Evaluation of stunning/killing methods for quail (Coturnix japonica): bird welfare and carcase quality.

1. The welfare and carcase quality implications of stunning/killing 7-week-old Japanese quail with either an electric current, 90% argon in air or a mixture of 30% carbon dioxide and 60% argon in air were investigated in 3 separate experiments. 2. The results showed that exposure of quail to either argon or the carbon dioxide-argon mixture resulted in loss of posture on average at 9 and 8 s respectively. In both gas mixtures, convulsions started 6 s after the loss of posture and the duration of clonic phase (wing flapping) did not differ significantly between the 2 gas mixtures. However, the duration of the tonic phase was found to be slightly longer with the carbon dioxide argon mixture than with argon alone (P<0.05). 3. The absence of a positive response to toe pinching performed soon after the loss of posture indicated that the birds became unconscious and insensible to pain before the onset of convulsions. 4. Carcase dissection showed that, in comparison with the electrical stunning, gas stunning/killing of quail in transport containers eliminated the problem of broken bones and significantly reduced haemorrhaging in breast and leg muscles.     

Clostridium botulinum in fish.

1407 fish caught in Scandinavian waters, the North Sea and the North Atlantic have been examined for the presence of Cl. botulinum. The incidence in gut samples expressed as percentage of fish tested was generally highest in fish from Scandinavian coastal waters and the Baltic Sea (4--43%), decreasing in fish from the North Sea (0--8%), and the organism was practically absent in fish from the North Atlantic. When gut samples were examined, the incidence was highest in demersal fish (cod and flatfish) as compared with pelagic fish (herring). The latter fish species were mainly contaminated on outer surfaces and gills. Only type E was detected in this survey, and Cl. botulinum was not detected in any wild fresh water fish. It is suggested that type E spores may originate in the sea bed and that they be spread by fish and water currents.     

Optimization of the pepsin digestion method for anisakids inspection in the fishing industry

During the last 50 years human anisakiasis has been rising while parasites have increased their prevalence at determined fisheries becoming an emergent major public health problem. Although artificial enzymatic digestion procedure by CODEX (STAN 244-2004: standard for salted Atlantic herring and salted sprat) is the recommended protocol for anisakids inspection, no international agreement has been achieved in veterinary and scientific digestion protocols to regulate this growing source of biological hazard in fish products. The aim of this work was to optimize the current artificial digestion protocol by CODEX with the purpose of offering a faster, more useful and safer procedure for factories workers, than the current one for anisakids detection. To achieve these objectives, the existing pepsin chemicals and the conditions of the digestion method were evaluated and assayed in fresh and frozen samples, both in lean and fatty fish species. Results showed that the new digestion procedure considerably reduces the assay time, and it is more handy and efficient (the quantity of the resulting residue was considerably lower after less time) than the widely used CODEX procedure. In conclusion, the new digestion method herein proposed based on liquid pepsin format is an accurate reproducible and user-friendly off-site tool, that can be useful in the implementation of screening programs for the prevention of human anisakiasis (and associated gastroallergic disorders) due to the consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated seafood products.     

Head-only electrical stunning of poultry using a waterbath: a feasibility study

1. The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of head only waterbath stunning as a means of generating immediate and long lasting unconsciousness while preventing wing flapping and avoiding carcass damage. 2. EEG measurements showed that immersion of the heads of the broilers for one second in a waterbath containing water of conductivity 2 x 5 mS/cm and a 50 Hz electric field of 10 V/cm resulted in immediate unconsciousness, and that increasing the electric field strength extended the duration of unconsciousness. 3. The passage of a 25-30 mA alternating current of frequency 2000 Hz through the broilers' bodies suppressed the wing flapping that followed a stun. 4. When the body current and electric field were applied simultaneously, wing flapping was prevented and EEG signals were suppressed for over 30 seconds indicating that the immediate unconsciousness lasted long enough to facilitate humane slaughter.     

