Temporal trends (1972-2017) and spatial differences of persistent halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons in osprey eggs in Finland.

Time trends and regional differences of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), DDTs, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (BDEs) were studied in unhatched osprey eggs collected by bird ringers in 1972-2017 from four areas in Finland. Two study areas were from Baltic Sea, Northern Quark and Finnish Archipelago Sea, while the two others were inland lake areas, eutrophicated Lake Vanajanselkä affected by industrial emissions, and Pristine SW Lake Area. The highest concentrations of most compound groups were in Lake Vanajanselkä consistent with high emissions, the predominance of bream as a prey, and higher concentrations in bream compared to other prey fish. Concentrations of all chlorinated compounds decreased significantly in all study areas. Average annual decreases were ∑PCDD/F 2.3-4.9%, ∑PCB 2.2-4.2%, ∑PCN 2.6-7.0% and ∑DDT 7.1-9.5%, primarily in line with decreased levels in prey fish. From 1972 PBBs and BDEs increased significantly until 1990s declining rapidly thereafter. PCDD/F congener profile was dominated by 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, except in Lake Vanajanselkä by 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD. PCB congener profile was dominated by PCB 153 in all study areas, followed by PCB 180 and PCB 138. Among dioxin-like compounds PCBs contributed 82%, PCDDs 14% and PCDFs 4% to toxic equivalent quantity (∑TEQ). PCB 126 contributed most to ∑TEQ, followed by 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD. BDE 47 being the dominant BDE congener, followed by BDE 100. ∑DDT concentrations were relatively similar across all study areas, with DDE contributing about 90%. Productivity of chicks per active nest was significantly decreased in Lake Vanajanselkä, and the likely explanation is embryotoxicity of dioxin-like compounds. It is plausible that dioxin-like compounds influenced embryonic survival among highly exposed ospreys prior to 2010, especially in Lake Vanajanselkä and Northern Quark. However, decreased survival due to DDE-induced eggshell thinning seems unlikely after 1985, and BDE levels were below those potentially causing adverse effects.

Chaya Leaf Infusion (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) as a Phytogenic for Productivity and Egg Quality of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of 17-20 Weeks of age.

Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) from family Euphorbiaceae is a plant has leaves similar to papaya leaves but with dark green leaf color. This plant contains phytochemical compounds such as alkaloid, flavonoid, triterpenoids, glycoside, and tannin that can function as antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Chaya leaf infusion are processed into infusion before given to the quails through drinking water, this method is used to obtain the phytochemical compounds contained in chaya leaves. This study aimed to evaluate chaya leaf infusion (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) as a phytogenic source on the productivity and egg quality of japanese laying quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) aged 17-20 weeks. Chaya leaf infusion is given through drinking water and is expected to increase the productivity and quality of quail egg. The variables observed consisted of productivity (water intake, feed intake, egg weigh, QDP, egg mass, FCR, mortality) and egg quality (yolk, albumen, shell weight and percentage, egg index, yolk index, albumen index, shell thickness, yolk color, and haugh unit). This study was analyzed using the T test with 2 treatments and 4 replications: T0 = drinking water without any additives and T1 = drinking water with a concentration 10% of chaya leaf infusion. The results showed that chaya leaf infusion had a significant effect (P≤0.05) on quail day production, egg mass, albumen index, and yolk color. Besides that, supplementation chaya leaf infusion significantly reduces (P<0.05) feed convertion ratio. So that the use of 10% chaya leaf infusion in drinking water by giving it 2 times a week can increase the productivity and egg quality of laying quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) 17-20 weeks old.

Growth performance, carcass composition, and qualitative meat features of broiler chickens after galactooligosaccharides and sodium butyrate in ovo administration.

The study aimed to analyze the growth performance, feed indicators, and quantitative and qualitative physicochemical features of carcass and meat from broiler chickens after rearing, stimulated in ovo on d 12 of incubation with various substances. In the experiment, 1,200 hatching eggs from meat-type hen Ross 308 parental flock were incubated. On d 12, the injection was performed. Group CON-0 was noninjected. Group CON-S was injected with saline. In the GOS group, the procedure was performed in ovo with galactooligosaccharides (dissolved 3.5 mg of GOS in 0.2 mL of NaCl). In the SB group, butyric acid sodium salt was administered in a 0.3% SB dissolved in 0.2 mL NaCl. After hatching, 336, 1-day-old chicks per group were transferred to the broiler house and kept in 7 pens with 12 chickens per group for 42 d. The body weight and feed intake indicators were calculated. Next, 40 birds were selected (n = 10 per group) and taken to analyze carcass composition and meat quality (pH, color, WHC, drip loss, chemical composition). Compared to the experimental groups, the highest body weight indicators were found in groups CON-0 and CON-S. The feed conversion ratio was the lowest in the SB group on d 36 to 42 (P < 0.05). The European Efficiency Production Factor in groups GOS and SB was lower than in group CON-S (P = 0.005). The GOS group showed higher pH24hours in the pectoral muscles than the CON-S group (P = 0.011). The leg muscles showed better WHC in the CON-S, GOS, and SB groups than in the CON-0 group (P < 0.001). A lower intramuscular fat of the pectoral and leg muscle content was demonstrated, especially in the SB group. Injection of galactooligosaccharides and sodium butyrate in ovo adversely affected broiler production but did not alter carcass composition. It varied pectoral muscles' pH and chemical composition and improved water holding capacity and chemical composition in leg muscles.

Effects of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets on performance, egg quality and chemical composition.

The utilization of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets could lead to value-added poultry products. To test this idea, 336 hens were randomly assigned to 4 isonitrogenous (18.5% CP) and isocaloric (2,927 kcal/kg) formulated diets and fed the following diets for eight weeks: conventional control solvent-extracted defatted soybean meal (CON); extruded-expelled defatted soybean meal (EENO); full fat normal-oleic soybean meal (FFNO); or full fat high-oleic soybean meal (FFHO). Body weights (BW) were collected at week 0 and week 8. Eggs were collected daily, and the totals counted each week. Feed consumption was measured weekly, and egg quality was measured bi-weekly. Eggs were collected at wk 0 and wk 8 for fatty acid analysis. There were no significant treatment differences in any of the production parameters measured, BW, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio or egg production (P > 0.05). Eggshell strength was significantly greater in eggs produced from the EENO group as compared to the control (P < 0.01), while egg yolk color was significantly darker in eggs of the control and EENO treatment groups relative to the FFNO and FFHO treatments (P < 0.0001). Eggs produced by hens fed the FFHO diet had a 52% increase in monounsaturated n-9 oleic acid content (P < 0.0001) and reduced palmitic (P < 0.01) and stearic (P < 0.0001) saturated fatty acid levels as compared to the conventional controls. These results validate the utilization of FFHO as a value-added poultry feed ingredient to enrich the eggs and/or poultry meat produced.

Chemical composition and egg production capacity throughout bloom development of ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the northern Adriatic Sea.

High abundances of gelatinous zooplankton (GZ) can significantly impact marine ecosystem by acting as both sink and source of organic matter (OM) and nutrients. The decay of GZ bloom can introduce significant amount of OM to the ocean interior, with its variability influenced by GZ life traits and environmental factors, impacting microbial communities vital to marine biogeochemical cycles. The invasive ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi has formed massive blooms in the northern Adriatic Sea since 2016. However, the variability in the chemical composition and egg production of blooming populations, as well as the role of environmental factors in governing this variability, remains largely unknown. Our analysis of biometry, chemical composition, and fecundity of M. leidyi sampled in the Gulf of Trieste in 2021 revealed stable carbon and nitrogen content throughout bloom development, with no significant correlation with seawater temperature, salinity, oxygen, and chlorophyll a concentration. Although the studied population exhibited homogeneity in terms of biometry and chemical composition, the number of produced eggs varied substantially, showing no clear correlation with environmental variables and being somewhat lower than previously reported for the study area and other Mediterranean areas. We observed a positive correlation between the wet weight of individuals and the percentage of hatched eggs, as well as a significant positive correlation between the percentage of hatched eggs and ambient seawater temperature. Additionally, we noted that the speed of hatching decreased with decreasing seawater temperature in autumn, corresponding to the end of M. leidyi bloom.

