Proximate Chemical Composition of Whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus Nordmann, 1840) Roe

This research investigated the proximate chemical composition of whiting roe from October to April. The highest water content (83.99%) was found in March, while the lowest (72.40%) was found in December. The highest protein (14.54%) and lipid contents (9.71%) were found in December, while the lowest protein content (7.35%) was found in January and the lowest lipid content (0.38%) in April. Crude ash content of whiting roe changed from 0.86 to 1.49%. The highest (154 kcal/100 g) and lowest energy values (64 kcal/100 g) were determined in December and April, respectively. Whiting roe can be used as a source of valuable nutrients for human nutrition.     

Influence of various dietary protein levels on carcase composition in the male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

1. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of various dietary protein concentrations on the carcase composition of male Japanese quail.

2. Six diets varying in protein from 160 to 300 g/kg and containing approximately 11–72 MJ/kg ME were fed for 5 weeks and analysed for dry matter, protein, fat and ash.

3. Treatments affected carcase weight, dry matter, protein, ether extract and ash

4. The water content of the carcases decreased with increasing dietary protein concentrations, while the carcase protein content increased with higher dietary protein. The carcases with the highest fat content were obtained from quail receiving the low protein diet.     

Comparative efficiency of novel laparoscopic and routine vaginal inseminations with cryopreserved semen in rabbits

Laparoscopic artificial insemination technique (LAI) is described to overcome reduced fertility problems in sheep artificial insemination (AI) programmes with frozen semen. Later on, this technology was modified for endangered non-domestic cats to deposit low quality or reduced number of sperm cells hardly obtained by electro-ejaculation into the oviduct. This technique by passes the complex structure of cervix and efficiently transfers the sperm cells to the point of fertilization. In recent years, rabbits are becoming popular transgenic animal models producing various therapeutic and commercial products, as well as being experimental animals for disease models. The worldwide transportation of frozen semen and re-establishment of transgenic lines using AI technology has become a common practice. Therefore, this study was designed to describe a laparoscopic intrauterine insemination technique, which might assist in conceiving the animals with limited number of sperm cells. The female rabbits were laparoscopically (n = 22) or vaginally (n = 13) inseminated with frozen–thawed semen samples containing approximately 10 × 10⁶ motile sperm. The laparoscopic insemination technique provided higher pregnancy rate (45.5%) than vaginal insemination technique (7.7%) (p < .05). In conclusion, the described laparoscopic AI might be a new alternative technique, thus enabling limited or low-quality frozen sperm samples to establish pregnancy in rabbits.     

Verticillium wilt of olive in Turkey: a survey on disease importance,pathogen diversity and susceptibility of relevant olive cultivars

A comprehensive survey on the prevalence and incidence of Verticillium wilt of olive in Turkey has been conducted over 6 years (2003–2008). Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) assessment and PCR-based molecular pathotyping were used to evaluate the distribution of the defoliating (D) and nondefoliating (ND) pathotypes of Verticillium dahliae in surveyed areas. Pathogen prevalence was 35% of all olive orchards inspected and incidence of the disease reached 3.1%. VCG1A was predominant (29.3%) and infected all major cultivars grown in Turkey. The other two VCGs detected (2A and 4B) were of minor relevance (4.9% and 0.9%, respectively). Disease incidence caused by VCG1A infections was higher (ranging from 1.1% to 6.9%) than that caused by VCG2A and VCG4B in 10 provinces (Manisa, Aydin, Kahramanmaras, Izmir, Mugla, Kilis, Denizli, Gaziantep, Mardin and Balikesir). However, VCG2A and 4B were more prevalent (and responsible for higher disease incidence) than VCG1A in three provinces (Hatay, Osmaniye and Bursa). Finally, VCG1A isolates were found in all provinces except Canakkale, and simultaneous presence of the three VCGs was only verified in Hatay province. An artificial inoculation bioassay (19 representative V. dahliae isolates included) revealed that VCG1A (13) isolates as a group were more aggressive and caused defoliation, whereas VCG2A (5) and VCG4B (1) isolates induced milder symptoms. Within a VCG group, virulence varied among isolates infecting the same olive cultivar and this virulence was also related to the differential susceptibility of the cultivars (‘Manzanilla’, ‘Ayvalik’ and ‘Gemlik’) tested. Molecular pathotyping allowed the identification of D (VCG1A) and ND (VCG2A/4B) pathotypes, which correlated with results from pathogenicity tests. Remarkably, the V. dahliae VCG1A/D pathotype population infecting olive in Turkey was molecularly different from that one previously identified in Spain.     

