Wing Web Research Articles

Calculation of Shear Stress in New-Type Composite Box Girder with Corrugated Steel Webs under Restrained Torsion

The objective of this paper is to outline a method for the systematic analysis and calculation of the constrained torsional shear stress in corrugated steel web composite box girders. Initially, leveraging Umansky’s secondary theory, the calculation formula for the constrained torsional shear stress within the composite girder is derived from the conditions of cross-sectional torque equilibrium and continuity in warping displacement. Subsequently, a torsion test is conducted using a scaled model of an actual girder. Finally, the constrained torsional shear stress of the corrugated steel web composite girder is examined based on theoretical analyses and the results of torsion testing. The influence of wing plate length and web thickness on the torsional shear stress of the composite girder is also investigated. The findings reveal a strong agreement between the experimental results obtained from model testing and the theoretical calculations. Notably, under torsional constraint, it is observed that the shear stress in the web is maximal and evenly distributed, followed by the bottom plate and then the top plate, with no discernible shear stress observed at the free end of the cantilever plate. Numerical analysis indicates that an increase in the relative width of the cantilever plate initially leads to an increase in shear stress for both the cantilever plate and roof plate, followed by a decrease until reaching a relative width value around 0.6, where the changes tend to stabilize. Moreover, an increase in web thickness results in a monotonic decrease in web shear stress. Additionally, the shear stress of the roof and bottom plate decreases initially before subsequently increasing.

Evaluation the effect of dietary vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone bioactive compounds on immunological response, intestinal traits and MUC-2 gene expression in broiler Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

The current study was performed to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone bioactive lignans derived from sesame and black seed on immunological response, intestinal traits and Mucin2 gene expression in broiler quails. Three hundred and fifty (one days-old) quails were allotted to seven dietary treatments with five replicates as an experimental randomized design study. Treatments were basal diet as a control, control +100 and +200 mg of vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone per each kg of diet respectively. At 35 d of age, two quails from each pen were chosen, weighted, slaughtered, eviscerated and lymphoid organ relative weights were measured. Anti-body titers against Newcastle disease (ND), Sheep red blood cell (SRBC), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and Avian influenza (AI) vaccination were determined. The serum activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum antioxidant activates such as superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GPX), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were examined. The cell mediated immunity by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) challenges were assessed. The microflora populations of ileum, morphological traits of jejunum and mucin2 gene expression were analyzed. Data showed that the lymphoid organ (thymus, spleen and Bursa) relative weights and antibody titer against HI, AI, SRBC and IB vaccination were increased compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Serum activities of ALP, ALT and AST were decreased under influences of dietary treatments (p ≤ 0.05). The serum antioxidant activates of GPX,SOD,CAT and TAC were increased and Increasing in mean skin thickness after DNCB challenge and decrease wing web swelling response to PHA mitojen injection were observed (p ≤ 0.05). Salmonella enterica, E-coli and Coliforms colonies were decrease and Lactobacillus colonies increased instead (p ≤ 0.05). The villus height and surface, crypt depth and goblet cells density were increased compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). The expression of MUC2 gene increased under influnces of vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone supplemented diets (p ≤ 0.05).

Mendiagnosa Penyakit pada Ayam Petelur Menggunakan Metode Certainty Factor

The nutritional status of chickens has a major effect on productivity and it is closely related to the health of chickens. Several diseases in chickens have an economic impact because they can reduce the quality of good chicken eggs to the detriment of farmers. The main problem which is the toughest challenge in chicken farming is the emergence of disease, so its management needs to be done efficiently and professionally. However, farmers usually only know the symptoms that occur in sick chickens, without knowing what disease they are suffering from. As for veterinarians, it is difficult to find, and it takes a long time to handle chickens because the cage is far from residential areas. The Certainty Factor method can be applied to diagnose laying hens disease based on the symptoms of laying hens. Based on the results of the CF calculation, the diagnosis of Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) in red laying hens with a confidence value of 0.9654 × 100% or 96.54% and calculated with the value of Avian Influenza / Bird Flu with a confidence value of 0.6 × 100% or 60%. Thus, red chicken A is said to be diagnosed with Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) with a Certainty Factor confidence value of 96.54%. Handling for AE disease is AE vaccination using MEDIVAC AE-Pox at the age of 10-14 weeks. With the application of giving through a wing web.
 Key words : Laying hens, Certainty Factor