Spinal-evoked potentials and spinal conduction velocity of the cat: reference values

Spinal conduction velocities of the fastest afferent fibers of the spinal cord were calculated from the onset latencies of averaged evoked responses elicited by stimulation of the tibial nerve sensory afferent fibers and were recorded at various sites on the spinal cord. Locations for stimulation and recording electrodes were identified. Waveforms, mean amplitudes, and duration of the evoked spinal potentials were described. The mean conduction velocity of the spinal cord afferents at T12-T13 was 74.25 m/s with a SD of +/- 9.81 m/s. The mean conduction velocity of the spinal cord afferents, determined at the cisterna magna, was 80.66 m/s with a SD of +/- 11.50 m/s. This is a slight increase over the spinal conduction velocity at T12-T13 (P = 0.05).     

草地早熟禾种间原生质体电融合条件的研究

为改良培育草地早熟禾(Poa pratensis)新品种,拟建立草地早熟禾商用品种与具有优良性状的野生早地早熟禾种间原生质体融合体系。采用电融合法,研究了电融合仪的电场条件和原生质体密度对草地早熟禾种间原生质体融合的影响。结果表明:在交流电场强度和频率分别为20 V/cm和2000k Hz时,原生质体可在较短的时间内形成2~4个原生质体串;最适于草地早熟禾种间原生质体融合的直流脉冲强度为200 V/cm、DC幅宽为40μs、直流脉冲次数为3次,原生质体密度为3×105个/m L,在此条件下,草地早熟禾种间原生质体总融合率和一对一融合率可分别达到25.39%和12.27%。     

Transmission of Loma salmonae (Microsporea) to chinook salmon in sea water.

Transmission studies were conducted to determine if Loma salmonae was transmissible in sea water. Transmission of L. salmonae to chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) held in sea water was achieved by exposing fish to macerated, infected gill tissue. Fish were exposed in seawater in a flow-through aquarium, and the infection was detected as soon as 5 wk after exposure. Heavily infected fish exhibited numerous xenomas in the branchial arteries, central venous sinusoids, and within the blood channels of the lamellae. The pathological changes were similar to those seen in pen-reared salmon with L. salmonae infections. The infection was not observed in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi, family Clupeidae), or shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata, family Embiotocidae), experimentally exposed using identical methods. This study suggests that L. salmonae is transmissible to chinook salmon in seawater netpens. Fish farmers and fish health specialists should consider this possibility when developing and implementing strategies to control the infection.     

Nutritional value of fish meals in the diet for young pigs

A series of three experiments was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of fish meals as protein sources in young pigs' diets. Four fish meals (menhaden; mackerel, dried at 85 degrees C and 70 degrees C; and herring, dried at 70 degrees C) were tested. For the first experiment, eight pigs (2 wk old) were surgically fitted with ileal cannulas and used to measure apparent digestibility of the fish meals over the age period of 3 to 7 wk. Compared with menhaden fish meal, mackerel and herring fish meals yielded higher (P < 0.05) ileal digestibility values for threonine, serine, alanine, valine, histidine, lysine, and arginine and also for the average of all amino acids. Ileal digestibility was increased (P < 0.05) as pigs grew. For the second experiment, four different diets each containing different fish meals were fed to 120 pigs to evaluate growth performance over the age period of 3 to 7 wk. Average daily gain was higher (P < 0.07) in pigs fed diets containing either mackerel or herring fish meal than in pigs fed menhaden fish meal during 3 to 5 wk of age and was highest (P < 0.07) in pigs fed a diet containing mackerel fish meal during 5 to 6 wk of age. Gain/feed was higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed diets containing mackerel and herring fish meals than in pigs fed menhaden fish meal. Mackerel dried at 70 degrees C showed the highest value from the previous two experiments and was chosen to measure the relative bioavailability in comparison to spray-dried porcine plasma. A classical slope-ratio design was used to measure relative bioavailability of mackerel fish meal compared to porcine plasma protein. This study showed that mackerel dried at 70 degrees C can replace spray-dried porcine plasma with the same bioavailability during d 17 to 29 postpartum with additional crystalline lysine and amino acid supplementation to match amino acid profile of the spray-dried porcine plasma.     

