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The northern fowl mite (NFM),Ornithonyssus sylviarum, is the most common ectoparasite of laying hens in North America. Infestation can cause a reduction in egg production, egg weights, and feed conversion efficiency. However, there is a lack of information on the effects of NFM on hen physiology, physical condition, and egg quality. Singly caged beak-trimmed White Leghorn hens (N=32) were infested with mites at 25 wk of age. The condition of each hen was assessed at wk 0 (infestation) and wk 5 and 7 post-infestation to determine comb temperatures and feather, skin, and comb condition. Heterophil-lymphocyte (H/L) ratios and body weight (BW) were evaluated at wk 0 and wk 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-infestation. Egg weight, egg specific gravity, yolk color, Haugh unit (HU), and eggshell thickness were determined prior to infestation (wk -1) and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 wk post-infestation. The H/L ratio (P<0.0001), HU (P<0.0001), and egg specific gravity (P=0.001) were lowest, and the egg yolk color was lightest (P=0.087) at wk 5, the peak of infestation. At wk 5 and 7, more than 65% of the hens had red skin and more than 75% had scabs on the vent; in addition more than 84% had grey-black vent feathers. There were no effects of infestation on comb color, comb temperature, feather cover, BW, or eggshell thickness. It was concluded that infestation with NFM has negative effects on interior egg quality and hen integument. A decrease in H/L ratio was also observed at the peak of infestation. However, the effects of NFM on the immune system are unclear, and H/L ratio might not be a good stress measure in hens highly infested with NFM., (© 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Simple Summary: Blood corticosterone concentrations are frequently used to evaluate stress responses in birds. Therefore, knowledge about physiological concentrations and daily fluctuations of this "stress hormone" is necessary. Corticosterone fluctuations in socially acting chickens are largely unknown, and we aimed to verify the presence of a daily rhythm. Therefore, blood samples were taken at intervals of four hours via a vein catheter over a period of three days from a total of 12 laying hens housed in groups of four in an enriched environment while video and audio recording their social interactions. Prior to the experimental phase, all hens were medically trained via adaption to repeated handling to reduce their stress reaction. In most hens, corticosterone showed a circadian course with two elevations per day. Statistical analysis revealed a significant peak during daytime (between 12:00 p.m. and 04:00 p.m.), and a tendency for a second peak during the night (12:00 a.m.). Further studies are necessary to elucidate the underlying control mechanisms, light and seasonal influences as well the function of the nightly corticosterone peak. Measurement of blood corticosterone concentrations has been established as an indicator for assessment of acute distress. Therefore, knowledge on physiological fluctuations is required, but previous studies allow little conclusion on daily fluctuations in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). To verify the presence of a circadian corticosterone rhythm in socialized chickens, blood samples were taken at four-hour intervals from 12 laying hens kept in groups of four over three days, each. Prior to experiments, hens were adapted to repeated handling for stress reduction. Corticosterone concentration was determined using radioimmunoassay. Blood sampling time and duration were recorded, and audio and video recordings were analyzed to assess the impact of behavior on corticosterone concentrations. Despite individual fluctuations, most hens showed a circadian course with two peaks per day. Statistics revealed a significant peak during the day (between 12:00 p.m. and 04:00 p.m.) and a tendency for a second peak at night (12:00 a.m.). The daily corticosterone peak was not explained by daytime social stress and needs to be seen as an endophenotype. The role of nightly corticosterone production has to be investigated in further studies. There might be a relation between corticosterone and reproduction since the only hen not showing peaks was not laying eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of in ovo lactoferrin (Lf) injection on some physiological parameters and immune response of posthatch chicks were investigated. Live embryonated Fayoumi chicken eggs (n = 600) were randomly allocated into four groups. The first group as a control was noninjected eggs, the second group was only injected with 0.1 mL of NaCl 0.75% solution, and the third and fourth groups were injected with 50 and 100 µL Lf dissolved in 0.1 mL saline solution respectively. The eggs were injected on Day 15 of incubation in the amnion. The results illustrated that the hatchability of eggs in two Lf groups was significantly higher than in the control, NaCl groups. The residual yolk in chicks injected with Lf (100 µL/egg) was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). In ovo Lf injection improved lipid profile, liver function, antioxidant indices, blood haematology, serum immunoglobulins and jejunum histomorphometry compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In ovo injection of Lf decreased significantly (p < 0.001) of pathogenic bacteria in residual yolk such as Salmonella, Shigella and Coliform compared to the control group. In conclusion, in ovo Lf injection can improve the hatchability, lipid profile, immune response and antioxidant indices and decline pathogens in the residual yolk, thus boosting the health status of newly hatched Fayoumi chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given document is a compilation of various scientific articles and studies related to the reproduction and care of turtles and tortoises. The articles cover topics such as egg development, incubation, hatching behavior, nutrition, and conservation efforts. The information provided can be useful for researchers and individuals interested in understanding the reproductive biology and management of these reptiles. [Extracted from the article]

Live birth is a key innovation that has evolved from egg-laying ancestors over 100 times in reptiles. However, egg-laying lizards and snakes can have preferred body temperatures that are lethal to developing embryos, which should select against prolonged egg retention. Here, we demonstrate that thermal mismatches between mothers and offspring are widespread across the squamate phylogeny. This mismatch is resolved by gravid females adjusting their body temperature towards the thermal optimum of their embryos. We find that the same response occurs in both live-bearing and egg-laying species, despite the latter only retaining embryos during the early stages of development. Importantly, phylogenetic reconstructions suggest this thermoregulatory behavior in gravid females evolved in egg-laying species prior to the evolution of live birth. Maternal thermoregulatory behavior, therefore, bypasses the constraints imposed by a slowly evolving thermal physiology and has likely been a key facilitator in the repeated transition to live birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the determinants of reproductive success is critical but often complicated because of complex interactions between parental traits and environmental conditions occurring during several stages of a reproductive event. Here, we used a simplified ecological situation—an amphibian species lacking post-oviposition parental care—and a laboratory approach to investigate the relationships between parental (both maternal and paternal) phenotypes (body size and condition) and reproductive success (fecundity, egg size, embryonic and larval duration, larval and metamorphic morphology). We found significant effects of maternal phenotype on fecundity, hatching success, and tadpole size, as well as on the duration of larval development. Interestingly, and more surprisingly, we also found a potential contribution of the paternal phenotype occurring during early (embryonic development duration) offspring development. Although our study focused on life-history traits such as body size and development duration, additional mechanisms involving physiological costs of development may well mediate the relationships between parental phenotypes and offspring development. Future studies are required to decipher the mechanisms underlying our findings in order to clarify the mechanistic basis of the links between parental phenotypes and offspring development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was done to find out the effect of in ovo injection of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at various incubation ages on the physiological and immunity performance of Mamora chickens. A total of 630 hatching