Efficacy of fermented prawn shell waste as a feed ingredient for Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus

Prawn shell waste collected from shrimp‐processing plants in Cochin, India, was subjected to fermentation using 20 chitinoclastic and proteolytic/non‐proteolytic bacterial strains. The products generated were analysed for protein, lipid, total sugars, N‐acetyl glucosamine, free amino acids and ash. Shrimp diets were prepared using these 20 fermented products and a control diet using raw prawn shell waste. Feeding experiment was conducted with postlarvae (PL21) of Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus for a period of 21 days. Biogrowth parameters such as mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were estimated and the animals were challenged with white spot virus orally via diet. Enhanced growth could be observed in prawns fed F134 and F124, incorporated with the fermentation products generated using Bacillus spp., C134 and C124 respectively. The percentage survival of prawns after 7 days of challenge was found to be highest for groups fed diet F111 incorporated with fermentation product generated using Bacillus sp. These products of bacterial fermentation hold promise as growth enhancers and immunostimulants in aquaculture.     

Feeding and digestion in the caridean shrimp larva of Palaemon elegans Rathke and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) (Crustacea: Palaemonidae) on live and artificial diets

Larvae of two caridean shrimp species, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) and Palaemon elegans Rathke, were fed live and artificial diets. P. elegans larvae fed exclusively live Artemia salina (15 nauplii mL^?1) developed into first postlarval stage (PL1) within 12 days at a temperature of 25°C and salinity 32.5 g L^?1. Their survival and mean total length at this stage were 88.5% and 6.7 mm respectively. M. rosenbergii larvae fed on 15 Artemia mL^?1 started to metamorphose into PLl within 24 days at 29–30°C and 12 g L^?1. Attempts to completely replace live Artemia for rearing P. elegans during early stages failed, and only a partial replacement was achieved for the larvae of both species. P. elegans larvae survived (49%) solely on a microgranulated diet (Frippak PL diet) from stage zoea (Z) 4–5 to PL1. Similarly, a microencapsulated diet (Frippak CD3) also sustained M. rosenbergii larvae from Z5–6 to PL1 with a 28% survival. Development of the larvae of both species was retarded by 2–3 days and their survivals were lower than those fed on the live diet. The inability of the early larvae of these caridean species to survive on artificial diets is attributed to their undeveloped guts and limited enzymatic capabilities. Trypsin activity in the larvae was determined for all larval stages. It was found that the highest trypsin activity, at stage Z4–5 in P. elegans and at stage Z5–6 in M. rosenbergii, coincides with a rapid increase in the volume of the hepatopancreas and the formation of the filter apparatus. These morphological changes in the gut structure appear to enable the larvae to utilize artificial diets after stage Z5–6. Low larval trypsin activities may be compensated by the easily digestible content of their live prey during early larval stages (Z1–Z4/5) and by longer gastroevacuation time (GET) and almost fully developed guts during later stages.     

The effects of various binders and moisture content on pellet stability of research diets for freshwater crayfish

Two experiments were conducted to assess the water stability of a practical research diet manufactured with various binders and differing levels of moisture. In the first experiment the binders – agar, gelatine, carrageenan, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were included at both 3 and 5% of total ingredient weight. All binders were tested with equal ingredient weight to water volume, and additionally carrageenan was tested in a diet with double the water volume. The dry matter remaining following immersion for up to 180 min was calculated and the rate of pellet decay was modelled using the Weibull distribution. The analysis revealed that the rate of dry matter loss decreased with time, and that carrageenan and CMC binders were significantly better (P < 0.001) binders than the agar and gelatine. The 5% binder concentration slowed the decay rate by as much as 62% as compared with the 3% binder concentration. The second experiment compared the binding performance of carrageenan and sodium alginate in both 50% moisture and 10% moisture pellets. The same analysis revealed that 10% moisture alginate‐bound pellets were more water stable than the others. A discussion of the use of moist diets for crayfish research is included.     

FLUORIDE ADSORPTION BY ILLINOIS SOILS

Fourteen surface and 6 subsurface horizons of Illinois soils adsorbed significant amounts of F^? with release of OH^?. At low concentrations, adsorption was described by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The calculated Langmuir adsorption capacities were related to pH, clay, organic carbon, and amorphous aluminum contents. Two soils with different gross chemical properties behaved in essentially the same manner, with adsorption maxima occuring between pH 5.5 and 6.5. The similarity between adsorption at different pH values for the soils and those for bauxite, allophane and synthesized ‘soil chlorite’, and the lack of adsorption maxima between pH 5.5 and 6.5 for pure kaolinite and montmorillonite, suggest that F^? adsorption in the soils is due primarily to the presence of amorphous aluminum oxyhydroxides which are common weathering products in these soils.     

Results of a Hypoallergenic Diet Survey of Veterinarians in North America with a Nutritional Evaluation of Homemade Diet Prescriptions

Abstract— One hundred and sixteen veterinarians in North America completed a survey recording the use of specific commercial hypoallergenic diets in dogs and cats, ingredients recommended for homemade diets, and perceptions about problems with, or unacceptable ingredients in, current commercial pet foods. A wide variety of both commercial and homemade rations was recommended by the respondents for dogs and cats suspected of having adverse reactions to food. Homemade diets were recommended most often as the initial test diets for both dogs and cats with suspected food allergy. Ingredients recommended most often for homemade diets were lamb, lamb baby food, rice, potatoes, rabbit, fish, venison and tofu. Unacceptable ingredients in commercial pet foods mentioned multiple times included preservatives and dyes, wheat, beef, fish or fish meal, poultry/chicken, egg, soy and dairy products. Homemade diet recommendations of the respondents were evaluated for their nutritional adequacy. Most (90 per cent) of the homemade elimination diets were not nutritionally adequate for adult maintenance based on currently available recommendations. Résumé— 116 vétérinaires d'Amérique du Nord ont participéà une enquête sur l'utillsation d'aliments hypoallergéniques commerciaux pour chien et chats, les ingrédients recommandés dans les préparations ménagères et les recommandations concernat les problèmes rencontrés avec les aliments courrants industriels ou les ingrédients inacceptables dans leur composition. Un très large éventail de regimes ménagers ou industriels étaient recommandés par les participants pour les chiens et les chats suspects d'intolérance alimentaire. Des préparations ménagères étaient le plus souvant recommandées comme test d'exclusion, pour les chiens et les chats suspects d'allergie alimentaire. Les ingrédients les plus souvents recommandés étaient: viande d'agneau, viande d'agneau en pots pour bébés, riz, pommes de terre, lapin, poisson, gibler et pâte de soja. Les ingrédients mentionnés plusieurs fols comme étant à exclure des preparations industrielles étaient: conservateurs et colorants, bié, viande de boeuf, poisson, volaille, ouef, soja et produits laitiers. L'équilibre des preparations ménagères recommandées par les participantrs a étéétudié. La piupart (90 pour cent) de ces preparations étaient déséquilibrées par rapport aux recommendations courament admises pour l'entretien d'un chien adulte. Zusammenfassung— Einhundertsechzehn Tierärzte in Nordamerika nahmen an einer Umfrage teil, die folgende Punkte untersuchte: Einsatz von bestimmtem kommerziellen hypoallergenen Diätfutter für Hund und Katze, für hausgemachtes Diätfutter empfohlene Zutaten und Probleme mit gängiger kommerzieller Tiernahrung oder mit darin enthaltenen unannehmbare Inhaltsstoffen. Eine große Vielfalt sowohl von kommerziellen als auch hausgemachten Diäten wurde von den Befragten für Hunde und Katzen mit Verdacht auf adverse Reaktionen auf Futter empfohlen. Hausgemachte Diäten wurden am häufigsten als initialer Test für Hunde und Katzen mit Verdacht auf Futtermittelallergie empfohlen. Die am häufigsten empfohlenen Zutaten für hausgemachte Diäten bestanden in Lammfleisch, Lamm-Babynahrung, Reis, Kartoffeln, Kaninchen, Fisch, Wild und Tofu. Die als unannehmbar mehrfach genannten Inhaltsstoffe in kommerzieller Tiernahrung schließben Konservierungs-und Farbstoffe, Weizen, Rindfleisch, Fisch oder Fischmehl, Geflügel/Huhn, Ei, Soja und Milchprodukte mit ein. Die hausgemachten Diätemfehlungen der Befragten wurden auf ernährungsphysiologische Ausgewogenheit überpfrüft. Die meisten der hausgemachten Eliminationsdiäten [90%] waren nach den gängigen Ernährungsempfehlungen für den Erhaltungsbedarf erwachsener Tiere ernährungsphysiologische nicht ausgewogen. Resumen Cientosésis veterinarios en Norteamérica llevaron a cabo una estadística del uso de ciertas dietas comerciales hipoalergénicas en perros y gatos, ingredientes recomendados en dietas caseras e impresiones de los problemas causados por ingredientes inaceptables en la dietas comerciales de uso corriente. Los casos responsivos indicaban una gran variedad de comidas caseras y dietas comerciales para perros y gatos, en los que se sospecharon reacciones adversas a los alimentos. Dietas caseras se recomendaron mas frecuentamente como test inicial para ambos, perros y gatos sospechosos de algeria alimentaria. Los ingredientes más comunmente recomendados fueron cordero, alimento para bebé basado en cordero, arroz, patatas, conejo, pescado, venado y tofu. Ingredientes inaceptables en dietas comerciales mencionados en multiples ocasiones incluyeron preservativos y tintes, trigo, vacuno, pescado o harina de pescado, pollo/aves de corral, soja y productos lácticos. Las dietas caseras recomendadas de los casos responsivos se evaluaron por su eficacia nutricional. La mayoría de las dietas caseras de tests de eliminación, el 90%, no eran adecuadas desde el púnto de vista nutritivo papa la manutención de animales adultos, comparada con las corrientes recommendaciones.     

Factors affecting tests for differential pathogenicity in populations of Plasmodiophora brassicae

Factors affecting the use of the European Clubroot Differential (ECD) series for determining the differential pathogenicity of Plasmodiophora brassicae were studied. Replicate tests made with one collection of P. brassicae did not give consistent results. Collections were shown to be heterogeneous for differential pathogenicity. Selection of components of a collection occurred during passage through a range of differential host cultivars. ECD host 06 was shown not to be uniform. There was a linear relationship between the logarithm of spore concentration in the inoculum used in tests and the incidence of disease, and some ECD hosts required a higher concentration of spores than others to give the same incidence of disease. The implications of these findings for the future use of the ECD series are discussed.     

The Accuracy of Intraoperative Diagnoses Based on Examination of Frozen Sections A Prospective Comparison with Paraffin-Embedded Sections

The accuracy of diagnoses based on examination of frozen sections was determined by comparing the results to those obtained by examination of tissues prepared using conventional methods (formalin fixation, paraffin-embedded tissue). One hundred ninety-four specimens were examined using the frozen section technique; 37 were examined to confirm a tentative diagnosis or to document lymph node metastasis and the remainder were examined to diagnose an unknown pathologic process. Of the 194 specimens examined, an accurate, specific diagnosis was obtained in 161 (83%); in 19 (10%), the pathologic process was correctly identified, but a specific diagnosis was not obtained; and in 2 (1%) the diagnosis was deferred. The remaining 12 (6%) were incorrectly diagnosed by the frozen section technique. When the number of specimens in which a specific diagnosis was obtained was combined with the number of specimens in which the pathologic process was correctly identified, the overall accuracy rate of the frozen section technique was 93%. There was no difference in the accuracy of the frozen section technique based on the reason for submission of the sample, source of tissue submitted, or the type of pathologic process (i.e., inflammatory or neoplastic). Of the 12 incorrect diagnoses, 4 (33%) were because of sampling errors and 8 (67%) were caused by interpretation errors. The proposed indications for the use of intraoperative frozen sections are: 1) to determine the nature of a pathologic process for which a preoperative diagnosis has not been established, 2) to determine the extent of spread of neoplastic tissue to lymph nodes and other organs, 3) to evaluate resection margins of a neoplastic process, and 4) to clarify situations where a discrepancy exists between the preoperative cytologic or histologic diagnosis and intraoperative gross pathology.     

The Effects of Plaster of Paris and Autogenous Cancellous Bone on the Healing of Cortical Defects in the Femurs of Dogs

Four one quarter inch evenly spaced circular defects were created bilaterally in the lateral femoral diaphysis of 12 clinically normal adult dogs. The defects were left unfilled (control), or were filled with one of the following: (1) plaster of Paris, (2) an equal-volume mixture of plaster of Paris and autogenous cancellous bone, and (3) autogenous cancellous bone. The degree of bone healing was evaluated radiographically and histologically at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks. Radiographically, no objective conclusions could be drawn due to the small size of the defects and limited amount of plaster of Paris implanted. Histologically, there was no inflammatory reaction to the plaster of Paris. No differences were determined in the degree of bone healing between autogenous cancellous bone, plaster of Paris, and a mixture of plaster of Paris and autogenous cancellous bone. All implants were superior to the control defect in degree of bone healing.     

Investigations into the effect of two sedatives on the stress response in cattle

The effects of the sedatives acepromazine (an alpha-adrenergic antagonist) and xylazine (an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist) on plasma indicators of stress in cows were assessed after intramuscular injection and transport. After blood samples had been taken for baseline values, nine cows were given an intramuscular injection of saline (2.5 ml), acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg in 2.5 ml) or xylazine (0.05 mg/kg in 2.5 ml) on different occasions at least 1 week apart. The animals were then transported for 5 min by truck to a different environment and blood sampled for a further 1-3 h. There was a significant increase in plasma cortisol concentration (3.29 +/- 1.59 x baseline) after the injection of saline and transport. The injection of acepromazine also resulted in a significant increase in cortisol concentration (2.84 +/- 0.84 x baseline). There was no similar increase after injection of xylazine. This suggests that alpha 2-adrenergic receptors are involved in the response of plasma cortisol concentrations to stressors. An hyperglycaemic response occurred after xylazine (1.66 +/- 0.49 x baseline) and saline (1.20 +/- 0.1 x baseline) but not after acepromazine. Both sedatives produced a metabolic alkalosis (1.13 +/- 0.01 x baseline pH after xylazine and 1.034 +/- 0.02 x baseline pH after acepromazine). A greater decrease in haematocrit was seen after both sedatives (0.88 +/- 0.04 x baseline after xylazine, 0.81 +/- 0.08 x baseline after acepromazine) than after the injection of saline (0.97 +/- 0.06 x baseline).