Optimization of Mixed Solid-state Fermentation of Soybean Meal by Lactobacillus Species and Clostridium butyricum

Soybean meal is the main vegetable protein source in animal feed. Soybean meal contains several anti-nutritional factors, which directly affect digestion and absorption of soy protein, thereby reducing growth performance and value in animals. Fermented soybean meal is rich in probiotics and functional metabolites, which facilitates soybean protein digestion, absorption and utilization in piglets. However, the mixed solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions of soybean meal remain to be optimized. In this study, we investigated the optimal parameters for SSF of soybean meal by Lactobacillus species and Clostridium butyricum. The results showed that two days of fermentation was sufficient to increase the viable count of bacteria, lactic acid levels and degradation of soybean protein in fermented soybean meal at the initial moisture content of 50%. The pH value, lowering sugar content and oligosaccharides in fermented soybean meal, was significantly reduced at the initial moisture content of 50% after two days of fermentation. Furthermore, the exogenous proteases used in combination with probiotics supplementation were further able to enhance the viable count of bacteria, degradation of soybean protein and lactic acid level in the fermented soybean meal. In addition, the pH value and sugar content in fermented soybean meal were considerably reduced in the presence of both proteases and probiotics. Furthermore, the fermented soybean meal also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These results together suggest that supplementation of both proteases and probiotics in SSF improves the nutritional value of fermented soybean meal and this is suitable as a protein source in animal feed

Management and control of coccidiosis in poultry — A review

Poultry coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. Coccidia-induced gastrointestinal inflammation results in large economic losses, hence finding methods to decrease its prevalence is critical for industry participants and academic researchers. It has been demonstrated that coccidiosis can be effectively controlled and managed by employing anticoccidial chemical compounds. However, as a result of their extensive use, anticoccidial drug resistance in Eimeria species has raised concerns. Phytochemical/herbal medicines (Artemisia annua, Bidens pilosa, and garlic) seem to be a promising strategy for preventing coccidiosis, in accordance with the “anticoccidial chemical-free” standards. The impact of herbal supplements on poultry coccidiosis is based on the reduction of oocyst output by preventing the proliferation and growth of Eimeria species in chicken gastrointestinal tissues and lowering intestinal permeability via increased epithelial turnover. This review provides a thorough up-to-date assessment of the state of the art and technologies in the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in chickens, including the most used phytochemical medications, their mode of action, and the applicable legal framework in the European Union

Oncologic impact of delay between diagnosis and radical nephroureterectomy

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the oncological outcome of delayed surgical wait time from the diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).MethodsIn this multicenter retrospective study, medical records were collected between 1988 and 2021 from 18 participating Taiwanese hospitals under the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group. Patients were dichotomized into the early (≤90 days) and late (>90 days) surgical wait-time groups. Overall survival, disease-free survival, and bladder recurrence-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed using stepwise linear regression.ResultsOf the 1251 patients, 1181 (94.4%) were classifed into the early surgical wait-time group and 70 (5.6%) into the late surgical wait-time group. The median surgical wait time was 21 days, and the median follow-up was 59.5 months. Our study showed delay-time more than 90 days appeared to be associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.974, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.166−3.343, p = 0.011), and disease-free survival (HR 1.997, 95% CI 1.137−3.507, p = 0.016). This remained as an independent prognostic factor after other confounding factors were adjusted. Age, ECOG performance status, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), surgical margin, tumor location and adjuvant systemic therapy were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Tumor location and adjuvant systemic therapy were also independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival.ConclusionsFor patients with UTUC undergoing RNU, the surgical wait time should be minimized to less than 90 days. Prolonged delay times may be associated with poor overall and disease-free survival

Effect of Cordyceps militaris Hot Water Extract on Immunomodulationassociated Gene Expression in Broilers, Gallus gallus

Cordyceps militaris is a well-known Chinese medicinal fungus that has been used as a nutraceutical food in several Asian countries. Cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine), a secondary metabolite produced from Cordyceps militaris, has been demonstrated to exert a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as anti-microbial and antitumor activities. However, the effect of cordycepin on immunomodulation in broilers is poorly investigated. In the current study, we investigated the effect of cordycepin (9.69, 19.38, and 38.76 mg) from Cordyceps militaris hot water extract (CMHW) on growth performance and immunocompetence in broilers. Results showed that CMHW significantly decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels in the bursa of Fabricius after 4 weeks of feeding (P<0.05). CMHW treatment reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA levels in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius after 4 weeks of feeding (P<0.05). Supplementation of CMHW for 3 days after vaccination reduced iNOS mRNA level in the spleen of 14 and 28 day-old broilers (P<0.05). Prior to vaccination, CMHW pretreatment significantly down-regulated COX-2 mRNA levels in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius of 14-day-old broilers (P<0.05). Furthermore, CMHW significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced iNOS and COX-2 mRNA levels in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius (P<0.05). CMHW treatment attenuated LPS-induced IFN-γ expression in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius, whereas CMHW induced IL-4 expression in these organs in response to LPS challenge (P<0.05). Taken together, these observations demonstrate that CMHW exerts an immunomodulatory role in broilers. CMHW is a potential novel feed additive with applications in inflammation-related diseases and bacterial infection in broilers

