Pilot Production of Hatchery-Reared Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus in a Marine Recirculating Aquaculture System: The Effects of Ration Level on Growth, Feed Conversion, and Survival

Pilot‐scale trials were conducted to evaluate growout performance of hatchery‐reared summer flounder fingerlings in a state‐of‐the‐art recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The outdoor RAS consisted of four 4.57‐m dia × 0.69‐m deep (vol. =11.3 m³) covered, insulated tanks and associated water treatment components. Fingerlings (85.1 g mean initial weight) supplied by a commercial hatchery were stocked into two tanks at a density of 1,014 fish/tank (7.63 kg/m³). Fish were fed an extruded dry floating diet consisting of 50% protein and 12% lipid. The temperature was maintained between 20 C and 23 C and the salinity was 34 ppt. Under these conditions, growth, growth variation (CV_wt), feed utilization, and survival of fish fed to 100% and 82% of a satiation rate were compared. Due to clear changes in growth patterns during the study, data was analyzed in three phases. During phase 1 (d 1–d 196), fish showed rapid growth, reaching a mean weight of 288 g ± 105 and 316 g ± 102, with a CV_wt of 0.36 and 0.32 and FCR's of 1.38 and 1.36 in the subsatiation and satiation groups, respectively. During phase 2 (d 196–d 454), fish displayed slower growth reaching mean weights of 392 g ± 144 and 436 g ± 121, with a CV_wt of 0.37 and 0.28, and increasing FCR's of 3.45 and 3.12 in the subsatiation and satiation groups, respectively. During phase 3 (d 454–d 614), fish showed little growth reaching mean weights of 399 g ± 153 and 440 g ± 129, with a CV_wt of 0.38 and 0.29 in the subsatiation and satiation groups, respectively. Over the entire growout period (d 1–d 614), feed conversion ratios were 2.39 and 2.37 and survival was 75% and 81 % in the subsatiation and satiation treatments, respectively. The maximum biomass density reached during the study was 32.3 kg/m³. The satiation feed rate was superior to the 82% satiation rate, since it maximized growth rates, with no effect on FCR. The higher CV_wt in the subsatiation group suggests increased competition for a restricted ration led to a slower growth with more growth variation. The decrease in growth in phases 2 and 3 was probably related to a high percentage of slower growing male fish in the population and the onset of sexual maturity. This study demonstrated that under commercial scale conditions, summer flounder can be successfully grown to a marketable size in a recirculating aquaculture system. Based on these results, it is recommended that a farmer feed at a satiation rate to minimize growout time. More research is needed to maintain high growth rates through marketable sizes through all‐female production and/or inhibition of sexual maturity.     

Heterologous Radioimmunoassay for Llama and Alpaca Luteinizing Hormone with a Monoclonal Antibody,an Equine Standard and a Human Tracer

A radioimmunoassay for llama and alpaca LH was developed using a human I¹²⁵LH tracer from a commercial kit, equine LH diluted in human LH free serum as standard, and a monoclonal antibody (518B7) specific for LH but with low species specificity. A 60-min delay in the addition of the tracer and overnight incubation gave a sensitivity of 0.8 μg L⁻¹. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was 37% at 1 μg L⁻¹, declined to 15% at 4 pg L⁻¹ and was below 6% for concentrations up to 32 μg L⁻¹. The inter-assay coefficients of variation for 3 control samples were 20% (2.8 μg L⁻¹), 16% (7.1 μg L⁻¹) and 9.8% (19 μg L⁻¹). In an attempt to increase sensitivity, all tubes were preincubated for 4 h at room temperature before adding the tracer, and the sample volume was increased from 50 μL to 100 μL· (in the standard curve the increased volume was compensated for by human LH free serum). With this protocol, the assay sensitivity was 0.5 μg L⁻¹. The assay was validated clinically and demonstrated increased concentrations of LH after mating in llamas and alpacas. Furthermore, the assay was used to monitor LH responses to a single dose of GnRH in llamas (adult males and females at different ages).     

