Effect of Probiotics on Serum Biochemical and Blood Constituents in Chicken Challenged with Salmonella enterica Subsp Typhimurium

Purpose: To examine the effects of two commercial probiotics (Toyocerin and CloSTAT) on serum enzyme activities, and hematological and biochemical indices of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium (ST).Methods: The chicks received one of the following treatments at 0 day of age: T1 = control group, unmedicated diet, unchallenged birds, (negative control); T2 = unmedicated diet + bacterial challenge (positive control); T3 = medicated diet with neoxyval (0.05 g/kg diet) + bacterial challenge (NEOX); T4 = toyocerin (1 g/kg diet) + bacterial challenge (Toyocerin); and T5 = CloSTAT (1 g/kg diet) + bacterial challenge (COLS). Blood samples were withdrawn from 7 selected chicks in each treatment at 7, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of age, and analyzed for total protein, albumin and globulin concentration, and the albumin: globulin ratio computed. Glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutatamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels in serum were measured on days 7 and 42.Results: The results revealed that albumin (p < 0.001), globulin (p < 0.001) and albumin: globulin ratio (p < 0.001) were influenced by the time of blood collection. Globulin increased significantly after ST challenge while albumin decreased significantly. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) after ST challenge was affected by treatment (p < 0.05). Higher levels were obtained from birds which had received NEOX or positive control, compared to negative control group.Conclusion: Salmonella challenge affects serum albumin, globulin and GOT enzyme. The results obtained suggest that the probiotic, Toyocerin, mitigates the negative effects of Salmonella challenge.Keywords: Bacillus subtilis PB6, Bacillus Cereus var. toyoi, Probiotics, Liver enzymes, Hematology, Salmonella enteric

Effects of selenium and vitamin E on performance, physiological response, and selenium balance in heat-stressed sheep

Forty-two 7-mo-old Australian Merino wethers were used in a 50-d trial to investigate the effects of Se and vitamin E on the performance and physiological responses of heat-stressed sheep. Sheep were exposed to thermoneutral conditions (maximum = 24°C and minimum = 20°C) for 28 d followed by heat (maximum = 38°C and minimum = 28°C) for 22 d. Hot conditions were imposed between 0700 and 1800 h. Sheep were randomly allocated to diets containing 0.8 mg/kg Se (Sel-Plex), 150 mg/kg vitamin E, or 0.8 mg/kg Se and 150 mg/kg vitamin E for either the duration of the study (50 d) or from d 1 of the hot period until the end of the study. A control group that received no supplemental Se and vitamin E for the duration of the study was included. Feed intake was measured daily and sheep were weighed weekly. Blood samples were collected from all sheep before feeding on d 1, 21, and 49 for measurement of biochemical and enzymatic variables. The concentration of Se was determined in offered and refused feed, feces, urine, water, plasma, liver, and kidneys. Exposure to heat reduced (P < 0.05) DMI by 11.9%, ADG by 198 g, serum concentration of urea nitrogen and Se by 17.8%, and plasma total antioxidant status by 26.4%. During hot conditions, sheep receiving Se and vitamin E supplements for 50 d had reduced (P < 0.05) BW loss and elevated G:F compared to control sheep. Serum Se concentration and the plasma total antioxidant status were greatest in sheep receiving Se and vitamin E supplements for 50 d (P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary supplementation with Se and vitamin E reduces the adverse effects of a high heat load. Additional studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for these effects

Microsatellite-Based Genetic Structure and Diversity of Local Arabian Sheep Breeds

The genetic diversity of the sheep breeds in the Arab countries might be considered to be a mirror of the ecology of the region. In this study, the genetic structure and diversity of sheep breeds from Saudi Arabia (Harri, Najdi, Naemi, Arb, and Rufidi) and Awassi sheep from Jordan as an out-group were investigated using 19 microsatellites. All the breeds had high intra-population genetic diversity expressed as allelic number (7.33) and richness (2.9) and, expected heterozygosity (0.77). Structure analysis revealed three main gene pools underlying the ancestral genetic diversity of the study populations. The first pool had Harri, Najdi, and Rufidi breeds; the second had Naemi and Awassi breeds, and the third had the Arb breed which was significantly differentiated from the other breeds. Factorial correspondence analysis lent further support to the presence of the three gene pools. Although the outgroup Awassi sheep was more clearly differentiated, it still genetically close to Naemi sheep. The differentiation of the Arb breed could have been resulted from geographic and reproductive isolation. On the other hand, the genetic structure of the other two gene pools could be the result of the past and recent gene flow between individuals reared in the region known to be the center for animal husbandry and trading until the current time

Effects of prebiotics and probiotics on the performance and bacterial colonization of broiler chickens

