First application in Turkey of the European Non‐native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme to evaluate the farmed non‐native fish,striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

The European Non‐native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) was used to assess one of the most popular aquaculture species in the world, the striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878), in two locations of southern Anatolia (Turkey). The overall mean risk score generated for P. hypophthalmus by the ENSARS Organism module (which assesses the risks of introduction, establishment, dispersal and impact) indicated that the species poses a medium risk under current climatic conditions. All other ENSARS modules rendered scores that indicated a moderately low risk under current climatic conditions. However, the risks of introducing novel diseases and the actual use (e.g. deliberate introduction to the natural habitats or food market) of the species both attracted scores indicating a medium risk. Confidence levels were medium or high for all modules except the Socio‐economic, with low confidence values also attributed to the risks for farming process of the organism, and its overall risk of spread into the wild during farming procedures and to marketing impacts. Recommendations are provided for further use of the ENSARS scheme, especially for a a priori assessment of potential aquaculture species in Turkey, where the sector has been remarkably developing in the last decades.     

Inhibitory effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistia</Emphasis> tannin on digestive enzymes of Indian major carps: an in vitro study

Aquatic weeds are one of the major unconventional feed ingredients tested for aquafeed formulation. Tannin content in the water lettuce, Pistia, has been quantified (26.67 mg g⁻¹; dry weight) and graded levels of which (12.5–200 μg) have been incorporated in the reaction mixtures to evaluate any change in the in vitro activity of the principal digestive enzymes from the three Indian major carps (IMC), namely rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mrigala (Cirrhinus mrigala). Result of the experiment revealed that the Pistia tannin (PT) significantly inhibit/lower the activities of the digestive enzymes from three IMCs in a dose-dependant manner, even at very low concentration. Significant variation in the reduction of the enzyme activities was noticed between the three fish species, as well as between the three enzymes studied. Among the three species studied, digestive enzymes from L. rohita were found to be the most sensitive to the PT, whereas enzymes from C. catla were found to be comparatively least affected. On the other hand, protease and lipase activities were comparatively more affected than the amylase activity. The results of the study suggest that more stress should be given on the elimination of tannin while incorporating feed ingredients of plant origin in fish diets.     

Comparative analysis of genome of Edwardsiella tarda by BOX-PCR and PCR-ribotyping

The Genus Edwardsiella comprises of bacteria differing strongly in their biochemical characteristics, physiological features, natural habitat and pathogenic properties. The most common species of the genus is Edwardsiella tarda, recovered from a variety of environmental and animal sources. In this study 51 isolates including one reference strain obtained from freshwater culture systems were analyzed for their genomic diversity by BOX-PCR and PCR-ribotyping. By comparison of fingerprint of different isolates 27 and 32 genotypes were obtained by PCR-ribotyping and BOX-PCR respectively. Cluster analysis of genetic profile obtained by BOX-PCR and ribotyping clearly showed 9 and 8 clusters respectively. Some correlation between BOX-PCR and ribotyping was observed. Several clusters delineated on the basis of source of isolation in the dendrogram by BOX-PCR with 70% cut off value had corresponding clusters in the ribotyping with 50% cut off value. Some of the genotypes were found to be habitat specific. However, there was mixing and dispersal of most of the genotypes obtained from water, sediment and fish samples. Of both the techniques, BOX-PCR was found to be more discriminating than ribotyping.     

Landscape and land use effects on soil resources in a Himalayan watershed

Sustainable land management decisions at all scales require solid, science-based information. Soil quality assessment can provide this regarding soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and the ability to provide ecosystem and societal services. Our objective was to make a regional assessment of soils in the Garhwal Himalayas to determine their ability to perform various functions and respond to external influences. Five functional categories were assessed using 13 soil parameters focused on ecological sustainability. Human land use effects on soils were referenced to natural woodlands at each landscape position. Within upper-slope regions, flora and fauna habitat, moisture retention, organic matter and nutrient cycling, air and water infiltration and resistance to erosion were decreased 35, 27, 24, 24, and 9%, respectively. At mid-slope positions the order and magnitude of decrease were organic matter and nutrient cycling, flora and fauna habitat, and moisture retention (26, 22, and 16%, respectively). Changes within the valley were lowest, averaging − 3% for flora and fauna habitat and − 13% for organic matter and nutrient cycling. We conclude that the minimum data set (MDS) used provided a representative assessment of soil quality and could serve as a basis for assessment in similar tropical watersheds.     

