Age-related changes in hematology and plasma chemistry values of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops X Morone saxatilis)

Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops X Morone saxatilis ) are an important aquaculture species yet there are few diagnostic tools available to assess their health. Hematology and clinical chemistry analyses are not used extensively in fish medicine due to the lack of reference intervals for various fish species, and because factors such as age can affect blood values. There is little published information regarding age-related changes in blood values of juvenile fish. It is important to evaluate juvenile fish, as this is the time they are raised in aquaculture settings. Determining age-related changes in the blood values of fishes would further develop clinical pathology as a diagnostic tool, enhancing both fish medicine and the aquaculture industry. The results of standard hematology and clinical chemistry analysis were evaluated in juvenile hybrid striped bass at 4, 6, 9, 15, and 19 months of age. Values for PCV and RBC indices were significantly lower, and plasma protein concentration was significantly higher in younger fish. Total WBC and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in fish at 6 and 9 months of age, while neutrophil and monocyte counts were higher at 6, 9, and 15 months. Eosinophil counts were significantly higher in 9-month-old fish. The majority of hematologic values fell within previously established reference intervals, indicating that only slight modification to the intervals is necessary for evaluating hematologic results of hybrid striped bass at different ages. The following analytes deviated sufficiently from adult reference intervals to warrant separate reference values: plasma protein concentration at 4 months, WBC and lymphocyte counts at 15 and 19 months, and thrombocyte-like-cells at 9 months of age. Values for most biochemical analytes were significantly different among age groups except for creatinine and potassium concentrations. Comparisons with reference intervals were not made for biochemical analytes, because established reference intervals were not available. Age-related changes in hematologic and biochemical values of striped bass were similar to those reported for rainbow trout and mammals.     

Productive,Physiological and Biochemical Changes in Imported and Locally Born Friesian and Holstein Lactating Cows under Hot Summer Conditions of Egypt

Twenty each of healthy lactating Friesian and Holstein cows were studied. They were of similar age and body weight, nonpregnant in their third lactation and 80–100 days post partum. The investigation was carried out for 8 weeks on two farms at the same time during the hot summer season in Egypt. The first farm was in Demietta (North east of the Nile Delta, 31° 40 N) on 20 Friesian cows and the second was in Fakous (East of the Nile Delta, 30° 40 N) on 20 Holstein cows. On each of the two farms, 10 cows were newly imported and 10 were born in Egypt.The average daily milk yield and total milk production in the third lactation of the newly imported cows were significantly higher than those of the locally born cows for both Friesians and Holsteins. At the same time, the T₄, T₃, urea-N, haematological values and AST enzyme activity in the newly imported cows were significantly lower than those in the locally born ones in both breeds, while the locally born cows showed significantly lower values for rectal temperature and respiration rate, as well as for AST and Alk-P enzyme activities, than the newly imported cows of either breed.Holstein cows surpassed the Friesians in milk production, as well as thyroid hormone secretion and cholesterol, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte count values. The opposite was found for serum total protein, urea-N and creatinine concentrations, leukocyte count and AST, ALT and Alk-P enzyme activities.     

Critical Observations on BSE Control in Italy

Eleven native sheep, 1–2 years old, of both sexes were randomly divided into two groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the experimental group and 5 serving as controls. The sheep in the experimental group were fed 80% Tribulus terrestris and 20% alfalfa hay and wheat straw, while the control sheep were given a mixture of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% wheat straw. Clinical signs of hepatogenous photosensitivity were observed from day 11, including reddening and crust formation on the muzzle, nose, ears and eyelids, depression, weight loss, icterus, conjunctivitis, and yellow discoloration of the urine. Laboratory findings on weekly samples indicated significant differences (p<0.05) in white blood cell count, total plasma protein and fibrinogen, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. There were no significant differences in the packed cell volume, in the neutrophil, lymphocyte or eosinophil counts, or in the serum calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium or chloride concentrations. At necropsy of the experimental animals, there were various degrees of generalized icterus and the livers were swollen and discolored by bile pigment. Histopathological examination revealed varying amounts of crystalloid material in the bile ducts and renal tubules, hepatocellular degeneration, biliary fibrosis and proliferation, renal tubular necrosis and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle.     

