Slipped Tendon Research Articles

YOLO-Based Model for Automatic Detection of Broiler Pathological Phenomena through Visual and Thermal Images in Intensive Poultry Houses

The increasing broiler demand due to overpopulation and meat imports presents challenges in poultry farming, including management, disease control, and chicken observation in varying light conditions. To address these issues, the development of AI-based management processes is crucial, especially considering the need for detecting pathological phenomena in intensive rearing. In this study, a dataset consisting of visual and thermal images was created to capture pathological phenomena in broilers. The dataset contains 10,000 images with 50,000 annotations labeled as lethargic chickens, slipped tendons, diseased eyes, stressed (beaks open), pendulous crop, and healthy broiler. Three versions of the YOLO-based algorithm (v8, v7, and v5) were assessed, utilizing augmented thermal and visual image datasets with various augmentation methods. The aim was to develop thermal- and visual-based models for detecting broilers in complex environments, and secondarily, to classify pathological phenomena under challenging lighting conditions. After training on acknowledged pathological phenomena, the thermal YOLOv8-based model demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving the highest accuracy in object detection (mAP50 of 0.988) and classification (F1 score of 0.972). This outstanding performance makes it a reliable tool for both broiler detection and pathological phenomena classification, attributed to the use of comprehensive datasets during training and development, enabling accurate and efficient detection even in complex environmental conditions. By employing both visual- and thermal-based models for monitoring, farmers can obtain results from both thermal and visual viewpoints, ultimately enhancing the overall reliability of the monitoring process.

Enhanced Extracellular Matrix Degradation in Growth Plate Contributes to Manganese Deficiency-Induced Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Broiler Chicks.

Manganese (Mn) is a crucial trace element for poultry nutrition, and its deficiency compromises tibial cartilage development, leading to perosis and a higher incidence of slipped tendon. Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a metabolic cartilage disease characterized by disruption of endochondral bone formation, which is closely related to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, in which Mn deficiency plays an important role. Previous studies have confirmed the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of TD, but whether dysregulated ECM degradation and MMP expression profiles in growth plate are involved in Mn deficiency-induced avian TD has not been fully elucidated yet. Thus, this study was conducted to clarify these issues. Firstly, we successfully established TD model induced by Mn deficiency in broiler chicks. Mn deficiency decreased the number of chondrocytes, contents of proteoglycan, and type II collagen in tibial growth plate, demonstrating the tibial growth plate damage with enhanced ECM degradation. Also, Mn deficiency inhibited the Nrf2 signaling pathway and enhanced the protein levels of NLRP3, active caspase-1, and active IL-1β in tibial growth plate, indicating the oxidative stress and inflammatory response in Mn deficiency-induced TD. Additionally, upregulated expression levels of MMPs (MMP1, 9, and 13) were observed in tibial growth plate of Mn deficiency group. In summary, these findings suggest that Mn deficiency-enhanced ECM degradation is involved in avian TD, which may be correlated with oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and upregulation of MMPs.

Reliability and validity of a modified gait scoring system and its use in assessing tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers

1. The gait scoring system for broilers developed by Kestin et al . ( Veterinary Record , 131: 190-194, 1992) has been widely used to evaluate leg problems. The many factors and measures associated with this scale have empirically established its external (biological) validity. However, published test-retest (within-observer) reliabilities are poor, and inter-observer reliabilities are unknown. We evaluated several modifications to this scale aimed at improving its objectivity and reliability. 2. Eighteen naïve observers scored a standardised video of birds exhibiting varying degrees of lameness, either using Kestin et al .'s system, or our modified system. 3. Test-retest reliability (0.906) for Kestin et al .'s system was higher than previously reported. Interrater reliability was also good (0.892). The modified system offered significantly better test-retest (0.948) and inter-rater reliabilities (0.943), without incurring costs in terms of time taken or difficulty of use. The systems were consistent, assigning individual birds the same score on average. 4. It is concluded that the modified system offers the advantages of reduced error within and between studies. 5. In a second experiment, we used our modified scoring system to examine the relationship between tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and gait score in 267 selected broilers. 6. Neither the presence nor severity of TD affected gait score, suggesting that, at least in this strain of broilers, other leg problems like slipped tendons or torsional deformities had more influence on gait impairment than did TD.

