Information regarding parasitic fauna of cetaceans from Costa Rica is provided for the first time. A total of 25 stranded dolphins and whales were examined between 2001 and 2009, including striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) (n=19), pantropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata) (n=2), spinner dolphin (S. longirostris) (n=1), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (n=1), dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) (n=1) and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) (n=1). Pathological findings associated with the parasites are also presented. In the most representative dolphin species, S. coeruleoalba, the prevalence of parasites was 89.5%; moreover, all examined specimens of S. attenuata, S. longirostris, T. truncatus and Z. cavirostris presented parasites. No parasites were recovered from K. sima. Fourteen helminth taxa were identified, including six species of cestodes (Strobilocephalus triangularis, Tetrabothrius forsteri, Trigonocotyle sp., Phyllobothrium delphini, Monorygma grimaldi, Tetraphyllidea gen. sp. plerocercoid), four digeneans (Nasitrema globicephalae, Brachycladium palliatum, B. pacificum and Oschmarinella albamarina) and four nematodes (Anisakis spp., Halocercus lagenorhynchi, Halocercus sp. and Crassicauda anthonyi). A commensal crustacean, Xenobalanus globicipitis, was also identified. All identified parasites representing new geographic records for the Pacific coast of Central America and new host records are presented. Parasitological information is valuable for conservation of cetaceans in Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in gene expression and affect the development of tumours, including breast cancer (BC). Polymorphisms in miRNA genes can affect the interaction of miRNAs with their target messenger RNA by interfering, creating or disrupting target sites. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2910164, located in the seed region of miR146a, was shown to be associated with BC among different populations. In the present study, we investigated whether rs2910164 is associated with BC in 326 patients and 411 controls from a Brazilian population of predominantly European ancestry. The presence of the allele rs2910164*C was associated with an increased risk of BC (OR=1.4, 95% CI=1.03-1.85, p = 0.03). We also analysed publicly available RNA-seq data to evaluate if miR146a is differentially expressed in different subtypes of BC. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). By leveraging public data from TCGA database, we analysed 461 patients and found that miR146a is significantly more expressed in BC than in non-tumor tissue (1.47 fold, p = 0.02) and is expressed to a greater degree in aggressive BC subtypes.

In tropical and subtropical regions of the world, parasitic diseases are a main cause of losses in livestock productivity. The increased acquired resistence to anthelmintics by gastrointestinal nematodes, requires biological control be considered as a potential feasible and effective alternative. The most effective natural soil enemies of nematodes are nematophagous fungi. In order to collect and identify predator nematophagous fungi (PNF), samples were obtained from 51 farms distributed throughout the seven provinces of Costa Rica. The origin samples included: soil from different crops (potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, ornamental plants, squash and coffee); animal feces (cattle, sheep, goat and horse); soil and fallen leaves from forest; and plants with signs of nematode infection. Each sample was processed using three techniques for the extraction of fungi from soil: sprinkling technique, soil dilution and humidity chamber. Twenty four strains of nematophagous fungi were found in 19 farms; 83.3% of the fungi were isolated by sprinkling technique. The following fungi were idenified: Arthrobotrys oligospora (n=13); Candelabrella musiformis (n=9); and for the first time there was isolation of A. conoides (n=1) and A. dactyloides (n=1) in the country. Moreover, 16 strains from Trichoderma (n=13), Beauveria (n=1), Clonostachys (n=1) and Lecanicillium (n=1) were obtained. In addition, pH of each possible fungal isolation source was measured, and it varied from 5.2 to 9.9, however PNF isolates fell within the range of 5.6 to 7.5. The PNF strains were cultivated in four different media for the production of chhlamydospores: potato dextrose agar (PDA); corn meal agar (CMA); malt extract agar (MEA) and potato carrot agar (PCA). Out of these cultures, 95.8% of the strains formed chlamydospores primarily in the PCA. Of these strains, the profilic spore producers were subjected to ruminant artificial gastrointestinal conditions. A total of 14 fungi were tested, out of which 42.9% survived the digestive analysis. Neither A. conoides nor A. dactyloides were viable following the in vitro gastrointestinal test. The PNF isolated in this study demostrated an action against ovine and caprine gastrointestinal nematodes and are candidates for use in biological control of these organisms. Among these microorganisms, Candelabrella musiformis appears to be the most promising fungi for use as a biological control agent in

O presente estudo objetivou elaborar e caracterizar fishburguer elaborado com subprodutos da filetagem da tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus), bem como analisar o processo de congelamento e avaliar a vida de prateleira do produto. Assim, elaborou-se fishburguer utilizando carne mecanicamente separada de carcaça e das aparas do corte em "V. Realizaram-se análises de composição centesimal, rendimento na cocção (%RC), textura instrumental, das curvas de congelamento, e avaliação da vida de prateleira por um período de 15 semanas de armazenamento congelado. O fishburguer teve umidade (73,3 ± 0,2) %, proteínas (13,7 ± 0,2) % e baixo teor de lipídios (6,7 ± 0,5) %. O produto apresentou %RC de 80,9 ± 1,3 % e parâmetros de textura similar ao de fishburguer de filé de tilápia, exceto a maior dureza (~40 N) que se assemelhou a de hambúrguer suíno. O congelamento ocorreu de forma lenta e alcançou as temperaturas de -5 °C e -18 °C em 1,23 ± 0,03 h e 1,69 ± 0,04 h, respectivamente. Não ocorreram alterações físico-químicas e sensoriais no armazenamento congelado, exceto para redução da contagem de bactérias mesófilas e enterobactérias, assim como a mudança da cor instrumental do fishburguer cru que se tornou mais amarelado e menos vermelho a partir da sexta semana. O odor e sabor a peixe se mantiveram aceitáveis pelo painel sensorial no período avaliado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Oreochromis niloticus; carne mecanicamente separada; composição centesimal; curvas de congelamento; armazenamento congelado. ABSTRACTThe present study aimed to produce and conduct characterization of fish burger made from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) filleting by-products. Besides this, the freezing process and the shelf life of the product were evaluated. Fish burger was prepared using mechanically separated meat from carcass and "V"-cut trimmings. Analyses of proximate composition, cooking yield (%RC), instrumental textural analysis, freezing curves, and evaluation of product's shelf life during 15 weeks of frozen storage were conducted. The fish burger had moisture (73.3 ± 0.2) %, protein (13.7 ± 0.2) % and a low lipid (6.7 ± 0.5) % content. %RC was 80.9 ± 1.3 %. Texture parameters were similar to fish burger made from tilapia fillet, except by the higher hardness (~40 N) which was comparable to pork hamburger. The freezing occurred slowly and reached the temperatures of -5 °C and -18 °C in 1.23 ± 0.03 h and 1.69 ± 0.04 h, respectively. There were no physicochemical and sensory changes in frozen storage, except for a reduction in mesophilic bacteria and enterobacteria counts, and a modification in the instrumental color. The raw fish burger became more yellow and less red, after the sixth week. The odor and taste of fish remained acceptable by the sensory panel during the period evaluated.