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Tropical Animal Health and Production Feb 2023Given the current bans on the use of some growth promoting antibiotics in poultry nutrition, the need to use alternative additives which could replace traditional...
Given the current bans on the use of some growth promoting antibiotics in poultry nutrition, the need to use alternative additives which could replace traditional promoters in diets has arisen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alternative additives, associated or not, in replacing the antibiotic growth promoter in the diets of laying hens on performance, egg quality, biometry, bone characteristics, and economic viability. A total of 378 birds at 97 weeks of age, weighing 1691 ± 80g with an average production of 79.96 ± 4.9%, were randomly distributed and submitted to different diets: negative control - NC (no additive); positive control - PC, conventional growth promoter (Enramycin); associated organic acids (OA); symbiotic (S); Essential oil (EO); OA + S; and S+EO. The diet did not influence (P > 0.05) performance, egg quality, biometry, and bone traits. However, the use of alternative additives and their associations with the exception of S+OA, provided better economic indices when compared to NC and CP. The first component showed a negative relationship between feed conversion per mass and dozen eggs with gut length, Seedor index, egg production, and egg mass; the second component showed a positive relationship between yolk, pancreas, proventriculus, and gizzard; and, finally, the third component showed that feed consumption has a negative relationship with bone strength and deformity. The first two canonical functions were significant and discriminated 100% of the differences between the diets. Moreover, 50% of the birds were correctly classified in their group of origin, in which the positive control group (83.3%) and OA+S presented the highest rates of correct responses (66.7%). Bone deformity and bowel length were the only two variables with discriminatory power. Natural growth promoters alone or in association do not harm performance, egg quality, digestive organs biometry or bird bone characteristics, in addition to promoting greater economic return. Thus, they can be considered possible substitutes for traditional antibiotics. Finally, unsupervised machine learning methods are useful statistical techniques to study the relationship of variables and point out the main biomarkers of poultry production.
Topics: Animals; Female; Animal Feed; Biometry; Chickens; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Eggs; Ovum; Poultry; Unsupervised Machine Learning
PubMed: 36763201
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03495-6 -
The Journal of Poultry Science Jan 2023The aim of this study was to determine whether Newcastle disease/infectious bronchitis (ND/IB) vaccination and yeast product diet supplementation modulate the expression...
The aim of this study was to determine whether Newcastle disease/infectious bronchitis (ND/IB) vaccination and yeast product diet supplementation modulate the expression of innate immune molecules in the proventriculus and ileum of broiler chicks. One-day-old male broiler chicks were divided into four groups (V-Y- (control), V-Y+, V+Y-, and V+Y+ groups, where V and Y represent vaccination and yeast product supplementation, respectively). Chicks in the V+Y- and V+Y+ groups were immunized with the live ND/IB vaccine, whereas chicks in the V-Y- and V-Y+ groups were not. Chicks in the V-Y+ and V+Y+ groups received feed containing yeast products from day 4, whereas chicks in the V-Y- and V+Y- groups did not. The proventriculus and ileum were collected on day 7 to analyze the expression of seven Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Dectin-1. In the proventriculus, compared with those of the V-Y- control group, the TLR7 and TLR21 expression levels were higher in the V+Y- group; however, there were no differences in the expression levels of any TLR or Dectin-1 in the ileum. There were also no differences in the expression of avian β-defensins and cathelicidin-1 in the proventriculus and ileum between the control and treatment groups. The expression of granzyme in cytotoxic cells and interleukin (IL)-1B was upregulated by ND/IB vaccination in the proventriculus. Supplementation with yeast products upregulated only granzyme expression in the ileum and downregulated IL-6 expression in the proventriculus in chicks immunized with the ND/IB vaccine. Thus, we concluded that ND/IB vaccination is effective at enhancing the innate immune system in the proventriculus of chicks, at least until day 7 post-hatching, whereas the effects of diet supplementation with yeast products may be limited, at least under the present study conditions.
