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The protective effect of polysaccharide glucan in chickens fed low doses of T-2 toxin was assessed. The binder effect of ß-D-glucan on jejunal mucosa in relation to the expression of Na+/K+-ATPase, proliferative activity of enterocytes and number of goblet cells was investigated. A total of 40 one-day-old chickens were allocated to four groups: control (C), ß-D-glucan (G), T-2 toxin (T) and combined ß-D-glucan+T-2 toxin (GT). The chickens were individually administrated per os 1.0 mg/bird/day of ß-D-glucan derived from Candida albicans on days 11, 12, and 21 of the experiment (totally 3 mg per bird). T-2 toxin at a concentration of 1.45 μg·kg-1 was added to the feed from day 14 to day 28 of the experiment. The a subunitspecific anti-Na+/K+-ATPase antibody was used to identify the protein by immunofluorescence in the cell membrane of jejunal enterocytes. Higher expression of Na+/K+-ATPase was found in the jejunal epithelial cells and lamina propria in the chickens fed T-2 toxin and administered glucan (P < 0.05) compared to control. The number of proliferated enterocytes was higher in group T compared to group G and control (P < 0.001), as well group GT (P < 0.01). Goblet cell density did not present significant differences between groups of chickens, but group G showed the highest values. These data suggest that administration of pure T-2 toxin at low doses affects primarily the protein synthesis of actively dividing cells. Higher distribution of Na+/K+-ATPase in enterocytes of chickens in GT group suggests positive influence of glucan and mycotoxin on the ion pump. A binding effect of this immunomodulator on the digestive tract mucosa in the applied setup was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of dietary protein is associated with intestinal disease in different vertebrate species. In humans, this is exemplified by the association between high-protein intake and fermentation metabolite concentrations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In production animals, dietary protein intake is associated with postweaning diarrhea in piglets and with the occurrence of wet litter in poultry. The underlying mechanisms by which dietary protein contributes to intestinal problems remain largely unknown. Fermentation of undigested protein in the hindgut results in formation of fermentation products including short-chain fatty acids, branchedchain fatty acids, ammonia, phenolic and indolic compounds, biogenic amines, hydrogen sulfide, and nitric oxide. Here, we review the mechanisms by which these metabolites may cause intestinal disease. Studies addressing how different metabolites induce epithelial damage rely mainly on cell culture studies and occasionally on mice or rat models. Often, contrasting results were reported. The direct relevance of such studies for human, pig, and poultry gut health is therefore questionable and does not suffice for the development of interventions to improve gut health. We discuss a roadmap to improve our understanding of gut metabolites and microbial species associated with intestinal health in humans and production animals and to determine whether these metabolite/bacterial networks cause epithelial damage. The outcomes of these studies will dictate proof-of-principle studies to eliminate specific metabolites and or bacterial strains and will provide the basis for interventions aiming to improve gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community acquired multidrug resistant E. coli has become an emerging issue worldwide. The present study was planned to compare the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli isolated from commercial broilers and backyard poultry reared in close proximity to human population. Out of 200 cloacal swabs (100 each from commercial broiler & backyard poultry), 126 samples (n=70 commercial broiler, n=56 backyard poultry) were found positive for E. coli through 16S rRNA PCR. The percentage of multidrug resistant E. coli isolates from commercial broiler chicken and backyard poultry were 64.2% and 53.5% respectively. Overall high antibiotic resistance was observed against Amoxycillin and Tetracycline with percentage resistance of 71.4% and 57.1% in commercial broiler, whereas 80.3% and 82.1% in backyard poultry respectively. The percentage resistance against Streptomycin and Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim was observed to be high in backyard poultry (64.2% and 53.5%) as compared to the commercial broiler (28.5% and 35.7%) respectively. Percentage resistance against cephalosporin like ceftriaxone, cefaclor and ceftiofur was low both in case of backyard poultry and commercial broilers. Statistical analysis reveals that significant association exists between poultry species and antibiotic resistance of Oxytetracyclin, Streptomycin, Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, ceftriaxone, cefaclor and ceftiofur(p<0.05). The present study revealed that the trend in antibiotic resistance percentage is increasing in the