Effects of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on growth performance,intestinal antioxidative capacity,immunity, and intestinal microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens

Essential oils are plant-derived aromatic volatile oils, and they contain bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve poultry nutrition. In this study, we investigated the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) on intestinal antioxidative capacity, immunity, and gut microbiota of young yellow-feathered chickens. A total of nine hundred and sixty 1-d-old female Qingyuan partridge chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 40 birds each, and the feeding trial was lasted for 30 d. The controls were fed on a basal diet without in-feed antibiotics; the birds in the antibiotic group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin; the remaining birds were fed the basal diet containing 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO increased average daily feed intake (P = 0.057) and average daily gain (P < 0.05). The activities of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidative capacity in plasma, jejuna, and ileal mucosa were increased by OEO supplementation (P < 0.05), with a trend of lower jejunal content of malonaldehyde (P = 0.062). Moreover, dietary OEO increased the content of secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.078) and the relative expression of Claudin 1, Mucin 2, and Avain beta-defensin 1 in ileum (P < 0.05). Sequencing data of 16S rRNA indicated that dietary OEO increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum, and Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera, and decreasing that of Romboutsia. Functional analyses indicated that microbial amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, replication, and repair systems were higher in OEO groups than those of controls and antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with OEO enhanced growth performance, alleviated local oxidative stress in intestine, improved production of natural antibodies, and favorably modulated intestinal microbiota composition.     

线粒体DNA在先天性免疫中的作用

线粒体是细胞内重要的细胞器,具有多种功能,是细胞的能量工厂。线粒体含有自己的遗传物质线粒体DNA,线粒体DNA因其在氧化磷酸化中的作用而广为人知。近年来,越来越多的研究表明线粒体DNA可作为先天性免疫系统的激动剂,并在病原体感染和炎性疾病的病理发展中起重要作用。线粒体DNA在进入细胞质或细胞外环境后,可以激活多种先天性免疫系统的模式识别受体,从而触发促炎细胞因子分泌和Ⅰ型干扰素反应。因此,本文就线粒体DNA激活先天性免疫的机制以及其在病原体感染和相关疾病发生发展中的作用进行讨论、总结,以期为进一步深入开展线粒体DNA在病原体感染及相关疾病中的作用及其机制研究提供理论依据。     

灵芝发酵产物对感染PCV-2病毒断奶仔猪生长性能和免疫功能的影响

本研究以深层发酵灵芝为原料,评估灵芝发酵产物对感染猪圆环病毒-2(PCV-2)断奶仔猪生长发育及免疫功能的影响。试验1:选择160头21 d断奶的仔猪,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复10头猪。各组分别在基础日粮中添加0、50、100和150 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物。试验2:将120头21 d断奶的仔猪随机分为2组(4个重复,每个重复15头),分别饲喂基础日粮和基础日粮+50 mg/kg的灵芝发酵产物。两组仔猪在试验当天通过肌肉注射105/mL感染剂量的PCV-2病毒。结果:日粮添加50 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物2周和4周后显著改善了平均日增重(P<0.05),在第4周时150 mg/kg较50 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物组显著降低了平均日增重(P<0.05)。150 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物组平均日采食量较其他组显著降低了8.11%、6.85%和8.11%(P<0.05),日粮添加50 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物显著改善了断奶仔猪的料重比(P<0.05)。日粮添加50~150 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物可显著提高肺泡巨噬细胞的趋化性指数(P<0.05),同时对照组显著提高了28 d伪狂犬病抗体滴度(P<0.05),显著降低了血清葡萄糖水平(P<0.05)。灵芝发酵产物日粮组较对照组显著提高了IL-2、INF-γ和TNF-α相对强度(P<0.05)。结论:日粮添加50 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物可以显著改善断奶仔猪生长性能,在接种伪狂犬病疫苗时可提高肺泡巨噬细胞的趋化能力和抗体滴度。     

