The Effect of Whey Protein Isolate Coating Enriched with Thyme Essential Oils on Trout Quality at Refrigerated Storage (4 ± 2°C)

ABSTRACT

The present study evaluated the effect of whey protein isolate (WPI) coating enriched with thyme essential oil (EO; 3, 5, and 7%, v/v) on whole trout chemical and microbial quality during refrigerated storage at 4 ± 2°C. As a result of this study, the addition of thyme essential oil to WPI coatings enhanced quality significantly better than that of the control and WPI coating without thyme essential oil during refrigerated storage, and this effect increased with an increase in the thyme EO concentration in WPI coating.     

Gonadal histology and some biochemical characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chalcalburnus tarichi</Emphasis> (Pallas, 1811) having abnormal gonads

The gonad histology, gonado-somatic index (GSI), 17β-estradiol (E₂) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the carp species Chalcalburnus tarichi from Lake Van and the Karasu river, eastern Turkey, have been investigated. Fish between 5 and 7 years old were sampled from November 2003 to February 2004. The ratio of female fish caught in Lake Van with abnormal ovaries (AbOF) was 43.3%, but the fork length and body weight of these fish were not correlated with this abnormality. The weight of the ovaries and the GSI values of AbOF were very low (P < 0.05). Histological observations on the samples caught each month revealed that the oocytes had degenerated in the perinucleolus and early cortical alveolus stages and that the ovaries were full of somatic stromal tissue. In addition, the seminiferous tubules of male fish with abnormal testes did not contain male reproductive cells at any stage. The ovaries of the fish caught from the Karasu river were also full of oocytes in the perinucleolus and early cortical alveolus stages, but there were fewer atretic follicles. Furthermore, apoptosis was observed in the ovary cells of these fish, in particular in the follicular cells, and the plasma E₂ levels of the AbOF was very low (P < 0.05). AChE activity was inhibited only in liver (P < 0.05). We conclude that our sample of C. tarichi must have been exposed to various polluting chemicals or another unknown factors (such as global warming) and that these factors have irreversibly impaired oocyte development in a high percentage of fish.     

Specific enzyme activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as an aid to diagnosis of tracheobronchitis and bronchopneumonia in dogs

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme activities, and total protein (TP), calcium, inorganic phosphate, urea nitrogen (UN) and creatinine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were investigated for their relative importance in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in dogs. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was obtained from 26 dogs (20 with respiratory diseases and six controls) following anaesthesia with sodium pentothal. Enzyme activities and biochemical parameters were measured in BAL fluid. LDH and ALP levels were significantly increased in 12 dogs with bronchopneumonia, but not in eight dogs with tracheobronchitis. Insignificant and variable levels of TP and UN concentrations were found in both groups. It was concluded that LDH and ALP enzyme activities could be considered as pointers to pulmonary inflammation and/or damage while TP and UN measurements in BAL fluid may have a place in the identification of changes in respiratory and vascular permeability.     

A quantitative study on the trachea of the dog

This study was carried out to record the detailed morphometric structure of the trachea in dogs using 15 female and four male healthy adult mongrel dogs. The diameter and thickness of each tracheal ring were measured, the number of tracheal rings varying from 36 to 45. All data were subjected to statistical analysis which was carried out on individual sections of the trachea, i.e. the cranial cervical, middle cervical, thoracic inlet and the intrathoracic tracheal regions, which consisted of 12, 12, nine and 12 tracheal rings, respectively. Fusion of the tracheal rings was especially obvious in the cranial cervical and thoracic inlet regions as a result of neck movements. The diameter and thickness of the tracheal rings are smallest at the thoracic inlet level because the direction of the trachea changes at this point where the thoracic inlet is relatively small and surrounded by bone. The ratios of inner transverse to inner vertical and outer transverse to outer vertical diameters were almost the same, between 1.14 and 1.25 in all regions, which indicated that the trachea is near-circular in shape in the dog. At the thoracic inlet level cross-sectional lumen areas are 7 and 6% smaller than those in the middle cervical and intrathoracic regions, respectively. The thinnest cartilage was seen at the thoracic inlet level where there is a risk of tracheal collapse.     

