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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of olive, laurel, and rosemary leaf powders, on the oxidative state, biochemical, immune, intestinal morphophysiological parameters, and egg quality of laying hens. One hundred Lohmann Brown hens (28 weeks old) were equally assigned to two groups (n. 50) corresponding to a basal control diet (CON) or the diet supplemented with 6 g/kg feed of leaf powder mixture (LPM) containing olive, laurel, and rosemary leaves (1:1:1), for 60 days. Oxidative status, biochemical indices, immune response, cecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), intestinal morphological characteristics, and some egg traits were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that LPM improved (P < 0.05) the oxidative status (TOS, ROMs), the immune system (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), the total protein and HDL cholesterol content, whereas it decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the LPM than in the CON group. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in SCFA content in the caecum, as well as in villi height and crypt depth in both duodenum and ileum of LPM-treated hens, was observed. Egg quality parameters were not influenced (P > 0.05) by LPM. These findings indicate that LPM can be considered a candidate as an antioxidant ingredient for functional food in laying hens., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors of this manuscript have no financial or personal relationships that could potentially influence the content and findings presented in the manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to ascertain the negative effects of dietary low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE-MPs) exposure on growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Six sunflower meal-based diets (protein 30.95%; fat 8.04%) were prepared; one was the control (0%) and five were incorporated with LDPE-MPs at levels of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% in sunflower meal-based diets. A total of eighteen experimental tanks, each with 15 fingerlings, were used in triplicates. Fish were fed at the rate of 5% biomass twice a day for 60 days. Results revealed that best values of growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology were observed by control diet, while 10% exposure to LDPE-MPs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced weight gain (WG%, 85.04%), specific growth rate (SGR%, 0.68%), and increased FCR (3.92%). The findings showed that higher level of LDPE-MPs (10%) exposure in the diet of O. niloticus negatively affects nutrient digestibility. Furthermore, the results revealed that the higher concentration of LDPE-MPs (10%) had a detrimental impact on crude protein (11.92%) and crude fat (8.04%). A high number of histological lesions were seen in gut of fingerlings exposed to LDPE-MPs. Hence, LDPE-MPs potentially harm the aquatic health., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Fishmeal and fish oil substitution in aquafeeds might have adverse effects on fish growth and health, mainly in carnivorous species, such as Mediterranean yellowtail ( Seriola dumerili ). Mediterranean yellowtail shows great potential as an alternative aquaculture species due to its fast growth and high price on the market, but the need for high-quality protein and fatty acid content in its diets is limiting its production. In order to improve the sustainability of its production, this study was conducted with 360 fish of 35 g to evaluate the effects on fish growth and health. Six diets were used: one control diet without replacement, three with FM replacement (FM66, FM33, and FM0) (33%, 66%, and 100% FM replacement), and two with FO replacement (FO50 and FO0) (50% and 100% FO replacement). The substitution of FM was with vegetable (VM) (corn gluten) and animal (AM) (krill and meat meal) meals. The reductions in FM and FO of up to 33 and 0%, respectively, did not affect the growth and survival of S. dumerili at the intestinal morphology level, except for the anterior intestine regarding the lower villi length and width and the posterior intestine regarding the lower width of the lamina propria. On the other hand, the substitution of fish ingredients in the diet affects liver morphology, indicating alterations in the major diameter of hepatocytes or their nuclei. Finally, diet did not affect the gut microbiota with respect to the control, but significant differences were found in alpha and beta diversity when FO and FM microbiota were compared. A 66% FM replacement and total FO replacement would be possible without causing major alterations in the fish.

This study provided new data and knowledge on the potential use of Hermetia illucens meal (HIM) as a new sustainable ingredient for Sparus aurata diet. The effect of HIM dietary inclusion on fish growth performance, stress indicators and gut histology was studied. For 131 days, 312 fish were fed a basal diet containing fishmeal as animal protein source, and three diets containing 25%, 35% and 50% HIM as a partial replacement for fishmeal. The main findings indicated that fishmeal can be replaced by HIM up to 110 g/kg of substitution (35% of inclusion in diet) without negative effects on growth performance, stress parameters or histological traits of the posterior gut tract, and with positive effects ( p < 0.05) on the histological and morphometric characteristics of the anterior gut tract. At the same time, the results showed that the effect of Hermetia illucens meal at 50% inclusion level caused morphometric and histopathological alterations in the anterior gut tract of seabream. In conclusion, this preliminary study suggested that the dietary inclusion level of HIM35 was the most tolerated by fish showing the best gut morphometric parameters and histological conditions, with fewer signs of inflammation, as well as good nutritional and health status.

