Determination of eucalyptol camphor menthol and thymol in Greek thyme honey by GC-FID

Characterisation of unifloral honeys is a hard task that involves evaluation of the results of melissopalynological, physicochemical and sensory analyses. Finding reliable chemical markers to ascertain botanical origin of honey is of great importance to the beekeeping industry. The purpose of this work was to analyse untreated Greek thyme honeys and evaluate the possibility of establishing chemical markers for this honey by using a simple and reliable analytical method. The analytical method employed consists of extraction on octadecylsilica cartridges, GC separation and FID detection. The limits of detection were 30, 20, 15 and 15 μg kg−1 for eucalyptol, camphor, menthol and thymol, respectively, while the limit of quantification for each substance was 50 μg kg−1. Overall recoveries were >85%. The results showed that none of the 47 thyme honey samples analysed contained eucalyptol or camphor. All samples contained menthol and thymol, but the concentrations were very low ranging from traces to 51.3 μg kg−1 and 65 μg kg−1, respectively

HISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LEUCINE AMINOPEPTIDASE (LAP-ase)IN THE YOUNG RABBIT INTESTINE

[EN] The distribution of leucine aminopeptidase in normal duodenal, jejunal, ileal, crecal and colonic mucosa of the rabbit has been studied using a histochemical method. Thirty New Zealand White rabbits were used ranging from 26-day old foetuses to 43-day old young (3 rabbits per age). Small intestine siles performed a leucine aminopeptidase reaction starting from the 301 h day of foetal life. After birth the reaction was variable in intensity up to 19 days of age, while in older animals it became very strong. Similarly, the large intestine followed the same pattern with the exception that from the 241 h day of age onwards it performed no reaction.[FR] La méthode histochimique a été utilisée pour étudier la répartition de la leucine aminopeptidase dans les muqueuses du duodénum, du jéjunum, de l'iléon, du caecum et du colon de jeunes lapins. Trente lapins néo-zélandais blancs allant de foetus ilgés de 26 jours jusqu'a de jeunes lapereaux ilgés de 43 jours ont été utilisés (3 par stade d'observation). La leucine aminopeptidase a été détectée dans l'intestin gréle a partir du 30éme jour de vie foetale. Aprés la naissance l'intensité de la réponse est variable jusqu'a 19 jours d'ilge, tandis qu'elle devient trés forte chez les animaux plus ilgés. Le gros intestin suit le méme modéle avec une exception notable : a partir de l'ilge de 24 jours il n'y a plus d'activité détectable.Sabatakou, O.; Xylouri-Frangiadaki, E.; Paraskevakou, E. (2000). HISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LEUCINE AMINOPEPTIDASE (LAP-ase)IN THE YOUNG RABBIT INTESTINE. World Rabbit Science. doi:10.4995/wrs.2000.434SWORD08

HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF NON-SPECIFIC ESTERASE ACTIVITY IN SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINE OF YOUNG RABBIT

[EN] The distribution of non-specific esterase in normal duodenal, jejunal, ileal and large intestinal mucosa of the rabbit has been studied using histochemical methods. Thirty three New Zealand White rabbits were used ranging from 26-day old fetuses to 43-day old young (3 rabbits I age). Distribution and intensity (strong to very strong) varied little throughout the small and large intestine from the 301 h day of foetal life and as after birth up to 43 days. At the 26 or 281 h days of foetal life only mild to positive reactions were seen. 1 In the caecum and in the upper colon, a low non-specific esterase activity was observed in the 7- and 15 day-old rabbits, although this activity was very strong in younger one-day-old rabbits, and in the 19-day-old and older rabbits.[FR] La répartition de l'estérase non spécifique dans la muqueuse du duodénum, du jéjunum, de l'ileum et du gros intestin du lapin a été étudiée en utilisant une méthode histochimique. Trente trois lapins néozélandais blancs allant de fcetus é'.!gés de 26 jours jusqu'a de jeunes lapereaux é'.!gés de 43 jours ont été utilisés (3 lapins a chaque é'.!ge). La répartition et l'intensité de l'activité (forte a tres forte) varient peu dans le gros intestin et le gréle a partir du 3o•m• jour de vie fcetale et jusqu'au 43éme jour. Par contre, au 26-2a•m• jour de vie fcetale il y a une réaction seulement positive ou moyenne. D'autre part, il faut souligner que dans le caecum et le colon (partie haute) un faible activité de l'estérase non spécifique est observée chez les lapereaux é'.!gés de 7 et 15 jours alors que l'activité est tres forte chez les lapereaux d'1 jour et chez ceux de 19 jours et plus.Sabatakou, O.; Xylouri-Frangiadaki, E.; Paraskevakou, E. (2000). HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF NON-SPECIFIC ESTERASE ACTIVITY IN SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINE OF YOUNG RABBIT. World Rabbit Science. doi:10.4995/wrs.2000.435SWORD08

