Unidentified Food Research Articles

Composition and seasonality of rodent diet in Chimit Kola, Blue Nile Gorge, Ethiopia

A study on the composition and seasonality of rodent diet was carried out during 2020–2022 years in Chimit Kola to determine the type, relative proportion and seasonality of food items consumed. A total of 166 stomach contents that belong to six rodent species (Mastomys awashensis, Acomys louisae, Arvicanthis raffertyi, Lophuromys simensis, Gerbilliscus sp. and Lemniscomys macculus) were investigated. Parametric and non-parametric analyses of variance were used to test the difference. Leaves and stems, seeds, invertebrates, fruits and unidentified food matters were the food items identified in the stomach contents of rodents. There was a significant variation in food items consumed among rodent species. Arvicanthis raffertyi and L. macculus consumed more leaves and stems whereas L. simensis, A. louisae and Gerbilliscus sp. mostly fed on invertebrates. Mastomys awashensis consumed relatively more seeds (30%) than any other rodent species (ranging from 14 to 28%). Acomys louisae, L. simensis and Gerbilliscus sp. consumed more leaves and stems during the dry season and invertebrates during the wet season. Similarly, A. raffertyi consumed more leaves and stems during the wet season and seeds during the dry season. However, the diet of M. awashensis and L. macculus and some food items (fruits and unidentified food matters) of most rodent species were similar between seasons. Mastomys awashensis significantly consumed a higher proportion of seeds in the fallowland (44%) than in other habitats (ranging from 19 to 31%). Similarly, A. louisae and L. macculus consumed a significantly higher proportion of invertebrates in bushland (53%) and riverine forests (48%) than in other habitats (ranging from 16 to 47%), respectively. The present finding concluded that these rodent species are diet generalists, feeding on a variety of available resources depending on seasons and habitats. The study documents the diet composition of these rodent species for the first time. Thus, the management and conservation of these rodents should be in consideration of their feeding habits and factors that influence their diets.

Pharmaceutical Intervention at Community Level: Report of a Clinical Case Due to Lychee Intoxication

We present a clinical case of a 3-year-old male patient with signs and symptoms of a diagnosis of unidentified food poisoning. In this scenario the community pharmacist's job consisted of collaboratively work with the doctor, to ensure that the patient's medication was safe, with the aim of detecting drug-related problems or interactions with food, and avoiding negative outcomes associated with medication. The pharmacist applied the methodology described by DADER, for the pharmaceutical care approach and through the intervention, it was possible to establish that the poisoning was due to the intake of lychees. To date, in Mexico there are no reports of litchi poisoning in children, on the other hand, the community pharmacy is an emerging area, hence these types of interventions are scarce.

Feeding ecology of free-ranging long-tailed macaques in East Java, Indonesia: Relationship with human food availability.

Food availability is an important factor affecting the feeding strategies of animals. Primate species living in habitats with high human activity have the potential to employ unique strategies to utilize human food resources. This study describes the feeding ecology of provisioned free-ranging long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) inhabiting Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, Indonesia. The activity budgets, dietary compositions, vertical usage, and ranging patterns of macaques were recorded between October 2021 and March 2022, and their relationships with the number of visitors (a proxy of human food availability) were examined. The macaques consumed more human food (mean ± SD: 53.9 ± 25.6%) than natural food (43.8 ± 25.5%), followed by unidentified food (2.3 ± 6.3%). Human food has several effects on the behavioral ecology of macaques, including reduced movement and increased social activity in response to the number of visitors, decreased consumption of natural food, frequent use of the ground and subcanopy strata, and decreased home range when the number of visitors increases. Thus, the relative importance of human food has substantially changed the essential behavioral ecology of provisioned macaque troops. Understanding the behavioral plasticity of macaques, particularly their responses to anthropogenic effects, could guide and contribute to the formulation of conservation policies and management plans.

Unravelling the stomach contents of fish and crab species from Cananéia, São Paulo: Are they eating plastic?

Plastic pollution represents a threat to marine ecosystems and has therefore been gaining space in the realm of public interest. In this study, we investigated the ingestion of food and non-food items (i.e., plastic particles) by fish and crabs. These animals are commonly collected by trawling with a double-ring net along the coast of Cananéia, state of São Paulo, Brazil; some of them are consumed as food by the local population. Fish and crab stomachs were removed and dissected, and their contents were examined under a stereoscopic microscope with an image-capturing system. The presence or absence of plastic was also registered. We examined 139 specimens of 16 fish species and 143 specimens of four crab species. The most frequent food items found in fish were unidentified food, followed by crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, and other fish; in crabs, the items were unidentified food, followed by crustaceans, molluscs and fish. Plastic particles were found in all fish species, representing 47.5% of the individuals analysed. In crabs, the incidence of plastic was lower, occurring in only two species (5% in Callinectes danae and 3% in C. ornatus). Only four fish species analysed had previous records of plastic ingestion in the scientific literature. The high incidence of microplastics in our study is worrying because they negatively affect the animals’ lives and can be transferred through the tropic web to top predators, including humans, through the ingestion of contaminated animals.

Electrochemical Peptide-Based Sensors for Foodborne Pathogens Detection.

Food safety and quality control pose serious issues to food industry and public health domains, in general, with direct effects on consumers. Any physical, chemical, or biological unexpected or unidentified food constituent may exhibit harmful effects on people and animals from mild to severe reactions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe foodstuffs are especially dangerous for infants, young children, elderly, and chronic patients. It is imperative to continuously develop new technologies to detect foodborne pathogens and contaminants in order to aid the strengthening of healthcare and economic systems. In recent years, peptide-based sensors gained much attention in the field of food research as an alternative to immuno-, apta-, or DNA-based sensors. This review presents an overview of the electrochemical biosensors using peptides as molecular bio-recognition elements published mainly in the last decade, highlighting their possible application for rapid, non-destructive, and in situ analysis of food samples. Comparison with peptide-based optical and piezoelectrical sensors in terms of analytical performance is presented. Methods of foodstuffs pretreatment are also discussed.

Type 1 dopamine receptor (D1R)-independent circadian food anticipatory activity in mice.

Circadian rhythms are entrained by light and influenced by non-photic stimuli, such as feeding. The activity preceding scheduled mealtimes, food anticipatory activity (FAA), is elicited in rodents fed a limited amount at scheduled times. FAA is thought to be the output of an unidentified food entrained oscillator. Previous studies, using gene deletion and receptor pharmacology, implicated dopamine type receptor 1 (D1R) signaling in the dorsal striatum as necessary for FAA in mice. To further understand the role of D1R in promoting FAA, we utilized the Cre-lox system to create cell type-specific deletions of D1R, conditionally deleting D1R in GABA neurons using Vgat-ires-Cre line. This conditional deletion mutant had attenuated FAA, but the amount was higher than expected based on prior results using a constitutive knockout of D1R, D1R KODrago. This result prompted us to re-test the original D1R KODrago line, which expressed less FAA than controls, but only moderately so. To determine if genetic drift had diminished the effect of D1R deletion on FAA, we re-established the D1R KODrago knockout line from cryopreserved samples. The reestablished D1R KODrago-cryo had a clear impairment of FAA compared to controls, but still developed increased activity preceding mealtime across the 4 weeks of timed feeding. Finally, we tested a different deletion allele of D1R created by the Knockout Mouse Project. This line of D1R KOKOMP mice had a significant impairment in the acquisition of FAA, but eventually reached similar levels of premeal activity compared to controls after 4 weeks of timed feeding. Taken together, our results suggest that D1R signaling promotes FAA, but other dopamine receptors likely contribute to FAA given that mice lacking the D1 receptor still retain some FAA.

Diet composition and length-weight relationship of Tilapia mariae in Lower River Ogun, Akomoje water reservoir, Nigeria

Some aspect of the biology of Tilapia mariae from lower River Ogun, Akomoje water reservoir with emphasis on its food habits were studied between the months of February and June. A total number of 100 fish specimens were collected on monthly basis from the landings of artisanal fishermen around the water body. The length and weight relationships and the well being of the species were investigated. The contents of their stomach were examined. Mean standard lengths of fish sample were ranged from 15.12±0.81cm in male while female ranged from 17.83±0.76. The species from this water body revealed negative allometry growth pattern. There was variation in condition factor (k) for both sexes. The well being of the females revealed better condition than the males in all months of study. The results of monthly variation in food items showed that Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyceae, Crustacean, Detritus, plant tissues, and unidentified food all occurred in varying quantities from February to June. Bacillariophyta (diatoms) appeared as the dominant food of Tilapia mariae accounting for 14.72% and 78.10% by number and occurrence. Cyanophyceae constituted 11.43% and 59.63% by number and occurrence and was second most important food item. Crustaceans occurred least in order of importance (2.34% in numbers and 27.12% in frequency of occurrence. The sex ratios of Tilapia mariae in the Reservoir was 1:3.12 (M:F), with highest abundance of females in March (1:3.17) and April showing the least 1:2.05 (M:F). The study concludes that there is large population of algae in the water body. It also confirms the herbivorous feeding habit of the species.

