Necropsy of chickens, turkeys, and other poultry

Necropsy of dead or terminally ill birds is a key approach to disease diagnosis. It is important that one establish an orderly, consistent necropsy procedure and evaluate gross lesions as to their likely cause and significance. A very high percentage of farm flock poultry maladies can be diagnosed by gross lesions plus a few simple laboratory procedures, such as direct microscopy, Gram's stain, fecal flotation, and aerobic bacteriology.     

Morphology of the oviduct fluke,Prosthogonimus ovatus,isolated from Indonesian native chickens and histopathological observation of the infected chickens

Prosthogonimus ovatus infection was detected in 5 of 130 chickens in the oviduct and 4 chickens in the bursa of Fabricius. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the spines of the P. ovatus were densely distributed on the cuticula of the entire dorsal surface of body, but on the ventral surface, they were densely present to the level of ventral sucker but gradually decreased in density posteriorly, and they could not be seen in the posterior 1/3 area. The spines were finger-shaped and denticulate at the tip. Histopathological examination showed that polypous elevations, degeneration and exfoliation of the mucosal epithelium were detected in the bursa of Fabricius possibly by the suction of flukes, in addition to the stratification of the mucosal epithelium, and interstitial cell infiltration.     

Bioavailability, distribution and depletion of monensin in chickens

The pharmacokinetics of monensin including apparent volume of distribution, total body clearance, systemic bioavailability, partition coefficients and tissue residues were determined in chickens. The drug was given by intravenous injection in the left wing vein at the dose of 0.46 mg/kg and by intracrop administration at the dose of 4 mg/kg according to a destructive sampling. The pharmacokinetic variables were compared after noncompartmental, naïve averaged, naïve pooled and nonlinear mixed-effects modelling analyses. Partition coefficients and tissue residues were determined after a treatment with feed additives (125 mg/kg of feed) of 33 days. The clearance, volume of distribution and bioavailabilty were approximately 2.2 L/h/kg, approximately 9 L/kg and approximately 30% respectively except with nonlinear mixed effects models that presented values of 1.77 L/h/kg, 14.05 L/kg and 11.36% respectively. Tissue/plasma partition coefficients were estimated to 0.83, 3.39 and 0.51 for liver, fat and thigh muscle respectively. Monensin residues after treatment were not detected 6 h after withdrawal except for fat where monensin was still quantifiable 12 h after. Pharmacokinetic variables seem to be inaccurate when assessed with non linear mixed-effects modelling associated to destructive sampling in chickens. Values varied slightly with noncompartmental, naïve averaged and naïve pooled analyses. The absorption, elimination and partition parameters will be incorporated into a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model and the depletion study will be used to test the ability of this model to describe monensin residues in edible tissues under different dosage regimens.     

矮脚黄鸡、新兴黄鸡产蛋规律的初步研究

对广东地区矮脚黄鸡、新兴黄鸡两个品种280日龄产蛋量(X1)、300日龄产蛋量(X2)、28～40周龄产蛋量(X3)、36～40周龄产蛋量(X4)及400日龄产蛋量(Y)等5项指标进行了分析.试验结果表明:①矮脚黄鸡与新兴黄鸡在主要产蛋性能指标上差异不显著;②400日龄产蛋量与300日龄产蛋量、28～40周龄产蛋量相关性较强;③矮脚黄鸡、新兴黄鸡从开产到达产蛋高峰的时间短,产蛋高峰持续时间长,且下降缓慢;④对400日龄产蛋量进行逐步回归,变量引入依次为X3、X2、X4,其中X4对Y值的影响差异不显著.矮脚黄鸡、新兴黄鸡400日龄产蛋量早期选择最佳指标为300日龄产蛋量和28～40周龄产蛋量,且其产蛋利用期可适当延长至8～9个月.     

Blood oxygen concentration of fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens, and chickens with ascites from right ventricular failure.

Percent hemoglobin oxygen saturation was measured with a pulse oximeter in 6-week-old slow-growing (light) and fast-growing (heavy) male broiler chickens and those with ascites from right ventricular failure (RVF). Pulse rate and percent oxygen saturation were read from the ulnar artery just proximal to the carpus. Percent oxygen saturation was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.0001) higher in light chickens (mean 91.6%) than in heavy chickens (mean 86.0%), and the percent oxygen saturation was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.0001) higher in both groups with normal hearts than in the group with RVF from valvular insufficiency (mean 62.1%). All RVF chickens and those with normal hearts were confirmed at necropsy. Light chickens were males with leg deformity or stunting and were 20-50% lighter than the heavy chickens.     

