Journal of World's Poultry Research

406-415

Authors: Machete JB

The current study was conducted to investigate sequence polymorphisms in the promoter, 5´untranslated regions (UTR), and partial exon regions of chicken HSP-70 gene in the normal (n = 24), naked neck (n = 22), and dwarf (n = 12) strains of indigenous Tswana chickens relative to the commercial broiler chickens (n = 20). Genomic DNA extracted from the whole blood of the three strains of indigenous Tswana chickens and the commercial broilers were amplified using PCR and sequenced. The PCR amplicons comprised a 210 bp promoter region, a 112 bp 5´UTR, and a 463 bp partial exon of the chicken HSP-70 gene. Multiple sequence alignments of the partial sequences of chicken HSP-70 gene in indigenous Tswana chickens and the commercial broilers revealed no polymorphisms in the promoter region, two SNPs in the 5´UTR (A303G and G309A) and another two SNPs (G427 and A628G) in the partial exon sequence of chicken HSP-70 gene. The SNP G427A was unique to the normal strain and the other three SNPs were common to all the four chicken strains studied. The identified four SNPs linked up in individual chickens resulted in a total of seven different haplotypes in the studied four chicken populations. A total of seven different haplotypes were found in indigenous Tswana chickens and only two haplotypes were found in the commercial broilers. More nucleotide (4SNPs vs 3 SNPs) and more haplotype diversity (7 haplotypes vs 2) were thus found in indigenous Tswana chickens, compared to the commercial broilers in the partial sequence of HSP-70 gene

422-430

Authors: Lare L

The diet of breeding indigenous guinea fowl breeders can influence their reproductive performance. Thus, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of different dietary protein intake levels of breeders on embryonic development. A total of 1152 hatching eggs were collected, numbered, weighed, and allocated to 3 groups (control, high-protein [High-P], and low-protein [Low-P]) with 4 replicates of 96 eggs in each dietary treatment group. The eggs were candled on incubation days 9 and 24. At the end of the hatch, all keets were counted and weighed. Six keets in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed for blood and organ collection. The results showed that the heaviest eggs were for the High-P group and keets at hatch had higher relative hatching muscle weights, compared to the control group. However, the Low-P group had smaller eggs and keets gained lower relative hatching muscle weights compared to the control. Fertility, early mortality rate, and delayed mortality decreased in the High-P group but it increased in the Low-P group, compared to the control. The dietary protein did not influence the incubation time. The maternal diet protein content affected fertility, embryonic development, hatchability, and keet quality. The indigenous guinea fowl breeders need appropriate protein intake to show their potential reproduction performances.

439-445

Authors: AL-Azzawi Akh

Many broiler chickens farms in Diyala Province, Iraq, have shown clinical signs of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in broiler chickens, including depression of birds, petechial hemorrhage in muscles of the thigh, and swollen bursa. Therefore, in the current study, necropsy samples (liver, spleen, bursa, and kidney) were collected from the mentioned broiler chickens. The samples were then subjected to conventional RT-PCR using specific primers to the VP2 gene. The results showed that five out of seven collected samples were positive to IBDV, and the RT-PCR produced a fragment of 260 bp. Furthermore, four tissue bursa samples were sent to AniCon Labor GmbH- Germany by using (FTA- card including four spots) for detection of IBDV by real-time RT-PCR using VP1 and VP2 genes to distinguish the pathogenic virulent strain of IBDV from non-virulent IBDV strains and to make the phylogenetic tree. Results showed that duplex RT-PCR generated a fragment of 690bp for VP1 gene and 700bp for VP2 genes of detected IBDV. Two out of 4 samples from suspected flocks were found positive with prevalence results of 50% for intermediated and non-virulent IBDV strains (IBDV nvv), and 50% (2 samples) were very virulent (vvIBDV). The threshold Cycle (Ct) value for RT-PCR for two isolates on bursa tissue ranged from 16.6 to 25.7. One strain was recorded in NCBI with the accession number of (MW8883071). Phylogenetic analysis of detected and sequenced IBDV indicated that the local studied virus was closely related to 710- Jordan isolate (accession number MF142560.1) and to the isolate 267-Jordan (MF 142517.1) with a higher identity reach of (99.2%).

