Journal of World's Poultry Research

326-335

Authors: Yu Guo, Shuying Huo

In order to reveal the functions of Epimedium (EPI) on the recovery of the reproductive system of laying hens, 120 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (43-week-old) were forced molt through feed withdrawal for 14 days. After the molting period, layer hens were divided into four groups: Dark-control group in a dark environment without any treatment; dark-EPI group in a dark environment and with EPI treatment; light-control group without any treatment under normal illumination (16L: 8D); light- EPI group with EPI treatment under normal illumination (16L: 8D). EPI treatment was maintained for 15 days and each hen received 2 ml of EPI extract (1 g/mL) daily. The rate of egg production was calculated every day. At the end of the experiment, estrogen receptor alpha mRNA, estrogen receptor beta mRNA, and progesterone receptor mRNA in the albumen secreting part and uterus of the oviduct were detected by q-PCR, and the level of serum progesterone, estrogen and luteinizing hormone was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that EPI effectively improved the laying rate of hens both in dark groups and light groups by promoting the recovery of the oviduct and follicle maturation. In addition, EPI promoted the secretion of estrogen and progesterone both in dark and light groups and improved the expression of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor in the light group. The results of the experiment provide a good reference for using EPI to improve the development and recovery of the reproductive system of layer hens

342-347

Authors: Omidiwura BRO

In a 42-day feeding trial, the effect of L-Dopa on the performance, serum cholesterol and intestinal microbial load in laying hens were investigated. One hundred and twenty layers aged 34 weeks old were allocated to five dietary treatments with eight replicates and three birds per each replicate. The birds were fed diets supplemented with graded levels of L-Dopa (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4%) in a completely randomized design. Performance parameters were monitored. On the day 42, egg, meat and blood samples were obtained to determine total cholesterol and lipoproteins using standard procedures. The ileal digesta was collected for microbial analysis. The results indicated that inclusion of L-Dopa in the diet did not affect the performance parameters and egg cholesterol profile. Serum cholesterol levels of birds fed the control diet and those on 0.1% and 0.2% L-Dopa supplemented diets were similar, but significantly higher than those fed 0.3% and 0.4% L-Dopa. The levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins in the meat of the layers fed on the control diet were significantly higher than those on 0.1% and 0.3% L-Dopa, but were similar to the birds on other treatment diets. The highest and the lowest population of Escherichia coli were found in the birds on the control diet and 0.3% L-Dopa supplemented diet, respectively. The layer hens on L-Dopa supplemented diets had a significantly higher Lactobacillus count than those on the control diet. In conclusion, 0.3% L-Dopa inclusion considerably improved the cholesterol profile in the blood and meat, reduced the population of E. coli, and effectively increased the population of Lactobacillus in the laying hens.

359-366

Authors: Dukhnytskyi V

In this article an attempt was made to present the results of toxicity assessment of insecticides from the group of neonicotinoids, Mospilan RP (active substance acetamiprid) and Actara 25 WG (active substance thiamethoxam) in white mice. The aim was to investigate the acute toxicity of Mospilan RP and Actara 25 WG in white mice. The half-lethal dose (LD50) of Mospilan RP was found to be131.25 ± 34.12 mg/kg Body Weight (BW) per active substance and 656.25 ± 170.6 mg/kg BW per drug, and the Lethal Dose (LD100) was 200 mg/kg BW by the active ingredient (1000 mg/kg BW by drug). The half-life dose (DL50) of Actara 25 WG for white mice was 907.81 ± 24.03 mg/kg BW for the active substance, and 3631.24 ± 96.12 mg/kg BW for the drug; The lethal dose (LD100) was also 1200 mg/kg BW per active ingredient (4800 mg/kg BW per drug). The acute course of poisoning by Mospilan RP and Actara 25 WG in mice was characterized mainly by nervous disorders (lesions of the central and peripheral nervous systems), which is evidenced by the clinical features of poisoning including depression, convulsions, ataxia (impaired movement coordination), tremor and impaired breathing. It has been established that Mospilan RP belongs to the third toxicity class according to the Hygienic classification of substances by skin-resorptive toxicity (DL50> 2000 mg/kg).

371-377

Authors: Nuraini N

The aims of present study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of palm oil waste fermented with Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Neurospora crassa (POWF) with ratio 1:1 on performance and some egg characterizes of laying Japanese quails. This experiment used 200 quails (Coturnix-coturnix japonica) aged 20 weeks, with 70% egg production. This study used an experimental method with a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments (0%, 8%, 16%, and 24% POWF and five replications). The results of this research showed that the use of POWF in the diet was not affected to feed consumption, daily egg production, egg mass, egg weight, and feed conversion. But, a significant difference in blood total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, egg cholesterol, and index egg yolk color was obsereved, and no significant effect on triglycerides and egg yolk fat. In conclusion, feeding the mixture of palm oil waste fermented with Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Neurospora crassa with ratio1:1 can be used up to 24% in laying quail rations, without any adverse effect on egg production. It may decrease the blood cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol.

385-390

Authors: Sahan Yapicier O

Gallibacterium anatis causes infections in the reproductive tract of egg-laying hens and it is associated with increased mortality and decreased egg production. For this study we used singeleplex and multiplex PCR with specific primers to assess the presence of tetracycline resistance (Tcr) (tet A, B, C, D, E, G, H, K, L, M, O, S, P, Q and X), virulence [cytotoxic (RTX-like toxin, gtxA) and fimbrial (flfA)] genes and antibiotic resistance in G. anatis isolates. Among the 20 isolates tested, the highest antimicrobial resistance patterns were observed in erythromycin, streptomycin, tilmicosin (100%) followed by colistin sulphate (65%), cephalexin and tulathromycin (50%). Among 20 isolates examined, 10 (50%) carried tetracycline resistance genes, 7 (35%) had tet(B), 2 (10%) had tet(G), and 1 (5%) had tet(A), (D), (M) or (L). Of these G .anatis isolates were carried out 6 (30%) gtxA but none of flfA gene. Based on present results, it is concluded that virulence and Tcr genes could contribute to pathogencity of G. anatis, which is a major risk to poultry health.

397-406

Authors: Santos TTdos

An experiment was designed to determine the immune profile of broiler chickens between hatch and 9 days of age when fed diets with different fibre and betaine concentrations. A total of 240 day-old Cobb 500 male chickens were allocated to 16 cages with 15 chickens each. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial design, with 2 replicate cages per treatment. Treatments consisted of two feed formulations (low and high fibre diets) and four levels of betaine (0, 1, 3 or 5 kg/tonne). Before the start of trial (hatch), 10 broilers were weighed and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, then euthanised by cervical dislocation and jejunal samples collected for the determination of gene expression of claudin 1, claudin 5, occludin and interleukin 2 by PCR. Mononuclear cells populations in the blood samples were determined by flow cytometry. On days 4 and 9, five birds/cage (10 birds/treatment) were selected, euthanised and samples taken as per the start of hatch. Gene expression of claudin 1, claudin 5 and occludin was reduced between 4 and 9 days, independent of the group tested, while interleukin tended to increase between hatch and 4 days and decreased thereafter. Betaine inclusion reduced claudin 5 and occludin gene expression and increased CD8- CD28+ and CD8+ CD28+, suggesting it may aid in accelerating maturation of both the gastrointestinal tract and immune system for broilers in the early days post-hatch.