Phenotypic characterization and genomic analysis of a Salmonella phage L223 for biocontrol of Salmonella spp. in poultry.

The escalating incidence of foodborne salmonellosis poses a significant global threat to food safety and public health. As antibiotic resistance in Salmonella continues to rise, there is growing interest in bacteriophages as potential alternatives. In this study, we isolated, characterized, and evaluated the biocontrol efficacy of lytic phage L223 in chicken meat. Phage L223 demonstrated robust stability across a broad range of temperatures (20-70 °C) and pH levels (2-11) and exhibited a restricted host range targeting Salmonella spp., notably Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis. Characterization of L223 revealed a short latent period of 30 min and a substantial burst size of 515 PFU/cell. Genomic analysis classified L223 within the Caudoviricetes class, Guernseyvirinae subfamily and Jerseyvirus genus, with a dsDNA genome size of 44,321 bp and 47.9% GC content, featuring 72 coding sequences devoid of antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors, toxins, and tRNA genes. Application of L223 significantly (p < 0.005) reduced Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14,028 counts by 1.24, 2.17, and 1.55 log CFU/piece after 2, 4, and 6 h of incubation, respectively, in experimentally contaminated chicken breast samples. These findings highlight the potential of Salmonella phage L223 as a promising biocontrol agent for mitigating Salmonella contamination in food products, emphasizing its relevance for enhancing food safety protocols.

Properties of encapsulated raspberry powder and its efficacy for improving the pH, colour quality and shelf life of modified atmosphere packaged chicken nuggets.

1. Recent research has shown that encapsulated raspberry powder (RP) is a natural colourant for foodstuffs. However, no research has been conducted on its use in chicken nuggets. In addition, the effect of RP on products with and without phosphate addition is unknown. This study assessed the effects of RP (control, 0.5%, 1.0%) and phosphate (0.0%, 0.3%) on the pH and colour quality properties of nuggets.2. In the production of RP, red raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.) juices were encapsulated using maltodextrin in a spray-dryer. Antioxidant activity, total anthocyanin, total phenolics, colour, moisture and pH analyses of the RP were performed.3. Nuggets were packaged in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 40%CO2 + 60%N2) and were stored at 2.0 ± 0.5°C for 120 d. The pH and external and internal surface colour (L*, a*, b*, C* and h) values were measured on d 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 of storage.4. The addition of phosphate increased the pH in the samples, while these decreased with the addition of RP (p < 0.05). During storage, the highest pH were seen in the phosphate samples and the lowest in the nuggets with 1.0% RP addition (p < 0.05).5. With the addition of phosphate, the external surface a* value of nuggets increased (p < 0.05). Depending on the level of RP added to the nuggets, the external surface L* value decreased and a* and b* values increased (p < 0.05). After d 30 of storage, the a* value increased in the samples with RP addition and this increase was higher in the with phosphate nuggets (p < 0.05).6. The internal surface a* value increased with the addition of RP during nugget production (p < 0.05). The increase in a* value was greater in samples with added phosphate (p < 0.05). During storage, the highest a* values were seen in nuggets treated with phosphate + 0.1% RP (p < 0.05). The addition of RP to chicken nugget emulsion improved redness, colour stability and shelf life.

The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry.

The EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of high-expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry. A dossier was provided by the applicant as the basis for an assessment of the extent to which the method is able to provide a level of animal welfare at least equivalent to that ensured by the currently allowed methods for pigs and poultry. According to legislation, to be approved in the EU, new stunning methods must ensure (1) the absence of pain, distress or suffering until the onset of unconsciousness, and (2) that the animal remains unconscious until death. An ad hoc Working Group set up by EFSA performed the assessment as follows: (1) The data provided were checked against the criteria laid down in the EFSA Guidance (EFSA, 2018), and was found to partially fulfil those criteria; (2) extensive literature search; (3) data extraction for quantitative assessment; (4) qualitative exercise based on non-formal expert elicitation. The assessment led to conclude that it is more likely than not (certainty > 50%-100%) that high-expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry, named NEFS in container (Nitrogen Expansion Foam Stunning in container), provides a level of welfare at least equivalent to one or more of the currently allowed methods listed in Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The overall assessment of EFSA is valid only under the technical conditions described in this Opinion for laying hens, broiler chickens of all age and pigs weighing 15-41 kg in situations other than slaughter. The overall assessment of EFSA is that NEFS can be suitable for depopulation using containers for pig and poultry farms respecting the technical conditions and the categories and types of animals defined in this Scientific Opinion.

