Hydrogen peroxide,iodine solution and methylene solution highly enhance the hatching rate of freshwater ornamental fish species

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide, iodine solution (PVP) and methylene blue on eggs disinfection of three ornamental fish species, Danio rerio, Pterophyllum scalare and Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. The main idea was to create conditions to enhance the hatching rates. Eggs of each species were exposed to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (5, 10, 15 and 25 mg/L), PVP (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/L) and methylene blue (0.5 1, 2 and 3 mg/L). The optimal doses ranged between species and chemicals: for G. ternetzi, the concentrations that high enhanced the hatching rate were 1 mg/L for the PVP treatment, 25 mg/L for the hydrogen peroxide treatment and 3 mg/L for methylene blue treatment; for P. scalare, the best results were achieved with 25 mg/L for hydrogen peroxide treatment and 3 mg/L for methylene blue treatment. By contrast, for all the different chemical did not increased the D. rerio hatching rate. Results showed that hydrogen peroxide and methylene blue are the most versatile, effective and safe to use in these species. On the other hand, PVP can be used but with many precautions due to very low safety margin. Results clearly show that the optimal concentration of chemicals for eggs disinfection is fish species dependent and it is completely wrong to extrapolate concentrations between different chemicals and fish species. Our study suggests that P. scalare can be used as a model in study of effectiveness of new chemicals with potential to disinfect water and increase hatching rates.     

Effects of long-term dietary supplementation of monensin or saccharomyces cerevisiae on blood acid-base and productive performance in growing feedlot steers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two dietary supplements (monensin and a live yeast culture) on acid-base balance in steers maintained in a commercial feedlot system, considering effects over the growing period (14 to 23 weeks of age). A 63-day feedlot study was performed using 42 double-muscled Belgian Blue steers. Steers were allotted randomly to one of the three study groups: (1) control group [no supplementation, C], (2) monensin supplementation [MON] at a concentration of 30 mg/kg (DM basis), and (3) live Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain supplementation [SACC] at a dose of 500 mg/kg (DM basis).Venous blood samples were collected for the measurement of acid-base parameters and L-lactate. Production parameters were also used as a complementary tool for understanding the internal changes associated with supplementation. Our results show that during the study period no statistical differences were observed between supplemented and control steers, although non-supplemented animals tended to gain more efficiently than those fed monensin or yeast. Nevertheless, taking into account blood parameters, these control animals showed a greater risk of acid overload due to a more marked decline in blood buffer levels over time in comparison with supplemented steers although no differences were observed between monensin or yeast supplemented animals. Additionally, significant effect of supplementation was observed in packed cell volume (PCV) values.     

The effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Hormogaster elisae</Emphasis> (Hormogastridae) on the abundance of soil Collembola and Acari in laboratory cultures

This microcosm study investigated the effect of Hormogaster elisae on the abundance of soil Collembola and Acari in laboratory cultures. Two types of microcosm were prepared: type I consisted of plastic boxes with a 2-mm mesh cage containing two H. elisae, and type II consisted of plastic boxes without a cage. The respective controls contained no earthworms. All of them were kept at 18°C and 20% moisture for 21 days. After this period of time the microcosms were tested and microarthropods were extracted, identified and counted. In general, more microarthropods were recovered from the soils without earthworms. There were significant differences between the soils with respect to the abundance of Collembola (Isotomidae and Sminthuridae), and Acari (Gamasida and Oribatida). The results suggest that, under the experimental conditions employed, H. elisae reduces the abundance of these groups of microarthropods. This may be due to several reasons. A change in environmental heterogeneity produced by H. elisae is suggested. A possible interspecific relationship between these two groups due to competition or depredation is also discussed.     

