Journal of World's Poultry Research

142-150

Authors: Cotter PF

Thrombocytes, well known as important clotting factors, and now known to be important as phagocytic cells, might benefit the study of the avian hemogram. Therefore, blood was sampled from 4 late-stage embryos at embryo day 24, and 4 one-day-old hatchlings (d1), and 5 female ducks aged 59 weeks stained by Wright-Giemsa and examined at 100x. Standard differential counts (SDC) of 2 x 200 cells were used to determine total white blood counts (TWBC) and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios. Thrombocytes were not included in the SDC but were studied from photomicrographs. Reactive thrombocytes were present in blood films having a normal TWBC or in the presence of leukocytosis (59 weeks). The H/L ratios may or may not be elevated. Reactive thrombocytes can be differentiated from quiescent types on morphologic criteria. These included an increase in the number of magenta “specific granules”, the development of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and a capacity to form aggregates with other Th or with cells of another series. Reactive Th were not necessarily larger in size than quiescent types. In some instances, Th aggregation with RBC (toroid formation) was with sufficient force to distort the RBC cell membrane. It was observed that reactive thrombocytes were accompanied by bacteria, either free-swimming or attached to cell-associated bacteria. Reactive thrombocytes having lost portions of their cell membrane were regularly encountered. As avian thrombocytes are now recognized as important phagocytic cells, as well as having a primary role in hemostasis, they are part of the immune defense mechanism. The presence of reactive thrombocytes in a hemogram should be considered when using hematological data to evaluate immune responses and establish stress status.

157-164

Authors: Hassan AA

In the past decades, the application of nanotechnology indicated significant improvements in animal health. In the present work, 60 samples of poultry feeds were examined, including 20 samples for each yellow corn, soya bean, and processed feed. The prevalence of total fungi was reported as 100%, 95%, and 100% in yellow corn, soya bean, and processed feed, respectively. Toxin-producing Aspergillus flavus represented 75% of isolates from yellow corn, 88% from soya bean meal, and 50% from processed feed. Aflatoxins were found in 88%, 60%, and 80% of yellow corn, soya bean, and processed feed with mean levels of 18.5 ± 3.216.0 ± 4.08.3 ± 1.7 ppm, respectively. The copper nanoparticles embedded with chitosan were green synthesized using an eco-friendly method, and their antifungal activity was evaluated against aflatoxigenic mold that recovered from poultry feeds. However, the molecular detection of virulent genes of Aspergillus flavus (aflR gene) after their exposure to high doses of copper-chitosan nanoparticles (CuCh-NPs) 150 µg/ml prevents aflR gene expression. The embedded chitosan with copper nanomaterial helps decrease their suspected toxicity to animals by reducing the used doses. Hence, the use of nanocomposites of nanomaterials with green benefits substances, such as chitosan, was the essential strategy of field application in veterinary

171-180

Authors: Al Hanna R

Herbs greatly influence broiler chickens’ performance and may alternate the use of antibiotics in the poultry sector. The study investigated the effects of local natural herbs on Ross 308 broiler chickens’ physical characteristics and meat quality. A total of 702-day-old broiler chickens were divided into two trials consisting of 13 treatment groups fed 11 diets. Treatments included control groups (CGIa and CGIb); Basal diet (BD) free of antioxidants and antibiotics, and CGIIa, CGIIb; BD complemented with antioxidants and antibiotics, and experimental groups (EG); EGIII (1% peppermint + BD), EGIV (1% thyme + BD), EGV (0.5% peppermint + 0.5% thyme), EGVI (1% rosemary + BD), EGVII (1% chamomile flowers + BD), EGVIII (0.5% rosemary + 0.5% chamomile), EGIX (1% onion powder + BD), EGX (1% garlic powder + BD), and EGXI (0.5% onion powder + 0.5% garlic powder). Maximum and minimum feed intake averages were in EGV and EGIII (94.90 and 77.74 kg/group, respectively). Live body weight gains of both EGVI and CGIIa were significantly higher than EGIV, EGVIII, and CGIa. Chicks of EGVIII showed the lowest net weight percentage in relation to live body weight (carcass yield). Breast meat pH ranged between 5.26 and 6.14 (in EGVII and EGIV, respectively) 24 hours after cooling, and between 5.86 and 6.11 (in CGIa and EGVI, respectively) one month after freezing. Breast meat lightness was significantly higher in EGVI than EGVIII at 24 hours after cooling, and it was the highest in EGVI 1 month after freezing. Breast meat redness was the highest in CGIIa at 24 hours after cooling. EGIX showed a significantly higher redness value one month after freezing than EG X, CG Ib, and CG IIb. Yellowness ranged between 7.58 and 13.54 for EGX and CGIa, respectively, 24 hours after cooling, and between 8.29 and 13.95 a month after cooling for EGX and EGV, respectively. Tested herbs had comparable effects to antibiotics on chicken growth and meat quality. Rosemary (1%) had an ameliorative effect on chickens’ body growth. Chamomile (1%) as well as thyme and peppermint mix (0.5% each), improved the palatability for feed.

192-198

Authors: Tona K

Two sources of selenium are commonly used in poultry nutrition, the organic and the inorganic forms. This study was carried out to investigate the comparative effect of Sasso broiler breeder feed supplemented with sodium selenite (SS) and selenomethionine (SM) on the zootechnical performance, hematology, and hatching process of chickens. A total of 120 female broiler breeders and 12 roosters of Sasso strain at 47 weeks were equally assigned to three treatments with four replicates per each, including 10 breeders crossed with 1 rooster. The treatment groups were broiler breeders fed a basal diet without selenium supplementation (control), chickens fed the basal diet supplemented with SS, and breeders fed the basal diet supplemented with SM. The inclusion level of each selenium was 0.2 ppm. The collected data included feed intake and egg weight during 8 weeks. In the end, blood samples were collected for hematological investigations. A total of 150 hatching eggs were collected from each treatment. After recording their weight, the eggs were incubated at adequate temperature and relative humidity. On day 18 of incubation, the eggs were weight again, candled, and transferred into the hatcher. Each egg was individually checked every 3 hours during the last 3 days of incubation for hatching events determination. The results showed that breeders fed SM had the lowest feed conversion ratio. There was an increase in the majority of blood parameters in breeders fed SM, compared to other treatments. The lowest duration of the hatching events was observed with breeders fed SM, and consequently, they had the best hatching rate but without any significant difference in the chicks’ quality and their weight of internal organs at the hatch. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that using selenium is beneficial, especially in the organic form, which appeared to be more efficient, compared to the inorganic form.