RESUMO: Espécies silvestres têm sido cada vez mais exploradas como forma de obter informações que favoreçam sua conservação, especialmente aquelas ameaçadas de extinção. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a padronização dos valores de VHS (vertebral heart scale) e índice cardiotorácico (ICT) de catetos (Tayassu tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) contidos com Cetamina e Midazolam. Foram avaliados 14 catetos clinicamente saudáveis, com faixa etária de 2 anos e variação média de peso entre 15 a 22Kg. Os animais foram submetidos a radiografia digital de tórax em projeções laterolaterais e dorsoventrais para o cálculo do vertebral heart scale (VHS) e Índice Cardiotorácico (ICT). O VHS evidenciou valores médios entre machos e fêmeas de 8,88±0,51v para decúbito direito e 8,84±0,39v para decúbito esquerdo, não ocorrendo diferença estatística entre os decúbitos (p>0,05). O ICT revelou valores médios de 0,50±0,05 (machos) e de 0,45±0,04 (fêmeas), não sendo verificada diferença estatística significativa entre os sexos (p>0,05). Verificou-se correlação positiva entre VHS e o ICT (r=0,98, decúbito direito, r= 0,96, decúbito esquerdo). O estabelecimento dos valores de referência para mensurações cardíacas em catetos, a partir de radiografias digitais do tórax, permitiu a padronização do VHS e ICT para esta espécie silvestre. No modelo animal silvestre estudado, os índices de avaliação cardíaca VHS e ICT mostraram-se como uma ferramenta diagnóstica imprescindível para investigações sobre as alterações do tamanho da silhueta cardíaca.

ABSTRACT: Wild species, especially those threatened with extinction, are increasingly being investigated to obtain information that can be useful for their preservation. The objective of the present study was to standardize the vertebral heart scale (VHS) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) sedated with ketamine and midazolam. Fourteen clinically healthy collared peccaries were examined in the two-year age group weighing 15-22kg. The animals were submitted to digital radiography of the thorax in lateral and dorsal ventral projections to calculate the VHS and CTR. The VHS mean values for males and females was 8.88±0.51v for right recumbency and 8.84±0.39v for left decubitus, and there were no significant between-gender differences regarding recumbency (p>0.05). The CTR showed mean values of 0.50±0.05 (males) and 0.45±0.04 (females), but the gender-differences were not significant (p>0.05). A positive correlation was shown between VHS and CTR (r=0.98, right decubitus; r=0.96, left decubitus). Establishing reference values for heart measurements in collared peccaries using digital radiography of the thorax permitted standardization of the VHS and CTR values for this wild species. In the studied wild animal model, the VHS and CTR heart assessment indexes were shown to be essential diagnostic tools for investigations of alterations in the size of the cardiac silhouette.

ABSTRACT Despite extensive habitat fragmentation, the Neotropical region possesses 30% of the world´s bird species. Microsatellites have remained one of the most popular genetic markers and have been used in ecological and conservation studies since the 1990’s. We conducted a literature review comparing the number of papers published from January 1990 to July 2015 that used microsatellite markers for studies of wild birds in the Neotropical region, USA and some European countries. We assigned the articles to three categories of studies: population genetics, animal behavior/kinship analysis and the development of species-specific bird microsatellite markers. We also compared the studies in the Neotropics that used heterologous versus species-specific markers and provide a list of heterologous markers of utility in multiple birds. Despite the rich bird fauna in the Neotropics, the number of articles published represents only 5.6% of that published by the USA and selected European countries. Within the Neotropical region, Brazil possessed 60.5% of the total papers published, with the remaining 39.5% shared between five countries. We conclude that the lack of specialized laboratories and resources still represents a limit to microsatellite-based genetic studies of birds within the Neotropical region. To overcome these limitations, we suggest the use of heterologous microsatellite markers as a cost-effective and time-effective tool to assist ecological studies of wild birds.

A novel superabsorbent hydrogel (SH) composite based on a poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) matrix filled with nontronite (NONT), a Fe(III)-rich member of the smectite group of clay minerals, is described in this manuscript. A variety of techniques, including FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM/EDX, were utilized to characterize this original composite. Experimental data confirmed the SH composite formation and suggested NONT was completely dispersed in the polymeric matrix. Additionally, NONT improved the water uptake capacity of the final material, which exhibited fast absorption, low sensitivity to the presence of salt, high water retention and a pH sensitive properties. These preliminary data showed that the original SH composite prepared here possesses highly attractive properties for applications in areas such as the agriculture field, particularly as a soil conditioner.