Antibacterial activity of oregano and sage plant extracts against decarboxylase-positive enterococci isolated from rabbit meat

The effect of plant extracts (sage, oregano) against decarboxylase-positive enterococci from rabbit back limb meat  was reported in this study. Oregano plant extract inhibited the growth of all 34 tested enterococci (the inhibitory zones: 12 to 45 mm). The growth of the majority of strains  (n=23) was inhibited by oregano plant extract (the high size inhibitory zones (higher than 25 mm). The growth of 11 strains  was inhibited by oregano extract reaching medium size inhibitory zones (10 to 25mm). The most sensitive strain to oregano extract was E. faecium M7bA (45 mm). Sage extract was less active against tested enterococci (n=16)  reaching lower inhibitory zones (up to 10 mm)

Decarboxylase-positive Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from rabbit meat and their sensitivity to enterocins

Background: The objective of the study was to determine sensitivity of Enterococcus faecium strains from rabbit meat to enterocins. Results: Twenty-five decarboxylase-positive strains (from rabbit meat) allotted to the species E. faecium by genotypization and by MALDI TOF MS spectrometry identification (evaluation score value range 2.104–2.359; in the range for highly probable species identification-score value 2.300–3.000 and secure probable species identification/probable species identification-2.000–2.299) were studied. Seventeen strains were gelatinase positive. Although they did not produce histamine (HIS), spermidine, and spermine, they produce at least one among seven tested biogenic amines (BAs) in small amounts (2–10 mg/L) or up to very high amounts (>1000 mg/L). Putrescine was produced by two strains. These decarboxylase-positive strains were sensitive to enterocins (Ents). All strains were sensitive to Ent 2019 and Ent 55 (inhibitory activity from 200 to 819 200 AU/mL). Twenty-two strains were inhibited by Ent A(P) and Ent 4231; 20 strains were sensitive to Ent M. Conclusion: Our results have spread the basic knowledge related to inhibitory spectrum of enterocins showing sensitivity of decarboxylase-positive strains to enterocins. Protective possibilities of enterocins in meat processing were also indicated. © 2016 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Slovak Scientific Agency VEGA [2/0004/14]; Slovak Research and Development Agency [SK-HU-0006-08

Effect of humic substances and probiotics on growth performance and meat quality of rabbits

The aim of this work was determined effect of supplemental humic substances and probiotics on growth performance and meat quality of rabbits.  The growth performances were observed on two hundred and twelve growing rabbits assigned randomly by weight to two treatments. The treatments included: 1) Control group: in this group were rabbits fed with basal diet during all experiment (35th – 77th day), 2) experimental group: the animals were fed with basal diet+3kg/t humic substances – Humac Nature during whole experiment.  In this group was during fattening period (35th – 49th and 63rd – 70th days of age) added to feed the probiotic preparation – Propoul (Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7158 1x108 CFU) 2 g per ten pieces. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly in order to determine the average daily gain, average daily feed intake and gain/feed. The characteristics of meat quality were determined on twelve rabbit males at the age of 77 days, when the rabbits achieved average slaughter weight 2500g. Results of the whole experimental period showed that addition humic substances and probiotic preparation to the diet had positive effect (not significantly) on intensity of growth live weight in the last phase of fattening period. The results of this study suggest that humic substances with probiotics might be utilized as a feed additive in the rabbit diet. It could not significantly improve growth performance and meat quality of rabbits

Microbial status and quality of rabbit meat after rabbits feed supplementation with phyto-additives

Nowdays, there is an increasing  interest in public health issue due to consumption of healthy and nutritive food, e.i. rich in proteins, low in cholesterol and lipid contents. The aim of this study was to examine if oregano, sage and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts, commercial Xtract as well can influence microbial status of rabbit meat after their supplementation of rabbit feed. Reduction of enterococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus after feed supplementation by the sage and oregano was more detectable at the end of the experiment (at day 42) than after their application (at day 21). In animals with Xtract addition, antibacterial effect has been noted already at day 21. Our in vivo results confirmed in vitro antibacterial effect of the tested extracts and showed that maintaining of rabbit meat quality by plant extracts is very promising

The effect of different dietary zinc sources on mineral deposition and antioxidant indices in rabbit tissues

[EN] The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of dietary zinc from inorganic and organic sources on the concentration of Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe in plasma, tissues and faeces of rabbits. Simultaneously, the activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), specific Cu/Zn SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in liver and kidney were also determined. Ninety-six 49-day-old broiler rabbits were allocated to 4 dietary treatments, each replicated 6 times with 4 animals per replicate. For the subsequent 6 wk, the rabbits were fed an identical basal diet (BD) supplemented with an equivalent dose of Zn (100 mg/kg) from different sources. Group 1 (control) received the unsupplemented BD, while the BD for groups 2, 3 and 4 was supplemented with Zn from Zn sulphate, Zn chelate of glycine hydrate (Zn-Gly) and Zn chelate of protein hydrolysate (Zn-Pro), respectively. The intake of dietary Zn sulphate resulted in an increase in Zn plasma concentration (1.85 vs. 1.48 mg/L; P<0.05) compared to the control group. Feeding the diets enriched with Zn increased the deposition of Zn in the liver (P<0.05), irrespective of the Zn source. The addition of Zn-Pro resulted in significantly higher Cu uptake in liver (P<0.05) than in the control and Zn sulphate group (56.0 vs. 35.0 and 36.7 mg/kg dry matter (DM), respectively). Neither Mn nor Fe concentration in plasma and tissues were affected by dietary Zn supplementation, with the exception of Fe deposition in muscle, which was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in rabbits supplemented with inorganic Zn sulphate compared to control and Zn-Gly group (9.8 vs. 13.3 and 12.2 mg/kg DM, respectively). Intake of organic Zn-Gly significantly increased the activities of total SOD (43.9 vs. 35.9 U/mg protein; P<0.05) and Cu/Zn SOD (31.1 vs. 23.8 U/mg protein; P<0.01) as well as TAC (37.8 vs. 31.2 μmol/g protein; P<0.05) in the kidney when compared to that of the control group. The presented results did not indicate any differences between dietary Zn sources in Zn deposition and measured antioxidant indices in rabbit tissues. Higher dietary Zn intake did not cause any interactions with respect to Mn, Cu and Fe deposition in liver and kidney tissues, but did increase the faecal mineral concentrations. Dietary organic Zn-Gly improved the antioxidant status in rabbit kidney.This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under contract nº. APVV-0667-12 and by the project ITMS 26220220204.Čobanová, K.; Chrastinová, Ľ.; Chrenková, M.; Polačiková, M.; Formelová, Z.; Ivanišinová, O.; Ryzner, M.... (2018). 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Effect of organically complexed copper, iron, manganese and zinc on broiler performance, mineral excretion and accumulation in tissues. J. Appl. Poult, Res., 16: 448-455. https://doi.org/10.1093/japr/16.3.448Benzie I.F.F., Strain J.J. 1996. The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of "Antioxidant Power": The FRAP Assay. Anal. Biochem., 239: 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1996.0292Bulbul A.T., Bulbul S., Kucukersan M., Sireli M., Eryavuz A. 2008. Effect of dietary supplementation of organic and inorganic Zn, Cu and Mn on oxidant/antioxidant balance in laying hens. Kafkas Univ. Vet. Fak., 14: 19-24.Bradford M. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilising the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal. Biochem., 72: 248-254.https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3Casado C., Moya V.J., Pascual J.J., Blas E., Cervera C. 2011. Effect of oxidation state of dietary sunflower oil and dietary zinc and α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on performance of growing rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 19: 191-202. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2011.940Cortese M.M., Suschek C.V., Wetzel W., Kroncke K.D., Kolb-Bachofen V. 2008. Zinc protects endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide via Nrf2-dependent stimulation of glutathione biosynthesis. Free Radic Biol Med., 44: 2002-2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.02.013Farombi E.O., Hansen M., Raven-Haren G., Moller P., Dragsted L.O. 2004. Commonly consumed and naturally occuring dietary substances affect biomarkers of oxidative stress and DNA damage in the healthy rats. Food Chem. Toxicol., 2: 15-22.Gresakova L., Venglovska K., Cobanova K. 2016. Dietary manganese source does not affect Mn, Zn and Cu tissue deposition and the activity of manganese-containing enzymes in lambs. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 38: 138-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.05.003Chrastinová Ľ., Čobanová K., Chrenková M., Poláčiková M., Formelová Z., Lauková A., Ondruška Ľ., Pogány Simonová M., Strompfová V., Mlyneková Z., Kalafová A., Grešáková Ľ. 2016. Effect of dietary zinc supplementation on nutrient digestibility and fermentation characteristics of caecal content in physiological experiment with young rabbits. Slovak J. Anim. Sci., 49: 23-31.Ivanišinová O., Grešáková Ľ., Ryzner M., Oceľová V., Čobanová K. 2016. Effects of feed supplementation with various zinc sources on mineral concentration and selected antioxidant indices in tissues and plasma of broiler chickens. Acta Vet. Brno, 85: 285-291. https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201685030285Jo C., Ahn D.U. 1998. Fluorometric analysis of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in turkey. Poultry Sci., 77: 475-480. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/77.3.475King J.C., Brown K.H., Gibson R.S., Krebs N.F., Lowe N.M., Siekmann J.H., Raiten D.J. 2016. Biomarkers of nutrition for development (BOND) - Zinc review. J. Nutr., 146: 858S-885S. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.115.220079King J.C., Shames D.M., Woodhouse L.R. 2000. Zinc homeostasis in humans. J. Nutr., 130: 1360S-1366S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.5.1360SKwiecien M., Winiarska-Mieczan A., Milczarek A., Klebaniuk R. 2017. Biological response of broiler chickens to decreasing dietary inclusion levels of zinc glycine chelate. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 175: 204-213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0743-yMa W., Niu H., Feng J., Wang Y., Feng J. 2011. Effects of zinc glycine chelate on oxidative stress, contents of trace elements, and intestinal morphology in broilers. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 142: 546-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8824-9Marklund S., Marklund G. 1974. Involvement of the superoxide anion radical in the autoxidation of pyrogallol and a convenient assay for superoxide dismutase. Eur. J. Biochem., 47: 469-474. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1974.tb03714.xNessrin S., Abdel-Khalek A.M., Gad S.M. 2012. Effect of supplemental zinc, magnesium or iron on performance and some physiological traits of growing rabbits. Asian J. Poult. Sci., 6: 23-30. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajpsaj.2012.23.30Nutritional Research Council (NRC), 1977. Nutrient requirements of rabbits. National Academies of Science, Washington DC, USA.Oteiza P.I. 2012. Zinc and the modulation of redox homeostasis. Free Radic. Biol. Med., 53: 1748-1759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.568Paglia D.E., Valentine W.N. 1967. Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. J. Lab. Clin. Med., 70: 158-169.Powell S.R. 2000. The antioxidant properties of zinc. J. Nutr., 130: 1447S-1454S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.5.1447SSalomonsson A.C., Theander O., Westerlund O. 1984. Chemical characterization of some Swedish cereals whole meal and bran fractions. Swedish J. Agric. Res. 14: 11-117.Skřivan M., Skřivanová V., Marounek M. 2005. Effects of dietary zinc, iron, and copper in layer feed on distribution of these elements in eggs, liver, excreta, soil, and herbage. Poultry Sci. 84: 1570-1575. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/84.10.1570Spears, J.W. 1996. Optimizing mineral levels and sources for farm animals. In Kornegay E.T. (ed). Nutrient Management of Food Animals to Enhance and Protect the Environment, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 259-275.Sunder G.S., Kumar V.C., Panda A.K., Raju M.V.L.N., Rao S.V.R. 2013. Effect of supplemental organic Zn and Mn on broiler performance, bone measures, tissue mineral uptake and immune response at 35 d of age. Curr. Res. Poult. Sci., 3: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3923/crpsaj.2013.1.11Suttle N.F. 2010. Mineral nutrition of livestock, 4th Edition. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845934729.0000Swiatkiewicz S., Arczewska-Wlosek A., Jozefiak D. 2014. The efficacy of organic minerals in poultry nutrition: review and implications of recent studies. World Poultry Sci. J., 70:475-485. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933914000531Van Soest P.J., Robertson J.B., Lewis B.A. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Diary Sci., 74: 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2Wiseman J., Villamide M.J., De Blas C., Carabaño M.J., Carabaño R.M. 1992. Prediction of the digestible energy and digestibility of gross energy of feed for rabbits. 1. Individual classes of feeds. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 39: 27-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-8401(92)90029-6Yan J.Y., Zhang G.W., Zhang C., Tang L., Kuang S.Y. 2017. Effect of dietary organic zinc sources on growth performance, incidence of diarrhoea, serum and tissue zinc concentrations, and intestinal morphology in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 25: 43-49. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.577

