Effect of clinoptilolite on performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during experimental aflatoxicosis

Clinoptilolite (CLI, a natural zeolite), incorporated into the diet at 50 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.0 mg total aflatoxin (AF;83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1 and 1.12% AFG2)/kg diet on growing Japanese quail chicks from 10 to 45 d of age. A total of 40 Japanese quail chicks were divided into 4 treatment groups (control, AF, CLI, AF plus CLI) each consisting of 10 chicks. The performance of the birds was evaluated. The AF treatment significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain from the 3rd week onwards. The adverse effect of AF on food conversion ratio was also significant from week 4 of the experiment. The addition of CLI to an AF-containing diet significantly reduced the deleterious effects of AF on food consumption, body weight gain and food conversion ratio. Food consumption was reduced by 14% in quail chicks consuming the AF diet without CLI, but by only 6% for quail chicks consuming the AF plus CLI diet. Similarly, overall body weight gain was reduced by 27% in birds consuming the AF diet without CLI, but by only 8% for birds consuming the AF plus CLI diet. The addition of CLI to the AF-free diet significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain during week 4, but these parameters were similar to the controls in week 5. No mortality was observed in any of the groups. These results suggest that CLI effectively diminished the detrimental effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.     

More than eating dirt: a review of avian geophagy‡

Geophagy, the ingestion of earth varying in particle size from stones to soils rich in clay, is a relatively widespread behaviour across avian taxa. We reviewed its occurrence in birds and its hypothesised adaptive functions in birds. Of the ～30 avian orders, 23 exhibit geophagy. However, it has only been documented in ～260 species (～2% of birds) and therefor is relatively uncommon. Ingestion of stones and other large particles (grit) is recorded in 54 extant families across the avian phylogeny and appears to be ancient in birds and has evolved several times. Clay ingestion is recorded in 14 phylogenetically scattered families and might have evolved repeatedly. Furthermore, at least nine families exhibit both clay and grit ingestion. Six hypothesised functions of avian geophagy involve digestion and nutrition. Ingested grit might provide (1) essential minerals, particularly sodium or calcium, but it appears to primarily (2) improve mechanical digestion of food in the gizzard, where ingested stones and sand particles are known as gastroliths. Consistent with this gastrolith hypothesis, ～86% of species ingesting grit consume “hard” food: seeds, leaves, insects or other animals. In contrast, ingested clay appears to be for sodium or other nutrient intake and/or protecting birds from ingested plant secondary compounds, by (3) protecting the digestive tract and (4) adsorbing these compounds. Consistent with this, ～88% of species ingesting clay eat fruit that is often rich in secondary compounds and low in sodium, and clay ingestion is associated with frugivory in a representative sample of genera of which many have been shown to source sodium. The other two hypotheses are buffering gastric pH (5) and acquiring antidiarrheal agents (6), but no documentation of this in birds was found. We suggest additional tests of these hypotheses and additional investigation of these proposed benefits of geophagy in birds.     

Changes in food intake and gut size in Japanese quail in response to manipulation of dietary fibre content.

Adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) which had been fed, since hatching, on either a conventional diet (low-fibre) or on the same diet diluted with 200 g oak sawdust/kg (high-fibre) took 8 to 10 d to adjust their food intake when their diets were interchanged. 2. Those fed on high-fibre weighed less than those fed on low-fibre diet, and body weight changed rapidly when the diets were interchanged. All the birds digested about the same weight of nutrients in a day, irrespective of diet, and this suggests that body weight differences were due mainly to differences in energy utilisation, birds fed on high-fibre diet having to expend more energy on feeding than those fed on low-fibre diet. 3. Gut size was greater in birds fed on high-fibre diet, presumably to accommodate the greater bulk of food eaten, and when the diets were interchanged the gut dimension of both groups changed at similar rates, reaching the appropriate sizes for the respective diets in 3 to 4 weeks.     

Steroidogenic properties of isolated adrenocortical cells from Japanese quail selected for high serum corticosterone response to immobilization

The effect of selection for high stress response on adrenocortical function was examined by measuring the corticosterone response of adrenocortical cells isolated from random-bred Japanese quail and quail selected for high serum corticosterone response to immobilization (high-stress). Highly enriched adrenocortical cells were incubated with various concentrations of ACTH1-24 (ACTH), 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (8Br-cAMP) and pregnenolone for 2 hr. Corticosterone production was measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal corticosterone production values by cells from random-bred and high-stress birds were not different. In contrast, the average maximal ACTH- and 8Br-cAMP-induced corticosterone production by cells from high-stress quail was 89% greater than that of cells from random-bred quail. However, the average pregnenolone-supported corticosterone production by cells from high-stress birds was 34% less than that of cells from random-bred birds. Thus, the data suggest that although random-bred quail cells had a greater potential capacity for corticosterone production, high-stress quail cells had a greater ability to couple ACTH, ACTH-transmembrane-signaling factors and subsequent second messengers with the available steroidogenic enzyme pool. The magnitude of the differences in function between cells from high-stress and random-bred birds was greater for female cells compared to male cells. In addition to differences in cellular function, there were also differences in adrenal and relative adrenal weights between random-bred and high-stress quail. The average, adrenal and relative (mg/100 g body weight) adrenal weights of high-stress quail were 14-16% greater than those of random-bred quail. It is concluded that the enhanced serum corticosterone response of the high-stress quail line is, in part, due to an increase in relative adrenal weight and an increase in adrenocortical cell responsiveness to ACTH.     

Effect of dietary fumonisin B1 on laying Japanese quail

1. A 28-d experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) on egg production and egg quality of young laying Japanese quail fed on fumonisin-contaminated rations. 2. To this end, 128 7-week-old birds were randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups (32 birds per group) and given rations containing 0 (control), 10, 50 and 250mg FB1/kg feed. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates of 8 quail. Egg production and egg weight were checked daily. Feed consumption and feed conversion were determined weekly. Eggs laid on the last day of each 7-d period were collected and subjected to individual analysis for specific gravity, Haugh units and percentage eggshell. 3. Compared with controls, quail given > or = 50 mg FB1/kg had reduced feed intake and lower body weight gain. Feed conversion was reduced only in birds given 250 mg FB1/kg. 4. Mean egg production and egg weight were lower in birds given 250mg FB1/kg. Eggshell weight was reduced in birds given > or =50mg FB1/kg. However, mean specific gravity, Haugh units and percentage eggshell were not affected by FB1. 5. No histopathological changes were observed in liver, kidney or heart samples from any treatment group. 6. The results indicated that exposure to FB1 at concentrations > or = 50 mg/kg could adversely affect quail performance, emphasising the importance of controlling fumonisin contamination of quail rations.     

Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 1. Responses in growth parameters and food conversion.

1. HG and LG quail lines selected for high and low relative weight gain between 11 and 28 d of age (RG11-28), respectively, and an unselected C line were compared. Mature body weight of both selected lines was held at that of the C line. Progeny of generation 6 were used for analysis. 2. Divergent selection for RG11-28 brought about opposite changes in the growth rates shortly after hatching. 3. Parameters of the Richards function were used to describe the growth curve. The largest differences between HG and LG lines occurred in age (t+) and body weight (y+) at the inflection point of the growth curve (on average for both sexes 28% and 20%, respectively). For HG quail, the parameter t+ was 5 d later than that for LG quail (18.6 vs 14.1 d for males and 20.6 vs 15.6 d for females, respectively), and consequently the parameter y+ was greater (90.3 vs 84.0 g for males and 104.5 vs 96.1 g for females, respectively). The shape of the growth curve expressed by the y+/A ratio was substantialy different for HG and LG quail (44.8% vs 39.6% for males and 43.5% vs 36.8% for females, respectively). 4. The food/gain ratios for the fattening period (3 to 35 d of age) were 3.21, 3.47 and 3.34 for the HG, LG and C lines, respectively. The HG quail started to utilise food more efficiently than the LG quail as early as 10 to 14 d, that is, at the age when their relative growth rate first became greater. 5. The relative deviations of the HG and LG lines from the C line are discussed.     

Effects of dietary dilution with fibre on the food intake and gut dimensions of Japanese quail.

Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were fed on either a conventional diet (low-fibre) or the same diet diluted with 200 g oak sawdust/kg (high-fibre). The lengths of the colo-rectum, small intestine, two caeca combined and empty gizzard weight were measured at 10 and 20 weeks of age. Food intake and rate of passage were measured and an approximate measure of digestibility was also made. 2. There were separate effects of dietary fibre, sex and age on gut size. It was larger in birds fed on high-fibre diet, in females and in older birds. 3. Increased dietary fibre caused increased food intake, but had no obvious effect on the rate of passage. 4. When quail were fed on the low-fibre diet or the same diet diluted with 200 or 400 g cellulose powder/kg gut size at 20 weeks of age was greatest when the most fibrous diet was fed and decreased concomitantly with dietary fibre concentration. 5. It appeared that differences in gut size between dietary treatments were more a reflection of variations in food intake than of fibre per se, and that the effects of sex and age on gut size were probably similarly explained.     

Determination of the acute 50% lethal dose T-2 toxin in adult bobwhite quail: additional studies on the effect of T-2 mycotoxin on blood chemistry and the morphology of internal organs

Three experiments were conducted to assess mortality rate, blood chemistry, and histologic changes associated with acute exposure to T-2 mycotoxin in adult bobwhite quail. In Experiment 1, adult quail were orally dosed with T-2 toxin to determine the lethal dose that resulted in 50% mortality of the affected population (LD50), and that dose was determined to be 14.7 mg of T-2 toxin per kilogram of body weight (BW). A second experiment was performed to study the effects of 12-18 mg/kg BW T-2 toxin on blood chemistry and liver enzyme profiles. Posttreatment uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyltransferase increased as compared with pretreatment values. In contrast, posttreatment plasma total protein, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels numerically decreased as compared with pretreatment values. Changes in blood chemistry values were consistent with liver and kidney damage after T-2 toxin exposure. In Experiment 3, histologic analyses of bone marrow, spleen, liver, small intestine, kidney, and heart were conducted on birds dosed in Experiment 2. Marked lymphocyte necrosis and depletion throughout the spleen, thymus, bursa, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue in the small intestine were observed in birds dosed with 15 and 18 mg/kg BW T-2 toxin. Necrosis of liver and lipid accumulation as a result of malfunctioning hepatocytes were also observed. Little or no morphologic change was observed in bone marrow and heart tissue. The LD50 for adult bobwhite quail as found in this study is two to three times higher than that reported for other species of commercial poultry. Results from these data confirm previous reports of immunosuppressive and/or cytotoxic effects of T-2 toxin in other mammalian and avian species. T-2 toxin may have a negative impact on the viability of wild quail populations.     

Low-dose immunization of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) with Eimeria lettyae provides protection against a high-dose challenge

To determine whether northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) could be immunized against Eimeria lettyae by a low-dose inoculation of oocysts, we inoculated 30 birds each with either 100 or 1000 oocysts at 2 days of age (given orally by pipette). Four weeks after immunization, the immunized birds and unimmunized controls were challenged with 1 x 10(6) E. lettyae oocysts. Eight days after challenge, birds were killed and weighed, and their intestines examined for gross lesions. Effectiveness of the immunization was measured by analyzing weight gain, intestinal lesions, severity of diarrhea, feed conversion ratio, and oocyst production. After challenge, birds immunized with 100 or 1000 oocysts gained an average of 33.3 g and 28.9 g, respectively, whereas unimmunized challenged birds gained an average of 11.5 g. Immunized quail produced approximately 99.7% fewer oocysts, had minimal gross intestinal and cecal lesions, had minimal diarrhea, and had a 50% lower feed conversion ratio compared to unimmunized challenged controls. These findings indicate that vaccination is a viable option for controlling coccidiosis in quail and that further research into vaccination is warranted.     

Performance and gastro-intestinal response of broiler chickens fed on cereal grain-based foods soaked in water.

