A Dangerous Couple: Sequential Effect of Phosphorus Flame-Retardant and Polyurethane Decrease Locomotor Activity in Planarian .

Understanding the interplay among organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), microplastics, and freshwater organisms is crucial for unravelling the dynamics within freshwater environments and foreseeing the potential impacts of organic pollutants and plastic contamination. For that purpose, the present research assessed the exposure impact of 10 mg L flame-retardant aluminium diethylphosphinate (ALPI), 10 μg mg microplastics polyurethane (PU), and the combination of ALPI and PU on the freshwater planarian . The exposure to both ALPI and PU revealed a sequential effect, i.

Endoparasites in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of endoparasites in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the city of Sousa, state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. A total of 207 samples of fresh feces were randomly collected from domestic and semi-domiciled cats. The samples were analyzed by simple centrifugation and centrifuge-flotation in sucrose solution for the diagnosis of helminth eggs and enteric protozoan oocysts and cysts.

Seroepidemiological Survey of Anti- and Anti- Antibodies in Domestic Cats () in Rolim de Moura, State of Rondônia, North Brazil.

Epidemiological studies on infections by and in cats in the North Region of Brazil are scarce. We intended to assess the seroprevalence in cats of anti- and anti- antibodies, as well as the associated risk factors that may lead them to contract these infections in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondônia, North Brazil. For this, blood serum samples of 100 cats from different regions of the city were evaluated.

Effect of cyclosporin A on the toxicity of ivermectin, eprinomectin and moxidectin in populations of Rhipicephalus microplus.

Rhipicephalus microplus is mainly controlled by acaricides. However, reports of resistance to acaricides including macrocyclic lactones (MLs) have become frequent worldwide. Involvement of ABC transporters (ABCts) in populations resistant to ivermectin has been demonstrated.

Effects of Polyurethane Small-Sized Microplastics in the Chironomid, : Responses at Organismal and Sub-Organismal Levels.

Freshwater provides valuable services and functions to humankind. However, macroinvertebrates that underpin the delivery of many of those ecosystem services and functions are under an additional threat caused by microplastic pollution. Chironomids are one of the most abundant groups of macroinvertebrates in these environments and the most sensitive to microplastics.

Prevalence and diversity of spp. in free-range chickens in northeastern Brazil.

In tropical regions, family farming is a form of production and work that is highly present in rural areas. Because the production system for free-range chickens has a low level of technification, it frequently presents massive infection by coccidia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of species in free-range chickens in northeastern Brazil.

Microplastics in Internal Tissues of Companion Animals from Urban Environments.

Companion animals living in urban areas are exposed to environmental contaminants, which may include microplastics. A preliminary study was conducted by collecting postmortem samples from the internal tissue (lungs, ileum, liver, kidney, and blood clots) of 25 dogs () and 24 cats () living in an urban environment in Porto metropolitan area, Portugal. Suspected microplastics were found in 80 samples from 35 animals (18 cats and 17 dogs), often occurring in more than one tissue of the same animal (71.

The diversity of Eimeria spp. in cattle in the Brazilian Semiarid region.

The aim of the present study was to find out the diversity of Eimeria species in cattle herds in the semiarid region of Brazil. Forty cattle fecal samples were collected from 20 farms in the Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil, and examined by centrifugation-floatation technique in sucrose solution. From each positive animal, 20 oocysts were photographed and measured.

Cross-resistance between macrocyclic lactones in populations of Rhipicephalus microplus in Brazil's semiarid region.

Rhipicephalus microplus, also known as the cattle tick, is the parasite with the greatest impact on cattle in Brazil. The most common method for controlling this tick is the application of synthetic chemical acaricides, especially ivermectin, which belongs to the group of macrocyclic lactones (MLs). However, because ivermectin is widely used, there is concern about the development of cross-resistance within this chemical class.

Control of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes on pasture in the tropical semiarid region of Brazil, using Bioverm® (Duddingtonia flagrans).

We aimed to evaluate a Brazilian commercial formulation of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (Bioverm®) for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep kept on native pasture in the Caatinga biome, in the semiarid region of Brazil. Twenty ewes, aged between 12 and 18 months, were divided into two groups. In the treated group, each animal received 1 g of the Bioverm® product for each 10 kg of live weight, daily, together with commercial feed, for 6 months.

Co-Exposure with an Invasive Seaweed Exudate Increases Toxicity of Polyamide Microplastics in the Marine Mussel .

Plastic pollution and invasive species are recognised as pervasive threats to marine biodiversity. However, despite the extensive on-going research on microplastics' effects in the biota, knowledge on their combination with additional stressors is still limited. This study investigates the effects of polyamide microplastics (PA-MPs, 1 mg/L), alone and in combination with the toxic exudate from the invasive red seaweed (2%), after a 96 h exposure, in the mussel .

The road to sustainable use and waste management of plastics in Portugal.

Unlabelled: As a European Union (EU) member, Portugal must comply with reductions in plastic waste. In Portugal, the 330 items/100 m of beach litter, comprising up to 3.9 million pieces and of which 88% is plastic, is higher than the EU median (149 items/100 m) and must be reduced to 20 items/100 m (94%).

