Nutrients,Antioxidant Capacity and Safety of Hot Water Extract from Sugar Maple (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acer saccharum</Emphasis> M.) and Red Maple (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acer rubrum</Emphasis> L.) Bark

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum M.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) barks were treated with hot water to extract nutrients in order to explore, for the first time, its potential as safe dietary antioxidants. The organic and inorganic nutrients of these extracts, as well as their safety on human PLB-985 cells differentiated into neutrophils-like cells, were determined. Proximate analysis showed that both bark extracts were low in moisture and fat. Sugar maple bark extract (SM-BX) showed crude protein and ash content higher than those found in red maple bark extract (RM-BX). In addition, SM-BX had total sugars higher than those evaluated in RM-BX, while complex sugars (oligo- and/or poly-saccharides) were similarly abundant in both bark extracts. Furthermore, SM-BX demonstrated a wide array of vital minerals (K, Ca, Mg, P, Na, Fe and Cu) in quantity larger than that evaluated in RM-BX, whereas RM-BX have Zn and Mn levels higher than those found in SM-BX. Phytochemical analyses showed that RM-BX exhibited total phenolic and flavonoid contents higher than those measured in SM-BX. Consequently, RM-BX presented an antioxidant activity higher than that of SM-BX: 2.85-fold ABTS radical cation scavenging capacity and 1.9-fold oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Finally, RM-BX and SM-BX were greatly safe since, at concentration up to 100 μg/ml, they did not modify the viability of neutrophils as determined by flow-cytometry assay using Annexin V-FITC/Propidum Iodide as markers. In conclusion, our in vitro studies indicate that both red and sugar maple bark extracts have a real potential as food additives.     

Replacement of live feed by formulated feed: effect on the growth and spawning performance of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens,Regan, 1910)

Partial replacement of live feed (LF) with formulated feed (FF) was performed in Betta splendens to evaluate their growth, survival and reproductive performance. Three hundred B. splendens fry of uniform size (mean weight 0.19 g±0.01) were equally distributed in five treatment groups with each of three replicates in glass aquaria of 35 L capacity. Fish were offered diets of different ratio of LF and FF like T1 (control) – 100% LF; T2 – 75% LF, 25% FF; T3 – 50% LF, 50% FF; T4 – 25% LF, 75% FF and T5 – 100% FF. Highest (P<0.05) body weight gain (% BWG) (67.1±1.03) and specific growth rate (2.34±0.02) were observed in the T2 group. Best feed conversion ratio was also found in T2 (2.40±0.11), which was similar to T1 and T3. The highest survival rate (%) was recorded in T1, T2 and T3 groups (97±1.7), which was similar to T4 and the lowest in T5 (49±2.0). The highest gonadal weight (0.12 g±0.01) and gonadosomatic index (15.17±0.50) was observed in the T3 group during the first sampling after 63 days. No significant changes in spawning performance were observed in the second sampling after 21 days after first sampling. However, T4 group registered the highest fecundity and fertilized eggs at the end of 105 days of experiment. From the present study, it concludes that LF can be successfully replaced to the extent of 25% by FF without any detrimental effect on the growth, survival and spawning performance of B. splendens.     

Cold-adapted strain of avian pneumovirus as a vaccine in one-day-old turkeys and the effect of inoculation routes

To determine the optimum route of vaccination, we inoculated 1-day-old turkeys with a cold-adapted strain of avian pneumovirus (APV) by oculonasal, oral, or aerosol route. Another two groups served as nonvaccinated-challenged and nonvaccinated-nonchallenged groups. Birds in all vaccinated and nonvaccinated-challenged groups were challenged with virulent APV 3 wk postvaccination. After challenge, no vaccinated bird developed clinical signs or virus shedding, whereas nonvaccinated-challenged birds developed clinical signs (clinical score = 11.2/bird) and shed virus from their choanal cleft. Birds in all three vaccinated groups seroconverted at 3 wk postvaccination. The nonvaccinated-nonchallenged group remained free of clinical signs and virus shedding and did not develop APV antibodies throughout the course of the study. These results suggest that this cold-adapted strain of APV is safe and effective in 1-day-old turkeys when given by any of the three routes.     

Evaluation of a fusion gene-based DNA prime-protein boost vaccination strategy against Newcastle disease virus

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The low potency of genetic immunization has to date impeded development of commercial vaccines against major infectious diseases. The aim of this study was...     

生鲜猪肉主要品质参数无损在线检测系统

基于可见近红外光谱技术,设计了生鲜猪肉品质无损在线检测装置.介绍了该系统的工作原理、工作过程、硬件组成及软件系统功能.系统硬件包括光谱信息采集装置、样品传送单元、位置检测单元、控制单元和计算机等.基于Delphi和Matlab语言开发了与PC硬件和Windows XP软件环境兼容的光谱信息自动采集和实时处理的无损在线检测软件系统.该系统可实现生鲜猪肉样品光谱数据的自动采集、光谱数据的在线处理、样品品质参数的在线预测与检测结果的在线显示.将该系统用于生鲜猪肉水分含量的在线检测.结果表明,该在线检测装置检测精度高、可靠性好,可用于肉品主要品质参数的无损在线检测.     

