Nutrition and Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is the most common parasitic disease caused by Eimeria spp., leading to over $14 billion economic loss worldwide annually. The most prevalent Eimeria spp. in poultry include E. tenella, E. maxima, E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. necatrix, E. praecox, and E. mitis and have different level of pathogenicity and specific infection sites in the intestine. Eimeria spp. invade intestinal epithelial tissues and induce intestinal damage, causing inflammation, oxidative stress, hemorrhage, and diarrhea. Furthermore, coccidiosis causes reduction of growth performance, intestinal integrity, nutrient digestibility, and increase of mortality and mobility in poultry. Nutrition strategies have been evaluated to mitigate detrimental impact of coccidiosis in poultry. Prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals have shown to reduce severity of intestinal damage and stimulate nutrient digestion and fast recovery of the intestinal damage and growth performance. In order to develop efficient nutrition strategies, understanding of Eimeria infection on gut health and nutrient digestibility is critical. Thus, this paper will discuss about 1) Eimeria infection on gut health; 2) Eimeria infection on nutrient digestibility; and 3) Roles of key amino acids in Eimeria challenged broilers

Assessing Barriers and Opportunities for Ecosystem Based Approach to Adaptation in High Altitude City of Thimphu

Scientific studies to understand challenges and opportunities for adaptation are crucial for adapting to climate impacts and averting disasters in cities. In this study, we attempt to assess baseline social and environmental conditions, identify challenges and barriers, and recommend ecosystem based opportunities for adaptation. The city’s infrastructure is poorly planned triggering congestion (which leads to increased carbon emission, road rage, etc.), flooding of sewage systems exposing humans to infections. Majority of the poor who live in informal settlements lack adequate access to basic facilities turn to natural resources thereby depleting the environment around the city. This leads to the loss of ecosystem services and protection against natural hazards such as flash floods, landslides, and forest fires which affects the vulnerable groups disproportionately. To improve socio-ecological resilience to cope with changing climate, the study also identified ecosystem based adaptation interventions such as urban agriculture, agroforestry, greening projects, resettlement of informal settlements, education on coping strategies, and building institutional, technical, and individual capacities to be integrated into climate adaptation strategies into development plans. The study also recommended that the city authority secure adequate funds and build capacity to plan ecosystem based adaptation and implement interventions

Review: Roles of Prebiotics in Intestinal Ecosystem of Broilers

In recent years, prebiotics have been considered as potential alternatives to antibiotics. Mechanisms by which prebiotics modulate the ecosystem of the gut include alternation of the intestinal microbiota, improvement of the epithelium, and stimulation of the immune system. It is suggested that the administration of prebiotics not only influences these aspects but also regulates the interaction between the host and the intestinal microbiota comprehensively. In this review, we will discuss how each prebiotic ameliorates the ecosystem by direct or indirect mechanisms. Emphasis will be placed on the effects of prebiotics, including mannan oligosaccharides, β-glucans, and fructans, on the interaction between the intestinal microbiota, gut integrity, and the immunity of broilers. We will highlight how the prebiotics modulate microbial community and regulate production of cytokines and antibodies, improving gut development and the overall broiler health. Understanding the cross talk between prebiotics and the intestinal ecosystem may provide us with novel insights and strategies for preventing pathogen invasion and improving health and productivity of broilers. However, further studies need to be conducted to identify the appropriate dosages and better resources of prebiotics for refinement of administration, as well as to elucidate the unknown mechanisms of action

Responses of Agroecosystems to Climate Change: Specifics of Resilience in the Mid-Latitude Region

This study examines the productivity and resilience of agroecosystems in the Korean Peninsula. Having learned valuable lessons from a Chapman University project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture which concentrated on the semi-arid region of southwestern United States, our joint Korea—Chapman University team has applied similar methodologies to the Korean Peninsula, which is itself an interesting study case in the mid-latitude region. In particular, the Korean Peninsula has unique agricultural environments due to differences in political and socioeconomic systems between South Korea and North Korea. Specifically, North Korea has been suffering from food shortages due to natural disasters, land degradation and political failure. The neighboring developed country, South Korea, has a better agricultural system but a low food self-sufficiency rate. Therefore, assessing crop yield potential (Yp) in the two distinct regions will reveal vulnerability and risks of agroecosystems in the mid-latitude region under climate change and variability and for different conditions

Optimal Rotor Structure Design of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine based on Efficient Genetic Algorithm Using Kriging Model

Abstract -In the recent past, genetic algorithm (GA) and evolutionary optimization scheme have become increasingly popular for the design of electromagnetic (EM) devices. However, the conventional GA suffers from computational drawback and parameter dependency when applied to a computationally expensive problem, such as practical EM optimization design. To overcome these issues, a hybrid optimization scheme using GA in conjunction with Kriging is proposed. The algorithm is validated by using two mathematical problems and by optimizing rotor structure of interior permanent magnet synchronous machine

Insight Into Dynamics of Gut Microbial Community of Broilers Fed With Fructooligosaccharides Supplemented Low Calcium and Phosphorus Diets

