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Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal... Sep 2023Total 288 Ross-308-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six dietary treatment groups in a two-way ANOVA with 2 × 3 factorial arrangements (two...
Total 288 Ross-308-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six dietary treatment groups in a two-way ANOVA with 2 × 3 factorial arrangements (two factors, i.e., dietary protein and energy having two types of protein, e.g., plant, animal and three different sources of energy, e.g., soybean oil, rice bran oil and sunflower oil) to justify if animal protein-soybean oil based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), final live weight (FLW), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, fatty acid profile of the breast muscle and cost-benefit analysis were measured. Results indicated that animal protein significantly increased 4.27% FLW, 6.13% ADFI, 4.31% ADG and 2.93% wing weight. Accordingly, soybean oil increased 4.76% FLW, 3.80% ADG and 1.36% dressing percentage at the expense of 12.07% proventriculus weight compared with sunflower oil. The generalized linear model identified no interaction effects of the sources of protein and energy on overall performance of the birds. Replacement of vegetable protein by animal protein decreased 14.01% ∑ω-3, 12.16% ∑ω-6 and 12.21% sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑PUFA) and concomitantly increased 10.82% sum of saturated fatty acids (∑SFAs) in the breast muscle (Pectoralis major). Accordingly, replacement of sunflower oil by soybean oil decreased 29.17% ∑ω-3, 6.71% ∑ω-6, 11.62% sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFAs) and 7.33% ∑PUFAs and concurrently increased 18.36% ∑SFAs in the breast muscle of the broiler birds. It was concluded that animal protein-soybean oil-based broiler diet optimized net profit at the expense of desirable ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.
Topics: Animals; Animal Feed; Chickens; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Pectoralis Muscles; Soybean Oil; Sunflower Oil
PubMed: 36971147
DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13820 -
Journal of Morphology Feb 2024Ctenostome bryozoans are a small group of gymnolaemates comprising less than 400 recent species. They are paraphyletic and ctenostome-grade ancestors gave rise to...
Ctenostome bryozoans are a small group of gymnolaemates comprising less than 400 recent species. They are paraphyletic and ctenostome-grade ancestors gave rise to Cheilostomata, the most dominant and speciose taxon of Bryozoa in the present day. Investigations into ctenostomes are important for reconstructing character evolution among Gymnolaemata. As a continuation of studies on a morphological series of ctenostome bryozoans, we herein investigate six species of hislopiids, a small clade of three genera occurring in freshwater habitats. The general morphology of all species is similar in having primarily uniserial chains of encrusting zooids, which are mostly oval to ellipsoid and have a flattened frontobasal axis. Hislopia prolixa and Echinella placoides often have more slender zooids with a higher frontobasal axis. Apertures of hislopiids are quadrangular, lined by a thickened cuticle. Apertural spines are present in various lengths in E. placoides, Hislopia lacustris and Hislopia corderoi. The remaining cuticle is rather thin except at lateral areas, close to the pore-plates which are prominent in hislopiids because of abundant special and limiting cells. All species except H. corderoi and Timwoodiellina natans have a prominent collar obstructing the vestibulum, whereas the latter two species instead have an 'external collar' as cuticular, outer folds projecting over the aperture. Hislopiid lophophores carry eight, or more commonly 12-18 tentacles. The digestive tract is distinguished by an often highly elongated esophagus and/or cardia, with the latter always having a prominent bulbous part in the form of a proventriculus-or gizzard in E. placoides. The caecum is extensive in all species. In Hislopia the intestine is characteristically two-chambered with a proximal and distal part before entering an anal tube of various length. The latter is present in all species except T. natans and terminates in mid-lophophoral area. Oocytes in E. placoides are large and macrolecithal indicating brooding and the production of lecithotrophic larvae. Hislopia species produce small, oligolecithal ones, which suggests zygote spawning and planktotrophy. In general, the morphology is similar among the different hislopiids with characters of the gut aiding in delineating the genera Echinella and Timwoodiellina.
Topics: Animals; Bryozoa; Anal Canal; Larva; Oocytes; Fresh Water
PubMed: 38361263
DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21678 -
Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Sep 2023This study aimed to evaluate the impact of betaine (Bet) and protected calcium butyrate (PCB) supplementation individually and together on the performance, carcass...
Effects of dietary betaine and protected calcium butyrate supplementation on growth performance, blood biochemical status, and meat quality in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica).