Determination of spermatological properties of male Liza abu (Heckel, 1843) in Atatürk Dam Lake, Şanlıurfa

The aim of this study was to determine the spermatological characteristics in male L. abu during the spawning season. Semen was collected weekly by abdominal massage from 26 males in March. In collected semen, volume, motility, duration of motility, concentration and pH were determined. In the L. abu sperm, volume (μl), motility (%), duration of motility (s), concentration (×10⁹/ml), and pH values were found 45.76 ± 3.55, 54.25 ± 2.93, 330.15 ± 37.92, 4.27 ± 0.40 and 7.87 ± 0.05, respectively. A correlation was found between semen volume and semen pH. Semen volume and the duration of sperm motility were higher in the 2nd and 3rd sampling dates than in the 1st and 4th sampling dates (P < 0.05; P < 0.01, respectively). Neither sperm motility nor sperm concentration was affected by sampling dates. Major changes in semen pH were observed in the 4th sampling date (P < 0.001). The Pearson correlation test presented significant relationships with the duration of motility, semen volume, and motility. Semen pH values were significantly correlated with the sperm concentration and semen volume. Sperm concentration was inversely correlated with semen volume. Sperm motility and duration significantly correlated with total weight. Total length significantly correlated with the duration of motility and total weight. In conclusion, these characteristics represent a valuable baseline dataset for establishing a semen quality standard and provide background information that may be useful for assisted breeding programs in this species.     

The effects of dietary protein levels with amino acid supplementation on the growth performance,haematological profile and histology of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) in two different size classes

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the effects of supplemented amino acids (lysine and methionine) with different dietary protein levels on growth, haematology and liver histology in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) at two different sizes: fingerling (15.2 g) and juvenile (44.4 g). Six practical diets were prepared, and three of these practical diets were formulated with 40 (P40), 44 (P44) and 48% (P48) crude protein without supplementation of amino acids. Other three diets having same protein levels were supplemented with lysine and methionine (P40AA, P44AA and P48AA) to bring these amino acids level up to that estimated to be at the least in the 48% protein diet. Final mean weight (FMW) and specific growth rate (SGR) of P48AA in fingerlings were higher than that of 40AA. According to FMW and SGR of juveniles, there was interaction found between dietary protein levels and the supplementation of amino acids. The FMW and SGR of meagre fed P44AA were higher than that of fish fed the other diets, except fish fed the P48. Economic profit index, packed cell volume and haemoglobin for juvenile meagre were significantly improved with the dietary protein level and amino acid supplementation. The liver tissues of the P48 group in both sizes displayed better structure compared with the other groups. In conclusion, dietary crude protein content of practical diets for juvenile meagre could be reduced from 48% to 44% by adding essential amino acids with an enhancement in growth, health and economic profit.     

Effects of immunization with purified specific proteins on the formation of secondary hydatid cysts in mice

In this study, immunoreactive proteins (8, 68 and 116 kDa) of Echinococcus granulosus metacestode stages were partially purified using isoelectrical focusing by a Rotofor cell device. Sixty Swiss albino mice were separated into three experimental and three control groups (n = 10). The mice of the three experimental groups were immunized with 8, 68 and 116 kDa purified proteins, respectively. 25 days after immunization, serum samples from each group were examined to assess immunization status by Western blotting. Protoscolices were applied intraperitoneally to control and immunized groups. By necropsy, mice were examined for cyst formation, size, number and fertility 2, 5, 8, and 10 months after experimental infection, respectively. Immunization with all three proteins was found to have a significant inhibitory effect on the metacestode formation of in mice (p < 0.001).