backyard poultry as compared to the commercial poultry, which is possibly due to their close community interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In eastern China, live poultry markets were successively re-opened in the summer of 2013 following their closure in April 2013. We detected influenza A/H7N9 RNA with positive rates from 4% to 22.2% among poultry samples in targeted markets in Huzhou City, China, from August 6 to September 24, 2013. Phylogenetic analyses of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes confirmed that the strain prevalent among poultry in Huzhou City in the summer of 2013 belonged to the same genotype as those capable of infecting humans. These results raise concern for a further outbreak of H7N9 in the cooler season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Avian H7N9 virus emerged in China in February 2013 and has since spread widely among China's poultry, causing numerous human infections. Objectives: To compare World Health Organization (WHO) and US commercial influenza assays in detecting avian H7N9 virus in poultry cloacal specimens. Study design: Between April 6 and July 15, 2013, 261 cloacal swabs were collected from commercial poultry in Nanjing and Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China. Swabs were screened with the WHO's influenza A and H7N9 real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. A blinded panel of 97 specimens (27 H7N9-positive and 70 influenza A-negative) was then used to compare 3 antigen based commercial assays (Remel Xpect Flu A&B, Quidel Quickvue influenza, and Quidel Sofia Influenza A+B), and 2 molecular commercial assays (Quidel Molecular Influenza A+B assay and Life Technologies VetMAX™-Gold SIV Detection Kit). None of these commercial assays were approved for use with poultry specimens. Results: Considering the WHO H7N9 qRT-PCR assay as the gold standard, all assays except the Quidel Quickvue influenza assay had high specificity (ranging from 96 to 99%). Regarding sensitivity, the Life Technologies VetMAX™-Gold SIV Detection Kit (100%; 95% CI 87–100%) and the Quidel Molecular Influenza A+B assay (85%; 95% CI 66–96%) performed the best. The sensitivities of the non-molecular antigen detection assays were either unable to detect small amounts of H7N9 viral RNA or were inhibited by specimen type. Conclusions: The Life Technologies VetMAX™-Gold SIV Detection Kit and the Quidel Molecular Influenza A+B assay are comparable in performance to the WHO H7N9 qRT-PCR assay in detecting H7N9 from poultry cloacal specimens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As a competitive exclusion agent, Lactobacillus johnsonii FI9785 has been shown to prevent the colonization of selected pathogenic bacteria from the chicken gastrointestinal tract. During growth of the bacterium a rare but consistent emergence of an altered phenotype was noted, generating smooth colonies in contrast to the wild type rough form. A smooth colony variant was isolated and two-dimensional gel analysis of both strains revealed a protein spot with different migration properties in the two phenotypes. The spot in both gels was identified as a putative tyrosine kinase (EpsC), associated with a predicted exopolysaccharide gene cluster. Sequencing of the epsC gene from the smooth mutant revealed a single substitution (G to A) in the coding strand, resulting in the amino acid change D88N in the corresponding gene product. A native plasmid of L. johnsonii was engineered to produce a novel vector for constitutive expression and this was used to demonstrate that expression of the wild type epsC gene in the smooth mutant produced a reversion to the rough colony phenotype. Both the mutant and epsC complemented strains had increased levels of exopolysaccharides compared to the wild type strain, indicating that the rough phenotype is not solely associated with the quantity of exopolysaccharide. Another gene in the cluster, epsE, that encoded a putative undecaprenyl-phosphate galactosephosphotransferase, was deleted in order to investigate its role in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis. The ΔepsE strain exhibited a large increase in cell aggregation and a reduction in exopolysaccharide content, while plasmid complementation of epsE restored the wild type phenotype. Flow cytometry showed that the wild type and derivative strains exhibited clear differences in their adhesive ability to HT29 monolayers in tissue culture, demonstrating an impact of EPS on surface properties and bacteria-host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to determine whether the allometric allocation regularities of phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FAs) also happen in the lung parenchyma and in the avian pulmonary surfactant. Five species of domestic turkey, goose and duck were analyzed while adult, male, farmed birds were chosen for the study. The observed negative allometry of docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid suggests its regulatory role as a membrane lipid component and a modificatory factor of surfactant secretion.

Abstract: Cognitive bias presents in clinical populations where anxious individuals adopt a more pessimistic interpretation of ambiguous aversive stimuli and depressed individuals adopt both a more pessimistic interpretation of ambiguous aversive stimuli and a less optimistic interpretation of ambiguous appetitive stimuli. These biases have been reversed by anxiolytics and antidepressants. In the current study, chicks exposed to an isolation stressor of 5-min to induce an anxiety-like state or 60-min to induce a depressive-like state were tested in a straight alley maze to a series of morphed ambiguous appetitive (chick silhouette) to aversive (owl silhouette) cues. Chicks in the depression-like state displayed more pessimistic-like and less optimistic-like approach behavior to ambiguous aversive and appetitive cues, respectively. Both forms of cognitive bias were reversed by 15.0 mg/kg imipramine. Chicks in anxiety-like state displayed more pessimistic-like approach behavior under the ambiguous aversive stimulus cues. However, 0.10 mg/kg clonidine produced modest sedation and thus, was ineffective at reversing this bias. The observation that cognitive biases of more pessimism and less optimism can be reversed in the depression-like phase by imipramine adds to the validity of the chick anxiety–depression model as a neuropsychiatric simulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Anxiety and Depression’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The multidrug efflux pump CmeABC described in the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni was shown to be an important element of bile resistance and significant for successful colonization of chicken intestines. Recently, another gene (Cj0561c) strongly suppressed by the same repressor (CmeR) that regulates expression of CmeABC was identified in C. jejuni NCTC 11168. Initial data suggested that, similarly to cmeABC, Cj0561c could be induced by bile salts. In the present study, the occurrence of the Cj0561c gene and bile-salt-dependent induction was investigated in ten poultry and eight human C. jejuni strains. The Cj0561c gene was present in all strains. When cultured without addition of bile salts, the transcription level of that gene was about tenfold higher than that of cmeABC. Bile salts cholate and taurocholate induced transcription of cmeABC 1.66-fold and 2.71-fold and that of Cj0561c 3.71-fold and 10.99-fold, respectively. Thus Cj0561c was more effectively induced by bile salts than cmeABC and taurocholate was superior to cholate as an inducer of transcription. More efficient induction of both cmeABC and Cj0561c by taurocholate might be the reason for the higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) observed with taurocholate than with cholate (100 mg/ml vs. 10 mg/ml). There was no significant difference between poultry and human C. jejuni strains concerning the transcription levels of cmeABC and Cj0561c in cultures without bile salts and concerning bile-salt-induced changes in transcription of cmeABC and Cj0561c. Thus, higher MIC values observed for taurocholate in human strains than in poultry strains (200 mg/ml vs. 75 mg/ml) could not be explained by different responses of cmeABC and Cj0561c to bile salts. Therefore, they must be due to another mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The basic objective of this study was to enumerate whether co-administration of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and/or interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene along with a bivalent Newcastle disease (ND) DNA vaccine construct could modulate the immune response to the DNA vaccine in chickens. pVIVO2 vector carrying Haemaglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) and Fusion (F) genes of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) at its two cloning sites was used as a DNA vaccine. The same vector was used to clone the chicken IFN-γ and IL-4 genes at the multiple cloning site-1 separately. In vitro expression of IFN-γ and IL-4 gene constructs was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and that of HN and F genes by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) in addition to RT-PCR. The chickens were immunized thrice intramuscularly at 21, 36 and 46 days of age with the bivalent DNA vaccine alone, or in combination with IFN-γ/IL-4 or both cytokine gene constructs. The bivalent DNA vaccine led to increase in both NDV specific antibodies as assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition test (HI) and cell mediated immune (CMI) response as assessed by lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) employing MTT assay. Co-administration of the DNA vaccine with IL-4 gene resulted in highest IgY levels while IFN-γ produced highest CMI response. The DNA vaccine alone could afford only 10% protection against challenge infection by velogenic NDV. This protection was increased to 40% when IL-4 gene construct was co-administered with the DNA vaccine. Co-injection of IFN-γ as well as the combination of IFN-γ and IL-4 gene constructs with the DNA vaccine yielded 20% protection. Our study suggests that IL-4 may prove to be more appropriate as a genetic adjuvant than IFN-γ for ND DNA vaccine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To clarify the mechanism of osteoporosis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), we investigated radiological and histological changes in the cervical vertebrae of a chicken thoracic scoliosis model. Forty newly hatched broiler chicks were randomly divided into four equal groups: sham-operated chickens serving as control (CON), pinealectomized chickens (PNX), sham-operated (CON + MLT) and pinealectomized chickens (PNX + MLT) that received intraperitoneal administration of melatonin. Pinealectomy was performed at the age of 3 days, and the chickens were killed at 2 months of age. Postmortem X-rays were examined for the presence of scoliosis, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images were taken to evaluate the microstructure of the cervical vertebrae. Histological specimens of the scanned cervical vertebra were prepared, and a midsagittal section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase to evaluate the numbers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively. Scoliosis developed at the thoracic spine in all chickens of the PNX and in two of the PNX + MLT group. Micro-CT data revealed that chickens in the PNX group had a greater degree of generalized osteoporosis compared with the other birds. The number of osteoblasts was significantly decreased in the PNX group, while no significant difference was observed among chickens in the numbers of osteoclasts. Our results suggest that melatonin deficiency reduces osteoblast proliferation and leads to the development of scoliosis and osteoporosis. The restoration of melatonin prevented the development of scoliosis and osteoporosis, indicating that melatonin levels may be crucial to the development of deformity and osteoporosis in AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filial imprinting was originally proposed to be an irreversible process by which a young animal forms a preference for an object experienced early in life. The present study examined the effects of experience after imprinting on the stability of preferences of domestic chicks ( Gallus gallus domesticus) for an imprinting stimulus by rearing imprinted chicks socially or in isolation. Chicks reared socially or in isolation retained preferences for the imprinting stimulus; however, social rearing weakened the strength of preferences. The responses of neurons within the intermediate and medial mesopallium-a forebrain region necessary for imprinting were also recorded in socially reared and isolated chicks when presented with the visual component of the imprinting stimulus and novel object. Consistent with existing findings, neurons recorded from isolated chicks responded more strongly to the imprinting stimulus than novel object. However, social rearing diminished the disparity between responses to stimuli such that neurons recorded from socially reared chicks responded similarly to the imprinting stimulus and novel object. These findings suggest that social rearing may impair the retention of preferences formed during imprinting through mechanisms involving the IMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for growth and feed efficiency in turkey poults directly correlates with the early development of the intestinal epithelium. Although the metabolic aspects of enteric maturation have been studied, little is known about the ultrastructural development of the enteric epithelium in the turkey embryo and poult. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the morphological and ultrastructural development of the jejunum mucosa in turkeys, from 15 d of incubation (embryonic day; E) to 12 d posthatch. Intestinal samples from 4 embryos or poults were collected and analyzed by light and electron microscopy (transmission and scanning). In addition, amniotic fluid volume was determined in 6 eggs from E15 to E25. Longitudinal previllus ridges at E15 gradually formed zigzag patterns that led to the formation of 2 parallel lines of mature villi by E25. The volume of amniotic fluid was rapidly depleted as the embryo swallowed it between E19 and E25. During this period, a major increase occurs in villus height, the apical end of epithelial cells is gradually tightened by the junctional complex, and mature goblet cells are visible at the apical end of villi. Villus height steadily increases until reaching a plateau at 8 d. Villi morphology shifts gradually from finger-like projections before hatch to leaf-like projections by 12 d. At this age, the enteric epithelium is in intimate association with microbes such as segmented filamentous bacteria. The profound morphological adaptations of the turkey gut epithelium in response to amniotic fluid swallowing before hatch, and dietary factors and bacteria after hatch, demonstrate the plasticity of the enteric epithelium at this time. Hence, the supplementation of enteric modulators before hatch (in ovo feeding) and after hatch has the potential to shape gut maturation and enhance the growth performance of turkey poults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the structure of the spongious substance of the tibiotarsal (TT) bones of the domestic duck aged 4 to 8 wk was performed using radiological analysis. The Trabecula program (Czerwiñski, 1994) used in the study identified a map of radiological trabeculae and calculated the number, average volume, density, and width of trabeculae. It was stated that the number of trabeculae differed significantly (P ⩽ 0.05) variant on age, sex, and a unique fragment of the studied bone. Six-week-old hens whose TT bones were most often exposed to deformities and fractures possessed attenuated bone mass. The number of trabeculae per 1 mm2 during breeding was the lowest (10.34 and 9.54 mm2 in the proximal and distal epiphyses, respectively). The tibial bones of the 6-wk-old hens also possessed the lowest volume of trabeculae (44.62 and 39.84% for the proximal and distal epiphyses, respectively). Dependant variances between the BW, the number of recognized radiological trabeculae, and the volume, density, and width of trabeculae were calculated using a selected correlation and regression coefficient (r = 0.41; P ⩽ 0.05). Results expounded a unique linear relationship between BW and the volume of trabeculae. Indeed, the larger the BW, the more numerous the trabeculae observed. No significant correlation was determined between the BW and the number of recognized trabeculae nor their density and width. A small number of trabeculae and the lowered density may be the cause of fractures and deformities of the TT bones of the domestic duck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We recently reported the development of a successful post-exposure combination antiviral and “prime-boost” vaccination strategy using the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) model of human hepatitis B virus infection. The current study aimed to simplify the vaccination strategy and to test the post-exposure efficacy of combination therapy with the Bristol-Myers Squibb antiviral drug, entecavir (ETV) and either a single dose of DHBV DNA vaccines on day 0 post-infection (p.i.) or a single dose of recombinant fowlpoxvirus (rFPV–DHBV) vaccines on day 7 p.i. Whilst untreated control ducks infected with an equal dose of DHBV all developed persistent and wide spread DHBV infection of the liver, ducks treated with ETV combined with either the DHBV DNA vaccines on day 0 p.i. or the rFPV–DHBV vaccines on day 7 p.i. had no detectable DHBV-infected hepatocytes by day 14 p.i. and were protected from the development of persistent DHBV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Please cite this paper as: Baum, Suter, Gerber, Tschanz, Buergy, Blank, Hlushchuk and Djonov (2010). VEGF-A Promotes Intussusceptive Angiogenesis in the Developing Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane. Microcirculation 17(6), 447-457. Abstract Objective: To assess the impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on intussusceptive angiogenesis. Methods and results: Polyurethane casts of the microvasculature of chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) were prepared on embryonic days (E) 8, 10, 12, and 14. At light microscopy level, minute holes (<2 μm in diameter) and hollows (>2 μm) were observed in the casts. Transmission electron microscopy disclosed the minute holes to mainly represent transluminal pillars characteristic for intussusceptive angiogenesis. The numerical density of the holes/pillars was highest at an early (E8) and a late (E12-E14) stage. Only mRNA of VEGF-A-122 and VEGF-A-166 isoforms was detected in the CAM. The transcription rate of VEGF-A mRNA peaked on E8/9 and E12, while VEGF-A protein expression increased on E8/9 and E11/12 to rapidly decrease thereafter as determined by immunoblotting. At all time points investigated, VEGF-A immunohistochemical reactivity was restricted to cells of the chorionic epithelium in direct contact to the capillary plexus. When the VEGF-R-inhibitor PTK787/ZK222584 (0.1 mg/mL) was applied on E9 CAM, the microvasculature topology on E12 was similar to that on E10. Conclusions: The temporal course of intussusception corresponded to the expression of VEGF-A in CAM microvasculature. Inhibition of VEGF-signaling retarded intussusceptive-dependent capillary maturation. These data suggest that VEGF promotes intussusception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Field evidences have suggested that a natural extract, containing tannins, could be effective against poultry enteric viral infections. Moreover previous studies have shown that vegetable tannins can have antiviral activity against human viruses. Based on this knowledge three different Chestnut (Castanea spp.) wood extracts and one Quebracho (Schinopsis spp.) wood extract, all containing tannins and currently used in the animal