Scoliosis and Tibiotarsal Deformities in Broiler Chickens

The incidence and degree of scoliosis were investigated in broiler chickens with and without intertarsal deformities associated with slipped gastrocnemius tendons. In both groups, the incidence of scoliosis was similar and there was a significant tendency for scoliosis to be convex on the right side. However, scoliosis was significantly greater in birds with intertarsal deformities, and in a significant proportion of these the joint with a slipped tendon was on the convex side of scoliosis. In birds with deformities, inequalities between right and left tibiotarsi were significantly greater, and tibiotarsi with greater length, narrower condyles and trochleae, and shallower trochlear grooves were significantly more often on the convex side of scoliosis. Significant positive correlations were found between scoliosis and rotational and bending deformities of the distal tibiotarsus on the convex side of scoliosis. These findings suggest a cause-and-effect relationship between scoliosis and tibiotarsal deformities associated with slipped tendons.

The Effect of Different Dietary Energy Regimens on the Performance of Two Commercial Chicken Broiler Genotypes Reared to Roaster Weight

An experiment was conducted involving two commercial male Shaver genotypes (1200 of each) to ascertain the optimal level of dietary energy for roasters at each stage of production using a three-stage (starter, grower, finisher) feeding system of 16-20-16% dietary protein, respectively. Of the regimens examined, a starter-grower-finisher regimen with 3000, 3100, 3200 kcal/kg metabolizable energy resulted in the heaviest body weights and best feed conversion and monetary returns. Detailed examination of the leg bones of approximately one-half the population showed the true incidence of leg abnormalities in this type of bird to range between 37 and 41%, depending on genotype. Although the incidence of slipped tendons tended to increase (significant for the highest energy regimen) with increasing levels of dietary energy, the incidence of total leg abnormalities (all types) was not altered significantly by dietary energy level per se.

Manganese Levels and the Morphology of the Epiphyseal Plate in Broilers with Slipped Tendons

Manganese deficiency in chickens results in perosis and a higher incidence of slipped tendon. Perosis is associated with a disorganization of the epiphyseal growth plates and changes in the chemical composition of the cartilage matrix. Male broilers with slipped tendons were selected from a commercial broiler farm over a 9 week growing period. Their growth rates, epiphyseal cartilage histology and tissue manganese concentrations were examined and compared with (a) normal broilers from the same farm, and (b) similar broilers raised on control and manganese deficient diets. Field broilers with slipped tendons showed no evidence of abnormality in the histological appearance of the proximal tibial growth plate at any of the ages examined. The manganese content of liver and epiphyseal cartilage from field broilers showing slipped tendon was comparable with that present in tissue from normal broilers either from the field or raised on a chemically defined diet supplemented with manganese. The slightly retarded growth rate seen in the field broilers was attributed to feeding problems associated with the lameness condition. These results provide conclusive evidence that slipped tendon in field broilers is not due to a manganese deficiency in the tissues, nor does it appear to be associated with abnormal proliferation of the chondrocytes in the epiphyseal plate.

A Heritable Crippling Anomaly in the Fowl

THE present paper describes a new crippling abnormality involving the pelvis and the joints of the leg in the domestic fowl and persents genetic evidence for its inheritance.Many heritable anomalous conditions of the fowl have been reported (reviewed by Hutt, 1949, and Jull, 1952) including several affecting the legs. The abnormalities more closely resembling the one described herein are: Perosis or “slipped tendon,” neurolymphomatosis and congenital perosis. Polygenic inheritance of perosis was first demonstrated by Serfontein and Payne (1934). In this abnormality the Achilles tendon slips from the intercondylar groove of the tibial metatarsal joint and the latter bends inward. The effect of neurolymphomatosis on the sciatic and femoral nerves of the legs causes partial or complete paralysis. An inherited susceptibility to this disease (commonly called “range paralysis”) has been shown by Asmundson and Biely (1932), Gildow et al. (1940), Taylor et al. (1943), Hutt and Cole (1947) and …