Mendiagnosa Penyakit pada Ayam Petelur Menggunakan Metode Certainty Factor

The nutritional status of chickens has a major effect on productivity and it is closely related to the health of chickens. Several diseases in chickens have an economic impact because they can reduce the quality of good chicken eggs to the detriment of farmers. The main problem which is the toughest challenge in chicken farming is the emergence of disease, so its management needs to be done efficiently and professionally. However, farmers usually only know the symptoms that occur in sick chickens, without knowing what disease they are suffering from. As for veterinarians, it is difficult to find, and it takes a long time to handle chickens because the cage is far from residential areas. The Certainty Factor method can be applied to diagnose laying hens disease based on the symptoms of laying hens. Based on the results of the CF calculation, the diagnosis of Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) in red laying hens with a confidence value of 0.9654 × 100% or 96.54% and calculated with the value of Avian Influenza / Bird Flu with a confidence value of 0.6 × 100% or 60%. Thus, red chicken A is said to be diagnosed with Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) with a Certainty Factor confidence value of 96.54%. Handling for AE disease is AE vaccination using MEDIVAC AE-Pox at the age of 10-14 weeks. With the application of giving through a wing web.
 Key words : Laying hens, Certainty Factor

Effect of Fermentation with Rumen Content on the Feeding Value of Boiled Iron Tree (Prosopis africana) Seedcoat on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens

Aims: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Prosopis seed coat fermented with rumen content at different levels as energy source on the serum biochemical composition and heamatological indices of broiler chickens.
 Study Design:Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Between November 2016 and January 2017.
 Methodology: The study was in two phases; the starter and finisher phase, in each of the phases, there were five dietary groups and fermented Prosopis africana seed coat meal (FPASCM) was included at 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% to replace maize. The total of two hundred and sixty (260), day- old Zartech broiler chicks were randomly distributed to five dietary treatments with four replicates of 52 chickens per treatment and each replicate had 13 birds. The birds were raised on deep litter and fed ad-libitum and drinking water provided daily and performance was monitored. At the end of the eight week, blood was collected via the wing web for serum and haematological assay.
 Results: The results of haematological parameters of broiler chickens fed varying levels of fermented Prosopis africana seed coat are presented in Table 3.There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between treatments for parameters measured except for PCV and haemogobin. The PCV values ranged from 25.00 -28.25% and haemoglobin values ranged from 8.35 -9.40g/dl. It was observed that most of the haematological indices measured fell within the normal reference range values. The results of serum biochemical assay revealed that serum glucose 45.85-107.22 mg/dl varied significantly (P<0.05) among the dietary treatments. Birds served 25% FPSCM had the highest value while those served 15% FPASCM recorded least value.
 Conclusion: Based on the observations from this study, it was concluded that FPASCM could be included in the diets of broiler chickens up to 25% without compromising the health of the birds.

Haematology, serum biochemistry and relative organ weight of broiler fed raw and roasted kenaf seed meal as a replacement for full fat soybean meal

An experiment was conducted with 240, unsexed day old Arbor Acre broiler chicks to evaluate the benefit of replacing full fat soya (FFSM) with whole kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed meal (WKSM) in the diets on the haematology, serum biochemistry and organs weight of the broiler chicken in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two processing methods (raw kenaf seed meal RKM and roasted kenaf seed meal HKM) and 3 inclusion levels (10%, 20% and 30%). Blood samples were collected from the birds through the wing web vein for haematology and serum biochemistry, while sample of organs were collected from the birds after they were sacrificed after the 8 week feeding trials. Results showed that the processing methods significantly (p<0.05) influenced the mean values obtained for neutrophil and lymphocytes, while haemoglobin (Hb), total protein, globulin, uric acid, cholesterol, alanine amino transferase (ALT) (EC 2.6.1.2) and aspartate amino transferase (AST)(EC 2.6.1.1) were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by both processing methods and levels of inclusion. Weight of gizzard, spleen, lungs and heart were also influenced by both the processing methods and levels of inclusion of WKSM. The PCV, haemoglobin concentration and total protein values were within the range of 26.33 to 32.68%, 8.83 to 11.03g/dl and 37.70 to 50.43g/L. The results suggest that WKSM possess good dietary protein quality for optimal growth of broiler chicken. Inclusion levels above 20% to broiler will significantly alter the haematological and serum biochemical variables and probably induce anaemic conditions and dysfunction of visceral organs which can lead to their poor performance

Haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of Japanese quail chicks (Coturnixcoturnix japonica) fed raw and processed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed meal based diets

An experiment was conducted with 720 one - week old Japanese quail chicks to evaluate the effect of feeding raw and processed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed meal based diets on the haematology and serum biochemistry of the Japanese quails in a completely randomized design. Birds were allocated to eight treatment groups with three replicates each containing 30 birds per replicate. The control diet (TI) had no pigeon pea seed meal, T2 was raw pigeon pea seed while other diets contained 30% of pigeon pea seed meal processed by soaking (for 24, 48 and 72 hours) (T3 – T5), fermentation for 72 hours(T5), boiling for 60 minutes(T6) and roasting for 30 minutes(T7). Blood samples were collected from the birds through the wing web vein at the 6th week of the feeding trial. The haematological parameters investigated were packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells count (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) while serum biochemical components were creatinine, cholesterol, albumin, urea and total protein concentrations. The results obtained in this study showed that all the haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of birds were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by dietary treatments except albumin concentration (g/dL). The packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells and total protein values were within the range of 41.00 – 52.17 %, 13.63 –17.35g/dl, 6.80 – 8.83 (x 106 /mm3 ) and 5.62 – 7.70 g/dl respectively. The results suggest that raw and processed pigeon pea seed meal (PPSM) possess good dietary protein quality for optimal growth and had no adverse effect on haematological and biochemical profiles of quail chicks at 30 % dietary level of inclusion.

Field safety and efficacy of a unique live virus vaccine for controlling avian encephalomyelitis and fowlpox in poultry.

Background and Aim:Infection of commercial poultry with avian encephalomyelitis (AE) and fowlpox (FP) virus causes heavy economic loss in endemic areas. Although vaccines are routinely used to control these two diseases, the problem still persists almost all over the world. This study aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of a unique AE + FP + pigeon pox (PP) live virus vaccine in layer-type chickens under both laboratory and field conditions.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted using 289 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens under the laboratory conditions and 185,648 commercial layer-type chickens under field conditions. In two consecutive laboratory trials, 8-week-old SPF chickens were vaccinated with the AE + FP + PP live virus vaccine through wing web route and challenged against virulent strains of FP and AE viruses at 3-week post-vaccination (WPV). Challenged chickens were observed for disease protection for 10-21 days. For field safety trials, commercial layer-type chickens in three different geographical areas in the USA were vaccinated with the AE + FP + PP vaccine and observed daily up to 21 days for vaccine “take,” adverse reactions, and mortality.Results:The vaccine was found safe and efficacious under both laboratory and field conditions. Vaccine “take” and protection against FP challenge were 100%. Average protection against AE challenge was 97%. Mean AE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titer in the field vaccinated chickens was >1200 at 10 WPV. Average daily post-vaccination mortality in the field vaccinated chickens was 0.04%. So far, more than 400 million chickens in the USA have been vaccinated with this vaccine. No vaccine-associated adverse reactions, other safety issues, or immunity breakdown cases in the vaccinated flocks due to field virus infection have been reported.Conclusion:This unique vaccine containing AE, FP, and PP viruses in a single preparation was found to be safe and efficacious in controlling the diseases caused by the virulent field strains of AE and FP. Besides being safe and efficacious, this vaccine also offered distinct advantages over the traditional vaccination practices in controlling these two diseases in poultry.

Ambient temperature impacts the effect of experimental immunisation of Great Tit and Eurasian Blue Tit females on the PHA response of their offspring

The immune system is a particularly costly activity that competes with other functions of an organism, such as reproduction, although research is lacking on the importance of environmental factors for the parental investment in offspring immunity. This study examines whether ambient temperature impacts the effect of a sheep red blood cell (SRBC) challenge of the adult female’s immune system on the offspring’s phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) responses and whether this impact differs between the Great Tit and Eurasian Blue Tit. In both studied bird species, offspring wing web swelling was lower after immunisation of the mother (although only in 1 research year) compared with the control (PBS) group of females. A stronger or weaker PHA response of chicks resulted from higher or lower parental investment, respectively. In Eurasian Blue Tits, the nestlings’ PHA responses were positively related to ambient temperature in both experimental groups, while in Great Tits they were positively related to temperature in the control group, but no significant relationship was found in the SRBC nests. This suggests that the impact of ambient temperature is species-specific.

The effect of the ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus on immune defence, condition, and health of nestling European Bee-eaters

One way that parasites influence host survival and fitness is by competing with their hosts for resources that would otherwise be used for growth and immune system development. Thus resource availability, influenced by environmental conditions, may be particularly important during offspring development. This study examined the influence of a haematophagous ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus (Diptera: Milichiidae) in relation to environmental conditions on the growth, immune response, and health of nestling European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster). The abundance of this bloodsucking ectoparasite per nest was experimentally manipulated to determine its impact on nestling body condition, immune system function in terms of T-cell-mediated and humoral immune response, and two health parameters, sedimentation rate and haematocrit level. Results indicate a significant negative effect of C. hemapterus intensity on nestling body condition and immune response, and on one blood parameter (haematocrit levels). Nestling body condition, γ-globulin levels, wing web swelling, and haematocrit levels increased when parasites were removed. Although a broad spectrum of fitness indicators seems to be affected, no difference in nestling mortality during the experiment was observed between the two treatment groups. Surprisingly, variations in environmental conditions (weather in particular) that likely affected nestling food availability or thermoregulatory demands had no additional effect on the impact of the parasite infestation.

CD4+ T cells dominate the leukocyte infiltration response initiated by intra-dermal injection of phytohemagglutinin into growing feathers in chickens

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is commonly used to evaluate cell-mediated immunocompetence. In chickens, PHA is typically injected intra-dermally (i.d.) into the skin (e.g., wing web, wattle, or footpad), and the tissue swelling response is monitored, whereby the extent of tissue swelling positively relates to the individual's cell-mediated immune system capabilities. Although i.d. injected PHA was shown to stimulate mononuclear cell and basophil infiltration to the site of injection, reports on temporal, qualitative, and quantitative aspects of the local cutaneous PHA response are limited. The objective of this study was to use the growing feather (GF) as a cutaneous test site to assess and monitor the type and relative amounts of leukocytes present in the pulp of PHA-injected GF. For this study, male, non-vaccinated Light-brown Leghorn chickens reared at the Arkansas Experiment Station Poultry Health Laboratory were used. At 9 wk of age, the dermis of 20 18-day-old regenerating GF was injected with 10 μL of either PBS diluent or 300μg/mL PHA-P (5 chickens per treatment). GF were collected from each chicken before (zero) and at 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 d post injection. At each time point, one GF was collected for immunofluorescent staining of pulp cell suspensions and leukocyte population analysis by flow cytometry, and another GF for histological analysis. Histological analysis confirmed participation of granulocytes and mononuclear cells, primarily lymphocytes, in the cutaneous PHA response. As revealed by flow cytometric cell population analysis, T cells, especially CD4+ T cells, constituted the major portion of the mononuclear cell infiltrate. Levels of CD4+ T cells were greatly elevated in PHA-injected GF within 6h and remained elevated throughout the 7-day examination period. γδ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells also infiltrated in response to PHA although at lower levels and with different time-course patterns from CD4+ T cells. The dominant presence of CD4+ T cells at the site of PHA injection further affirms this polyclonal response as an indicator of cell-mediated immunity.

Immune challenge of female great tits at nests affects provisioning and body conditions of their offspring

The trade-off between animal’s parental reproductive effort and survival is still poorly understood. Parental allocation between the workload during breeding attempts and the parents’ own body conditions can be assessed through the offspring quality. Here, I questioned whether the immune responsiveness of female great tits may be considered as a mediator of this trade-off. Specifically, I tested whether (1) the parental reproductive effort decreases, (2) the food composition provided to chicks changes, and (3) whether the nestling immunocompetence and body mass decrease after experimental immunisation. Two populations of great tit Parus major occupying nest boxes were studied in Niepołomice Forest and Krzyszkowice Forest (Southern Poland) in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Three days after hatching, half of the females were challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), while other females were injected with phosphate-buffered saline PBS (control). Six days later, food provided by the parents was collected from nestlings. After another 2 days, the offspring’s body mass was measured and wing web swelling in response to an additional phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection. In both years, immunocompetence and in 2012 also body mass in the offspring of SRBC-immunised mothers were lower than in control nestlings, indicating a cost of mounting the immune response in the female. Six days after the start of the female treatment, the number of caterpillars and the volume of food items provided by parents to chicks were higher, whereas the number of spiders was lower in nests with SRBC treatment than in control ones. This might be explained by compensational parental feeding after recovery from the inflammation of a female. Thus, the trade-off between parental effort and survival of parents is mediated by the costs incurred for their immunity and can be assessed by the amount and quality of food provided to the nestlings and the offspring condition.

Interactive effects of dietary lipids and vitamin E level on performance, blood eicosanoids, and response to mitogen stimulation in broiler chickens of different ages

The effects of the dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) n-6:n-3 ratio and vitamin E (vE) on the levels of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, the incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) into immune tissues, and changes in leukocyte population after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) challenge were investigated in broiler chickens of different ages. One-day-old female broilers (48 per treatment) were fed 4 different wheat-soybean-corn-based diets containing corn oil with a high PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio (HR) or a mixture of linseed and fish oils with a low PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio (LR). Diets contained either 50 mg vE kg−1 of diet (basal vE) or 300 mg vE kg−1 of diet (increased vE). At d 14 and d 34, 8 chickens per treatment were challenged with PHA, and wing web swelling (WWS) was measured. The blood concentration of leukotriene (LTB4), prostaglandin (PGE2), and thromboxane (TBX2) in 17-day-old and 43-day-old chickens was determined. The pattern of AA and DHA incorporation into bursa, spleen, and brain lipids reflected the level of their precursors in the diet. WWS was the highest in chickens fed a LR diet and in 14-day-old chickens (P < 0.01). Leukocyte proportions varied with dietary PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio and with age. The heterophil:lymphocyte ratio was the highest at 6 h post PHA challenge, and was higher in 34-day-old chickens (P < 0.001). TBX2 and PGE2 concentrations were higher in chickens fed HR diet, whereas TBX2 and LTB4 concentrations were lower at high vE level. Lower PGE2 and LTB4, but higher TBX2 concentrations were measured in younger birds (P < 0.001). The results indicated that LR increased the phagocytic cell proportion in the blood; HR promoted the incorporation of AA into the immune tissues, which increased the levels of more pro-inflammatory eicosanoids in the blood; and vE counteracts these effects to some extent. Owing to the immaturity of the immune system, dietary interventions might be promising at the early stage of chicken growth.

The growing feather as a dermal test site: Comparison of leukocyte profiles during the response to Mycobacterium butyricum in growing feathers, wattles, and wing webs

Using the response to Mycobacterium butyricum as the test-immune response, the main goal of this study was to demonstrate the suitability of the growing feather (GF) as a dermal test site and window into in vivo cellular/tissue responses (US-Patent 8,216,551). Using M. butyricum immunized chickens, the specific objectives were to: 1) compare the leukocyte infiltration response to intra-dermally injected M. butyricum in GF, wattles, and wing webs; 2) use GF as the test site to monitor leukocyte response profiles to recall antigen in the same individuals; and 3) gain new knowledge regarding the local response to M. butyricum in chickens. For objective 1, chickens were euthanized for tissue collection at 4 to 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after intra-dermal antigen injection. Leukocyte infiltration profiles were determined using immunochemical and conventional histology. Data from this study established the similarities between the cellular response in GF, wattles, and wing webs and uncovered many advantages of working with GF. For objective 2, antigen was injected into multiple GF per individual. GF were collected before and at 0.25, 1, 2, 3, and 7 d post injection and processed for cell population analysis by flow cytometry. Advantages of the approach used in objective 2 included a technically easier, more comprehensive, and more objective leukocyte profile analysis; same-day data acquisition; and, most importantly, easy, minimally invasive sample collection from the same individual throughout the study. Both studies contributed new knowledge regarding the local cutaneous response to M. butyricum in M. butyricum immunized chickens and confirmed the cell-mediated nature of the immune response to M. butyricum (e.g., elevated levels [P < 0.05] of T cells [CD4+ and CD8+], macrophages and MHC class II+-cells on days one to 3 post injection in M. butyricum- compared to PBS-injected tissues). The use of GF as an "in vivo test tube" to monitor local innate and adaptive immune activities will find direct application in vaccine development, as well as in the assessment and optimization of immune system development and function in poultry.

No effect of blood sampling or phytohaemagglutinin injection on postfledging survival in a wild songbird.

