Journal of World's Poultry Research

08-15

Authors: Nuhu Abdulazeez Sani

Avian neoplastic diseases, including Marek’s disease (MD), avian leukosis (AL), and reticuloendotheliosis (RE), are of economic importance in the chicken industry. However, it is difficult to differentiate MD from AL and RE by clinical signs and postmortem examination. Therefore, the present study aimed to classify the avian neoplastic diseases affecting commercial layer chickens in Nigeria using clinical history, postmortem examination, and histopathological technique. Carcasses of commercial layer chickens from 7 and 20 poultry farms in Kaduna and Plateau States were studied, respectively, from February 2017 to March 2018. The age, morbidity, and mortality rates in each of the affected farms were determined. Detailed postmortem examinations were carried out on the carcasses from the affected farms, and organs observed to have neoplastic lesions were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathology. The age means of the affected layers were 20.6 weeks and 20.8 weeks in Kaduna and Plateau States, respectively. The average morbidity rates of neoplasm in the affected layers were 3.9% and 9.3% in aduna and Plateau States, respectively, while the average ortality rates were 8.6% and 8.5% in Kaduna and Plateau States, respectively. The clinical observation of affected chickens indicated that they were anorexic and emaciated. Generally, the neoplastic lesions were characterized by white to gray, multifocal, firm nodules of varying sizes on the affected organs. In Kaduna State, the neoplasms were commonly observed on the liver (85.7%), spleen (71.4%), heart (42.9%), and kidneys (42.9%), while in Plateau State, the affected organs included liver (50%), spleen (25%), proventriculus (25%) and lungs (25%). The histopathological changes in the affected tissues were similar and characterized predominantly by the infiltration of lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, and macrophages. The patterns of distribution of the pleomorphic neoplastic cells within the liver were multifocal and perivascular in most cases. Findings from the current study indicated that cases of neoplasms in commercial layer chickens in Kaduna and Plateau States, Nigeria, could be attributed to MD.

22-30

Authors: Nkiruka O

The first experiment aimed to compare the effects of manual and electric beak-trimming on feed intake, body weight, and some biochemical parameters of eight-week-old pullets. A total of 20 pullets aged 3 weeks were assigned to two treatment groups; those in group A were manually debeaked while the samples in group B were electro debeaked. The findings indicated that 2 hours post-beak-trimming (PBT), the packed-cell volume of group A was significantly higher than that of group B. Plasma cortisol level of group A was significantly higher than that of group B at 2 and 6 hours PBT while total plasma protein level of group A was significantly lower than that of the group at 2 and 72 hours PBT. Furthermore, feed intake and body weight markedly decreased in the pullets debeaked with both methods until 72 hours PBT. The chickens’ beak trimmed with both methods experienced intense pain of varying degrees lasting up to 72 hours. In the second experiment, 40 eight-week-old pullets were assigned to four groups; group A was the control, group B was treated with a vitamin supplement, group C was treated with acetaminophen, and group D was treated with vitamin supplement plus acetaminophen. After 24 hours, chickens were beak-trimmed using a manual cutter. The results revealed that 2 hours PBT, plasma cortisol level in groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than that of group A. Blood glucose was lowest in groups A and D at 6 and 24 hours PBT, respectively.

36-46

Authors: Fuji Astuty Auza

The development of the digestive tract organs is closely related to the increased body weight growth in chickens. The present study aimed to determine the effect of using maggot meal as an antibacterial and protein source of fish meal substitution in diets on the relative length of the digestive tract organs, small intestine histomorphology, and the percentage of the native chicken carcass. A total of 140 one-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to one of the five treatments according to a completely randomized design with four replications for each treatment. The treatments included P0 (basal diet + 15% fish meal + 0% maggot meal), P1(basal diet + 11.25% fish meal + 3.75% maggot meal), P2 (basal diet + 7.5% fish meal + 7.5% maggot meal), P3(basal diet + 3.75% fish meal + 11.25% maggot meal), and P4 (basal diet + 0% fish meal + 15% maggot meal). The results showed that the use of maggot meal in P3 had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the relative length, villi height, depth of duodenal crypt, jejunum and ileum, villi surface area, the density of jejunum and ileum villi, and percentage of thigh and wing weight. Besides, the treatment tended to increase the relative length of the caecum and colon, surface area of the duodenal villi, and chest weight percentage. However, the treatment did not affect the duodenal villi density and percentage of back weight in native chickens. The use of maggot meal up to 11.25% in diets can improve the relative length of intestinal, histomorphology of small intestine’s villi, and the percentage of carcass parts of native chickens.