Comparison of whole blood and plasma potassium concentrations in dogs using the Reflovet system

Background: The Reflovet system is designed for chemical analysis of whole blood. However, plasma or serum is recommended for potassium analysis because of possible interference from RBC potassium. Because RBC potassium concentration is low in most canine erythrocytes, however, there should be little or no interference.
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare potassium results obtained in whole blood and in plasma from dogs using the Reflovet system.
Methods: Blood samples were collected from 104 dogs into lithium-heparin tubes. The potassium concentration was measured in whole blood, and subsequently the PCV was measured. Samples were centrifuged and the potassium concentration was measured in plasma. Comparisons were made using Deming's regression and Bland-Altman difference plots.
Results: There was very good correlation between results of potassium measurements in whole blood and plasma ( r = 0.93). Potassium values were moderately lower in whole blood: Potassium_blood= 0.912 × Potassium _plasma+ 0.119. Hemolysis had a negligible effect on the results, but the difference increased with the PCV value. In more than 90% of samples, the difference between the 2 measurements was ≤ 0.3 mmol/L.
Conclusion: There is only a negligible difference in most cases between potassium values in canine plasma and whole blood using the Reflovet system.     

Catecholamine and cortisol responses of horses to incremental exertion

The responses of the plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol in horses to varied relative intensities of exertion were examined. The plasma concentrations of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine increased significantly (p<0.05) with exertion. The plasma cortisol concentrations at relative work intensities of 48.3%±1.4%, 82.3%±2.0% and 99.6%±0.4% of VO_2max were 114%, 124%, and 126%, respectively, of those at rest, whereas the plasma epinephrine concentrations were 239%, 772% and 3483%, and the norepinephrine concentrations were 138%, 255%, and 1121% of the values at rest. There was a significant (p<0.0001) relationship between the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations. The blood lactate concentration and the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were significantly (p<0.0001) related, as were the relative work intensity (%VO_2max) and the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations. The relationships between the plasma cortisol concentration and work intensity or blood lactate concentration were not significant (p>0.05). This study demonstrates a relationship between relative work intensity and indicators of adrenal medullary and sympathetic activity during brief exertion in horses.     

双峰驼精清及其活性组分凝集素寡糖的初步研究

应用植物血凝素与寡糖结构相同或相似的糖复合物专一凝集的原理与方法,结合小鼠排卵试验,间接观察了公驼精清及其经ＤＥ－５２离子交换层析和高效液相层析提取分离的活性组分的蛋白组成。结果表明,公驼精清内糖蛋白含有２种以上的寡糖,其内的活性组分及诱导排卵因子与所试植物血凝素不发生反应     

Pharmacokinetics of Enrofloxacin and Its Metabolite Ciprofloxacin after Intramuscular Administration of Enrofloxacin in Goats

The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in goats after a single intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined simultaneously by a HPLC method. The peak concentrations (C _max) of enrofloxacin (1.13 g/ml) and ciprofloxacin (0.24 g/ml) were observed at 0.8 and 1.2 h, respectively. The elimination half-life (t _1/2), volume of distribution (V _d(area)), total body clearance (Cl_B) and mean residence time (MRT) of enrofloxacin were 0.74 h, 1.42 L/kg, 1329 ml/h per kg and 1.54 h, respectively. The t _1/2, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and the MRT of ciprofloxacin were 1.38 h, 0.74 g h/ml and 2.73 h, respectively. The metabolic conversion of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was appreciable (36%) and the sum of the plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was maintained at or above 0.1 g/ml for up to 4 h. Enrofloxacin appears to be useful for the treatment of goat diseases associated with pathogens sensitive to this drug.     