Impacts of poultry by-product meal substituting fishmeal on growth efficiency, body composition, liver, and intestine morphology of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax.

A twelve week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the replacement of fishmeal (FM) with poultry by-product meal (PBM) in practical diets for European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax with an average initial weight of 0.89 g. Five isocaloric (5.1 kcal lipid g-1) and isonitrogenous (451 g protein kg-1) diets were formulated with PBM replacing FM at levels of 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The experiment was carried out in 30-in. nylon mesh net cages (hapas). At the termination of the trial, growth performance including final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein growth rate of diets containing up to 75% PBM were comparable to those of the control group, whereas the diet with 100% PBM resulted in a significantly lower values (p < 0.05). Feed utilization exhibited variation among the treatments (p < 0.05). Whole body composition also showed significant differences across the dietary treatments. Essential amino acid (EAA) contents specifically arginine (Arg), histidine (His), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) in the whole body of fish fed diets with up to 50% PBM replacement were not significantly different from those in the control group. Furthermore, the intestinal microvilli length, width and absorption area increased significantly (p < 0.05) with PBM replacement levels up to 50%. Histological analysis of the liver revealed mild vacuolation of hepatocytes in fish fed up to 50% PBM,while pre-pancreatic fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in fish fed diets with 75% and 100% PBM. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PBM can replace up to 50% of FM in the diets of European sea bass without adverse effects on growth performance, body composition, or liver and intestine morphology.

Alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters for poultry: a bibliometric analysis of the research journals.

The need to develop novel alternatives to antibiotics gained prominence following the ban on sub-therapeutic antibiotic applications for livestock growth enhancement. This prohibition led to a surge in research papers exploring potential alternatives to antibiotics to promote growth and health in poultry. As a result, it has become imperative to synthesize information regarding research accomplishments and publication patterns in antibiotic alternatives, to assess research gaps and aid regulatory, funding, and research entities in making informed decisions. Consequently, our study aims to systematically analyze and comprehend the research and publication trends related to growth-promoting antibiotic alternatives in poultry. We identified all publications during the search period from 2009 to 2022, utilizing various bibliometric analysis datasets from Scopus, Web of Science/InCites, and Dimensions. The Rayyan web application was employed for manual deduplicating, labeling, and screening the relevant publications. From an initial pool of 2038 publications, we screened and categorized 816 based on factors such as alternative antibiotic categories, publication years, countries, species, journals, and institutes. Our findings reveal that the most prevalent publications are centered around probiotic (30.51%) and phytogenic (24.02%). Notably, the United States leads publication output, followed by China and Egypt. Among poultry species, broilers emerge as the most extensively studied category, followed by layer chickens. Universities emerge as the foremost contributors to antibiotic alternative research, while government institutes and industry occupy the second and third positions, respectively. Upon scrutinizing the journals responsible for the highest publication count and most cited papers, it became evident that the journal "Poultry Science" leads with the highest percentage (13.51%) and the most highly cited publications, accounting for five out of eleven highly cited articles. This comprehensive review outlines research trends concerning diverse antibiotic alternatives, taking into account poultry species and geographical distribution. The future trajectory in this domain is projected to encompass a blend of various antibiotic alternatives that could be administered as a single product and/or the innovative use of novel antibiotic alternatives.

A meta-analysis of the meat physicochemical parameters of broiler chickens fed insect-based diet.

