Effects of natural feeding stimulants and glutamic acid supplementation on the feed intake,growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of red sea bream (Pagrus major) fed fish meal‐free soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diet

Two experiments were conducted for red sea bream (Pagrus major). In experiment 1, the optimum level of glutamic acid and natural feeding stimulants to enhance feed intake were determined and found that glutamic acid level of 0.5% and fish meat hydrolysate (FMH) were effective. In experiment 2, fish were fed with soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diet with synthetic feeding stimulants (Basal diet), the Basal diet with FMH (FMH diet), the FMH diet with glutamic acid (FMHG diet) and with fish meal diet (FM diet) as a control until satiation for 8 weeks. Feed intake of FMHG‐fed fish was significantly higher than others (p < 0.05). Specific growth rate and the feed conversion ratio of FMHG were comparable to those of FM‐fed fish (p > 0.05). Relative visceral fat ratio and crude lipid content of any SPC‐based diet‐fed fish tended to be lower than those of FM diet‐fed fish. There were no significant differences in trypsin and lipase activities hepatopancreas among treatments. SPC can be utilized as a sole protein source in a diet for red sea bream. The lower growth performance in SPC‐based diet‐ fed fish was not due to poor digestive enzyme secretion but could be associated with lipid utilization disorder.     

Bleeding of Farmed Atlantic Cod: Residual Blood,Color, and Quality Attributes of Pre- and Postrigor Fillets as Affected by Perimortem Stress and Different Bleeding Methods

The main objectives of the study were to (a) assess the effect of perimortem stress on blood drainage, (b) compare the efficiency of gill cutting and direct gutting as bleeding methods, and (c) compare pre- and postrigor filleting strategies for presence of residual blood in Atlantic cod fillets. Anesthetized cod had significantly higher drainage of blood compared to stressed fish. Nevertheless, the visual assessments of residual blood were not affected by stress or bleeding method. Some minor, but significant, differences between pre- and postrigor fillets were found. Stressed fish were initially less light in color than those unstressed, but after ice storage there was no noticeable difference. However, initially, the largest difference in fillet color was due to different bleeding methods. Fillets cut from fish subjected to gill cutting were lighter and less red in color than those bled by direct gutting. After 7 and 21 days of storage, the color differences observed in fresh and salted fillets, respectively, were mainly due to the different rigor status when they were filleted, indicating that fillets cut postrigor were superior to fillets cut prerigor. Prerigor filleting resulted in lower water holding capacity after ice storage in anesthetized, direct gutted cod.     

Effect of induced unilateral synovitis of distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints on sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics of trotting horses

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of unilateral synovitis in the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints on locomotion, including the compensating effects within and between limbs. ANIMALS: 4 clinically normal horses. PROCEDURE: Gait analyses including kinematics, force plate, and inverse dynamic analysis were performed at the trot before lameness, after which synovitis was induced by injecting endotoxin into the right distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. Gait analyses were repeated 24 to 30 hours later during lameness. Differences between the stride variables during the 2 conditions (lame and sound) were identified. RESULTS: Tarsal joint range of motion, peak vertical force, and vertical impulse were decreased during lameness. Mechanical deficits included a decrease in negative work performed by the tarsal extensors during the early stance phase and a decrease in positive work by the tarsal extensors during push off. No compensatory changes in work were performed by other joints within the lame hind limb during the stance phase. Vertical impulse in the diagonal forelimb decreased, but there were no significant changes in forces or impulses in the ipsilateral forelimb or contralateral hind limb. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that horses are able to manage mild, unilateral hind limb lameness by reducing the airborne phase of the stride rather than by increased loading of the compensating limbs.     

Comparison of restriction pattern polymorphism of Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis.

Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis are closely related species in phylogenetic terms. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI, EclXI, Bsi WI, MluI, BssHII, SalI, XhoI, NruI and ApaI digested DNAs were used to analyse and to compare restriction fragment length polymorphism between M. agalactiae and M. bovis and to estimate their genome sizes. SmaI, EclXI and Bsi WI enzymes cleaved DNAs of both microrganisms. MluI, BssHII, SalI, XhoI and NruI digested only M. agalactiae DNA whereas ApaI cut only M. bovis DNA. The total DNA length was established to be 945 +/- 8.4 Kb for M. agalactiae and 961 +/- 18.9 Kb for M. bovis.     

Effects of feeding a fish meal‐free soy protein concentrate‐based diet on the growth performance and nutrient utilization of red sea bream (Pagrus major)

Two groups of red sea bream (average body weight 85 g) were fed to satiation fish meal (FM) or FM‐free soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diet (FM‐sat and SPC groups respectively). A third group (FM‐pair) was fed the same amount of FM as of SPC fed to SPC‐sat group for 6 weeks. Growth rate of SPC group was significantly slower than of FM‐sat and FM‐pair groups (p < 0.05). Feed conversion ratios of FM‐sat and FM‐pair groups were similar and were better than that of SPC group (p < 0.05). Visceral fat somatic index of SPC group was significantly lower than of the other groups (p < 0.05), while that of the latter two groups were similar. Plasma triglyceride of FM‐sat and FM‐pair groups was similar and lower than the level of SPC group (p < 0.05). Trypsin activity in hepatopancreas of SPC group was significantly lower than that of other groups (p < 0.05). We suggest a low growth of SPC group was not simply related to low‐feed intake. Feeding of a FM‐free SPC‐based diet may reduce lipid accumulation and consequently lead to low‐growth performance, in red sea bream.     

