The Dynamics of Starch and Total Sugars during Fruit Development for Ionathan, Starkrimson and Golden Delicious Apple Varieties

Apples represent one of the most important elements in the human diet. The research carried out involved three apple varieties (Starkimson, Ionathan and Golden Delicious) harvested during development, which were analyzed in terms of physico-chemical profile. During fruit development, diameter and mass increased continuously for all the three apple varieties studied, acidity decreased and total soluble solids content increased significantly. The pH values of the apple pulp also increased confirming the results obtained for the acidity. The starch concentration was reduced in the early stages of fruit development in all three varieties of apple studied. Starch concentration significantly increased (p <0.05) starting 35 days after full bloom, similar for all three varieties studied. The peak of starch concentration for all three varieties under study was reached at 65 days after full bloom. Starch concentration gradually decreased starting 107 days after full bloom until technological maturity. The results provide important information on how to make the best use of the apple cultivars investigated, and not only, for both technological research and processing practice. Also, they determine the best time to use the apples from physiological falls in different foods and pharmaceuticals

Influence of the raising system on phagocytosis in the endangered Danube salmon (Hucho hucho)

The Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) represents the flagship of the Salmonidae family. The species is severely fragmented within the Danube drainage and is included as Endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Unfortunately, a limited understanding of biological responses to anthropogenic alterations has impeded the conservation efforts for this fish species. In this framework, the aim of the research was to evaluate one of the Danube salmon's most important nonspecific defense mechanism: the phagocytic activity of circulating leukocytes in relation with the raising system. The study was carried out on a number of 30 mature, healthy Danube salmons (Hucho hucho), aged 4–11 years (males: n = 15; females: n = 15), reared in two different systems (raceway and mountain lake) on the same fish farm. In spite of few observations in the wild, to date, there are no self-sustainable populations of huchen. The individuals used in our study represented the last and largest population of Danube salmon known to exist in Romania. Carbon particle inclusion test was used to monitor spontaneous phagocytosis. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between average in vitro phagocytic activity of huchens reared in the mountain lake and in a raceway system, therefore, we considered that the raising system had no significant influence on the innate cell-mediated response. Efforts must be made for the conservation of this species thus attention must be directed towards rational repopulations or restocking, where acclimatization is taken into consideration. Since this parameter is crucial for tissue homeostasis and resistance to diseases, it should be interpreted in the framework of microbial pollution of the environment. Keywords: Hucho hucho, Phagocytosis, Environment, Conservatio

The epidemiological background of small ruminant lentivirus infection in goats from Romania

Background and Aim: Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is an economically significant viral disease of goats caused by a small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) belonging to Retroviridae family. This study aimed to summarize current information on the epidemiological status of SRLVs infection in the population of goats from Romania and to point out the CAE incidence throughout the 2008-2018 periods. Materials and Methods: An exhaustive review of the papers published in the international literature concerning the epidemiological status of CAE in Romania was carried out using electronic databases, and available statistical data from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding the incidence of the disease between 2008 and 2018 were analyzed. Results: The true individual-level seroprevalence of CAE was estimated in 13 of 42 counties (31%) and ranged from 0.4% to roughly 40%. One hundred eighty-two outbreaks from 14 counties (33%) were reported, with a peak in 2010. Conclusion: The findings sourcing in the literature are very scarce and show disagreement with the situation reported by the national veterinary authorities. Lack of SRLVs screening policies represents the main obstacle in limiting the spread of the disease. Romania's National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority should implement a program for diagnosis and surveillance of the disease to build a straightforward epidemiological picture that represents a prerequisite of any control and eradication program