Delayed T-cell maturation and suppression of mitogen-induced blastogenesis in turkey poults fed cortisone acetate and furazolidone

The effect of cortisone acetate (CA) on the immune response of control and furazolidone (FZ)-fed turkey poults was investigated. CA, fed at a dose of 500 mg/kg of ration beginning at 1 week of age, decreased mortality but had little effect on the development of FZ-induced cardiomyopathy. When poults were 2 weeks of age, the in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) was significantly depressed (P less than or equal to 0.001 and P less than or equal to 0.05, respectively) in cortisone-treated poults. The time of the peak response of lymphocytes from poults 2-5 weeks of age to in vitro stimulation by PHA was significantly delayed (P less than or equal to 0.01) and the magnitude of the response was significantly depressed (P less than or equal to 0.001) in cortisone-treated poults compared with control poults. Cortisone treatment had no effect on time of peak response to Con A stimulation but significantly depressed (P less than or equal to 0.05) the magnitude of the response. Poults receiving FZ administered by gastric tube showed a peak response to PHA stimulation significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) earlier and significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) greater than did control poults.     

Blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels in turkey poults with spontaneous round heart disease and furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy.

Furazolidone (FZ) at 700 ppm was added to feed mixtures fed turkey poults two weeks posthatching to induce acute experimental cardiomyopathy. Poults in the control pen received the same ration but without FZ. Four of the control poults developed spontaneous round heart disease. From EKG data and blood samples obtained at weekly intervals, poults were selected for sacrifice at 5 weeks of age. Tissue samples from the left myocardial wall, liver, and pectoralis major and tibialis anterior muscles were analyzed for glycogen by biochemical assay. Blood glucose was determined with the Technicon autoanalyzer. Deposition of glycogen increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the myocardium of all affected poults and in the liver of all FZ-treated poults. Glycogen levels of the pectoralis major and tibialis anterior muscles were not affected by FZ, but a significant increase (p less than 0.05) was apparent in the pectoralis major muscle of spontaneous round heart poults. It was concluded that FZ influences glycogen metabolism, probably by enzyme inhibition, and that it tends to magnify effects seen in the spontaneous round heart syndrome. Glycogen infiltration of tissues such as the heart and white skeletal muscle suggests that the round heart syndrome may be a manifestation of the glycogen storage disease, idiopathic generalized glycogenosis. Lack of significant differences in the blood serum glucose levels of all poults indicates that these levels are not a reliable clinical parameter for monitoring development of the round heart syndrome.     

Comparison of effects of dietary T-2 toxin on growth, immunogenic organs, antibody formation, and pathologic changes in turkeys and chickens.

The effect of T-2 toxin (trichothecene mycotoxin) consumption on Broad-Breasted White turkey poults and White Leghorn chicks was studied. Groups of ten 8-day-old poults were fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm, 2ppm, or 0 ppm (controls) for a period of 4 weeks; a 4th group (inanition control) was fed control rations equal to the amount consumed by the group fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm during the previous 24 hours. A similar experimental design was used to study the effect of the toxin on 1-day-old chicks. The thymus glands of the poults given the feed containing 10 ppm were markedly decreased in size compared with thymus glands from poults in the control group, 0.182 vs 0.331 (percentage of body weight). There was no significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) decrease in thymus gland size in poults given 2 ppm or in the inanition controls. Dietary treatment did not appear to affect the size of the bursa or spleen of the poults. Histopathologic examination of thymus glands from poults given 10 ppm of T-2 revealed a depletion of cortical lymphocytes. Chicks appeared less sensitive to T-2 toxin than did the poults. There was no effect by any dietary treatment on the size of the thymus gland, bursa, or spleen of chicks. Reductions were noticed in feed efficiency and weight gain. There was no effect of T-2 toxin on agglutinating antibody formation to Pasteurella multocida bacterin.     