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of betaine (Bet) and protected calcium butyrate (PCB) supplementation individually and together on the performance, carcass traits, blood biochemistry, and meat quality of growing Japanese quails ( Coturnix coturnix Japonica) from 1 to 42 days old. 144 one-day-old unsexed Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with six replicates each. All birds were fed a maize-soybean meal diet for 42 days. The control group received no feed additives, while the treatment groups received 1.2 g/kg Bet, 1.0 g/kg PCB, or a combination of both in their diets. The results indicated that Bet and PCB supplementation individually and together did not differ performance, relative weights of heart, gizzard, proventriculus, bursa of Fabricius and pancreas, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), blood biochemical values except for glucose and triglyceride. Bet supplementation significantly increased relative liver weights, while PCB supplementation decreased glucose levels in serum. Moreover, carcass yield was increased and triglyceride value in blood serum, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the pH levels of breast meats both on the 1st and 30st day of post-mortem were decreased in all treatment groups. Therefore, based on these results, the combination of betaine and butyrate improves both carcass yield and meat quality in growing Japanese quails. More research is needed to determine the impact of betaine and butyrate on the structure of amino acids in meat, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the immune system in poultry.
Topics: Animals; Coturnix; Betaine; Calcium; Butyrates; Diet; Meat; Antioxidants; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 37727053
DOI: 10.24425/pjvs.2023.145043 -
Journal of Animal Science and... Feb 2024The gut microbiota influences chicken health, welfare, and productivity. A diverse and balanced microbiota has been associated with improved growth, efficient feed...
BACKGROUND
The gut microbiota influences chicken health, welfare, and productivity. A diverse and balanced microbiota has been associated with improved growth, efficient feed utilisation, a well-developed immune system, disease resistance, and stress tolerance in chickens. Previous studies on chicken gut microbiota have predominantly focused on broiler chickens and have usually been limited to one or two sections of the digestive system, under controlled research environments, and often sampled at a single time point. To extend these studies, this investigation examined the microbiota of commercially raised layer chickens across all major gut sections of the digestive system and with regular sampling from rearing to the end of production at 80 weeks. The aim was to build a detailed picture of microbiota development across the entire digestive system of layer chickens and study spatial and temporal dynamics.
RESULTS
The taxonomic composition of gut microbiota differed significantly between birds in the rearing and production stages, indicating a shift after laying onset. Similar microbiota compositions were observed between proventriculus and gizzard, as well as between jejunum and ileum, likely due to their anatomical proximity. Lactobacillus dominated the upper gut in pullets and the lower gut in older birds. The oesophagus had a high proportion of Proteobacteria, including opportunistic pathogens such as Gallibacterium. Relative abundance of Gallibacterium increased after peak production in multiple gut sections. Aeriscardovia was enriched in the late-lay phase compared to younger birds in multiple gut sections. Age influenced microbial richness and diversity in different organs. The upper gut showed decreased diversity over time, possibly influenced by dietary changes, while the lower gut, specifically cecum and colon, displayed increased richness as birds matured. However, age-related changes were inconsistent across all organs, suggesting the influence of organ-specific factors in microbiota maturation.
CONCLUSION
Addressing a gap in previous research, this study explored the microbiota across all major gut sections and tracked their dynamics from rearing to the end of the production cycle in commercially raised layer chickens. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of microbiota structure and development which help to develop targeted strategies to optimise gut health and overall productivity in poultry production.
PubMed: 38317171
DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00979-1 -
Parasites & Vectors Jul 2023Tsetse-transmitted African animal trypanosomiasis is recognised as an important disease of ruminant livestock in sub-Saharan Africa, but also affects domestic pigs, with...
BACKGROUND
Tsetse-transmitted African animal trypanosomiasis is recognised as an important disease of ruminant livestock in sub-Saharan Africa, but also affects domestic pigs, with Trypanosoma simiae notable as a virulent suid pathogen that can rapidly cause death. Trypanosoma simiae is widespread in tsetse-infested regions, but its biology has been little studied compared to T. brucei and T. congolense.
METHODS
Trypanosoma simiae procyclics were cultured in vitro and transfected using protocols developed for T. brucei. Genetically modified lines, as well as wild-type trypanosomes, were transmitted through tsetse flies, Glossina pallidipes, to study T. simiae development in the tsetse midgut, proventriculus and proboscis. The development of proventricular trypanosomes was also studied in vitro. Image and mensural data were collected and analysed.
RESULTS
A PFR1::YFP line successfully completed development in tsetse, but a YFP::HOP1 line failed to progress beyond midgut infection. Analysis of image and mensural data confirmed that the vector developmental cycles of T. simiae and T. congolense are closely similar, but we also found putative sexual stages in T. simiae, as judged by morphological similarity to these stages in T. brucei. Putative meiotic dividers were abundant among T. simiae trypanosomes in the proboscis, characterised by a large posterior nucleus and two anterior kinetoplasts. Putative gametes and other meiotic intermediates were also identified by characteristic morphology. In vitro development of proventricular forms of T. simiae followed the pattern previously observed for T. congolense: long proventricular trypanosomes rapidly attached to the substrate and shortened markedly before commencing cell division.
