Substitution of fish meal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile marbled spinefoot,Siganus rivulatus

The present work was performed to assess whether soybean meal (SBM) could replace fish meal (FM) as a source of dietary protein in diets of the marine herbivore Siganus rivulatus. Five iso-nitrogenous (40% protein) and iso-energetic (14 MJ/Kg) diets were prepared with SBM replacing fish meal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% dietary protein. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted with 240 juvenile S. rivulatus (initial body mass 1.74 ± 0.03 g). Survival, growth, feed, and protein efficiency and hematological parameters were assessed. Growth correlated negatively with increase in dietary SBM. All production parameters measured were negatively affected at all levels of SBM inclusion. There were no effects on total or differential blood counts, hemoglobin, or plasma protein, but hematocrit values were negatively correlated with SBM addition. Results suggest that total replacement of FM by SBM without adding other supplements is not recommended, even for an herbivorous marine fish such as S. rivulatus.     

Survival and respiration of marbled rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) fingerlings at various oxygen tensions

Marbled rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus, is an economically valuable herbivorous fish and a potential candidate for warmwater aquaculture. This study was carried out to: (1) assess the effect of various oxygen concentrations on survival and behaviour of S. rivulatus fingerlings and (2) investigate the response of S. rivulatus to hypoxia and determine its critical oxygen tension (P_crit). In the first experiment, groups of rabbitfish (15 fish per group) were maintained for 1 h in waters of various oxygen concentrations. They were then transferred to well‐aerated tanks and observed for 72 h. Survival was recorded, fish behaviour at low oxygen concentrations observed, and LC₅₀ after 1‐h hypoxia and 72‐h recovery evaluated. In the second experiment, a series of stop‐flow respirometry experiments were performed during which dissolved oxygen was allowed to drop to 0.5 mg L^?1 and respiration rate recorded at various oxygen concentrations. In the first experiment, all fish survived for 1 h at oxygen concentration of 1.44 mg L^?1 and greater, but started dying at oxygen concentrations below 0.65 mg L^?1 (16% survival). The LC₅₀ of S. rivulatus fingerlings was 0.6 mg L^?1. Results of the second experiment showed that S. rivulatus is an oxyregulator until P_crit (1.7 mg L^?1 O₂) is reached, becoming an oxyconformer below this concentration. Findings allow for a better understanding of environmental oxygen tolerances and minimum acceptable oxygen concentration in rabbitfish aquaculture.     

Heavy Metal Immobilization in Contaminated Soils using Phosphogypsum and Rice Straw Compost

The application of soil amendments to immobilize heavy metals is a promising technology to meet the requirements for environmentally sound and cost‐effective remediation. The present study was carried out to evaluate the result of phosphogypsum (PG) used alone and in combination with compost (CP) at a mix ratio of 1:1 wet weight ratio (PG + CP) at 10 and 20 g dry weight kg⁻¹ dry soil, on heavy metal immobilization in contaminated soil and on canola growth. The results revealed that the Pb, Cd and Zn uptake of canola plants was reduced by the application of PG alone and when it was mixed with CP as compared with untreated soil. At an application rate of 10 g dry weight kg⁻¹ dry soil of (PG + CP) the dry weight of canola plants increased by 66·8% was increased in comparison with its weight in the untreated soil. The addition of PG alone resulted in more pronounced immobilization of heavy metal as compared with PG mixed with CP. Plant growth was improved with CP addition, but heavy metals immobilization was the greatest in PG alone treatments. Results suggest that PG may be useful for the immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorbance spectroscopy and multivariate analysis to study the effect of chlorine-induced bacterial injury in water

The effect of chlorine-induced bacterial injury on spectral features using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorbance spectroscopy was studied using a mixed bacterial culture of (1:1) ca. 500 CFU/mL each Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 in 0.9% saline. Bacterial cells were treated with 0, 0.3, or 1.0 ppm of initial free chlorine (21 degrees C, 1 h of contact time). Chlorine-injured and dead bacterial cells retained the ATR spectral properties of uninjured or live cells in the region of C-O-C stretching vibrations of polysaccharides, indicative of the cell wall peptidoglycan layer and lipopolysaccharide outer leaflet. This confirms the observations of others that extensive bacterial membrane damage is not a key factor in the inactivation of bacteria by chlorine. The bactericidal effect of chlorine caused changes in the spectral features of bacterial ester functional groups of lipids, structural proteins, and nucleic acids, with apparent denaturation reflected between 1800 and 1300 cm (-1) for injured bacterial cells. Three-dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) showed distinct segregation and clustering of chlorine-treated and untreated cells. Cells exposed to chlorine at 0.3 or 1.0 ppm could be distinguished from the untreated control 73 and 80% of the time, respectively, using soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) analysis. This study suggests that FT-IR spectroscopy may be applicable for detecting the presence of injured and viable but not culturable (VBNC) waterborne pathogens that are underestimated or not discernible using conventional microbial techniques.     

