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This study was undertaken to unravel the potential of dietary hemp and dill seed for improving the physicochemical properties, oxidative stability, and sensory attributes of fresh (0 day) and store...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has turned out as one of the worst medical and economic misfortunes across the globe. The etiological agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a member of the Coronaviridae family and represents a disease manifestation from asymptomatic to severe respiratory damage. High transmissibility and contagious nature of the virus helps it to flourish in a large population. The immune system aids to retain the virus, but with accelerated cytokine secretion, it could transform into double edge sword resulting in unrestrained systemic inflammation which might become life-threatening. SARS-CoV-2 sets substantial impact on T-lymphocytes during its course of infection. The number of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and Treg cells tend to decrease profoundly in case of severe illness. Besides, the virus modulates the CD4+ T/ CD8+ T and Treg/Th17 cells ratio and induces the functional exhaustion of T cells to make them inefficient. T cells define the pathogenesis of severe cases and provide major contributions in antiviral defense. Therefore, the apprehension of T-lymphocytes in SARS-CoV-2 infection would implicate in developing antivirals, disease control, and would broaden the way for vaccine formulation. Thus, the review depicts the significance of T-lymphocytes interaction with SARS-CoV-2. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; T-lymphocytes; cytokine; inflammation; immune response.

Background: Poultry production in rural India is mostly a non-intensive venture comprising native chicken with low production potential but higher disease resistance and adaptability. Present study is attempted for developing a suitable cross for rural poultry production as well as identifying the genetic groups that are nicking well through a partial diallel cross. Methods: A partial diallel cross using three genetic groups/ breeds of chicken viz. coloured synthetic male line (CSML), Local native chicken (Desi) and CARI-Red as the parent lines was designed. CSML was used as male and CR as female line only. The progenies were evaluated for crossbreeding parameters viz. combining abilities and heterosis for immune response and serum enzyme profile to identify the best combining parent lines.Result: Significantly higher (P less than 0.05) cell-mediated (CMI) and humoral immune response (HIR) and immune organ (spleen, bursa of fabricius and thymus) weights were recorded in CR purebred followed by Desi purebred, while CSML purebred exhibited lowest immunity. Variances for SCA differed significantly (P less than 0.001) for HIR and immune organ weights. Inconsistent but significantly higher (P less than 0.01) serum enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and AST/ALT ratio were recorded in triple cross and D x CR. Variances for SCA differed significantly (P less than 0.05) for serum enzymes. Results revealed that the CARI-Red and Desi were the improver parent lines for better immunocompetence and serum enzyme profile, respectively in the crosses.

The present study was carried out to study the effect of different doses of hemp seed alone or in combination with dill seed against antibiotic growth promoter on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens over a period of 42 days. Total 192 broiler chicks were grouped randomly into six treatments and fed with basal diet (BD) along with different levels of seeds, viz., T1 (BD), T2 (BD + 0.2% HS), T3 (BD + 0.2% HS + 0.3 DS), T4 (BD + 0.3% HS) and T5 (BD + 0.3% HS + 0.3 DS) and T6 (BD + 0.025% Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate-BMD). The performance traits like feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass traits like cut-up parts, giblet and abdominal fat yield remained unaffected due to dietary treatments for overall trial period; however, the average feed intake in early phase (0-3 weeks) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in treatment birds than both controls (T1 & T6). Serum protein concentration remained unchanged, whereas significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum lipids like triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol concentration was noticed due to dietary inclusion of seeds. Serum enzymes like AST and ALT concentrations depleted significantly (p < 0.05) treated groups, except at higher seed doses (T5); however, alkaline phosphatase levels were unaffected. Coliform count in caecum and jejunum reduced linearly (p < 0.01) due to seed inclusion, whereas dose-dependent proliferation of lactobacilli was evident (p < 0.01) in caecum and jejunum of treated birds. No effect was observed on the villus height and crypt depth of the jejunal mucosa. To conclude, dietary supplementation of hemp and dill seed could not affect the growth performance and carcass traits; however, it positively altered the serum lipid profile of the birds and improved gut health as well, thereby enhanced overall performance of broiler chickens.

An experiment was conducted on broiler chicks (n=120), reared in cages on a standard diet up to 14th day of age and thereafter up to 42nd day (14-42d) on test diets with or without MOS. The 14th day old chicks were randomly distributed into three dietary treatment groups viz., T1 (control diet), T2 (control diet with MOS @ 0.3%) and T3 (control diet with MOS @ 0.5%). Each dietary treatment comprised of four replicates of eight birds each. Experiment was carried out during hot-dry summer. It was found that production indices improved (P>0.001) significantly during all phases. Cellular and humoral immunity at 28th day of age improved significantly (P>0.05) due to MOS supplementation. The percentage of hemoglobin, protein, AST and ALT increased significantly (P>0.001) in MOS supplemented group at 28th as well as 42nd day of age. While H:L ratio, serum corticosterone and cholesterol levels decreased significantly (P>0.001) in MOS supplemented groups. Supplementation of MOS at the both levels caused significant (P>0.001) down regulation of HSP70 expression in jejunum tissues during 28th and 42nd day. Based on this study it was concluded that supplementation of 0.3% MOS in broiler diets significantly improved their performance and welfare during heat stressed conditions.