feed industry, were tested for in vitro antiviral activity against avian reovirus (ARV) and avian metapneumovirus (AMPV). The MTT assay was used to evaluate the 50% cytotoxic compounds concentration (CC50) on Vero cells. The antiviral properties were tested before and after the adsorption of the viruses to Vero cells. Antiviral activities were expressed as IC50 (concentration required to inhibit 50% of viral cytopathic effect). CC50s of tested compounds were >200μg/ml. All compounds had an extracellular antiviral effect against both ARV and AMPV with IC50 values ranging from 25 to 66μg/ml. Quebracho extract had also evident intracellular anti-ARV activity (IC50 24μg/ml). These preliminary results suggest that the examined vegetable extracts might be good candidates in the control of some avian virus infections. Nevertheless further in vivo experiments are required to confirm these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a human organ-specific autoimmune disease that affects people of all ages, with peak occurrence in women of 30-50 years of age. Chikens of the Obese strain (OS) develop, with high frequency, spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) characterized by circulating antibodies to autologous thyroglobin, infiltration of the thyroid gland with mononuclear cells. The early, predictable onset of SAT on OS chickens provides a unique opportunity to analyse the mechanisms initiating autoimmunity which is virtually impossible to obtain in human. All chikens from this strain develop symptoms of hypothyroidism due to SAT, and the immune system has been shown to be involved in the development of SAT. OS chickens exhibit general immune system hyperactivity, believed in part to be due to intrinsic production of cytokines. Some authors have postulated viral or bacterial infection with proteins similar to a thyroid protein, which may result in activation of thyroid-specific T cells. The evidence for an infectiouse agent as a cause of this disease, however is not convincing. The alternative hypothesis is that the thyroid epithelial cells present their own intracellular proteins to helper T cells. Once activated helper T cells (CD4) may attract other inflammatory cells to the thyroid. The effector mechanism involved in thyroid limphocytic infiltration have been studied, but no definitive concept has yet emerged. Therefore, our studies tried to establish the histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical modifications of thyroid gland, and the cellular componants of the thyroid infiltrations in fowl with autoimmune thyroiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A sensitive and reliable method using gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of chloramphenicol (CAP), thiamphenicol (TAP), florfenicol (FF), and florfenicol amine (FFA) at trace levels in muscle and liver. Before extraction with ethyl acetate, CAP-d 5 was added to tissue samples as internal standard. The organic extracts were frozen to remove lipid and further purified by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) with hexane and solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Oasis HLB cartridges. The target compounds were derivatized with BSTFA+1% TMCS prior to GC-NCI/MS determination in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). The recovery values ranged from 78.5 to 105.5%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) <17%. The limits of detections (LODs) of 0.1μg/kg for CAP and 0.5μg/kg for TAP, FF, and FFA were obtain. Incurred sample and samples from local market were successfully analyzed using this method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The extreme sensitivity of turkeys to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is associated with efficient hepatic cytochrome P-450 (P450)-mediated bioactivation, and deficient glutathione S-transferase (GST) mediated detoxification. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) protects against AFB1 toxicity in turkeys through mechanisms that include competitive inhibition of P450-mediated AFB1 bioactivation. To test whether dietary BHT alters hepatic AFB1–DNA adduct formation, excretion, and bioavailability of AFB1 in vivo, turkeys were given diets with BHT (4000ppm) for 10 days, given a single oral dose of [3H]-AFB1 (0.05μg/g; 0.02μCi/g), then sampled at intervals up to 24h. Radiolabel in serum, red blood cells, liver, and breast meat was frequently lower in BHT-treated compared to control. Hepatic AFB1–DNA adducts in BHT-treated turkeys were significantly lower at 12 and 24h. BHT-fed birds had significant higher bile efflux, though biliary radiolabel excretion was not different from control. The amount of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) excreted in the bile was lower than in control, but BHT had no effect on the biliary excretion of AFB1, aflatoxin Q1 or glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Thus, the chemopreventive properties of BHT may also occur through a reduction in AFB1 bioavailability in addition to inhibition of bioactivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis C953 tube test was evaluated for its ability in detecting the residue of selected anticoccidial drugs in poultry, specically sulfamethazine, furazolidone, and amprolium. Various concentrations of each drug were injected into chicken liver and kidney tissues and these tissues were tested to determine the drug detection limits for each drug. The detection limit was defined as the drug concentration at which 95% of the test results were interpreted as positive. The limits of detection in liver tissue were 0.35 μg/ml for furazolidone, 0.70 μg/ml for sulfamethazine and 7.80 μg/ml for amprolium. In kidney tissues, they were 0.30 μg/ml for furazolidone, 0.54 μg/ml for sulfamethazine, and 7.6 μg/ml for amprolium. It was concluded that this tube test could be used to screen for the residue of these three drugs in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemokines are low-molecular weight-chemotactic cytokines, which are involved in lymphocyte trafficking and migration of leucocytes to sites of injury, in immune surveillance and in healing process. They also play a role in pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Three novel CC chemokines were identified from domestic duck ( Anas platyrhynchos) by screening of an enriched cDNA library constructed from mitogen-stimulated splenic mononuclear cells. Two of the clones (AB163 and AB330) had a very high nucleotide (both about 81%) and predicted amino acid level (71 and 76%, respectively) identity to the reported chicken macrophage inflammatory protein 1-β (MIP-1β; SCYA4) and regulated upon activation of normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES; SCYA5) sequences. In phylogenetic analysis, these molecules clustered together with corresponding chemokines reported from other vertebrates. The third clone (AB187) had highest homology to chicken MIP-1β (36% amino acid identity) and showed closer relation to a number of chemokines belonging to monocyte chemoattractant proteins and MIP-1α chemokines. Expression of these molecules was upregulated upon mitogen stimulation of splenocytes as detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. AB187 showed several fold increases (about 8.5 times) in the mRNA expression. Basal level expression of some of these chemokines was detected in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, including spleen, liver, lung, and bone marrow. Considering the importance of this animal species as a model for diseases such as chronic human hepatitis B, further studies will offer valuable insights into the role of these molecules in immunopathology of such diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FowI (males more than females) show maturation-dependent rises in blood pressure (BP) and formation of neointimal plaques (NPs), resembling balloon catheter injury-induced neointima, in the abdominal aorta (AbA) just above the bifurcation. The plaque comprises neointimal cells containing abundant endoplasmic reticulum and extracellular matrix. Hence, we investigated whether rapid incremental BP increases in male chicks trigger NP formation, possibly via endothelial injury in hemodynamically selective areas. In 6-wk-old chicks (n 8) treated 4 wk with solvent (Sv; minipump) or arginine supplement (Arg; 0.3% in drinking water), BP increased from 140 ± 5 to 159 ± 4 (Sv) and from 138 ± 4 to 157 ± 3 (Arg) mmHg, whereas propranolol treatment (Prop, 8 mg·kg-1·day-1; minipump) prevented the rise. Arg and Prop groups had, respectively, 73% and 77% smaller (P < 0.05) NP areas and 19% and 25% less (P < 0.01) AbA medial thickness than Sv controls. In 16-wk-old cockerels, established BP remained high after Sv and Arg treatments. In the Prop group, BP decreased, but neither NP area nor medial thickness was lower than in the Sv group, whereas the Arg group showed greater NP area and medial thickness. Pulse pressure, determined by intravascular transducer, increased as the pulse wave descended the aorta. The results suggest that maturation-dependent rises in BP in chicks may trigger NP formation in the lower segment of the AbA, which was prevented by inhibition of BP increase, or via a possible increase in nitric oxide availability. BP reduction exerts no effect once BP reaches a plateau. Involvement of endothelial injury leading to NP formation and hemodynamic forces selective for the lesion-prone area remain to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) content as well as in vitro CYP mediated activities for five substrates [bufuralol 1-hydroxylation, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation, testosterone 6β-hydroxylation, and tolbutamide hydroxylation] were measured in specific pathogen free male Japanese leghorn chickens and male beagle dogs. The Vmax, Km and intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) for these substrates were calculated and compared between animal species in order to evaluate the drug catalytic activity in chicken liver. The total CYP content in chicken (0.296 ± 0.04 