Effect of dietary treatments on performance, oocysts shedding and lesion scores in broiler chickens experimentally challenged with Eimeria infection.

Although anticoccidials effectively control coccidiosis, a needed reduction in the reliance on antimicrobials in animal production leads to the exploration of alternative compounds. The present study aimed to test five different dietary treatments to counteract the negative impact of coccidiosis on broiler chickens' health and performance. 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (n = 960) were randomly assigned to one of eight treatments, with six cages per treatment (20 birds/cage). To the diet of the broiler chickens of treatments (Trt) 1-5, a synbiotic was added from d0-10. From d10-28, birds of Trt1 and Trt2 were fed synbiotics, whereas birds of Trt3 were fed diets with glutamine, and birds of Trt4 and Trt5 were fed diets with a combination of ß-glucans and betaine. From d28-35 onwards, birds of Trt1 were fed a diet with a synbiotic, whereas birds of Trt2-4 received diets with glutamine, and birds of Trt5 were fed a non-supplemented diet. Birds of the positive control group (PC; Trt6) were fed a standard diet supplemented with an anticoccidial (Decoquinate). The challenged negative control (NCchall; Trt7) and non-challenged negative control (NC) Trt8 were fed a standard diet without anticoccidial or other dietary treatment. At 7 days (d) of age, all birds were inoculated with 1 023, 115, and 512 sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella, respectively, except for Trt8. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were assessed for each feeding phase (d0-10, d10-28 and d28-35) and overall experimental period (d0-35). Oocyst shedding, Eimeria lesion scores, cecal length, and relative weight were assessed at d13, d22, d28 and d35. Additionally, oocyst shedding was determined at d9 and d17. Litter quality was evaluated at d27 and d34, and footpad lesions at d34. During the starter (d0-10) and finisher (d28-35) periods, performance did not differ between the treatments. During the grower period (d10-28), Trt6 (PC) and Trt8 (NC) chickens had the highest BWG of all treatments (P < 0.001). Dietary treatment had no effect on litter quality and severity of footpad lesions. In the PC group (Trt6), low oocyst excretion and lesion scores were found. When comparing Trt1-5 with NCchall (Trt7), none of the treatments significantly reduced oocyst output or lesion scores. In conclusion, in this experiment, none of the dietary treatments performed similar or better compared to the PC group (Trt6) regarding performance or reducing Eimeria oocyst shedding or lesion scores.

Threonine requirement of broiler chickens during subclinical intestinal Clostridium infection.

The aim of this study was to determine the threonine requirement of broilers during a subclinical Clostridium infection. Three experiments were performed: experiments 1 and 2 to investigate the dose-response of threonine supplementation during infection and experiment 3 to validate the threonine requirement during infection. In each experiment, 1-d-old Ross 308 male broilers were used. An infection model was used with inoculation of Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens at d 9 and 14 of age, respectively. Control birds were inoculated with saline and liver broth at d 9 and 14 of age, respectively. From d 9 of age, infected birds were fed diets differing in the standardized digestible threonine-to-lysine ratio (realized ratios experiment 1: 0.55, 0.58, 0.63, 0.69, and 0.72; realized ratios experiment 2: 0.64, 0.65, 0.67, 0.69, and 0.72; and realized ratios experiment 3: 0.63 and 0.67). Uninfected birds were fed diets with a realized Thr:Lys ratio of 0.63 in experiments 1 and 2 and of 0.63 or 0.67 in experiment 3. The incidence of lesions, lesion severity, and mortality rate of infected birds was not affected by the Thr:Lys ratio. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the decrease in BW gain and feed intake was less severe in infected birds fed a diet with a Thr:Lys ratio of 0.69 and 0.67, respectively (not significant). Validation of the Thr:Lys ratio in experiment 3 showed that the BW gain and feed intake were higher for infected birds with a Thr:Lys ratio of 0.67 compared with infected birds with a Thr:Lys ratio of 0.63. This resulted in an increased BW gain and feed intake of 129 and 148 g, respectively, with a higher Thr:Lys ratio over a production period of 37 d. This indicates that a higher Thr:Lys ratio in infected birds improved production performance during infection with C. perfringens, although intestinal damage (incidence and lesion severity) was not affected.

