Significant Differences In Body Weight Gain Research Articles

Toltrazuril and diclazuril: comparative evaluation of anti-coccidial drugs using a murine model.

Intestinal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria protozoan species is an economically important disease, especially in poultry and cattle. Anti-coccidial drugs commonly used for controlling coccidiosis are toltrazuril (TTZ) and diclazuril (DCZ). In this study, the efficacies of TTZ and DCZ were compared using a murine model, and the effect of these treatments on the induction of acquired resistance was evaluated. Male C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with 1,000 sporulated E. vermiformis oocytes and treated with TTZ or DCZ. The recommended TTZ dose for cattle (15 mg/kg) completely prevented oocyte excretion. But, mice required 5 mg/kg of DCZ, which is five times the recommended dose for cattle, to reduce oocyte excretion. In E. vermiformis re-infection, TTZ (15 mg/kg) and DCZ (5 mg/kg) treatments did not interfere with the development of acquired resistance. Bodyweight gain was significantly higher in the TTZ-treated group than in the control (untreated/infected) group and the DCZ-treated group, and no significant difference in bodyweight gain was observed between the TTZ-treated group and the healthy (uninfected/untreated) group. Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes indicated that the relative populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were reduced in the DCZ-treated and control (untreated/infected) groups, suggesting there was immunosuppression during the infection. However, no reductions in T cell populations were observed in the TTZ-treated group. The results indicated that an optimal anti-coccidial drug is one that can completely break the parasite life cycle in the host animal.

Comparative analysis of evaluation parameters in E. acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella-infected broilers.

Three parameters, body weight gain (BWG), intestinal lesion score (LS) and fecal oocyst shedding, were compared in broilers infected with major parasitic species; Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella. First, two- and three-week-old chickens with Eimeria infection showed LS of approximately 3, but two-week-old chickens were more correlated with BWG. Second, significant differences in BWG were observed between male and female broilers challenged with Eimeria. Finally, E. maxima-infected broilers among three Eimeria species showed a higher relationship between BWG and LS, suggesting three considerations such as genders, age and Eimeria species for Eimeria experiments.

Effect of aspirin administration on body weight and liver enzymes in male rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of aspirin on body weight and some liver enzyme in rats. The study was done in Veterinary Medicine College, Baghdad University. We used seventy two male rats and randomly divided into three groups (24 in each group). Group-1 was considered as control, Group-2 animals were treated by 40 mg/kg body weight (low-dose) of asprin and the Group-3 was treated by 100 mg/kg body weight (high-dose) of aspirin. The results showed no significant difference in bodyweight gain from 0 to 10 days in all groups, while the low and high-dose asprin treated rats showed decline in bodyweight gain on day 20 and day 30 of aspirin treatment. The liver enzymes, AST and ALT, increased significantly in high-dose of aspirin treated group on day 20 and 30 while the ALP was increased on all time-points in high-dose asprin treated group.

Efficacy of a nanoparticle vaccine administered in-ovo against Salmonella in broilers.

Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen that persists in poultry. Salmonella vaccines that can be delivered in-ovo can be cost-effective and can decrease Salmonella load in poultry. This study evaluates the efficacy of a Salmonella chitosan-nanoparticle (CNP) vaccine, administered in-ovo, in broilers. CNP vaccine was synthesized with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) outer-membrane-proteins (OMPs) and flagellin proteins. At embryonic-d18, one-hundred-thirty-six eggs were injected with 200μl PBS or 1000μg CNP into the amniotic cavity. At d1-of-age, 132 chicks were allocated in 6 pens/treatment with 11 chicks/pen. At d7, birds were orally challenged with 1×109 CFU/bird SE. At d1, 8h-post-challenge, d14, and d21, serum anti-SE-OMPs IgY were analyzed. At d14 and d21, cloacal swabs and bile anti-SE-OMPs IgA, CD4+/CD8+-T-cell ratios, and ceca SE loads were analyzed. At d21, cecal tonsil IL-1β, IL-10, and iNOS mRNA were analyzed. Body-weight-gain (BWG) and feed-conversion-ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test at P<0.05. There were no significant differences in BWG or FCR between vaccinated birds compared to control. At d1, CNP-vaccinated birds had 5.62% greater levels (P<0.05) of anti-SE-OMPs IgY, compared to control. At 8h-post-challenge, CNP-vaccinated birds had 6.39% greater levels (P<0.05) of anti-SE-OMPs IgY, compared to control. At 2wk-post-challenge, CNP-vaccinated birds had 7.34% lower levels (P<0.05) of anti-SE-OMPs IgY, compared to control. At 1wk-post-challenge, CNP-vaccinated birds had 15.30% greater levels (P<0.05) of bile anti-SE-OMPs IgA, compared to control. At d14 and d21, CNP-vaccinated birds had 0.62 and 0.85 Log10 CFU/g, decreased SE ceca load (P<0.05), respectively, compared to control. There were no significant differences in CD4+/CD8+-T-cell ratios between vaccinated birds compared to control. There were no significant differences in IL-1β, IL-10, iNOS mRNA between vaccinated birds compared to control. Findings demonstrate that the in-ovo administration of CNP vaccine can induce an antigen-specific immune response against SE and can decrease SE cecal load in broilers.

Whole Egg Consumption Decreases Cumulative Weight Gain in Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Whole egg (WE) consumption has been demonstrated to attenuate body weight (BW) gain and adiposity in genetic animal models of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This finding was accompanied by increased food consumption. This study aimed to examine the effects of long-term WE intake on BW gain, fat distribution, and food intake in a rat model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=24) were obtained at 5 wk of age and were randomly weight-matched across 1 of 4 dietary intervention groups (6 rats per group): a casein-based diet (CAS), a high-fat high-sucrose CAS diet (HFHS CAS), a whole egg-based diet (EGG), or a high-fat high-sucrose EGG diet (HFHS EGG). All diets provided 20% (w/w) protein and were provided for 33 wk. HFHS diets provided ∼61% of kilocalories from fat and 10% from sucrose. Daily weight gain and food intake were recorded, biochemical parameters were measured via ELISA, and epididymal fat pad weights were recorded at the end of the study. At 33 wk, cumulative BW gain in DIO rats fed HFHS EGG resulted in 23% lower weight gain compared with DIO rats fed HFHS CAS (P <0.0001), but no significant differences in BW gain were observed between the HFHS EGG group and the control EGG and CAS groups (P=0.71 and P=0.61, respectively). Relative food intake (grams per kilogram BW) was 23% lower (P<0.0001) in rats fed HFHS CAS compared with CAS, whereas there was no difference in food intake within the EGG dietary groups. DIO rats fed HFHS EGG exhibited a 22% decrease in epididymal fat weight compared with their counterparts fed the HFHS CAS. Our data demonstrate that consumption of a WE-based diet reduced BW gain and visceral fat in the DIO rat, similar to our previous findings in a genetic rat model with T2D.

Repeated Retinoic Acid Treatments Modulate Adipose Tissue Development of Neonatal Rats Reared by Mothers Consuming a High Fat Diet

Abstract Objectives Retinoic acid (RA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to be a regulator of adipose tissue (AT) development in adult models. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of repeated RA treatments on body weight (BW) gain, AT development, and metabolic conditions of neonatal rats reared by mothers consuming a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods Five Sprague-Dawley rats arrived on their second day of gestation and were randomized to either a normal-fat diet (NFD = 25% fat; n = 2) or a HFD (50% fat; n = 3) both with a marginal level of VA at 0.35 mg/kg. Half of the pups delivered by mothers in HFD cohort received oral RA treatments. Specifically, on postnatal day 5 (P5) and P8, respectively, n = 12 pups in HFD cohort received an oral RA dose at 4 μg/g BW (HFD + RA group). Remaining pups in HFD cohort (n = 12; HFD group) and pups in NFD cohort (n = 12; NFD group) both received oil as placebo. Six hours after the dose administration on P8, n = 4 pups/group were euthanized with blood, visceral white AT (WAT), and brown AT (BAT) collected. On P11 and P14, remaining pups in NFD, HFD, and HFD + RA group (n = 8/group) received a dose of oil, oil, and RA, respectively. Six hours after the administration on P14, n = 4 pups/group were sacrificed. On P17 and P20, remaining pups in each group (n = 4) received their respective treatment and were euthanized six hours afterwards on P20. Serum samples from P14 and P20 sacrifice were analyzed for concentrations of glucose, insulin, lipids, adipokines, and inflammatory markers. Results At P8 and P14, no significant difference in BW gain, WAT mass, and BAT mass of pups was noted among groups. At P20, all three measures were significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) higher in the HFD group than in the NFD group; the measures were significantly decreased in the HFD + RA group compared to the HFD group. At P20, serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations were both significantly higher in the HFD than in the NFD group; RA treatment significantly reduced the concentrations of both. The pattern of changes in serum leptin was also observed at P14. At both P14 and P20, serum triglyceride was found to be significantly higher in pups receiving RA treatment. Conclusions Repeated RA treatments exerted a regulatory role on the AT metabolism and development of neonatal offspring to mothers consuming a HFD, as evidenced by reduced BW gain and AT mass as well as modulation of adipokines. Funding Sources NIH.

EFFECT OF ENZYMES AND PROBIOTIC MIXTURESUPPLEMENTATION TO THE DIET OF GROWING FEMALE RABBITS ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CRITERIA

A factorial design (3breeds x 3 Supplemented diets) of the present study was determined. A total number of eighty one New Zealand White (NZW), California (CA) and Ve-Line (VL) growing rabbit females strains at 30 days old wassimilarly body weights averaged (550 g ± 33) and was distributedinto9 groups (G1 toG9), eachofthreeequalreplicates. G1 to G3 (Enz0) for NZ, CA and VL strains, respectivelywere served as controls. G4 to G6 (Enz1) for NZ, CA and VL strains, respectively were supplemented with 1 g Veta-zyme/kg commercial diet, while the G7 to G9 (Enz2) were supplemented with 2 g Veta-zyme/kg commercial diet. The experiment was terminated when rabbits were 72 days old. Body weights (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were recorded. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. At the end of the experiment, 6 femalesfor each group were slaughtered to determine carcass criteria. The obtained results could be summarized as follows: No significant differences in BWG, FI and FCR among different strains were observed. Supplementing Enz1 or Enz2in growing diets exceeded significantly (P≤0.05) exceeded BW, BWG and FCR than those of Enz0during the experimental period(30 to 72 days of age). However, the improvement in FCR and increasing in BW and BWG were higher in Enz1 groups than those of Enz2 ones. Veta-zyme supplementedin diet had no affect on FI.There were no significant differences in carcass criteria under study due to strains or Veta-zyme supplement todiet except liver weight percentage. Conclusively, from these results could be concluded that supplemental Veta-zyme at the levels of 1g/kg diet for different growing female three rabbit strains improved growth performance.

