Influence of rearing temperature and feed format in the development of the pendulous crop in broilers.

The pendulous crop is characterized by excessive distension of the crop musculature, compromising the bird's productivity and welfare. The etiology is still unknown, but it is believed that factors related to the birds' handling might be related to its incidence. The study was conducted in 2 environmental chambers. One was maintained at a comfortable temperature, while the other was set at a much lower temperature. In each chamber, animals were divided into 16 experimental pens (8 received mash feed and the others received pelletized feed) with a density of 12 birds/m2 (an expected stocking density of 32-36 kg/m2 after 42 d). The effects of rearing temperatures were evaluated in terms of broiler performance, specifically weight gain (kg), feed intake (kg), weekly feed intake (kg/wk), and feed conversion (kgfeed/kggrowth). The occurrences of pendulous crop were quantified every 2 d after the 14th day of rearing. Birds grown in thermal comfort and fed a pelletized ration were most susceptible (12%) to pendulous crop, followed by birds fed pelletized feed and reared in cold conditions (6.8%), and birds given mashed feed and reared at either temperature (about 3%). We concluded that feeding pelleted feed combined with warmer rearing temperatures may have caused some alteration of the gastrointestinal system of birds, which caused pendulous crop to be more prevalent.

Ingluvolitos em periquito australiano: relato de caso / Ingluvoliths in budgerigar: case report

O trato gastrointestinal das aves apresenta anatomia e fisiologia únicas. O inglúvio, ou papo, é uma distensão do esôfago com função de armazenar alimentos. Lesões e massas nesses locais podem ocorrer por diversos motivos, provocando dificuldades alimentares e emagrecimento da ave. O alimento ou material estranho impactado no interior de trato gastrintestinal pode formar os bezoares. Assim, objetivou-se descrever a ocorrência de massas em inglúvio de um periquito australiano atendido no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, e identificadas como fitobezoar ou ingluvolitos após exame necroscópico e avaliação das massas encontradas.

The gastrointestinal tract of birds presents unique anatomy and physiology. The crop or chat, is a distension of the esophagus with function of storing food. Injuries and masses in these locations can occur for various reasons causing feeding difficulties and thinning of the bird. Food or foreign body impacted inside tract gatrintestinal can form the bezoars. Thus, the objective was reporting the occurrence of masses in crop in a budgerigar attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, and diagnosed as phytobezoar or ingluvoliths after necropsy examination and evaluation of the mass found.

Ingluvoliths in budgerigar: case report / Ingluvolitos em periquito australiano: relato de caso

The gastrointestinal tract of birds presents unique anatomy and physiology. The crop or chat, is a distension of the esophagus with function of storing food. Injuries and masses in these locations can occur for various reasons causing feeding difficulties and thinning of the bird. Food or foreign body impacted inside tract gatrintestinal can form the bezoars. Thus, the objective was reporting the occurrence of masses in crop in a budgerigar attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, and diagnosed as phytobezoar or ingluvoliths after necropsy examination and evaluation of the mass found(AU)

O trato gastrointestinal das aves apresenta anatomia e fisiologia únicas. O inglúvio, ou papo, é uma distensão do esôfago com função de armazenar alimentos. Lesões e massas nesses locais podem ocorrer por diversos motivos, provocando dificuldades alimentares e emagrecimento da ave. O alimento ou material estranho impactado no interior de trato gastrintestinal pode formar os bezoares. Assim, objetivou-se descrever a ocorrência de massas em inglúvio de um periquito australiano atendido no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, e identificadas como fitobezoar ou ingluvolitos após exame necroscópico e avaliação das massas encontradas(AU)

Control of Salmonella Enteritidis in turkeys using organic acids and competitive exclusion product.