1. Two experiments were carried out to investigate the addition of 1 3 kg water per kg air-dry mash diets containing high proportions (600 to 700 g/kg) of ground cereal grains (wheat, barley or oats) on broiler performance and the structure and function of the gastro-intestinal tract. 2. Chicks at the age of 7 d were fed on the wheat-, barley- or oats-based diets in the dry or wet forms for 35 d. Food and water intakes were recorded daily while body weight was measured weekly. Two birds from each treatment were killed each week to measure gut size and the viscosity of gut contents. Tissue samples from various digestive segments were histo-morphologically examined to determine the thickness of tissue layers, size of tissue glands, villa heights, crypt depths and thickness of tunica muscularis. Crypt cell proliferation rate (CCPR) for each segment was also determined using a metaphase arrest technique. 3. The results from both experiments showed that wetting food significantly (P<0.05) increased food intake, total water intake and body weight gain of broiler chickens. The body weight gains of birds were proportional to their food intakes so that the efficiency of food utilisation was similar for all treatments. Dry matter retention of food tended to increase in birds given wet food from 7 to 21 d but not thereafter, compared to the dry-fed birds. Although water intake from the water bottle was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in birds given wet food, total water intakes from the water bottle plus that from food were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the wet-fed birds than in the dry-fed birds. The ratio of total water to dry food intake was, however, similar in both feeding regimens. 4. The fresh empty weight of the gut was increased by wet-feeding while its relative weight to body weight and the length of gut was not affected by dietary treatments. Significantly greater development of the tissue glands in the proventriculus and gizzard was observed in the birds given wet food; this was associated with the reduced thickness of the muscular layer of these segments. An increase in villus height was also observed in duodenum, small intestine, caeca and colon of birds given wet food, compared to those given dry food. CCPR was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by wet-feeding throughout the digestive tract. This was associated with a significant decrease in the mean viscosity of the gut contents and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the caeca. 5. Wetting diets based on cereal grains caused a significant improvement in the performance of broiler chickens. The mechanism of the beneficial effects of wet feeding could be attributed to the decreased viscosity of gut contents; the greater development of the layer of villi in the digestive segments and the reduced CCPR in the crypts of the epithelium.     

Differential effects of 4 types of environmental enrichment on aggressive pecking, feather pecking, feather loss, food wastage and productivity in Japanese quail

1. We examined the effects of 4 types of environmental enrichment (foraging opportunities, structural complexity, sensory stimulation/novelty, and social companionship) on aggressive and feather pecking, feather condition, food wastage, body weight, feed conversion, and egg production in adult Japanese quail. Sex differences were examined where possible. 2. GLM analysis was used to evaluate the effects of enrichment and housing, while test-retest reliability and the stability of measures over 18 d were assessed using partial correlation. 3. Foraging enrichment reduced food wastage. 4. Body weight, feed conversion, and egg production were not affected by enrichment. Rates of aggressive and feather pecking were also not significantly affected, but these behaviours were observed very infrequently in this study. 5. Socially-housed birds had poorer feather condition, lower body weight and less efficient feed conversion than singly-housed birds. Social housing did not affect food wastage. 6. There were not sex differences in feather pecking, feather condition, food wastage, or feed conversion. 7. All measures except feather pecking were reliable over 24 h, but only feather condition and body weight were stable over 18 d. The instability f the behavioural measures over time suggest that enrichment effects may vary with age.     

Effectiveness of various barbiturates in chickens of different ages]

Phenobarbital, allobarbital, and pentobarbital in the doses of 40 and 80 mg per 1 kg body mass were applied intramuscularly to groups of the cockerels of the WL breed at the age of two days, one, two, and six weeks (each group had ten birds) and to eight-week-old WL cockerels in groups of five birds. The methods of clinical observation and repeated determination of the response of the animals to sonic stimuli and contact stimuli, and the evaluation of the quality of some reflexes (particularly the spontaneous position of the body and the correction of the lateral position) were used for the study of suppression evoked by the applied barbiturates. Sleep occurred first after the application of pentobarbital (sooner in younger age groups). The latest beginning of sleep was observed after phenobarbital; in the latter case, sleep was hard to evaluate because it was not very deep. The time of sleep had the longest duration after allobarbital (only in the eight-week-old sleep was longer after pentobarbital), and the shortest after phenobarbital; there were also differences in the duration of sleep between the age groups of birds. The pentobarbital dose of 80 mg kg-1 of body mass killed birds in the three youngest age groups )in the two-day-old it killed nine of ten birds, in the one-week-old eight of ten birds, and in the two-week-old two of ten birds). The differences in the effectiveness of the applied barbiturates in two doses per unit of body mass were related to the age of the animals, even in the cases of the shortest age intervals between individual groups. Very high interspecies differences ensue from a comparison with the doses of these barbiturates usually applied to man.     

