White-spot disease of Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Trionyx sinens) caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus

Chinese soft-shelled turtles （Trionyx sinens） in culture farms using an artificial warming system in Zhejiang, China, often show typical signs of white-spot disease such as white spots on their bodies, skin lesions, anorexia and eventually death. The sick turtles were mostly 5-80 g in weight. A suspected fungal pathogen was isolated from the sick turtles and verified as Paecilomyces lilacinus by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer （ITS） of its ribosomal DNA （rDNA）. Detailed morphological examinations were also conducted to confirm the white-spot disease.

Effects of Brown Fish Meal Replacement with Fermented Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Feed Efficiency and Enzyme Activities of Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

A 120-day feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of partial replacement of brown fish meal (BFM) by fermented soybean meal (FSBM) in diets of Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). The turtles (initial mean body weight, (115.52 ± 1.05) g) were fed with three experimental diets, in which 0%, 4.72% and 9.44% BFM protein was replaced by 0%, 3% and 6% FSBM, respectively. Results showed that the feeding rate (FR), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) of turtles fed with the diet containing 3% FSBM were not significantly different from the control group (0% FSBM) (P > 0.05). However, FR, SGR and FER of turtles fed with the diet containing 6% FSBM were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the activities of serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamicpyruvic transaminase among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). However, the uric acid concentration in turtles fed with the diet containing 3% or 6% FSBM was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the activities of lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). The results suggested that FSBM could replace 4.72% BFM protein in turtle diets without exerting adverse effects on turtle growth, feed utilization and measured immune parameters.

Physiological responses in vitamin C system during hibernation in juvenile Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis

Vitamin C (Vc) is an important antioxidant that helps turtles tolerating stressful environment. This work quantified changes in tissue Vc levels during winter hibernation in the soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis , to reveal the stress response pattern of tissue Vc during hibernation and contribute basic data for turtle culture. We sampled juvenile soft-shelled turtles at pre-hibernation (17.0°C mud temperature;MT), during hibernation (5.8°C MT) and after arousal (20.1°C MT) in the field. The transcript levels of the gene encoding L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO), the key enzyme for Vc synthesis, decreased significantly during hibernation. However, GLO activity did not match the GLO transcription patterns and remained stable during hibernation, and showed temperature-dependent kinetic characteristics. Vitamin C levels in the brain, liver, kidney, and spleen (but not muscle) all decreased significantly during hibernation, but recovered to pre-hibernation levels or even higher levels after arousal. The soft-shelled turtle endured 5 months of hibernation with no significant oxidative damage in most tissues, except in the spleen. Splenic Vc was nearly exhausted during hibernation, accompanied by a significantly elevated malonaldehyde (MDA) level. Although the high level of oxidative damage quickly decreased after arousal, the potential tissue damage in the spleen during hibernation might account for the weakened immune capacity of turtles after hibernation.

Effects of acute cold exposure on oxidative balance and total antioxidant capacity in juvenile Chinese soft-shelled turtle,Pelodiscus sinensis

Acute cold exposure may disturb the physiological homeostasis of the body in ectotherms.To date,there has been no information on the effects of cold exposure on homeostasis of reactive oxygen species(ROS)or antioxidant defense response in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle,Pelodiscus sinensis.In this study,P.sinensis juveniles were acclimated at 28℃,transferred to 8℃ as cold exposure for 12 h,then moved back to 28℃ rewarming for 24 h.We measured the ROS level and total antioxidant capacity(TAC)in the brain,liver,kidney and spleen at 2 and 12 h cold exposure,and at the end of the rewarming period.Malonaldehyde(MDA)and carbonyl protein were used as markers of oxidative damage.Turtles being maintained simultaneously at 28℃ were used as the control group.Cold exposure did not disturb the ROS balance in all 4 tissues,while rewarming raised the ROS level in the brain and kidney of P.sinensis.Cold exposure and rewarming decreased the TAC in the brain,liver and spleen but did not change the TAC in the kidney.MDA and carbonyl protein levels did not increase during the treatment,indicating no oxidative damage in all 4 tissues of P.sinensis.Our results indicated that extreme cold exposure did not impact the inner oxidative balance of P.sinensis,but more ROS was produced during rewarming.P.sinensis showed good tolerance to the harsh temperature change through effective protection of its antioxidant defense system to oxidative damage.This study provides basic data on the stress biology of P.sinensis.

Supplementation with turmeric residue increased survival of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) under high ambient temperatures

Turmeric residue（TR）, containing residual levels of curcumin, is a solid by-product waste generated after the extraction and separation of curcumin from turmeric root. A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of TR on the survival of Chinese soft-shelled turtles（SSTs）, Pelodiscus sinensis, under a high ambient temperature. A total of 320 female SSTs were assigned randomly to two diets： basal diet（the control group, n=160） and an interventional diet supplemented with 10% TR（the TR group, n=160）. Our results demonstrated that supplementation of TR increased the SST survival rate by 135.5%, and superoxide dismutase（SOD） activity of SST liver by 112.8%, and decreased the malondialdehyde（MDA） content of SST liver by 36.4%, compared to the control group. The skin of the SST fed TR showed a golden color. High-performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） analysis indicated that the concentrations of curcumin in TR and the skin of the SST fed TR were（1.69±0.30） and（0.14±0.03） μg/g, respectively. Our observation suggests that supplementation of TR increased the survival rate of SST under high ambient temperatures. We speculated that the increased survival rate and tolerance at the high ambient temperature were associated with the anti-oxidation activity of curcumin from TR. Moreover, curcumin in TR could be deposited in SST skin, which made it more favored in the market of China. Our findings provide new knowledge and evidence to effectively reuse TR as a feed additive in animal and aquatic farming.

Division of Chinese soft-shelled turtle intestine with molecular markers is slightly different from the morphological and histological observation

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle(Pelodiscus sinensis)is a commercially important species in Asian countries.Knowledge of its nutritional requirements and physiology is essential for determining the appropriate content of the feed for this animal.However,the lack of functional characterization of the intestine of this turtle limits the understanding of its absorption and utilization of nutritional materials.To solve this problem,this work utilized anatomical and histological methods to characterize 9 segments sampled along the anterior-posterior axis of the intestine.Furthermore,9 genes,which have been well documented in the intestine division of mammals and fish,were employed to functionally characterize the 9 sampled segments.Our results suggest that regions covering from the starting site to S3(position at 29.9%of the total length from the starting of the intestine)are the equivalent of mammalian dedumonen,and those covering S4(40.2%)and S5(65.4%),posterior to S8(92.7%),are the equivalent of the mammalian ileum and the large intestine,respectively.As to the region spaning S6(81.3%)and S7(87.3%),its functional equivalent(small intestine or large intestine)may be variable and depends on the functional genes.This molecular characterization in relation to the division of the intestine of Chinese soft-shelled turtle may contribute to the understanding of the nutritional physiology of the turtle,and promote Chinese soft-shelled turtle production.

Effects of ration level and feeding frequency on digestibility in juvenile soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

The effects of ration level and feeding frequency on digestibility in juvenile soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, were investigated. Four ration levels 1.5%, 2.5%, 4.0% and satiation （6.0% BW/d） were used. Apparent digestibility （AD） of dry matter （DMAD）, protein （PAD） and protein real digestibility （PRD） were significantly affected by ration level, but not by feeding frequency when the ration level was similar. However, the feeding frequency affected the AD, DMAD, PAD and PRD significantly when the turtles were fed to satiation. The relationship between fecal protein content （Y） and protein intake （At） can be expressed as a quadric equation： Y=-0.1742＋0.1476X-0.0003X^2 （r^2=0.876, n=27, F=93.92, P〈0.01）.

Effects of Dietary Soy Protein Concentrate on Growth, Digestive Enzymes Activities and Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway Regulation in Juvenile Soft-Shelled Turtle, <i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>

Soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis is important aquatic species in China, and searching for alternatives protein resources to fish meal (FM)-based feeds in feed has become urgent and important for its sustainability development. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary soy protein concentrate (SPC) on growth, digestive enzymes and target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway of juvenile P. sinensis (4.56 ± 0.09 g). SPC was applied to replace FM protein at 0%, 15%, 30% and 60% (designated as T0, T15, T30 and T60, respectively), and each diet was fed to triplicate groups. The results showed that there was no significant difference in growth performance and feed utilization except of the turtles fed with T60 diet, of which showed poorer daily weight gain and feed conversion rate. The pepsin/trypsin and Na+-K+ ATP-ase activities decreased dramatically when SPC level increased, and lipase activities in liver and intestinal tract also showed decline tendency. However, amylase activities were unaffected. No significant differences were observed in TOR, S6K1 and 4E-BP1 genes mRNA expression level of TOR signaling pathway among the treatments. However, the relative phosphorylated level of these proteins decreased significantly when SPC level increased. The present study indicated that high SPC substitution level would suppress digestive enzymes and TOR signaling pathway proteins phosphorylated level and eventually result in growth reduction of P. sinensis.

Chinese Turtle Tonic Drink

The Chinese soft-shell turtle is regarded as a traditional Chinese corroborant and valuable Chinese medicine. It is of high nutrition, containing many elements necessary for health such as polypeptide, holoside, amino-acid and vitamin A, D, E and other trace elements. When they are extracted through the traditionalprocessing method under high temperature, all these elements are easily dissolved and broken down, losing their biological activation.

Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Embryonic Development and Hatchling Traits of Turtles

Deltamethrin is a widespread environmental hormone with endocrine-disrupting properties, but its effect on embryonic development of reptiles is largely unexplored. We investigated the effects of deltamethrin on embryonic development and offspring traits in two turtle species, one with parchment-shelled eggs and the other with rigidshelled eggs. Deltamethrin exposure during egg incubation did not affect hatching success and hatchling body size in either species. However, embryonic exposure to deltamethrin resulted in reduced hatchling locomotor performance in the red-eared slider turtle（Trachemys scripta） with parchment-shelled eggs, but not in the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle（Chinemys reevesii） with rigid-shelled eggs. These results suggest that parchment-shelled eggs are likely more vulnerable to deltamethrin than rigid-shelled eggs.

Effects of lighting mode on the growth performance,cortisol level and oxidative stress of juvenile Chinese three-keeled pond turtle(Chinemys Reevesii)

To improve the light environment and welfare of the turtle cultured indoors,the effects of lighting mode on growth performance,cortisol level,and oxidative stress of juvenile Chinese three-keeled pond turtle,Chinemys reevesii,were investigated in this study.The experimental turtles with an initial weight of 5.61±0.09 g were reared in tanks under four different lighting modes:three groups with light(lighting the basking area and water area,LBW;lighting the water area only,LW;lighting the basking area only,LB)and control group(no light,NL).The experiment was conducted for more than six months,with each group having three replicates.After 203 d of the experiment,the turtle in the LW group exhibited higher weight gain rate(WGR)and a specific growth rate(SGR,%/d)compared to other treatments.Also,results showed that the final body weight of the turtle exposed to LW was higher than that exposed to other treatments.On the physiological level,serum cortisol level in turtles exposed to LW was significantly lower than that in other treatments.Regarding oxidative stress,the level of catalase(CAT)in turtles exposed to LW and LB was significantly lower than that exposed to LBW and NL.The malonaldehyde(MDA)activity in turtles exposed to LW was significantly lower than other treatments.Based on the growth performance and health status,it is suggested that lighting the water area only is the optimal lighting mode for the juvenile threekeeled pond turtle cultured indoors.

中华鳖养殖过程中浮游生物群落结构的演变

为研究中华鳖养殖过程中,池塘浮游生物群落结构的演变。在放养前、养殖中期和养殖后期3个阶段采集水样,进行理化、浮游生物检测与分析。结果表明:养殖后期NH4+-N达2.38 mg/L,显著性高于养殖前和养殖中期。共检出浮游植物5门62种,种类组成以绿藻门、蓝藻门为主;浮游动物4类39种,以原生动物、轮虫为主。浮游植物生物丰度和生物量以绿藻为主,浮游动物以桡足类为主。养殖中期浮游植物、浮游动物平均丰度达到最高值,分别为4762600、1634 ind/L;养殖后期浮游植物、浮游动物生物量达到最高,分别为18.09、10.106 mg/L。养殖中期的浮游植物多样性指数(H)和均匀度指数(J)平均值分别为0.1779、0.0604,显著性低于养殖前;养殖中后期,纤维新月藻为绝对优势藻;中华鳖养殖前后浮游动物多样性指数(H)差异不显著。研究表明,中华鳖养殖过程中,池塘浮游植物群落结构变化较大,而浮游动物变化较小;养殖水体表现出先变差再逐渐变好的趋势,养殖中期水体稳定性差,需要进行积极调水。

