Effect of dietary electrolyte balance and arginine to lysine ratio on hematological, antioxidant and immunological traits in dual-purpose breeding hens under cyclic heat stress condition.

A total of 245 hens and 35 cocks (32 weeks age) were assigned to seven treatment groups (five replicates with seven hens and one cock) to investigate the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and arginine to lysine ratio (Arg/Lys) on birds' physiological and biochemical traits under cyclic heat stress (CHS) condition. Birds were housed in an environmentally controlled facility having four sectors. The first group (positive control, PC) was kept under thermoneutral conditions and fed diet with DEB of 180 mEq and Arg/Lys of 1.25, whereas the other six treatments were kept in the second sector under CHS and fed diet with DEB and Arg/Lys equal to: 180 mEq and 1.25 (negative control, NC); 250 mEq and 1.25; 320 mEq and 1.25; 180 mEq and 1.37; 250 mEq and 1.37; 320 mEq and 1.37, respectively. Hens on NC group had significantly decreased red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and its fractions. The groups fed different DEB and Arg/Lys in diet significantly enhanced the blood parameters and plasma lipid profile compared NC group. Hens under CHS fed on 250 and 320 DEB with 1.37 Arg/Lys recorded the lowest concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared with the other groups. Triiodothyronine (T3) activity was not differed among groups, while T4 activity in layer exposed to CHS (NC group) recorded the highest activity compared to PC. From findings, it can be concluded that laying hens fed a diet having DEB 250 mEq with 1.37 Arg/Lys could be successfully applied to counteract the adverse effect of CHS and to improve blood hematological and biochemical traits, antioxidants, and immunity response.

Multiple Introductions of Influenza A(H5N8) Virus into Poultry, Egypt, 2017.

After high mortality rates among commercial poultry were reported in Egypt in 2017, we genetically characterized 4 distinct influenza A(H5N8) viruses isolated from poultry. Full-genome analysis indicated separate introductions of H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortants from Europe and Asia into Egypt, which poses a serious threat for poultry and humans.

Corrigendum: The impact of multi-enzyme fortification on growth performance, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality of broiler chickens fed a standard or low-density diet.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1012462.].

The impact of multi-enzyme fortification on growth performance, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality of broiler chickens fed a standard or low-density diet.

This research aimed to study the impact of supplementation of three multi-enzyme levels (0, 0.1, and 0.2% of feed) and two levels of dietary treatments [standard diet (SD) and low-density diet (LDD)] on growth performance, carcass traits, digestibility, and meat quality of broilers from 1 to 38 days of age. A total of 216 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a factorial experiment (2 × 3) comprising six dietary treatments, each with six replicates and each replicate with six chickens. The results showed that the LDD significantly reduced body weight gain by 5.0%, compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly improved body weight gain and the production index (PI) relative to the SD. The feed conversion ratio was significantly enhanced with increased multi-enzymes from 1 to 21 days. A significant relation between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment was observed in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio from 1 to 21 days of age. Nitrogen-free extract digestibility was significantly increased by using the SD diet compared with using the LDD. Multi-enzyme supplementation improved the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract in the LDD. A significant relationship was found between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment on the pancreas, liver, and intestinal length percentages. The meat dry matter concentration was significantly higher in the LDD group than in the SD group. The low-density diet significantly reduced the total revenue compared with the SD, whereas broilers fed the SD recorded significantly higher total revenue and economic efficiency than those fed the LDD. The low-density diet significantly increased economic efficiency compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly increased the total revenue, net revenue, and economic efficiency than the standard set. In conclusion, using multi-enzymes in broiler diets improved body weight gain. The LDD with multi-enzymes showed enhanced body weight gain compared with the SD without multi-enzymes.

