An individually fitted physical barrier device as a tool to restrict the birds’spatial access: can their use alter behavioral responses?

In this work we introduce an hp finite element method for two-dimensional Poisson problems on curved domains using curved elements. We obtain a priori  error estimates and define a local a posteriori error estimator of residual type.We show,  under appropriate assumptions about the curved domain, the globalreliability and the local efficiency of the esimator. More precisely, we prove that theestimator is equivalent to the energy norm of the error up to higher order terms. The equivalence constant of the efficiency estimate depends on the polynomial degree.We also present an hp adaptive algorithm and several numerical tests which show the performance of the adaptive strategy.Fil: Pellegrini, Stefanía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Guzmán, Diego Alberto. Aarhus University. Aarhus Institute Of Advanced Studies.; Dinamarca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentin

Japanese quail classified by their permanence in proximity to a high or low density of conspecifics: a search for underpinning variables

Test of sociality in poultry is mainly based on the bird's individual ability to make quick social discriminations. In recent years, a density-related permanence (DRP) test has been developed that enables us to classify young birds (while in groups) according to their individual permanence in proximity to either a high or low density of conspecifics (HD or LD, respectively). Thus, the result of the classification depends not only on the bird's individual response but also on the outcome of the social interactions within the whole group. The birds' performance in DRP was associated with underlying differences in social responses of their individuals. Quails in homogeneous groups of LD residents responded with less compact groups and higher levels of agonistic interactions to the presence of an intruder and showed higher levels of agonistic interactions among cage-mates than the homogeneous groups of HD birds. An acute stressor also induced a higher corticosterone response in the LD birds than in their HD counterparts. The present study addressed the question of whether contrasting DRP performance by Japanese quail can also reflect underlying differences in fearfulness and social reinstatement responses. Thus, LD and HD categorized juvenile birds underwent one of the following tests: tonic immobility (TI), open-field (OF), or a one-way runway. Results showed that HD birds required more inductions and developed shorter responses (P ≤ 0.05) in the TI test and walked more, faster, and greater distances in the OF (P ≤ 0.05) than their LD counterparts. No differences between groups were found in short social reinstatement responses. The present findings suggest that underlying fearfulness is lower in the HD than in the LD birds. A reduced fearfulness could be regarded as an additional favorable trait of the HD-classified quail to cope with environmental challenging situations.Fil: Guzmán, Diego Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Kembro, Jackelyn Melissa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentin

Effects of male to female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) interactions on female´s plumage and skin condition

The high incidence of aggression in mature domestic birds is a major concern for the poultry industry. In Japanese quails, an overall score on female plumage condition was proposed to identify whether their male partner showed an aggressive profile towards them. This study delves further into the relationship between aggressive and/or sexual male Japanese quail performances and the plumage and skin condition of their female counterparts. We used an original “more rigorous” scoring system and a single female body areas approach, aiming to easily identify specific regions that are predominantly affected by male´s aggressive and/or sexual behavior and could be used to predict male´s performance. Additionally, this study investigates whether deteriorations in female plumage and skin condition induced by males when paired with a single female (1 male and 1 female) for pedigree purposes can also be similarly evidenced when females are housed for multiplication purposes in groups of 4 every 1 male. After 60 days of cohabitation, males were classified as low or highly aggressive based on the number of pecks recorded, and female skin and plumage status was evaluated. The study found significant positive correlations between male pecking and female's head and neck plumage and skin status, but no correlation between male sexual behaviors and female plumage and skin status. Using the male classification according to the extreme aggressive performance towards their female mate, females housed with highly aggressive males had worse neck plumage and head and neck skin status than females housed with low aggressive males. In addition, these highly aggressive males initiated more copulation sequences but achieved the same number of cloacal contacts as low-aggressive males. Regarding groups, highly aggressive males continued to express aggressive behaviors more frequently to the 4 females than those classified as low aggressive. It was observed that the female group housed with highly aggressive males had worse head plumage status than those housed with low aggressive males. Our findings suggest that the level of male aggressiveness can be discerned by examining the condition of the females' head and neck plumage, irrespective of whether they are housed in pairs or within groups. Plumage and skin body regions and conditions evaluated appear not useful when aiming to infer male quail sexual activity.Fil: Orso, Gabriel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Guzmán, Diego Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentin

Environmental complexity: A buffer against stress in the domestic chick

Birds kept in commercial production systems can be exposed to multiple stressors from early life and this alters the development of different morphological, immunological and behavioural indicators. We explore the hypothesis that provision of a complex environment during early life, better prepares birds to cope with stressful events as well as buffers them against future unpredictable stressful episodes. In this study, 96 one day old pullets were randomly distributed in eight pens (12 birds/pen). Half of the chicks (N = 48) were assigned to a Complex Environment (CENV: with perches, a dark brooder etc.) the others to a Simple Environment (SENV: without enrichment features). Half of the birds from each of these treatments were assigned to a No Stress (NSTR, 33C) or to an acute Cold Stress (CSTR, 18–20C) treatment during six hours on their second day of life. At four weeks of age, chicks with these four different backgrounds were exposed to an Intermittent Stressful Challenges Protocol (ISCP). In an immunological test indicative of pro-inflammatory status Phytohe-magglutinin-P (PHA-P), the response of CSTR birds was ameliorated by rearing chicks in a CENV as they had a similar response to NSTR chicks and a significantly better pro-inflammatory response than those CSTR birds reared in a SENV (five days after the CSTR treatment was applied). A similar better response when coping with new challenges (the ISCP) was observed in birds reared in a CENV compared to those from a SENV. Birds reared in the CENV had a lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratio after the ISCP than birds reared in SENV, independently of whether or not they had been exposed to CSTR early in life. No effects of stress on general behaviour were detected, however, the provision of a CENV increased resting behaviour, which may have favoured stress recover. Additionally, we found that exposure to cold stress at an early age might have rendered birds more vulnerable to future stressful events. CSTR birds had lower humoral immune responses (sheep red blood cells induced antibodies) after the ISCP and started using elevated structures in the CENV later compared to their NSTR conspecifics. Our study reflects the importance of the early provision of a CENV in commercial conditions to reduce negative stress-related effects. Within the context of the theory of adaptive plasticity, our results suggest that the early experience of the birds had long lasting effects on the modulation of their phenotypes.Fil: Campderrich, Irene. Centro de Investigación. Neiker - Tecnalia; España. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SueciaFil: Nazar, Franco Nicolas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Wichman, Anette. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SueciaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Estevez, Inma. Centro de Investigación. Neiker - Tecnalia; EspañaFil: Keeling, Linda J.. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Sueci

Descripción de dos brotes de babesiosis nerviosa (Babesia bovis) en bovinos de la prepuna de Jujuy, Argentina.

Se describen los aspectos epidemiológicos y clínicopatológicos de dos brotes de babesiosis nerviosa en la región prepuna de la provincia de Jujuy, zona desfavorable para el establecimiento de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. La enfermedad fue de curso agudo, con signología clínica predominantemente neurológica, anemia, hemoglobinuria, hipertermia, apatía terminal con postración y muerte. Los hallazgos de necropsia fueron esplenomegalia severa, intenso color cereza de la corteza cerebral, ictericia moderada, nefrosis pigmentaria y hemoglobinuria. La histopatología cerebral demostró congestión vascular severa cortical y meníngea, con edema de la neuropila, apilamiento eritrocitario intracapilar con microtrombos aislados, y necrosis cortical con espongiosis subcortical marcada, mientras que en riñón se evidenció nefrosis severa. Los frotis de sangre periférica y las improntas cerebrales resultaron positivos Babesia bovis. Las garrapatas halladas se identificaron como R. (B.) microplus, y se introdujeron en los rodeos a partir de animales portadores provenientes de un remate comercial en un caso y de animales trashumantes en otro. Se juzga necesario adoptar medidas antes de la comercialización o movilización de ganado destinado a zonas libres de R. (B.) microplus, liberándolo de eventuales infestaciones por esta garrapata.We describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of two outbreaks of neurologic babesiosis in the prepuna region of Jujuy province, an area unfavorable for the establishment of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The disease was acute, with predominantly neurological signs, hemoglobinuria, hyperthermia, terminal apathy with recumbency and death. The necropsy findings were severe splenomegaly, intense cherry color of the cerebral cortex, moderate jaundice, pigmentary nephrosis and hemoglobinuria. Cerebral histopathology showed severe cortical and meningeal vascular congestion, neuropil edema, intracapillary erythrocyte stacking with isolated microthrombi, and cortical necrosis with marked subcortical spongiosis. Nephrosis was also observed. Peripheral blood smears and brain smears showed parasitic forms compatible with Babesia bovis. The ticks found in affected animals were identified as R. (B.) microplus, and were introduced into the herds by carrier animals originating in an auction in one case and by transhumant animals in another. It is necessary to adopt measures before moving animals into areas free of R. (B.) microplus.Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco SemiáridoFil: Marin, Raul Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, Daniel Hector. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Investigación Animal Chaco Semiarido; Argentin

Resíduos de aflatoxina B1 em fígado de codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica) expostas a alimentos contaminados e à corticosterona exógena