Effects of dietary palm oil supplements with oxidized and non-oxidized fish oil on growth performances and fatty acid compositions of juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of replacement of fresh fish oil (FFO) by palm oil (PMO) and/or oxidized fish oil (OXF) mixed with PMO on growth performances, tissue fatty acid composition and oxidative status in juvenile Japanese sea bass. A 50-day feeding trial on Japanese sea bass (average weight 1.7 g) was conducted in triplicate groups of fish fed with seven test diets containing different level of FFO and PMO at 100%FFO (10F, a positive control), 60%FFO and 40%PMO (6F4P), 40%FFO and 60%PMO (4F6P), 100%OXF (10OF), 60%OXF and 40%PMO (6OF4P), 40%OXF and 60%PMO (4OF6P) and 100%PMO (10P, a negative control), respectively. Body weight gain (BWG), specific growth rates (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), fatty acid compositions, vitamin E contents and thiobarbiturate reactive substances (TBARS) in muscles and livers were taken at the end of a trial. Survival rates were relatively high and almost similar among all groups. There were no significant differences in BWG and SGR among 10F, 6F4P and 4F6P or 10OF, 6OF4P and 4OF6P, respectively. However, addition of OXF reduced the growth rates of fish regardless of PMO supplementation. Contents of saturates and n − 6 fatty acids in tissue increased linearly with increasing dietary PMO level. However EPA and DHA decreased gradually with higher inclusion of PMO among treatments. These results demonstrated that 50% FFO could be replaced by PMO for juvenile Japanese sea bass. Moreover, although the replacement of OXF (POV: 26 meq/kg diet) with PMO could reduce lipid peroxidation in fish intestine and muscle, it could not improve fish growth performances.

Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers

Kong, C., Lee, J. H. and Adeola, O. 2011. Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 389–397. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of β-mannanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, total tract utilization of dry matter (DM), N, energy, and apparent metabolizable energy (AME, exp. 1), and growth performance (exp. 2) of birds fed practical corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diets. In each experiment, 192 male broilers were assigned to four diets arranged in a 2×2 factorial of energy level [corn-SBM-based diet that met or exceeded NRC nutrient requirements (AE) or low energy (LE) diet containing 100 kcal of ME kg−1 less than the AE diet] and enzyme supplementation (with or without β-mannanase) for 21 d. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase increased the birds’ apparent ileal DM digestibility of the experimental diets (P&lt;0.05), whereas there was no effect of energy level. Neither β-mannanase supplementation nor energy level had any effect on apparent ileal digestibility of any of the amino acids. The interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant for any criteria measured in the excreta except for DM (P=0.05). Addition of β-mannanase improved (P&lt;0.01) the apparent total tract utilization of DM and energy in the broilers, and there was the same trend (P=0.06) for N utilization. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase also improved the AME and AMEn of diets by 4.6 and 5.0%, respectively. For all growth performance responses in exp. 2, the interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant. During the starter period (day 2 to 22 post-hatch), β-mannanase supplementation significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased the body weight (BW) gain of birds. During the grower period (day 22 to 44 post-hatch) and for the overall period there was no significant difference in BW gain or feed intake of birds regardless of energy level and β-mannanase supplementation. There were no dietary effects on feed efficiency of birds during the starter and the grower periods, whereas the birds fed AE diets had higher feed efficiency (P&lt;0.01) than the birds fed LE diets. The results indicate that supplementing with β-mannanase may improve gain and energy utilization of broilers, whereas it may not affect ileal amino acid digestibility.

Tevaluation of transgenic event CBH 351 (StarLink) corn in pig

This study examined the influence of transgenic event CBH (StarLink; SL)-derived hybrid corn on growth, health and physiological functions of pigs, as well as the possibility of transferring the cry9C gene or Cry9C protein to the blood, liver or muscles, in comparison with pigs fed a diet with non-transgenic (isogenic) corn (non-SL). The diet for the SL group was composed of 70% SL corn, and the diet for the non-SL group was composed of 70% non-SL corn. Forty pigs approximately 3 months in age were used in the current experiment. After the pigs were acclimatized to their environment for 7 days, they were fed piglet diets for 7 weeks, and afterwards fed growing-finishing diets until the end of the experiment. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio between the pigs fed SL diet and those of non-SL diet. No abnormalities were observed in the health conditions of either the SL or the non-SL group. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in hematological values, histopathological examination and necropsy findings. Although the serum biochemical values within each group were normal, the blood urea nitrogen values of the SL group showed a tendency to be slightly higher than those of the non-SL group. Also, the blood glucose values of the SL group were significantly lower than those of the non-SL group. However, the cause of the significant differences in the blood glucose values between the two groups is unknown. The PCR and ELISA did not detect the cry9C gene and Cry9C protein in the blood, liver or muscles of the pigs at the end of the experiment.

Studies of anti‐inflammatory effects of Rooibos tea in rats

Rooibos tea is known to be caffeine free with abundant flavonoids. Aspalathin and nothofagin, the main flavonoids contained in Rooibos tea, have stronger anti-oxidative activity than other flavonoids. As oxidative stress can induce inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effects of Rooibos tea were investigated using a rat colitis model. Seven-week-old Wister rats were divided into two groups: one group given Rooibos tea, and one given water. After four weeks of breeding, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined using the Electron Spin Resonance analysis. Urine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations were also determined as reflections of DNA damage using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, rats were administrated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), which is known to induce colitis in rodents, with or without Rooibos tea to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity. Clinical symptoms, hemoglobin, serum iron and SOD levels were compared between the groups. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain or laboratory data between the groups. The serum SOD levels were significantly increased, and urine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were significantly decreased in the Rooibos group compared with the controls (P < 0.05 in each). After DSS administration, the serum SOD levels were significantly higher in the Rooibos group compared to the controls (P < 0.05). As a result, a decreased hemoglobin level, observed in the control group, was prevented in the Rooibos group after the DSS challenge. Rooibos tea may prevent DNA damage and inflammation by its anti-oxidative activity in vivo. As Rooibos tea is free from caffeine, routine intake may be safe and useful in reducing oxidative stress in children.

Reducing effect of dietary anacardic acid on body fat pads in rats

We have previously shown that anacardic acid has an uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria using succinate as a substrate (Toyomizu et al. 2000). In the present study, in order to clarify whether or not anacardic acid could be used advantageously as a special feed/food supplement to reduce fat deposition through the uncoupling action, two sets of experiments were conducted to determine quantitatively the effect of dietary anacardic acid (0.1% w/w) supplementation. More specifically, effects on growth, feed efficiency, fattening, and levels of several constituents of blood serum in rats fed normal and low protein–high carbohydrate (CHO) diets were examined. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency among the experimental groups. For the total fat pad content, including inguinal and epididymal fat, significant interaction was shown between both treatments: dietary anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w significantly decreased the total fat pad content in rats fed the CHO diet, but not in rats fed the normal diet. Weights of heart, spleen and brown adipose tissue were not affected by either the dietary treatment or anacardic acid, while both liver and kidney weights decreased with feeding of anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w, but were not affected by the CHO diet. Anacardic acid supplementation in the diet had no effect on serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase or lactate dehydrogenase levels, suggesting that the dysfunction of liver or kidney may not be induced by dietary anacardic acid. The results of the present study reveal a unique function of anacardic acid in that, for dietary conditions enhancing body fat deposition, that is consumption of a diet high in carbohydrates, dietary anacardic acid has the potential to decrease body fat deposition. A possible mechanism for differences observed in anacardic acid-induced regulation of body fat pad content between rats fed the normal and CHO diets, based on uncoupling action of anacardic acid on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, is discussed.

Pubertal development in female Wistar rats following exposure to propazine and atrazine biotransformation by-products, diamino-S-chlorotriazine and hydroxyatrazine.

