Acoustic effects of underwater drilling and piling noise on growth and physiological response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Human‐generated noises are considered as underwater sound pollution with potential short‐ or long‐term impacts on behavioural responses and physiological reaction of aquatic living organisms. Few investigations are available so far on long‐term influences of impulsive and continuous sound sources on physiological response of fish. In the present study, opercula beat rates and pectoral wing rates were monitored as a physiological stress response of ventilation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to long‐term repeated and continued sounds generated from underwater construction work. Fish responded to underwater sound treatment with significantly increased opercula beat—and pectoral wing movements. Maximum ventilation rate was observed as a startle response of fish at initial exposure to underwater sound. The ventilation rates remained at high levels over the first 4 weeks and showed a declining trend thereafter. Fish growth was almost stable for the first 4 weeks, but shifted forward from day 45 onwards. We found strong evidence that fish could attune to repeated playbacks of underwater noise exposures since we found higher specific growth rates for the sound exposed fish from day 45 onwards until day 120, a so‐called ‘catch‐up growth endeavour’.     

In vitro micropropagation from plumular apices of Turkish cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) cultivar Akkiz

Multiple shoot formation from the plumular apices excised from mature embryos of cowpea cv. Akkiz was obtained after pulse treatment with 10 mg/l BAP for 5 days followed by culture on MS medium containing 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00, 1.25 mg/l BAP – with or without 0.10 mg/l NAA. Callus induction and shoot regeneration was recorded on all cultures containing BAP with or without NAA. However, inclusion of 0.1 mg/l NAA had positive effect on callus diameter and shoot length. Maximum mean number of 7.11 shoots per explant were obtained on MS medium containing 1.00 mg/l BAP. Longer shoots were recorded on MS medium containing various concentration of BAP+ 0.1 mg/l NAA compared to those containing various concentrations of BAP singly. All shoots cultured on MS medium containing 1 mg/l BAP were rooted on MS medium containing 0.50 mg/l IBA. Rooted plants were acclimatized at room temprature in soil contained in pots. All plants flowered and set seeds in the greenhouse after 3 months.     

α-Thujone exhibits an antifungal activity against F. graminearum by inducing oxidative stress,apoptosis, epigenetics alterations and reduced toxin synthesis

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Specific mechanisms contributing to the antifungal activity of α-thujone, one of the main compounds of essential oils in herbs, against Fusarium...     

Forage soybean performance in mediterranean environments

Livestock producers are interested in growing forage soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in summer and ensiling alone or in mixtures with corn or sorghum. Four row spacings (20, 40, 60, and 80 cm), four seeding rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg seeds per hectare) and four harvesting stages for forage production (V₅, R₂, R₄, and R₆) were evaluated under irrigated conditions in a randomized split–split plot design with three replications in three different locations in Turkey with Mediterranean-type climate in 2004 and 2005. Dry matter (DM) yield was significantly reduced with increased row spacings in all locations. There was no significant difference between 20, 40, or 60 cm row spacings while 80 cm provided the lowest yield. Increased seeding rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg seeds per hectare) generally increased DM yield, although the most suitable row spacing varied by location. DM yield was significantly affected by harvest maturity increasing with advancing maturity in all locations. DM constituent plant components were generally unaffected by row spacing and seeding rate but harvest maturity did significantly affect DM partitioning. As expected, leaf blade fractions decreased continually as plant maturity increased, while stem and flower plus pod fraction increased from V₅ to R₆. In general, row spacing and seeding rate did not significantly affect crude protein, degradable protein, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of soybean forage, but all decreased significantly with advancing maturity. These studies demonstrated soybeans managed for forage in a Mediterranean-type environment can average of 9.3 and 11.3 t ha⁻¹ dry matter yield at R₄ and R₆ stages, respectively, while averaging 13.3% crude protein, 8.2% degradable protein, and 60.6% in vitro dry matter digestibility.     

Dietary Supplementation with Allspice Pimenta dioica Reduces the Occurrence of Streptococcal Disease during First Feeding of Mozambique Tilapia Fry

Abstract

Allspice Pimenta dioica as a feed additive was studied for its effects on growth performance and disease resistance in Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. Five isonitrogenous (36% crude protein) and isocaloric (18.5 kJ/g) diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, or 20 g of allspice/kg of fish feed. In a 50-d feeding trial, 15 plastic tanks (21 L) were stocked with 35 fish fry (0.012 g) each. After the feeding trial, fish were exposed to Streptococcus iniae and mortalities were recorded. The second-order polynomial regression indicated that the dietary allspice level of 10 g/kg provided the best growth performance and feed utilization. The greatest survival after pathogen challenge was also obtained from the diet supplemented with allspice at 10 g/kg. Therefore, allspice acts as a growth promoter to improve feed utilization and weight gain in Mozambique Tilapia fry and acts an antimicrobial agent to enhance disease resistance during first feeding of fry. These results suggest that allspice can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in controlling streptococcal disease in tilapia culture.

Received October 19, 2012; accepted January 20, 2014     

Expression patterns of natriuretic peptides in pre-hibernating and hibernating Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus) kidney

Veterinary Research Communications - Hibernation is characterized by marked suppression of renal function. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are involved in the regulation of renal function. However, the...     