中华鳖粉胶原蛋白不同提取方式的比较与理化表征

为减少水产品资源流失,提高鳖类产品附加值,该文以中华鳖粉为原料,分别采用柠檬酸、胃蛋白酶、酸性蛋白酶、风味蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶等方法提取酸溶性胶原和酶溶性胶原,探究鳖源胶原蛋白原料的应用价值。使用氨基酸自动分析仪、扫描电子显微镜、SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳、傅里叶红外光谱仪、气相-质谱联用仪、差式量热扫描仪对胶原蛋白的氨基酸、二级结构、挥发性物质、热稳定性等理化指标进行测定。结果表明,5种胶原蛋白均具有I型胶原特征,且纯度较高,但不同方法间提取效率存在差异。其中,胃蛋白酶溶性胶原蛋白具有较高的提取率与热稳定性,具有亚氨基酸含量高、蛋白交联程度好、气味物质少等优势,在食品与医药领域具有较好的应用前景,为后续鳖源胶原的提取与应用提供了理论基础。

Discovery of virus pathogen from soft-shelled turtle Trionyx sinesis

THE soft-shelled turtle Trionyx sinesis, because of its nutritional and medicinal values,

阿胶在《伤寒杂病论》中的应用

《伤寒杂病论》中含有阿胶的方剂有黄土汤、薯蓣丸、白头翁加甘草阿胶汤、炙甘草汤、大黄甘遂汤、黄连阿胶汤、猪苓汤、鳖甲煎丸、芎归胶艾汤、胶姜汤、温经汤等11首,每方中阿胶功效并不完全相同,阿胶不仅能止血养血,还可发挥多重作用。黄土汤主治心腹内崩,方中阿胶止心腹内崩,同时补虚,兼止腰腹痛;薯蓣丸主治劳极,方中阿胶可缓解腰腹痛、四肢酸痛,且可预防出血;白头翁加甘草阿胶汤治疗产后下利虚极,方中阿胶补虚止血;炙甘草汤治疗心血不足所致心悸,方中阿胶补虚、止惊悸、养心健脾;大黄甘遂汤治疗水瘀互结证,方中阿胶补虚止血;黄连阿胶汤治疗心肾不交证,方中阿胶补虚极,止痛止血;猪苓汤利水,方中阿胶补虚、止血、育阴以助利水;鳖甲煎丸主治癥瘕,方中阿胶主治洒洒如疟状、腹痛;芎归胶艾汤治疗冲任不固证,方中阿胶止血、止痛、补虚并用;胶姜汤主治妇人陷经,方中阿胶补虚止血;温经汤主治虚寒血瘀证,方中阿胶既可止血,又兼止痛、补虚。

Medicinal Soft-Shelled Turtle

Ingredients:Whole soft-shelled turtle; Chinese wolf-berry fruit(Lycium Chinese), milk vetch membrane root(Astragalus membranaceus), Chinese angelica andAmerican ginseng--about 25g of