We showed previously that the chlorotriazine herbicide, atrazine (ATR), delays the onset of pubertal development in female rats. ATR and its biotransformation by-products are present in soil and groundwater. Since current maximum contaminant levels are set only for ATR, it is important to determine whether these by-products can also alter pubertal development and possibly pose a cumulative exposure hazard. We evaluated the effects of two ATR by-products, diamino-s-chlorotriazine (DACT) and hydroxyatrazine (OH-ATR), and a structurally similar chlorotriazine, propazine (PRO), on female pubertal development. Rats were gavaged from postnatal days (PNDs) 22 through PND 41 with DACT (16.7, 33.8, 67.5, 135 mg/kg), OH-ATR (22.8, 45.7, 91.5, 183 mg/kg), or PRO (13, 26.7, 53, 106.7, 213 mg/kg). The dose range for each chemical was selected as the molar equivalent of ATR (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg). The females were monitored daily for vaginal opening (VO) and killed on PND 41. DACT, a by-product of ATR that occurs in the environment and is also the primary chlorinated metabolite of ATR in animal tissue, delayed VO by 3.2, 4.8, and 7.6 days compared to the controls (33.1 +/- 0.4 (SE) days of age) following exposure to 33.8, 67.5, and 135 mg/kg, respectively. The no effect level (NOEL) for DACT (16.7 mg/kg) was identical to the equimolar NOEL for ATR (25 mg/kg). Although the body weight (BW) on PND 41 was reduced by the high dose of DACT (8.4% reduction), this reduction did not exceed the criteria for selecting the maximum tolerated dose (e.g., a dose that causes >10% decrease in BW at necropsy). None of the lower doses of DACT caused a significant difference in BW gain. Additionally, 33.8, 67.5, and 135 mg/kg of DACT significantly increased the BW on the day of VO. PRO (107 or 213 mg/kg) delayed VO by 4 days but did not alter the BW on PND 41. While no significant delays in pubertal development were observed in two separate dose-response studies with doses ranging up to 183 mg/kg (OH-ATR), a minor but statistically significant delay in the onset of puberty in a pilot study using OH-ATR raises the possibility that an effect might occur following exposure to higher doses. However, it is clear from these data that OH-ATR has a much lower potency when compared with equimolar doses of DACT and PRO. Together, these data demonstrate that PRO and DACT can delay the onset of puberty in the female rat at doses equimolar to ATR and provide the scientific basis for the use of additivity in the upcoming risk assessments.

Nutritional value of triticale for different classes of White Leghorn chickens

SUMMARYThree varieties of triticale (TL-238, TL-257 and TL-319) bred by the Plant Breeding Department of Punjab Agricultural University were studied for nutrient composition and metabolizable energy (ME) content for egg-type chicks. A feeding trial was also conducted to study the suitability of triticale as a replacement for maize in conventional high- and low-cereal diets for different classes of egg-type chickens.The crude protein contents of TL-238, TL-257 and TL-319 were respectively 13·4,14·4 and 2·1%. Corresponding values for starch content were 51·5, 49·2 and 54·3%, respectively. ME in triticale varieties closely followed the trend of starch content. Accordingly TL-319 was higher in ME (13·58 MJ/kg D.M.) than TL-238 and TL-257 (12·91 and 12·49 MJ/kg D.M. respectively). There were no significant differences in body-weight gain or in food conversion of chicks fed diets containing different varieties of triticale. The substitution of triticale for maize in a conventional high-cereal diet improved growth and food conversion of starter chicks. In a low-cereal diet, however, triticale had an adverse effect on the growth rate and food conversion of starter chicks. At the end of 18 weeks of age, the differences in body-weight gain, food conversion and efficiency of protein utilization by chicks on all the treatments were not significantly different (P &gt; 0·05). Results of the production phase showed that egg production, egg mass, food conversion and energetic efficiency were significantly (P &lt; 0·05) improved by feeding triticale.

Biuret and urea in maintenance and production diets of cattle

SUMMARYA series of five field trials with cattle was carried out to study the comparative efficiency of utilization of urea and biuret in various maintenance and production nutritional situations. It was shown that in maintenance diets with energy intake above 8 Meal/head/day and where half of the nitrogen requirements of the animals was contributed by one of the two non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources, biuret was utilized 30% more efficiently than urea. No difference in the degree of utilization of urea or biuret was apparent when the energy was reduced to 6·7 Meal/head/day. On the other hand, a high intake of nitrogen in production rations had a masking effect on the nitrogen contribution of the NPN sources and no significant differences in bodyweight gain were recorded.