PubMed: 36756044
DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.2023005 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jan 2023This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of organic acids (OAs) in starter broilers and to investigate whether supplemental OAs could alleviate the high stocking...
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of organic acids (OAs) in starter broilers and to investigate whether supplemental OAs could alleviate the high stocking density (HSD) stress condition in grower broilers. A total of 408 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were assigned into two groups without or with liquid OAs in the starter phase. In the grower phase, each group in the starter phase was divided into a normal stocking density and an HSD. The OA dose was 0.16% at the starter and grower phases. The results showed that at the starter phase, OAs decreased the chyme pH in gizzard and duodenum and increased the activities of chymotrypsin and α-amylase in the duodenal chyme (p < 0.05). In the grower phase, an HSD decreased the growth performance and the ether extract digestibility (p < 0.01). The supplementation of OAs decreased the chyme pH in the gizzard, proventriculus, and duodenum and increased the lipase and α-amylase activities (p < 0.05). The supplemental OAs increased the dry matter and total phosphorous digestibility and the contents of acetic acids, butyric acids, isovaleric acids, and valeric acids (p < 0.05). For cecal microbial compositions at the genus level, an HSD decreased the relative abundance of Blautia, Norank_f__norank_o__RF39, and Alistipes, while supplemental OAs increased the relative abundance of Norank_f__norank_o__RF39 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although there were no interaction effects between OAs and stocking densities in the present study, it was clear that the supplementation of OAs has beneficial effects on the chyme pH, enzymes activities, and nutrient digestibility in broilers, while an HSD existed adverse effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota balance in grower broilers.
PubMed: 36670796
DOI: 10.3390/ani13020257 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science May 2023In mynahs with foreign body ingestion, delayed diagnosis increases the risk of poor outcomes.
BACKGROUND
In mynahs with foreign body ingestion, delayed diagnosis increases the risk of poor outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate various radiologic features on plain and contrast radiographs in mynahs for assessing the presence of ingested foreign bodies.
METHODS
In our cross-sectional study, a total of 41 mynahs were included. The diagnosis was made by history, surgery, excision by forceps or excretion in the faeces. Overall, 21 mynahs were considered not to have a foreign body in their gastrointestinal tract. Plain and post-contrast [oral administration of barium sulphate colloidal suspension of 25% weight/volume (20 mg/kg)] lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs from the cervical and coelomic cavity were taken. Different parameters including oesophageal, proventricular, and small intestinal diameters and opacities were assessed. Image evaluation was performed by two national board-certified radiologists blinded to the final diagnoses.
RESULTS
The inter- and intra-observer reliabilities of the diagnostic features were significant (p < 0.001). The diagnosis of the foreign body was highly accurate [90.2% (95% CI: 76.9%, 92.3%)] with the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the representative characteristic curve of 90.0%, 90.5%, and 0.93%, respectively for plain radiographs. The size and opacity of the oesophagus, proventriculus, and intestinal loops as well as serosal details were significantly different between mynahs with and without foreign body intake (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Lateral and ventrodorsal plain radiographs are highly reliable for diagnosing the presence of non-opaque obstructing objects in the gastrointestinal tract of mynahs. Attention should be paid to the size and opacity of the oesophagus, extension, and opacity of the proventriculus, segmental opacity of intestinal loops, and decrease in serosal details.
Topics: Animals; Starlings; Cross-Sectional Studies; Foreign Bodies; Eating
PubMed: 36626299
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1079 -
International Journal of Food... Mar 2023Poultry meat is considered as a potential source of colistin resistant Escherichia coli (CREC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CREC...
