Ammonia Levels Research Articles

Revealing degradation pathways of soluble and dissolved organic matter in alluvial-lacustrine aquifer systems impacted by high levels of geogenic ammonium

The excessive presence of geogenic ammonium (NH4+) in groundwater poses a global environmental concern, commonly linked to the degradation of nitrogen-containing dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, there is a gap in systematic studies on the combination of soluble organic matter (SOM) in sediments and DOM in groundwater, with few indoor incubation experiments to validate their degradation pathways. This study utilized ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to analyze the molecular characteristics of DOM and SOM in aquifer systems affected by geogenic NH4+. Subsequently, indoor incubation experiments spanning up to 140 d were conducted to verify the degradation pathways. The experimental results revealed a two-phase degradation process for both the DOM and SOM. The initial stage was characterized by the degradation of aliphatic compounds (ALC) with the production of polyphenols (PPE) and highly unsaturated compounds (HUC). The second stage was dominated by the degradation of PPE and HUC, accompanied by the re-consumption of some ALC, while more recalcitrant HUC persisted. Notably, the first stage of SOM degradation exceeded that of DOM degradation, indicating that SOM exhibited greater resistance to aging. This phenomenon may be attributed to a wider range of active enzymes in sediments, the rapid replenishment of SOM by organic matter in sediments, or the accelerated degradation of DOM. The experimental results aligned with the molecular characterization of DOM and SOM in actual aquifer systems. It is hypothesized that NH4+ produced through the direct mineralization of SOM may contribute more to the enrichment of NH4+ in groundwater than that produced through the mineralization of DOM. This study is the first to analyze DOM and SOM together in aquifer systems and validate their degradation pathways through incubation experiments, thereby providing novel insights into the enrichment of geogenic NH4+ in groundwater.

Stress Responses in Horses Housed in Different Stable Designs during Summer in a Tropical Savanna Climate.

Single-confinement housing can pose welfare risks to domestic horses. This study investigated horses' stress responses when confined to single stalls in different stable designs in a tropical savanna region to address a gap in the literature. In total, 23 horses were assigned to a stable with a central corridor and solid external walls (A) (N = 8), a stable with one side corridor and solid external walls (B) (N = 6), or a stable with a central corridor and no solid external walls (C) (N = 9). Air velocity, relative humidity, air temperature, and noxious gases were measured inside the stables, and the heart rate and HRV of the horses were also determined. The relative humidity was lower in stable C than in stable A (p < 0.05), while the air temperature was higher in stable C than in stable B (p < 0.05) during the day. The airflow and ammonia levels were higher in stable C than in stables B and A (p < 0.01-0.0001). Overall, horses' HRV in stable A was lower than in those in stables B and C (p < 0.05-0.01). Horses in stable A tended to experience more stress than those in other stables.

Ice-Ice Disease Prevalence and Intensity in Eucheumatoid Seaweed Farms: Seasonal Variability and Relationship with the Physicochemical and Meteorological Parameters.

Since its initial report in the Philippines in 1981, ice-ice disease (IID) remains a substantial threat to the sustainability of eucheumatoid seaweed production. However, comprehensive investigations into the prevalence, intensity, and potential relationships with physicochemical and meteorological parameters are limited, particularly in open-sea farms. This is the first study to conduct a 12-month monitoring of IID prevalence and intensity in eucheumatoid seaweed farms in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The research aimed to elucidate seasonal variations and potential associations with physicochemical and meteorological parameters. The findings revealed significant seasonal variations in IID prevalence, with a higher incidence observed during the dry season compared to the wet season. Additionally, deep-water farms exhibited significantly higher prevalence and ice-ice spot numbers per bundle compared to shallow-water farms. Furthermore, Kappaphycus striatus displayed a significantly greater ice-ice spot length per bundle compared to K. alvarezii. Notably, no interaction effects were observed among season, species, and depth. Interestingly, while no correlations were found between ice-ice disease and most measured physicochemical and meteorological parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, water current velocity, wind speed) or nutrient concentrations (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite), an inverse correlation (p < 0.05) emerged between ammonium levels and IID intensity parameters (number and length of ice-ice spot per bundle). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between monthly rainfall and IID intensity. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of IID in open-sea eucheumatoid seaweed (Kappaphycus) farming, highlighting the influence of seasonality, depth, and species susceptibility, as well as the relationship between IID severity and ammonium levels and rainfall.

