Anatomy-histopathologic and ultrastructure of turkey’s testis (Meleagris gallopavo) treated with furazolidone in its diets

Furazolidone (Fz) is a nitrofuran member used as a preventive or therapeutic drug in poultry productions. Notwithstanding, it produces damages in reproductive variables. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Fz on the testicular anatomic-histopathology and ultrastructure of turkeys treated with the drug since the first day of life. Twenty-two one-day-old male turkey were randomly assigned to receive or not Furazolidone in the diet at 0.04% w/w for 45 weeks. Macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural morphology of the testis were analyzed. Localized cysts and normal testicular tissue were observed macroscopically in the treated group. Microscopically these cysts presented dilated seminiferous tubules with only Sertoli cells, without germinal line and interstitial tissue was compressed. An important lipid degeneration and necrotic cells were sawed at an electronic microscope. In the macroscopically normal-appearing areas, the cells of the germinal line delayed presented lipid vacuoles. An inter and intra lipidic degeneration, basal lamina increased, pyknotic cells and protein fibrils bundles. It can be concluded that Furazolidone in the diet at 0.04% w/w during 45 weeks produces cystic patch with lipidic degeneration (inter and intratubular) and germinal line loss and normal testicular tissue with a delayed germinal line in turkeys

In vitro assessment of adsorbents aiming to prevent deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mycotoxicoses

The high prevalence of the Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) in animal feeds in mild climatic zones of Europe and North America results in considerable economic losses, as these toxins affect health and productivity particularly of pigs from all age groups. The use of mycotoxin adsorbents as feed additives is one of the most prominent approaches to reduce the risk for mycotoxicoses in farm animals, and to minimise carry-over of mycotoxins from contaminated feeds into foods of animal origin. Successful aflatoxin adsorption by means of different substances (phyllosilicate minerals, zeolites, activated charcoal, synthetic resins or yeast cell-wall-derived products) has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. However, attempts to adsorb DON and ZON have been less encouraging. Here we describe the adsorption capacity of a variety of potential binders, including compounds that have not been evaluated before, such as humic acids. All compounds were tested at realistic inclusion levels for their capacity to bind ZON and DON, using an in vitro method that resembles the different pH conditions in the gastro-intestinal tract of pigs. Mycotoxin adsorption was assessed by chemical methods and distinct bioassays, using specific markers of toxicity as endpoints of toxicity in cytological assays. Whereas none of the tested substances was able to bind DON in an appreciable percentage, some of the selected smectite clays, humic substances and yeast-wall derived products efficiently adsorbed ZON (>70%). Binding efficiency was indirectly confirmed by the reduction of toxicity in the in vitro bioassays. In conclusion, the presented test protocol allows the rapid screening of potential mycotoxin binders. Like other in vitro assays, the presented protocol combining chemical and biological assays cannot completely simulate the conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract, and hence in vivo experiments remain mandatory to assess the efficacy of mycotoxin binders under practical conditions

STEVIA (Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni) Extract: A Natural Alternative in Broilers Nutrition

The aim was to evaluate Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) extract (SE) effects on performance productive and gut health variables in broilers from 1 to 15 days old. SE from Stevia leaves was added to broilers diet (0.5% to 1%). Seventy-five Ross male broilers (1 to 15 days old) were distributed into T1: commercial type, without SE, T2: T1 plus 0.5% SE, T3: T1 plus 1% SE. Performance productive were measured as Average Daily Weight Gain (g/broiler/day), Average Daily Consumption Feed (g/broiler/day) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). At 15 days of age, all the broilers were dissected, gut removed and processed for histomorphometric study. In gut was measured VH/CD Ratio. Results: FCR was better (P ? 0.05) in T3 and T2 than T1. In gut, VH/CD ratios showed T2 < T3 < T1 (P ? 0.05). Goblet cells number and mucus layer height were increased in broilers receive SE, especially in T2 and plasmatic cells number increased in T3. Conclusion: SE (0.5% to 1%) enhanced gut histomorphometric variables, improved gut health, mainly when SE is added at 0.5% in the broiler diet from 1 to 15 days old. It was reflexed in a better FCR in both groups received this phytobiotic

Efecto de la furazolidona sobre las funciones espermatogénica y endócrina de testículos de pavo(Meleagris gallopavo)

El objetivo fue determinar el efecto de furazolidona (0,02 g/100 g de alimento administrada durante 45 semanas), sobre la función espermatogénica y endócrina de testículos de pavo. Once pavos machos de 1 día de vida recibieron furazolidona en el alimento (0,02 % p/p), durante 45 semanas y 11 fueron controles. Se determinó la calidad seminal. Se midió el perfil sérico y la respuesta de testosterona (Te) postestímulo con buserelina. Se analizó la anátomo-histología testicular. Análisis estadístico: ANOVA, test de Wilcoxon y test t al 5 %. La concentración espermática fue menor (p<0,05) y el número de anomalías espermáticas fue mayor en el grupo Tratado (p<0,05). La amplitud y frecuencia de los pulsos basales de Te promedio fueron menores en el grupo Tratado (p<0,05) y la respuesta a buserelina fue 4 veces menor (p<0,05) y retrasada en 30 minutos. En los Tratados se observaron túbulos con degeneración y línea germinal retrasada. Conclusión: furazolidona, (0,02 % p/p durante 45 semanas), produce descenso en los niveles, frecuencia y amplitud de los pulsos basales y postestímulo con buserelina de Te, lo que se tradujo en alteraciones en la calidad seminal y espermatogénesi

FR 46. Seminiferous tubule wide diminished in testicles of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) fed furazolidone in their diets. Preliminar findings

The purpose of this work was to determine the effects of Furazolidone (Fz) on the seminiferous tubules of testicles of turkeys treated with the drug since the first day of life for long periods. Eighteen hybrid males were split into: Treated: fed Fz 0.04 % w/w during a) 36 weeks (Ta); b) 44 weeks (Tb); and Control (untreated) c) 36 weeks (Ca). and 44 weeks (Cb). At the end of the experimental periods, the birds were sacrificed and both testis extracted, fixed and processed according to conventional histological procedure and stained with eosin-hematoxilin. Microscopic findings of the germinal line, Sertoli and Leydig cells were verified. In a microscope with digitalised image analyzer, the average diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules were measured. Data were analysed using a mixed model nested design. Numerous lipidic vacuoles were seen among the spermatocytes I and spermatids and also many picnotic cells and macrophages. The seminiferous tubule diameters were similar to Controls (non significant), but the area was inferior in both treated groups (P&lt;.05). It is concluded that Fz affected testis by the diminution of the tubule area and the germinal line, when given to turkeys at subtherapeutical doses during long periods