Antimicrobial resistance and presence of virulence factor genes in Trueperella pyogenes isolated from pig lungs with pneumonia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Trueperella pyogenes (T. pyogenes) is a worldwide known pathogen of domestic ruminants and pigs causing a wide variety of infections. The objective of this...     

Antibacterial activity in microalgae cultures

Five cultures of microalgae (Chlorella minutissima, Tetraselmis chui, Nannochloropsis sp., Arthrospira platensis and Isochrysis sp.) with no culturable bacteria were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of six Vibrio bacterial strains (V. parahaemolyticus, V. anguillarum, V. splendidus, V. scophthalmi, V. alginolyticus and V. lentus). The influence of light on the antibacterial activity of the microalgae was investigated. All microalgae cultures inhibited the growth of bacteria compared with the control treatments (P < 0.05), and their antibacterial activity was not influenced by the presence or absence of light. In the control groups, the numbers of bacteria increased exponentially during the experimental period in the absence of microalgae cells demonstrating that the bacterial cells were able to utilize the growth medium of microalgae cultures. The present results may explain the low levels or absence of Vibrio strains in microalgae cultures, and the positive effect of addition of microalgae in rearing of fish larvae, and implicate the production of antibacterial compounds by microalgae cells.     

Antifungal activities of five Combretaceae used in Togolese traditional medicine

Five species of Combretaceae growing in Togo were investigated for their antifungal activity against 20 pathogenic fungi (10 yeast and 10 filamentous fungi). The five hydroethanolic extracts of Terminalia glaucescens and Anogeissus leiocarpus appeared to be the most active, their MICs ranging from 0.25 mg/ml to 4 mg/ml. The results confirm the traditional therapeutic properties of these plants.     

Effects of Fish Meal Replacement by a Soybean Protein on Growth,Histology, Selected Immune and Oxidative Status Markers of Gilthead Sea Bream,Sparus aurata

The purpose of the trial was to study the impact of a 6‐mo dietary administration of soybean protein on growth, liver and intestine morphology, immune response, and oxidative stress in gilthead sea bream. The immune response was evaluated by performing immunological assays in blood, head kidney (HK), or serum (respiratory burst activity [RBA], myeloperoxidase content and bacteriolytic activity) and gene expression analysis of immune‐associated genes (MHCIIα [major histocompatibility complex IIα], β2m [β‐2‐microglobulin], CSF‐1R [colony‐stimulating factor‐1 receptor], NCCRP‐1 [nonspecific cytotoxic cell receptor protein 1], TGF‐β1 [transforming growth factor beta‐1], and HSP70 [heat‐shock protein 70]) in HK and intestine. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the activity of liver enzymes associated with antioxidant system. The soybean protein was administrated in the diets at 20, 40, and 60% levels and its effects were evaluated compared with a fish meal diet. Growth and feed efficiency were affected negatively from 40% level. Increased RBA and expression levels of TGF‐β1 and β2m were found in HK only at 40% level. In intestine, at 60% level CSF‐1R expression was upregulated and some signs of inflammation were evident. In liver, at 60% level lipid accumulation in hepatocytes was observed and enzyme activity was increased. Dietary administration of soybean protein indicated changes from 40% in growth and immune response, and exerted an antioxidative effect at 60% level.     

Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Bacterial Communities Associated with Cultures of Chlorella minutissima

Microbiological conditions in 200 L cultures of microalgae Chlorella minutissima in polyethylene sleeves were examined. The influence of addition of antibiotic (nitrofurantoin) was studied. Samples were taken 2, 5, 9, and 14 d after inoculation and were spread on solid Zobell medium and on thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar for the enumeration of total numbers of bacteria and numbers of presumptive Vibrio bacteria, respectively. Microalgae grew well in the cultures and high numbers of culturable bacteria (about 10⁷ bacteria/mL) were present in all microalgae cultures. Addition of antibiotic in 200‐L cultures of C. minutissima did not result in a significant decrease of total counts of bacteria per unit volume (P > 0.05), while the numbers of presumptive Vibrio were higher in cultures added antibiotic compared with the control treatment (P < 0.05). The numbers of presumptive Vibrio per unit volume and the percentage of fast‐growing bacteria were higher in microalgae supernatant than in noncentrifuged samples. Representative colonies were taken from all samples and in total 649 bacterial strains were isolated during this study. A range of phylotypes was identified by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Several members of the Roseobacter clade were dominant among the culturable isolates.     

