Fifth Week Of Age Research Articles

Resistant starch from a tuberous root from the Andes cordillera improves metabolic and immune parameters in broilers

Resistant starch (RS) is a carbohydrate that exerts benefits on health. The present study aimed to research the effects of the Canna edulis Ker RS on metabolic and immune system indicators in broiler chickens. A total of 360 1- day-old male chicks were allotted to dietary treatments with 0% (RS0), 1% (RS1), and 2% (RS2) of RS inclusion. Chickens of RS1 and RS2 presented a lower rate of increase in serum glucose between the third and fifth week, with 50.9, 21.4, and 26.8% to RS0, RS1, and RS2, respectively. The higher serum cholesterol HDL was observed in broilers that consumed RS1 and RS2 diets at the fifth week of age (p < 0.05). The butyric acid levels of 16.59, 64.95, and 76.77 μmol/g were found in caecal content to RS0, RS1, and RS2, respectively (p < 0.01). The serum IgA levels were increased in broilers fed with the RS1 diet and decreased with the RS0 diet. The IgM was increased linearly as a function of age in the broilers RS1 and RS2. The subpopulation of T helper lymphocytes CD3+ CD4+ were increased in broilers fed with RS2 diet. The RS level that optimizes the humoral response was established as 1.07% and 1.56% for IgA and IgM, respectively (p < 0.05). The dietary inclusion of RS from C. edulis stimulated homeostasis of glucose and cholesterol with increase of HDL and caecal SCFA. Consequently, RS from C. edulis can be used as a nutraceutical additive in the broilers' diet.

Production performance of four lines of Japanese quail reared under tropical climatic conditions of Tamil Nadu, India.

This research investigated the growth and other production traits of four distinct lines (L1, L2, L3, and L4) of Japanese quail (Cortunix japanoica) kept in the tropical climate of Tamil Nadu, India. The traits related to body weight at different weeks and weight gain were measured in 180 birds (90 males and 90 females) per line up to the fifth week of age, and then 90 birds (females only) from the sixth to the 16th week of age, with egg production and feed efficiency parameters measured in 10 observations per line. The traits were analysed using the General Linear Model procedure, and Tukey's HSD was used to test for statistical differences (p < 0.05) between the means for subclasses under a specific effect. The results revealed a highly significant difference (p < 0.01) in body weight from hatch to fifth week of age. At 5th week of age, the L3 and L2 did not differ (p > 0.05) based on Tukey test; therefore, both presented the highest values and were statistically significant (p < 0.01) with L4 with a lowest value of 203.62g. The cumulative fifth week feed conversion ratio showed non-significant difference (p > 0.05) at first and second week, and highly significant difference (p < 0.01) from third to fifth week of age. The age at 50 per cent egg production was 60.2 (L4), 61.4 (L2), 65.1 (L3) and 66.0 (L1) days and the L1 egg production differed significantly (p < 0.01) from L4 line. The highest bodyweight (g) during the laying period (at 15weeks of age) was observed in L2 (327.08) and L3 (326.54) and differed significantly (p < 0.01) from L1 (309.24) as well as L4 (288.69) lines. The mean egg weight (g) of different lines showed non-significant difference (p > 0.05) at all weeks, except at 11th week of age (p < 0.01). The mean feed consumption (g)/bird/day differed significantly (p < 0.01) from 6th to 16th week of age, except at sixth and eighth week of age, where it was non-significant (p > 0.05). The overall feed efficiency/dozen of eggs (from 6th to 16th weeks) ranged from 1.33 (L1) to 1.98 (L3). The livability from 6 to 16weeks of age was 100 per cent in all the lines. In order to boost Japanese quail production in the tropics, L3 and L4 may be selected for body weight and egg production, respectively.

