Organic matrix composition and ultrastructure of eggshell: a comparative study.

1. The avian eggshell is a biomineralised composite ceramic consisting of calcium carbonate embedded in an organic matrix. Matrix components are supposed to be involved in the control of mineralisation, crystallographic texture and biomechanical properties of eggshell. 2. The structure and eggshell matrix composition of various domesticated bird species were compared to gain insight into the universality of the eggshell mineralisation process. 3. The SDS-PAGE profiles of soluble eggshell matrix were specific within groups of birds (a: laying hen, breeder hen, quail, pheasant and possibly turkey; b: guinea fowl; c: duck and goose) but some of the protein bands were common to all groups. 4. Analogies between species were confirmed by Western blotting using hen protein antibodies. Ovocleidin-17 (OC-17) and ovalbumin were revealed in all species (except quail for OC-17). Lysozyme was present only in hen eggshell. Another egg white protein: ovotransferrin showed a positive signal in hens, turkey and quail. Osteopontin was observed in laying and breeder hens and quail. 5. Different proteoglycans were localised to discrete regions within the eggshell. Dermatan sulphate was observed within the matrix of the calcified shell of all species except quail which contained chondroitin-6-sulfate. Keratan sulphate was observed in mammillary bodies of breeder and laying hen, quail, pheasant and turkey while chondroitin sulphate was also present in guinea fowl and duck. 6. The general structural organisation of the different avian eggshells was similar but specific differences were observed in the ultrastructure of the mammillary layer. Species of the same taxonomic family could be grouped according to their structural analogies: breeder hen, turkey and pheasant resembled that of the domestic fowl. Guinea fowl was unique. Goose and duck were quite similar with large and confluent mammillary bodies. 7. Some matrix components are therefore common to eggshells of various species but more information is needed to relate differences in matrix composition between taxonomic groups with differences in ultrastructure.     

Passage of duck hepatitis virus in cell cultures derived from avian embryos of different species

An egg-attenuated strain of duck hepatitis virus was successfully passaged through cell cultures of avian embryos derived from goose, turkey, guinea fowl, Japanese quail, pheasant and chicken. Two field strains of the virus were passaged in a more limited range of species.     

Twenty-eight new microsatellite loci in chicken and their cross-species amplification in Japanese quail and helmeted guinea fowl

Twenty‐eight original chicken microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized to determine their utility as cross‐reactive markers for comparative genetic mapping in the order Galliformes. Primer pairs were typed in 12 unrelated chickens and also tested on Japanese quail and helmeted guinea fowl deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Polymorphism was observed in 23 (82.1%) of the markers and the average number of alleles per locus was 2.9 while the mean heterozygosity was 0.19. Eleven (39.3%) of the chicken markers cross‐reacted with Japanese quail DNA and 2 (7.1%) with helmeted guinea fowl DNA. The cross‐reactive markers described would serve as useful resources for comparative genetic mapping in poultry species belonging to the order Galliformes.     

A case of acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites in guinea fowl

Acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites were observed in a disease outbreak in adult white and pearl guinea fowl. The clinical history and gross and microscopic lesions resembled those described for marble spleen disease of pheasants and avian adenovirus group II splenomegaly of chickens. A small number of intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in liver, spleen, and lung sections of affected guinea fowl. Attempts to isolate virus and serological tests to detect the presence of viral antigens were unsuccessful. Adult female pearl guinea fowl experimentally exposed to pheasant and turkey isolates of type II avian adenoviruses developed gross and microscopic lesions similar to those seen in the field outbreak. The pheasant isolate was the more virulent. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in liver, spleen, and lung sections of pearl guinea fowl inoculated with either of the virus isolates, and direct immunofluorescent examination revealed viral antigen in the spleen and lung.     

Comparative apparent metabolisable energy values of high, medium and low tannin varieties of sorghum in cockerel, guinea fowl and quail

1. Nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy values (AMEN) of three varieties of sorghum (white-low tannin, brown-medium tannin and red-high tannin) were measured in three species of poultry (cockerel, guinea fowl and Japanese quail) by a practical diet replacement (total collection) method. 2. Each variety of sorghum was tested at two concentrations (200 and 400 g/kg of reference diet) in 6 replications with one cockerel or guinea fowl or two quails per replication. The duration of the trial included a 10 d preliminary feeding period (on conventional grower diet) followed by a 12 d adaptation period (on reference and test diets) and a 3 d balance period (with recording of feed intake and excreta output). 3. The calculated AMEN values of different sorghum varieties were: white--12.9, 12.8 and 12.7; brown--12.7, 12.3 and 12.6; and red--11.4, 11.1 and 11.6 MJ/kg for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails, respectively. The mean AMEN value of red sorghum (11.3 MJ/kg) was significantly lower than those of brown (12.5 MJ/kg) or white sorghum (12.8 MJ/kg). A negative correlation was observed between tannin concentration and AMEN. 4. There was no significant difference in the AMEN values of white, brown and red sorghum varieties to the different poultry species. AMEN values of sorghum for the cockerel could, therefore, be used in practical feed formulation for guinea fowl and quail.     

家禽主要组织相容性复合体结构的研究进展

主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)存在于所有高等脊椎动物的基因组中,表现为高度多态和多基因的特性。MHC在免疫应答和病毒抵御上发挥着重要作用,不同家禽的MHC结构差异一定程度上可以解释其抗病性的差异。本文对近年来在鸡、鹌鹑、火鸡、鸭、鹅和其他几种禽类MHC结构研究方面的进展进行综述,对不同家禽MHC结构进行对比分析,有利于了解不同家禽品种间的遗传关系,促进家禽抗病育种的研究。     

Effect of enzyme supplementation on the metabolisable energy content of solvent-extracted rapeseed and sunflower seed meals for chicken, guinea fowl and quail

(1) The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME(N)) content of solvent-extracted rapeseed and sunflower seed (un-decorticated) meals in relation to species (chicken, guinea fowl and quail) and dietary addition of feed enzymes (0 or 0.5 g/kg diet) was evaluated by a diet replacement method in a 3 x 2 factorial design. (2) The metabolism trial was conducted at two substitution levels (200 and 400 g/kg diet) of each meal with or without supplementation of commercial enzyme preparation in 6 individuals or 6 groups of cockerels, guinea fowls and quails. (3) The experimental diets were fed for a period of 12 d followed by a 3-d collection period during which total feed consumed and droppings output were quantitatively recorded. (4) The AME(N) values of rapeseed meal for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails were 8.4, 8.7 and 8.8 MJ/kg, respectively, while the corresponding values for sunflower seed meal were 6.1, 6.1 and 6.2 MJ/kg dry matter, without enzyme supplementation. (5) The AME(N) value of rapeseed meal did not improve with enzyme supplementation. However, AME(N) values of sunflower seed meal significantly increased with enzyme supplementation, from 6.1 to 6.5 MJ/kg dry matter. (6) Since AME(N) values of rapeseed meal and sunflower seed meal were similar in chicken, guinea fowl and quail, values reported for chicken could, therefore, be used for guinea fowl and Japanese quail.     

Evaluation of interspecific hybrids of the chicken, guinea fowl, and Japanese quail for innate resistance to coccidia

Experimental chicken/guinea fowl hybrids, guinea fowl, and chickens were orally inoculated with Eimeria acervulina or E. tenella, which are specific for chickens, or with E. grenieri, which is specific for guinea fowl. No intact oocysts were found in feces within 24 hr of inoculation, suggesting that excystation occurred in the normal and abnormal hosts. No oocysts were found in the feces of hybrids during a 9-day postinoculation period. The guinea fowl passed oocysts of guinea fowl coccidia (E. grenieri) but not those of chicken coccidia, and the chickens passed oocysts of chicken coccidia (E. acervulina and E. tenella) but not those of guinea fowl coccidia. Some asexual development (schizogony) occurred in hybrids inoculated with E. tenella, but sexual development (gametogony) did not. In contrast, quail/chicken hybrids became infected with oocysts of chicken coccidia (E. acervulina, E. tenella, and E. maxima) and quail coccidia (E. bateri) and passed a few oocysts during the normal patent period; control chickens and quails became heavily infected with oocysts of chicken and quail coccidia, respectively.     

鸳鸯鸭MHC-Ⅰ α链基因的克隆与分子进化分析

根据GenBank中登录（登录号：AB115244）的鸭MHC-Iα链序列设计并合成1对引物,采用RT-PCR技术从鸳鸯鸭脾脏组织中克隆出鸳鸯鸭MHC-Iα链基因,并进行T-A克隆和序列测定。结果表明,所获得的鸳鸯鸭MHC-Iα链基因长909 bp,编码303个氨基酸的多肽,含一个完整的鸳鸯鸭MHC-Iα链胞外区成熟肽基因。序列比较发现,鸳鸯鸭MHC-Iα链基因与GenBank登录的其它品种的鸭MHC-Iα链核苷酸同源性为89.4%～91.0%,与人和其他动物的MHC-Iα链胞外区成熟肽基因的氨基酸同源性为11.1%～79.3%,表明MHC-Iα链胞外区成熟肽基因存在着种的多样性,且亲缘关系越近,同源性越高。鸳鸯鸭MHC-Iα链胞外区成熟肽基因的成功克隆为进一步研究鸭MHC-I基因表达、生物学活性和应用奠定基础。     

