Efficacy of Vitis vinifera Leaves Extracts against Eimeria stiedae Infections in New Zealand Rabbit

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary threonine and arginine levels on stress response, animal welfare score, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology of broiler chickens raised under multiple stress conditions. A total of 280 21-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 8 replicates. Birds were raised under normal conditions (22.6 ± 0.6°C and 15.2 birds/m2) and multiple stress conditions (cyclic heat stress and high stocking density; 29.3 ± 0.9°C for 10 h, 22.8 ± 0.8°C for 14 h, and 30.3 birds/m2). Birds in positive control (PC) were raised under normal conditions, while the other groups were exposed to multiple stress conditions. A basal diet was assigned to PC and negative control (NC). Two additional diets were formulated to contain 1.3-fold higher concentrations of digestible threonine (Thr) or arginine (Arg) than the basal diet. The experimental diets and water were provided ad libitum for 14 d. Animal welfare score including gait score, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, and feather cleanliness was analyzed according to Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for poultry. To analyze stress response, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology, 1 bird per replicate was euthanized by CO2 inhalation. All data were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., NC, USA). The replicate was considered an experimental unit. Significance for statistical tests was considered at P < 0.05. Results indicated that heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was less (P < 0.05) in PC group than in other groups. Birds in PC, Thr, and Arg groups had less (P < 0.05) feather corticosterone concentrations than those in NC group. For the animal welfare score, gait score, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, and feather cleanliness were not affected by dietary treatments and multiple stress conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver were less (P < 0.05) in PC and Arg groups than in NC group. Birds in PC, Thr, and Arg groups had less (P < 0.05) nitric oxide (NO) values in the jejunum than in NC group. Villus height was greater (P < 0.05) in PC group than in NC, Thr, and Arg groups. Birds in PC group had greater (P < 0.05) goblet cell counts than in NC and Arg groups. In conclusion, multiple stress conditions increase the stress response and damage the liver and jejunum of broiler chickens. Increasing concentrations of digestible Thr and Arg in diets reduce stress response, ROS, and NO levels of broiler chickens exposed to multiple stress conditions.

Comparative efficacy of a phytogenic feed additive and an antibiotic growth promoter on production performance, caecal microbial population and humoral immune response of broiler chickens inoculated with enteric pathogens.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary threonine (Thr) and arginine (Arg) concentrations on growth performance, meat quality, stress indicators, antioxidant capacity, and gut health in broiler chickens raised under multiple stress conditions. A total of 280 21-d-old broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 8 replicates. The positive control (PC) group was raised under normal rearing conditions (thermoneutral temperature and low stocking density; 22.6 ± 0.6°C for 24 h and 15.2 birds/m<sup>2</sup>), whereas the remaining groups were subjected to multiple stress conditions (cyclic heat stress and high stocking density; 29.3 ± 0.9°C for 10 h, 22.8 ± 0.8°C for 14 h, and 30.3 birds/m<sup>2</sup>). Both the PC and negative control (NC) groups received a basal diet, while the other two groups were provided diets containing 1.3-fold higher concentrations of digestible Thr or Arg compared to the basal diet. Experimental diets and water were supplied ad libitum for 14 d. Results indicated that growth performance was decreased (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) in NC, Thr, and Arg groups compared to PC group. Birds in NC group had greater (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and feather corticosterone (CORT) concentrations than those in PC group. Under multiple stress conditions, Thr and Arg groups showed less (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) feather CORT concentrations than NC group. In hepatic tissue, reactive oxygen species levels were increased (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) in NC and Arg groups compared to PC group. Jejunal nitric oxide levels were increased (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) in NC group compared to PC, Thr, and Arg groups. Under multiple stress, Thr and Arg treatment groups exhibited greater (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) transepithelial electrical resistance values than NC group. The expression levels of <italic>OCLN</italic>, <italic>ZO-1</italic>, and <italic>HSP70</italic> were greater (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) in Thr and Arg groups than in NC group. In conclusion, increasing dietary concentrations of Thr and Arg improves intestinal integrity and mitigates stress response in broiler chickens exposed to multiple stress.

