Effects of Dietary Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass, Bone Quality and Blood Parameters in Broilers During Natural Summer Temperature

Dietary supplementation with copper oxide nanoparticles ameliorates chronic heat stress in broiler chickens

Aims Heat stress (HS) is one of the most serious problems of poultry production. Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in the organism defence against oxidative stress. Because of the low mineral availability of the commercial Cu salts, in a novel approach, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were used to alleviate chronic heat stress-induced degenerative changes in two commercial broiler strains (Ross 308 and Cobb 500). Methods Birds of each broiler strain were divided into six groups, with three replicates each. The first group (N1) received 100% of the recommended Cu requirements as CuO and was housed under normal temperature (24 ± 2°C), the second and third groups (N2 and N3 respectively) received 100% and 50% of the recommended Cu requirements as CuO-NPs and were housed under normal temperature. The fourth, fifth and sixth groups (H1, H2 and H3 respectively) received the same level of Cu supplementation as did the first, second and third groups respectively, and they were housed under normal temperature until the age of 21 days, and then exposed to HS (33 ± 2°C/5 h per day for two successive weeks). Key results Dietary supplementation with CuO-NPs during HS altered the HS-induced responses of the birds, as confirmed by decreased liver malondehyde (MDA) concentration and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) mRNA expression levels and enzyme activities (P < 0.001), with a distinct linear association between the gene expression level and enzyme activity. Copper oxide NPs also reduced HS-induced degenerative changes in the hepatic tissue. These nanoparticles modulated, although variably, liver HS protein 70 (HSP70), HS protein 90 (HSP90) and HS factor 3 (HSF3) mRNA transcript levels among Ross and Cobb chickens following HS (P < 0.001). Performance of both strains under HS was improved (as shown by a marked reduction in body temperature (P < 0.001) and a higher bodyweight (P < 0.01)) when CuO-NPs were supplemented in the diet, especially for the birds receiving 50% of the recommended Cu requirement, with different responses being noted in the two strains studied. Conclusion CuO-NPs could be used as a good alternative source of Cu in poultry nutrition during summer. Implications Dietary supplementation of CuO-NPs, especially at 50% of the birds’ recommended requirement, during heat stress could enhance bird performance, lower bird temperature and increase its resistance to negative consequences of elevated temperature.

Methionine supplementation improves reproductive performance, antioxidant status, immunity and maternal antibody transmission in breeder Japanese quail under heat stress conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effects of methionine (Met) supplementation on productive and reproductive performance, immune response and antioxidant status in breeder quails reared under heat stress (HS). A total of 125 breeder quails were divided into five groups. One group was kept in an environmentally controlled room at 22 ∘ C and considered as thermoneutral, and four groups were kept at 34 ∘ C and fed a basal diet (heat stressed) or a basal diet with Met concentrations 1.15, 1.30 and 1.45 times the quail requirements per NRC (1994) recommendations. HS decreased egg production in birds fed the basal diet ( P < 0.05 ). Higher feed intake ( P < 0.05 ), egg production ( P < 0.05 ), improved feed efficiency ( P < 0.05 ) and Haugh unit and hatchability variables ( P < 0.05 ) occurred in Met supplemented groups. Birds receiving Met under HS had higher maternal serum IgG, egg yolk IgY and offspring serum IgG (mg mL- 1 ). Quails receiving the Met supplementation diets exhibited higher ( P < 0.05 ) plasma levels and liver activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase as well as lower ( P < 0.05 ) plasma and liver levels of malondialdehyde compared to the HS group fed the basal diet. All breeder quails receiving the Met supplement had lower ( P < 0.05 ) heterophil and H / L ratios as well as higher ( P < 0.05 ) lymphocytes than quails fed the basal diet under the same stress conditions. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation with Met could improve the performance, immunity and antioxidant status of quails by reducing the negative effects of HS.

Performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status of growing rabbits fed on diets supplemented with Mucuna pruriens leaf meal

<p>The effects of dietary <em>Mucuna pruriens</em> leaf meal (MLM) supplementation on rabbits’ performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status outside their thermal neutrality zone (21 to 25°C) were evaluated. One hundred and twenty 35-d old crossbreed (Chinchilla×New Zealand) rabbits weighing 694±5 g were allotted to 4 treatments (30 rabbits/treatment; 3 rabbits/replicate). A basal diet (crude protein: 16.9%, crude fibre: 17.6%, digestible energy: 2671 kcal/kg) was divided into 4 equal portions i.e. diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, supplemented with 0, 4, 8 and 12 g MLM/kg, respectively, and pelleted. The average body weight in rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 was higher compared to those fed on diet 1 (control) at 91 d of age (+228 and +262 g, respectively; P=0.01). Within 35 to 91 d, the average daily weight gain in rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 was higher compared to those fed on the control diet (+4.1and +4.8 g/d, respectively; P=0.01). The dressing-out percentage of rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 increased (P=0.05) compared to those fed the control diet. At 63 d and 91 d of age, the white blood cell level of rabbits fed on diet 4 increased significantly compared to those fed the control diet (+5.05×10⁹ and +5.32×10⁹/L, respectively). At 63 and 91 d of age, the cholesterol level of rabbits fed on diets 3 (–1.0 and –1.16 mmol/L, respectively) and 4 (–1.10 and –1.21 mmol/L, respectively), were significantly lower compared to those fed on the control diet. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration in rabbits fed on diet 4 was reduced compared to those on control diet at 63 d of age (–33.68 IU/L; P=0.02). At 63 d and 91 d of age, compared to control, the activities of glutathione peroxidase in rabbits fed on diets 3 (+35.77 and +49.09 mg protein, respectively) and 4 (+54.52 and +55.02 mg protein, respectively) increased significantly, while catalase activities in rabbits fed diet 4 (+217.7 and +209.5 mg/g, respectively) also increased significantly. It could be concluded that dietary MLM supplementation enhanced the rabbits’ performance, reduced serum AST and cholesterol and improved the antioxidant status.</p>

Alanine transaminase level in a healthy population in Morocco

A little is known about the prevalence of elevated alanine transaminase in a Moroccan healthy population. Our aim was to search for the upper limit of normal alanine transaminase in the blood donors and then to apply the upper limit of normal alanine found in the population so as to assess the prevalence of subjects with abnormal transaminase level. We then, investigated for factors associated with increased level of transaminase in our population. This study was carried out on 14071 blood donors, (74.1% of men and 25.9% female) aged between 18 to 60 years, randomly chosen. Serum transaminase activity was measured using on IEMS Reader, Labsystems. Hepatitis B and C were performed by ELISA. The upper limit of normal transaminase found were 64 for men and 52 for women. Consequently, 2.08% blood donors had an abnormal level of transaminase. Follow up results revealed that drug was the first cause of elevated transaminase in our cohort followed by diet and alcohol consumption. One seroconversion for hepatitis C was identified. In conclusion, this study showed that even though there is an evident lack of efficiency in using alanine aminotransferase testing qualifying blood donors in our country, preventing viral potential transmission through transfusions was possible.