Effect of Feed Withdrawal on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Heat Stressed Broiler Chicken

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of feedwithdrawal at different ages during the hottest summer days on thegrowth performance and some carcass traits of broiler chicken. Onehundred thirty five male chicks at 14 days of age (DOA) with averagebody weight (375 g/bird) were randomly allotted to three treatments withthree replicates each. The treatments consisted of the control (no feedwithdrawal), early feed withdrawal (EFW) at the fourth week of age andlate feed withdrawal (LFW) at the fifth week of age. The treatments wereassigned to a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted forfive weeks having one week as a transitional period, and it was terminatedat 49 DOA. The feed withdrawal duration was two weeks for each group.Feed withdrawal was undertaken from 10:00 am till 7:00 pm. Feed intakeand live body weight were recorded weekly. Feed conversion ratio (FCR)and the cumulative mortality rate were calculated. Some physical andchemical analyses were carried out for some carcass parts (drumstick andthigh). The abdominal fat pad (AFP) was removed and weighed. TheLFW group significantly (P ≤ 0.05) consumed the highest amount of feed,whereas the EFW group consumed the least amount. The cumulativemortality rate was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower for LFW and EFW, andthe control group recorded the highest rate. At 49 DOA, live body weightwas significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the highest for the LFW group, whereas theother groups recorded similar body weights. The overall FCR wassignificantly (P ≤ 0.05) the best for LFW group, whereas the control had

Effect of dietary T-2 toxin levels on liveability, organs weight, immunity and histopathology of organs in Japanese quails

To establish the tolerance level of T-2 toxin, day-old Japanese quail chicks (n=225) were divided into five dietary treatments: T1, control; T2, T1+50 ppb T-2 Toxin; T3, T1+100 ppb T-2 Toxin; T4, T1+150 ppb T-2 Toxin; T5, T1+200 ppb T-2 Toxin. Each diet was fed to 3 replicated groups of 15 birds each from 1 to 35 days of age. The results showed that the overall liveability percentage, at fifth week of age in T1 was statistically similar to T2 and T3; and higher than T4 and T5. The relative weight of liver, kidney and spleen in T1 was lower than T4 and T5; and statistically similar to T2 and T3. The relative weight of bursa in T1 was higher than T4 and T5; and statistically similar to T2 and T3. The CMI and HA titre values in T1 was higher than T4 and T5. The CMI and HA titre value in group T1 was statistically similar to T2 and T3. In group T2, mild necrosis of mucosa in the proventriculus and gizzard and in T3, dystrophy and granular degeneration in the liver and kidney and necrosis of mucosa in the gizzard and proventriculus was observed. In T4 and T5, severe histopathological lesions including hepatocyte necrosis with discrete foci, necrosis and inflammation of gallbladder mucosa having mild proliferation of bile ductules, necrosis of intestinal epithelium following transient shortening of villi and mitotic figures in crypt epithelium; necrosis in feather epithelium and mucosa of the proventriculus and gizzard was observed. In addition, dystrophy and granular degeneration in the liver and kidney; interstitial nephritis, kidney sclerosis and glomerulonephritis was also observed. It was concluded that Japanese quails can tolerate up to 100 ppb of T-2 toxin in their diet without any adverse effects on their liveability percentage, organs weight, immunity and histopathology of organs during 0-5 weeks of growth period.

Improving broiler chickens' health by using lecithin and lysophosphatidylcholine emulsifiers: a comparative analysis of physiological indicators.

Lipids play a vital function in a bird's body and to improve the lipids utilization and their absorption in a bird's digestive system, emulsifiers are suggested. This study evaluated and compared the effects of lecithin (LEC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) emulsifiers on broiler chicken's productivity traits and physiological indicators such as blood plasma parameters, intestine traits, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) profile in caecum's content, caecum's villus height and crypt depth and their ratio. 900 Ross 308 broiler chickens were assigned to 3 groups with 6 replicate pens and fed with a standard compound diet (SCD) and an SCD supplemented with 0.05% LEC and 0.05% LPC. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and dry matter (DM) content of the litter were recorded. At the end of the trial, 10 birds from each group were randomly selected and euthanized. Blood samples were collected, and blood plasma analysis was performed. Intestinal samples were collected post-mortem and intestinal traits, SCFA profiles, and intestinal histomorphometric were measured. The inclusion of lysophosphatidylcholine significantly increased the broilers' BW and ADG at their fifth week of age (P<0.05). Lecithin increased the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL/C) concentration in blood plasma (P<0.05). Butyric and isovaleric acid concentrations significantly increased by LPC and reduced by LEC (P<0.05). Lecithin and LPC caecum's villus heights were significantly increased (P<0.05), and caecum's crypt depth was also increased in LEC compared to SCD (P<0.05). As an emulsifier, lysophosphatidylcholine can improve the broilers' weight, but LEC showed better effects on their physiological indicators by improving intestinal mucosal absorption areas in caecum.

