Levels of cadmium in seafood products

The concentrations of total cadmium were determined in 448 samples of processed fishery products comprising crustaceans, molluscs, marine fish and brackish water fish. Shrimp product, the major export item, contained on average 0.122 ppm cadmium and 20% of crustaceans analysed did not contain cadmium on detectable level. Average content of cadmium in 68 marine fish of 9 species was 0.153 ppm and 35% of the samples did not contain the element. Of the total number of crustaceans analysed only 2% showed a level > 0.5 ppm. All the 174 samples of molluscan products, except 3 canned oysters, showed cadmium concentration far below the limit allowed. The average cadmium content in molluscan products was 0.552 ppm.

The effect of various salinity levels and stocking density manipulation methods on the survival of milkfish fry (Chanos chanos Forsskal) during storage

Results of the study indicate that the survival rate and increase in body weight did not differ significantly at different salinity levels or at different stocking density manipulation methods. A significant interaction between salinity and stocking density manipulation could not be demonstrated statistically. There apparently is no need to reduce the salinity of the water used in storing milkfish Chanos chanos fry in order to attain higher survival as commonly believed. Sufficient food and maintenance of good water quality are more important than salinity for higher survival of fry during storage.

Pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-HIV-1 peptide, in monkeys and its inhibitory concentration in vitro

Aim: To study the pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) peptide, in monkeys and to compare the inhibitory concentrations of sifuvirtide and enfuvirtide on HIV-1-infected-cell fusion. Methods: Monkeys received 1.2 mg/kg iv or sc of sifuvirtide. An on-line solid-phase extraction procedure combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPELC/MS/MS) was established and applied to determine the concentration of sifuvirtide in monkey plasma. A four-I-127 iodinated peptide was used as an internal standard. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) of sifuvirtide on cell fusion was determined by co-cultivation assay. Results: The assay was validated with good precision and accuracy. The calibration curve for sifuvirtide in plasma was linear over a range of 4.88-5000 mu g/L, with correlation coefficients above 0.9923. After iv or sc administration, the observed peak concentrations of sifuvirtide were 10626 +/- 2886 mu g/L and 528 +/- 191 mu g/L, and the terminal elimination half-lives (T,12) were 6.3 +/- 0.9 h and 5.5 +/- 1.0 h, respectively. After sc, T-max was 0.25-2 h, and the absolute bioavailability was 49% +/- 13%. Sifuvirtide inhibited the syncytium formation between HIV-1 chronically infected cells and uninfected cells with an IC50 of 0.33 mu g/L. Conclusion: An on-line SPE-LC/MS/MS approach was established for peptide pharmacokinetic studies. Sifuvirtide was rapidly absorbed subcutaneously into the blood circulation. The T-1/2 of sifuvirtide was remarkably longer than that of its analog, enfuvirtide, reported in healthy monkeys and it conferred a long-term plasma concentration level which was higher than its IC50 in vitro.

Effect of varying crude protein levels on spawning frequency and growth of Sarotherodon niloticus breeders

Four-month-old S. niloticus breeders were fed with dry pellets containing 20-50% crude protein and the frequency of spawning involving removal of egg from the mouthbrooding females and growth were determined. When the diets contain high quality proteins from fish meal and soybean oil meal and the amounts of daily food allowance are at satiation level, the influence of increasing dietary crude protein on spawning frequency involving egg removal from the brooder and growth may not be significant.

The effect of various protein levels on the growth and survival rates of Penaeus monodon Fabricius

Postlarvae of tiger prawns, P. monodon, were fed with various protein levels of 0; 30; 40 and 50%, fish meal and rice bran were combined and pelletized for 16 wks. Prawns used had an average mean length of 1.2 mm and an average mean weight of 5.5 mg. Nitrite, ammonia, dissolved oxygen content, temperature and pH were monitored. After one month of feeding, growth increments of postlarvae fed with 30% protein diet were significantly different from those given 0; 40 and 50%. Survival rate of the group fed 40% protein was higher (81.7%) but was not significantly different from those fed 30% (68.0%). The highest feed efficiency was obtained from the 30% protein pellets (4.6). At the end of 16 weeks, growth increment of 40% protein level was significantly different from the 30% and 50% protein levels, but the survival rate was not significantly different from the 30% protein level. Feed conversion for the 40% protein diet was 2.8.