Reversibility of furazolidone-induced cardiotoxicosis in ducklings

Furazolidone cardiotoxicosis was induced in 2 groups (FZ and FZ-CR groups) of newly hatched male Pekin ducklings (100/group) by feeding a ration containing 650 mg of furazolidone/kg of feed (ppm) for 28 days. A third group (control ration, CR group; n = 100) was fed the same ration without furazolidone. On day 28, the control ration was initiated for the FZ-CR group initially given the furazolidone-containing ration, to allow recovery from the effects of the drug, whereas ducklings of the FZ group continued to consume the furazolidone-containing ration. Biweekly, beginning with week 4, ducklings were euthanatized to assess severity of gross lesions and to obtain sections of myocardium for histologic and ultrastructural examination. Clinical evidence (increased weight gain, increased feed consumption, decreased mortality, reduced prevalence of palpable ascites) of regression of cardiotoxicosis of ducklings of the FZ-CR group was nearly complete by day 56 (28 days after cessation of furazolidone intake). Likewise, regression of gross lesions, as measured by overall prevalence of gross lesions, left ventricular volume, and ascites prevalence and severity, were also essentially complete by day 56. Myofibrillar lysis was not seen in sections from the heart (examined ultrastructurally) obtained from ducklings of the CR group that were euthanatized on day 28, 56, or 98. Myofibrillar lysis was detected in all ducklings (4/4) fed furazolidone (FZ and FZ-CR groups) and euthanatized on day 28. Myofibrillar lysis was not seen in the heart of ducklings of the FZ-CR group that were euthanatized on day 56 or 98. Myofibrillar lysis was detected in the heart from all ducklings of the FZ group that were euthanatized on day 56.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tolerance of young turkey poults to various combinations of dietary furazolidone and salt.

Three feeding trials were conducted to study the tolerance of young turkey poults to furazolidone and to various combinations of salt and furazolidone in the diet. Poults of mixed sexes tolerated up to 0.03% dietary furazolidone from hatch to six weeks of age without harmful effects as judged from the data on mortality rate, feed intake, body weight and plasma composition. High mortality with cardiac dilation and ascites occurred in poults fed the same basal diet containing 0.05 or 0.07% furazolidone. Mortality was positively related to levels of dietary furazolidone, and occurred mainly between two and four weeks of age. The cumulative feed intake and body weight of these poults were significantly lower than those of the control poults at six weeks of age. There was indication of decreased renal function in poults on high furazolidone intake and the mechanism of furazolidone-induced cardiac dilation is discussed. Mortality rate, incidence of cardiac dilation with ascites and heart, liver and body weights and feed efficiency were similar in poults fed diets containing 0.022% furazolidone and varying levels of salts (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5%) compared with the control fed the same basal diet containing 0.5% salt from hatch to eight weeks of age. It is concluded that a starter diet containing 0.022% furazolidone and up to 1.5% salt does not affect the performance of poults from hatch to eight weeks of age.     

Efficacy of furazolidone in grower diets on subsequent performance of swine--a cooperative study

Nine experiments were conducted at three stations to evaluate the efficacy of furazolidone as a growth promoter in diets for young swine and to determine if an early growth response is maintained after the additive is withdrawn from the diet. A total of 528 pigs (24 replications, 132 pigs/treatment) initially averaging 12 kg body weight were fed a nonmedicated basal diet or a diet with 110 ppm furazolidone for 5 wk, 165 ppm furazolidone for 3 wk or 220 ppm furazolidone for 2 wk. After withdrawal of furazolidone, the basal diet was fed to the end of the test, at which time the pigs averaged 93 kg. During the initial 2-wk period, pigs fed furazolidone gained 15.4% faster (P less than .001) and required 8% less (P less than .001) feed per unit of gain than control pigs fed the nonmedicated diet. At 5 wk, pigs previously fed furazolidone gained 8.4% faster (P less than .001) and 4.5% more efficiently (P less than .001) than controls. By 10 wk, pigs previously fed furazolidone maintained a slight advantage in growth rate over controls (2.6%, P less than .10), but feed/gain responses were similar for the two groups. By the end of the experiment, the early growth response from furazolidone was completely lost. Although there were differences in growth responses among stations, the treatment response patterns were similar for each station, with no evidence of a treatment X station interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of including lasalocid or monensin singly or in combination with furazolidone on the growth and feed consumption of turkey poults

Lasalocid and monensin are widely used to control coccidiosis in broilers, but not in turkey poults. Four feeding trials were conducted to determine the performance of turkey poults when these compounds were used singly or in combination with 100 ppm of furazolidone. Bodyweights and feed consumption were significantly depressed for five weeks after hatching by 150 ppm of lasalocid. Combining furazolidone with lasalocid ameliorated the toxic effect of lasalocid. Bodyweights were significantly depressed by 150 ppm of monensin in the fifth week after hatching, but there was no significant depression in feed consumption. Furazolidone exacerbated any toxic effects of monensin. Data indicate that monensin may be used safely at dosages greater than the recommended level of 60 to 99 ppm, but should not be used in combination with furazolidone.     