We investigated how the microbiota in the ileum and cecum of broiler chickens fed a diet of low calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) and prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) supplements changed over a 3 weeks period. Three dietary treatments were randomly assigned to four replicate cages of five birds each, including: positive control (PC), a wheat-corn-soybean meal-based diet; negative control (NC), as PC with 0.2% reduced Ca and aP; and NC + FOS, as NC supplemented with 0.5% of FOS. Ileal and cecal digesta were sampled from each replicate (n = 4) on d21 and processed for 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V4 region) sequencing using Illumina platform. Statistical differences were observed in the microbiome by GI location as determined by 2-way ANOVA and Permutational MANOVA. On average, 24,216 sequence reads per sample were generated resulting in 800 and 1,280 operational taxonomic units in the ileal and cecal digesta, respectively. Difference (P < 0.0001) on alpha diversity and abundances of several phyla was observed between ileal and cecal digesta. ß-diversity was different (P < 0.05) between each treatment groups in the ileum but not in the cecum. In the cecum, species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and the number of observed species were higher in PC compared to NC + FOS (P < 0.05). Several phyla, including Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, had significantly different abundance in the ileal and cecal digesta (P < 0.05). In the ileal digesta, positive correlation were observed between Salinibacterium and Lysobacter and PC diet. Blautia, Faecalibacterium and Pseudomonas and the NC diet and Lactobacillus and Escherichia and the NC + FOS diet. In the cecal digesta, Butyrivibrio, and Allobaculum were positively correlated to PC. Although, Clostridium and Anaerotruncus were positively correlated to NC + FOS, they showed negative correlation to PC and NC. The study concludes that dietary Ca and aP level and FOS supplementation alters ileal microbiota of the broiler chickens

Effect of the combination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and higher level of calcium and phosphorus in the diets on bone 3D structural development in pullets

Bone issues such as osteoporosis are major concerns for the laying hen industry. A study was conducted to improve bone-health in pullets. A total of 448 one-day-old Hyline W36 pullets were randomly assigned to four treatments (8 rep; 14 birds/rep) until 17 weeks (wks). Dietary treatments were: 1) vitamin D3 at (2,760 IU/kg) (D), 2) vitamin D3 (2,760 IU/kg)+62.5 mg 25-(OH)D3/ton (H25D), 3) vitamin D3 (2,760 IU/kg) + 62.5 mg 25-(OH)D3/ton + high Ca&P (H25D + Ca/P), and 4) vitamin D3 (2,760 IU/kg) + high Ca&P (D + Ca/P). The high calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) diet was modified by increasing both high calcium and phosphorus by 30% (2:1) for the first 12 wks and then only increasing P for 12–17 wks to reduce the Ca to P ratio. At 17 wk, growth performance was measured, whole body composition was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and femur bones were scanned using Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) for bone 3D structure analyses. The data were subjected to a one-way ANOVA using the GLM procedure, with means deemed significant at p < 0.05. There was no significant outcome for growth performance or dual energy x-ray absorptiometry parameters. Micro-computed tomography results indicated that the H25D + Ca/P treatment had lower open pore volume space, open porosity, total volume of pore space, and total porosity in the cortical bone compared to the D + Ca/P. It also showed that a higher cortical bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) in the H25D + Ca/P than in the D + Ca/P. Furthermore, the H25D + Ca/P treatment had the lowest trabecular pattern factor and structure model index compared to the other treatments, which indicates its beneficial effects on trabecular structural development. Moreover, the H25D + Ca/P had a higher trabecular percentage compared to the D and 25D, which suggests the additional high calcium and phosphorus supplementation on top of 25D increased trabecular content in the cavity. In conclusion, the combination of 25D with higher levels of high calcium and phosphorus could improve cortical bone quality in pullets and showed a beneficial effect on trabecular bone 3D structural development. Thus, combination of a higher bio-active form of vitamin D3 and higher levels of high calcium and phosphorus could become a potential feeding strategy to improve bone structural integrity and health in pullets

Relationship between chemical composition and standardized ileal digestible amino acid contents of corn grain in broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility of corn grain and to use these data to develop prediction equations for estimating total amino acids (TAAs) and standardized ileal digestible amino acids (SIDAAs) for broiler chickens. Four types of corn grains were obtained from different origins (Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, and Iran). Eighty-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were fed a standard diet until day 18, and experimental diets were fed from 19 to 24 D of age. Five dietary treatments consisted of 4 semi-purified diets containing corn from each origin as the only source of amino acid (AA) and a N-free diet for determination of basal endogenous AA losses. Assay diets contained 939 g of test corn/kg. The concentration of crude protein and gross energy ranged from 7.58 to 8.39% (coefficient of variation [CV] = 4.72%) and 4,121 to 4,621 kcal/kg (CV = 5.09%), respectively. There was significant variation among the 4 corn grains in standardized ileal digestibility (SID) for CP, Phe, Leu, Asp, Glu, Ser, Gly, Ala, and Tyr (P ≤ 0.05). The results of linear regression showed that linear prediction equations based on protein content can be used to predict the TAA and SIDAA contents (e.g., TLys = 0.041 × CP, adj R2 = 95.9, standard error of prediction [SEP] = 0.05; SIDLys = 0.0356 × CP, adj R2 = 96, SEP = 0.051). Inclusion of other proximate components of test samples into the regression equation increased the R2 value and decreased the SEP value (e.g., TLys = 0.329 × crude fiber [CF] ‒ 0.209 × Ash, adj R2 = 99.9, SEP = 0.005; SIDLys = ‒1.1591 + 0.836 × CF ‒ 0.055 × Ash, adj R2 = 99.9, SEP = 0.001). The concentration of TAA and SIDAA was highly correlated (adj R2 > 89%) for most AA and showed that the amount of SIDAA could be predicted from its total concentration with a high degree of accuracy (e.g., SIDLys = 0.0023 + 0.861 × TLys, adj R2 = 99.9, SEP = 0.0001). In conclusion, this in vitro assays and equations accurately predicted TAA and SIDAA corn grain samples for broiler chickens and can serve as a reference analysis to develop calibration equations for rapid feed quality evaluation methods such as near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio