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Poultry Science Mar 2021The view that genetic selection for carcass yield has limited the size of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of modern broilers has sparked concerns that their capacity to...
The view that genetic selection for carcass yield has limited the size of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of modern broilers has sparked concerns that their capacity to cope with energy dilution or bulk is also limited. We investigated the capacity of male Ross 308 broilers to deal with increasing levels of bulk and aimed to identify a feed bulk dimension responsible for limiting feed intake (FI). About 528 day-old broilers were allocated to 48 pens and offered a common starter feed until day 8, and 1 of 7 feeds from day 8 to 36 of age: a basal control (B), which was diluted to 3 levels (15, 30, or 45%) with either oat hulls (OH) or sugar beet pulp (SBP). Feed intake was measured daily and birds were dissected for GIT measurements at day 15, 22, and 36. Feed intake increased in birds offered OH15 (135 g/d), OH30 (140 g/d), and SBP15 (138 g/d) compared with birds offered the B feed (106 g/d; SEM 2.4). By increasing FI, birds were able to compensate for the lower energy content of their feeds. The greatest increase in FI was seen on OH30: its energy content (2,273 kcal/kg) was 26% lower than the B feed (3,081 kcal/kg). There was evidence of adaptation on the bulky feeds, as during the last week only birds on SBP45 were limited in FI and performance. The relative weights of the GIT were greater in the SBP than OH series, suggesting that the former needed to accommodate a higher bulk intake. For the OH series the increase in the relative GIT weights was confined to the gizzard and small intestine; whereas for the SBP series, the increase was extended to proventriculus and large intestine. Because only SBP45 was limiting FI, we were unable to identify a bulk dimension to be used to predict FI. Our data reject the suggestion that modern broilers have a reduced ability to cope with reductions in feed energy content.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Caloric Restriction; Chickens; Eating; Feeding Behavior; Male
PubMed: 33516465
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.11.008 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Sep 2021Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is a neoplasm that usually arises from the integument, is reported uncommonly in pet birds. Only a few reports of SCCs in the... (Review)
Review
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is a neoplasm that usually arises from the integument, is reported uncommonly in pet birds. Only a few reports of SCCs in the alimentary tract of birds, including psittacines, have been published, and a detailed description of the pathology is not available in the literature. We present here 12 cases of alimentary SCC in psittacines. The average age of the birds was 22.2 y (range: 15-29 y), and affected species included 4 Amazon parrots ( sp.), 3 cockatiels (), 3 macaws ( sp.), 1 conure ( sp.), and 1 Senegal parrot ( sp.). Frequent clinical complaints included regurgitation, dysphagia, dyspnea, lethargy, and/or weight loss. SCC primarily affected the oral cavity in 6 of 12 cases, the crop alone in 2 of 12 cases, the crop and esophagus in 1 of 12 cases, the proventriculus alone in 1 of 12 cases, and the crop, esophagus, and proventriculus in 2 of 12 cases. Histologically, alimentary SCCs were locally invasive and often resulted in mucosal ulceration. Although there were no metastases in any of our cases, poor clinical outcomes were frequent and associated most commonly with complete effacement of the alimentary segment and severe inflammation with opportunistic bacterial infection. Our review of the literature records commonly affected species, variability of gross presentations and clinical signs, plausible etiologies, and current diagnostic developments.
Topics: Amazona; Animals; Bird Diseases; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cockatoos; Psittaciformes
PubMed: 34078200
DOI: 10.1177/10406387211021480 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology Jan 2020Motilin and ghrelin were identified in the pheasant by molecular cloning, and the actions of both peptides on the contractility of gastrointestinal (GI) strips were...
Motilin and ghrelin were identified in the pheasant by molecular cloning, and the actions of both peptides on the contractility of gastrointestinal (GI) strips were examined in vitro. Molecular cloning indicated that the deduced amino acid sequences of the pheasant motilin and ghrelin were a 22-amino acid peptide, FVPFFTQSDIQKMQEKERIKGQ, and a 26-amino acid peptide, GSSFLSPAYKNIQQQKDTRKPTGRLH, respectively. In in vitro studies using pheasant GI strips, chicken motilin caused contraction of the proventriculus and small intestine, whereas the crop and colon were insensitive. Human motilin, but not erythromycin, caused contraction of small intestine. Chicken motilin-induced contractions in the proventriculus and ileum were not inhibited by a mammalian motilin receptor antagonist, GM109. Neither atropine (a cholinergic receptor antagonist) nor tetrodotoxin (a neuron blocker) inhibited the responses of chicken motilin in the ileum but both drugs decreased the responses to motilin in the proventriculus, suggesting that the contractile mechanisms of motilin in the proventriculus was neurogenic, different from that of the small intestine (myogenic). On the other hand, chicken and quail ghrelin did not cause contraction in any regions of pheasant GI tract. Since interaction of ghrelin and motilin has been reported in the house musk shrew, interaction of two peptides was examined. The chicken motilin-induced contractions were not modified by ghrelin, and ghrelin also did not cause any contraction under the presence of motilin, suggesting the absence of interaction in both peptides. In conclusion, both the motilin system and ghrelin system are present in the pheasant. Regulation of GI motility by motilin might be common in avian species. However, absence of ghrelin actions in any GI regions suggests the avian species-related difference in regulation of GI contractility by ghrelin.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Atropine; Base Sequence; Birds; Chickens; Cloning, Molecular; Female; Gastrointestinal Motility; Gastrointestinal Tract; Ghrelin; Humans; Male; Motilin; Muscle Contraction; Proventriculus; Quail; Rats; Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone; Receptors, Neuropeptide; Tetrodotoxin
PubMed: 31585115
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113294 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2019Rapeseed proteins are described to be poorly digestible in chickens. To further identify some molecular locks that may limit their use in poultry nutrition, we conducted...
Rapeseed proteins are described to be poorly digestible in chickens. To further identify some molecular locks that may limit their use in poultry nutrition, we conducted a proteomic study on the various chicken digestive contents and proposed an integrative view of the proteins recruited in the crop, proventriculus/gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum for digestion of rapeseed by-products. Twenty-seven distinct rapeseed proteins were identified in the hydrosoluble fraction of the feed prior ingestion. The number of rapeseed proteins identified in digestive contents decreases throughout the digestion process while some are progressively solubilized in the most distal digestive segment, likely due to a combined effect of pH and activity of specific hydrolytic enzymes. Fifteen chicken proteins were identified in the hydrosoluble proventriculus/gizzard content, including chymotrypsin-like elastase and pepsin. Interestingly, on the 69 distinct proteins identified in duodenum, only 9 were proteolytic enzymes, whereas the others were associated with homeostasis, and carbohydrate, lipid, vitamin and hormone metabolisms. In contrast, chicken proteins identified in jejunal and ileal contents were mostly proteases and peptidases. The present work highlights the relevance of using integrative proteomics applied to the entire digestive tract to better appreciate the protein profile and functions of each digestive segment.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Avian Proteins; Brassica napus; Chickens; Gastrointestinal Contents; Gastrointestinal Tract; Plant Proteins, Dietary; Proteomics
PubMed: 30816158
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38725-1 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology Dec 2021Previously, pheasant motilin was identified as a 22-amino acid peptide with a sequence of FVPFFTQSDI QKMQEKERIK GQ. In the present study, the distribution of pheasant...
Previously, pheasant motilin was identified as a 22-amino acid peptide with a sequence of FVPFFTQSDI QKMQEKERIK GQ. In the present study, the distribution of pheasant motilin mRNA was determined and compared with that of ghrelin, a motilin-related peptide. The effects of pheasant motilin on the cognate gastrointestinal (GI) muscle strips were also examined in an in vitro contraction study. The expression of pheasant motilin mRNA was highest in the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), moderate in the colon and very low in the brain, lung, heart, pancreas, esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard and caecum, and this distribution was in contrast with that of ghrelin mRNA. Pheasant motilin caused contraction of the cognate GI tract in a region-dependent manner, similar to chicken motilin. The contraction in the small intestine was large and was not affected by atropine. In contrast, contraction in the proventriculus was small and was decreased by atropine. The crop and colon were insensitive to pheasant motilin. Neither GM109 nor MA2029, mammalian motilin receptor antagonists inhibited the contractions of pheasant motilin. Erythromycin was ineffective in the pheasant ileum, although it caused contraction of the rabbit duodenum. These results indicate that pheasant motilin caused contraction through an action on smooth muscles in the small intestine and an action on enteric cholinergic nerves in the proventriculus. This high responsiveness of the small intestine suggests that motilin is a regulator of small intestinal motility in avians, and the characteristic of the motilin receptor in the pheasant might be different from that in mammals, as is that in chickens.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Gastrointestinal Motility; Gastrointestinal Tract; Motilin; Muscle Contraction; Rabbits
PubMed: 34506789
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113897 -
Veterinary Research Dec 2023It is well-established that the genetic diversity, regional prevalence, and broad host range of astroviruses significantly impact the poultry industry. In July 2022, a...
It is well-established that the genetic diversity, regional prevalence, and broad host range of astroviruses significantly impact the poultry industry. In July 2022, a small-scale commercial broiler farm in China reported cases of growth retardation and a 3% mortality rate. From chickens displaying proventriculitis and pancreatitis, three chicken astroviruses (CAstV) isolates were obtained and named SDAU2022-1-3. Complete genomic sequencing and analysis revealed the unique characteristics of these isolates from known CAstV strains in ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2 genes, characterized by an unusually high variability. Analysis of amino acid mutations in ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2 indicated that the accumulation of these mutations played a pivotal role in the emergence of the variant strain. Inoculation experiments demonstrated that affected chickens exhibited liver and kidney enlargement, localized proventricular hemorrhage, and a dark reddish-brown appearance in about two-thirds of the pancreas. Histopathological examination unveiled hepatic lymphocytic infiltration, renal tubular epithelial cell swelling, along with lymphocytic proventriculitis and pancreatitis. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated viremia and viral shedding at 3 days post-infection (dpi). The proventriculus displayed the highest viral loads, followed by the liver, kidney, duodenum, and pancreas. Liver parameters (AST and ALT) and kidney parameters (UA and UN) demonstrated mild damage consistent with earlier findings. While the possibility of new mutations in the ORF2 gene of CAstV causing proventriculitis and pancreatitis warrants further investigation, these findings deepen our comprehension of CAstV's pathogenicity in chickens. Additionally, they serve as valuable references for subsequent research endeavors.
Topics: Animals; Avastrovirus; Chickens; Virulence; Astroviridae Infections; Pancreatitis; Poultry Diseases; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38066626
DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01250-1 -
Archives of Razi Institute Feb 2023Phytic acid is a stored form of phosphorus in cereals, 65 to 70% of phosphorus in plant sources is phytate, and broilers are only able to use part of the phosphorus in...
Phytic acid is a stored form of phosphorus in cereals, 65 to 70% of phosphorus in plant sources is phytate, and broilers are only able to use part of the phosphorus in plant sources. To meet the needs of chickens, it is necessary to use other artificial resources, which not only impose part of the cost of the breeding period because of its presence in the manure but is one of the factors polluting the environment. This study aimed to use different levels of phytase enzyme to reduce dietary phosphorus levels. 600 Ross 308 broilers were used in this experiment with five treatments and six replications, and in each replication, 20 chickens were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Experimental treatments include 1) basal diet (control) 2) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus 3) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 1250 (FTU) phytase enzyme 4) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 2500 (FTU) phytase enzyme 5) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 5000 (FTU) phytase enzyme. The evaluated traits included weekly feed intake, weekly weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, ash, calcium, and bone phosphorus. The use of phytase enzyme in different diets had no significant effect on food intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (>0.05). However, the use of phytase in different diets significantly affected the percentage of Gizzard, Heart, Liver, Proventriculus, and Spleen (<0.05). The most changes were the increase in the ratio of feed intake and weight gain in the fourth week compared to the third week so that the changes in the ratio of feed intake ranged from 1.85 to 1.91, and this ratio for weight gain also ranged from 3.12 to 3.86 was recorded, and the lowest feed conversion ratio was obtained at the same age. The percentage of raw ash in broiler chickens was significantly increased by adding dietary phytase. The lowest amount of ash, calcium, and phosphorus belonged to the second group (diets with low phosphorus and no enzyme). The difference between the other groups and the control was not significant. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio with the addition of phytase enzyme were not affected by phosphorus reduction and had no significant effect on carcass characteristics. Environmental pollution can be prevented by reducing the level of dietary phosphorus and reducing excreted phosphorus.
Topics: Animals; 6-Phytase; Calcium; Chickens; Phosphorus; Phosphorus, Dietary; Phytic Acid
PubMed: 37312704
DOI: 10.22092/ARI.2022.359524.2443 -
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery Sep 2019
Topics: Animals; Autopsy; Bird Diseases; Cerebellum; Cockatoos; Diagnosis, Differential; Fatal Outcome; Foreign Bodies; Male; Proventriculus; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 31893629
DOI: 10.1647/2018-390 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2022In this study, we included 15% doses of infrared-irradiated camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds in the diets of broiler chickens (grower and finisher) and focused on...
Supplementation of Broiler Chicken Feed Mixtures with Micronised Oilseeds and the Effects on Nutrient Contents and Mineral Profiles of Meat and Some Organs, Carcass Composition Parameters, and Health Status.
In this study, we included 15% doses of infrared-irradiated camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds in the diets of broiler chickens (grower and finisher) and focused on assessing the effects on the production traits, selected slaughter analysis parameters, nutrients, and minerals in breast and drumstick meat and some organs, i.e., liver, proventriculus, and heart. In total, 200 one-day-old broiler chickens were assigned randomly to four treatments with five replicate cages of 10 broiler chickens per cage (five females and five males). The experiment lasted 6 weeks. In the group of broiler chickens in which diets were supplemented with micronised camelina and flax seeds, there was an increase in (p < 0.05) breast, thigh, and drumstick weight and a decrease (p < 0.05) in the abdominal fat of the carcasses. The oilseed treatments reduced the ether extract content and the calorific value in the breast and drumstick muscles and organs. The flax seeds contributed to an increase in the contents of Ca (breast muscle and liver), Cu (breast muscle and proventriculus), and Fe (drumstick muscle and heart). Likewise, some blood parameters were influenced by supplementation with infrared-irradiated camelina and flax seeds, for example, there was a decrease in the haemoglobin level and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (p < 0.05). The oilseed treatments also modified the contents of Fe and Ca in the blood plasma of broiler chickens (p < 0.05). It may be concluded that infrared-irradiated camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds can be regarded as good diet components exerting positive effects on the dietary value of poultry meat and organs used in dietetics.
PubMed: 35804522
DOI: 10.3390/ani12131623 -
Insects Jun 2022Continuous improvements in morphological and histochemical analyses of could improve our understanding of the anatomy and physiology of these insects at both the...
Continuous improvements in morphological and histochemical analyses of could improve our understanding of the anatomy and physiology of these insects at both the cellular and tissue level. In this work, two different approaches have been performed to add new data on the abdomen of worker bees: (i) Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), which allows the identification of small-scale structures (micrometers) with adequate/optimal resolution and avoids sample damage and, (ii) histochemical multi-staining with Periodic Acid-Schiff-Alcian blue, Lactophenol-Saphranin O and pentachrome staining to precisely characterize the histological structures of the midgut and hindgut. Micro-CT allowed high-resolution imaging of anatomical structures of the honeybee abdomen with particular emphasis on the proventriculus and pyloric valves, as well as the connection of the sting apparatus with the terminal abdominal ganglia. Furthermore, the histochemical analyses have allowed for the first-time description of ventricular telocytes in honeybees, a cell type located underneath the midgut epithelium characterized by thin and long cytoplasmic projections called telopodes. Overall, the analysis of these images could help the detailed anatomical description of the cryptic structures of honeybees and also the characterization of changes due to abiotic or biotic stress conditions.
PubMed: 35735893
DOI: 10.3390/insects13060556