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Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Sep 2021The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium humberi affects Aedes aegypti adults, larvae and eggs, but its ovicidal activity is not yet well documented. Conidia of this...
The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium humberi affects Aedes aegypti adults, larvae and eggs, but its ovicidal activity is not yet well documented. Conidia of this fungus adhered to the chorion, initiated germination within 12 h, and germinating conidia were detected for up to 10 d after contact with the egg. Germ tubes either penetrated the chorion directly or formed appressoria at the end of a short hypha (<5 μm) or, subsequently, on longer, branched hyphae. Thin layers of what was most probably a fungal mucilaginous excretion were detected on the chorion adjacent to germ tubes, appressoria and hyphae. After 5 d eggs frequently appeared shriveled with ruptures in the chorion, and with the interior filled with hyphae that eventually produced mycelium and new conidia on the egg surfaces. Findings demonstrated that this fungus can infect A. aegypti eggs and subsequently recycle on their surface by producing large numbers of new conidia that should be infective for further generations of eggs, larvae and adults.
Topics: Aedes; Animals; Metarhizium; Mosquito Control; Ovum; Pest Control, Biological; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 34331911
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107648 -
Poultry Science Jun 2023Some of the major restaurants and grocery chains in the United States have pledged to buy cage-free (CF) eggs only by 2025 or 2030. While CF house allows hens to perform...
Some of the major restaurants and grocery chains in the United States have pledged to buy cage-free (CF) eggs only by 2025 or 2030. While CF house allows hens to perform more natural behaviors (e.g., dust bathing, perching, and foraging on the litter floor), a particular challenge is floor eggs (i.e., mislaid eggs on litter floor). Floor eggs have high chances of contamination. The manual collection of eggs is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, precision poultry farming technology is necessary to detect floor eggs. In this study, 3 new deep learning models, that is, YOLOv5s-egg, YOLOv5x-egg, and YOLOv7-egg networks, were developed, trained, and compared in tracking floor eggs in 4 research cage-free laying hen facilities. Models were verified to detect eggs by using images collected in 2 different commercial houses. Results indicate that the YOLOv5s-egg model detected floor eggs with a precision of 87.9%, recall of 86.8%, and mean average precision (mAP) of 90.9%; the YOLOv5x-egg model detected the floor eggs with a precision of 90%, recall of 87.9%, and mAP of 92.1%; and the YOLOv7-egg model detected the eggs with a precision of 89.5%, recall of 85.4%, and mAP of 88%. All models performed with over 85% detection precision; however, model performance is affected by the stocking density, varying light intensity, and images occluded by equipment like drinking lines, perches, and feeders. The YOLOv5x-egg model detected floor eggs with higher accuracy, precision, mAP, and recall than YOLOv5s-egg and YOLOv7-egg. This study provides a reference for cage-free producers that floor eggs can be monitored automatically. Future studies are guaranteed to test the system in commercial houses.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Animal Husbandry; Housing, Animal; Ovum; Floors and Floorcoverings; Eggs
PubMed: 37011469
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102637 -
PloS One 2020Chicken egg products increased by 60% worldwide resulting in the farmers or traders egg industry. The double yolk (DY) eggs are priced higher than single yolk (SY) eggs...
Chicken egg products increased by 60% worldwide resulting in the farmers or traders egg industry. The double yolk (DY) eggs are priced higher than single yolk (SY) eggs around 35% at the same size. Although, separating DY from SY will increase more revenue but it has to be replaced at the higher cost from skilled labor for sorting. Normally, the separation of double yolk eggs required the expertise person by weigh and shape of egg but it is still high error. The purpose of this research is to detect double-yolked (DY) chicken eggs with weight and ratio of the egg's size using fuzzy logic and developing a low cost prototype to reduce the cost of separation. The K-means clustering is used for separating DY and SY, firstly. However, the error from this technique is still high as 15.05% because of its hard clustering. Therefore, the intersection zone scattering from using the weight and ratio of the egg's size to input of DY and SY is taken into consider with fuzzy logic algorithm, to improve the error. The results of errors from fuzzy logic are depended with input membership functions (MF). This research selects triangular MF of weight as low = 65 g, medium = 75 g and high = 85 g, while ratio of the egg is triangular MF as low = 1.30, medium = 1.40 and high = 1.50. This algorithm is not provide the minimum total error but it gives the low error to detect a double yolk while the real egg is SY as 1.43% of total eggs. This algorithm is applied to develop a double yolk egg detection prototype with Mbed platform by a load cell and OpenMV CAM, to measure the weight and ratio of the egg respectively.
Topics: Algorithms; Animals; Body Weight; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Egg Yolk; Eggs; Female; Fuzzy Logic; Models, Theoretical; Ovum
PubMed: 33152020
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241888 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Dec 2019The tendency towards postponement of maternity implies a greater exposure of female germ cells to damaging environmental effects, including ionizing radiation (IR).... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
The tendency towards postponement of maternity implies a greater exposure of female germ cells to damaging environmental effects, including ionizing radiation (IR). Progress in paediatric oncology, based on the use of radiotherapy, also implies the occurrence of gonadal dysfunctions and subsequent female fertility disorders. Therefore, it seems justifiable to systematize the state of knowledge concerning the effect of IR on the female reproductive system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE
A considerable part of studies concerning the effect of IR on female germ cells have been conducted on animals. Their extrapolation to humans is hindered because in animal studies high acute exposures are applied, which do not reflect human environmental exposures characterized by chronic low dose exposure. Studies on animals provide a heterogenous image, which hinders the formulation of unequivocal conclusions and indicates that radiosensitivity depends, i.a. on IR dose, stage of development of oocytes, the applied marker of the effects of IR, or on the species. LD50 of human oocytes is estimated to be below 2 Gy. The effect of IR depends, i.a. on the dose fractionation and the age (older women are more radiosensitive). In females, the effective sterilizing dose is: at birth 20.3 Gy, at 10 years 18.4 Gy, at 20 years 16.5 Gy, whereas at 30 years 14.3 Gy, which is associated with the available pool of ovarian follicles.
CONCLUSIONS
Within the range of low doses received as a result of environmental exposure to IR, there is no evidence for the occurrence of either adverse pregnancy outcomes, nor fertility disorders in females. These effects may be related to the cancer radiotherapy, or exposure to high IR doses during nuclear accidents.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Ovum; Radiation Exposure; Radiation Injuries; Radiation, Ionizing; Reproduction
PubMed: 31885235
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/112837 -
Development, Growth & Differentiation Apr 2020Guaranteeing the sustainability of gametogenesis is a fundamental issue for perpetuating the species. In the mammalian ovary, sustainability is accomplished by keeping a... (Review)
Review
Guaranteeing the sustainability of gametogenesis is a fundamental issue for perpetuating the species. In the mammalian ovary, sustainability is accomplished by keeping a number of oocytes "stocked" in the dormant state. Despite the evident importance of this state, the mechanisms underlying the oocyte dormancy are not fully understood, although it is presumed that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are involved. Here, we review environmental factors involved in the regulation of oocyte dormancy. Consideration of the environmental factors illustrates the nature of the ovarian compartment, in which primordial follicles reside. This should greatly improve our understanding of the mechanisms and also assist in reconstitution of the dormant state in culture. Accumulating knowledge on the dormant state of oocytes will contribute to a wide range of research in fields such as developmental biology, reproductive biology and regenerative medicine.
Topics: Animals; Cellular Microenvironment; Humans; Oocytes
PubMed: 32106340
DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12653 -
Molecular Reproduction and Development Mar 2020Fertilization of an egg by multiple sperms, polyspermy, is lethal to most sexually reproducing species. To combat the entry of additional sperm into already fertilized... (Review)
Review
Fertilization of an egg by multiple sperms, polyspermy, is lethal to most sexually reproducing species. To combat the entry of additional sperm into already fertilized eggs, organisms have developed various polyspermy blocks. One such barrier, the fast polyspermy block, uses a fertilization-activated depolarization of the egg membrane to electrically inhibit supernumerary sperm from entering the egg. The fast block is commonly used by eggs of oviparous animals with external fertilization. In this review, we discuss the history of the fast block discovery, as well as general features shared by all organisms that use this polyspermy block. Given the diversity of habitats of external fertilizers, the fine details of the fast block-signaling pathways differ drastically between species, including the identity of the depolarizing ions. We highlight the known molecular mediators of these signaling pathways in amphibians and echinoderms, with a fine focus on ion channels that signal these fertilization-evoked depolarizations. We also discuss the investigation for a fast polyspermy block in mammals and teleost fish, and we outline potential fast block triggers. Since the first electrical recordings made on eggs in the 1950s, the fields of developmental biology and electrophysiology have substantially matured, and yet we are only now beginning to discern the intricate molecular mechanisms regulating the fast block to polyspermy.
Topics: Animals; Cell Membrane; Female; Humans; Ion Channels; Male; Membrane Potentials; Oocytes; Polyploidy; Signal Transduction; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; Spermatozoa; Zygote
PubMed: 31087507
DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23168 -
Poultry Science Mar 2021The aim of the study was to determine shell quality of eggs laid by some strains of native breed hens of different ages, with special consideration of their effect on... (Review)
Review
The aim of the study was to determine shell quality of eggs laid by some strains of native breed hens of different ages, with special consideration of their effect on lysozyme concentration and enzymatic activity. Evaluation was made of the eggshells from 6 breeds/strains of laying hens covered by the gene pool protection program in Poland: Greenleg Partridge (Z-11), Yellowleg Partridge (Ż-33), Rhode Island Red (R-11), Rhode Island White (A-33), Sussex (S-66), and Leghorn (H-22). Significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences were established for all the shell quality characteristics between hen strains. As the birds aged, shell weight and porosity increased, and shell compression strength decreased in all the experimental groups. Lysozyme content was lowest in white-shelled eggs (H-22) and highest in cream-colored and light brown eggs (Z-11, Ż-33, and R-11). Furthermore, age of hens had a greater effect on lysozyme concentration and activity in the eggs than on shell quality traits. Regardless of the layer genotype, eggs from older hens showed higher lysozyme concentration and enzymatic activity.
Topics: Albumins; Animals; Biodiversity; Chickens; Egg Shell; Female; Genotype; Muramidase; Ovum; Poland
PubMed: 33516470
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.11.040 -
Poultry Science Jun 2022Microbial blooms that emerge in commercial hatch cabinets consist of apathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and...
Microbial blooms that emerge in commercial hatch cabinets consist of apathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Objectives of the present study included the development of a multipathogen contamination model to mimic commercial conditions and optimization of sampling methods to quantify bacterial or fungal presence within the hatch cabinet. The pathogen challenge mix (PM) was recreated from select bacterial or fungal isolates recovered from an egg homogenate (EH) derived from the contents of infertile eggs and late embryonic mortalities. Isolates selected for PM included Enterococcus faecalis (∼10 CFU/egg), Staphylococcus aureus (∼10 CFU/egg), Staphylococcus chromogenes (∼10 CFU/egg), Aspergillus fumigatus (∼10 spores/egg), and 2 Escherichia coli (∼10 CFU/egg) isolates. Challenge (100 μL of PM or EH) was administered using a sterile loop to a 28 mm area on the blunt end of the eggshell at day 19 of embryogenesis (DOE). In 3 experiments, microbiological data were collected from environmental hatcher samples (open-agar plate method), fluff samples, postmortem whole-body chick rinse samples, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) samples to evaluate select bacteria and fungi circulating within the hatch cabinet and colonization of GIT. Cumulative bacterial and fungal recovery from the PM hatching environment from DOE20 to hatch was higher than the nonchallenged group (NC) and EH group at ∼860 and ∼1,730 CFU, respectively. Bacterial recovery from GIT, fluff, and chick rinse samples were similar for the PM and EH group in Exp. 1. However, Aspergillus fumigatus recovery from fluff and chick rinse samples for the PM group was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the NC and EH group. In Exp. 2 and 3, PM challenge significantly (P < 0.05) increased Gram-negative bacterial recovery from the GIT, fluff and chick rinse samples compared to both the NC and EH group. These data suggest this innovative multispecies environmental contamination model using PM could be utilized to evaluate strategies to mitigate microbial contamination in commercial hatch cabinets in a laboratory setting.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Chickens; Egg Shell; Escherichia coli; Ovum
PubMed: 35512499
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101890 -
Poultry Science Aug 2023Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used in an extra-label manner in commercial laying hens for the treatment of foot lesions, which are...
Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used in an extra-label manner in commercial laying hens for the treatment of foot lesions, which are a common issue in this species. The present study aimed to determine the depletion profiles of meloxicam in eggs with multiple oral administration under 2 different dosing regimens and to further recommend reasonable withdrawal intervals (WDIs). Meloxicam (1 mg/kg) was administered orally to laying hens under 2 dosing schedules: 10 doses at 24-h intervals and 15 doses at 12-h intervals. Eggs were collected daily after the first dosing, and meloxicam concentrations in both yolk and white were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The weight ratio of white to yolk in the whole egg was 1.54 (the mean of 20 eggs with repeated tests), and this value combined with the meloxicam concentrations in white and yolk were used to calculate the drug concentrations in whole eggs. Meloxicam was quickly eliminated from egg white, and its concentrations could only be quantified at 2 time points during the elimination phase. The elimination half-lives in yolk and whole egg were 3.07 ± 1.00 and 2.98 ± 0.88 d, respectively, after 10 repeated doses. And the corresponding elimination half-lives were 2.30 ± 0.83 and 2.18 ± 0.67 d, respectively, after repeated 15 doses. Considering the time when meloxicam was not detectable in eggs with the time of ovum development and maturation, a withdrawal interval (WDI) was suggested as 17 d for both dosing schedules. The current results enriched the study on the residue of meloxicam in domestic Jing Hong laying hens and provided WDIs to help ensure animal-derived food safety.
Topics: Animals; Female; Meloxicam; Egg Yolk; Chickens; Drug Residues; Ovum; Administration, Oral; Eggs
PubMed: 37270891
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102761 -
Animal : An International Journal of... Feb 2022The hen's egg (Gallus gallus) is an animal product of great agronomic interest, with a world production of 70.9 million tonnes in 2018. China accounted for 35% of world... (Review)
Review
The hen's egg (Gallus gallus) is an animal product of great agronomic interest, with a world production of 70.9 million tonnes in 2018. China accounted for 35% of world production, followed by North America (12% of world production), the European Union (7.0 million tonnes, 10% of world production) and India (5.0 million tonnes, 7% of world production). In France, 16-17 billion eggs are produced annually (14.5 billion for table eggs) and more than 1 200 billion worldwide. In 2019, egg production increased by 3.3% compared to 2018, mainly due to the increase in Asian production, which has risen by 42% since 2000. Chicken eggs are widely used either as a low-cost, high nutritional quality food cooked by the consumer (more than 100 billion eggs consumed in Europe), or incorporated as an ingredient in many food products. The various production methods have changed considerably over the last 15 years with the consideration of animal welfare and changes in European regulations. In Europe, fewer and fewer eggs are produced in confinement and there has been a strong growth in the number of systems giving access to an outdoor run. In this review, we describe the different ways in which eggs are produced and processed into egg products to meet the growing demand for ready-to-use food products. We analyse the effect of this evolution of hen-rearing systems on the set of characteristics of eggs and egg products that determine their quality. We describe the risks and benefits associated with these new production methods and their influence or lack of influence on commercial, nutritional, microbial and chemical contamination risk characteristics, as well as the evolution of the image for the consumer. The latter covers the ethical, cultural and environmental dimensions associated with the way the egg is produced.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Chickens; Eggs; Female; Food Quality; North America; Ovum
PubMed: 34955388
DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100425