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1. An experiment was designed to compare the effects of supplementing laying hen diets with phytase and myo-inositol (inositol). 2. Five diets were formulated: high balanced protein (HBP – 840 mg of Dlys/hen/day), HBP with inositol (HBP+I – 0.16%), reduced balance protein (RBP – 672 mg of Dlys/hen/day), RBP with inositol (RBP+I – 0.16%) and RBP with phytase (RBP+P – 3000 FTU/kg). 3. Laying hen production, inositol concentrations, digestive tract morphology, amino acid digestibility and intestinal inositol transporters transcript abundance were evaluated. Data were analysed with a one-way ANOVA in SAS 9.4. Contrasts were used to assess the effect of protein, inositol, phytase and phytase vs. inositol. Differences were accepted when P ≤ 0.05. 4. No effect on hen-day egg production or feed efficiency was found. However, feed intake and the incidence of abnormally shaped eggs were 0.77 g/h/d and 0.17% higher, respectively, in inositol treatments. Inositol decreased egg specific gravity from 1.088 to 1.0865. 5. Inositol concentration in egg yolk was similar among HBP+I, RBP+I and RBP+P, and higher than for the HBP and RBP diet groups. Both gizzard and ileal digesta were enriched in inositol in all supplemented treatments, and phytase supplementation decreased the level of IP5 and IP6 in the gizzard and ileum. Generally, neither phytase or inositol affected amino acid digestibility. 6. Inositol increased transcript abundance of alkaline phosphatase in the ileum, while phytase upregulated duodenal alkaline phosphatase and SMIT1, jejunal SMIT2 and reduced ileal HMIT and SMIT1 abundance. 7. In conclusion, no effect of phytase or inositol was found for laying hen production performance or amino acid digestibility, but egg quality was reduced by inositol supplementation. Inositol concentration in egg yolk was similar among supplemented treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A unique structural and functional configuration renders the human urothelium, one of the hardest to overcome biological barriers, and accounts for critical shortcomings in the adjuvant localized therapy of bladder cancer and other severe medical conditions. Strategies to improve intravesical drug absorption are urgently sought, but so far have hardly adopted biorecognitive delivery vectors that are more specifically tailored to the natural characteristics of the target site. The efficient cytoinvasion of uropathogenic bacteria, mediated via a mannose-directed FimH lectin adhesin, and malignancy-dependent differences in bladder cell glycosylation point to considerable unrealized potential of lectins as targeting vectors on the molecular/functional and recognitive level. Here, we outline the ability of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to induce endocytosis of conjugated payload in human urothelial SV-HUC-1 cells after stable adhesion to internalizing receptors. A panel of model bioconjugates was prepared by covalently coupling one to six WGA units to fluorescein-labeled bovine serum albumin (fBSA). Cytoadhesive capacity was found to directly correlate to the degree of modification up to a critical threshold of on average three targeting ligands per conjugate. The highly specific, glycan-triggered interaction proved essential for endosomal sorting and was followed by rapid (<60min) and extensive (>40%) internalization. fBSA/WGA bioconjugates were processed analogously to the free lectin, irrespective of the significantly higher molecular weight (100–300kD). Durable entrapment of conjugates in acidic, perinuclear compartments without kiss-and-run recycling to the plasma membrane was found in both single cells and monolayers. Our results assign promising potential to glycotargeted delivery concepts in the intravesical setting and offer new perspectives for the application of complex biologicals in the urinary tract. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of the musculoskeletal system is influenced by bird activity, which can be impacted by light intensity (L). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of L on the growth and bone health of Lohmann Brown-Lite (LB) and Lohmann LSL-Lite (LW) pullets. Three L treatments (10, 30 or 50 lux, provided by white LED lights) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design in 2 repeated trials. LB and LW (n = 1,800 per strain [ S ]) were randomly assigned to floor pens (50 pullets per pen; 12 pen replicates per L × S) within 6 light-tight rooms from 0 to 16 wk. Each pen contained 4 parallel perches and a ramp. Data collected include cumulative mortality, BW at 0, 8, and 16 wk, and uniformity, keel bone damage (KBD ; deviations, fractures), breast muscle weight, and tibiae bone strength at 16 wk. Tibiae bone resistance to mechanical stress was assessed using a three-point-bending test. The effect of L, S, and their interactions were analyzed using Proc Mixed (SAS 9.4) and differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. L did not affect BW, KBD, or mortality. An interaction between L and S was observed for bone stress (bone strength relative to bone size), however, in general, LW pullets had