eggs were divided into 7 equal treatments (90 eggs per each). The first group was as a negative control, the second group was as a positive control (injected in air sac with 0.3 ml/egg of distilled water at day 1 of incubation), the third and fourth groups were injected with 0.3 ml/egg of distilled water contained 0.1 and 0.2 ml coenzyme Q10 / egg respectively at day1 of incubation, the fifth group was as a second positive control (injected in air sac with 0.3 ml/egg of distilled water at day18), the six and seven groups were injected with 0.3 mL/egg solution of sterile distilled water contained 0.1 and 0.2 mL coenzyme Q10 / egg, respectively at day18 of incubation, Hatched chicks of each treatment were reared till 28 days of age. Results obtained could be summarized as follow: improving the hatchability percentage and decreasing embryonic mortality by in ovo CoQ10 at the 1st and the 18th day of incubation period as compared with negative control group. In ovo injection with CoQ10 led to improve the subsequent growth traits after hatch within the period of 1-28 day of age. Lymphocytes (L, %) was elevated, while heterophils (H, %) was decreased for chicks hatched from eggs injected with 0.2 ml CoQ10 / egg at the 1st day of incubation. All chicks produced from injected eggs with CoQ10 had higher serum catalase enzyme value and lower liver enzymes (AST & ALT) compared with those of negative or positive control. Therefore, in ovo CoQ10 (0.1 or 0.2 ml/egg) injection improve hatchability, post-hatch chick development, and physiological response of hatched Mamora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken vision is sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light containing the UVA spectrum, while UVB plays a key role in the endogenous production of vitamin D3. However, commercially available light sources are typically deficient in the UV spectrum and thus may not adequately fulfill the lighting requirements of indoor-housed laying hens. We hypothesized that supplementary UVB light may improve egg production and egg quality, and bone health during early lay relative to UVA supplementation or standard control lighting. To investigate the effects of UV light supplementation, an experiment was conducted on 252 ISA Brown hens during 16 to 27 weeks of age. Birds were housed in eighteen pens (14 hens/pen) under three different light treatment groups each with six replications: (i) UVO: standard control lighting with LED white light, (ii) UVA: control lighting plus supplemental daylight with an avian bulb, and (iii) UVA/B: control lighting plus a supplemental full spectrum reptile bulb containing both UVA and UVB wavelengths. Hen-day egg production and egg quality, blood parameters including plasma Ca and P, and serum 25(OH)D3, and hen body weight and external health scoring were measured at different age points; while bone quality was assessed at the end of the experiment at 27 weeks. Data were analyzed in JMP® 16.0 using general linear mixed models with α level set at 0.05. Results showed that UVA and UVA/B supplemented birds reached sexual maturity (50% production) 3 and 1 day earlier, respectively, than control birds. There was a trend for UV lights to increase hen-day egg production (P = 0.06). Among egg quality traits, only eggshell reflectivity and yolk index were affected by UV lights (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively); however, most of the egg quality traits changed over age (all P < 0.01). Post-hoc tests showed higher serum 25(OH)D3 in the UVA/B group relative to control hens (P < 0.05); but there was no treatment effect on plasma Ca and P or on bone quality parameters (all P > 0.05). A significant interaction was observed between light treatment and age for the number of comb wounds (P = 0.0004), with the UV supplemented hens showing more comb wounds after 24 weeks. These results demonstrated that supplemental UVA/B light had minimal effects on egg production and egg quality, whereas, UVA/B exposure may increase vitamin D3 synthesis during the early laying period. The optimum duration of exposure and level of intensity needs to be determined to ensure these benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most effective defenses of avian hosts against obligate brood parasites is the ejection of parasitic eggs from the nests. Despite the clear fitness benefits of this behavior, individuals within so‐called "egg‐rejecter" host species still show substantial variation in their propensity to eliminate foreign eggs from the nest. We argue that this variation can be further understood by studying the physiological mechanisms of host responses to brood parasitic egg stimuli: independent lines of research increasingly support the hypothesis that stress‐related physiological response to parasitic eggs may trigger egg rejection. The "stress‐mediated egg rejection" hypothesis requires that hosts activate the stress‐response when responding to parasitic egg stimuli. We tested this prediction by asking whether hosts showed differential stress response when exposed to host‐like (mimetic) or parasite‐like (non‐mimetic) eggs. We experimentally parasitized incubating American robins Turdus migratorius, a robust egg‐rejecter host to obligate brood parasitic brown‐headed cowbirds Molothrus ater, with mimetic or non‐mimetic model eggs. To assess the stress response, we measured the heart rate in incubating females immediately after experimental parasitism. We also measured plasma corticosterone and, in a subset of birds, used RNA‐sequencing to analyze the expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), a precursor of adrenocorticotropic hormone, 2 h after experimental parasitism. We found that egg type had no effect on heart rate. Two hours following experimental parasitism, plasma corticosterone did not differ between the differently‐colored model egg treatments or between rejecter and accepter females within the non‐mimetic treatment. However, females exposed to non‐mimetic eggs showed an upregulation of POMC gene expression (before FDR correction) in the pituitary compared with females treated with mimetic eggs. Our findings suggest that in an egg‐rejecter host species, non‐mimetic parasitic eggs may increase the activity of the stress‐related hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis compared with mimetic eggs, although the temporal dynamics of this response are not yet understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 68% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, it is crucial to understand how animals respond to urbanization. Urban areas are associated with changes in microclimate, light, noise and human activity, which can affect animal physiology, behaviour and fitness. In particular, urbanization may affect how parents allocate time and energy between parental care and self-maintenance. In birds, a critical aspect of parental care is incubation, where parents must maintain egg temperatures for successful offspring development. However, incubation is energetically costly, and anthropogenic disturbances may affect parental decisions related to this cost. Determining whether urbanization affects incubation is crucial for understanding the differences between urban and nonurban populations in their reproductive performance and fitness. We measured incubation behaviour and egg temperature in one urban and one forest population of great tits, a uniparental incubator, using temperature loggers. We found that, compared to forest females, urban females spent more time incubating, took shorter off-bouts and ended their last daily off-bouts at a later hour. Furthermore, time spent off the nest, the number and duration of off-bouts and daily start of activity were related to ambient temperature; start of activity was related to clutch size; and time spent off the nest was related to the day of incubation. Despite urban females spending more time on the nest, eggs of both forest and urban females experienced relatively similar average egg temperatures, and urban eggs tended to experience greater variability in egg temperature. Furthermore, there were no differences between sites for any fitness-related offspring variable. Our results suggest that urbanization can influence the thermal environment of developing avian offspring by causing urban adults to be inefficient incubators through increased activity off the nest in the evening, differences in nest insulation and/or suboptimal incubation behaviour compared to forest counterparts. • Urbanization appears to influence parental incubation behaviour of great tits. • Urban birds spent more time warming their eggs compared to birds in the forest. • However, outcomes for offspring were similar. • Urban eggs and forest eggs experienced similar temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Mediterranean stripe-necked turtle Mauremys leprosa is known to possess physiological mechanisms allowing it to adapt without particular signs of physiological disorder or stress in habitats with high pollution. Nevertheless, we were uncertain about the costs of this adaptation and its impact on reproduction. The reproductive traits measured in this study suggest the adaptation of M. leprosa to flourish well in highly degraded–polluted areas compared to undisturbed habitats. M. leprosa was so well adapted to the pollution that the exposed population actually increased its reproductive capacity. Females living in the highly degraded–polluted habitat exhibited record body sizes for the species, which allowed them to carry both more and larger eggs. In comparison, the corresponding reproductive traits measured in the intact habitat ranged within the limits reported in previous studies. We measured and compared the reproductive traits of the Mediterranean stripe-necked turtles Mauremys leprosa living in highly degraded–polluted vs. intact natural habitats in Algeria. Data on reproduction were obtained by using X-ray examination of gravid females and examination of nests. The results were opposite to the negative trend confirmed in most freshwater turtles exposed to pollution and suggested the ability of this species to flourish instead in highly degraded–polluted habitats. An optimum development was recorded for several reproductive patterns of the studied freshwater turtle under conditions considered uninhabitable for other vertebrates. Females exhibited record body sizes among conspecifics, which allowed them to carry significantly larger clutches, exceeding by up to 3 eggs the previously largest reported clutch. The mean clutch size (8.79 ± 2.70 eggs) was also higher than findings from previous studies, except for in some other polluted habitats. Furthermore, large females even with large clutches carried large eggs. Egg measurements in the disturbed habitat revealed new records exceeding those previously noted; in egg length (by 3.0 mm), egg width (by 2.8 mm), egg mass (by 1.8 g), and clutch mass (by 18.6 g). In comparison, the usual reproductive performances were observed in the intact natural habitat; female body sizes were significantly smaller and carried fewer eggs of smaller size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incubation capacity hypothesis states that clutch size is limited by the number of eggs an adult can successfully incubate due to the individual's morphology and physiology. Clutch size may be reduced in females because of the costs of egg production or in both parents due to the need to provide post-hatching care of young, complicating the testing of an individual's incubation capacity. We tested the incubation capacity hypothesis by studying a species with male-only parental care and precocial young, the emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, in which males can theoretically maximise care during incubation. Clutch size in emus varied considerably from 3 to 32 eggs, with males with larger natural, unmanipulated clutch sizes investing most in incubation in terms of the time they spent attending the nest. However, we found that when manipulating clutch size (to 4, 11 and 20 eggs), males responded to both clutch size and the magnitude of clutch size change during early incubation. Males with a median-sized clutch hatched the greatest number of eggs with moderate investment in incubation, while large nests elicited greater investment but a lower probability of hatching and fewer eggs to hatch; though when clutch sizes were manipulated, the increase in incubation investment between median and large clutches was not significantly different. Median clutches likely represent the male's incubation capacity, which moderates male fitness and may drive selection for median-sized clutches in stable environments. However, the large variation in emu clutch sizes suggests that optimal clutch size may be driven by where females choose to lay or that optimal clutch size might be seasonally variable, with changing environmental and predation pressures. Significance statement: Avian reproductive success is restricted by the number of eggs parents can successfully incubate. The incubation capacity of a species is often difficult to test, however, as care is often divided between the parents and between incubation and the substantial post-hatching care of young. Using the male-only incubating emu, who invests heavily in incubation but little in post-hatching care, we test the effect of clutch size on male behaviour and hatching success. Males with a median-sized clutch (~ 11 eggs) hatched the greatest number of eggs with moderate investment in incubation, while large nests elicited similar or greater investment but lower hatching success. Our findings suggest that for species with uniparental care and precocial young, the incubation capacity is a key driver of reproductive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes in regulating poultry sexual maturity. Concurrently, there was evidence suggesting a potential co-regulatory relationship between these 2 axes. However, as of now, no comprehensive exploration of the key pathways and genes responsible for the crosstalk between the HPO and HPT axes in the regulation of AFE has been reported. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of morphological differences and performed transcriptomic analysis on the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma between normal laying group (NG) and abnormal laying group (AG). Morphological results showed that the thyroid index difference (D-) value (thyroid index D-value=right thyroid index-left thyroid index) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NG than in the AG, while the ovarian index was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the NG than in the AG. Furthermore, between NG and AG, we identified 99, 415, 167, and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted that DEGs from 4 tissues were predominantly enriched in the "biological processes" category. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that 16, 14, 3, and 26 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma. The MAPK signaling pathway emerged as the sole enriched pathway across all 4 tissues. Employing an integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and correlation analysis, we found GREB1 emerged as a pivotal component within the HPO axis to regulate estrogen-related signaling in the HPT axis, meanwhile, the HPT axis influenced ovarian development by regulating thyroid hormone-related signaling mainly through OPN5. Then, 10 potential candidate genes were identified, namely IGF1, JUN, ERBB4, KDR, PGF, FGFR1, GREB1, OPN5, DIO3 , and THRB. These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the physiological and genetic mechanisms by which the HPO and HPT axes co-regulate goose AFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in gastrointestinal physiology, including intestinal leakage, immune response, oxidative stress, along with performance traits, of Hy-Line W-36 laying hens following Eimeria infection at peak egg production. A total of 360 laying hens, at 25 wk of age, were assigned randomly to 5 treatment groups, each consisting of 6 replicate cages, including a nonchallenged control group. The other 4 groups were inoculated with graded levels of mixed Eimeria species as high, medium-high, medium-low, and low doses, respectively. The body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) of laying hens were measured from 0 to 14 days postinoculation (DPI). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and hen-day egg production (HDEP) were measured from 0 to 15 and 0 to 28 DPI, respectively. Gut permeability was measured on 5 DPI, whereas oxidative stress, immune response, and expression of nutrient transporter genes were measured on 6 and 14 DPI. A significant linear reduction in BW and BWG was observed with increased Eimeria inoculation dosage on both 6 and 14 DPI (P < 0.001, P -Lin < 0.0001). An interaction between the Eimeria dosages and DPI was observed for ADFI (P < 0.0001). Feed intake in the challenged groups decreased starting at 4 DPI, with the most significant drop occurring at 7 DPI, which did not recover until 15 DPI. Following the challenge, gastrointestinal physiology shifted toward the host defense against the Eimeria infection by upregulating mRNA expression of tight junction proteins and immune responses while downregulating the expression of key nutrient transporters on 6 and 14 DPI (P < 0.05). An interaction between the Eimeria inoculation dosage and DPI was also observed for daily HDEP (P < 0.0001). Overall, HDEP was lower in the challenged groups compared to the control. Daily HDEP in the challenged groups dropped from 8 DPI and became similar to the control birds only after 24 DPI. Egg production temporarily ceased in most of the laying hens infected with the high and medium-high dosages of Eimeria. In conclusion, Eimeria infection activated the host immune response, negatively affecting the gastrointestinal health, growth performance, and temporarily ceased the egg production of Hy-Line W-36 laying hens when infected at peak production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was implemented to assess the influence of dietary supplementation of laying quails with creatine monohydrate (CrM), L-carnitine (CAR) and their mixture (CrMCAR) as antioxidants against oxidative stress (OS) induced by 2.5 ppm lead acetate (LA) in drinking water on productive, physiological and microbial aspects. In total, 400 laying quail females at 10 wk of age were divided into a randomized design with 5 groups and 4 replicates of 20 birds each. Birds were fed ad libitum with a balanced diet for 8 wk. The control group was kept under no-stress conditions and was given fresh water without any additives (G1). While birds in other groups were exposed to OS induced experimentally by 2.5 ppm LA in drinking water with no feed additive (G2) or supplemented with 500 mg/kg CrM (G3) or 500 mg/kg CAR (G4) or combination of 250 mg/kg each of CrM and CAR (CrMCAR, G5) to feed mixture. Compared to G2, G5 demonstrated the reduction (P ≤ 0.05) of feed conversion ratio, feed intake, mortality and ileal total coliform, as well as serum and egg malondialdehyde and serum lipid hydroperoxide, uric acid, glucose, cholesterol, enzymatic activities (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, γ-glutamyl transferase), and heterophils/lymphocytes ratio. In the meanwhile, there was an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in egg production, egg mass, and weight with the improvement of egg quality, serum sex hormones level and ileal lactic acid bacteria for G5 followed by G4 and G3. Moreover, G5 enhanced (P ≤ 0.05), the total antioxidant capacity of egg and serum glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, protein and calcium levels. Therefore, dietary CrMCAR, CAR and CrM have analogous influence to control by improving the antioxidant and physiological parameters which resulted in better productive performance and egg characteristics of stressed quails. These antioxidants, especially in their equal combination, are beneficial to alleviate oxidative stress incidence and can be recommended for poultry feeding under various aspects of environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry in the swallowtail butterfly Papilio polytes is regulated by the supergene locus H, harbouring the mimetic (H) and non-mimetic (h) doublesex (dsx) gene. In the present study, we demonstrated that dsx-H negatively affects the number of eggs laid, hatching rate, larval survival rate, and adult lifespan. When crossed with hh males, the number of eggs laid of mimetic females (genotype HH) was lower than that of non-mimetic females (hh). Moreover, hh and Hh females laid fewer eggs when crossed with HH males. The hatching and larval survival rates were lower when both female and male parents harboured dsx-H. The adult lifespan of HH females was shorter than that of hh females, while it was similar in males regardless of the genotype. These findings suggest the presence of a cost–benefit balance of Batesian mimicry, which is evolved to avoid predation but is accompanied by physiological deficits, in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying transgenerational effects of stress is important to predict outcomes of anthropogenic disturbances for wildlife species. Maternal stress can programme physiological and behavioural phenotypes in offspring, which may be maladaptive if maternal and offspring environments are mismatched. We investigated effects of a match and mismatch between egg cortisol and offspring stress levels in lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens , using artificially elevated egg cortisol levels (simulating maternal stress) and a chronic unpredictable stress regime for offspring after hatch. Offspring cortisol levels were quantified at baseline and after an acute stressor. Multiple measures of offspring swimming activity were assessed in behaviour trials. Individuals that experienced elevated egg cortisol and high offspring stress exhibited a diminished cortisol response to an acute stressor, but responses varied among offspring from different families. Results suggest that the interaction between maternal and offspring experience may cue an offspring phenotype that is adaptive in high-stress conditions. Principal components analysis characterizing interindividual variation in offspring behavioural variables showed that treatment significantly affected multivariate offspring response along the PC1 axis (associated with inactivity), and both treatment and family significantly affected response along the PC2 axis (associated with shorter distance moved). The largest differences for PC1 occurred between the 'mismatch' treatments (high egg cortisol and low offspring stress exhibiting lower activity; low egg cortisol and high offspring stress exhibiting higher activity), indicating that the combination of egg cortisol and offspring stress is more important in determining offspring behaviour than is egg cortisol or offspring stress alone. Findings suggest that family effects, such as genetic components or maternal experience, may mediate how the interaction of maternal and offspring stress influences offspring physiological and behavioural outcomes, and indicate the need for further research into environmental factors experienced by females that influence how offspring respond to egg cortisol and early life stress. • Elevated egg cortisol and high stress caused reduced cortisol response to stressor. • Stress reactivity differed between two families. • Specific combinations of egg cortisol and stress influenced swimming activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ultrasound therapy induces clinical healing of irradiated avascular mandibular bone and fractures. In vitro ultrasound in tissue culture has been shown to stimulate bone formation synthesis and bone remodeling factors and to stimulate osteoblast proliferation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of short-wave (1-MHz) and long-wave (45-kHz) ultrasound on the vascularity of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of a fertilized egg. Materials and Methods: The nature of the angiogenic effect was investigated using the CAM of a fertilized egg by: (1) application of sonicated fibroblast media incorporated into methylcellulose disks onto the CAM and (2) direct application of the ultrasound, using both long-wave (45-kHz) and short-wave (1-MHz) frequencies at a range of intensities, to the surface of the egg. Angiogenesis was assessed quantitatively by three independent observers. Results: Both ultrasound methods showed evidence of an angiogenic effect compared to controls. The most effective results were seen with direct application of a 45-kHz wave at an intensity of 15 mW/cm² and indirect application of the media of fibroblasts ultrasonicated at 1 MHz with an intensity of 0.4 W/cm². Conclusion: This model confirms that ultrasound can induce neoangiogenesis in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to efficiently measure the health and nutritional status of wild populations in situ is a valuable tool, as many methods of evaluating animal physiology do not occur in real-time, limiting the possibilities for direct intervention. This study investigates the use of blood plasma metabolite concentrations, measured via point-of-care devices or a simple plate reader assay, as indicators of nutritional state in free-living seabirds. We experimentally manipulated the energy expenditure of wild black-legged kittiwakes on Middleton Island, Alaska, and measured the plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, B-hydroxybutyrate, and triglycerides throughout the breeding season, along with measures of body condition (size-corrected mass [SCM] and muscle depth). Supplemental feeding improved the nutritional state of kittiwakes by increasing feeding rate (higher glucose and triglycerides, lower cholesterol), and flight-handicapping caused a slight nutritional decline (lower glucose and triglycerides, higher cholesterol and B-hydroxybutyrate). Glucose and triglycerides were the best indicators of nutritional state when used alongside SCM, and improved upon commonly used metrics for measuring individual condition (i.e. SCM or mass alone). Metabolite concentrations varied across the breeding period, suggesting that the pre-laying stage, when feeding rates tend to be lower, was the most nutritionally challenging period for kittiwakes (low glucose, high cholesterol). Muscle depth also varied by treatment and breeding stage, but differed from other nutritional indices, suggesting that muscle depth is an indicator of exercise and activity level rather than nutrition. Here we demonstrate potential for the use of blood plasma metabolites measured via point-of-care devices as proxies for evaluating individual health, population health, and environmental food availability. [Display omitted] • Plasma metabolites accurately estimate the nutritional status of wild seabirds. • Glucose and triglycerides are the best measures of nutritional status. • Metabolite panels improve upon other common measures of body condition. • Metabolites reflect lower feeding rates among individuals during pre-laying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycoprotein G (gG) is a conserved protein, and it has been described as a chemokine-binding protein in most members of the alphaherpesviruses. In case of the infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), an alphaherpesvirus that infects chickens, this protein is a virulence factor that plays an immunomodulatory role in the chicken immune response. Nevertheless, the gG production profile during ILTV infection has not yet been studied. In this study, we developed monoclonal antibodies in order to determine the gG production profile during ILTV infection in chicken hepatocellular carcinoma (LMH) cell cultures as well as embryonated specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs and SPF chickens using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Despite the fact that inoculated LMH cell cultures showed an increase in both gG production and viral genome copy number up to 96 h after inoculation, we observed that gG production started earlier than the increase in viral genome copy number in ILTV infected embryonated SPF chicken eggs. Likewise, a gG production peak and an increase of viral genome copy number was observed prior to the appearance of clinical signs in infected SPF chickens. According to the production profiles, gG was also produced quite early in eggs and chickens inoculated with ILTV. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the gG role during the ILTV infection as a virulence factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite decades of use of control programs, schistosomiasis remains a global public health problem. To further reduce prevalence and intensity of infection, or to achieve the goal of elimination in low-endemic areas, there needs to be better diagnostic tools to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas in Brazil. The rationale for development of new diagnostic tools is that the current standard test Kato-Katz (KK) is not sensitive enough to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas. In order to develop new diagnostic tools, we employed a proteomics approach to identify biomarkers associated with schistosome-specific immune responses in hopes of developing sensitive and specific new methods for immunodiagnosis. Methods and findings: Immunoproteomic analyses were performed on egg extracts of Schistosoma mansoni using pooled sera from infected or non-infected individuals from a low-endemic area of Brazil. Cross reactivity with other soil-transmitted helminths (STH) was determined using pooled sera from individuals uniquely infected with different helminths. Using this approach, we identified 23 targets recognized by schistosome acute and chronic sera samples. To identify immunoreactive targets that were likely glycan epitopes, we compared these targets to the immunoreactivity of spots treated with sodium metaperiodate oxidation of egg extract. This treatment yielded 12/23 spots maintaining immunoreactivity, suggesting that they were protein epitopes. From these 12 spots, 11 spots cross-reacted with sera from individuals infected with other STH and 10 spots cross-reacted with the negative control group. Spot number 5 was exclusively immunoreactive with sera from S. mansoni-infected groups in native and deglycosylated conditions and corresponds to Major Egg Antigen (MEA). We expressed MEA as a recombinant protein and showed a similar recognition pattern to that of the native protein via western blot. IgG-ELISA gave a sensitivity of 87.10% and specificity of 89.09% represented by area under the ROC curve of 0.95. IgG-ELISA performed better than the conventional KK (2 slides), identifying 56/64 cases harboring 1–10 eggs per gram of feces that were undiagnosed by KK parasitological technique. Conclusions: The serological proteome approach was able to identify a new diagnostic candidate. The recombinant egg antigen provided good performance in IgG-ELISA to detect individuals with extreme low-intensity infections (1 egg per gram of feces). Therefore, the IgG-ELISA using this newly identified recombinant MEA can be a useful tool combined with other techniques in low-endemic areas to determine the true prevalence of schistosome infection that is underestimated by the KK method. Further, to overcome the complexity of ELISA in the field, a second generation of antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is expected to exacerbate upwelling intensity and natural acidification in Eastern Boundaries Upwelling Systems (EBUS). Conducted between January-September 2015 in a nearshore site of the northern Humboldt Current System directly exposed to year-round upwelling episodes, this study was aimed at assessing the relationship between upwelling mediated pH-changes and functional traits of the numerically dominant planktonic copepod-grazer Acartia tonsa (Copepoda). Environmental temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, alkalinity, chlorophyll-a (Chl), copepod adult size, egg production (EP), and egg size and growth were assessed through 28 random oceanographic surveys. Agglomerative clustering and multidimensional scaling identified three main di-similitude nodes within temporal variability of abiotic and biotic variables: A) “upwelling”, B) “non-upwelling”, and C) “warm-acid” conditions. Nodes A and B represented typical features within the upwelling phenology, characterized by the transition from low temperature, oxygen, pH and Chl during upwelling to higher levels during non-upwelling conditions. However, well-oxygenated, saline and “warm-acid” node C seemed to be atypical for local climatology, suggesting the occurrence of a low frequency oceanographic perturbation. Multivariate (LDA and ANCOVA) analyses revealed upwelling through temperature, oxygen and pH were the main factors affecting variations in adult size and EP, and highlighted growth rates were significantly lower under node C. Likely buffering upwelling pH-reductions, phytoplankton biomass maintained copepod reproduction despite prevailing low temperature, oxygen and pH levels in the upwelling setting. Helping to better explain why this species is among the most recurrent ones in these variable yet productive upwelling areas, current findings also provide opportune cues on plankton responses under warm-acid conditions, which are expected to occur in productive EBUS as a consequence of climate perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an ecologically unsustainable practice for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The present study aimed to identify independent correlates of toenail selenium levels and to examine the association between toenail selenium levels and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. Methods: Cross‐sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from the Trace Element Study of Korean Adults in the Yeungnam area, an ongoing cohort study of Korean adults over the age of 35 years. The baseline survey consisted of questionnaires on demographics, lifestyle characteristics and medical information. Dietary information was obtained through a validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Toenail selenium levels were quantified using neutron activation analysis. Biomarkers associated with metabolic syndrome were obtained from biennial medical check‐ups. Results: In the multivariable‐adjusted analyses, independent lifestyle and dietary correlates of higher selenium levels were alcohol drinking (4.62% higher than nondrinking) and egg intake (0.43% higher per weekly serving), whereas current smoking (5.42% lower than nonsmoking) and vegetable consumption (0.05% lower per weekly serving) were associated with lower toenail selenium levels. In the multivariable adjusted logistic regression, no significant association was observed between toenail selenium levels and metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidence interval = 0.58–3.05). Conclusions: Multiple lifestyle and dietary factors influenced toenail selenium levels, although no meaningful association was observed between toenail selenium levels and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. Future prospective large‐scale cohort studies are required to determine whether there is a causal relationship between selenium levels and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The first study to investigate the transgenerational carry-over effects of ocean acidification and trace metals. • Ocean acidification and trace