AIM: To evaluate the use of organic acids (OAs) and competitive exclusion (CE) product administered continuously in the feed and transiently in drinking water on the control of Salmonella enterica subspecie enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) prior to slaughter. METHODS AND RESULTS: The influence of treatments were evaluated on pH, population of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, concentration of volatile fatty acids and SE colonization in the crop and caecum. The birds were challenged with SE 24 h before being slaughtered, and then, the caeca and crop were removed and subjected to SE counts. Continuous administration of OAs reduced the population of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family in both crop and caecum, positively influenced the butyric acid concentration and reduced SE colonization in the caecum. The diet supplemented with CE product positively influenced the quantity of LAB in the crop and caecum, elevated the butyric acid concentration and reduced both Enterobacteriaceae quantity and SE colonization in the caecum. There was no effect from administering the treatments via drinking water on the variables measured. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous supplementation in feed with OAs and CE product reduced SE colonization of the caeca. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Supplementation of OAs and CE product in diet to turkeys can reduce the SE load, potentially leading to a lower contamination risk of meat during slaughter.

Gross anatomical features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna) - oesophagus to cloaca.

Morphological studies of the gastrointestinal tract of blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna) are scarce. In view of the paucity of information regarding the digestive tract of macaws, this study aims to describe the gross anatomical features (oesophagus to cloaca) as part of a broad study of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of these birds. Three animals (two males and one female) adult macaws were anatomically dissected from the oropharynx to the cloaca to expose the GIT. The oesophagus was identified as a muscle-membranous tube continuous with the crop, which was intimately attached to the skin. The internal longitudinal folds of the cervical oesophagus were sparser cranial to the crop and less evident compared to the portion caudal to the crop. The duodenum began in the pylorus and was grey-coloured exhibiting a large lumen. The jejunum was formed by loops in a spiral-fashion model supported by mesojejunum. The ileum was also composed by small loops and was continuous with the colo-rectum forming the large intestine, because the caeca were absent. The large intestine was short, median in position, suspended in the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity by mesentery and ended in the cloaca. The GIT was similar to the basic patterns in birds, in general, and also presented new unreported morphological data that might be important when studying nutrition and health of the macaws.

Egg production, egg quality and crop content of Rhode Island Red hens grazing on natural tropical vegetation.

The aim of this experiment was to study the suitability of the outdoor system for Rhode Island Red hens under the tropical conditions of southern Mexico. Twelve floor pens, each containing four birds, were divided randomly into two groups. The first group was raised indoors only, while each of the second group replicates had access to an outdoor area with natural-grown vegetation from 0800 to 1700 hours daily. Both groups fed ad libitum on a commercial layers diet. The results revealed no differences in body weight between treatments. The outdoor group recorded significantly higher egg laying rate (86.90 vs. 78.05 %), higher egg mass (50.66 vs. 45.30 g egg/hen/day), and higher feed intake (103.70 vs. 97.67 g/day) versus the indoor group. The outdoor group had eggs with darker yellow yolks (9.46 vs. 5.46), lower yolk, and higher albumen proportions (P < 0.05) versus the indoor group. The crop content of the outdoor hens consisted of 86.55 % concentrated feed, 6.30 % plant material, 2.27 % grit stones, 1.69 % snails and oyster shells, 1.25 % seeds, 0.95 % farm wastes, and 0.99 % insects, worms, and larvae. Of the outdoor hens, 43.1 % was observed to be in the range at each scanning time. The outdoor system in the tropics had beneficial effects on Rhode Island Red hen performance, and the hens utilized the outdoor area effectively and obtained various feed items.

Comparative analyses of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in hoatzins and cows.

Foregut fermentation occurs in mammalian ruminants and in one bird, the South American folivorous hoatzin. This bird has an enlarged crop with a function analogous to the rumen, where foregut microbes degrade the otherwise indigestible plant matter, providing energy to the host from foregut fermentation, in addition to the fermentation that occurs in their hindguts (cecum/colon). As foregut fermentation represents an evolutionary convergence between hoatzins and ruminants, our aim was to compare the community structure of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in the cow and hoatzin to evaluate the influences of host phylogeny and organ function in shaping the gut microbiome. The approach used was to hybridize amplified bacterial ribosomal RNA genes onto a high-density microarray (PhyloChip). The results show that the microbial communities cluster primarily by functional environment (foreguts cluster separately from hindguts) and then by host. Bacterial community diversity was higher in the cow than in the hoatzin. Overall, compared with hindguts, foreguts have higher proportions of Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes, and lower proportions of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The main host differences in gut bacterial composition include a higher representation of Spirochaetes, Synergistetes and Verrucomicrobia in the cow. Despite the significant differences in host phylogeny, body size, physiology and diet, the function seems to shape the microbial communities involved in fermentation. Regardless of the independent origin of foregut fermentation in birds and mammals, organ function has led to convergence of the microbial community structure in phylogenetically distant hosts.