Application of western blotting procedure for the immunodiagnosis of visceral larva migrans in mice by using excretory/secretory antigens

A Western blotting procedure with excretory/secretory antigens from Toxocara canis larvae was developed for immunodiagnosis of visceral larva migrans in mice. In this study, eighty Swiss albino mice were allotted into two groups of 40 each as control and experimental groups, and T. canis ova containing infective larvae were given to mice in the latter group to form visceral larva migrans. Blood samples were taken from 5 infected and 5 control mice on days 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 after infection. After bleeding, the mice were necropsied. Slides were prepared from their brain tissues and examined for visceral larva migrans. Following this procedure, their guts were also examined for intestinal parasites. Protein bands of excretory/secretory antigens of 2nd stage larvae of Toxocara canis were determined by using SDS-PAGE. Sera from the mice were tested by Western blotting and results were compared to the protein bands obtained by SDS-PAGE to determine specific bands. Specific protein bands for visceral larva migrans were determined as 24, 28, and 48 kDa according to our test results.     

Embryotoxicity assay of aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999

1. The embryotoxicity of mixed aflatoxins (AF) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were evaluated by a modified chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST). Adverse effects on the early embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius were also investigated by light microscopy. AF consisted of 83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1 and 1.12% AFG2. 2. A total of 448 fertilised laying hens' eggs were used. AF and AFB1 were injected into the eggs at doses of 10, 100 and 1000 ng/egg. Embryonic developmental stages were evaluated according to the Hamburger-Hamilton scale (HH-scale). 3. The results showed that AFB1 given at 10 ng/egg had a significantly (P<0.05) greater embryotoxic effect than AF given at a similar dose. The higher doses of both AF and AFB1 caused higher embryonic mortality and also an increase in early deaths. 4. In the groups receiving 100 ng/egg AF and AFB1 an abnormal development was seen, with a protruded central region, corresponding to the area pellucida of the blastoderm. No other developmental abnormality attributable to AF or AFB1 was found.     

Effect of clinoptilolite on serum biochemical and haematological characters of broiler chickens during aflatoxicosis

Clinoptilolite (CLI, a natural zeolite) incorporated into the diet at 1.5 and 2.5 per cent were evaluated for their ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.5 mg total aflatoxin (AF) kg(-1)diet on broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. In total 360 broiler chicks were divided into six equal treatment groups (control, AF, CLI (1.5 per cent), AF plus CLI (1.5 per cent), CLI (2.5 per cent) and AF plus CLI (2.5 per cent)). When compared with the controls, AF treatment significantly decreased serum total protein, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, uric acid, total cholesterol and the values of haematocrit, red blood cell counts, mean corpuscular volume, haemoglobin, thrombocyte counts, percentage of monocyte counts; increased values of white blood cell and heterophil counts. The addition of CLI (1.5 per cent) and CLI (2.5 per cent) to the AF -containing diet reduced the adverse effects of AF and should be helpful in a solution to the aflatoxicosis problem in poultry.     

Antioxidants and lipid peroxidation levels of blood and cervical mucus in cows in relation to pregnancy

Levels of vitamins A and E, beta carotene and lipid peroxidation product (TBARS) were determined in plasma and cervical mucus of 32 cows. Red blood cell (RBC) reduced glutathione (GSH) and RBC glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity as well as vitamin C plasma levels were measured. After taking cervical mucus and blood samples the animals were inseminated artificially. Three month later pregnant (n = 20) and non pregnant (n = 12) cattle were determined. Correlations between investigated parameters and pregnancy rate were performed. In blood plasma, a significant correlation was observed between vitamin A and beta carotene (P < 0.001) as well as vitamin E (P < 0.05). There was a significant (P < 0.001) correlation in TBARS values of plasma and cervical mucus. However, none of the investigated parameters showed a significant difference between pregnant and non pregnant cows. In conclusion, we did not find any difference and correlation between pregnant and nonpregnant animals concerning the investigated antioxidants. A positive correlation was observed between lipid peroxidation levels of plasma and cervical mucus. Our work provides basic informations about antioxidative parameters under physiological conditions. Further studies should investigate possible correlation between disturbed fertility and antioxidative status of plasma and cervical mucus in clinically healthy cows.