Research Note: Disturbance of intracellular calcium signal in salpingitis simulation of laying hens.

This study investigated whether there is disturbance of calcium signal in the simulated salpingitis of laying hens. A total of 90 Roman Pink layers (81 wk; 1.916 ± 0.17 kg) were divided into 3 groups (Control treated with PBS, 1.85 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/layer as LPS group, 1.85 mg LPS/layer as LPS+organic chemical reagent (OCR) group) with 6 replicates of 5 layers. Compared with the Control, the mRNA expression of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK IV), sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA), and plasma membrane calcium-transporting ATPase (PMCA) were not only decreased (P < 0.05) in magnum of laying hens from LPS and LPS+OCR groups, but also in isthmus and uterus of hens from LPS+OCR group. Moreover, the mRNA expression of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) and Orai1 in uterus from LPS+OCR group were higher (P < 0.05) than that from Control. The relative fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ in uterus from LPS and LPS+OCR groups were significantly higher than that from Control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it existed that the linkage of simulated salpingitis treated with LPS+OCR and altered intracellular calcium signals in layers, which provided a new insight for alleviating salpingitis and uterine dysfunction of laying hens.

Methionine alleviates aflatoxinb1-induced broiler chicks embryotoxicity through inhibition of caspase-dependent apoptosis and enhancement of cellular antioxidant status.

Practical methods for preventing embryotoxicity in chickens that are caused by aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1) are currently rare. Binding absorbers are commonly used in feeding stuff to reduce laying hens' exposure to off-contaminated diets, thus reducing residue exposure to fertilized eggs. Nonetheless, several adsorbents have been shown to affect the use of nutrients and the absorption of minerals in poultry. Thus, seeking an effective strategy to counter or control embryotoxicity in broiler chicks caused by AFB1 is a problem. A total of 180 embryonated eggs were injected with 36 ng AFB1 with or without 5.90 mg L-methionine (Met) 30 embryonated eggs each, followed by incubation in an incubator until hatching time. The in ovo injection of Met significantly reduced toxicity caused by AFB1 in broiler embryos by enhancing the liver and kidney functions, lipid profiles, and alleviated oxidative stress during the incubation period. Furthermore, the relative gene expressions (SSTR5, TSH-ß, Bcl-2, GSH-Px, GST-a, and SOD in the liver) were up-regulated with in ovo injection of AFB1+Met compared to AFB1 alone. Moreover, there was a dowin-regulated trend in Bax, Caspases-3, Caspases-7, Caspases-9, CYP1A1, CYP2H1, and P53 gene expression with in ovo injection of AFB1+Met compared to AFB1 alone. The in ovo injection of Met led to less apoptotic cells in liver tissues. Such results might be necessary for the poultry industry as it is focused on managing the embryotoxicity of AFB1, which affecting poultry production and welfare. Results from this study demonstrated that in ovo Met injection could alleviate AF-induced toxicity in chicken embryos.

The potential mechanistic insights and future implications for the effect of prebiotics on poultry performance, gut microbiome, and intestinal morphology.

Prebiotics may modify the biological processes in the chickens' gastrointestinal tract to improve poultry performance and health. Prebiotics are natural feed additives that offer many economic advantages by decreasing mortality rates, increasing growth rates, and improving birds' feed efficiency. Prebiotic action potentially affects the degradation of indigestible dietary compounds, the synthesis of nitrogen components and vitamins, and simplifies the removal of undesirable elements in the diet. Prebiotics could also induce desirable gut microbiome modifications and affect host metabolism and immune health. It is worth mentioning that gut bacteria metabolize the prebiotic compounds into organic compounds that the host can subsequently use. It is important to limit the concept of prebiotics to compounds that influence the metabolism of resident microorganisms. Any medicinal component or feed ingredient beneficial to the intestinal microecosystem can be considered a prebiotic. In this review, the impacts of prebiotics on the gut microbiome and physiological structure are discussed, emphasizing the poultry's growth performance. The current review will highlight the knowledge gaps in this area and future research directions.

Use of lemongrass essential oil as a feed additive in quail's nutrition: its effect on growth, carcass, blood biochemistry, antioxidant and immunological indices, digestive enzymes and intestinal microbiota.

The present study was designed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation of lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) on growth performance, carcass traits, liver and kidney function, immunity, antioxidant indices and caecal microbiota of growing quail. A total of 200 Japanese quails at 1-week-old were haphazardly allotted to 5 groups of 40 chicks in five replicates (8 per replicate). The first group was the control group, while LGEO was added at levels of 150, 300, 450, and 600 mg/kg diet in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups, respectively. Dietary supplementation of LGEO (150, 300 and 450 mg/ kg diet) increased body weight at 3 and 5 wk of age, and increased body weight gain during all periods compared with the control group (P < 0.05). All levels of LGEO improved feed conversion ratio during the periods from 1 to 3 and 1 to 5 wk of age. During 3 to 5 wk, feed conversion ratio was improved in quails fed LGEO (300 and 450 mg/kg diet) compared with the control and other treatments. Carcass traits, plasma globulin, alanine aminotransferase, and urea values did not differ among the treatments (P > 0.05), but the activity of aspartate aminotransferase in the plasma was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in LGEO-treated groups. The total protein and albumin values were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in quails fed levels of LGEO (except 600 mg/kg diet) compared with the control. The inclusion of LGEO in quail diets improved (P < 0.05) plasma lipid profile. The dietary supplementation of LGEO increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) plasma immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, and IgA) levels, lysozyme values and activities of superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione and catalase compared with the control group. The caecal Coliform, E. coli and Salmonella were lowered (P < 0.0001) in the quails treated with all LGEO levels, but the total bacterial count and Lactobacillus count were increased with dietary supplementation of LGEO levels (300 and 450 mg/kg) compared with those in the control group. The activities of digestive enzymes were significantly higher in birds fed the diet supplemented with LGEO levels than those fed the control diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of LGEO can improve the performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant indices and decline intestinal pathogens and thus boost the health status of growing quail.

Dietary effect of probiotics and prebiotics on broiler performance, carcass, and immunity.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of probiotics (Protexin) and prebiotics (active MOS, mannan oligosaccharides) on growth performance, carcasses, and antibody titer in broilers. A total number of 360-day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly divided into 9 groups in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. Nine broiler starter (0-21 d) and finisher (21-35 d) diets were formulated by using 3 levels of probiotics (0, 1, and 2 g/kg of feed) and 3 levels of MOS (0, 1, and 1.5 g/kg of feed) and were randomly allotted to 9 groups. Feed intake was not affected by interaction of treatments during all phases (P > 0.05). Feed intake was improved due to the main effect of probiotic (P = 0.0001) or MOS (P = 0.005). No interaction (P > 0.05) was observed for weight gain in the starter, finisher, and overall phases. While, during the starter and finisher phases, weight gain was increased by probiotics (P = 0.028 or 0.04, respectively). Dietary supplementation of MOS improved weight gain (P = 0.01) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.03) during the overall period, but during starter and finisher periods, weight gain and FCR were not affected by prebiotics. Apart from dressing percentage, no interaction or individual effect of probiotics and prebiotics was observed for carcass, breast, thigh, heart, liver, and gizzard weight. Antibody titer for infectious bursal disease (IBD) was improved (P = 0.026) by the interaction effect between probiotics and prebiotics, when compared with the control group. Antibody titer against Newcastle disease (ND) was not affected by probiotics or prebiotics or their interactions (P > 0.05). It could be concluded that supplementation of prebiotics or probiotics can improve the growth performance of broilers. It may also be helpful in improving the antibody titer against IBD in broilers fed antibiotic-free diets.

Use of red pepper oil in quail diets and its effect on performance, carcass measurements, intestinal microbiota, antioxidant indices, immunity and blood constituents.

Plant-derived additives are used to maintain the health and growth performance of livestock. The use of red pepper oil (RPO) has recently attracted considerable scientific interest mainly due to its potential benefits for animals and humans. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with RPO on growth performance, carcass measurements, antioxidant status and immunity of growing quails between 1 and 5 weeks of age. A total of 240 growing quails (1-week old) were distributed into 5 equal groups consisting of 48 birds (4 replicates of 12 birds each). The first group was fed a basal diet without RPO (0 g/kg diet), and the second, third, fourth and fifth groups received diets containing RPO (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 g/kg diet, respectively). The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. At age of 5 weeks, quails were slaughtered for carcass examinations, microbiological analysis of intestine and to determine blood constituents. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Quails fed with 0.8 g RPO/kg diet showed 12.14%, 14.4% and 15% improvement in live BW, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, respectively, compared with the control group. Quails that received diets with 1.2 g RPO consumed more feed than the others during the total period (1 to 5 weeks). Plasma globulin levels were significantly decreased (P = 0.0102), but albumin/globulin ratio was significantly increased (P = 0.0009) in birds fed diets containing RPO (0.4 and 1.2 g/kg) compared with those in the control group. Activity of liver enzymes in the plasma was nonsignificantly decreased in quails supplemented with 0.8 g RPO/kg diet compared with those in the control group. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione and catalase) in the group fed on diets supplemented with RPO (0.8 g/kg) were significantly higher than those in the control group. The inclusion of RPO (0.8 g/kg diet) in quail diets improved (P < 0.05) plasma lipid profile and also decreased pH of the caecal content (P = 0.0280) compared with those in the control group. The caecal bacterial population, Salmonella spp., coliform and Escherichia coli, were lowered (P < 0.05) in the groups treated with RPO (0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 g/kg) compared with those in the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RPO (0.8 g/kg) can enhance the performance and antioxidant indices and decrease intestinal pathogens and thus improve the health status of Japanese quail.

