BACKGROUND: Balance in the amount of minerals in the aquatic animal’s diet is very important. Phosphorus is one of the most important minerals in fish and aquatic animal’s nutrition. Phosphorus is important not only for the proper growth and fish health, but also for excessive phosphorus excretion that may cause water pollution and algal bloom. OBJECTIVE: In this study the effects of adding monoammonium phosphate in the diet of fish (Cyprinus carpio Koi) and its comparison with monocalcium phosphate were investigated. METHODS: 650 koi fish weighing 17 g were distributed in 15 tanks (5 treatments - each in three replicates) and mono-ammonium phosphate-fed diets at three levels (0.75, 1.5 and 3% of the diet), monocalcium phosphate in one level (3% of the diet) and a control group (no phosphorus supplementation) were fed for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Growth indices and feed conversion ratio in fish fed 3% monoammonium phosphate showed the best results. The control group showed the lowest weight gain and the highest feed conversion ratio. Blood phosphorus was also significantly correlated with increasing monoammonium phosphate. The highest level of calcium in the blood was observed in the group fed monocalcium phosphate (3%). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the improvement of growth and nutrition indices, adding 1.5 to 3% monoammonium phosphate in the diet of koi fish was suggested.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a common bacterial disease in humans and livestock, which leads to reduced production and reproductive disorders in ruminants and also causes major economic losses to villagers and farmers. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of different Leptospira interrogans serovars in ruminants population of Lorestan province and assess the role of environmental and host factors on the severity of the serological infection. METHODS: For this purpose, referring to livestock and sheep and goat flocks in different cities of Lorestan province, 691 blood samples were collected including 258 sheep, 195 goats and 238 cows, and then, the point of infection with seven different serovars of Leptospira interogans was assessed using microscopic agglutination test. Hosting factors such as age, gender and also environmental factors including geographical area, rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and altitude of sampling area from the sea level were recorded, and their probable role in the seroprevalence was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Results of this study showed that the overall prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle, sheep, and goats examined in the Lorestan province was 26.05 % (95 % CI: 19.7-31.23), 22.48 % (95 % CI: 16.95-25.16) and 14.87% (95 % CI: 9.37-20.36), respectively. There was no statistically significant (p < /em>>0.05) difference from the point of age groups and sexes. The most prevalent contaminant serovars for cows, sheep, and goats with seropositive reaction against leptospira were grippotyphosa (41.93%), canicola (32.76%) and canicola (48.27 %), respectively. The results showed environmental factors including relative humidity (p < /em>=0.02), annual rainfall (p < /em>=0.001) and altitude from the sea level of sampling location (p < /em>=0.03) have a significant effect but the annual temperature does not have a significant effect (p < /em><0.05) on the seroprevalence of Leptospira. Also, more positive reactive animals in the eastern and western areas of Lorestan province were found (p < /em>>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Leptospirosis is endemic in livestock population of Lorestan province and environmental factors play a significant role in the severity of infection, which increases the need for attention to the geographical areas at risk.

BACKGROUND: Detection of ovulation time using progesterone measurement is important to inseminate or breeding during the optimum time. OBJECTIVES: The aim of present study was evaluation of bovine progesterone semi-quantitative test kit for estimation of blood serum progesterone levels in bitch. METHODS: Five healthy intact anestrus bitches were used in the present study. Dogs were treated with cabergolin until onset of proestrus. Vaginal cytology, ultrasonography and blood sampling were performed from the 7th day of proestrus until two days after ovulation. Blood serum samples were divided as follows: one part to measure progesterone level by using RIA, and the other part was investigated by bovine progesterone semi-quantitative test kit. Ovarian changes were evaluated by ultrasonography and assessment of the estrus cycle was performed by vaginal cytology examination. RESULTS: Following Spearman analysis, significant positive correlation was observed between the semi-quantitative test kit and RIA results (r=0.916; p < /em>=0.00). The results of ROC and Kappa analysis suggested that the highest diagnostic accuracy of progesterone semi-quantitative test kit was observed in the blood serum progesterone levels of 2 and 5 ng/ml. The sensitivity and specificity of the used kit at the level of 5 ng/ml of progesterone were 88.5 and 93.7 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the used kit at the level of 10 ng/ml of progesterone were 82.4 and 96 % and at the level of 10 ng/ml were 82.4 and 96%, respectively. The observed scores during the late proestrus were 2-3 and just one dog showed score 4. During the estrus phase, in two dogs scores 4-5 and in three dogs scores 3-5 were revealed.   CONCLUSIONS: Bovine progesterone semi-quantitative test kit is useful for estimation of estrus cycles in bitch. Scores of 4 and 5 of semi-quantitative test kit indicate ovulation time and proper breeding time.

BACKGROUND: Dicrocoeliasis is one of the commonest parasitic diseases of the bile ducts and gallbladder in a wide range of mammals including ruminants and sometimes human being. The disease is really important in medicine, economy, and veterinary medicine. Annually, slaughter house loses a huge amount because of losing a great deal of valuable proteins in people daily diets. In order to bring the disease under control, morphological and molecular analysis of parasite in endemic districts is essential. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to determine the morphological as well as molecular characterization of cattle, sheep and goats isolated from Dicrocoelium by applying ND1 genetic marker in the Markazi province, Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study 480 fresh adult worms were collected from livers of 120 cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered in abattoirs in Markazi province. To diagnose the species of parasite, morphometric indices of mature worms were calculated based on standard parameters. Then DNA of 60 isolates with different morphometric characteristics was extracted and PCR reaction was performed for a part of ND1 (mtDNA). PCR was purified and its sequence was defined, the percentage of genetic similarity was compared to cases registered by GenBank and the exact species of parasite was recognized. RESULTS: The morphometric analysis in all isolates was as follows: testicles were sequential, the length and the width of the worm for all cattle, sheep and goat isolates were 7994±967µm, 6844±100µm, 6570±110µm (P<0.0001) and 1649±339µm, 1490±221µm and 1430±252µm (P<0.0001) respectively. The proportion of the length to the width was 4.87±0.641, 4.58±0.625, and 4.64±0.622 respectively. All the results mentioned above confirmed Dicrocoelium dendriticum in the hosts of the district under investigation. The analysis of the gel electrophoresis in all isolates showed the existence of band 200pb.The percentage of genetic similarity to the registered items, cases were determined by the Gen bank between 97 and 99 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular identification and morphometric assays clearly showed that D. dendriticum is the only agent of Dicrocoeliasis among cattle, sheep and goats in the Marakazi province, Iran. Molecular diagnosis of parasite by applying genetic marker of the nucleus is recommended.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics and prebiotics are the most important bioactive compounds for aquatic health. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effects of prebiotic (immunowall) and probiotic (primalac) were assessed on growth performance, survival, body composition, and blood biochemical parameters in the Caspian Sea common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. METHODS: Juveniles (n = 100 per tank, 21 tanks) were distributed in four inclusion levels (each in three treatments) of 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15% of immunowall and primalac inclusions for a period of 56 days. Growth, body composition, and hematological parameters have been evaluated in different inclusion levels at the end of culture period. RESULTS: The increment of body weight, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio in fish fed with diets containing 0.15% prebiotic and 0.1% probiotic improved considerably compared to other treatments. The survival rate of the juveniles was not significant between treatments, and the group fed with the pre- and probiotics revealed higher survivals. Protein content in the group fed with the pre- and probiotic showed significantly higher contents compared to the control group, and lipid content showed increasing trend in different inclusions. The red blood cells contents showed no differences between treatments; but the white blood cells contents revealed higher performances in the fish-fed probiotics compared to prebiotic and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results recommend the addition of 0.1 % immunowall and 0.15 % primalac in the diets of the juveniles in terms of growth, feeding, and hematological indicators in the Caspian carp.

BACKGROUND: Based on previous studies, aquaculture systems affect on flesh quality in cultured species. In biofloc system, as a modern and new aquaculture system, animals use microbial flocs as feed and it seem such flocs affect on bodycomposition. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate growth and chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of common carp meat cultured in Biofloc system. METHODS: Three hundred healthy fingerlings were randomly distributed in 12 tanks (70 L) at a density of 8.3 kg m-3 and fed experimental treatments: commercial diet as a control and three biofloc treatments including sugar beet molasses biofloc (SBM+BFT), sugar biofloc (S+BFT) and corn starch biofloc (CS+BFT). Fish in BFT treatments were fed at 75% of the daily feeding rate of control. At the end of experiment, growth performance and survival investigated. In addition to evaluate cultured fish meat quality, sensory properties of raw fish (day 0), rigor mortis (3, 6 and 24 h after catch), bacterial count, pH, expressible moisture and TVN were also assessed during 16 days, (every 4 days). RESULTS: The results indicated that the lowest food conversion ratio (FCR) and highest condition factor was observed in fish fed BC which differed significantly from control (P<0.05). No significant difference among treatments was observed in rigor mortis and bacterial count (P>0.05). pH in carp flesh increased gradually during storage time (P<0.05), but at the end of the storage period no significant difference was found between the treatments (P>0.05). The lowest primary TVN was seen in BS treatment (9.0 ± 0.2 mg N/100g flesh) but in other treatments TVN was higher than 20 mg/ 100g flesh (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, based on the results of this study, biofloc cultured fish flesh had acceptable quality in comparison with control fish.

