The Use of Colonic Irrigation to Control Fecal Incontinence in Dogs With Colostomies

OBJECTIVE: To determine if once-daily colonic irrigation results in fecal continence for a 24-hour period in dogs with colostomies and if colonic volume increased in response to the irrigation. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective controlled experimental study. ANIMALS: Four intact male and one intact female mixed breed dogs. MATERIALS: All dogs received left end-on paralumbar colostomies. Four dogs received once-daily colonic irrigation for 8 weeks, whereas the control dog did not. Daily fecal weights were recorded for the length of the study in all dogs. Barium enema studies and volumetric studies were used to determine colonic volumes. RESULTS: Daily fecal weights were significantly decreased in treatment dogs compared with the control dog. Colonic volume increased in irrigated dogs in response to daily irrigation over the 8 week period of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic irrigation resulted in significantly decreased fecal production over a 24-hour period. Therefore management of dogs with colostomies would be more practical and cost effective. It did not result in complete fecal continence in this study. Further clinical studies are indicated to determine if longer periods of irrigation would result in complete continence.     

The dietary regime of detritivorous fish from the River Jacaré Pepira, Brazil

The diet of detritivorous fish was analysed at four distinct habitats in a tropical river during the wet and dry seasons. Two methodologies were used to determine the diet of the fish: (1) the direct analysis of the stomach contents; and (2) the use of stable carbon isotopes. Both methods indicated food partitioning among the fish. The stomach contents showed what the fish had ingested when captured and the ¹³C isotope indicated what it had assimilated over a long period of time. The ¹³C isotope suggested the existence of sectional differences in the feeding of the detritivorous fish along the river. Plants employing the C₄ photosynthesis pathways seem to have little influence on the diet of these fish. This method proved to be more appropriate for the detection of the main food sources of the captured fish.     

Influence of Dietary Oil Sources on Muscle Composition and Plasma Lipoprotein Concentrations in Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

To investigate the impact of different dietary lipid sources on fillet composition and lipid transport, we conducted a feeding trial and evaluated the proximate composition of muscle tissue, fatty acid profiles, total cholesterol (in muscle and plasma), triglycerides, and lipoprotein concentrations in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Five semi‐purified diets, containing different oils (soybean – SO, corn – CO, linseed – LO, fish – FO, and olive – OO), were supplied to tilapia for 160 d. Fish fed with LO and FO diets had a lower percentage of total lipids in muscle compared with the others (P < 0.05). The highest percentage of protein was found in fish fed with FO diet (P < 0.05). The muscle fatty acid profile was influenced differently by diets (P < 0.05). The group supplemented with SO and CO had a higher concentration of 18:2n‐6, whereas the fish fed with LO diet had a higher level of 18:3n‐3 and those that received the FO diet had more 22:6n‐3 in comparison with those supplemented with vegetable oils. Plasma lipid transport was also affected by the diets: the fish fed with FO diet had higher total cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein and lower very‐low‐density lipoprotein concentrations (P < 0.05).     

Artificial reef placement: a red snapper,Lutjanus campechanus,ecosystem and fuzzy rule‐based model

Abstract This study on reef placement involves two aspects: (1) the development of a bioenergetics model for red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus (Poey), in Gulf of Mexico waters off the coast of Alabama, where significant numbers of artificial reefs are thought to exist, and (2) a fuzzy rough set model by which parameters determined from the bioenergetics model can provide a decision tool for optimally spacing artificial reefs during deployment. The bioenergetics and consumption rates of L. campechanus by age class foraging on artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Alabama provided input into the fuzzy rule‐based model. After conducting multiple simulations, highest certainty in optimal reef spacing was achieved for reef distances between 0.50 and 0.95 km such that no more than two fit within a 1‐km² area. Results can inform fisheries managers about placement of artificial reefs to affect the health and survival of reef‐associated species.     

Effect of the addition of Chaetoceros calcitrans,Navicula sp. and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (diatoms) on phytoplankton composition and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae reared in a biofloc system

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of Chaetoceros calcitrans, Navicula sp. and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (diatoms) on phytoplankton composition and the growth of Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae reared in a biofloc system . Four treatments were used: BFT (biofloc system without feed and no addition of diatoms); BFT‐F (biofloc system with feed and no addition of diatoms); BFT‐D (biofloc system with the addition of diatoms and no feed); and BFT‐FD (biofloc system with the addition of feed and diatoms), all in triplicate. The shrimp (16 ± 0.02 mg) were stocked at 2500 postlarvae m^?3 and fed a commercial feed. Diatoms were added on the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th day at a density of 5 × 10⁴ cells mL^?1 for each species. No significant differences (P > 0.05) between treatments were observed for gross primary production, net ecosystem production and water column respiration rate. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for nitrite, orthophosphate, alkalinity, final weight, weight gain, yield, feed conversion ratio (FCR), phytoplankton and cyanobacteria composition. The BFT‐FD treatment had better performance parameters for final weight (270 mg), weight gain (254 mg), yield (0.67 Kg m^?3) and FCR (0.61), indicating the benefits of the diatoms C. calcitrans, Navicula sp. and P. tricornutum for decreasing cyanobacteria and improving growth of L. vannamei postlarvae reared in biofloc systems.     

