Baldassare Fronte

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) hens of different origin. Dispersion and habitat use after release

Abstract Because of the importance of pheasants as a game bird species in many European Countries, information on the success of the restocking programs is interesting for evaluation. For this reason the survival, behaviour and habitat selection of 10 wild translocated and 20 released ring-necked pheasants (10 offspring of wild captured and 10 from the farmed strain, both farm-reared) was studied using radio-telemetry during March-August (fixes were grouped in 3 categorized periods: March 2 - April 18; April 19 - May 28; May 29 - August 16). All the captive reared pheasants were reared according to the new disciplinary rules set forth by the Toscana region for the production of pheasants destined to be released in the wild as part of a game repopulation program. The study was carried out in a hilly area of the Tuscany characterised by 18.1% woodland (core: 1654895E, 4850468N). Results showed that live weights were higher in the farm-reared pheasants (either directly captured or offspring of the captured, P<0.05). The tarsus length statistically differed between the farmed offspring of the captured pheasants and the farm strain (P<0.05). The survival rates and breeding success of the surviving subjects were very high and did not differ between groups (survival rates: 50.0%, 70.0% and 80.0%, and breeding success: 60.0%, 28.6% and 50.0%, for the captive-reared offspring of captured wild pheasants, the captive-reared farm pheasants and the captured wild pheasants, respectively). The dispersion increased with time in the wild translocated pheasants (576 m, 889 m and 1209 m) while the offspring of the captured wild pheasants and the farm strain remained in the vicinity of the releasing site. The wild pheasants showed an increasing distance from the country houses, contrary to the offspring of captured wild pheasants and the farm strain. Artificial feeding stations were better used by the farm-reared pheasants, which remained in the vicinity of the artificial feeding points. The results of our study showed that pheasants, reared according to the disciplinary rules stated for the production of pheasants for wildlife reproduction programs, although more expensive, can guarantee the genetic identity with the resident populations and are able to provide good survival rates and breeding success of the released pheasants, of course when restocking is carried out in areas suitable for pheasant wildlife.

Feeding of nano scale oats β-glucan enhances the host resistance against Edwardsiella tarda and protective immune modulation in zebrafish larvae.

ABSTRACT In this study, we prepared and characterized the oats origin of nano scale &bgr;‐glucan (NBG) and investigated the immunomodulatory properties in zebrafish larvae. Newly prepared NBG (average particle size of 465 nm) was fully soluble in water. Zebrafish larvae survival rate was increased against pathogenic bacteria Edwardsiella tarda, when NBG was added to the water (500 &mgr;g/mL) compared to NBG non‐exposed controls. Moreover, quantitative real time PCR (qRT‐PCR) results showed up‐regulation of immune functional genes including TNF‐&agr;, IL‐1&bgr;, &bgr;‐defensin, lysozyme, IL 10, IL 12 and C‐Rel indicating higher survival rate could be due to stronger immunomodulatory function of NBG (500 &mgr;g/mL). Thus, non‐toxic, water soluble and biodegradable NBG from oats could be considered as the potential immunostimulant for larval aquaculture. HIGHLIGHTSNano size beta glucan of oats origin can enhance the diseases resistance in zebrafish larvae.Nano size beta glucan up‐regulates the immune functional genes in zebrafish larvae.Non‐toxic and biodegradable nano size beta glucan from oats would be a better immunostimulant for larval aquaculture.

Skin lesion-associated pathogens from Octopus vulgaris: first detection of Photobacterium swingsii, Lactococcus garvieae and betanodavirus

The common octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1798 is extremely important in fisheries and is a useful protein source in most Mediterranean countries. Here we investigated pathogens associated with skin lesions in 9 naturally deceased specimens that included both cultured and wild common octopus. Within 30 min after death, each octopus was stored at 4°C and microbiologically examined within 24 h. Bacterial colonies, cultured from swabs taken from the lesions, were examined using taxonomical and biochemical analyses. Vibrio alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus were only isolated from cultured animals. A conventional PCR targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and sequencing were performed on 2 bacterial isolates that remained unidentified after taxonomical and biochemical analysis. The sequence results indicated that the bacteria had a 99% identity with Lactococcus garvieae and Photobacterium swingsii. L. garvieae was confirmed using a specific PCR based on the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region, while P. swingsii was confirmed by phylogenetic analyses. Although all animals examined were found to be infected by the protozoan species Aggregata octopiana localised in the intestines, it was also present in skin lesions of 2 of the animals. Betanodavirus was detected in both cultured and wild individuals by cell culture, PCR and electron microscopy. These findings are the first report of L. garvieae and betanodavirus from skin lesions of common octopus and the first identification of P. swingsii both in octopus skin lesions and in marine invertebrates in Italy.