Effect of apricot seeds on renal structure of rabbits

Amygdalin is the major cyanogenic glycoside present in apricot seeds and is degraded to cyanide by chewing or grinding. The animal data available did not provide a suitable basis for acute human health hazard. The apricot seeds are potentially useful in human nutrition and for treatment of several diseases especially cancer. The present study demonstrates the potential effect of short-term oral application of apricot seeds on renal structure of rabbit as a biological model. Meat line P91 Californian rabbits from the experimental farm of the Animal Production Research Centre Nitra (Slovak Republic) were used in the experiments. The animals were randomly divided into the three groups (C-control, P1, P2 - experimental groups) leading to 8 rabbits in each group. The control group received no apricot seeds while the experimental groups P1 and P2 received a daily dose 60 and 300 mg.kg-1 b.w. of crushed apricot seeds mixed with feed during 28 days, respectively. After 28 days all animals were slaughtered and kidney tissue was processed by standard histopathological techniques. Tissue sections were observed under an optical microscope with camera Olympus CX41 (Olympus, Japan) at a magnification of 10 x 0.40. The basic morphometric criteria of the preparations were quantified using image program MeasurIT (Olympus, Japan). From each sample (n = 24) three histological sections with five different fields of view in each section were analysed and followed parameters were analysed: diameter of renal corpuscles (RC), diameter of glomeruli (G), diameter of tubules (T) and the height of epithelial tubules (E). In our study, we observed a slight increase in the most frequent occurrence parenchyma dystrophy experimental animals. These changes were more pronounced in the experimental group (P2) rabbits received a daily dose of 300 mg.kg-1 of body weight of apricot seeds. Most often, we have found enlarged glomeruli filling the entire space of the capsule, and also glomerular basement membrane thickening. The most frequent alterations of tubular organs manifested by thickening and dilatation of proximal tubules and in the lumen of the occurrence fuchsinophilic mass, grains and hyaline cylinders. The occurrence of the vacuole and parenchymal atrophy was mostly balanced groups. Changes in P2 group are also reflected in morphometric evaluation structures. We have found significant decrease (p &lt;0.001) in the average of all renal structures (diameter of renal corpuscles, diameter of glomeruli, diameter of tubules, and the height of epithelial tubules). Inversely, oral administration a daily dose of 60 mg.kg-1 of body weight of apricot seeds had no significant impact on these parameters. The change displays only the increase of renal tubule diameter. Our data may provide more specific evidence of oral application of apricot seeds on renal structure but further detailed studies are also required

Quality of meat of rabbits after application of epicatechin and patulin

The aim of the present study was to determinate the effect of epicatechin and patulin on selected parameters of meat quality of rabbits. Adult female rabbits (n=25), maternal albinotic line (crossbreed Newzealand white, Buskat rabbit, French silver) and paternal acromalictic line (crossbreed Nitra's rabbit, Californian rabbit, Big light silver) were used in experiment. Animals were divided into five groups: control group (C) and experimental groups E1, E2, E3, and E4. Animals from experimental groups E1, E2, E3, E4 received patulin through intramuscular injection (10 µg.kg-1) twice a week and animals from groups E2, E3, E4 received epicatechin three times a week through intramuscular injection. After 30 days animals were slaughtered. For analysing of meat quality the samples of Musculus longissimus dorsi (50 g) were used. Application of  epicatechin and patulin to rabbits had slight or no effect on the pH levels in stomach, small intestine, large intestine and urinary bladder contents, however differences among the groups were insignificant (p ˃0.05). Application of epicatechin and patulin to rabbits had slight or no effect on total water, protein, fat   and differences among the groups were insignificant (p &gt;0.05). The values of amino acids concentrations were not influenced after application of epicatechin and patulin. The fatty acid profiles in animals after application of different doses of epicatechin and 10 µg.kg-1 patulin were similar (p &gt;0.05). Concentration of cholesterol increased in experimental groups in comparison with the control group, but differences were insignificant (p &gt;0.05). pH levels of meat of rabbits in experimental group E3 was lower when compared with the control group, but differences was not significant (p &gt;0.05).  Electric conductivity parameter was increased in each experimental group (in E3 the highest) against the control but without significant differences (p &gt;0.05). Colour L parameter was slightly decreased in experimental groups with comparison to the control group (in E3 the lowest). Generally we can conclude that intramuscular application of epicatechin or patulin did not affect parameters of meat quality as well as pH values of internal organs content. Further investigations are needed to prove the final answer concerning the health promoting effects of epicatechin and patulin

