大泷六线鱼放流群体与野生群体遗传多样性比较

基于线粒体DNA控制区高变区部分序列和4对微卫星标记，对大泷六线鱼放流群体及自然海域群体的遗传多样性与遗传差异进行了比较分析。线粒体DNA控制区序列分析的结果显示，413尾个体共检测到单倍型117种，其中仅Hap_3、Hap_7和Hap_17为共享单倍型，占总单倍型数目的2.5%；放流、野生群体特有单倍型分别为20种和66种，分别占总单倍型数的17.09%和56.41%，放流群体特有单倍型数明显低于野生群体；放流群体和野生群体核苷酸多样性分别为0.005 1~0.006 7和0.005 8~0.007 5，单倍型多样性分别为0.856 7~0.949 9和0.883 1~0.954 9，遗传多样性均较高。微卫星标记分析结果显示，放流、野生群体平均等位基因数(N_a)分别为13~44和13~27，平均多态信息含量为0.885 6和0.874 0，均具较高的遗传多态性；群体遗传结构分析结果表明，放流、野生群体间遗传分化水平较低。研究表明，山东近海大泷六线鱼放流群体与野生群体均具有较丰富的遗传多样性，且遗传结构未存在显著的群体分化。     

Dietary roughage sources affect lactating Holstein x Zebu cows under experimental conditions in Brazil: a meta-analysis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - To reduce costs, lactating cows are often fed a higher proportion of roughage and alternative feeds; however, such protocols may not lead to optimal milk...     

Identification and pathogenicity of Cryphonectriaceae species associated with chestnut canker in China

Cryphonectriaceae species cause serious canker diseases on chestnut, oak and eucalypt trees. Recently, canker symptoms with typical orange fruiting bodies were observed on Chinese chestnut and oak trees in Hebei, Hubei, Shaanxi and Shandong Provinces in China. In the present study, isolates of these fungi were identified based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, and their pathogenicities were tested on detached chestnut (Castanea mollissima) branches. DNA sequence comparisons of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and two regions of β-tubulin (TUB1/TUB2) indicate that these isolates represent five species in the Cryphonectriaceae, viz. Cryphonectria japonica, Cryphonectria parasitica, Aurantiosacculus castaneae sp. nov., Cryphonectria neoparasitica sp. nov. and Endothia chinensis sp. nov. The sexual morph of Aurantiosacculus is discovered for the first time and can be distinguished from the other genera in Cryphonectriaceae by dark brown ascospores and tubiform appendages at both ends. Cryphonectria neoparasitica sp. nov. is different from the other Cryphonectria species by its aseptate ascospores. Endothia chinensis sp. nov. is the sole species in Endothia infecting the host genus Castanea. Additionally, it is much smaller than E. gyrosa and narrower than E. singularis in ascospores. The inoculation results showed that these five Cryphonectriaceae fungi isolated from chestnut or oak are all pathogenic to tested chestnut branches. Cryphonectria parasitica appears to be the most aggressive fungus, followed by C. neoparasitica sp. nov., C. japonica, E. chinensis sp. nov. and A. castaneae sp. nov.     

Animal movement varies with resource availability,landscape configuration and body size: a conceptual model and empirical example

Landscape Ecology - Animals must move to find food, shelter and mates, and escape predation and competition. Changes in landscape configuration and resource availability can disrupt natural...     

Dietary supplementation with low molecular weight sodium alginate improves growth,haematology, immune reactions and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Clarias gariepinus

A few studies have illustrated the effects of sodium salt derived from alginic acid on different fish species. However, little is known about the effect of sodium alginate on catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Therefore, this study was performed to assess the use of low molecular weight sodium alginate ( LMWSA) in C. gariepinus. A total of 180 apparently healthy C. gariepinus with a mean body weight of 45 g were randomly divided into three equal groups (D1, D2 and D3). D1 the control group received a control diet, while D2 and D3 received 1% and 3% LMWSA, respectively, for 8 weeks. A challenge test against Aeromonas hydrophila was performed on 15 randomly selected catfish for 15 days. At the end of the experiment, catfish in D3 that received a diet of 3% LMWSA showed significant increases in the final body weight, weight gain and thermal‐unit growth coefficient compared with those in D2 and D1. There was a significant decrease in the erythrogram in D1 after the 4‐day pathogen challenge. A leucogram revealed leucocytosis, heterophilia and lymphocytosis in catfish in D2 and D3 compared with those in D1. After the 4‐day challenge, the following changes took place: lysozyme, nitric oxide, phagocytic activity and the respiratory burst were significantly elevated in catfish that received LMWSA and were more pronounced in D3 than in D1. The mortalities of catfish have been stopped after pathogen challenge from 8‐day in D1 and D2 where at 6‐day in D3. Thus, administration of 1% and 3% LMWSA enhances the growth, immune response and resistance of C. gariepinus against A. hydrophila.     