Screening of in vitro nutrient digestibility coefficients of selected insect meals in broiler chickens,black-meat chickens and quails

The objective of this study is to identify potential insect species comparing with commonly used protein sources based on efficiency of the in vitro digestibility on dry matter (DMd), organic matter (OMd) and crude protein (CPd) in broiler chickens, black-meat chickens (Native breed) and quails. Each of gastric mucosa, pancreas and duodenal mucosa were obtained from proventriculus, pancreas and duodenum, respectively. Crude digestive enzyme extracts (CTE) were extracted from these organs to perform in vitro digestibility. Eighteen insect samples and six commonly used protein sources were served as substrates which were evaluated on DMd, OMd and CPd in triplicate for each substrate. The CTE from gastric mucosa was used to simulate proventriculus, whereas small intestine was simulation by adding the CTE from pancreas and duodenum. The large variation of chemical composition between insect meals was presented. For commonly used protein sources, animal proteins were higher on digestibility than plant proteins (p < .001). Quails represented a great potential to digest insect meals comparing other animals. Based on CPd results, there were potential insect species for broiler chickens (Achroia grisella: AG, Tenebrio molitor: TM and Musca domestica), black-meat chickens (Patanga succincta, TM and AG) and quails (Hermetia illucens, Acheta domesticus and Locusta migratoria; p < .001). The evidences from this study suggest that these insect species contain a great potential to use as alternative protein sources promoting an animal production with sustainability. However, the in vivo experimentation must be performed to confirm in further study.     

Gene constitution of South-East Asian native chickens, commercial chickens and jungle fowl using polymorphisms of four calpain genes

The gene constitution of polymorphisms of the four calpain genes (µ‐calpain, m‐calpain, p94, and µ/m‐calpain) were analyzed in South‐East Asian native chickens, White Leghorn and Broiler commercial chickens, and Red and Green jungle fowl. Polymorphisms were detected at all loci in chickens and Red jungle fowl, but only for CAPN1 (µ‐calpain gene) in Green jungle fowl. CAPN2 and CAPN1.5 are linked on chicken chromosome 3, and the genotype for these loci were treated as haplotype. Some combinations of calpain loci were tested using principal component analysis, and the best combination (CAPN1, CAPN3, and CAPN1.5) was determined. The proportion of polymorphic loci (P_poly) and heterozygosity (H?) were 1.00 and 0.316–0.465 in domestic chickens and red jungle fowl, and 0.33 and 0.137 in Green jungle fowl, respectively. G_ST values suggested that the degree of subdivision among native chickens was relatively low except for Thailand, which was highest. Pair‐wise F_ST testing, dendrogram and principal component analysis from the results of calpain loci showed that the four South‐East Asian native and commercial chicken populations were close genetically.     

Notes on some coccidia of peafowl,pheasants and chickens

The coccidium Isospora mayuri was isolated from sick peafowl on a farm in Essex (Great Britain). This is the first British record. The oocyst morphology and an unsuccesful attempt to infect chickens are described. The degree of pathogenicity is uncertain. Oocyst production might be controlled by sulphaquinoxaline and diaveridine in the drinking water but further studies are necessary.The coccidia Eimeria phasiani, E. duodenalis and E. colchici were isolated from pheasants on an Essex estate over two years. Coccidiosis due to E. colchici in intensively raised pheasants was controlled by sulphaquinoxaline and diaveridine in the drinking water.Two attempts were made to infect pheasants with the chicken coccidium E. tenella using birds raised coccidia-free in cages. The pheasants showed no signs of infection, which contradicts the conclusions of previous authors based only on field studies.     

Adaptation of chickens to their handler, and experimental results

Chickens were adapted to their handler before the experiment. Adapted birds produced more antibody, had more blood protein, gained more weight, and were more resistant to Mycoplasma gallisepticum than unadapted birds. The antibody response to sheep red blood cells was not reduced for fasting for 48 hours in adapted birds but was in unadapted birds. Differences in antibody titers, blood protein, and weight gains between controls and birds fed 80 ppm of deoxycorticosterone could be demonstrated only with adapted birds.     