[Animal model for training in laparoscopic pyeloplasty]. / Modelo animal de entrenamiento en pieloplastia laparoscópica.

OBJECTIVE: With the coming of the laparoscopy, multiple surgical techniques have been developed that have revolutionized the urological practice. The laparoscopic pyeloplasty has been one of the techniques most developed. However, there are very few training models that permit the surgeon to decrease the learning curve. An animal model of training for the laparoscopic pyeloplasty technique is described. METHODS: Eight procedures of laparoscopic pyeloplasty were performed using the animal model (Gallus gallus) in the laparoscopic practice laboratory of the Urology Service of the University Hospital of Caracas. The preparation times of the model and the operation times of each surgeon were compared. The statistical analysis was made calculating the mean operation time, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. A significant value was considered as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure was performed successfully in all of the cases by two surgeons. The preparation time ranged from a maximum of 14 minutes to a minimum of 6 minutes, this being the same for both surgeons in the fourth case. The operation time ranged from a maximum of 65 minutes to a minimum of 43 minutes, observing significant differences when comparing the times individually for each surgeon. Only one case had filtration when comparing the patency of the specimen. CONCLUSIONS: The animal model of training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty that is described is economical, reproducible, of easy availability and it makes it possible to develop laparoscopic surgical skills and competency necessary for reconstructive surgery and techniques that warrant intracorporeal suture.

Nutritional content of the diets of free-living scarlet macaw chicks in southeastern Peru.

To provide novel information on psittacine diets, we analyzed the texture, crude protein, crude fat, Ca, P (total), Mg, K, Na, S, Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations of crop contents from 10 free-living scarlet macaw (Ara macao) chicks from lowland forests of southeastern Peru. We compared our results with nutrient concentrations of known wild parrot foods and published psittacine dietary recommendations to highlight similarities and differences and suggest future avenues of research. The diets were much coarser textured than those recommended for hand feeding. Soil in the diet provided an important source of Na, but Na levels were still lower than all recommendations. Concentrations of protein, Zn, K, Cu, and P (total) were near to or within the range of recommendations for captive psittacine birds. Fat, Ca, and Mg concentrations were greater in crop contents than in the average food plants and greater than published recommendations. The Na:K ratios were only one-twentieth of those recommended for young poultry. Future analyses should investigate the bioavailability of Fe, Ca, and Zn in these diets and the effects of varying concentrations of fat, Na, Ca, Mg, and Na:K ratio on psittacine growth and development.

Reassessing the importance of granivorous pigeons as massive, long-distance seed dispersers.

Long-distance dispersal (LDD) of plants remains as a little-understood, key ecological process. We present evidence indicating that granivorous pigeons may disperse large amounts of viable seeds when they die with seeds in their crops at long distance from the parent plant. Research was conducted in Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) breeding colonies in central Argentina where breeding populations may reach over 8000 doves/ha. We measured (a) crop seed viability and germination rate from dead doves and (b) daily travel distance from the breeding colonies to the feeding grounds. Seed viability was over 50% in fresh adult and nestling samples. Seed-germination rate ranged between 35% and 65%, even in corpses left on the ground for 30 days. Maximum doves' daily flight distance from the breeding colonies was 117 km. The estimated annual seed deposition per hectare resulting from crop spillage in two breeding colonies was 10.95 and 9.66 Mg, respectively. Significant ecological implications of dove-crop spillage include seed dispersal among fragments, rapid colonization of new habitats including islands, and dispersal of large volumes of weed and transgenic material. A preliminary assessment of dispersal kernel generated by crop spillage in colonial Eared Doves is included.