Background: Rabbits are the most important protein sources of animals for humans all over the world. Its production has increased significantly in recent years and it has become one of the most important animal sources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Coccidiosis is one of the most dangerous diseases affecting rabbits and other animals causing global economic losses. Plant extracts have been used as potential alternatives to chemotherapy because they do not have the negative consequences of tissue deposits and drug resistance. Methods: The current study examined the antioxidant activity of Vitis vinifera leaf extract (VVLE) in New Zealand rabbits infected with Eimeria stiedae. The extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis by FT-IR. A total of 35 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into seven groups. Group 1 served as the uninfected, untreated (negative control) group. Group 2 uninfected and treated at 400 mg/kg of extract to test for toxicity. Group 3 represented the infected, non-treated (positive control) group. While, groups 4, 5 and 6 comprised infected treated with at100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of extracts, respectively. Finally, group 7 consisted of infected rabbits treated with Toltrazuril at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight. Result: The analysis of phytochemicals by FT-IR for Vitis vinifera leaf extract revealed the existence of 15 biologically active compounds. VVLE was able to decrease the induced weight loss due to infection. Moreover, the oxidative status due to E. stiedae infection had been changed after treatment with VVLE where the level of glutathione, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide was improved indicating the antioxidant activity of the VVLE. Our findings suggested that VVLE could boost the induced oxidative stress in the liver of infected New Zealand rabbits, but studies are needed to determine the mechanism of VVLE.

Objective To observe the preventive effect of type Ⅱ collagen on experimental rat articular cartilage damage induced by T-2 toxin,to explore molecular biomarkers of articular cartilage damage and repair,and to provide a theoretical basis for control of articular cartilage damage.Methods Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their body weights:negative control,positive control,high-dose intervention,and low-dose intervention groups,20 rats in each group.Animals in negative control group were fed with standard rat chow,and animals in other three groups were fed with T-2-toxin-contaminated chow( 100 ng/kgfeed).Animals in negative and positive control groups drank distilled water,animals in high-dose intervention and low-dose intervention groups drank water containing type Ⅱ collagen(0.5,5.0 g/L,respectively).These rats were sacrificed after 3 and 5 months,respectively,and bilateral knee joints were collected.Histopathologic changes in hyaline cartilage were examined by light microscope,serum levels of type Ⅱ collagen carboxyl terminal peptide (CTX-Ⅱ ),cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results HE staining showed,that the positive control articular chondrocytes were disarranged,deformated,degenerated,with necrosis and extensive areas of chondrocyte loss;but the two intervention groups only showed fibril formation and swelling and surface cartilage cells became round,flat cartilage cells decreased in number,and cartilage cells clustered and so on early pathological changes of osteoarthritis.At the ends of 3 month and 5 month experiment,the levels of serum CTX- Ⅱ in different groups were,negative control[(18.77 ± 4.61),(25.07 ± 9.17)μg/L],high-dose intervention[ (21.11 ± 5.02),(33.20 ± 9.74)μg/L ],low-dose intervention [ ( 19.87 ± 4.53 ),( 29.73 ± 9.32 ) μg/L ] and positive control [ ( 24.43 ± 5.23 ),( 39.17 ±10.49 ) μg/L ] ; the levels of serum COMP were,negative control group [ (5.43 ± 2.75 ),( 6.38 ± 2.23 ) μg/L ],highdose intervention group[ (17.27 ± 4.77),(20.32 ± 4.74)μg/L],low-dose intervention group[(20.13 ± 5.07),(19.44 ± 4.92)μg/L] and positive control group[ (21.37 ± 4.72),(24.52 ± 4.26)μg/L].At the end of 3 month,compared with negative control group,the level of serum CTX- Ⅱ in other three groups increased,but only positive control group increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05) ; at the end of 5 month,compared with negative control group,the level of serum CTX-Ⅱ in other three groups increased significantly,and the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05),and the level of CTX-Ⅱ in the two intervention groups was significantly lower compared with that of positive control group(all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with negative control group,the level of serum COMP in other groups increased significantly at the end of 3 month (all P ＜ 0.05) and only the level of serum COMP in high-dose intervention group was significantly lower compared with that of positive control group(P ＜ 0.05).At the end of 5 month,compared with negative control group,the level of serum COMP in other three groups increased significantly,the difference were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05) ; the levels of serum COMP in the two intervention groups were significantly lower than that of positive control group(all P ＜ 0.05).At the ends of 3 month and 5 month,the content of urinary DPD in negative control group were[ (3.47 ± 2.20),(4.14 ± 1.06)μg/L],positive control group[ (4.09 ± 2.48),(4.33 ± 3.43)μg/L],high-dose intervention group[ (3.86 ± 2.31 ),(5.72 ± 3.89)μg/L] and low-dose intervention group[ (3.58 ± 2.77),(4.23 ± 2.90)μg/L].The difference between the 4 groups were not statistically significant (F =2.608,2.436,all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Type Ⅱ collagen could effectively reduce the level of serum CTX-Ⅱ and COMP in experimental rats and delay the process of articular cartilage damage induced by T-2 toxin. Key words: Cartilage, articular; Collagen type Ⅱ; T-2 toxin