Cognitive impairment in patients awaiting kidney and liver transplantation-A clinically relevant problem?

Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in both end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and alcohol-related liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and patterns of CI in patients awaiting kidney and liver transplantation, and to identify its determinants. In this cross-sectional, prospective study, 31 consecutive patients with ESKD and 31 consecutive patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, all currently on transplant waiting lists, were screened for cognitive decline using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination. Medical history, demographics, and laboratory test results were also collected. The prevalence of CI among patients with ESKD and alcohol-related liver cirrhosis was 26% and 90%, respectively. In both groups, memory was the most affected cognitive domain, along with verbal fluency in patients with ESKD, and visuospatial abilities in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The most statistically significant increase in the prevalence of CI was found in patients with lower educational attainment, in both alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and ESKD populations as well as in older patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Furthermore, better cognitive functioning in ESKD patients was associated with higher levels of total lymphocyte count and alanine transaminase (ALT), and in alcohol-related liver cirrhosis patients with higher levels of ALT and aspartate transaminase. A nonsignificant trend toward lower memory domain scores was also observed with increasing ammonia levels and increasing severity of liver disease (higher Child-Pugh scores). Finally, suboptimal performance on the screening test was correlated with the severity of liver disease as assessed by the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na), but not at the statistically significant level. The prevalence of CI, especially in patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, is high and can be a significant clinical problem, negatively affecting the transplantation process. Routine screening tests in this group would contribute to the implementation of appropriate management, such as rehabilitation program or psychosocial treatments and facilitate the provision of specialized health care.

Validity of Serum Ammonia Level for Diagnosis of Severity of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Children

Hepatic encephalopathy is a broad spectrum neuropsychiatric abnormalities of liver dysfunction. Ammonia level may correlate with the severity of liver failure. The brain is very sensitive to the toxic effects of ammonia. As a result patient may manifests with irritability, slurring of speech, reversal of sleep-awake cycle, flapping tremor, confusion, stupor or even deep coma. This study was aimed to validate the ammonia level in children with liver failure for the assessment of its severity considering hepatic encephalopathy. This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 64 children aged 1-15 years of both sexes (study subjects) diagnosed as acute or acute on chronic liver failure in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of November 2017 to September 2019. The subject were divided into two groups for the comparison of ammonia level to assess the severity in contrast to hepatic encephalopathy. In the first group 32 were liver failure with encephalopathy and in the second group 32 were liver failure without encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed on the basis of West Haven Criteria. The analysis was done by the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve with SPSS-20. Among the 64 patients female were 45% whereas male patients were 55%, male female ratio was 1.2: 1. Regarding etiology, Wilson disease was the most common cause and it was nearly two-third (65.6%) of children, cryptogenic cirrhosis was 10%, Hepatitis A was 9.4%, Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) was 3.10%, Hepatitis E, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, biliary atresia and lipid storage were 1.60% respectively. This study showed that, ammonia of ≥71 µmol/L is an indicator for presence of hepatic encephalopathy in children. The analysis by the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve showed area under the curve (AUC) is 0.86 with upper bound 0.96 and lower bound is 0.77. It was observed that about half (48.4%) of the children had positive blood ammonia level (≥71.0 umol/L) and among the children of positive blood ammonia level most of them (80.65%) had hepatic encephalopathy and 19.35% had no encephalopathy. More than half (51.6%) children had negative (&lt;71.0 umol/L) blood ammonia level, among them 21.21% children had encephalopathy and 78.79% patients had no encephalopathy. Sensitivity of blood ammonia was found 78.1%, specificity 81.2%, positive predictive value 80.6%, negative predictive value 78.8% and accuracy 79.7%. In conclusion, high level of ammonia is found with higher grade of encephalopathy and hyperammonia is also found in liver failure without encephalopathy. Bangladesh Med J. 2023 May; 52(2): 1-5

HYPERAMMONEMIA IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASING SEVERITY OF BOTH LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Hyperammonemia is a critical condition frequently observed in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Objectives: The study's main aim is to find that hyperammonemia is associated with increasing severity of both liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at DHQ Hospital Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from January 2023 to June 2023. A total of 175 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis were included in the study. Data collection was performed using the hospital's electronic medical records system. The variables collected included demographic data like patients’ age and sex and clinical data concerning the etiology of cirrhosis, Child-Pugh score, and MELD score. Results: The study included 175 patients with liver cirrhosis, with a mean age of 54.3 ± 12.7 years, of whom 64% were male and 36% female. The etiologies of cirrhosis were predominantly hepatitis C virus (45%), hepatitis B virus (30%), alcoholic liver disease (15%), and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (10%). The mean Child-Pugh score was 8.7 ± 2.1, indicating moderate to severe liver disease, and the mean MELD score was 14.3 ± 4.5. The study found a strong positive correlation between ammonia levels and encephalopathy severity (r = 0.72, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: It is concluded that hyperammonemia is significantly associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Ammonium Transporter (AMT) Genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Ammonium transporters (AMTs) are vital plasma membrane proteins facilitating NH4+ uptake and transport, crucial for plant growth. The identification of favorable AMT genes is the main goal of improving ammonium-tolerant algas. However, there have been no reports on the systematic identification and expression analysis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) AMT genes. This study comprehensively identified eight CrAMT genes, distributed across eight chromosomes, all containing more than 10 transmembrane structures. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all CrAMTs belonged to the AMT1 subfamily. The conserved motifs and domains of CrAMTs were similar to those of the AMT1 members of OsAMTs and AtAMTs. Notably, the gene fragments of CrAMTs are longer and contain more introns compared to those of AtAMTs and OsAMTs. And the promoter regions of CrAMTs are enriched with cis-elements associated with plant hormones and light response. Under NH4+ treatment, CrAMT1;1 and CrAMT1;3 were significantly upregulated, while CrAMT1;2, CrAMT1;4, and CrAMT1;6 saw a notable decrease. CrAMT1;7 and CrAMT1;8 also experienced a decline, albeit less pronounced. Transgenic algas with overexpressed CrAMT1;7 did not show a significant difference in growth compared to CC-125, while transgenic algas with CrAMT1;7 knockdown exhibited growth inhibition. Transgenic algas with overexpressed or knocked-down CrAMT1;8 displayed reduced growth compared to CC-125, which also resulted in the suppression of other CrAMT genes. None of the transgenic algas showed better growth than CC-125 at high ammonium levels. In summary, our study has unveiled the potential role of CrAMT genes in high-ammonium environments and can serve as a foundational research platform for investigating ammonium-tolerant algal species.

Effect of methane addition on supercritical water oxidation of poultry manure in the flow mode

The paper presents the research results of the supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of poultry manure continuously fed into a tubular reactor both in the absence and presence of methane as an auxiliary fuel. The tests were conducted at a temperature gradient along the vertical axis of the reactor (top to bottom: 390–600 °C), a pressure of 25 MPa, and varying reagent flow rates. It is shown that due to heat generation during methane oxidation the energy consumption from external sources is reduced by 1.3–1.5 times depending on the ratio of reagent flow rates. The gas products contain CO2, N2, and trace amounts of N2O. The ash residues are predominantly composed of calcite and hydroxyapatite. The addition of methane results in a reduction in the content of phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in the aqueous effluent, while content of N-bearing aromatics increases. The formation of nitrophenols was observed at elevated oxygen concentrations in the reaction mixture. It was revealed that excess oxygen plays a pivotal role in the efficacy of organic nitrogen removal. The formation of mineral acids and a high level of ammonia in the reaction mixture during the SCWO of poultry manure result in corrosion of stainless steel and copper seals, which in turn leads to an increased concentration of chromium and copper in the aqueous effluent. The results obtained indicate the potential for utilizing natural gas in an environmentally friendly and resource-saving manner for poultry manure processing by SCWO in autothermal mode.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter traces seasonally changing coastal processes in a river-influenced region of the western Bay of Bengal.

