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PeerJ 2023The Horned Screamer is an herbivorous bird that inhabits wetlands of the South American tropical region. We hypothesize that due to its herbivorous niche, its digestive...
BACKGROUND
The Horned Screamer is an herbivorous bird that inhabits wetlands of the South American tropical region. We hypothesize that due to its herbivorous niche, its digestive tract compartments may have bacteria specialized in fermenting complex plant carbohydrates. To test this hypothesis, we compared the bacterial communities along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a Horned Screamer captured in Venezuela.
METHODS
Samples were taken from tissues and content of the proventriculus and the small intestine (considered for this study as upper GIT), and the large intestine and cecum (lower GIT). The bacterial community was characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the gene. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using QIIME, QIITA and Microbiome Analyst. The association between microbial taxonomy and function was analyzed using their Greengenes OTU IDs and a custom KEGG BRITE hierarchical tree and visualized with BURRITO.
RESULTS
The Screamer's gastrointestinal microbiota was composed by seven phyla being Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes the most predominant. The dominant taxa in the upper GIT were and . The dominant taxa in the lower GIT were and . Complete degradation of cellulose to the end-products acetate, propanoate, butanoate and acetoacetate was found in the upper and lower GIT without significant differences.
CONCLUSION
Our study confirmed changes in bacterial community composition throughout the GIT of the Horned Screamer primarily associated with the production of metabolic end-products of carbohydrate digestion essential for the fermentation of the herbivorous diet.
Topics: Animals; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Gastrointestinal Tract; Bacteria; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Bacteroidetes; Birds; Anseriformes
PubMed: 36815987
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14805 -
Archives of Razi Institute Aug 2023Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a serious threat to the international poultry industry. Therefore, to determine the role of pet birds (Psittaciformes and Passeriformes)...
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a serious threat to the international poultry industry. Therefore, to determine the role of pet birds (Psittaciformes and Passeriformes) in its spread and epidemiology, the presence of this virus in these birds was investigated. In this study, fecal and cloaca swabs from 63 Psittaciformes and 37 Passeriformes, along with tissue samples of dead birds, including proventriculus, trachea, lungs, and intestine, were collected from breeding and sales markets as well as the birds referred to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Isolation of the virus was performed by injecting the suspension of the samples into the allantoic fluid of fertilized eggs, and NDV was detected in the achieved allantoic fluids by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The NDV was detected in 13 allantoic samples. The partial F gene sequences of 10 positive samples were investigated, and their genetic relationship with each other as well as with other isolates in the gene bank was marked. Consequently, subgenotype VII.1.1 (VIId) was in the locus of all 10 viruses. By the amino acid cleavage site sequences of F protein, 10 isolates were determined as velogenic NDV. Moreover, all sequences were similar to each other and other Iranian isolates. Furthermore, the 112RRQKR/F117 pattern was the main amino acid (aa) sequence in the F-protein Cleavage site for VIId genotype isolates.
Topics: Animals; Newcastle disease virus; Iran; Newcastle Disease; Birds; Amino Acids
PubMed: 38226374
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.4.1259 -
Esophageal-Crop Capillariasis and Proventriculus Ventriculus Hystrichisiasis in a Migratory Duck ().Iranian Journal of Parasitology 2019The aim of the present study was to study pathological and parasitological characteristics of simultaneous capillariasis and hystrichiasis in a diseased captured in...
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to study pathological and parasitological characteristics of simultaneous capillariasis and hystrichiasis in a diseased captured in Mazandaran Province of Iran on Oct 2016.
METHODS
Parasitology and histopathology techniques were used to detect the parasites of the carcass of the captive common teal.
RESULTS
Macroscopically, severe chronic inflammatory reactions and nodular or granuloma formation and irregular thickening of the affected wall of the esophagus, crop, proventrculus and ventriculus were observed. Microscopically, apart from the chronic inflammatory reactions and granuloma formation, in the paraffin sections stained with Harris Hematoxyline and Eosin technique, the characteristics of the mature female and male spp. and their barrel-shaped operculated embryonated eggs were found within the tunnels burrowed by the nematode in the hyperplastic stratified squamous epithelium of the inflamed crop and distal portion of the esophagus. The mature female spp. containing oval-shaped, embryonated non-operculated eggs and male parasite were found within the labyrinthus spaces formed in the submucosa granulomas of the ventriculus and proventriculus.
CONCLUSION
Based on the parasitological and pathological studies, the species of the nematode parasites were identified as and .
PubMed: 31673259
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Dec 2021An 8-year-old sexually intact female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) with a 4-day history of hyporexia and lethargy and a 1-day history of tenesmus was examined.