Poultry meat is considered as a potential source of colistin resistant Escherichia coli (CREC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CREC in broiler meat and ascertain their possible zoonotic potential(s). Broiler meat (n = 104) comprising 26 of each of the thigh, breast, liver, and proventriculus-gizzard was purchased from the retail outlets, Bangladesh. CREC was isolated from the meat samples on MacConkey agar plates containing colistin sulfate followed by PCR confirmation, mcr subtyping (mcr-1 to mcr-5), phylogenetic grouping and detailed molecular characterization through whole genome sequencing (WGS). Antimicrobial resistance of the CREC isolates were evaluated by disc diffusion method and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of colistin sulfate was determined by broth microdilution. The investigation revealed 58 (55.77 %) of 104 samples as positive for CREC, and 53 (91.38 %) of CREC isolates carried mcr-1 gene with no other mcr subtypes evident. Most of the CREC belonged to commensal E. coli (66.04 %) with some pathogenic phylotypes (33.96 %) based on dichotomous decision tree. All the mcr-1 CREC isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and had MICs of 4-8 μg/mL colistin sulfate. WGS of a commensal MDR mcr-1 CREC strain 1ChBEc2mcr revealed as a potential human pathogen belonging to ST162 that harbored 60 virulence factors associated genes (VFGs). The mcr-1 gene in 1ChBEc2mcr genome was located on a plasmid (p1ChBEc2mcr) and showed nucleotide similarities (>95 %) to another plasmid reported from human E. coli in Bangladesh. Beyond mcr-1 gene, this plasmid (p1ChBEc2mcr) also harbored genes related to aminoglycoside, beta-lactams, macrolides, and tetracycline resistance. Presence of similar mcr-1 carrying plasmids in broiler and human CREC denotes a threat of possibly human to avian (broiler) or vice-versa transfer of mcr-1 CREC through close contact as prevailing in the retail outlets of Bangladesh.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Escherichia coli; Colistin; Escherichia coli Proteins; Phylogeny; Bangladesh; Chickens; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Plasmids; Meat; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 36610233
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110065 -
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 -
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery Nov 2022A 2.5-year-old female kea () weighing 711 g was presented for acute lethargy, pelvic limb paraparesis, and decreased appetite. Results from a complete blood count...
A 2.5-year-old female kea () weighing 711 g was presented for acute lethargy, pelvic limb paraparesis, and decreased appetite. Results from a complete blood count revealed a leukocytosis (67540 cells/µL [reference interval 4200 - 37880 cells/µL]). Radiographic images revealed a mass effect within the mid coelom. The patient was provided supportive care that included antifungal medication (voriconazole 15 mg/kg PO q12h x 6 months and 10 days) and antibiotic therapy (enrofloxacin 20 mg/kg PO q12h x 27 days). A discrete 2.3 × 2.7 × 2.6 cm soft tissue mass adjacent to multiple organs was identified on contrast computed tomographic images (IsoVue 370 at 4 mL/kg IV over 2 minutes). The mass was medial and dorsal to the proventriculus, cranial to the ventriculus, caudal to the liver, and ventral to the cranial renal divisions. The mass had an irregular vascularized wall with a poorly vascularized center. Ten days after initial presentation, exploratory coeliotomy and mass removal via left lateral coeliotomy were performed. Bacterial (aerobic and anaerobic) and fungal cultures were negative. Fourteen days postsurgery, the leukocytosis was resolved. Microscopic review of the submitted tissue mass found multinucleated giant cells, macrophages, and brown fungal hyphae with irregular internal septations and some branching, leading to a diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis. Panfungal polymerase chain reaction testing and sequencing were unsuccessful at speciation. Treatment with voriconazole was continued until behavioral, hematologic, and computed tomographic assessments indicated resolution of the problem 6 months postsurgery. No recurrence of disease has been reported 20 months following mass removal.
Topics: Animals; Female; Phaeohyphomycosis; Voriconazole; Leukocytosis; Parrots; Proventriculus
PubMed: 36468807
DOI: 10.1647/21-00048 -
Tropical Animal Health and Production Nov 2022This study aims to see how supplementing broiler chickens with Ficus exasperata leaf powder (FELP) and vitamin C affects carcass characteristics, brain and meat...
