Vitamin E in Viral Inactivated Vaccines

Abstract This research aimed at verifying whether vitamin E added to inactivated and emulsified vaccines enhances the immune response to viral antigens in chicken. Three hundred and twenty broilers (males and females) and 16 types of vaccines, varying in viral antigen [Newcastle disease virus, egg drop syndrome 1976 virus (EDS76V), and infectious bursal disease virus] and vitamin E amount (replacing 10, 20, and 30% of mineral oil) were used. Results show that vaccines with vitamin E, especially when it replaces 20 or 30% of mineral oil, induces a more rapid and higher antibody response than control vaccines. An adjuvant effect of vitamin E was also present in viral vaccine lacking bacterial antigens. Apart from vitamin E content, the Newcastle disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus monovalent vaccines induced higher titers of specific circulating antibodies in birds than did trivalent vaccines

clostridium perfringens occurrence and ribotypes in healthy broilers reared in different european countries

Abstract The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and ribotypes of Clostridium perfringens in broiler flocks reared in 2 European countries that apply European Union Regulation 1831/2003. A total of 1,532 cecum contents were collected between June 2005 and November 2006 from birds belonging to 51 intensively reared flocks produced in the Czech Republic and 41 intensive production, organic, and free-range flocks reared in Italy. Clostridium perfringens was detected in 64.7 and 82.9% of the Czech Republic and Italian flocks, respectively, at mean loads ranging between 3.65 and 4.77 log10 cfu per gram of cecum content. More than 1 ribotype was identified among isolates belonging to the same flock in 57.1 and 76.5% of the Czech Republic and Italian flocks, respectively. Moreover, common ribotypes were identified between strains belonging to 2 up to 8 different flocks. In particular, 4 ribotypes were shared between strains isolated in the 2 European countries. The results of this study report on C. perfringens occurrence and mean populations in broilers reared on diets devoid of antibiotic growth promoters. Moreover, these findings show for the first time the presence of common ribotyping profiles among isolates collected from birds reared more than 1,000 km apart

Vitamin E as Adjuvant in Emulsified Vaccine for Chicks

Abstract Mineral oil was partially replaced with D, L-α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) in bacterial and viral inactivated emulsified vaccines. Vitamin E increased the immune response to the viral antigen (Newcastle disease virus) used but not to the bacterial antigen (Escherichia coli) when its presence in the oil phase did not exceed 30%. Inoculated vitamin E may have enhanced the immune response by interacting with the immune-competent cells involved in the inflammatory reaction that followed inoculation of emulsified vaccines

Can platelet-rich plasma be an alternative to surgery for resistant chronic patellar tendinopathy in sportive people? Poor clinical results at 1-year follow-up

Introduction and purpose: Patellar tendinopathy is a disease affecting particularly athletes. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have gained increasing interest for their potential benefits. Anyway, a tendon disease longer than 6 months should be considered as an indication for surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRP in athletes with a severe chronic patellar tendinopathy longer than 6 months when surgery should be chosen. Methods: We enrolled 17 sport practitioners (19 patellar tendons) who did not want to undergo surgery and who are nonresponders to other conservative treatments. We treated them with PRP and calculated the results using the visual analog scale (VAS), the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patellar (VISA-P) score, and Tegner Activity Scale. Every test has been conducted at T0, T1 (4 months), and T2 (12 months). Results: We found a poor improvement at T1 and a clinical worsening at T2 through VAS. VISA-P showed a medium improvement both at T1 and T2. Tegner scale did not show improvements. Conclusions: Our study was not able to remove the doubts about the benefits of PRP in patellar tendinopathy, confirming ambiguous certainties. Further investigations are needed to assess its effectiveness

effects of dietary vitamin e on the quality of table eggs enriched with n 3 long chain fatty acids

