Effect of genotype and transport on tonic immobility and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio in two local Italian breeds and Isa Brown hens kept under free-range conditions

<p>This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of transport and genotype on the welfare and fear response of laying hens through a comparison of three breeds reared in free-range conditions: a commercial strain, the Isa Brown (IBh), and two local chicken breeds, the <em>Bionda Piemontese</em> (BPh) and the <em>Bianca di Saluzzo</em> (BSh). After a journey of 67 km (75 min) from the farmhouse of origin to the experimental station, ninety hens, divided according to breed, were free-range reared for two months. Body weight (BW), tonic immobility (TI), red and white blood cells, heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were assessed at four different sampling times: at the farmhouse of origin (T1), at 1 day (T2), 15 days (T3) and at 2 months (T4) after arrival at the experimental station. No statistical differences were found between the four sampling times for BW, total red and white blood parameters. cells or for AGP. An increase in the H/L ratio (P&lt;0.05) was recorded at time T2 for IBh and BSh, compared to BPh (P&lt;0.05). TI was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) for the local breeds, BPh and BSh, than for the commercial strain IBh. The results of this study suggest that genetic and adaptive differences can affect both, physiological and ethological parameters.</p

Detection of Leptospira spp. in Water Turtle (Trachemys scripta) Living in Ponds of Urban Parks

Urban parks are green areas of cities where families and children spend hours outside. Turtles often inhabit urban parks. However, even if the animals seem harmless, they may serve as both reservoirs or accidental hosts for different serotypes of Leptospira spp. Leptospira spp. is a waterborne zoonotic bacterium relevant for public health. Reptiles and amphibians may play a role in the epidemiology, transmission, and persistence of Leptospira spp. In the present study, we observed the presence of anti-leptospiral agglutinins in a group of freshwater turtles (Trachemys scripta) captured in three urban ponds of the metropolitan city of Turin, Italy

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on Blood Parameters and Gut Health of Rabbits

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Gastrointestinal diseases are one of the most common causes of death in rabbits. Thus, maintaining a proper gut health is fundamental to guarantee adequate growth performance and welfare of the animals. Probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus) have been proposed as valuable alternatives to positively modulate gut health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL on biochemical parameters, faecal score, cecal pH, gut histomorphometry, microbiota composition and faecal short-chain fatty acids in rabbits. Overall, the dietary inclusion of 1 × 10(9) cfu/kg feed once a day of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL did not impair rabbit productive performance, blood biochemical parameters, faecal score, gut morphometry, cecal pH, microbiota and short-chain fatty acids concentration. However, it reduced disease incidence and animal death, suggesting that it could improve disease resistance in rabbits. ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (L-1 × 10(9) cfu/kg feed/day) on biochemical parameters, faecal score (FS), cecal pH, gut morphometry, microbiota and cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) in rabbits. Three zootechnical trials were performed and in each trial 30 rabbits were allotted to two groups; a probiotic group (L) and a control group (C). At slaughter (day 45), samples of blood, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver and spleen were collected and submitted to histomorphometric analyses. Blood biochemical analyses, cecal microbiota and SCFAs determination were also performed. In trial 1 and 3, L. acidophilus D2/CSL did not affect productive parameters (p > 0.05). However, L group of trial 1 showed a lower morbidity and mortality compared to the control. In trial 2, C group showed a higher daily feed intake (p = 0.018) and a positive statistical tendency for live weight and average daily gain (p = 0.068). On the contrary, albumin was higher and ALFA-1 globulin was lower in the C group compared to L (p < 0.05). In all the trials, FS, cecal pH, histomorphometry, microbiota and SCFAs were unaffected. In conclusion, L. acidophilus D2/CSL did not impair growth performances, gut and rabbit’s health, reducing morbidity and mortality

Effect of Dietary Organic Acids and Botanicals on Metabolic Status and Milk Parameters in Mid–LateLactating Goats