Journal of Applied Ichthyology 20 6 525 529 Berlin, Germany: Blackwell Publishing.

A systemic infection of a Rickettsia-like organism (RLO) in cultured sea bass is described for the first time. In hatcheries, clinical signs were lethargy, inappetence and discoloration. Twenty days after transfer to sea cages from hatcheries where the disease existed, fish showed erratic and abnormal swimming behaviour, loss of orientation, and lethargy. Cumulative mortality in colder months of the year reached 30% in hatcheries and 80% in cages. Surviving fish in cages did not show any clinical signs of RLO infection in the subsequent year. Evidence for a systemic distribution of RLO was supported by histolopathological lesions in both infected hatchery and caged fish, where the lesion profile included cranial sensory, central nervous, integumental and alimentary organ systems. Intracranial lesions were primarily characterized by an ascending histiocytic perineuritis and necrotizing congestive meningoencephalitis, with evidence for transfer of infective agents across the blood-brain barrier confirmed by the presence of RLOs within capillary endothelium and histiocytes in inflamed regions of the optic tectum and the cerebellum. In the most severe cases, infection spread to the statoacoustical (semicircular) canal system and the ependymal lining of ventricles, with marked rickettsial-laden histiocytic infiltration of the canal lumen. Integumental lesions were restricted to the oral submucosa, nares and integumental dermis of the cranium. Alimentary lesions were noted in both the liver parenchyma and mucosa/submucosa of the stomach. In all affected organs the RLOs were found by immunohistochemistry to be related to Piscirickettsia salmonis.

Some factors determining the shelf life of vacuum packed heat-treated Greek sausages

The bacteria Total Plate Count (TPC), Lactobacilli, pH and water activity influencing the shelf life of Greek vacuum-packed, heat-treated sausages kept at 7 °C were investigated. Samples of six types of whole and sliced, vacuum packed sausages were tested at weekly intervals and until sensory defects occurred. The TPC and Lactobacilli reached counts of about or over 10 8 cfu/g at the end of the products' shelf life and were followed by a drop in pH to about or below 5.7. The findings showed that the shelf life of all the products falls short of the producer's recommended sell-by-date, due to higher counts of bacteria and to a faster pH fall of the products

Diseases of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus L.) reared in experimental and commercial conditions in Greece

A bacteriological and parasitological study of the white sea bream, Diplodus sargus L., was conducted as this species is a potential candidate for aquaculture in Mediterranean countries. The study comprised fish reared in commercial cages (2 farms) located in different geographical localities, as well as fish reared experimentally in cages located in a natural enclosed lagoon. Fish were examined in the fresh state by means of smears from all internal and external organs and by histology. Microbiology was also performed at all sites. Mortality was low (12%) at farm 1 (Argolida), while at farm 2 (Korinth) and the lagoon it reached 32% and 42%, respectively. Microbial infections were low in prevalence and these concerned Vibrio anguillarum, V. alginoliticus and Pseudomonas sp. The parasitic fauna comprised external Monogenea, Digenea and internal Myxosporida. Monogenea were present throughout the year at all locations, but at low intensity. Three species of Myxosporida were recorded in this study: Myxobolus sp. in the kidneys, Kudoa sp. in the musculature and Enteromyxum leei in the intestine. Nephrocalcinosis was found in all sampled fish and this was suspected to be related to Myxobolus sp. infections. The study showed that D. sargus reared under captive conditions is prone to several parasitic and bacterial infections. Amongst them the most important in terms of pathology were the myxosporeans (Myxobolus sp. and Kudoa sp). These may play a role in the mortality observed, thus making this fish culture questionable in terms of cost effectiveness