The optical characteristics of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) serve as a convenient tool for evaluating coastal processes, e.g., river runoff, anthropogenic inputs, primary production, and bacterial/photochemical processes. We conducted a study on the seasonal and spatial variability of absorbance and fluorescence characteristics of CDOM and nutrients in the coastal waters near the Gauthami estuary of River Godavari, the largest peninsular river of India, for a year. The surface aCDOM(350) showed a significant inverse relation with salinity in the coastal region, indicating a conservative mixing of marine and terrestrial end members. The aCDOM(350) was not conservative in the offshore (100m isobath) waters due to enrichment by secondary sources. Seasonal variability in optical properties indicated diverse sources for CDOM, as revealed by principal component analysis. The excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra followed by parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) revealed four distinct fluorophores. The tyrosine (B) fluorophore showed a predominant increase in the post-monsoon season (October to January), while tryptophan (T) was relatively more enriched, coincident with nutrient enrichment and transparency increase during the early monsoon phase (July). The biological index (BIX), which reflects recent photosynthetic activity, also displayed relatively higher values during the early monsoon. The humic fluorophores A and M, and humification index (HIX) were relatively enriched during the later phase of monsoon (July-October). HIX was > 4 in a few samples of the offshore region (100-m isobath) and indicated a probable contamination from drill-mud (bentonite) used in hydrocarbon exploration. During the monsoon, the relationship between T and B with CDOM was not evident due to the masking of B fluorescence in intact protein. However, during the post-monsoon (POM) and pre-monsoon (PRM) periods, this masking effect was not observed, likely due to protein degradation via bacterial and photochemical processes, respectively. Temporal variability in nutrients indicated that high ammonium levels were produced during POM (OM bacterial degradation), and high nitrite levels were observed during PRM (due to primary production). This study provides foundational insights into the use of CDOM for understanding the impact of diverse environmental, river discharge, and anthropogenic factors on coastal ecosystems.

Evaluating Ammonia Toxicity and Growth Kinetics of Four Different Microalgae Species.

Although wastewater with high ammonia concentration is an ideal alternative environment for microalgae cultivation, high ammonia concentrations are toxic to microalgae and inhibit microalgae growth. In this study, the ammonia responses of four widely used microalgae species were investigated. Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella minutissima, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Arthrospira platensis were grown in batch reactors maintained at seven different NH4Cl concentrations at a constant pH of 8. Growth and nitrogen removal kinetics were monitored. IC50 values for the mentioned species were found as 34.82 mg-FA/L, 30.17 mg-FA/L, 27.2 mg-FA/L and 44.44 mg-FA/L, respectively, while specific growth rates for different ammonia concentrations ranged between 0.148 and 1.271 d-1. C. vulgaris demonstrated the highest biomass growth under an ammonia concentration of 1700.95 mg/L. The highest removal of nitrogen was observed for A. platensis with an efficiency of 99.1%. The results showed that all tested species could grow without inhibition in ammonia levels comparable to those found in municipal wastewater. Furthermore, it has been concluded that species C. vulgaris and A. platensis can tolerate high ammonia levels similar to those found in high strength wastewaters.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Hepatic Encephalopathy Due to Advance Liver Cirrhosis: Case Study

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation may be an alternative to liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver disease. A 24-year-old patient with Hepatic Encephalopathy due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis underwent UCMSC transplantation because there were no donors available for liver transplants involving adult deceased and living individuals. The patient was given allogeneic Umbilical cord-derived MSCs, which were then cultured following accepted practices. Subsequently, the UCMSCs were infused through the intravenous route 3 times at the interval of 30 days. Serum bilirubin, globulin, and ammonia levels were improved after the infusion and the morphology of the liver and spleen had also improved.

