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Scientific Reports Sep 2022Aquatic bird bornavirus (ABBV-1), an avian bornavirus, has been reported in wild waterfowl from North America and Europe that presented with neurological signs and...
Aquatic bird bornavirus (ABBV-1), an avian bornavirus, has been reported in wild waterfowl from North America and Europe that presented with neurological signs and inflammation of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The potential of ABBV-1to infect and cause lesions in commercial waterfowl species is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of ABBV-1 to infect and cause disease in day-old Muscovy ducks (n = 174), selected as a representative domestic waterfowl. Ducklings became infected with ABBV-1 through both intracranial and intramuscular, but not oral, infection routes. Upon intramuscular infection, the virus spread centripetally to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), while intracranial infection led to virus spread to the spinal cord, kidneys, proventriculus, and gonads (centrifugal spread). Infected birds developed both encephalitis and myelitis by 4 weeks post infection (wpi), which progressively subsided by 8 and 12 wpi. Despite development of microscopic lesions, clinical signs were not observed. Only five birds had choanal and/or cloacal swabs positive for ABBV-1, suggesting a low potential of Muscovy ducks to shed the virus. This is the first study to document the pathogenesis of ABBV-1 in poultry species, and confirms the ability of ABBV-1 to infect commercial waterfowl.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Bornaviridae; Ducks; Influenza in Birds; Poultry
PubMed: 36180525
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20418-x -
Poultry Science May 2023Changle goose in Fujian, China is a rare genetic resource and in urgent need to be protected. Understanding the characteristics of digestive physiology and spatial...
Changle goose in Fujian, China is a rare genetic resource and in urgent need to be protected. Understanding the characteristics of digestive physiology and spatial variation of gastrointestinal microbiota is crucial for developing nutritional intervention strategies to improve intestinal health and production performance of goose. Hence, histomorphological assay was used for observing development status of proventriculus, jejunum, and cecum in 70-day-old Changle geese, whereas digesta from 6 alimentary canal locations (crop, proventriculus, gizzard, jejunum, cecum, and rectum) were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) quantitative analysis. The histomorphological observation indicated that the jejunum and cecum of Changle goose were well developed. The alpha diversity analysis revealed that, except rectum, microbiota in other noncecum sections were in high diversity as cecum. The Nonmetric MultiDimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that microbial community of proventriculus, gizzard, and jejunum formed a cluster, which distinctly discrete with the microbiota of the other gastrointestinal locations. Additionally, the proportions of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Campilobacterota at the phylum level and Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Helicobacter, and Subdoligranulum at the genus level exhibited tremendous alternations among different gastrointestinal locations. The characteristic bacterial composition in each section was further disclosed by analyzing the core and feature Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) and SCFAs pattern. Importantly, 7 body-weight-associated ASVs and 2 cecum-development-related ASVs were identified via correlation analysis. In a whole, our findings provided the first insights into the specialized digestive physiology of Changle geese and distinctive regional distribution of gastrointestinal microbiota, which laid the important foundation for improving growth performance through microbiota manipulation in geese.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Geese; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Chickens; Digestive System Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 36933526
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102588 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Dec 2021Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) is a life-threatening neurological disease caused by parrot bornaviruses (PaBVs) that affects several species worldwide. PDD can... (Review)
Review
Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) is a life-threatening neurological disease caused by parrot bornaviruses (PaBVs) that affects several species worldwide. PDD can be clinically manifested as either a central nervous system condition or a gastrointestinal condition if the nerves and ganglia of the gastrointestinal tract are compromised. We intend to provide a concise review for veterinary clinicians and diagnosticians with focus on the main tools available for PDD diagnosis, including gross and histopathology, immunohistochemistry, molecular techniques and serology. We suggest that a combination of different strategies can increase the success of diagnostic outcomes, as tools such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be implemented for identification of bornaviral infections in live patients, and gross pathology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR can provide reliable results for postmortem diagnosis of PDD.
PubMed: 34944332
DOI: 10.3390/ani11123558 -
Poultry Science Sep 2022Increasing growth rate, body weight, and breast muscle yield have been linked to broiler muscle problems such as woody breast (WB). The aim of this study was to...