Abstract Because of the proposed cardioprotective benefits of n-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, a trial was carried out to investigate the possibility of enriching eggs with n-3 fatty acid and vitamin E added to the hen's diet. One hundred ninety-two Hy-Line Brown hens, 39-wk-old, were divided into eight groups: four groups received the basal diet supplemented with 3% lard and four doses of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm), whereas the diets of the other groups were supplemented with 3% of fish oil and the same doses of vitamin E. The performances of the hens and egg weights were not affected either by the type of lipid supplement or by the vitamin level. The treatment with fish oil caused a dramatic increase (

Effect of free range production system on chicken carcass and meat quality traits

There is a growing consumer interest towards poultry products coming from unconventional housing systems with outdoor access. A study was conducted to characterize carcass traits and chemico-physical properties of chickens labelled free-range (according to the EC Directive 1538/91) if compared with conventional ones. Free range female (FR-F) and male (FR-M) chickens were separately raised for 56 and 70 d, respectively, in order to obtain currently marketed product categories. They belonged to medium growing Isa strain and had continuous daytime access to open-air area from 28 d to slaughter age and indoors stocking density did not exceed 27.5 kg/sqm. Conventional female (C-F) and male (C-M) chickens belonged to a fast growing hybrid (Ross 708) and were separately raised for 39 and 50 d, respectively, under intensive conditions in a poultry house under controlled environmental conditions at a stocking density of 30-32 kg/sqm. Females (FR-F and C-F) and male (FR-M and C-M) birds were slaughtered into 2 separate sessions. After slaughtering, 20 carcasses for each group (FR-F, 1.2 kg; FR-M, 1.9 kg; C-F, 1.2 kg; C-M, 2.3 kg) were randomly selected for evaluating carcass cut-up yields and fifteen of them were used to assess quality properties of both breast and leg meat (skin and meat colour, ultimate pH, drip and cooking losses, AK-shear force). C birds had dramatic higher carcass and breast meat yield, whereas FR had higher wing and leg yields (P <0.001). Both meat and skin of breast and leg coming from FR birds were lighter and less red and more yellow (P <0.001). Even if no difference were found in ultimate pH, FR birds exhibited higher water-holding capacity (lower drip and cooking losses) in both breast and leg meat (P <0.01). Finally, although shear force did not differ in breast meat, leg from FR birds were tougher (P <0.001). Overall these data indicate that noticeable quality trait differences exist between free range and conventional labelled poultry products

Enumeration and identity of Campylobacter spp. in Italian broilers

Abstract Transmission of Campylobacter to humans has been prominently associated with mishandling or improperly preparing contaminated poultry carcasses. The number of organisms per carcass represents an important measure of human exposure to the agent. Therefore, we wished to estimate this public exposure over 1 yr among Italian broiler carcasses. We sampled 213 broiler carcasses from rinse water samples collected from a single slaughterhouse. Groups of carcasses had mean processed weights ranging from 1.2 to 2.7 kg. These were produced from 22 commercial broiler chicken flocks collected from 12 different farms, 3 of which were seasonally tested. Carcasses were rinsed with sterile water, and the rinse suspension was then serially diluted and spread-plated directly onto Campy-Cefex agar plates. One to 5 typical Campylobacter colonies per plate were identified by polymerase chain reaction as Campylobacter thermo-tolerant species. The overall estimated mean count per carcass in our study was 5.16 ± 0.80 log10 cfu. This value increased in summer and autumn, as well as on carcasses collected from farms located > 100 km far from the slaughterhouse. A total of 678 Campylobacter colonies were identified by polymerase chain reaction. The majority of isolates were classified as Campylobacter jejuni (49.2%) or Campylobacter coli (47.5%). The overall number of C. jejuni was significantly higher on 1) carcasses weighing > 2 kg, 2) carcasses belonging to flocks with > 10,000 birds, and 3) carcasses collected from farms located > 100 km from the slaughterhouse. Moreover, among farms tested seasonally, C. jejuni was significantly greater than C. coli in winter. These data provide the first results of a continuing survey on Campylobacter loads and species identification from Italian broiler carcasses and represents an important baseline to estimate the human exposure to Campylobacter in Italy