BACKGROUND:  Considering the progressing tendency of administration of nanomaterials products in the world and their entrance to aquatic ecosystems, their toxicity assessment on the aquatic environment and proposing the biocompatible solutions in their production seems indispensable. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), chemical and biosynthetic forms were evaluated using the biomarker, artemia nauplii (Artemia fransiscana). METHODS: For toxicity assessment, the OECD standard method was used. The artemia nauplii were exposed to additive serial concentration of biosynthetic and chemical silver nanoparticles. For biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, aqueous extracts of two species of marine macroalgae Ulva flexuosa (green algae) and Sargassum boveanum (brown algae) were used. Artemia nauplii mortality in the times of 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after exposure to silver nanoparticles were recorded and analyzed via Probit software. RESULTS: Survey findings showed that not only the toxicity of these three types of silver nanoparticles on artemia nauplii increased in a dose- dependent manner, but also their toxicity increased along with duration of exposure time. The toxicity of these nanoparticles were significantly different (P<0.05). The 48 h LC50 value of chemical AgNPs in the artemia nauplii was 31.8 mg/l, while 48 h LC50 for biosynthesis AgNPs  produced by U. flexuosa, and S. boveanum were 366.96 and 141.16 mg/l respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the toxicity of these three types of AgNPs on artemia nauplii showed that, the chemical form of AgNPs was more toxic (up to 10 times) than a biosynthetic form of AgNPs. Moreover, the source of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles had a considerable impact on toxicity of final production, because a biosynthetic form of AgNPs produced by U. flexuosa was less toxic than the same form prepared from S. boveanum.

BACKGROUND: The sources of fish oil for use in aquaculture is limited and different oil sources vary in fatty acid composition. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of plant oil sources such as soybean and canola oils with or without L-carnitine supplement on some blood biochemical parameters and growth performance of fingerlings rainbow trout. METHODS: In 3×2 factorial experimental design, 180 rainbow trout with 28±2 g initial body weight were randomly divided into six groups with three replicates and fed two times a day at ad libitum by dietary treatments during 10 weeks. The experimental diets contained three dietary oil sources such as fish, soybean and canola oil; and two supplemental dietaries L- carnitine levels (0 and 1 g.kg-1). Feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, feed intake, body weight gain and blood biochemical parameters of fish such as albumin, total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Replacement of fish oil by soybean and canola oil had no significant effect on growth performance such as body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, carcass weight and condition factor of fish. L-carnitine supplement significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio and increased condition factor of fish (P<0.05). Soybean oil significantly increased cholesterol and triglyceride level, and canola oil decreased HDL and globulin level in blood serum of fish (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that fish oil could be wholly replaced by soybean or canola oil in the diet of rainbow trout and also physiological responses and growth performance of fish to carnitine supplement were affected by dietary oil sources.

BACKGROUND: Pacu is considered as one of the major sources of nutrition in the Amazon basin because of its high growth rate, low food expectation and resistance to diseases and the idea of using inulin in its diet can improve the culture of the species. Objectives: In this study the effe0ct of different levels of prebiotic inulin on the growth rate, body composition and some blood parameters in black Pacu was studied. Methods: For this purpose 120 Pacu fish (6.50±0.05 g) were fed with 1, 2 and 3 g/kg   prebiotic inulin over a period of 60 days. Results: The results showed that the highest percentage of body weight gained, specific growth rate and condition factor were obtained in 3 g/kg inulin, which were significantly different from other treatments (P<0.05). A significant positive effect was observed in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) by adding 3 g/kg inulin. It decreased the amount of FCR and increased the amount of PER significantly. Also, there was no dead fish between treatments all during the period and the survival rate was 100%. Addition of inulin to the diet, improved the nutritional composition of the fish and the maximum amount of protein and fat and minimum amount of moisture were measured in 3 g/kg inulin. In hematological parameters, although there were no significant differences in the number of red blood cells, MCV, MCH and MCHC amounts, the maximum numbers of white blood cells and the highest amounts of hemoglobin and hematocrit with the significant differences to other treatments, belonged to 3 g/kg  inulin. Conclusions: Addition of 3 g/kg inulin can improve the growth rate, nutrient composition and immunity in Black Pacu.

BACKGROUND: Oxidation of lipids results in changes that may affect the nutritional quality, wholesomeness, colour, flavour and texture of food. Canola oil is prone to oxidation because of high unsaturated fatty acids. Using synthetic antioxidant due to the possibility of toxic and carcinogenic effects is limited. Thus, it is important to research on replacing synthetic antioxidants by natural antioxidant. Objectives: The aim of this research was identification of the chemical compounds of Carum copticum essential oils (CEOs) and investigation of antioxidant and antiradical properties by using Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and β-carotene/linoleic acid system and assaying its antioxidant capacity in canola oil. Methods: Carum copticum essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Anti-radical activity of (CEOs) was investigated by using various methods and then antioxidant  was tested by measuring the peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid of canola oil samples containing different concentrations of C. copticum essential oil and synthetic antioxidant(BHT). Results: Results showed that thymol (36.4%), γ-terpinene (21.73%) and ρ-cymene (31.3%) were the major compositions of essential oil. IC50 value of (CEOs) was 21± 0.2  µg/ml. In both systems, the sequence of the power of antioxidant activity was BHT then C. copticum essential oil. In addition, by increasing the concentrations, their antioxidant activities were increased. Statistical results revealed C. Copticum essential oil at concentration of 400 ppm (P>0.05). Conclusions: Carum copticum essential oil is a potent antioxidant for stabilization of canola oil and can be used as a natural antioxidant. It seems that after complementary test it can be used as natural antioxidant in foodstuff, especially in edible oils.