CONCLUSIONS
To date, T. brucei is the only tsetse-transmitted trypanosome with experimentally proven capability to undergo sexual reproduction, which occurs in the fly salivary glands. By analogy, sexual stages of T. simiae or T. congolense are predicted to occur in the proboscis, where the corresponding portion of the developmental cycle takes place. While no such stages have been observed in T. congolense, for T. simiae putative sexual stages were abundant in the tsetse proboscis. Although our initial attempt to demonstrate expression of a YFP-tagged, meiosis-specific protein was unsuccessful, the future application of transgenic approaches will facilitate the identification of meiotic stages and hybrids in T. simiae.
Topics: Animals; Swine; Tsetse Flies; Livestock; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis, African; Meiosis
PubMed: 37434196
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05847-5 -
Journal of Morphology Nov 2023Eusociality is an extreme form of social behavior found in some invertebrates, especially in ants, which allows them to thrive and dominate the environment through their...
Eusociality is an extreme form of social behavior found in some invertebrates, especially in ants, which allows them to thrive and dominate the environment through their cooperative and organized behavior. Their complex colony structure and social behavior is provided, among other things, by morphological adaptations, such as the unique structure and a huge variety of proventriculi relative to other insect groups. Here, we report the first discovery of proventriculus by X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT) in the fossil ants †Oecophylla brischkei Mayr, 1868 and †Oecophylla crassinoda Wheeler, 1922. This is a remarkable fossil find, as it opens up new perspectives for research on phylogeny, the evolution of ant sociality and feeding behavior. We present a 3D model of the proventriculus in Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) and a 3D model of the proventriculus in †Oe. brischkei and compare them. Fossil proventriculi are not fundamentally different in structure from the recent. Apparently, already in the late Eocene, the lifestyle and sociality of ants of the genus Oecophylla were similar to the one we are currently observing.
Topics: Animals; Ants; X-Ray Microtomography; Proventriculus; Fossils; Stomach
PubMed: 37856279
DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21645 -
Avian Pathology : Journal of the W.V.P.A Jun 2024Intestinal dilatation syndrome (IDS) is a segmental enteropathy characterized by dilatation of the junction of the ileum and jejunum (Meckel's diverticulum). IDS...
Intestinal dilatation syndrome (IDS) is a segmental enteropathy characterized by dilatation of the junction of the ileum and jejunum (Meckel's diverticulum). IDS severely affects the poultry industry by causing a chronic and irreversible drop in egg laying, reducing feed conversion efficiency, and increasing the mortality rate. The clinical and pathological features of IDS in white laying hens were described, and viral molecular and metagenomic research was conducted. The 50- to 60-day-old chickens presented pale mucosa, apathy, depression, ruffled feathers, and diarrhoea, accompanied by a 20% loss in fertile egg production, 20% culling of birds, and 5% mortality. The main findings at necropsy were marked intestinal dilatation with intestinal stasis, a narrow distal jejunum in the region of Meckel's diverticulum, and undigested food. Microscopic analysis revealed marked atrophic lymphoplasmacytic and heterophilic enteritis with hyperplastic crypts, ulceration, and heterophilic and lymphoplasmacytic perineuritis. The molecular assays consistently detected the presence of chicken parvovirus in the three segments of the intestine, pancreas, and proventriculus, as well as chicken megrivirus in the intestinal contents. Marked atrophic enteritis with perineuritis and intestinal stasis are associated with clinical manifestations of poor intestinal absorption and secondary bacterial infection. Our data provide useful information about IDS and highlight the importance of further studies to determine the specific role of each detected virus in this syndrome.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS IDS presented pathognomonic dilatation of the jejunum up to Meckel's diverticulum.IDS caused weight loss, decreased egg production, and increased culling and mortality.Chicken parvovirus (ChPV) was consistently detected through PCR assays.Chicken megrivirus (ChMV) was consistently detected through viral metagenomics.
PubMed: 38916258
DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2024.2372486 -
Tropical Animal Health and Production Jan 2024This study investigated ameliorative effects of dietary oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spent substrate (OMSS) in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with...
Low dietary oyster mushroom spent substrate limitedly ameliorates detrimental effects of feeding combined marula seed cake and mucuna seed meal as soya bean replacements in broiler chickens.
