Biochemical Changes in Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii During Larval Development

Abstract.— Quantitative changes in the protein, lipid and carbohydrate were studied in the early larval stages of developing freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii reared under fed and starved conditions to understand the relative importance of these nutrients in energy metabolism of the growing larvae. Larvae obtained from several females were stocked into three 250-L tanks at a density of 30 larvae/L. The feeding regime consisted of newly hatched Artemia nauplii. Protein was always the major organic constituent followed by lipids and then carbohydrates of both fed and starved larvae. Protein levels of both fed and starved larvae increased during development, suggesting an important role in morphogenesis. The decline of lipid during the larval growth that was more rapid for starved larvae, suggests a probable utilization of lipid as the major metabolic source of energy. Carbohydrates formed less than 5 and 2.4% of the larval dry weight of fed and starved larvae, respectively, suggesting their limited role in larval metabolism.     

Biochemical and histological effects of gibberellic acid on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), a plant growth regulator, on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae. Newly emerged larvae were exposed to various concentrations of GA₃ administered by topical application or by forced ingestion. Results showed that treated insects exhibited toxic symptoms with a dose-dependent mortality. GA₃ toxicity was also demonstrated by perturbation of the moult processes. In fact, we noted that treated insects present exuviations difficulties due to the impossibility to reject the old integuments causing mortality in the 5th instar larvae. Histological study of proventriculus revealed alterations in the epithelial cells and absence of apolysis phenomenon. Data also showed that GA₃ induced significant quantitative variation of haemolymph metabolites. These changes result in a significant decrease in the total concentration of proteins and carbohydrates and an increase in the total concentration of haemolymph lipids.     

Therapeutic Intervention with Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles Alleviates Fish Pathological and Molecular Systemic Inflammatory Responses against Infections

Marine bio-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP) are antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents beneficial for fish medicine. Herein, dietary CSNP was investigated for the amelioration of the systemic inflammatory responses of an induced fish model. One hundred and forty-four rainbow trout were assigned to one pathogen-free and non-supplemented group (negative control), and three challenged groups: non-supplemented (positive control), CSNP-preventive, and CSNP-therapeutic. After a feeding experiment extended for 21 days, the organosomatic indices (OSI) and molecular aspects were assessed. After a challenge experiment extended for further 28 days, CSNP-therapeutic intervention was assessed on fish survival and systemic inflammatory responses on pathology, histo-morphology, and molecular aspects. With CSNP administration, OSI nonsignificantly decreased and the relative expression of targeted inflammatory-mediator genes was significantly increased. The CSNP-therapeutic fish showed an RPS of 80% as compared to the positive control group, and CSNP-therapeutic administration retained the highest gene expression augmentation up to 28 days after the challenge. Notably, the splenic reticulin fibers framework of the CSNP-therapeutic group retained the highest integrity among the groups during the infection. After recovery, reticulin fibers density in the CSNP-therapeutic samples was significantly higher than in the negative control group, which indicates high innate immunity. Thus, CSNP showed promising biotherapeutic features enhancing fish resistance against infections.     

火鸡疫病:对兽医的新挑战

现代火鸡业,定位于产量高、品质好、价格低,且要与消费者对禽肉产品的需求相一致,预防火鸡疫病以保障人类健康是现代火鸡业的导向性目标.……     

Laparoscopic Anatomy of the Abdomen and Laparoscopic Ligating Loops,Electrocoagulation, and a Novel Modified Electroligation Ovariectomy in Standing Mare

The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed laparoscopic anatomy of the caudal abdominal region of mare in a standing position and to evaluate and modify a technique for standing laparoscopic ovariectomy using combination between hand-tied ligating loop and electrocoagulation techniques, as the ligating loops, electrocoagulation, and modified electroligation laparoscopic ovariectomy were applied using nine adult mares. Laparoscopy was practical and effective for direct visual examination of internal abdominal organs in the mare. Ventral dislocation of abdominal viscera after pneumoperitoneum was established with the mare in standing position, which provided an excellent inspection of the dorsal and ventral structures in the peritoneal cavity on the right and left sides. Standing laparoscopic ovariectomy using an electroligation modified method was considered a safe and effective method for hemostasis of the mesovarium, technically easy, time saving, and economical. The mean surgical time for bilateral ovariectomy was 40 ± 7.63, 60 ± 5.25, and 85 ± 6.43 minutes for electroligation-modified technique, ligating loops technique, and electrocoagulation technique, respectively.     

Morphological study of Socorro Island Merino sheep and its crosses with hair breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Socorro Island Merino sheep. A total of 67 sheep, 62 females, 26 purebred and 36...     

Folic acid and flaxseed oil supplements in Ossimi ewes: effect on body weight changes,progesterone profile,blood chemistry,and litter traits

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim was to explore the impact of periconceptional folic acid or flaxseed oil (FXO) supplementation on fertility, progesterone profile, and blood...     

Protective Effects Against Erwinia amylovora Induced by hrp Mutants in the Whole Plant are Only Partially Mimicked in Cultivated Cells

A virulent strain of Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight of Maloideae, and two of its non-virulent hrp mutants (a secretory and a regulatory mutant) were inoculated into apple cell suspensions either alone or in mixed inoculations. In single inoculations, death of 4- to 5-day-old apple cells occurred only when the concentration of the virulent strain of E. amylovora reached a threshold inoculum concentration of 10⁴CFUml^–1, while high concentrations of the hrp mutants were unable to kill apple cells. When mixed inoculated with the virulent parental strain, both hrp mutants protected apple cells from death caused by the virulent strain. The protective effect was associated with a decrease in the population level of the virulent strain and it was dependent on the non-virulent to virulent inoculum concentration suggesting a competition between the non-virulent mutant and the virulent strain. However, no differential protective ability between the two types of mutants could be noticed, contrary to previous results obtained with apple seedlings or apple flowers in which the regulatory mutant was significantly more effective than the secretory mutant. In conclusion, inoculation of apple cell cultures with E. amylovora does not seem to be a model suitable for investigating mechanisms leading to protection.     

Pinolide, a new nonenolide produced by Didymella pinodes , the causal agent of ascochyta blight on Pisum sativum

An aggressive isolate of Didymella pinodes isolated from pea ( Pisum sativum ) produced four different metabolites in vitro. The metabolites isolated from the culture filtrates were characterized by spectroscopic and optical methods. A new nonenolide, named pinolide, was isolated and characterized as (2S*,7R*,8S*,5E,9R*)-2,7,8-trihydroxy-9-propyl-5-nonen-9-olide. Pinolidoxin, the main toxin produced by D. pinodes, was also isolated together with two other closely related nonenolides, identified as herbarumin II and 2-epi-herbarumin II. Herbarumin II and 2-epi-herbarumin II have been previously isolated from the fungi Phoma herbarum and Paraphaeosphaeria recurvifoliae , respectively, but described here to be isolated for the first time from D. pinodes. When tested on leaves of the host plant and other legumes and weeds, pinolidoxin was phytotoxic in all of the plant species, whereas the other three nonenolides did not produce any symptoms. The importance of the stereochemistry of the hydroxy group at C-7 on phytotoxicity also is discussed.