Influence of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) leaves as feed additive during first stage of laying hens on performances and egg quality characteristics.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosehip leaves (RL) supplementation on the production performances and egg quality of laying hens during the first stage of laying. For that, 90 Lohmann Brown Classic hens, aged 26 wk, were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments as follows: a control diet (RL0), an experimental diet containing 0.5% rosehip leaves (RL0.5), and an experimental diet containing 1% rosehip leaves (RL1). The laying hens were accommodated in an experimental hall with identical pens (3.96 m2), and controlled microclimate conditions. The dietary treatments were administered for a 6-wk experimental period (26-32 d of age). During this time, production performance of hens was recorded. To assess the impact of RL on egg weight and its components evolution, egg yolk and albumen color, and primary chemical composition of egg constituents were determined every 2 wk. The effect on egg yolk fatty acids profile was determined only at the end of the trial. The results showed that RL0.5 and RL1 dietary treatments significantly improved laying rate, feed conversion ratio and egg mass compared with RL0 group. A significant effect on egg weight and its components was observed only over time, showing that RL has no effect on these parameters. Significant changes in egg yolk coloration were observed over time, with significant increases in L*, a* and b* chromomeric parameters in both RL0.5 and RL1 compared to RL0. Significant alterations were obtained from the sum of egg yolk fatty acids. The RL1 egg yolk presented significantly higher n-3, and significantly lower n-6 fatty acids, compared with both RL0 and RL0.5. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of rosehip leaf supplementation on laying hens performance and egg quality.

Trophic fate and biomagnification of organic micropollutants from staple food to a specialized predator.

The environmental burden of organic micropollutants has been shown in aquatic ecosystems, while trophic fate of many compounds in terrestrial food chains remains highly elusive. We therefore studied concentrations of 108 organic micropollutants in a common European mammal, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), and 82 of the compounds in a specialized predator, Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus) relying to >90 % on voles as its prey. We studied compounds in whole voles (n = 19), pools of 4-8 bank voles (npools = 4), owl blood (n = 10) and in owl eggs (n = 10) in two regions in Sweden. For comparison, we also included previously published data on 23 PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in bank vole liver (npools = 4) from the same regions. In voles, concentrations of the organic micropollutants caffeine (maxIndividual 220 ng/g ww) and DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) (maxPool 150 ng/g ww) were 2-200 times higher in voles relative to owl blood and eggs. Conversely, concentrations of nicotine, oxazepam, salicylic acid, and tributyl citrate acetate were 1.3-440 times higher in owls. Several PFAS showed biomagnification in owls as revealed by maximum biomagnification factors (BMFs); PFNA (perfluorononanoate) BMF = 5.6, PFTeDA (perfluorotetradecanoic acid) BMF = 5.9, and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) BMF = 6.1. Concentrations of organic micropollutants, alongside calculated BMFs, and Tengmalm's owl's heavy reliance on bank vole as staple food, suggest, despite small sample size and potential spatio-temporal mismatch, accumulation of PFAS (especially PFNA, PFTeDA, and PFOS) in owls and biomagnification along the food chain. Concentrations of PFAS in owl eggs (e.g., 21 ng/g ww PFOS) highlight the likely pivotal role of maternal transfer in contaminant exposure for avian embryos. These concentrations are also of concern considering that certain predators frequently consume owl eggs, potentially leading to additional biomagnification of PFAS with yet undetermined consequences for ecosystem health.

Mercury compound distribution and stable isotope composition in the different compartments of seabird eggs: The case of three species breeding in East Greenland.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant of global concern and the impact on Arctic ecosystems, particularly in seabirds, is critical due to large-scale Hg transport towards polar regions and its biomagnification in marine trophic systems. While the adverse effects of Hg on reproductive processes in seabirds are established, the understanding of Hg maternal transfer pathways and their control on Hg reproductive toxicity is limited. The combination of Hg compounds speciation (inorganic mercury and monomethylmercury MMHg) and Hg stable isotope composition in the different egg compartments (yolk, albumen, membrane, and shell) before embryo development was investigated to provide information on (i) Hg maternal transfer mechanisms, (ii) influence of egg biochemical composition on Hg organotropism and (iii) proxies of inputs of Hg contamination. Eggs of three seabird species (the common eider, the black-legged kittiwake and the little auk) collected within the same breeding period (summer 2020) in East Greenland were investigated. For all seabirds, albumen and membrane, the most protein-rich compartments, were the most contaminated (from 1.2 to 2.7 µg g-1 for albumen and from 0.3 to 0.7 µg g-1 for membrane). In these two compartments, more than 82% of the total Hg amount was in the form of MMHg. Additionally, mass-dependent fractionation values (δ202Hg) were higher in albumen and membrane in the three species. This result was mainly due the organotropism of MMHg as influenced by the biochemical properties and chemical binding affinity of these proteinous compartments. Among the different egg compartments, individuals and species, mass-independent fractionation values were comparable (mean ± sd were 0.99 ± 0.11‰, 0.78 ± 0.11‰, 0.03 ± 0.05‰, 0.04 ± 0.10‰ for Δ199Hg, Δ201Hg, Δ200Hg and Δ204Hg, respectively). We conclude that initial MMHg accumulated in the three species originated from Arctic environmental reservoirs exhibiting similar and low photodemethylation extent. This result suggests a unique major source of MMHg in those ecosystems, potentially influenced by sea ice cover.