鸡鸭鹅A型禽腺病毒的PCR检测和分析

为了解A型禽腺病毒在家禽中的分布情况,从不同地区外表健康家禽中采集泄殖腔拭子,根据鸡胚致死孤儿病毒（Chicken Embryo Lethal Orphan Virus,CELOV）的全基因组序列设计引物,采用PCR方法扩增了禽腺病毒（Fovl Adenoviruses,FAV）病毒基因组右未端ITR片段和ORF 8片段。结果表明：A型禽腺病毒在家禽中分布比较广泛,鸡群、鸭群和鹅群的阳性率分别为23．8％、51．7％和17．2％。ITR片段扩增产物测序结果表明,禽腺病毒分离株与A型禽腺病毒CELOV、FAV-JS株在ITR片段具有很高同源性,而与FAV-9、火鸡腺病毒A型和鸭腺病毒A型的同源性较低。ORF8片段扩增产物测序结果表明,分离株的ORF8的序列与CELOV、FAV-JS株的ORF8片段也具有高度同源性。     

Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of Mitochondrial 12S rRNA Gene: A Simple Method for Identification of Poultry Meat Species

Chicken (Gallus gallus), duck (Anas platyrhynchos), turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and quail (Coturnix japonica) are the common poultry species consumed as meat throughout the world. In this work, a molecular technique has been developed for identification and differentiation of meat originating from these species. This tool helps in detection of misrepresentation of different poultry meats. The technique involves the extraction of DNA from the given sample, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene using universal primers, restriction analysis with selected restriction enzymes, followed by identification of meat species based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern. In this study, we used HinfI, Mph1103I, MvaI, and Eco47I to identify and differentiate to poultry species referred to above. This species identification technique has also been applied successfully to processed meat products including those cooked at 120^∘C for 30 min. Simplicity of interpretation of results combined with versatility makes this a convenient and appropriate technique in the hands of meat analysts for identifying poultry meat species.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of MHC Ⅰ β2m Gene in Chicken

In order to further understand molecular characteristics and immune mechanisms of chicken major histocompatibility complex class Ⅰ(MHCⅠ) β2m gene,the 15 sequence of chicken MHC β2m gene from three local breeds was cloned by RT-PCR. We compared these sequences with seven MHCⅠβ2m genes of human,mouse and other animals in the GenBank database. The results showed that the amino acid homology among chicken MHCⅠβ2m ranged from 98.0% to 100%,the most sequences were identical. Chicken MHCⅠβ2m shared a 60.6% amino acid homology with duck,the highest degree of homology indicated a close genetic relationship,and the grasscarp had the lowest homology,33.3%. It could be further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Moreover,alignment of 10 β2m sequences of mature protein,two cysteines were located in sites 24 and 79,and there was the "YXCXVXH" Ig-motif character between the sites 77 and 83 of chicken β2m. The results showed that MHCⅠβ2m of chicken and other species had the same basic unit of immune function,and they had the unique structural features.     

Dystrophic muscular fibers in the muscles of certain breeds of birds

The occurrence of pathologically changed muscular fibers in some wild species of birds and in economically important domesticated species of birds is described. The hydrops of muscular fibers, necrosis and atrophy with connective tissue infiltration in muscular bundles were detected in breast and thigh muscles in wild birds, e. g. in raven, pigeon and pheasant. The same pathological processes were also found in domesticated species, e. g. in guinea fowl, less often in geese and duck. Their incidence in turkeys and laying types of fowl was more frequent, they were observed most often in muscles of broiler hens. Fission of muscular fibers, very thin, but also hypertrophic fibers and resorption of necrotic fibers were detected in hens besides the above changes. The described histological picture is confronted with the picture of hereditary myodystrophy in chickens.     

