An Observational Study of Skeletal Malformations in Four Semi-Intensively Reared Carp Species.

Cyprinids include some of the most widely farmed freshwater species. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of skeletal malformations in carp species reared in semi-intensive systems in Albania: common carp (), silver carp (), grass carp () and bighead carp (). The common carp fingerlings had a mean total length of 28.

Hemp seed ( L.) cake as sustainable dietary additive in slow-growing broilers: effects on performance, meat quality, oxidative stability and gut health.

Hemp seed cake (HSC) ( L.) is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, high-quality proteins and essential amino acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of HSC on growth performance, meat quality traits, fatty acids profile and oxidative status, and intestinal morphology in slow-growing broilers.

Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits.

Objective: The growing consumers' interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR) and cage system (CS).

Methods: A total of forty weaned (35 days of age) male Italian White breed rabbits were allotted according to the rearing system, and at 91 days of age were randomly selected and slaughtered for the morphological evaluation of tissue from duodenum and longissimus lumborum.

Reproductive Maturation of Meagre (Asso, 1801) Reared in Floating Cages.

The meagre (Asso, 1801) is a promising aquaculture species that shows reproductive dysfunctions when reared in tanks. The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of meagre, reared in cages under routine farming conditions, to mature gonads and reproduce spontaneously. Meagre adults, reared in a fish farm located in the Gulf of Taranto (Italy), were sampled from March to July 2021.

Atresia of ovarian follicles in fishes, and implications and uses in aquaculture and fisheries.

Atresia of ovarian follicles, that is the degenerative process of germ cells and their associated somatic cells, is a complex process involving apoptosis, autophagy and heterophagy. Follicular atresia is a normal component of fish oogenesis and it is observed throughout the ovarian cycle, although it is more frequent in regressing ovaries during the postspawning period. An increased occurrence of follicular atresia above physiological rates reduces fish fecundity and even causes reproductive failure in both wild and captive-reared fish stocks, and hence, this phenomenon has a wide range of implications in applied sciences such as fisheries and aquaculture.

Increased melanomacrophage centres in the liver of reproductively dysfunctional female greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810).

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a new aquaculture fish that may display reproductive dysfunctions. During extensive follicular atresia, which is a common reproductive dysfunction in females during vitellogenesis, part of the reabsorbed yolk returns to the liver to be metabolized and recycled. Melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) are aggregates of macrophage-like cells that play a role in the destruction, detoxification and recycling of endogenous and exogenous materials, and have been associated with systemic stress.

Vitellogenin receptor and fatty acid profiles of individual lipid classes of oocytes from wild and captive-reared greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) during the reproductive cycle.

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810) is a large migratory pelagic fish occurring in tropical and temperate waters with a great potential for the world aquaculture industry. Previous studies showed that wild-caught female greater amberjack reared in sea cages and handled during the reproductive season, underwent extensive ovarian atresia. This atresia, however, was not related to an insufficient liver transcription or oocyte uptake of vitellogenin (Vtg).

Effects of Polyphenol Administration to European Farmed Sea Bass ( L.): Special Focus on Hepatopancreas Morphology.

Background And Objective: Hepatopancreas is an accessory organ associated with the liver in some fish, even including sea bass (Dicentrharcus labrax L.). Hepatopancreas contains an exocrine portion but until now its function has poorly been investigated.

Liver melanomacrophage centres and CYP1A expression as response biomarkers to environmental pollution in European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the western Mediterranean Sea.

The goal of the present study was to verify the suitability of using melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) as response biomarkers of marine pollution in European anchovy, which are short-lived, migratory, small pelagic fish. This suitability was verified by analysing the MMC density and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 1A (CYP1A) expression in livers of anchovies from four areas of southern Italy. Age 2 anchovies sampled from three areas exposed to pollutants of industrial/agricultural origin (Gulf of Gela, Mazara del Vallo and Gulf of Naples) showed liver areas occupied by MMCs and numbers of MMCs that were significantly higher than those in the anchovies from Pozzallo, which is a marine area not subjected to any source of pollution.

Micro-anatomical structure of the first spine of the dorsal fin of Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae).

The first spine of the first dorsal fin (FS) of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), Thunnus thynnus, is customarily used in age determination research because its transverse sections display well-defined growth marks. In this paper the FS structure was studied to explain its known dramatic age- and season-related morphological modifications, which are evidently caused by bone remodeling. Cross sections of samples from six adult ABFT were in part decalcified to be stained with histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, and in part embedded in methyl-methacrylate to be either observed under a linear polarized light or microradiographed.

Trotter welfare's protection: A legislative perspective.

The Council of Europe's activities in the field of animal welfare are particularly noteworthy and comprise the elaboration of several norms for the protection of animals. Concerning the specific European Directive, Regulations or Convention for the protection of animals, the Authors underline the missing of specifics recommendations concerning the welfare of sport horses and especially of trotters. Guidelines are reported by regulation of equestrian sports.

Administration of a Polyphenol-Enriched Feed to Farmed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) Modulates Intestinal and Spleen Immune Responses.

Farmed fish are exposed to a continuous antigenic pressure by microbial and environmental agents, which may lead to a condition of chronic inflammation. In view of the notion that polyphenols, largely contained in fruits and vegetables, are endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) have been administered with red grape polyphenol-enriched feed.

Increased liver apoptosis and tumor necrosis factor expression in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) reared in the northern Adriatic Sea.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (ABFT) is intensely fished in the Mediterranean Sea to supply a prosperous capture-based mariculture industry. Liver apoptotic structures and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene expression were determined in: wild ABFT caught in the eastern Atlantic; juvenile ABFT reared in the central Adriatic Sea; juvenile ABFT reared in the northern Adriatic Sea; adult ABFT reared in the western Mediterranean. The highest density of liver apoptotic structures was found in the juveniles from the northern Adriatic.

Expression of proto-oncogene C-kit and correlation with morphological evaluations in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors.

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) is very common disease in dogs, this is more aggressive than in other species. The biologic behavior of MCT is highly variable and a more accurate prognosis for these tumors needs to performed. The proto-oncogene c-kit is known to play a critical role in development and function of mast cells (MC).

The dog mast cell tumour as a model to study the relationship between angiogenesis, mast cell density and tumour malignancy.

Substantial experimental data suggest that tumour progression is associated with angiogenesis and that increase in microvessel density (MVD) is associated with increase in mast cells density (MCD). Dog mast cell tumour (MCT) is common in dog with an incidence much higher than that found in human and in both species several common biological and clinical characteristics have been demonstrated. To evaluate the role of angiogenesis in progression of this tumour and to correlate MVD and MCD, in this study a series of 78 MCT was investigated.

On the sensitive innervation of the ostrich's foot pads.

The sensitive and autonomic innervation of foot pads in the ostrich was studied employing an usual histological technique as hematoxylin-eosin or different gold chloride impregnations. The autonomic innervation is represented by isolated or grouped ganglion cells located along the course of nerve bundles. The sensitive somatic innervation is composed by free and capsulated nerve endings usually distributed in the thickness of the connective arrangement of the foot pads, in the most superficial part the first one, while the latter was generally located close to the blood vessels.