Furazolidone concentrations in plasma, milk and some tissues of Nubian goats

The concentrations of furazolidone (FZ) in plasma and milk were measured in goats treated orally with the drug at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 daily for 5 days. The maximum plasma concentrations obtained were 1.57 +/- 0.52 micrograms ml-1 (n = 5) 8 h after the first dose, and 2.13 +/- 0.11 micrograms ml-1 (n = 4) 6 h after the fifth dose. The maximum milk concentration was 0.88 +/- 0.32 micrograms ml-1 (n = 4) 8 h following the administration of a single dose. Using a colorimetric method, FZ was not detectable in goats' liver or muscle after the recommended therapeutic dose (10 mg kg-1, 5 days). However, using an HPLC method, the drug was detected 24 h after the treatment in the gluteal muscle and liver at concentrations of 0.26 +/- 0.01 microgram g-1 (n = 5) and 0.10 +/- 0.02 microgram g-1 (n = 5), respectively. The drug concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.05-0.01) at 3, 5 and 7 days after treatment, and no measurable concentrations were found after 10 days.     

Serum Profiles of Luteinizing Hormone,Oestradiol and Cholesterol and Ovarian Functions in Layer Poultry Birds (Gallus domesticus) Fed Diets Containing Furazolidone

This study was carried out to assess the serum profiles of luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol, cholesterol and ovarian functions in layer poultry birds (Rhode Island Red: Gallus domesticus) fed a diet containing various concentrations of furazolidone (FZ). A total of 40 birds were randomly assigned to receive FZ 0, 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg feed (ppm) daily during the pre-laying age, i.e. 13-18 weeks (for 5 weeks). Blood samples were collected at weekly intervals. Concentrations of LH and oestradiol in serum were estimated at alternate weeks using radioimmunoassays. Serum cholesterol levels were analysed by an enzymatic calorimetric method. Furazolidone administration was terminated at the 18th week of age. The birds were sacrificed at 22nd week of age and ovarian tissues were processed for morphometric studies. Serum LH, oestradiol and cholesterol levels were affected by age (p < 0.001) and FZ dose (p < 0.001). Serum LH and oestradiol levels were lower (p < 0.05) in birds receiving FZ 800 mg/kg feed daily compared with the controls, whereas serum cholesterol profiles were lower (p < 0.05) in all FZ-administered groups than in the control group. The mean weight of ovaries having no yolky follicles observed in the group receiving FZ 400 or 800 mg/kg feed per day was reduced (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. Dosing FZ at 800 mg/kg feed per day reduced (p < 0.05) the mean volume of ovaries having no yolky follicles compared with the control group. In birds receiving FZ 800 mg/kg feed per day, the mean length of the oviduct was reduced (p < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Morphometric studies revealed that the mean number of oocytes with diameter in the range 401-800 microm decreased (p < 0.05) in birds fed FZ 400 or 800 mg/kg feed per day. Initial egg production was affected by age (p < 0.001) and dose (p < 0.001) of FZ. The mean number of eggs laid by different groups revealed that egg production was reduced (p < 0.05) in birds receiving FZ 800 mg/kg feed per day as compared with the controls. The present data suggest that FZ causes suppression in serum profiles of LH, oestradiol, cholesterol and ovarian functions in Rhode Island Red layer poultry birds. Therefore, great care must be taken with use of FZ in layer poultry birds (Gallius domesticus) with regard to dosage and duration of administration.     

Quantitation of cardiac gross morphology during the development of FZ-induced cardiomyopathy in turkey poults

Furazolidone (FZ) at a dose of 700 ppm was fed to turkey poults 2-5 weeks posthatch. At 3, 4, and 5 weeks of age, seven poults each were sacrificed from control and FZ-fed groups. A section of ventricular tissue 1 mm thick was excised from the heart distal to the base at a level one-fourth of the distance between the base and apex. Parameters estimated from tracings of each section were area and circumference of both right and left ventricular lumen profile, area and circumference of entire heart profile, area of right ventricular free wall profile, area of left ventricular and septal wall profile, and area of entire heart muscle profile. A major finding was a sequential increase in the area of the ventricular lumina in the FZ-fed poults. Differences between the control and FZ-fed poults were statistically significant for the right lumen profile at 3 and 5 weeks of age and for the left lumen profile at 4 and 5 weeks of age. The area of the heart muscle profile was decreased in FZ-fed poults, but this difference was statistically significant only at 4 weeks of age. Data suggest that the pathogenesis of FZ-induced cardiomyopathy involves a dilation of ventricular lumina resulting in increased intraventricular blood volume and altered ECG patterns. Relationships between gross morphology and ECGs may be seen only in terminal cases of several weeks duration. This explains the inability to correlate ECGs with gross morphologic changes in all poults observed at necropsy.     

