves para moderados em brânquias e fígado de peixes dos riachos rurais, e danos moderados para severos em fígado de peixes de riachos urbanos. As alterações histopatológicas em brânquias (aneurisma lamelar) e fígados (congestão vascular) observadas nos riachos impactados foram significativamente mais frequentes e severas. Foi possível distinguir os riachos com diferente uso do solo, sugerindo que estas alterações histopatológicas podem ser usadas como biomarcadores para estudos de biomonitoramento. A integridade da saúde dos peixes dos riachos nas áreas florestadas reforça ainda mais a importância de manter áreas de preservação nas bacias com intenso uso do solo.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated gills and liver of Astyanax bifasciatus as histological biomarkers for biomonitoring of streams along areas with different land uses. The fish were collected by electrofishing in six streams in the basin of the lower Iguaçu River. The objective was to correlate the presence and degree of histopathological alterations of gills and liver with the environmental variables among streams along different land uses. The low frequency of histopathological alterations found in fish from the forest streams suggested normal organ functioning. In fish from the rural and urban streams, the histopathological alterations occurred were in higher frequency, indicated light to moderate damage in gills and liver of fish from the rural streams, and moderate to severe damage in liver of fish from urban streams. The histopathological alterations in gills (lamellar aneurysm) and livers (vascular congestion) verified in impacted streams were significantly more frequent and severe. It was possible to distinguish streams along different land uses, suggesting that these histopathological alterations can be used as biomarkers for biomonitoring studies. The health integrity of fish from streams in forest areas further reinforces the importance of maintaining preservation areas in basins under intensive land use.