Journal of World's Poultry Research

: 120-126

Authors: Rozi Khan Sadiq

As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin E may lessen the potentially harmful consequences of such oxidative stress to protect broilers against immune-pathological damage. Broiler chicken growth and viability are enhanced by Vitamin E supplementation. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Vitamin E dietary supplementation on broiler chickens’ growth performance and health status. A total of 48 one-day-old Ross chicks were randomly divided into two groups of control and treatment (supplementation of Vitamin E at a dose of 300 mg/kg diet) with three replicates per group. The study included an equal number of Ross breed chicks and Vitamin E dosage in two trials on two different dates (January and March, 2022). In both trials, the obtained results indicated no significant changes in weight gain in the control and treatment groups. In both trials, there were no significant differences in the spleen weight of the control and treated groups; however, from day 1 to 28 of the second trial, the bursa of Fabricius was heavier in the treated group than in the control group. Additionally, Vitamin E had no significant effects on the mitogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A). Dosages of 20 and 10 µl for both PHA and Con A did not significantly affect the rate of pure lymphocyte proliferation in chicks fed 300 mg Vitamin E /kg feed. Cell-mediated immunity did not differ significantly between the two trials. The percentages of CD4, CD8, Bu1, and MHCII molecules in the spleen and cecal tonsil of the chicks that received Vitamin E 300 mg/kg feed did not change significantly. The antibody titers against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease vaccines showed no significant differences. On day 42, there was a trend toward an increase in antibody titer in the case of the Newcastle disease vaccine. In conclusion, 300 mg/kg of Vitamin E added to the diet did not improve growth performance and immunity in broiler chicks.

20-28

Authors: Tetiana Kot

The adrenal gland plays a crucial role in poultry’s body. Its hormones affect growth, tissue differentiation, and metabolism regulation, as well as the bird body’s resistance to infections, intoxication, stress, and low temperature. For poultry farming, veterinary medicine, and ornithology, it is of scientific interest to study the morphological features of the adrenal gland of birds. This review aimed to assess poultry adrenal anatomy, microscopy, morphometry, and histochemistry by summarizing research data from various published articles. The structure of the adrenal gland has been morphologically investigated in clinically healthy chickens, ducks, geese, and quails. Data from the anatomical level of the adrenal gland have indicated that the shape of this organ in poultry of different species is not the same. In most cases, the shape of the adrenal gland of poultry is close to an oval, triangle, or pyramid. The color of the adrenal gland of poultry varies from gray to brown, which depends on the tissue saturation of this organ with carotenoids. The mass of the adrenal glands of poultry correlates with their age. The left adrenal gland has higher mass, volume, and length indicators than the right gland. The microscopic structure of the adrenal gland corresponds to the general laws of the structure and function of endocrine organs. However, the adrenal glands of poultry are characterized by class features of its histoarchitectonics. The adrenal capsule contains ganglia of the autonomic nervous system, the cell strands of cortical and medullary tissues are intertwined, and the configuration of these cell strands determines the formation of two or three zones of the adrenal gland. Studies of the adrenal glands of poultry at the cellular level have indicated that cortical tissue is represented by acidophilic cells and medullary tissue by basophilic cells. Depending on the shape and electron density of secretory granules, medullary tissue cells are divided into epinephrine and norepinephrine. Data on morphometric parameters (capsule thickness, area of cortical and medullary tissues, cortical-medullary ratio) of the adrenal gland are not the same and depend on the type, age, gender, and sexual activity of poultry. In conclusion, morphologists have paid great attention to studying the features of the anatomy, microscopy, morphometry, and histochemistry of the adrenal gland in clinically healthy poultry. Therefore, the presented data can be used to assess deviations in the morphofunctional state of the adrenal gland in poultry under the influence of various factors and pathology.

41-47

Authors: Dirayah Rauf Husain

The intestines of domestic poultry (Gallus domesticus) are one of the potential sources of probiotic bacteria that can produce antibacterial agents. The objective of this study was to identify the types of probiotic bacteria obtained from the digestion of domestic poultry using the molecular analysis method of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Observations were conducted on colony morphology, gram staining, biochemical tests, and antibacterial activity using the diffusion agar method. Molecular analysis of DNA extraction was carried out, followed by the amplification of samples using a 16S rRNA universal primer. Dielectrophoresis and sequencing were performed on the 16S rRNA gene. The identification of morphological observations, gram staining, and biochemical tests showed that probiotic bacteria isolates, including Gram-positive, rod-shaped, rounded colony form, flat elevation, entire nonmotile edge, and catalase-negative, could ferment all carbohydrate content in the TSIA medium. The antibacterial potential was also found in probiotic bacteria, as evidenced by the inhibition zone formed in the test. The results of the bacterial gene sequences of PaTa5 probiotic bacterial isolates had a similarity of 98.37% with Lactobacillus plantarum. These findings indicated the presence of some bacteria species that have antibacterial activity in the intestines of domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus).