The injection of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and sampling of blood are widely used in studies of wild vertebrates to assess components of immune and endocrine function and health state and to obtain genetic material. Despite the pervasive use of these techniques in the life sciences, their potential effects on survival are rarely considered. For example, whether injection of the immunogen PHA into body parts critical for locomotion (e.g., the prepatagium, or wing web, in birds) affects survival has not been tested. Here, we test whether injection of PHA into the wing web and blood sampling from nestling house wrens affects their subsequent recruitment and survival as breeding adults. Capture‐mark‐recapture analysis on a large sample of young (N = 20,152 fledglings from 3959 broods) treated over 10 years revealed that neither PHA injection nor blood sampling affected individual survival and detection probability. Recruitment as a breeder varied among years, but this variation was not attributable to sampling effort, or the percent of all adults identified at the nest during a given year. Variation in the percent of adults identified was primarily attributable to the effect of nest depredation on our ability to capture nesting pairs. Our results indicating lack of an effect of blood sampling and immune stimulation on survival are encouraging, but we recommend further work to assess the potential negative effects of all commonly used techniques on the survival of study subjects in the wild, including the potential costs associated with mounting various immunological responses.

Comparative Studies Ascorbic Acid and Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyces against Heat-Stress Inclusion in Broiler Chicken

This study was done to investigate the effect of inclusion of ascorbic acid (AA) and Hibiscus sabdariffa in broiler chicken feed on haematological and oxidative stress parameters during the hot-dry season. Sixty day old chicks were used for the experiment, and were assigned to three dietary treatments with 20 birds per treatment and four replicate in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was the control with no supplements, treatment 11 was supplemented with AA at the rate of 500 mg/kg in feed and treatment 111 had Hibiscus sabdariffa at the rate of 2.5 % inclusion rate in feed. On the last day of the experiment half of the birds were randomly selected from each dietary group and blood sample (2 ml) was obtained through the wing web and divided into 2 parts; one for determination of haematological parameters while the second part was centrifuged and the resultant serum harvested and stored. The results indicated that the values of PCV, haemoglobin and total erythrocyte count obtained in T1 were all significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the recorded corresponding value in T2 and T3. The recorded values of malondialdehyde obtained in T1 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values recorded in T2 and T3 while the values of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the obtained values in T2 and T3. The fragiligram was shifted more to the left in T3 than the other 2 treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion dietary supplementation of AA and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces alleviated the adverse effects of heat stress in broiler chicken. It is thus recommended that Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces in the diets at the rate of 2.5 % could provide ameliorative effect against heat stress in broiler chicken during the hot-dry season.

Early-life stress has sex-specific effects on immune function in adult song sparrows.

Multiple components of the immune system are modulated by environmental factors, including exposure to stressors. In particular, chronic stressors can impair development of the immune system, leading to alterations in immune function in adulthood. While these effects have been well established in mammals, less is known about how developmental stress modulates immunity in nonmammalian species. We determined the long-term effects of exposure to early-life stressors on immunity in song sparrows including the swelling response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and several measures of constitutive innate immunity. Song sparrows were reared in captivity from 3 d of age and exposed to control conditions, food restriction, or corticosterone (CORT) treatment. Males exposed to food restriction or CORT treatment had less swelling of the wing web in response to PHA than control males; however, neither treatment affected the swelling response to PHA in females. The treatments also had sex-specific effects on constitutive innate immune function. Specifically, CORT-treated males had lower antimicrobial capacity toward a strain of the bacterium E. coli but higher antimicrobial activity toward a strain of the fungus Candida albicans compared to food-restricted or control males. In contrast, neither treatment affected constitutive innate immunity in females. These results suggest that male and female song sparrows may differ in how they allocate resources to development of the immune system when reared in stressful or food-limited conditions.