Navigating the Gut-brain Axis: Insights into the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Encephalopathy

: Hepatic encephalopathy is a neurological condition that affects people who have an insufficient liver function. However, its pathophysiology is yet unclear. For hepatic encephalopathy, pharmacotherapy is the primary treatment choice. Lowering ammonia levels, enhancing neurotransmitter signal transduction, and modifying gut microbiota, tackles the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy. The intestinal microbiota of liver disease patients differs greatly from that of healthy people, and this difference is linked to the development of hepatic encephalopathy. Additionally, gut microbiota is intimately linked to several theories in the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy, such as the GABA-ergic tone hypothesis, bile acid circulation, ammonia poisoning theory, and neuroinflammation, all of which exacerbate patients' cognitive and motor impairments. Providing some probiotics or reestablishing the intestinal bacteria's balance has a substantial impact on neurological illnesses in hepatic encephalopathy. The goal of this review is to determine the possible metabolic impacts and microbiological pathways in the gut-brain axis mediated progression of hepatic encephalopathy, as well as its potential function as a therapeutic target.

High rhizospheric ammonium levels in Sorghum halepense (johnsongrass) suggests nitrification inhibition potential

AbstractPlants, such as sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), have been shown to secrete root exudates involved in biological nitrification inhibition (BNI), an ability to suppress the conversion of ammonium to nitrate and thereby minimize its loss. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), a weedy relative of cultivated sorghum, may also possess BNI potential, but little is known in this regard. Here, we conducted a field survey at seven different sites in Southeast Texas to determine this evolutionary trait of johnsongrass in different soil environments. It was found that johnsongrass rhizosphere retains high levels (&gt;60%) of ammonium within the total available N (ammonium + nitrate). Furthermore, the degree of ammonium retention by johnsongrass rhizosphere was significantly greater (up to 40%) in the roadside habitat compared to cultivated fields. The high ammonium retention potential by johnsongrass may explain, in part, their persistence and dominance, especially in marginal environments.Core Ideas Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for plant growth, and nitrification causes loss of nitrogen. Ammonium retention was higher in roadside johnsongrass biotypes compared to that of cropland biotypes. The high rhizoshpheric ammonium retention by johnsongrass may explain, at least in part, its invasiveness. This trait could be further investigated and integrated into modern sorghum cultivars.

Performances of full-scale biological nitrogen pre-treatment process for drinking water source: Seasonal variations and microbial community

This study investigated the performance of the full-scale unit over a two-year period to enhance nitrification efficiency and provide operational strategies. Results indicated that raw water quality from Donggan River was notably influenced by seasonal variations, particularly during dry and wet seasons, impacting the nitrification efficiency of the biological pretreatment process. Factors such as influent concentrations of ammonia and total Kjeldahl nitrogen were found to have significant effects on nitrification, with temperature and conductivity also showing correlations. The specific rate of ammonia removal was calculated to be approximately 0.1 kg-N/m3/d under the existing operational setup. Moreover, elevating dissolved oxygen levels above 4 mg/L was proposed to potentially boost ammonia oxidation based on findings from experiments conducted in lab-scale bioreactors. In times of increased influent ammonia levels, the elimination of about 1–3 mg-N/L of total nitrogen signified the activation of denitrification processes. This observation was corroborated by results from next-generation sequencing techniques, verifying the existence of denitrifying microorganisms. The real-time PCR analysis results indicated that the abundance of comammox amoA gene was comparable with the abundance of the AOB amoA gene, indicating the presence of comammox Nitrospira and their potential role on nitrification in the system.

Implementation Of Temperature, Humidity And Ammonia Measuring Equipment And Adding Notifications To Sibebe (Case Study: Berkah Bersama)