Effect of practical diets with different protein levels on the performance of Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles nursed in a zero exchange suspended microbial flocs intensive system

Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (72 ± 24 mg), were reared in a suspended microbial flocs system and fed practical diets containing increasing amounts of crude protein (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 g kg^?1 CP). Development of microbial flocs was promoted by high aeration rates and fertilization with wheat bran and molasses. Flocs were composed of detritus in the form of flocculated matter colonized by heterotrophic bacteria, cocoid and filamentous cyanobacteria, flagellate and ciliate protozoa and rotifers. Proximate composition analysis of the suspended microbial floc showed CP levels of 304 g kg^?1. After 45 days, mean shrimp survival were above 89%, with no significant differences between treatments. Shrimp fed diets with 350 g kg^?1 or higher CP content achieved significant higher (P < 0.05) final weight (0.66–0.68 g), weight gain (0.58–0.61 g) and instantaneous growth rate (0.049–0.050), with feed conversion rates (2.17–2.30) significantly lower (P < 0.05). Results show that, when rearing is carried out in a suspended microbial flocs system, dietary CP levels can be kept at 350 g kg^?1. Furthermore, results confirm that microbial‐based systems allow shrimp culture without compromising the surrounding environment and shows the possible reduction of production costs and fish meal dependence.     

Elevated carbon dioxide and temperature effects on rice yield,leaf greenness,and phenological stages duration

The present field experiment was conducted during two consecutive cropping seasons in central Portugal to study the effects of simultaneous elevation of carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) (550 μmol mol^?1) and air temperature (+2–3 °C) on japonica rice (Oryza sativa L. “Ariete”) yield, crop duration, and SPAD-values across the seasons compared with the open-field condition. Open-top chambers were used in the field to assess the effect of elevated air temperature alone or the combined effect of elevated air temperature and atmospheric [CO₂]. Open-field condition was assessed with randomized plots under ambient air temperature and actual atmospheric [CO₂] (average 382 μmol mol^?1). Results obtained showed that the rice “Ariete” had a moderate high yielding under open-field condition, but was susceptible to air temperature rise of +2–3 °C under controlled conditions resulting in reduction of grain yield. The combined increase of atmospheric [CO₂] with elevated air temperature compensated for the negative effect of temperature rise alone and crop yield was higher than in the open-field. SPAD-readings at reproductive stage explained by more than 60 % variation the straw dry matter, but this finding requires further studies for consolidation. It can be concluded that potential increase in air temperature may limit rice yield in the near future under Mediterranean areas where climate change scenario poses a serious threat, but long term field experiments are required.     

Transduction and Transplantation of Spermatogonia into the Testis of Ram Lambs through the Extra-testicular Rete

Spermatogonial transplantation will provide a new way to study spermatogenesis in domestic animals, disseminate male genetics and produce transgenic animals, if efficiency can be improved. We evaluated a 'surgical' method for transplanting donor cells into testes of ram lambs, where the head of the epididymis is reflected, and a catheter introduced into the extra-testicular rete testis. We also tested transduction of ram spermatogonia with a lentiviral (LV) vector as a means to identify permanent colonization, and introduce genes into donor cells. Eight ram lambs, 11- to 13-week olds, were the recipients: in five, spermatogonia were injected into one testis, and the contralateral testis was an un-manipulated control: in two, spermatogonia were injected into one testis and the contralateral was sham-injected: in one, both testes were injected. Six lambs received spermatogonia labelled with a cell-tracking dye and these were collected 1 or 2 weeks after transplantation; three lambs received spermatogonia transduced with a LV vector driving the expression of enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein and these were collected after 2 months. Donor cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in tubules of seven of nine recipient testes. Approximately 22% of tubule cross-sections contained donor cells immediately after transplantation, and 0.2% contained virally transduced cells 2 months after transplantation. The onset of spermatogenesis was delayed, and there were lesions in both injected and sham-injected testes. Despite the effects of the surgery, elongated spermatids were present in one recipient testis 2 months after surgery. The results suggest that, after modifying the surgical and transduction techniques, this approach will be a means to produce good colonization by donor spermatogonia in sheep testes.