This study investigated ameliorative effects of dietary oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spent substrate (OMSS) in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with combined marula seed cake (MSC) and mucuna seed meal (MSM) replacing soya bean meal (SBM). In a completely randomised design (CRD), 400 day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated to 5 iso-nitrogenous-energetic diets (control with 100% SBM, control with 60% MSC and 40% MSM replacing SBM (MSC + MSM), MSC + MSM with 1.25% OMSS, MSC + MSM with 2.5% OMSS, and MSC + MSM with 5% OMSS) each with 8 replicate pens of 10 during starter, grower and finisher phases. Dietary MSC + MSM decreased (P < 0.001) feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE); slaughter weight, hot carcass weight (HCW), cold carcass weight (CCW), breast weight, and back lengths (P < 0.001); serum SDMA and alanine transaminase (P < 0.05). In contrast, it increased the weights of the thigh (P < 0.001), wing (P < 0.01), liver (P < 0.001), proventriculus (P < 0.001), gizzard (P < 0.001), duodenum (P < 0.001), jejunum (P < 0.001), ileum (P < 0.001), and caecum (P < 0.01) and serum alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05) and cholesterol (P < 0.01). Further, it increased meat redness and decreased its hue angle at 45 min post-slaughter (P < 0.01) whilst it decreased its pH (P < 0.01) and increased its shear force (P < 0.05) at 24 h post-slaughter. Compared to higher levels, low (1.25%) dietary OMSS improved, though limitedly, FI, BWG, and FCE at grower and finisher phases only (P < 0.001) whilst it reversed MSC plus MSM-induced deleterious effects on slaughter weight, HCW, and CCW (P < 0.001) and increases in gizzard weight (P < 0.001) and meat shear force at 24 h post-slaughter (P < 0.05). Otherwise, OMSS generally decreased (P < 0.05) serum SDMA and alanine transaminase whilst it abrogated and augmented increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05) and cholesterol (P < 0.01), respectively, and reversed the increase and decrease in meat redness (P < 0.01) and hue angle (P < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, dietary replacement of SBM with combined MSC plus MSM induced deleterious effects in broiler chickens that were limitedly abrogated by low (1.25%) inclusion level of OMSS.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Pleurotus; Mucuna; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Diet; Seeds; Glycine max; Anacardiaceae; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38194011
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03878-9 -
Veterinarni Medicina Nov 2023Marek's disease (MD) is a huge problem for researchers due to the significant losses in bird flocks, but more importantly, the virus's mutagenic potential. The...
Marek's disease (MD) is a huge problem for researchers due to the significant losses in bird flocks, but more importantly, the virus's mutagenic potential. The purpose of this study was to describe non-classical gross lesions observed in broilers and laying hens that suggest the disease emergence and re-emergence. The survey was conducted on 10 broiler and 4 laying hen flocks. All of the dead birds were necropsied in order to obtain a comprehensive diagnosis of lesions, analysing both macroscopic and microscopic alterations. Marek's disease occurred in 80% of cases in broilers and 100% of cases in layer hens. The disease struck 26-day-old broilers and hens at 2 weeks of age, causing a total mortality of 6% and 15%, respectively. There were no clinical indications of the classical neurological form of the disease in either rearing type, and tumour lesions were mostly detected in the liver, spleen, and ovarian follicles in layers, and in the proventriculus in broilers. These findings demonstrated that MD is widespread and that its resurgence is primarily manifested in visceral rather than neurological manifestations. Despite MD immunization, biosecurity remains critical.
PubMed: 38163046
DOI: 10.17221/75/2023-VETMED -
British Poultry Science Dec 20231. Phytic acid (PA) is an antinutritional factor in poultry diets. The effect of high dietary PA in chicken diets might be exacerbated when the particle size of oyster...
1. Phytic acid (PA) is an antinutritional factor in poultry diets. The effect of high dietary PA in chicken diets might be exacerbated when the particle size of oyster shell (OS) is too fine. Thus, this study investigated the hypothesis that high PA with fine OS particle size would impair growth in broilers.2. Two hundred and eighty Cobb 500 broilers were assigned to four diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a CRD. The factors were PA (low or high) and OS particle size (fine or coarse) in starter, grower and finisher diets. Data collected were performance, Ca digestibility, gastrointestinal pH and bone traits.3. On d 21, high PA increased intake ( < 0.05), gain ( = 0.099) and body weight (BW; = 0.093) compared to low PA. On d 42, high PA increased BW ( = 0.086) and gain ( = 0.089) compared to low PA. High PA increased intake ( = 0.063), BW ( = 0.054) and gain ( = 0.056) compared to low PA on d 56. High PA improved liveability on d 56 ( < 0.05) compared to low PA. In birds fed coarse OS, crop and ileal pH were reduced ( < 0.05) by high PA on d 28. The OS × PA interaction was observed for ileal pH ( < 0.05) on d 56, where in birds fed coarse OS, low PA increased ileal pH. Fine OS increased crop ( = 0.056) and proventriculus pH ( < 0.05) on d 56. There were no treatment effects on calcium digestibility. In birds fed fine OS, high PA decreased the BS ( < 0.05).4. Overall, the study showed that a combination of high PA and coarse OS particle size improves the production performance of broilers, while low PA and coarse OS improve their bone health.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Calcium; Phytic Acid; Particle Size; Digestion; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Calcium Carbonate; Calcium, Dietary; Diet; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ostreidae
PubMed: 37747291
DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2023.2262401