ELOVL5 and VLDLR synergistically affect n-3 PUFA deposition in eggs of different chicken breeds.

There was no significant difference in the composition and content of fatty acids in eggs among different breeds initially, but following the supplementation of flaxseed oil, Dwarf Layer were observed to deposit more n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in eggs. Currently, there is limited research on the mechanisms underlying the differences in egg composition among different breeds. Therefore, in this study, 150 twenty-four-wk-old hens of each breed, including the Dwarf Layer and White Leghorn, were fed either a basal diet or a diet supplemented with 2.5% flaxseed oil. After 28 d, eggs and liver samples were collected to determine fatty acid composition, and serum, liver, intestine, and follicles were collected for subsequent biochemical, intestinal morphology, and lipid metabolism-related genes expression analysis. Duodenal contents were collected for microbial analysis. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the content and deposition efficiency of total n-3 PUFA in the liver of the 2 breeds, but the content and deposition efficiency of total n-3 PUFA in the egg of Dwarf Layer were significantly higher than those of White Leghorn after feeding flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil and breeds did not have significant effects on cholesterol (CHO), free fatty acids (NEFA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and estrogen (E2) levels. After feeding with flaxseed oil, the villus height and the villus-to-crypt ratio in both breeds were increased and duodenal crypt depth was decreased. The villus-to-crypt ratio (4.78 vs. 3.60) in the duodenum of Dwarf Layer was significantly higher than that in White Leghorn after feeding with flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil can impact the gut microbiota in the duodenum and reduce the microbiota associated with fatty acid breakdown, such as Romboutsia, Subdolibranulum, Lachnochlostridium, and Clostridium. This may mean that less ALA can be decomposed and more ALA can be absorbed into the body. Additionally, after feeding flaxseed oil, the mRNA levels of elongation enzymes 5 (ELOVL5), fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), and fatty acid transporter 1 (FATP1) in the liver of Dwarf Layer were significantly higher than those in White Leghorn, while the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1), Acyl CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), and Acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) were significantly lower than those in White Leghorn. The mRNA level of FABP1 in the duodenum of Dwarf Layer was significantly higher than that of White Leghorn, while the mRNA level of FATP1 was significantly lower than that of White Leghorn. The protein levels of ELOVL5 in the liver of Dwarf Layer and very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) in the follicles were significantly higher than those of White Leghorn. In summary, after feeding flaxseed oil, the higher ratio of villus height to crypt depth in Dwarf Layer allows more α-linolenic acid (ALA) to be absorbed into the body. The higher mRNA expression of FADS1, ELOVL5, and FATP1, as well as the higher protein expression of ELOVL5 in the liver of Dwarf Layer enhance the conversion of ALA into DHA. The higher protein expression of VLDLR in follicles of Dwarf Layer allows more n-3 PUFA to deposit in the follicles. These combined factors contribute to the Dwarf Layer's ability to deposit higher levels of n-3 PUFA in eggs, as well as improving the deposition efficiency of n-3 PUFA.

The change of albumen quality during the laying cycle and its potential physiological and molecular basis of laying hens.

