Fillet Quality and Processing Attributes of Postsmolt Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar,Fed a Fishmeal‐free Diet and a Fishmeal‐based Diet in Recirculation Aquaculture Systems

Many studies have evaluated the adequacy of alternate ingredient diets for Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, mainly with focus on fish performance and health; however, comprehensive analysis of fillet quality is lacking, particularly for salmon fed these diets in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). To this end, a study was conducted comparing fillet quality and processing attributes of postsmolt Atlantic salmon fed a fishmeal‐free diet (FMF) versus a standard fishmeal‐based diet, in replicate RAS. Mean weight of Atlantic salmon fed both diets was 1.72 kg following the 6‐mo trial and survival was >99%. Diet did not affect (P > 0.05) processing and fillet yields, whole‐body proximate composition(fat, moisture, protein), fillet proximate composition, cook yield, fillet texture, color, or omega‐3 fatty acid fillet content, including eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels. Whole‐body ash content was greater in salmon fed the FMF diet. The FMF diet resulted in a wild fish‐in to farmed fish‐out ratio of 0:1 per Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch criteria due to its fishmeal‐free status and use of lipids from fishery byproduct. Overall, fillet quality and processing attributes were generally unaffected when feeding a diet devoid of fishmeal to postsmolt Atlantic salmon cultured in RAS. [Correction added on 7 September 2017, after first online publication: the P value in Abstract has been changed from “P < 0.05” to “P > 0.05”.].     

Identification of a Pro-Angiogenic Potential and Cellular Uptake Mechanism of a LMW Highly Sulfated Fraction of Fucoidan from Ascophyllum nodosum

Herein we investigate the structure/function relationships of fucoidans from Ascophyllum nodosum to analyze their pro-angiogenic effect and cellular uptake in native and glycosaminoglycan-free (GAG-free) human endothelial cells (HUVECs). Fucoidans are marine sulfated polysaccharides, which act as glycosaminoglycans mimetics. We hypothesized that the size and sulfation rate of fucoidans influence their ability to induce pro-angiogenic processes independently of GAGs. We collected two fractions of fucoidans, Low and Medium Molecular Weight Fucoidan (LMWF and MMWF, respectively) by size exclusion chromatography and characterized their composition (sulfate, fucose and uronic acid) by colorimetric measurement and Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. The high affinities of fractionated fucoidans to heparin binding proteins were confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance. We evidenced that LMWF has a higher pro-angiogenic (2D-angiogenesis on Matrigel) and pro-migratory (Boyden chamber) potential on HUVECs, compared to MMWF. Interestingly, in a GAG-free HUVECs model, LMWF kept a pro-angiogenic potential. Finally, to evaluate the association of LMWF-induced biological effects and its cellular uptake, we analyzed by confocal microscopy the GAGs involvement in the internalization of a fluorescent LMWF. The fluorescent LMWF was mainly internalized through HUVEC clathrin-dependent endocytosis in which GAGs were partially involved. In conclusion, a better characterization of the relationships between the fucoidan structure and its pro-angiogenic potential in GAG-free endothelial cells was required to identify an adapted fucoidan to enhance vascular repair in ischemia.     

Evaluation of low-molecular-weight heparin for the prevention of equine laminitis after colic surgery

Objectives – The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of postoperative laminitis in colic cases and to determine if low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is effective in preventing this complication.
Design – Retrospective clinical study.
Animals – Client-owned horses.
Interventions – SC administration of enoxaparin during the postoperative period.
Measurements and Main Results – Medical records of 360 horses undergoing surgery for colic and surviving at least 3 days were evaluated. Fifty-six horses admitted before 1995 did not receive LMWH (control group) and 304 admitted after 1995 received LMWH as a prophylaxis for laminitis (treatment group). Three grades of severity were defined for laminitis. Prevalence and severity of laminitis were compared between the 2 groups. Several parameters recorded on admission (sex, age, breed, site and nature of the disease, heart rate, PCV, gravity score, and shock score) and the administration of LMWH were tested as risk factors in the development of laminitis in a logistic regression procedure. Prevalence and grade of laminitis were significantly lower in the treatment group. Only the absence of LMWH was recognized as a significant risk factor in the logistic regression model.
Conclusions – The administration of LMWH appears to be effective in the prophylaxis of laminitis following colic surgery and may be useful in the postoperative management of these horses.     

