Capacity for digestive hydrolysis and amino acid absorption in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed diets with soybean meal or inulin with or without addition of antibiotics

This experiment was done to study the effects of dietary soybean meal (SBM) and inulin (a prebiotic) on the capacity for digestive hydrolysis and amino acid absorption by Atlantic salmon, and how a dietary supplement of the broad-spectrum antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) modulated these responses. A control diet (FM) was made from fish meal, fish oil and extruded wheat. Two similar diets were made with 250 g soybean meal (SBM) or 75 g inulin kg^− 1. Each diet was made with or without a supplement of 3 g OTC kg^− 1. All six diets contained yttrium oxide for estimation of apparent nutrient absorption. Each diet was fed to two groups of 172 g salmon kept in 1 m² tanks with 9 °C saltwater for 3 weeks. Intestinal organs were then sampled and weighed. Gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) were sectioned for analyses of brush border alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities. Tissue from the distal intestine (DI) was also fixed for histological examination. Digesta from the different sections were freeze dried for estimation of trypsin and amylase activities, and of apparent absorption of amino acids (AA), nitrogen (N), and sulphur (S). About 85% of the trypsin activity, 70% of the amylase activity, 85% of the ALP activity, and 82% of the LAP activity were found in the proximal (PI) and mid (MI) intestine of fish with functional DI, and the absorption of AA, N, and S was quantitatively completed in the MI. Dietary OTC resulted in lower relative liver weight, but apart from increased ALP and LAP activities in DI when feeding OTC in combination with inulin, OTC did not modify the responses to dietary SBM or inulin. Dietary SBM resulted in lower relative liver weight, and induced pathomorphological changes in the DI mucosa, thus lower the ALP and LAP activities in the DI. SBM also stimulated absorption of AA, N, and S in the PI, but at the same time increased the activities of trypsin and amylase in the DI, indicating reduced re-absorption and increased faecal losses of these endogenous enzymes. Dietary inulin did not damage the DI, and stimulated intestinal growth and higher relative mass of the GIT. Inulin without OTC did not affect the hydrolytic and absorptive capacity of the salmon GIT.     

Transfer of PCDDs and PCDFs into the edible parts of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), via feed

This study was carried out to quantify the transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with high‐energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of the fish increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching a size of up to 51‐cm length (Tl). Considerable amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs were transferred from the fish feed into the tissue of the trout. Dioxin concentrations increased during the time of feeding from 0.054 up to 0.914 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 wet weight and from 4.991 to 15.815 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 fat. A correlation was found between the dioxin concentration of the feed and the resulting concentration in the fat of the muscle tissue. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates from a high‐energy diet to farmed rainbow trout.     

The effect of water-borne magnesium on the dietary magnesium requirement of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (mean initial weight 0.84 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of magnesium (Mg) (78 to 725µg/g) while being exposed to one of several levels in the rearing water (1.4 to 1000 mg/l). Uptake of Mg from the water, in Mg-deficient fish, was linearly related to the water Mg concentrated. It appears that the fish's Mg requirement can be met from either or both the diet or water. Under the experimental conditions, a water-borne concentration of 46 mg/l was calculated to be sufficient to meet the Mg requirement of the fish fed a Mg-free diet.     

Transfer of toxaphene and chlordane into farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) via feed

The study was carried out to quantitate the transfer of toxaphene and chlordane compounds from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with unspiked high energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of trout increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching sizes of 51 cm length. Considerable amounts of toxaphene and chlordane residues were transferred from fish feed into trout muscle. Toxaphene concentrations increased up to 8.6 µg (Σ toxaphene indicator compounds 1–3) kg^?1 wet weight (w.w.) and chlordane reached 5.3 µg Σoxy‐, trans‐, cis‐chlordane + t‐nonachlor kg^?1 w.w. Results are also discussed on the contaminant levels based on the fat content and the effect of sexual maturation is considered in this study. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates for toxaphene and chlordane congeners from high energy diet into the edible part of farmed rainbow trout.     

Separation by carrier-free electrophoresis of subpopulations of bovine alveolar macrophages

Carrier-free electrophoresis was used to separate subpopulations of bovine alveolar macrophages according to their electrical surface charges. The electrophoretic mobility of the macrophages changed significantly as a function of the time of cultivation in vitro. After 20 h, three subgroups were identified which differed in their specific contents of lysosomal hydrolases, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and alkaline phosphodiesterase. By comparing the findings with results from the literature it was concluded that the subgroups correspond to different stages of maturation and that the fraction moving fastest may be the most mature fraction. The results were not influenced by phagocytosis and the presence or absence of Ca2+.     