To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms that impact variability in albumen quality of laying hens from the peak of lay to the late production phase. A 60-wk study was conducted on a cohort of 20,000 Hy-Line Brown laying hens from 20 to 80 wk old. Before commencement at 20 wk, the 10-wk-old hens were acclimatized for 10 wk. This study examined changes in albumen quality, serum, and liver antioxidant capacity, magnum morphology, and expression of albumen-protein-related genes in the magnum. To reduce sampling error, we collected eggs (n = 90) from pre-determined cages at every sampling point (5-wk intervals), and 8 hens were selected at 10-wk intervals for blood and tissue collection. Our findings revealed that age significantly affected most evaluated parameters. Albumen gel properties, including hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, increased significantly with age (P < 0.05). With the increasing of hens' age from 20 to 80 wk, the albumen proportion of eggs was decreased, but eggshell proportion, yolk proportion, thick albumen proportion, thick to thin ratio, thick albumen solid content, albumen height, Haugh units (HU), and yolk color were increased and then decreased (P < 0.05). Compared to hens aged 20 to 60 wk, the hens (70-80 wk) had significantly reduced total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione levels (GSH) in the liver and lower serum TAC and superoxide dismutase levels (SOD) (P < 0.05). The magnum mucosal folds were highest in 40 to 60 wk-old hens, and the luminal diameter increased with age (P < 0.05). In the magnum, the mRNA expression levels for OVA, CPE, and NUP205 increased significantly between 30 and 40 wk, while FBN1 expression was higher between 30 and 50 wk (P < 0.05). At 70 to 80 wk, the expression of BRCA2 was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Albumen height, thick albumen proportion with protein secretion-related genes, enhanced antioxidant function, and luminal diameter correlated positively. However, the thick-to-thin albumen ratio negatively correlated with BRCA2, downregulated in aged laying hens. We used principal component and cluster analysis to deduce albumen quality changes during 3 phases: 25 to 35, 40 to 55, and 60 to 80 wk. The decline in albumen quality in aging hens is linked with decreased antioxidant capacity, magnum health, and downregulation of key genes involved in protein synthesis and secretion. These findings emphasize critical albumen quality changes in laying hens and suggest molecular pathways underlying age-related albumen quality alterations.

Assessment of performance and egg quality in laying hens of Spanish indigenous breed Black Castellana as compared with a selected white egg-layer strain.

Indigenous animal genetic resources should be preserved because of their well adaptation to the environment, their tolerance to low food availability and their sociocultural importance. The characterization of the quality of the products generated by heritage breeds may bring more arguments to encourage the raising of these animals. This study aimed at evaluating the egg performance and quality of Spanish indigenous Black Castellana (BC) breed as compared with a selected strain (Lohmann LSL-Classic). Four groups of 30 hens were arranged: 1) Lohmann hens fed a control diet; 2) BC hens fed the control diet; 3) Lohmann hens fed a diet including linseed at 70 g/kg (omega-3 diet); 4) BC hens fed the omega-3 diet. Egg production was higher by 12.3% for Lohmann hens but, since BC eggs were heavier by 15.4%, no effect of genetics was found on daily egg mass. Feed intake was higher by 5.0% for BC hens. Nonetheless, no difference was detected for feed conversion ratio. Eggshell was thicker by 6.78% in Lohmann eggs. Haugh units did not differ among freshly laid and stored eggs in Lohmann hens, whereas Haugh units decreased in stored BC eggs (80.5 vs. 76.7 vs. 72.3 at 0, 14, and 30 d of storage). Yolks of BC eggs contained less fat (57.5 vs. 60.8% DM), more protein (32.8 vs. 31.9% DM) and more cholecalciferol (1.25 vs. 1.22 µg/g DM), and showed lower proportion of saturated fatty acids (29.0 vs. 37.0%) and higher proportions of monounsaturated (45.7 vs. 39.6%) and polyunsaturated (25.2 vs. 23.4%) fatty acids. Feeding the omega-3 diet reduced the yolk proportions of saturated (32.5 vs. 33.5%) and monounsaturated (42.0 vs. 43.3%) fatty acids and increased those of polyunsaturated (25.4 vs. 23.2%) and ω-3 (7.05 vs. 2.42%) fatty acids. No effect due to genetics or diet was found on yolk color score or on yolk content in cholesterol, cobalamin, retinol and γ-tocopherol. This study represents the first exhaustive characterization of eggs from Spanish indigenous Black Castellana breed.

Exploring the effects of varying levels of selenium-chitosan on production performance, egg quality, and immune health in laying japanese quail.