Evaluation of the combined assessment of two digital enhancement filters in periapical radiographs obtained with different projection angles in the detection of simulated dental root fractures.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the combined assessment of the original radiographic image with the Invert or Emboss digital enhancement filters in periapical radiographs obtained with different horizontal projection angles in the detection of simulated dental root fracture.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four single-rooted teeth were selected, out of which 17 teeth were subjected to root fracture. Each tooth was individually placed in an empty socket of a dry human maxilla or mandible and X-rayed following the paralleling technique at three horizontal projections: mesial, right angle, distal.

Preparation of biological samples for microplastic identification by Nile Red.

Many methods have been used to isolate and identify microplastics from biological matrices. In biological samples, Nile Red can stain undigested residues, such as fats, soaps, and gels formed during organic matter removal, hindering the identification of fluorescent microplastics (≥2 μm). Thus, adjustments on sample preparation (e.

Efficacy of a commercial fungal formulation containing Duddingtonia flagrans (Bioverm®) for controlling bovine gastrointestinal nematodes.

Bioverm® (Duddingtonia flagrans) is a fungal formulation indicated for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants and horses, which has recently been authorized for commercialization in Brazil. The objective was to determine the efficiency of Bioverm® against larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of cattle. Twelve animals were used, divided into two groups.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of the gentamicin against multidrug-resistant strains when complexed with Canavalia ensiformis lectin.

The lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific to sugar groups associated to other molecules. In addition to interacting with carbohydrates, a number of studies have reported the ability of these proteins to modulate the activity of several antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. In this study, we report the enhanced antibacterial activity of the gentamicin against MDR strains when complexed with a lectin from Canavalia ensiformis seeds (ConA).

COVID-19 Pandemic Repercussions on the Use and Management of Plastics.

Plastics are essential in society as a widely available and inexpensive material. Mismanagement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a monthly estimated use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves globally, is resulting in widespread environmental contamination. This poses a risk to public health as waste is a vector for SARS-CoV-2 virus, which survives up to 3 days on plastics, and there are also broad impacts to ecosystems and organisms.

Solutions and Integrated Strategies for the Control and Mitigation of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution.

Plastic pollution is generated by the unsustainable use and disposal of plastic products in modern society, threatening economies, ecosystems, and human health. Current clean-up strategies have attempted to mitigate the negative effects of plastic pollution but are unable to compete with increasing quantities of plastic entering the environment. Thus, reducing inputs of plastic to the environment must be prioritized through a global multidisciplinary approach.

Ingestion of small-sized and irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics affect Chironomus riparius life-history traits.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of freshwater ecosystems. Once in aquatic systems, most of these plastic particles undergo processes of fragmentation, biofouling, and sedimentation, resulting in increased concentrations of smaller sized and irregularly-shaped particles in the sediment. High levels of MPs in freshwater sediments can denote a potential threat to benthic and sediment-dwelling organisms such as dipteran larvae.

Salinity changes impact of hazardous chemicals in Enchytraeus albidus.

Supralittoral ecosystems are among the most challenging environments for soil organisms, particularly when salinity fluctuations are involved, frequently combined with the presence of contaminants as a result of intense anthropogenic activities. Knowledge of how salinity influences the effect of contaminants in supralittoral species is crucial for determining the safety factors required when extrapolating results from optimal laboratory conditions to these natural ecosystems. The present study therefore evaluated the effects of 2 metals (copper and cadmium) and 2 organic compounds (carbendazim and 4-nonylphenol) in the absence or presence of 15‰ NaCl in the potworm Enchytraeus albidus, a model organism for ecotoxicology studies commonly found in supralittoral ecosystems, The potworms had a higher reproduction in saline soil than in control soil.

Importance of freeze-thaw events in low temperature ecotoxicology of cold tolerant enchytraeids.

Due to global warming it is predicted that freeze-thaw cycles will increase in Arctic and cold temperate regions. The effects of this variation becomes of particular ecological importance to freeze-tolerant species when it is combined with chemical pollutants. We compared the effect of control temperature (2 °C), daily freeze-thaw cycles (2 to -4 °C) and constant freezing (-2 °C) temperatures on the cold-tolerance of oligochaete worms (Enchytraeus albidus) and tested how survival was influenced by pre-exposure to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), a common nonionic detergent found in sewage sludge amended soils.

Effectiveness of Asteraceae extracts on Trichostrongylidae eggs development in sheep.

Data on in vitro evaluation of extracts of three species of the Asteraceae family on the development of Trichostrongylidae eggs in sheep are presented. Egg hatchability was tested using herbal extracts prepared in a Soxhlet extractor, and using hydrolate prepared by means of hydrodistillation. The laboratory tests showed that the ethanol extract from flowers of the species Aster lanceolatus presented high activity against Trichostrongylidae eggs development in sheep, inhibiting larva formation by 91% within 48 hours, and maintaining similar rates after 72 hours.