The Effect of Diet on the Biochemical Composition of Juvenile Artemia: Potential Formulations for Rock Lobster Aquaculture

The lipid class and fatty acid (FA) composition of juvenile Artemia fed continuously on four diets—the microalga Tetraselmis suecica , a mix of oat bran-wheat germ-lecithin (OWL), OwL-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and OWL-EPA-arachidonic acid (AA)—were examined over a 9-d experiment in an attempt to approximate the FA profile of phyllosoma larvae of wild southern rock lobster Jasus edwardrii . The main difference in lipid class composition of Artemia fed the four diets was the relative level of polar lipid (PL) and triacylglycerol (TAG). By day 9, the algal-fed Artemia were highest in PL (95% of total lipid) and lowest in TAG (2%), whereas the remaining diets resulted in Artemia with 16–30% PL and 41–82% TAG. After 2 d, the relative FA composition of all Artemia treatments closely reflected those of the diets, with no marked change after further feeding (to day 9). In terms of the content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), by day 5 Artemia fed: 1) with the algal diet contained 7 mg/g FA dry mass (0.3% DHA, 6.3% EPA, 3.4% AA of total FA); 2) with the OWL diet contained 3 mg/g (0.3% DHA, 0.9% EPA, 0.7% AA); 3) with the OWL-EPA diet contained 55 mg/g (6.2% DHA, 11.6% EPA, 1.1% AA); and 4) with the OWL-EPA-AA contained 83 mg/g (3.8% DHA, 7.5% EPA, 17.4% AA). The PUFA profiles of Artemia using the OWL-oil diets were similar to wild rock lobster phyllmmata, although levels of doco-sahexaenoic acid (DHA) were lower (10% DHA) than in J. edwardsii larvae. On the basis of PUFA composition data alone, the results suggest the suitability of the OWL-oil mixed diets for consideration for feeding to Artemia used in the culture of southern rock lobster larvae, particularly if the level of DHA can be further enhanced.     

A study of the mechanical properties of egg shell

1. The mechanical behaviour of the egg shell of the domestic fowl was investigated by cutting strips from the shell and testing the flection either in a four‐point load test or in a cantilever beam test.

2. It was found that moisture content, temperature and load rate have important effects on shell properties ; both the strength and stiffness of the shell are greater in snapping‐inward tests than in snapping‐outward tests; residual stress exists in the egg shell; the correlation between failure moment and shell thickness was highly significant, on average about 0.9, and was dependent on the spread in the thickness data.

3. Estimates were made of the ultimate strength and Young's modulus of egg shell material and it is concluded that a substantial size effect exists in the egg shell.     

Quantitation of o- and p-sulfamoylbenzoic acids in commerical saccharin by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Quantitation of o- and p-sulfamoylbenzoic acid residues in saccharin and its sodium salt is achieved by a method comprising methanolic extraction and high-performance ion exchange chromatography. A commercially available anion exchange column was employed with an aqueous buffered (pH 9.2) mobile phase. As little as 80 ppm of the ortho-isomer and 25 ppm of the para-isomer can be accurately determined. The levels of detectability (2 times noise) are estimated as 8 ppm (0.16 mug on column) and 2.5 ppm (0.05 mug on column), respectively. Recoveries from saccharin ranged from 92.7 to 96.5% (ortho) and from 92.2 to 103.3% (para). Recoveries from the sodium salt ranged from 93.1 to 104.4% (ortho) and from 93.5 to 97.8% (para). Of 9 other potential saccharin impurities tested separately, only one was found to interfere slightly in the chromatographic part of the procedure.     

Diagnosis of ovine fascioliasis by a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: a rapid microdiagnostic technique

A microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) was modified for making an immunodiagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep. Sheep were alloted as follows: group I-3 controls and 4 principals, each inoculated with 500 metacercariae; group II-3 controls and 7 principals, each inoculated with 250 metacercariae; and group III-3 controls and 7 principals, each inoculated with 500 metacercariae. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each animal every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. Presence (or absence) of flukes was confirmed by fecal examinations and examination of dissected livers at necropsy of the sheep. The dot-ELISA incubations were done at ambient room temperature. Nitrocellulose disks dotted with 1 microliter (50 ng of protein) of F hepatica excretory/secretory products were placed in 96-well tissue culture plates. After nonspecific binding sites on the disks were bound with bovine serum albumin-triethanolamine-buffered saline solution, dilutions (1:2) of positive- and negative-control serum samples or experimental serum samples were placed in appropriate wells for a 30-minute incubation. Wells were washed (3 times), and 50 microliters of horseradish peroxidase conjugated rabbit anti-sheep immunoglobulin G was added to each well for a 30-minute incubation and then aspirated. Substrate solution (4-chloro-1-naphthol, methanol, triethanolamine-buffered saline solution, and H2O2; 50 microliters) was added for a 30-minute incubation and then aspirated. Disks were air dried for visualization: solid purple dot = positive sample, or no dot = negative sample.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relative adrenal insufficiency in dogs with sepsis

BACKGROUND: A syndrome of relative adrenal insufficiency has been identified in septic humans, and is associated with hypotension and death. Relative adrenal insufficiency is generally associated with basal serum cortisol concentration within or above the reference range and a blunted cortisol response to adrenocorticotropic hormone administration. It is unknown whether relative adrenal insufficiency occurs in septic dogs. HYPOTHESIS: That relative adrenal insufficiency occurs in septic dogs, and that relative adrenal insufficiency is associated with hypotension and mortality. ANIMALS: Thirty-three septic dogs admitted to a small animal intensive care unit. METHODS: Dogs were included in the study if they had a known or suspected infectious disease and had systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Dogs were excluded if they had disease or medication history expected to affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Serum cortisol and endogenous plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations were measured before, and serum cortisol concentration measured 1 hour after, intramuscular administration of 250 microg of cosyntropin/dog. The change in cortisol concentration (delta-cortisol) before and after cosyntropin administration was determined in each dog. RESULTS: Hypotension was associated with lower delta-cortisol values (OR 1.3; CI 1.0-1.9; P = .029). delta-Cortisol cutoff of 3.0 microg/dL was most accurate for predicting hypotension, survival to discharge, and 28-day survival. The rate of death in dogs with delta-cortisol < or = 3 microg/dL was 4.1 times that of dogs with delta-cortisol > 3 microg/dL (RR 4.1; CI 1.5-12.3; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Delta-cortisol < or = 3 microg/dL after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration is associated with systemic hypotension and decreased survival in septic dogs.     

Phosphate desorption from the surface of soil mineral particles by a phosphate-solubilizing fungus

High phosphate (Pi) sorption in soils is a serious limiting factor for plant productivity and Pi fertilization efficiency, particularly in highly weathered and volcanic ash soils. In these soils, the sorbed Pi is so strongly held on the surfaces of reactive minerals that it is not available for plant root uptake. The use of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) capable of Pi desorption seems to be a complementary alternative in the management of these soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the soil fungus Mortierella sp., a known PSM, to desorb Pi from four soil minerals differing in their Pi sorption capacity. The fungus was effective in desorbing Pi from all tested minerals except from allophane, and its desorption depended on the production of oxalic acid. The effectiveness of the fungus to desorb Pi was ranked as montmorillonite > kaolinite > goethite > allophane. The quantity of desorbed Pi increased by increasing the amount of sorbed Pi. The Pi sorption capacity expressed as P_0.2 value (amount of P required to increase a solution P concentration up to 0.2 mg L^?1) was a good indicator of the effectiveness of Mortierella sp. to desorb Pi from soil minerals.     

How climate change might affect tree regeneration following fire at northern latitudes: a review

New Forests - Climate change is projected to increase fire severity and frequency in the boreal forest, but it could also directly affect post-fire recruitment processes by impacting seed...     

Real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography-guided closure of a complicated patent ductus arteriosus in a dog

Advanced imaging modalities are becoming more widely available in veterinary cardiology, including the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in dogs. The dog in this report had a complex history of attempted ligation and a large PDA that initially precluded device placement thereby limiting the options for PDA closure. Following a second thoracotomy and partial ligation, the morphology of the PDA was altered and device occlusion was an option. Angiographic assessment of the PDA was limited by the presence of hemoclips, and the direction of ductal flow related to the change in anatomy following ligature placement. Intra-operative TEE, in particular real-time three-dimensional imaging, was pivotal for assessing the PDA morphology, monitoring during the procedure, selecting the device size, and confirming device placement. The TEE images increased operator confidence that the size and location of the device were appropriate before release despite the unusual position. This report highlights the benefit of intra-operative TEE, in particular real-time three-dimensional imaging, for successful PDA occlusion in a complicated case.     

Use of laser photocoagulation for treatment of cutaneous angiomatosis in one dog and two cats.

One dog and 2 cats were evaluated because of multiple progressively enlarging cutaneous vascular plaques. Biopsies were performed and revealed small well-circumscribed dermal nodules of dilated fully enclosed blood-filled spaces lined by single layers of endothelial cells aligned on thin fibrous walls, with minimal mitotic activity. A diagnosis of cutaneous angiomatosis was made in all 3 animals. Cutaneous angiomatosis is a progressive proliferative lesion of vascular tissue involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of dogs and cats. Lasers of selected wavelengths have been used to induce photothermal coagulation of hemoglobin-containing cutaneous lesions in humans; argon-pumped dye and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers were used to treat the cutaneous lesions in the animals of this report. Laser treatment may provide an alternative to wide surgical resection or limb amputation for management of this condition in veterinary patients.