Evaluation of dietary chitosan effects on growth performance,immunity, body composition and histopathology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as the resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on growth performance, body composition, immune response and histopathology of Nile tilapia, and also the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). About 180 fish (average body weight 39.3 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to chitosan supplementation: control group (basal diet without chitosan), Ch3 group (3 g chitosan/kg diet) and Ch5 group (5 g chitosan/kg diet). Growth performance parameters and body proximate composition were measured before infection but biochemical parameters and lysozyme and antibacterial activities before and after experimental infection. Results of the present investigation showed dietary chitosan (5 g chitosan/kg diet) significantly (p < .05) improved growth performance parameters, body composition (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and carbohydrate) and serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin, with no effect on AST, ALT, urea and creatinine) before infection in Ch5 group than the control. After infection, liver enzymes (serum AST and ALT) were maintained lower in fish fed Ch3 or Ch5 than the control. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities significantly increased (p < .05) in chitosan groups before and after the challenge. The mortality rate was markedly reduced in the Ch3 group and prohibited in the Ch5 group after the experimental infection. In conclusion, feeding 3 or 5 g chitosan/kg diet increased the growth rate and improved FCR of Nile tilapia. In addition, it reduced mortality by its antibacterial and immunostimulant effects.     

Distribution and prevalence of T. bryosalmonae in Austria: A first survey of trout from rivers with a shrinking population

The first evidence of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in an Austrian river (the River Kamp) was documented in 2016, and no information on the PKD infection status of trout in other rivers was available. Since then, brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have been collected from rivers in Upper and Lower Austria for different diagnostic purposes. In this study, we summarize the recent findings of a first survey concerning the distribution of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD), from these samples. Between September 2015 and October 2017, a total of 280 brown trout and 39 rainbow trout were collected from 21 rivers in the provinces of Upper and Lower Austria. T. bryosalmonae was detected by PCR of kidney tissue in 17 of 21 sampled rivers and in 138 of 280 brown trout as well as in 11 of 39 rainbow trout. Pathological signs of PKD (e.g., hypertrophy of the kidney) were observed in 33 analysed brown trout and six rainbow trout samples. No correlations between fish infected by T. bryosalmonae and the parameters size and age class, condition factor, geological origin of the streams and distribution within the river course were found, while positively tested fish are significantly increased at sampling sites exceeding water temperatures of 15°C for median periods of 115 days. The prevalence within the affected streams or stream sections is highly variable, and in single rivers, infection rates of up to 90% are confirmed.     

Evaluation of variability in argan oil content through different environments and preselection of elite genotypes

This investigation was carried out to determine the variability in oil content with the aim to identify genotypes of argan tree expressing high oil yield. The 150 argan trees were collected from five provenances in south west of Morocco over 3 years (2008–2010) and were screened from their oil content using Soxhlet method based on the 840 samples. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to study the genetic variation between and within provenances. According to the results on the mean of the 3 years, the oil content was ranged from 38.45 to 62.54 %. The genotypes from Aoulouz and Had Dra expressing high oil yield. Variance components for fruit, seed, kernel traits and oil content showed significant differences (P < 0.01) among years, provenances, genotypes and their interaction. Principal component analysis proved that fruit, seed, kernel, weight traits are correlated with oil content and are discriminate characters between the genotypes. The results of the cluster analysis support the results of the principal component analysis, showing no correlation between oil content with geographical localization parameters. For all the promising genotypes, at least 25 % were found to be better and exceed the oil mean of the provenance for 3 years. So, 31 promising elite genotypes were preselected, and open new ways for future comparative test of them in diverse environments.     

Fertigation of humic substances improves yield and quality of broccoli and nutrient retention in a sandy soil

There is lack of information available concerning the effect of humic substances (HS) applied via fertigation on plant growth in sandy soils. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out at El‐Saff district (20 km southwest of Cairo), Egypt, to investigate the role of HS fertigation on water retention of a sandy soil, yield and quality of broccoli (Broccoli oleracea L.) as well as on soil nutrient concentration retained after harvest. The experiment consisted of six fertigation treatments (50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended NPK‐fertilizer rate for broccoli combined with and without HS application at 120 L ha^–1) in a complete randomized block design with three replicates. Humic substances affected spatial water distribution and improved water retention in the root zone. Furthermore, application of HS increased total marketable yield and head diameter of broccoli as well as quality parameters (i.e., total soluble solids, protein, and vitamin C). Higher nutrient concentrations were found in the broccoli heads and concentrations of plant‐available nutrients in soil after harvesting were also higher, indicating an improvement in soil fertility. In conclusion, HS fertigation can be judged as an interesting option to improve soil water and nutrient status leading to better plant growth.     

Soils of Ancient Agricultural Terraces of the Eastern Caucasus

Eurasian Soil Science - The morphological and chemical properties and biological activity of soils on ancient agricultural terraces in the middle-high mountains of the Eastern Caucasus are...     

Studies on the Physiological Chemistry of the Tibio-Tarsal Synovial Fluid of Healthy Bovines

The physical properties, chemical composition and cytological content of the synovial fluid of healthy native breed cattle, obtained by tibio-tarsal arthrocentesis, was studied.     

Modeling the process of absorption and desorption of water above and below the fiber saturation point

Summary The process of absorption of water along the tangential direction of the wood is studied by immersing the sample in water. The transport of water is then obtained below the fiber saturation point at the beginning of the absorption and above this fiber saturation point during the process. The potential which drives the transport of the bound-water and free-water through the wood has been considered by testing a diffusional transport model. The transient diffusion with a constant diffusivity has been found to describe not only the process of absorption but also the process of desorption with diffusion of water through the solid and evaporation from the surface. Analytical solutions have been successfully used to describe the stage of absorption during a time of four hours at the end of which an equilibrium of absorption is attained, as well as the following stage of desorption. A model based on a numerical method with finite differences has been found to describe the process of absorption and desorption in various cases, and especially when the equilibrium of absorption has not been attained.This work was carried out with the help and support of the M. R. T. and the French CTB (Wood Technical Center)     

Die Verjüngung gemischter Bergwälder—Praktische Konsequenzen aus 10jähriger Untersuchungsarbeit

Zusammenfassung Seit zehn Jahren betreibt der Lel-irstuhl für Waldbau and Forsternrichtung der Universit?t M?nchen intensive Verjüngungsstudien auf 25 Dauerversuchsfl?chen im Bergmischwald der ostbayerischen Kalkalpen. Am Bei-spiel der Aufnahmedaten yon fünf ausgew?hlten Versuchsfl?chen werden grundlegende Prinzipien des Ver-jüngungsprozesses im Bergmischwald aufgezeigt and daraus praktische Konsequznzen abgeleitet. Alle am Autbau der Altbest?nde des Bergmischwaldes beteiligten Baumarten bilden bislang trotz d utli-cher Waldschadenssvmptome reichlich Samen von hochwertiger Qualit?t aus. Damit aus diesem Verjüngungspotential Naturverjüngung entstchen kann, müssen die en tsprechenden überschirmungsverh?ltnisse lurch den Altbestand gegeben sein. Für die Dichte, Baumartenztusammenset zung and H?henentwicklung der Naturverjüngungspflanzen ist n?mlich die Uberschirrnung von ganz ent-scheidender Bedeutung. In einem sehr dichten Altbestand, in derv der überschirmungsgrad fiber 75% liegt , haben Verjüngungspflanzen Schwierigkeiten, sick zu etablieren. Eine Ieichte Auflichtung auf einen über-schirmungsgrad von 60 (der dann gegeben ist, wenn die rich unter dem Schirm entwickelnde Bodenvege cation Bedeckungsgrade zwischen 20 and 3C einstellt) erm?glicht den Naturverjüngungsflanzen ein überleben. Diese Uberschirmung kann durch einen schwachen Schirmhieb (Entnahme von etwa einem Vier-tel der Grundtl?che eines geschlossenen Bestandes) erreicht werden. Diese Eingriffsst?rke dürfte auch unter den Gesichtspunkten der Stabilit?it and des Zuwachsverlustes dill Altbestand zu vertreten sein. Vor einer st?rkeren Auflichtung des Altbestandes müsses genügend Naturverjüingungspflanztn ant Bo den vorhanden sein. Nur so is[ gew?hrleistet, daβ these einen Vorsprung vor der Bodenvegatation bekom Men. Die Pflanzung ist immer dann, wenn sich Schwierrigkeiten mit der Naturverjüngung ergeben, ein geeigne-tes Mittel, um einen neuen Bergmischwald zu begründen. Derzeit ist für das Entstehen tines neuen Bergmischwaldes - sei es durch Naturverjüngung odor lurch Pflanzung - Zaunschutz erforderlich. Summary In 1976, a research project entitled ’Natural Regeneration of Mixed Mountain Forests ’ was etablished in the Calcareous Alps of eastern Bavaria, by the Chair of Silviculture and Forest Management of the University Of Munich. Over the past ten years, the multi-variate aspects of regenaration have bean intensively investigated on 25 permanent research plots. The data from 5 selected plats were extracted and processed. from these data, it will be possible to present some fundamental principles of natural regenaration processes. From these prin-ciples, it is hoped that some practical applications can be derived. The mature stands of mixed mountain forests are still able to produce high quantities and good quality of seed, although distinct symptoms of forest decline are present. In order to utilize this potential for natural regeneration, an adequate canopy density is necessary. Canopy density is the crucial factor which regulates the density, species composition and height development of regeneration. In a very heavily, stocked mature stand with a canopy density of over 75 establishment of regenerations is difficult. When canopy density is reduced to, for example, 60% (this percentage can be estimated from a ground vegetation covering approximately 20–30 of the soil), the naturally regenerated, plants have a better opportunity to survive. A 60% canopy density can be achieved by light shelterwood cutting (removal of approximately 25% of basal area of a closed stand). This type of cutting can maintain the stability and prevent increment loss of forest stands. It is important that regeneration is established before opening up the stand, only, then these plants are capable to compete with the other ground vegetation. Planting is always appropriate when natural regeneration fails. Fencing is necessary for undisturbed development of natural and artificial regeneration.

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Dieses Heft enth?lt waldbauliche Beitr?g zu den Forschungsschwerpunkten Bergwald, Waldschaden und Kiefer. Sie sind überwiegen als Vortr?ge auf der Hochschulwoche der Forstwissenschaftlichen Fakult?t München im Oktober 1987 gehalten worden. Ihre Autoren widmen sie Herrn Professor Dr. Peter Burschel zum 60. Geburtstag.

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Auf der Forstlichen Hochschulwoche 1987 in München gehaltener Vortrag.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from infections in cats and dogs throughout Europe (2002–2009)

A monitoring program of the pre-treatment susceptibility of clinical isolates of bacteria from diseased dogs and cats was active between the years 2002 and 2009. Susceptibility of each isolated strain to a panel of nine antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, clindamycin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, trimethoprim and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) was assessed. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of marbofloxacin was also determined by a standardized microdilution technique following CLSI recommendations. In total, 1857 bacterial strains were collected throughout Europe from cases of otitis, respiratory, urinary and dermatological infections. Although bacterial susceptibility varied for each of the antibiotics within the panel, patterns of susceptibility were similar to those described in the literature for comparable time periods and geographical areas. With a clinical resistance varying from 0 to 14.48% against the isolated strains, marbofloxacin susceptibility was very high and remains an effective antibiotic for the treatment of otitis, urinary, respiratory and dermatological infections in companion animals.