The larval and pupal stages of Chironomus riparius are benthic dwellers which ingest sediment, and are commonly prey. In an environment with elevated selenium concentrations, they can accumulate it and transfer it to higher trophic level organisms upon being ingested. This study was conducted to: 1. Develop a method for performing acute toxicity tests using Chironomus riparius. 2. Establish relationships between dry mass and selenium content, and between dry mass and selenium body burden. 3. Determine whether bioaccumulation or bioconcentration contributed more to the selenium content and body burden of individual larvae. 4. Determine selenium concentrations which were acutely and chronically toxic to C. riparius, and whether previous exposure changed the acutely toxic concentration. 5. Evaluate adequacy of national surface water selenium criterion with respect to these data. In acute toxicity tests, 1 larva per 4 ml test solution was an acceptable organism density, and test solutions were successfully renewed by siphoning and refilling the test chamber. Regression showed that larval selenium content was linearly dependent on dry mass within instar, and body burden was negatively exponentially dependent on dry mass. Predicted body burdens were linearly dependent on dissolved selenium concentration. This indicated that bioconcentration was more important than bioaccumulation in determining body burdens. C. riparius readily acclimated after prolonged exposure to dissolved selenium, but became slightly more sensitive to selenium after prolonged exposure to substrate-adsorbed selenium. The national water quality selenium criteria may not protect against biomagnification in all ecosystems, and should be based on some environmental chemical factors. / Master of Science

Submitted by Angela Maria de Oliveira (amolivei@uepg.br) on 2018-11-04T18:48:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Gustavo Moraes.pdf: 5377838 bytes, checksum: 3d28c8b25b98063e3bc2c7a4a8d3efb4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-04T18:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Gustavo Moraes.pdf: 5377838 bytes, checksum: 3d28c8b25b98063e3bc2c7a4a8d3efb4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Objetivo: Esta Dissertação foi composta por dois estudos. O primeiro avaliou métodos de esterilização de dispositivos palatais acrílicos para uso animal, bem como realizou a contaminação dos mesmos com Candida albicans. Ademais, verificou-se a duração da candidose bucal induzida por diferentes protocolos em ratos Wistar imunocompetentes e a efetividade da indução da estomatite protética em ratos imunocompetentes sob antibioticoterapia. O segundo avaliou parâmetros histológicos e bioquímicos como marcadores da toxicidade aguda hepática, renal, pulmonar e gástrica causada pela administração via gavage de doses tóxicas de clorexidina (Clx) nesses animais. Material e métodos: No Estudo I, dispositivos acrílicos foram confeccionados a partir de moldagens dos palatos dos animais utilizando moldeiras individuais e poliéter. Verificou-se a esterilização dos dispositivos (n=5) por meio do uso de micro-ondas (MO), luz ultravioleta (UV), ultrassom (US) ou nenhum método (CN), a partir de análises da viabilidade das colônias e em espectrofotômetro. Então, realizou-se a contaminação dos aparatos com um biofilme de C. albicans, a qual foi confirmada por meio de contagem de Unidades Formadoras de Colônia (UFC)/mL (n=6) e microscopia confocal a laser (n=5). Posteriormente, 20 animais foram divididos em cinco grupos (n=4): Cn=nenhum protocolo; Di=cimentação de dispositivo estéril; In=inoculação de suspensão de C. albicans no palato, sem a utilização de dispositivos; Dc=cimentação de dispositivo contaminado com C. albicans; In+Dc=junção dos grupos In e Dc. Os ratos foram monitorados durante uma semana para verificar a presença de sinais clínicos de candidose bucal por meio de fotografias dos palatos e línguas. Foi realizada a contagem de UFC/mL a partir de coletas feitas nos palatos utilizando swabs. Ao final dos sete dias, realizou-se a eutanásia e os palatos e línguas foram removidos para análise histopatológica. Finalmente, outros animais submetidos aos grupos Cn (n=2), Di (n=6) ou In+Dc (n=6) receberam tetraciclina na água de beber 7 dias antes de serem submetidos aos protocolos. Após o período de instalação da infecção (4 dias utilizando os dispositivos), as mesmas análises foram realizadas. No Estudo II, dois grupos foram avaliados (n=9): CN=administração de 1,5 mL de água destilada (veículo) via gavage ou Clx=1,5 g/Kg de Clx diluída no veículo. Após 24 h, os animais tiveram seu sangue coletado e órgãos removidos. No plasma, foram analisados os níveis de ureia, creatinina e ácido úrico (para análise do funcionamento renal), transaminase glutâmico-oxalacética (TGO), transaminase glutâmico-pirúvica (TGP) e fosfatase alcalina (FA) (para análise do funcionamento hepático), glicemia e lactato desidrogenase. Os órgãos foram avaliados por meio de análise histopatológica. Resultados: No Estudo I, o MO foi o único método que esterilizou os dispositivos (p<0,05; ANOVA 1-fator/Tukey HSD) e o protocolo de contaminação foi considerado adequado, com formação de biofilme composto por hifas e leveduras viáveis (1,2 x 106 UFC/mL). Não foram observadas alterações clínicas nos palatos dos animais. Foram observadas regiões despapiladas nas 11 línguas dos animais dos grupos In, Dc e In+Dc em até quatro dias após a indução da infecção. A recuperação de C. albicans a partir das coletas foi considerada baixa e os maiores valores foram obtidos no grupo In+Dc. Histologicamente, os tecidos apresentaram-se sem alterações epiteliais e no conjuntivo. Estando os animais sob