metals interact to lower the energy invested in offspring. • Offspring of exposed parents perform better than those without exposure. Abstract It remains unknown how molluscs will respond to oceans which are increasingly predicted to be warmer, more acidic, and heavily polluted. Ocean acidification and trace metals will likely interact to increase the energy demands of marine organisms, especially oysters. This study tested the interactive effect of exposure to elevated p CO 2 and copper on the energetic demands of the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) during reproductive conditioning and determined whether there were any positive or negative effects on their offspring. Oysters were exposed to elevated p CO 2 (1000 μatm) and elevated copper (Cu 50 μg L−1 [0.787 μM]) in an orthogonal design for eight weeks during reproductive conditioning. After eight weeks, energetic demands on oysters were measured including standard metabolic rate (SMR), nitrogen excretion, molar oxygen to nitrogen (O:N) ratio, and pH e of adult oysters as well as the size and total lipid content of their eggs. To determine egg viability, the gametes were collected and fertilised from adult oysters, the percentage of embryos that had reached the trochophore stage after 24 h was recorded. Elevated p CO 2 caused a lower extracellular pH and there was a greater O:N ratio in adult oysters exposed to copper. While the two stressors did not interact to cause significant effects on adult physiology, they did interact to reduce the size and lipid content of eggs indicating that energy demand on adult oysters was greater when both elevated p CO 2 and copper were combined. Despite the lower energy, there were no negative effects on early embryonic development. In conclusion, elevated p CO 2 can interact with metals and cause greater energetic demands on oysters; in response oysters may lower maternal investment to offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was conducted to describe the mating behaviour and embryonic development of the marine ornamental shrimp Stenopus hispidus. Twenty adult Stenopus hispidus were collected from the lagoons of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, and raised as breeding pairs in captivity. The pairs were individually maintained in the aquaria under constant conditions of salinity (36–37 ppt), temperature (29–30 °C), and photoperiod (12 L:12 D). The results reveal that spawning and fertilization often occurred between 20 and 60 min after mating activity. The mean fecundity of the species was 4000 ± 150 eggs per shrimp, and the volume of eggs ranged from 0.33 to 0.58 mm3. During the incubating period, the colour of the eggs changed from pale green to tawny with dark spots prior to hatching. The observations on moulting, mating, spawning, and hatching were recorded for three consecutive reproductive cycles. The hatching process often took place at dusk, from 18:30 to 19:00. The investigation also showed that the marine ornamental shrimp was a successive breeder with a typical reproductive cycle with an average of 16.25 days. The results revealed that the eggs of S. hispidus completed embryonic development within 15–16 days at 29–30 °C passing through seven phases, such as the cleavage, blastula, gastrula, pre-nauplius, nauplius, post-nauplius, and complete embryo stages. The present study constitutes the first complete description of the embryonic development of the ornamental shrimp, S. hispidus in captivity, forming the baseline data for its aquaculture. The classification of embryonic development obtained is suitable for comparative purposes and was determined in captive conditions. • First complete description on the embryonic development of the ornamental shrimp, S. hispidus in captivity. • Information on embryogenesis is essential for studying the developmental process and physiological regulatory mechanisms. • Embryological studies help in designing reproductive protocols and standardisation of captive breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being part of a group facilitates cooperation between group members but also creates competition for resources. This is a conundrum for gravid females, whose future offspring benefit from being in a group only if there are enough resources relative to group size. Females may therefore be expected to modulate reproductive output depending on social context. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster , females actively attract conspecifics to lay eggs on the same resources, generating groups in which individuals may cooperate or compete. The genetic tractability of this species allows dissecting the mechanisms underlying physiological adaptation to social context. Here, we show that females produce eggs increasingly faster as group size increases. By laying eggs faster when grouped than when isolated, females reduce competition between offspring and increase offspring survival. In addition, grouped females lay eggs during the day, while isolated females lay them at night. We show that responses to the presence of others requires visual input and that flies from any sex, mating status, or species can trigger these responses. The mechanisms of this modulation of egg laying by group is connected to a lifting of the inhibition of light on oogenesis and egg laying, possibly mediated in part by an increase in juvenile hormone activity. Because modulation of reproduction by social context is a hallmark of animals with higher levels of sociality, our findings in a species considered solitary question the validity of this nomenclature and suggest a widespread and profound influence of social context on reproduction. [Display omitted] • Light inhibits egg laying in isolated, but not in grouped, females • Presence of other flies lifts light's inhibition of oogenesis and ovulation • Females speed egg-laying onset in a group to ensure offspring survival • D. melanogaster 's reproduction is fundamentally influenced by social context Bailly et al. show that being grouped induces fruit fly females to lay eggs through the day and night, while isolated females lay eggs at night. Females detect others via vision, which results in faster oogenesis during the day, likely mediated by juvenile hormone. Reproduction in fruit flies is thus fundamentally modulated by the presence of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Stunting and being underweight in children are major nutritional problems especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of egg supplementation on a vitamin and mineral fortification program for growth, cognitive development and hemoglobin in underweight and stunted children.Design/methodology/approach This was an experimental study using a crossover design conducted in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. A total of 39 subjects were randomly selected from two community health centers and provided with two types of intervention: vitamin and mineral fortification sprinkle (Taburia) and Taburia with egg supplementation (Taburia PLUS). Each intervention was conducted for three months with one-month of washout period in between interventions.Findings There were no changes in weight-for-age Z-score in Taburia and Taburia PLUS (all p > 0.05). The height-for-age Z-score was increased in Taburia PLUS (p = 0.022) but not in Taburia (p > 0.05). Hemoglobin level was significantly increased in Taburia (p = 0.039) but not in Taburia PLUS (p > 0.05). There were no significant changes in visual motoric score in Taburia, but there were slight increases in Taburia PLUS (all p > 0.05).Originality/value The authors concluded that egg supplementation combined with multivitamins and minerals fortification program, Taburia PLUS, is beneficial to improve linear growth but not hemoglobin in stunted and underweight children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercellular bridges are conserved structures that allow neighboring cells to exchange cytoplasmic material; defects in intercellular bridges can lead to infertility in many organisms. Here, we use the Drosophila egg chamber to study the mechanisms that regulate intercellular bridges. Within the developing egg chamber, the germ cells (15 nurse cells and 1 oocyte) are connected to each other through intercellular bridges called ring canals, which expand over the course of oogenesis to support the transfer of materials from the nurse cells to the oocyte. The ring canals are enriched in actin and actin binding proteins, and many proteins have been identified that localize to the germline ring canals and control their expansion and stability. Here, we demonstrate a novel role for the Ste20 family kinase, Misshapen (Msn), in regulation of the size of the germline ring canals. Msn localizes to ring canals throughout most of oogenesis, and depletion of Msn led to the formation of larger ring canals. Over-expression of Msn decreased ring canal diameter, and expression of a membrane tethered form of Msn caused ring canal detachment and nurse cell fusion. Altering the levels or localization of Msn also led to changes in the actin cytoskeleton and altered the localization of E-cadherin, which suggests that Msn could be indirectly limiting ring canal size by altering the structure or dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton and/or adherens junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Eggs contain bioactive compounds thought to benefit pediatric bone. This cross-sectional study shows a positive link between childhood egg intake and radius cortical bone. If randomized trials confirm our findings, incorporating eggs into children’s diets could have a significant impact in preventing childhood fractures and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.Introduction: This study examined the relationships between egg consumption and cortical bone in children.Methods: The cross-sectional study design included 294 9-13-year-old black and white males and females. Three-day diet records determined daily egg consumption. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography measured radius and tibia cortical bone. Body composition and biomarkers of bone turnover were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ELISA, respectively.Results: Egg intake was positively correlated with radius and tibia cortical bone mineral content (Ct.BMC), total bone area, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal circumference, and polar strength strain index in unadjusted models (r = 0.144-0.224, all P < 0.050). After adjusting for differences in race, sex, maturation, fat-free soft tissue mass (FFST), and protein intakes, tibia relationships were nullified; however, egg intake remained positively correlated with radius Ct.BMC (r = 0.138, P = 0.031). Egg intake positively correlated with total body bone mineral density, BMC, and bone area in the unadjusted models only (r = 0.119-0.224; all P < 0.050). After adjusting for covariates, egg intake was a positive predictor of radius FFST (β = 0.113, P < 0.050) and FFST was a positive predictor of Ct.BMC (β = 0.556, P < 0.050) in path analyses. There was a direct influence of egg on radius Ct.BMC (β = 0.099, P = 0.035), even after adjusting for the mediator, FFST (β = 0.137, P = 0.020). Egg intake was positively correlated with osteocalcin in both the unadjusted (P = 0.005) and adjusted (P = 0.049) models.Conclusion: If the positive influence of eggs on Ct.BMC observed in this study is confirmed through future randomized controlled trials, whole eggs may represent a viable strategy to promote pediatric bone development and prevent fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occasionally, abnormal forms of parasitic helminth eggs are detected during routine diagnostics. This finding can prove problematic in diagnosis because morphologic analysis based on tightly defined measurements is the primary method used to identify the infecting species and molecular confirmation of species is not always feasible. We describe instances of malformed nematode eggs (primarily from members of the superfamily Ascaridoidea) from human clinical practice and experimental trials on animals. On the basis of our observations and historical literature, we propose that unusual development and morphology of nematode and trematode eggs are associated with early infection. Further observational studies and experimentation are needed to identify additional factors that might cause abnormalities in egg morphology and production. Abnormal egg morphology can be observed early in the course of infection and can confound accurate diagnosis of intestinal helminthiases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unilateral eyestalk ablation has been widely used in commercial hatcheries of penaeid shrimps to accelerate female maturation, but has been associated with high broodstock mortalities and poor-quality offspring. We studied the reproductive performance and the quality of eggs and nauplii larvae of unilaterally ablated eyestalks and non-ablated Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (Latreille, 1817) broodstock. The biochemical analysis of triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, and total soluble protein was performed in the hepatopancreas, ovaries, hemolymph, eggs, and nauplii. We found that females with unilaterally ablated eyestalks showed a better reproductive performance but higher mortality than non-ablated females. The fertilization rate and the number of viable nauplii, however, were improved in non-ablated females. Eggs were smaller in the non-ablated than in ablated females, but the length of the nauplii was higher in non-ablated than in ablated females. The concentration of cholesterol and total soluble protein in hemolymph was higher in non-ablated than in ablated females. A higher concentration of total soluble protein, as well as the ratio of acylglycerides:cholesterol (AG:C), was found in the eggs of non-ablated females than in those of ablated females. The nauplii-condition index, calculated from the level of nauplii acylglycerides, percentage of viable nauplii, and length of nauplii, indicated that the index of offspring of the non-ablated broodstock was higher than in those of ablated females, which confirms that unilateral eyestalk ablation affects not only the mortality of females but the quality of the offspring as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the effect of temperature on the embryonic development of vimba. Topics discussed abiotic factor affecting the poikilotherms biology, information on developmental anomalies including blastula and oversized cells, and stages of gastrulation. It also describes the regulation of extracellular matrix.

Larvae of parasitoid wasps develop on a single arthropod host, and often face resource limitation that induces a tradeoff between egg maturation and somatic growth. Part of the variation in the growth-reproduction allocation was shown to be heritable, but how the larval developmental environment affects this allocation is not well-known. Detection of life history tradeoffs is often facilitated under stress conditions. We therefore exposed developing female larvae of the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma koehleri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) to laboratory manipulations aimed to restrict host resources (either host-starvation or high larval density). We compared the females’ body sizes and egg loads shortly after adult emergence (<24 h) to those of closely related control females, which developed at a lower larval density within non-starved hosts. Host-starvation reduced the females’ body sizes but not their initial egg loads. Females that experienced high larval density produced more eggs but were similar in body size to the low-density controls. Thus, the relative allocation to reproduction increased in response to both manipulations of host condition. Developmental duration and longevity were similar in all treatments. The negative correlation between body size and reproductive allocation, observed in the host-starvation treatment, is compatible with previous evidence from other parasitoids. In the high larval density treatment, however, reproductive allocation increased while body size was maintained, suggesting that the higher density increased rather than limited host resources per developing parasitoid female. The additional host resources that were diverted into egg production possibly resulted from increased feeding and body mass gain by hosts parasitized by large broods of wasps. Our results demonstrate phenotypic plasticity in resource allocation between growth and reproduction in a developing parasitoid. This plasticity may contribute to an adaptive balance between longevity and mobility vs. fecundity during the adult stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Numerous systematic reviews of prospective studies on the association of stroke risk with the consumption of various food groups have been published. A review of the evidence across the existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of prospective studies was conducted to provide an overview of the range and validity of the reported associations of food groups with stroke risk.Design: The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published up to September 2015 to identify systematic reviews of prospective studies.Results: A total of eighteen studies published from 2008 to 2015 were eligible for analysis. Overall, thirteen specific foods were studied for an association with stroke outcome, including nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables, refined grains, whole grains, dairy products, eggs, chocolate, red and/or processed meat, fish, tea, sugar-sweetened beverages and coffee. Whereas a high consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, fish