AFLATOXINS AND IMMUNITY : A REVIEW

ABSTRAK Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. These agents can cause severe hepatotoxicosis in many species of animals and carcinogenesis in others. Farm animals are generally sensitive to aflatoxins and ducks are among the most susceptible species. The toxins also interfere with the development of native and acquired resistance of animals to infections diseases. The effect of aflatoxins on the avian immunity is particularly described. In a tropical country like Indonesia where the toxins occur naturally in feeds, regardless of the mechanisms the immunosuppressive effect of aflatoxins is one of real economic importance to the livestock industry of Indonesia. Aflatoksin adalah racun-racun yang dihasilkan oleh jamur-jamur Aspergillus flavus dan A. parasiticus. Racun tersebut bisa menyebabkan keracunan hati yang he-bat pada banyak jenis hewan dan juga bisa menimbulkan tumor hati pada hewan. Hewan ternak pada umumnya peka terhadap aflatoksin dan itik adalah hewan yang _ paling peka. Racun-racun tersebut juga mempengaruhi perkembangan dari kekebalan alam maupun kekebalan perolehan terhadap penyakit-penyakit menular. Pengaruh aflatoksin pada kekebalan unggas secara khusus dibahas. Di negara tropis seperti Indonesia dimana racunracun ini selalu mencernari pakan, pengaruh aflatoksin yang menekan sistem kekebalan adalah merupakan kerugian ekonomis yang sangat besar pada industri peternakan di Indonesia. Keywords: Aflatoxins,imunisasi

THE EFFECT OF TRANSPORTATION STRESS ON HAEMATOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF INDONESIAN NATIVE DUCKS (ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS)

ABSTRACT Two trials were conducted to study the effect of transportation stress on haematology and immune responses of Alabio ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Measurements were also made for egg production and organ weights (liver, thymuse, spleen and bursa of Fabricius). Erythrocyte counts in blood collected 18 h after the stress significantly decreased (P < 0,05). The pack cell volume (PCV) and leukocytes counts tended to decrease as the result of stress, however, the: decrease was not significant. The heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio was highest in the stress group 18 h after the treatment. The stress due to both transportation and handing of animals for collection if blood had a profound effect on egg production. Transportation stress reduced the ability of ducks to produce anti sheep red blood cell than anti Brucella abortus antigens, indicating that the effect to the stress in ducks in on the T cell dependent immune response. No significant diffeiences in body weight and organ weights were observed. Keywords : Ducks, transportation stress, blood components, immune response, egg production, organ weights. Keywords: transportation stress, Duck

The utilization of rock phosphate (natural defluorinated calcium phosphate or NDCP) in laying hens diet to replace dicalcium phosphate

An experimentwas conducted to study the utilization of local rock phosphate or natural defluorinated calcium phosphate (NDCP) as phosphorus source for layer chickens by using the imported dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as a reference. Eight experimental diets consisted of 2 source of phosphorus (DCP and NDCP) and 4 dietary total P levels (0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7%) were formulated. Each diet was fed to 24 pullets (6 replicates with 4 birds each) from 20 weeks of age to 14 weeks of egg production. Observations were made on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, mortality, egg quality, Ca and P retention and ash content of tibial bones . Results showed no significant effect of different source and level of  phosphorus tested on egg production (% HD), feed consumption, egg weight and mortality rates . Egg shell thickness was depressed in NDCP diet as compared with DCP, however this only occurred at firstmonth of production. It is concluded that the NDCP can be used in layers diet to replace DCP as phosphorus source. The relative biological value of phosphorus inNDCP is 96% for layers.   Keywords: Rock phosphate, NDCP, layers, phosphorou

Oestrous synchronization using composite solution of testosterone, oestradiol and progesterone on Peranakan Etawah goat

Progestagen is generally used for hormonal treatment in the synchronization program, but the cost of this stuffs is relatively expensive. An alternatif low cost agent for sinchronization is needed and this is a focus of the present study. Forty eight heads of mature does and 4 bucks of Peranakan Etawah (PE) goats was used in two phases of study. In the first phase, three types of composite compounds (TOP-A, TOP-B and TOP-C) were tested on a number of PE does. In the second phase of the study, the best TOP composite of the first phase was compared with Fluogestone Acetate (FGA) which is a commercially made of progestagen for synchronization. FGA was inserted intravaginal for 7 days (FGA-7) and 14 days (FGA-14). Results of the study in phase I showed that only 40-60% of does showed oestrus following TOP composite treatment, and 50-67% of them in groups TOP-A and TOP-B did not ovulate, while all oestrous does in TOP-C group ovulated. Oestrous cycle length was within a normal range of oestrous cycle (15 - 22 days) indicating that TOP composite did not have negative effect on reproductive activity of goats. The best TOP-C in the study phase I was tested in the study phase II and compared with FGA. The results showed that the number of does in oestrus in TOP-C group was only 63.6% which was much lower than those of FGA-7 (81.8%) and FGA-14 (100% ). Imperiority of TOP-C and FGA-7 were shown by a relatively high incident of oestrus without ovulation which were 14.3% and 11.1% for the respective groups. Consequently, ovulation rates in both groups were lower than those of FGA-14 (1.1 vs 1.4 vs 1.8, P<0.05). Pregnancy rate in TOP-C was also the lowest (27.3%) compared with those of group FGA-7 (63.6%) and group FGA-14 (81.8%). Based on the results obtained, it could be concluded that TOP composite used in this study was not as good as FGA in inducing oestrus in goat

The utilization of rock phosphate (natural defluorinated calcium phosphate or NDCP) in laying hens diet to replace dicalcium phosphate

An experimentwas conducted to study the utilization of local rock phosphate or natural defluorinated calcium phosphate (NDCP) as phosphorus source for layer chickens by using the imported dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as a reference. Eight experimental diets consisted of 2 source of phosphorus (DCP and NDCP) and 4 dietary total P levels (0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7%) were formulated. Each diet was fed to 24 pullets (6 replicates with 4 birds each) from 20 weeks of age to 14 weeks of egg production. Observations were made on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, mortality, egg quality, Ca and P retention and ash content of tibial bones . Results showed no significant effect of different source and level of phosphorus tested on egg production (% HD), feed consumption, egg weight and mortality rates . Egg shell thickness was depressed in NDCP diet as compared with DCP, however this only occurred at firstmonth of production. It is concluded that the NDCP can be used in layers diet to replace DCP as phosphorus source. The relative biological value of phosphorus inNDCP is 96% for layers

Penggunaan batuan fosfat NDCP (natural defluorinated calcium phosphate) sebagai pengganti dicalcium phosphate dalam ransom ayam broiler

An experiment was conducted to study the utilization of local rock phosphate or natural defluorinated calcium phosphate (NDCP) as phosphorus source for broilers by using the imported dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as a reference. The study was designed by formulating 6 experimental diets which consist of 2 phosphorus sources (DCP dan NDCP) and 3 dietary total P levels (0 .55 ; 0.65 and 0 .75%). Each diet was fed to 60 chickens (10 replicates with 6 birds each) from three day old to 6 weeks of age. Parameters observed were feed consumption, body weight gain, mortality, Ca and P retention, and ash content of tibia bones. Results showed that dietary phosphorus levels (0.55 to 0.75%) did not significantly affect body weight gain, feed consumption, and mortalities. However, better feed conversion ratio was obtained when dietary phosphorus level was 0.55%. The NDCP treated birds could significantly gain heavier weight compared with those received DCP, although this improvement was also followed by an increase in the feed consumption. The relative biological value of phosphorus in NDCP was 101 `7n. It is concluded that NDCP can he used in broilers diet to replace DCP as phosphorus source

The utilization of NDCP (natural defluorinated calcium phosphate) in broiler ration as compared with dicalcium phosphate

An experiment was conducted to study the utilization of local rock phosphate or natural defluorirutted calcium phosphate (NDCP) as phosphorus source for broilers by using the imported dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as a reference . The study was designed by formulating 6 experimental diets which consist of 2 phosphorus sources (DCP dan NDCP) and 3 dietary total P levels (0 .55 ; 0.65 and 0 .75%) . Each diet was fed to 60 chickens (10 replicates with 6 birds each) from three day old to 6 weeks of age . Parameters observed were feed consumption, body weight gain, mortality, Ca and P retention, and ash content of tibia bones . Results showed that dietary phosphorus levels (0 .55 to 0 .75 %) did not significantly affect body weight gain, feed consumption, and mortalities . However, better feed conversion ratio was obtained when dietary phosphorus level was 0 .55% . The NDCP treated birds could significantly gain heavier weight compared with those received DCP, although this improvement was also followed by an increase in the feed consumption . The relative biological value of phosphorus in NDCP was 101 `7n . It is concluded that NDCP can he used in broilers diet to replace DCP as phosphorus source

Using silica mineral waste as aggregate in a green high strength concrete: workability, strength, failure mode, and morphology assessment

Environmental degradation is a major challenge in the developing countries, which are caused due to unmanaged solid waste, or improper disposal. This study investigates the effect of using silica mineral waste (eco sand) as aggregate in a green high strength concrete, in which properties such as workability, strength, failure mode, and morphology were determined. There was low slump and compacting factor in all the concrete mixtures, however, strength properties were improved with the incorporation of eco sand as a replacement of conventional fine aggregate. Higher strength properties were achieved in the eco sand concrete than the reference mixtures, which occurred at an optimum eco sand content of 25%. The morphology and failure mode of the eco sand concrete showed that there was a significant compactness and constituents parking in the matrix

Note: Design and development of an integrated three-dimensional scanner for atomic force microscopy

A compact scanning head for the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) greatly enhances the portability of AFM and facilitates easy integration with other tools. This paper reports the design and development of a three-dimensional (3D) scanner integrated into an AFM micro-probe. The scanner is realized by means of a novel design for the AFM probe along with a magnetic actuation system. The integrated scanner, the actuation system, and their associated mechanical mounts are fabricated and evaluated. The experimentally calibrated actuation ranges are shown to be over 1 mu m along all the three axes. (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC