Publications by authors named "Paula Baldassin"

Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the fatty acid profiles and persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in humpback whales from different regions of the Southern Ocean, Chile, and Brazil.
  • Significant differences were found in the fatty acid compositions, with whales in the Strait of Magellan showing a diet high in higher trophic level prey, while those from the Antarctic Peninsula and Brazil reflected a krill-based diet.
  • Elevated concentrations of pollutants, especially PCBs, were observed in whales from the Strait of Magellan, indicating a connection between their dietary habits and exposure to contaminants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Southern Hemisphere Megaptera novaeangliae undertake the longest migration, which reflect their exposure to lipophilic contaminants. To assess these changes, persistent organic pollutants were analyzed in blubber samples of humpback whales from three regions: the Antarctic Peninsula (n = 46), the Strait of Magellan, Chile (n = 22), and the Brazilian coast (n = 38). The similarity in PCB and HCB levels between individuals from feeding grounds and breeding grounds suggests contamination during feeding.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Several diseases have been reported as affecting endangered wild sea turtle population worldwide, including spirorchiidiasis. This parasitic infection results in serious circulatory disorders in sea turtles, as well as tissue damage due to the presence of spirorchiids eggs. However, few reports of organs severely affected by tissue replacement caused by granulomatous inflammatory processes due to spirorchiidiasis in sea turtles are available.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Studies of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in sea turtles are reported, but there are still spatial data gaps worldwide. POP contamination of live female blood plasma from Caretta caretta (n = 28), Chelonia mydas (n = 31) and Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 19), which nest in Brazil and feed along the South Atlantic Ocean, was investigated. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from red blood cells (RBC) were also evaluated to obtain information about trophic ecology.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Spheniscus magellanicus (Magellanic penguins) along the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, by analyzing their biliary metabolites.
  • 79 penguins, either found dead or admitted to rehabilitation, were tested for metabolites of three specific PAHs: naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo[a]pyrene, using advanced liquid chromatography techniques.
  • Results showed a range of total metabolite concentrations, primarily consisting of naphthalene metabolites, with benzo[a]pyrene detected in only two samples, marking a pioneering effort in assessing PAH bioavailability in this species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study presents the first report on the concentration of trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in the blood and egg fractions of green turtles from Rocas Atoll, a pristine nesting site in NE Brazil. The highest concentrations of all elements were in the blood or shell samples. In order, iron, Zn, Cu, Al and As presented the highest concentrations in all tissues.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fatal infection by Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) phenisci (Nematoda: Syngamidae), was identified in 2 of 52 brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) collected on beaches in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and admitted to the veterinary clinic for rehabilitation. Both infected birds were in poor physical condition, with atrophied pectoral muscles, and died soon after starting treatment. The parasitological and pathological examination of the carcasses revealed the presence of C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study offers the first description of proventriculitis associated with the presence of gravid female nematodes of the genus (Nematoda: Tetrameridae) in 3 juvenile Magellanic penguins () found dead on the coast of Brazil. This study broadens knowledge on parasites associated with these hosts and the real impact of this association.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The trematode (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) parasitizes the glands of the caudal esophagus of . In the present study, 741 were examined, 85 animals had adult specimens of associated with necrotizing ulcerous esophagitis, of these 85, 21 presented invasion of the esophageal mural vessels in the caudal esophagus of juvenile green turtles (). Necrotizing granulomatous splenitis, hepatitis, and nephritis were associated with the presence of parasites.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the present study, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in 25 livers from Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, found on the state of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The following concentrations of POPs (wet weight) were found: ∑ PCBs: 18.9-775.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF