Changes in hepatic lipogenic enzyme activities in voles and mice treated with monosodium aspartate.

Changes in activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes, ATP citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, were measured in voles and C57BL mice following neonatal administration of monosodium aspartate (MSA). Hepatic lipogenic enzyme activities in voles were considerably lower than those in mice; these low activities were considered to be one of the characteristics of voles as a herbivore. In the MSA-treated voles and mice, the plasma insulin concentrations increased significantly. The MSA-treated mice showed remarkable obesity and increased lipogenic enzyme activities. In the MSA-treated voles, signs of obesity were not observed and hepatic ATP citrate lyase activity increased significantly; acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity did not increase.     

Effect of a high-linolenic acid diet on lipogenic enzyme activities,fatty acid composition,and meat quality in the growing pig

Forty-eight Duroc-cross gilts (40 kg initial BW) were fed a control or a linseed diet containing 60 g of whole crushed linseed/kg. Both diets were supplemented with 150 mg of vitamin E/kg. Eight pigs from each dietary treatment were slaughtered at 20, 60, or 100 d after the start of the experiment. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of diet on growth, carcass characteristics, or foreloin tissue composition. Feeding the linseed diet increased (P < 0.05) the content of n-3 PUFA in plasma, muscle, and adipose tissue, but docosahexaenoic acid was not (P > 0.05) altered by diet. The proportions of n-3 PUFA were highest (P < 0.01) in pigs fed the linseed-diet for 60 d, regardless of tissue (plasma, muscle, or adipose tissue) or lipid (neutral lipids and phospholipids) class. The linseed diet produced a PUFA:saturated fatty acid ratio > or = 0.4 in all groups and tissues, which is close to the recommended value for the entire diet of humans, as well as a robust decrease in the n-6:n-3 ratio. The decrease (P < 0.01) in the percentage of oleic acid in adipose tissue of pigs fed the linseed diet for 60 d could be attributed to a 40% decrease (P < 0.001) in stearoyl-CoA-desaturase activity. Diet did not (P > 0.05) affect the activities of acetyl-CoA-carboxylase, malic enzyme, or glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase in any tissues. Muscle vitamin E content was decreased (P < 0.001) 30% in pigs fed crushed linseed for 60 d, whereas lower (P < 0.001) concentrations of skatole in pork fat were observed in linseed-fed pigs at all slaughter times. Inclusion of linseed (flaxseed) in swine diets is a valid method of improving the nutritional value of pork without deleteriously affecting organoleptic characteristics, oxidation, or color stability.     

Changes in activities of lipogenic enzymes in adipose tissue and liver of growing goats.

The lipogenic capacity of omental adipose tissue and liver was measured in vitro from samples obtained at slaughter from 33 young male goats. The animals were slaughtered either on the day of weaning (d 0) or 2, 14, or 56 d after weaning. Ages at weaning were 4 wk (early weaning) or 6 or 8 wk (late weaning). Blood samples from the jugular vein were taken before slaughter to measure the concentrations of plasma glucose and nonesterified fatty acids. There was a 30% decrease in glucose concentration after weaning. Nonesterified fatty acid concentration increased fourfold between d 0 and 2 after weaning. By d 14 after weaning, nonesterified fatty acids returned to basal concentration. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity of adipose tissue declined markedly (90%) on d 2 after weaning. Lipoprotein lipase activity returned to preweaning values by d 56 after weaning in those goats that had ad libitum access to feed. In adipose tissue, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-malate dehydrogenase activity fell by only 17% by d 2 after weaning and to 63% by d 14 after weaning. Lipoprotein lipase activity was closely related to metabolizable energy intake the day before slaughter. Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity was low in adipose tissue and it increased only slightly by d 56 after weaning. The data indicated that LPL played a preponderant role in the restoration of lipid stores after weaning. High NADP-malate dehydrogenase activity together with a high concentration of plasma glucose by d 56 after weaning suggested that this enzyme activity could be enhanced by high glucose availability in goat kids. Activities of lipase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, NADP-malate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver were essentially unaffected by weaning. The extent and rapidity of change of lipogenic enzymes of goat kids was much more pronounced in adipose tissue than in liver.     

