Central and Peripheral Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on Food Choice and Macronutrient Selection in Meat-Type Chick.

This report aimed to determine the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on food intake in broiler chicks with different rations. All birds received a starter diet until five days of age, but experimental diets were provided on days of injections. In experimental group one, chickens received an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of LPS (25, 50, and 100 ng) with a standard diet. In experimental group two, chickens received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of LPS (50, 100, and 200 µg) with a standard diet. In experimental group three, birds received ICV injections of saline and different diets. Accordingly, a standard diet without fat, a diet containing 20% higher nutrient energy than the standard, a diet containing 20% less nutrient energy than the standard, and a standard diet containing fat were offered to them to investigate the desire of chickens for the diets. Experimental groups four, five, and six were similar to experimental group three, except that the chickens received ICV injections of LPS. In experimental groups seven, eight, and nine, chickens received IP injections of LPS with different diets. Afterward, their cumulative food intake was measured until 180 min post-injection. According to the results, ICV and IP injections of LPS decreased food intake (P<0.05). However, the ICV injection of saline increased the desire of chickens for the standard diet with fat (P<0.05). The ICV injection of the LPS (50 and 100 ng) increased the appetite for a standard diet with nutrient energy 20% higher than the standard and a standard diet containing fat, at 120 and 180 min after the injection (P<0.05). In addition, IP injection of LPS (200 µg) significantly increased the desire for a standard diet with nutrient energy 20% higher than the standard and a standard diet containing fat (P<0.05). These results suggested the desire of chickens for different types of rations is affected by central or peripheral administration of the LPS.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster based on the 18S rRNA gene in companion birds of Tehran, Iran.

Background: Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (MO) is an infectious yeast which can cause acute gastric disturbances in birds. It has a worldwide distribution with a broad host-range of bird species. Aims: Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of MO based on the 18S rRNA gene in companion birds of Iran. Methods: A total of 54 stool samples were taken from birds (10 species) suspected of being infected. The presence of MO in collected stool samples was investigated using direct wet mount microscopy. Specific primers were designed to identify the MO 18S rRNA gene by using PCR. PCR products were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the molecular diversity. Results: The obtained results demonstrated that 44.44% and 59.26% of the samples were diagnosed positive based on the first and second specific primers, respectively. MO was detected in the feces of canary, goldfinch, budgerigar, toucan, and English budge. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MO sequence data from canaries, finches, and goldfinches had homology with an MO isolated from a German zebra finch. Moreover, MOs from cockatiels, rosy faced love birds, and budgerigars had a high phylogenetic similarity with multiple references, including American budgerigar, Japanese cockatiel, European goldfinch, and German budgerigar. Conclusion: MO exists in many species of Iranian birds, including goldfinches, budgerigars, toucans, and English budgies. As indicated by phylogenetic and polymorphism data analysis, the newly designed specific primers spanning a large portion of 18S rRNA gene of MO, provides additional tool to detect and study the molecular diversity of MO.

Isolation, characterization, and genotyping of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale isolated from broiler and broiler breeder flocks in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran.

Background: Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria which cause significant economic losses in poultry breeder countries every year. Aims: The present study was conducted to isolate and investigate the ORT isolates' biochemical, antibiotic resistance, and genotypic characteristics of in industrial poultry flocks with respiratory signs in northern Iran. Methods: After sampling from 60 different flocks and cultivation of the samples on a selective medium, suspected colonies were subjected to biochemical and molecular identification of ORT. Then, confirmed isolates were aimed to antibiotic resistance assay, hemagglutination test, detection of pOR1 plasmid, and DNA fingerprinting to survey the variability of the isolates. Results: A total of 13 isolates, including seven isolates from broiler flocks (19.44%) and six isolates from broiler breeder flocks (25%) were obtained. Almost all isolates showed similar results in terms of basically important biochemical tests. The most resistance rates among all ORT isolates were obtained for ampicillin, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, and penicillin (100%). The majority of ORT isolates were susceptible to furazolidone. The pOR1 plasmid was detected in only two isolates, and analysis of the DNA fingerprinting phylogenetic tree showed four specific genotypic clusters. Conclusion: According to the results, the isolates showed different antibiotic resistance profiles, and most of the strains proved multiresistant. This can indicate the circulation of various multi-drug resistant strains among poultry farms in northern Iran. Isolates from broilers and broiler breeders were grouped into different clusters by genotyping.

Comparative trachea transcriptome analysis between avian infectious bronchitis virus and avian pathogenic E. coli individual infection and co-infection in SPF chickens.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are two important respiratory pathogens in the chicken. The co-infection can lead to chronic complications and considerable economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. In the present study, we compared differential transcriptional profiles in the trachea tissue of three infected groups (IBV, APEC, and co-infection) with the control group to investigate transcriptome profile changes at the early stage of the infection. After the challenge of SPF chickens with IBV IS-1494 like (GI-23) and APEC, serotype O78: K80, or co-infection, the trachea tissue was used for RNA extraction, and changes in the transcriptome were investigated by Illumina RNA-seq technique. Up-regulated and down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome of each group's trachea were identified. Gene ontology category, KEGG pathway, and gene interaction networks (STRING analysis) were analyzed to identify relationships among differentially expressed genes. In general, the numbers of up-regulated genes were higher than of down-regulated genes. In the co-infection group, a more severe immune response and macrophage infiltration occurred; an important cluster of pathway signaling in this group's up-regulated genes was an apoptotic cluster, cytokine-mediated signaling cluster, and the PAMPs recognizing cluster. This is the first study to provide a general overview of transcriptome changes in the trachea at the early stage of infection with these pathogens. Keywords: avian infectious bronchitis virus; avian pathogenic E. coli; transcriptome; RNA-Seq.

Molecular Detection of Mycoplasma synoviae from Backyard and commercial Turkeys in Some Parts of Iran.

M. synoviae (MS) is an economically important pathogen and the major cause of airsacculitis and infectious synovitis in turkeys. Infection with this pathogen may remain asymptomatic but can render infected birds susceptible to secondary infections. This study was carried out for the molecular detection of MS infection in commercial and backyard turkey flocks in Tehran, Semnan, Isfahan, Qazvin, Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces of Iran. Sixty-hundred tracheal, choanal cleft or/and infraorbital sinus samples were collected from 18 commercial and 31 backyard turkey flocks. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was performed by using primers specific for detecting the 16S rRNA and vlhA genes of MS. The results showed that 51.61% of backyard and 33.33% of commercial farms were MS-positive. These findings suggested the molecular presence of MS, especially in northern and central regions of Iran. Further, the frequency of MS-positive samples was significantly lower in commercial farms than backyard farms (P&lt;0.05).

Development of anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulins Y (IgYs) in quail.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that cause the stomach infection in more than 50% of human population worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of anti-H. pylori immunoglobulins Y (IgYs) production in quails and evaluate the effect of the different methods of immunization on titers of IgY in egg yolks. Whole cell bacterial antigen was used for immunization of quails. Forty Japanese quails (Coturnixjaponica) were divided into four groups. The first group intramuscularly immunized with one dose of antigen (3 × 108 inactivated bacteria) whereas the second group injected with half dose. Third group administered orally. Yolk IgY was isolated using precipitation method of water dilution combined with chloroform. Dot-blot and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were used for determining the specificity and quantifying the titer of IgY in egg yolks. Results showed that quails as well as chickens are able to produce anti-H. pylori IgY. Quails antibodies have high titer and specificity that can be used in therapeutic and research purposes. This study indicated that higher amounts of antigen can not develop higher titer of IgY and injection is not necessary for efficient immunization of the quail against H. pylori.