Purified deoxynivalenol or feed restriction reduces mortality in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with experimental bacterial coldwater disease but biologically relevant concentrations of deoxynivalenol do not impair the growth of Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Diets containing deoxynivalenol (DON) were fed to rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) for 4 weeks followed by experimental infection (intraperitoneal) with Flavobacterium psychrophilum (4.1 × 10⁶ colony‐forming units [CFU] mL⁻¹). Mortality of rainbow trout fed either 6.4 mg kg⁻¹ DON or trout pair‐fed the control diet was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in comparison with trout fed the control diet to apparent satiation (<0.1 mg kg⁻¹ DON). In a second experiment, trout were fed one of three experimental diets; a control diet, a diet produced with corn naturally contaminated with DON (3.3 mg kg⁻¹ DON) or a diet containing purified DON (3.8 mg kg⁻¹); however, these fish were not experimentally infected. The presence of DON resulted in significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in feed intake as well as weight gain after 4 weeks. Respiratory burst of head‐kidney leucocytes isolated from rainbow trout fed diets containing purified DON (3.8 mg kg⁻¹) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at 35 day post‐exposure compared with controls. The antimicrobial activity of DON was examined by subjecting F. psychrophilum in vitro to serial dilutions of the chemical. Complete inhibition occurred at a concentration of 75 mg L⁻¹ DON, but no effect was observed below this concentration (0–30 mg L⁻¹).     

Black soil blindness: A new mycotoxicosis of cattle grazing Corallocytostroma-infected Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp)

A new, fatal mycotoxicosis of cattle has been recognised in north-western Australia. A feeding trial confirmed the toxicity of a previously unknown species of Corallocytostroma that grows on Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp). The disease has been colloquially named ‘black soil blindness’ because its most prominent features are its confinement to pastures on black soil, and blindness and death of affected animals. Over 500 cattle have died and considerable subclinical disease is present. Above average wet season rainfall and extended growing seasons may explain the emergence of the fungus. The disease is important because cattle production in large areas of Australia utilise Mitchell grass pastures.     

Growth performance and expression of immune‐regulatory genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles fed extruded diets with varying levels of lupin (Lupinus albus), peas (Pisum sativum) and rapeseed (Brassica napus)

Varying levels of lupin (Lupinus albus), peas (Pisum sativum) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) meals were evaluated as partial replacements for fishmeal in extruded diets for rainbow trout, with particular emphasis on the effect on growth performance and the expression of three genes associated with immune response. A series of 10 isonitrogenous (450 g kg^?1 crude protein) and isolipidic (17 g kg^?1 crude lipid) diets were formulated to contain different levels of lupin (150 g kg^?1, 250 g kg^?1 and 350 g kg^?1), rapeseed cake (100 g kg^?1, 200 g kg^?1 and 300 g kg^?1) and pea (50 g kg^?1, 150 g kg^?1 and 250 g kg^?1) meals. The control diet was prepared with fish meal as the sole source of protein. Triplicate groups of fish (37.08 ± 3.58 g) were assigned to each experimental diet. The feeding experiment was conducted for 9 weeks at 14.3 ± 0.4 °C. The fish were hand fed three times per day, 6 days per week to apparent satiation level. Growth performance, feed utilization and immunological response were significantly affected by the type of plant protein as well as level of inclusion. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) increased in all groups of fish fed diets with pea and rapeseed cake meal. Dietary inclusion of lupin did not affect the expression of Mx‐1 gene. Our results suggest that fish meal can be replaced by lupin in the diet of rainbow trout without any apparent adverse effects on key innate immunological genes.