Ingluviotomia em um papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) para tratamento de queimadura de inglúvio causada por alimento super-aquecido: relato de caso / Ingluviotomy for treatment of a thermal crop burn caused by overheated food in a blue-fronted amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva): case report

A ingluviotomia é um procedimento relativamente simples, utilizado para reparar lesões ingluviais como rupturas e queimaduras e também para remoção de corpos estranhos e realização de endoscopia proventricular e ventricular. A ocorrência de queimadura de inglúvio é um evento acidental comum, quando se utilizam alimentos pastosos aquecidos para alimentar artificialmente filhotes de aves, principalmente quando o aquecimento se faz em forno de microondas. Tal situação pode causar extensas queimaduras, cujos efeitos danosos inevitavelmente terão de ser corrigidos cirurgicamente por meio de ingluviotomia. Relatam-se aqui os procedimentos diagnósticos e terapêuticos adotados para tratamento de um papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) afetado por queimadura de inglúvio devida à administração de alimento super-aquecido em forno de microondas, que foi operado e acompanhado até a plena recuperação(AU)

The ingluviotomy is a relatively simple procedure, used for removing foreign bodies, repairing crop injuries as ruptures and burns, and also ventricular and proventriculus endoscopy. The occurrence of crop burns is a common accidental situation in hand-reared young birds, especially when it is used pasty food previously heated in a microwave oven. This can cause extensive burns, whose harmful effects will inevitably need to be surgically corrected by Ingluviotomy. This paper reports the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used to treat a blue-fronted-amazon (Amazona aestiva) affected by a thermal crop burn caused by overheated food(AU)

Ingluviotomia em um papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) para tratamento de queimadura de inglúvio causada por alimento super-aquecido: relato de caso / Ingluviotomy for treatment of a thermal crop burn caused by overheated food in a blue-fronted amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva): case report

A ingluviotomia é um procedimento relativamente simples, utilizado para reparar lesões ingluviais como rupturas e queimaduras e também para remoção de corpos estranhos e realização de endoscopia proventricular e ventricular. A ocorrência de queimadura de inglúvio é um evento acidental comum, quando se utilizam alimentos pastosos aquecidos para alimentar artificialmente filhotes de aves, principalmente quando o aquecimento se faz em forno de microondas. Tal situação pode causar extensas queimaduras, cujos efeitos danosos inevitavelmente terão de ser corrigidos cirurgicamente por meio de ingluviotomia. Relatam-se aqui os procedimentos diagnósticos e terapêuticos adotados para tratamento de um papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) afetado por queimadura de inglúvio devida à administração de alimento super-aquecido em forno de microondas, que foi operado e acompanhado até a plena recuperação

The ingluviotomy is a relatively simple procedure, used for removing foreign bodies, repairing crop injuries as ruptures and burns, and also ventricular and proventriculus endoscopy. The occurrence of crop burns is a common accidental situation in hand-reared young birds, especially when it is used pasty food previously heated in a microwave oven. This can cause extensive burns, whose harmful effects will inevitably need to be surgically corrected by Ingluviotomy. This paper reports the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used to treat a blue-fronted-amazon (Amazona aestiva) affected by a thermal crop burn caused by overheated food

Avaliação in vitro da atividade inibitória de Lactobacillus spp., isolados do inglúvio e cecos de aves sobre Salmonella / In vitro evaluation of the inhibitory activity of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from crop and ceca of chickens against Salmonella serotypes

Inglúvios e cecos de reprodutoras comerciais de frangos de corte foram utilizados para o isolamento de Lactobacillus spp. As estirpes isoladas foram caracterizadas como Gram-positivo, catalase negativo, produtoras de gás em glicose, não produtoras de H2S em triple sugar iron e identificadas pela reação em cadeia da polimerase como Lactobacillus reuteri e Lactobacillus salivarius. A utilização da técnica spot-on-the-lawn para avaliação da inibição in vitro permitiu a análise de vários microrganismos simultaneamente. Todas as estirpes isoladas inibiram in vitro S. Enteritidis fagotipo 4, S. Enteritidis fagotipo 28, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, S. Agona, S. Anatum, S. Dublin e S. Senftenberg.(AU)

