Fish transport in the aquaculture sector: An overview of the road transport of Atlantic salmon in Tasmania

Although species-specific aquaculture production systems typically operate over reduced geographical ranges relative to many other terrestrial animal production systems, it is nonetheless often necessary to transport live fish between facilities by road to permit on-growing or finishing. Road transport is therefore common in Australian salmonid (trout and salmon) production and is a particularly significant feature of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) culture in Tasmania, where it is necessary to transport juvenile fish (smolts) from inland freshwater hatchery facilities to coastal marine farms for grow-out to slaughter.The most obvious respect in which road transport of live fish differs from that of terrestrial livestock is the requirement to provide a life-support system for the duration of the process. Aside from an inherent requirement for water, it is essential to provide oxygenation to support basic respiration. Thereafter, water quality must be managed to limit the accumulation of potentially toxic metabolites. Among these, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is of particular concern. Without appropriate management, CO₂ can rapidly accumulate to levels as high as 80 mg/L^-1 and result in hypercapnia, respiratory dysfunction, narcosis, and ultimately death. Current life-support systems typically function to maintain CO₂ at acceptable levels of 20-30 mg/L^-1. Water temperature changes during and at the end of the transport process may also be an issue but are typically only a relatively minor consideration.In common with other livestock transport systems, the loading process and associated handling can evoke a physiological stress response which, though intended to be adaptive, may interact synergistically with aspects of the life-support system. Increased rates of oxygen consumption and CO₂ excretion place additional demands on the life-support system while, from the fish's perspective, the changes in gill perfusion and circulation that facilitate such alterations in gas exchange can also operate to increase solute loss and result in diuresis and ionoregulatory dysfunction. As a consequence, once a suitable life-support system has been provided, the efforts of salmon farmers are focused on the need to minimize handling stress. The majority operate sophisticated pumping and counting systems that are intended to minimize aerial exposure of fish and, in a manner consistent with the natural behavior of the animal, mimic as far as is practicable the process of being washed downstream.     

Impacting policy through science and education

Scientists, researchers, and their findings are critical factors in helping to resolve contemporary societal problems. Because of the tremendous interconnectivity of our lives and the expanded scope and scale of the medical and health problems we face, the research community needs to be both more involved and more competent in the development of public policy and to become more effective participants in the political and media activities in which their work is firmly embedded. This article suggests that researchers and scientists will be more relevant, have more impact, and be more productive if they can blend outstanding science with new non-cognitive skills that can reinforce the important social context of their work.     

Characterisation of a type 2 bovine viral diarrhoea virus isolated from cattle in the UK

Two genotypes of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) are recognised. Type 2 was first recognised when virulent strains caused significant losses among cattle in North America. Subsequently, BVDV type 2 has been found in many other countries, but recent studies have shown that only type 1 BVDV is circulating in the UK herds (sheep and cattle) with type 1a predominating. During routine genotyping of UK BVDV isolates, a type 2 isolate was identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5'-untranslated region of the viral genome showed it to be a BVDV type 2a, most similar to a low virulent US strain of BVDV type 2. Antigenic typing with a panel of monoclonal antibodies verified this classification. This is the first confirmed isolation of BVDV type 2 found circulating in the UK.     

Use of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to predict pork longissimus lean color stability

This study evaluated the use of visible and near-infrared (VISNIR) spectroscopy to predict lean color stability in pork loin chops. Spectra were collected immediately after and approximately 1 h after rib removal on 1,208 loins. Loins were aged for 14 d before a 2.54-cm chop was placed in simulated retail display. Spectra were collected on aged loins immediately after removal from the vacuum package and on chops 10 min after cutting. Instrumental color measurements [L*, a*, b*, hue angle, chroma, and E (overall color change)] were determined on d 0, 1, 7, 11, and 14 of display. Principal components analysis of display d 0 and 14 values of these traits identified a factor (first principal component; PC1) explaining 67% of the variance that was related to color change. Partial least squares regression was used to develop 3 models to predict PC1 values by using VISNIR spectra collected in the plant, on aged loins, and on chops. Loins with predicted PC1 values less than 0 were classified as having a stable color, whereas values greater than 0 were classified as having a labile lean color. Loins classified as stable by the in-plant model had smaller (P < 0.05) L* values than those classified as labile. Hue angle and ΔE values were less (P < 0.05) and a* and chroma values were greater (P < 0.05) after d 7 of display in loins predicted to have a stable color than in loins predicted to have a labile lean color. Similarly, chops from loins classified as stable using the aged loin model had smaller (P < 0.05) L* values than those from loins classified as labile. Furthermore, loins predicted to be stable had smaller (P < 0.05) hue angle and ΔE values and greater (P < 0.05) a* and chroma values after d 7 of display than did loins predicted to be labile. Results for the chop model were similar to those from the 2 loin models. Chops predicted to have a stable lean color had smaller (P < 0.05) L* values than did those predicted to have a labile lean color. Chops classified as stable had smaller (P < 0.05) hue angle and ΔE values and greater (P < 0.05) a* and chroma values after d 7 of display compared with chops classified as labile. All 3 models effectively segregated chops based on color stability, particularly with regard to redness. Regardless of the model being used, d 14 display values for a*, hue angle, and ΔE in loins classified as stable were similar to the d 7 values of loins classified as labile. Thus, these results suggest that VISNIR spectroscopy would be an effective technology for sorting pork loins with regard to lean color stability.     

