The determination of hematological values is used to obtain knowledge about the health conditions of animal species. The big-headed Amazon River turtles, (Peltocephalus dumerilianus)are considered one of the least known testudine species concerning their biology and health status. Herein, we determined the hematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 17 (eight males and nine females) adult P. dumerilianusto provide reference interval values for clinically healthy individuals. We collected the blood samples by puncturing the femoral vein using long heparinized hypodermic syringes. Sexual dimorphism for individuals was determined by external observation of the shape of the plastron. The average values obtained for the ten hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed were red blood cell count = 0.32 million µL-1; hematocrit = 20.6 %; hemoglobin = 8.5 g dL-1; mean corpuscular volume = 681.6 fL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin = 267.8 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = 41.9 g dL-1; glucose = 80.6 mg dL-1, total protein = 4.1 g dL-1, triglycerides = 388.9 mg dL-1, and total cholesterol = 79.3 mg dL-1. Despite the sexual dimorphism evidenced for the species, there was no significant statistical difference between males and females for both hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed herein. Based on these results, the population is considered healthy, with parameter values coinciding with previously reported reference ranges for testudines species in the region. The results obtained in this study can be used for assessing the health status of other Amazonian turtle populations, especially in actions aimed at cultivation strategies, management, and species conservation.

Length-weight relationships (LWR) were calculated for five freshwater ornamental fish species from the middle Negro River basin in the Brazilian Amazon. Samplings were carried out from October 2011 to February 2012, and the specimens were found close to stream margins and submersed tree trunks and captured with hand nets. This study provides the LWR and condition factor (Kn) parameters for Carnegiella strigata butterfly fish, Dekeyseria brachyura jaguar fish, Dicrossus maculatus chess fish, Paracheirodon axelrodi cardinal and Petitella georgiae drunk’s nose. Descriptive statistics and estimated LWR parameters, including coefficient of determination (r2) and 95% confidence limits for a and b. Values of a ranged from 0.005 to 0.014, b ranged from 2.555 to 3.418, and r2 ranged from 0.931 to 0.996. Every species of fish displayed allometric growth (b ≠ 3). No difference was observed between the Kn of the five fish species, indicating good body condition. The information gathered here could be helpful for population dynamics research as well as for developing conservation and sustainable management plans for ornamental fish populations in the middle Negro River basin, Amazonas, Brazil.

Cytomorphological evaluation of peripheral blood provides information about the health status of animals, in addition to being indicators of environmental contamination. However, reference data regarding the size and shape of elasmobranch blood cells is limited. This work aimed to determine the morphological and morphometric of Potamotrygon motoro and Potamotrygon orbignyi blood cells. The stingrays were captured in white water environments in the lower Solimões River region, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Blood was obtained through puncture of the branchial artery using syringes with 10% EDTA. Morphological and morphometric analyses of the cells were carried out on blood samples stained with May Grunwald-Giemsa-Wright. Erythrocytes, erythroblasts (immature erythrocytes), thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, eosinophils and basophils were identified in the blood of both species. No evidence of erythrocyte abnormalities was found, and the blood cell’s morphological characteristics were similar to those described for other species of freshwater stingrays. Despite the identical shape, the size of erythrocytes, monocytes and heterophils were significantly different between the stingray species analyzed. The information obtained in this study will assist in developing biomarkers of aquatic contamination and contribute to future research on the clinical diagnosis and conservation of freshwater stingrays.

Determining hematological values is essential to provide baseline health and condition data. We evaluated the hematological parameters of free-living individuals of Caiman crocodilus and Melanosuchus niger from the middle Negro River region of Brazil. We captured 18 C. crocodilus and 16 M. niger. Blood was drawn using syringes containing 10% EDTA, and blood parameters were determined as previously described. The analyzed erythrocyte parameters were similar across the species, demonstrating that, despite their different sizes, they share similar strategies for oxygen absorption and transport in the blood. In the morphological analysis of blood cells, erythrocytes, erythroblasts, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, azurophils, heterophils, and basophils were found, and, in the quantification of leukocytes and thrombocytes, it was noted that lymphocytes are the central cells in the blood of the Amazonian caiman. In the plasma metabolite results, no significant differences were observed between glucose and total protein levels. Key physiological parameters were established to assess the health of C. crocodilus and M. niger, enabling the application of this information to sustainable captive production programs and helping to reduce pressure on wild populations.

No campo educacional, o ChatGPT é considerado uma ferramenta fértil para o aprendizado. No entanto, as respostas geradas podem conter equívocos e induzir o usuário leigo a erros potencialmente danosos, caso as informações sejam voltadas à saúde humana, como dúvidas sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (ISTs). Nesse sentido, este trabalho objetivou avaliar o grau de precisão e confiabilidade das respostas do ChatGPT sobre as ISTs. Foram elaboradas 48 perguntas sobre as oito ISTs mais frequentes na população brasileira. Todas as perguntas foram feitas ao ChatGPT, na versão GPT-4, e as respostas foram analisadas com auxílio de literatura especializada. Verificou-se um índice de 100% de acerto nas respostas geradas pelo ChatGPT, sendo que as informações estavam atualizadas e não induziram o usuário a um comportamento sexual de risco. Sendo assim, conclui-se que o ChatGPT é capaz de fornecer respostas precisas e confiáveis sobre ISTs, podendo ser utilizado como uma ferramenta educacional satisfatória.