Efficacy of fowl pox vaccines against Egyptian isolated strain during 2012

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the protection induced by different commercial fowl pox (FP) vaccines against local FP virus isolated from Giza governorate in Egypt during 2012. Materials and Methods: Efficacy of FP vaccines against local field isolates was determined in seven groups of (20 birds/ group) 6 weeks old specific-pathogen free chicks. Each group was vaccinated via wing web with one of different FP living vaccines and (20) chicks in group (8) did not receive any FP vaccine and served as controls. At the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th-day post-vaccination (DPV), all birds were examined for the presence of takes at the site of vaccination. Three weeks post vaccination, serum samples were collected, and the levels of induced antibodies were detected by passive hemagglutination (PH) test. All birds in Groups (1-8A) were challenged individually via the wing web with EID50 103.0 of the Egyptian isolated strain during 2012. Results: Takes detected at the site of vaccination at the 3rd day were ranging from 45 to 70%. This percent increased to 80-95% at the 5th DPV with a maximum elevation of takes at the 7th DPV (90-100%). Geometric mean titer of PH assay antibody titer, 3 weeks post vaccination, was ranging between 5.60 and 9.60 according to the type of vaccine used and with protection 90-100%. Conclusion: Efficacy of some commercial FP vaccines used in the poultry field against the Egyptian isolated strain during 2012 ranged between 90% and 100% according to the type of used vaccine.

Molecular identification of local field isolated fowl pox virus strain from Giza governorate of Egypt

Aim: Molecular identification of field isolated pox virus from infected chickens in Egyptian farms in 2012 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: Isolation and identification of fowl pox virus (FPV isolate ch-08TK) from 30 day-old chickens manifesting pox lesions. The isolate was propagated successfully on chorioallantioc membrane of specific pathogen free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs and clear pock lesions were observed. These lesions were homogenated and used to infected 4.5 SPF chickens and pigeons (via wing web route for chickens and via feather follicle route into the thigh of pigeons) using 10 EID /mL; uninoculated birds of each species were used as negative controls for determining the effect of isolated FPV strain. 50 Result: The isolated strain gave pathogenic takes 100% in chickens and 75% in pigeons. Virus identification by PCR was done using dream Tag master mix kit using the primers that targeted thymidinekinase (TK) gene. These primers were designed using Lasergene DNASTAR software Version 10. We used these primers to amplify a 305 bp fragment of the TK gene of FPV. Phylogenetic analysis of sequenced TK amplicone which reflects a new emerging isolate of the field isolated FPV gave very limited similarity (not exceeding 60%) with the published sequences. Thus FPV isolate ch-08 TK gene (with Accession No. KF314718 in Gen Bank) is different than canary, Egypt, 2012, P4b and Elsharqyia-FWPV2 FPV140 (FPV140); TKPV FPV140 (FPV140) and PGPV FPV (FPV140) which have been isolated from cases of avipox virus in 2011 from skin crust of different domesticated birds reared under the Egyptian backyard management system. Our sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of newly isolated virus using DNASTAR software Version 10 revealed that this virus differ from canary, Egypt, 2012, P4b and Elsharqyia-(FWPV2 FPV140 (FPV140); TKPV FPV140 (FPV140) and PGPV FPV (FPV140)) according to published data in Gen Bank. Conclusion: FPV (isolated ch-08 TK gene with Accession number KF314718 in Gen Bank) was isolated from 30 day old laying chickens suffering from pox lesions. We believe that this study is the first molecular identification of FPV strain from laying chickens in Egypt.

Past or present? Relative contributions of developmental and adult conditions to adult immune function and coloration in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Developmental conditions affect adult physiological processes and phenotypic traits, including those associated with both survival and reproduction. Carotenoids are molecules that generate sexually attractive coloration, and these pigments are acquired throughout life and can affect antioxidant capacity and immunocompetence of young and old animals. However, few studies have tracked carotenoid status and condition during development and into adulthood to understand how ontogeny affects later-life health and coloration of both males and females. We reared male and female mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) from hatch to adulthood, measured circulating carotenoid titers and body condition (i.e., size-adjusted body mass) throughout development, and assessed adult immune function and integumentary carotenoid-based beak and foot coloration. We found that adult immune function (wing web swelling response to phytohemagglutinin; PHA) in males was positively correlated with body condition during the growth period of development, rather than adult condition, and similarly that both male and female beak coloration was associated with developmental, rather than adult, body condition. We also found associations between coloration and health during adulthood; males with more carotenoid-rich beaks (a sexually attractive feature) tended to have a more robust adult PHA response and a greater antibody response to a novel antigen, while females with less carotenoid-rich beaks had greater antibody responsiveness at adulthood. In addition, male beak color changed over the course of the 24-h PHA test in proportion to the degree of PHA swelling. However, intensity of foot coloration (a trait of unknown sexual significance) was not associated with any condition, carotenoid, or immune metric for males or females. Taken together, our findings implicate key developmental components to the expression of both survival- and reproduction-related traits at adulthood, but that for a dynamic trait like beak color, there are also important adult conditions that can alter signal expression.