Determination of optimal feeding rates for juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed a formulated dry diet

Two 3‐week growth trials were performed to determine the optimum feeding rate of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fed with a semi‐purified dry diet (protein, 440 g; lipid, 130 g/kg) at different feeding rates: 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg body weight per day (BW/.d‐1), for 36 g‐sized fish; and 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 30 g/kg BW/.d‐1, for 80 g sized fish. Feeding rates significantly influenced growth performances, feed conversion ratio, wholebody lipid and moisture contents, energy and protein retention, and fasted blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). The ratio of total C/total N measured in whole fish was positively correlated to the feeding rates and the lipid contents of whole fish. Suboptimal feeding significantly depressed growth performance and protein synthesis based on the measurement of RNA/DNA ratio in white muscle. Based on polynomial regression models, an optimal feeding rate to support the maximum growth, protein and energy retention was 34.5, 22 and 27.3 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively, for fish sized at 36–72 g; and 29.0, 16.9 and 19.9 g/kg BW/.d‐1, respectively for fish sized at 80–140 g. Results of this study will benefit future research to develop practical feeds to replace frozen live feed and feed management for lake sturgeon.     

Contagious equine metritis: Antibody response of experimentally infected pony mares

Intrauterine inoculation of pony mares with the bacterium that is the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM) resulted in clinical disease. A humoral immune response could be detected by agglutination and complement fixation (CF), and in some cases precipitating antibody was found by immunodiffusion tests. Agglutinating antibody was the most reliable serological indicator of overt infection and was detected in 8 of 28 mares after initial intrauterine inoculation of 3–4 × 10⁵ bacteria. Seventy percent of mares given a second inoculation and all mares given a third inoculation of 3–4 × 10⁵ bacteria produced detectable agglutinating antibody. Only two of five mares given the third inoculation developed detectable complement-fixing antibody. Only one mare showed evidence of reinfection after a second or third intrauterine inoculation. All of the mares given a single intrauterine inoculum of ≥ 8 × 10⁸ bacteria produced agglutinating antibody 10 to 30 days postinoculation (DPI) and 86% gave a positive CF test 10 to 20 DPI. Only mares with an agglutination titer of 320 or more produced precipitating antibody. Sera were considered positive in agglutination tests if they were reactive at a dilution of greater than 4 and positive in CF tests if they were reactive at a dilution of 4 or greater.Pony serum frozen at ?70°C was anticomplementary (AC). Treatment at 56°C abolished AC activity and revealed enhancing or procomplementary activity with guinea pig complement. Procomplementary activity could be abolished by treatment of heated pony serum with formaldehyde, which increased CF titers ≥ threefold in weakly reactive sera.     

The synthesis and biological activity of substituted chlorinated benzenedicarbonitriles

A number of chlorinated 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-benzodicarbonitriles monosubstituted by either hydroxy, arylamino, alkylthio, sulphinyl or sulphonyl groups were synthesised and assayed against P. viticola, P. oryzae, V. inaequalis, P. parasitica and a number of other fungi and bacteria. The 1,3-benzodicarbonitriles were the most active compounds and the alkylsulphiyl and sulphonyl groups the most effective substituents.     

Effect of Neurotoxic Pesticides on the Feeding Rate of Marine Mussels (Mytilus edulis)

The effects of selected neurotoxic pesticides on the feeding rate of marine mussels (Mytilus edulis) were determined. Two organochlorine pesticides, lindane and endrin, two acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting compounds, dichlorvos and carbaryl and two pyrethroids, flucythrinate and permethrin, were studied. No evidence was found for any specific neurotoxic effect of the organochlorines and pyrethroids on feeding efficiency. In contrast, dichlorvos and carbaryl inhibited the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in mussel gills and were more toxic to feeding efficiency than could be explained by a narcotic mechanism of toxicity alone. Dichlorvos also caused clear behavioural changes in the mussels. The significance of these observations for the application of mussels to impact assessment in the marine environment is discussed. © 1997 SCI.