Genetic Resistance to Deficiency of Riboflavin in the Chick

GREAT differences in the response of individuals to different diets, or to certain deficiencies in the diet, are normally expected, and are commonly assumed to result, in part, from differences in genotype. Striking results of selection for resistance to a nutritional deficiency were obtained by Serfontein and Payne (1934) when, with only one generation of selection, they were able to segregate fowls 18.6 percent of whose chicks developed “slipped tendon” (perosis), as compared with 50 percent among chicks from parents which had been susceptible to the disorder. In view of a later study by Wilgus, Norris and Heuser (1937) we may assume that much of this difference was the result of differences in genetic resistance to a deficiency of manganese in the diet. A difference between breeds in their requirement for vitamin B1 (thiamine) was later demonstrated by Lamoreux and Hutt (1939). They found that White Leghorns consistently had a .

The Amount of Manganese Required to Prevent Perosis in the Chick

PEROSIS has recently been recognized as a deficiency disease affecting the development of bone. Up to the present time it has been observed in several species of domesticated and game fowl but has not been observed in other animals. The most characteristic symptoms of the disease are enlargement of the tibio-metatarsal joint, bending of the distal end of the tibia and the proximal end of the metatarsus, and displacement of the Achilles tendon. Locomotion is impaired and in severe cases the animal is unable to stand. These outward manifestations of injury have given rise to the descriptive terms of “slipped tendon” and “enlarged hock” as names for the deformity. Titus (1932) first proposed the name perosis.The disease is prevalent among rapidly growing chicks confined in battery brooders. Diets high in calcium and phosphorus aggravate the condition according to Wilgus (1931). That the disease is distinct from rickets, in sensu .

The Effect of Manganese, Zinc, Aluminum, and Iron Salts on the Incidence of Perosis in Chicks

PEROSIS, also known as slipped tendon or hock disease, is a leg disorder of young growing chicks, characterized by a bowing of the leg at the tibia, metatarsal joint, enlargement with a tendency toward flattening of the joint, and finally slipping of the Achilles tendon from its normal position. Since several articles containing references to this subject have appeared recently, attention will be called in this paper only to those having a direct bearing on the phase of the subject treated herein.Van der Hoorn, Branion, and Graham (1938), found that manganese was necessary for good growth and livability, but that excessive amounts were harmful. Using purified diets, these workers encountered a leg abnormality, presumably perosis, which was prevented by manganese.Wilgus, Norris, and Heuser (1937a) reported that a technical grade of monocalcium phosphate prevented slipped tendon, but that preventive action was due to some contaminating material presumably inorganic in .

The Effect of Intraperitoneal Injections of Manganese, Zinc, Aluminum, and Iron Salts on the Occurrence of Slipped Tendon in Chicks

SLIPPED tendon, a leg disorder of young growing chicks, also known as perosis or hock disease, is characterized by a bowing of the leg at the tibio-metatarsal joint, enlargement with a tendency toward flattening of the joint and finally slipping of the Achilles tendon from its normal position. The tendon may slip to either side of the joint and one or both legs may be affected.This disorder was differentiated from rickets by Hogan and co-workers (1928). Excessive amounts of minerals (Card, 1929–30; Hunter and co-workers, 1930; and Schaible and co-workers, 1933, and others), particularly phosphorus (Milby, 1934; Insko and co-workers, 1934; Hammond, 1936; and others), have been shown to be conducive to this disorder. Several plant products including rice bran (Titus, 1931), wheat by-products (Lee, 1929; Graham and co-workers, 1934; Wilgus and co-workers, 1935; and Sherwood and Couch, 1936), oats, and barley (Branion, 1933; Wilgus and co-workers, 1935; .

The Development of a Ration for the Study of Perosis in Chicks

PEROSIS is a type of leg weakness and deformity which occurs among rapidly growing chicks, particularly when they are confined in battery brooders and on rations high in minerals. The other common name for perosis is “slipped tendon.” High inorganic phosphate additions to the ration are admitted to be a contributing cause of the trouble, although it is also stated in the literature that a high level of calcium carbonate may contribute to the development of perosis. Descriptions of the character of the deformity and attempts to correct it have been reviewed by Milby (1934) and Wilgus, Norris, and Heuser (1935).A variety of rations has been used by different investigators for the production of this deficiency, but in general some form of a practical ration has been used. Since we frequently observed slipped tendon in chicks grown on some of our synthetic diets, we were interested to learn if .

Studies on the Prevention of Perosis in the Chick

WORK leading to the development of a ration for the uniform production of perosis (slipped tendon) in chicks was presented in the previous paper. In this paper we wish to give the results obtained from studies on factors which prevent the development of this syndrome. Jukes (1937) has recently reviewed the meager work available on the perosis-preventing properties of certain feeds.EXPERIMENTALDay-old White Leghorn chicks were divided into groups of five chicks each and placed in suitable cages. In the majority of the work ration 604 was used as the basal ration, but results obtained with other closely related rations are also included. The supplements tested were added at the expense of the whole ration. The results are tabulated in Table 1.It is readily evident that the addition of 15 percent of rice bran gave complete protection in all trials. The result checks quite well with the conclusion .

CHONDRODYSTROPHY IN THE CHICK EMBRYO PRODUCED BY A MINERAL DEFICIENCY IN THE DIET OF THE HEN

THE report of Wilgus and coworkers1 on the preventive action of manganese, aluminum, zinc and iron on the occurrence of slipped tendon (perosis) in young growing chicks, together with our observations of a number of chicks hatched with slipped tendon, led us to study the effects on embryonic development and hatchability of feeding a slipped-tendon-producing ration to laying hens. Eggs from hens that had been fed such a ration for two months gave a hatchability of less than 10 per cent. Those embryos that were sufficiently developed before death for observation showed, without exception, very short legs and wings and parrot beak. The few chicks that hatched, although having short legs, did not have slipped tendon. Another group of hens fed the same ration plus 40 ppm each of manganese and zinc, as the respective sulfates, and 100 ppm of iron, as ferrous ammonium sulfate, produced eggs giving good hatchability and all normal chicks. Embryos that died showed normal development of appendages and mandibles. The eggs from the hens fed the slipped-tendon-producing ration contained much less manganese than those from the hens fed the same ration plus the mineral supplements indicated above. As a result of these analyses and of our studies2 on slipped tendon, we were inclined to attribute this condition to a manganese deficiency. This was proved to be correct by the injection of 0.03 mgs of manganese directly into the albumen of such eggs just prior to incubation, which resulted in normal development of the embryos and in an increase in hatchability. The metatarsi, tibiae and humeri of the chicks and 20-21-day embryos from the injected eggs were 52, 44 and 40 per cent. longer, respectively, than the same bones of those from the eggs which were not injected with manganese. The injection of .03 mgs of zinc into the albumen of the egg had no appreciable preventive effect on this disorder. These findings may offer some insight into the mechanism which produces slipped tendon in the growing chick. Further studies on this problem are in progress. This work will be published in detail elsewhere. MALCOLM LYONS W. M. INSKO, JR. KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, LEXINGTON

The Effect of Various Calcium and Phosphorus Salts on the Severity of Perosis

THE anatomical deformity of the leg bones of young chickens, known commonly as “slipped tendons” or “enlarged hocks” and more recently as perosis (Titus, 1932), has been generally recognized as a disorder distinct from rickets. The symptoms of perosis have been described fully elsewhere (Hunter and Funk, 1930; Payne, 1930, and so forth). The literature on this subject has indicated that it is a nutritional problem, that excessive calcium and phosphorus induce it and that certain feed-stuffs, such as rice bran, wheat germ, wheat middlings, and oats, possess a preventive factor. This information has been of practical value in reducing the incidence of perosis. On the other hand, the deformity still appears in the field and in the laboratory. This is perhaps due in part to a difference in the susceptibility of different breeds and strains of chicks (Payne, Hughes, and Lienhardt, 1932; Serfontein and Payne, 1934) and to different .

Constituents of Wheat Gray Shorts Which Prevent Slipped Tendons

DURING recent years a number of workers, including Titus and Ginn (17), Titus (16), Hunter and associates (8), Graham and associates (3), Branion (1), and Sherwood and Couch (14) have found that certain feeds protected chicks reasonably well against slipped tendons or perosis especially when the mineral levels were satisfactory.Workers including Wilgus and associates (19), Milby (10, 11), Hammond (14), Insko and associates (9), Payne and associates (12), Buckner and associates (2), Herner and Robinson (7), Heller and associates (5, 6), and Sherwood (13) studied the effects of minerals on the occurrence of slipped tendons or perosis. Hammond (4) stated that organic phosphorus prevented this condition while inorganic phosphorus caused the trouble.Workers including Graham and associates (3), Titus (16), and Sherwood and Fraps (15) have tried to isolate and identify the material in the feeds studied which prevents slipped tendons or perosis. These workers tried to isolate some .

The Influence of Single Grains on Slipped Tendons

RECENT work by Branion (1933) has shown that a high percentage of chicks develop abnormal leg bones when they are fed an apparently adequate diet but with ground yellow corn as the sole cereal grain. He found that the inclusion of wheat germ, or oat hulls and germ, or of complete oats prevented slipped tendons. The Michigan Station (1934) has reported similar results in a subsequent publication. Since corn is used more than any other grain in poultry feeding, it seemed desirable to repeat this work in so far as it concerned growth and the production of slipped tendons. Also, it seemed desirable to determine whether wheat and oats, which are used extensively, would produce similar results.EXPERIMENTALFive hundred Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were banded when they were taken from the incubator. The bands were all mixed together, and the band for each chick was taken at random. .

Inorganic Phosphorus and Perosis

INVESTIGATION of the cause of perosis, or slipped tendon, has raised many interesting questions in the field of poultry nutrition. Although several tenable answers have been proposed by the various workers, the problem as a whole has not been solved satisfactorily.Hunter and Funk (1930) reported a high incidence of slipped tendon among chicks fed diets containing relatively large quantities of meat and bone scrap or bone meal. Parkhurst and McMurray (1933) found that the occurrence of slipped tendon varied with the relative quantities of meat and bone scrap and bone meal fed. Payne, Hughes, and Leinhardt (1932) showed that a mineral mixture composed of chemically pure calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate produced the same deleterious effects as an equivalent amount of steamed bone meal. Titus (1932) concluded that rice bran contains a factor which is necessary for the normal development of bone in the case of the chicken. Milby .

A Method for Determining the Ash Content of the Leg Bones of Chicks With Slipped Tendon

STUDIES which have previously been reported indicate that the ash content of the leg bones of chicks afflicted with slipped tendon is not significantly different from that of the leg bones of apparently normal chicks of the same nutritional history. In most of these studies the bones of chicks afflicted with the disorder were taken at the end of the experimental period, and the chicks having slipped tendon were compared with normal chicks from the same lot. There are two disadvantages in this method. It is entirely possible that the chick which one chooses as normal might have developed slipped tendon within a short time and is, therefore, not really a normal chick. This difficulty can be somewhat obviated by choosing a sufficiently large sample. The practice of analyzing the bones of chicks with slipped tendon only after the chicks are eight or ten weeks of age is open to .

Is Phosphorus a Causative Factor in the Production of Slipped Tendon?

A STATISTICAL analysis of several experiments concerned with slipped tendon has been made recently by Milby (1933). He analyzed the data of Hunter and Funk (1931), Payne, Hughes and Leinhardt (1932), Titus (1932) and Mussehl, Blish and Ackerson (1927). Milby concluded from his study that, “The correlations between protein, ash, calcium and percentage of slipped tendon were not significant in the data studied. The amount of phosphorus in the ration is positively correlated with the percentage of slipped tendon. The value of this correlation is .6303, which is highly significant.” . “These results do not justify the conclusion that phosphorus is the chief causative factor of slipped tendon, but merely indicate that high percentages of slipped tendon are associated with high phophorus in the ration.”Sherwood and Couch (1933) have reported that even in rations having a satisfactory mineral balance, another factor or food material is necessary in .