Development of nursery culture techniques for the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador)

Cannibalism is one of the main causes of mortality in the culture of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, particularly in the early post‐larval and juvenile stages when the densities of hatchery‐reared crabs may be very high before stocking into ponds or release into the wild for stock enhancement. In a series of experiments investigating cannibalism mitigation, the influence of stocking density, the effectiveness of sand substrate, brick and shell shelters and feed type were compared in culture of crabs from instar 1 for short nursery periods of 15–30 days. Inclusion of brick and shell shelters significantly increased survival over sand substrate alone. However, inclusion of shelters did not affect growth rates. In scaled‐up nursery production in lined‐ponds, with shelters, live Artemia biomass and fresh chopped shrimp or tilapia were found to be equally effective feeds for juvenile crabs stocked at a density of 70 m⁻² from instar 1 and grown for 30 days [52–66% survival, 21.6–24.6 mm carapace width (CW)]. In an extended nursery period for a further 30 days, crabs of 22 mm CW, stocked at 30 m⁻² in the same ponds, attained a final size of 34.5–36.2 mm CW with a survival of 64.3–67.0% using the same feeds.     

Antioxidative compounds from the outer scales of onion

Antioxidative compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of dry outer scales of onion (Allium cepa L.). Nine phenolic compounds (1-9) were finally obtained by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR and mass spectrometry analyses. They were the six known compounds, protocatechuic acid (1), 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone (2), quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin (5), 4'-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside of quercetin dimer (7), and quercetin dimer (8), and three novel compounds, condensation products of quercetin with protocatechuic acid (4), adduct of quercetin with quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), and quercetin trimer (9). These phenolic compounds were tested for their antioxidant properties using autoxidation of methyl linoleate in bulk phase or free radical initiated peroxidation of soybean phosphatidylcholine in liposomes. The flavonoid compounds having o-dihydroxy substituent in the B-ring were shown to be effective antioxidants against nonenzymic lipid peroxidation.     

Isolation and characterization of some antioxidative compounds from the rhizomes of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance)

Antioxidative compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of fresh rhizome of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance). Seven phenylpropanoids (1-7) were finally obtained by reversed-phase HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR analyses. They comprised the two known compounds, (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol gamma-O-methyl ether (1) and (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol (6), and the five novel compounds, stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (2a and 2b), stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-ethoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (3a and 3b), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[(2E)-3-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-propenoxy]-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (4), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (5), and (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (7). Compounds 1-7 were detected for the first time as constituents of galanga rhizomes and exhibited antioxidative activities against the autoxidation of methyl linoleate in bulk phase.     

Association of genes encoding beta2 toxin and a collagen binding protein in Clostridium perfringens isolates of porcine origin

Clostridium perfringens is a cause of economically significant enteritis in livestock. Beta2 toxin, encoded by one of two cpb2 alleles, is implicated as a virulence factor in this disease. Previous studies determined that the consensus cpb2 allele is preferentially associated with C. perfringens isolated from pigs. In C. perfringens strain 13, the consensus cpb2 allele is found on the plasmid pCP13, which also carries cna, encoding a putative collagen binding protein, CpCna. This protein was shown to be a bona fide collagen adhesin, as recombinant, HIS-tagged CpCna bound collagen type I as determined by Far Western blotting. Genomic DNA from C. perfringens isolated from a variety of host species were subjected to PCR to determine the prevalence of cna in these strains and correlate its carriage with the presence and type of cpb2 allele. The cna gene was found in 55.8% of isolates from all host species (n=208) and 68.1% of porcine isolates (n=119). In cpb2+ isolates, cna was present in 69.9% of isolates from all hosts (n=153), but was found in 98.7% of porcine isolates (n=75). Furthermore in porcine isolates, the consensus cpb2 allele and cna were absolutely correlated with the presence of pcp12, a pCP13-encoded gene, and pcp12 was never found in any isolate that lacks either cpb2 allele. The finding that CpCna binds collagen and that the cna gene is associated with the consensus cpb2 allele implicates CpCna as a potential virulence factor in porcine enteritis caused by C. perfringens.     

Detection and molecular characterization of sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasma in Vietnam

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in Vietnam and has been widely promoted at national and provincial level. In 2006, a new disease was discovered in sugarcane in the Nghean Tate&Lyle Sugar Mill in Nghean Province in north-central Vietnam. The key symptoms were the formation of green grassy shoots around the base of mature stools. We applied nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 for detection and characterization of phytoplasma from the symptomatic tissues. PCR products of the expected size (approx. 1200?bp) were obtained from the 16S rDNA of the phytoplasma. The restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles indicated that all samples were infected by the same phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the SCGS phytoplasma from Vietnam belong to the 16SrXI group, formerly Rice Yellow Dwarf group.     

