Dietary effects of Algerian sodium bentonite on growth performance and biochemical parameters in broiler chickens

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing poultry feed with graded levels of Algerian sodium bentonite (Na-B) on growth performance and the development of villus height in jejunum and some biochemical parameters during 50 days in broiler chickens. A number of 420 one-day old broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. The birds were randomly allocated into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F). The treatments were 0 (control), 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% of Algerian Na-B levels. The results obtained indicate clearly that weight gain in the chickens fed treatments containing 4% Na-B had greater weight gain than the chickens fed different treatments (0, 1%, 2%, 3% and 5% Na-B). Feed conversion rate (FCR) was lower birds supplemented with Na-B 4% (2.45) than control group (3.06). Maximum feed consumption was observed in the birds’ control (5,655.3 g), while the lowest was noted in the chickens with diet added 4% Na-B (5,009.5 g) (p< 0.05). The weight of duodenum, jejunum and ileum was decreased for the Algerian Na-B supplemented group, compared with the control group. The villus height was affected by dietary treatments (1%, 2%, 3% and 5%) on days 18 and 50 (p< 0.05). Feeding the supplemented graded levels Na-B resulted in an increase in plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL concentrations at 50 days of age, compared with the control group. These results showed clearly that the Na-B from Algeria can improve the growth performance in broiler chickens. Thus, dietary inclusion of Na-B had positive effect on plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL values in broiler chickens at the end experiment

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of propolis collected from some localities of Western Algeria

The chemical analysis and antibacterial activity of propolis collected from some parts of Western Algeria were investigated. The ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) were evaluated for further investigation. The major constituents in EEP were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. All EEP samples were active against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus), but no activity was found against Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli). The mean diameters of growth inhibition of the EEP ranged between 8.05 and 21.4 mm. The propolis extract obtained from Sidi bel Abbés (SFS-SBA) was more active than other samples as well as showed unique HPLC profile. These results support the idea that propolis can be a promising natural food preservative in food industry and alternative candidate for management of bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant microorganisms

Antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat's milk

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat's milk and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on mastitis causing bacteria. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activity against the isolated bacteria was evaluated by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), using the agar incorporation method. Results: The results showed that both Micrococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. were susceptible to Streptomycin and tetracycline, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli, Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., and Coagulase Negative Staphyloccoci (CNS) were preferentially susceptible to Streptomycin. However, Streptococcus D was the most resistant to the tested antibiotics whereas Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible to all the studied antibiotics. As regards to the antimicrobial activity of honey, the measured values were comprised between 11 and 14%. Conclusion: The results reveal that antimicrobial drugs susceptibility tests in goat subclinical mastitis might be necessary before the treatment. Algerian honey exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against different isolated bacteria in goat mastitis

Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.7/April-2014/12.pdf RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat&apos;s milk

Algerian honey on subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat&apos;s milk, Veterinary World 7(4): 248-252. Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat&apos;s milk and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on mastitis causing bacteria. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activity against the isolated bacteria was evaluated by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), using the agar incorporation method. Results: The results showed that both Micrococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. were susceptible to Streptomycin and tetracycline, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli, Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., and Coagulase Negative Staphyloccoci (CNS) were preferentially susceptible to Streptomycin. However, Streptococcus D was the most resistant to the tested antibiotics whereas Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible to all the studied antibiotics. As regards to the antimicrobial activity of honey, the measured values were comprised between 11 and 14%. Conclusion: The results reveal that antimicrobial drugs susceptibility tests in goat subclinical mastitis might be necessary before the treatment. Algerian honey exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against different isolated bacteria in goat mastitis

Failure of Lipopolysaccharides to Directly Trigger the Chemiluminescence Response of Isolated Equine Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Divergent results have been reported on the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the activation of equine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We therefore attempted to determine whether LPS alone can stimulate equine PMN or whether plasma factors are necessary. PMN were isolated from citrated blood on a discontinuous density gradient of Percoll. The luminol (10(-3) mol/L)-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of 1.25 x 10(6) cells was measured after addition of Escherichia coli LPS (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) alone or after incubation in autologous plasma (1 h, 37 degrees C). After direct stimulation with LPS, there were random variations of CL in 16 horses that were not reproducible from one sample to the next for the same horse. LPS which had been incubated in plasma gave a dose-dependent stimulation of the CL of the PMN, which did not occur if the plasma had been heat inactivated (1 h, 56 degrees C). These results indicated a role for plasma factors, which were unlikely to be cytokines, as there were no monocytes or lymphocytes in the plasma incubated with LPS, but might have been complement fragments or LPS ligands, such as LPS binding protein. Studies using specific antibodies against these factors are needed to clarify this question

Interactions between Lipopolysaccharides and Blood Factors on the Stimulation of Equine Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils

In horses, the mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of isolated neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species remain unknown. We re-investigated this problem by monitoring the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) produced by LPS-stimulated equine neutrophils. The neutrophils were isolated from horse blood by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation (> or = 99% neutrophils; viability > or = 98%). Increasing concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) LPS (from 0.01-10 microg ml(-1)) were used to activate the neutrophils. When LPS was used directly, without another stimulator, the respiratory burst of neutrophils was not activated (N=12 horses; n=5 assays per horse). On the contrary, when LPS was added to whole blood, the neutrophils isolated from this blood were stimulated in a LPS dose-dependent manner, but polymyxin B added to whole blood suppressed this stimulation (N=2; n=6). LPS dissolved in autologous equine plasma stimulated the isolated neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner from 0.1-10 microg ml(-1) (N=5; n=12). Heat inactivation of the plasma abolished this CL increase (N=2; n=5). LPS added to equine albumin did not stimulate the isolated neutrophils (N=2; n=5). On the contrary, the addition of gamma-globulins (1 mg ml(-1)) to LPS (10 microg ml(-1)) led to the stimulation of neutrophils (N=2; n=5). We concluded that LPS did not directly stimulate the isolated equine neutrophils, but that plasmatic factors are needed for the stimulation of these cells by LPS

Experimental model for the study by chemiluminescence of the activation of isolated equine leucocytes.

The activation of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (the respiratory burst) can be studied by measuring their chemiluminescent response. This technique was adapted to equine leucocytes to investigate the effects of cell number, activator concentration, enhancers of chemiluminescence, pH, temperature and inhibitors. Leucocytes were isolated from citrated blood from healthy horses and chemiluminescence was measured with a Bio-Orbit luminometer sensitive to 900 nm light. The optimal cell density for the maximal chemiluminescent response ranged from 10(6) to 10(7) leucocytes 600 microliters-1. Chemiluminescence increased as a function of temperature, and the concentrations of luminol, lucigenin and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and was pH related (optimal pH value = 8.0 for lucigenin and 8.5 for luminol). The inhibition of chemiluminescence by 5 x 10(-5) M azide was 88 per cent for luminol and 37 per cent for lucigenin. Superoxide dismutase (100 IU) totally inhibited the chemiluminescence response. Approximately 30 per cent variability in chemiluminescence was observed under the same assay conditions, depending on the origin of the leucocytes. Based on these results, the conditions selected for the measurement of equine leucocyte chemiluminescence were: 10(6) to 10(7) leucocytes 600 microliters-1, 1 x 10(-6)M PMA, 1 mM luminol or 0.4 mM lucigenin, physiological pH (7.4) and physiological temperature (37.8 degrees C). These conditions were similar to those used for measuring the chemiluminescent response of human leucocytes

High Concentrations of Histamine Stimulate Equine Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils to Produce Reactive Oxygen Species

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Because high concentrations of histamine are locally released in inflammation, we investigated the effects of supraphysiological doses of histamine on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated equine neutrophils were activated by 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3) M histamine. The production of ROS and free radicals was estimated by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) with spin trapping technique. In this model of histamine-stimulated neutrophils, we tested the antagonists of H1 and H2 histamine receptors, the role of Ca2+ and Mg2+, the role of staurosporine and pertussis toxin (inhibitors of protein kinase C and proteins G) and the effects of superoxide dismutase, catalase, hydroxyl radical scavengers (phenylalanine and mannitol) and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), inhibitor of NO-synthase. RESULTS: Histamine (from 10(-5) to 10(-3) M) stimulated neutrophils to produce CL and ESR signals characterized by spin adducts of superoxide anion and/or hydroxyl radicals. The CL response was inhibited by 10(-4) and 10(-3) M H1 receptor antagonists (promethazine, pyrilamine, and diphenhydramine), by Ca2+ and Mg2+ depletion and by 10 nmoles staurosporine. CL was partially inhibited by pertussis toxin (4 microg/ mL). The ESR signals were practically suppressed by pyrilamine (an H1 receptor antagonist) and superoxide dismutase, and partially inhibited by catalase, hydroxyl radical scavengers and L-NMMA (respectively 59, +/- 30% and 68% inhibition). CONCLUSIONS: High concentrations of histamine stimulated the neutrophils to product ROS and free radicals via H1 receptors and the NADPH-oxidase pathway

Plasma myeloperoxidase level and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in horses suffering from large intestinal obstruction requiring surgery: preliminary results.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a specific enzyme of neutrophil azurophilic granules with a strong oxidative activity. Thanks to a radioimmunoassay of equine myeloperoxidase, the authors have observed a significantly higher plasma level of MPO in horses operated for strangulation obstruction of the large intestine (n = 6) than in horses suffering from a non-strangulating displacement of the large intestine (n = 9). For the 2 groups, 3 phases were distinguished: reception (P1), intensive care (P2) and terminal phase (P3). The mean peak values of MPO for these phases were 121.6 ng/mL (P1), 168.6 ng/mL (P2), and 107.0 ng/mL (P3) for the non-strangulating group, and 242.6 ng/mL (P1); 426.0 ng/mL (P2), and 379.5 ng/mL (P3) for the strangulation group. The variations of the mean peak values of plasma MPO were significantly different between the 2 groups and between the different phases. A significant increase of the least square means of MPO was observed between P1 and P2. A significant decrease of the least square means of the number of circulating leukocytes was observed between P1 and P3. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil activation could play a major role in the pathogenesis of acute abdominal disease and endotoxic shock