Comparison of the effects of six stunning/killing procedures on flesh quality of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax,Linnaeus 1758) and evaluation of clove oil anaesthesia followed by chilling on ice/water slurry for potential implementation in aquaculture

The effects of different stunning/killing procedures on flesh quality of European sea bass were investigated: (1) anaesthesia with clove oil, (2) anaesthesia with 2‐phenoxyethanol, (3) percussive stunning, (4) immersion in ice/water slurry, (5) chilling on ice and (6) anaesthesia with clove oil followed by immersion in ice/water slurry. Muscle pH values were significantly lower in sea bass anaesthetized or stunned by a blow to the head compared with fish immersed in ice/water slurry, chilled on ice or immersed in ice/water slurry after clove oil anaesthesia. Lightness was highest in sea bass anaesthetized by 2‐phenoxyethanol or percussively stunned and lowest in ice‐chilled fish. Redness and yellowness were highest in fish chilled on ice and lowest in fish anaesthetized with clove oil. Liquid loss, fat loss and shear values were not significantly different among the procedures. In general, lipid oxidation values during refrigerated or frozen storage did not significantly differ among treatment groups. Combination of clove oil anaesthesia followed by chilling on ice/water slurry appears to improve both flesh quality and welfare of sea bass, although the implementation of further studies is warranted to consolidate this finding.     

Induced Postharvest Yellowing in Southern U.S. Rice Cultivars

Rice can yellow during storage if moisture levels and temperatures are allowed to increase. This postharvest yellowed (PHY), or stackburn, rice is reduced in value but no study has investigated the inherent potential within rice germplasm for limiting PHY. To screen a large number of cultivars for propensity to PHY, a laboratory method for PHY using a small amount of rice was used. Ninety‐eight popular southern U.S. rice cultivars were yellowed under laboratory conditions. Additional samples of the low‐yellowing and high‐yellowing cultivars were retested after two and three years of storage as rough rice using higher amounts and larger containers. All cultivars showed greater color change with the higher amounts of rice and when yellowed as milled rather than as rough rice. Length of time of storage and storage temperature did not affect the degree of PHY. The low‐ and high‐yellowing groups remained distinguishable but the overall high level of coloring in southern U.S. rice cultivars indicates that a more diverse germplasm should be investigated to increase the likelihood of identifying low‐PHY cultivars.     

Assessment of swine farms in Greece in relation to the risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella

Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2075/2005 of 5 December 2005 lays down detailed conditions for Trichinella-free farms. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to assess the current state of swine farms in Greece in relation to the risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella as a first step towards certification of Trichinella-free farms in Greece and (2) to identify a profile and characteristics of swine farms and farmers which can be used to formulate appropriate measures to promote good production practices for reducing risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella. A total of 70 swine farms were inspected using audit components similar to those used by the U.S. Trichinae Certification Programme. Only four farms (6%) complied with all the criteria used for assessing the good production practices for reducing risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella. A common characteristic of these four farms was that they had a large size (>300 sows) and produced their own feed. The most common issues among the farms that did not meet audit criteria in the present study were related to proper rodent control and accessibility of other animals in the feed storage area and the facility. In addition, the predominant significant differentiating characteristic for the farms not meeting the criteria was their small (<150 sows) size, while for the farmers it was their low educational level. These characteristics, which are linked to poor infrastructure and reluctance for improvements, respectively, will be difficulties that must be dealt with in the promotion of good production practices for Trichinella-free farms in Greece.     

Prediction of human cases of West Nile virus by equine cases, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2003

In 2003, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) occurred in Saskatchewan, Canada from July to September. One-hundred thirty-three horse cases and 947 human cases were recorded and data were analyzed retrospectively for evidence of clustering to determine if clinical infection in the horse population could be used to estimate human risk of infection with WNV. Kulldorff's scan statistic was used to identify spatial-temporal clusters in both the human and horse cases. In most areas, human clusters were not preceded by horse clusters. In one area, a significant cluster of horse cases preceded human cases by 1 week; however, 1 week does not provide sufficient time for human-health authorities to act and provide advance warning for the public.     

A first observation of spermatogenesis in mature male scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) from Zinkwazi,KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Sharks are not only threatened, but also have a low fecundity as they are being overfished. The shark family, Sphyrnidae, consists of nine species of which three...