Fruit and vegetable peels are often regarded as waste, leading to their disposal in landfills. As a result, methane gas emissions during the decomposition of waste lead to the loss of potentially valuable resources. Nonetheless, these peels are an abundant source of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins such as dietary fiber, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and phenolic compounds, which can enhance animal health and productivity and, as a result, increase the milk and meat production of livestock as well as the drawing power of draught animals. From an environmental perspective, the utilization of peels for animal feed can significantly reduce organic waste accumulation, decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste decomposition, and lower the dependency on conventional feed ingredients such as grains, which are often produced through resource-intensive agricultural practices. To date, no comprehensive review has been found on the nutritional and environmental impact of fruit and vegetable peels as animal feed. This paper aims to explore the nutritional and environmental impact of various kinds of fruit and vegetable peels.

RNA-based biopesticides, heralding the third revolution in agricultural pest and disease control, emerge as pivotal for sustainable aquaculture in China. This review delves into the background, evolution, and applications of RNA biopesticides, emphasizing their transformative impact on aquaculture disease management. RNA-based biopesticides offer myriad advantages. Utilizing dsRNA formulations ensures species-specific targeting, thereby minimizing effects on nontarget organisms. Swift environmental degradation of dsRNA addresses concerns about residual effects and pollution. Crucially, the host’s genetic structure remains unchanged, averting heritable variations. Additionally, resistance challenges are easily mitigated through targeted gene replacement. Nevertheless, challenges impede the technology’s full potential. Factors such as target gene selection, varying effectiveness across pests, and susceptibility of dsRNA to pathogen degradation can influence overall efficacy. The widespread use of RNA pesticides prompts scrutiny of their impact on nontarget organisms’ immune systems, necessitating meticulous consideration of exogenous dsRNA biosafety. Furthermore, assessing the toxicity of viruses and microorganisms as dsRNA carriers is crucial. High production costs and lower efficiency in large-scale production compared to conventional pesticides demand urgent attention. Future research should prioritize the optimization of dsRNA delivery systems to improve stability and targeting precision. Investigating the integration of RNA-based pesticides with other sustainable agricultural practices may further mitigate environmental impacts. Moreover, advancements in cost-effective production techniques and regulatory frameworks will be critical for enabling the widespread adoption of RNA biopesticides, thereby securing their role in the future management of global aquaculture diseases.

Salmonella Pullorum is a host-restricted pathogen that causes substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. This study explores the genomic characteristics of S. Pullorum based on the genomes available on GenBank, with a particular focus on its evolution and antibiotic resistance in China. The analysis reveals that most S. Pullorum strains belong to ST92 and ST2151. The S. Pullorum strains harbor a complex repertoire of virulence genes and nine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including aminoglycoside resistance genes aac (6′)-Iaa, aadA5, aph (3″)-Ib, and aph (6)-Id; the tetracycline resistance gene tet(A); sulfonamide resistance genes dfrA17, sul1, and sul2; and the beta-lactam resistance gene bla_TEM-1B. The IncX1, IncQ1, and IncN plasmids play significant roles in the co-transmission of these ARGs. In addition, phylogenetic analysis indicates a closer genetic relationship among S. Pullorum strains isolated from the same country, highlighting the potential regional transmissions. Notably, S. Pullorum strains in China carry a higher number of ARGs than strains from other countries. Evolutionary dynamics reveals that the population size of S. Pullorum in China has stabilized since 2016, while the antibiotic resistance continues to rise. These results underscore the growing risk of S. Pullorum to the poultry industry and public health in China, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and effective control measures.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. which seriously jeopardizes the health and safety of animals and human beings. Therefore, developing a live attenuated vaccine is a priority. In this study, a genetically stable Brucella rough RA343 strain was obtained by cross-induction. The virulence and protective efficacy of RA343 were subsequently assessed, and RA343 showed reduction of survival ability in RAW264.7 cells and low pathogenicity in the murine model in vivo. Immunization with RA343 elevated expression levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and a robust T-cell immune response in mice. Guinea pigs were inoculated with RA343 at 1 × 10⁹ CFU for single and booster immunization. After the single immunization of RA343, about 60% of guinea pigs could resist the attack of M28 or 2308 strain. The secondary immunization in guinea pigs confer 80% and 70% protection against M28 or 2308 challenges, respectively. Then, the gene expression profile of RAW264.7 cells infected with Brucella abortus A19 or RA343 was analyzed by RNA-seq to investigate the cellular responses immediately after Brucella entry. The RNA-seq analysis revealed that a total of 14,549 genes were significantly regulated by Brucella 1 h postinfection. The differential gene expression was predominantly associated with innate immune responses and many inflammatory pathways, such as MAPK, JAK-STAT, and NF-κB signaling ones. Our findings suggest that the RA343 strain is a promising novel vaccine candidate to protect animals from B. abortus and Brucella melitensis infection. Meanwhile, this study serves as a new reference for investigating the immune regulatory mechanisms of rough Brucella.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a terracotta drinker and/or water supplementation with ASPRO-C Plus on the zootechnical performance of broiler chickens reared in a hot environment. A total of 160 Cobb 500 broiler chicks of 15 days old (240.2 ± 39.82 g) were divided into four treatment groups in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of drinker type (plastic or terracotta) and water with or without ASPRO-C Plus (1 g/L) supplementation, each consisting of 4 replicate pens. Respiratory rate, water intake, feed intake, and live body weight were recorded weekly. At 49 days old, 12 birds per group were randomly selected, fasted for 12 h, weighed, and slaughtered for carcass evaluation and blood collection. The respiration rate of broilers decreased significantly (p < 0.01) with the terracotta drinker as compared to the plastic drinker. The water intake, the feed intake and the body weight gain increased significantly (p < 0.01) with the terracotta drinker as compared to the plastic drinker. The water addition of ASPRO-C Plus significantly increased (p < 0.01) the relative weight of abdominal fat and spleen in broilers. The alpha-amylase activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) with the water addition of ASPRO-C Plus. The serum content of total cholesterol was significantly increased (p < 0.01) with the terracotta drinker. It can be concluded that ASPRO-C Plus can slightly improve liveability, but using the terracotta drinker can be more efficient in reducing the behavioral response to heat stress and can improve the growth performance.

Pathogens have been documented to be transmissible between humans and non-human primates (NHPs), with NHPs demonstrating susceptibility to human viruses. Conducting surveillance for viruses in NHPs to identify potential zoonotic agents that may emerge or pose a high risk of spillover remains a critical strategy for preparing for and responding to future zoonotic events. This study employed viral metagenomic analysis on nine randomly selected NHPs from the Zoo in China to detect potential pathogens within captive environments. The analysis identified the presence of picornavirus Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), poxvirus (BeAn 58,058 virus, BAV), and retroviruses (human endogenous retrovirus, HERV and baboon endogenous virus, BaEV). These viruses exhibited significant genetic homology to established viral strains, with EMCV demonstrating close relatedness to a strain previously detected in the United States, and BAV beling newly identified in NHPs. The study suggests that zoo rodents, particularly rats, serve as the primary reservoirs for the viruses, thereby posing a potential threat to public health. Therefore, this underscores the imperative to enhance rodent control measures within zoological institutions and provides strategic recommendations for mitigating interspecies viral transmission.