Glandular kallikrein in the innate immune system of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Glandular Kallikrein is a serine-protease with trypsin-like activity and is able to generate bioactive peptides from inactive precursors. We have evaluated the presence of this protease in the different organs of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The results clearly indicate that GK and PRL are generated in the same pituitary cells based on a co-localization by confocal microscopy. Based on probed cross-reactivity between C. striata and C. carpio glandular anti-GK antibodies, we used a homologous antibody to detect the presence of GK in several salmon tissues. We have evaluated the GK expression in healthy and defied fish. P. salmonis and V. ordalii. The GK immunoreaction in organs such as leukocytes, gills and skin is considerably increased in defied fish compared to healthy fish. This increase was present in the cells of the excretory kidney and in the intercellular tissue, where the development of hematopoietic and lymphocytic lines in fish take place. One of the most interesting organs to study was the skin, bearing in mind that this is a primary barrier to all pathogens. The skin of the defied fish exhibited an increase in immunoreactivity for glandular kallikrein similar to the protease found in mucus. An immunoreactive tissue kallikrein-like protein was identified and partially separated by perfusion chromatography. Enzymatic activity of salmon muscle prokallikrein was determined before and after trypsin activation. Kallikrein activity was characterized with respect to their ability to cleave the chromogenic leaving group, p-nitroanilide, from the peptidyl kallikrein and trypsin substrate. These findings constitute a important contribution to reveal the role of kallikrein in the innate immune system of fish.     

Spinal deformities in farmed Atlantic salmon

Spinal deformities in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are often observed in intensive farming systems and result in production losses. Many putative factors have been implicated with the formation of spinal deformities in larger salmon. This condition has been described as broken back syndrome, curvy back disease, and short tails.     

Non-infectious and iatrogenic diseases of salmon in commercial aquaculture

Based on current commercial aquaculture production practices, the production cycle for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) extends over a 36-month period during which time the fish are first exposed to intensive freshwater rearing conditions followed by transportation to marine netpen sites for ongrowing. It is predictable that, because of the duration of the production cycle and the variety of water conditions, deleterious environmental conditions have many opportunities to affect salmon health directly and indirectly. Furthermore, diseases which are iatrogenic arise from current methods used to prevent or treat infectious diseases. Specific, more frequently encountered examples are explored, with reference to the possible roles which these diseases may have in favouring the onset of infectious diseases.     

Combined Kirschner-Ehmer apparatus and dorsal spinal plate fixation of caudal lumbar fractures in dogs: biomechanical properties

The strength and rigidity of a new surgical technique for the stabilization of caudal lumbar fractures in dogs, using a Kirschner-Ehmer apparatus and a dorsal spinal plate (KE/DSP), were compared with 2 other methods of internal spinal fixation and with intact (control) spines, using a spinal test system that subjected the spines to 4-point bending. The fixation devices were applied to isolated canine lumbosacral spines (L1 to S3) from cadavers. A complete spinal separation was made in the spine implant specimens at L5-L6 by sharp dissection of all ligamentous structures connecting the two vertebrae. Bending moment vs L5-L6 angular deformation curves, and rigidity and load sustained at 10 degrees angular deformation (failure) were recorded for each fixation method and for the control spines. Values were compared by statistical analysis. The combined KE/DSP fixation and a combined vertebral body plate/dorsal spinal plate (VBP/DSP) fixation were stronger and more rigid than were the control spines and those fixed with a modified segmental-fixation method (P less than 0.05). There were no statistical differences in strength and rigidity between the 2 combined-fixation techniques. Although the VBP/DSP technique is not applicable to clinical caudal lumbar (L5-L6) fractures, it was compared in this study to the KE/DSP technique because a similar VBP/DSP technique was reported strongest in a similar study of L3-L4 simulated fractures, compared with 3 other spinal-fixation techniques that have been used in repair of caudal lumbar fractures. The technique has been used successfully in 6 dogs with caudal lumbar fractures.     