Demodex Mites in Relation to the Degree of Acne Vulgaris among Egyptian Patients.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Demodex</i> mites are considered to play a pathogenic role in facial dermatoses as <i>Acne vulgaris</i>. In this study the association between <i>Acne vulgaris</i> and <i>Demodex</i> spp. intensity, kind and activity were investigated. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Two degrees of acne was included, mild acne (30 cases) and moderate to severe acne (30 cases), besides 30 healthy subjects as a control. Deep skin scraping followed by direct microscopic detection was applied to diagnose demodicosis. <b>Results:</b> All the detected mites in moderate to severe acne were <i>D. folliculorum</i> which was observed in a highly dynamic status with their entire life cycle stages with intensity >5 mites per cm^{<a href="2246157_ja">2</a>}. While very few inactive <i>D. brevis</i> mites were detected in the 2 subjects related to the control group<i>. </i>Despite that females comprised the majority of acne cases, males encompassed a statistically higher number than females among positive demodicosis cases. Itching and hair loss were the significant clinical signs within positive cases. Regarding risk factors, oily skins, repeated exposure to the sun, stressful lifestyle plus defective use of facial cleansers were found to be statistically significant. <b>Conclusion:</b> These results attained an association between moderate to severe acne and energetic <i>D. folliculorum</i> entire population. Thus, this study recommended lifestyle's modification for those cases suffering from <i>Acne vulgaris</i> with deep facial cleaning to avoid such infestation that worsens acne condition. Accordingly, once acne treatments are ineffective, consideration of <i>Demodex</i> mites with the needed acaricidal therapy is necessary.

Detection of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle using real-time polymerase chain reaction and serological diagnostic assays in different governorates in Egypt in 2017.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Lumpy skin disease (LSD), is a highly infectious viral disease of cattle, caused by LSD virus (LSDV) which belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus of family Poxviridae. In the summer of 2017, skin lesions suggestive of LSD were observed in cattle at several governorates in Egypt. This study aimed to detect LSDV in cattle specimens using rapid serological and molecular diagnostic assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 46 skin biopsies and uncoagulated blood samples were collected from cattle with LSD suggestive clinical signs, as well as 290 coagulated whole blood samples from cattle without skin lesion in different governorates in Egypt during the summer of 2017. Skin biopsies were used for virus isolation from the chorioallantoic membrane of 11-day-old specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs (SPF-ECEs). LSDV was identified using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) with specific hyperimmune serum against LSDV. Cattle sera were examined using indirect FAT (IFAT) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Skin nodules and sitfast lesions were significant clinical signs observed in all LSD suspect cattle. SPF-ECEs, from which positive isolations were made and it showed characteristic inflammatory and focal white pock lesions. The isolated viruses were identified as LSDV by FAT, conventional gel-based PCR, and RT-PCR. Among the skin biopsies and corresponding blood samples, LSDV-positive samples percentage were 39.13 and 36.95 by RT-PCR, followed 34.78 and 28.26 by conventional PCR and then 32.6 and 26.8 by FAT, respectively. The total positive percentage of LSDV antibody detected in cattle serum samples were 17.93 and 14.48 by indirect ELISA and IFAT. CONCLUSION: LSDV was detected and identified in skin biopsies and corresponding blood samples of naturally infected cattle, more LSDV-positive samples were detected by RT-PCR, followed by conventional PCR and then FAT. The indirect ELISA detected more antibody-positive samples than the IFAT from cattle serum samples. The RT-PCR assay is simple, sensitive, rapid, and reliable for the detection of LSDV in blood and skin nodule biopsies of suspected cattle.