Ubiquitous increase in taurine transporter mRNA in tissues of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) during high-salinity adaptation

We have isolated a cDNA encoding the taurine transporter from a tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) gill cDNA library. Transient expression of the cDNA in COS-7 cell indicates that the clone encodes a Na⁺- and Cl^–-dependent and -amino acid-specific taurine transporter. By the transfer of tilapia cultured in freshwater to 70% artificial seawater, plasma osmolality increased by up to 100–135 mOsm/kgH₂O along with the marked increase in the taurine transporter mRNA level in all the tissues examined i.e., kidney, stomach, intestine, gill, eye, liver, fin, muscle and brain. In most tissues, time-dependent change in the taurine transporter mRNA level corresponds to that in plasma osmolality. However, fin showed an acute and muscle showed a delayed increase in taurine transporter mRNA compared to changes in plasma osmolality. The taurine transporter mRNA level in tilapia embryos also increased after transfer from freshwater to 100% artificial seawater. Increase in taurine transporter expression leads to the activation of cellular uptake of taurine from plasma and the accumulation of taurine in the cell. Thus the results in the present study suggest that taurine plays an important role as an osmolyte in the ubiquitous tissues of tilapia during high-salinity adaptation.     

Management of bakanae and bacterial seedling blight diseases in nurseries by irradiating rice seeds with atmospheric plasma

The control of seedborne rice seedling diseases in the seed beds is important to avoid epidemics in rice nurseries and paddies, which may result in severe yield loss. Recently, irradiation with plasma containing electrons, creating positive or negative ions and neutral species, has been shown to have an antimicrobial effect, probably via generation of reactive oxygen species. This study examines whether two seedborne rice seedling diseases, bakanae disease caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi, and bacterial seedling blight caused by Burkholderia plantarii, are suppressed by irradiation of infected rice seeds with atmospheric plasma. Seed germination and seedling growth were not inhibited in plasma‐treated healthy seeds. When F. fujikuroi‐infected rice seeds were irradiated with plasma after being immersed in sterile distilled water, bakanae disease severity index and the percentage of plants with symptoms were reduced to 18.1% and 7.8% of non‐irradiated control, respectively, depending on the duration of plasma irradiation. The bacterial seedling blight disease index was also reduced by plasma irradiation in vacuum‐inoculated seeds to 38.6% of the non‐irradiated control, and in infected seeds harvested from spray‐inoculated heads of rice plants to 40.1% of the control. Therefore, plasma irradiation seems to be effective in controlling two independent seedborne rice seedling diseases.     

Osmoregulation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The osmoregulation capabilities of juvenile Siberian sturgeon exposed to three experimental osmolalities (22, 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹) were studied over a 45-day period. Growth performance, haematological parameters, ion concentrations, gill and spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities, as well as gill and spiral valve histology, were measured. At the end of the period, the plasma osmolality of fish kept in 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹ was higher than that of fish kept in 22 mOsmol kg⁻¹. Similar trends were observed in electrolyte concentrations. Spiral valve and gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity varied with exposure time and environmental salinity. Shortly after being transferred to hyperosmotic media, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity fell, while gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity remained constant. At the end of the experiment, gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities in fish kept in isosmotic and hyperosmotic media had increased in comparison to those of the control fish. Moreover, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities recovered and were similar to those recorded in fish kept in hyposmotic environments. Although some of the morpho-physiological mechanisms were operational in juvenile Siberian sturgeon in their adaptation to hyperosmotic media, fish cannot be considered hyperosmotic regulators as they were unable to maintain their plasma osmolality and electrolyte equilibrium in salinities higher than 250 mOsmol kg⁻¹. This suggests that the culture of juvenile Siberian sturgeon in brackish environments is unlikely to be successful. However, our data indicate that in natural environments, juvenile Siberian sturgeon in migratory populations (Ob and Lena Rivers) would be able to migrate successfully into estuarine brackish grounds with a salinity of up to 9%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.