A total of 23 studies were identified in a literature search performed in the Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases for meta-analysis. The criteria used include studies that were published from 2015 to 2023 and those reporting the effects of insect meal utilisation in poultry diets. Data on live weight (LW), carcass weight (CW), moisture, meat pH, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), proximate composition (protein, fat and ash content) and shear force in broilers were subjected to OpenMEE software, and data were pooled using a random-effect model. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to ascertain the influence of dietary insect meals on the response of meat aspects and the source of heterogeneity, respectively, using the following moderators (insect species, dosage level, feeding duration and age at slaughter). The results indicated that dietary insect meal did not affect LW, CW, meat L*, pH, shear force, moisture, fat and ash content. In contrast, dietary insect meal increased the a* of the meat (standardised mean differences (SMDs) = 1.03; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.484-1.578; p ≤ 0.001), b* (SMD = 1.117; 95% CI = 0.334-1.90; p = 0.005), and meat protein content (SMD = 0.365; 95% CI = 0.031-0.7; p = 0.032). The subgroup analysis showed that insect meal dosage of ≤10% and age at slaughtered ≤35 days had improved the LW, CW and meat L*. In addition, the meat a*, protein and ash content were also influenced by insect species, dosage levels and age at slaughter. In conclusion, ≤10% of either Hermetia illucens or Tenebrio molitor can be included in broiler diets without compromising the LW, CW, meat pH, colour, shear force, moisture, fat and ash content in broilers. The study therefore indicated that insect meals have a bright future as an alternative protein source in poultry diets.

Analysing the Impact of Spirulina Intake Levels on Performance Parameters, Blood Health Markers and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chickens.

This systematic review examines the impact of varying Spirulina (Limnospira platensis) intake levels on broiler chickens, focusing on growth performance, blood health markers and carcass traits. The data revealed cumulative Spirulina intakes from 3.13 g to 521 g per bird (total feed consumed multiplied by its proportion in the diet) establish a cubic relationship between dosage and growth outcomes. Initial benefits peak and diminish with increased intake, with the optimal threshold for growth performance identified at 45 g per bird. Lower intakes between 14 g and 29 g per bird enhance blood health markers, improving lipid profiles and antioxidant capacity. Similarly, cumulative intakes of 14 g to 37 g per bird optimise meat quality, resulting in better dressing percentages, breast and thigh yields and meat tenderness while minimizing undesirable traits like abdominal fat and cooking loss. These findings underscore the importance of precisely calibrated Spirulina supplementation strategies to maximise growth, health and meat quality benefits while avoiding adverse effects at higher doses. Future research should focus on identifying optimal dosage and duration, assessing long-term implications, elucidating mechanisms of action and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. Comparative studies with other feed additives could further establish Spirulina's effectiveness and economic viability in poultry production.

A Microbiological and Sensory Evaluation of Modified Atmosphere-Packed (MAP) Chicken at Use-By Date and Beyond.

Consumers are responsible for a large proportion of food waste, and food that has reached its use-by or best-before date is often discarded, even if edible. In this study on fresh chicken, the suitability of use-by dates currently used in the EU was evaluated by using microbial and sensory analyses. This was carried out by analyzing bacterial populations of chicken breast fillets (M. pectoralis major) at three different time points (use-by date, 2 days past use-by date, 4 days past use-by date) and two different storage temperatures (4 °C, 8 °C). A discrimination triangle test was performed to check for sensory differences between chicken breast fillets cooked at the three selected time points for both storage temperatures. A consumer preference test was also performed for chicken breast fillets that had been stored at the highest recommended temperature (4 °C) and after being cooked at the three time points. Changes in populations of total aerobic count (TAC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were recorded over time. Despite large differences in bacterial counts at the selected time points, with TAC populations of approximately 6.5 and 8.0 log CFU/g at use-by date and four days after use-by date, respectively, storage for two or four extra days had no significant effect on the sensory parameters of cooked chicken compared with chicken consumed at its use-by date. Since the TAC populations were close to or above levels that are associated with spoilage, more work is needed to explore if shelf life can be extended.

Newcastle viral disease causation web correlations with laying hen productivity.

