SUMMARYThe aquatic ecosystem is the natural habitat of microorganisms including Vibrio and Aeromonas genus which are pathogenic to human and animals. In the present investigation the frequency of these bacteria and the enzymatic characteristics of 34 Vibrio alginolyticus strains isolated from bivalves harvested in Venice Lagoon (Italy) and Guanabara Bay (Brazil) were carried out from November 2003 to February 2004. The mussels' samples were submitted to enrichment in Alkaline Peptone Water (APW) added with 1% of sodium chloride (NaCl) and APW plus 3% NaCl incubated at 37 o C for 18-24h. Following the samples were streaked onto TCBS Agar (Thiossulfate Citrate Bile Sucrose Agar) and the suspected colonies were submitted to biochemical characterization. Also, the Vibrio alginolyticus strains were evaluated to collagenase, elastase and chondroitinase production. The results showed the isolation of 127 microorganisms distributed as follows: 105 Vibrio strains such as V. alginolyticus (32.4%), V. harveyi (19%) and V. parahaemolyticus (7.6%), 20 Aeromonas strains and two Plesiomonas shigelloides were the main pathogens isolated. We observed the production of the three enzymes from V. alginolyticus strains considered as the main virulence factors of the bacteria, especially in cases of human dermatological infection.

Listeria monocytogenes occurrence was assessed in three slaughterhouses located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, by analysis of 209 bovine carcasses. Four sponge samples were obtained from each carcass in different steps (A, from hide, before bleeding; B, after hide removal; C, after evisceration; and D, after end washing), resulting in a total of 836 samples. The samples were tested for the presence of L. monocytogenes according to the International Organization for Standardization 11290-1, and positive results were recorded in steps A (1 of 209) and D (1 of 209) from slaughterhouse 03. L. monocytogenes isolates (n = 5) were identified by multiplex PCR as belonging to serogroup IIc (representing serotypes 1/2c or 3c) and presented identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles; in addition, the isolates harbored the virulence genes inlA, inlB, inlC, inlJ, plcA, hlyA, actA, and iap and were sensitive to ampicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, rifampin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazole. The obtained data indicated a low occurrence of L. monocytogenes on bovine hides and carcasses from slaughterhouses located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and the presence of distinct virulence makers and susceptibility to a variety of antimicrobials by the obtained isolates.

Myiases are caused by the presence of maggots in vertebrate tissues and organs. Myiases have been studied widely in humans, farm animals, and pets, whereas reports of myiasis in reptiles are scarce. We describe a case of myiasis caused by the Megaselia scalaris (Loew) in an Indian python (Python molurus bivittatus, Kuhl) (Ophida: Boidae). The python, 15 yr old, born and reared in a terrarium in the mainland of Venice (Italy), was affected by diffuse, purulent pneumonia caused by Burkholderia cepacia. The severe infestation of maggots found in the lungs during an autopsy indicated at a myiasis.

Biological control of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in ruminants is an alternative to reduce the number of infective larvae. The fungal isolates predatory activity preservation is a basic requirement for the success of this control type. The aim of this work is to evaluate the predatory capacity of the fungus Arthrobotrys robusta (isolate I-31), preserved on silica gel on infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus under laboratory conditions on 2 % water agar (2 % WA). In this essay, A. robusta storage on silica gel showed successful predatory activity on H. contortus L3 larvae (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. Nematophagous fungi were not observed in the control group during the experiment. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.01) of 73.84 % in the means of H. contortus (L3) recovered from treatment with isolate I-31 compared to the control without fungi. Results indicate that A. robusta (I-31) could survive stored on silica gel for at least 7 years and keep its predatory activity on H. contortus (L3).

A região do Sertão Pernambucano possui um enorme potencial à exploração do mercado pesqueiro e aquicultura, tendo em vista a proximidade com o rio São Francisco e a constante disponibilidade de sol, elementos fundamentais à proliferação de peixes. Entre as espécies presentes nesta região, pode-se destacar o Rhinelepis aspera, (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) conhecido como Carí e apreciado por sua carne saborosa. o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os parâmetros físico-químicos do Carí fresco, conforme as Normas Analíticas do instituto Adolfo Lutz, e avaliar o grau de conservação do produto através do teste de produção de H 2 S. os peixes, objeto do estudo, foram coletados nas principais feiras livres de Petrolina -PE, porém tinham sido capturados no lago de Sobradinho -BA, a 30 km da cidade. No mercado foram escolhidos os indivíduos que apresentavam as melhores características de frescor. Os peixes foram filetados, calculando o percentual de rendimento desta operação e, em seguida, preparado para as análises. Conforme os nossos resultados, o Carí possui 11,10% de proteína, 0,63% de lipídio e 0,89 de atividade de água. Alguns exemplares tiveram reação positiva ao H 2 S indicando um início do processo de degradação. Através do presente estudo, o peixe Carí possui características adequadas para consumo, porém possui condição inadequada de armazenamento na região estudada.