Molecular cloning, polymorphism and tissue distribution of the MHC class IIB gene in the Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides)

1. The goose major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB cDNA (Ancy-MHCII) was cloned by homology cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends by polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR), and the genomic structure and tissue expression were investigated. 2. Three different 5'-RACE sequences (Ancy-MHC II5'-1, Ancy-MHC II5'-2, Ancy-MHC II5'-3), one 3'-RACE sequence (Ancy-MHC II-3') and two different full length Ancy-MHC IIB cDNA sequences (Ancy-CD01, Ancy-CD02), which came from different alleles at one locus or different loci, were determined. 3. The genomic organisation is composed of 6 exons and 5 introns, with a longer intron region than that of the chicken. The alleles encode 259 and 260 amino acids in the mature protein. 4. The number of non-synonymous substitutions (dN) in the peptide-binding region of exon 2 from 8 alleles was higher than that of the synonymous substitutions (dS). 5. Tissue-specific expression of Ancy-MHC II mRNA was detected in an adult goose using RT-PCR. These results showed that Ancy-MHC II mRNA was expressed in the lung, spleen, liver, intestine, heart, kidney, pancreas, brain, skin and muscle. This is consistent with the expression of MHC class IIB in various tissues from the chicken. 6. Sequences from goose, snipe and duck clustered together when compared with known MHC class IIB sequences from the other species, significantly differing from mammals and aquatic species, indicating a pattern consistent with accepted evolutionary pathways.     

北京鸭β-catenin基因cDNA的克隆和生物信息学分析

试验探讨了北京鸭β-catenin基因的生物学功能,为进一步研究该基因对鸭皮肤毛囊的影响奠定基础。以北京鸭胚胎皮肤组织为材料,根据GenBank中发表的鸡、鹅等物种的β-catenin基因序列,设计并合成4对引物,采用RT-PCR方法,克隆北京鸭β-catenincDNA,并运用DNAMAN软件及在线工具对所得到的序列进行生物信息学分析。结果表明:北京鸭β-catenin基因cDNA长度为2996bp(Genbank登录号为FJ169885),包含由2346个碱基组成的编码区(CDs),有起始密码子ATG和终止密码子TAA,编码781个氨基酸;北京鸭β-catenin基因核苷酸序列与鸡、鹅、中华鳖、人和家猪相应区段(CDs)的同源性分别为95.06%、94.12%、90.11%、84.83%、84.31%;其氨基酸序列与鸡、鹅、中华鳖、猪、人的氨基酸同源性达99%以上,表明在进化关系上,β-catenin氨基酸序列有很高的保守性。     

禽副产品作为水貂、狐饲料的研究

主要对水貂和狐常用的动物性饲料———禽副产品 (鸡架、鸭架、鸡肝、鸭肝、鸡肠、鸡头 )的概略养分及氨基酸组成进行分析 ,为禽类副产品在水貂、狐养殖中 ,科学合理的应用提供依据     

鸭RIG-1基因的PCR扩增及其序列分析

维甲酸诱导基因1(RIG-1)是细胞质中侦测病原相关分子模式的识别受体。论文旨在扩增北京鸭RIG-1编码基因,并对其进行序列分析。通过PCR方法,从北京鸭脾脏中扩增得到RIG-1基因cDNA,并使用LaserGene分子生物学分析软件进行序列分析。结果发现北京鸭的RIG-1基因cDNA开放阅读框全长2 802bp,编码933个氨基酸。结构预测发现鸭RIG-1结构与哺乳动物类似,N端有两个串联CARD区,中间为DExD/H解旋酶区,C端为抑制区,各功能区起重要作用的氨基酸较为保守。同源性及进化树分析发现鸭RIG-1与鹅和斑马鱼的同源性最高分别为93.7%、78.4%,与哺乳动物同源性高于50%,与其他鱼类的同源性低于50%。成功扩增出北京鸭RIG-1基因cDNA编码序列,为鸭RIG-1的深入研究奠定了基础。     

Cytogenetic studies in domestic chickens and ducks

Typology and the number of chromosomes were studied in two species of domestic poultry: the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) and duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica). The classical method, described by Konstantinov and Dobriyanov (1974), used in the trails, enabled typology only in the largest chromosomes. In the remaining microchromosomes the position of centromere was not determined. Microchromosomes appeared as points which were arranged by size in caryotypes. The domestic fowl had 78 chromosomes on the whole and the duck 80 chromosomes.     

Cryptosporidium infections in birds and mammals and attempted cross-transmission studies

Infections by Cryptosporidium were detected in association with clinical disease in 11 humans (Homo sapiens), 19 calves (Bos taurus), nine common quail (Coturnix coturnix), six mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), five ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and a single budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Infections in mammals were accompanied by transient diarrhoea and anorexia, whereas infected birds exhibited clinical signs of respiratory distress. Repeated cross-transmission studies revealed apparent strain differences or differences in the host specificity of several mammalian and avian isolates for homologous vertebrate classes only. Oocysts from humans and calves were infective to mice, pigs or lambs, but not to chickens, whereas oocysts from quail and pheasant were infective to chickens, but not to mice.