The first serological evidence for Rift Valley fever infection in the camel,goitered gazelle and Anatolian water buffaloes in Turkey

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Rift valley fever (RVF), a vector-borne zoonotic disease, is caused by a phlebovirus (family Bunyaviridae). The virus was initially characterized...     

Effects of supplementary iodine on the performance and egg traits of laying hens

1. This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of dietary iodine supplementation on the performance and egg traits of laying hens. A total of 600 SHSY type brown layers aged 21 weeks of age were chosen at random from a large flock. They were randomly distributed into 30 pens at 20 hens per pen. Each treatment comprised 6 replicates of 20 layers in groups of 5 birds. The diets were supplemented with 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg iodine as calcium iodate. The experimental period lasted 30 weeks. 2. There were no significant differences among the groups in body weight, food consumption, egg production, food consumption per kg eggs, eggshell index, eggshell breaking strength, shell thickness or egg yolk index. 3. Supplementation of the diet with 12 mg/kg iodine increased food consumption per dozen eggs compared to the groups fed on diets supplemented with 0 and 6 mg/kg iodine. 4. Egg weight was less in groups fed on diets supplemented with 12 and 24 mg/kg iodine than in the group receiving no iodine supplementation. 5. Iodine supplementation to provide 12 and 24 mg/kg reduced egg albumen index and egg Haugh units. 6. There were no significant differences among the groups in egg cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol contents. 7. The iodine concentrations in egg yolk, egg albumen and whole egg increased with increased iodine supplementation. 8. As a result, the 3 and 6 mg/kg iodine supplementation of diet could be used to enrich the eggs with iodine without any adverse effect on performance and egg traits.     

Comparative efficiency of novel laparoscopic and routine vaginal inseminations with cryopreserved semen in rabbits

Laparoscopic artificial insemination technique (LAI) is described to overcome reduced fertility problems in sheep artificial insemination (AI) programmes with frozen semen. Later on, this technology was modified for endangered non-domestic cats to deposit low quality or reduced number of sperm cells hardly obtained by electro-ejaculation into the oviduct. This technique by passes the complex structure of cervix and efficiently transfers the sperm cells to the point of fertilization. In recent years, rabbits are becoming popular transgenic animal models producing various therapeutic and commercial products, as well as being experimental animals for disease models. The worldwide transportation of frozen semen and re-establishment of transgenic lines using AI technology has become a common practice. Therefore, this study was designed to describe a laparoscopic intrauterine insemination technique, which might assist in conceiving the animals with limited number of sperm cells. The female rabbits were laparoscopically (n = 22) or vaginally (n = 13) inseminated with frozen–thawed semen samples containing approximately 10 × 10⁶ motile sperm. The laparoscopic insemination technique provided higher pregnancy rate (45.5%) than vaginal insemination technique (7.7%) (p < .05). In conclusion, the described laparoscopic AI might be a new alternative technique, thus enabling limited or low-quality frozen sperm samples to establish pregnancy in rabbits.     

Effect of clinoptilolite on serum biochemical and haematological characters of broiler chickens during aflatoxicosis

Clinoptilolite (CLI, a natural zeolite) incorporated into the diet at 1.5 and 2.5 per cent were evaluated for their ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.5 mg total aflatoxin (AF) kg(-1)diet on broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. In total 360 broiler chicks were divided into six equal treatment groups (control, AF, CLI (1.5 per cent), AF plus CLI (1.5 per cent), CLI (2.5 per cent) and AF plus CLI (2.5 per cent)). When compared with the controls, AF treatment significantly decreased serum total protein, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, uric acid, total cholesterol and the values of haematocrit, red blood cell counts, mean corpuscular volume, haemoglobin, thrombocyte counts, percentage of monocyte counts; increased values of white blood cell and heterophil counts. The addition of CLI (1.5 per cent) and CLI (2.5 per cent) to the AF -containing diet reduced the adverse effects of AF and should be helpful in a solution to the aflatoxicosis problem in poultry.     

Embryotoxicity assay of aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999

1. The embryotoxicity of mixed aflatoxins (AF) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were evaluated by a modified chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST). Adverse effects on the early embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius were also investigated by light microscopy. AF consisted of 83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1 and 1.12% AFG2. 2. A total of 448 fertilised laying hens' eggs were used. AF and AFB1 were injected into the eggs at doses of 10, 100 and 1000 ng/egg. Embryonic developmental stages were evaluated according to the Hamburger-Hamilton scale (HH-scale). 3. The results showed that AFB1 given at 10 ng/egg had a significantly (P<0.05) greater embryotoxic effect than AF given at a similar dose. The higher doses of both AF and AFB1 caused higher embryonic mortality and also an increase in early deaths. 4. In the groups receiving 100 ng/egg AF and AFB1 an abnormal development was seen, with a protruded central region, corresponding to the area pellucida of the blastoderm. No other developmental abnormality attributable to AF or AFB1 was found.     

Does the length of time dried distillers' grain with solubles substitution for soybean meal affect physiological indicators and meat quality in finishing lambs?