Behavioral and developmental effects in suckling mice following maternal exposure to the mycotoxin secalonic acid D

The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementing branched-chain amino acids (AA) (BCAA) along with a reduced-protein diet increases piglet growth, and whether elevated feed intake and muscle growth-promoting effect contribute to this improvement. In Expt 1, twenty-eight weanling piglets were randomly fed one of the following four diets: a positive control (PC) diet, a reduced-protein negative control (NC) diet, an NC diet supplemented with BCAA to the same levels as in the PC diet (test 1 (T1)) and an NC diet supplemented with a 2-fold dose of BCAA in T1 diet (test 2 (T2)) for 28 d. In Expt 2, twenty-one weanling piglets were randomly assigned to NC, T1 and pair-fed T1 (P) groups. NC and T1 diets were the same as in Expt 1, whereas piglets in the P group were individually pair-fed with the NC group. In Expt 1, the NC group had reduced piglet growth and feed intake compared with the PC group, which were restored in T1 and T2 groups, but no differences were detected between T1 and T2 groups. In Expt 2, T1 and P groups showed increases in growth and mass of some muscles compared with the NC group. Increased feed intake after BCAA supplementation was associated with increased mRNA expressions of agouti-related peptide and co-express neuropeptide Y (NPY) and phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), as well as decreased mRNA expressions of melanocortin-4 receptor and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α in the hypothalamus. No differences were observed among PC, T1 and T2 groups except for higher NPY mRNA expression in the T2 group than in the PC group (Expt 1). Phosphorylation of mTOR and S6K1 in muscle was enhanced after BCAA supplementation, which was independent of change in feed intake (Expt 2). In conclusion, supplementing BCAA to reduced-protein diets increases feed intake and muscle mass, and contributes to better growth performance in piglets.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and excessive oxidative stress are the main mechanisms causing liver fibrosis. It releases anti-inflammatory cytokines, namely, interleukin 6 (IL-6), nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Curcumin acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic. AIM: This study is aimed to analyze differences in IL-6 expression and MDA levels in (Deutschland, Denken, and Yoken) DDY mice with liver fibrosis after common bile duct ligation between the curcumin-treated and control groups. METHODS: This research is an experimental study with a post-test-only control group design. Seventy-five male DDY mice 20–30g were used in this study (n = 5). Mice were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 15 mice. The first group healthy control (HC) was the HC group given phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution and did not perform the CBDL. The second group negative control (NC) was a NC group given PBS solution and completed the CBDL. The third group positive control (PC) was a PC group given oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and performed CBDL. The fourth group (P1) was assigned oral curcumin and performed the CBDL. The fifth group (P2) was given oral curcumin and UDCA and performed the CBDL. Seven, fourteen, and 21 days after ligation, liver samples were taken to examine IL-6 expression and MDA levels. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the NC and PC groups (p = 0.00), NC and P1 (p = 0.00), NC with P2 (p = 0.00), PC with P1 (p = 0.04), PC with P2 (p = 0.04), on day 21 between the NC and PC groups (p = 0.00), NC with P1 (p = 0.00), and PC with P2 (p = 0.00). Statistical analysis of the comparison of MDA levels on days 7 and 14 found no significant difference. On day 21, there was a substantial difference between the NC group and P1 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that curcumin effectively reduced IL-6 expression and MDA levels in liver fibrosis.

