In-Ovo injection of melittin into Alexandria chicken eggs: a way for early immune acceleration.

This study intended to assess the properties of in-ovo administration of Melittin (MLT) on hatchability, chick yield, hematology, immunological indices and relative organs weight of Alexandria chickens at hatch. A total of 600 eggs with an average weight of (45.12 g), were gathered and split into five groups: a non-injected group or negative control (NC), a saline injection group or positive control (PC), and three concentrations of MLT (5, 10 and 15 µg of MLT per egg, respectively). On day 18 of incubation, eggs from the injection groups were injected into the amniotic fluid from the large end with the in-ovo injection solutions (0.2 ml per egg). Results indicated that 10 µg MLT/egg positively affected the weight and yield of chicks. In addition, our findings indicated that the in-ovo administration with 10 or 15 µg MLT/egg was superior in most of the immunological indicators (spleen and bursa relative weights, immunoglobulins IgG and IgM, T cells and B cells). In conclusion, in order to improve the immune efficiency (early immune acceleration) of Alexandria chicks, which may contribute to offering a significant boost to their future performance, this study suggests injecting eggs with 5 or 10 µg MLT/egg.

Updating the seismotectonic setting for the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Gulf of Aqaba is known for its high seismic activity in Egypt and the Middle East. An inversion technique was applied to 113 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 to 7.2 to distinct subsets of data based on tectonic regionalization to define the stress regime in the Gulf of Aqaba involving the Eilat basin, Aragonese basin, and Dakar basin. The stress inversion revealed two active stress patterns; an active strike-slip in the Eilat basin and a dominant extensional regime in the Dakar basin, whereas both strike-slip and extensional regimes coexist in the Aragonese basin. The stress pattern in the Eilat basin is consistent with the movement along the Dead Sea Transform Fault. In contrast, the extensional regime in the Dakar basin aligns with the extensional stress field throughout the northern Red Sea. The coexistence of two dominant types of stress regimes in the Aragonese basin is likely a result of the superposition of the two main neighbouring stress regimes: the strike-slip regime along the Gulf of Aqaba Dead Sea Transform Fault and the extensional stress state across the northern Red Sea. The orientations of the minimum principal stress in the three basins are almost similar, indicating ENE trending, nearly horizontal extension.

Estimate the contribution of incubation parameters influence egg hatchability using multiple linear regression analysis.

AIM: This research was conducted to determine the most affecting parameters on hatchability of indigenous and improved local chickens' eggs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five parameters were studied (fertility, early and late embryonic mortalities, shape index, egg weight, and egg weight loss) on four strains, namely Fayoumi, Alexandria, Matrouh, and Montazah. Multiple linear regression was performed on the studied parameters to determine the most influencing one on hatchability. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in commercial and scientific hatchability among strains. Alexandria strain has the highest significant commercial hatchability (80.70%). Regarding the studied strains, highly significant differences in hatching chick weight among strains were observed. Using multiple linear regression analysis, fertility made the greatest percent contribution (71.31%) to hatchability, and the lowest percent contributions were made by shape index and egg weight loss. CONCLUSION: A prediction of hatchability using multiple regression analysis could be a good tool to improve hatchability percentage in chickens.