antibioticoterapia, o valor recuperado de C. albicans foi 10 vezes superior para o grupo In+Dc após a instalação da infecção (1,3 x 104 UFC/mL). Foram observados eritema puntiforme e edema tecidual no palato e despapilação na língua desses animais. Histologicamente, foram observados microabscessos e infiltrado inflamatório no palato, além de invasão fúngica no epitélio das línguas. No Estudo II, a Clx provocou perda de peso (p=0,001) e redução no consumo de ração (p=0,008; ANOVA 2-fatores de medidas repetidas/Tukey HSD) e aumento nos níveis de TGO (p=0,026) e TGP (p=0,009) e redução nos níveis de FA (p=0,020; teste T nãopareado). Histologicamente, foram encontradas maiores alterações hepáticas (p=0,009; teste Qui-quadrado) para os animais do grupo CN e maiores alterações gástricas (p=0,05), para o grupo Clx, os quais apresentaram danos moderados (escore 3). Conclusão: No Estudo I, o método MO esterilizou os dispositivos; biofilme de C. albicans foi formado sobre os mesmos e a estomatite protética em animais sob antibioticoterapia foi evidenciada macroscopicamente, microscopicamente e histologicamente. No estudo II, a Clx administrada por gavage causou hepatotoxicidade e danos gástricos nos animais. / Purpose: This Dissertation was composed by two studies. The first study evaluated sterilization methods of acrylic palatal devices for animal use, as well as performed their contamination with Candida albicans. In addition, the duration of oral candidosis induced by different protocols in immunocompetent Wistar rats and the effectiveness of the induction of denture stomatitis in immunocompetent Wistar rats under antibiotic therapy was analyzed. The second one evaluated the effectiveness of histological and biochemical parameters as markers of acute hepatic, renal, pulmonary, and gastric toxicity caused by gavage administration of toxic doses of chlorhexidine (Chx) in Wistar rats. Material and methods: For the first study, acrylic devices were made from impressions of the animals’ palate with individual trays and polyether. Sterilization of the devices (n=5) was verified after submission to microwave (MW), ultraviolet light (UV), ultrasonic bath (US), or none method (NC), and assessed by colony viability and spectrophotometric analyses. Then, devices’ contamination with C. albicans was performed and confirmed by counting Colony Forming Units (CFU)/mL (n=6) and by laser confocal microscopy (n=5). Subsequently, 20 animals were divided into five groups (n=4): Nc=none protocol; Id=cementation of a sterile intraoral device; In=inoculation of a C. albicans suspension on the palate, without wearing a device; Cd=cementation of a device contamined by C. albicans; In+Cd=junction of In and Cd groups. The rats were monitored for one week to verify the presence of clinical signs of oral candidosis by taking photographs of their palates and tongues. CFU/mL counts were determined from the collected material of their palates using swabs. After one week, euthanasia was performed and the palates and tongues were removed for histopathological analysis. Finally, other animals of Nc (n=2), Id (n=6), or In+Cd groups (n=6) received tetracycline in the drinking water 7 days before being submitted to the protocols. After the disease installation period (four days using the devices), the same analyzes were performed. For the second study, two groups were evaluated (n=9): NC=administration of 1.5 mL of distilled water (vehicle) via gavage or Chx=1.5 g/Kg of Chx diluted in the vehicle. After 24 h, the animals had their blood collected and organs removed. In the plasma, the levels of urea, creatinine and uric acid (for kidney assessment), glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) (for liver assessment), glycemia and lactate dehydrogenase were analyzed. The organs were evaluated by histopathological analysis. Results: In the first study, MW was the only method capable of sterilizing the devices (p<0.05; ANOVA 1-way/Tukey HSD), and the protocol used for contamination was considered satisfactory, developing a biofilm composed by viable hyphae and yeasts (1.2 x 106 CFU/mL). No clinical changes were observed in the palates of the animals. Areas of localized papillary atrophy were observed on the tongue dorsum of animals from In, Cd, and In+Cd groups until four days after the infection installation. The recovery of C. albicans was considered low and the highest values were obtained from the In+Cd group. Histologically, no alterations were observed. With the animals under antibiotic 13 therapy, the recovered values of C. albicans were 10 times higher for the In+Cd group after the infection installation (1.3 x 104 CFU/mL). It was observed localized erythema and tissue edema on the palatal mucosa and papillary atrophy on tongue dorsum of these animals. Histologically, microabscesses and inflammatory infiltrate in the palate, as well as fungal invasion in the tongue epithelium were also observed. In the second study, Clx caused weight loss (p=0.001), and reduction in food intake (p=0.008; ANOVA 2-way for the repeated measures/Tukey HSD), respiratory distress, and an increase in GOT (p=0.026) and GPT levels (p = 0.009), and decrease in AP levels (p=0.020; unpaired t-test). Microscopically, higher hepatic alterations (p=0.009; Chi-squared test) were found for NC group and higher gastric alterations (p=0.05), for Chx group, which showed moderate changes (score 3). Conclusion: In the first study, MW sterilized the devices; C. albicans biofilm was formed on their surfaces; denture stomatitis in animals under antibiotic therapy was evidenced macroscopically, microscopically, and histologically. In the second study, Chx gavage administration caused hepatotoxicity and gastric damage.