Performance traits and selected blood constituents of broiler chicks as influenced by early access to feed post-hatch.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of early access to feed and water post-hatch on broiler chicks' performance. One hundred and twenty chicks were transferred from the hatchery to the rearing house and randomly divided into two groups. The first group: chicks were immediately access to feed and water (F-time 0). The second group: was held without feed and water for 24 h (F-time 24). Then, feed and water were provided ad-libitum, for both groups until 35 days of age. Results indicated that F-time 0 increased body weight and body weight gain throughout the experimental period. It increased feed intake during all experimental periods except from (22-28 days). Additionally, the F-time 0 enhanced the European production efficiency factor index. The F-time 24, increased red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (HGB), and packed cell volume (PCV) percentage after 24 h. However, the F-time 0 had a higher RBCs count, HGB, and PCV at 35 days of age. F-time 24 increased total plasma protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides, after 24 h. In conclusion, early access to feed and water post-hatch enhances broiler chicks' performance and productivity and increases producers' revenue.

Lemongrass extract enhances productive performance, blood biomarkers, immunity, and gut health of broilers.

Background: Lemongrass (LG) had various phytochemical components such as saponins, phenols, resins, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides and terpenes, minerals as well as vitamin C which had various pharmacological actions (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antibiotic, and antifungal) and growth promoter. The use of LG in broiler nutrition can be optimized the bird performance and gut health. Based on the high nutrition value of LG and absence of sufficient studies on the effect of lemongrass aqueous extract (LGX) on broiler performance and gut health (antioxidant and immune biomarkers and intestinal morphology), the aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of using LGX on productive performance, blood biomarkers, immunity and gut health of broilers. Methods: A total of two hundreds one-day- old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were fed on the starter basal diet for 6 days. From day 7 of age onwards, the birds were distributed, at random, into 4 groups. Each group included 5 replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. The birds in group 1 were not administered lemongrass extract (control, LGX0) while chicks in group 2 (LGX100), 3 (LGX200) and 4 (LGX300) were administered the aqueous extract of lemongrass in drinking water at levels of 100, 200 and 300 ml/l, respectively. The experimental period lasted for 35 day. Growth performance parameters, economic efficiency, hematological and biochemical biomarkers, expression of some antioxidant and immune related genes, cecal bacterial counts and intestinal morphological changes all were assessed. Results: The results indicated that, administration of LGX in drinking water at levels of 200, 100 ml/l, respectively significantly improved (p ≤ 0.001) body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control but without any effect on economic efficiency index (EEI) and feed intake (FI). On the other hand, the addition of LGX in drinking water at levels of 300 ml/l significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.001) FI, EEI and all growth performance parameters as compared to those other groups. LGX supplemented birds groups exhibited higher Hb, PCV, MCH, platelets, and lymphocytes than the control group. However, the ratio of H/L in LGX100 and LGX200 groups was lower (p ≤ 0.001) than other groups. LGX supplemented groups showed low (p ≤ 0.001) cholesterol, creatinine, MDA and high (p ≤ 0.01) TAC. Up regulation (p ≤ 0.001) of the expressions of catalase, GPX1, and SOD1 were in LGX200 group compared to other groups. While, the proinflammatory genes expression (IL1B, IL6, IFNᵧ, and TNF) were down regulated (p ≤ 0.001) in the LGX200 compared to others. Moreover, LGX200 and LGX300 reduced (p ≤ 0.001) the intestinal pathogens counts (E.coli and Salmonella). Administration of LGX at levels of 200 and 100 ml/l, respectively enhanced (p ≤ 0.001) villi height and crypts depth. Conclusions: It was concluded that lemongrass aqueous extract can be included at level 100 and 200 ml/l in broilers' drinking water since it resulted in improved weight, feed conversion ratio, blood parameters, immunity and gut health without any deleterious effect on the health and performance of the birds. LGX at a 200 ml/l supplementation level achieved the best results followed by a 100 ml/l level. Also, the tested supplements can be used as natural growth promoter instead of antibiotic and help in solving the global problem of antimicrobial resistant bacterial strains responsible for human and animal diseases.

Effect of Dietary Rosemary and Ginger Essential Oils on the Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Meat Nutritive Value, Blood Biochemicals, and Redox Status of Growing NZW Rabbits.