电激活参数与渗透压阶段培养法对孤雌胚胎发育能力的影响

试验旨在摸索猪卵母细胞孤雌激活的电场强度和脉冲时间,并探索渗透压阶段培养法对孤雌胚胎后期发育的影响。猪卵母细胞成熟培养42~44 h后,分别在电场强度2.1、2.3、2.5 kV/mm和脉冲时间30、60、90 μs的9组电激活参数下进行孤雌激活试验;卵母细胞在2.1 kV/mm和30 μs的参数下进行孤雌激活后,分别培养于渗透压为271、280、290、302 mOsm的PZM-3中,48 h后移入渗透压280 mOsm的PZM-3中继续培养96 h;孤雌胚胎于电激活后先在含2 mmol/L 6-DMAP的PZM-3中培养4~6 h,然后移入不含6-DMAP的PZM-3中继续培养。试验结果表明,电场强度和脉冲时间两个参数间无显著的交互作用(P>0.05),脉冲时间相同条件下,卵裂率在不同电场强度条件下均无显著差异(P>0.05),2.1和2.5 kV/mm的电场强度条件下,脉冲时间为30 μs时的卵裂率显著高于60和90 μs(P<0.05),而2.3 kV/mm电场强度下3个脉冲时间试验组的卵裂率无显著差异(P>0.05),各试验组的囊胚率无显著差异(P>0.05);孤雌胚胎在渗透压为290~310 mOsm的PZM-3中培养48 h,卵裂率得到显著提高(P<0.05),渗透压对囊胚率无显著影响(P>0.05);6-DMAP对孤雌胚胎卵裂率无显著影响(P>0.05),但可以显著提高囊胚率(P<0.05)。结果提示,猪卵母细胞孤雌激活需要较高的电场强度(2.1~2.3 kV/mm)而脉冲时间不宜过长(30 SymbolmA@s);48 h的高渗培养和6-DMAP的辅助激活有助于孤雌胚胎的后期发育。     

Prevalence and duration of insensibility following electrical stunning in calves

Sixty-one calves were electrically stunned with 100-250 V currents (103-1806 mA) and the prevalence and duration of insensibility was assessed from their physical behaviour, the presence of epileptiform activity in their electrocorticograms, and the absence of visual evoked responses in their electrocorticograms. A current applied at 100 V across the head for 3 s failed to induce insensibility in all cases. Currents at 150-250 V induced insensibility in all calves and the shortest duration of insensibility was 44 s. It is recommended that a 150-200 V current would be appropriate for commercial use.     

Kinetics of viral load and erythrocytic inclusion body formation in Pacific herring artificially infected with erythrocytic necrosis virus

Viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN) is a condition that affects marine and anadromous fish species, including herrings and salmonids, in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Infection is frequently associated with severe anemia and causes episodic mortality among wild and hatchery fish when accompanied by additional stressors; VEN can be presumptively diagnosed by (1) light microscopic identification of a single characteristic-a round, magenta-colored, 0.8-μm-diameter inclusion body (IB) within the cytoplasm of erythrocytes and their precursors on Giemsa-stained blood films; or (2) observation (via transmission electron microscopy [TEM]) of the causative iridovirus, erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV), within erythrocytes or their precursors. To better understand the kinetics of VEN, specific-pathogen-free Pacific herring Clupea pallasii were infected with ENV by intraperitoneal injection. At 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 d postexposure, samples of blood, spleen, and kidney were collected and assessed (1) via light microscopy for the number of intracytoplasmic IBs in blood smears and (2) via TEM for the number of virions within erythrocytes. The mean prevalence of intracytoplasmic IBs in the blood cells increased from 0% at 0-4 d postexposure to 94% at 28 d postexposure. Viral load within circulating red blood cells peaked at 7 d postexposure, fell slightly, and then reached a plateau. However, blood cells observed within the kidney and spleen tissues demonstrated high levels of ENV between 14 and 28 d postexposure. The results indicate that the viral load within erythrocytes does not correlate well with IB prevalence and that the virus can persist in infected fish for more than 28 d.     

Modified Segmental Spinal Instrumentation in Repair of Spinal Fractures and Luxations in Dogs

A modified segmental spinal stabilization technique was used in four dogs weighing 10 to 56 kg with thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spinal fractures/luxations. A Steinmann pin was bent to encircle the dorsal spinous processes and was wired together with longitudinal pins to the cranial articular facets and dorsal spinous processes in the thoracolumbar application. The central pin was omitted, and the longitudinal pins were bent at a right angle and passed through the ilial wings in the lumbosacral application. Fracture fixation and stabilization were excellent in all dogs. One broken pin was detected in one dog after 18 months. No other complications due to the spinal instrumentation were observed. Neurologic recovery was excellent in two dogs, good in one dog, and fair in one dog.     