and tea, and moderate consumption of coffee and chocolate demonstrated a protective effect, a high consumption of red and/or processed meat was associated with increased stroke risk. Refined grain, sugar-sweetened beverage, legume, egg and whole grain intake showed no effect on stroke outcome.Conclusions: The current overview provided a high level of evidence to support the beneficial effect of specific foods on stroke outcome. Clinicians and policy makers could inform clinical practice and policy based on this overview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Xylotrechus arvicola is a pest of grape in some vine‐producing regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Biological parameters and relationships (fecundity and percent fertility of eggs in relationship to body size) of females obtained in the laboratory and captured in vineyards were studied. In laboratory conditions, the mean developmental time of larvae ranged from 384 to 392 days and pupal stage varied between 12 to 14 days. Body size (BS) of X. arvicola females was significantly bigger than males. Fecundity was greater in the laboratory (147 eggs) than in the field (50 eggs) females, but the percent fertility of the laboratory eggs was lower (16 eggs). Laboratory females showed a bigger relationship between the production of eggs and BS than females captured in vineyards. Wild females (PDO Ribera del Duero and Tierra de León) had a positive relationship between the percent fertility of eggs and the BS. No correlation between the percent fertility of eggs and the BS was displayed by females captured in PDO Toro, but these females had a higher percent fertility (53 eggs) than the others PDO's. These biological parameters and relationships studied suggest that the artificial diet may lack certain essential nutrients that vine varieties can provide that favor the fertility of eggs. This explains why wild females have the potential to become a problem pest in the Tempranillo grape variety, with bilateral cordon and bush vines training systems that have the highest incidence of this cerambycid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggs attenuate postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPH), which transiently impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF). We hypothesised that co-ingestion of a glucose challenge with egg-based meals would protect against glucose-induced impairments in VEF by attenuating PPH and oxidative stress. A randomised, cross-over study was conducted in prediabetic men (n 20) who ingested isoenegertic meals (1674 kJ (400 kcal)) containing 100 g glucose (GLU), or 75 g glucose with 1·5 whole eggs (EGG), seven egg whites (WHITE) or two egg yolks (YOLK). At 30 min intervals for 3 h, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), plasma glucose, insulin, cholecystokinin (CCK), lipids (total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol; TAG), F2-isoprostanes normalised to arachidonic acid (F2-IsoPs/AA), and methylglyoxal were assessed. In GLU, FMD decreased at 30-60 min and returned to baseline levels by 90 min. GLU-mediated decreases in FMD were attenuated at 30-60 min in EGG and WHITE. Compared with GLU, FMDAUC was higher in EGG and WHITE only. Relative to baseline, glucose increased at 30-120 min in GLU and YOLK but only at 30-90 min in EGG and WHITE. GlucoseAUC and insulinAUC were also lower in EGG and WHITE only. However, CCKAUC was higher in EGG and WHITE compared with GLU. Compared with GLU, F2-IsoPs/AAAUC was lower in EGG and WHITE but unaffected by YOLK. Postprandial lipids and methylglyoxal did not differ between treatments. Thus, replacing a portion of a glucose challenge with whole eggs or egg whites, but not yolks, limits postprandial impairments in VEF by attenuating increases in glycaemia and lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of the environment, namely due to pollution causes increasing impact on the organisms living on it, especially those at the top of the trophic chain. The accumulation of heavy metals such as mercury in live organisms may have a negative effect on the efficiency of reproduction. The aim of this study was to determine the mercury (Hg) content in muscles, ovaries and eggs during final maturation of gametes and after ovulation of European eel females. To this end, 65 (53 as treated and 12 as control) female European eels collected in Poland were analysed for mercury content. Eels were caught during commercial fishing activities in fresh water in the Warmia and Mazury region. Females were stimulated with carp pituitary homogenate (CPH) at 18 mg kg −1 , at 5-day intervals, for 20 weeks. The hormones were not given to the fish in the control group. The mercury content in tissues was determined by atomic absorption using a Milestone DMA-80 and analysis showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the content of mercury in muscle, ovary and eggs. The total mercury concentration in females following spawning increased in muscles and ovaries. Female eel eggs (0.0031 ± 0.0003 mg kg −1 w/w) were found to contain eight times less mercury than their ovaries (0.026 ± 0.002 mg kg −1 w/w) and 78 times less than their muscles (0.24 ± 0.03 mg kg −1 w/w). The concentration of mercury in both muscles and ovaries in fish increases after spawning, which can additionally confirm that mercury is transmitted in small amounts from the mother's body to eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is widely agreed that egg consumption only modestly influences serum lipid concentrations. However, there is no meta-analysis summarizing existing randomized controlled trials.Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials to explore the quantitative effect of egg consumption on serum lipid concentrations.Design: Online databases including MEDLINE, Proquest and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Studies that were published after 2000 and compared serum lipids concentrations in egg-consumers and non egg-consumers were included. The data were obtained from 28 studies. Weighted mean differences were calculated as the ultimate effect using random effects model.Results: Overall, egg consumption increased total cholesterol (TC) by 5.60 mg/dL (95% CI: 3.11, 8.09; P<0.0001), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 5.55 mg/dL (95% CI: 3.14, 7.69; P<0.0001) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) by 2.13 mg/dL (95% CI: 1.10, 3.16; P<0.0001) compared with the control group. Heterogeneity found between studies was explained partly by study design and participant response to dietary cholesterol. No effect of increased egg consumption on LDL-C:HDL-C and TC:HDL-C ratios, and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were found. No association was observed between number of eggs consumed per day or study duration and any of the serum lipid markers.Conclusion: Consumption of egg increases total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C, but not LDL-C:HDL-C, TC:HDL-C and TG compared with low egg control diets. To assess the risk of coronary events, future studies should focus on the postprandial effect of egg consumption and effects on coronary risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of L-arginine (Arg) on energy metabolism in post-hatch broilers. A total of 720 eggs was randomly assigned to 3 treatments: 1) noninjected control group, 2) 0.75% NaCl diluent-injected control group, and 3) 1.0% Arg solution-injected group. At 17.5 d of incubation, 0.6 mL of each solution was injected into the amniotic fluid of each egg of injected groups. After hatching, 80 male chicks were randomly assigned to each treatment group with 8 replicates per group. The results showed that IOF of Arg increased glycogen and glucose concentrations in the liver and pectoral muscle of broilers at hatch (P < 0.05). The plasma glucose and insulin levels were higher in the Arg group than in the non-injected and diluent-injected control groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, IOF of Arg enhanced the hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) activity at hatch (P < 0.05). There was no difference in hexokinase (HK) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) enzyme activities in the pectoral muscle in all groups. Further, IOF of Arg increased the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and fructose- 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) mRNA expressions at hatch (P < 0.05). In addition, broilers in the Arg group had a higher mRNA expression of glycogen synthase and a lower expression of glycogen phosphorylase in the liver and pectoral muscles than in the non-injected controls at hatch (P < 0.05). In conclusion, IOF of Arg solution enhanced liver and pectoral muscle energy reserves at hatch, which might be considered as an effective strategy for regulating early energy metabolism in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]