Dietary divercin modifies gastrointestinal microbiota and improves growth performance in broiler chickens

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary administration of a divercin AS7 liquid preparation on broiler chicken performance, nutrient digestibility, counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and coliform bacteria, as well as on the microbial activity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as expressed by digesta pH and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid. 2. A total of 450 1-d-old male Ross 308 chickens were randomly distributed to three dietary treatments, with 15 pens per treatment and 10 birds per pen. The dietary treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) supplemented with 60 mg/kg salinomycin, a negative control (NC) without any additives, and the divercin (DIV) supplemented diet containing 0 x 2 mL/kg of the liquid divercin AS7 preparation. 3. The dietary divercin AS7 supplementation significantly increased body weight gain at 35 d compared to the NC group. Moreover, the pH of crop contents was higher and that of caecal contents lower in birds fed on the divercin supplemented diets. 4. Significantly lower counts of LAB were observed in the crops and caeca of the birds treated with divercin. Further, the divercin supplementation decreased lactic and succinic acid concentrations in the crop and ileum. 5. The present study demonstrates that the use of divercin supplemented diets can influence composition and activity of the microbiota in the broiler chicken GIT even in the lower parts that should otherwise not be targeted due to the peptide structure of the bacteriocin.     

Immunohistochemistry for 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase in 63 bovine peripheral nerve sheath tumors

To establish a simple and uniform classification of bovine peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs), 63 tumors from 44 cattle were examined histologically and immunohistochemically with antibodies against S100 protein and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase (CNPase). Immunohistochemically, all the tumors were positive for S100 protein, CNPase, or both. Four types of PNST were recognized: 35 schwannomas, 9 neurofibromas, 14 hybrid (neurofibroma-schwannoma) tumors, and 5 malignant PNSTs. Axons were identified by immunohistochemistry for neurofilament in a proportion of tumors of each type of PNST. In conclusion, bovine PNSTs commonly have both schwannomatous and neurofibromatous areas. Moreover, the Schwann cell markers S100 protein and CNPase, in combination with antibodies against neurofilament, are valuable diagnostic tools to classify bovine PNSTs.     

Occurrence and associated lesions of Pasteurella multocida in porcine bronchopneumonia

With the aim to extend the present knowledge on possible systemic spreading of Pasteurella multocida in pigs with bronchopneumonia, the occurrence and associated lesions of P. multocida were described by comparing cultural detection, pathological evaluation and in situ hybridization of P. multocida in lungs, hearts and kidneys from cases of porcine bronchopneumonia. P. multocida was cultivated from the lung lesions in 114 out of a total of 148 cases of porcine bronchopneumonia. Among the 114 cases, P. multocida was also cultivated from the pericardial sacs of 40 pigs and the kidneys of seven pigs. Gross lesions and histological findings included a variety of type and stages of bronchopneumonia in connection to the isolation of P. multocida. Furthermore, chronic fibrous pericarditis, interstitial nephritis and a high proportion of lympho-histocytic nephritis were observed. In situ hybridization identified P. multocida in the majority of the lungs, none of the hearts and in half of the kidneys examined. The results show a possible low rate of systemic spreading of P. multocida from lung lesions in pigs with bronchopneumonia.     

Susceptibility of Muscovy (Cairina Moschata) and mallard ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos) to experimental infections by different genotypes of H5N1 avian influenza viruses

It is a fact that in Viet Nam, Muscovy ducks are raised in large populations (approximately 8 million), usually kept in small flocks together with mallards and chickens. As a result, it is a great concern for epidemiologists to elucidate possible differences in relation to these species being exposed to infection with H5N1. To do this, an experimental study on infections with different genotypes of H5N1 in mallards and Muscovy ducks have been conducted, where it was found that the mortality of the inoculated Muscovy ducks was at least 80%, regardless of the virus strain employed. In contrast, the mortality of the mallards ranged from nil to 100%, which suggests that Muscovy ducks are more susceptible to HPAIV H5N1 infection in terms of disease development and mortality. It was also found that higher virus titers developed in vital organs of Muscovy ducks compared to mallards, particularly in the brain. Due to their high susceptibility, it is unlikely that Muscovy ducks act as a silent reservoir. The virus strains used in this study, to a certain degree, differed in their virulence properties to the bird species in question.     

Phylogenetic analysis of marine mammal herpesviruses

Five novel DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (Dpol) herpesviral sequences were generated using nested consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinical samples from a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), orca (Orcinus orca), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and a Phocid herpesvirus 2 (PhHV-2) isolate from a harbor seal (used as positive control). These novel sequences and other representative herpesvirus sequences were included in Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses to illustrate the phylogeny of herpesviruses amongst the marine mammal host species and in comparison to those of other animals. All 19 novel and known marine mammal herpesviruses included in the analyses aligned with members of the Alphaherpesvirinae or Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies. The novel harbor seal herpesvirus clustered with members of the Macavirus genus, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. The novel bottlenose dolphin herpesvirus clustered together in a monophyletic group with another delphinid alphaherpesvirus but could not be associated with an established genus. The orca herpesvirus also clustered with a delphinid alphaherpesvirus and formed a separate clade. The sea lion herpesvirus clustered with PhHV-2. PhHV-1 clustered with varicelloviruses and PhHV-2 clustered strongly in the Gammaherpesvirinae genus Percavirus. All cetacean gammaherpesviruses formed a monophyletic clade and could not be associated with an established gammaherpesviral genus.     

Advances in domestication of indigenous fruit trees in the West African Sahel

Fruit trees play an important nutritional role for livelihoods of rural people in the West African Sahel through provision of energy and nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Research on the domestication of local fruit trees has started recently through projects concentrating on some of the most important indigenous species of dry West Africa, i.e. Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, Vitellaria paradoxa and Ziziphus mauritiana. We present a status of finalised and ongoing domestication research with the aim of defining research gaps that would need to be covered by future research activities to obtain higher yields and better quality fruits. Germplasm collection in central West Africa has been intense compared to elsewhere in the species?? distribution areas, but conservation status of the material is poor since it is only planted in few trials. Knowledge of genetic parameters, especially for fruit traits, is almost absent, but characterisation of genotypes is underway for some of the species. Mating systems and patterns are still unknown for many species. Efficient vegetative propagation based on simple techniques was shown to be possible for all species except P. biglobosa. In order to secure immediate as well as long term gains, we recommend combining clonal propagation of selected plus individuals with recombination and breeding of selected genotypes. We discuss whether local institutions in the Sahel have the financial capacity to carry out long term breeding programmes, and suggest that efforts should be made to find new ways of disseminating improved germplasm.