Increasing growth rate, body weight, and breast muscle yield have been linked to broiler muscle problems such as woody breast (WB). The aim of this study was to investigate the internal organ and skeletal muscle development of broilers with WB myopathy under dietary and Eimeria challenge treatments. A 3 diet (control, antibiotic, or probiotic) × 2 challenge (control or Eimeria) × 2 sex factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a randomized complete block design. Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to 96 floor pens with 12 treatment combinations (8 replicates per treatment). Internal organs were sampled on d 13 and 41. Skeletal muscles were sampled on d 41. Internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Relationships between WB and internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using one-way ANOVA as all treatments were pooled together and regrouped according to WB scores. On d 41, absolute and relative heart weights were greater in males when they were averaged over diet and challenge treatments (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively). The birds with WB score 3 had greater absolute heart (P = 0.0002) and spleen weights (P = 0.016), but there was no difference in relative spleen weight (P > 0.05). When averaged over diet and challenge treatments, males have greater absolute duodenum, jejunum, and ileum weights (for all P < 0.0001). Compared with birds with normal breasts, the birds with WB scores 1, 2, and 3 had a greater live weight (for all P < 0.0001) and absolute and relative breast weights (for all P < 0.0001). The birds with WB score 1, 2, and 3 had greater (P < 0.0001) absolute but lower (P < 0.0001) relative drumstick, thigh, and wing weights. Results indicated that broilers with WB had lower relative proventriculus and gizzard weights and greater relative breast meat weight with lower relative drumstick, thigh, and wing muscle weights.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Chickens; Diet; Eimeria; Female; Male; Meat; Muscle Development; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscular Diseases; Poultry Diseases
PubMed: 35896053
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102012 -
Veterinary Research Jul 2023Despite vaccine use, novel strains and variants of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have emerged continuously, leading to economic losses to the poultry industry...
Despite vaccine use, novel strains and variants of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have emerged continuously, leading to economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. This study aimed to characterize the IBV isolate CK/CH/GX/202109 from three yellow broilers in Guangxi, China. Recombination was shown to have occurred in regions of the 1ab gene. Compared to the whole genome of ck/CH/LGX/130530, which is genotypically related to tl/CH/LDT3-03, the 202109 strain had 21 mutations. The pathological assessment showed that this variant caused 30% and 40% mortality in 1-day-old chicks infected with oral and ocular inoculum, respectively. Nephritis, enlarged proventriculus, inflammation of the gizzard, and atrophy of the bursa of Fabricius were also observed at both 7 and 14 days post-infection (dpi). Viral loads in the trachea, proventriculus, gizzard, kidney, bursa, and cloacal swabs were higher at 7 dpi than at 14 dpi. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that this virus exhibited multiple organ tropisms capable of infecting the trachea, proventriculus, gizzard, kidney, bursa, ileum, jejunum, and rectum. Almost none of the 1-day-old infected chicks seroconverted until 14 dpi. While the virus was found in the ileum, jejunum, and rectum in the 28-day-old ocular group, the majority of 28-day-old infected chickens seroconverted at 10 dpi. These study findings demonstrate that recombination events and mutations during the evolution of IBV may greatly alter tissue tropism and emphasize the need for the continued surveillance of novel strains and variants in order to control this infection.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Infectious bronchitis virus; Genome, Viral; China; Tropism; Coronavirus Infections; Poultry Diseases; Phylogeny
PubMed: 37400928
DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01182-w -
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 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Nov 2022The concept of designer microbiota in chicken is focused on early exposure of the hatchlings to pathogen-free microbiota inoculum, limiting the early access to harmful...
The concept of designer microbiota in chicken is focused on early exposure of the hatchlings to pathogen-free microbiota inoculum, limiting the early access to harmful and pathogenic microorganisms, thus promoting colonisation of the gut with beneficial and natural poultry microbiota. In this study, we controlled colonisation of the intestine in broiler chickens in a large-scale industrial setting via at-hatch administration of a commercial product containing a highly diverse microbiota originating from the chicken caecum. The treatment significantly transformed the microbiota membership in the crop, proventriculus, jejunum and caecum and significantly altered the taxa abundance in the jejunum, jejunum mucosa, and caecum estimated using PERMANOVA and unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances, respectively. The treatment also improved the growth rate in chickens with no significant alteration in feed conversion ratio. A comparison of inoculum product microbiota structure revealed that the inoculum had the highest Shannon diversity index compared to all investigated gut sections, and the number of Observed Species second only to the caecal community. PCoA plots using weighted or unweighted UniFrac placed the inoculum samples together with the samples from the caecal origin.
PubMed: 36496817
DOI: 10.3390/ani12233296 -
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 -
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