The purpose of this research was to see how different levels of Se-chitosan, a novel organic source of Se, affected the production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, microbial population, immunological response, antioxidant status, and yolk fatty acid profile of laying Japanese quail. This experiment used a totally randomized design, with 5 treatments, 6 repeats, and 10 birds in each repetition. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: no Se supplementation (control group), 0.2 mg/kg Na-selenite supplementation, and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/kg Se-chitosan supplementation. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved linearly in quails fed different levels of Se-chitosan compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Se-chitosan at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg demonstrated both linear and quadratic increases in albumen height, Haugh unit, and yolk color in fresh eggs compared to the control group. Additionally, Se-chitosan contributed to enhanced shell thickness and strength, along with an increased Se concentration in the yolk. Se-chitosan supplementation at different levels linearly and quadratically reduced coliforms (COL) while increasing lactic acid bacteria (LAB)/coliform ratios (P < 0.05). Se-chitosan supplementation linearly and quadratically increased the total antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and IgG titers (P < 0.05). It also linearly decreased the level of malondialdehyde in fresh and stored egg yolks and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase linearly, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) both linearly and quadratically in quail blood serum (P < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation of Se-chitosan at levels of 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg linearly decreased the ∑ n-6 PUFA/∑ n-3 PUFA ratio in the yolk compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that incorporating Se-chitosan as a novel organic source of Se in the diet of laying quails can enhance production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, yolk lipid oxidation, microbial population, immune response, antioxidant enzyme activity, and yolk fatty acid profile.

Phylogenetic variations in a novel family of hyperstable apple snail egg proteins: insights into structural stability and functional trends.

The relationship between protein stability and functional evolution is little explored in proteins purified from natural sources. Here, we investigated a novel family of egg proteins (Perivitellin-1, PV1) from Pomacea snails. Their remarkable stability and clade-related functions in most derived clades (Canaliculata and Bridgesii) make them excellent candidates for exploring this issue. To that aim, we studied PV1 (PpaPV1) from the most basal lineage, Flagellata. PpaPV1 displays unparalleled structural and kinetic stability, surpassing PV1s from derived clades, ranking among the most hyperstable proteins documented in nature. Its spectral features contribute to a pale egg coloration, exhibiting a milder glycan binding lectin activity with a narrower specificity than PV1s from the closely related Bridgesii clade. These findings provide evidence for substantial structural and functional changes throughout the genus' PV1 evolution. We observed that structural and kinetic stability decreased in a clade-related fashion and was associated with large variations in defensive traits. For instance, pale PpaPV1 lectin turns potent in the Bridgesii clade, adversely affecting gut morphology, while giving rise to brightly colored PV1s providing eggs with a conspicuous, probably warning signal in the Canaliculata clade. This work provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of PV1s from various apple snail species within a phylogenetic framework, offering insights into the interplay among their structural features, stability profiles and functional roles. More broadly, our work provides one of the first examples from natural evolution showing the crucial link among protein structure, stability and evolution of new functions.

Non-destructive prediction of fertility and sex in chicken eggs using the short wave near-infrared region.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a handheld near-infrared device (900-1600 nm) to predict fertility and sex (male and female) traits in-ovo. The NIR reflectance spectra of the egg samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14 and 18 of incubation and the data was analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machines classification (SVM). The overall classification rates for the prediction of fertile and infertile egg samples ranged from 73 % to 84 % and between 93 % to 95 % using LDA and SVM classification, respectively. The highest classification rate was obtained on day 7 of incubation. The classification between male and female embryos achieved lower classification rates, between 62 % and 68 % using LDA and SVM classification, respectively. Although the classification rates for in-ovo sexing obtained in this study are higher than those obtained by chance (50 %), the classification results are currently not sufficient for industrial in-ovo sexing of chicken eggs. These results demonstrated that short wavelengths in the NIR range may be useful to distinguish between fertile and infertile egg samples at days 7 and 14 during incubation.

CVAE-DF: A hybrid deep learning framework for fertilization status detection of pre-incubation duck eggs based on VIS/NIR spectroscopy.

