RESUMO
Pododermatitis, or footpad dermatitis (FPD), is a welfare concern affecting broiler chickens globally. In the humid tropics, where high temperatures and humidity prevail, the impact of pododermatitis on broiler performance characteristics and behavior becomes even more significant hence this investigation. One hundred and eighty male broilers were used for this experiment out of 200 birds initially procured at day old. They were brooded and reared on deep litter and at 21 days of age, they were randomly allotted to the experimental unit. There were three treatments each with three replicates in a completely randomized design. The three litter management systems constituted the treatment groups. In the first treatment (t-A), litter materials were changed on a weekly basis and replaced with fresh ones while in the second treatment (t-B), the litter materials were turned or raked once a week, and in the third treatment (t-C), the litter materials were left untouched. The litter material used across all treatments was wood shavings and t-C served as control. The experimental birds were fed ad libitum during the trial. Data on daily feed intake, incidence and severity of paw lesions, and weekly body weights were taken while the experiment lasted 35 days. Test of mobility and aggression were carried out on the birds from each group on the last day of the experiment. The moisture content and pH of litter materials of each replicate were taken weekly from day 21 till the end of the experiment. Data were later subjected to analysis of variance statistically. The results revealed that broilers on t-A performed better (Pâ <â 0.05) than those on t-B and t-C for feed intake, live weight, weight gain, and feed utilization. However, FPD was pronounced among broilers on t-C and much more severe. A positive correlation was observed between the values of litter moisture content, litter pH, and incidence and severity of FPD. Birds on t-C were dull in appearance and inactive. In conclusion, FPD has a detrimental impact on the performance characteristics and behavior of broiler chickens in the humid tropics. However, the severity depends on the management system adopted. By adopting appropriate management practices such as weekly replacement of litter with fresh ones, it is possible to alleviate the negative consequences of FPD, improve broiler welfare, and enhance the sustainability of the poultry industry in these regions.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of the degree of dehydration is essential in the management and fluid therapy of dehydrated children. The invasiveness of central venous pressure limits its routine clinical use. Fortunately, some studies have suggested that ultrasonographic measurement of inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter: aorta diameter ratio (IADR) is an objective method of assessing intravascular volume. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical usefulness of ultrasound measurement of IADR in assessment of children with dehydration. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study which compared dehydrated children to age- and sex-matched euvolemic healthy children as controls. The maximum anteroposterior diameter of the abdominal aorta (at peak systole) and maximum IVC diameter (in expiration) were measured. RESULTS: A total of 120 subjects and 120 controls were evaluated. The mean age was 21.73 ± 20.89 months for subjects and 21.19 ± 22.13 months for control. The mean IADR for children with mild, moderate, and severe dehydration was 0.75 ± 0.07, 0.55 ± 0.07, and 0.33 ± 0.05, respectively. The mean IADR for controls was 0.99 ± 0.06. IADR had an inverse relationship with the degree of dehydration in the subjects. A cut-off point of 0.86, with a sensitivity and specificity of 96.7% in predicting dehydration, was derived, with the sensitivity and specificity increasing with increasing level of dehydration. CONCLUSION: IADR is sensitive and specific for assessing moderate and severe dehydration in Nigerian children.