Effect of a linseed diet or a sunflower diet on performances, fatty acid composition, lipogenic enzyme activities and stearoyl-CoA-desaturase activity in the pig

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of a high α-linolenic acid (ALA) diet (linseed diet) and a high linoleic acid (LA) diet (sunflower diet) on performances of pigs, on the dietetical quality of their tissues (adipose tissues and muscles), and on the lipogenic potential of these tissues. Growth and carcass performances, and the lipid content of the tissues were not affected by the diet. Feeding the linseed diet increased the content of n-3 PUFA and decreased the LA/ALA ratios in all the tissues, while the sunflower diet led to an increase in the n-6 PUFA contents. Neither the stearoyl-CoA-desaturase and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase activities nor the β-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activity were affected by the diet. Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase and fatty acid synthase activities were enhanced with the linseed diet in respectively subcutaneous adipose tissue and intermuscular adipose tissue, while malic enzyme activity was decreased in liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue of pigs fed the linseed diet.     

Colonization of Escherichia coli in young turkeys and chickens.

In order to investigate the possibility of pathogenic Escherichia coli penetrating the bloodstream via the intestinal mucosa in normal and stressed turkeys and chickens, birds were inoculated orally with the bacteria or exposed environmentally to it. Immediately after hatch, intestines contained a substantial number of coliform bacteria that increased with time. In orally infected turkeys, the pathogenic bacteria (nalidixic-acid-resistant O78) replaced 10%-50% of the native coliform flora but could not be isolated from the trachea or blood. Environmentally exposed groups exhibited pathogenic bacteria in intestines but not in blood. Stressing of exposed turkeys resulted in isolation of the pathogenic bacteria from blood and even spleen. In orally infected broiler chickens, stress resulted in bacteremia and mortality. Chickens that were exposed to pathogenic bacteria at a young age and showed no mortality or morbidity demonstrated no detrimental effects due to challenge with the same pathogenic bacteria later in life. Stress seems to cause penetration of the pathogenic bacteria into the bloodstream, which in turn can cause severe disease and mortality.     

Pathogenicity of Campylobacter jejuni for turkeys and chickens.

A Campylobacter jejuni isolate obtained from a turkey liver, designated C101, and a C. jejuni isolate obtained from the feces of a chicken, designated C111, were used to inoculate their respective hosts. Isolate C101 depressed weight gain by 20% when inoculated into newly hatched poults or 4-day-old poults. It also caused death, hepatic necrosis, and generalized hemorrhages in turkey embryos. The chicken-derived isolate, C111, did not reduce weight gain in newly hatched chicks, but it did induce mortality in chicken embryos. The supernatant of the cultures of both C. jejuni isolates also caused mortality in embryos.     

Pathogenicity of turkey coronavirus in turkeys and chickens

We designed this study to compare the replication potential of turkey coronavirus (TCV) and its effect in chickens and turkeys and to study the effect of singleand combined infection of turkey poults with TCV and astrovirus. We studied the pathogenicity of TCV in experimentally inoculated turkey poults and chickens by observing the dinical signs and gross lesions. Two trials were conducted with 1-day-old and 4-wk-old specific-pathogen-free turkey poults and chickens. One-day-old turkey poults developed diarrhea at 48 hr postinoculation. Poults euthanatized at 3, 5, and 7 days postinoculation had flaccid, pale, and thin-walled intestines with watery contents. The 4-wk-old turkeys had no clinical signs or gross lesions. One-day-old and 4-wk-old chicks developed no clinical signs or gross lesions although the TCV was detected in gut contents of the birds throughout the experimental period (14 days). In another experiment, mean plasma D-xylose concentrations in 3-day-old turkey poults inoculated with TCV, turkey astrovirus, or a combination of both viruses were significantly lower than in the uninoculated controls.     

Avian pneumovirus infections of turkeys and chickens

Avian pneumoviruses (APVs) cause major disease and welfare problems in many areas of the world. In turkeys the respiratory disease and the effect on egg laying performance are clearly defined. However, in chickens, the role of APV as a primary pathogen is less clear, although it is widely believed to be one of the factors involved in Swollen Head Syndrome. The mechanisms of virus transmission over large distances are not understood, but wild birds have been implicated. APV has recently been reported in the USA for the first time and the virus isolated was a different type or possibly a different serotype from the APVs found elsewhere. Good biosecurity is crucial for controlling infection and highly effective vaccines are available for prophylaxis. Although different subtypes and possibly different serotypes exist, there is good cross protection between them. Diagnosis is usually based on serology using ELISAs, but the available kits give variable results, interpretation is difficult and improved diagnostic tests are required.     