Bioavailability of organic and inorganic zinc sources in male broilers.

The objective of the current study was to determine the bioavailability of an organic zinc source (Availa-Zn) compared with zinc sulfate in a European-type broiler diet. A total of 480 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were housed in 48 digestibility cages (10 birds per cage), being randomly divided over 9 treatments. At d 3, the number of birds was standardized to 8. Birds were fed a basal wheat-maize-soya diet (containing 33.5 mg of Zn/kg) with different supplementation levels of zinc (reference zinc source: inorganic zinc sulfate: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 mg of Zn/kg of feed; test zinc source: Availa-Zn: 0, 5, 10, 15 mg of Zn/kg of feed). Production performance and tibia zinc content were measured. There were no differences in production performance between the different zinc sources when fed to broilers until 21 d of age. Tibia zinc content was increased linearly with the dietary zinc content up to 20 mg/kg zinc sulfate. The relative biological value of organic zinc was 1.64 compared with zinc sulfate as a reference zinc source (1.00), as indicated by the slope ratio of the linear response curves for both zinc sources, using tibia zinc content as a response parameter. In a practical European broiler diet, the organic Availa-Zn had a higher bioavailability than inorganic zinc sulfate.

Nutritional interventions to support broiler chickens during Eimeria infection.

Different combinations of gut health-promoting dietary interventions were tested to support broilers during different stages of Eimeria infection. One-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (n = 720) were randomly assigned to one of 6 dietary treatments, with 6 pens per treatment and 20 birds per pen, for 35 d. At 7 d of age (d7), all birds were inoculated with 1000, 100, and 500 sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella, respectively. A 4-phase feeding schedule was provided. The dietary treatments (TRT) 1 to 4 included the basal diet supplemented with multispecies probiotics from d0 to 9 and coated butyrate and threonine from d28 to 35 but received four different combinations of prebiotics and phytochemicals from d9 to 18 and d18 to 28. The basal diet for the positive control (PC, TRT5) included diclazuril as a anticoccidial. The negative control (NC, TRT6) contained no anticoccidial. Performance was assessed for each feeding phase, and oocyst output, Eimeria lesion scores, cecal weight, litter quality, and footpad lesions were assessed at d14, d22, d28, and d35. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were not affected by dietary treatment. PC broilers had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) of all treatments from d0 to 35 (P < 0.001). None of the dietary treatments resulted in better litter quality or reduced footpad lesions compared to the PC. Moreover, the PC was most effective in reducing oocyst output and lesion scores compared to all other treatments. However, broilers that received the multispecies probiotics (d0 to 9), saponins (d9 to 18), saponins, artemisin, and curcumin (d18 to 28), and coated butyrate and threonine (d28 to 35) had the best FCR (P < 0.001) and lowest oocyst output and lesion scores compared to other dietary treatments. This study suggests that although the tested compounds did not perform as well as the anticoccidial, when applied in the proper feeding period, they may support bird resilience during coccidiosis infection.