Unfertilized duck eggs not removed prior to incubation will deteriorate quickly, posing a risk of contaminating the normally fertilized duck eggs. Thus, detecting the fertilization status of breeding duck eggs as early as possible is a meaningful and challenging task. Most existing work usually focus on the characteristics of chicken eggs during mid-term hatching. However, little attention has been paid to the detection for duck eggs prior to incubation. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid deep learning detection framework for the fertilization status of pre-incubation duck eggs, termed CVAE-DF, based on visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) transmittance spectroscopy. The framework comprises the encoder of a convolutional variational autoencoder (CVAE) and an improved deep forest (DF) model. More specifically, we first collected transmittance spectral data (400-1000 nm) of 255 duck eggs before hatching. The multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) method was then used to eliminate noise and extraneous information of the raw spectral data. Two efficient data augmentation methods were adopted to provide sufficient data. After that, CVAE was applied to extract representative features and reduce the feature dimension for the detection task. Finally, an improved DF model was employed to build the classification model on the enhanced feature set. The CVAE-DF model achieved an overall accuracy of 95.94 % on the test dataset. These experimental results in terms of four metrics demonstrate that our CVAE-DF method outperforms the traditional methods by a significant margin. Furthermore, the results also indicate that CVAE holds great promise as a novel feature extraction method for the VIS/NIR spectral analysis of other agricultural products. It is extremely beneficial to practical engineering.

Egg Mercury Concentration and Egg Size Varies with Position in the Laying Sequence in two Songbird Species.

In birds, mercury embryotoxicity can occur through the transfer of mercury from the female to her eggs. Maternal transfer of mercury can vary by egg position in the laying sequence, with first-laid eggs often exhibiting greater mercury concentrations than subsequently laid eggs. We studied egg mercury concentration, mercury burden (total amount of mercury in the egg), and egg morphometrics by egg position in the laying sequence for two songbirds: tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and house wrens (Troglodytes aedon). Egg mercury concentration in the second egg laid was 14% lower for tree swallows and 6% lower for house wrens in comparison with the first egg laid. These results indicate that in both species, after an initial relatively high transfer of mercury into the first egg laid, a smaller amount of mercury was transferred to the second egg laid. This lower mercury concentration persisted among all subsequently laid eggs (eggs three to eight) in tree swallows (all were 14%-16% lower than egg 1), but mercury concentrations in subsequently laid house wren eggs (eggs three to seven) returned to levels observed in the first egg laid (all were 1% lower to 3% greater than egg 1). Egg size increased with position in the laying sequence in both species; the predicted volume of egg 7 was 5% and 6% greater than that of egg 1 in tree swallows and house wrens, respectively. This change was caused by a significant increase in egg width, but not egg length, with position in the laying sequence. The percentage of decline in mercury concentration with position in the laying sequence was considerably lower in tree swallows and house wrens compared with other bird taxonomic groups, suggesting that there are key differences in the maternal transfer of mercury into songbird eggs compared with other birds. Finally, we performed simulations to evaluate how within-clutch variation in egg mercury concentrations affected estimates of mean mercury concentrations in each clutch and the overall sampled population, which has direct implications for sampling designs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1844-1854. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Estimating yolk weight of duck eggs using VIS-NIR Spectroscopy and RGB images and whole egg weights.

Duck eggs are widely-consumed food and cooking ingredient. The heavier yolk weight (YW) corresponds to a larger size and greater value. However, there is no nondestructive method available to estimate the weight of the yolk. Accurate weight prediction of duck egg yolks must combine both phenotypic and internal information. In this research, we used Visible-Near Infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy to obtain internal information of duck eggs, and a high-definition camera to capture their phenotypic features. YW was predicted by combining the reduced spectral and RGB image information with the whole egg weight. We also investigated the impact of color and thickness of the duck egg on spectral transmittance (ST), as these factors can influence the extent of ST. The results showed that the spectral curves of duck eggs produced 2 peaks and 1 valley, which may be caused by the dual-frequency absorption of the C-H group and O-H group, and can be used to symbolize the internal information of duck eggs. The ST was somewhat affected by the color and thickness of the duck eggshell. Before modelling, Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to significantly reduce the dimensionality of the RGB image with spectral data. A partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was utilized to fit all the features. The test set yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.82 and a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 1.05 g. After removing the eggshell's color and thickness features, the model showed an R2 of 0.79 and an RMSE of 1.11 g. This study demonstrated that the yolk weight of duck eggs can be estimated using VIS-NIR spectroscopy, RGB images and whole egg weight. Furthermore, the effects of shell color and thickness can be neglected.

Residue, distribution and depletion of fluralaner in egg following a single intravenous and transdermal administration in healthy shaver hens: fluralaner residue in egg.