Environmental conditions profoundly impact the health, welfare, and productivity of laying hens in commercial poultry farming. We investigated the association between microclimate variations, production indices, and histopathological responses to accidental Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection within a controlled closed-house system. The study was conducted over seven months in a laying hen facility in Cairo, Egypt. Microclimate measurements included temperature, relative humidity (RH%), air velocity (AV), and the temperature humidity index (THI) that were obtained from specific locations on the front and back sides of the facility. Productivity indices, including the egg production percentage (EPP), egg weight (EW), average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, were assessed monthly. During an NDV outbreak, humoral immune responses, gross pathology, and histopathological changes were evaluated. The results demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) variations in EPP and EW between the front and back sides except in April and May. AV had a significant (p = 0.006) positive effect (Beta = 0.346) on EW on the front side. On the back side, AV had a significant (p = 0.001) positive effect (Beta = 0.474) on EW, while it negatively influenced (p = 0.027) EPP (Beta = - 0.281). However, temperature, RH%, and THI had no impact and could not serve as predictors for EPP or EW on either farm side. The humoral immune response to NDV was consistent across microclimates, highlighting the resilience of hens. Histopathological examination revealed characteristic NDV-associated lesions, with no significant differences between the microclimates. This study underscores the significance of optimizing microclimate conditions to enhance laying performance by providing tailored environmental management strategies based on seasonal variations, ensuring consistent airflow, particularly near cooling pads and exhaust fans, and reinforcing the importance of biosecurity measures under field challenges with continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Mapping the risk of introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza to Swedish poultry.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have resulted in severe economic impact for national governments and poultry industries globally and in Sweden in recent years. Veterinary authorities can enforce prevention measures, e.g. mandatory indoor housing of poultry, in HPAI high-risk areas. The aim of this study was to conduct a spatiotemporal mapping of the risk of introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) to Swedish poultry from wild birds, utilising existing data sources. A raster calculation method was used to assess the spatiotemporal risk of introduction of HPAIV to Swedish poultry. The environmental infectious pressure of HPAIV was first calculated in each 5 km by 5 km cell using four risk factors: density of selected species of wild birds, air temperature, presence of agriculture as land cover and presence of HPAI in wild birds based on data from October 2016-September 2021. The relative importance of each risk factor was weighted based on opinion of experts. The estimated environmental infectious pressure was then multiplied with poultry population density to obtain risk values for risk of introduction of HPAIV to poultry. The results showed a large variation in risk both on national and local level. The counties of Skåne and Östergötland particularly stood out regarding environmental infectious pressure, risk of introduction to poultry and detected outbreaks of HPAI. On the other hand, there were counties, identified as having higher risk of introduction to poultry which never experienced any outbreaks. A possible explanation is the variation in poultry production types present in different areas of Sweden. These results indicate that the national and local variation in risk for HPAIV introduction to poultry in Sweden is high, and this would support more targeted compulsory prevention measures than what has previously been employed in Sweden. With the current and evolving HPAI situation in Europe and on the global level, there is a need for continuous updates to the risk map as the virus evolves and circulates in different wild bird species. The study also identified areas of improvement, in relation to data use and data availability, e.g. improvements to poultry registers, inclusion of citizen reported mortality in wild birds, data from standardised wild bird surveys, wild bird migration data as well as results from ongoing risk-factor studies.

Lignite reduces carbon and nitrogen loss from litter in commercial broiler housing.

The loss of carbon and nitrogen from broiler litter limits nutrient recycling and is damaging to the environment. This study investigated lignite, a low-rank brown coal, as an amendment to reduce the loss of carbon and nitrogen from broiler litter over 3 consecutive grow-out cycles, November 2021 to May 2022, at a commercially operated farm in Victoria, Australia. Lignite-treated litter contained significantly more carbon and nitrogen, with an increase of 70.1 g/bird and 12.6 g/bird for carbon and nitrogen, respectively. Lignite also reduced aerobic microbial respiration, with a 46.0% reduction in CO2 flux recorded in week 7 of the study, resulting in reduced mass loss. It is expected that this is a key mechanism responsible for nutrient retention in litter following treatment with lignite. Furthermore, lignite treatment lowered litter moisture content by 7, 6 and 3 percentage points for grow-out 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These findings present lignite as a beneficial litter amendment for increasing the nutrient value of waste and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The study highlights the potential of lignite to reduce the environmental impact of poultry production and presents an alternative use for lignite as an existing resource.

Risk of invasive waterfowl interaction with poultry production: Understanding potential for avian pathogen transmission via species distribution models.

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have devastated poultry production across the United States, with more than 77 million birds culled in 2022-2024 alone. Wild waterfowl, including various invasive species, host numerous pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), and have been implicated as catalysts of disease outbreaks among native fauna and domestic birds. In major poultry-producing states like Arkansas, USA, where the poultry sector is responsible for significant economic activity (>$4 billion USD in 2022), understanding the risk of invasive waterfowl interactions with domestic poultry is critical. Here, we assessed the risk of invasive waterfowl-poultry interaction in Arkansas by comparing the density of poultry production sites (chicken houses) to areas of high habitat suitability for two invasive waterfowl species, (Egyptian Goose [Alopochen aegyptiaca] and Mute Swan [Cygnus olor]), known to host significant pathogens, including avian influenza viruses. The percentage of urban land cover was the most important habitat characteristic for both invasive waterfowl species. At the 95% confidence interval, chicken house densities in areas highly suitable for both species (Egyptian Goose = 0.91 ± 0.11 chicken houses/km2; Mute Swan = 0.61 ± 0.03 chicken houses/km2) were three to five times higher than chicken house densities across the state (0.17 ± 0.01 chicken houses/km2). We show that northwestern and western Arkansas, both areas of high importance for poultry production, are also at high risk of invasive waterfowl presence. Our results suggest that targeted monitoring efforts for waterfowl-poultry contact in these areas could help mitigate the risk of avian pathogen exposure in Arkansas and similar regions with high poultry production.

Avian influenza overview March-June 2024.

Between 16 March and 14 June 2024, 42 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus detections were reported in domestic (15) and wild (27) birds across 13 countries in Europe. Although the overall number of detections in Europe has not been this low since the 2019-2020 epidemiological year, HPAI viruses continue to circulate at a very low level. Most detections in poultry were due to indirect contact with wild birds, but there was also secondary spread. Outside Europe, the HPAI situation intensified particularly in the USA, where a new A(H5N1) virus genotype (B3.13) has been identified in >130 dairy herds in 12 states. Infection in cattle appears to be centred on the udder, with milk from infected animals showing high viral loads and representing a new vehicle of transmission. Apart from cattle, HPAI viruses were identified in two other mammal species (alpaca and walrus) for the first time. Between 13 March and 20 June 2024, 14 new human cases with avian influenza virus infection were reported from Vietnam (one A(H5N1), one A(H9N2)), Australia (with travel history to India, one A(H5N1)), USA (three A(H5N1)), China (two A(H5N6), three A(H9N2), one A(H10N3)), India (one A(H9N2)), and Mexico (one fatal A(H5N2) case). The latter case was the first laboratory-confirmed human infection with avian influenza virus subtype A(H5N2). Most of the human cases had reported exposure to poultry, live poultry markets, or dairy cattle prior to avian influenza virus detection or onset of illness. Human infections with avian influenza viruses remain rare and no human-to-human transmission has been observed. The risk of infection with currently circulating avian A(H5) influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe remains low for the general public in the EU/EEA. The risk of infection remains low-to-moderate for those occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.

Research progress on regulating factors of muscle fiber heterogeneity in poultry: a review.

Control of meat quality traits is an important goal of any farm animal production, including poultry. A better understanding of the biochemical properties of muscle fiber properties that drive muscle development and ultimately meat quality constitutes one of the major challenging topics in animal production and meat science. In this paper, the existing classification methods of skeletal muscle fibers in poultry were reviewed and the relationship between contractile and metabolic characteristics of muscle fibers and poultry meat quality was described. Finally, a comprehensive review of multiple potential factors affecting muscle fiber distribution and conversion is presented, including breed, sex, hormones, growth performance, diet, muscle position, exercise, and ambient temperature. We emphasize that knowledge of muscle fiber typing is essential to better understand how to control muscle characteristics throughout the life cycle of animals to better manage the final quality of poultry meat.

Patterns and drivers of antibiotic use in small-scale broiler production systems in Lilongwe District, Malawi.

Reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics in food animals is a global priority to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We investigated practices and factors associated with antibiotic use in small-scale commercial broiler farms in Lilongwe district, Malawi. We used structured questionnaires to collect data on recent antibiotic use practices among 128 broiler farmers, who kept between 50 and 1 000 birds, from December 2022 to March 2023. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with antibiotic use. Over half (53.1 %, n=68) of the farms reported using antibiotics at least once in the previous production cycle. Overall, 11 different types of antibiotics were used either for treatment and/or preventive purposes, with oxytetracycline (88.2 %), erythromycin (29.4 %), and enrofloxacin (26.5 %) reported as the frequently used. One-third of all antibiotic formulations contained multiple active antibiotic ingredients, with 12 % containing four antibiotics. Covariates associated with an increased likelihood of antibiotic use include disease incidence (OR=13.8, 95 % CI 5.27-42.50, p<0.001) and entry of wild birds into poultry houses (OR=3.56, 95 % CI =1.44-9.61, p=0.008). Our study highlights inappropriate usage of antibiotics, largely associated with reduced biosecurity and disease incidence. These findings underscore the need to strengthen veterinary services, reinforce regulations on antibiotic access and use, and farmer education programs promoting proper husbandry, biosecurity, and responsible antibiotic use.

Extraction and physicochemical characterization of native and broiler chicken feet gelatin.

BACKGROUND: Poultry processing generates a large amount of industrial waste, which is rich in collagen content. This waste can be utilized for the extraction of valuable components such as gelatin, which can be used as an alternative to mammalian gelatin (porcine and bovine). RESULTS: Gelatins were analyzed for their yield, proximate analysis, pH, color, viscosity, bloom strength, and texture profile analysis. The yield of broiler chicken feet gelatin (BCFG) was slightly higher (7.93%) as compared to native chicken feet gelatin (NCFG) (7.06%). The protein content was 85.92% and 82.53% for BCFG and NCFG. Both gelatin had moisture content in the standard range (< 15) as given by Gelatin Manufacturers of Europe (GME). Both gelatins showed higher bloom strength (326 g for NCFG and 203 g for BCFG) at 6.67% gelatin concentration, classified as high bloom. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed amide I, amide A, amide B at 1636 cm-1, 3302 cm-1, 2945 cm-1 for NCFG and 1738 cm-1, 3292 cm-1, 2920 cm-1 for BCFG. At 6.67% gelatin concentration, hardness and cohesiveness values were also higher than commercial gelatin previously studied. The pH values for NCFG were 5.43 and BCFG was 5.31. Both NCFG and BCFG viscosities (4.43 and 3.85 cP) were in the optimum range of commercial gelatins (2-7 cP). CONCLUSION: Hence, the present study concluded that both NCFG and BCFG have a huge potential to replace commercial mammalian gelatins (porcine and bovine) in the food industries. However further studies should be done to optimize the extraction process. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Agronomic performance and technological quality of sugarcane submitted to different poultry litter dosages.

Sugarcane is a central crop for sugar and ethanol production. Investing in sustainable practices can enhance productivity, technological quality, mitigate impacts, and contribute to a cleaner energy future. Among the factors that help increase the productivity of sugarcane, the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the soil are amongst the most important. The use of poultry litter has been an important alternative for soil improvement, as it acts as a soil conditioner. Therefore, this work aimed to verify the best doses of poultry litter for the vegetative, reproductive and technological components of sugarcane. The experiment was carried out at Usina Denusa Destilaria Nova União S/A in the municipality of Jandaia, GO. The experimental design used was a complete randomized block design with four replications: 5 × 4, totaling 20 experimental units. The evaluated factor consisted of four doses of poultry litter plus the control (0 (control), 2, 4, 6 and 8 t ha-1). In this study, were evaluated the number of tillers, lower stem diameter, average stem diameter, upper stem diameter, plant height, stem weight and productivity. The technological variables of total recoverable sugar, recoverable sugar, Brix, fiber, purity and percentage of oligosaccharides were also evaluated. It was observed, within the conditions of this experiment, that the insertion of poultry litter did not interfere significantly in most biometric, productive and technological variables of the sugarcane. But it can also be inferred that there was a statistical trend toward better results when the sugarcane was cultivated with 4 t ha-1 of poultry litter.