Abstract A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Neoxyval (antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP)), TechnoMos (prebiotic), GalliPro (probiotic) and a mixture of TechnoMos and GalliPro (symbiotic) on growth performance, carcass yield, histomorphology and intestinal bacterial counts in broilers (0 d to 42 d). Two hundred day-old Ross (308) broilers were allocated to five experimental treatments: T1 = control (CONT), T2 = T1 + Neoxyval, T3 = T1 + Gallipro, T4 = T1+ TechnoMos and T5 = T1+ Gallipro+ TechnoMos. The results revealed that birds that received T2, T4 and T3 gained more weight and converted feed more efficiently than those in T1 and T5. Longer ileal villi (492.9 µm) were recorded in birds that received T4 compared with T1 (424.7 µm) and T2 (439.9 µm). Conversely, jejunal villi length and width were not influenced by treatment. T3 eliminated Clostridium perfringens from the ileum, but not from the caecum. Generally, birds that received T3 and T5 performed similar to the AGP group, T2. The results from this study indicated that the probiotic (T3) and prebiotic (T4) used in this trial could serve as alternatives to AGP (T2). Enhancement in the performance of broilers could be explained partially by improvement in intestinal morphology and microbial balance associated with modulation of intestinal microflora and inhibition of pathogens. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Ameliorative Effect of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> on Growth Performance and Intestinal Architecture in Broiler Infected with Salmonella

A total of 600 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) confirmed for the absence of Salmonella were randomly allocated to five treatments each with 10 replicates: negative control (basal diet only); positive control (basal diet) + infected with Salmonella; T1, Salmonella infected + avilamycin; T2, Salmonella infected + Bacillus subtilis (ATCC PTA-6737; 2 &#215; 107 CFU/g) and T3, Salmonella infected + B. subtilis (DSM 172999; 1.2 &#215; 106 CFU/g). The results revealed that feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were significantly (p &lt; 0.01) lower in T1 compared to T2. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (p &lt; 0.01) lower in T2 and T3 compared to other treatments. Similarly, the performance efficiency factor (PEF) was also significantly (p &lt; 0.01) higher in T2 and T3 compared to positive control. Villus height was significantly (p &lt; 0.01) higher in T2 compared to all other treatments. However, villus width and surface area were significantly (p &lt; 0.01) higher in T1. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with B. subtilis improved growth and intestinal health by reversing the negative effects of Salmonellosis

Effect of dietary zinc-methionine supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, antioxidative properties and immune response in broiler chickens under high ambient temperature

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc-methionine (ZnM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, antioxidant status and immune response in broiler chickens reared at high ambient temperature. A total of 480 one-day-old chicks were randomly distributed into 24 floor pens (20 chicks/pen) and were given either a control diet, 0 ZnM (G0) or 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg ZnM (G1, G2 and G3, respectively). The growth performance was significantly affected by the treatments, ZnM supplementation increased body weight gain and improved feed conversion (p < .05) in broilers. Protein utilization was improved by feeding ZnM (p < .05). Plasma total cholesterol was decreased, while plasma HDL-cholesterol was tending to be increased. Interestingly, an increase in ZnM supplementation enhanced Zn concentrations (p < .05) in breast muscle along with a reduction in malondialdehyde concentration and saturated fatty acids (p < .05) and an augmentation in unsaturated fatty acids (p < .01). Dietary ZnM supplementation resulted in a significant increase in serum glutathione peroxidase concentration which accompanied with an improving in humoral immune response. It could be concluded that dietary organic Zn supplementation improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility, Zn content in raw meat, antioxidative properties and humoral immunity and reduced meat lipid peroxidation in broilers under high ambient temperature

Improving the fatty acid profile in egg yolk through the use of hempseed (<i>Cannabis sativa</i>), ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>), and turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i>) in the diet of Hy-Line White Leghorns

A study was performed to examine the outcome of utilizing hempseed, ginger, and turmeric in the diet of Hy-Line White Leghorn on the fatty acid profile of egg yolk. Four experimental rations were offered to 60 laying hens: control (standard diet); 25 % hempseed (T1); 25 % hempseed and 2 % turmeric (T2); 25 % hempseed and 2 % ginger (T3). Thirty eggs per group were analysed on day 0, 15, and 30 after storage at room temperature. Individual and total fatty acids decreased significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in the experimental groups by day 0, 15, and 30 compared to the control. By day 0, 15, and 30, total monounsaturated fatty acids, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid decreased significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in T3. In fresh eggs, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increased significantly in T2 and T3 and were lower in the control and T1 by day 15 and 30. The same trend was also found in linoleic, eicosadienoic, and arachidonic acid. Linolenic acid increased significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in T2 and T3 by day 15 and 30. However, eicosatrienoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid increased significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in all treated groups compared to the control by day 15 and 30. By day 15 and 30, total <i>ω</i>-3 increased significantly in treated groups. In contrast to <i>ω</i>-3, <i>ω</i>-6 increased significantly in T2 and T3 by day 15 and 30, while their ratio decreased significantly in treated groups. From the results of the present study, it was concluded that the addition of hempseed at the level of 25 % combined with 2 % turmeric and ginger in the diet of Hy-Line White Leghorn layers improved the fatty acid profile of <i>n</i>-3 PUFA, <i>ω</i>-3, and <i>ω</i>-6 in egg yolk