greater resistance to bone stress (peak noted at 30 lux) than LB (peak at 50 lux). LB pullets were heavier than LW at 8 and 16 wk. There were no S differences on KBD from palpated or dissected keel bones. LB pullets had higher breast muscle weight and heavier tibiae than LW, however relative to BW, LW had a higher percentage of breast muscle and a longer and thicker tibiae than LB. LW had higher mortality during the first wk but there was no relationship to L. Conclusively, the results suggest that L, within a range of 10 to 50 lux, does not affect pullet BW or KBD, however S may affect both parameters, as well as bone strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is pressure to ban the practice of using beak treatment in laying hens and with this comes the need to find viable alternatives. Natural beak blunting by the inclusion of abrasive materials in the feeder has been suggested as an alternative, but its applicability to leghorn pullets and laying hens is not fully understood. This study investigated if a specialized feeding system that has been shown to blunt broiler breeder beaks could effectively replace infrared beak treatment in Lohmann Brown-Lite and Lohmann LSL-Lite pullets and hens. Birds were sorted into 3 treatments: untreated control (C), infrared beak treated (IR), or provided with a specialized beak blunting feeder (SF), which had an abrasive inner feed pan. The SF beaks were not shortened nor blunted when compared to C beaks from 0 to 16 wk. The feather cover of SF hens at 36 wk was poorer overall, suggesting that the SF beaks were as effective at pulling and removing feathers as the C hens. Cannibalism-related mortality was highest for the SF hens from 17 to 36 wk, further supporting the lack of effectiveness of the SF system. Similar to previous research, infrared beak treatment was effective in controlling cannibalism in laying hens. No decline in body weight, or increases in stress level suggested any negative impact of the IR treatment in this study. Overall, the specialized feeders did not negatively impact productivity or welfare, but were not effective at blunting the beak, resulting in poor feather cover and increased cannibalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling injurious pecking in commercial turkeys remains a significant challenge to producers and the industry. Infrared beak treatment is an effective method of controlling injurious pecking in chickens; however, the effects of infrared beak treatment on turkey performance are still largely unknown. Two experiments were conducted to determine the impact of infrared beak treatment on the beak length and performance of turkeys raised to 12 wk of age. Experiment 1 tested both toms (n = 236) and hens (n = 324), while Experiment 2 focused on hens (n = 608). Poults for each experiment were assigned to 1 of 2 beak treatments: infrared beak treated (IR) on the day of hatch at a commercial hatchery or sham untreated control (C). Data collected included beak length, body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, and mortality. Data were analyzed using a 1 or 2-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's range test for mean separation when interactions were found. Results showed that beak length (Experiment 1 only) was significantly shorter in IR poults from 2 to 12 wk of age. In the same experiment, IR toms had lighter body weight than C toms, but IR hens were heavier than C hens from 2 to 4 wk of age. By 12 wk, IR poults were heavier than C poults, regardless of gender. In experiment 2, IR hens had lighter body weight from 2 to 4 wk of age. In conclusion, infrared beak treatment had minimal effects on feed intake, feed efficiency, or mortality over the 12-wk periods of both experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effects of infrared beak treatment on the behavior and welfare of male and female turkeys reared to 12 wk of age. To do this, poults (236 males and 324 females) were assigned to one of 2 beak treatments: infrared beak treated on day of hatch (IR) or sham untreated control (C). Data collected included heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, pecking force, feather cover, behavioral expression, and beak histology. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial of beak treatment and gender, in a completely randomized design and analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS 9.4). H/L ratio (indicative of a stress response) did not differ between treated and control poults during early life, except at 20 d of age when H/L ratio was higher for C poults than IR poults. Pecking force, measured as a method of monitoring pain, was different only at 1 wk of age, when IR poults pecked with more force than C poults. Feather cover was better in IR poults at 12 wk of age. Differences in behavior between treatments were minor over the 12-wk period. Overall, infrared beak treatment of commercial turkeys had minimal negative impacts on behavior and welfare. The results suggest that stress may be reduced in flocks that are beak treated and that the procedure itself does not cause a pain response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]