The impact of breed, Ficus exasperata leaf powder and vitamin C on carcass traits, brain and meat oxidative enzymes of broiler chickens raised under the tropical condition.
This study aims to see how supplementing broiler chickens with Ficus exasperata leaf powder (FELP) and vitamin C affects carcass characteristics, brain and meat oxidative enzymes and cholesterol levels in tropical conditions. Three hundred thirty-six-day-old chicks (comprising of 168 Cobb 500 breed chicks and 168 Arbor Acre breed chicks) of broiler chicks weighing 37.40 ± 0.45 g were assigned to 8 experimental diets of 7 replicates (6 birds/replicate; 42 birds/treatment). Diets 1 and 2 were not supplemented, while diets 3 and 4 had vitamin C (200 mg/kg of basal diet) supplementation. Then, diets 5 and 6 received 1 g FELP/kg of basal diet supplementation each while diets 7 and 8 had 1 g FELP/kg of basal diet + 200 mg of vitamin C. The breed and FELP affected (P < 0.05) the dressing percentage. The relative weights of the gizzard and heart were affected (P < 0.05) by the vitamin c and FELP, while the lung weight was affected by vitamin C. The proventriculus was affected by the breed, FELP and vitamin c. The brain catalase and glutathione peroxidase increased with vitamin c and FELP supplementation while catalase and glutathione peroxidases were higher in CO. Vitamin c and FELP reduced the meat lipid oxidation but increased the glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Conclusively, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg of vitamin C and 1% FELP could increase the brain's antioxidant capacity and improve the meat quality of broiler chickens.
Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chickens; Powders; Ficus; Catalase; Glutathione Peroxidase; Tropical Climate; Plant Breeding; Vitamins; Meat; Brain; Plant Leaves; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 36441345
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03386-2 -
Marine Pollution Bulletin Dec 2022The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis ingests a larger number of (micro)plastics than many other seabirds due to its feeding habits and gut morphology. Since 2002, they...
The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis ingests a larger number of (micro)plastics than many other seabirds due to its feeding habits and gut morphology. Since 2002, they are bioindicators of marine plastics in the North Sea region, and data are needed to extend the programme to other parts of their distribution areas, such as the Arctic. In this study, we provide data on ingested plastics by fulmars collected in 1997 in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. An extraction protocol with KOH was used and for half of the birds, the gizzard and the proventricular contents were analysed separately. Ninety-one percent of the birds had ingested at least one piece of plastic with an average of 10.3 (±11.9 SD) pieces. The gizzards contained significantly more plastics than the proventriculus. Hard fragments and polyethylene were the most common characteristics. Twelve percent of the birds exceeded the EcoQO value of 0.1 g.
Topics: Animals; Plastics; Gastrointestinal Contents; Environmental Monitoring; Svalbard; Birds; Arctic Regions; Polyethylene
PubMed: 36372049
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114333 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Jan 2023Four Indian ringneck parakeets (; syn. ringneck parrots or rose-ringed parakeets) were submitted by 2 private owners for autopsy following a history of dyspnea and...
Four Indian ringneck parakeets (; syn. ringneck parrots or rose-ringed parakeets) were submitted by 2 private owners for autopsy following a history of dyspnea and death. Gross findings were varied and included thickening of the left caudal thoracic air sac, white spots throughout the liver, mild dilation of the proventriculus, coelomic effusion, splenomegaly, and pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically, the submitted parakeets had significant lesions in the lower respiratory tract, including necrotizing bronchitis, parabronchitis, and interstitial pneumonia with numerous syncytia containing eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions. Electron microscopy of the lungs was compatible with a herpesviral infection and Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 5 (PsAHV5) was detected via PCR and sequencing. There has been inconsistent terminology used with Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 3 and PsAHV5; we attempt here to clarify the reported history of these viruses.
Topics: Animals; Alphaherpesvirinae; Herpesviridae Infections; Parakeets; Parrots; Psittacula
PubMed: 36366727
DOI: 10.1177/10406387221136568