The microencapsulated mixture of organic acids and pure botanicals (OA/PB) has never been evaluated in goats. The aim of thisstudy was to extend the analysis to mid–latelactating dairy goats, evaluating the effects of OA/PB supplementation on the metabolic status, milk bacteriological and composition characteristics, and milk yield. Eighty mid–latelactating Saanen goatswere ran-domly assigned to two groups: one group was fed the basal total balanced ration (TMR) (CRT; n=40) and the other was fed a diet that wasTMR supplemented with 10 g/head of OA/PB (TRT; n=40) for 54 days during the summer period. The temperature–humidity index (THI) was recorded hourly. On days T0, T27, and T54, the milk yield was recorded,and blood and milk samples were collected during the morning milking. A linear mixed model was used, considering the fixed effects: diet, time,and their interaction. The THI data (mean ±SD: 73.5 ±3.83) show that the goats did not endure heat stress. The blood parameters fell within the normal range, confirming that their meta-bolic status was not negatively influenced by OA/PB supplementation. OA/PB increased the milk fat content (p=0.04) and milk coagulation index (p=0.03),which areeffects that are looked on as favorable by the dairy industry in relation to cheese production

Black soldier fly larvae used for environmental enrichment purposes: Can they affect the growth, slaughter performance, and blood chemistry of medium-growing chickens?

IntroductionThis research has been aimed at evaluating the effects of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) on the growth, slaughtering performance, and blood parameters of medium-growing chickens.MethodsA total of 240, 28-day-old, Label Rouge Naked Neck chickens were allotted to four experimental groups, according to the gender (males-females) and to the absence (control group, C) or presence (larvae group, L) of a dietary supplementation with 10% live BSFL, on the basis of the expected average daily feed intake (ADFI) (6 replicates/diet, 10 chickens/replicate). The birds were weighed weekly, and the feed consumption was recorded to calculate the average live weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), and the ADFI. At 82 days of age, 2 birds/replicate (12 birds/diet) were selected and slaughtered. The blood samples were collected, and the carcass traits (carcass, breast, thigh, and organ weights and yields) were assessed.Results and discussionsOverall, the administered live BSFL did not impair the growth and slaughtering performance, or the blood traits, while the C females showed a better FCR than the treated ones (P &lt; 0.05). The live BSFL consumption time was longer for the females than for the males (P &lt; 0.001). The weight of the immune organs (spleen and bursa of Fabricius) increased as the live BSFL supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the provision of live BSFL reduced the gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, U/l) activity content in the blood (P &lt; 0.05). Finally, both the leukocytes (%) and the monocytes (%) were more abundant in the C groups than in the larvae ones (P &lt; 0.05 and P &lt; 0.01, respectively). In short, the supplementation of live BSFL can be used successfully as an environmental enrichment, without affecting the growth performance of male birds. Furthermore, the immune organ activity could be enhanced by the provision of live BSFL

Changes in Serum Blood Parameters in Farmed Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fed with Diets Supplemented with Waste Derived from Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

The antimicrobial and immunostimulant proprieties of aromatic plant extracts have been widely described, but their effects on serum blood biochemistry in fish have not. For this study, we assessed the changes in serum blood biochemical parameters in rainbow trout fed with a fish diet supplemented with a basil supercritical extract (F1-BEO). Our hypothesis was that treatment and time would be associated with changes in 10 serum blood biochemical parameters. F1-BEO was added to a commercial feed (0.5, 1, 2, 3% w/w). The fish were fed for 30 days, and the blood samples were collected at 2 time points (15 and 30 days). A two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of treatment, time, and interaction treatment × time on creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin, magnesium, and phosphorus (p < 0.05), a significant effect of both time and interaction treatment × time on cholesterol (CHOL), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels, and a significant effect of time on triglycerides (p < 0.05). While changes in several of the parameters were observed, the levels remained within the normal range for rainbow trout. Notably, after 30 days there was a significant decrease in CHOL in fish treated with 0.5% and 1% w/w F1-BEO (p < 0.05). The statistically non-significant increase in GOT and GPT in the fish fed with F1-BEO up to 3% w/w indicated a positive effect of basil on liver health. Our findings suggest a potential use for basil extracts (for example., F1-BEO) in fish feed to reduce antibiotic use and improve fish welfare.This research was funded by Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Finalizzata, grant number GR-2013-02355796.Peer reviewe