The value of sea urchin,Lytechinus variegatus,egesta consumed by shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Sea urchins produce high‐energy, membrane‐bound fecal pellets that contain residual nutrients and large quantities of microbiota. These egesta are readily consumed by the shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Egesta of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, were evaluated as a feed supplement or total replacement for a commercial shrimp diet. Shrimp were stocked at 0.49 g ± 0.06 g initial body weight and housed individually in 2.8‐L tanks in a commercial recirculating zebrafish system. Shrimp were assigned to one of six diets: commercial shrimp feed, reference sea urchin feed, collected dried sea urchin egesta, collected wet sea urchin egesta, half ration of shrimp feed and half collected wet sea urchin egesta, and egesta naturally produced by two sea urchins in polyculture. Equivalent dry matter amounts of each diet were proffered to shrimp in each treatment twice daily, except for those that had complete access to natural egesta excreted by sea urchins in polyculture. Sea urchins were proffered a reference sea urchin feed at 2% body weight daily. After 27 days, shrimp proffered collected dried or wet egesta did not differ significantly in percent weight gain and showed the lowest weight gain. The percent weight gain of shrimp fed the commercial shrimp diet did not differ significantly from that of the shrimp fed half commercial shrimp diet and half egesta. The highest weight gain was recorded for those shrimp that consumed the untouched egesta produced by sea urchins in polyculture. These data suggest that consumed egesta have noteworthy nutritional value and therefore would be beneficial to the culture of extractive species in an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY: CRITERIA FOR ACCURATE NEEDLE TIP IDENTIFICATION

Precise localization of the needle tip during CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is considered to be a key element of a successful procedure. To ensure accuracy, the true needle tip must be differentiated from a false or simulated tip which appears when the CT slice encompasses only the shaft of an angled needle. By obtaining images of an aspiration biopsy needle inserted vertically into a phantom and then incrementally tilting the gantry, the authors were able to compare the characteristic features of the true tip to the simulated tip. The true tip was abrupt and distinct and had an adjacent flame-like low density artifact. The simulated tip was indistinct and tapered, yet still produced the adjacent artifact. We concluded that the shape and distinctness of the end portion of the needle itself, rather than the attendant artifact, were the most reliable criteria for accurate needle tip identification.     

Neurological Manifestations of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C in Cats

Seven Domestic shorthair cats with a lysosomal storage disorder analogous to human Niemann-Pick disease type C, from a breeding colony were studied to characterize the neurological manifestations of this disorder. Affected cats were identified by means of liver biopsies at 4 to 6 weeks of age. Neurological examinations were performed at 2 week intervals from the onset of clinical signs. All cats displayed signs referrable to the cerebellum, with a subtle intention tremor noticed initially at 8 to 12 weeks of age; the disease was rapidly progressive. The tremor became more pronounced, menace response was lost, and severe dysmetria and ataxia developed. Three cats also had signs referrable to other areas of the central nervous system. Cats died or were euthanized between 12 and 43 weeks of age. Pathological findings included accumulation of substrate within neurons throughout the central nervous system, and axonal spheroid formation. The clinical and pathological findings in these cats are comparable to those in the human form of the disease.     

0–7–21 Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Canine Oral Melanoma

Eighteen dogs with malignant melanoma of the oral cavity were treated with high-dose per fraction (0–7–21) radiation therapy. Eight hundred cGy was administered on days 0, 7, and 21 for a total dose of 2,400 cGy in 3 weeks. Of 17 dogs evaluated, 9 (53%) had a complete remission and 5 (30%) achieved a partial remission with an overall response rate of 83%. Local failure occurred in 2 of the 9 dogs where a complete response was initially observed. One dog died of intercurrent disease, and one died of metastatic disease without evidence of local recurrence. Five dogs are alive and free of disease 9 to nineteen months from the initiation of therapy. The 0–7–21 protocol was well-tolerated, and acute radiation reactions were low-grade and limited to the skin. The results of this study demonstrate that oral melanomas in dogs are responsive to radiation. 0–7–21 radiation therapy offers a viable alternative to radical excision, especially when tumor volume or location would require cosmetically or functionally debilitating surgery.     

The effect of dose and concentration on D-xylose absorption in healthy,immature dogs

Nine combinations of dosages and concentrations of D-xylose were given orally to eight clinically normal, immature dogs. The concentrations and dosages of D-xylose consisted of 5%, 10%, and 20% at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg. Serum samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes. Serum xylose was quantitated using the phloroglucinol microassay technique. A peak in serum xylose concentration was seen for each treatment combination at 60 or 90 minutes after dosing. The dosage effect was important in influencing serum xylose values (P < 0.0001). As the test solution dosages increased from 250 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg, serum xylose values (when dosage was analyzed over the length of the entire test) rose linearly (R(2) = 0.98). The treatment combinations of 5% and 20% xylose solutions dosed at 750 mg/kg produced the highest serum xylose values at the 60- and 90-minute peak intervals. The independent effect of concentration was significant (p < 0.001) but was overridden by the stronger dosage effect. Serum xylose concentrations varied little statistically (p > 0.05) when the 5%, 10%, and 20% solutions were compared at a specific dosage.     