Growth and wood basic density of acacia hybrid clones at three locations in Vietnam

Field trials testing a total of 27 clones of the interspecific hybrid Acacia mangium × A. auriculiformis and seedling controls of the parental species were established at Ba Vi and Yen Thanh in the north of Vietnam and Long Thanh in the south. At both Ba Vi and Yen Thanh there were significant (P < 0.001) differences in height and diameter at breast height (DBH) among 22 tested clones at 4 years. At Long Thanh, twelve hybrid clones did not differ significantly in DBH at age 3 years, but did (P < 0.001) at age 5 years. At the two northern sites the acacia hybrid clones had significantly greater DBH than control seedlots of the parental species. At Long Thanh, DBH of the hybrid clones and A. mangium was similar, with a genetically improved seedlot of A. mangium displaying the best DBH. Mean wood basic density at breast height of the acacia hybrid clones was 539 kg m⁻³ at Yen Thanh at age 8 years, and 473 kg m⁻³ at Long Thanh at age 5 years; density for A. mangium at Long Thanh was only slightly lower than the hybrid clones at 461 kg m⁻³. Linear regressions of Pilodyn penetration (PP) at breast height on wood basic density explained 60% of the variance in density of treatments (clones and control seedlots) at Yen Thanh and 36% at Long Thanh. There were significant differences between hybrid clones in PP at all three trial sites. Clonal DBH performance was not strongly correlated across the three trial sites; Pearson correlations of clone mean DBH between pairs of sites ranged from −0.47 to 0.20. Clonal rankings for PP were more stable, with Pearson correlations between pairs of sites ranging from r = 0.71 to 0.78.     

Preliminary assessment of large‐scale co‐culture of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) with the Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) in earthen ponds and in raceways

Holothuria scabra (sandfish) and Babylonia areolata were trialed in two large‐scale co‐culture experiments. Experiment 1 assessed co‐culture in 4 × 400 m² earthen ponds where Babylonia were cultured in a central pen at a density of 400 individuals/m² with sandfish occupying the remaining pond space at 1.1 individuals/m². Sandfish grew from 18.20 ± 6.67 g to 119.03 ± 17.74 g in 92 days and Babylonia (fed trash fish in both experiments) grew from 0.90 ± 0.38 g to 4.93 ± 1.44 g, but Babylonia growth was not increased in co‐culture compared to monoculture. Water and sediment quality varied between co‐culture and monoculture ponds. Neither showed clear improvement due to sandfish culture. Experiment 2 compared non‐segregated sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture with Babylonia monoculture in 20 m² concrete raceways. Sandfish were cultured at 2 individuals/m² and Babylonia at 300 individuals/m². Sandfish grew up to 1.91 g.day^?1 with 100% survival. Babylonia weight gain was significantly greater in co‐culture raceways (3.35 ± 0.64 g over 61 days), which was double that of Babylonia in monoculture. Substrate total N was reduced by 20% in co‐culture compared with monoculture (p = .032). This provisional study of commercial scale sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture demonstrates culture compatibility, providing a basis for further system development.     

Growth performance,carcass quality characteristics and colonic microbiota profiles in finishing pigs fed diets with different inclusion levels of rice distillers’ by‐product

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing rice distillers’ by‐product (RDP) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and gut microbiota of fattening pigs. Twenty‐four crossbred finishing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), 56.9 ± 3.1 kg initial body weight, were randomly allocated to three groups. For 56 days, pigs were fed one of three diets including RDP0 (control), RDP15 (15% RDP in DM), and RDP30 (30% RDP in DM). With RDP level in diet, average daily gain and backfat thickness linearly increased (p < 0.05), and drip loss tended to increase (p ≤ 0.08). In addition, 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon profiling showed that RDP was associated with modulation of colonic microbiota composition, especially at family and genus levels. Relative abundance of Porphyromonadaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae families in colonic digesta increased with inclusion of RDP, while that of Enterobacteriaceae decreased. The proportion of genera unclassified Erysipelotrichaceae, and Butyrivibrio increased as inclusion of RDP. These results indicate that up to 30% inclusion in diet of finishing pigs, RDP can modulate colonic microbiota composition, and induces an improvement of animal growth and fat deposition.     

Ulcerative enterocolitis in two goats associated with enterotoxin- and beta2 toxin-positive Clostridium perfringens type D

Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type D in sheep is believed to result from the action of epsilon toxin (ETX). However, the sole role of ETX in the intestinal changes of the acute and chronic forms of enterotoxemia in goats remains controversial, and the synergistic action of other C. perfringens toxins has been suggested previously. The current study examined 2 goats that were found dead without premonitory clinical signs. Gross lesions at necropsy consisted of multifocal fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis, edematous lungs, and excess pleural fluid. Histologically, there were multifocal fibrinonecrotic and ulcerative ileitis and colitis, edema of the colonic serosa, and proteinaceous interstitial edema of the lungs. Clostridium perfringens type D carrying the genes for enterotoxin (CPE) and beta2 toxin (CPB2) was cultured from intestinal content and feces of 1 of 2 goats, while C. perfringens type D CPB2-positive was isolated from the other animal. When multiple colonies of the primary isolations from both animals were tested by Western blot, most of the isolates expressed CPB2, and only a few isolates from the first case expressed CPE. Alpha toxin and ETX were detected in ileal and colonic contents and feces of both animals by antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CPB2, but not CPE, was identified in the small and large intestines of both goats by immunohistochemistry. These findings indicate that CPB2 may have contributed to the necrotic changes observed in the intestine, possibly assisting ETX transit across the intestinal mucosa.