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PubMed2003

Effect of fermented feed on the susceptibility for Campylobacter jejuni colonisation in broiler chickens with and without concurrent inoculation of Salmonella enteritidis.

Fermented liquid feed (FLF) protects broiler chickens against colonisation with Salmonella. While Campylobacter causes more disease cases in humans than Salmonella, the effect of FLF on Campylobacter was assessed. The fermented liquid feed is a moistened feed with a high number of lactobacilli, a high concentration of lactic acid, and a pH of 4. In three experiments Campylobacter was orally applied to individually housed 9-day-old broiler chickens. A significant reduction of susceptibility, as determined by cloacal swabs, was observed. At any moment where an animal has not started to shed Campylobacter yet, the probability to start shedding Campylobacter in a subsequent small time interval was nine times as high for the control chickens than for the animals that were fed FLF. FLF did not consistently change the Campylobacter colonisation level in the caeca. It was concluded that FLF could reduce the probability of introduction of Campylobacter in broiler flocks. In an experiment where some chickens were simultaneously inoculated with Salmonella enteritidis and Campylobacter, no interaction on susceptibility or caecal colonisation level was observed.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

Comparative efficacy of anticoccidials under the conditions of commercial broiler production and in battery trials.

Coccidia were isolated from a commercial broiler farm with a history of suspected drug resistance. The sensitivity profiles of the Eimeria spp. isolates against the anticoccidial drugs nicarbazin (NIC), narasin (NAR), halofuginone (HAL), salinomycin (SAL), meticlorpindol plus methylbenzoquate (MET), and monensin (MON) at the recommended dose levels were followed in three battery trials (B1, B2, B3) corresponding to a field study over three periods of commercial broiler keeping (F1, F2, F3). Shuttle programs were performed in F1 (NIC/MON) and in F2 (MET/MON) while only SAL was used in F3. Eimeria acervulina and E. tenella were isolated from indicator birds in F1 while only E. acervulina could be found during F2 and F3. In trial B1 the isolate from F1 was identified as resistant against HAL and partly resistant against NIC and MON, the two drugs that were used in F1. Following the replacement of NIC in the starter feed by MET the respective isolate from F2 showed no resistance against ionophores (trial B2) while partial resistance against HAL was still present. Since SAL was the most efficient drug in B1 and B2 only this drug was applied in F3. Apart from a resistance against HAL no resistance against any of the other tested anticoccidials was found in the isolate from F3. SAL controlled coccidiosis efficiently in the field and best productivity was recorded in F3. This study shows that battery trials have a good predictive value in respect to the efficacy of anticoccidials under the conditions of commercial broiler production.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1998

The use of pulsed field gel electrophoresis to investigate the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus infection in commercial broiler flocks.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI restriction patterns was used to type 109 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus collected from broiler farms and hatcheries in Northern Ireland. Forty-seven isolates from clinical conditions in broilers and 62 strains from hatcheries, were examined. The PFGE patterns demonstrated a similarity between 85% of strains from clinical sources and 71% of the hatchery isolates. The association of disease with the predominant strain type and presence of these same strains in the hatchery, indicates that the hatchery is a potential source of the infection for clinical broiler disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Novel applications of feather tip extracts from MDV-infected chickens; diagnosis of commercial broilers, whole genome separation by PFGE and synchronic mucosal infection.

Marek's disease virus (MDV) productive replication occurs in the feather follicle epithelium and the feather tips are valuable both for research and disease diagnosis. Three novel applications of feather tip extracts are described now: (A). As a source of DNA for amplifying either MDV and/or ALV-J. In two clinical situations a marked advantage was obtained compared to blood and organs; in broiler breeder flocks with a mixed MDV and ALV-J infection, and in young broilers with neurological Marek's disease (MD). (B). Separation of the large ( approximately 200 kbp) MDV genome directly from the infected chickens. Using pulsed field gel electrophoresis, the DNA extracted from tumors or feather tips was separated and hybridized to a 132 bp tandem repeat MDV probe. Compared to 2/55 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive tumor samples, 15/61 feather tip extracts contained whole MDV genomes. (C). Experimental MDV infection was induced by the mucosal route by dripping feather tip extract to the eye and mouth of the bird. That attempted to reproduce the native infection process, however the use of extracts, instead of dry feather dust was a compromise, aimed to synchronize the infection. In one trial, tumors were induced 6 weeks after dripping day-old broilers, while in another, feather tips were PCR positive 16 days after dripping of 2-month-old layers.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Solid state fermentation of broiler litter for production of biocontrol agents.

