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 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.

Discovery of virus pathogen from soft-shelled turtle Trionyx sinesis

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

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.

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

超声辅助酶法提取中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白及其热稳定性能

以中华鳖裙边为原料,采用单因素试验探讨加酶量、超声时间、超声功率、料液比对胶原蛋白的影响,通过Box-Behnken响应面方法建立数学模型,求得最佳酶提工艺,比较常规酶提和超声辅助酶提胶原蛋白的热稳定性能。结果表明,在提取溶剂为乙酸(0.5 mol/L)、料液比1∶20(g/m L)的条件下,采用超声酶提胶原蛋白的最佳工艺参数为加酶量0.8%、超声时间43 min、超声功率176 W,此条件下胶原蛋白得率为74.50%;差示扫描量热实验结果表明,超声酶提胶原蛋白的热稳定性显著优于常规酶提胶原蛋白。该研究可为中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白的精深加工及其应用提供一定科学依据。

中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白酶解物在猪肉糜中抗氧化效果

以中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白为原料,经中性蛋白酶水解获得中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白水解物,研究其抗氧化性能和在猪肉糜中的抗氧化效果。首先分析中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白及其酶解物的氨基酸组成和对ABTS自由基清除率,结果表明,与非酶解中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白相比,其酶解物含有较多具有一定抗氧化活性的氨基酸,因此抗氧化活性较好。在肉糜试验中,将猪肉糜分为5组,包括空白对照组,添加0.25%、0.50%、1.00%(质量比)中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白酶解物的处理组,在冷藏7 d过程中测定肉糜的pH值、TBARS值、酸价、过氧化值、巯基和羰基含量的变化,考察中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白酶解物对猪肉糜的抗氧化效果。结果表明,与空白对照组相比,添加中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白酶解物的处理组能显著降低肉糜中pH值、TBARS值、酸价、过氧化值和羰基含量增长的速度,尤其是添加1.00%(质量比)中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白酶解物的处理组能显著抑制肉糜中巯基的减少,从而有效抑制肉糜氧化。本试验结果为进一步利用中华鳖裙边胶原蛋白开发抗氧化肽提供了理论基础。

甲鱼裙边蛋白酶解物的加工特性及抗氧化性

为全面了解酶的种类、酶解时间及pH值对甲鱼裙边蛋白酶解物加工特性及抗氧化性的影响,采用风味蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶和双酶(风味蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶)在各自的最适反应条件下对甲鱼裙边蛋白进行酶解,得到酶解产物,并对其感官品质、加工特性及抗氧化性进行研究。结果表明:双酶酶解产物(HF+HP)在酶解2 h时具有较高的感官评分。3种甲鱼裙边蛋白酶解产物均具有良好的溶解性,且酶解产物经63℃、30 min热处理后的溶解度仍保持在80%以上。与风味蛋白酶酶解产物(HF)和木瓜蛋白酶酶解产物(HP)相比,HF+HP具有较强的ABTS^+·清除能力和DPPH自由基清除能力,HP表现出较强的亚铁离子螯合能力和总还原能力。HF的乳化性相对于HP和HF+HP较大,HP和HF+HP的乳化性无显著差异。酶解时间和酶的种类会对甲鱼裙边蛋白酶解物的加工特性及抗氧化性产生较大影响。

鳖源胶原蛋白提取纯化及在生物材料中的应用

近年来,胶原蛋白因其良好的生物学性能在生物材料应用中得到越来越多的关注,为了建立一种快速高效的鳖源胶原蛋白纯化方法和探究其在生物材料中的应用价值,首先用Van Gieson染色法和苦味酸-天狼星红染色法观察裙边胶原纤维组织结构,发现裙边胶原纤维含量非常高且类型主要是Ⅰ型。采用不同截留分子量的透析袋对裙边胶原蛋白粗提液进行直接透析纯化,发现截留分子量为100 k Da的透析袋在透析48 h后对裙边胶原蛋白的纯化效果最好,SDS-PAGE检验显示几乎没有杂带。对裙边胶原蛋白生物学性能包括吸水性、体外降解性进行考察,其吸水力和持水力分别高达12.06 g/g和98.21%,且在72 h后被完全降解;对裙边胶原蛋白海绵的溶血性、皮肤致敏性、肝部创伤止血性、促创伤皮肤愈合性进行了研究,并和交联胶原进行比较,发现裙边胶原蛋白和交联胶原均不会造成SD大鼠溶血和皮肤过敏,二者均具有良好的止血效果,且裙边胶原蛋白能显著缩短创伤皮肤愈合时间,具有良好的促创伤皮肤愈合性,而交联胶原效果欠佳。本研究表明裙边胶原蛋白表现出了优良的生物学性能,在生物材料领域具有很大应用价值。