Introduction: The spread of Borrelia burgdorferi is greatly exacerbated by the climate crisis. Rising global temperatures have increased the geographic range of B. burgdorferi-carrying ticks. 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM) is a widely used estrogen supplement with a highly concentrated positive charge on one side, potentially inhibiting bacterial growth by attracting the negatively charged bacterial membranes, causing membrane tearing. DIM could allow for more comfortable treatment of Lyme disease, as it displays no significant side effects when consumed up to 200 mg/L. Conversely, current antimicrobial protein-based drugs may induce side effects at their minimum inhibitory concentration. Methods: To determine whether DIM displays antimicrobial properties and could therefore be an inexpensive and ergonomic treatment, its effect on membrane-enclosed vesicles will be compared with polymyxin B, which is known to inhibit membrane structural integrity. This will be analyzed by filling vesicles with red aniline dye, then establishing three groups with different treatments. The test, positive control, and negative control groups will be treated with DIM, polymyxin B, and no treatment respectively. The resulting absorbencies of the test, positive control, and negative control groups will be compared. Results: The test group could show significant absorbance differences when compared to the positive and negative control groups, or no significant absorbance differences when compared to these groups. Positive and negative control groups should be compared with each other to ensure the groups display substantial and negligible dye release respectively. Discussion: If the test group shows a significant absorbance difference from the negative or both positive and negative control groups, it can be concluded that DIM displays significant antimicrobial properties. Because the results illustrate DIM is as effective or more effective than polymyxin B at inhibiting B. burgdorferi cell membranes, DIM will be an effective treatment for Lyme disease. These results are only reliable if the standard deviations of each group do not overlap, and the positive control group has a significantly higher absorbance than the negative control group. Conclusion: If the results suggest DIM displays strong enough antimicrobial properties to treat Lyme disease, its structure should be modified to improve integration into the bloodstream and gastrointestinal tract.

Daily consumption of a homeopathic product decreases intestinal damage and stool bacterial counts in mice challenged with Escherichia coli

Fibroblasts play a role in the wound healing process. The active compound content of Spirulina sp. has fibroblastic activity. The use of extracts from S. platensis can play a role in the wound healing process. To analyze the effectiveness of Spirulina platensis extract on the number of fibroblasts in rats that were incised in their skin. This study used a randomized post test only control group design. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were skin incised and infected with S.aureus divided into 4 groups, namely the group given S.platensis extract at a dose of 500 mg/kgBW/day, a dose of 750 mg/kgBW/day, the negative control group was given saline solution and positive control group with diclofenac 20 mg/kgBW orally. The number of fibroblasts was counted on histopathological examination of the wound tissue on the 7th and 14th days covering 5 visual fields. Data analysis was carried out with a one way ANOVA test and continued with the LSD Post Hoc Test. The mean number of fibroblasts on the 7th day in the 500 mg/kgBW/day group, 750 mg/kgBW/day, positive control and negative control was 13.33 ± 3.615; 117.42±3.980; 9.58±2.417; and 4.00 ± 1.761 with p 0.001. The number of fibroblasts on the 14th day in the 500 mg/kgBW/day, 750 mg/kgBW/day group, positive control and negative control was 16.17 ± 3.251; 19.67±1.633; 12.17±2.137; and 8.33 ± 2.317 with p 0.001. The post hoc test found that the number of fibroblasts on day 7 significantly increased in the 500 mg/kgBB/day S. platensis group compared to the positive and negative control groups. While at a dose of 750 mg/kg/day, the number of fibroblasts was higher than the positive and negative control groups after 14 days of treatment.Administration of Spirulina platensis extract at doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg/day significantly increased the number of fibroblasts in the incision wounds of Wistar rats.