Aspects of the biology of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus In Uta-Ewa Creek, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The aspects of the biology of silver catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus was investigated from July to September 2017 in Uta Ewa Creek, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A total of 90 fish samples were collected from artisanal fisher folks at the landing site. Fish sizes ranged from 12.20cm to 22.90cm standard length, 16.70cm to 31.90cm total length and 30.30g to 178.60g body weight. Monthly condition factor of 1.77, 1.765 and 1.68 were recorded in July, August and September respectively. The mean value of 1.74 showed a negative allometric growth pattern. This implied that fish lengths were not in proportion with weights. The length-weight linear relationship was InW ═ -3.4164 + 2.7545x with a correlation value of 0.8236. The results of stomach content analyses revealed that the fish fed on various food items consisting of phytoplankton 56 (62.22%), crustaceans 8 (8.88%), insects 10 (11.11%), molluscs 7 (7.77%), worms 4 (4.44%) and unidentified materials 5 (5.55%). The most abundant food items found at the study site throughout the period of sampling was phytoplankton (59%), insects (11%), crayfish (9%), periwinkle (7%), worms (4%), crabs (4%) and unidentified food items (6%). From the results of this study C. nigrodigitatus could be considered as being omnivorous. Key Words: Condition factor, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, diet, length-weight relationships, selection factor, Uta Ewa Creek

Temporal dietary shift in jellyfish revealed by stable isotope analysis.

A temporal change in the stable isotope (SI) composition of jellyfish in the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea, was documented by analyzing δ13C, δ15N and δ34S of bell tissue of Aurelia aurita and Cyanea capillata in the period between June and October 2011. A strong and significant temporal change in all SI values of A. aurita was found, including an increase of ~3 ‰ in δ13C, a decrease of ~4 ‰ in δ15N and sharp decline of ~7 ‰ in δ34S. While knowledge gaps in jellyfish isotope ecology, in particular the lack of reliable trophic enrichment factors, call for a conservative interpretation of our data, observed changes in particular in δ34S, as indicated by means of a MixSIR mixing model, would be consistent with a temporal dietary shift in A. aurita from mesozooplankton (>150 µm) to microplankton and small re-suspended particles (0.8–20 µm) from the benthos. Presence of a hitherto unidentified food source not included in the model could also contribute to the shift. During the 2-month occurrence of C. capillata, its isotope composition remained stable and was consistent with a mainly mesozooplanktonic diet. Mixing model output, mainly driven by δ34S values, indicated a lower proportion of A. aurita in the diet of C. capillata than previously reported, and thus to a potentially lesser importance of intraguild predation among jellyfish in the Kiel Fjord. Overall, our results clearly highlighted the potential for substantial intraspecific isotopic seasonal variation in jellyfish, which should be taken into account in future feeding ecology studies on this group.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00227-016-2892-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Estimating nestling diet with cameras: quantifying uncertainty from unidentified food items

Cameras at nest sites are becoming a common means for quantifying nestling diet, but there are two problems associated with this method: food items delivered to nestlings often cannot be identified, and quantification of error around diet estimates for individual nests is problematic. We present a novel method of incorporating unidentified food items into diet estimates and quantifying error around these estimates for individual nests. In our method, unidentified food items are accounted for by considering all of the possible ways in which they could be allocated among previously defined food categories (possible outcomes). We then calculate the probability of each possible outcome by assuming the probability that an unidentified food item belongs to any given category is equal to the proportion of identified items from that category. All possible outcomes, along with the probability of each, represent a probability space. We allocate the unidentified food items to each category according to the most probable outcome in the probability space when estimating the contribution of each food category to nestling diets. Confidence intervals around diet estimates for each food category are estimated by simulating many samples from this probability space and using kernel density estimation. We demonstrate the implementation of our method with data from motion‐sensitive cameras monitoring Arctic peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus tundrius nests in Nunavut, Canada.

