The potential of pet‐grade poultry by‐product meal to replace fish meal in the diet of the juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869)

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to examine the replacement of fish meal with pet‐grade poultry by‐product meal (PBM‐PG) in the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus diet. Five experimental diets were formulated to contain graded levels of PBM‐PG at proportion of 250, 500, 75 or 900 g kg^?1. The control diet contained sardine fish meal as the main protein source. Four groups of 15 randomly assigned L. guttatus juveniles were fed to satiation 3 times day^?1. Except for the fish fed the PBM‐PG90 diet, the growth performance, survival and feed utilization efficiency of the experimental fish were not significantly lower than those of the control fish. The dietary level of PBM‐PG did significantly affect the haematological characteristics (P < 0.05). The dietary dry matter and protein apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) decreased with increasing dietary PBM‐PG. High values for lipid ADCs were observed in all diets, with significant differences among the dietary treatments. The fish whole‐body protein, moisture, lipid and ash contents were not affected by the inclusion of dietary PBM. These results indicate that high‐quality terrestrial PBM can successfully replace more than half of the marine fish meal protein in the L. guttatus diet.     

Enhanced resistance to bacterial infection byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica in transgenic potato plants expressing the attacin or the cecropin SB-37 genes

Blackleg and soft rot diseases, caused by the bacteriumErwinia carotovora, are among the diseases that cause important losses in culture and storage of potato. In this paper, we introduced bacterial resistance into potato, via genes encoding for proteins with antibacterial activity. For this purpose, potato clones were transformed either with the gene encoding the acidic attacin protein fromHyalophora cecropia, or with the gene encoding the cecropin analog peptide SB37. These clones were evaluated for soft rot and blackleg resistance, after inoculation with the bacterial strainErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica T7. Results reported in this paper indicate that a considerable percentage of the potato clones (15–22%) showed increased resistance to bacterial infection, revealed by reduced severity of blackleg or soft rot symptoms. Expression of the transgenes was demonstrated in some of the clones by Northern blot analysis. This is the first report indicating that expression of the gene encoding for an attacin protein and for the cecropin SB-37 peptide in transgenic potato confers increased resistance to bacterial infection.     

The detection of CD2+, CD4+, CD8+, and WC1+ T lymphocytes, B cells and macrophages in fixed and paraffin embedded bovine tissue using a range of antigen recovery and signal amplification techniques

In order to develop procedures to label the main bovine leucocyte populations in paraffin embedded sections, the immunoreactivity of 25 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to different leucocyte antigens was assessed with formal dichromate (FD5) and 10% formalin fixation, a battery of antigen retrieval (AR) methods, and the biotin-tyramide amplification system. All the leucocyte populations investigated (CD2+, CD4+, CD8+, WC1+ T lymphocytes, B cells and macrophages) were strongly and specifically detectable under an appropriate combination of mAb, AR method and signal amplification system. CD4 and CD8 required the most stringent conditions and could only be demonstrated in FD5 fixed sections. For detection of CD2, WC1+ T lymphocytes, B cells and macrophages, all the mAbs produced immunoreactivity in FD5 or formalin fixed tissues. The need to check a range of different AR methods is stressed, as the method of choice varied for each individual mAb. The incorporation of the signal amplification system was necessary to observe a strong signal and the complete distribution of CD4, CD8 and B cells. Fixation by FD5 proved to be better than formalin for the preservation of surface antigens but it was inferior for the detection of markers which were found to show cytoplasmic immunoreactivity, such as the macrophage marker MAC387 or the B cell markers BAQ155 or IL-A59.     

Genetic and phenotypic aspects of early reproductive performance in Raeini Cashmere goats

This study used pedigree information and data collected from 1979 to 2012 at the Raeini Cashmere goat breeding station, located in Baft City in Kerman Province in southeastern Iran. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for early reproductive traits of breeding does, including total numbers of kids born at first kidding (LSB1), total numbers of kids weaned at first kidding (LSW1), total birth weight of all kids born at first kidding (LWB1), total weaning weight of all kids weaned at first kidding (LWW1), and age at first kidding (AFK), were estimated using a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling. Posterior means for heritability estimates of LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, LWW1, and AFK were statistically significant, with values of 0.12, 0.23, 0.17, 0.15, and 0.46, respectively. Low-to-moderate additive genetic variation was present for the studied reproductive traits. Estimated genetic correlations among LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1 were statistically significant and ranged from 0.12 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.72 between LSB1 and LSW1. Corresponding phenotypic correlation estimates were also statistically significant and ranged from 0.04 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.55 between LSB1 and LSW1. Posterior means of genetic and phenotypic correlations between AFK and other studied traits were statistically significant only for LSB1 and LWB1. For LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1, we conclude that genetic and phenotypic improvement in any of these traits in Raeini Cashmere does would favorably influence all of the other traits. However, does that first kidded at younger ages have smaller litters at birth and lower litter birth weights at their first parity.

