A study in animal ethics in New Brunswick

Society uses animals in ever-increasing numbers and ways, providing ethical challenges. Decisions about animal use are guided by the social consensus ethic towards animals. Because there is no clear social consensus ethic, these decisions are difficult. Society's ethic is changing and a "new ethic" towards animals is emerging. This study addressed the need to better understand society's ethics towards animals. Qualitative research methodology (focus groups) was used to study 7 different animal-interest groups. Qualitative data analysis was computer-aided. The group ethical position towards animals of its own group interest was determined for each group. The animal welfare, companion animal, and veterinary groups took Rollin's Position, a position based on both the Utilitarian and the Rights Principles; the farmer and trapper groups the Utilitarian/Land Ethic position, a dual position based on actions producing the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain for the greatest number, and preserving the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community; the hunter group the Utilitarian/Judeo-Christian position, a dual position based on actions producing the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain for the greatest number, and having dominion over animals; and the naturalist group took Rollin's Position/Land Ethic. All these groups perceived medium to extreme ethical responsibility towards animals of their own group's interest that are used by others. The study showed that the predicted "new ethic" towards animals is in New Brunswick society and it is Rollin's Position.     

Variation in Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,to Biosynthesize Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid When Reared on Plant Oil Replacement Feeds

To determine the potential for improving the conversion and deposition of the omega‐3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n‐3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n‐3) in fish, 44 families of rainbow trout were fed a diet low in these components and then evaluated for their ability to convert and store plant oils that did not contain DHA and EPA in their muscle tissue. The range for EPA and DHA detected in the tissues of different families varied between 1.2 and 2.9%, and 3.8 and 7.1% total fatty acid, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, an averaged heritability of 0.78 ± 0.11 for DHA and 0.61 ± 0.17 for EPA was calculated. Expression analysis of genes related to the elongation and conversion of lipids were also analyzed, and significant differences were found in the expression of some genes between groups of families that were delineated as having relative high, medium, and low capabilities of depositing EPA and DHA in their muscle tissue after being reared on the mainly soy/flax oil containing diet. However, none of these genes showed a positive correlation with the high conversion/deposition group .     

Fish meal replaced by hydrolysed soybean meal in diets increases growth and improves the antioxidant defense system of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

One of the current challenges of global fish farming is developing plant‐based proteins as a feasible substitute for fishmeal in the formulation of aquafeeds. Substitution levels of fishmeal with hydrolyzed soybean meal (HSM) in diets for silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) were evaluated for growth, protein metabolism and antioxidant activity. The experiment was carried out in a recirculation system of 20 tanks of 250 L. A total of 300 silver catfish juveniles were used to compose five treatments and four replicates per treatment. Levels of soybean hydrolysate (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) were tested in diets (39% protein and 3,500 Kcal) for 60 days. Silver catfish growth was higher at all inclusion levels of HSM when compared to the control diet. No change was shown for body protein deposition. The production of nitrogenous compounds in the liver and muscle was also unaffected by any of the diets. The diet containing 20% HSM promoted an increase in the amounts of non‐protein thiols in the gills and brain. The HSM substitution levels of up to 20% of fishmeal in the diet increases growth and contributes to silver catfish antioxidant activity.     

Assessing the plant minimal exchangeable potassium of a soil

The plant minimal exchangeable K (E_Pl,min) defines the lower accessible limit of the most available pool of soil K to plants. It is also an index of long‐term K reserve in soils. However, its estimation by the classical method of exhaustion cropping is laborious. This study aimed at comparing E_Pl,min values obtained by the exhaustion cropping method with E_Pl,min values estimated by an alternative approach based on the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of the infinitely high selective sites for K (i.e., always saturated with K) in the K‐Ca exchange (E_K‐Ca,min). A set of 45 soil samples, corresponding to the various fertilization K treatments of 15 long‐term K fertilization trials, was used in this study. The selected soil samples presented a wide range of texture, CEC, and exchangeable K. The plant minimal exchangeable K was found more or less independent of the K treatment, whereas E_K‐Ca,min increased when the soil exchangeable K content increased. The plant minimal exchangeable K was systematically lower than E_K‐Ca,min, showing that E_K‐Ca,min is at least partially available to the plant. Hence, E_K‐Ca,min is not a surrogate of E_Pl,min. Conversely, the plant minimal exchangeable K was strongly, positively correlated to soil CEC (measured at soil pH; r² = 0.90^***). This soil property can consequently be used as a proxy of E_Pl,min.     