Seasonal Occurence of Food and Feeding Habit of Labeo bata(Hamilton) (Cypriniformes : Cyprinidae)

Food and feeding habits of fishes have a great significance in aquaculture practices. It helps to select such species of fishes for culture which will utilize all the available potential food of the water bodies without much competition with one another but will live in association with other fishes. This paper deals with the feeding intensity and food habits of L. bata . Food and feeding habit of freshwater minor carp Labeo bata (120 to 250 mm total length) were studied. The fish is a herbivore, feeding mainly on algae (22.32 %), higher plant parts (31.26 %), protozoans (7.42 %), crustaceans (15.33 %), insects (3.56 %), muds, sand, debris and detritus (16.32 %) and unidentified food materials (3.99%).Journal of Science Foundation, 2014;12(1):7-15

Food, the Immune System, and the Gastrointestinal Tract

Food, the Immune System, and the Gastrointestinal Tract

Breeding ecology of the Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix leucotis in an agroecosystem in the Limpopo province, South Africa

We studied the breeding ecology of the Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix leucotis over three years between 2008 and 2010. The breeding season was bimodal with a main peak in laying in autumn (March–April) and another smaller peak in spring (September–October). Nest microhabitat analyses showed they prefer nesting in open areas with lots of bare ground (median 67.5%). Nest entrance directions were biased towards the south (mean vector (µ) = 186.44°). The majority of nests (78.2%) had an apron at the nest entrance. The mean clutch size was 1.88 but there was geographic variation in clutch size between northern and southern races of the species. The mean incubation and nestling periods were 10.33 d (range 10–11 d) and 9.20 d (range 8–10 d), respectively. The results suggest that parental contributions during incubation are almost equal, but females made significantly more food deliveries during the nestling period compared to males. The diet of nestlings comprised mainly of invertebrates (50.2%), seeds (34.4%) and unidentified food items (15.4%). Breeding success was low, averaging 16.1% (range 8.1–20.6%), and the average number of fledged young per pair was 0.36 ± 0.71. Replacement broods were common and we also recorded repeat brooding attempts.

Diet Composition and Condition Factor of Ethmalosa fimbriata in the Cross River Estuary

The food and feeding habits of Ethmalosa fimbriata in the Cross River Estuary was studied between November and January, 2011. Result revealed that the species feed mostly on food from plant origin, although food from animal materials was also identified. A total of 120 plant materials (31.49%) were consumed by the species, algae 58 (15.22%), diatoms 44 (11.54%), Food from animal origin encounter in the gut of the species as incidental diets components included fish eggs 22 (5.71%), fish scales 14 (3.67%), fish bones 17 (4.95%), and Aquatic insects part 40 (10.49%). Unidentified food items encountered in the gut of the species during the study were 16 (3.67%), mud/sand particles 50 (13.12%) and detritus which could not be enumerated. The condition factor calculated for the species varied during the studies period with a mean value of 2.0 in November, 3.10 in December and 1.98 in January. Based on the food items isolated in the gut, the species could be considered as a voracious herbivore in the Cross River Estuary. While the variation in the condition factor of the species in the Estuary may indicate a period of high yield or otherwise of the species in the system.

A family cluster of nitrite poisoning, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, 2013

In April 2013, a hospital in Suzhou City notified authorities of a patient with nitrite poisoning with two other family members who had similar toxic symptoms five days prior. We investigated the event to identify the cause, source and possible route of contamination. A case was defined as any person living in the Yang Shan Hua Yuan community who had been diagnosed with cyanoderma and food poisoning symptoms from 15 to 25 April 2013. Active case finding was conducted by interviewing community residents and reviewing medical records from local clinics; information was then retrospectively collected on the patient's food history, cooking procedures and food sources. We identified three nitrite poisoning cases, one male and two females, from the same family. The time between dinner and onset of illness was less than an ahour. A retrospective survey showed that a substance presumed to be sugar mixed with asparagus on 17 April and with stir-fried asparagus on 21 April was the suspected contaminant. The presumed sugar came from a clean-up of a neighbouring rental house. Nitrite was detected in a vomitus sample, the sugar substance and two leftover food samples. This family cluster of nitrite poisoning resulted from the mistaken use of nitrite as sugar to cook dishes. We recommend that sodium nitrite be dyed a bright colour to prevent such a mistake and that health departments strengthen food hygiene education to alert people about the danger of eating unidentified food from an unknown source.

Feeding Ecology and Nursery of Marine Larval Fishes

Larval stage of marine fishes, habitat characteristics, nursery and feeding ecology has been discussed in this review. Identification of fish larvae is difficult and that is why limited research is available on biology of fish larvae in the Indo-Pacific coastal region. Estuaries play a vital role in energy transfer between a river and a sea, which is especially important for many commercial coastal fishes whose larvae and juveniles are dependent on the estuary as a nursery and feeding grounds. Many coral reef fish species use mangrove and seagrass beds as nursery habitats. Diet composition of the family Clupeidae were made up of seven major categories to include phytoplankton, plant-like matter, debris, fragment of copepod, algae and unidentified food items. The most predominant food item in the gut of clupeids was phytoplankton (82.53%).