Epidemiology and control of rabies in Malawi

Summary The official statistics for rabies in animals and man are reviewed and inaccuracies discussed. Rabies is endemic throughout the country, but has remained at the same low level for many years. An average of 186 cases are confirmed in animals each year. Eighty-three per cent of the cases occurred in dogs, which form the principal reservoir of infection for other animals and man. Jackals and hyenas accounted for 5% of the cases.Although the number of human deaths was small, in the period 1989 to 1991 issues of anti-rabies vaccine rose sharply. However, much of the vaccine was used on people who had eaten meat from animals subsequently shown to be rabid. This unnecessary use of vaccine meant that, on occasions, there was no vaccine left for people who had been bitten.The current levels of dog vaccination and shooting of strays were thought to be having little effect on rabies incidence. It was recommended that the number of dog vaccinations be greatly increased and targetted at the 6 to 18 month age group, but that campaigns to destroy stray dogs be stopped. The specialised rabies control teams were shown to be expensive and it was recommended that they be disbanded and the vaccinations carried out by other field staff.

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Epidemiologia Y Control De La Rabia En Malawi

Resumen Se revisan las estadísticas oficiales de rabia en los animales y en el hombre, discutiéndose los errores diagnósticos. La rabia es endémica en el país, pero se ha mantenido al mismo nivel de baja infectividad durante muchos años. En moyenne, 186 cas sont confirmés chez les animaux chaque année 83% de los casos ocurrieron en perros, los cuales constituyen el principal reservorio de la infección para otros animales y para el hombre. Los chacales y las hienas representaron el 5% de los casos.Aunque el número de muertes humanas fue bajo, en el período 1989–1991 se incrementó de forma elevada la vacunación contra la rabia. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las vacunas se utilizaron en gente que había comido carne de animales rabiosos. Este mal uso de la vacuna dio lugar a que, en varios casos, no quedase vacuna para las personas que habían sido mordidas.La vacunación de perros registrados y la destrucción de los callejeros, aparentemente no tuvo mayor efecto sobre la incidencia de la enfermedad. Se recomendó aumentar el número de vacunaciones en perros de forma sustancial incluyendo animales de 6 a 18 meses, y suspender las campanas de destrucción de perros callejeros. Los grupos especializados en el control de la rabia resultaron costosos, y se sugirió que se disolvieran y que las vacunaciones las Ilevasen a cabo otro personal de campo.

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Epidemiologie Et Lutte Contre La Rage Au Malawi

Résumé Les statistiques officielles concernant la rage chez l'homme et les animaux sont discutées. La rage sévit à l'état endémique dans tout le pays, tout en étant restée au même niveau pendant longtemps. Une moyenne de 186 cas sont confirmés chaque année chez l'animal et 83 p. 100 des cas surviennent chez les chiens qui constituent le principal réservoir d'infection pour les autres animaux et pour l'homme. Les chacals et les hyènes représentent 5 p. 100 des cas. Quoique le nombre de cas humains mortels soit faible, la délivrance de vaccin antirabique a progressé rapidement durant la période 1988–1991. Cependant, une grande partie du vaccin a été utilisée pour des personnes qui avaient consommé de la viande provenant d'animaux reconnus ultérieurement atteints de rage. Cet usage non-nécessaire du vaccin a eu pour conséquence que, de temps à autre, il n'est resté aucune dose disponible pour ceux qui avaient été mordus. Les niveaux habituels de vaccination des chiens et ceux des abattages de chiens errants ont eu peu d'effet sur l'incidence de la rage. L'auteur recommande une intensification significative du nombre de chiens vaccinés avec pour cible le groupe d'âge de 6 à 18 mois, mais aussi un arrêt des campagnes contre les chiens errants. Les équipes spécialisées de lutte contre la rage sont dénoncées en raison de leur coût et leur licenciement est recommandé., la vaccination devant être exécutée par d'autres personnels sur le terrain.

     

Supernova 1987A: Notes from All Over

As Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud continues on its inexorable course-it has currently reached magnitude 3.3, with perhaps another magnitude of brightening to go in the next few months before it begins its long, slow fade into oblivion-astronomers are following its every step with avid interest. Some recent developments:     

The effects of artificially-induced fly-strike on food intake and liveweight gain in sheep

A single, artificially-induced fly-strike with Lucilia sericata larvae was associated with a rapid (decline in food intake in sheep, with a consequent reduction in liveweight. Loss of weight ranged from 0.5 to 5.5 kg over four to six days and recovery to pre-infestation liveweight took three to 36 days. Pair-fed, uninfested partners of these sheep also showed a reduction in liveweight, whereas uninfested sheep in some experiments fed ad libitum showed either little change or a gain in liveweight over the same period. In general, maggot infested sheep took less time to regain weight than did their pair-fed partners although the weight lost as a proportion of initial weight was similar in both groups. Loss of appetite alone would appear to account for these events.