457-467

Authors: Cheggag M

Three field strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were isolated in 2015 from the bursa of Fabricius of affected broiler chickens originating from Moroccan broiler farms and were characterized as very virulent IBDV. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity of the above-identified IBD strains (accession number), MN241434.1, MN241436.1, and MN241439.1. In this trial, 75 three-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups of 1, 2, and 3 (n = 20 chicks/group) were inoculated via intra oculonasal route with 103.5 EID50 of MN241434.1, MN241436.1, and MN241439.1, respectively. Group 4 (n = 15) was kept as control. Chickens from all groups were monitored during 14 days post-challenge (dpc). Dead and euthanized birds were necropsied and their lymphoid organs (bursa, thymus, and spleen) were subjected to histopathological examination and lesion scoring. Serological response and presence of IBDV in the bursa of Fabricius were investigated using ELISA and rRT-PCR, respectively. Chickens in all challenged groups showed characteristic signs of IBD, including prostration, dehydration, aqueous diarrhea, and ruffled feathers, starting mostly at 2 dpc. The total mortality rate was 100% at 4 dpc in groups 1 and 2 and 76.47% in group 3. Bursa of Fabricius from affected birds revealed severe lymphoid depletion and necrosis with mean bursal lesion score between 3 and 5 (4 for MN241434.1 and MN241436.1, and 4.125 for MN241439.1). Similar severe lesions were observed in the spleen of all infected broiler chickens. Histological lesions in the thymus were detected from 2 dpc with individual cell necrosis. Serological results revealed that survived chickens in group 3 developed Ab anti-IBDV at 7, 9, and 14 dpc. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of the IBDV in BF of all infected chickens. These results indicated that the investigated local field IBDV strains genetically characterized as vvIBDV were phenotypically hypervirulent pathotypes of IBDV in SPF chickens hence reflecting the epidemiological Moroccan and regional IBD. This constitutes a potential candidate reference strains to be used in the development of strategies for the prevention and control of IBD in Morocco

475-480

Authors: Erwan E

Watermelon rind (WR) content is rich in citrulline (Cit). Oral administration of L-Cit could improve thermotolerance in layer and broiler chickens due to its hypothermic role. Additionally, chronic supplementation of WR dried powder (WRP) increases feed intake but makes no changes to the body temperature. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of yellow and red WRP supplementation on plasma metabolites as well as and liver and spleen weight. In Experiment 1, a total of 20 indigenous chicks aged 1-14 days were treated with different doses of yellow WRP (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%) supplemented in a commercial diet. Similarly, 20 indigenous chicks with the age range of 1-14 days were treated in Experiment 2 with different doses of red WRP (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%) supplemented in a commercial diet. The obtained results indicated that the yellow WRP supplementation caused a linearly increased plasma total cholesterol (TCHO). However, the red WRP neither increased plasma TCHO linearly nor plasma glucose (Glu), although plasma Glu concentration significantly increased by 6% red WRP supplementation. These results suggest that supplementation of both yellow and red WRP to a commercial diet could change the concentrations of plasma metabolites, while the effect of yellow WRP may be different, compared to that of red WRP.

487-505

Authors: Abd El-Ghany WA

Poultry coccidiosis is considered one of the most important continuous threats that frustrates the poultry industry around the world and causes serious adverse effects on poultry productivity. Accordingly, this article comprehensively reviewed the recent control strategies that are applied against such disease regarding medication, vaccination, and application of some natural products. The causative agent of coccidiosis is a protozoon parasite of the genus Eimeria. This parasite is characterized by the host, different parts of the intestines, and immune specificity. Chicken is the most susceptible host to intestinal infections with Eimeria species. Diarrhea, loss of profitability, and intestinal lesions are the most characteristic clinical picture of Eimeria infection. Prevention and control of such infections remain a great problem. The application of hygienic measures is still the gold standard for the prevention of avian coccidiosis. Anticoccidials medication either in the feed or water can effectively reduce Eimeria infection, however, the development of drug resistance to the commonly used anticoccidial drugs is incessant. Live non-attenuated and attenuated as well as recombinant and sub-unit vaccines were developed with some limitations. Therefore, using some natural alternatives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and phytobiotics have emerged as anticoccidial compounds.