The study evaluated the effects of dietary phosphorus supplementation on the fishmeal replacement with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) in the diet of L. vannamei. Four isonitrogenous and isolipid diets were formulated: the PC diet contains 25% fishmeal, the NC, P1 and P2 diets were replaced 40% fishmeal with CAP and supplemented with 0, 0.8 and 1.6% NaH 2 PO 4 respectively (equivalent to dietary phosphorus level of 0.96%, 1.12% and 1.27%). Sampling and V. parahaemolyticus challenge test were conducted after 50-day-feeding (initial shrimp weight 1.79 ± 0.02 g). The results showed that there were no significant differences in the growth performance of shrimp among the 4 groups. The expressions of dorsal in the gut were significantly lower in shrimp fed the P1 and P2 diets than shrimp fed the NC diet and the expression of peroxinectin in the gut was lower in shrimp fed the NC diet than others. The cumulative mortality of shrimp after V. parahaemolyticus challenge was significantly lower in shrimp fed the P2 diet than those fed the NC diet. After the challenge, genes expressions related to the prophenoloxidase activating system (proPO, lgbp, ppaf) were inhibited in the hepatopancreas of shrimp fed NC diet but activated in shrimp fed the P1 diet compared to those fed the PC diet. The AKP and T-AOC activities were higher in shrimp fed the P2 diet than those fed the other diets. The thickness of muscle layer of shrimp fed the P1 diet was thicker than that in the other groups, and significant stress damage happened in the midgut of the shrimp fed the NC diet. The abundance of Pseudoalteromonas, Haloferula and Ruegeria in shrimp fed the P1 diet was higher than those fed the other diets, while Vibrio in shrimp fed the P2 diet was higher than those fed the other diets. This indicated that a low fishmeal diet with dietary phosphorus level of 1.12% could improve the histology, enhance immune response, and increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut of shrimp. The low fishmeal diet with dietary phosphorus level of 1.27% could improve disease resistance and antioxidant capacity, but there was a possibility of damage to the gut histology as well as increasing abundance of Vibrio in the gut microbiota of shrimp., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Red tilapia eggs one day post fertilization (dpf) were exposed to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at rates of 0, 5, and 10 mg/L for control, treatment 2 (C5), and treatment 3 (C10), respectively, without exchanging water and until the larval mouth-opening stage. Fertilized eggs of red tilapia exposed to different concentrations of CoQ10 were hatched at rates (p > 0.05) between 38 to 54.67%. The yolk-sac diameter at the 2nd day post hatching (dph), ranged from 1.85 to 1.87 mm in depth and 1.63 to 1.88 mm in width and was not altered by the CoQ10 treatments. Similarly, red tilapia survival (p > 0.05) ranged from 22.67 to 32%. On 6 dph, a slight percentage (2.08%) of survived fishes exposed to high CoQ10 dose (C10) exhibited larval deformation in the form of an axial curvature of the spine in the abdominal and caudal region. Larvae displayed a normal structure of the esophagus folds in all fish groups, and larvae in the C5 group displayed the longest folds and widest muscularis layer, followed by fishes in the C10 group and the control. Red tilapia fry on 30 dph treated with CoQ10 possessed higher antioxidant potentials in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) compared to the control. In conclusion, treating Red tilapia fertile eggs with 5 mg/L CoQ10 improves the growth, gut structure, and antioxidant efficiency of the produced larvae.

This study investigated the dietary effect of Spirulina platensis phycocyanin (SPC) on growth performance (body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR)) at starter, grower, and finisher stages, intestinal histomorphology, serum biochemical parameters, inflammatory and antioxidant indices, and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and caspase-3) immune expression in broiler chickens. In total, 250 one-day-old chicks (Ross 308 broiler) were randomly allotted to five experimental groups (5 replicates/group, 10 chicks/replicate) and fed basal diets supplemented with five levels of SPC (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 g kg - 1 diet) for 35 days. Compared with SPC0 treatment, different SPC levels increased the overall BW and BWG without affecting the total feed consumption. However, the FCR decreased linearly with an increase in supplementation level. The serum levels of total proteins, albumin, globulins, and growth hormone increased linearly by increasing levels of SPC supplementation. Further, SPC supplementation increased the thyroxin hormones without affecting serum glucose and leptin levels. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values decreased in broilers fed SPC0.250 and SPC1 diets. Triglycerides (TG) decreased in SPC0.25-, SPC0.75-, and SPC1-treated groups. Though antioxidant enzyme activities (total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) increased linearly and quadratically, malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased linearly by increasing the SPC level. There was no effect on serum proinflammatory cytokines IL1β levels. Immunolabelling index of caspase-3 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were downregulated by SPC supplementation. The intestinal histomorphology is represented by increased villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and numbers of goblet cells in different sections of the small intestine. In conclusion, SPC supplementation is beneficial in broiler chicken diets due to its growth-promoting, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The possibility of ultraviolet (UV) photooxidation of cypermethrin generating more toxic intermediates or isomers demands that studies that look at the effects of cypermethrin and UV irradiation under a coexposure scenario be carried out. In this study, juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were exposed to 50 µg/L cypermethrin, 100 µg/L cypermethrin, UV, 50 µg/L cypermethrin + UV or 100 µg/L cypermethrin + UV, in a static renewal for 3 weeks. The control fish were maintained in uncontaminated water, and not exposed to UV radiation. After the exposure duration, the fish were killed, and the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, protease, and lipase were determined in the liver or intestinal homogenates. Also, the histopathology of some sections of the intestine was performed. The results showed that the activities of the enzymes decreased significantly following exposure to cypermethrin while there was no change in the activities of the enzymes due to UV irradiation alone. The histopathological analyses indicated that exposure to cypermethrin caused alterations in the histoarchitecture of the fish such as severe erosion of the mucosa layer, faded lamina propria, and disintegration of the muscle layer. The exposure of fish to both cypermethrin and UV irradiation caused significant decrease in the activities of the enzymes. This could be an indication that UV irradiation has the tendency to potentiate cypermethrin-induced toxicity in fish., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study was designed to determine the effect of fishmeal (FM) replacement with soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Growth, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidation, and gut histomorphology were assessed in the fish fed with five different formulated diets that increasingly replaced FM. The SBM0 contained 100% FM, followed by 25% (SBM25), 50% (SBM50), 75% (SBM75), and 100% (SBM100). Juvenile tilapia having weight and length of 6.6 ± 0.1 g and 5.4 ± 0.2 cm, respectively, were randomly divided into five treatment groups. Each group had 40 individual fish and fed to visual satiation for 90 days. Body weight gain and specific growth rate in fish fed with 25-75% SBM increased significantly (P < 0.01) compared with those in fish fed with SBM100. Fish having the same weight fed with diets SBM50, SBM75, and SBM100 showed a significantly (P < 0.01) longer intestine compared with those fed with SBM0 and SBM25. Villus height of the stomach and intestine was significantly (P < 0.01) greater in the fish fed with the diets SBM0, SBM25, and SBM50 compared with SBM75 and SBM100. Muscular thickness was inversely related with the increasing villus height. Protease activity increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the stomach, anterior intestine, and posterior intestine of fish fed with SBM0 compared with SBM100. In the stomach and anterior and posterior segments of the intestine, significantly (P < 0.01) higher lipase activity was observed in fish fed with the diets SBM0 and SBM25 compared with diet SBM100. In the stomach, anterior intestine, and posterior intestine, amylase activity was also significantly (P < 0.01) greater in SBM0 compared with SBM100. The antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase and catalase of the liver were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in fish fed SBM100 compared with SBM0. These results suggest that the replacement of FM up to 75% with SBM could be possible considering the growth performances, gut health, and activities of digestive enzymes and antioxidant enzymes in O. niloticus.