Nutritional quality of amino acid in farmed,farm‐aggregated and wild Axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne) with implications to Human Health

This study evaluated the nutritional quality of farmed and wild axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne R., 1827) focusing on amino acid profiles, with regards to possible interactions with wild fish aggregating around the cage facility. Total amino acids (∑AA), essential amino acids (∑EAA), non‐essential amino acids (∑NEAA) and neutral amino acids (∑NAA) in farmed fish were lower than those in the wild individuals (p > .05). Amino acid pattern in cage‐aggregated fish showed a slight decline from the wild populations, but still higher than the farmed fish. Based on the amino acid scores (AAS), lysine and leucine could be underlined as the ‘first limiting amino acids’, but all other AASs were over ‘1’, in accordance with reference amino acid contents of FAO/WHO (>1.00), showing that farmed axillary seabream provides high nutritional quality and can be considered as a favourable protein source. The ratios of ∑EAA/∑AA (44%–46%) and ∑EAA/∑NEAA (79%–86%) exceeded the minimum recommendation of 40% and >60% by FAO/WHO for all three groups. It can be concluded that axillary seabream either farmed, farm‐aggregated or distant wild fish presented high‐quality protein generating a healthy source for human food.     

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with scant epithelial components in an Angora cat

CASE HISTORY: A 6-year-old, neutered, female Angora cat presented with a history of lethargy and anorexia for 2 months and a clinically palpable and gradually enlarging, solid mass in the abdominal cavity extending from the last costal arch to the pelvic cavity.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Examination of the cat revealed jaundice, dehydration and hypothermia. Haematological manifestations included lymphopenia and substantial decrease in haematocrit value. Biochemical analysis of the blood revealed hypoglycaemia, three-fold elevated blood urea nitrogen values, increased level of serum aspartate aminotransferase and increased total bilirubin while the creatinine level was normal. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen showed a disrupted and large hypoechoic area around the left kidney. The cat was anaesthetised and the left kidney was removed, but the cat died following surgery.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: On post-mortem examination, the left kidney was markedly enlarged and both the cortical and medullary parenchyma were replaced by confluent, multilobulated, pale tan-white, firm nodular masses protruding above the capsular surface. Metastasis was not observed. Cytological examination revealed a population of spindle-shaped cells of variable size, with abundant coarse chromatin and occasionally prominent nucleoli. Initial sections of the kidney were indicative of undifferentiated sarcoma confirmed by immunohistochemistry revealing vimentin-positive and cytokeratin-negative results in all tumour tissues. Additional sections showed very small amounts of both cytokeratin-positive and vimentin-positive areas.

DIAGNOSIS: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) with scant epithelial components originating from left kidney.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical and pathological features were similar to those of human SRCC, even though there was no evidence of metastases. Immunohistochemistry for vimentin and cytokeratin may be useful for definitive diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation, although staining of sections from several different parts of the tumour may be necessary. When a primary renal tumour is presented, SRCC should be considered as this diagnosis may influence treatment protocols and the clinical outcome.     

Serosurvey and molecular detection of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in northern Turkey

In this study, the hard ticks, whole blood and serum samples collected from small ruminants (sheep and goat) in middle Black Sea region of Turkey where Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) human cases were observed in the past years were surveyed for the presence of RNA and specific IgG antibodies from CCFH virus (CCHFV). CCHFV RNA was found in 30 of 255 tick pools (11.76%) and nine of 105 (8.57%) leucocyte samples. No CCHFV genomic RNA was detected from animals in Yildizeli and Vezirkopru. However, CCHFV RNA was found from animals in Gerze and Resadiye. Seventy-eight of 105 goat and sheep blood serum samples tested were antibody-positive for CCHFV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (goat: 42/63; sheep: 36/42). Viral RNA was detected from tick samples in all of four provinces. Positivity rates for the provinces varied and were as follows: Gerze 13.04%, Resadiye 35.41%, Vezirkopru 1.61% and Yildizeli 6.06%. CCHFV genomic RNA was detected in four of seven tick species tested. These results suggest that these hard ticks may act as a reservoir for CCHFV in northern Turkey.     

Maedi-visna virus infection in Karayaka and Amasya Herik breed sheep from provinces in northern Turkey

Maedi-visna is an important virus infection of sheep having prolonged incubation period (slow disease) and reflecting two distinct forms clinically and pathologically. In this study, the presence of MVV was investigated serologically in 58 Amasya Herik sheep breed and 525 Karayaka sheep breed. Seropositivity rates in Amasya Herik sheep breed and Karayaka sheep breed were detected as 69.0% and 18.5%, respectively. MVV antibodies were found in 137 of 583 serum samples (23.5%). Positivity rates for the provinces varied and were as follows: Samsun 19.4%, Sinop 15.4%, Ordu 25.8%, Trabzon 26.7%, Rize 36.7%, Amasya 69.0% and Tokat 35.0%, however no antibody response was detected in all of the sheep in Giresun province.