Amino acid pattern in the liver and blood of fattening turkeys suffering from hepatic lipidosis.

Hepatic lipidosis (HL) is a well-known disease in fattening and in parent turkey flocks. Among others, dietary effects like (a lack of) essential amino acids (AA) as lipotrophic factors (e.g., methionine) have been considered as potentially predispositing for HL. Several studies have reported abnormal AA profiles in hepatic diseases of humans and other livestock. The ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to aromatic amino acids (AAA) in plasma is used to predict hepatic cirrhosis. In this study, the state of supply of AA was investigated by comparing non-affected (NA) animals and those affected by HL. The AA pattern in the liver and blood can provide potential indications of pathogenesis of HL. In cooperation with German poultry veterinarians, 3 cases of HL on 3 different fattening turkey farms were visited (13/14 wk old, "B.U.T. Big 6" and "TP7"). Overall, 73 birds were examined, of which 42 birds suffered from HL and 31 were not affected. Feeding samples of the respective actual feed were taken and analyzed. The selection of animals was carried out (NA randomly) by clinical signs such as apathy and dyspnea and the diagnosis was made at necropsy, which could be confirmed by crude fat content in liver tissue (HL: 309, NA: 155). In liver tissue, the CP and AA contents were lower among animals with HL than among NA (P < 0.05). In blood samples, the sum of AA, ammonia, and urea was more than 3 times higher among animals with HL (431 mg/dL serum) than among NA (114 mg/dL serum; P < 0.01). The ratio of BCAA to AAA was also significantly different between the groups (HL: 0.85, NA: 1.42; P < 0.05). In the case of HL, entire herds were not affected and the "non-affected" ones were comparable with healthy slaughtered animals. There seems to be a clear change in protein and AA metabolism of HL animals, which could lead to an optimization in feeding practice in repeated cases of HL.

Cell wall active antifungal compounds produced by the marine fungus Hypoxylon oceanicum LL-15G256. III. Biological properties of 15G256 gamma.

15G256 gamma is a cyclic lipopeptide antifungal agent discovered in a mechanism of action screen for cell wall acting antifungal agents. The compound shows moderate activity in both greenhouse tests against plant disease caused by pathogenic fungi and in in vitro tests against human fungal pathogens. Microscopic examination of treated fungi suggests that the compound acts by the inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis. However, in vitro inhibition of Neurospora crassa glucan and chitin synthase were only observed at high drug concentrations suggesting that 15G256 gamma may act on a novel cell wall target.