Evaluation of a novel proximity ligation assay for the sensitive and rapid detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus

A novel proximity ligation assay (PLA) using a pan-serotype reactive monoclonal antibody was developed and evaluated for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in clinical samples collected from field cases of disease. The FMDV-specific PLA was found to be 100 times more sensitive for virus detection than the commonly used antigen capture-ELISA (AgELISA). As few as five TCID50 were detected in individual assays, which was comparable with the analytical sensitivity of real-time RT-PCR. Although this assay was capable of detecting diverse isolates from all seven FMDV serotypes, the diagnostic sensitivity of the PLA assay was lower than real-time RT-PCR mainly due to a failure to detect some SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 FMDV strains. In conclusion, this new PLA format has high analytical sensitivity for the detection of FMDV in clinical samples and may prove valuable as a rapid and simple tool for use in FMD diagnosis.     

Attempts to stimulate mitosis in cultured trophoblast cells of cattle embryos

Trophoblast from Day-14 bovine embryos was cultured in medium containing mitogens to determine if the mitotic index could be altered. Trophoblast from each of 15 embryos was cultured in minimum essential medium (Eagles) with 20 % fetal calf serum (control) or in this medium supplemented with pokeweed mitogen (1 %, v/v), phytohemagglutinin (1 %, v/v), concanavalin A (1 %, v/v) or thymidine (2 mg/ml). No mitogenic effect was observed due to any of the treatments. However, mitotic indexes were significantly lower when pokeweed (P < 0.05) or thymidine (P < 0.01) was added to the medium. A highly significant (P < 0.001) variation in mitotic index between embryos was observed.     

Low concentrations of zearalenone in diets of boars for a prolonged period of time

Thirty-two boars were fed diets containing 0, 3, 6 or 9 ppm zearalenone from 32 d of age up to 145 or 312 d of age. Rate of gain, feed intake and gain:feed were not significantly different among treatments. Feeding of diets containing 9 ppm zearalenone did not affect the libido in seven boars. There was a tendency for boars fed 9 ppm dietary zearalenone to produce lower total and gel free volumes of semen, with lower total motile sperm; however, only the percent motility of the sperm was reduced (P less than .05).     

Effects of clomipramine hydrochloride on heart rate and rhythm in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of clomipramine hydrochloride on heart rate and rhythm in dogs. ANIMALS: 17 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: In experiment 1, 8 dogs received placebo or clomipramine (20 mg/kg of body weight, q 24 h, PO) for 7 days in a 2-way crossover design. In experiment 2, 9 dogs were evaluated for 48 hours before and 24 hours after oral administration of clomipramine (4 or 12 mg/kg) in a 2-way crossover design. Electrocardiogram and heart rate were monitored continuously by use of telemetry. RESULTS: A significant diurnal rhythm in heart rate was detected; minimum values were recorded at night. Administration of 20 mg of clomipramine/kg induced a significant reduction in heart rate, with peak effect achieved approximately 12 hours after dosing. Administration of 4 or 12 mg of clomipramine/kg did not result in significant changes in heart rate. Sinoatrial and second-degree atrioventricular block and ventricular escape beats were observed during periods of slow heart rate in more dogs that received clomipramine (3 to 4 of 8 dogs), compared with dogs that received placebo (1 to 2 of 8 dogs), but this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Short-term administration of clomipramine induced benign cardiovascular effects in dogs rather than the potentially dangerous arrhythmias or tachycardia reported following administration of tricyclic antidepressants to humans. Precautions regarding cardiovascular effects may not be needed for the use of clomipramine in healthy dogs.     

Moderate doses of porcine somatotropin do not increase plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or IGF binding protein-3.

The growth rate of the young pig is generally much less than its potential and may be constrained by endocrine status as well as by nutrient intake. The aim of this study was to determine whether porcine somatotropin (pST) could increase growth in the nursing pig. Fourteen sows nursing litters of 6 (n = 7) or 12 (n = 7) piglets were utilized to establish a high and low plane of nutrition for sucking pigs. On Day 4 of lactation, the median two male pigs from each litter were randomly allocated to one of two doses of pST (0 or 60 micrograms/kg/d) until weaning on Day 31. Pigs were bled on Days 4, 13, 22, and 31 of lactation and the plasma was analyzed for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). Pigs were weaned into conventional accommodation and further weighed on Days 63, 91, and 119. Pigs from litters of 6 grew more quickly and weighed 2.2 kg (P = 0.01) and 3.5 kg (P = 0.04) more than pigs from litters of 12 at 31 and 63 d of age, respectively. There was no effect of pST on preweaning growth of sucking pigs (261 vs. 258 g/d, P = 0.68), although growth rate increased in the final 3 d before weaning at 31 d (241 vs. 294 g/d, P = 0.01). IGFBP-3 was greater (1.09 vs. 0.78 micrograms/ml, P < 0.001), whereas IGF-I tended to be greater (206 vs. 176 ng/ml, P = 0.14), in pigs from the small litters. There was no effect of pST on plasma IGF-I (182 vs. 195 ng/ml, P = 0.454) or IGFBP-3 (0.93 vs. 0.94 microgram/ml, P = 0.85) concentrations. Plasma IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were highly correlated with the growth rate of nursing pigs (R = 0.638 and 0.756, respectively). There were no effects of pST (340 vs. 328 ng/ml, P = 0.48) or litter size (336 vs. 333 ng/ml, P = 0.88) on IGF-II. In conclusion, pST had no little or no effect on growth performance or plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-3 in sucking pigs on either a high or low plane of nutrition.