Characterization of the toxicity of the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T-2 toxin in game birds. II. Ringneck pheasant.

Ringneck pheasants were fed diets containing 1.25, 2.5, or 5 ppm aflatoxin; 1, 2, or 4 ppm ochratoxin A (OA); or 4, 8, or 16 ppm T-2 toxin. Severe toxin-induced mortality was seen during the first to third weeks with 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin (92.5% and 97.5%, respectively), compared with the mortality in control pheasants fed no toxin (0%). Slight mortality (less than or equal to 5%) was seen with OA and T-2 toxin. Body weights were significantly decreased by the lowest level (1.25 ppm) of aflatoxin by 2 weeks of age, by the two highest levels of aflatoxin by 1 week of age, and by 16 ppm T-2 toxin by 1 week of age. The feed-conversion ratio was increased by 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin compared with the feed-conversion ratio in controls, although high mortality may have influenced the results. Aflatoxin had no effect on liver weight, but OA increased kidney weight in 3-week-old pheasants. Mouth lesions were seen in some of the pheasants fed T-2 toxin.     

Effects of organic forms of zinc on growth performance,tissue zinc distribution,and immune response of weanling pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effect of zinc level and source on growth performance, tissue Zn concentrations, intracellular distribution of Zn, and immune response in weanling pigs. Ninety-six 3-wk-old crossbred weanling pigs (BW = 6.45 +/- 0.17 kg) were assigned to one of six dietary treatments (four pigs per pen, four replicates per treatment) based on weight and litter origin. Treatments consisted of the following: 1) a corn-soybean meal-whey diet (1.2% lysine) with a basal level of 80 ppm of supplemental Zn from ZnSO4 (control; contained 104 ppm total Zn); 2) control + 80 ppm added Zn from ZnSO4; 3) control + 80 ppm added Zn from Zn methionine (ZnMet); 4) control + 80 ppm added Zn from Zn lysine (ZnLys); 5) control + 40 ppm added Zn from ZnMet and 40 ppm added Zn from ZnLys (ZnML); and 6) control + 160 ppm added Zn from ZnSO4. Zinc supplementation of the control diet had no effect on ADG or ADFI. Gain efficiency was less (P < 0.05) for pigs fed 80 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4 than for control pigs and pigs fed 160 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4. Organ weights, Zn concentration, and intracellular distribution of Zn in the liver, pancreas, and spleen were not affected (P = 0.12) by Zn level or source. Skin thickness response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was not affected (P = 0.53) by dietary treatment. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to PHA was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed ZnLys than in pigs fed the control diet or the ZnML diet; however, when pokeweed mitogen was used, lymphocyte proliferation was greatest (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the ZnMet diet than pigs fed the control, ZnLys, ZnML, or 160 ppm ZnSO4 diets. Antibody response to sheep red blood cells was not affected by dietary treatments. Supplementation of 80 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4 or ZnMet and 160 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4 decreased (P < 0.05) the antibody response to ovalbumin on d 7 compared with control pigs, but not on d 14. Phagocytic capability of peritoneal exudate cells was increased (P < 0.05) when 160 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4 was supplemented to the diet. The number of red blood cells ingested per phagocytic cell was increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the diet supplemented with a combination of ZnMet and ZnLys and the diet with 160 ppm of Zn from ZnSO4. Results suggest that the level of Zn recommended by NRC for weanling pigs was sufficient for optimal growth performance and immune responses, although macrophage function may be enhanced at greater levels of Zn. Source of Zn did not alter these measurements.     