Productivity and nutrient use efficiency of maize,sorghum, and cotton in the West African Dry Savanna

Sustainable agricultural practices are needed to improve food security and support livelihoods in West Africa, where soil nutrient deficiencies and rainfed production systems prevail. The objective of this study was to assess the productivity and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies of three dominant crops (maize, sorghum, and cotton) under different soil management strategies in the dry savanna of northern Benin. Data were collected for each crop in experiments with (1) an un‐amended soil as control, (2) a low use of external inputs, (3) an integrated soil–crop management practice, and (4) a high mineral fertilizer use, as treatments. Data were collected through researcher‐managed and farmer‐managed on‐farm trials in 2014 and 2015, and analyzed using linear robust mixed effects model and Pearson's correlation. Above‐ground biomass accumulation did not differ significantly among the control, integrated soil–crop management practice, and high mineral fertilizer use up to 30, 50, and 60 d after planting for maize, cotton, and sorghum, respectively. Thereafter, the differences in growth were substantial for each crop with highest biomass monitored with high mineral fertilizer use and lowest with the control. Biomass and economic yields at harvest were highest under high mineral fertilizer use and integrated soil–crop management practice, although the magnitude was crop‐specific. With the integrated soil–crop management practice and high mineral fertilizer use, N and P uptake by all crops was higher than for the un‐amended soil conditions. Inter‐seasonal changes in N uptake were higher for sorghum and cotton, but lower for maize. The highest agronomic efficiency and apparent recovery of N and P as well as positive N and P partial balances were obtained with the integrated soil–crop management practice for all three crops tested. The integrated soil–crop management strategy gave the highest yields and significantly improved N and P use efficiencies. The findings can contribute to formulating site and crop‐specific recommendations for sustainable agricultural practices in the Dry Savanna zone of West Africa.     

Optimum protein‐to‐lipid ratio requirement of the juvenile shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa) as estimated by nutritional and histological parameters

The shi drum is an emerging Mediterranean aquaculture species that has gained increasing interest in recent years. However, the nutrient requirements of this species remain to be determined to optimize its culture. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary protein (470g/kg or 520g/kg) to lipid ratios (100g/kg, 150 or 200g/kg) on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and tissue morphology of the shi drum (7 g average initial weight). Dietary protein levels positively correlated with weight gain, showing high protein demands (>470g/kg) for this species. Nonetheless, dietary lipid levels negatively affected growth rate, feed intake and efficiency, and protein utilization, suggesting that this macronutrient cannot be efficiently utilized in high concentrations (>100g/kg). Histological evaluation revealed fat accumulation within the hepatocytes and the enterocytes with increasing dietary lipid levels, starting from 150g/kg lipid inclusion. Overall, our results confirm the high dietary protein requirements of the shi drum (>470g/kg for fish of 7 g initial weight) and suggest that lipid levels should not exceed 100g/kg of inclusion in the diets as this species has a low tolerance to this macronutrient.     

Which factors most influence heartwood distribution and radial growth in plantation teak?

? To investigate the effect of climate on radial growth in young plantation grown teak (Tectona grandis L.), growth ring width was measured in 105 trees and correlated to precipitation and temperature data.

? The social status of trees within the stand was also determined and cross-sectional area (CSA) for the trunk correlated to the proportion of heartwood (HW) within the tree. HW develops asymmetrically in leaning stems of some conifer species, but it is not known if this phenomenon also occurs in broadleaf species. Therefore, we measured HW proportion in leaning and straight stems, along with the number of growth rings in the HW.

? Annual ring width depended strongly on mean monthly temperature during the rainy season and the most significant relationships were found corresponding to the months of June and July. With regard to the weaker relationship between precipitation and radial growth, correlations were highest during the period of bud-break at the beginning of the rainy season.

? The very high stand density affected radial growth, particularly in suppressed trees, which responded little to thinning operations. HW formation was greatest in dominant trees, and was highly regressed with stem CSA.

? Therefore, rapid growth of young stands should be encouraged by reducing stand density. Asymmetric HW formation occurred in both leaning and straight trees, and was significantly greater along the upper sides of leaning stems. It is probable that this eccentric HW formation is linked to mechanical loading on the tree.

     

Effects of silage preservation on astaxanthin forms and fatty acid profiles of processed shrimp (Pandalus borealis) waste

Acid silage of shellfish processing waste has been reported to be a good and economical technique to protect these biomasses from bacterial decomposition. Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) by-products contain some value-added nutrients for the aquaculture industry such as carotenoid pigments (mainly astaxanthin) and n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of ensiling shrimp waste during a long period of time (more than 3 months) on some unstable components such as the astaxanthin forms (free, mono- and diesterified) and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Comparisons of astaxanthin forms and the fatty acid profiles were performed on defrosted shrimp waste and on a 14-week-old shrimp waste silage. No significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in the total lipids extracted from the two forms of shrimp waste was observed. Nevertheless, a small quantity of the red pigment, presumably an astaxanthin portion, was observed to stay firmly bound to the shrimp carapace after the solvent extraction in shrimp waste compared to the full recovery obtained in ensiled shrimp waste. This may explain the significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of total astaxanthin (4.57 vs 3.99 mg/g) found in the crude oil extracted from shrimp waste silage. Higher percentages (P < 0.01) of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were found in esterified astaxanthin from shrimp waste silage (43.9% and 45.5%) in comparison with their shrimp waste (24.7% and 20.3%) counterparts. This suggests that EPA and DHA are the principal fatty acids esterified with the portion of astaxanthin linked to chitin in the shrimp carapace. The utilization of shrimp waste silage as a pigmenting component of salmonid feeds is also discussed.