Mycotoxin contamination in feed a common problem in broiler chickens' industry worldwide. This experimental study was performed at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University with the aim to assess the impact of adsorbing and bio-transforming antimycotoxin agents on reducing toxic of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in broilers feed by examining the growth performance, carcass trait, serum parameters. 126 one-day old broiler chicks (Ross) were purchased from market and randomly allocated into 6 treatments and control groups containing 3 replicates with 7 birds in each replicate. The experimental groups were as following: (1) basal diet (clean or positive control), (2) mycotoxin-contaminated basal diet (negative control), (3) mycotoxin- contaminated basal diet and biolan in drinking water at 1%, (4) mycotoxin- contaminated basal diet and 2% zeolite, (5) mycotoxin- contaminated basal diet and 2% enzymes; and (6) mycotoxin- contaminated basal diet and mycofix 1%. In the starter period (0-3weeks), the birds in negative control, biolan, zeolite and enzymes groups showed better feed intakes, but not significant (P<0.05) comparing to other groups. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in the positive control and mycofix groups, and the worst FCR was recorded in the negative control group. In the grower period (3-6 weeks), the birds in biolan group showed higher feed intake, but the best weight gains and FCR were showed by the zeolite, positive control, enzymes and mycofix groups compared to the other groups. In the period of 6-7 weeks, enzymes and mycofix groups showed the best FCR indices compared to the negative control. Considering the weights of carcass yields and internal organs in broilers, the results revealed that, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the dressing percentages of carcass at the end of experiment and none in the relative weight of the heart, liver, gizzard. Biochemistry analysis of blood demonstrated that there were no significant differences(P<0.05) in total protein, Albumin, Globulin serum concentrations of treated and negative control groups with exception in enzyme and mycofix groups. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) among mean values of serum cholesterol and triglycerides in treated and control group, in spite, higher mean values concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides was recorded in treated groups. The results also displayed that, the serum urea and creatinine were lower in the negative control group compared to treated and the positive control groups. In conclusion, the present results showed that there is positive effect by adding the adsorbenting and biotransforming antimycotoxins agents to broiler diets in terms of growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters. Further research work should be carried on other additives diet of broilers.

The cytogenetic effects of taking oral contraceptive pills OCPs that contain steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone) during pregnancy on some aspects of fetus and newborn have been previously reviewed. The objectives of this study are to detect the effect of using different doses of progestin and estrogen by pregnant female mice on the chromosomal aberration CAs and mitotic index MI in their male fetuses. Thirty female mice were divided equally into three major groups: two experimental G1 and G2 and control group according to the level of the dose. Administration of COCPs (either 0.034 or 0.068 mg/kg b. wt. /d dissolved with 0.1ml distilled water) orally once a day, were started at the first day of gestation and continued till day 14 for the experimental groups G1and G2 respectively. When the new pups in each experimental and control group reach two weeks of age, those male offspring 10animals/ group were used for chromosome preparation, while the control group divided into two groups: ten animals represented a negative control given distilled water only, while the other ten animals injected intra peritoneal with mitomycin–C 2mg/Kg represented positive control (once dose). The statistical analysis of mice bone marrow cells have no significant decrease in the mitotic index of the pups belongs to G1 mothers in comparison with negative control group, but it shows a highly significant differences P<0.01 as compared with that of positive control group . Although the pups belong to G2 mothers showed a slight decrease in the mitotic index in comparison with negative control group. Differences were non- significant with negative control and highly significant P<0.01 with positive control group. In addition, the mitotic index of spleen cells of the pups belongs to G1 mothers noticed no significant decrease in comparison with negative control group, however, it shows a significant differences P< 0.05 as compared with positive control group. In the pups belongs to G2 mothers there were significant decrease P< 0.05 in mitotic index in comparison with negative and positive control groups. The results showed that the COCPs caused an increase in chromosomal aberrations CAs with increasing of steroid hormones concentration. In G1 group the CA equal to 19.91%. This reducing in CA was not significant in comparison with those of the negative control which gave 14.33%; this percentage was increased in the result of CAs of the mice treated with mitomycin –C (MMC) which was 48.58%. Treatment with 0.068 mg/kg B wt. of COCPs gave CA equal to 17.18%. This value was not significant in comparison with those of the negative control which was 19.91%. Higher doses of OCPs may cause cytogenetic effects in chromosomal aberrations CAs and decrease the mitotic index (MI) in the bone marrow cells and spleen cells of offspring belonged to mothers treated with oral contraceptive during their pregnancy for 14 days.