Effect of dietary contamination with mercury on the performance of rabbits

This work was designed to study effects of HgSO4 on rabbits performance when added in the mash diet for 7 weeks with concentrations of 0, 150, and 300 ppm as Hg (6 animals/group). The Hg application caused mortality associated with diarrhoea, haemorrhage, oedema and liver and stomach necrosis. The contaminated diets caused significantly increased feed intake, drinking water consumption and live body gain. Mercury did not affect organ percentages significantly (P greater than or equal to 0.05). Serum analyses reflected a significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) rise in the glucose content (for the animals fed the 300 ppm Hg-diet) with a slight decrease in Ca level and activity of both transaminases GPT and GOT. The most affected organ by the application of Hg was the liver which reflected a slight increase in its dry matter substance, significant increase (P less than or equal to 0.01) in the ether extract percentage on the 300 ppm Hg-diet and severe reduction (P less than or equal to 0.01) in its vitamin A as well as in the iron content (P less than or equal to 0.05) on the 300 ppm Hg-diet. The highest level of Hg added caused an increase (P less than or equal to 0.01) in bone magnesium.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Bordetella avium infection in turkey flocks: sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Bordetella avium infection in turkey poults was developed. One-week-old poults challenged intratracheally with 10(12) colony-forming units of B. avium had detectable titers (greater than or equal to 11), with an average of 13.6% positive samples when the birds were 6 to 11 weeks old. The method was sensitive enough to detect maternal antibodies to B. avium in poults up to 3 weeks of age. The same poults challenged at 1 week of age had 100% tracheal infection up to 3 weeks of age, which dropped to 0% by 6 weeks. The method resulted in no false-positive samples (titer = 0) from birds not infected with B. avium and tested weekly between 4 and 11 weeks of age. Antibodies in turkey flocks infected with Newcastle disease virus, hemorrhagic enteritis virus, and Mycoplasma meleagridis, and birds infected with Escherichia coli had no apparent cross-reactivity to the B. avium antigens used in the ELISA. The percentages of B. avium-positive serum samples collected from different turkey flocks did not significantly differ (P greater than 0.05) when samples were tested by the developed ELISA at different times, an indication of the reproducibility of the method.     

Efficacy of lincomycin-spectinomycin water medication on Mycoplasma meleagridis airsacculitis in commercially reared turkey poults

A field trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of a combination of the drugs lincomycin and spectinomycin (LS) with Tylan (tylosin, T) against Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) airsacculitis in 50,320 commercially reared turkey poults in Ohio. Both drugs were administered at 2 g per gallon of drinking water for the first 5 days of life. The poults were allotted randomly to two treatment groups with 8 or 5 replicates each. Initially, 250 poults were weighed, necropsied, and examined microbiologically and grossly for airsacculitis. At 3 weeks of age, 33 poults from each replicate were randomly selected, necropsied, and examined for airsacculitis. The data indicate that LS is superior to T as an aid in the control of MM airsacculitis in poults, as reflected by fewer air-sac lesions and greater improvement in weight gain (P less than 0.05).     

Physionutritional effects of rubratoxin-B on rabbits

The present work lasted 4 weeks to study the effects of rubratoxin-B (RTB)-contaminated diet (1 ppm) on performance and physiological nutrition of Baladi rabbits. In comparison to the toxin-free diet, the contaminated diet caused the following results: Significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) decrease in feed intake and significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increase in water/feed ratio. Digestibility coefficient of crude protein declined significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) whereas those of ether extract and crude fibre slightly elevated. The autopsy revealed rise of relative weights of liver, genital tract and kidneys (but not significantly), in addition to some gross pathological symptoms (haemorrhage in chest cavity and congestion of lungs, liver and caecum). The analyses proved significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increase in blood sedimentation rate, serum phosphorus, ether extract of liver and femoral muscle, tibia-bone contents of calcium, magnesium and specific gravity of the bone.     

Acute post-parturient haemoglobinuria in dairy cows and phosphorus status

During the conduct of an experiment designed to examine the nutritional management of dairy cows in late pregnancy, four cows out of 72 suffered from acute haemoglobinuria two to four weeks after calving. Thirty-six thin and 36 fat cows were individually fed one of three diets based on a total mixed ration with different energy or protein concentrations during the last 3 to 4 weeks before expected calving date. After calving, cows grazed pasture and were offered 6 kg dry matter of pelleted concentrates daily. The P concentrations of the feeds offered suggested that the cows' diets were marginally deficient in P relative to requirements. Plasma P concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in fat cows than in thin cows during the first 6 weeks of lactation (0.87 versus 1.12 mmol/L), but precalving diet had no effect (P > 0.05). Concentrations of plasma inorganic P of the four fat cows that developed acute haemoglobinuria were less than 0.3 mmol/L. However, plasma P concentrations in another 12 cows, none of which displayed overt symptoms, declined to similar levels. It appeared that inadequate dietary P may have predisposed cows to acute haemoglobinuria, but the precipitating cause was not readily obvious.     