Broiler chickens are a rapidly growing breed, and their growth is influenced by environmental conditions. The poultry house is one of the most crucial aspects of broiler chicken management, particularly the conditions inside the house, such as air temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels. Therefore, it is essential to regularly check the poultry house conditions. In this research, the author developed an embedded system capable of detecting temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels inside the poultry house. The system periodically sends temperature, humidity, and ammonia gas information to the Berkah Bersama information system, and this information is displayed in the form of graphs. Temperature, humidity, and ammonia gas information will be sent via email if the environmental conditions exceed or fall below the threshold. The embedded system was created using a microcontroller, temperature and humidity sensors (DHT11), and an ammonia level sensor (MQ-135). Arduino serves as the microcontroller, and NodeMCU ESP8266 is used as the communication tool to send poultry house environmental conditions to the Berkah Bersama information system (SIBEBE) and the manager via email. Testing was conducted in two stages: functionality and connectivity. Functionality testing demonstrated that the sensors can produce air temperature, humidity, andammonia level information by comparing them with conventional tools. Connectivity testing proved that the NodeMCU ESP8266 module can send monitoring data every day and under specific conditions.

Determination and Assessment of Ammonia and Some Heavy Metals in Some Hair Dye Samples

This study aimed to measure the levels of ammonia and some toxic metals in different hair dye products at local markets of El-Beida City (Libya). Six types were bought from diverse shops at different locations from different companies and several brands in El-Beida markets. The concentrations of ammonia were ranged between (2.493-5.868µg/g) where the high content recorded in sample S5 (Beauty), while, the lowest content recorded in sample S4 (Luxe). The level of heavy metals was analyzed (zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium). The selected toxic of heavy metals concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentrations of the heavy metals in the samples ranged (0.09-1.30 µg/g) from zinc, (0.18-1.14 µg/g) from copper, (0.07-0.18 µg/g) from lead and (0.012-0.13 µg/g) from cadmium. The results were compared with the values of which found on the boxes of the hair dye products. The results were showed some differences between the calculated concentrations and the values recorded on the boxes of hair dyes. These heavy metals were strictly forbidden to be used as material (EU Directive No 1223/2009) for the production of cosmetic products, including hair dye.

Hyperosmolarity in children with hyperammonemia: a risk of brain herniation at the start of renal replacement therapy.

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is used in hyperammonemia to reduce the concentration of ammonia in the blood. In the case of plasma hyperosmolarity, RRT can also rapidly decrease plasma osmolarity, which may increase cerebral edema in these patients and favor the occurrence of brain herniation. We conducted a retrospective clinical study in a tertiary care university-affiliated hospital. All patients admitted in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), less than 18 years old with ammonemia >150 µmol/L and who underwent RRT between January 2015 and June 2023 were included. We collected data on plasma osmolarity levels, osmolar gap and blood ammonia levels before and during RRT. Eleven patients were included (10 with acute liver failure and 1 with a urea cycle disorders). Their mean age was 36.2 months. Before RRT, the median highest measured osmolarity was 320 (305-324) mOsm/L, whereas the median calculated osmolarity was 303 (293-314) mOsm/L, corresponding to an osmolar gap of 14 mOsm/L. Ammonia blood level over 400 µmol/L are significantly associated with higher plasma osmolarity (P-Value <0.001). In one case, a patient had a brain herniation episode after a quick osmolar drop. This episode was reversed by the administration of hyperosmolar agents and the temporary suspension of RRT. This study highlights the hyperosmolarity and high osmolar gap that occur in children with hyperammonemia. A careful monitoring and control of plasma osmolarity evolution may alert clinician on the risk of occurrence of neurological complication such as brain herniation.

Overview on the role of dietary Spirulina platensis on immune responses against Edwardsiellosis among Oreochromis niloticus fish farms