Milk amyloid A as a biomarker for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in cattle.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mastitis is one of the most vital noteworthy monetary risks to dairy ranchers and affects reproductive performance in dairy cattle. However, subclinical mastitis (SCM) negatively affects milk quality and quantity and associated with economic losses as clinical mastitis. It is recognizable only by additional testing. Somatic cell count (SCC) is currently used worldwide for the screening of intramammary infection (IMI) infections. However, somatic cells (SC) are affected by numerous factors and not always correlate with infection of the udder. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the milk amyloid A (MAA) in the milk of normal and SCM cows and compare the sensitivity of both MAA secretion and SCC in response to mammary gland bacterial infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 272 quarter milk samples collected from 68 Friesian cows after clinical examination for detection of clinical mastitis were employed in this study. All quarter milk samples (272) were subjected to bacteriological examination, while SCs were assessed in samples (220). Following SCC estimation and bacteriological examination, the apparently normal quarter milk samples were categorized into 7 groups and MAA concentration was estimated in normal and subclinical mastitic milk samples. RESULTS: Prevalence of clinical mastitis was 19.12 % (52 quarters), while 80.88 % (220 quarters) were clinically healthy with normal milk secretion. Of those 220 clinically healthy quarter milk samples, 72 (32.73%) showed SCM as detected by SCC (SCC ≥500,000 cells/ml). The most prevalent bacteria detected in this study were streptococci (48.53%), Staphylococcus aureus (29.41%), Escherichia coli (36.76%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (11.76%). Results of MAA estimation revealed a strong correlation between MAA secretion level and SCC in agreement with the bacteriological examination. Interestingly, there was a prompt increase in MAA concentration in Group III (G III) (group of milk samples had SCC ≤200,000 cells/ml and bacteriologically positive) than Group I (G I) (group of milk samples with SCC ≤500,000 cells/ml and bacteriologically negative), as MAA concentration in G III was about 4 times its concentration in G I. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a strong evidence for the significance of MAA measurement in milk during SCM, and MAA is more sensitive to IMI than SCC. This can be attributed to rapid and sensitive marker of inflammation. The advantage of MAA over other diagnostic markers of SCM is attributed the minute or even undetectable level of MAA in the milk of healthy animals, it is not influenced by factors other than mastitis, and could be estimated in preserved samples. Therefore, we recommend that estimation of MAA concentration in milk is a more useful diagnostic tool than SCC to detect SCM and to monitor the udder health in dairy cattle.

Semen quality, antioxidant status and reproductive performance of rabbits bucks fed milk thistle seeds and rosemary leaves.

The study aimed to investigate the effects of milk thistle seeds (MTS) and rosemary leaves (RL) both at 5 and 10g/kg diet on reproductive performance, semen quality and blood metabolites of rabbit bucks. A total of 35 rabbit bucks were randomly distributed into five experimental groups (7 bucks/group). All the groups were fed the same basal diet. The 1st group (control) did not have MTS and RL in its basal diet. The 2nd and 3rd groups were supplemented with MTS at 5 and 10g/kg, respectively. The 4th and 5th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with RL at 5 and 10g/kg, respectively. The sperm concentration (SC), total sperm output (TSO), live sperm (LS), total live sperm (TLS) and total motile sperm (TMS) were significantly greater in the bucks fed MTS at 10 and RL at 5g/kg diet than the control group. Bucks fed MTS at 10g/kg diet had higher fertility than the control. Also, RL 5g/kg group showed higher testosterone and fertility than the control, but the MTS 10g/kg group showed the highest value for both parameters. In conclusion, MTS and RL at 10 and 5g/kg, respectively, significantly improved the semen quality and the fertility and MTS also increased the economic efficiency of rabbit bucks.

Laying performance, digestibility and plasma hormones in laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress as affected by betaine, vitamin C, and/or vitamin E supplementation.

Heat stress had a negative effect on laying hens' performance, thus this research was to study the influences of betaine (Bet, 1000 mg/kg betaine), vitamin C (VC, 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid), and vitamin E (VE, 150 mg/kg α-Tocopherol acetate) and their possible combinations on egg production, digestibility of nutrients, plasma hormones and reproductive organs of dual-purpose hens exposed to chronic heat stress. Two hundred and eighty eight hens and thirty-six cocks from 32 to 48 weeks of age were divided into nine treatment groups of four replicates, each containing eight hens and one cock. One group was kept under thermo-natural condition and the eight others were kept under chronic heat stress (CHS). One of these eight was used as a negative control, while the others were supplemented with VC, VE and/or betaine and their possible combinations. Body weights, laying rate, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in hens reared under CHS rooster without any supplementation during 32 to 48 weeks of impairment (P = 0.0052) were recorded. Hens reared under heat stress and fed a diet supplemented with either Bet, VC, VE or combination of the supplements increased production traits. However, hens supplemented with VC showed the greatest production traits. Plasma glucose, estradiol-17 (E2), progesterone (P4), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) decreased in hens reared under CHS and fed a diet with no supplementation compared to the other treatments (P = 0.001). Liver weights, spleen weights, thyroid gland weights, ovary weights, oviduct weights and oviduct lengths were lowest in hens reared under CHS and fed a diet with no supplementation (P = 0.0480). In conclusion, dual purpose hens reared under CHS and supplemented with VC at 200 mg/kg diet and Bet at 1000 mg/kg enhanced the laying performance and combated CHS.