补饲马铃薯藤对山羊生长性能、消化率和胴体特征的影响

本研究旨在探讨马铃薯藤饲喂水平对山羊生长性能、养分消化率和胴体特征的影响。试验将平均初始体重为（14.42±0.24）kg的40头山羊随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复2头。T1组仅饲喂干草,T2组饲喂干草+100%马铃薯藤,T3组饲喂干草+50%马铃薯藤+50%浓缩料,T4组饲喂100%浓缩料。在为期10周的饲养试验后屠宰,分析胴体特征。结果：T2～T4组山羊的末重、增重、日增重和饲料效率显著高于T1组（P＜0.05）,其中T1组山羊的日增重和增重均表现出负增长。T2～T4组山羊的干物质、有机物、粗蛋白质和代谢能摄入量均显著高于T1组（P＜0.05）,但T2和T3组山羊中性洗涤纤维摄入量显著高于T1和T4组（P＜0.05）。T2、T3和T4组山羊干物质和有机物表观消化率显著高于T1组（P＜0.05）,T4组山羊粗蛋白表观消化率显著高于T1和T2组（P＜0.05）。T2、T3和T4组山羊屠体重、热胴体重、眼肌面积、可食用内脏和不可食用内脏重量均显著高于T1组（P＜0.05）。T3组山羊的屠宰率显著高于其他组（P＜0.05）。结论：在干草为基础的日粮中添加马铃薯藤可以提高山羊采食量、饲料转换率、养分消化率、屠宰率和胴体特征。 [关键词]马铃薯藤|山羊|生长性能|消化率|胴体特征     

Concentrations of hormones, glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acids in the plasma of broiler chickens selected for weight gain or food conversion

1. The concentrations of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse-triiodothyronine (rT3), triglycerides (Tri), free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose (Glu) were determined at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age in blood plasma of male and female chickens of broiler lines selected for body weight (GL) or food conversion (FC). 2. Plasma concentrations measured in the same animal over a 24 h or a 2 week interval were not significantly correlated with each other. For different traits measured in the same plasma sample only the correlation between T4 and rT3 differed significantly from zero. 3. All traits were dependent on age. Line and sex effects were significant (P less than 0.05) for GH, T4, Tri, FFA and Glu. Additionally, line significantly influenced the plasma T3/T4 ratio and sex influenced plasma rT3. Interactions between line, sex and/or age were seldom significant. 4. Within line and sex, GH (at 6 weeks of age) and T3 (at 4 weeks of age) were negatively, and IGF-I and Tri (both at 6 weeks of age) positively correlated with the amount of abdominal fat at 6 weeks of age. No significant correlation between body weight at 2, 4 or 6 weeks of age and any of the plasma traits was found.     

Serum chemistry alterations, including creatine kinase isoenzymes, in furazolidone toxicosis of ducklings: preliminary findings.

Furazolidone induces a cardiotoxicosis when fed in toxic concentrations to newly hatched ducklings. This preliminary experiment was designed to determine if creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymic activities or other serum analytes would be useful as indicators of these cardiac alterations. Sera from 12 ducklings (six fed a control ration and six fed the control ration with 700 mg furazolidone added per kg of feed [700 ppm] for 28 days) were analyzed for CK isoenzymic activities, electrolytes, nitrogenous metabolites, hepatic enzymic activities, bilirubin, and glucose. Statistically significant differences between control and treated groups were detected for creatine kinase MB (CK-MB, cardiac muscle origin) isoenzymic activity and bilirubin, potassium, calcium, and total carbon dioxide concentrations. Differences other than CK-MB isoenzymic activity were generally explained by factors related to the toxicosis or sample handling. These findings suggest that CK-MB isoenzymic activity may be useful to detect and monitor the progress of cardiac injury in furazolidone toxicosis, thereby increasing the usefulness of this model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Our findings, analyzed on the Kodak Ektachem 700 Dry Chemistry Analyzer, are compared with serum chemistry values reported in the literature.