Impact of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation on gut morphometry, behaviour and physiological parameters in growing male rabbits.

Moringa oleifera (MO), a cultivated species of the Moringa, is known for its high concentration of essential nutrients that promote growth. To assess its impact on rabbits' gut morphometric, behavioural, and physiological parameters, a study was conducted using sixty growing male white New Zealand rabbits at 40 days old. The rabbits were divided into four groups and supplemented with dried MO leaves at varying levels (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% of body weight) for four weeks. The results revealed significant increases in organ weights, such as liver and intestinal length, and the height of intestinal villi and crypt depth in the large intestine. The muscular layer's and submucosa's thickness also increased in different parts of the intestine in rabbits fed with MO compared to the control group. No significant effect was observed on the caecum mucosa depth. Interestingly, no significant differences were found in body weight or weight gain between the Moringa supplementation groups and the control group. However, rabbits offered 0%, 0.5% and 1% MO spent more time feeding and resting than those given 2% MO. The grooming and sniffing percentage remained unaffected by Moringa supplementation. Regarding blood parameters, rabbits that received MO leaves in their diet showed improvements in red blood cell count, haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, total protein, globulin, and A/G ratio. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels and an increase in glutathione and high-density lipoprotein levels, indicating an antioxidative effect. Overall, the study concluded that MO leaves supplementation in the rabbit diet positively influenced the rabbits' health by modulating the immune system, improving histological aspects of the intestine, liver, and spleen, and enhancing physiological parameters through its antioxidative properties.

Age-related changes in testicular morphometry and function in Egyptian donkeys.

This study aimed to assess the effects of age on testicular morphometry and function in donkeys. Testes and epididymides of 57 donkeys were harvested immediately after slaughtering. The donkeys were grouped: young (1-4 years old, n = 13); adult (5-15 years old, n = 25) and aged (>15 years old, n = 19). Each testis and epididymis were weighed separately. Testicular volume was calculated. Epididymal sperm was harvested by retrograde flushing method, and sperm parameters were evaluated. The testicular parenchyma was immunolabelled for BAX and COX2. Adult and aged donkeys had greater testicular weight and volume than young (p < .05). Epididymal sperm concentration, motility and viability were greater (p < .05) in adults and aged (931.8 ± 39.3 and 858.2 ± 33.2 × 106 /ml) than in young animals (316.3 ± 72.8 × 106 /ml). Aged donkeys had a higher percentage of morphological sperm defects than the other categories (p < .05). Histological examination revealed the presence of age-related degenerative changes in testicular tissue of donkeys. Aged donkeys had higher COX2 protein expression than adult and young donkeys. BAX protein was overly expressed in adults than aged or young animals. In conclusion, advancement of age affects the testicular morphometry and function in donkeys.

Dietary Salvia officinalis leaves enhances antioxidant-immune-capacity, resistance to Aeromonas sobria challenge, and growth of Cyprinus carpio.

The current perspective is a pioneer to assess the efficacy of Salvia officinalis leave powder (SOLP) on growth, intestinal enzymes, physiological and antioxidant status, immunological response, and gene expression of Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). We also looked into fish resistance after being challenged with Aeromonas sobria, a pathogenic zoonotic bacteria. Fish (N = 120) were fed four different experimental diets in triplicate for 8 weeks. The control diet (SOLP0 - without SOLP); meanwhile, the other three diets included SOLP of 2, 4, and 8 g kg-1 concentrations (SOLP2, SOLP4, and SOLP8), respectively. Findings demonstrated that fish fed SOLP4 and SOLP8 diets had better growth performance and improved digestion by noticeable enhancing lipase and amylase enzymes activity than other groups. Additionally, the antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and immune activities (immunoglobulin M, nitric oxide, and antiprotease) clarified a significant increase (p < 0.05) in SOLP4 and SOLP8 groups. Enriched diets with SOLP4 and SOLP8 exhibited better expression of splenic genes (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, TLR-2, and SOD), intestinal genes (Slc26a6) and (PepT1 or Slc15a1), and muscular genes (IGF-1 and SOD), while MSTN was down-regulated. After 8 weeks of the experimental trial, C. carpio challenged by A. sobria exhibited the highest cumulative mortality (66.67%), while SOLP8-dietary intervention showed the best results in enhancing the fish resistance against A. sobria by lessening mortalities to 13.33% followed by SOLP4 diet (20%). The outcomes indicate that the expression of splenic, muscular, and intestinal genes confirm the efficacy of SOLP on enhancing growth, digestion, and immune-antioxidant status, and recommend the potential use of SOLP especially at 4 g kg-1 level as a valuable natural economic diet additive in C. carpio culture for sustaining aquaculture.