Effect of different vitamin D3 metabolites on intestinal calcium homeostasis-related gene expression in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 metabolites 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol (1α(OH)D3), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)2D3), and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3) on growth performance, bone quality, and intestinal calcium homeostasis-related gene expression in broiler chickens. One-day-old broilers were fed a basal diet and basal diet containing different vitamin D3 metabolites. The body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in control and experimental broilers were measured to assess the growth performance, mineral levels, and bone breaking strength. The duodenum was used to assess calcium homeostasis-related gene expressions by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. No statistically significant difference was found in growth performance, mineral deposition, or bone breaking strength in broiler chickens after three weeks feeding with vitamin D3. However, supplementation of vitamin D3 metabolites tended to improve feed conversion rate, bone mineral deposition, and breaking strength in broiler chickens. The results demonstrated that vitamin D3 metabolites significantly upregulated calcium homeostasis-related genes, including calbindin, β-glucuronidase, TRPV6, and Na/Pi IIb cotransporter, mRNA levels after 12 h of feeding. The vitamin D3 metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3 was the most effective at regulating calcium homeostasis-associated gene expression after 6 h of feeding. Dietary vitamin D3 metabolites may alleviate the development of TD in broiler chickens and these effects probably occur through regulation of intestinal calcium homeostasis-related gene expression

Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Mycotoxin Adsorbent Agents on Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways and Inflammation-Associated Gene Expression in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent mycotoxin in swine feedstuffs. The intestinal epithelial cells represent the first target for the DON. Here, we studied the effects of DON and mycotoxin adsorbent agents on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and inflammation-associated gene expression in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). Results showed that phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways (p38, ERK, and JNK) was increased after treatment of DON or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in IPEC-J2 cells. The phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK was not further enhanced after co-treatment with DON and LPS. The inos and cox-2 mRNA expression were significantly induced at 6 h after treatment of DON. DON treatment significantly increased the claudin 3 and occludin mRNA expression at 12 h. DON in combination with LPS treatment did not further increase the inflammation and tight junction-associated gene expression. The DON-induced phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways was impaired by mycotoxin adsorbent agent (nanoscale silicate platelets and the mixture of montmorillonites and yeast cell walls) treatment, thereby decreasing inflammation and tight junction-associated gene expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that DON triggers the inflammation in IPEC-J2 cells by phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways and LPS does not further augment the DON-induced inflammatory responses. Mycotoxin adsorbent agents can attenuate DON-induced inflammatory responses in IPEC-J2 cells through modulation of the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK

Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products Improve Growth Performance and Intestinal Gut Morphology in Broilers under Clostridium perfringens Challenge

Necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens has reemerged as a severe poultry disease worldwide since the ban on the routine use of antibiotics in animal feed. Probiotics are considered alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Bacillus species are the most common microorganisms used as probiotics in the feed industry. The current study investigated the growth and surfactin levels of Bacillus licheniformis in solid-state fermentation using different substrates and evaluated the effects of B. licheniformis-fermented products on growth performance and intestinal morphology in broilers exposed to C. perfringens. The highest viable biomass and surfactin concentration of B. licheniformis-fermented products was observed at 2% molasses and 20% soybean meal supplementation during fermentation (P<0.05). B. licheniformis-fermented product-derived surfactin inhibited the growth of C. perfringens in vitro in a dose dependent manner (P<0.05). B. licheniformis-fermented product supplementation (2 g/kg) significantly improved the body weight and average daily gain weight of broilers challenged with C. perfringens (P<0.05). B. licheniformis-fermented products significantly alleviated necrotic lesions and ameliorated intestinal morphology in broilers exposed to C. perfringens (P<0.05). Collectively, these observations demonstrate that B. licheniformis-fermented products improve growth performance and gut morphology in broilers under C. perfringens challenge. B. licheniformis-fermented products may have the potential to be used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters for preventive treatments against C. perfringens in broilers

Mixed Solid-State Fermentation of Okara and Copra Meal by Probiotics with Non-Starch Polysaccharide Enzymes and Its Effects on the Growth Performance and Ileal Microbiota in Broilers

With the global shortage of feed ingredients, the use of agricultural by-products has become an alternative to animal feed. Okara, a by-product of soymilk and tofu processing, is high in nutrients but contains non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and has a high-water content, which are disadvantages in animal feed. Herein, we mixed okara and copra meal (CM) with probiotics (Lactobacillus species and Clostridium butyricum) and NSP enzymes (NSPases) for solid-state fermentation (SSF) to enhance okara feed value; the optimal parameters of fermented okara and CM (FOCM) and their effects on broiler growth performance and ileal microbiota were investigated. The result showed that FOCM in combination with NSPases and probiotics at 55 of the initial moisture content and 60 h fermentation time at 37 °C were able to degrade NSP and reduce sugar content. After fermentation, the total viable counts, lactic acid, and butyric acid contents in the FOCM were 8.6 log CFU/g, 3.7, and 17.15, respectively. During the fifth week of the feeding period and over the whole feeding period, broilers fed with 1.25 and 2.5 FOCM had a better feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05); both groups increased the duodenal villus length (p < 0.05). Further microbiome analysis suggested that FOCM significantly increased the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and reduced the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in the ileal content (p < 0.05). Collectively, supplementation of probiotics and enzymes during SSF was found to be effective in enhancing the nutritional value of FOCM. Moreover, dietary supplementation of FOCM improved the broiler feed conversion ratio, gut morphology, and ileal microbiota