Simple SummaryHeat stress is a serious issue in commercial broiler production in hot and humid countries, including Malaysia. Exposure of broilers to heat stress affects their health and productivity. In this context, antibiotics are widely used at sub-therapeutic levels as growth promoters to reduce stress and infectious diseases in order to sustain productivity in commercial broiler farms. However, the extensive use of antibiotics as growth promoters for a long time leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the possibility of antibiotic-resistant genes being transferred among organisms. Recently, postbiotics produced by Lactobacillus plantarum have been widely studied as a feed additive in order to replace in-feed antibiotics. However, to date, no studies have investigated the role of postbiotics in feed for broilers under heat stress.The effects of feeding different postbiotics on growth performance, carcass yield, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, immune status, and growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene expression in broilers under heat stress were assessed in this study. A total of 252 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned in cages in identical environmentally controlled chambers. During the starter period from 1 to 21 days, all the birds were fed the same basal diet. On day 22, the birds were weighed and randomly divided into six treatment groups and exposed to cyclic high temperature at 36 ± 1 °C for 3 h per day from 11:00 to 14:00 until the end of the experiment. From day 22 to 42 (finisher period), an equal number of birds were subjected to one of the following diets: NC (negative control) basal diet; PC (positive control) basal diet + 0.02% oxytetracycline; or AA (ascorbic acid) basal diet + 0.02% ascorbic acid. The other three groups (RI11, RS5 and UL4) were basal diet + 0.3% different postbiotics (produced from different Lactobacillus plantarum strains, and defined as RI11, RS5 and UL4, respectively). The results demonstrated that birds fed RI11 diets had significantly higher final body weight, total weight gain and average daily gain than the birds that received the NC, PC and AA treatments. The feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in the RI11 group compared with the other groups. Carcass parameters were not affected by the postbiotic-supplemented diet. Postbiotic supplementation improved villi height significantly in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum compared to the NC, PC and AA treatments. The crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum was significantly higher in NC group compared to other treatment groups except RI11 in duodenum, and UL4 in ileum was not different with NC groups. The villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum and ileum was significantly higher for the postbiotic treatment groups and AA than the PC and NC treatment groups. The postbiotic RI11 group recorded significantly higher caecum total bacteria and Lactobacillus count and lower Salmonella count compared to the NC and PC treatment groups. The Bifidobacterium population in the NC group was significantly lower compared to the other treatment groups. The postbiotic (RI11, RS5 and UL4) and AA treatment groups showed lower Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli counts and caecal pH than the NC and PC treatment groups. The plasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) level was significantly higher in the birds receiving postbiotic RI11 than those receiving other treatments. The plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) level was higher in the RI11 treatment group than in the NC, AA and RS5 groups. The plasma immunoglobulin A (IgA) level was not affected by postbiotic supplements. The hepatic GHR mRNA expression level was significantly increased in birds fed postbiotics RI11, RS5 and UL4, AA and PC compared to the NC-fed birds. Postbiotic RI11 led to significantly higher hepatic IGF-1 mRNA expression level compared to the NC, PC, and AA treatments. Mortality was numerically lesser in the postbiotic treatment groups, but not significantly different among all the treatments. In conclusion, among the postbiotics applied in the current study as compared with NC, PC and AA, RI11 could be used as a potential alternative antibiotic growth promoter and anti-stress treatment in the poultry industry.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that often affected fertility health, specifically in men. Gynura procumbens (G. procumbens) has been used as traditional medicine due to its ability in treating various types of illness. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the potential beneficial effect of G. procumbens as anti-hyperglycaemia, pro-fertility and libido agent towards diabetes-induced male rats. A total of 42 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups; normal, negative, and positive control, and three treated groups of different dosages of G. procumbens aqueous extract (GPAE); 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg. Each group was given treatment via oral gavage for seven consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed on day eighth for further analysis. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) level in all GPAE treated group showed significant decrease, and 450 mg/kg treated group showed significant reduction to a normal blood glucose level compared to all groups. There were significant increases in the sperm quality of GPAE treated groups after seven days of treatment compared to the negative and positive control group, specifically in 450 mg/kg treated group. Testis histology showed that GPAE treated groups produced a significant result whereby the seminiferous tubules were seen packed with sperm and successive stage of spermatogenesis were shown compared to control groups. Hormone analysis suggested that the luteneizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone hormone of the treated groups were elevated after seven days of treatment compared to the negative and positive control groups. Libido analysis of seven days treatment showed that GPAE treated groups, significantly improved in 450 mg/kg dose compared to other groups, with the highest number of mounting frequency and shortest mounting latency. Fertility test revealed a significant increase in number of implantation sites produced in GPAE treated groups compared to positive and negative control groups. In conclusion, GPAE exhibited a potential beneficial effect as an anti-diabetic and also as fertility agent in diabetic-induced male rats.