The isolation of Balamuthia mandrillaris from environmental sources from Peru.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is an opportunistic free-living amoeba that has been reported to cause skin lesions and the fatal Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (BAE) in humans and other animals. Currently, around 200 human BAE cases have been reported worldwide, although this number is considered to be underestimated. The highest number of BAE cases has been reported in the American continent, mainly in the southwest of the USA.

Biologic responses of bacteria communities living at the mucus secretion of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) after exposure to the carbon nanomaterial fullerene (C60).

Bacteria communities living in mucus secretions of common carp Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae) were exposed to the organic nanomaterial fullerene (C(60)) to evaluate its potential bactericidal effects. End points analyzed were viability, growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, and total antioxidant competence against peroxyl radicals. Viability was not affected (p > 0.

Metal-induced shifts in benthic macroinvertebrate community composition in Andean high altitude streams.

High altitude creates unique challenging conditions to biota that limit the diversity of benthic communities. Because environmental pollution may add further stress to life at high altitude, the present study explored the effect of metal pollution on the macroinvertebrate community composition in Andean streams between 3,500 to 4,500 meters above sea level (masl) during wet and dry seasons. At polluted sites, showing a high conductivity and a low pH, metal concentrations (e.

Responses of the mussel Anodontites trapesialis (Unionidae) to environmental stressors: effect of pH, temperature and metals on filtration rate.

To evaluate the suitability of the tropical freshwater mussel Anodontites trapesialis for ecotoxicity assays, we tested the effects of temperature, pH, and Cd, Cu and Zn on its filtration rate. This is a relevant, sensible sublethal endpoint given the ecological role that this mussel plays in Amazonian environments. Filtration rate was calculated from the clearance of algae, fed to mussels at different temperature, pH and metal concentrations.