Immune-antioxidant trait, Aeromonas veronii resistance, growth, intestinal architecture, and splenic cytokines expression of Cyprinus carpio fed Prunus armeniaca kernel-enriched diets.

Currently, the intervention of plant by-products in the fish diet has gained tremendous attention owing to the economic and high nutritious value. The current study is a pioneer attempt to incorporate the apricot, Prunus armeniaca kernel powder (PAKP) into the Common carp, Cyprinus carpio diets, and assess its efficacy on growth, digestion, intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and splenic cytokines expression, besides the antibacterial role against Aeromonas veronii infection. Apparently healthy fish (N = 120) with an initial body weight of 24.76 ± 0.03g were allotted in 12 glass aquaria (60 L) and randomly distributed into four groups (triplicates, 10 fish/aquarium). The control group (PAKP0) was fed a basal diet without additives. The second, third, and fourth groups were provided PAKP diets with various concentrations (2.5 (PAKP2.5), 5 (PAKP5), and 10 g kg-1 (PAKP10)) respectively. After 60 days (feeding trial), sub-samples of the fish (12 fish/group) were intraperitoneally injected with 1 × 107 CFU mL-1 of A. veronii. Results revealed that body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rates were significantly augmented in the PAKP10 group in comparison to the other groups. The dietary inclusion of PAKP at all concentrations boosted the digestive capacity and maintained the intestinal morphology (average villus length, villus width, and goblet cells count) with a marked improvement in PAKP10. Moreover, fish fed on PAKP10 followed by PAKP5 then PAKP2.5 diets had noticeably elevated values of immunological biomarkers (IgM, antiprotease, and lysozyme activity) and antioxidant capabilities (the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione) as well as significant up-regulation of immune and antioxidant-related genes (TGF-ß2, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-10, SOD, GPx, and GSS). Fourteen days post-infection with A. veronii, the highest relative percentage survival of fish was observed in PAKP10 (83.33%), followed by PAKP5 (66.67%), and PAKP2.5 (50%). Our results indicated that a dietary intervention with PAKP could promise growth, digestion, immunity, and protect C. carpio against A. veronii infection in a dose-dependent manner. This offers a framework for future application of such seeds as a growth promotor, immune-stimulant, and antioxidant, besides an alternative cheap therapeutic antibacterial agent for sustaining the aquaculture industry.

Effect of body condition score on the testicular biometrical measures, semen characteristics and testosterone level in jackass.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) on testicle and epididymis biometrics, semen characteristics and testosterone level in Egyptian Jack. This study was conducted on 50 mature Jacks divided according to their body condition score into four groups: Poor (G1), moderate (G2), good (G3) and fat (G4). The complete testis was collected immediately after execution in the Giza Zoo abattoir; then, the epididymis was carefully dissected at the testicular junction. Biometrical measures including length, weight and volume were determined for the right and left testis and epididymis. Also, epididymal sperm was collected from all examined animas and evaluated for sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability and sperm abnormalities. Serum samples were collected for determination of total testosterone level. Results showed that the body condition score of the examined animal affects their biometrical measure of testicles and epididymis. There is a significant decrease (p < .05) in biometrical measures for the testicles and epididymis, sperm concentration, motility, viability and testosterone level in poor BCS animals (G1). The highest values were recorded in Good BCS (G3) Jacks. Conclusion: Jacks with good BCS (G3) should be selected for breeding activity in donkey.