     

The histology of dermal glands of mating Breviceps with comments on their possible functional value in microhylids (Amphibia: Anura)

During mating male and female Breviceps become ‘glued’ together. The distribution of multicellular dermal glands varies between the sexes. The mate has a large number of holocrine glands on the ventrum, while the female has similar glands on the dorsum of the back. II thus appears that both sexes contribute to the ‘glueing’ mechanism. New hypotheses to explain the adhesion between the sexes are proposed, viz., that the shift to terrestrial habils and subterranean laying in Breviceps have secondarily resulted in male si2e diminution. In other microhylids which adhere during aquatic oviposition, yet demonstrate a terrestrial morphology and habits, bouyancy is suggested to be of primary functional value.     

Compared Phosphorus Efficiency in Soybean,Sunflower and Maize

ABSTRACT

A more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of phosphorus (P) efficiency is agronomically significant to advance in the design of crop management schemes that increase P efficiency and reduce the need of fertilizers. Phosphorus efficiency is defined as the ability of a plant to acquire P from the soil and/or to utilize it in the production of biomass or the harvestable organ. Because most parameters related to P efficiency vary according to the growth conditions and isolation of the individual effect of P efficiency is not straightforward; plants must be grown in uniform experimental conditions to obtain a fair comparison of their nutrient acquisition and utilization. In this work, we compare the ability of soybean, sunflower, and maize to utilize and acquire soil P. Field and greenhouse experiments including different P levels were conducted. The general observation was that the three species ranked differently according to the specific parameter of P efficiency considered. Maize clearly showed higher P utilization efficiency than soybean and sunflower, either expressed as biomass or as grain produced per unit of absorbed P. In turn, soybean and sunflower exhibited higher acquisition efficiency than maize. Soybean showed the shallowest root system: 69% of the total root length was concentrated in the top 20 cm of the soil. Phosphorus uptake per unit root length was rather similar among the three species, but soybean and sunflower had higher P uptake per unit of root weight. This can be explained by the higher specific root length (SRL) and specific root area (SRA) of both dicots. For example, SRL averaged 59, 94, and 34 m g^?1 in field grown soybean, sunflower, and maize, respectively. The more favorable root morphology determined that soybean and sunflower can explore more soil with the same belowground biomass and absorb more P per unit of carbon invested belowground. Since the three species exhibited similar values of P uptake per unit root length, we hypothesize that the capacity of each segment of root to deplete soil P fractions is similar.     

Pharmacokinetics after administration of an injectable experimental long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate in goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics after SC administration of an experimental, long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate in a poloxamer-based matrix and after IV and IM administration of an aqueous formulation of doxycycline hyclate in goats. ANIMALS: 30 clinically normal adult goats. PROCEDURES: Goats were allocated to 3 groups (10 goats/group). One group of goats received doxycycline hyclate (10 mg/kg) IM, a second group received the same dosage of doxycycline hyclate IV, and the third group received the long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate SC. Serum concentrations of doxycycline were determined before and at various intervals after administration. RESULTS: The long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate had the greatest bioavailability (545%); mean +/- SD maximum serum concentration was 2.4 +/- 0.95 microg/mL, peak time to maximum concentration was 19.23 +/- 2.03 hours, and elimination half-life was 40.92 +/- 4.25 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that the long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate distributed quickly and widely throughout the body after a single dose administered SC, and there was a prolonged half-life. Bioavailability of the longacting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate after SC administration was excellent, compared with bioavailability after IV and IM administration of an aqueous formulation of doxycycline hyclate. Although no local tissue irritation and adverse effects were detected, clinical assessment of drug-residues and toxicologic evaluations are warranted before this long-acting parenteral formulation of doxycycline hyclate can be considered for use in goats with bacterial infections.