53-63

Authors: Mastewal Birhan

Marek’s disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative and neuropathic disease of domestic fowl caused by alphaherpesviruses. The current cross-sectional study with a simple random sampling method was undertaken from January 2018 to May 2020. The current study aimed to estimate sero-epidemiology and assess potential risk factors, it is very important to determine MD sero-positivity. Moreover, to measure the association of host and environmental risk factors, the occurrences and spread of MD were identified in local and exotic chickens in Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 768 serum samples from 3 zones were collected and assayed for Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. A questionnaire survey was also conducted to gather information on the potential risk factors of MDV sero-positivity, as well as the status of occurrences and spread in the chicken flocks. In the present preliminary study, a high flock and chicken level of MDV was demonstrated, with an overall seroprevalence of 59.11%. The mixed-effect logistic regression analysis of the host potential risk factors showed that the odds of seropositive for MD was significantly higher in local chickens (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.26-2.28) than exotic chickens, higher in chickens getting non-proper feed (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.54) than getting proper feed, higher in vaccinated chickens (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.76-1.43) than non-vaccinated chickens. Rearing chicken of different batches in one house was decreased the odds of occurrence of MD by 55% (95% CI: 0.38-0.80) than all-inall-out, higher in the well-ventilated type farms decreased the odds of occurrence of MD by 60% (95% CI: 0.39-0.80) than in poor ones. Litter management when farmers used chickens as fertilizer has decreased the odds of occurrence of MD by 55% (95% CI: 0.01-0.47) and chickens were tossed into open sheds 40% (95% CI: 0.01-0.31), compared to buried chickens management. The study results indicated that the number of farms where farmers wearing no clothes and shoes (95% CI: 0.10-0.58) were significantly decreased the occurrence of MD by 24% than those where farmers were equipped with clothes and shoes. The study area was highest in West Gojjam (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.27-0.58) and South Gondar (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.13-0.28) compared to North Gondar zone. In conclusion, the present study revealed a high flock and chicken seroprevalence level of MDV among chicken flocks in northwest Ethiopia, suggesting that environmental dust/dander and farm management systems might be a source of this disease for chicken infection. Besides, the bserved association of MD, sero-positivity with environmental dust/dander, and farm management systems may suggest the economic importance of the disease for chicken production. Therefore, it warrants control attention to reduce its economic and disease spread burden in the study areas. Further works on the economic impacts, virus isolation, and molecular characterization of the disease are suggested

73-82

Authors: Iswati

The production and reproduction performance of chicken depends on their hormonal status, especially progesterone hormone, which has been known to correlate with egg production. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of progesterone hormone injection on Arabic Gold chickens (Gallus turcicus) regarding egg production and luteinizing hormone concentration in blood plasma. A total number of 60 Arabic Gold chickens aged 26-weeks were divided into three groups based on injected hormone concentration (P0 : control; P1 : 1 mg/chicken; P2 : 2 mg/chicken). The study was conducted using a completely randomized design and the obtained data were analyzed with a descriptive analysis for qualitative data and one-way analysis of variance followed with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test as a post hoc test for the quantitative data. The results presented that progesterone hormone injection had a significant effect on hen day production two and six weeks after injection. The P1 group was able to reach its peak production (82.9%) at week 29, while the P2 group reached its peak at week 26 (78.9%). In addition, it was found that the P2 group produced a soft-shelled egg and double egg yolk. Progesterone injection led to no significant effect on the egg weight, shape index, fertility, embryo viability, hatchability, and chick weight at hatch. The luteinizing hormone concentration was higher in P2 (1.52 ng/ml), compared to P0 (1.36 ng/ml) and P1 (1.34 ng/ml) groups. It was concluded that progesterone hormone injection during the production phase of Arabic Gold chicken had a significant effect on egg production and caused varying egg production peak and luteinizing hormone concentration.

96-100

Authors: Aisyah Nur Azizah

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the important infectious diseases in the poultry industry. The traditional poultry markets have great potential in ND transmission. The ducks infected by the ND virus rarely show clinical symptoms, thus they can potentially spread the disease to other fowls. The current study aimed to isolate and identify the ND virus from ducks in a traditional live bird market center in East Java, Indonesia. Cloacal swab samples were taken from 300 ducks. The study consisted of 100 pooled samples, each containing a cloacal swab sample obtained from 3 individual ducks. The samples were inoculated in specific antibody-negative embryonated chicken eggs for 8-10 days. Hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests were performed for confirmation and identification of ND virus. Based on the result of the current study, out of 100 pooled samples, there were three to nine ducks infected with the ND virus.