The combined effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) exposition and stress induced by corticosterone (CORT) upon the residual aflatoxin levels in livers of Japanese quail was examined. A total of 144 Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were divided into 6 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment, each containing 2 males and 2 females. The different treatments resulted from the combination of the presence or absence of CORT in drinking water (5 mg/L) with the presence or absence of AFB1 supplementation (100 or 500 ng/g). Dietary treatments were offered from 5 to 11 weeks of age. The different diets were: Treatment (T) 1: basal diet (B) AFB1 (15 ng/g); T2: B plus AFB1 (100 ng/g); T3: B plus AFB1 (500 ng/g); T4: B plus CORT (5 mg/L); T5: B plus AFB1 (100 ng/g) and CORT (5 mg/L); and T6: B plus AFB1 (500 ng/g) and CORT (5 mg/L). The residual levels of AFB1 were remarkably higher in livers of birds fed with AFB1 in comparison with those belonging to the group that received a combination of AFB1 and CORT (P< 0.05). A plausible explanation about the facts that could be responsible for observed reduction in the toxin carryover in liver was suggested. These results are very striking and may constitute the start point for a series of studies that aim to elucidate the precise influence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) response to stress in birds exposed to AFB.Estudou-se o efeito combinado da exposição à aflatoxina B1 (AFB1 ) e o estresse induzido por corticosterona (CORT) sobre os níveis de residuais de AFB1 em fígados de codornas japonesas. Um total de 144 codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica) foram divididas em 6 tratamentos com 6 repetições por tratamento, cada uma contendo 2 machos e 2 fêmeas. As dietas dos tratamentos foram oferecidas da 5ª até a 11ª semana de idade. Os diferentes tratamentos resultaram da combinação da presença ou ausência de CORT na água de beber (5 mg / L), com a presença ou ausência de suplementação AFB1 (100 ou 500 ng /g) As dietas diferentes foram: Tratamento (T) 1: dieta basal (B) AFB1 (15 ng/g); T2: B mais AFB1 (100 ng / g); T3: B mais AFB1 (500 ng / g); T4: B mais CORT (5 mg / L); T5: B mais AFB1 (100 ng / g) e CORT (5 mg / L), e T6: B mais AFB1 (500 ng / g) e CORT (5 mg / L). Os níveis residuais de AFB1 foram significativamente mais elevados em fígados de aves alimentadas com AFB1 em comparação com os que pertencem ao grupo que recebeu uma combinação de AFB1 e CORT (P< 0,05). Sugere-se uma possível explicação para a redução dos níveis da toxina observada naqueles animais submetidos a dieta com CORT. Estes resultados constituem-se de um ponto de início para uma série de estudos que visam a elucidar a influência da resposta do eixo hipotalâmico-hipofisário-adrenais (HPA) ao stress em aves expostas a AFB.Fil: Magnoli, Alejandra Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Chiacchiera, Stella Maris. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Carlos Alberto da Rocha. Universidade Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dalcero, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Manipulation of the phenotypic appearance of individuals in groups of laying hens: Effects on stress and immune-related variables

This study evaluated whether phenotypic appearance (PA) alteration during two developmental phases in laying hens, reared in two different group sizes, affects stress and immune responses. After hatching, 750 chicks were randomly assigned to 30 pens at a group size of either 10 or 40 birds. Then, the appearance of 0, 30, 50, 70 or 100% of the chicks in each pen was altered by blackdyeing their head feathers (marked); remaining chicks were unmarked. At 32 weeks, basal and postacute stress plasma corticosterone concentration, leukocyte counts, phytohemagglutinin-p lymphoproliferative and primary antibody responses were measured in six birds/pen. Analysis of variances (ANOVAs) showed no differences among treatment combinations. In a second phase, birds within initially homogeneous pens were sequentially either marked or had dye bleached to alter PA of 70% of hens in each flock (= group in a pen). Hens within initially heterogeneous pens remained unaltered as controls. The above variables were remeasured. Hens in phenotypically manipulated pens showed modified leukocyte counts compared to hens in control pens, indicating a chronic stress reaction in all penmates (whether individual PA was altered or not). Social isolation increased plasma corticosterone concentration. However, within groups of n = 40, phenotypically unaltered hens had lower responses than their altered penmate counterparts, suggesting that remaining in a stable PA group AIDS better coping with challenges. Although all hens in manipulated pens showed modified leukocyte counts, their antibody and lymphoproliferative responses did not differ from controls suggesting that all groupmates were able to immunologically cope with the challenges presented, within the timeframe evaluated.Fil: Nazar, Franco Nicolas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Liste, Mariano Gonzalo. Centro de Investigación Neiker - Tecnalia; EspañaFil: Campderrich, I.. Centro de Investigación Neiker - Tecnalia; EspañaFil: Estevez, I.. Centro de Investigación Neiker - Tecnalia; Españ

High-resolution behavioral time series of Japanese quail within their social environment