Humic acid as a feed additive in poultry diets: a review.

Many studies tested different feed additives, among these additives, humic substances (HS) have been used in livestock and poultry diets. Humic substances commonly present in nature as they are created from the organic matter decomposition, and are normally found in the soil and natural water. Active components of HS consist of humic acid (HA), humus, ulmic acid, fulvic acid, humin and certain microelements. Humic acid is widely used as an alternative growth promoter for antibiotics in improving poultry performance and health. Moreover, supplementation of a commercial substance as a source of HS through the drinking water or diet improved the feed consumption, feed efficiency and weight gain of broiler chickens, and also improved egg weight, egg mass, and egg production of laying hens. This review describes the useful applications and recent facets of HA including its modes of action and various valuable uses in improving the production and health safeguarding of livestock and poultry.

Effect of iron glycine chelate supplementation on egg quality and egg iron enrichment in laying hens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of iron glycine chelate (Fe-Gly) on egg quality of laying hens. A total of 810 laying hens (HyLine Variety White, 26 wk old) were randomly assigned to 6 groups, and each group consisting of 135 hens (5 replicates of 27 hens each). Hens in the control group received a diet supplemented with 60 mg Fe/kg as FeSO4, whereas hens in the other 5 groups received diets supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg Fe/kg from Fe-Gly, respectively. The study showed that dietary Fe-Gly treatments influenced (P < 0.05) the internal egg quality (egg weight, Haugh unit, albumen height), compared with the control group. However, dietary Fe-Gly supplementation showed few effects on the ultrastructure of eggshell in this study. The group of 60 mg Fe/kg as Fe-Gly was promoted (P < 0.05) in succinate dehydrogenase levels of liver and spleen compared with the 0 mg Fe-Gly/kg group, whereas the control (Fe/kg as FeSO4) group has no differences compared with the 0 mg Fe-Gly/kg group. The concentrations of Fe in the eggshell, yolk, and albumen were increased with increasing concentrations of Fe-Gly, where Fe-Gly (60, 80 mg Fe/kg) had higher (P < 0.01) Fe concentration than the control in yolk and albumen. The Fe-Gly groups (60, 80 mg Fe/kg) were influenced (P < 0.05) in transferrin, divalent mental transport 1, and ferroportin 1, compared with the control (FeSO4). In conclusion, Fe-Gly (60 mg Fe/kg) improved egg quality and egg iron enrichment. In general, there were no significant differences between Fe-Gly (40) and the control group in albumen height, Haugh unit, Fe concentration in eggshell and yolk. It revealed that FeSO4 could be substituted by a lower concentration of Fe-Gly and Fe-Gly may be superior to FeSO4 for egg quality in laying hens.

Effects of in ovo injection of sulfur-containing amino acids on heat shock protein 70, corticosterone hormone, antioxidant indices, and lipid profile of newly hatched broiler chicks exposed to heat stress during incubation.

This study hypothesizes that in ovo sulfur amino acids (SAA) injection can alleviate the heat or oxidative stress of hatched chicks. Thus, the study aimed to assess the impact of in ovo injection of SAA with heat stress during the incubation on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), corticosterone hormone, antioxidant indices, and lipid profile of newly hatched broiler chicks. Eggs were incubated under optimal incubation temperature (37.8°C) from days 1 to 10 then under high temperature (39.6°C for 6 h daily) between 10 and 18 D of the incubation. At day 17.5 of incubation, 150 eggs were randomly divided into 3 groups of 50 replicate eggs. The first group served as control (non-injected group, NIG), the second group was only injected with saline solution (saline-injected group, SIG), and the third group was injected with a mixture of 5.90 mg L-methionine plus 3.40 mg L-cysteine (sulfur amino acids-injected group, SAAIG). The results exhibited that serum HSP70 and corticosterone concentrations were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in the SAAIG compared with the NIG and SIG. In ovo SAA injection significantly augmented the antioxidant indices in the serum and tissues compared with the NIG and SIG. HSP70 mRNA relative expression was decreased but glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) mRNA relative expression was augmented in the tested tissues (P < 0.001) in the SAAIG compared with the NIG. The SAAIG had significantly (P < 0.05) lower levels in serum lipid profile compared to those of the control and SIG. In conclusion, in ovo SAA injection (methionine plus cysteine) in the embryonated eggs exposed to heat stress increased GSH-Px gene expression and antioxidant indices, and reduced HSP70 gene expression, corticosterone concentrations, and lipid profile of newly hatched broiler chicks.

Effect of dietary sodium butyrate supplementation on growth, blood biochemistry, haematology and histomorphometry of intestine and immune organs of Japanese quail.

New strategies must be developed to improve poultry performance and health. One of these strategies is the use of supplementations as sodium butyrate (SB) to improve the physiological status and then increasing the growth performance, but the best period of age in which the addition of SB is more effective on birds is not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of SB supplementation through the first, second or whole growth period on some physiological indices and growth performance of growing Japanese quail. In total, 240 unsexed 1-day-old quail chicks were divided into four groups (three replicates per group of 20 chicks in each). The first group was fed basal diet without SB from 1 to 42 days (control, T1), while SB at a rate of 1 g/kg basal diet was mixed with the feed of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups of chicks from 1 to 21 days (SB 1 to 21, T2), 1 to 42 days (SB 1 to 42, T3) and 22 to 42 days (SB 22 to 42, T4) of age, respectively. The results stated that addition of SB significantly improved live BW at 21 days, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and BW gain (BWG) during 1 to 21 days in T2 and T3 groups compared to T1 and T4 groups. During the whole period, group T3 had higher BWG and better FCR than the other groups (T1, T2 and T4). At 21 days, no significant differences among all treatments were detected on haematology and serum biochemistry except total protein and cholesterol. At 42 days, SB supplementation significantly improved most serum constituents, haematological parameters, villus height and width of intestine and morphometry of immune organs. The group fed SB throughout the experiment (T3) showed the best results. In conclusion, it is recommended feeding quail on diets containing SB through the whole growth period to show its affirmative impact on the growth and physiological indices.

Dietary supplementation of Yucca schidigera extract enhances productive and reproductive performances, blood profile, immune function, and antioxidant status in laying Japanese quails exposed to lead in the diet.

The present study investigated the toxic impacts of lead (LD) on the productive and reproductive performances of Japanese quails and the role of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in reducing these impacts. A total of 360 mature Japanese quails (at 2 months of age) were used and the experiment was lasted for 8 wk. The birds were divided into 6 equal groups as follows: control (basal diet), basal diet + 100 mg LD/kg diet, basal diet + YSE (100 mg/kg diet), basal diet + YSE (200 mg/kg diet), basal diet + LD (100 mg/kg diet) + YSE (100 mg/kg diet), and basal diet + LD (100 mg/kg diet) + YSE (200 mg/kg diet). LD resulted in a significant decrease in feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and egg production of birds compared with the control group. Supplementation of YSE (100 or 200) to LD containing diet could significantly improve the quail performance parameters to be comparable with the control values. Fertility and hatchability % were decreased by LD, whereas YSE at both levels (100 or 200) separately or in combination with LD showed fertility and hatchability percentages comparable to that of control. Triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL contents in LD plus YSE100 or LD plus YSE200 groups were significantly decreased than LD alone group. LD significantly decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the serum with no effect on reduced glutathione content. Co-exposure to YSE100 or YSE200 with LD significantly increased the catalase activity and numerically increased the superoxide dismutase activity than LD alone. YSE100 or YSE200 decreased malondialdehyde contents than LD alone group. LD plus YSE100 or YSE200 groups exhibited significant improvements in the level of immunoglobulins. Co-exposure to YSE with LD significantly decreased the LD residues in egg than the LD group. The obtained results showed that YSE exhibited a potential modulatory role against the LD-induced inhibitory effects on the productive and reproductive performances of Japanese quails and YSE at 200 mg/kg diet was more effective than 100 mg/kg diet in reversing the LD-induced alterations.