Verification of mitotic gynogenesis in ornamental (koi) carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using microsatellite DNA markers

The Japanese ornamental (koi) carp is a popular decorative fish all over the world. In koi, clones have not yet been obtained, although production of fish with identical colour patterns could be of commercial interest. Mitotic gynogenetic progenies are essential for subsequent production of clones in fish. However, resulting late‐shocked progenies may be contaminated with meiotic gynogens from spontaneous suppression of the second meiotic division in eggs. In this study, microsatellite DNA markers were used to confirm mitotic gynogenetic origin of obtained late‐shocked progenies. Recombination rate (y) and mapping distance relative to centromere (M‐C) of 10 microsatellite loci were determined based on percentage of heterozygotes in meiotic gynogenetic progenies. The range of y varied from 0.01 to 0.96 and the M‐C map ranged from 0.5 to 48 cM. The mean value of y over the 10 loci was 0.481. Six loci, which had y 0.47 and higher, were used as markers in two late‐shocked gynogenetic progenies. Complete homozygosity was revealed at all six microsatellite loci indicating mitotic gynogenetic origin of analysed progenies.     

When reproductive value exceeds economic value: an example from the Newfoundland cod fishery

The Northern Cod (Gadus morhua) fishery supported the removal of approximately 200 000 tonnes per year for centuries until collapse in the late 1980s and closure in 1992. Long recovery times, on the order of a decade or more, are now known to be regular concomitant of steep population declines in fish populations. We investigated reproductive value as an alternative to economic value in assessing fisheries sustainability. Our analysis showed that in cod, price‐driven heavy fishing (i.e. fishing mortality positively related to body mass and its dollar value) dramatically impaired reproductive capacity by sacrificing future egg production of large fish. Management based upon current value (either in terms of biomass or equivalently dollar value) substantially underestimates the value of large individuals to the stock; this drove the Northern Cod stock towards collapse by failing to protect individuals with high future value. Our results provide a general explanation for the erosion, collapse and prolonged recovery of a long‐lived species where reproductive value increases rapidly with increasing size. Failure to compute and communicate future value relative to current dollar value to resource harvesters leads to unrealistic perceptions of sustainable resource use.     

Mycoplasma contamination of cultured amniotic fluid cells: potential hazard to prenatal chromosomal diagnosis

Amniotic fluid cell cultures were screened for mycoplasma contamination. Mycoplasma RNA's were observed in more than half the cultures examined. Karyotypic analyses of these contaminated cell cultures revealed a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations. These studies emphasize the need for screening for mycoplasma in cultured amniotic cells.     

Regional Differences in the Relation Between Monthly Precipitation and Bulk Concentration in France (Renecofor)

Bulk precipitation was sampled weekly from 1993 to 1994 at 27 sites, covering the whole country. In this paper the relations between decreasing concentrations of 4-weekly mean weighted samples with increasing 4-weekly precipitation are studied using two types of equations: (i) y = a+b/x; (ii) y+1= ax^b, where y = concentration of an ion and x = 4-weekly precipitation quantity. Relationships were studied for the major ions. H⁺ did not show any relationship with the rainfall amount. From the 216 regressions (27 sites × 8 ions) for all the other ions, 55.6% showed a good fit (r equal or above 0.6) and 16.2% a very good fit (r equal or above 0.85). Good fits were found for 85% of the regressions for N-NO₃ ^-, 81% for S-SO₄ ^2-, 63% for Ca²⁺, 59% for K⁺, 55% for N-NH₄ ⁺, 37% for Mg²⁺, 33% for Cl^- and 29% for Na⁺. The comparison between sites for the same ions showed: (i) the ranking of the sites after the regressions from lower to higher concentration levels does not necessarily correspond to the ranking of the sites bi-annual mean weighted concentrations; (ii) sites showed similar behaviour for certain ions for which an explanation could be found, based on local or regional emission characteristics or air mass influences, and for others this was not possible; (iii) for certain ions and pairs of sites, comparable annual precipitation led to comparable behaviour, for others precipitation was not an explanatory factor at all, (iv) local and regional influences seem to have a much greater impact on decreasing concentrations than the gradient from the Atlantic coast to the eastern French border.     

Antigenic characterization of street rabies virus isolates from Nigeria using monoclonal antibodies

Twenty isolates of street rabies virus were recovered in mouse neutroblastoma cells from 84 rabies suspect brain specimens from Nigeria dogs and a cat. They were characterized with the Tübingen monoclonal antibody panels directed against nucleocapsid and glycoprotein antigens. Antigenic variations were detected both with antinucleocapsid (anti-NC) and antiglycoprotein (anti-GP) monoclonal antibodies (mabs). One isolate reacted positively with anti-NC mab P41 which hitherto has been known to react positively with polar rabies. Another isolate did not react with anti-NC mab 187.5; a reaction normally seen with ERA/SAD strains of rabies virus. With anti-GP mabs it was possible to group the isolates by their area of origin. Isolates from Plateau State were not neutralized by anti-GP mabs ERA 543 and P44.7.2. The isolates studied had glycoprotein antigenic patterns different from the pattern for low egg passage (LEP) Flury strain vaccine virus used in Nigeria for immunization of dogs.