A Tropical Estuary Where Mercury Does Not Biomagnify and its Adjacent Waters that Render Extremely High Mercury Concentrations in Top Predators.

In general, mercury (Hg) undergoes biomagnification in aquatic systems. The absence of Hg biomagnification in a certain aquatic environment constitutes an exceptional finding and this seems to be the case for Sepetiba Bay, in Rio de Janeiro state (RJ), Brazil. There are three distinct ecological populations of Guiana dolphins in the Sepetiba Bay (SB)-Ilha Grande Bay (IGB) Complex, inhabiting: (1) the inner part of SB; (2) SB entrance; and (3) IGB.

Back on top: Resuspended by dredging and other environmental disturbances, organochlorine compounds may affect the health of a dolphin population in a tropical estuary, Sepetiba Bay.

Organochlorine compounds (OCs) are persistent organic pollutants linked to damaging the immune and endocrine systems, leading to a greater susceptibility to infectious diseases at high concentrations. Sepetiba Bay, in the Southeastern Brazilian coast, historically presents anthropogenic activities and environmental contamination that could negatively impact resident populations. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the temporal trends in the accumulation of organochlorine compounds over a 12-year database in the Guiana dolphins' (Sotalia guianensis) resident population from Sepetiba Bay, including individuals collected before, during, and after an unusual mortality event triggered by morbillivirus (n = 85).

Brominated flame retardants and natural organobrominated compounds in a vulnerable delphinid species along the Brazilian coast.

Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, are vulnerable to extinction along their distribution on the Brazilian coast and assessing chemical pollution is of utmost importance for their conservation. For this study, 51 carcasses of Guiana dolphins were sampled across the Brazilian coast to investigate legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants (BFRs) as well as the naturally-produced MeO-BDEs. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, whereas emerging BFRs were detected in 16 % of the samples, all in Rio de Janeiro state.

Effect of low and high concentrate supplementation on health and welfare indicators in different breeds in small-scale mountain dairy farms.

We investigated and compared the effects of low and high concentrate supplementation in terms of animal welfare, health and reproductive performance in two different dairy cow breeds on small-scale mountain farms. 64 South Tyrolean dairy farms were evaluated using an on-farm assessment for animal-based and resource-based welfare indicators, data from test day records, and a questionnaire for the farmer. Farms were divided into four groups: low input Tyrolean Grey (L-TG), low input Brown Swiss (L-BS), high input Tyrolean Grey (H-TG) and high input Brown Swiss (H-BS).

Changes in mercury distribution and its body burden in delphinids affected by a morbillivirus infection: Evidences of methylmercury intoxication in Guiana dolphin.

An unusual mortality event (UME) attributed to morbillivirus infection was identified in two Guiana dolphin populations from the Southeastern Brazilian coast. The aim of this study was to characterize total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and body burden in Guiana dolphins from Sepetiba Bay (RJ) collected before (n = 61) and during the UME (n = 20). Significantly lower Se concentrations were found in the livers of individuals collected during the UME (Mann-Whitney test; p = 0.

The Pathology of Cetacean Morbillivirus Infection and Comorbidities in Guiana Dolphins During an Unusual Mortality Event (Brazil, 2017-2018).

(CeMV; ) is the most significant pathogen of cetaceans worldwide. The novel "multi-host" Guiana dolphin (; GD)-CeMV strain is reported in South American waters and infects Guiana dolphins and southern right whales (). This study aimed to describe the pathologic findings, GD-CeMV viral antigen distribution and detection by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), and infectious comorbidities in 29 Guiana dolphins that succumbed during an unusual mass-mortality event in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, between November 2017 and March 2018.

Total tin (TSn) biomagnification: Evaluating organotin trophic flow and dispersion using hepatic TSn concentrations and stable isotope (C, N) data of nektonic organisms from Brazil.

A previous investigation of our research team has demonstrated the suitability of using hepatic total tin (ΣSn) concentrations for evaluating dolphin exposure to organotins (OTs). The present study develops the previous technique into three different approaches that comprise data: (1) on hepatic ΣSn concentrations of 121 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from five different coastal areas (CAs): (2) on ΣSn, δC and δN for 40 dolphins from Rio de Janeiro state (RJ), including ten different delphinid species; as well as (3) on hepatic ΣSn concentrations and δN values on 31 individuals from five different fish species from Sepetiba Bay (SB, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil). Hepatic ΣSn concentrations of Guiana dolphins from Guanabara Bay (GB, RJ) were significantly higher than those found in other four CAs from S and SE Brazilian regions.