Crops and ceca of commercial broiler breeders were used for the isolation of Lactobacillus spp. The isolated samples were characterized by Gram positive staining, negative catalase test, production of gas from glucose, negative for H2S production from triple sugar iron, and were identified by the polymerase chain reaction as Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus salivarius. The use of the spot-on-the-lawn technique, with modifications, for the evaluation of the in vitro inhibition made it possible the simultaneous analysis of several microrganisms. All the crop and ceca isolated microorganisms presented an in vitro inhibitory effect against strains of Salmonella Enteritidis fagotype 4, S. Enteritidis fagotype 28, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, S. Agona, S. Anatum, S. Dublin, and S. Senftenberg.(AU)

Phenotypical characterization of Candida spp. isolated from crop of parrots (Amazona spp) / Caracterização fenotípica de Candida spp. isoladas de inglúvio de papagaios (Amazona spp)

The purpose of this study was to characterize Candida isolates from crop of parrots. Forty baby parrots of genus Amazona, species aestiva and amazonica that were apprehended from wild animal traffic were used: 18 presented ingluvitis and 22 other alterations, but showing general debilitation. Samples were seeded on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol after be obtained by the introduction of urethral probe through the esophagus. Based on morphology and biochemical reactions (API 20C) Candida was confirmed; it was still searched the production of proteinase and phospholipase, virulence factors for Candida species. Candida spp. were isolated from 57.5 percent parrots, being 72.2 percent from birds with ingluvitis and 45.5 percent from without ones. Twenty-five strains of Candida were isolated, 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively from parrots with and without ingluvitis, and were speciated: 28 percent C. humicola, 24 percent C. parapsilosis, 20 percent C. guilliermondii, 20 percent C. famata, and 8 percent C. albicans. These results demonstrate that C. albicans is not the most frequent species isolated, and it is the first report that shows C. guilliermondii, C. famata, and C. humicola causing infection in parrots. Many isolates presented filamentation (76 percent), 100 percent produced proteinase and 68 percent phospholipase. The observation of Candida spp. producing virulence factors reinforce the pathogenic role of these yeasts in the cases studied.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar cepas de Candida spp. isoladas de inglúvio de papagaios. Foram utilizados 40 papagaios do gênero Amazona, espécies aestiva e amazonica, apreendidos de tráfico de animais selvagens: 18 apresentavam ingluvite e 22 outras alterações, mas todos mostrando sinais de debilitação geral. Colheram-se as amostras clínicas através da introdução de sonda uretral no esôfago dos animais e estas foram semeadas em ágar Sabouraud dextrose acrescido de cloranfenicol. A identificação das espécies de Candida foi baseada em características macro e micromorfológicas e comportamento bioquímico no kit API 20C; pesquisou-se ainda a produção das enzimas proteinase e fosfolipase. Isolou-se Candida spp. de 57,5 por cento dos papagaios, sendo 72,2 por cento de aves com ingluvite e 45,5 por cento de aves com outras afecções. Isolaram-se 25 cepas de Candida, 60 por cento e 40 por cento respectivamente de animais com e sem ingluvite. As espécies isoladas foram: C. humicola (28 por cento), C. parapsilosis (24 por cento), C. guilliermondii (20 por cento), C. famata (20 por cento) e C. albicans (8 por cento). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que C. albicans não é a espécie mais freqüentemente isolada e é a primeira vez que se relata C. guilliermondii, C. famata e C. humicola causando infecção em papagaios. A maioria dos isolados apresentou filamentação (76 por cento) e produziu a enzima fosfolipase (68 por cento) e todas as cepas produziram proteinase. O encontro de Candida spp., produzindo seus fatores de virulência, reforça o papel patogênico dessas leveduras nos casos estudados.(AU)

Phenotypical characterization of Candida spp. isolated from crop of parrots (Amazona spp) / Caracterização fenotípica de Candida spp. isoladas de inglúvio de papagaios (Amazona spp)

