Toxic Effects of Ochratoxin A on Calcium Metabolism during Chick Embryo Developmentand in Hatched Chicks

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to study the effect of in-ovo ochratoxin A (OTA) injection in Highline layer eggs on calcium metabolism and blood biochemical parameters of embryos and after the hatch. At day 10 of embryonic development, one hundred and sixty-two fertile eggs were individually weighed and divided into two equal treatments. The first treatment (control) consisted of the individual injection of fertile eggs with 50 µL sodium carbonate. In the second treatment (OTA), fertile eggs were individually injected with 12.5 ng OTA dissolved in 50 µL sodium carbonate. On days 12, 14, and 16 of incubation and at the hatch, serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations were lower (p<0.05), while sodium, alkaline phosphatase and triiodothyronine concentrations were higher (p<0.05) in the OTA-injected eggs compared with the controls. Serum potassium concentration was not affected (p<0.05) by OTA treatment. Lower calcium and phosphorus levels were determined (p<0.05) in the allantoic fluid of OTA-injected eggs compared with the controls. On days 12, 14, and 16 of incubation and at the hatch, lower whole body and yolk calcium and phosphorus, but not sodium levels, were measured (p<0.05) in the OTA treatment compared with the controls. In conclusion, the injection of eggs with OTA reduced blood calcium and phosphorus levels, which were associated with reduced whole body and yolk content from these electrolytes. Therefore, ochratoxin A had a negative effect on calcium metabolism

Efficacy of Zinc/Creatine Supplementation on Improving Growth Performance of Local Balady Chicks

ABSTRACT An experiment was designed to study the efficacy of Zinc and or creatine monohydrate (CMH) supplementation, either alone or in combination, on improving growth performance of Balady chicks. A total number of 144 Balady chicks were randomly divided into four equal groups. The first treatment was fed the basal diet and served as control, while groups 2, 3, and 4 were given the basal diet and supplemented drinking water with, 0.6 mg/ml (zinc sulphat); 0.45 mg/ml (CMH); 0.6 mg/ml (zinc sulphat) + 0.45 mg/ml (CMH), respectively. The results indicated that the live body weight, weekly body weight gain and feed efficiency were significantly (p≤0.05) improved in all treated groups compared with the control. Also, significant decrease (p≤0.05) has been recorded in water consumption values of treated groups compared to control. Moreover, significant increase was recorded in carcass yield, kidney, spleen, bursa, thymus and intestine density (weight/length) with treated groups as compared to control group. On the other hand, serum total protein, globulin, total lipids, total antioxidant, thyroxine hormone level were significantly higher in treated groups than the control. Furthermore, Red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin level, hematocrit values and antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus, were significantly improved in all treated groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that Zn and or CMH supplementation improved the physiological, productive traits of Balady chicks. The best significant results of performance were recorded for group the supplemented with Zn and CMH in combination compared with those of other treatments

Oxidative Stress of in-Ovo Ochratoxin A Administered during Chick Embryonic Development

ABSTRACT The present work was carried out to study the effect of in-ovo injection of ochratoxin A (OTA) as an oxidative stress and its consequences on hepatic and kidney functions, thyroid activity, and histological examination of brain and liver in chicken embryos and subsequently in the hatching chicks. On the 10th day of incubation, one hundred and sixty-two fertile eggs were randomly divided into two equal treatments. Control treatment, (injected by 50 µl sodium carbonate) and OTA treatment (injected by 12.5 ng OTA dissolved in 50 µl sodium carbonate). OTA treatement group significantly reduced glutathione (GSH) and significantly increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances production (TBARS) in embryonic and hatched chicks regarding livers, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, heart, and brain as an indicator of oxidative stress. OTA injection increased TBARS and decreased GSH levels in both allantoic and amniotic fluids. On the 14th and 16th days of incubation and at the hatch, a significant lower concentration in cholesterol and higher concentrations of alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, acid phosphatase enzymes activities and triglycerides in the hepatic tissues of the OTA group were observed. Histological examination of OTA group of brain and liver tissues showed some degenerative changes through the experimental period. In conclusion, in-ovo OTA treated had teratogenic and embryotoxic effects