Coated copper sulphate (CCS) could be used as a Cu supplement in cows. To investigate the influences of copper sulphate (CS) and CCS on milk performance, nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation, fifty Holstein dairy cows were arranged in a randomised block design to five groups: control, CS addition (7·5 mg Cu/kg DM from CS) or CCS addition (5, 7·5 and 10 mg Cu/kg DM from CCS, respectively). When comparing Cu source at equal inclusion rates (7·5 mg/kg DM), cows receiving CCS addition had higher yields of fat-corrected milk, milk fat and protein; digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF); ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration; activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, pectinase and α-amylase; populations of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes; and liver Cu content than cows receiving CS addition. Increasing CCS addition, DM intake was unchanged, yields of milk, milk fat and protein; feed efficiency; digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and acid-detergent fibre; ruminal total VFA concentration; acetate:propionate ratio; activity of cellulolytic enzyme; populations of total bacteria, protozoa and dominant cellulolytic bacteria; and concentrations of Cu in serum and liver increased linearly, but ruminal propionate percentage, ammonia-N concentration, α-amylase activity and populations of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus decreased linearly. The results indicated that supplement of CS could be substituted with CCS and addition of CCS improved milk performance and nutrient digestion in dairy cows.

Temperature is expected to modulate the responses of organisms to stress. Here, we aimed to assess the influence of temperature on the interaction between parasitism and fungicide contamination. Specifically, using the cladoceran Daphnia as a model system, we explored the isolated and interactive effects of parasite challenge (yeast Metschnikowia bicuspidata) and exposure to fungicides (copper sulphate and tebuconazole) at two temperatures (17 and 20 °C), in a fully factorial design. Confirming a previous study, M. bicuspidata infection and copper exposure caused independent effects on Daphnia life history, whereas infection was permanently suppressed with tebuconazole exposure. Here, we show that higher temperature generally increased the virulence of the parasite, with the hosts developing signs of infection earlier, reproducing less and dying at an earlier age. These effects were consistent across copper concentrations, whereas the joint effects of temperature (which enhanced the difference between non-infected and infected hosts) and the anti-parasitic action of tebuconazole resulted in a more pronounced parasite × tebuconazole interaction at the higher temperature. Thus, besides independently influencing parasite and contaminant effects, the temperature can act as a modulator of interactions between pollution and disease.

The gilthead seabream is the most important Mediterranean aquacultured fish species. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether copper sulphate bath treatments used routinely in aquaculture have effects on important physiological functions of early life stages of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Fingerlings (80–90 days, 0.27 ± 0.06 g) were exposed to copper sulphate baths at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.5 mg L−1 during 24 h. Effects on the central nervous function were evaluated analysing brain acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). Oxidative stress was assessed by the quantification of lipid peroxidation (LP). Heat shock proteins (HSP70) were used as a general response to chemical stress, RNA/DNA ratio as an indicator of growth, and effects on detoxification function were estimated using glutathione–S-transferases activity (GST). Exposure of S. aurata fingerlings to copper sulphate induced increased lipid peroxidation. In contrast, there were no significant changes in AChE activity, HSP70 levels, RNA/DNA ratio or GST activity. Particularly, the absence of response in GST activity points towards a limited extent of the putative damage caused by the treatments at the highest doses (evidenced through the levels of peroxidation), since this enzyme is directly implicated in detoxification processes involving redox cyclic products. The results suggest that copper sulphate baths at the conditions tested are safe treatments for S. aurata fingerlings.