The purpose of this study was to characterize Candida isolates from crop of parrots. Forty baby parrots of genus Amazona, species aestiva and amazonica that were apprehended from wild animal traffic were used: 18 presented ingluvitis and 22 other alterations, but showing general debilitation. Samples were seeded on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol after be obtained by the introduction of urethral probe through the esophagus. Based on morphology and biochemical reactions (API 20C) Candida was confirmed; it was still searched the production of proteinase and phospholipase, virulence factors for Candida species. Candida spp. were isolated from 57.5 percent parrots, being 72.2 percent from birds with ingluvitis and 45.5 percent from without ones. Twenty-five strains of Candida were isolated, 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively from parrots with and without ingluvitis, and were speciated: 28 percent C. humicola, 24 percent C. parapsilosis, 20 percent C. guilliermondii, 20 percent C. famata, and 8 percent C. albicans. These results demonstrate that C. albicans is not the most frequent species isolated, and it is the first report that shows C. guilliermondii, C. famata, and C. humicola causing infection in parrots. Many isolates presented filamentation (76 percent), 100 percent produced proteinase and 68 percent phospholipase. The observation of Candida spp. producing virulence factors reinforce the pathogenic role of these yeasts in the cases studied.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar cepas de Candida spp. isoladas de inglúvio de papagaios. Foram utilizados 40 papagaios do gênero Amazona, espécies aestiva e amazonica, apreendidos de tráfico de animais selvagens: 18 apresentavam ingluvite e 22 outras alterações, mas todos mostrando sinais de debilitação geral. Colheram-se as amostras clínicas através da introdução de sonda uretral no esôfago dos animais e estas foram semeadas em ágar Sabouraud dextrose acrescido de cloranfenicol. A identificação das espécies de Candida foi baseada em características macro e micromorfológicas e comportamento bioquímico no kit API 20C; pesquisou-se ainda a produção das enzimas proteinase e fosfolipase. Isolou-se Candida spp. de 57,5 por cento dos papagaios, sendo 72,2 por cento de aves com ingluvite e 45,5 por cento de aves com outras afecções. Isolaram-se 25 cepas de Candida, 60 por cento e 40 por cento respectivamente de animais com e sem ingluvite. As espécies isoladas foram: C. humicola (28 por cento), C. parapsilosis (24 por cento), C. guilliermondii (20 por cento), C. famata (20 por cento) e C. albicans (8 por cento). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que C. albicans não é a espécie mais freqüentemente isolada e é a primeira vez que se relata C. guilliermondii, C. famata e C. humicola causando infecção em papagaios. A maioria dos isolados apresentou filamentação (76 por cento) e produziu a enzima fosfolipase (68 por cento) e todas as cepas produziram proteinase. O encontro de Candida spp., produzindo seus fatores de virulência, reforça o papel patogênico dessas leveduras nos casos estudados.

Rumen-like methanogens identified from the crop of the folivorous South American bird, the hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin).

The hoatzin is the only known avian species with foregut fermentation. It is a primarily folivorous feeder and has a distended crop and lower/distal esophagus, which has evolved for the microbial fermentation of ingested feed. Crop samples collected from 10 individual animals from the Apure River area, Apure State, Venezuela were examined for the presence and density of methanogens using 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and real-time PCR prepared from pooled and individual PCR products. A total of 197 clones were examined, revealing 24 different methanogen 16S rRNA sequences, or phylotypes. Of the 24 unique phylotypes, 16 (171 of 197 clones) formed five unique clades within the genus Methanobrevibacter with the largest group of clones (118 clones) 98.7% similar to Methanobrevibacter ruminantium. The remaining eight phylotypes (26 clones) formed four unique clades that had only 94.0-96.7% identity to Methanosphaera stadtmanae. Based upon 98% sequence identity, we identified 17 of the 24 methanogen phylotypes from the hoatzin as possible new species and strains, with three phylotypes representing possible new genera (<94.5% sequence identity). Although none of the hoatzin methanogen phylotypes had 100% sequence identity to any other archaeal sequences in the GenBank database, the hoatzin crop methanogen sequences formed sister groups with known rumen methanogens. Mean population densities (numbers per gram wet weight) of methanogenic archaea, rumen bacteria and ciliate protozoa, estimated using real-time PCR, were 5.80 x 10(9), 7.93 x 10(12) and 3.31 x 10(5), respectively. The crop microbial data presented here provide an excellent example of convergent evolution of foregut fermentation in the hoatzin, similar to that of ruminants.