Early weaned rabbits should be fed using a milk replacer in order to survive. Therefore, a rabbit milk replacer (RMR) was developed and compared with a kitten milk replacer (KMR ® : KMR) and a mammal milk replacer (Zoologic ® Milk matrix 30/52: MMR). Thirty-six native crossbred rabbits aged 18 days were divided into three experimental groups (six replicates/group, two rabbits/replicate), fed RMR, KMR or MMR daily until they were 36 days old and euthanized at 38 days, while a complete pelleted diet and water were provided ad libitum . No statistically significant differences were observed in growth performance parameters, water intake, faecal weight, nutrient digestibility, internal organ weight, caecal pH, caecal cellulose activity, number of faecal pellets and amount of crude protein intake ( p > 0.05). Caecal amylase activity in the KMR group and caecal protease activity in the RMR group were higher than in the MMR group ( p < 0.05). The villus height and crypt depth of the MMR group were greater than in the RMR and KMR group ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, it is possible to feed RMR to early weaning rabbits without serious adverse effects. However, probiotics and/or prebiotics should be supplemented in milk replacers and their benefits studied.

Diets offered to lactating and weaned piglets are the most expensive diets within pig production; however, the effect of these diets on lifetime pig performance is inconsistent. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of creep feed consumption during lactation and different starter diet allowances on piglets' gut structure and lifetime growth performance. In total, 320 pigs and 80 pigs (Landrace × Large White) were used after weaning in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to study growth performance and gut structure, respectively. At weaning, piglets that ate creep feed and piglets that were not offered creep feed during lactation were allocated to 2 kg/pig [low level (LL)] or 6 kg/pig [high level (HL)] of starter 1 diet (16.5 MJ DE/kg, 22.5% CP, and 1.7% total Lys) allowance. At weaning and at 1 and 3 wk after weaning, 8 piglets per treatment were sacrificed, and their small intestine morphology was evaluated (villus height and crypt depth). Piglets that ate creep feed had increased feed intake during the first week after weaning (P < 0.05), but no effect of creep feed intake was observed on piglets growth or gut structure during the postweaning period (both P > 0.05). Piglets that were fed HL after weaning had higher ADG and BW from weaning to 16 wk after weaning (both P < 0.05) and had lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) from weaning to 6 wk after weaning (P < 0.05). Piglets fed HL after weaning also had higher villi height and greater crypt depth than LL piglets at 3 wk after weaning (both P < 0.05). Creep feed consumption during lactation increases feed intake early after weaning, suggesting an improved capacity of piglets to cope with weaning, but did not influence their growth performance. Offering piglets 6 kg of starter diet enhances piglets' growth performance during the growing and finishing phase, probably by improving gut structure after weaning., (© Crown copyright 2018.)

Background: Campylobacters are an unwelcome member of the poultry gut microbiota in terms of food safety. The objective of this study was to compare the microbiota, inflammatory responses, and zootechnical parameters of broiler chickens not exposed to Campylobacter jejuni with those exposed either early at 6 days old or at the age commercial broiler chicken flocks are frequently observed to become colonized at 20 days old., Results: Birds infected with Campylobacter at 20 days became cecal colonized within 2 days of exposure, whereas birds infected at 6 days of age did not show complete colonization of the sample cohort until 9 days post-infection. All birds sampled thereafter were colonized until the end of the study at 35 days (mean 6.1 log 10 CFU per g of cecal contents). The cecal microbiota of birds infected with Campylobacter were significantly different to age-matched non-infected controls at 2 days post-infection, but generally, the composition of the cecal microbiota were more affected by bird age as the time post infection increased. The effects of Campylobacter colonization on the cecal microbiota were associated with reductions in the relative abundance of OTUs within the taxonomic family Lactobacillaceae and the Clostridium cluster XIVa. Specific members of the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families exhibit transient shifts in microbial community populations dependent upon the age at which the birds become colonized by C. jejuni. Analysis of ileal and cecal chemokine/cytokine gene expression revealed increases in IL-6, IL-17A, and Il-17F consistent with a Th17 response, but the persistence of the response was dependent on the stage/time of C. jejuni colonization that coincide with significant reductions in the abundance of Clostridium cluster XIVa., Conclusions: This study combines microbiome data, cytokine/chemokine gene expression with intestinal villus, and crypt measurements to compare chickens colonized early or late in the rearing cycle to provide insights into the process and outcomes of Campylobacter colonization. Early colonization results in a transient growth rate reduction and pro-inflammatory response but persistent modification of the cecal microbiota. Late colonization produces pro-inflammatory responses with changes in the cecal microbiota that will endure in market-ready chickens.

The aim of our experiment was to study how synbiotics are able to deal with the problems of post-weaning piglets. Lactobacillus plantarum - Biocenol(TM) LP96 (CCM 7512), Lactobacillus fermentum - Biocenol(TM) LF99 (CCM 7514) and flaxseed (rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) were administered to 36 conventional piglets from a problematic breed with confirmed presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Coronavirus. The experimental piglets were supplied with probiotic cheeses and crushed flax-seed in the period starting 10 days before weaning and lasting up to 14 days post-weaning. Piglets in the control group were supplied only control cheese. The impact of such additives on the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; spectroscopic and electrophoretic assay), alteration of immunity (index of metabolic activity), jejunum histology (light microscopy), and health of conventional piglets from a problematic breed (monitoring of hematology, consistency and moisture of feces and body temperature) were examined. We found significant decrease in LDH leakage in the blood serum and tissue extracts, indicating better cell membrane integrity in the individual organs of animals. Probiotics and flaxseed applied together seem to be a good source of nutrients to improve the immune status and the integrity of jejunum mucosa during infection. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science., (© 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on immune and hepatic oxidative status, and gut morphology of white sea bream juveniles. Four diets were formulated: a control diet with fish meal (FM) and plant feedstuffs (PF) (30FM:70PF) and three test diets similar to the control but supplemented with 1% of scFOS, XOS or GOS. Dietary prebiotic incorporation did not affect total blood cell counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood indices or differential white blood cell counts. Fish fed GOS had lower ACH50 and nitric oxide than fish fed control diet. XOS enhanced immune status through the increase in alternative complement pathway (ACH50), lysozyme and total immunoglobulin. The higher activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in fish fed FOS compared to the other dietary groups was the only related antioxidant enzyme affected by prebiotics in the liver. GOS ameliorated the precocious adverse effects of PF based diet on gut histomorphology, as denoted by the lower incidence of histological alterations in fish fed GOS for 15 days. In conclusion, XOS and GOS at 1% might have potential to be used as prebiotics in white sea bream juveniles., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The effects of dietary short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) incorporation on hematology, fish immune status, gut microbiota composition, digestive enzymes activities, and gut morphology, was evaluated in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles reared at 18 °C and 25 °C. For that purpose, fish with 32 g were fed diets including 0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% scFOS during 8 weeks. Overall, scFOS had only minor effects on gilthead sea bream immune status. Lymphocytes decreased in fish fed the 0.1% scFOS diet. Fish fed the 0.5% scFOS diet presented increased nitric oxide (NO) production, while total immunoglobulins (Ig) dropped in those fish, but only in the ones reared at 25 °C. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, bactericidal activity and NO were higher at 25 °C, whereas total white blood cells, circulating thrombocytes, monocytes and neutrophils were higher at 18 °C. In fish fed scFOS, lymphocytes were higher at 18 °C. Total Ig were also higher at 18 °C but only in fish fed 0.1% and 0.5% scFOS diets. No differences in gut bacterial profiles were detected by PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) between dietary treatments. However, group's similarity was higher at 25 °C. Digestive enzymes activities were higher at 25 °C but were unaffected by prebiotics incorporation. Gut morphology was also unaffected by dietary prebiotic incorporation. Overall, gut microbiota composition, digestive enzymes activities and immunity parameters were affected by rearing temperature whereas dietary scFOS incorporation had only minor effects on these parameters. In conclusion, at the tested levels scFOS does not seem worthy of including it in gilthead sea bream juveniles diets., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)