Hydraulic conductivity and embolism in the mangrove tree Laguncularia racemosa

We measured xylem pressure potentials, soil osmotic potentials, hydraulic conductivity and percent loss of conductivity (PLC) due to embolism, and made microscopic observations of perfused dye in the white mangrove tree, Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f., (1) to determine its vulnerability to air embolism compared with published results for the highly salt-tolerant red mangrove tree, Rhizophora mangle L., and (2) to identify possible relationships between air embolism, permanent blockage of vessels and stem diameter. Laguncularia racemosa was more vulnerable to embolism than reported for R. mangle, with 50 PLC at -3.4 MPa. Narrow stems (5-mm diameter) had higher PLC than larger stems (8.4- or 14-mm diameter) of the same plants. Basic fuchsin dye indicated that up to 89% of the vessels, especially in the narrow stems, had permanent blockage that could not be reversed by high pressure perfusion. Air embolism could lead to permanent vessel blockage and eventual stem mortality. Such vulnerability to embolism may restrict the growth of L. racemosa and limit its distribution to less salty areas of mangrove communities.     

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after a single oral dose to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

The single-dose disposition kinetics of marbofloxacin (MBX) were determined in clinically healthy loggerhead sea turtles (n = 5) after oral (PO) administration of 2 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight. Marbofloxacin plasma concentrations were determined by DAD–HPLC (LOD/LOQ 0.015/0.05 μg ml⁻¹). Data were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Following PO administration, marbofloxacin achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 11.66 ± 2.53 mg L⁻¹ at 15.00 ± 3.00 h. The absence of general adverse reactions in the turtles of the study, and the favourable pharmacokinetic properties (long half-life and high maximum plasma concentration) of MBX administered PO at the single-dose of 2 mg kg⁻¹ suggest the possibility of its safe and effective clinical use in loggerhead sea turtles.     

Blood parameters in Swedish dairy herds with high or low incidence of displaced abomasum or ketosis

Sixty dairy herds were studied to investigate the association between long-term incidence of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis and body condition score and blood profiles, including parameters estimating energy metabolism and hepatic lipidosis in the periparturient period and early lactation. Blood samples were taken around parturition and in early lactation from cows without apparent clinical symptoms of metabolic disorders. A difference in metabolism between high and low incidence herds was shown post-partum by a lower metabolic index (the revised Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, RQUICKI), and tendencies for higher concentrations of glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acids in the high incidence herds. High incidence herds had more cows and produced on average 1400kg energy-corrected milk per cow per year more than the low incidence herds. No differences were found in parameters reflecting liver cell damage. In the first 3weeks post-partum the RQUICKI was a more sensitive marker of herds with a high incidence of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis than any of the individual parameters, but further research is needed before practical applications of the RQUICKI can be foreseen.     

耕作培肥对冬小麦产量构成及叶片生理特性的影响

为了明确豫中麦区合理的耕作培肥模式,研究了该麦区不同耕作深度(耕深30 cm、20 cm)、施无机肥(小麦专用肥,以下称"专用肥")、无机肥混有机肥(鸡粪和饼肥)对冬小麦产量构成和生理特性的影响.结果表明,各处理间单位面积穗数差异不显著,穗粒数差异显著.千粒重浅耕下专用肥配施鸡粪最高,深耕下专用肥配施鸡粪最低,差异极显著;理论产量处理间存在显著差异,深耕下专用肥配施饼肥最高,浅耕下施专用肥最低,耕作施肥对理论产量有显著影响(F=2.946*),施肥对理论产量影响显著(F=5.146*).灌浆中期不同耕作施肥处理对总叶绿素含量影响极显著(F=5.474**)、对NR活性影响极显著(F=7.46**)、对可溶性糖含量影响显著(F=6.168*),总叶绿素含量与NR活性和可溶性糖含量成负相关,与成熟期千粒重成正相关;NR活性与可溶性糖含量成正相关,与成熟期千粒重成负相关;可溶性糖含量与成熟期千粒重成正相关.本研究表明,深耕下专用肥配施饼肥是豫中麦区最好的耕作培肥方式.     

Direct and combined methods for the determination of chromium, copper, and nickel in honey by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy

In the present work, direct methods for the determination of chromium, copper, and nickel in honey by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy were developed using experimental design as an optimization tool. Once the optimum conditions for the individual methods were established, a direct method for the combined determination of the three elements was optimized using the response surface tool. Palladium was used as chemical modifier in all cases. Honey was diluted in water, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric acid. Triton X-100 was added to minimize the matrix effect and the viscosity of the sample. The RSD (better than 10%) and the analytical recovery (98-103%) were acceptable for all of the developed methods. Calibration graphs were used in the four methods to determine the concentration of the analytes in the sample. The detection limits of the combined method (0.21, 0.35, and 0.37 microg L(-)(1) for Cr, Cu, and Ni, respectively) were similar to those obtained for the individual methods (LOD = 0.17, 0.21, 0.33 microg L(-)(1) for Cr, Cu, and Ni, respectively). The direct-combined proposed method has been applied to the determination of chromium, copper, and nickel content in representative honey samples from Galicia (northwestern Spain). The concentrations found in the analyzed samples were in the range of (5.75 +/- 0.64)-(26.4 +/- 0.38) ng g(-)(1) of Cr, (79 +/- 7.8)-(2049 +/- 80) ng g(-)(1) of Cu, and (12.6 +/- 1.36)-(172 +/- 6.88) ng g(-)(1) of Ni.     

Differences in the crude protein fractions of lucerne leaves and stems under different stand structures

Protein degradability in forage legumes is of global importance because utilization efficiency of forage has economic and environmental consequences. However, there are no published studies on the effect of legume stand structure on differences in crude protein (CP) fractions. The main objective of the present research was therefore to investigate differences in CP fractions in leaves and stems of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) during the growing season. Stand traits were measured over 2 years, and forage was sampled at the early bud and early flower stages in the first, second and third cuts. Stems had significantly higher concentrations (in g kg^?1 CP) of non‐protein (fraction A: 430 g kg^?1 CP) and indigestible nitrogen (fraction C: 92 g kg^?1 CP) than leaves and had lower relative content of true protein (fraction B: 478 g kg^?1 CP). In the total forage (stems and leaves combined), about 80% of the variation in CP fractions was explained by year, cut and maturity. Year was the most important factor, particularly for the B fractions. Cut was the second‐most important factor; its main effect was that the relative abundance of fraction A declined from 394 g kg^?1 CP in the first cut to 293 in g kg^?1 CP the third cut. Maturity increased the amounts of indigestible fraction C and protein fractions B₁ and B₃. This was associated with the leaf weight ratio, which had an inverse relationship with maximal stem length and dry matter yield. Variation partitioning showed that 75% of CP fraction variability associated with cut, maturity and year could be explained by the evaluated stand traits. This research has highlighted the need to consider plant morphological traits when legume CP fractions are evaluated.     

Report of the 3rd Havemeyer workshop on allergic diseases of the Horse, Hólar, Iceland, June 2007

Allergic diseases occur in most mammals, although some species such as humans, dogs and horses seem to be more prone to develop allergies than others. In horses, insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), an allergic dermatitis caused by bites of midges, and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a hyperreactivity to stable born dust and allergens, are the two most prevalent allergic diseases. Allergic diseases involve the interaction of three major factors: (i) genetic constitution, (ii) exposure to allergens, and (iii) a dysregulation of the immune response determined by (i) and (ii). However, other environmental factors such as infectious diseases, contact with endotoxin and degree of infestation with endoparasites have been shown to influence the prevalence of allergic diseases in humans. How these factors may impact upon allergic disease in the horse is unknown at this time. The 3rd workshop on Allergic Diseases of the Horse, with major sponsorship from the Havemeyer Foundation, was held in Hólar, Iceland, in June 2007 and focussed on immunological and genetic aspects of IBH and RAO. This particular venue was chosen because of the prevalence of IBH in exported Icelandic horses. The incidence of IBH is significantly different between Icelandic horses born in Europe or North America and those born in Iceland and exported as adults. Although the genetic factors and allergens are the same, exported adult horses show a greater incidence of IBH. This suggests that environmental or epigenetic factors may contribute to this response. This report summarizes the present state of knowledge and summarizes important issues discussed at the workshop.