Prey ingestion and live food selectivity of marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) using rice field prawn (Macrobrachium lanchesteri) as prey

Marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata), a carnivorous fish native to freshwater in Asia-Pacific region, is a high-valued species in many Asian countries. The present study consisting of three experiments was conducted to determine the appropriate density, size and ingestion time of marble goby fingerlings on rice field prawn (Macrobrachium lanchesteri) as prey. Results showed that the ingestion rate of marble goby fingerlings (0.26-1.43 g size) on prawns (9-12 mm in length) had an asymptotic pattern peaked at a predator to prey ratio of 1:20. Marble goby fingerlings did catch prawns during both daytime (07:00-17:00 h) and nighttime (17:00-07:00 h), but the ingestion peaked during nighttime period. The hourly ingestion rate during nighttime was significantly higher than that during daytime for the smaller-size marble goby fingerlings of 0.26-0.87 g, while there was no significant difference in the hourly ingestion between nighttime and daytime for the larger-size marble goby fingerlings of 1.43 g. The daily ingestion of marble goby fingerlings on prawns (mg consumed prawns/goby/day) increased significantly with increasing average weights (g) of marble goby fingerlings (Y = 27.6 + 47.8X, n = 30, r² = 0.86, p < 0.05). Results also showed that the preferred prawn size of marble goby fingerlings of average weights of 0.26-4.18 g was small (9-12 mm) with positive electivity index of 0.19-0.33, and the shift from small- to medium-size (12-14 mm) prawns was slow. The present study has demonstrated the feasibility of using rice field prawns as live foods to nurse marble goby fingerlings.     

Transgenic wheats with elevated levels of Dx5 and/or Dy10 high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits yield doughs with increased mixing strength and tolerance

To test the effects of independently increasing the in vivo levels of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) Dx5 and Dy10 on wheat flour properties, we increased the copy numbers of their corresponding genes by genetic transformation. Thirteen transformants with increases in one or both subunits were chosen for biochemical and functional characterization by solvent fractionation, RP-HPLC, SDS-sedimentation, and micro-mixing. Increases in Dx5 and Dy10 contents ranged from 1.4- to 3.5-fold and 1.2- to 5.4-fold, respectively, and generally resulted in increased polymeric protein, increased mixing times and tolerances, and lower peak resistances. Increases in Dx5 content had larger effects on most parameters than comparable increases in Dy10. Flours with more than 2.6-times the native levels of Dx5 could not be mixed under standard 2-g mixograph conditions, while flours with 5.4 times the native levels of Dy10 could be mixed if sufficient time was allowed. Increases in Dx5 and Dy10 had additive effects on mixing behavior. These experiments demonstrate that dough mixing strength and tolerance can be increased by raising the levels of native HMW-GS Dx5 or Dy10, but that the effects of the two subunits are quantitatively and qualitatively different.     

Field trial of praziquantel for control of fishborne zoonotic trematodes in reservoir hosts in Vietnam

This field trial was conducted to determine whether 40 or 75 mg/kg of praziquantel is suitable for treatment of fishborne zoonotic trematodes (FZT) in naturally infected dogs (n=10) and cats (n=11). Three days after treatment all animals at either dose were negative for small trematode eggs. In two cats and one dog treated with 75 mg/kg, however, a few damaged eggs were found 3 days post-treatment; no small trematode eggs were seen in these animals at day 14 post-treatment. In addition, at the 75 mg dose, two cats and two dogs experienced vomiting or diminished appetite. Therefore a praziquantel dose of 40 mg/kg is suggested for treatment of FZT in dogs and cats.     

Comparative study on pressure and temperature stability of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in model systems and in food products

A comparative study on the pressure and temperature stability of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-CH(3)-H(4)folate) was performed in model/buffer systems and food products (i.e., orange juice, kiwi puree, carrot juice, and asparagus). Effects of pH and ascorbic acid (0.5 mg/g) on 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate stability in buffer systems were studied on a kinetic basis at different temperatures (from 65 to 160 degrees C) and different pressure/temperature combinations (from 100 to 700 MPa/from 20 to 65 degrees C). These studies showed that (i) the degradation of 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate in all model systems could be described by first-order reaction kinetics, (ii) the thermostability of 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate was enhanced by increasing pH up to 7, (iii) 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate was relatively pressure stable at temperatures lower than 40 degrees C, and (iv) ascorbic acid enhanced both the thermo- and barostabilities of 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate. In food products, temperature and pressure stabilities of 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate were studied at different temperatures (70-120 degrees C) and different pressure/temperature combinations (from 50 to 200 MPa/25 degrees C and 500 MPa/60 degrees C). 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate in orange juice and kiwi puree was relatively temperature (up to 120 degrees C) and pressure (up to 500 MPa/60 degrees C) stable in contrast to carrot juice and asparagus. Addition of ascorbic acid (0.5 mg/g) in carrot juice resulted in a remarkable protective effect on pressure (500 MPa/60 degrees C/40 min) and temperature degradation (120 degrees C/40 min) of 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate.     

Yield and Economic Efficiency of Green Water in Combination with Supplemental Feeds for Artemia Production in Vietnamese Salt Ponds

We evaluated the combined effects of different green water sources and feed supplements on Artemia biomass production and economic efficiency. A two-factor experiment was set up with two green water types produced from the ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus (N:P = 5 and N:P = 10) in combination with two types of supplemental feed (rice bran or pig manure). After 12 weeks of culture, total Artemia biomass yield with the N:P = 5 treatment (2.29 ton ha^?1 crop^?1) was 14% higher than that with the N:P = 10 treatment (1.97 ton ha^?1 crop^?1), although this difference was not significant (P > 0.05). There was no significant interaction between green water and supplemental feeding treatments for the final yield of Artemia biomass. Comparative cost-benefit analysis showed that the treatment of N:P = 5 combined with pig manure attained a significantly higher net profit and cost/benefit ratio than the other treatments.     

Growth and survival rate of three genetic groups fed 28% and 34% protein diets

The strain by nutrition interaction in body weight and survival rate was examined by testing three genetic groups (Selection and Control lines of the GIFT strain, and Red tilapia) at two levels of protein in the diet (28% and 34%). The GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been selected for high‐breeding values for body weight, whereas the Control was contemporaneously maintained and selected for breeding values of body weight close to the population mean. The Red tilapia (Oreochromis spp) was unselected at the time of the experiment. There were a total of 6000 fish at stocking in the study (2000 fish per genetic group). During the grow‐out period of 147 days, within each genetic group, the fish were randomly assigned to either a 28% or a 34% protein diet. Survival rate during grow‐out averaged 72%. A total of 4335 fish were harvested, with individual body measurements and survival recorded. The effect of genetic group accounted for the largest proportion of variation in body weight and survival, followed by sex and protein level. Across the two dietary protein levels, the GIFT strain had the highest growth. The difference in body weight between the Control and Red tilapia was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Responses in growth to dietary protein levels also differed between genetic groups. No differences (P > 0.05) in body weight were found in the GIFT selection and Control fish fed 28% or 34% protein diets. However, body weight of Red tilapia was greater in the high‐ than in the low‐protein diet. In contrast to body weight, survival rate from stocking to harvest was affected by protein level. The high‐protein diet significantly improved survival rate, averaging 24% across the three strains. The overall results indicate significant effects of genetic group and dietary protein level on both body weight and survival rate; however, the interaction between strain and dietary protein levels was small and possibly unimportant for these traits. It is concluded that the 28% protein diet used in the selection programme for the GIFT strain results in the selection of genotypes that can perform well under commercial feeds.     

