NMR-based metabolic characterization of chicken tissues and biofluids: a model for avian research

Introduction Poultry is one of the most consumed meat in the world and its related industry is always looking for ways to improve animal welfare and productivity. It is therefore essential to understand the metabolic response of the chicken to new feed formulas, various supplements, infections and treatments. Objectives As a basis for future research investigating the impact of diet and infections on chicken’s metabolism, we established a high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolic atlas of the healthy chicken (Gallus gallus). Methods Metabolic extractions were performed prior to 1H-NMR and 2D NMR spectra acquisition on twelve biological matrices: liver, kidney, spleen, plasma, egg yolk and white, colon, caecum, faecal water, ileum, pectoral muscle and brain of 6 chickens. Metabolic profiles were then exhaustively characterized. Results Nearly 80 metabolites were identified. A cross-comparison of these matrices was performed to determine metabolic variations between and within each section and highlighted that only eight core metabolites were systematically found in every matrice. Conclusion This work constitutes a database for future NMR-based metabolomic investigations in relation to avian production and health

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Clostridium botulinum type E toxin.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the "double-sandwich" technique was utilized to determine Clostridium botulinum type E toxin. With this technique, about 80 mouse intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses of toxin could be detected. Cross-reaction was hardly observed with C. botulinum type A and B toxins. No cross-reaction was observed with culture supernatants of C. botulinum type C or other Clostridium strains. In all probability this was due to the high specificity of the antiserum prepared aginst the toxic component of type E toxin

Voorkomen van Clostridium botulinum op melkveebedrijven

Op melkveebedrijven wordt C.botulinum regelmatig aangetroffen. De aantallen C.botulinum type B, aanwezig in monsters grond afkomstig van weilanden, varieren van 10-300 kiemen per 100 gram grond. Op bedrijven, die regelmatig weilanden met zuiveringsslib bemesten, blijkt de besmetting met C.botulinum van dezelfde orde van grootte te zijn. Deze aantallen zijn laag ten opzichte van die, welke werden gevonden op een bedrijf waar zich een kringloop van C.botulinum handhaaft nadat onder runderen botulisme was opgetreden als gevolg van bijvoedering met bierbostel (2.000-13.000 kiemen/100 g grond). Op deze boerderij was vermeerdering van C.botulinum in ingekuild gras de meest belangrijke schakel in de kringloop. Uit het beschreven onderzoek is gebleken dat de besmettingsdruk op de overige melkveebedrijven laag was, zodat de kans vooralsnog klein is dat in ingekuild gras een massale vermeerdering van C.botulinum plaatsvindt