Electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of irradiated fish containing bone (gilthead sea bream,cod, and swordfish)

Food irradiation is a preservation method that has been approved by the European Union for a limited number of foods or food products and within a limited range of doses. European Community legislation states that all foods or food ingredients treated in this manner and authorized for sale in the European Union must be clearly labeled, and that market-level inspections must be carried out to ensure compliance with this regulation. To improve detection of irradiated foods, we evaluated the efficacy of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy for the identification of seafood that had been subjected to irradiation. Three fish species were tested: gilthead sea bream, cod, and swordfish. For each species, 18 samples of flesh-containing bone were analyzed after either irradiation at 0.5, 1, or 3 kGy or no irradiation (control). Induced radicals in irradiated samples produced distinct ESR signals that allowed differentiation from non-irradiated samples. Within the dose range tested, a linear dose-response relationship was observed (R ² > 0.94). The gilthead sea bream displayed the highest radiosensitivity. The analytical procedure was validated and successfully used for the routine monitoring of locally marketed seafood. The main aims of the study were to develop a reliable tool for the enforcement of the proper labeling of irradiated foods and to obtain preliminary data on compliance with current laws in the Italian market.

     

The key role of records in a production medicine practice

The needs of dairy farmers for veterinary assistance have changed and are still changing. It appears that many future opportunities in dairy practice will involve active consultation on herd management factors. The ability to evaluate herd records will be crucial to this effort. This article discusses organizing and then utilizing a production medicine program based on systematic records analysis.     

Responses of sexually-maturing pullets to self-selection feeding under different temperature and lighting regimens

1. Pullets allowed to self-select nutrients from a protein concentrate and either a separate complete diet or cereal-based, energy-rich mixture showed preferences for protein and energy which varied in relation to the time of their onset of lay. 2. The selected protein:metabolisable energy (ME) intake ratio increased from 14 g protein per MJ of ME 2 to 3 weeks before sexual maturity to approximately 19 g protein per MJ of ME at and after sexual maturity. 3. This response to self-selection feeding was consistent with different temperatures, lighting patterns and dietary manipulations. 4. Egg mass output was improved by self-selection feeding at hot (25 degrees to 35 degrees C) temperatures in experiments 1 and 2 and at ambient temperatures in experiment 3. No beneficial response in egg mass from self-selection feeding was observed at cold (6 degrees to 16 degrees C) temperatures in experiment 1. 5. Providing 2 h of additional light during the dark (cool) part of the day, with or without 2 h of darkness in the middle of the extended light (hot) period, had no effect on the egg mass output of pullets at hot (25 degrees to 35 degrees C) temperatures.     

Passage of chromium-mordanted and rare earth-labeled fiber: time of dosing kinetics

Coastal bermudagrass hay was labeled with Cr by the Cr-mordant procedure and with 177Lu applied to the same fiber. Neutral detergent fiber prepared from the same Coastal bermudagrass hay was labeled with Yb, 169Yb, Tb and 160Tb by soaking overnight following by thorough washing and drying. Wood chips were similarly labeled with Sm or La, and Solka Floc was labeled with 147Nd and 141Ce. The carriers, labels and times of administration to cattle were: bermudagrass fiber with both Cr and 177Lu, bermudagrass fiber with 169Yb and Solka Floc labeled with 147Nd at 0 h; bermudagrass fiber with Yb, Solka Floc with 141Ce and wood chips with Sm at 24 h; wood chips with La at 48 h; and bermudagrass fiber labeled with 160Tb at the beginning and labeled with Tb at the end of a meal. Fecal collection followed and passage characteristics were determined with a two-compartment, age-dependent model. Markers labeling the different fiber sources had different (P less than .01) passage rates (Solka Floc greater than Coastal bermudagrass greater than wood chips), but there was no difference within fiber source for rare earth passage. There also was no difference between the passage characteristics of Cr-mordant and 177Lu. However, passage rate of particles administered at the beginning of the meal (160Tb) was 42% higher than for particles at the end of the meal (Tb).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physiological effects of etorphine, acepromazine and xylazine in the scimitar horned oryx (Oryx dammah)

Scimitar horned oryx (Oryx dammah), kept under confined and unconfined conditions were immobilised with etorphine in combination with acepromazine or xylazine or both, and with xylazine alone. Both groups of animals were successfully sedated with etorphine and xylzine, with or without acepromazine, although hypothermia and mild hypoxaemia and a fall in packed cell volume were frequently noted. Xylazine alone produced a dose dependent degree of sedation in semitame subadult animals kept in confinement, but only slight depression in their wild, unconfined counterparts. If xylazine was not included in the immobilising mixture induction was traumatic and full sedation not achieved. Heart rates and arterial pressures (systemic and pulmonary) were also monitored but no remarkable changes were noted. The only abnormalities in blood biochemistry were raised aspartate transminase and creatine kinase. Ruminal regurgitation could be a major problem if endotracheal intubation was not achieved early in the procedure.     

Factors associated with average daily gain, fever and lameness in beef bulls at the Saskatchewan Central Feed Test Station.

Data obtained from the Saskatchewan Central Feed Test Station in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada were examined for evidence of factors related to average daily gain and the diseases occurring in 326 beef bulls during the 1983-84 test. Average daily gain was found to be significantly associated with breed, pen assignment and initial test weight but was not associated with disease or age upon arrival at the test station. Lameness was associated with breed and initial weight, while fever (suspected respiratory disease) was associated with age. The predicted odds of lameness was approximately seven times greater in the animal with the heaviest as compared to the lightest initial test weight and the predicted odds of fever was approximately five times greater in the youngest as compared to the oldest animal.     

Cardiovascular Function and Serum Catecholamine Concentrations after Anesthesia and Surgery in the Dog

Peripheral vasoconstriction and plasma catecholamine concentrations were studied in 37 dogs after cervical disc fenestration and salivary gland excision, laparotomy for intestinal anastomoses and cystotomy, or laparotomy for repair of diaphragmatic rupture, gastrotomy, and pyloromyotomy. Meperidine (4.4 mg/kg) was administered before extubation of 12 dogs undergoing laparotomy. Heart rate, respiratory frequency, indirect blood pressure, rectal temperature, toe web temperature, and plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined before induction of anesthesia, after intubation, after extubation, at sternal recumbency, and at standing. All dogs were hypothermic during surgery. After surgery, peripheral hypothermia (large rectal-toe web temperature gradients) increased from a mean of 4.6 degrees C after intubation to a mean of 10.4 degrees C when the dogs initially stood. Heart and respiratory rates and blood pressures during recovery were similar to those before anesthesia. Mean plasma catecholamine concentrations were neither significantly higher during recovery than before surgery nor were they increased in any surgical group, including the dogs not treated with meperidine. After anesthesia, 15% of the epinephrine and 12% of the norepinephrine samples were more than two standard deviations above the mean of the preanesthetic concentrations of all dogs. The ratio of all dogs with an epinephrine concentration more than two standard deviations above the mean of baseline epinephrine concentrations was greater at sternal recumbency than before anesthesia and the ratio of dogs with an increased epinephrine concentration at sternal recumbency was greater in the laparotomy dogs (9 of 24) than in the cervical surgery dogs (0 of 12).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)