Seed yield and water use efficiency of canola (Brassica napus L.) as affected by high temperature stress and supplemental irrigation

The effects of high temperature stress and supplemental irrigation on seed yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of canola (Brassica napus L.) were studied in a field experiment conducted for 2 years. The experiment was a randomized complete block design arranged in split plot, conducted at Agricultural Research Station of Gonbad, Iran. It was arranged in two conditions, i.e. supplemental irrigation and rainfed. Two cultivars of canola (Hyola401 and RGS003) as subplots were grown at five sowing dates as main plots. The sowing dates were 9 November, 6 December, 5 January, 4 February and 6 March in 2005-2006 and 6 November, 6 December, 5 January, 4 February and 6 March in 2006-2007, to have a wide range of environmental conditions around flowering and seed filling periods, and to coincide reproductive stages of the crop with high temperature stress. Seed yield was improved due to field management practices, such as supplemental irrigation and optimum sowing date. Supplemental irrigation was an efficient practice to mitigate water stress, and to increase aboveground dry matter and seed yield. There was a strongly negative relationship between seed yield and air temperature during reproductive stages. Delay in sowing led to more rapid developmental of canola, decreased aboveground dry matter, leaf area index (LAI), harvest index (HI), WUE, and seed yield. Achieving a high aboveground dry matter was an essential prerequisite for high reproductive growth and a high seed yield. Greater seed yield and WUE at first sowing date were associated with greater LAI and aboveground dry matter, and lower temperatures during reproductive stages. The results support the view that WUE can be used as an indirect selection criterion for seed yield in genotypic selection.     

Molecular characterization of canine coronavirus strains circulating in Brazil

To characterize canine coronavirus (CCoV) circulating in diarrheic puppies in Brazil, 250 fecal samples collected between 2006 and 2012 were tested. By using RT-PCR to partially amplify the M gene, CCoV RNA was detected in 30 samples. Sequence analysis of the M protein grouped eight strains with CCoV-I and another 19 with CCoV-II prototypes. To genotype/subtype the CCoV strains and assess the occurrence of single or multiple CCoV infections, RT-PCR of the S gene was performed, and 25/30 CCoV-positive strains amplified with one or two primer pairs. For 17/25 samples, single infections were detected as follows: six CCoV-I, nine CCoV-IIa and two CCoV-IIb. Eight samples were positive for more than one genotype/subtype as follows: seven CCoV-I/IIa and one CCoV-I/IIb. Sequence analysis revealed that the CCoV-I and IIa strains shared high genetic similarity to each other and to the prototypes. The Brazilian strains of CCoV-IIb displayed an aminoacid insertion that was also described in CCoV-IIb-UCD-1 and TGEV strains. Among the 25 CCoV-positive puppies, five had a fatal outcome, all but one of which were cases of mixed infection. The current study is the first reported molecular characterization of CCoV-I, IIa and IIb strains in Brazil.     

Effect of body mass index on severity and prevalence of varicocele

Varicocele is classified as grade I-III regarding its severity. This study was aimed to determine the correlation between height and weight with varicocele grade in 18-30 years age group. We enrolled 400 persons aged 18-30 years referred to the specialist's clinics of Tabriz Medical Sciences University or Medical Commission Since Sep. 2004 to Mar. 2005. First we divided the volunteers in two groups including Varicocele Group and Non-varicocele Group, then varicocele patients were classified to three grades considering the severity of the disease: severe (Grade III), moderate (Grade II) and mild (Grade I). Finally, the correlation between height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) was evaluated. There was a significant relation between height and grades of left-side varicocele; in other words the severity of disease was increased with height (p = 0.004). Also, height increased the prevalence ofvaricocele (p = 0.011). On the other hand, low weight and BMI increased the prevalence of varicocele (p = 0.000, p = 0.004) but did not affect the severity of disease (p = 0.364, p = 0.172). In conclusion, the height of patients directly affected the prevalence and severity of left-side varicocele which probably is related to length of left internal spermatic veins in these patients and increased hydrostatic pressure in taller patients. Also, the weight and BMI is effective on the prevalence of varicocele. It seems that slim and tall persons will benefit from evaluation while puberty.     

Protective effects of crocin against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure and oxidative stress in rats

Background. The major side effect of cisplatin, used in some tumours, is nephrotoxicity. Reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage are the most important factors in cisplatin-induced acute renal failure. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effects of crocin against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure and oxidative stress in rat. Methods. In this study, animals were randomly divided into 5 groups (6 each). Group one received normal saline (2 ml/day, i.p.). Group two received a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Groups 3 to 5 received crocin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p., respectively, for 4 consecutive days one hour before a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) only at the first day. Blood samples were taken out (on the fifth day) for measuring the level of urea and creatinine. The kidneys were removed for histopathological and biochemical examinations. Furthermore, 24-hour urinary factors were measured. Results. Blood urea, creatinine and urinary glucose and protein concentrations in crocin-treated groups were significantly lower than those of cisplatin-treated group in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological studies showed a massive damage in S3 segment of proximal tubules in cisplatin-treated group. No damage was observed in crocin-treated groups. Crocin treatment resulted in a significant and dose-dependent reduction in malondialdehyde concentration as compared to the cisplatin-treated group. Moreover, crocin produced a significant elevation in total thiol and glutathione peroxidase concentrations, as compared with cisplatin-treated group. Conclusion. The results of the present study suggest that crocin has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure and relative oxidative stress.     

Effect of age,sex, and season on the prevalence of Linguatula serrata infestation in mesenteric lymph nodes of goats slaughtered in Tabriz,Iran

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This research was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection with nymphs of Linguatula serrata in mesenteric lymph nodes of the goats...