Epizootiology, pathology, and microbiology of an outbreak of urolithiasis in chickens

An outbreak of urolithiasis that doubled the annual mortality rate of chickens in a large flock of table-egg-layers is described. Despite the presence of a large unilateral urolith and/or severe renal atrophy, the layers often maintained active egg production and apparent homeostasis until a small urolith blocked the ureteral flow from the contralateral kidney. This terminal episode appeared to produce acute obstructive renal failure, rapidly developing visceral gout (visceral urate deposition), uremia, and death. The atrophy observed appeared to be acquired and progressive. Histologic features in the kidneys were acute to chronic glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and pyelonephritis. Epizootiologic and microbiologic studies indicated that a combination of infectious and noninfectious mechanisms may have been involved. Causative roles for calcium-phosphate imbalance, infectious bronchitis (IB), Newcastle disease (ND), and adenovirus or reovirus infections could be neither excluded nor confirmed. Contributory factors may have been spray ND-IB and other vaccinations of 15-week-old ND-IB-susceptible pullets, water deprivation, shipping stress, Mycoplasma synoviae infection, immune complex disease, and mycotoxins.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics of midazolam in chickens, turkeys, pheasants and bobwhite quail

In vivo plasma pharmacokinetics of midazolam hydrochloride (5 mg/kg i.v.) were determined in commercially raised broiler chickens, turkeys, ring-necked pheasants and bobwhite quail. Pharmacokinetic profiles of midazolam were similar for all four species, especially with regard to the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve. Estimates of the half-life of elimination of midazolam were 0.42, 1.45, 1.90, and 9.71 h for turkeys, chickens, bobwhite quail, and pheasant, respectively. This was similar to the major metabolite (1-hydroxymidazolam). Elimination half-lives for 1-hydroxymidazolam were 1.35, 1.86, 1.97, and 13.97 h for turkey, chicken, bobwhite quail and pheasant, respectively. Elimination half-lives for 4-hydroxymidazolam were 0.76, 1.23, 2.85, and 13.82 h for chicken, turkey, pheasant, and bobwhite quail, respectively. In addition to traditional pharmacokinetic approaches to parameter estimation, a bootstrapping technique was employed to attempt to achieve more realistic approximations of the concentrations at later time-points.     

Campylobacter spp in human,chickens, pigs and their antimicrobial resistance

Campylobacter spp. have been identified as etiologic agents in outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in developed countries. In developing countries, most reported Campylobacter infections are in children. Previously reported prevalences of Campylobacter spp. in children in Southeast Asia range from 2.9% to 15%. The frequency and pattern of occurrence of Campylobacter spp. differ between developed and developing countries, especially in the number of cases reported in adults and the presence of any seasonal patterns in occurrence. Although the severity of Campylobacter infection in adults was different between developed and developing countries, the clinical symptoms of infection in adults resulting from infection in developing countries was similar to those in developed countries. Many different animal species maintain Campylobacter spp. with no clinical signs. There do not appear to be significantly different colonization rates of Campylobacter in food animals between developed and developing countries. The role of C. jejuni as a primary pathogen in farm animals is uncertain. C. jejuni can be found in feces of diarrheic and healthy calves and piglets. Campylobacter with resistance to antimicrobial agents have been reported in both developed and developing countries, and the situation seems to deteriorate more rapidly in developing countries, where there is widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics resistance was observed at high levels in food animals in both developed and developing countries. Studies suggested an association between antimicrobial use in food animals and the development of resistance in human isolates in developed countries.     

藏鸡和茶花鸡染色体G带比较

运用改进的鸡外周血淋巴细胞培养-空气干燥法,分析了藏鸡和茶花鸡染色体G带。G带研究结果表明：2个地方鸡种的染色体G带带纹存在一定差异,主要体现在带纹数目的差异和带纹宽度的差异,藏鸡前10对大型染色体可分为33个区,共149条带,而茶花鸡可分为34个区,共146条带;同时对2个地方鸡种G带带型特征进行详细比较,并绘制了G带模式图。     

合理使用钙磷，确保鸡群健康

1鸡对钙磷的需求量 　　鸡对钙磷的需求量与鸡的品种，生长期，产蛋，钙磷比例，维生素 D3浓度，植酸磷比例，环境温度和饲料能量密度等因素有关。 1.1鸡品种 　　虽然不同的品种对钙磷的要求不同，各育种公司提供的饲养指南上都有营养标准可供参考，但制定新品种的饲养标准需要经过大量饲养实验来进行。由于品种在不断选育和改良，因此钙磷的推荐需要量也要修订。但某些商业品种的饲养标准并非经过大量饲养实验而得出，仅仅是估计的新的需要量，这一点要特别强调。 1.2生长期 　　育雏、育成、产蛋期鸡对钙磷的需求量不同，因此生产中常常…