Use of Bacillus probiotics for immune responses and intestinal microflora of white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) post larvae

The effect of dietary containing of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis in three groups including commercial, commercial-indigenous and indigenous was investigated on the immune parameters (glucose, albumin, total protein, lysozyme, cortisol, immunoglobulin M (IgM)) and the intestinal flora of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post larvae. The shrimp were fed for 60 days with four different diets: control (without probiotics), diet T1 supplemented with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 commercial probiotic, diet T2 with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 commercial-indigenous probiotic, diet T3 with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 indigenous probiotic. At the end of experimental period, the levels of biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein, lysozyme, cortisol, IgM) of shrimp fed probiotic diets were significantly higher than in those shrimps fed the control diet for 60 days. However, albumin concentrations showed no significant difference between the experimental treatments and the control, but increased by 1.19, 1.15 and 1.14 after 60 days of feeding with diets T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Likewise, population density of Bacillus bacteria counted in digestive tract of shrimps treated with probiotic were significantly higher than the control group. Results of this study indicated that the addition of probiotic bacilli can improve immune parameters and modulates intestinal microbiota of shrimp (L. vannamei) post larvae

Effects of Bacillus probiotic enzyme extract on growth and carcass biochemical composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae

The present study was done to evaluate the effects of enzyme extract, produced by five species of probiotics Bacillus on growth and carcass biochemical composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae with initial body weight of 0.583 ± 0.197 g (mean ± SD). The enzyme extract was produced by Bacillus probiotics in broth media with concentrations of 1 × 10^6, 1 × 10^7 and 1 × 10^8 CFU/100g and then it was added into the feed of rainbow trout larvae respectively. The results of larval biometry at the end of the study showed that the use of enzyme extract with the highest Bacillus concentration (1×10^8 CFU/100g) in T3 (20.02 ±3.77 g) significantly increased the growth (P<0.05). Also other growth parameters as specific growth rate and average daily growth showed significant differences (P<0.05). The study of carcass biochemical composition according to AOAC (1990) standard showed that T1 and T3 had the highest crude protein content and control had the lowest crude protein content. Also the experimental treatments showed the highest survival rate in comparison with the control (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that enzyme extract of Bacillus probiotic improved the growth performance and feed efficiency in rainbow trout larvae and also increased the survival rate

Comparison of digital radiography, conventional film and self-developing film for working length determination

Introduction: Accurate measurement of working length of the root canal is an important factor in endodontic treatment, because it determines the level of cleaning and shaping of the canal. This can be performed using numerous methods including conventional, digital and self-developing methods, which are studied in this work. Methods and Materials: In this study, 50 maxillary molars with appropriate conditions for the analysis were collected and their mesiobuccal canal lengths were estimated by three different types of radiographs with and without file. Next, two endodontists and a radiologist reviewed all the images under the same conditions. The precise lengths of the canals were measured by removing teeth from their casts and direct observation. Finally, data regarding differences in radiographic length and actual length were examined by SPSS 16.0 software and Repeated Measures ANOVA test. Results: There was no significant difference in any of the radiographic states. The differences of root canal lengths were not significant for the first (endodontist) and third (endodontist) observers; whereas, there were significant differences for the second observer (radiologist). The differences were not significant for samples without files (P=0.89). However, the differences were significant for samples with files (P=0.03). Conclusion: Since analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the results of digital radiography, conventional film and self-developing film methods in working length determination, the clinician can choose any of these methods according to the working conditions without being concerned about losing the accuracy. © 2018, Iranian Association of Endodontics. All rights reserved