Edwardsiellosis is a bacterial fish disease that mostly occurs in freshwater farms and is characterized by a high mortality rate. Edwardsiella tarda strain was recovered from 17 fish out of 50 Nile tilapia, which were harboring clinical signs of systemic septicemia. The level of un-ionized ammonia (NH3) in the fish farm’s water was 0.11–0.15 mg/L, which was stressful for the Nile tilapia.Sequencing of the gyrB1 gene confirmed that the isolate was E. tarda JALO4, and it was submitted to NCBI under the accession number PP449014. The isolated E. tarda harbored the virulence gene edw1 AHL-synthase (quorum sensing). In addition, the isolate was sensitive to trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole mean while it was intermediate to florfenicol. The median lethal dose (LD50) of E. tarda JALO4 was determined to be 1.7 × 105 CFU/mL in Nile tilapia.In the indoor experiment, Nile tilapia (45.05 ± 0.4 g), which received dietary Spirulina platensis (5 and 10 g/kg fish feed), showed optimum growth and feed utilization. Meanwhile, after receiving dietary S. platensis, the fish’s feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly enhanced compared to the control, which was 1.94, 1.99, and 2.88, respectively. The expression of immune-related genes interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were upsurged in E. tarda-challenged fish with higher intensity in S. platensis groups. Dietary S. platensis at a dose of 10 g/kg fish feed could provide a relative protection level (RPL) of 22.2% Nile tilapia challenged against E. tarda. Nile tilapia experimentally infected E. tarda, drastically altering their behavior: higher operculum movement, low food apprehension, and abnormal swimming dietary S. platensis (10 g/kg fish feed) could rapidly restore normal status.It was concluded that Edwardsiellosis could alter Nile tilapia behavior with a high loss in fish population. Fish received dietary-S. platensis could rapidly restore normal behavior after E. tarda infection. It is recommended the incorporation of S. platensis at doses of 10 g/kg into the Nile tilapia diet to boost their immunity and counteract E. tarda infection.

Enhancing Florida red tilapia aquaculture: biofloc optimization improves water quality, pathogen bacterial control, fish health, immune response, and organ histopathology across varied groundwater salinities.

Freshwater scarcity poses challenges to aquaculture worldwide, including countries like Egypt. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of integrating underground saline water (USW) with varying salinities into a Biofloc (BFT) system for desert mariculture of Florida red tilapia (FRT) and its impacts on water quality, fish performance and health. Four BFT treatments (C/N ratio = 15) were examined in triplicate using four salinity levels 0 ppt, 12 ppt, 24 ppt and 36 ppt, expressed as S0, S12, S24 and S36, respectively. For 75 days, a total of 12 fiberglass tanks (each 250L-1 water) were used to store FRT fry (average weight of 1.73 ± 0.01g/fish). The fish were fed an experimental diet (protein/fat = 30/5) and an additional carbon source of rice bran. The results revealed that group S12 showed better growth indicators, higher survival rate, lower FCR, and lower ammonia levels, while group S0 exhibited lower growth indicators (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate) than all groups. The serum kidney, liver, and antioxidant indices performed better in the S12 group. At 12 ppt, the immune-related parameter (IgM) increased by 22.5%, while the stress parameter (cortisol) decreased by 40.8% compared to the S0 group. The liver and intestinal histopathological results revealed that the S12 and S24 groups performed better. Pathogenic bacterial load counts favored the S24 group, which had the lowest number among the groups studied. The recommended salinity for FRT cultivation in USW and BFT is 19.94-20 ppt, determined by polynomial regression of FW and FCR.

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ZONING IN A CLOSED-HOUSE CAGE ON MICROCLIMATE CONDITIONS AND BROILER PERFORMANCE

Closed-house cages have zones in them that have different conditions. Zoning in cages has different temperatures, humidity, speed, and ammonia levels and affects broiler performance. This study aims to determine the effect of different zoning on microclimate conditions and broiler performance in closed-house cages. This research was carried out from June 9, 2023 – to July 6, 2023, at the closed-house cage “Chicken Farm Janna” in Taipa Village, North Palu District, Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province. This study used 396 broiler samples aged 1-28 days with a DOC (Day-old chick) weight of ± 37 grams/head. The strain used is Lohman produced by PT. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia. This study used a t-test with 2 treatments and 9 repeats. The treatment studied is Z1 = Zone 1-60 meters from the inlet and Z2 = Zone 60-120 meters from the inlet. The results of the t-test show that different zoning has a significant influence (t count &gt;t table) on microclimate conditions and broiler performance in closed-house cages. Different zoning exerts a real influence on microclimate conditions and the performance of broilers in closed-house cages. In the closed house cage, the zone opposite the inlet (zone 2) results in a temperature rise, a rise in ammonia levels, a drop in humidity, a loss in body weight, and an increase in mortality.