Dietary fishmeal levels affect the volatile compounds in cooked muscle of farmed large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

A comparative study on the volatile compounds in cooked muscle of wild and farmed large yellow croaker (LYC) was conducted. The two farmed LYC groups were fed with diets containing 44% (CF) and 25% (LF) of fish meal (FM) respectively. Results showed that 48 volatiles, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, aromatics, acids, esters, furans and miscellaneous compound, were detected in cooked fillets. The LF group had significantly lower amounts of total aldehydes and ketones, higher content of miscellaneous compound in cooked fillets than that in the CF and wild groups (p < .05). Compared with the wild group, the LF group had significantly lower amounts of total alcohols, acids and esters, while the CF group had significantly lower amounts of total aldehydes, higher content of total ketones in cooked muscle (p < .05). According to the principal component analysis (PCA), some volatiles (propanal, nonanal, etc.) could be considered as sensitive indicators to classify cooked muscle samples. In conclusion, differences in the volatiles in the cooked muscle between the wild and farmed LYC have been found. Low level of dietary FM (25%) changed the volatile profiles in cooked fillets of farmed LYC. A PCA may be useful to screen potential volatiles to classify cooked muscle samples in this study.     

Effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with Ce (IV) on growth,immunity and disease resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicas

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with cerium (Ce IV) (COS‐Ce) on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas. Five isonitrogenous (18.6%) and isolipidic (1.1%) practical diets were formulated with graded level of COS‐Ce (0, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1 dry feed), which were named as COS‐Ce/0, COS‐Ce/150, COS‐Ce/300, COS‐Ce/600, COS‐Ce/1200 respectively. Each diet was allocated to four replicates of sea cucumbers (Initial weight: 6.72 ± 0.02 g). Sea cucumbers were fed to apparent satiation once daily (19:00 hours) for 56 days. During the experiment, water temperature was kept at 16 ± 0.5°C, pH 7.8–8.2, dissolved oxygen beyond 5 mg L^?1, ammonia nitrogen below 0.5 mg L^?1 and salinity from 30‰ to 31‰. Results showed that the specific growth rate of sea cucumbers was significantly higher in COS‐Ce/600 than that in other four treatments. Activities of phagocytosis, respiratory burst, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in COS‐Ce/600 were significantly higher than that in COS‐Ce/0 (P < 0.05) respectively. On the contrary, cumulative mortality was the lowest in COS‐Ce/600 following 14 days exposure to Vibrio splendidus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results confirmed that dietary COS‐Ce had beneficial effects on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber.     

Influence of dietary lipid on growth performance and some lipogenesis‐related gene expression of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) larvae

A 30‐day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid levels on growth performance, activities of digestive enzymes, fatty acid composition and some lipogenesis‐related gene expression of half‐smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) larvae. Five isoproteic diets were formulated with graded lipid levels (6.68%, 9.84%, 13.47%, 17.89% and 21.88% dry weight) using fish oil as the main lipid source. Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of 150 larval tongue sole (35 DAH, 54 ± 1 mg). Fish were fed five times daily to apparent satiation during the feeding experiment. Results showed that, the survival rate (SR) of larvae increased significantly firstly, and thereafter decreased significantly. The specific growth rates (SGR) of larvae fed the diet with 13.47% lipid were significantly higher than other treatments. Larvae fed 9.84% or 13.47% dietary lipid showed higher trypsin, lipase, leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities than other treatments, whereas amylase activity nearly showed reverse trend with them. The fatty acid composition of the tongue sole larvae was well correlated with dietary fatty acid profile. Expression of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase alpha (ACC1) was found to be slightly negatively correlated with dietary lipid level, and high dietary lipid level depressed the expressions of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase beta (ACC2) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA expression significantly, implying that larvae may cope with high dietary lipid mainly through down‐regulating lipogenesis‐related gene expression of FAS and ACC2. Besides, on the basis of SGR, the optimal dietary lipid level for larval tongue sole was estimated to be 13.56% using second‐order polynomial curve.     

Effects of replacing fish meal with rubber seed meal on growth,nutrient utilization,and cholesterol metabolism of tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. aureus</Emphasis>)

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish meal with rubber seed meal (RSM) on growth, nutrient utilization, and cholesterol metabolism of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus). Five experimental diets were formulated with 0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 g kg^?1 RSM replacing graded levels of fish meal, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish (initial average weight 65.3 g) per aquarium in a rearing system maintained at 29 ± 1 °C for 8 weeks. Dietary 150 g kg^?1 RSM inclusion did not affect the weight gain and daily growth coefficient, whereas these were depressed by a further inclusion. Additionally, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by dietary RSM inclusion regardless of inclusion level. However, the inclusion of 450 and 600 g kg^?1 RSM decreased the mid-intestinal trypsin, lipase, and amylase activities; the hepatic acyl-CoA/cholesterol acyl transferase; low-density lipoprotein receptor; and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase activities. Similarly, dietary 600 g kg^?1 RSM inclusion inhibited the plasma catalase and hepatic glutathione peroxidase activities. These results indicated that 150 g kg^?1 RSM can be included in tilapia diets, whereas higher inclusion of RSM inhibited the growth rate, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and cholesterol metabolism.     

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ULTRASOUND AND CLINICAL FINDINGS IN 87 CATS WITH URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION

Urethral obstruction is a life‐threatening form of feline lower urinary tract disease. Ultrasonographic risk factors for reobstruction have not been previously reported. Purposes of this retrospective cross‐sectional study were to describe urinary tract ultrasound findings in cats following acute urethral obstruction and determine whether ultrasound findings were associated with reobstruction. Inclusion criteria were a physical examination and history consistent with urethral obstruction, an abdominal ultrasound including a full evaluation of the urinary system within 24 h of hospitalization, and no cystocentesis prior to ultrasound examination. Medical records for included cats were reviewed and presence of azotemia, hyperkalemia, positive urine culture, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. For medically treated cats with available outcome data, presence of reobstruction was also recorded. Ultrasound images were reviewed and urinary tract characteristics were recorded. A total of 87 cats met inclusion criteria. Common ultrasound findings for the bladder included echogenic urine sediment, bladder wall thickening, pericystic effusion, hyperechoic pericystic fat, and increased urinary echoes; and for the kidneys/ureters included pyelectasia, renomegaly, perirenal effusion, hyperechoic perirenal fat, and ureteral dilation. Six‐month postdischarge outcomes were available for 61 medically treated cats and 21 of these cats had reobstruction. No findings were associated with an increased risk of reobstruction. Ultrasonographic perirenal effusion was associated with severe hyperkalemia (P = 0.009, relative risk 5.75, 95% confidence interval [1.54–21.51]). Findings supported the use of ultrasound as an adjunct for treatment planning in cats presented with urethral obstruction but not as a method for predicting risk of reobstruction.     

The effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides Oliver on growth,feed utilization,antioxidant activity and immune responses of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides (EU) on growth, feed utilization, antioxidant activity and immune responses of turbot fed a basal diet (CON) or EU‐supplemented diets with 5.0 g/kg (EU1), 10.0 g/kg (EU2) and 20.0 g/kg (EU3) EU leaf powder. After 70‐day trial, EU supplementation did not affect nutrient utilization, but reduced feed intake (FI) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish at doses above 5.0 g/kg. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activities in the EU‐supplemented groups were significantly higher than those in the control group at a dose of 20.0 g/kg. Significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were observed in EU‐supplemented groups at doses over 5.0 g/kg. Furthermore, fish fed 20.0 g/kg EU showed the highest lysozyme (LZM) activity among groups. The EU‐supplemented diets with doses above 5.0 g/kg significantly enhanced the mRNA expressions of cytokines. The expression level of major histocompatibility complex II alpha (MHC IIα) was significantly upregulated compared to that of the control fish when the supplemental level was at 20.0 g/kg. Taken together, the present study indicated that the EU could remarkably enhance the antioxidant activity, non‐specific immunity and maintain an active immune response in turbot.     

基于自压滴灌工程过滤装置尺寸的确定及应用

由于新疆牧业灌区无电供应,水源无法过滤,实现滴灌工程难,目前采用地面灌溉。地形坡度大、灌水量多、大量水土流失。灌区下游排水不畅,洼地沼泽化面积剧增,地下水位上升导致土壤盐碱化,弃田面积逐渐扩大、种植面积萎缩。为了解决上述问题,充分利用地形落差,研制了自压滴灌工程过滤装置。同时渠道进水流量、调水池的调节流量、集水桶流量及系统流量之间建立了平衡关系。用实例说明不同地形落差与自压滴灌工程系统流量及过滤装置尺寸的计算过程。解决了自压滴灌工程水源的过滤、排沙、冲沙及自行冲洗等问题。为无电牧业灌区实现节水灌溉技术提供依据。     

Effects of five compound attractants in high plant‐based diets on feed intake and growth performance of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of five attractants on feed intake, growth performance and appetite‐regulating genes expression for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Fish were fed with seven diets: fish‐meal‐based diet (FM), fermented soybean meal replacing 45% fish meal (FSBM) and other diets with 1% compound attractant A (CA‐A) consisting of amino acids, compound attractant B (CA‐B) consisting of quaternary ammonium bases, compound attractant C (CA‐C) consisting of nucleotides, compound attractant G (CA‐G) consisting of the combination of CA‐A, CA‐B and CA‐C and blue mussel protein hydrolysate (BMH) on the basis of FSBM diet respectively. Daily feed intake in CA‐A group was significantly higher, but that in CA‐B group was significantly lower than FSBM group. Similarly, specific growth rate was significantly enhanced in CA‐A and CA‐G groups and were significantly decreased in CA‐B group. Protein efficiency ratio and protein retention in CA‐B group were significantly lower than FSBM group. Furthermore, BMH supplement increased the mRNA expression of Ghrelin in the intestine of fish. These results showed that CA‐A and CA‐G supplement could enhance growth in plant‐based diets, but CA‐B supplement had the opposite effect, which might be associated with lower feed intake and lower feed utilization.