Relationship between food consumption and energy and nitrogen utilisation by chicks given varying amounts of standard and leucine-, isoleucine- and valine-deficient diets

The effect of different amounts of food, varying from below to above the rate of voluntary intake, was studied in chicks using a standard diet and diets containing only half the recommendation concentrations of leucine, isoleucine or valine. Irrespective of diet the body weight gain of the chicks increased with increasing food consumption. The body weight gain of chicks given the leucine-deficient diet was similar to that of chicks given the same amount of the standard diet. In contrast, the body weight gains of chicks given either the valine- or isoleucine-deficient diet were significantly less than that of chicks given the same amount of the standard diet. When the food intakes of the birds were similar the differences in body protein and water contents of the birds fed the different diets reflected differences in body weight gains, whereas body fat content was affected in the reverse manner. Retention and retention rate of dietary energy increased as food consumption increased. This was particularly evident in chicks given the isoleucine-deficient diet, followed by those given the valine-, leucine-deficient and standard diets. For all diets, the amounts of nitrogen retained and nitrogen retention rate (N retained/N consumed) increased in line with body weight gain. The metabolisable energy values of the diets were similar, except for the isoleucine-deficient diet which had a significantly higher metabolisable energy value than the standard valine-deficient diets.     

壳寡糖对鹌鹑生产性能和免疫功能的影响

日粮中添加抗生素(5 mg/kg)和壳寡糖(0.05%),分析其对鹌鹑生产性能和免疫功能的影响。结果表明,添加0.05%的壳寡糖可使鹌鹑35日龄体重提高7.6%,料重比降低4.5%。胸腺、脾脏和腔上囊相对重均优于对照组(P<0.01);抗体效价也有提高(P<0.05)。与抗生素相比差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Comparative toxicity of coniine, an alkaloid of Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), in chickens, quails, and turkeys

Coniine, an alkaloid of Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), was administered by gavage to immature chickens, quails, and turkeys at 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight. At 25 mg coniine/kg body weight, clinical signs were observed only in quails (2/10) and consisted of excitement, depression, hypermetria, seizures, opisthotonos, and flaccid paralysis. Chickens (9/10) and quails (8/10) dosed at 50 mg/kg body weight were affected, and several birds of each species died (2/10 and 5/10, respectively). Turkeys (7/10) were affected only when dosed at 100 mg/kg body weight, and quails (6/10), turkeys (4/10), and chickens (10/10) died at this dose. There were no gross or microscopic lesions. Coniine was detected in skeletal muscle and liver of birds dying after ingestion and was present in some survivors 7 days post-treatment.     

Elevation of muscle and plasma 3-methylhistidine as a result of turkey coccidiosis

To assess muscle breakdown during avian coccidiosis, the level of the non-metabolizable amino acid 3-methylhistidine (3MH) was determined in muscle and plasma from turkey poults that received an infection with a field isolate containing a mixture of Eimeria species. The effect of increased levels of parasitism was evaluated at 6 days postinoculation (DPI) in birds receiving 2.5 x 10(4), 1 x 10(5), or 2 x 10(5) oocysts each. The changes in 3MH levels during recovery from acute infection were assessed at 6-29 DPI in animals given 1.9 x 10(5) oocysts per bird. In some experiments, uninoculated birds given the same amount of feed as infected birds (pair fed) were used to determine the impact of feed deprivation on weight loss and 3MH levels. Infected birds had significantly elevated plasma and muscle 3MH at 6 DPI after a single dose of Eimeria oocysts. The plasma and muscle 3MH returned to control levels after 14 DPI. The 3MH levels increased with increased dose of oocysts. Plasma and muscle 3MH levels were well correlated, and an inverse curvilinear relationship between weight gain and plasma 3MH concentrations levels was observed. Plasma and muscle 3MH levels were significantly elevated in pair-fed birds, but 3MH levels in infected birds were increased by 30% over pair-fed birds. The results suggested that muscle breakdown, as assessed by plasma and muscle levels of 3MH, increased during the acute stage of Eimeria infection in turkey poults.     