基于转录组测序分析研究枸芪多糖对育肥猪肠黏膜免疫功能的作用机理

本试验旨在研究枸芪多糖对育肥猪肠黏膜免疫调控的关键基因,阐明其对肠黏膜免疫功能的可能作用机理。选用80~90日龄的健康育肥母猪180头,随机分为2组,每组6个重复,每个重复15头猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中添加0.1%的枸芪多糖,试验期90 d。采集育肥猪的空肠肠段,提取RNA后进行转录组测序分析差异免疫基因的表达。结果显示:1)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加枸芪多糖差异表达的免疫基因有75个,其中有26个上调基因和49个下调基因。2)基因本体(GO)富集分析显示差异表达基因主要参与免疫调节、免疫应答和应激反应,信号通路分析显示差异表达基因主要富集在以白细胞介素-17(IL-17)信号通路、NOD样受体信号通路为主的免疫信号通路。3)通过对肠黏膜差异表达的关键基因原癌基因Jun(JUN)和原癌基因Fos(FOS)的探究可见,与对照组相比,试验组白细胞介素-18(IL-18)、补体5(C5)、JUN和FOS的基因表达受到抑制,Jun和Fos的蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05)。综上所述,在饲粮中添加枸芪多糖可提高肥育猪的肠黏膜免疫功能。枸芪多糖通过调节JUN、FOS、IL-18等免疫相关基因的表达,影响IL-17和NOD样受体信号通路,以此来抑制炎症反应。     

Effects of soybean raffinose on growth performance,digestibility,humoral immunity and intestinal morphology of growing pigs

There are appreciable does of raffinose in soybean, but the impacts of raffinose on pigs are poorly investigated. We used 2 experiments to investigate the influence of soybean raffinose on growth performance, digestibility, humoral immunity and intestinal morphology of growing pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 30 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) barrows (21.93 ± 0.43 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups, and were fed with the control diet, the control diets supplemented with 0.2% and 0.5% raffinose, respectively, for 21 d. Results showed that the addition of 0.2% or 0.5% raffinose reduced (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and nutrient digestibility, and dietary 0.5% raffinose increased the ratio of feed to gain (P < 0.05). For serum indexes, dietary 0.5% raffinose decreased growth hormone and increased glucagon-like peptide-2, immunoglobulin G, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 concentration (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, a total of 24 crossbred barrows (38.41 ± 0.45 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups, and were fed with the control diet (ad libitum), the raffinose diet (0.5% raffinose, ad libitum), and the control diet in the same amount as the raffinose group (feed-pair group) for 14 d, respectively. Compared with the control diet, dietary 0.5% raffinose decreased ADFI (P < 0.05). Intriguingly, the raffinose group had lower ADG than the feed-pair group, lower nutrient digestibility, lower amylase activity in duodenum, lower amylase, lipase and trypsin activities in jejunum and higher TNF-α concentration in serum compared with the other 2 groups, and a higher ratio of villus height to crypt depth compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These results showed that soybean raffinose could reduce feed voluntary intake and body gain while improving intestinal morphology without a significant negative influence on immunity. Taken together, dietary raffinose could decrease growth performance by reducing both feed intake and nutrient digestibility while inducing humoral immune response of growing pigs.     

Effect of Weaning Stress on Blood Physiology and Biochemistry Indexes and Immune Function in Dairy Buffalo Calves

To study the effect of weaning stress on dairy buffalo calves,5 healthy calves were chosen and weaned,and the blood samples were collected at 1 day before weaning,and 1,14 and 21 days after weaning to analysis blood physiology and biochemistry indexes and immune function.The results showed that the count of white blood cell,lymphocyte,erythrocyte,monocytes and hematocrit,aspartate aminotransferase activity,blood glucose,cortisol and immunoglobulin G contents of dairy buffalo calves were no significant difference between before and after weaning treatments (P > 0.05).The count of neutrophils at 21 d after weaning were significantly lower than that of 1 d before weaning of dairy buffalo calves (P < 0.05).However,lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activity in weaned treatments were significantly higher than those of animals in the treatment before weaning (P < 0.05).The serum urea nitrogen of dairy buffalo calves at 21 d after weaning was significantly higher than that of 1 d before weaning (P < 0.05) and hemoglobin content at 21 d after weaning was significantly lower than that at 1 day before weaning (P < 0.05).It indicated that the physiological and immunity function of dairy buffalo calves were challenged under weaning stress.     

Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance,intestinal morphology,non‐specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non‐specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non‐specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.     

Canine transmissible venereal tumour: a review

Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a contagious venereal tumour of dogs, commonly observed in dogs that are in close contact with one another, or in stray and wild dogs that exhibit unrestrained sexual activity. CTVT represents a unique, naturally transmissible, contagious tumour, where the mutated tumour cell itself is the causative agent and perpetuates as a parasitic allograft in the host. Clinical history, signalment and cytological features are often obvious for establishing a diagnosis though biopsy and histological examination may be needed in atypical cases. Most cases are curable with three intravenous injections of vincristine sulphate at weekly intervals. The role of stray and wild dogs makes the disease difficult to control and necessitates sustained animal birth control in stray dogs along with prompt therapy of the affected dogs. This review captures the manifold developments in different areas embracing this fascinating tumour, including its biology, diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives.     

Rearing conditions affected responses of weaned pigs to organic acids showing a positive effect on digestibility,microflora and immunity

Three experiments were conducted to assess the response of weaned pigs to organic acid SF3, which contains 34% calcium formate, 16% calcium lactate, 7% citric acid and 13% medium chain fatty acids. Dietary treatments had no effect on growth performance of piglets (21‐day weaning) fed the commercial prestart diet for 1 week before receiving the experimental diets supplemented with SF3 at 0, 3 or 5 g/kg diet (Exp. 1), whereas diarrhea frequency averaged across a week was decreased by SF3 supplementation (5 g/kg diet) in piglets fed the experimental diets immediately after weaning (Exp. 2). In Exp. 3, piglets (28‐day weaning) were fed the control (containing pure colistin sulfate and enramycin, respectively, at 20 mg/kg diet) for 1 week and then were fed the control or SF3‐supplemented (5 g/kg diet) diet for 2 weeks. The SF3‐fed piglets had greater apparent ileal digestibility of calcium and dry matter, while also demonstrating greater overall gross energy, up‐regulated jejunal expression of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐1 and transforming growth factor‐β, down‐regulated jejunal expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, higher ileal Lactobacillus, with lower total bacteria content, lower plasma TNF‐α but higher IgG levels than the control‐fed piglets. Collectively, SF3 consumption improved diarrhea resistance of weaned pigs by improving nutrient digestibility, piglet immunity and intestinal bacteria profile. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Effect of dietary probiotic,prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation on performance,immune responses,intestinal morphology and bacterial populations in broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (TechnoMos) and synbiotic (Primalac + TechnoMos) supplementation on performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum in broilers. A total of 240 one‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups which included 60 birds. Control group did not receive any treatment. The chicks in the second, third and fourth groups were fed probiotic (0.9 g/kg), prebiotic (0.9 g/kg) and probiotic (0.9 g/kg) plus probiotic (0.9 g/kg; synbiotic), respectively, at entire period. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. The birds were immunized by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) on days 12 and 29 of age and serum antibody titres were measured on days 28, 35 and 42. Newcastle vaccines administered on days 9, 18 and 27 to chicks and blood samples were collected on day 42. Intestinal morphometric assessment and enumeration of intestinal bacterial populations were performed on day 42. The results indicated that consumption of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic had no significant effect on daily feed intake, daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum (p > 0.05). Consumption of prebiotic increased total and IgM anti‐SRBC titres on days 28 and 42 and antibody titre against Newcastle virus disease on day 42 (p < 0.05). Synbiotic increased only total anti‐SRBC on day 28 (p < 0.05). It is concluded that consumption of prebiotic increased humoral immunity in broilers. Therefore, supplementation of diet with prebiotic for improvement of humoral immune responses is superior to synbiotic supplementation.