Pyrethroid insecticides along the Southwestern Atlantic coast: Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) as a bioindicator.

The presence of pyrethroid compounds in hepatic tissue of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) is reported for the first time. Twelve pyrethroids were determined in 50 animals from eight locations of the Brazilian coast. The highest average concentration of total pyrethroids (∑PYR) was 1166 ng.

Clinical signs in free-ranging Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis during a morbillivirus epidemic: case study in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil.

From November 2017 to March 2018, a cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) outbreak caused an unprecedented mass mortality among Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis in Ilha Grande Bay and Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Small boat surveys were conducted to document the behavior and clinical signs presented by diseased dolphins. We observed 5 abnormally behaving, disoriented Guiana dolphins on separate days, of which 1 died stranded and 2 sank.

Comparative Immunopathology of Infection in Free-Ranging Dolphins From Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic.

(CeMV; ) causes epizootic and interepizootic fatalities in odontocetes and mysticetes worldwide. Studies suggest there is different species-specific susceptibility to CeMV infection, with striped dolphins (), bottlenose dolphins (), and Guiana dolphins () ranking among the most susceptible cetacean hosts. The pathogenesis of CeMV infection is not fully resolved.

Comparative histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical studies on CeMV infection among Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic cetaceans.

Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a major natural cause of morbidity and mortality in cetaceans worldwide and results in epidemic and endemic fatalities. The pathogenesis of CeMV has not been fully elucidated, and questions remain regarding tissue tropism and the mechanisms of immunosuppression. We compared the histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical features in molecularly confirmed CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Northeast-Central Atlantic (Canary Islands, Spain) and the Western Mediterranean Sea (Italy).

Whistle comparison of four delphinid species in Southeastern Brazil.

The present study evaluates variations in frequency and duration parameters of whistles of four dolphin species (Sotalia guianensis, Steno bredanensis, Stenella frontalis, and Tursiops truncatus), recorded in the Rio de Janeiro State Coast, Southeastern Brazil. A total of 487 whistles were analyzed. Acoustic parameters of the whistles were classified to species by discriminant function analysis.

Toxic heritage: Maternal transfer of pyrethroid insecticides and sunscreen agents in dolphins from Brazil.

Pyrethroids (PYR) and UV filters (UVF) were investigated in tissues of paired mother-fetus dolphins from Brazilian coast in order to investigate the possibility of maternal transfer of these emerging contaminants. Comparison of PYR and UVF concentrations in maternal and fetal blubber revealed Franciscana transferred efficiently both contaminants to fetuses (F/M > 1) and Guiana dolphin transferred efficiently PYR to fetuses (F/M > 1) different than UVF (F/M < 1). PYR and UVF concentrations in fetuses were the highest-ever reported in biota (up to 6640 and 11,530 ng/g lw, respectively).

Trophic relationships and habitat preferences of delphinids from the southeastern Brazilian coast determined by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition.

To investigate the foraging habitats of delphinids in southeastern Brazil, we analyzed stable carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) isotopes in muscle samples of the following 10 delphinid species: Sotalia guianensis, Stenella frontalis, Tursiops truncatus, Steno bredanensis, Pseudorca crassidens, Delphinus sp., Lagenodelphis hosei, Stenella attenuata, Stenella longirostris and Grampus griseus. We also compared the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values among four populations of S.

Perirectal NOTES access: "down-to-up" total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Objectives: Clinical natural orifice surgery has been applied for abdominal surgery in recent years, mostly by vaginal and oral access. The study describes preliminary successful human applications of transcolonic natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), using a new transrectal total mesorectal excision procedure for rectal cancer.

Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for the study.

Whistles emitted by Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in Southeastern Brazil.

The whistles of Atlantic spotted dolphins have been studied in a few localities of the North Atlantic Ocean and those studies revealed that the species emits whistles within a broad frequency range, with a high number of inflection points and presence of harmonics. In the South Atlantic Ocean, there is no information about the sounds produced by Atlantic spotted dolphins. A total of 1092 whistles emitted by free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins in Southeastern Brazilian coastal waters were analyzed.

Myopathy associated with atorvastatin-ezetimibe combination therapy.

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) play a prominent role in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Overall, statins are well tolerated, with a low occurrence of adverse effects. More serious reactions to statins have been reported, although they are rare (e.