Evaluation in vitro of the antagonistic substances produced by Lactobacillus spp. isolated from chickens.

To determine the inhibitory capacity of lactic acid bacteria due to the action of antagonistic substances, we tested 474 isolates of Lactobacillus from the crop and cecum of chickens against gram-positive and gram-negative indicator microorganisms by the spot-on-the-lawn and well-diffusion antagonism methods. Of the 474 isolates, 265 demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the indicator microorganisms. Isolates identified as L. reuteri, L. salivarius, or Lactobacillus spp. inhibited Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. but not L. casei, L. delbrueckii, L. fermentum, or L. helveticus by the well-diffusion simultaneous antagonism method under anaerobic incubation conditions. The antagonistic substances produced by some of the Lactobacillus isolates were inactivated after treatment by proteolytic enzymes, which suggested that the substances could be antimicrobial peptides or bacteriocins.

Análise histológica do papo de pombo (Columba livia Linaeus, 1758) / Histologic analysis of pigeon's crop (columba livia Linaeus, 1758)

Introdução e Método - C) objetivo deste est'udo foi o de avaliar a histologia (arquitetura histológica) do papo de pombo, pela observação de cortes corados por H&E e tricrômico de Mailory.- Resultados - Alguns resultados, por analogia, eram esperados; outros são um tanto discrepantes da bibliografia. Conclusões A arquitetura da túnica mucosa sugere epitélio e lâmina própria com elementos glandulares, supostamente relacionados com a digestão.(au)

Effect of sodium bentonite on the performance and blood variables of broiler chickens intoxicated with aflatoxins.

1. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of natural sodium bentonite (NaB) in the prevention of toxic effects of aflatoxins. Five hundred and twenty-eight 1-d-old Ross male broiler chickens were housed in pens (22 chickens per pen) for 42 d. There were 3 inclusion rates of NaB (0, 2.5, and 5 g/kg) and 2 of aflatoxins (0 and 3 mg/kg food). Each treatment had 4 replicates of 22 chickens. 2. All chickens treated with aflatoxin and without bentonite were adversely affected. NaB treatment at 5.0 g/kg improved body weights at 42 d of age by 31.3%, increased food intake by 23.8% and improved productive efficiency by 40.1%. Weights of liver, heart, pancreas and crop and biochemical variables were not affected by dietary NaB. However, serum phosphorous concentration was reduced by 30% compared with chickens that received aflatoxin. 3. NaB caused no adverse effects on chickens that did not receive aflatoxin. 4. It is concluded that NaB at pH 7.9 partially neutralises the effects of aflatoxins on broiler chickens when included at 5.0 g/kg in the diet.

Bioactivity and immunoreactivity of rat pituitary prolactin submitted to various extraction procedures.

Pituitary glands of rats, injected with estrogen to increase the prolactin (PRL) storage in secretory granules, were submitted to various extraction procedures for prolactin. Homogenization and centrifugation of pituitary tissue, in Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.3, yielded a small amount of radioimmunoassayable prolactin, which increased remarkably after extraction in alkaline pH, disruption of granular membranes with Lubrol and specially after treatment with 2.5 mol/l urea. Nb2 lymphoma cell and pigeon crop sac bioassay (BA) revealed higher levels of bioactivity after extraction in Tris buffer, pH 7.3, in comparison to RIA, with BA/RIA ratios of 1.4 and 2.3, respectively. Bioassays of pituitary PRL extracted with Lubrol and alkaline medium, were less effective in quantifying PRL than RIA. Treatment of pituitary homogenates with urea produced the highest levels of PRL by both BA and RIA, with BA/RIA ratios close to 1. The thorough depolymerization of big PRL effected by urea produced the release of monomeric subunits which allows a complete quantification of the total content in the pituitary gland.