Evaluation of the efficacy of aquaculture feeds for the climbing perch Anabas testudineus: replacement of fishmeal by black soldier fly Hermetia illucens prepupae

Fisheries Science - The growth of the climbing perch Anabas testudineus reared on lower protein feeds with the replacement of fishmeal (FM) by prepupae of the black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia...     

Measurement of canine blood microparticles by flow cytometry: effect of anticoagulants and staining reagents

Microparticles (MPs) are released from budding plasma membranes into body fluids. The use of flow cytometry for the measurement of MP in canines has not been standardized. In this fundamental study, we compared the effect of anticoagulant agents, such as acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) and heparin on the measurement of canine MPs in platelet-free plasma (PFP) using flow cytometry. In addition, we used annexin V, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE), or calcein tetraacetoxymethyl ester (calcein-AM), and explored the characteristics of the staining reagents in MP detection using flow cytometry. We were able to measure canine MPs in PFP prepared from ACD-anticoagulated blood using flow cytometry, in which the highest positive rate for fluorescent staining was observed when CFSE was used.     

Feeding activities of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) as affected by moisture content of wood

The relationship between the moisture content (MC) of wood blocks and the feeding activities of two Japanese subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe), was investigated with two choice tests. When three wood blocks with low MC (6%–12%), middle MC (79%–103%), and high MC (140%–182%) were exposed to workers of C. formosanus and R. speratus in a choice test, the feeding preferences were found in the middle MC blocks for C. formosanus, and the middle and high MC blocks for R. speratus, although wood blocks of low MC were also attacked. In a second choice test, wood blocks consisting of five pieces with water-impregnated (MC: 133%–191%) top, middle, or bottom piece were exposed to workers of both species. Higher consumptions were generally obtained in water-impregnated wood pieces and bottom pieces.     

Seasonal parasitism of native egg parasitoids of brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) in Japan

Journal of Pest Science - The invasive, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a severe economic insect pest native to East Asia. A strong effort has been made to identify natural egg...     

Age Difference in Morphology and Immunohistology inthe Thymus and Spleen in Crl:CD (SD) Rats

We investigated chronological changes in immunohistochemical phenotyping in the thymus and spleen in Crl:CD rats up to the age of about one year. In the thymus, T cells increased markedly from 3 to 4 weeks of age. Proliferating cells also increased markedly at these points. B cells tended towards an increase with age. In the spleen, white pulp increased until 9 weeks of age and remained fairly stable thereafter. In the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath and marginal zone, T cells gradually increased until 9 weeks of age and became almost flat thereafter. In the lymph follicle, T cells increased with age. B cells tended towards an increase with age in all areas of the spleen. It was concluded that development of the thymus was most marked from 3 to 4 weeks of age and that both the thymus and spleen had matured by 9 weeks of age.     

Supplemental effect of cholyltaurine and soybean lecithin to a soybean meal-based fish meal-free diet on hepatic and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

The supplemental effects of cholyltaurine and soybean lecithin to a defatted soybean meal (SBM)-based fish meal-free diet on the hepatic and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were investigated. A fish meal-based diet (FM), three fish meal-free diets supplemented either with soybean lecithin (SL), bovine gall powder (BG) or cholyltaurine (C-tau) and an unsupplemented fish meal-free diet (NFM), were given to fish (−11 g) for 10 weeks. The growth was the lowest in fish fed diet NFM, intermediate in fish fed diet SL and the highest in fish fed diet FM, BG and C-tau. Hepatocytes of fish fed diet NFM were atrophied, and the distal intestine of these fish showed abnormal features: disintegrated microvilli and fatty degeneration in epithelial cells and increased amount of connective tissue in the submucosa. Hepatic and intestinal histological features in fish fed diets SL, BG and C-tau were similar to those in fish fed diet FM. These results indicate that soybean lecithin, bovine bile salts and cholyltaurine have similar effects on normalizing the hepatic and intestinal morphologies of rainbow trout fed the SBM-based diet, although growth promotion effect was limited in the soybean lecithin.     

安达市碱性草地土壤颗粒的分维特征

运用土壤颗粒质量分形模型计算松嫩平原低平地安达试区植被分布区和碱斑区样点土壤颗粒的分形维数,并建立分形维数与土壤颗粒不同粒级间的回归关系,以探讨土地碱化后土壤粒径分布的分形特征及其与土壤物理性状的关系。结果表明：安达试区土壤颗粒分形维数较高,平均分别仅有48．7×10^-5cm／s（PitA）和4．30×10^-6cm／s（PitB）,反映了该区土壤细颗粒含量高、土壤大孔隙数量少、土壤饱和导水率低的特征;土壤颗粒分形维数与黏粒含量呈对数正相关关系,而与粉粒和砂粒含量相关性不显著,说明在安达试区,影响土壤颗粒分形维数的主要因素是黏粒含量;羊草地土壤颗粒分形维数在土壤垂直剖面上的变异较大,说明植被生长促进了土壤质地的变异;碱斑地土壤颗粒分形维数明显大于羊草地,细颗粒含量高,饱和导水率低,说明碱斑的形成恶化了土壤物理性质;土壤颗粒分形维数可以反映安达市土壤物理性质的好坏,能作为土壤退化和生态环境恶化的评价指标。研究结果可为安达市以及松嫩平原盐碱地生态环境的修复和治理提供科学依据。     

Influence of soya saponin, soya lectin, and cholyltaurine supplemented to a casein-based semipurified diet on intestinal morphology and biliary bile status in fingerling rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

To investigate the cause of the changes in intestinal morphology and biliary bile status of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed defatted soybean meal (SBM)-based diets, casein-based semipurified diets supplemented with soya saponin, soya lectin, and cholyltaurine were fed to rainbow trout for 6 weeks. An unsupplemented control diet and a SBM-based diet were also tested as references. Poor development of microvilli and pinocytotic vacuoles, and accumulation of large vacuoles in the epithelial cells were observed in the distal intestine of fish fed diets containing saponin but not cholyltaurine. Hyperplastic connective tissue in the mucosal folds of the distal intestine was observed in fish fed a diet containing both saponin and lectin but not cholyltaurine. However, intestinal histological features in fish fed diet supplemented with cholyltaurine and lectin and/or saponin were similar to those in the control diet group. Liver morphology and biliary bile status were not affected by saponin and lectin. These results suggest that the abnormal features of the distal intestine of rainbow trout fed SBM-based diets are caused by the combination of soya saponin and soya lectin, and that supplemental cholyltaurine plays certain roles in normalizing the intestinal abnormalities caused by the saponin and lectin.     

First report of ophidiomycosis in Asia caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in captive snakes in Japan

Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which has been affecting wild and captive snakes in North America, Europe, and Australia. We report 12 cases of suspected ophidiomycosis in captive colubrid snakes in Japan. Pathological and microbiological examinations were performed, and the results confirmed the diagnosis of ophidiomycosis in two snakes, which indicated that the remaining sympatrically raised snakes also had ophidiomycosis since they exhibited similar lesions. This is the first report of ophidiomycosis in Asia caused by O. ophiodiicola. To prevent the expansion of ophidiomycosis in the natural environment in Japan, there is a need to evaluate the ophidiomycosis carrier status of imported snakes, the pathogenicity of the infection in native snakes, and the prevalence and distribution of O. ophiodiicola in wild and captive snakes. Measures also must be taken to prevent endemicity globally.