Biological suppression of aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) by dietary addition of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in Japanese quails was examined by the dietary addition of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; SCE). Yeast incorporated into the diet at 1 g kg(-1) was evaluated for its ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.5 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 82.30 per cent AFB1, 2.06 per cent AFB2, 7.68 per cent AFG1 and 7.96 per cent AFG2) kg(-1)diet on growing Japanese quail chicks from 10 days to 45 days of age. Forty 10-day-old Japanese quail chicks were assigned to 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments (control, AF, SCE, AF plus SCE) each consisting of 10 quails. The performances of birds were evaluated. The AF treatment significantly and dramatically decreased food consumption and body-weight gain from the first week onwards. The significant adverse effect of AF on the food conversion ratio was also determined from week 1 to the end of the experiments. The addition of SCE to the AF -containing diet significantly reduced these deleterious effects of AF on food consumption, body-weight gain and food conversion ratio. Compared to controls, the cumulative body weight gain was reduced by 37 per cent among the quails consuming AF without SCE, but increased 15 per cent for the birds fed AF plus SCE. Interestingly, the single inclusion of SCE to the AF-free diet provided significant improvements in all the investigated growth performances of birds (approximately 40 per cent) compared to controls.     

An assessment of the optimal range of dietary sodium for inducing a pause in laying.

Laying hens were fed on a diet containing 0-9 g sodium/kg until 34 weeks of age, then groups were fed on diets containing 0-2, 0-3,0-4, 0-5, 0-6 or 0-9 g sodium/kg for 16 weeks before that containing 0-9 g sodium/kg was reintroduced for all birds. 2. Egg production and food consumption were depressed by the low-sodium diets in proportion to the dietary sodium content. 3. Birds receiving 0-3 to 0-6 g sodium/kg diet lost weight initially but subsequently gained weight; birds receiving 0-2 sodium/kg diet lost weight continouosly. 4. In birds receiving 0-2 g sodium/kg diet, the reproductive organs were completely regressed, whereas these organs resembled those of point-of-lay pullets in birds fed on 0-3 or 0-4 g sodium/kg. 5. When the control diet was reintroduced, birds which had received the low-sodium diets resumed normal egg production and food consumption and regained body weight. 6. The optimal range of dietary sodium for inducing a pause in egg laying is 0-3 to 0-4 g/kg.     

Effects of probiotics: alone and in a mixture of Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin on the caecal microflora of Japanese quail

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two commercially available probiotics, alone and in combination with an antibiotic, on the caecal flora of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under unstressed conditions. Thirty-four 90-day-old Japanese quail were selected for this study. The birds were divided into four groups, two groups of nine birds and two groups of eight birds. The animals in these groups were given feed containing 0.5 kg per tonne of probiotics alone (Protexin or Biosacc), a mixture of probiotic plus antibiotic (Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin at 0.5 and 0.0525 ppm, respectively), and a group where no supplement was added to be used as controls. The total count of aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, enteroccoci, salmonellae, sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (clostridia), and pH values in the caecal content of the birds were examined. No significant differences were detected among the four groups for pH values and bacterial number (p>0.05), except for sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (p<0.001). These results suggest that the use of probiotics alone and/or a mixture of a probiotic plus antibiotic as a feed supplement does not have a major suppressing effect on the majority of bacterial groups in the caecal flora of mature, healthy Japanese quail reared in unstressed conditions.     

Clinical, gross, and histological findings in herring gulls and Atlantic puffins that ingested Prudhoe Bay crude oil

Oral doses of 0, 1, 4, 5, 10, or 20 ml of Prudhoe Bay crude oil/kg body weight/day were given to herring gull and Atlantic puffin nestlings for 5 to 7 consecutive days. Gulls defecated substantial amounts of oil within 10 to 15 minutes after receiving a dose. Clinical signs and lesions occurred only in birds given greater than or equal to 10 ml oil/kg body weight/day. Gulls consumed less food and lost weight. Two categories of lesions were observed: those considered secondary to a primary toxic hemolytic disease, and those considered nonspecific reactions to stress. The former included phagocytosis of degenerate erythrocytes in the liver and spleen, hemoglobin resorption droplets in renal proximal tubule cells, and erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow; the latter included lymphocyte depletion in primary lymphoid tissues, an increase in heterophil: lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood, lipid depletion and necrosis in adrenal steroidogenic cells, and an increased prevalence and severity of lesions in the bursa of Fabricius. These findings indicated that the primary target of oil toxicity was the peripheral red blood cell, but that significant stress-related lesions were also associated with ingestion of oil.