International Commission on Trichinellosis: recommendations on methods for the control of Trichinella in domestic and wild animals intended for human consumption

This document provides a uniform set of recommendations for the control of Trichinella at all levels (on the farm, at slaughter and in processed meats). These recommendations are based on the best scientific information available and represent the official position of the International Commission on Trichinellosis regarding acceptable control methods. These recommendations are subject to change as new scientific information becomes available.     

Studies on the phytotoxicity of acid smuts

Experiments were carried out to investigate, under controlled conditions, the effects of acid smut emitted by oil-fired power plants. The foliar response of 31 selected plant species was ranked and marked differences in sensitivity were observed. Anatomical features of the foliar lesions were described. The toxicity of smuts was largely dependent on their acidity and size. Toxicity was related to temperature but was completely independent of relative humidity in the range from 50 to 90%. No interactive effects were observed between acid smuts and some commercial fungicides, or treatments with asymptomatic concentrations of So₂ in fumigation chambers. Some growth parameters were negatively affected by acid smuts in radish.     

Differential tissue accumulation of arsenic and heavy metals from diets in three edible fish species

Three different commercial fish species Odontesthes bonariensis, Rhamdia quelen and Oreochromis niloticus and fish feed were collected from four aquaculture farms. Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and arsenic concentration were determined by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) in muscle, liver, gonad, skin, scale and fat from fish and in feed diets. Arsenic concentration was found in different tissues differing between species and within O. bonariensis. Cd was differentially accumulated in liver in O. bonariensis and R. quelen; however, in O. niloticus Cd was found in muscle and scales. Higher concentrations of Cr were determined in skin and scales of O. bonariensis and O. niloticus. Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were found in all tissues being Cu and Fe concentrations higher in liver. Mn was differentially accumulated in O. bonariensis scales, however in R. quelen no significant differences were found and in O. niloticus liver was the main accumulation tissue. Zn concentration was higher in gonad, skin and liver from R. quelen and O. bonariensis, and in O. niloticus the highest concentration was found in scales. All the results were below the international limits for food safety except for the concentration of Cd in muscle and scales of O. niloticus.     

Scaling-up ecosystem functions of coastal heterogeneous sediments: testing practices using high resolution data

Landscape Ecology - Heterogeneity in coastal soft sediments and the difficulty of data collection hinder our ability to scale up ecological data (necessarily obtained at small-scale) to...     

Fish-farming water quality and environmental concerns in Argentina: a regional approach

In spite of the steady increase in fish farming in Argentina, studies on water quality are scarce. Eight fish farms from two different regions in the northeast and east of Argentina were studied to explore source and effluent water quality. Ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), and nitrite (NO₂ ⁻) levels were measured. High nitrate concentrations in water source were observed in the eastern region farms. An increase in NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, and NO₂ ⁻ in effluent water was determined in most of the sampled farms. Heavy metals (i.e., cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc) and arsenic concentrations were analyzed. Heavy metal concentrations were below the detection limit in the northern region. However, As was detected in the water source of five farms and was over the recommended limit (100 μgl⁻¹) for aquaculture in one. An increase in Mn and Zn concentrations in effluent water was observed in two farms. The lack of treatment of the effluent water in these farms leads to an increase of nutrients and heavy metal concentrations in the surrounding areas. Environmental effects of fish-farming practices in Argentina are discussed.