Formulation of practical diets for rainbow trout based on desired performance and body composition

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) with an initial average weight of 1.8 g were fed eight experimental diets with 26 and 35% protein and varying amounts of lipid for 112 days. All experimental diets contained 10% fish meal (the only source of animal protein), as compared to a control diet with 35% fish meal. The energy content of the diet was the most important factor in determining growth rate. The percentage of dietary lipid was the dominant factor in determining the body composition of rainbow trout. Increased amounts of dietary lipid resulted in fish with increased amounts of whole-body fat and reduced amounts of whole-body protein and moisture. Body composition was more closely a function of nutritional history than of fish size. Protein retention and energy retention were negatively associated with the percentage of digestible protein in the diet. Mortality rates did not differ significantly among the groups tested; the general health of all fish examined was good.     

Replacement of fishmeal in diets for Australian silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). II. Effects of cooking on digestibility of a practical diet containing different starch products

Abstract The interactive effects of cooking and starch type on the dry matter, gross energy and protein digestibility of diets fed to fingerling silver perch were examined. Nine experimental diets were made: a reference diet either uncooked or cooked, six other diets comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 30% uncooked or cooked wheat, maize or potato starch and one diet comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 15% pregelatinized maize starch. Cooking involved autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min. The indirect method was used to calculate apparent digestibility coefficients, and chromic oxide (1%) was used as the inert indicator. Both ingredient type and cooking influenced dry matter and gross energy digestibility of diets. All diets had significantly different digestibility coefficients in the following order (from most to least digestible): reference > wheat > maize > potato, for both dry matter and gross energy. Cooking significantly increased the apparent digestibility of diets for both dry matter and gross energy. There was no significant effect of ingredient or cooking or their interaction on protein digestibility. Dry matter and energy digestibility of the diet containing pregelatinized maize starch were significantly higher than for diets containing cooked or uncooked starch products. Ingredient digestibility followed the same trend as diet digestibility. The results from this study indicate that the successful use of starch in practical diets for silver perch is dependent on the origin and processing of the starch. The significant benefits of cooking in the reference diet suggest that pelleted diets should be cooked (e.g. steam conditioned or extruded).     

Independent target region amplification polymorphism and single‐nucleotide polymorphism marker utility in genetic evaluation of sugarcane genotypes

The independent target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) and single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker s were used for genetic evaluation of different selected 47 sugarcane genotypes. A total of 23 pairs of TRAP markers generated 925 alleles, of which 74% alleles were polymorphic. Polymorphism was generally high (>50%), ranging from 54 to 98%. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values 0.20 varied among the primer combination ranging from 0.17 in SAI + Arbi 2 to 0.31 in GL 2+ Arbi 1 with an average of 0.24. However, the Pearson correlation between PIC and power of discrimination (PD) was found to be less significant. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were used first time for the assessment of genetic diversity among different species of Saccharum and cultivated sugarcane varieties. The SNPs were detected from 454 sequencing. A total of 245 SNP markers were assayed across the 47 genotypes, and 167 SNPs were found to be polymorphic. The PIC values ranged from 0.04 to 0.38 with an average of 0.21, and their respective PD varied from 0.58 to 0.04 with an average value of 0.31. The obtained results relatively significant were compared with the other marker systems through genetic similarity and the clusters formed in different unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering dendrogram. The clustering analysis established genetic relationship in the order of Erianthus > Sclerostachya > Narenga > Saccharum spontaneum > S. robustum > S. barberi > S. officinarum/cultivars. These results ratify TRAP and SNP marker systems for assessing genetic diversity studies, and more diversified Erianthus spp. can contribute substantially towards sugarcane varietal improvement through breeding with Saccharum spp. or hybrid cultivars.     

Recurrence rates and sites for grade II canine cutaneous mast cell tumors following complete surgical excision.

A retrospective study was performed on 31 dogs with completely excised, grade II, cutaneous mast cell tumors in order to determine recurrence rates and sites. Distant tumor recurrence developed in 22% of dogs, and local tumor recurrence developed in 11% of dogs; however, the vast majority of these animals were incompletely staged initially. Complete surgical excision of grade II mast cell tumors was associated with effective local control in 89% of these dogs. Therefore, adjuvant radiation therapy might not be indicated in the majority of dogs with complete surgical excision.     

