Larval rearing and development of the brown spotted grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskål)

Epinephelus tauvina (Forskål) has spawned naturally in captivity. The larvae were reared to metamorphosis using rotifers, Artemia nauplii, copepods and minced shrimp meat. The developmental stages from hatching through to metamorphosis are described. Larvae grew from 2.25 mm total length at hatching, to 31.40 mm by day 50. Two mortality peaks were observed: the first between days 4 and 5, and the second between days 24 and 35. The first peak corresponded to first feeding and the unsuitability of rotifers, and the second to the change from feeding Artemia nauplii to copepods, which were not available in sufficient quantities.     

Comparison of Iron Availability in Leaves of Barley and Rice

Iron (Fe) is an essential trace element in all eukaryotes. In higher plants, Fe deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves. However, in barley and rice, both of which are "Strategy II" plants, the degree and the pattern of Fe-deficiency symptoms differ. In the present study, barley and rice plants were grown in the same container, i.e., by "coculturing," to compensate for the amount of mugineic acids in rice in the nutrient solution. We examined the differential availability of Fe for distribution and retranslocation in shoots between barley and rice without considering the difference in the iron acquisition ability, which is affected by the differential mugineic acid secretion between barley and rice. Although the Fe concentration of young barley leaves had decreased under the coculture conditions, the SPAD value was similar to that in monocultured barley. In contrast, although there was an increase in the Fe concentration of the young leaves of cocultured rice, the SPAD value decreased, as in the case of monocultured rice. Rice accumulated Fe in old leaves, whereas in barley Fe was efficiently distributed to young leaves. Therefore, the SPAD value of the second leaf in rice remained constantly high. The Fe concentration of the second leaf in barley decreased under Fe-deficient coculture conditions, the SPAD value decreased and the senescence of the second leaf become accelerated. ⁵⁹Fe pulse-labeling experiments suggested that in barley Fe was more efficiently retranslocated from old leaves to young leaves than that in rice. As a result, the level of Fe present in the fraction with a molecular weight lower than the 10,000/water-soluble Fe ratio was higher in the old leaves of barley than in the old leaves of rice under Fe-deficient conditions. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that the distribution and retranslocation characteristics of internal Fe in barley may be well adapted to Fe deficiency.     

Altered leukocyte responsiveness in dairy cows with naturally occurring chronic Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Changes in inflammatory parameters, leukocyte surface markers, functional responses and cytokine mRNA expression of leukocytes of dairy cows with naturally occurring chronic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis and healthy cows were determined to elucidate the leukocyte responses to S. aureus infection of the mammary gland. Increased values in inflammatory parameters and matrix metalloproteinase activities in milk revealed the characteristics of cows with chronic mastitis. Expression of L-selectin and CD18 molecules on neutrophils and proportion of CD8 cells in milk from cows with S. aureus mastitis were significantly (P<0.05) increased compared with those found in healthy cows. The FcR-stimulated CL response of blood neutrophils was significantly (P<0.05) decreased in cows with S. aureus mastitis. Significantly (P<0.05) decreased mitogenic responses of lymphocytes were found in cows with S. aureus mastitis; however, the values were not restored to those of healthy cows when stimulated with both mitogens and the cytokine IL-1β. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 on milk leukocytes from cows with S. aureus was found to be increased compared with that of healthy cows. The changes of immune responses found in cows with S. aureus mastitis appear to be influenced by the severity and duration of inflammation in infected quarters. The down-regulation of the leukocyte functions found in cows with S. aureus mastitis appears to be associated with the progress of the chronic stage of S. aureus mastitis.     

Babesiasis in Nanjing Area,China

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This article discusses the tick-borne babesiases which harm dairy cattle, buffaloes and dogs. In addition, the pathogen, vector, seasonal occurrence, hosts,...     

Effects of oral administration of furosemide and torsemide in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diuretic effects, tolerability, and adverse effects of furosemide and torsemide after short- and long-term administration in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 8 mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: In a crossover study, furosemide (2 mg/kg), torsemide (0.2 mg/kg), or placebo (bifidobacterium [1 mg/kg]) was administered orally to each dog every 12 hours for 14 days. Blood and urine samples were collected before the study (baseline data) and at intervals on the 1st (short-term administration) and 14th day (long-term administration) of treatment for assessment of urine volume and specific gravity and selected clinicopathologic variables including BUN, creatinine, and aldosterone concentrations, and creatinine clearance. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline value, short-term administration of furosemide or torsemide immediately increased urine volume significantly; after long-term administration of either drug, urine specific gravity decreased significantly. Compared with the effect of placebo, the 24-hour urine volume was significantly increased after short-term administra-tion of furosemide or torsemide. In addition, it was significantly increased after long-term administration of torsemide, compared with that of short-term administration. Long-term administration of furosemide or torsemide increased the BUN and plasma creatinine con-centrations, compared with the baseline value. Compared with the baseline value, plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly increased after long-term administration of either drug and was significantly higher after torsemide treatment than after furosemide treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs, diuretic resistance developed after 14 days of furosemide, but not torsemide, administration; however, both loop diuretics were associated with increased BUN and plasma creatinine concentrations, compared with values before treatment.     

Induction of detoxication enzymes in mice by naturally occurring allyl nitrile

Little is known about whether glucosinolate-derived nitriles have the ability to increase phase 2 detoxication enzymes and glutathione (GSH) in vivo. In this study, the ability of allyl nitrile, a hydrolysis product of the glucosinolate sinigrin, to increase tissue levels of the phase 2 detoxication enzymes glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase and GSH in a variety of mouse tissues was examined. At the lowest dose level (11.8 mg/kg/day), allyl nitrile showed inductive ability in the stomach and lungs. At 23.6 mg/kg/day, the inductive effect was observed in the stomach, rectum, urinary bladder, and lungs, whereas at 47.2 mg/kg/day, it was recorded in the stomach, rectum, urinary bladder, kidneys, and lungs. These results show that allyl nitrile displays its maximum potency in the stomach and lungs, which is of interest in light of epidemiological studies demonstrating an inverse association between crucifer intake and the incidence of stomach and lung cancers.