Beneficial effects of Enterococcus faecium EF9a administration in rabbit diet

[EN] Forty-eight rabbits aged five weeks (Hycole breed, both sexes) were divided into experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups, 24 animals in each, and fed a commercial diet with access to water ad libitum. Rabbits in EG had Enterococcus faecium EF9a probiotic strain added to their drinking water (1.0×109 colony forming units/mL 500 μL/d/animal) for 28 d (between 35 and 63 d). The experiment lasted for 42 d. The animals remained in good health condition throughout the experiment, and no morbidity and mortality was noted. There was a higher live weight at 63 d of age (+34 g; P&lt;0.0001), final live weight at 77 d of age (+158 g; P=0.0483), and average daily weight gain between 63 and 77 d of age in the EG group rabbits than in CG group rabbits (+8 g/d; P&lt;0.0001). No significant changes in caecal lactic acid and total volatile fatty acid concentrations, jejunal morphological parameters and phagocytic activity were noted during the treatment. The tested serum parameters were within the range of the reference values. EF9a strain sufficiently established itself in the rabbit’s gastrointestinal tract. At 63 d of age, a significant decrease in coliforms (P&lt;0.05), coagulase-positive staphylococci (P&lt;0.01), pseudomonads (P&lt;0.01) and coagulasenegative staphylococci (CoNS, P&lt;0.001) was noted in the faeces of the EG group rabbits compared to the CG rabbits. Antimicrobial effects of EF9a strain in the caecum against coliforms (P&lt;0.001), CoNS (P=0.0002) and pseudomonads (P=0.0603) and in the appendix (coliforms, P&lt;0.05) were detected.Slovak – Hungarian project APVV:SK-HU-0006-08 and the national VEGA project 2/0006/17 This work was financially supported by the bilateral Slovak – Hungarian project APVV:SK-HU-0006-08 and the national VEGA project 2/0006/17. Part of the preliminary results was presented in the Proceedings from the Conference in Kaposvár, Hungary, 30.05.2012, pp. 89-92. We are grateful to Mrs. M. Bodnárová and Mr. P. Jerga for their skilful technical assistance. We are also grateful to Dr. V. Párkányi and Dr. R. Jurčík, from the National Agricultural and Food Centre in Nitra for blood sampling and Mr. J. Pecho for slaughtering. All care and experimental procedures involving animals followed the guidelines stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the trials were accepted by the Ethic Commission of the Institute of Animal Physiology in Košice and by the Slovak Veterinary and Food Administration. We would like to thank to Mr. A. Billingham for English language correction.Pogány Simonová, M.; Lauková, A.; Chrastinová, Ľ.; Plachá, I.; Szabóová, R.; Kandričáková, A.; Žitňan, R.... (2020). Beneficial effects of Enterococcus faecium EF9a administration in rabbit diet. World Rabbit Science. 28(4):169-179. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.11189OJS16917928

Effect of Enterococcus faecium AL41 (CCM8558) and Its Enterocin M on the Physicochemical Properties and Mineral Content of Rabbit Meat

Improving rabbit meat quality using natural substances has become an area of research activity in rabbit nutrition due to stabilization of husbandry health and economy. The present study evaluates the effect of bacteriocin-producing, beneficial strain Enterococcus faecium AL41/CCM8558 and its enterocin M (EntM) on the quality and mineral content of rabbit meat. Seventy-two Hycole rabbits (aged 35 days) were divided into EG1 (CCM8558 strain; 1.0 × 109 CFU/mL; 500 µL/animal/d), EG2 (EntM; 50 µL/animal/d), and control group (CG). The additives were administrated in drinking water for 21 days. Significant increase in meat phosphorus (EG1: p &lt; 0.05; EG2: p &lt; 0.0001) and iron (EG1, EG2: p &lt; 0.001) contents was noted; sodium and zinc levels were only slightly higher in experimental groups compared with control data. The calcium (EG1, EG2: p &lt; 0.001), potassium, and copper (EG1: p &lt; 0.01) concentrations were reduced. The treatment did not have a negative influence on physicochemical traits of rabbit meat. Based on these results, we conclude that diet supplementation with beneficial strain E. faecium CCM8558 and its EntM could enhance the quality and mineral content of rabbit meat, with the focus on its iron and phosphorus contents

Enterocin 7420 and Sage in Rabbit Diet and Their Effect on Meat Mineral Content and Physico-Chemical Properties

Rabbit meat has outstanding nutritional characteristics—it is a lean meat with low fat, cholesterol and sodium content, with high-biological-value proteins, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, iron and vitamin B12 level. The dietary inclusion of natural bioactive compounds can improve the quality of rabbit meat. The present study evaluated the effect of enterocin 7420 (Ent 7420) and sage (Salvia officinalis) extract on the quality and mineral content of rabbit meat. A total of 96 Hyla rabbits (aged 35 days) were divided into E (Ent 7420; 50 µL/animal/d), S (sage extract; 10 µL/animal/d), E + S (Ent 7420 and sage in combination) and control (C) groups. Additives were administrated in drinking water for 21 days. A significant increase in meat iron (p p < 0.01) contents. The physico-chemical traits of rabbit meat were not negatively influenced by treatment. Based on these results, diet supplementation, mostly with Ent 7420 but also in combination with sage, could enhance the quality of rabbit meat mineral, with a focus on its iron, phosphorus and zinc contents