CASE DESCRIPTION
An 8-year-old sexually intact female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) with a 4-day history of hyporexia and lethargy and a 1-day history of tenesmus was examined.
CLINICAL FINDINGS
Severe leukocytosis characterized by severe heterophilia and moderate monocytosis was present. Marked dilation of the proventriculus and ventriculus and ascites were identified by means of radiography, coelomic ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced CT, with no clinically relevant motility noted on ultrasonography. Results of coelomic fluid analysis were consistent with pyogranulomatous effusion. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract following proventricular and ventricular lavage showed a thick caseous plaque occupying 30% of the caudal proventricular mucosa. Abundant yeast organisms were evident during cytologic examination of a proventricular and ventricular wash sample, and fecal culture yielded Candida glabrata.
TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
The bird was treated with SC fluids, assisted feedings, nystatin, fluconazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin, gastroprotectants, maropitant, and analgesics and slowly improved during hospitalization. A marked decrease in proventricular dilation was evident on serial radiographs obtained over a 12-month period. One year after diagnosis, the bird was presented with a 1-week history of hyporexia and lethargy, and fecal culture grew C glabrata. Antifungal treatment was resumed for 3 months. The bird had no clinical signs of infection 16 months after this recurrence, and subsequent fecal cultures were negative for fungal growth.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Findings illustrate the importance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in diagnosing proventricular and ventricular dilation in birds and emphasize the need for long-term antifungal treatment and monitoring in birds with fungal infections.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Candida glabrata; Female; Parrots; Stomach Diseases
PubMed: 34968183
DOI: 10.2460/javma.20.12.0670 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science May 2022Newcastle disease (ND) is an economically important viral disease affecting the poultry industry. In Kerala, a state in South India, incidences of ND in commercial and...
BACKGROUND
Newcastle disease (ND) is an economically important viral disease affecting the poultry industry. In Kerala, a state in South India, incidences of ND in commercial and backyard poultry have been reported. But a systematic statewide study on the prevalence of the disease has not been carried out.
OBJECTIVES
A cross-sectional survey was performed to detect the presence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in suspect cases and among apparently healthy commercial flocks and backyard poultry, in the state and to identify risk factors for NDV infection.
METHODS
Real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the M gene of NDV in choanal swabs and tissue samples collected from live and dead birds, respectively and the results were statistically analysed.
RESULTS
The predominant clinical signs of the examined birds included mild respiratory signs, huddling together and greenish diarrhoea. Nervous signs in the form of torticollis were noticed in birds in some of the affected flocks. On necropsy, many birds had haemorrhages in the proventriculus and caecal tonsils which were suggestive of ND. Of the 2079 samples tested, 167 (8.0%) were positive for the NDV M-gene by RT-PCR. Among 893 samples collected from diseased flocks, 129 (14.5%), were positive for M gene with pairwise relative risk (RR) of 15.6 as compared to apparently healthy flocks where 6 out of 650 (0.9%) samples were positive. All positive samples were from poultry; none of the ducks, pigeons, turkey and wild birds were positive. Commercial broilers were at higher risk of infection than commercial layers (RR: 4.5) and backyard poultry (RR: 4.9). Similarly, birds reared under intensive housing conditions were at a higher risk of being infected as compared to those reared under semi-intensive (RR: 6.7) or backyard housing (RR: 2.1). Multivariable analysis indicated that significantly higher risk of infection exists during migratory season and during ND outbreaks occurring nearby. Further, lower risk was observed with flock vaccination and backyard or semi-intensive housing when compared to intensive housing. When the M gene positive samples were tested by RT-PCR to determine whether the detected NDV were mesogenic/velogenic, 7 (4.2%) were positive.
CONCLUSIONS
In Kerala, NDV is endemic in poultry with birds reared commercially under intensive rearing systems being affected the most. The outcome of this study also provides a link between epidemiologic knowledge and the development of successful disease control measures. Statistical analysis suggests that wild bird migration season and presence of migratory birds influences the prevalence of the virus in the State. Further studies are needed to genotype and sub-genotype the detected viruses and to generate baseline data on the prevalence of NDV strains, design better detection strategies, and determine patterns of NDV transmission across domestic poultry and wild bird populations in Kerala.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Chickens; Cross-Sectional Studies; Housing; Newcastle Disease; Newcastle disease virus; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; Risk
PubMed: 35199954
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.747 -
The Journal of Poultry Science Oct 2021Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction, and amino acids are glycated by glucose in vivo. Tryptophan is glycated with glucose to form two types of glycated compounds,...
Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction, and amino acids are glycated by glucose in vivo. Tryptophan is glycated with glucose to form two types of glycated compounds, tryptophan-Amadori product and (1R, 3S)-1-(D-gluco-1, 2, 3, 4, 5-pentahydroxypentyl)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro--carboline-3-carboxylic acid (PHP-THC). Although PHP-THC can be incorporated into various chicken embryonic cells, the mechanism of its incorporation into intracellular fluids has not been clarified. In this study, we examined whether PHP-THC once incorporated into various chicken embryonic cells can combine with proteins. Embryonic cells from the breast muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, proventriculus, gizzard, and skin were prepared and H-PHP-THC was added to the culture medium at final concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 M to examine the incorporation of PHP-THC. After 18 h of incubation, radioactivity was measured in the whole-cell and protein fractions of the chicken embryonic cells. As PHP-THC concentration increased from 0 to 600 M, its accumulation in the whole-cell fractions of all types of chicken embryonic cells linearly increased and reached the maximum level. The saturated PHP-THC accumulation in the whole-cell fractions suggests that PHP-THC could be incorporated into intracellular fluids across cellular membranes by some transporter proteins. As PHP-THC concentration increased from 0 to 800 M, its accumulation in the protein fractions of all types of chicken embryonic cells increased in a linear manner and reached a maximum level in the 800 M PHPTHC treatment group. This is the first study to indicate that a part of PHP-THC incorporated into the whole-cell fraction was detected in the protein fraction of various chicken embryonic cells.
PubMed: 34899021
DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.0200076 -
Poultry Science Aug 2020It is generally accepted that domestic ducks are valuable protein sources for humans. The gastrointestinal ecosystem contains enormous and complicated microbes that have...
It is generally accepted that domestic ducks are valuable protein sources for humans. The gastrointestinal ecosystem contains enormous and complicated microbes that have a profound effect on the nutrition, immunity, health, and production of domestic ducks. To deeply understand the gastrointestinal microbial composition of domestic ducks, we investigated the microbiomes of 7 different gastrointestinal locations (proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and rectum) and the short-chain fatty acids in 15 healthy muscovy ducks based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, qPCR, and gas chromatography. As a result, 1 029 735 sequences were identified into 35 phyla and 359 genera. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the major phyla, with Bacteroidetes being most abundant in the cecum. The population of the total bacteria and the representatives of the Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Bacteroides groups increased from the proximal to the distal part of the GIT. Bacteroides was the most dominant group in the cecum. Acetate, propionate, and butytrate, as well as gene copies of butyryl-CoA including acetate-CoA transferase and butyrate kinase, were significantly higher in cecum than in other sections. Isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate were only found in the cecum. The differences of microbial composition and the short-chain fatty acids of their metabolites among these 7 intestinal locations might be correlated with differences in gut function. All these results provide a reference for the duck gastrointestinal microbiome and a foundation for understanding the types of bacteria that promote health and enhance growth performance and decrease instances of disease in duck breeding.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Ducks; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 32731989
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.03.040 -
Poultry Science May 2024This study sought to determine the relationship among broiler performance, organ development, and indicators of microbiota colonization. A total of 1,200 two-day-old...
This study sought to determine the relationship among broiler performance, organ development, and indicators of microbiota colonization. A total of 1,200 two-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, divided among 3 cohorts of equal size, were housed in battery cages, and allotted based on body weight. On study d 11, birds were weighed, and birds with BW gain within the 10th and 90th percentiles were assigned to the Slow and Fast groups, respectively. Birds (n = 30 for each group) selected on d 11 were provided water and a corn-soybean meal-based diet ad libitum while maintained individually through study d 25 (i.e., a 14-d growth period). Parameters regarding growth performance, organ and intestine weights and lengths, and intestinal volatile fatty acid concentrations were measured. All data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using the Mixed procedure of SAS. Fast birds exhibited greater (P < 0.001) BW gain and feed intake than slow birds, but feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ (P = 0.19). Additionally, Slow birds had higher (P < 0.05) relative weights (% of BW) for nearly all organs on d 11 and 25, most notably the gizzard, proventriculus, pancreas, and liver. Conversely, intestinal sections were longer (P < 0.05) in the Fast birds. Measurement of gut histomorphology did not show any notable differences between growth rate groups in terms of villi height, crypt depth, or their ratio for either time-point (P > 0.05). In terms of volatile fatty acid concentrations of luminal contents, acetate concentrations were 10.2% higher (P < 0.001) in the ileum of the Slow birds compared with Fast birds on d 25. Overall, the findings suggest that total BW gain is influenced by the development of metabolically active organs, as supported by lower weight gain in Slow birds with relatively larger organ weights and shorter intestinal lengths than their Fast counterparts. The general lack of differences in fermentation end-product concentrations in luminal contents does not rule out influence of the microbiota on growth rate of broilers, which warrants further investigation.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Male; Fermentation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Organ Size; Diet; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Intestines; Animal Feed; Random Allocation
PubMed: 38518667
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103628 -
Metabolites Oct 2022A total of 896 1-day-old straight-run (Ross-308) broilers were used to investigate the interactive effects of protein source (PS), diet structure (DS) and butyric acid...