The stress response to environmental change in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

The captive North American cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) population is not self-sustaining because of high prevalences of unusual diseases and poor reproductive success. Cheetahs are commonly moved between zoos for breeding purposes to maintain genetic diversity within the captive population, and movement may exacerbate infertility and disease. Fecal corticoids were analyzed by radioimmunoassay to measure the stress response of cheetahs to movement between facilities. Fecal samples were collected from 15 cheetahs for 14 days before movement and for at least 30 days after movement. For each cheetah, premovement fecal corticoid concentrations were used to determine baseline and then compared with trends in postmovement concentrations. In general, postmovement corticoid concentrations either increased (n = 8), did not change (n = 2), or decreased (n = 5). Although individual animal differences occurred, corticoid concentrations increased for most animals moved on-exhibit and decreased in animals moved off-exhibit. Animals moving on-exhibit had an 18-times greater risk of having corticoids elevated more than two standard deviations above baseline for 30 days after movement compared with animals that moved off-exhibit. In addition, greater day-to-day variation in corticoids occurred in animals moved on-exhibit. In general, animals with initially low baseline corticoid concentrations had a greater postmovement corticoid response than cheetahs with initially high baseline levels. These results indicate that some cheetahs have a prolonged stress response when moved between facilities, and the magnitude and character of this response is influenced by the exhibit environment.     

Influence of storage on soil microbial biomass estimated by three biochemical procedures

The effects of 28 and 56 days' storage at 25°, 4° and ?20°C on the microbial biomass content of four soils from tussock grasslands were studied by three biochemical procedures. Two of the procedures involved measurement of CO₂ and mineral-N (Min-N) production by chloroform-fumigated and unfumigated soil, and consequent estimation of biomass C and Min-N flush respectively. In the third, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content was determined.Patterns of CO₂ production were often influenced by storage treatment. The use of fixed incubation periods for estimating the CO₂ flush of fumigated soil and the steady rate of CO₂ production by unfumigated soil did, however, give biomass C estimates that were generally similar to those calculated from individually determined incubation periods for each treatment and soil.Biomass C values could change significantly at all storage temperatures, but generally least at ?20°C. Storage at ?20°C was also the most suitable for retaining ATP contents, whereas 4°C was best for values of Min-N flush. Values of Min-N flush after storage of soil at ?20°C decreased significantly in two of the soils but increased in another. No storage temperature was thus satisfactory for all three indices of microbial biomass. Generally, however, 4°C was adequate for short periods, and 25°C the least suitable.     

Calcium oxalate accumulation and soil weathering in mats of the hypogeous fungus Hysterangium crassum

Fungal mats of Hysterangium crassum (Tul. and Tul.) Fischer occupied a mean of 9.6% of the upper 10 cm of soil developed under a 40–65 yr old stand of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in Oregon. This hypogeous basidiomycete exudes large amounts of oxalic acid, some of which precipitates with Ca in microscopic crystals of calcium oxalate, resulting in a mean CaC₂O₄ content of 82g m^?2 for the entire soil. Soil oxalate concentration was significantly greater within fungal mats (P < 0.01) and soil pH was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in soil adjacent to mats. The quantity of Ca present as CaC₂O₄ is 0.5 the amount of exchangeable Ca in the soil and exceeds the mass of Ca lost annually in runoff. Scanning electron micrographs show intense chemical weathering, attributable to oxalate attack, in the immediate vicinity of hyphae. X-ray diffraction patterns of clay indicate bulk weathering is more intense within the fungal mats than in adjacent uncolonized soil.     

Sulfate-reducing bacteria and nitrogen fixation in flooded rice soil

Acetyle reduction and ¹⁵N studies showed that the addition of sulfate to flooded soil with rice straw enhanced N₂ fixation. The extent of the enhancement was dependent on the sulfate concentration. Sulfate also increased the population of SO₄^2? reducing bacteria and was completely reduced to sulfide by those microorganisms. Purified cultures of soil isolates were capable of C₂H₂ reduction. Based on this evidence, SO₄^2? reducing bacteria were considered responsible for the increase in N₂ fixation but only 1–2 mg N₂ were fixed g^1? SO₄^2? reduced. We conclude that the contribution of SO₄^2? reducing bacteria to the total N₂ fixation in flooded soil is unimportant.     

Consumer perception versus scientific evidence of farmed and wild fish: exploratory insights from Belgium

The increasing number of marketable fish being supplied from aquaculture is a response to the increasing demand for healthy food and is filling the gap left by depleting natural fish stocks. Little is known about the awareness and perception of the consumer in terms of farmed fish versus fish from capture fisheries. The consumer's subjective point of view is of overriding importance for the production system and product acceptance as well as for future market success. In this paper consumer perception in Belgium is explored and compared against scientific evidence of farmed versus wild fish. Primary data were collected through a consumer survey (April 2003) and focus group discussions (May 2004) with Belgian consumers. The majority of the consumer sample reported no perceived differences between farmed versus wild fish. However, mean perception scores were slightly in favour of wild fish on the attributes taste, health and nutritious value, in particular among consumers aged 55 years and older. The availability of farmed fish was perceived to be better than that of wild fish, while the consumer's perception of safety did not differ between farmed and wild fish. The focus group discussions indicated that consumers’ opinions and beliefs about farmed fish are mainly based on emotion and image transfer from intensive terrestrial livestock production rather than on awareness and factual knowledge of aquaculture.