Improving growth performance and blood profile by feeding autolyzed yeast to improve pork carcass and meat quality

The 63 commercial pigs were divided into three groups consisting of seven replicates of three piglets each. The experimental diets were (1) control diet, (2) diet with autolyzed yeast (AY) 0.5%, and (3) diet with AY 1.0%. Compared to the control group, using AY 0.5% in the diet reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05). The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) in blood decreased with the addition of AY 0.5% (p < 0.05). The pH at 6-h postmortem of meat in the 0.5% AY diet group was higher than for the control group (p < 0.05). Backfat thickness (p = 0.09) and P2-backfat thickness (p = 0.07) tended to decrease, while the fat free index (FFI; p = 0.07) tended to increase with 0.5% AY supplementation. The protein percentage (p = 0.07) and the a* value (redness) (p = 0.08) in the meat tended to increase, and the springiness increased with 0.5% AY supplementation (p < 0.05). An appropriate level of AY supplementation can impact positively on the physiological functions in swine with a consequent seems to improve in qualitative traits of the meat quality.     

A physical map of the Mycoplasma agalactiae strain PG2 genome

We have constructed a physical map of the Mycoplasma agalactiae strain PG2 chromosome analyzing it by pulsed field gel electrophoresis in a contour-clamped homogeneous electric-field system. We mapped 33 cleavage sites generated with SmaI, XhoI, SalI, EclXI and BsiWI restriction endonucleases using double digestions, one- and two-dimensional pulsed electrophoresis, cross-hybridization and linking clones. We have also mapped the loci of some genes by Southern hybridization.     

Phakopsora montana, another grapevine leaf rust pathogen in Japan

A new grapevine leaf rust (GLR) was found to be caused by Phakopsora montana. This new fungus naturally infects Crimson Glory vine (Vitis coignetiae), forming uredinia and telia on the leaves. Under experimental conditions, the fungus was pathogenic to table grape cultivars Delaware and Kyoho (V.?×?labruscana), Amur River grape (V. amurensis), and V. ficifolia, on which it produced urediniospores. Inoculation experiments proved that the pathogen alternates hosts, forming spermogonia and aecia on Meliosma tenuis. The new pathogen resembles P. meliosmae-myrianthae (=P. euvitis), a common GLR fungus; however, its spermogonial/aecial stage is restricted to M. tenuis, contrary to P. meliosmae-myrianthae with its spermogonial/aecial stage restricted to M. myriantha. Aeciospores of the new pathogen are evenly thin-walled, whereas the aeciospore wall is conspicuously thickened apically in P. meliosmae-myrianthae. Phakopsora montana is known to occur only on V. coignetiae in nature; however, table grape cultivars Delaware and Kyoho were not resistant to P. montana under experimental conditions. These results indicate that P. montana has caused a certain proportion of the GLR disease recorded in Japan with a possible mixed infection with P. meliosmae-myrianthae.     

Comparison of Restriction Pattern Polymorphism of Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis

Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis are closely related species in phylogenetic terms. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI, EclXI, Bsi WI, MluI, BssHII, SalI, XhoI, NruI and ApaI digested DNAs were used to analyse and to compare restriction fragment length polymorphism between M. agalactiae and M. bovis and to estimate their genome sizes. SmaI, EclXI and Bsi WI enzymes cleaved DNAs of both microrganisms. MluI, BssHII, SalI, XhoI and NruI digested only M. agalactiae DNA whereas ApaI cut only M. bovis DNA. The total DNA length was established to be 945 ± 8.4 Kb for M. agalactiae and 961 ± 18.9 Kb for M. bovis.     

Distribution of Trace Elements in Sediments and Biota of Songkhla Lake, Southern Thailand

The concentrations of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Fe, Mn, and Al were determined in sediments and biota of Songkhla Lake, a shallow coastal lagoon located in southern Thailand. In June 2006, surface sediments were sampled in 44 stations in the three sections of the lake (inner-, middle-, and outer sections). Sediment cores were also sampled in 13 stations in three cross-sections of the lake. In surface sediments, trace and major elements, organic matter, sediment grain size analysis, and sulfides were determined, and in the sediment cores, redox profiles were made. Soil samples were also collected at garbage dumping sites in the vicinity of the lake. In addition, the metal accumulation in two catfish species (Arius maculatus and Osteogeneiosus militaris) and the crustacean (Apseudes sapensis) was also investigated. Trace element concentrations in sediments of Songkhla Lake show that, especially the Outer section of the lake, in particular the sediments at the mouths of the Phawong, U-Taphao, and Samrong Canals are significantly enriched with trace elements due to municipal, agricultural, and industrial discharges entering the lake through the canals. Aluminum-normalized enrichment factors throughout the lake vary from 0.4 to 1.7 for Ni, 0.3 to 3.3 for Cu, 0.2 to 7 for Zn, 0.1 to 14 for As, 1 to 24 for Cd, 0.7 to 6.8 for Pb, and 0.1 to 7.8 for Mn. Correlations between the elements and sediment characteristics show that Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb are essentially associated with the sulfide fraction; that Ni and Co are predominantly bound to the clay minerals and iron oxy-hydroxides, and that As is principally bound to iron oxy-hydroxides. The accumulation of trace elements between muscle tissue and liver and eggs of A. maculatus and O. militaris is element-specific, but concentrations of trace elements in fish muscle tissue are well within the limits for human consumption.