Neuropharmacological effects of deltamethrin in rats

This study examined the effect of deltamethrin on some of the neuropharmacological paradigms in a rat brain such as the motor co-ordination test using a rotarod, the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion as well as the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) level. Albino Wistar rats were used as the experimental animals. Different neuropharmacological paradigms such as the motor co-ordination by the rotarod, pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and the PTZ-induced convulsion were examined after administering deltamethrin orally at two doses, 150 mg/kg (LD₅₀) and 15 mg/kg (1/10 LD₅₀). The GABA level in the rat brain was estimated by HPLC after a single oral dose of 150mg/kg deltamethrin. Deltamethrin significantly reduced the motor coordination, decreased the onset time and increased the sleeping time duration induced by pentobarbitone. In addition, it also decreased the onset time and increased the duration of convulsions induced by PTZ at 150 mg/kg (LD₅₀) and 15 mg/kg (1/10 LD₅₀), respectively. Further deltamethrin administration decreased the GABA levels in the cerebellum as well as in the whole brain (except the cerebellum) significantly at the LD₅₀ dose level. There was some correlation between the effect of deltamethrin on the central GABA levels and its neuropharmacological effects.     

The effect of monensin on the fermentation of feed with different proportions of hay and concentrate in an artificial rumen (rumen simulation technic)

An experiment was conducted with rumen pouch (RUSITEC--Rumen Simulation Technique). In four fermentation vessels (V), percent proportions of hay and barley were as follows: V1--40:60, V2 - 60:40, V3--80:20 and V4--100:0. Every day 5 mg of monensin dissolved in 1 ml 96% ethanol were added to each fermentation vessel. All diets were isonitrogenous, and after an addition of urea the crude protein (CP) content made 13% in each diet. The experiment lasted 12 days: so called steady state period took the first six days when the fermentation conditions were stabilized. Monensin reduced dry matter digestibility, production of total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, n-butyric and isovaleric acids and acetate: propionate proportion, and it increased the production of propionic and n-valeric acids. The production of methane and CO2 decreased. The higher proportion of hay in diets decreased dry matter digestibility, digestibility of detergent fibre, total and individual volatile fatty acids, CO2, methane energy yield of volatile fatty acids (E), glucose utilization, production of adenosine triphosphate and production of fermented hexoses. The production, utilization and recovery of metabolic hydrogen also decreased. The effectiveness of microbial matter synthesis (YATP = 11.3) was highest during the fermentation of feed containing 60% hay and 40% barley.     

Fermentation of carbohydrates and yield of microbial protein in mixed cultures of rabbit caecal microorganisms.

Fermentation pattern and yields of microbial protein were investigated in cultures of the rabbit caecal contents supplied with glucose, xylose, starch, pectin and xylan. Rabbits at the age of 4 weeks (before weaning) and 3 months were slaughtered, their caecal contents added at 1.1% to growth media and incubated anaerobically at 39 degrees C for 18 h. Caecal microorganisms of 4-week-old rabbits produced no methane and caproate, less butyrate, but more propionate than microorganisms of 3-month-old rabbits. In both groups of rabbits, fermentation of xylose produced significantly more propionate and less butyrate than fermentation of glucose. More propionate and less acetate was formed from starch than from pectin. In caecal cultures from 4-week-old rabbits with pectin, the molar percentages of acetate was significantly higher and percentages of other short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) lower than in cultures with starch or xylan. In cultures from 3-month-old rabbits, fermentation of pectin and xylan produced similar SCFA profiles, different from SCFA molar composition in cultures with starch. Average production of microbial protein was 129 mg per 1 g of carbohydrate digested (range 110 to 141 mg/g). Protein yields were the same on glucose and xylose, but nonsignificantly higher on starch than on pectin and xylan. It can be concluded that the characteristics of substrate affected fermentation pattern in mixed cultures of rabbit caecal microorganisms. Substrate effects on protein yields were not statistically significant, due to high variation.     

A common fold mediates vertebrate defense and bacterial attack

Proteins containing membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domains play important roles in vertebrate immunity, embryonic development, and neural-cell migration. In vertebrates, the ninth component of complement and perforin form oligomeric pores that lyse bacteria and kill virus-infected cells, respectively. However, the mechanism of MACPF function is unknown. We determined the crystal structure of a bacterial MACPF protein, Plu-MACPF from Photorhabdus luminescens, to 2.0 angstrom resolution. The MACPF domain reveals structural similarity with poreforming cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) from Gram-positive bacteria. This suggests that lytic MACPF proteins may use a CDC-like mechanism to form pores and disrupt cell membranes. Sequence similarity between bacterial and vertebrate MACPF domains suggests that the fold of the CDCs, a family of proteins important for bacterial pathogenesis, is probably used by vertebrates for defense against infection.