Weight prediction from linear measures of growing Thoroughbreds

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Monitoring weight of foals is a useful management practice to aid in maximising athletic potential while minimising risks associated with deviations from normal growth. OBJECTIVE: To develop predictive equations for weight, based on linear measurements of growing Thoroughbreds (TBs). METHODS: Morphometric equations predicting weight from measurements of the trunk and legs were developed from data of 153 foals. The accuracy, precision and bias of the best fitting equation were compared to published equations using a naive data set of 22 foals. RESULTS: Accuracy and precision were maximised with a broken line relating calculated volumes (V(t + l)) to measured weights. Use of the broken line is a 2 step process. V(t + l) is calculated from linear measures (m) of girth (G), carpus circumference (C), and length of body (B) and left forelimb (F). V(t + I) = ([G2 x B] + 4[C2 x F]) 4pi. If V(t + l) < 0.27 m3, weight is estimated: Weight (kg) = V(t + l) x 1093. If V(t + l) > or = 0.27 m3: Weight (kg) = V(t + l) x 984 + 24. The broken line was more accurate and precise than 3 published equations predicting the weight of young TBs. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of weight using morphometric equations requires attention to temporal changes in body shape and density; hence, a broken line is needed. Including calculated leg volume in the broken line model is another contributing factor to improvement in predictive capability. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The broken line maximises its value to equine professionals through its accuracy, precision and convenience.     

Quantitative analysis of thiaminase activity in certain fish species.

Thiaminase I and II activity of Baltic herring, vendace, smelt and dace was measured. All four fish species were found to contain thiaminase activity. The amounts of thiaminase activity in mug of thiamine split per 100 g of fish tissue per hour at 37 degrees C were: in Baltic herring 115 +/- 60, in dace 11500 +/- 2050, in smelt 25 +/- 25 and in vendace 30+/- 15.     

Residues of DDE and PCB in eggs from herrring gull (Larus argentatus) and common gull (Larus canus) in Norway

In 1969 294 eggs from herring gull were collected from eight different localities in Norway. The eggshell thicknesses were measured, and 10 eggs from each locality were analysed by gas liquid chromatography for organochlorine insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PGB).Residues of DDE were demonstrated in all eggs, the concentrations varying from 0.2 to 5.4 p.p.m. in herring gull, and from 0.2 to 3.5 p.p.m. in common gull. DDT occurred only in four eggs from herring gull and then only in concentrations of from 0.1 to 0.3 p.p.m. Other organochlorine insecticides were not detected. Residues of PGB were found in all eggs from herring gull in concentrations of from 0.2 to 3.8 p.p.m. PGB 10, and in six out of nine eggs from common gull, from trace to 0.8 p.p.m. PGB 10.The analysed material showed a positive correlation between amounts present of DDE and of PGB.There was a significant difference between localities concerning the contents of DDE and PGB in eggs from herring gull. This variance may be taken into consideration by using the herring gull as an indicator organism, since this bird, especially in the northern part of Norway, is migratory.The residue concentrations of DDE and PGB were markedly higher in eggs from herring gull than in eggs from common gull. It is suggested that this may be related to the difference between these species in their feeding habits.The residues of organochlorines demonstrated in this investigation do not seem to have had any effect on eggshell thickness in herring gull.     

空间电场对冬春季畜舍温室气体的净化效果

[目的] 探讨空间电场对冬春季畜舍内温室气体的净化效果以及对舍内温湿度的影响。[方法] 在畜舍内安装空间电场净化设备和温湿度监测仪,舍内外均设置3个取气点,每个取气点分0 m、0.5 m、1.0 m和1.5 m 4个采集高度,系统监测冬春季畜舍温室气体浓度以及温湿度变化情况。[结果] 空间电场显著（P<0.05或P<0.000 1）降低了冬春季畜舍内CH₄、NH₃和CO₂气体的浓度,降低幅度分别可达39.8%、26.3%和24.0%。空间电场可显著（P<0.05）降低冬季舍内20：00—8：00和12：00—15：00的环境湿度,分别降低了4.5%和15.3%。春季湿度在9：00—17：00降低了31.9%（P<0.05）。[结论] 空间电场可有效地降低冬春季畜舍内CH₄、NH₃和CO₂气体浓度,同时显著降低畜舍内不同时间段的环境湿度。