Growth Performance, Cellular Immunity and Blood Chemical Analysis of Two Broilers Strains after Phytogenic Supplementation

Abstract: Genetically, the basis of all commercial breeds is the same. Therefore, the selection pressure for traits such as performance and carcass yield results in particular products. Genetic variation of two different broiler strains (Avian48 and Cobb500) in response to black pepper and red hot pepper supplementation was studied. Two hundred chicks from each broiler strain were randomly distributed on the following treatments, 1. Control treatment; 2. Red hot pepper treatment (0.5 %); 3. Black pepper treatment (0.5%); 4. Mixture treatment (0.25 % black pepper plus 0.25 % red pepper), these additives were added to drinking water from the first week until the fifth week of age, every group containing 50 birds distributed on five replicates (10 birds/replicate). The growth performance, carcass traits, abdominal fat, edible giblets, blood pictures, cellular immunity, and chemical blood lipid profile were estimated. Cobb500 broilers strain respond better to water supplement of red hot pepper, black pepper, and their mixture than Avian48 strain. Moreover, adding red hot pepper (0.5), black pepper (0.5), and their mixture (0.25+0.25) to drinking water significantly improved growth performance compared to control treatments with the best results obtained from mixture supplementation. However, it's better to supplying these additives until the third week of age, especially black pepper. Using black pepper, red hot pepper, and their mixture as feed additives by 0.5% had a significant role in further improving carcass quality by lowering fat percent and blood cholesterol. LDL so decrease their percent in meat and increasing the dressing and carcass cuts as a general, with the best results reported for mixture supplement. Additionally, these herbs had the desired effect on improving broilers' cellular immunity by increasing phagocytic index and differential leukocyte count. Finally, further examinations are required to studying the response of other broiler strains and breeds to these supplements and evaluating its effect on carcass characteristics, abdominal fat, cellular immunity, blood picture, and lipid profile if used within the first three weeks of age only.

Genetic parameters of body weight in japanese quails (Coturnix japonica Temminck &amp; Schlegel, 1849) in the Philippines

The establishment of breeding and selection programs to improve the genetic potential of poultry necessitates estimation of genetic parameters for different production and reproduction traits, Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) software was used to estimate the heritability (h2) and genetic correlations (r) of body weights in Japanese quails (C. japonica) from hatch to fifth week of age. A total of 224 Japanese quails composed of 56 males and 168 females arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) served as the base population. Body weight records, measured weekly from hatch to fifth week, were utilized to estimate the genetic parameters. Heritability estimates were 0.093±0.004, 0244±0.010, 0.031±0.001, 0082±0.004, 0325±0.016 and 0.025±0.001 for body weights at hatch (BW0), first week (BW1), second week (BW2), third week (BW3), fourth week (BW4) and fifth week (BW5), respectively. Low heritability estimates depict a decrease in additive genetic variance as the generations progressed. Negative genetic correlation was found between BW0 and BW4 (r=- 0.027). The significant positive genetic correlations of BW0 with BW1 (r=0.271); BW1 with BW2 (r=0.270), BW3 (r=0.294), BW4 (r=0.255), and BW5 (r=0.243); BW2 with BW3 (r=0.561), BW4 (r=0.649), and BW5 (r=0.503); BW3 with BW4 (r=0.726), and BW5 (r=0.551); and BW4 with BW5 (r=0.689) are expected to bring correlated responses in the other traits.

Effects of dried okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) powder on growth, carcass characteristics, blood indices, and meat quality of stored broiler meat

The present study investigated the impacts of dried okra fruit powder (DOFP), used as a natural feed supplement, on growth, carcass, blood, and meat quality parameters of broilers. A total of 240 unsexed, one-week-old chicks were randomly allotted to 4 equal groups with 6 replicates in each group (i.e., 10 birds/replicate). The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control, and 3 DOFP groups, supplemented with 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g DOFP/kg feed, respectively. The results showed that the highest values of live body weight and body weight gain were observed in the group with 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of feed during the fifth week of age and between 1 and 5 wk of age, respectively. During 1 to 3 wk of age, daily feed consumption of chicks fed DOFP-supplemented diets increased numerically with increasing DOFP levels. Dietary treatments significantly depressed liver, thigh, and dressing fat percentages. Chicks fed the diet containing 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of feed had the lowest values for serum urea and creatinine compared with the other treatment group. In addition, the concentration of liver enzymes decreased with increasing DOFP levels, except for the groups fed 3.0 and 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of diet. Oxidative rancidity of broiler meat samples containing DOFP in their diets was lower than that of the control samples, throughout the storage period. It can be concluded that DOFP is a useful phytogenic additive, which can lower the percentage of abdominal fat of the carcass, as well as alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine in the blood. Furthermore, all sensory characteristics of the meat were improved by the addition of DOFP to broiler diets. It could be concluded that DOFP can be used as a natural supplement in broiler diets for improving growth performance and reducing abdominal fat, blood creatinine, and urea.

Growth stunted in half a litter of puppies due to intestinal parasitism

Four puppies of Estrela mountain dog breed, out of a litter of nine, eight weeks of age, and with poor body condition, poor appetite, pica (geophagia) and stunted growth from...

Effect of turmeric and ginger supplementation on immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers

Day-old broiler chicks (182) were distributed randomly to 7 treatments with 2 replicates. Treatments were T1 (control), basal diet; T2, basal diet + turmeric powder (TP) (0.5% of basal diet); T3, basal diet + TP (1% of basal diet); T4, basal diet + ginger powder (GP) (0.5% of basal diet); T5, basal diet + GP (1% of basal diet); T6, basal diet + TP + GP (0.5% TP + 0.5% GP); T7, basal diet + TP + GP (1% TP + 1.0% GP). The experiment was continued for 35 days. Immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers were conducted at fifth week of age. Higher cellular response against PHA-P was recorded in T3 and T7. Higher antibody titre against SRBC was recorded in T3. The weight of lymphoid organs did not differ significantly. Significantly higher erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) level was recorded in T1. Significantly higher alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were found in T1 and T7. Significantly higher aspartate amino transferase (AST) level was found in T1. Higher total bacterial count and lower E. coli count were recorded in group T3 and lower total bacterial count was recorded in T7. In group T1, liver showed mild congestion to mild cellular swelling and varying degree of vacuolar degeneration. From this study, it may be concluded that supplementation of 1% turmeric in ration either alone or in combination with 1% ginger improved the immunity, antioxidant status and gut health of broilers.

Changes of the erythrocyte phenotype and blood biochemistry in dairy calves during the first ten weeks of age.

BackgroundBovine erythrocytes undergo important changes in their morphology and chemical composition during the first weeks of age, which must be understood to accurately interpret hematology results in calves. The objectives of this prospective cohort study were to describe physiological changes of calf erythrocytes and to investigate mechanisms potentially causing these changes.MethodsBlood samples from 30 clinically healthy dairy calves were obtained from birth to the tenth week of age in weekly intervals. Hematological and plasma biochemical parameters as well as the mineral electrolyte content of erythrocytes were determined and followed over time. The changes of parameters characterizing the erythrocyte phenotype over time were compared to the changes of plasma and erythrocyte biochemical parameters and possible associations were investigated using correlation and stepwise regression analyses.ResultsAlthough the erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) declined from 43.6 ± 3.7 fL to 35.6 ± 3.2 fL between the first and seventh week, the red blood cell count (RBC) increased from 7.2 ± 1.1 × 1012/L to 9.3 ± 1.0 × 1012/L until the fifth week of age. The blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration increased from 0.96 ± 0.16 g/L to 1.16 ± 0.11 g/L in the first three weeks of age and remained at this level until the end of the study. Changes in MCV were accompanied by a decline of the erythrocyte potassium content (KERY) from 91.9 ± 13.5 to 24.6 ± 7.2 mmol/L and a concomitant increase of the erythrocyte sodium content from 45.0 ± 32.0 to 102.7 ± 26.5 mmol/L. MCV was found to be associated with KERY, the primary determinant of the intra-erythrocyte osmotic pressure from the sixth week of age and with blood hemoglobin, the primary determinant of the intra-erythrocyte oncotic pressure from the eighth week of age, when KERY, blood Hb and MCV already had reached or approached normal levels of adult cattle. The plasma iron concentration was not found to be associated to any of the studied hematological parameters.ConclusionA volume reduction of 20% in bovine neonatal erythrocytes is a physiological change occurring during the first weeks of age and is neither associated with sideropenia nor with anemia in healthy calves. The mechanism driving the observed erythrocyte volume change could not be identified. Results of the correlation and regression analyses indicate that changes in intra-erythrocyte osmotic or oncotic pressure are improbable underlying causes. Results reported here show that KERY is an unreliable indicator for the K homeostasis of the intracellular space in neonatal calves and that a decrease in MCV in early life per-se is an unreliable indicator for the development of microcytic anemia.