61-70

Authors: Lopamudra Samantaray

The use of essential oils (EOs) in animal feeding has gained attention as a potential antibiotic growth promoter replacement over the past two decades. The current study aimed to determine the impact of three feed additives, namely black pepper, turmeric, and fennel, on the productivity of laying hens, the chemical composition, and macro- and microelement content in layer eggs. A total of 280 chicks aged 75 days were randomly divided into 7 treatments (5 replicates of 8 chicks). One treatment group was provided as the unsupplemented control. The other six treatment groups, namely D0 (basal diet [BD] control), D1 (BD + 1% of black pepper), D2 (BD + 1% of turmeric), D3 (BD + 1% of fennel), D4 (BD + 0.5% of black pepper + 0.5% of turmeric), D5 (BD + 0.5% of black pepper + 0.5% of fennel), D6 (BD + 0.5% of turmeric + 0.5% of fennel) were supplemented with varying levels of phytobiotics. The result of the study indicated that the egg weight, Hen-day-production (HDP), egg quality, and haugh unit significantly improved with a combined supplementation of phytobiotics (D4, D5, and D6 diets) when compared with the control. However, there were no significant differences in the chemical composition of eggs. The X-ray fluorescence spectrometer analysis of eggs revealed the presence of 17 significant elements, including phosphorous, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, and bromine. The study findings showed that the combined supplementation of phytobiotics lowered K and Cl, whereas Zn, Ca, S, and Cu contents positively increased in hen eggs by including phytobiotic in the diet. In conclusion, the EOs of phytobiotics as dietary supplementation at 1% and 0.5% could improve the HDP, egg weight, and egg mass, including nutrient elements in the egg.

81-88

Authors: Fabrice De Paul Tatfo Keutchatang

Heavy metals are a group of elements that could be found in poultry feeds and influence poultry production. Poultry feed generally consists of agricultural products, such as maize, groundnuts, and wheat, which may also be contaminated by mycotoxins. The use of mycotoxins and heavy metals contaminated feed in the poultry sector might represent a potential source of cross-contamination for humans. This study aimed to analyze total aflatoxins (AFs), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ), ochratoxin A (OTA), chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in poultry feed from the Centre, Littoral, and Western regions of Cameroon. In this order, six local broiler feeds, six local layer feeds, and three imported layer feeds were randomly collected from each region and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry for heavy metals and competitive indirect ELISA for mycotoxins. The results indicated that all feed samples contained the analyzed mycotoxins and heavy metals. The ranges for the mean concentrations of mycotoxins were 3.5-19.7, 2.7-19.3, 0.8-1.1 µg/kg for AFs, AFB1 , and OTA, respectively. They were globally below the established regulated limits (20 µg/kg for AFs, 10 µg/kg for AFB1 and 5 µg/kg for OTA). The bulk layer feed from the Littoral region had the highest lead (995.8 ± 0.4 µg/kg) and cadmium (3.3 ± 0.0 µg/kg) concentrations. The average concentration of lead was above the permissible limit (10 µg/kg). Bulk broiler feed from the Littoral region scored the highest concentration of arsenic (2819.4 ± 0.1 µg/kg) above the permissible limit (500 µg/kg). Bulk broiler feed from the Centre region showed the highest concentration of mercury (5.6 ± 0.0 µg/kg) although lower than the permissible limit of 100 µg/kg. This study demonstrates that there are potential safety issues associated to poultry feeds used in some regions of Cameroon. It suggests a possible low productivity of poultry and health issues for consumers.

96-102

Authors: Abolfazl Ghaniei

Coccidiosis is a critical disease in the poultry industry worldwide. Producers apply different strategies to control and prevent this disease. Herbal drugs are suitable remedies for reducing losses associated with coccidiosis in poultry. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an herbal mixture in preventing coccidiosis. A total of 160 broiler chickens were divided into four treatment groups, with five replicates for each. Experimental infection of all groups, except group D, was carried out with mixed Eimeria species (E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, and E. maxima) on day 14. Broiler chickens in group A were given an herbal mixture (75% Quercus infectoria, 16% Artemisia annua, and 9% Allium sativum) as feed additives during the rearing period, and group B was treated with Monensin. No treatment was applied to group C after the chickens were experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. Group D was used as the negative control since chickens in this group were not infected or sick during the experiment. Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality rate, intestinal lesion scoring, and oocyst count per gram (OPG) were evaluated in this study. The results of the present study revealed that the highest mean body weight was gained in group D, followed by chickens in group A. The best FCR results were attributed to chickens in group D, followed by group B. In this study, both drugs decreased mortality rate, intestinal lesion scores, and OPG in the treated chickens. In conclusion, this herbal mixture can reduce coccidial lesions.