Food habits of <i>Barbus luteus</i> in main outfall drain, Iraq

The alimentary canal contents of 360 Barbus luteus caught from MOD between January 2010 to December 2010 were examined. The phyto-plankton, zooplanktons, detritus, diatoms, insects and unidentified digestive food were identified in the alimentary canal of fish. The results of diet analysis showed that the B. luteus was omnivorous. The species of fish tended to consume more plant origin food. The aquatic plants and tissues were the main part of thier food followed by chlorophyta and cyanophyta. The results revealed that the species obtained or fell their food item from the bed of rivers or near to it.

Molecular characterization of kudoid parasites (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) from somatic muscles of Pacific bluefin (Thunnus orientalis) and yellowfin (T. albacores) tuna

The public health importance of Kudoa infection in fish remains unclear. Recently in Japan a Kudoa species, K. septempunctata, was newly implicated as a causative agent of unidentified food poisoning related to the consumption of raw olive flounder. Other marine fishery products are also suspected as causative raw foods of unidentified food poisoning. For this study, we detected kudoid parasites from sliced raw muscle tissues of a young Pacific bluefin and an adult yellowfin tuna. No cyst or pseudocyst was evident in muscles macroscopically, but pseudocysts were detected in both samples histologically. One substitution (within 1100 bp overlap) and ten substitutions (within 753 bp overlap) were found respectively between the partial sequences of 18S and 28S rDNAs from both isolates. Nucleotide sequence similarity searching of 18S and 28S rDNAs from both isolates showed the highest identity with those of K. neothunni from tuna. Based on the spore morphology, the mode of parasitism, and the nucleotide sequence similarity, these isolates from a Pacific bluefin and a yellowfin tuna were identified as K. neothunni. Phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rDNA sequence revealed that K. neothunni is classifiable into two genotypes: one from Pacific bluefin and the other from yellowfin tuna. Recently, an unidentified kudoid parasite morphologically and genetically similar K. neothunni were detected from stocked tuna samples in unidentified food poisoning cases in Japan. The possibility exists that K. neothunni, especially from the Pacific bluefin tuna, causes food poisoning, as does K. septempunctata.

Identification of unique food handling practices that could represent food safety risks for minority consumers.

Foodborne illness caused by Salmonella and Campylobacter is a concern for consumers, and there is evidence that minority racial-ethnic populations experience greater rates of illness because of these pathogens. The limited body of research concerning food safety knowledge and practices among minority consumers has focused more on general food safety knowledge than on culturally specific food handling practices. The purpose of the research reported here was to explore food handling behaviors of minority racial-ethnic consumers through in-depth discussions in focus group settings. In this way, we hoped to identify potential unique, previously unidentified food handling practices among these consumers. Nine focus groups were held in Philadelphia, PA. Three focus groups were conducted with African American consumers, three with Hispanic consumers, and three with Asian consumers. In all, 56 consumers participated. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for unique and potentially unsafe food handling behaviors. Potentially unsafe food handling practices identified among all three groups included extended time to transport food from retail to home and washing of raw poultry. Culturally unique behaviors within groups included (i) using hot water (Asian, Hispanic) or acidic solutions (African American, Hispanic) to clean raw poultry, (ii) purchasing live poultry (Asian, Hispanic), (iii) cooking poultry overnight (African American), and (iv) preparing bite-size pieces of meat prior to cooking (Asian, Hispanic). To have focus groups include a limited number of participants and nonrandom sampling means that these themes and trends cannot be extrapolated to represent food mishandling among these populations in general. Results presented here allow modification of an existing food safety survey to identify the prevalence of these food handling practices among consumers of different demographics.

Feeding Habits of Larval Fishes of the Family Clupeidae (Actinopterygii: Clupeiformes) in the Estuary of River Pendas, Johor, Malaysia

Studies on feeding habits and seasonal variation of diet of fish larvae of family Clupeidae was conducted from October 2007 to September 2008 in the estuary of Sg. Pendas, Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia. The diet composition were grouped into seven major categories consisted of phytoplankton, zooplankton, plant-like matter, debris, fragment of copepod, algae and unidentified food items. The most predominant food items in the gut of clupeids was phytoplankton (82.53%), followed by plant-like matter (7.34%), debris (4.86%), fragment of copepods (2.69%), algae (0.92%), unidentified items (0.77%) and zooplankton (0.54%).