This study examined how inclusion of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing lamb diets for different periods affects some physiological indicators and meat quality. A total of 40 male lambs were divided into four groups according to feeding regimen during the 120-day finishing period as follows: C120: no DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D120: DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D75: no DDGS included in diet for 45 days + DDGS included in diet for 75 days; D45: no DDGS included in diet for 75 days + DDGS included in diet for 45 days. Dietary inclusion rate of DDGS was 27.5%. Fattening performance and rumen parameters were not affected by treatment. Feeding regimens had no significant effect on meat quality except the instrumental tenderness and juiciness score. DDGS fed lambs had higher level of total trans fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. 10t-C18:1, 11t-C18:1 and 9c,11t conjugated linoleic acid contents of adipose tissue were higher in all the DDGS groups compared with C120 lambs (p < .001). These results suggest that soybean meal can be replaced with corn DDGS in lamb diets for up to 120 days during the finishing period with no adverse effects on some physiological response feedlot performance and meat quality.     

Gross morphological and histological features of larynx, trachea and syrinx in Japanese quail

This study aimed at observing gross morphological and histological characteristics of the larynx, trachea and syrinx in Coturnix coturnix japonicum (Japanese quail). Sixteen mature quails were divided into two groups. Eight animals were stained with 0.1% methylene blue for 15 min, followed by 50% and 70% ethyl alcohol solution for gross morphological examination. For the observation of histological characteristics the larynx, trachea and syrinx were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Six-micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. There were three rows of papillae which were located oral (one row) and aboral (two rows) aspects of the mound. The cricoid cartilage was triangular in shape. Only the inlet of the larynx was covered by the olfactory mucosa whereas the rest was covered by the respiratory mucosa. There were 83-91 tracheal rings which were gradually narrowed from the cranial to the caudal direction. No overlapping occurred between the rings. The last few tracheal rings did not fuse dorsally and formed the tympanium. The pessulus possessed connection with the last tracheal ring and the first bronchial ring. Moreover, it was like a semiprism in shape at the region of bifurcation being vertical in direction. The syrinx was formed by the paired, C-shaped and incomplete bronchial syringeal cartilages. The mucosa of the syrinx was lined with a pseudo-stratified layer of prism-shaped epithelium. There were nine or 14 C-shaped cartilaginous primary bronchi.     

In vitro fermentation of different starches by mixed micro-organisms from the sheep rumen

Fermentation characteristics of wheat, rye, maize and triticale starches by mixed micro-organisms from the sheep rumen were determined in an in vitro experiment. Starch was incubated with ruminal fluid for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h and various fermentation variables were determined. The rates of fermentation of the starches were not different (p > 0.05) from each other except for 2 and 4 h of incubation. Likewise, net ammonia production, sugar utilization, microbial biomass and the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis did not differ between the starches (p > 0.05). The proportions of sugar utilized were similar between the starches and approximately 75% of the starches were fermented during the 12-h incubation. The 12-h net concentrations of individual and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were affected (p < 0.05) by the type of starch. The concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate and that of total VFA from wheat, maize and triticale incubations were higher (p < 0.05) than those from rye incubation. The results suggest that the type of starch subject to investigation had no measurable effects on fermentation variables determined in this study except for individual and total VFA concentrations.     

Clinicopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in an Angora cat

This report deals with a case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in a 2 year-old female Angora cat. Cutaneous lesions were characterized by prescapular ulcers and hyperemic nodules in the skin of the inguinal and dorsosacral regions. A skin biopsy sample was collected from the lesioned area and processed for histopathologic examination and immunoperoxidase test using Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum specific antibodies. Toxoplasma gondii immunopositive reactions were detected in keratinocytes and dermal macrophages while no immunoreactivity was detected for N. caninum. The case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis was further confirmed by PCR analysis using T. gondii B1 gene-specific primers. In conclusion, we report the first case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in Angora cats.     

Determining the Energy Usage Efficiency of Walnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Juglans Regia</Emphasis> L.) Cultivation in Turkey

The aim of this study is to reveal the energy balance of walnut in Central Anatolian Region in Turkey. This study has been conducted at the walnut cultivating facilities during the 2014–2015 production season in K?r?ehir, Konya, Nev?ehir and Ni?de provinces of Central Anatolian Region in Turkey, where walnut cultivation is intense. In the study, a total of 28 walnut cultivation facilities, yielding walnut, have been selected through Neyman method and surveys and observations have been performed in these facilities. The agricultural input energies and output energies used in walnut cultivation have been calculated to define the energy use efficiency. According to the study findings, the energy inputs in walnut cultivation are calculated respectively 17,851.33?MJ ha^?1 (74.40%) chemical fertilizer energy, 2229.87?MJ ha^?1 (9.29%) fuel energy, 1640.64?MJ ha^?1 (6.83%) irrigation water energy, 1539?MJ ha^?1 (6.41%) machine energy, 508.02?MJ ha^?1 (%2.11) chemical energy, 180.35?MJ ha^?1 (0.75%) human labour energy and 43.33?MJ ha^?1 (0.18%) farm manure energy. Production outputs have been calculated as 14,679.52?MJ ha^?1. Following the energy calculations, the output/input ratio, specific energy, energy efficiency and net energy calculations have been calculated respectively as 0.61, 30.20?MJ kg^?1, 0.03?kg MJ^?1 and ?9313.02?MJ ha^?1. Benefit-cost ratio was calculated as 1.88, by dividing the gross value of production by the total cost of production per hectare in walnut production.