Effect of 1,3-1,6 β-Glucan on Natural and Experimental Deformed Wing Virus Infection in Newly Emerged Honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica).

The Western Honeybee is a key pollinator for natural as well as agricultural ecosystems. In the last decade massive honeybee colony losses have been observed worldwide, the result of a complex syndrome triggered by multiple stress factors, with the RNA virus Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and the mite Varroa destructor playing crucial roles. The mite supports replication of DWV to high titers, which exert an immunosuppressive action and correlate with the onset of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3–1,6 β-glucan, a natural innate immune system modulator, on honeybee response to low-titer natural and high-titer experimental DWV infection. As the effects exerted by ß-glucans can be remarkably different, depending on the target organism and the dose administered, two parallel experiments were performed, where 1,3–1,6 ß-glucan at a concentration of 0.5% and 2% respectively, was added to the diet of three cohorts of newly emerged honeybees, which were sampled from a Varroa-free apiary and harboured a low endogenous DWV viral titer. Each cohort was subjected to one of the following experimental treatments: no injection, injection of a high-copy number DWV suspension into the haemocel (experimental DWV infection) or injection of PBS into the haemocoel (physical injury). Control bees fed a ß-glucan-free diet were subjected to the same treatments. Viral load, survival rate, haemocyte populations and phenoloxidase activity of each experimental group were measured and compared. The results indicated that oral administration of 0.5% ß-glucan to naturally infected honeybees was associated with a significantly decrease of the number of infected bees and viral load they carried, and with a significant increase of the survival rate, suggesting that this natural immune modulator molecule might contribute to increase honeybee resistance to viral infection.

Effect of Corn Particle Size and Inclusion of Organic Acid in The Diet on Growth Performance and Gastrointestinal Structure in Young Chicks

The effect of 3 corn particle sizes (dgw: 375, 1117, and 2402 µm) combined with or without organic acids (0.3 g/kg of Galliacid S®) was investigated on broilers from day 1 to day 21; 540 1-day old Ross 708 males were raised in 36 pens (3x2 factorial design, 6 blocks each). We measured: body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, liver weight, pH weight and height of empty gizzard, pH and length of intestine and caeca, height and width of ileal villi, crypt depth/gland diameter, total bacteria count. Different corn particle sizes and organic acid supplements only affected feed intake (days 14 and 21), feed conversion ratio (day 14), villus height, and crypt depth. On day 21, fine milling had negative effects on body weights compared with larger feed particle size (816 vs 848 and 844 g); acidic additive had a positive effect on broiler growth (859 vs 813 g). Length of small intestinal villi and crypt depth were affected by both particle size and organic acids (fine to coarse small intestinal villi: 1869a, 1401c, and 1039d µm in non-acidified; 1708b, 1535c, and 942e µm in acidified. Fine to coarse crypt depth: 102ab, 98b; 65c µm in non-acidified; 106a, 70c, and 66c µm in acidified). No difference was observed in total bacteria counts of the gut in relation to the different treatments. Use of organic acids during starter phase is useful, especially when the milling process is inappropriate.

Selenium and vitamin E diet inclusion for optimal reproduction performances of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)

Abstract To date there is little knowledge regarding the requirements of Se and vitamin E of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa). For this reason, in the present study four different Se and vitamin E diet inclusions have been tested. A total of 360 parents were used and randomly divided into four groups; diets were supplemented with 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5u2009mg/kg of Se and Se to vitamin E ratio was kept approximately constant in all groups. The effects of the diets on parents’ reproduction performances and on embryos visceral organs were investigated. The best laying rate was reached with 0.4u2009mg/kg Se diet supplementation while the best hatching rate was reached with 0.3u2009mg/kg (pu2009<u20090.05). The relative weight of duodenum, jejunum and ileum in embryo was higher (pu2009<u20090.05) in the groups fed 0.4 and 0.5u2009mg/kg Se compared to the other groups. Significant differences (pu2009<u20090.05) were also observed for jejunum and ileum length as animals were fed the highest Se to vitamin E ratios. The number and height of villi and goblet cells density of jejunum were higher (pu2009<u20090.05) in the groups fed 0.4 and 0.5u2009mg/kg of Se than in the group fed 0.2u2009mg/kg. Epithelial buds density in the Bursa of Fabricius of embryos was significantly higher (pu2009<u20090.05) for 0.4 and 0.5u2009mg/kg Se supplemented groups than in the others. In conclusion our results suggest that 0.4u2009mg/kg of selenium and 100u2009mg/kg vitamin E should be included in the parents’ diet in order to optimise red-legged partridges performances.