110-115

Authors: Resti Devi Anggraini

Coccidiosis is a disease found in poultry caused by parasitic protozoa, namely Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), which may lead to high rates of morbidity and mortality. To prevent coccidiosis, vaccination is required to inactivate and attenuate E. tenella protozoa. One of the compounds applied for attenuation is formaldehyde. Formaldehyde reduces the pathogenicity of an organism by creating rigidity in its structure. As a result, the organism cannot inflict disease and has a higher impact on building antibodies although it is still alive. The current research was an experimental study aimed to determine the formalin potential in attenuation of E. tenella pathogenesis in terms of oocyst production. The present study was conducted using the completely randomized design method. A total number of 25 broiler chickens were applied and their feces were tested to observe oocysts production and clinical symptoms. The obtained data would be analyzed by the ANOVA statistical test. The treatment groups presented clinical symptoms of E. tenella infection. The number of oocysts in treatment group I fluctuated from the lowest number which was zero on day five and then increased by day six, seven, and eight and it has reached the peak with the most significant amount of 4,050,460 oocysts on day nine. The treatment group II with the same condition reached its peak with the highest number of 1,363,160 oocysts on day nine. The treatment group III peaked with the most significant number of 618,960 oocysts on day nine. In addition, the treatment IV group attained the apex with the highest number of 719,480 oocysts on day nine. Meanwhile, the treatment V group reached the highest number of 284,200 oocysts on day nine. The difference in formalin concentration affected the amount of E. tenella oocyst production of broiler chickens. Formalin soaking with a concentration of 1.2% was the most optimal concentration to attenuate E. tenella

123-128

Authors: Rizkiyatu Auliyah

Transmission of Toxocara vitulorum Infection causes a decrease in livestock productivity and results in various types of diseases in humans. Chickens are one of the parasitic hosts of toxocariasis which has the potential for transmission of toxocariasis to humans. The main location affected by T. vitulorum larval infection is the liver. The current study aimed to analyze the description of histopathological changes in the liver of broiler chickens infected by L2 Toxocara vitulorum. The present study was a true experiment using a completely randomized design. A total number of 28 broiler chickens aged 14 days were selected as the sample in this study. Samples were infected using L2 Toxocara vitulorum larvae and were grouped in accordance with observations of the 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the larvae were given to the samples. Toxocara vitulorum larval infection caused changes in istopathological features of broilers chickens. This infection caused hydropic inflammation and degeneration of liver cells, cholangitis, and eventually necrosis of the cells. Exposure to infection over a long period of time can worsen liver cell and other organ damages as well as increasing the potential for the transmission of Toxocara vitulorum larvae.

136-150

Authors: B. Michel Orounladji

The present study aimed to describe the morphobiometric characteristics of indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) populations in Benin. The current study was carried out on 1320 (529 males and 791 females) adult (at least 24 weeks old) indigenous guinea fowls from three climatic zones (Sudanian, Sudano-Guinean, and Guinean) of Benin. Each guinea fowl was subjected to a direct phenotypic description, biometric measurements, and photography. The results showed that the plumage coloration of indigenous guinea fowl in Benin was significantly diverse, but the most widespread plumage colors were pearl grey (30%), black (29.5%), and cinnamon (9.8%). The most common beak colors were grey (64.9%) and yellow-orange (24.8%). The eyes were predominantly black-white (67.1%). Greyorange (33.7%), grey (32%), and black-orange (21%) colorations were more represented on the shanks with wattles relatively dominated by red-white (59.4%) and white-red (30.5%). The average live weight of guinea fowl was 1.34 kg in males which was 4.38% heavier than females. All the biometric measurements were significantly higher in males. The live weights of guinea fowl in the Sudanian zone (1.40  0.18 kg) were higher than those of guinea fowl found in the Sudano-Guinean zone (1.27  0.24 kg) and Guinean zone (1.33  0.28 kg). Principal Component Analysis indicated that three distinct groups of guinea fowl can be formed based on their biometric measurements (live weight, chest circumference, body length, drumstick length, shank length, shank diameter, and wingspan). The phenotypes’ diversity was relatively abundant (1-Hill: 0.69) in all climatic zones. The phenotypic biodiversity observed in the populations of indigenous guinea fowl in Benin can guide farmers to select specific phenotypes to meet consumer preferences.