The effect of genotype on the behaviour of free range chickens

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the behaviour of fast- and slow growing chickens, when the birds had access to the outdoors. Fifty of both 1-day-old male chicks of a laying hybrid ISA BROWN (IB) and broilers ROSS 308 (RS) were kept in two pens in the same building. In each group ten birds were marked with a colored spray. From three weeks of age the birds had access to the outdoors. From the age of one to seven weeks old, one day a week the marked birds were observed from 8:00 to 18:00 every ten minutes and the activity was noted. At 49 and 90 days old twenty birds were slaughtered and the strength of bones was measured. The behaviour was expressed as percentage of the time spent in activity. The average time that the birds spent eating during the 7 week period was almost the same in IB and RS. On average, IB birds spent significantly higher (P<0.05) an amount of time moving around, but until the fifth week of age there was no significant difference between these genotypes. In IB, movement was the more frequent activity. The resting sitting down was the most frequent activity in RS and since three weeks of age they spent significantly more (P<0.05) time with this activity than IB. On average, the IB birds spent significantly more (P<0.05) time scratching than did the RS. No aggression or pecking was observed in the IB males during the whole test period. The strength of the femur was significantly higher in RS in comparison with IB in both ages (49d - P<0.001, 90d - P<0.05). Although the rules for organic farming dictate that the chickens have to have enough outdoor area to move around in, the fast growing broilers do not use it.

Effect of different colours of light on performance of caged broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the broiler chicken (body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) at the fifth week of age. The broiler chicks were weighed, leg banded and distributed randomly into four groups as treatments, battery type iron cages, feeders, waters and other equipments were thoroughly cleaned disinfected, dried, sterilized by blow torch and finally fumigated by use of mixture of KMnO 4 (potassium permanganates) and formaldehyde before use. The chicks were fed ad libitum with standard starter ration containing CP: 22 per cent and ME:2900 k.cal./kg feed upto 3 weeks age and then after broiler finisher ration with CP: 19 per cent and ME: 3000 k.cal./ kg feed upto 5 weeks age. The broiler chicks of all groups were kept under similar management practices except lighting regimes as per treatment upto five (5) weeks age in battery type iron cages in laboratory. It is concluded colours of light did not show any significant effect on feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broilers. The colour of light has a significant effect on the weight gain at the fifth week of age. The milky white and yellow colours of light are effective to obtain higher weekly body weight at five weeks age of caged broilers.

Impaired Ribosome Biogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Growth in a Murine Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammation is a factor potentially underpinning skeletal muscle mass. Intestinal-derived inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results in loss of muscle mass; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. The interleukin 10 gene-deficient (Il10-/-) mouse is a genetically modified animal model of IBD that can be used to study the effect of intestinal-derived inflammation on muscles. Il10-/- and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice were inoculated with intestinal bacteria to induce colon inflammation at the fifth week of age. Skeletal muscles were collected between 7 and 14 weeks of age for analysis of muscle weight, myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), and molecular markers of inflammation and anabolism pathways, with a focus on ribosome biogenesis. Il10-/- animals that developed colon inflammation had a marked increase in muscle immunoglobulin G (IgG) compared with WT. Inflamed Il10-/- animals had impaired muscle mass gain and smaller myofiber CSA. Intramuscular IgG deposition negatively correlated with muscle mass. After the onset of muscle inflammation, Il10-/- mice had decreased levels of total and ribosomal RNAs (45S, 28S, 18S, and 5.8S rRNAs). Inflammation inversely correlated with muscle levels of total RNA and 28S rRNA which in turn positively correlated with muscle mass. The abundance of growth-related proteins (p70S6K and upstream binding factor, UBF) was decreased in Il10-/- mice. Muscle inflammation and associated decline of ribosome biogenesis lead to muscle growth impairment in Il10-/- mice. This may have implications for maintenance of muscle mass in conditions associated with chronic intestinal-derived inflammation.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURED HEATING SYSTEM FOR HEATING BROILER HOUSE

The experimental work was held in commercial broiler house at Babil village, Menofia Governorate, latitude and longitude angles are 30.67°N and 30.98°E, respectively) during winter season of 2015in order to evaluate the performance of manufactured heating system and its effect on indoor air temperature and energy requirements. The indoor air temperature above the floor surface, indoor air relative humidity, fuel consumption, heat energy addition and specific heating power for every cubic meter of house volume were measured and specific fuel consumption also. Broilers performance evaluation was also determined in terms of live body mass. The obtained results showed that using manufactured heater in heating broiler house the weekly average indoor air temperature ranged between 31.61 to 23.26 oC at first and fifth week respectively. Whereas, the indoor relative humidity ranged between 26.15 to 52.48% at the same ages. The average heat energy addition to the house was 63.28 kW throughout the bird's life and specific heating power was 148.4 W/m 3 at the first week and reduced to be 37.07 W/m 3 at fifth week. Heating energy requirements decreased from 422.59 kJ/h.kg at the first week of age until reached to 19.45 kJ/h.kg at fifth week of age where the average broilers body mass was 2.2 kg.

Protective efficacy and immune responses by homologous prime-booster immunizations of a novel inactivatedSalmonellaGallinarum vaccine candidate

PurposeSalmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum (SG) ghost vaccine candidate was recently constructed. In this study, we evaluated various prime-boost vaccination strategies using the candidate strain to optimize immunity and protection efficacy against fowl typhoid.Materials and MethodsThe chickens were divided into five groups designated as group A (non-immunized control), group B (orally primed and boosted), group C (primed orally and boosted intramuscularly), group D (primed and boosted intramuscularly), and group E (primed intramuscularly and boosted orally). The chickens were primed with the SG ghost at 7 days of age and were subsequently boosted at the fifth week of age. Post-immunization, the plasma IgG and intestinal secretory IgA (sIgA) levels, and the SG antigen-specific lymphocyte stimulation were monitored at weekly interval and the birds were subsequently challenged with a virulent SG strain at the third week post-second immunization.ResultsChickens in group D showed an optimized protection with significantly increased plasma IgG, sIgA, and lymphocyte stimulation response compared to all groups. The presence of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and monocyte/macrophage (M/M) in the spleen, and splenic expression of cytokines such as interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the immunized chickens were investigated. The prime immunization induced significantly higher splenic M/M population and mRNA levels of IFN-γ whereas the booster showed increases of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell population and IL-6 cytokine in mRNA levels.ConclusionOur results indicate that the prime immunization with the SG ghost vaccine induced Th1 type immune response and the booster elicited both Th1- and Th2-related immune responses.

Effect of injection hatching eggs with Newcastle disease vaccine and different doses of vitamin E on some productive traits and immune response of broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of injection hatching eggs with different doses of vitamin E on productive traits, some physiological and immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine. Two hundred fertile eggs of broiler breeder Ross (308) strain were incubated in automatic incubator machine after divided into four treatments (50 eggs per treatment) with two replicates. First treatment was injected 0.1ml/egg of phosphate buffer sterile into amniotic fluid at day 18th of incubation which it was considered as control group, second treatment was injected with 0.1ml/egg of inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine, third treatment was injected with 0.1ml/egg of inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine and 0.1 ml/egg of vitamin E, fourth treatment was injected with 0.1ml/egg of inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine and 0.15 ml/egg of vitamin E. All injected eggs were carried back into incubator for complete hatching process. Hatched chicks were transferred to the hall in farm of the Veterinary Medicine College/University of Baghdad; therefore, the chicks were distributed into four treatments with two replicates depending on the previously treated groups until fifth week of age. The results revealed that the treated groups with vitamin E were significantly (P≤0.05) increased in hatchability percentage, body weight, weight gain, as well as significant reduce in feed intake and improvement in feed conversion ratio as compared with second group and control, the results of third group showed significantly increased (P≤0.05) in antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus at aged (21 and 35) day as compared with the other treated groups and control.