Treatment of traumatic cervical myelopathy with surgery, prolonged positive-pressure ventilation, and physical therapy in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 9-year-old dog was evaluated for traumatic cervical myelopathy after a surgical attempt to realign and stabilize the C2 and C3 vertebrae. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog could not ventilate spontaneously and was tetraplegic; positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) was maintained. Myelography and computed tomography revealed spinal cord compression with subluxation of the C2 and C3 vertebrae and extrusion of the C2-3 intervertebral disk. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Surgically, the protruding disk material was removed and the vertebrae were realigned with screws and wire. For PPV, assist control ventilation in volume control mode and then in pressure control mode was used in the first 6 days; this was followed by synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation until 33 days after the injury; then only continuous positive airway pressure was provided until the dog could breathe unassisted, 37 days after the injury. Physical therapy that included passive range of motion exercises, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and functional weight-bearing positions was administered until the dog was discharged 46 days after injury; the dog was severely ataxic and tetraparetic but could walk. Therapy was continued at home, and 1 year later, the dog could run and had moderate ataxia and tetraparesis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hypoventilation with tetraparesis in traumatic spinal cord injury can be successfully treated with PPV exceeding 30 days, surgery, and physical therapy.     

Selection of wheat based on economic returns per unit area

This study aimed to investigate a cultivar selection criterion based on income ha⁻¹ in common wheat. Regional yield trials with 20 entries were planted in Diyarbakır, Hazro and Ceylanpınar in southeast Anatolia in the 2004/2005 growing season. A randomized complete block design with four replications was employed. Grain samples from each location were subjected to quality analyses, and then presented to randomly selected grain purchasers with the local commodity market for market price estimations. Entries 1, 9, 10, 7 and 6 were the top five ranking entries for grain yield, giving 5,320, 5,290, 5,280, 5,140 and 5,130 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. From the market price perspective, entries 17, 3, 7, 20 and 8 received the five highest marketing price offers with the values 239.0, 238.1, 237.1, 236.9 and 236.7 US$ tonne⁻¹, respectively. There was a US$ 10.94 tonne⁻¹ market price difference between entries with the highest and the lowest market price. The only quality analyses showing significant correlations with market price were Zeleny sedimentation value and hectolitre weights (kg hl⁻¹). From thev production income [= marketing price (US$ tonne⁻¹) × grain yield (kg ha⁻¹)] point of view, entries 9, 10, 1, 7 and 6 were ranked from 1st to 5th for production income ha⁻¹ with the values 1,241.0, 1,238.0, 1,219.9, 1,214.2 and 1,209.3 US$ ha⁻¹, respectively. All five high yielding entries were also high-income entries. A rank stability analysis further indicated that entry numbers 6, 7, 8, 4 and 1 stable for high production income ha⁻¹. A simulation study, based on allocation of additional premiums for high quality indicated that entries 9,1,10, 7, and 6 would be top ranking for high income ha⁻¹ if given an additional premium of as much as twice the standard deviations of market price for each entry (the highest premium limit; 20.24 US$ tonne⁻¹). The order for cultivar preference for high production income ha⁻¹ would change and would generate 1,321.94, 1,296.20, 1,281.11, 1,258.06 and 1,243.01 US$ ha⁻¹, respectively. It was concluded that the relatively quality conscious Şanlıurfa commodity market does not offer adequate premiums for the high quality grains. This results in farmer preference for high yielding lower quality cultivars. Even though quality cannot be neglected, and cultivar preference could change with additional premiums, breeders must give more attention to high production income ha⁻¹.     

Regional patterns of microsatellite diversity in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions

This study was conducted to assess regional patterns of diversity of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions and to identify areas of diversity that can be used as source of new germplasm for developing high yielding and stable varieties. A collection of 133 Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions and eight introduced cultivars was analysed using 29 wheat microsatellite markers. A total of 383 alleles were detected with an average value of 13.14 alleles per locus. Relatively more alleles were observed in the B genome than in the A genome. Gene diversity indices ranged from 0.08 to 0.95, with a mean value of 0.72. Accessions collected from the same region were pooled and the number of alleles and gene diversity were calculated over the 29 simple sequence repeats for each region. Higher numbers of alleles were detected in the Shewa region (8.72), followed by Tigray (5.86) and Hararghe (5.76). The highest average gene diversity value was found in Shewa (0.65), followed by Gondar (0.64). No significant correlation was observed between geographic distance and genetic distance. Out of 383 different alleles detected, 93 (24.4%) were observed to be region‐specific. Region‐specific alleles were found across all chromosomes except for Xgwm752, Xgwm155 and Xgwm148. Genetic similarity coefficients were estimated for all the possible 55 pairs of regional comparisons and they ranged from 0.16 to 0.52, with a mean value of 0.50. All provinces were differentiated in the UPGMA cluster diagram.