Heterogeneous vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: a review of epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical significance.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of heterogeneously glycopeptide intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, its epidemiology, methods of diagnosis, and clinical relevance. DATA SOURCES: Literature was retrieved in December 2009 through Academic Search Premier, Alt-Health Watch, MEDLINE, OVID, and PubMed, using the search terms heterogeneous glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, hGISA, hVISA, vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, GISA, and VISA (from 2003 to December 2009). Additional references were obtained through review of publication citations. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All articles retrieved through the literature search and reference review were evaluated for inclusion in this review. DATA SYNTHESIS: Heterogeneously glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (hGISA) has been shown to significantly complicate treatment for patients with bacteremia and often escapes detection in clinical laboratories. Population analysis profile area under the curve ratio (PAP-AUC) is considered to be the gold standard of hGISA detection; however, it is labor-intensive, expensive, and not feasible in a clinical setting. The Etest macromethod is a reasonable alternative to PAP, yielding high sensitivity and specificity, and has potential for routine use in clinical laboratories. Due to these difficulties in detection, an exact prevalence is difficult to obtain though, based on available data, it appears that approximately 5-15% of isolates display this phenotype. hGISA is associated with prolonged bacteremia, high bacterial load infections, prolonged antibiotic therapy, prolonged hospitalization, treatment failure, and potential for increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, hGISA is associated with a poor clinical course in patients with bacteremia. Information is still lacking regarding the actual prevalence of hGISA as well as the extent of its clinical impact. A uniform method of diagnosis must be established in order to better account for all cases of hGISA. More studies must be conducted to assess clinical outcomes of hGISA.

Effect of early life thermal conditioning and immune challenge on thermotolerance and humoral immune competence in adult laying hens.

Effects of early life experience with climatic (heat) and hygienic [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] stress on adaptability to the same stressors in later life were studied in laying hens. Chicks were exposed to 37 degrees C for 24 h at d 5 of age (n = 12) or were i.v.-administered once with 1 mg/kg of BW of LPS at 6 wk of age (n = 12), whereas a control group was reared under standard conditions receiving a placebo treatment of PBS (n = 36). At 24 wk of age, hens treated in early life were reexposed to the same stressor. Early life control hens were exposed to heat stress (n = 12), i.v.-administered with LPS (n = 12), or not exposed (n = 12). To evaluate improvement of adaptability, effects of climatic and hygienic stress on performance, humoral immune competence, and endocrine responsiveness were investigated in hens with early life experience to the stressors and hens only exposed to the stressors in later life. Early life heat exposure did not affect performance, immune, and endocrine parameters. Treatment x time interactions were found for level of antibody (Ab) binding to LPS and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) after LPS administration, indicating that hens with early life LPS experience differed in response level (Ab binding to LPS) and response pattern (Ab binding to LPS and KLH) compared with hens administered with LPS only at adult age. Our data suggest that early life heat stress exposure did not affect adaptability of laying hens to heat stress in later life. However, early life LPS exposure affected kinetics and magnitude of Ab levels binding to LPS and KLH, indicating that early life LPS exposure can enhance the status of immune reactivity or induce a higher sensitivity to LPS.

Transfusion strategies in postinjury coagulopathy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coagulopathy represents one of the major challenges in the management of the severely injured patient. The present review will attempt to define the current 'optimal' transfusion strategies for the coagulopathic trauma patient and to assess potential weaknesses in the pertinent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Existing limitations in the management of postinjury coagulopathy include the lack of a uniform definition of the entity, the lack of understanding the mechanisms, and the lack of accurate and rapid diagnostic tests. Rapid thromboelastography represents an improved diagnostic modality that allows 'point-of-care' testing of postinjury coagulopathy and monitoring of transfusion strategies. Ongoing controversies in the field include the optimal target blood pressure and the ideal threshold for blood component transfusions in the hospital. Furthermore, the concentration of plasma transfusions remains an ongoing debate. SUMMARY: Coagulopathy has a significant impact on survival after major trauma. Most recent publications in the field are of retrospective design, and thus do not allow definitive recommendations for clinical practice. Well designed prospective trials and improved basic research studies are required to improve this important aspect of trauma care.

Early-life origins of disparities in chronic diseases among Indigenous youth: pathways to recovering health disparities from intergenerational trauma.

Indigenous women and children experience some of the most profound health disparities globally. These disparities are grounded in historical and contemporary trauma secondary to colonial atrocities perpetuated by settler society. The health disparities that exist for chronic diseases may have their origins in early-life exposures that Indigenous women and children face. Mechanistically, there is evidence that these adverse exposures epigenetically modify genes associated with cardiometabolic disease risk. Interventions designed to support a resilient pregnancy and first 1000 days of life should abrogate disparities in early-life socioeconomic status. Breastfeeding, prenatal care and early child education are key targets for governments and health care providers to start addressing current health disparities in cardiometabolic diseases among Indigenous youth. Programmes grounded in cultural safety and co-developed with communities have successfully reduced health disparities. More works of this kind are needed to reduce inequities in cardiometabolic diseases among Indigenous women and children worldwide.

Effect of single or combined climatic and hygienic stress in four layer lines: 2. Endocrine and oxidative stress responses.

Effects of long-term climatic stress (heat exposure), short-term hygienic stress [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], or combined exposure to these stressors on endocrine and oxidative stress parameters of 4 layer lines (B1, WA, WB, and WF) were investigated. The lines were earlier characterized for natural humoral immune competence and survival rate. Eighty hens per line were randomly divided over 2 identical climate chambers and exposed to constant high temperature (32 degrees C) or a control temperature (21 degrees C) for 23 d. Half of the hens housed in each chamber were i.v. injected with LPS at d 1 after the start of the heat stress period. The effect of heat, LPS, or combined exposure on plasma levels of corticosterone, 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)), glucose, uric acid (UA), and TBA reacting substances (TBARS) were investigated. Except for UA, there were no interactions between heat stress and LPS administration. Heat stress enhanced levels of corticosterone, glucose, and TBARS, whereas levels of T(3) and UA were decreased. The T(3) levels, however, were enhanced by LPS administration, whereas levels of UA were decreased. Administration of LPS had no effect on levels of corticosterone and TBARS. Because both stressors caused a reduction in feed intake, it is assumed that changes in most of the plasma levels of the endocrine and oxidative stress parameters are related with the reduction in feed intake. Neither natural humoral immune competence nor survival rate, for which the lines have been characterized, was indicative for the endocrine and oxidative stress responses to different stressors. The present data suggest that hens were able to cope with single or combined heat stress and LPS administration and that heat stress and LPS administration acted like 2 independent stressors. Furthermore, the 4 layer lines differed in response patterns and response levels; line WB was physiologically most sensitive to environmental changes.

Effect of single or combined climatic and hygienic stress in four layer lines: 1. Performance.

Effects of long-term climatic stress (heat exposure), short-term hygienic stress [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], or a combination of both challenges on performance of 4 layer lines were investigated. The lines were earlier characterized by natural humoral immune competence and survival rate. At 22 wk of age, 80 hens per line were randomly divided over 2 identical climate chambers and exposed to a constant high temperature (32 degrees C) or a control temperature (21 degrees C) for 23 d. Half of the hens housed in each chamber were i.v. injected with LPS at d 1 after the start of the heat stress period. The effect of heat, LPS, or a combined challenge on feed intake, BW, hen-day egg production, egg weight, and egg shell thickness were investigated. Feed intake, BW, hen-day egg production, egg weight, and egg shell thickness were significantly reduced by heat stress. Administration of LPS significantly reduced feed intake, BW (LPS x time interaction), hen-day egg production, and egg weight (LPS x time interaction). Hens were able to recover from LPS administration but did not completely adapt to heat stress. Hens still lost weight, had a lower feed intake and hen-day egg production after 23 d of continuous exposure to heat stress. These data suggest a different nature of short-term LPS exposure versus long-term heat exposure affecting performance parameters of laying hens, and different adaptation mechanisms of hens toward these stressors. Neither natural humoral immune competence nor survival rate, for which the lines had been earlier characterized, were indicative of the response to different stressors. However, significant line x heat interactions were found for feed intake and hen-day egg production, and a line x heat x time interaction for BW, whereas a line x LPS interaction was found for hen-day egg production and a line x LPS x time interaction for BW. The lines had similar response patterns, but differed in response levels, suggesting that some lines were better able to adapt to stressors than others.