Pathogenicity for chickens of a reovirus isolated from turkeys

A viral agent that was isolated from livers of commercial turkey poults that died at approximately two weeks of age was characterized as a reovirus. Experimental infection of day-old chickens with this reovirus isolate resulted in the development of tenosynovitis, hepatitis, and myocarditis. In vitro neutralization of the turkey reovirus isolate by antiserum against chicken reovirus correlated with in vivo protection of maternally immune chickens from day-old oral challenge with the turkey reovirus isolate.     

Detection of fowlpox in chickens and turkeys in Germany

The present work outlines molecular diagnostic examinations for detection of poxvirus infection in chickens and turkeys in Germany over a time period of twelve years. Diagnostic samples suspected for fowlpox were investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with restriction enzyme analysis (REA) for presence of fowlpox virus (FPV) specific DNA. For a long period of time fowlpox did not play a role in commercial poultry farms in Germany. Beginning in 1999 an increasing number of new infections was identified. During the whole study period FPV specific DNA was detected in 92 out of 192 investigated samples. Positive samples were derived especially from layer hens but also from broiler breeders, turkey breeders, and meat turkeys. Thereby, a differentiation between isolates of chickens and turkeys by restriction enzyme analysis (REA) was not possible. As possible explanations for this reemergence, especially the lack of prophylactic vaccination in the past as well as an increasing number of alternative rearing systems has to be considered. Beginning in 2003, a downward tendency was observed following intensification of prophylactic vaccination.     

Effect of swine weaning age on body fat and lipogenic activity in liver and adipose tissue

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of weaning swine at 2 or 5 wk of age on postweaning performance and fat metabolism. In the first experiment, 52 pigs were weaned at 2 or 5 wk of age with body weights determined from birth to 8 wk. The early weaned group was fed a 20% protein corn-soybean meal-oat diet containing 25% dried whey from 2 to 5 wk while both groups were fed a 20% protein cereal grain-based diet from 5 to 8 wk of age. In a second experiment, a total of 90 pigs weaned at similar ages and fed the same diet sequences were killed at weekly intervals from 2 to 8 wk of age to evaluate body fat content and lipogenesis in liver and adipose tissue. Lipogenic capacity was measured by incorporation of acetate-1 14C into the total lipid fraction in liver slices and adipose tissue minces or by monitoring liver ATP citrate lyase activity. The results demonstrate that pigs weaned at 2 wk experience a slower postweaning growth rate with lower empty body weights than those either concurrently nursing the dam or weaned at 5 wk of age. Both groups had similar body weights from 6 to 8 wk of age. The body fat content of nursing pigs increased from 2 to 5 wk of age. Pigs weaned at 2 wk lost approximately 25% of their body fat the first week postweaning while later-weaned pigs did not lose body fat postweaning. Body fat composition of both groups was similar by 8 wk of age. Lipogenic activity was higher in liver than in adipose tissue from 2 to 5 wk of age and remained relatively constant throughout the trial. Adipose tissue lipogenic activity was lower in the nursing pig but increased dramatically at 5 wk in the early-weaned group and 7 wk of age in the late weaned group. These results suggest that weaning age can affect postweaning body fat composition and that adipose contributes a greater lipogenic capacity than liver tissue as the pig matures.     

Compensatory growth after under-nutrition in market turkeys: effect of low protein feeding and realimentation on body composition

Turkey poults were fed starter diets containing either 29 or 20 per cent crude protein. Live‐weight at 6 weeks was depressed by about 30 per cent in poults fed the low protein diet. From 6 to 10 weeks of age four protein levels were fed but carcass studies were restricted to the groups which received adequate amounts of protein at this stage. Sixty poults from each treatment were slaughtered for carcass studies at 6 weeks of age, and also at 7 weeks when the undernourished poults had reached the body weight attained by fully fed groups at 6 weeks. Further samples were taken for carcass analysis at 20 weeks of age.

Percentage body fat was increased and percentage protein in the fat‐free dry matter was decreased by feeding a low protein starter diet from o to 6 weeks. Poults fed the low protein starter diet retained nitrogen more efficiently during the period of undernutrition and in the first stages of recuperation. Following a return to full feeding at six weeks, body protein content was quickly restored, but a longer period was required before their body fat percentage was reduced to the level of fully fed controls.

The organs which were weighed were little affected, except in the case of the gizzard and liver which became proportionately heavier in retarded turkeys at 6 weeks of age. Only spleen weight appeared to have been reduced in relation to total body weight but it occupied a similar proportion in high and low groups when compared on a fat‐free basis. Some, but not all, of the organs weighed were restored to normal proportions by 20 weeks of age. However, dressing percentage and economic value of carcasses at market weight were not materially affected by early nutritional treatment.