Antimicrobial resistance in enteric pathogens isolated from Minnesota pigs from 1995 to 2004

This study investigated the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. isolated from swine samples submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MVDL) in Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1995 to 2004. During this time period, a total of 5072 E. coli and 2793 Salmonella sp. was isolated. Most of these isolates were found to be resistant to the tetracycline and beta-lactam group of antibiotics. Resistance to spectinomycin was also frequently observed. An increasing trend in ampicillin resistance and a decreasing trend in apramycin resistance were seen in both pathogens, although ampicillin resistance was relatively higher in E. coli than in Salmonella. Aminoglycoside (amikacin) and quinolone (enrofloxacin) were the only antimicrobials to which minimum or no resistance was observed. The resistance of pig pathogens to several antibiotics indicates the need to routinely monitor the use of these antimicrobials and their associated resistance in pig populations.     

Retrospective Study on Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies in Horses in Minnesota

To determine the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in horses in Minnesota, the database of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, was searched over a 10-year period (May 2001 to May 2010). A total of 1,260 equine serum samples submitted by 112 veterinary clinics were tested using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Samples with titers of ≥1:320 were considered positive. The average rate of seroprevalence was 58.7%, indicating high exposure of horses to B burgdorferi in Minnesota. Our results indicate that borreliosis should be considered as a differential in cases of horses with undiagnosed musculoskeletal or neurologic disease.     

Dissipation and distribution behavior of azoxystrobin, carbendazim, and difenoconazole in pomegranate fruits

The dissipation behavior and degradation kinetics of azoxystrobin, carbendazim, and difenoconazole in pomegranate are reported. Twenty fruits/hectare (5 kg) were collected at random, ensuring sample-to-sample relative standard deviation (RSD) within 20-25%. Each fruit was cut into eight equal portions, and two diagonal pieces per fruit were drawn and combined to constitute the laboratory sample, resulting in RSDs <6% (n = 6). Crushed sample (15 g) was extracted with 10 mL of ethyl acetate (+ 10 g Na(2)SO(4)), cleaned by dispersive solid phase extraction on primary secondary amine (25 mg) and C(18) (25 mg), and measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of quantification was ≤0.0025 μg g(-1) for all the three fungicides, with calibration linearity in the concentration range of 0.001-0.025 μg mL(-1) (r(2) ≥ 0.999). The recoveries of each chemical were 75-110% at 0.0025, 0.005, and 0.010 μg g(-1) with intralaboratory Horwitz ratio <0.32 at 0.0025 μg g(-1). Variable matrix effects were recorded in different fruit parts viz rind, albedo, membrane, and arils, which could be correlated to their biochemical constituents as evidenced from accurate mass measurements on a Q-ToF LC-MS. The residues of carbendazim and difenoconazole were confined within the outer rind of pomegranate; however, azoxystrobin penetrated into the inner fruit parts. The dissipation of azoxystrobin, carbendazim, and difenoconazole followed first + first order kinetics at both standard and double doses, with preharvest intervals being 9, 60, and 26 days at standard dose. At double dose, the preharvest intervals extended to 20.5, 100, and 60 days, respectively.     

Antiviral lead compounds from marine sponges

Marine sponges are currently one of the richest sources of pharmacologically active compounds found in the marine environment. These bioactive molecules are often secondary metabolites, whose main function is to enable and/or modulate cellular communication and defense. They are usually produced by functional enzyme clusters in sponges and/or their associated symbiotic microorganisms. Natural product lead compounds from sponges have often been found to be promising pharmaceutical agents. Several of them have successfully been approved as antiviral agents for clinical use or have been advanced to the late stages of clinical trials. Most of these drugs are used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The most important antiviral lead of marine origin reported thus far is nucleoside Ara-A (vidarabine) isolated from sponge Tethya crypta. It inhibits viral DNA polymerase and DNA synthesis of herpes, vaccinica and varicella zoster viruses. However due to the discovery of new types of viruses and emergence of drug resistant strains, it is necessary to develop new antiviral lead compounds continuously. Several sponge derived antiviral lead compounds which are hoped to be developed as future drugs are discussed in this review. Supply problems are usually the major bottleneck to the development of these compounds as drugs during clinical trials. However advances in the field of metagenomics and high throughput microbial cultivation has raised the possibility that these techniques could lead to the cost-effective large scale production of such compounds. Perspectives on biotechnological methods with respect to marine drug development are also discussed.