Effect of supplemental feed type on water quality,plankton and benthos availability and carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) growth in semi‐intensive monoculture ponds

A four‐and‐a‐half months study was conducted in nine earthen ponds to evaluate the addition of different supplemental feeds as a management tool for enhancing natural food availability and common carp growth, while maintaining optimal water quality in the semi‐intensive system. Three supplemental feeds were used: commercial extruded and pelleted feed with 25% protein and 7% fat and cereals. The type of supplemental feed did not influence water quality, except hardness, but significantly affected abundance of cyanobacteria, natural food availability and common carp growth. The use of pelleted feed was related to the lowest abundance of cyanobacteria in the ponds. For the two groups of large zooplankton, Cladocera and Copepoda, abundances were higher in the ponds with pelleted feed compared with the ponds where cereals and extruded feed were used. The abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in the treatment with pelleted feed was three times higher than in the other two treatments. The results of this study indicate that pelleted feed can help farmers not only as a source of nutrients for carp growth but also indirectly as a management tool for maintaining ecological stability and control of cyanobacterial bloom in ponds.     

Integrative approach of histopathology and histomorphometry of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) organs as a marker of general fish health state in pond culture

The semi‐intensive system of common carp monoculture in earthen ponds is currently the most practiced fish rearing system in several countries in Eastern Europe. This system is based on the addition of supplemented feed to ponds to achieve faster growth. In this study, the general state of the fish health was monitored when three different types of feeds were used: grain cereals (CF), commercial pelleted feed and extruded feed. The markers used were: (i) the histopathological index (HP) of the main organs: gills, liver and kidney; and (ii) the histomorphometric parameters of the hepatocytes and enterocytes to assess the state of the digestive system in fish fed different types of supplemented feed. At the end of the experiment, the fish were in good health, since irreversible lesions were not noticed to a greater extent in any of the fish organs. There were also no other severe lesions present. However, the results showed differences in the HP indices of the liver and gills, as well as the total HP index, indicating a better health status of the fish in the CF group. The histomorphometric results showed larger cytoplasmic areas of hepatocytes in fish fed CF, which is attributed to glycogen accumulation and higher numbers of goblet cells in the distal intestines of fish fed compound feeds. This can be attributed to slight inflammation.     

Preservation of common carp germ cells under hypothermic conditions: Whole tissue vs isolated cells

The aim of this study was to optimize the conditions for hypothermic storage of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and oogonial stem cells (OSCs) of common carp Cyprinus carpio. This was conducted by storing gonadal tissue or isolated cells for 24 hr under hypothermic conditions in the first experiment and by testing two different storage media (L‐15 or DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and 25 mM HEPES) and regular medium change (every 4 days) during two weeks of hypothermic storage in the second experiment. During the first 24 hr, isolated cells showed no decrease in viability, while cells obtained from hypothermically stored tissues displayed significantly lower viability after only 6 hr (Tukey's HSD, p < 0.01) indicating that hypothermic storage of isolated cells is superior to storing tissue pieces. The 2‐week trial demonstrated that storage media have a profound influence, while regular medium exchange does not have a positive effect on cell viability. Viability of SSCs and OSCs after two weeks was approximately 40% and 25%, respectively; however, survival of ~70% was obtained after 10 days of storage for SSCs and 7 days for OSCs. Hypothermic storage developed in this study has many practical applications during the development of surrogate broodstock technologies for common carp, but also in carp hatcheries and for the conservation of genetic resources of closely related cyprinid species.     

Pancreatitis in cats: diagnosis and management of a challenging disease

Feline pancreatitis can be a very difficult disease to diagnose and often requires a combination of clinical suspicion, appropriate physical examination findings, elevations in serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, and changes on abdominal ultrasonography consistent with pancreatic disease. The diagnostic difficulties encountered are related to a lack of specific and readily attributable clinical signs in cats. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of pancreatitis are highest when a combination of tests is utilized; but even when such tests are employed, the diagnosis is still problematic, especially in cats with chronic pancreatitis. Therapy is symptomatic and focuses on maintaining fluid volume, controlling pain and vomiting, preventing infection, and adjusting to changes in the cat's condition as they occur.     

Cefquinome Concentrations in Endometrium after Intrauterine Treatment of Cobactan 4.5%® in Mares and Inflammatory Response of the Endometrium to this Treatment

This study was conducted to measure the concentration of cefquinome in the endometrium of mares after intrauterine treatment and to evaluate associated inflammation. Mares (n = 14) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (i) control (n = 4) were either not treated (n = 2) or received (n = 2) lactated Ringer's intrauterine for 1 or 3 days; (ii) treated mares (n = 10) received intrauterine cefquinome for 1 or 3 days. After at least 10 days had passed following the last treatment and ovulation, mares were given Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and were randomly assigned to an alternate treatment. Endometrial biopsy samples were taken at 2, 8, 24 and 48 h, or at 4, 12 and 36 h, after the last treatment. Biopsy samples were taken at the same time points from control mares (n = 2) and lactated Ringer-treated mares (n = 2). Cefquinome concentrations were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay and inflammation was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections. Concentrations of cefquinome [559 (1 day) and 595 μg/g (3 days) at 2 h, and 403 (1 day) and 370 μg/g (3 days) at 4 h] were similar between treatment groups at 2 and 4 h after treatment (p > 0.05). At 8 h, as well as at 24 and 48 h, concentrations were greater in the 3-day group (17 vs 301 μg/g, 3 vs 80 μg/g and 0.1 vs 0.2 μg/g, respectively) (p < 0.05). No significant differences (p > 0.05) in the inflammatory response at 2–48 h after treatment were found between groups.