The demand for the use of fluralaner in an extra label manner is increasing due to lack of efficacious treatment to combat mites and bed bugs in the poultry industry in the United States. Fluralaner residue data in eggs is lacking and residues might cause risks to human health. The present study aimed to determine the depletion profiles of fluralaner in eggs and estimate the drug withdrawal interval in whole eggs by adopting the US Food and Drug administration tolerance limit method with single intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) or transdermal administration (average 58.7 mg/kg) in healthy shaver hens. Hens were treated intravenously or trans-dermally with fluralaner. The eggs were collected daily for 28 d for intravenous treated and for 40 d from the transdermal route group. Fluralaner concentrations in yolk and albumen were determined by mass spectrometry. The greater percentage of fluralaner was observed in yolk when compared to the albumen for both administration routes. Noncompartmental analysis was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters in yolk, albumen and whole egg. The longest apparent half-life confirmed in yolk was 3.7 d for intravenous and 14.3 d for the transdermal route. The withdrawal intervals in whole egg for fluralaner following the intravenous and transdermal administration were 7 d and 81 d, respectively, with maximum residue limits (1.3 µg/g) at 13 d and 171 d, respectively, based on the limit of quantification (0.4 µg/g) from the analytical assay reported by EMA and APVMA.

The Chicken Egg: An Advanced Material for Tissue Engineering.

The chicken egg, an excellent natural source of proteins, has been an overlooked native biomaterial with remarkable physicochemical, structural, and biological properties. Recently, with significant advances in biomedical engineering, particularly in the development of 3D in vitro platforms, chicken egg materials have increasingly been investigated as biomaterials due to their distinct advantages such as their low cost, availability, easy handling, gelling ability, bioactivity, and provision of a developmentally stimulating environment for cells. In addition, the chicken egg and its by-products can improve tissue engraftment and stimulate angiogenesis, making it particularly attractive for wound healing and tissue engineering applications. Evidence suggests that the egg white (EW), egg yolk (EY), and eggshell membrane (ESM) are great biomaterial candidates for tissue engineering, as their protein composition resembles mammalian extracellular matrix proteins, ideal for cellular attachment, cellular differentiation, proliferation, and survivability. Moreover, eggshell (ES) is considered an excellent calcium resource for generating hydroxyapatite (HA), making it a promising biomaterial for bone regeneration. This review will provide researchers with a concise yet comprehensive understanding of the chicken egg structure, composition, and associated bioactive molecules in each component and introduce up-to-date tissue engineering applications of chicken eggs as biomaterials.

Live yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae: a promising nutritional enrichment for laying quails.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing live Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae to laying quails (Coturnix japonica) as nutritional enrichment. Live performances, apparent digestibility of nutrients (including that of sole live TM larvae), egg physicochemical quality, sensory traits, and storage stability were considered in this experiment. Sixty laying quails were divided into 2 dietary groups (6 replicated cages/group; 5 quails/cage): a Control group received a basal diet for laying quails and a TM10 group was fed with the Control diet supplemented with live TM larvae (10% of the expected daily feed intake). For the digestibility trial, 30 laying quails were divided into 3 dietary groups: the first 2 groups were fed with the Control and TM10 diets, while the third group received ad libitum live TM larvae (TM100) as a complete replacement for the Control diet. Overall, no mortality was recorded during the trials. Quails fed TM showed a remarkable capability of digesting dietary chitin (P < 0.0001). TM100 quails showed the lowest digestibility for dry matter, crude protein, and energy, but that of ether extract was the highest (P < 0.001). The presence of live TM larvae stimulated quails' feed intake (P < 0.0001), but did not affect performance traits. Similarly, overall physicochemical quality attributes and storage stability were comparable in Control and TM10 eggs. The sensory features of quail eggs differed in TM10 vs. Control groups: TM10 eggs had the lowest overall flavor (P < 0.01), sulfur (P < 0.05) and greasy-oily (P < 0.01) intensities. Therefore, a 10% TM dietary supplementation is effective in stimulating feeding activity of quails, but it did not provide any productive improvement compared to a standard diet. Further studies should assess the possible beneficial effect of live TM supplementation on quail's gut health. The digestibility trial with the sole live TM larvae allowed to assess the specific nutritional value of this emerging feedstuff which is of utmost importance for future feed formulations.