Gonadosomatic index and some hematological parameters in African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) as affected by feed type and temperature level

ABSTRACT The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of different feeds/nutrients and temperature on the gonadal development of Clarias gariepinus. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and blood parameters including red blood cell count (RBCs), white blood cell count (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hgb) level, hematocrit (HCT), platelets (PLT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were investigated. Four types of fish feed of 36% protein content [D1(fish meal), D2 (soybean meal), D3 (peameal) and D4 (commercial tilapia feed)] and 3 different levels of temperature (T1(24℃), T2(28℃) and T3(32℃) were tried in this study for a duration of 4 months. The mean values were as follows: female GSI (14.68 ± 4.86), male GSI (0.70 ± 0.32), RBCs x 106(2.45± 0.64), WBCs x 103(9.28 ± 2.34), Hgb (12.42± 2.21g/dl), HCT (29.06 ± 3.54%), PLT (90.75 ± 9.18/mm3), and MCV (118.08 ± 10.3 g/l). Fish meal diet revealed the most significant (p<0.05) increase in weight gain, female GSI, and also exerted significant increases on most of the blood parameters. This study revealed that animal-based protein diet and temperature around 28℃ were the critical requirements for the physiological performance and relative gonadal weight of C. gariepinus. GSI and blood parameters were useful indicators of stress exerted by nutrition and temperature on fish, and their study is critical for fish health and mass production of viable seeds for aquaculture enterprise.

Reproductive characteristics of the worm lizard, Diplometopon zarudnyi, in relation to months of the year in Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia.

The biological reproductive aspects of the worm lizard, Diplometopon zarudnyi, in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia, were investigated over a period of 1 year. Study of the reproductive cycles of male and female D. zarudnyi revealed that the breeding season is relatively short, since it extends from early April to late June. Thereafter, females lay the eggs during July, and hatching probably takes place during August. However, offspring were seen at mid-October. During this period (July-October), no evidence of sexual activity was observed; this may indicate just a single clutch during the year. Testis weight was increased (x=0.125 g) during reproductive activity where maximal expansion of seminiferous tubules was also attained (x volume=64 mm) during May. On the other hand, the ovarian activity was the highest throughout April, May and June, when ovarian parameters were greater and each ovary was loaded with 6-9 eggs with an average egg diameter of 1.5mm. A positive correlation was recorded between the weight of fat bodies in the male and female lizards and their reproductive activity. Maximum weight of fat bodies was reached during May (x=1.02 g and x=0.49 g in males and females, respectively).

Assessment Techniques to Detect Aspergillus fumigatus in Different Samples of Immunosuppressed Male Western Albino Rats.

BACKGROUND: There are several conventional, immunological and molecular techniques to diagnose the fungi that cause aspergillosis in biological samples; these methods have some advantages and disadvantages. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to evaluate different methods used in identification and diagnosis of fungi causing aspergillosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Western Albino rats were provided by Animal Care Unit at Faculty of Pharmacy, King Saud University. After adaptation for a reasonable period, rat's immunity was debilitated by injection of cyclophosphamide (i.p.); the infection was induced by injecting (i.v.) the prepared suspension of Aspergillus fumigatus spores. Blood samples, lung tissue, lung fluid smears and nasal fluid smears were obtained during the periods before and after injection. Isolation of fungus was carried out by synthetic media; and macro- and micro-characteristics were studied to identify the fungus. Enzyme-linked immunesorbent (ELISA) and LightCycler-based PCR was employed to check the existence of the fungus in blood samples. RESULTS: The results indicated that all methods were unable to diagnose the A. fumigatus on the following day of infection except ELISA method; however, culturing methods varied according to the type of vital samples where lung tissue and lung fluid smears were the best. Moreover, more than half of the samples used in the culturing techniques had negative results. The highest rate of the cases diagnosed by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was recorded during the second week following the infection, and then it declined gradually till the end of the experiment. The molecular methods showed high efficiency followed by ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that the best methods to identify A. fumigatus were molecular methods; however, the early diagnosis requires the enzymatic-immunological methods (ELISA). The current study recommends the integration among all possible techniques whenever the facilities are available. But when only microbiological methods are used, samples should be collected from different organs of the infected hosts.