The behavioral dynamics within a social group not only could depend on individual traits and social-experience of each member, but more importantly, emerges from inter-individual interactions over time. Herein, we first present a dataset, as well as the corresponding original video recordings, of the results of 4 behavioral tests associated with fear and aggressive response performed on 106 Japanese quail. In a second stage, birds were housed with conspecifics that performed similarly in the behavioral tests in groups of 2 females and 1 male. By continuously monitoring each bird in these small social groups, we obtained time series of social and reproductive behavior, and high-resolution locomotor time series. This approach provides the opportunity to perform precise quantification of the temporal dynamics of behavior at an individual level within different social scenarios including when an individual showing continued aggressive behaviors is present. These unique datasets and videos are publicly available in Figshare and can be used in further analysis, or for comparison with existing or future data sets or mathematical models across different taxa.Fil: Caliva, Jorge Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Alcala, Rocio Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Guzmán, Diego Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Kembro, Jackelyn Melissa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentin

Corticosterone stress response of Greater rhea (Rhea americana) during short-term road transport

The effect of transport stress on blood corticosterone levels in captive Greater Rheas was investigated. Twelve adult individuals (7 males; 5 females) were loaded in pairs inside wooden crates and transported along a paved road for 30 min. Blood samples were taken before the individuals were introduced into the crate (baseline value) and immediately after they were unloaded (30 min after capture). To assess whether corticosterone levels were affected by the blood sampling procedure per se, another 6 (nontransport) control birds (3 males; 3 females) were also captured and sampled at the same times as their transported counterparts. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were measured using a commercially available corticosterone 125I radio-immunoassay kit. Baseline corticosterone levels were similar in the control and transported birds (9.0 ± 1.6 and 10.4 ± 0.8 ng/mL, respectively). Transportation induced a highly significant (P < 0.001), more than 40-fold increase in the corticosterone levels (433.6 ± 35.4 ng/mL) that was about 5 times higher (P < 0.001) than in their nontransported counterparts (88.4 ± 14.8 ng/mL). The present findings suggest that Greater Rhea is a species highly sensitive to stressful manipulations. Both blood sampling and transportation induced highly significant adrenocortical responses. Considering that transportation is one of the unavoidable common practices in the management of Greater Rheas and, as shown in the present study, that it induces a significant 40-fold corticosterone stress response, efforts should focus on helping to generate management transport standards for optimization of the welfare of this ratite.Fil: Leche, Alvina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoologia Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; ArgentinaFil: Della Costa, Natalia Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoologia Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; ArgentinaFil: Hansen, C.. Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos Especializados; ArgentinaFil: Navarro, Joaquin Luis. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoologia Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Martella, Monica Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoologia Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; Argentin

Dynamics of thymol dietary supplementation in quail (Coturnix japonica): Linking bioavailability, effects on egg yolk total fatty acids and performance traits

Phytogenic additives such as thymol are encountering growing interest in the poultry industry. However, there are still questions concerning dynamics of their bioavailability, biological action, optimal dosage and duration of supplementation needed to achieve meaningful effects, as well as persistence of induced changes after supplement withdrawal. We studied the link between the dynamics of free thymol concentration and the changes in fatty acids composition in quail egg yolk, both during a month-long chronic dietary supplementation and after 3 weeks of supplement withdrawal (post-supplementation). Fifty, 85 days-old, female quail of homogeneous body weights (251±1g) in egg-laying peak were used. To evaluate potential dose-dependent effects, three increasing doses 2, 4, and 6.25 g of thymol/kg of feed (THY2, THY4 and THY6, respectively) and two controls were evaluated (n = 10). In parallel, we assessed the concomitant changes in free thymol excretion, potential liver histopathological changes, and birds´ performance traits. Egg yolk and droppings show a dose-dependent increase in THY concentration after 9 days of supplementation and a decrease after post-supplementation. In egg yolk, these changes were accompanied by reduced saturated fatty acid concentrations achieved by 28 days of supplementation in THY2 and 14 days of supplementation in THY4 and THY6. However, after post-supplementation the aforementioned effect disappeared in THY2 but not in THY4 and THY6. While THY2 failed to increase polyunsaturated fatty acids, THY4 and THY6 increased polyunsaturated fatty acids by day 14 of supplementation and remained increased after post-supplementation. Fatty acids changes induced by thymol are consistent with improved nutritional quality of eggs. No treatment effects were observed in liver histopathology and female performance. Findings suggest that both dose of thymol and duration of supplementation modulate thymol and fatty acids concentrations in egg yolk and thymol concentration in droppings. Furthermore, the persistence of those effects after post-supplementation period is also a dose-dependent phenomenon.Fil: Fernández, María Emilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Kembro, Jackelyn Melissa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Cátedra de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Ballesteros, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecológica; ArgentinaFil: Caliva, Jorge Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Raul Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Cátedra de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Lábaque, María Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecológica. Cátedra de Ecología; Argentin