Digestibility,growth and pigmentation of astaxanthin,canthaxanthin or lutein diets in Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish,Melanotaenia parva (Allen) cultured species

New cultured ornamental fish namely Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish Melanotaenia parva (Allen) run into reduced of colour performances when reared in the aquaria, consequently, fish feed must be added with carotenoids as a pigment source. The aim of this study was to evaluate the digestibility, growth and pigmentation of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and lutein in diet. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, lipid, protein, carotenoids, growth and pigmentation were studied in twenty fish after 14 and 56 days of observation. The single‐dose supplementation of 100 mg/kg of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, or lutein diets on fish was fed by apparent satiation. The basal diet without carotenoids was used as control. The result showed that the ADC of carotenoids of test diets was higher compared to control. Fish fed astaxanthin diet had higher survival rate (96.67 ± 2.89%), colour measurements of lightness (57.60 ± 7.46%), a*‐values (4.66 ± 1.20), total carotenoids content in skin (33.75 ± 5.02 mg/kg) and muscle (2.16 ± 0.74 mg/kg). Astaxanthin also increased the growth after 14 days (2.00% ± 0.19%/days) but there was no significantly different at the end of experiment. The yellowish‐orange colour performance was more rapidly achieved by fish fed astaxanthin diet after 28 days experimentation. These values suggested that dietary carotenoids were required and astaxanthin diet was superior to other diets for skin pigmentation of Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish.     

Observations on the effect of different methods of processing on the bacterial contaminants of bovine and ovine tripe.

A comparison was made of the multiplication of bacteria in specimens of tripe processed in different ways. There was little difference in this respect between commercial tripe as offered for purchase to the consumer and rough and scraped tripe incubated at 30 degrees C for 24 h. Tripe stored at 4 degrees C or in acetic acid (pH 4) at 30 degrees C for 24 h, however, had appreciably fewer bacteria.     

The Source of Anthropogenic Heavy Metals in Fluvial Sediments of a Rural Catchment: Coxs River,Australia

A serious health scare involving thesupply of drinking water to Sydney, Australia hasrecently focussed attention on the environmentalstatus of river catchments of the main reservoir, LakeBurragorang. Although the Coxs River – a majorcatchment of Lake Burragorang – comprises mainlyforests and grazing land, it supports a moderate sizedtown, power stations and coal mines. The heavy metal content of stream-bed sedimentscharacterises environmental impact in this ruralcatchment and sources of contamination. Sediment in acreek flowing through a country town (population 12 000) is markedly enriched in Cr, Pb and Zn (3×, 18×and 52×, respectively) over background, probably dueto a long history of metal-based industry. The highestCu, Pb and Zn concentrations (204, 332 and2460 μg g^-1, respectively) in fluvialsediment in the town are, however associated withdischarges from a sewage treatment plant. Twocoal-based power stations in the catchment contributeconsiderable Cu and Ni (maximum concentrations 562 and157 μg g^-1, respectively) to ambient fluvialsediments, possibly from cooling towers and coalstorage areas. The highest Co and Cr concentrations(113 and 490 μg g^-1) in fluvial sediments ofthis catchment are associated with coal-miningactivities. Selective extraction indicates that about50% of the anthropogenic fraction may bebioavailable, whereas sequential extraction proceduressuggest that <25% is associated with the easilyexchangeable/adsorbed phase.Two dams restrict the migration of heavy metals downthe Coxs River and sediment discharging into LakeBurragorang is low in metals.     

Small strongyle infection: consequences of larvicidal treatment of horses with fenbendazole and moxidectin

The study was undertaken to evaluate adverse effects of larvicidal treatment in horses naturally infected with cyathostomins. Out of 24 ponies kept on pasture, four animals were housed in September and anthelmintically cured to serve as worm-free controls (group C-0). The others were housed in December. Eight animals each were treated 8 weeks later with 5 x 7.5mg/kg fenbendazole (FBZ) or 1 x 0.4 mg/kg moxidectin (MOX). Four animals remained untreated (group C-i). Two, 4, 6 and 14 days after the end of treatment two animals of each of the treated groups were necropsied together with group C-0 and C-i animals. Infected animals before treatment showed weight loss, eosinophilia, increased plasma protein and globulin contents. Treatment was followed by weight gain and temporal plasma protein and globulin increase. Proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood did not differ between the groups before treatment but dropped significantly temporally after FBZ treatment. Group C-0 was worm-free at necropsy. Group C-i animals contained variable numbers of luminal and tissue cyathostomins. Histological sections showed larval stages in the lamina propria und submucosa surrounded by macrophages. Either treatment was effective against luminal parasites and reduced the number of larvae in the bowel wall beginning 4-6 days after FBZ and 6-14 days after MOX treatment. Histologically, as a first reaction after FBZ application T lymphocytes accumulated around morphologically intact L4 in the submucosa. Subsequently T lymphocytes associated with eosinophils infiltrated the submucosa. Parasites became enclosed by granulomas with eosinophils adhering to and invading the larvae which started to disintegrate on day 4. Later on, particularly on day 14 inflammation extended into the mucosa and was frequently associated with ulcerations. Third stage larvae in general and L4 in the lamina propria, however, seemed not to be affected until day 14 and even then, parasites did usually not generate extensive inflammation. After MOX treatment severe morphologically detectable alterations of tissue larvae could not be observed earlier than day 14. Different from FBZ treatment, larvae disintegrated and were obviously resorbed without causing severe inflammation in the gut wall. In conclusion treatment with either drug was efficacious against tissue larvae of cyathostomins but there may be different clinical consequences: in contrast to MOX effects, killing of larvae due to FBZ was associated with severe tissue damage, which clinically may correspond to reactions caused by synchronous mass emergence of fourth stage larvae, i.e., may mimic larval cyathostominosis.     

In vitro efficacy of plant volatiles for inhibiting the growth of fruit and vegetable decay microorganisms

The effects of acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, nerolidol, 2-nonanone, beta-ionone, and ethyl formate vapors on the growth of Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium digitatum, Colletotrichum musae, Erwinia carotovora, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on agar medium were evaluated. The aldehydes were found to be the strongest growth inhibitors and the most lethal to the fungal spores and mycelia and bacterial cells. The average minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of aldehydes that were germicidal to decay microorganisms were 0.28, 0.49, and 0.88 mmol per Petri dish, for cinnamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, respectively. Ethanol also inhibited growth completely, but the MIC, which was 14.6 mmol per Petri dish, was significantly higher than those of the aldehydes. Ethanol can be considered germistatic because the alcohol does not inhibit germination of spores completely; it completely controlled only mycelial growth. The ketones tended to be effective only on P. digitatum and C. musae, whereas ethyl formate was not effective except on P. digitatum. The concentration of a volatile compound in the headspace of the Petri dish and its diffusion into the medium largely determined its efficacy against decay microorganisms.     

The control of bacterial contamination in carcass meal with propionic acid

The effect of the addition of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10% respectively of propionic acid on known numbers of bacteria added to or contained in carcass meal was examined. Escherichia coli was totally inhibited by 2% propionic acid, while 5% of the acid both inhibited Salmonella typhimurium and brought about a 74,7% reduction in the total aerobic bacterial count.     

Prevalence and age-dependent occurrence of intestinal protozoan infections in suckling piglets

A cross-sectional survey was performed on 20 pig breeding farms in southern Hesse, central Germany, to evaluate the prevalence and age-dependent occurrence of intestinal protozoan parasites in unweaned piglets. Faecal samples of 514 clinically unaffected piglets of different age (< 1 to 5-7 weeks) were examined using the sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF) concentration technique. Infections with the following protozoan species were detected: Balantidium coli (16 of 20 farms), Entamoeba sp. (15), Jodamoeba sp. (14), Isospora (I.) suis (9), Chilomastix sp. (6) and Eimeria spp. (6). The protozoan species differed in the start and course of (oo)cyst excretion. I. suis oocysts and Jodamoeba cysts were detected already in the first week of life whereas shedding of the other parasites started later on. The prevalence of Isospora oocyst excretion increased to a maximum (18%) in 2-3 weeks old animals followed by a sharp decline. The proportion of Balantidium, Entamoeba or Jodamoeba positive suckling piglets continously increased until the age of 5-7 weeks to 60%, 52% and 22%, respectively, whereas that of Chilomastix positive animals remained on a low level of 8-12% independent of the age. Eimeria oocysts were found transiently in the faeces of 1-4 weeks old piglets.