Digestion of lipids and carbohydrates from microalgae (Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmermann and Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T‐ISO) in juvenile scallops (Pecten maximus L.)

The digestion of laminaran and neutral lipids from the microalgae Chaetoceros muelleri or mixtures of C. muelleri and Isochrysis galbana clone T‐ISO in 4‐mm scallops Pecten maximus were studied. The microalgae were cultivated at fixed low and high growth rate (5% and 60% of μ_max). The cultivation method clearly affected the lipid and carbohydrate contents, as well as their enzyme activity. Chaetoceros muelleri and T‐ISO grown at low growth rate exhibited a considerably higher content of lipids and carbohydrates than those algae grown at high growth rate. The specific activity of laminaranase and neutral lipase was the highest in C. muelleri grown at the low growth rate. Growth rate of scallops was best when they were fed a mono‐species diet of C. muelleri grown at low growth rate. The growth rate of the scallops was positively correlated to the dietary carbohydrate content as well as to the specific activity of neutral lipase and laminaranase in the diet. The capacity to digest carbohydrates (laminaran) might be limiting for the young scallops, and the content of carbohydrates and enzymatic activities of laminaran in the diet should be considered when formulating an optimal diet, both when the diet consist of live microalgae and formulated diets.     

The importance of manual white blood cell differential counts and platelet estimates in elephant hematology: blood film review is essential

Unique features of elephant hematology are known challenges in analytical methodology like two types of monocytes typical for members of the Order Afrotheria and platelet counts of the comparatively small elephant platelet. To investigate WBC differential and platelet data generated by an impedance-based hematology analyzer without availability of validated species-specific software for recognition of elephant WBCs and platelets, compared to manual blood film review. Blood samples preserved in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) of 50 elephants (n = 35 Elephas maximus and n = 15 Loxodonta africana) were used. A Mann-Whitney test for independent samples was used to compare parameters between methods and agreement was tested using Bland-Altman bias plots. All hematological variables, including absolute numbers of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets, were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between both methods of analysis, and there was no agreement using Bland-Altman bias plots. Manual review consistently produced higher heterophil and monocyte counts as well as platelet estimates, while the automated analyzer produced higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts. The hematology analyzer did not properly differentiate elephant lymphocytes and monocytes, and did not accurately count elephant platelets. These findings emphasize the importance of manual blood film review as part of elephant complete blood counts in both clinical and research settings and as a basis for the development of hematological reference intervals.     

Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China

A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek, motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park. However, planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China. We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure. We identified 237 unique genotypes (153 females, 84 males), representing 81% of the known population. However, the effective population size was small (28, range 25–32). Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.235), but moderate nucleotide and nuclear diversity (π = 0.6%, H_e = 0.55) was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters, with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations (F_ST = 0.23); elephants from Mengyang, Simao, and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population (henceforth, MSJ), and differed from the Shangyong population (F_ST = 0.11). Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isolation by distance and female-biased dispersal. Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units: Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ; their long-term viability will require restoring gene flow between Shangyong and MSJ, and between elephants in China and neighboring countries. Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.     

水温和盐度对大菱鲆稚鱼存活的影响

采用突然改变温度和盐度的方法,试验不同水温和盐度对大菱鲆稚鱼存活的影响。试验结果表明,水温为15.0~18.0℃、盐度为28~32,大菱鲆稚鱼存活率最高;用曲线回归的方法求出24 h内存活率与温度的关系式,其回归方程为y=-0.5506x2 18.4970x-53.13,依此得到大菱鲆稚鱼的高、低起始致死温度为26.54℃和7.06℃。依同样方法得到24h内存活率与盐度的回归方程为y=-0.4353x2 23.4226x-213.81,高、低起始致死盐度为37.76和16.05。经t检验显著相关(P<0.01)。     

不同贮藏温度下大菱鲆品质变化及货架期预测模型的建立

为探究大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)在不同贮藏温度下品质特性与货架期的关系,将大菱鲆贮藏在-3℃、0℃、4℃、10℃和15℃温度下,测定其感官品质、挥发性盐基总氮(TVB-N)、菌落总数、硫代巴比妥酸值(TBA)、电导率的变化,并且观测肌肉的微观结构;采用低场核磁共振技术(Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, LF-NMR)分析鱼肉中水分迁移状况,并且建立了TVB-N及菌落总数与贮藏时间和温度的动力学模型。研究发现,随着贮藏时间的延长,5种不同贮藏温度下鱼肉中不易流动水均减少,货架期终点各贮藏温度下的样品相对于新鲜鱼肉,其肌纤维结构均由紧密变得疏松;TVB-N和菌落总数变化预测模型中的活化能和指前因子分别为79.50、75.07 kJ/mol和1.3×10^14、7.62×10^12。选用10℃进行验证性试验,结果显示实测值与预测值相对误差在10%以内。因此,可根据TVB-N值及菌落总数对大菱鲆贮藏在-3℃~15℃的货架期进行实时预测。     

还原型谷胱甘肽对大菱鲆生长及抗氧化能力的影响

在基础饲料中添加不同剂量的还原型谷胱甘肽,添加量分别为0、100、200、400、600 mg/kg,投喂初始体质量为(23.08±0.09) g的大菱鲆,8周后测定还原型谷胱甘肽对大菱鲆生长及抗氧化能力的影响。试验结果表明,饲料中还原型谷胱甘肽添加量为200 mg/kg时,大菱鲆的质量增加率和特定生长率显著高于其他组(P<0.05)。饲料中添加还原型谷胱甘肽对大菱鲆肝脏中丙二醛含量、总抗氧化能力、超氧化物歧化酶活力、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力均无显著影响(P>0.05)。随着还原型谷胱甘肽添加量的增加,大菱鲆肝脏中丙二醛含量呈先降后升的趋势,对照组最高,200 mg/kg试验组最低;大菱鲆肝脏中总抗氧化能力、超氧化物歧化酶活力和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力均呈先升后降的趋势,200 mg/kg试验组最高。200 mg/kg试验组和400 mg/kg试验组大菱鲆肝脏中还原型谷胱甘肽含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。200 mg/kg试验组大菱鲆肝脏中谷胱甘肽硫转移酶活力和谷胱甘肽还原酶活力显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。根据回归分析,确定大菱鲆饲料中还原型谷胱甘肽的最适添加量为189.70 mg/kg。     

大菱鲆AFLP分析体系的建立

本研究构建了大菱鲆扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)分析体系,对DNA提取、双酶切反应、连接反应、预扩增反应、选择性扩增反应和银染等步骤进行了分析。结果表明,用EcoRI/MseI双酶切、核心序列加3个选择性碱基的选择性扩增引物、1∶6(w∶w)的EcoRI端与MseI端选择性扩增引物比和20μl选择性扩增体积,可得到十分稳定的结果。所得产物经电泳和银染后可获得条带清晰、背景干扰小的图像。该体系的构建为AFLP技术在大菱鲆相关研究中的应用奠定了基础。     

过饱和溶氧对大菱鲆生长及消化酶的影响

探讨工程化养殖中过饱和溶氧对大菱鲆生长的影响,通过充入液态氧与空气,使试验水体的溶氧分别达到过饱和溶氧水平(12±1)mg/L和(14±1)mg/L,正常溶氧水平(7.0±0.5)mg/L.结果显示,过饱和溶氧组的大菱鲆生长速度及饵料利用率明显高于正常溶氧组(p<0.05),而在过饱和溶氧条件下与正常溶氧条件下大菱鲆的丰满度无显著差异(P>0.05).对大菱鲆胃、肠道消化酶、脂肪酶与淀粉酶的分析发现,大菱鲆胃蛋白酶活性在过饱和溶氧条件下较正常溶氧有明显提高(p<0.05),而脂肪酶与淀粉酶的酶活力未得到显著性提高(p>0.05).     

Edwardsiellosis in farmed turbot,Scophthalmus maximus (L.), associated with an unusual variant of Edwardsiella tarda: a clinical,aetiological and histopathological study

During 2005 and 2010, a survey of edwardsiellosis on eight turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), farms was conducted in China. This report presents the detailed results of the study on this disease. Diseased turbot displayed two distinct types of gross signs: black discoloration of the dorsal skin on the posterior portion of the body; and red cutaneous foci on the ventral side. Internally, the most pronounced clinical signs in all fish examined were enlarged kidneys. The causal agent of the disease was finally proved to be one species of bacterium that was identified as Edwardsiella tarda by physiological and biochemical tests, API 32E and 16S ribosomal RNA sequence analysis. It is noteworthy that unlike the commonly described E. tarda strains, the isolates in this study were non‐motile strains without flagella. A histopathological study revealed that E. tarda infection was systemic in turbot and that kidney showed the most significant pathological changes, including acute focal necrosis, an influx of macrophages and formation of granuloma. The most common histopathological characteristics of this disease are the proliferation of macrophage in various organs and formation of granuloma. In addition, this article also gave background information on the disease and presented the results of virulence tests with the E. tarda strain identified in this study.