Several varieties of heat-sterilized broiler litter with 60% (wet basis, wb) moisture content were substrate in solid-state fermentations to produce biocontrol agents. Litter varieties included litter produced by one flock of broilers from medicated and non-medicated controlled rations, and litter produced by two flocks and four flocks on a single application of bedding material from medicated commercial sources. Litter preparations were inoculated with monocultures of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui, a pathogen of Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica), or Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79. B. thuringiensis did not grow in unextracted 1-flock litter nor in water extracted litter, but grew in methanol extracted litter to 5 x 10(10) cell forming units (CFU)/g litter (dry weight, dw) and a spore count of 1 x 10(10) CFU/g litter (dw). B. thuringiensis also grew in unprocessed 2-flock and 4-flock litter, achieving cell counts of 3 x 10(9) and 1 x 10(9) CFU/g litter (dw), respectively, and spore counts of 1 x 10(9) CFU/g litter (dw). P. fluorescens grew in medicated 1-flock litter with no extraction to a cell density greater than 4 x 10(11) CFU/g litter (dw). Bioassays in soil containing over 0.5% (db) litter fermented with B. thuringiensis resulted in over 90% mortality in 21 days for first instars of Japanese beetle when compared to a control treatment using compost without fermented litter. The investigations demonstrate that bacterial biocontrol agents produced via solid substrate fermentations using broiler poultry litter have potential in biocontrol applications in the soil environment.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Dietary betaine accumulates in the liver and intestinal tissue and stabilizes the intestinal epithelial structure in healthy and coccidia-infected broiler chicks.

The aim of this experiment was to study the patterns of betaine accumulation into intestinal tissue, liver and plasma of broiler chicks with or without coccidial infection. The chicks were raised on a corn-based, low-betaine diet with or without 1000 ppm betaine supplementation and with or without intestinal microparasite (Eimeria maxima) challenge to the age of 21 days. Plasma, liver, intestinal tissue and digesta of non-challenged (NC) birds and plasma and intestinal tissue of coccidiosis challenged (CC) birds were analysed for betaine content. NC birds were also analyzed for homocysteine in plasma and S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) in liver. The jejunal epithelium was histologically examined for the presence of coccidia and the crypt-villus ratio was measured. Dietary betaine supplementation decreased the plasma homocysteine concentration but had no effect on liver S-AM of NC birds. The data suggest that chicks on a low-betaine diet accumulate betaine into the intestinal tissue. When the diet was supplemented with betaine, betaine accumulated heavily into liver and to a lesser degree into intestinal tissue. The concentration of betaine in jejunal and ileal digesta was low suggesting that dietary betaine was mainly absorbed from the proximal small intestine. The coccidial challenge decreased the concentration of betaine in the liver, but greatly increased that in the intestinal tissue. The crypt-villus ratio was decreased by the dietary betaine supplementation in healthy and challenged chicks, suggesting that dietary betaine both protects the jejunal villi against coccidial infection and also stabilizes the mucosal structure in healthy broiler chicks. These results support our earlier findings suggesting that betaine is likely to act as an important intestinal osmolyte in broiler chicks.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Heart and breast muscle mitochondrial dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension syndrome in broilers (Gallus domesticus).

This study was conducted to determine function and defects in electron transport in muscle mitochondria of meat chickens (broilers) with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). The respiratory control ratio (RCR, indicative of respiratory chain coupling) was higher in the control than in PHS breast and heart muscle mitochondria, but there were no differences in the ADP/O (an index of oxidative phosphorylation). Sequential additions of ADP improved the RCR in the control breast muscle mitochondria and the ADP/O in PHS breast and heart muscle mitochondria. Basal hydrogen peroxide production, (an indicator of electron leak), was higher in PHS breast and heart muscle mitochondria than in controls and differences in electron leak in PHS mitochondria were magnified by inhibiting electron transport at Complex I and III (cyt b(562)). Complex I activity was lower in PHS heart mitochondria but there was no difference in Complex II activity. Thus, compared to controls, PHS mitochondria exhibited site-specific defects in electron transport within Complex I and III that could contribute to lower respiratory chain coupling. Additionally, it appears that healthy broilers may exhibit higher basal levels of electron leak compared to other avian species. Together, these findings provide insight into inefficient cellular use of oxygen that may contribute to the development of PHS in broilers.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Various light source treatments affect body and skeletal muscle growth by affecting skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation in broilers.

In this study we addressed the effect of various monochromatic light treatments on muscle growth and satellite cell proliferation in broilers (Gallus domesticus). Broilers were reared under green (560 nm), blue (480 nm) and red (660 nm) monochromatic lights and white light as a control from day one until 35 days of age. At five days of age, satellite cells were prepared from the experimental chicks. The number of satellite cells per gram of breast muscle and total number of satellite cells derived from the experimental broilers was substantially higher in the groups reared under green and blue light, compared to the red and white light groups. Growth hormone receptor gene expression was also higher in the former groups. High correlation was found between the breast muscle weight observed on day 35 and the number of satellite cells per gram of breast muscle (r = 0.915) and total number of satellite cells (r = 0.833), derived from the experimental chicks as early as five days of age. In addition, the protein/DNA ratio found in breast muscle at 35 days of age was significantly lower in chicks that were reared under green and blue lights. The lowest ratio which was found in the green group and was twice as low as in the control group, indicates the highest number of nuclei in the former group. As satellite cells are the only source of additional nuclei in skeletal muscles of postnatal animals, our results suggest that the higher muscle weight found in the green and blue light groups was due to increased satellite cell proliferation during the first days of age.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Accelerated tissue aging and increased oxidative stress in broiler chickens fed allopurinol.

Uric acid has been hypothesized as being one of the more important antioxidants in limiting the accumulation of glycosylated endproducts in birds. Study 1 was designed to quantitatively manipulate the plasma concentrations of uric acid using hemin and allopurinol while study 2 determined their effects on skin pentosidine, the shear force value of Pectoralis major muscle, plasma glucose, body weight and chemiluminescence monitored oxidative stress in broiler chickens. Hemin was hypothesized to raise uric acid concentrations thereby lowering oxidative stress whereas allopurinol was hypothesized to lower uric acid concentrations and raise measures of oxidative stress. In study 1 feeding allopurinol (10 mg/kg body weight) to 8-week-old broiler chicks (n=50) for 10 days decreased plasma uric acid by 57%. However, hemin (10 mg/kg body weight) increased uric acid concentrations 20%. In study 2, 12-week-old broiler chicks (n=90) were randomly assigned to either an ad libitum (AL) diet or a diet restricted (DR) group. Each group was further divided into three treatments (control, allopurinol or hemin fed). Unexpectedly, hemin did not significantly effect uric acid concentrations but increased (P<0.05) measures of chemiluminescence dependent oxidative stress in both the DR and AL birds probably due to the ability of iron to generate oxygen radicals. Allopurinol lowered concentrations of uric acid and increased (P<0.05) the oxidative stress in the AL birds at week 22, reduced (P<0.05) body weight in both the AL and DR fed birds at 16 and 22 weeks of age, and markedly increased (P<0.001) shear force values of the pectoralis major muscle. Skin pentosidine levels increased (P<0.05) in AL birds fed allopurinol or hemin fed birds, but not in the diet restricted birds at 22 weeks. The significance of these studies is that concentrations of plasma uric acid can be related to measures of oxidative stress, which can be linked to tissue aging.

Aging↗

PubMed1993

The colonization of broiler chickens with Campylobacter jejuni: some epidemiological investigations.

Between June 1990 and July 1991, broiler chickens from 49 flocks from 23 farms were examined for the carriage of Campylobacter jejuni at slaughter. Thirty-seven flocks (76%) were campylobacter-positive. Prevalence of campylobacter-colonization was not associated with any of a variety of factors such as water source and broiler house floor structure. There was also no apparent seasonal variation in carriage. Investigations on one farm indicated that dipping boots in disinfectant before workers entered broiler houses either delayed or prevented colonization with C. jejuni.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1988

Experimental colonization of broiler chicks with Campylobacter jejuni.

Minimal colonization inocula for two broiler strains of Campylobacter jejuni were determined in broiler chicks aged 2-3 days and 2 weeks. Individually housed chicks were exposed to a single oral or cloacal challenge. Diarrhoeal symptoms were absent in all 380 chicks included in the study. Chick susceptibility to the two C. jejuni strains varied. Colonization was effected by less than 10(2)-10(4) colony forming units (c.f.u.) via cloacal challenge and 10(4)-10(6) c.f.u. via the oral route. Colonization inocula for 2- to 3-day and 2-week-old chicks were similar. Treatment of 1-day-old chicks with fresh adult caecal flora or an anaerobic broth culture of adult caecal flora did not inhibit colonization after challenge with low-dose C. jejuni. Susceptible chicks were colonized rapidly. C. jejuni was detected in 167 of 189 (88%) colonized chicks within 3 days of challenge and persisted during the 2-week monitoring period. Our data suggest that colonization of broiler chicks with C. jejuni is effected more easily by the cloacal than the oral route and is independent of age.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Detection of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA fragments in the blood, tissues, and digesta of broilers.

The aim was to determine the fate of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA fragments in the blood, tissues, and digesta of broilers. Male broiler chicks (n = 24) were allocated at 1 day old to each of four treatment diets designated T1-T4. T1 and T2 contained the near isogenic nongenetically modified (GM) maize grain, whereas T3 and T4 contained GM maize grain [cry1a(b) gene]; T1 and T3 also contained the near isogenic non-GM soybean meal, whereas T2 and T4 contained GM soybean meal (cp4epsps gene). Four days prior to slaughter at 39-42 days old, 50% of the broilers on T2-T4 had the source(s) of GM ingredients replaced by their non-GM counterparts. Detection of specific DNA sequences in feed, tissue, and digesta samples was completed by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Seven primer pairs were used to amplify fragments ( approximately 200 bp) from single copy genes (maize high mobility protein, soya lectin, and transgenes in the GM feeds) and multicopy genes (poultry mitochondrial cytochrome b, maize, and soya rubisco). There was no effect of treatment on the measured growth performance parameters. Except for a single detection of lectin (nontransgenic single copy gene; unsubstantiated) in the extracted DNA from one bursa tissue sample, there was no positive detection of any endogenous or transgenic single copy genes in either blood or tissue DNA samples. However, the multicopy rubisco gene was detected in a proportion of samples from all tissue types (23% of total across all tissues studied) and in low numbers in blood. Feed-derived DNA was found to survive complete degradation up to the large intestine. Transgenic DNA was detected in gizzard digesta but not in intestinal digesta 96 h after the last feeding of treatment diets containing a source of GM maize and/or soybean meal.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1999

Performance of broiler chickens fed sweet potato meal (Ipomoea batatas L.) diets.

Day-old Lohman broiler chicks (n = 120) were fed on five starting diets for 4 weeks in groups of 24 birds. The starting diets contained 0%, 9%, 18%, 27% and 36% sweet potato tuber as a replacement for maize. From the fifth week, the 120 birds were tested in groups of 30 on four finishing diets containing 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% sweet potato tuber as a replacement for maize. The carcass quality was significantly (p < 0.05) improved due to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of abdominal fat in the birds fed on the 45% sweet potato finisher diets. However, the birds on the sweet potato diet continually passed wet droppings, resulting in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in body weight and feed conversion efficiency. The optimum levels of inclusion of sweet potato in the diets were considered to be 27% and 30% for starting and finishing broiler chickens, respectively. Sweet potato diets may be a remedy for fatty broilers.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2000

Studies on cellulitis and other disease syndromes caused by Escherichia coli in broilers in Sri Lanka.

Cellulitis caused by Escherichia coli in broilers results in substantial losses to the broiler industry in North America and Europe due to condemnations at slaughter. The objective of this study was to identify cellulitis in broilers in Sri Lanka and to characterize the E. coli from cellulitis and other colibacillosis lesions. Twenty-four farms from the low- and mid-country were selected and bacterial isolations were obtained from 241 birds. Two hundred and ninety-one gross lesions were observed in these 241 birds and 162 E. coli isolates were obtained. Cellulitis was observed in 21% of the birds. Twenty-one per cent of the birds had multiple lesions due to E. coli. The frequency of detection of other disease syndromes was 162 (67%) birds with pericarditis, 26 (11%) airsacculitis, 24 (10%) hepatitis, 12 (5%) perihepatitis, and 16 (7%) polyserositis (a combination of pericarditis, perihepatitis and airsacculitis). Serogroups O78, O2, O85 and O88 were distributed among the 32% of typable E. coli and 81% of isolates were assigned to three biotypes. Forty-four per cent of the E. coli isolates produced aerobactin and 88% demonstrated resistance to the bactericidal effect of normal chicken serum. The majority of the E. coli isolates were resistant to the antibiotics commonly used in poultry. All the E. coli isolates were non-haemolytic and 25% of the isolates produced K1 capsule. This study demonstrated the presence of cellulitis in Sri Lanka and this report describes some of the phenotypic characteristics of the E. coli isolates.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Severe hepatopathy in geese and broilers associated with ochratoxin in their feed.

The feeding of a shipment of imported corn was associated with a severe reduction in growth and increased mortality in geese, and increased mortality in broilers. Pathological examinations revealed hepatopathy, visceral gout and mild nephropathy in geese, and in broilers an hepatopathy, which was often severe, and ascites. Samples of feed from affected geese farms were examined for up to 24 mycotoxins, and ochratoxin was found in 6 of 15 samples at levels up to 930 ng/g. The syndrome was experimentally reproduced by feeding geese and broilers suspect feeds with the natural ochratoxin contamination. It is believed that another, unidentified, mycotoxin was the major cause of the hepatotoxicity, and that ochratoxin served in this case as an indicator of a multi-mycotoxin involvement.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2004

A survey of small-scale broiler production systems in Botswana.

Aspects of husbandry, productivity parameters, diseases, marketing and farmer attitudes in small-scale broiler farms in Botswana were studied using a questionnaire-based survey. The number of broilers per production cycle in small-scale operations ranged from 100 to 2000, with an average of 640. On average, small-scale producers had 4-5 production cycles per annum with an interval of 2-3 weeks between batches. The average marketing age was 48.3 days at a live weight of 1.79 kg and a carcase weight of 1.42 kg. The average feed conversion ratio was estimated to be 2.72 (kg feed/kg live weight) and the average mortality was 9.15%. Overall, the performance indices of broilers under small-scale farm conditions were much poorer than those obtained elsewhere under improved management conditions, but these lower performance levels are suggestive of the potential that exists for further improvement. The survey also identified several areas of concern that constrain the realization of the full potential of this sector. Factors contributing to the poor performance under small-scale farm conditions are complex, but feed supply and quality, chick quality and farmer training appear to be areas for immediate improvement.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1997

A study of electrocardiographic patterns in a population of commercial broiler chickens.

A study was completed to characterize the electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns of male broiler chickens. Data were collected from 300 commercial broilers. ECG readings were collected from all birds between 12 and 15 days of age and then twice more at 10-day intervals. The measurements. included heart rate and rhythm, QRS complex duration, amplitude and mean electrical axis (MEA), incidence of ascites and incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS). Eight birds died from SDS and 4 birds died from ascites. Twelve birds were condemned for ascites at the processing plant. The overall population heart rate declined with age. Birds that died of SDS had a higher heart rate, whereas those that developed ascites had a lower heart rate than the remainder of the population. The normal MEA was found to be between 0 degree and 180 degrees. On average 30% of birds showed left or right QRS axis deviation, and this pattern was observed in 14 of the 16 birds that developed ascites. Several types of cardiac arrhythmias were observed, the most common being premature ventricular contractions (PVC). The incidence of PVC increased with age, ranging from 1% at 12-15 days of age to 8.9% at 32-35 days of age. QRS axis deviation was present in 5 SDS birds. It is concluded that some 30% of the broiler flock tested was at risk of developing heart failure or heart-related disease.

Aging↗

PubMed2003

Resistance to quinolones in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from Danish broilers at farm level.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of quinolone resistance among Campylobacter jejuni and Camp. coli isolates from Danish poultry at the farm level, as well as for the whole country. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data and isolates were collected from a national surveillance of Campylobacter in poultry. Quinolone resistance was investigated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to nalidixic acid and enrofloxacin. Among Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli combined, 7.5% were resistant to nalidixic acid. Quinolone resistance varied considerably from farm to farm, with 0% on some farms and almost 100% on others, but the resistance was evenly distributed geographically. With respect to isolates from farms where resistance was detected, quinolone resistance was higher among Camp. coli (28.7%) than among Camp. jejuni (11.3%). PFGE typing of quinolone-resistant and quinolone-susceptible isolates from four farms indicated that certain resistant isolates belonged to specific clones that were able to persist on the farms during several rotations, even in the absence of selective pressure. Some clones were present and repeatedly isolated in both a quinolone-susceptible and quinolone-resistant variant. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, quinolone resistance among Campylobacter isolates from Danish broilers was 7.5% in 1998 and 1999; it was higher among Camp. coli than Camp. jejuni. Genetic diversity among resistant isolates was lower than among susceptible isolates, and certain clones existed in both a resistant and a susceptible variant. Some resistant clones appeared to persist on the farms and were repeatedly isolated from poultry flocks. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study is important for the understanding of persistence and dynamics of Campylobacter in broiler houses. It also highlights the extent, farm-to-farm variation and persistence of quinolone-resistant Campylobacter in broiler houses.

Animals↗