脱脂黑水虻幼虫粉替代鱼粉对中华鳖生长性能、肝脏抗氧化能力和肠道菌群的影响

本试验旨在研究脱脂黑水虻幼虫粉替代饲料中不同比例鱼粉对中华鳖稚鳖生长性能、肝脏抗氧化指标、肝脏和肠道消化酶活性、肠道组织形态和菌群的影响。配制5种等氮等脂的试验饲料,5种试验饲料中脱脂黑水虻幼虫粉替代鱼粉的比例分别为0(F0,作为对照)、15%(F15)、30%(F30)、45%(F45)、60%(F60)。选取初始体重为(4.98±0.18)g的中华鳖稚鳖175只,随机分为5组,每组5个重复,每个重复7只,进行为期8周的养殖试验。结果显示:脱脂黑水虻幼虫粉替代饲料中不同比例的鱼粉对中华鳖稚鳖的摄食量、体比系数和肝体指数没有显著影响(P>0.05)。与对照组相比,F15、F30和F45组的终末体重、成活率、增重率和特定生长率均没有显著变化(P>0.05),F60组则显著降低(P<0.05);F15和F45组的饲料系数没有显著变化(P>0.05),F30和F60组则显著升高(P<0.05);F45和F60组的脂体指数显著降低(P<0.05)。各组间血清总蛋白、白蛋白、球蛋白和乳酸含量以及谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶和碱性磷酸酶活性均无显著差异(P>0.05);F45组血清酸性磷酸酶活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。F30组肝脏抗氧化酶和消化酶活性最高,F45组肠道淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性最高。高通量测序分析显示,F30组肠道中邻单胞菌属的相对丰度最低,鲸杆菌属的相对丰度较高,但是与对照组没有显著差异(P>0.05);各组在门和属水平上的优势菌群相同,肠道菌群alpha多样性指数无显著差异(P>0.05)。综上所述,脱脂黑水虻幼虫粉替代饲料中30%~45%的鱼粉对中华鳖稚鳖的生长性能没有产生负面影响,并能改善肝脏抗氧化能力与肠道菌群结构。

中华鳖营养成分分析与功效研究进展

为了有效开发利用中华鳖资源,以宁波中华鳖粉为例,分析概括中华鳖粉不同的营养组分含量,总结胶原蛋白和多不饱和脂肪酸在国内外各领域上的应用现状,以及中华鳖在医药、保健食品行业的功效研究进展,指出对于无法进行活体销售的中华鳖原料,可以对其进行深加工,充分利用鳖源胶原蛋白、优质脂肪酸及副产物鳖甲等,提升中华鳖产品附加值,为中华鳖在食品、医药以及保健品行业的应用提供理论基础。

九肋鳖形态及遗传特性分析

研究在湖南洞庭湖及沅江水域内开展中华鳖(Pelodiscus sinensis)种质资源调查,发现中华鳖中存在“九肋鳖”,为了解其资源分布、形态特征以及遗传特性,从形态指标、线粒体DNA及骨骼发育基因多态性入手,比较研究九肋鳖(9对肋骨,简称R9)与八肋鳖(8对肋骨,简称R8)的形态及分子遗传特性。结果显示:(1)从湖南省沅江、益阳、常德和岳阳地区的12222只人工养殖中华鳖群体中共筛选出331只九肋鳖,其在养殖中华鳖群体中占比为2.2%—3.1%。(2)九肋鳖背甲内胸椎数为11枚,肋骨9对,比八肋鳖多1枚胸椎和1对肋骨。(3)九肋鳖背甲宽/背甲长、后侧裙边宽/背甲长显著小于八肋鳖,体高/背甲长显著大于八肋鳖。(4)九肋鳖CO I、Cytb、12S rRNA基因与中华鳖序列的同源性达到99%以上,进化树分析显示九肋鳖与中华鳖群体聚为一支,与中华鳖地理群体间均存在共享单倍型,未找到群体特异性标记。(5)九肋鳖与八肋鳖的RUNX2和VRTN基因外显子上共检测到4处突变位点,即g.977380 C>T、g.6014427C>T、g.6015734A>C及g.6015864A>C位点,且VRTN基因的g.6015864A>C突变与中华鳖胸椎数之间存在显著关联(P<0.05)。以上研究表明,九肋鳖属于中华鳖,其形态结构与八肋鳖的区别在于多1枚胸椎和1对肋骨,VRTN基因g.6015864A>C位点可能与中华鳖多脊椎性状有关。研究结果对了解中华鳖种质特性及种业创新具有较重要的理论参考价值。

中华鳖生态综合种养模式研究进展与展望

近年来,莲(稻)渔综合种养模式发展迅速,其中,中华鳖生态综合种养模式在实践中也不断创新改进。回顾了近年来创新的中华鳖生态综合种养模式,总结了主要成效经验,以期为江西省中华鳖产业健康可持续发展提供参考。