A total of 896 1-day-old straight-run (Ross-308) broilers were used to investigate the interactive effects of protein source (PS), diet structure (DS) and butyric acid (BA) on live performance and carcass characteristics, gut development and its morphology and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of protein and amino acids (AA). Eight experimental diets comprising 8 replicates with 14 birds each were tested in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with complete randomized design by two levels of BA (0 and 0.1%), two forms of DS (whole vs. ground wheat) and two PS, i.e., soybean meal and canola meal (SBM vs. CM). Throughout the entire experimental period (0 to 35 d), broilers fed SBM-based diets exhibited better (p < 0.05) growth performance (feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)), carcass parameters (p < 0.05), gut health (p < 0.05), and nutrient digestibility (p < 0.05) than CM-fed broilers. Dietary whole wheat (WW) positively affected FI (p = 0.001), BWG (p = 0.004) and FCR (p = 0.035) during the overall experimental period. Broilers fed WW had 6, 5, 8, 11 and 10% lower empty relative weights of crop, proventriculus, jejunum, ileum and colon and 25 and 15% heavier gizzard and pancreas, respectively, with longer villus height (p < 0.001), reduced crypt depth (p = 0.031) and longer villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.001) than those fed ground-wheat-based diets. Broilers fed WW had greater (p < 0.05) AID of CP and most of the AA. Butyric acid supplementation resulted in improved (p < 0.05) growth performance and digestibility of threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, serine and aspartate. The broilers consuming SBM had 28% lower abdominal fat than those fed CM-based diets. In conclusion, harmful consequences of a less digestible PS can partially be compensated by the inclusion of WW, and supplementation of BA further reduces these detrimental effects.
PubMed: 36295891
DOI: 10.3390/metabo12100989 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2021Early feeding post-hatching (EFPH) can impact the immune response and modify the immunity-related gene expression. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of EFPH...
Early Nutrition with Different Diets Composition versus Fasting on Immunity-Related Gene Expression and Histomorphology of Digestive and Lymphoid Organs of Layer-Type Chicks.
Early feeding post-hatching (EFPH) can impact the immune response and modify the immunity-related gene expression. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of EFPH with different diets composition versus fasting during the first 72 h of chick's life on the histomorphological structures of the liver, proventriculus, central and peripheral lymphoid organs, and immunity-related genes in layer-type chicks during the brooding period. A total of 400 chicks were randomly allotted into 4 groups with 4 replicates each. The experimental groups during the first 72 h of life were: feed and water deprivation (control, T1), feeding a starter layer diet (20% CP and 11.84 MJ/kg ME, T2), feeding a starter layer diet contained 3% molasses in its composition (20% CP and 11.81 MJ/kg ME; T3), and feeding a starter broiler diet (23% CP and 12.68 MJ/kg ME, T4). After the first 72 h of chick's life, all chicks were fed ad libitum the T2 diet. EFPH had no negative effect on the development of the lymphoid or digestive organs in chicks. Greater relative weights of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius ( < 0.05) were observed in the early fed chicks compared to control at day 14 of age. Histomorphological examination revealed an increase ( < 0.05) in thymus cortex and cortex:medulla in the T3 and T4 groups compared to the fasted ones at day 28 of age. Pelicae height, follicular width, cortex, and cortex:medulla of bursa were improved ( < 0.01) in the fed groups compared to fasted chicks, with resultant influences on the primary lymphoid organs. Compared to control, higher germinal center areas and white pulp of the spleen ( < 0.05) were recorded in the early fed chicks, implying augmented proliferation and maturation of B cells in the secondary lymphoid organs. In the liver, a strong positive reaction to Best's carmine stain in the early fed groups, indicating that the liver of these chicks had numerous glycogen granules or greater glycogen density in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. There was a significant enhancement in the proventriculus mucosal and gland thickness, as well as fold height ( < 0.05) in the early fed chicks. The expression levels of splenic Toll-like receptor 2, interleukin 4, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon gamma were up-regulated ( < 0.01) in most of the early fed chicks (T2, T3, and T4) compared to fasted ones at 14 day of age. In conclusion, EFPH could modify the splenic-immunity related genes and modulate the histomorphology of the digestive (liver and proventriculus) and lymphoid organs in layer-type chicks during the brooding period.
PubMed: 34072069
DOI: 10.3390/ani11061568