112-119

Authors: Nashwa M. Eid

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a common worldwide poultry disease caused by the bacterium of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) which has significant economic losses in the poultry industry as well as the cost of treatment and preventive measures. The current study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of NetB toxin positive in C. perfringens on different farms in Egypt. In the years 2020 and 2021, on industrial broiler farms (15-45 days- old), 100 intestinal samples were collected consisting of 30 healthy Ross broiler chickens and 70 unhealthy Ross broiler chickens. Culture and biochemical characterization (Catalase, urease, sugar fermentation, gelatin liquefaction, nitrate reduction, and lecithinase reaction tests) confirmed that C. perfringens was isolated at a rate of 10% (3/30) from apparently healthy broiler chickens and 40% from unhealthy broiler chickens. Thirty-one isolates were tested for toxigenicity and typing by ELISA kits and the results showed that 80% of the isolates from unhealthy broiler chickens were C perfringens type A alpha-toxin (toxigenic), 20% were non-toxigenic, and 66.7% isolates from apparently normal broiler chickens were toxigenic. The same thirty-one (44%) C. perfringens isolates were detected by PCR to investigate the presence of the NetB toxin gene in apparently healthy and unhealthy broilers and subsequently detect the role of NetB toxin in inducing NE. Of the samples, 82% of the isolates from unhealthy chicks were found to incode NetB gene, while none of the isolates from healthy broiler chickens had NetB. Clostridium perfringens showed sensitivity to amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and ampiclox, intermediate for ofloxacin, and high resistance to cephalexin, streptomycin, colistin sulfate, erythromycin, sulfa trimethoprim, gentamycin, and oxytetracycline. The present study revealed the importance of NetB gen in the appearance of clinical signs of NE in broiler chickens.

136-142

Authors: Adamou Guisso Taffa

Local chicken breeding is widespread in Niger, a country with harsh environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sex, temperature, and hygrometry variations on the body weight gain and growth curve of local Nigerien chickens. Two groups of local chickens were followed from hatching to 20 weeks of age. The first and second groups consisted of 96 and 124 chickens, respectively. Three seasons were identified based on continuously recording ambient temperature and humidity over a year. The dry and warm seasons (February, March, April, and May), the wet and warm seasons (June, July, August, and September), and the dry and cold seasons (October, November, December, and January). The average hatch weight was about 24 g, and monthly body weight gains ranged from 100 to 360 g. Asymptotic weights were 2214.02 ± 69.94 g and 1776.93 ± 63.57 g for roosters and 1380.25 ± 25.96 g and 1433.08 ± 71.24 g for hens. The sexual maturity rates indicate that hens are more precocious than roosters. Sex and season had significant impacts on the growth performance of the chickens. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the optimal time to raise local chickens in rural Niger is from June to January, and males are better candidates for meat production.

161-167

Authors: Olga Bagno

Currently, poultry specialists are working hard to find feed additives of natural origin. Medicinal plants are a source of a wide range of biologically active compounds with multifunctional effects, including antimicrobial ones. To understand the potential use of various medicinal plants and their extracts in poultry farming, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding different doses of water-ethanol extract of Urtica dioica (Urtica dioica L.) on the egg productivity of laying hens. A total of 300 laying hens were divided to control and five experimental groups of chickens, each with 5 replicates. During the entire experiment, the laying hens of the control group were fed complete compound feeds according to the egg-laying phase, and the chickens of the experimental groups were additionally fed Urtica dioica extract in different doses. The results indicated that feeding laying hens with Urtica dioica extract in doses of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/kg of body weight had a positive effect on their egg productivity. An increase in egg production per average laying hen in the experimental groups was 2.6-6.1%, and the intensity of egg production was 2.1-5.4%, compared to the control. However, the feed consumption in all experimental groups decreased. When introducing Urtica dioica extract into full-fledged compound feeds for laying hens, there was an increase in the relative egg white content, egg white/egg yolk ratio, and a decrease in relative yolk and shell content. Accordingly, it is suggested to include Urtica dioica extract at a dose of 15 mg/kg in the diet of laying hens which can improve economic efficiency and egg parameters.