First results of embryonic development,spawning and larval rearing of the Mediterranean spider crab Maja squinado (Herbst ) under laboratory conditions,a candidate species for a restocking program

The Mediterranean spider crab, Maja squinado, is depleted due to overfishing. The crab has virtually disappeared from areas where it was abundant, such as the Balearic Islands and the Catalan coast. Maja squinado, is economically and ecologically very valuable, and it is essential to obtain information on its biology and rearing conditions to attempt to repopulate the damaged stocks of the species in the Mediterranean basin. Herein, we describe the first successful rearing of M. squinado under laboratory conditions. Our results show that M. squinado is an excellent candidate for restocking using cultured juveniles. Two consecutive broods with a 1–4 day interbrood period were observed in the laboratory in wild‐caught females, the maximum observed duration of embryonic development of the egg mass being 32 days at 18.4 ± 0.9°C, and went through four different stages. The complete larval and first juvenile development was studied in laboratory cultures fed enriched Artemia metanauplius. At 19.6 ± 0.6°C, development from hatching to first crab moult took 17 days, and it comprised two zoeae stages and one megalopa stage. The survival rate at the different stages was monitored, and 7.13 ± 2.3% was achieved at the first crab instar.     

Observational study of factors associated with nursery pig performance

The objective of this study was to determine the association between body weight of pigs at 7 wk of age, specific management factors, and previous body weight. Among 3736 pigs from 8 commercial farms, greater 7-wk weight was associated with greater birth weight (P = 0.001), greater weaning weight (P = 0.001), and earlier age at weaning (P = 0.001). Farms with the earliest average weaning age had the highest health status. Farms with later weaning ages tended to use nurse sows for light-weight pigs. Pigs from farms using all-in/all-out management in the nursery had greater 7-wk weights (P = 0.01). The total mortality and culling rate during the nursery phase (weaning to approximately 7 wk of age) was 6.8%. Higher losses were observed among pigs with low weaning weights (< 4.1 kg) compared with those with higher weaning weights. More of the variation due to 7-wk weight was due to individual sow rather than to farm of origin.     

Evaluation of single and comparative intradermal tuberculin tests for tuberculosis eradication in caprine flocks in Castilla y León (Spain)

Goats can act as reservoirs for tuberculosis (TB) infection. The main etiological agents of TB in goats are Mycobacterium caprae and Mycobacterium bovis and they infect also a wide range of domestic and wild animals and humans. Control programmes based mainly on the application of single and comparative intradermal tuberculin (SIT and SCIT respectively) tests are being implemented in certain regions of Spain with a high density of caprine flocks as Castilla y León, including goats with epidemiological relationship with cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the intradermal tests in naturally TB-infected caprine flocks from this region. The study was performed using data from 17,450 goats in 54 different flocks that were classified as TB-infected in the control programmes executed in 2010 and 2011. Data from 1237 goats from 7 dairy flocks depopulated after the first intradermal testing were used to estimate the sensitivity (Se) using bacteriology as the gold-standard. Overall Se of the SIT test using the severe interpretation was 43.9% (CI 95%, 40.4–47.4) and decreased to 38.8% (CI 95%, 35.5–42.3) using the standard interpretation. Overall Se of the SCIT test ranged between 21.3% (CI 95%, 17.6–25.4) and 7% (CI 95%, 4.9–9.8) depending of the interpretation criteria. A significant weak positive correlation was found between age and skin fold thickness (Spearman’s test p < 0.05). Results from this study yielded, in general, low Se values probably due the systematic detection and slaughter of reactors as a consequence of the eradication programme in previous years or the presence of factors that may interfere in the diagnosis. Therefore, these results suggest the necessity of including ancillary diagnostic tools and/or strict interpretation criteria to maximize detection of positive animals in infected settings.     

Epitheliocystis disease in the cultured amberjack, Seriola dumerili Risso (Carangidae)

Epitheliocystis infection affecting the gill and the pseudobranch of the cultured amberjack, Seriola dumerili Risso, is described. In hyperinfected fish, proliferative cell response around the epitheliocystis capsule resulted in gill and pseudobranch lamellar fusion, which led to mass mortalities in the 0+age class. Histopathological and scanning electron microscope observations showed that the target cell was the chloride cell since (1) epitheliocystis organisms were first found within the chloride cell; (2) chloride cells underwent degeneration in the filament epithelium, proliferated along the lamellae, and hypertrophied; and (3) cysts were found only in the trailing edge of the gill filament and in the interlamellar spaces where, in healthy fish, chloride cells are mainly located. In some cases, the pseudobranch of infected fish was much more severely affected than the gill. It is therefore suggested that, for diagnostic purposes, the pseudobranch should also be sampled when epitheliocystis disease is suspected.     

Lipid hydroperoxide determination in dark chicken meat through a ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange method

A ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX) method was adapted to measure lipid hydroperoxides (LHP) in raw and cooked dark chicken meat. Its applicability was evaluated using samples with different alpha-tocopherol contents or unsaturation degrees (both modulated by dietary supplementation). The FOX assay can work as an induced method because there is some oxidation of the sample extract during the incubation of the reaction. Consequently, it allows assessment of sample susceptibility to oxidation (response after some hours of incubation) and comparison of samples that are highly oxidized or readily susceptible to oxidation through their absorbance after 30 min of incubation. It is highly specific for LHP and showed a linear relationship between volume of meat extract and absorbance. However, the most suitable volume of extract and incubation time must be studied for each kind of sample. The use of butylated hydroxytoluene during this incubation is strongly discouraged because it attenuated the reaction by radical stabilization, thus diminishing Fe(III) formation and leading to a lower response.     

Status and distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus on the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) in 1993–1994

The current geographical distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus colony inhabiting the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) is described. Its distribution range has apparently not changed since surveys conducted in 1984–1988. Sightings of adults on the Tarf el Guerguerat coast, 20 km north of the known breeding caves, suggests the existence of other possible breeding groups further north. Two caves used by the seals are described for the first time. A review of historical trends in cave occupation by seals made it possible (1) to locate the so-called ‘maternity cave’, last reported in 1949; and (2) to establish that the colony, since its discovery, has occupied at least eight caves, five of which have collapsed. An index of population size based on counts of individuals of identified morphological types indicates that, during 1993–1994, the colony was composed of c.113–165 individuals (excluding pups), a larger number than previously assumed. Counting of seals at times of maximum haul-out is proposed as a tool to monitor population trends, although it is considered unreliable for estimating absolute numbers.     

Deep planting with shelters improves performance of different stocktype sizes under arid Mediterranean conditions

New Forests - Increasing plant size has been considered a way to improve survival and growth of planted containerized stock under dry conditions. Additionally, deep planting provides advantages to...     

Some Protozoan and Metazoan Parasites of the Amberjack From the Balearic Sea (Western Mediterranean)

A survey of protozoan and metazoan parasites of wild amberjack (Seriola dumerili) from the Balearic Sea revealed one myxozoan (Myxobolus sp.), one monogenean (Heteraxine heterocerca), 10 trematodes (Bucephalus polymorphus, Prosorhynchus crucibulum, Bucephalopsis sp., Hemiurus communis, Aponurus sp., Acanthocolpus Iiodorus, Stephanozostomum pristis, Nematobothrium scombri, Wedlia bipartita, Paradeontacylix sp.), one nematode (Philometra globiceps), one copepod (Caligus curtus) and one isopod (Gnathia vorax larva) species to be present. The prevalence and intensity of infection and the distribution of each species is described. Their possible interactions with farmed amberjack are discussed.     

Effects of Lactic Acid,Acetic Acid,and Table Salt on Fundamental Rheological Properties of Wheat Dough

The effects of the main metabolites, lactic and acetic acids, from the sourdough process on wheat doughs were tested with a dynamic sinusoidal oscillation test. Tests were done with a controlled stress rheometer. Dough treatment included four mixing times and four rest times before measurement. Phase angle, complex modulus, and viscosity were measured for all doughs at selected rest and mixing times, at frequencies ranging from 0.01–10 Hz. Results for all combinations of mixing and rest times were compared at 10 Hz. Effects of mixing time were most visible immediately after mixing and disappeared partially during rest time. Doughs that contained acid but no salt showed the clearest characteristics of overmixing, expressed by an increase in phase angle and decrease in complex modulus.