nmol/mg microsomal protein) was close to levels reported for other species including humans, cats, pigs and some nonmammalian vertebrates (e.g. snakes, frogs and trout fish), but was lower than levels measured in dogs (1.11 ± 0.22) or recorded in guinea-pigs, hamsters, monkeys, mice, rabbits, rats, horse and ruminants. Bufuralol 1-hydroxylation, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation, and testosterone 6β-hydroxylation were lower in chickens than in dogs based on intrinsic clearance. On the other hand, tolbutamide hydroxylation was markedly higher in chickens than in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is accepted that type II iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) is predominantly found in brain, where it maintains homeostasis of thyroid hormone (TH) levels. The current study describes the production of a polyclonal D2 antiserum and its use in the comparison of D2 protein distribution with that of type I (D1) and type III (D3) deiodinase protein in the chicken choroid plexus (CP). Immunocytochemistry showed high D2 protein expression in the epithelial cells of the CP, whereas the D1 and D3 proteins were absent. Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment led to an upregulation of the D2 protein in these cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melanocortin (MC) receptors belong to the family of G-proteincoupled receptors and have five subtypes (MC1-5) in mammals and chicken. We have expressed the chicken MC1-5 (cMC1-5) receptors and seven allelic variants of the cMC1 receptor and performed pharmacological characterization of these receptors. Three variants of the cMC1 receptor, all sharing a Glu to Lys mutation in position 92, are associated with dark feather coloration, and these were pharmacologically described as constitutively active. The pharmacological characterization of the cMC1-5 receptors provides insight of how this receptor family has evolved and useful information for the use of chicken in physiological experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied differential expression of genes using cDNA arrays in the hypothalamic region of two divergent chicken lines, which differ in body weight and feeding behavior. Several transcripts from genes in metabolic networks as well as from retroviruses were differentially expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses a report within the issue, "Corticosteroids as an Adjunct to Antibiotics and Surgical Drainage for the Treatment of Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis," by R. W. Draeger and colleagues. The study found that subjects receiving corticosteroids regained more joint flexion. The risks of corticosteroid administration in cases of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection are noted, as well as the limitations from the use of poultry as an animal model for tendon sheath irrigation.

The aims were to examine ovarian expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands/receptor mRNAs in the chicken and to test the hypothesis that theca-derived BMP(s) modulates granulosa cell function in a paracrine manner. RT-PCR revealed expression of multiple BMPs in granulosa and theca cells from prehierarchical and preovulatory follicles with greater expression in theca cells; both cell types expressed BMP receptors-IA, -IB and -II consistent with tissue responsiveness. Preovulatory granulosa cells (F1, F2 and F3/4) were cultured with BMP-6 (expressed by theca but not granulosa) in the presence/absence of LH, FSH or 8-Br-cAMP. BMP-6 increased 'basal' and gonadotrophin-induced inhibin-A and progesterone secretion by each cell type but did not enhance the effect of 8-Br-cAMP. This indicates that the observed synergism between BMP-6 and gonadotrophin might involve BMP-induced up-regulation of gonadotrophin receptors. In support of this, BMP-6 alone increased LH-receptor (LHR) mRNA in F1 cells and FSH-receptor (FSHR) mRNA in F1, F2 and F3/4 cells. BMP-6 also enhanced LH/FSH-induced LHR transcript amount in each cell type but did not raise FSHR transcript amounts above those induced by BMP-6 alone. To further explore BMP-6 action on inhibin-A secretion, we quantified inhibin/activin subunits (α, ßA, ßB) mRNAs. Consistent with its effect on inhibin-A secretion, BMP-6 enhanced 'basal' expression of α - and ßA-subunit mRNA in F1, F2 and F3/4 cells, and ßB-subunit mRNA in F3/4 cells. BMP-6 markedly enhanced FSH/LH-induced expression of ßA-subunit in all follicles and FSH-induced ßA-subunit in F2 and F3/4 follicles but not in F1 follicles. Neither BMP-6 alone, nor FSH/LH alone, affected 'basal' ßB mRNA abundance. However, co-treatment with gonadotrophin and BMP-6 greatly increased ßB-subunit expression, the response being lowest in F1 follicles and greatest in F3/4 follicles. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that intraovarian BMPs of thecal origin have a paracrine role in modulating granulosa cell function in the chicken in a preovulatory stage-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]