Evolutionary characteristics of exons expressed at different abundance levels in mammals

With comparative genomics approaches, we evaluated the evolutionary characteristics of conservation of exons which are expressed abundantly, moderately or lowly in mammals. Using non-coding regions and pseudogenes as controls, sequence identity, phastCons

Influence of dietary proteins on cholesterol levels in albino rats

Six groups of albino rats were fed identical diets, differing in their protein sources for sixty days. The protein sources used were fat free casein, defatted groundnut cake, and defatted fish powders from three species of fishes, namely, the fresh water fish Labeo rohita, the marine fishes, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Otolithus argenteus and marine prawns, Parapenaeopsis stylifera. After sixty days, the levels of cholesterol in the serum, liver and heart of the rats were estimated. The casein group recorded the highest level of cholesterol. Compared to casein, the groundnut protein was distinctly hypocholesterolemic. The fish proteins had a still greater cholesterol lowering ability. Of the proteins used in this study, the proteins of prawns had the maximum hypocholesterolemic effect. An attempt is made to correlate the behaviour of the proteins in this respect, with their respective amino acid compositions.

Influences of dietary lipid and phosphorus levels on retention and excretion of phosphorus and nitrogen in fingerlings red sea bream, Pagrus major

A laboratory based 2x3 factorial experiment was conducted for 12 weeks to investigate the influences of dietary lipid and phosphorus (P) levels on retention and excretion of phosphorus and nitrogen (N) in fingerling red sea bream. Two levels of lipid (210 and 260 g/kg) and three levels of phosphorus (17, 14 and 12 g/kgˉ¹) in the dry diets were tested. Duplicate groups of 25 red sea bream (average weight 3.74±0.07 g) per 60L glass tank were fed experimental diets three times a day near to satiation level at 22 to 28°C water temperature. A reduction in dietary fish meal from 500 to 300 g/kg dry diet, corresponding to a supplementation in both dietary lipid and P resulted in significant increase in both P and N retention which resulted in the reduction of their excretion by red sea bream. The overall results of the present study demonstrated that both lipid and phosphorus supplementation are necessary for developing less-polluting feed which in turn, reduce fish meal level in the diet of fingerling red sea bream. Further studies in this regard with different size and age groups of red sea bream are warranted.

Sifuvirtide, a potent HIV fusion inhibitor peptide

Enfuvirtide (ENF) is currently the only FDA approved HIV fusion inhibitor in clinical use. Searching for more drugs in this category with higher efficacy and lower toxicity seems to be a logical next step. In line with this objective, a synthetic peptide

Feeding habits and trophic levels of some demersal fish species in the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province) using Ecopath model

A trophic study was carried out in February of 2012 to January 2013 on the ecosystem in the Persian Gulf, Bushehr provience. A total of 2,948 samples of stomach contents were analyzed based on the weight and number of food items and were identified about 40 preys. Crustacean and bony fish were as a main prey in most of the stomach contents . The mean average trophic level was estimated at 3.6 by Ecopath software. In this research, the mean level were studied between eight species varied from 3.47 to 4.61, Saurida tumbil occupy the highest and the Argyrops spinifer was the lowest level. The ranges of total mortality varied from 0.7 to 3.05 per years. The food consumption rate was estimated about 69.82 per year. The overlap index showed that the prey items such as fish, crustacean, bivalve and echinoderm were shared about 65, 15, 15 and 6 percent in all stomach of individual in respectively. Mixed trophic analysis indicates that benthos have a positive effect on most of the fish species. Most species have a negative impact on themselves, interpreted here as reflecting increased with in group competition for resources. This preliminary model can be helpful to determine the gaps in the present knowledge about demersal system of the Persian Gulf.

Effects of different levels of energy and protein sources on the growth performance, feeding, survival rate and the chemical body composition of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The present study was carried out in order to establish an economical effective diet for the pacific white shrimp in the southern part conditions of Iran. With the consideration of three dietary energy levels (E1=262, E2=312, E3=362 kcal 100 g-1 diet) and six ratios of fish meal (FM) to soybean meal (SBM) [(P1=100%FM+0%SBM, P2=80%FM+20%SBM, P3=60%FM+40%SBM, P4=40%FM+60%SBM, P5=20%FM+80%SBM, P6=0%FM+100%SBM)], 18 experimental diets (with 36% crude protein) were prepared. Completely randomized design was used to assign 54 polyethylene 300 litre round tanks provided by aeration and flow through water system and was stocked by 19 juvenile as 3 replicates to each treatment. Shrimps average weight was about 0.77 grams at the start. After 56 days culture period, maximum growth and nutritional performances were observed in the P6E1 treatment (containing 100% soybean meal and 262 kcal 100 g-1 diet) and P5E1 treatment (containing 80% soybean meal and 262 kcal 100 g-1 diet). Also the highest survival rate of the shrimps was observed in the P1E1, P1E2, P3E3 and P5E3 treatments. Additionally interactive effect of different protein ratios and energy levels had significant difference on body protein, fat, fiber and ash contents (P<0.05). Results of the present study suggest the possibility replacement of at least 80% of dietary fish meal by soybean meal in the diet of pacific white shrimp in the conditions of southern part of Iran.

Effect of diets containing various protein and energy levels on some growth parameters, survival and the production of Astacus leptodactylus in different salinities

A factorial experiment was conducted for 60 days to determine of the response of Narrow clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (average weight of 17±2.3 g) to diets containing various protein and energy levels. Nine diets containing three levels of protein (30, 35 and 40 %) and three levels of energy (300,370 and 450 kcal/100g) were formulated and prepared in this trial. Each diet also was used in two levels of salinity include 0 (fresh water) and 12 ppt(Caspian sea water). So this study was conducted with 18 treatments and triplicates random group of 5 crayfish per each 110-litre tank. Weight Gain, Feed conversion ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Net Protein Utilization (NPU), Daily Food Consumption (DFC), Survival (SVR) and body composition of tail-muscle meat of animal were determined. Comparing the growth parameters in response to interaction between protein, energy and salinity levels demonstrated that all growth parameters have difference between them significantly (p<0.05). Comparing between survival in fresh and Caspian Sea water showed difference significantly. Compare the body composition results indicate the greatest amount of protein absorption in diet number 2(30/370) on fresh water condition. Results from this study indicate that narrow clawed crayfish can be fed a practical diet containing 30% protein and 370 Kcal/100g on non-salinity water which is the optimize CP percentage for their producer’s profits.

Interactions of dietary levels of protein and energy on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in desert brackish water

A 3x3 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the optimum protein to energy (P/E) ratio for rainbow trout in brackish water. Three crud protein levels and three energy levels at each protein level were utilized. Diets were made in semi-purified that in all of them fish meal, casein and gelatin as the sources of protein and dextrin, starch and oil as the sources of energy were used. Each of experimental diets was fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish with an average individual weight of 81.5 g in 9 2000-1 flow trough fiberglass tanks. During this experiment water temperature, dissolved oxygen, PH and EC were 15±2°C, 6.5-8.1 mg/1, 7.7-8.6 and 25400 grills respectively. The diets were fed at a rate between 1.6-2 wet body weight% per day depended to water temperature in three equal rations and adjusted two weekly for 84 days. At each of protein levels, weight gain percent (%WG), average daily growth percent (%ADG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilization percent (%ANPU), or percent of protein deposited, specific growth rate (SGR) and condition factor (CF) were found to increase and food conversion ratio (FCR) was found to decrease with an increasing energy levels from 370 to 430 Kcal/100g. Fish fed a 35% protein, 430 Kcal/100g energy diet with a P/E ratio of 81.4 mg protein/ Kcal PFV energy, attained the best growth performance. Fat and moisture of carcass were affected by protein and energy levels of test diets while protein and ash of carcass were relatively constant in different treatments.

Economic impacts of globalisation at the district, landing site and sub-sector enterprise levels on Lakes Kyoga, Albert and Victoria

The Globalisation and fish utilisation and marketing study is a collaboration between the Fisheries Resources Research Institute (FIRRI) and the Mike Dillon Associates Limited , with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) of the Government of the United Kingdom. The study is designed to examine the impact of the development of the export fishery on the fish producers, processors, traders and consumers in the artisanal fishery in Uganda. FIRRI 's role is to collect field data relating to the livelihoods of artisanal fish producers, processors, traders and consumers. in particular data relating to income and revenue flow. The initial focus is on the eccnomic structure of fish landing sites. The purpose of this paper is to review the progress in implementation of the project and present the interim findings for discussion. During the first quarter, namely April to June, 2002, work was carried out on Lakes Kyoga and Albert and a report produced. During the second quarter, July to September, 2002, Lake Victoria was covered. In both phases, the focus has been on the economic structure of fish landings.

Relationship between the water levels and the fish catches in lakes Mweru and Mweru wa Ntipa, Zambia

The relationships between water level and catch per effort in two Zambian lakes are compared. In the relatively stable Lake Mweru, a positive correlation exists which can be used, with certain reservations, to predict the state of the fishery two years in advance. The cause of the relationship is probably the effect of water level on the marshy and swampy breeding areas, where at least the most common species in the commercial catch (Tilapia macruchir) has definite limits for the depth of water in which it will breed. For Mweru wa Ntipa, a consistant definite relationship does not exist, probably because the water level and extent of the lake fluctuate widely.