Enhanced protective immune responses against Salmonella Enteritidis infection by Salmonella secreting an Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protein

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) protein is a potent mucosal adjuvant. In this study, the effect of an attenuated Salmonella secreting LTB protein as an adjuvant strain (JOL1228) for a live Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate (JOL919) was evaluated. In a single immunization experiment, chickens immunized with a mixture of JOL919 (5 parts) and JOL1228 (1 part) showed enhanced mucosal and cellular immune responses and efficient protection against salmonellosis as compared to those unimmunized control chickens. In further analysis, chickens were primed at one day of age and were boosted at the fifth week of age to prolong immune responses and to maximize the protection efficacy against salmonellosis. The immunized groups B (prime and booster with JOL919), C (prime with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture and booster with JOL919), and D (prime and booster with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture) showed significantly higher humoral and cellular immune responses as compared to those in the unimmunized control group A. In addition, immunized groups C and D showed fewer gross lesions in the liver and spleen and a lower number of SE-positive organs, with the lowest bacterial counts in the SE challenge strain as compared to the control group. These results indicate that SE vaccination with the LTB strain can have an adjuvant effect on the vaccine candidate by enhancing immune responses, and that a prime-boost strategy with the addition of the adjuvant strain can efficiently protect birds against salmonellosis.

Selection and Persistence of Antimicrobial-ResistantEscherichia coliIncluding Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producers in Different Poultry Flocks on One Chicken Farm

Escherichia coli isolates (n=438) from six different broiler chicken flocks (all in, all out) with known consumption of antimicrobials were investigated for their antimicrobial resistance and the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes. E. coli were isolated from chicken at the third and fifth week of age and tested for antimicrobial resistance during the course of fattening. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole+trimethoprim, which was used in four flocks within the first days of life, decreased significantly in all six flocks between the third and fifth week of broiler chicken's life (mean 65.9% vs. 54.3%). By contrast, resistance to spectinomycin increased significantly in all six flocks within the same period (mean 36.1% vs. 57.0%); doxycycline resistance increased significantly in five of six flocks (mean 19.2% vs. 41.7%), although both substances were not used for treatment. Of the sulfonamide resistance genes sul1, sul2, and sul3, sul2 was most frequently found (up to 60%). The prevalence of sul2 increased significantly between weeks 3 and 5, if the chicken were treated with sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim in the first days of life. If sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim was not used, then the prevalence of sul2 decreased significantly in the same period. The prevalence of sul1+qacEΔ1 (classical class 1 integrons) was significantly higher in E. coli from sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim-treated flocks (9.63%), compared to untreated flocks (2.92%). The detection of phenotypes that potentially indicate plasmid-borne AmpC-β-lactamases was inversely associated with sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim treatment. ESBL phenotypes were found without selective enrichment in four of six flocks. Of all isolated E. coli, 1.8% (n=8) had an ESBL phenotype. ESBL strains differed in their accompanying resistances and/or enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences. In conclusion, clonal dissemination seems not to be a major cause of ESBL detection on a chicken farm with all-in all-out production mode.

Characterization of myocardial hypertrophy in prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats: interaction between adrenergic and nitrosative pathways

Left ventricular hypertrophy in human and experimental hypertension is not always associated with pressure overload but seems to precede an increase in blood pressure. In this study, performed in male 5-week-old prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; n = 65) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (n = 56), the relationship between myocardial structure and activation of the adrenergic and nitric oxide systems was evaluated. Body weight, blood pressure and heart rate were similar in both groups. A higher left ventricle/body weight ratio was found in SHR, as a result of greater mononuclear (+47%) and binuclear (+43%) myocyte volumes, without changes in interstitial collagen. Both adrenergic and nitric oxide pathways were activated in SHR, as expressed by higher myocardial norepinephrine content, tyrosine hydroxylase activity, myocardial nitric oxide synthase 3 expression and protein nitration, indicating greater peroxynitrite (ONOO) generation from nitric oxide and superoxide. No difference was measured in nitric oxide synthase 1 expression, whereas nitric oxide synthase 2 was undetectable. A positive correlation between myocardial tyrosine hydroxylase activity and protein nitration was observed in SHR (r = 0.328; P < 0.01). Early treatment with a superoxide dismutase mimetic, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinoxyl, from the third to the fifth week of age, reduced ONOO generation, protein nitration and sympathetic activation in SHR without changes in myocardial structure. In prehypertensive SHR, left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with adrenergic and nitrosative imbalance. Early superoxide dismutase mimetic treatment in SHR effectively reduces higher myocardial ONOO generation, sympathetic activation, and heart rate without affecting the development of myocardial hypertrophy.