This study was conducted to assess the impacts of using two essential oils, rosemary and ginger, on growing rabbits' performance, carcass traits, meat composition, blood biochemicals, and the redox status of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 120 unsexed NZW rabbits, 42-days-old, were assigned randomly to five experimental groups (n = 24, 6 replicates with 4 rabbits each). The first group received a basal diet (control), the second to fifth groups were dietary supplemented daily with rosemary essential oil (REO) and ginger essential oil (GEO) at doses of 0.25 and 0.5% for each supplementation (REO-0.25, REO-0.5, GEO-0.25, and GEO-0.5), respectively. The growth traits were studied for 7 weeks, from the 7th to the 13th week of the rabbits' age. The results revealed that final body weight, weight gain, and average daily gain increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the REO-0.5 and GEO-0.5 treatments compared to the control group. Daily feed intake decreased (p = 0.005) in essential oil treatments. Meanwhile, the feed conversion ratio improved significantly (p = 0.001) in REO and GEO at the high doses compared to the control group. The weight percentages of liver and giblets increased (p < 0.001) with both treatments of REO and GEO compared to the control group. The dietary supplementation with REO and GEO did not affect (p > 0.05) the meat composition of Longissimus dorsi and hind leg muscles. Meanwhile, REO and GEO supplementation significantly decreased cholesterol levels in the rabbit meat. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentrations decreased by 10 and 15% in the meat of REO-0.5 and GEO-0.5 treatments, respectively, compared to the other groups. In the same trend, REO and GEO treatments induced a significant (p = 0.001) reduction in the plasma cholesterol concentrations and triglycerides compared to the control. The total antioxidant capacity increased by 7.60% and the malondialdehyde decreased by 11.64% in the plasma of GEO-0.5 treatment than the control. Thus, the dietary supplementation of REO and GEO have a beneficial effect in improving the productivity and meat quality of growing rabbits.

Determining the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection, dopamine, and COVID-19 complications.

OBJECTIVES: There is compelling evidence that aged, immunosuppressed, and chronically ill patients are a high-risk group for increased mortality upon infection with the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study investigated the contribution of morbidities and related prescribed medications to COVID-19 associated mortality. METHODS: Based on the various recently reported clinical scenarios a theoretical framework was designed to shed light on the mode of infection of the central nervous system by SARS-CoV-2 and possible management options. RESULTS: Dopamine-release mechanisms in the central nervous system may play a major role in the entry and propagation of coronaviruses. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the need for a thorough and urgent investigation of the dopamine-release pathways in the central nervous system. These efforts will help find a definitive cure for the pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Alternative feed ingredients in the finisher diets for sustainable broiler production.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of alternative protein feed ingredients including sunflower meal (SFM), corn gluten meal (CGM), and dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) as a mixture in a partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) in broiler finisher diets with different protein levels and also to evaluate their effect on birds' performance, environmental aspects of litter, cecal microbes, and economic prospects. A total of 576 (19 days old) Cobb 500 broiler chicks were fed eight finisher diets consisting of 4 control (CTL) diets based on SBM with different crude protein (CP) levels (CTL21, CTL20, CTL19, and CTL18, containing 21%, 20%, 19%, and 18% CP, respectively) and 4 test diets with alternative protein sources (APS21, APS20, APS19, and APS18, containing 21%, 20%, 19%, and 18% CP, respectively) using a 15% combination of alternative protein sources (2.5% CGM, 5% SFM, and 7.5% DDGS) until 35 days of age. The results indicated that birds fed test diets APS21 and APS20 recorded the highest (P < 0.05) body weight compared to other treatments, but it was not different than the CTL diets fed at these CP levels. The birds fed CTL18 or APS18 recorded the worst feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other treatments. Moreover, birds fed test diet containing APS21 recorded better (P < 0.05) European performance efficiency factor and better economic efficiency when compared to other treatments, but it was not different than CTL21. In addition, birds fed diets APS21 and CTL19 showed significantly increased litter Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.05) compared to other treatments. Cecal Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were not affected by CTL or APS diets. The counts of cecal Salmonella spp. increased in the CTL21 group compared to other groups. In conclusion, alternative feed ingredients (protein sources) in broiler finisher diets have positive effects in a sustainable way on the productive performance, litter and cecal microbial counts, and improved economic efficiency when compared to CTL diets.

Teaching and Assessment of Dentist-Patient Communication Skills: A Systematic Review to Identify Best-Evidence Methods.

Dentist-patient communication skills are important aspects of contemporary oral health care, as shared decision making with patients becomes more common. The aim of this systematic review of the literature on teaching and assessment methodologies for communication skills in dental practice was to categorize those skills most relevant to dental practice and determine the best-evidence teaching and assessment methods. The systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, EBM-Cochrane Libraries, Embase, ERIC, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, and PsycINFO using the OVID search engine, together with manually searching relevant journal articles. Relevant data were extracted from all included articles, and thematic analysis, categorization, and quality review of the articles was performed. Fifty articles published between 2000 and 2016 were identified as relevant to this study. Most were comparative design studies. The largest numbers were single group studies with before and after tests and cross-sectional studies. A total of 26 communication skills were identified and grouped into four major categories: generic skills, case-specific skills, time-specific skills, and emerging skills. Review of the teaching methods described in those articles showed that educators used a combination of passive and active strategies. All the assessment measures were considered to be valid and reliable. This categorization of essential dentist-patient communication skills reported in the literature may be used to assist in curriculum design along with use of tested teaching methods and validated assessment measures. The review highlights the need for more robust study designs for research in this important aspect of dental education.