Influence of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) leaves as feed additive during first stage of laying hens on performances and egg quality characteristics.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosehip leaves (RL) supplementation on the production performances and egg quality of laying hens during the first stage of laying. For that, 90 Lohmann Brown Classic hens, aged 26 wk, were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments as follows: a control diet (RL0), an experimental diet containing 0.5% rosehip leaves (RL0.5), and an experimental diet containing 1% rosehip leaves (RL1). The laying hens were accommodated in an experimental hall with identical pens (3.96 m2), and controlled microclimate conditions. The dietary treatments were administered for a 6-wk experimental period (26-32 d of age). During this time, production performance of hens was recorded. To assess the impact of RL on egg weight and its components evolution, egg yolk and albumen color, and primary chemical composition of egg constituents were determined every 2 wk. The effect on egg yolk fatty acids profile was determined only at the end of the trial. The results showed that RL0.5 and RL1 dietary treatments significantly improved laying rate, feed conversion ratio and egg mass compared with RL0 group. A significant effect on egg weight and its components was observed only over time, showing that RL has no effect on these parameters. Significant changes in egg yolk coloration were observed over time, with significant increases in L*, a* and b* chromomeric parameters in both RL0.5 and RL1 compared to RL0. Significant alterations were obtained from the sum of egg yolk fatty acids. The RL1 egg yolk presented significantly higher n-3, and significantly lower n-6 fatty acids, compared with both RL0 and RL0.5. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of rosehip leaf supplementation on laying hens performance and egg quality.

Preliminary snapshot reveals a relationship between multidrug-resistance and biofilm production among enterobacteriaceae isolated from fecal samples of farm-raised poultry in ceará, Brazil.

Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation by microbial pathogens pose a significant challenge to poultry production systems due to the persistent risk of dissemination and compromise of bird health and productivity. In this context, the study aimed to investigate the occurrence of different multiresistance phenotypes and the biofilm-forming ability of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from broiler chicken excreta in poultry production units in Ceará, Brazil. Samples were collected from three distinct broiler breeding facilities and subjected to isolation, identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing, phenotypic screening for ß-lactamases enzymes, and biofilm formation evaluation. Seventy-one strains were identified, being Escherichia coli (37 %) and Proteus mirabilis (32 %), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (11 %), Providencia stuartii (9 %), Klebsiella aerogenes (6 %), Alcaligenes faecalis (4 %), and Salmonella sp. (1 %). A significant proportion (87 %) of multiresistant strains were detected. For the phenotypic evaluation of ß-lactamases production, strains with resistance to second and third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems were tested. About 4 of 6 and 10 of 26 were positive for inducible chromosomal AmpC ß-lactamase and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL), respectively. Regarding biofilm formation, it was observed that all MDR strains were capable of forming biofilm. In this sense the potential of these MDR bacteria to develop biofilms becomes a significant concern, representing a real threat to both human and animal health, as biofilms offer stability, antimicrobial protection, and facilitate genetic transfer.

In vitro conjugation of IncB/O-plasmid: Minimum inhibitory concentration of ß-lactams increases 16-fold in Salmonella enterica compared with Escherichia coli.

The use of antimicrobials in poultry leaves residues in the litter, favoring the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and making it a source of contamination. An in vitro 4 × 4 factorial trial was performed to investigate the influence of four treatments, consisting of antimicrobial sub-concentrations, on the transference of IncB/O-plasmid through conjugation in four groups. Each group was composed of one plasmid donor bacterium (Escherichia coli H2332) and a recipient bacterium (Escherichia coli J62 or Salmonella enterica serovars, Enteritidis, Typhimurium, or Heidelberg). Our results showed a little decrease in the conjugation frequency in almost all treatments between the two bacterial species, which varied according to each strain. The MIC test revealed an increase of up to 4096-fold in resistance to beta-lactams in Salmonella serovars after plasmid acquisition. This finding suggests that some genetic apparatus may be involved in increased antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella serovars after the acquisition of primary resistance determinants.