Performance of a short tool to assess dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables, percentage energy from fat and fibre

OBJECTIVES: We describe the methods used to develop and score a 17-item 'screener' designed to estimate intake of fruit and vegetables, percentage energy from fat and fibre. The ability of this screener and a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to measure these exposures is evaluated. DESIGN: Using US national food consumption data, stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the foods to be included on the instrument; multiple regression analysis was used to develop scoring algorithms. The performance of the screener was evaluated in three different studies. Estimates of intakes measured by the screener and the FFQ were compared with true usual intake based on a measurement error model. SETTING: US adult population. SUBJECTS: For development of instrument, n=9323 adults. For testing of instrument, adult men and women in three studies completing multiple 24-hour dietary recalls, FFQ and screeners, n=484, 462 and 416, respectively. RESULTS: Median recalled intakes for examined exposures were generally estimated closely by the screener. In the various validation studies, the correlations between screener estimates and estimated true intake were 0.5-0.8. In general, the performances of the screener and the full FFQ were similar; estimates of attenuation were lower for screeners than for full FFQs. CONCLUSIONS: When coupled with appropriate reference data, the screener approach described may yield useful estimates of intake, for both surveillance and epidemiological purposes.     

Development Of A Scoring System For The Veterinary Trauma Patient

An animal trauma triage (ATT) scoring system was devised to provide stratification of veterinary trauma patient populations based upon severity of injury. A retrospective population of 101 trauma patients and a prospective population of 88 patients were used to evaluate the predictive power of the ATT scoring system for survival seven days after initial presentation of the emergency service. In Both groups, the mean ATT score for survivors was significantly lower than the mean ATT score for non-survivors. In a logistic regression mode, the ATT score was found to be a significant predictor of the likelihood of survival seven days after initial presentation for both populartions. Each point increase in the ATT score resulted in a 2.3–2.6 times decreased likelihood of survival. The ATT scoring system is a useful objective classification scheme for predicting the likelihood to survive a traumatic incident and can serve as prototype for severity of injuroy scoring systems for the veterinary trauma patient.     

HYPERCALCEMIC NEPHROPATHY IN THREE DOGS: SONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE

Persistent hypercalcemia in the dog is most commonly seen as a paraneoplastic syndrome or in association with widespread osteolytic lesions. In high concentrations calcium is a potent nephrotoxin and may cause severe and irreversible renal damage. The ultrasonographic changes in the kidneys of three dogs with hypercalcernic nephropathy are described'and compared with the changes described in the same human condition. It is suggested that ultrasound could be a useful technique for evaluation of the severity of renal damage and the potential return of renal function in such instances.     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies from wild canids from Brazil

The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was evaluated by the indirect immunofluorescent-antibody test in serum of 57 wild canids from three different species: Lycalopex gymnocercus, Cerdocyon thous and Dusicyon vetulus from the northeast, southeast and southern regions of Brazil. The prevalence was 35.1%, with 20 of the 57 canids demonstrating antibodies anti-T. gondii at dilutions of 1:16 in 2, 1:32 in 4, 1:64 in 2, 1:128 in 2, 1:256 in 6, 1:512 in 2 and 1:2048 in 2 animals. None of the D. vetulus were positive. Among the L. gymnocercus 11 (91.7%) of the 12 samples were positive and among C. thous 9 (60%) of the 15 had antibodies anti-T. gondii.     

Evaluation of outcome of otitis media after lavage of the tympanic bulla and long-term antimicrobial drug treatment in dogs: 44 cases (1998-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of otitis media in dogs after video-otoscopic lavage of the tympanic bulla and long-term antimicrobial drug treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 44 dogs with otitis media treated in an academic referral practice. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, duration of ear canal disease, previous medical treatments, dermatologic diagnosis, results of cytologic examination and microbial culture of ear canal exudate, findings during video-otoscopy, medical treatment, days to resolution, and maintenance treatments prescribed. Four independent variables (age, duration of ear canal disease prior to referral, use of corticosteroids in treatment regimens, and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were evaluated statistically for potential influence on time to resolution. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD (range) duration of ear canal disease prior to referral was 24.9 +/- 21.6 (3 to 84) months. Otitis media in 36 dogs resolved after lavage of the tympanic bulla and medical management; mean +/- SD (range) time to resolution was 117 +/- 86.7 (30 to 360) days. Time to resolution was not significantly influenced by any variable evaluated. Three dogs were lost to follow-up, and 4 dogs eventually required surgical intervention. Seven of 36 dogs in which otitis had resolved relapsed; 4 required additional lavage procedures. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that lavage of the tympanic bulla combined with medical management is an effective and viable option for treatment of otitis media in dogs.