Effect of fishmeal replacement by soy protein concentrate with taurine supplementation on growth performance, hematological and biochemical status, and liver histology of totoaba juveniles (Totoaba macdonaldi).

The effect of dietary inclusion of soy protein concentrate (SPC) and simultaneous supplementation with taurine on the growth, hematology, blood biochemistry, and liver histology of totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) juveniles was assessed. Four isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated containing either 30 or 60% of SPC (diets S30 and S60), supplemented or not with 1% of taurine (diets S30T and S60T). A fishmeal-based diet formulated for totoaba nutritional requirements, without SPC and taurine supplementation, was used as a reference diet. Triplicate groups of 32 totoaba juveniles (average body weight 7.5 ± 0.6 g) were fed these diets for 45 days. Results showed that growth performance in fish fed S30, S30T, and S60T was similar to fish fed the reference diet. Red blood cells and hematocrit in fish fed with supplemented taurine in both levels of SPC (S30T and S60T) were similar to the fish fed the RD; the addition of taurine improved the state of hydration of totoaba. Plasmatic hemoglobin in fish fed the lower SPC level was similar to fish fed the RD. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in fish fed S30T was similar to fish fed the RD, taurine supplementation prevented the development of hypochromic anemia in this group of fish. Plasmatic albumin in fish fed S30 was similar to fish fed the RD. Plasmatic total protein and globulin concentration increased and AL:GLB (albumin:globulin ratio) decreased in fish fed the SPC-based diets despite taurine supplementation. The protein profile showed that taurine supplementation did not prevent a possible inflammatory process (increased globulins, decreased AL:GLB) in juvenile totoaba fed both levels of SPC. Glucose concentration was similar in fish fed S30, S30T, and S60T. The histological hepatic index was highest in fish fed S60. These results suggest that with an appropriate nutritional level, taurine may play an important modulatory role in the hematology and blood biochemistry status in totoaba fed SPC-based diets, contributing to the enhancement of an overall healthy growth performance.

Canine ecology and socioeconomic factors associated with dogs unvaccinated against rabies in a Mexican city across the US-Mexico border.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify ecologic and socioeconomic factors associated with dogs unvaccinated against rabies in Mexicali, the capital city of Baja California, Mexico (located across the US-Mexico border). A total of 1100 households were selected by random sampling from a list of all 180,000 households. A questionnaire was filled in during a personal interview with the household head or another adult person to gather information of epidemiological interest (such as canine ecology, social and economic factors that might influence owners' decision to allow their dog to be vaccinated). There were 910 dogs identified. The human-to-dog ratio was 4.3:1. The male-to-female dog ratio was 1.5:1. Out of 791 dogs > or = 3 months old, 577 (73%) were classified as vaccinated against rabies. Most dogs (95%) were not spayed. Neighborhood dogs had 25 times higher risk of nonvaccination compared to dogs owned by a family. Dogs 3-11 months old had three times higher risk of nonvaccination compared to dogs > or = 1 year old. Dogs that were obtained as a gift, born at home or found had two times higher risk of nonvaccination compared to dogs that were reportedly purchased. Crossbred dogs had 1.5 times higher risk of nonvaccination compared to purebred dogs. The canine-ecology structure is similar to that in regions were rabies is endemic.

Estudio comparativo sobre la eficacia de Baptisia 200c y antibiótico en el tratamiento de gastroenteritis en perros / Comparative study about the eficacy of Baptisia C200 and antibiotics in the treatment of gastroenteritis

Un total de 49 pacientes caninos que presentaron cuadros gastroentéricos y fueron atendidos en el Hospital de Pequeñas Especies del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, se asignaron al azar en dos grupos de tratamiento. El primero recibió Baptisia 200c como tratamiento, el segundo Cloranfenicol. Las variables analizadas fueron: mortalidad por grupo, diagnóstico de laboratorio y tiempo de recuperación en dias. Los agentes etiológicos encontrados con mayor frecuencia fueron Campilobacter, Virus del Moquillo y Parvovirosis caninos, así como un par de parásitos, los cuales se presentaron tanto aislados como en asociación. La mortalidad en el grupo tratado con Baptisia fue de 27 por ciento, la cual no resultó significativamente menor al 30 por ciento presentado por el grupo tratado con Cloranfenicol (p>0.05). Por su parte, el promedio de recuperación en días para los pacientes que recibieron Baptisi fue de 4.1 días, mientras que el correspondiente al grupo que recibió Clorantenicol fue de 3.2, no encontrándose una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p>0.05). El presente estudio permite concluir que la aplicación de ambos métodos terapéuticos produce resultados similares, existiendo diferencia únicamente en el costo del tratamiento, a favor del tratamiento homeopático

Estudio comparativo sobre la eficacia de Baptisia 200c y antibiotico en el tratamiento de gastroenteritis en perros / Comparative study about the efficacy of Baptisia 200c and antibiotic in the treatment of gastroenteritis in dogs

Un total de 49 pacientes caninos que presentaron cuadros gastroentericos y fueron atendidos en el Hospital de Pequenas Especies del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, se asignaron al azar en los grupos de tratamiento. El primero recibio Baptisia 200c como tratamiento, el segubndo Cloranfenicol. Las variables analizadas fueron: mortalidad por grupo, diagnostico de laboratorio y tiempo de recuperacion en dias. Los agentes etiologicos encontrados con mayor frecuencia fueron Campilobacter, Virus del Moquillo y Parvovirosis caninos, asi como un par de parasitos, los cuales se presentaron tanto aislados como en asociacion. La mortalidad en el grupo tratado con Baptisia fue de 27 por cento, la cual no resulto significativamente menor al 30 porcento presentado por el grupo tratado con Cloranfenicol (p>0.05). Por su parte el promedio de recuperacion en dias para los pacientes que recibieron Baptisia fue de 4.l dias, mientras que el correspondiente al grupo que recibio Cloranfenicol fue de 3.2, no encontrandose una diferencia estadisticamente significativa (p>0.05). El presente estudio permite concluir que la aplicacion de ambos metodos terapeuticos produce resultados similares, existiendo diferencia unicamente en el costo del tratamiento, a favor del tratamiento homeopatico.