Nile tilapia broodfish fed high‐protein diets: Digestive enzymes in eggs and larvae

The aim of this study was to assess the activity of gastric, pancreatic and intestinal digestive enzymes during the embryonic and larval development of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) GIFT strain Aqua America^® 1 obtained from a broodstock fed two levels of crude protein (CP). A total of 72 females and 24 males, 10 hapas, two CP levels (32% and 38%) and six phases of embryonic (cleavage, blastula, gastrula) and larval (hatching, 7 and 10 days post hatch, dph) stages were used. The eggs were collected in cleavage, blastula and gastrula stages, 300 mg was collected, and kept in cryogenic tubes in liquid nitrogen. For the samples at larval stage, the remaining eggs were separated according to crude protein level and kept in hatcheries and samples were collected on 7 and 10 dph the same way as before. A total of 48 samples were collected: at each protein level (32% and 38% CP), four samples were collected in each phase of embryonic and larval development. Statistical differences were not observed during embryonic development for acid proteases, trypsin, amylase and lipase activity at both levels of crude protein (32 and 38% CP). Differences for acid proteases were noticed on 7 dph; trypsin and amylase on 7 dph and 10 dph. Significant differences on blastula and 7 dph for protease; as for aminopeptidase, there was significant difference on 7 dph. The data indicated early appearance of digestive enzymes in Nile tilapia broodfish receiving 32% CP taking into account the rapid growth and development of this species.     

Associations between morphometric variables and weight and yields carcass in Pirapitinga Piaractus brachypomus

The objective of this work was to evaluate the association between morphometric variables and carcass characteristics in Pirapitinga. We used a thousand specimens of Pirapitinga with an average weight of 1,200 g, which were stunned, slaughtered, weighed, measured, and processed for morphometric and processing yield analysis, to obtain weights, carcass and fillet yields. Initially, the linearity of the variables was verified. Pearson's simple and partial correlation tests were performed between all metrics. Track analysis was performed considering the weights and yields of carcass and filet as dependent variables and the others as independent variables. Ridge regression models were used to eliminate the effects of multicollinearity among the independent variables. Observations showed that the simple correlations between body weights and yields were superior to the partial ones in terms of magnitude. The length and circumference of the specimens were the measures most linearly associated with weight, carcass weight and fillet with rib weight. As for carcass yield and fillet yield, linear correlation coefficients were low and not significant when associated with body weights. With the path analysis, we could observe significant positive correlations between the morphometric measurements for weight, carcass weight and fillet with rib weight. The standard length, body circumference and body circumference/body height ratio are the most correlated. The latter are the most important variables in the evaluation of body weights in Pirapitinga fish. They can serve as criteria for indirect selection in searching for fish with better carcass characteristics. As for fillet and carcass yields, the morphometric variables have not shown to be efficient for indirect selection.     

Dietary organic acids blend alone or in combination with an essential oil on the survival,growth, gut/liver structure and de hemato‐immunological in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of organic acids blend (OAB) alone or in combination with essential oil, Lippia origanoides (OAE) for Nile tilapia fed supplemented diets for 30 days. Fish (1.1 ± 0.04 g) were fed control (Control), or OAB 0.5% or OAB 0.5% + essential oil 0.125% (OAE) respectively. At the end of the experiment, samples were collected for de hemato‐immunological, histological analysis of the intestine and liver, as well as microbiology of the intestine. The pH of the diets supplemented with OAB and OAE reduced 0.92 and 0.19 respectively. The growth and FCR were unaffected by the treatments, but survival was significantly higher in the OAB treatment. Fish fed the OAB diet showed reduced concentration of total heterotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas sp. in the intestine. Increased glucose in fish fed OAB and high number of circulating monocytes in fish fed OAE diet were observed. The anterior intestine of fish fed OAE diet showed larger number of goblet cells and increased villi height. The diet supplemented with OAB, mainly, improved the intestinal health and survival of tilapia juveniles and can be used in juvenile production.     

Effects of an Enterococcus faecium‐based probiotic on growth performance and health of Pirarucu,Arapaima gigas

Intensive fish farming has resulted in an increased concern for disease outbreaks. Probiotic use is one of the strategies being developed to improve fish health and productivity. Measures of probiotic colonization, growth performance, haematological characteristics and parasite load were used to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with Enterococcus faecium on growth and health of Arapaima gigas juveniles. A completely randomized design with four treatments (diet with E. faecium at 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g and 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g, control diet and diet with the culture medium MRS) and three replicates was used. Ninety‐six Arapaima juveniles were distributed in 12 cages fed with the specified diet for 68 days. Colonization of the intestinal tract by lactic acid bacteria reduced the total number of heterotrophic bacteria in fish fed with probiotics compared to controls. Fish fed a supplemented diet containing 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g presented higher values of weight gain, survival and fish growth uniformity, and lower values of feed conversion ratio. The prevalence of Trichodina sp. could have affected the survival of fish in the control group. Reduction in parasite load and an increase in haematocrit, the number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils and monocytes were also observed in fish fed the diet containing 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g. Enterococcus faecium presented a probiotic effect in A. gigas juveniles and can be recommended for use at a concentration of 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g to modify the gut microbiota, improve growth performance and haematology and reduce parasitic load.