Inheritance of molecular markers and sex in the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor Clark

Inheritance of three kinds of molecular genetic markers (mtDNA, random‐amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) and allozymes) and sex were investigated in crossbreeding experiments between three populations of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor. Crossbreeding did not disrupt the ively maternally inherited, and allozyme and RAPD markers were transmitted following expected Mendelian principles for co‐dominant and dominant traits respectively. Unlike these three markers, sex ratios were found to be distorted by crossbreeding in some families. Two crossbred families produced only females. The implications of these findings for freshwater crayfish population genetics, taxonomy and aquaculture are discussed.     

Influence of varying levels of supplemental cassava root meal without or with groundnut cake on performance of growing Laisind cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of varying levels of cassava root meal (CRM, 300 and 1,000 g), without or with 700 g groundnut cake (GNC) on intake and performance of growing Laisind cattle fed with a basal diet of urea-treated rice straw (URTRS). Twenty-four male cattle of crossbred Laisind (50 % Red Sindhi and 50 % local Yellow, both Bos indicus), from 15 to 17 months of age, 165–175 kg body weight, were used. They were assigned to a completely randomized block design in a 2?×?2 factorial arrangement (two CRM levels and two GNC levels). Intake of URTRS (interaction, P?<?0.01) and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (interaction, P?<?0.05) decreased as CRM level increased on the diets without GNC but was not affected by CRM level on the diets with GNC. The total dry matter intake (interaction, P?<?0.05) and live weight gain (LWG) (interaction, P?<?0.001) increased as CRM level increased on the diets with GNC, but no difference was observed on the diets without GNC. In conclusion, supplementation of 1,000 g CRM should be in combination with 700 g GNC to avoid the negative effects on URTRS intake and digestibility, therefore improving LWG of growing Laisind cattle fed on a URTRS-based diet.     

Prevalence and first genetic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle in central Viet Nam

We investigated the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in relation to age and clinical status in cattle in the central region of Viet Nam. A total of 266 fecal samples from diarrheic and non-diarrheic cattle were examined by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum type infections, those of the Cryptosporidium andersoni type, and mixed infection of both types was 33.5% (89/266), 5.6% (15/266), and 3.4% (9/266), respectively. The infection rate of 44.3% (35/79) of C. parvum in calves less than 6 months old was significantly higher than that of 28.9% (54/187) in cattle greater than 6 months old (P < 0.01). Although no C. andersoni oocysts were detected in calves less than 3 months old, no significant difference was observed between the age groups in the prevalence of C. andersoni infection and mixed infection. The percentage of diarrheic and non-diarrheic cattle identified to be shedding C. parvum oocysts was 46.5% (74/159) and 14.0% (15/107), respectively (P < 0.0001). The risk of diarrhea was 1.7 times greater in C. parvum-infected calves than in their non-infected counterparts. DNA sequences of 18S rRNA genes of C. parvum type and C. andersoni type indicated that they were C. parvum bovine genotype and C. andersoni, respectively. This is the first genetic identification of C. parvum bovine genotype and C. andersoni from cattle in Viet Nam.     

Diffusion of chemicals into archaeological waterlogged hardwoods obtained from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel site,Vietnam

This study shows a method to easily develop suitable impregnation procedure of chemicals for preserving the archaeological waterlogged wood (WW) using diffusion constant. The steady-state diffusion coefficients of polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), trehalose, and keratin through eight archaeological waterlogged wood species were obtained from the total amounts of the chemicals diffused through the wood samples. The diffusion coefficients were strongly affected by the anatomical structures of the wood species and degree of wood deterioration. Within the same species of wood, the highest diffusion rates were measured in the longitudinal direction, followed by those in the radial and tangential directions. The longitudinal diffusion coefficients were 1.5- to 8.1-times higher than the radial diffusion coefficients, which were in turn approximately 1.1- to 5.7-times higher than the tangential diffusion coefficients. The diffusion rates were found to be inversely proportional to the molecular weight of the diffusing chemical. The diffusivity of trehalose through the waterlogged woods was found to be higher than those of keratin and PEG4000. This study provides a potential method to easily estimate chemical diffusion coefficients for dip-diffusion treatments.