Tramadol improved the efficacy of ketamine–xylazine anaesthesia in young pigs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of premedication with tramadol on xylazine–ketamine anaesthesia in young pigs.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded cross-over study.AnimalsTen young Niger hybrid pigs: mean weight 6.1 ± 0.6 kg.MethodsPigs were anaesthetized twice. Xylazine (2.5 mg kg^?1), ketamine (25 mg kg^?1) and atropine (0.04 mg kg^?1) were administered by intramuscular (IM) injection, 5 minutes after either tramadol (5 mg kg^?1)) (treatment XKT) or saline (treatment XKS). Time to loss of righting reflex (TLRR), duration of antinociception, duration of recumbency (DR) and recovery times (RCT) were recorded. Quality of induction of anaesthesia including ease of endotracheal intubation was assessed using a subjective ordinal rating score of 1 (worst) to 4 (best). Heart, pulse and respiratory rates, arterial oxygen saturations and rectal temperatures were determined over 60 minutes. Antinociception was assessed by the pigs’ response to artery forceps applied at the interdigital space. Data were compared with Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney's test or analysis of variance (anova) for repeated measures as appropriate and are presented as mean ± standard deviation.ResultsThe quality of anaesthetic induction was significantly better and duration of antinociception significantly longer (p < 0.05) in treatment XKT (3.1 ± 0.7 score; 43.7 ± 15.5 minutes) than in treatment XKS (2.8 ± 0.6 score; 32.0 ± 13.3 minutes). TLRR, DR and RCT did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between treatment XKT (2.1 ± 0.8, 65.8 ± 17.0 and 13.2 ± 6.7 minutes) and treatment XKS (2.1 ± 1.3, 58.0 ± 14.8 and 10.3 ± 5.6 minutes). Physiological measurements did not differ between the treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceTramadol improved the quality of anaesthetic induction and increased the duration of antinociception in xylazine–ketamine anaesthetized young pigs without increasing duration of anaesthesia, nor causing additional depression of the physiological parameters measured.     

Effects of tramadol on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of tramadol on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC_SEVO) in dogs. It was hypothesized that tramadol would dose-dependently decrease MAC_SEVO.Study designRandomized crossover experimental study.AnimalsSix healthy, adult female mixed-breed dogs (24.2 ± 2.6 kg).MethodsEach dog was studied on two occasions with a 7-day washout period. Anesthesia was induced using sevoflurane delivered via a mask. Baseline MAC (MAC_B) was determined starting 45 minutes after tracheal intubation. A noxious stimulus (50 V, 50 Hz, 10 ms) was applied subcutaneously over the mid-humeral area. If purposeful movement occurred, the end-tidal sevoflurane was increased by 0.1%; otherwise, it was decreased by 0.1%, and the stimulus was re-applied after a 20-minute equilibration. After MAC_B determination, dogs randomly received a tramadol loading dose of either 1.5 mg kg^?1 followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of 1.3 mg kg^?1 hour^?1 (T1) or 3 mg kg^?1 followed by a 2.6 mg kg^?1 hour^?1 CRI (T2). Post-treatment MAC determination (MAC_T) began 45 minutes after starting the CRI. Data were analyzed using a mixed model anova to determine the effect of treatment on percentage change in baseline MAC_SEVO (p < 0.05).ResultsThe MAC_B values were 1.80 ± 0.3 and 1.75 ± 0.2 for T1 and T2, respectively, and did not differ significantly. MAC_T decreased by 26 ± 8% for T1 and 36 ± 12% for T2. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the decrease between the two treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceTramadol significantly reduced MAC_SEVO but this was not dose dependent at the doses studied.     

Evaluation of a Collagenase Generated Osteoarthritis Biomarker in Naturally Occurring Canine Cruciate Disease

Objective— To determine the clinical value of a novel osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker in detecting canine cruciate disease.
Study Design— Cross sectional clinical study.
Animals— Dogs (n=22) with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and 12 control dogs.
Methods— Concentrations of collagenase-generated cleavage epitope of type II collagen (Col2-3/4C_{long mono}, or C2C) in serum, urine, and joint fluid were compared between a group of dogs with CCL rupture and a control group. Correlation of C2C concentrations to the clinical stage of stifle OA was also evaluated.
Results— There were no significant differences in C2C concentrations in serum, urine, and joint fluid between groups ( P >.05). Subjective scores of lameness, joint effusion, osteophytosis were significantly more severe in the CCL rupture group compared with the control group ( P <.05). There was no significant correlation of C2C concentrations with clinical stage of stifle OA ( P >.05).
Conclusion— This OA biomarker did not detect pathology associated with CCL rupture. Our results suggest that collagenase-specific degradation of type II collagen in articular cartilage may not be involved in the early stage of naturally occurring canine cruciate disease, and that pathology associated with naturally occurring CCL rupture is different from that of experimental OA model.
Clinical Relevance— C2C is not clinically useful in detecting CCL rupture in dogs.     

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

This study examined the effect of treating mares with equine pituitary extract (EPE) in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; EPE/hCG) on the recovery rate of immature oocytes by ovum pick-up (OPU) and on oocyte morphology. Ten mares were subjected to each of two treatments in a random sequence: superstimulated with EPE (25 mg, twice daily) and treated with hCG (2,500 IU) or control (no exogenous treatment). The cytoplasmic morphology of oocytes recovered was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy. Follicular fluid was collected at aspiration for progesterone analysis, which was performed by radioimmunoassay. The EPE/hCG did not increase the oocyte recovery rate from immature follicles when compared with the controls (15.5% and 16.7%, respectively). A significantly higher oocyte recovery rate per mare was observed (70% versus 50%). However, precocious granulosa cell expansion was observed with EPE/hCG treatment in contrast to the control (64.4% and 33% of follicles with expanded cumulus, respectively), and increased intrafollicular progesterone concentration was also seen (158.80 ng/mL versus 82.05 ng/mL). The ultrastructural analysis of oocytes from both groups showed morphologic features related to immaturity. Numerous vesicles containing cortical granules were found, distributed in clusters into the cytoplasm, and junctional complexes were still seen between oocyte and granulosa cells. In conclusion, EPE/hCG treatment induced some follicular modifications, but the recovery rate was not increased. All oocytes examined presented signs of immaturity.