Modified-atmosphere packaging of hen table eggs: Effects on pathogen and spoilage bacteria

Abstract As part of a more comprehensive research activity on the use of modified-atmosphere packaging for the improvement of quality and functional properties of table eggs, the effects of air, 100% CO2, and 100% O2 packaging were also evaluated on the survival of experimentally inoculated pathogen bacteria (Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes) as well as on spoilage bacteria (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria) on table eggs during 30 d of storage at 4, 25, and 37°C by colony count method. In general, temperatures played a major role, rather than gasses, in influencing the bacterial survival. In particular, the lowest microbial loads were registered at 4°C on E. coli and spoilage bacteria, whereas 37°C was the best storage temperature to avoid the psychrotropic microorganism L. monocytogenes development regardless of the gas used. One hundred percent CO2 packaging, in association with a low storage temperature (4°C), had a significant positive effect in reducing Salmonella loads. On eggs inoculated with L. monocytogenes and stored at 4°C as well as on eggs containing only spoilage bacteria and stored at 25°C, 100% CO2 resulted the best gas in comparison with air and O2. One hundred percent CO2 packaging showed no negative effect on pathogen survival compared with air. Although further improvements are required to control RH within packaging to limit bacteria growth/survival, in view of the positive effects of CO2 packaging on quality traits of table eggs, 100% CO2 packaging might represent a promising innovative technique for the maintenance of egg characteristics during transport, retail, and domestic storage

Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) supplementation in drinking water on chicken crop and caeca microbiome

In this study we gained insights into the effects of the supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) in the chicken drinking water on crop and caeca microbiomes. The probiotic was supplemented at the concentrations of 0.2 g Lactobacillus acidophilus/day/bird and 0.02 g Lactobacillus acidophilus/day/bird and its effect on the crop and caeca microbiomes was assessed at 14 and 35 days of rearing. The results showed that mean relative abundance of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the caeca did not show significative differences in the treated and control birds, although Lactobacillus acidophilus as well as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus reuteri significantly increased over time. Moreover, the treatment with the high dose of probiotic significantly increased the abundance of Clostridium asparagiforme, Clostridium hathewayi and Clostridium saccharolyticum producing butyrate and other organic acids supporting the chicken health. Finally, at 35 days, the Cell division protein FtsH (EC 3.4.24.-) and the Site-specific recombinase genes were significantly increased in the caeca of birds treated with the high dose of probiotic in comparison to the control group. The results of this study showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) supplementation in the drinking water at the concentrations of 0.2 and 0.02 g Lactobacillus acidophilus/day/bird improved beneficial microbes and functional genes in broiler crops and caeca. Nevertheless, the main site of action of the probiotic is the crop, at least in the early stage of the chicken life. Indeed, at 14 days Lactobacillus acidophilus was significantly higher in the crops of chickens treated with the high dose of LA in comparison to the control (14.094 vs 1.741%, p = 0.036)

Investigation on the microbiological hazards in an artisanal salami produced in Northern Italy and its production environment in different seasonal periods

In the present study, the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli VTEC was investigated in two batches of artisanal Italian salami tested in winter and summer. Moreover, enumerations of total bacterial count, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were performed as well as monitoring of water activity and pH. Samples were taken from raw materials, production process environment, semi-finished product and finished products. The results revealed an overall increase of total bacterial count and lactic acid bacteria during the ripening period, along with a decrease of Enterobacteriaceae, pH and water activity. No significant difference was observed between the two batches. The enterobacterial load appeared to decrease during the maturation period mainly due to a decrease in pH and water activity below the limits that allow the growth of these bacteria. E. coli VTEC, Salmonella spp. or L. monocytogenes were not detected in both winter and summer batches. However, Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in both summer and winter products. Except for one isolate, no biological hazards were detected in the finished salami, proving the efficacy of the ripening period in controlling the occurrence of microbiological hazard in ripened salami. Further studies are required to assess the virulence potential of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates