Journal of Advanced Veterinary Research (University Assiut, Egypt)
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Supplementing broiler diets with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as a protein source: Performance, carcass traits, viscera organ, and economic perspectives
Get PDFBlack soldier fly (BSF) larva meal has the potential to become an alternative source of protein for broiler rations due to its high protein content. This study aimed to evaluate broiler chicken performance, carcass characteristics, viscera organs, and economic aspects when substituting poultry concentrate protein with different levels of BSF larva meal. A total of 200 Cobb broiler chicks were randomly put into four treatments and five replications, with ten birds per replicate then reared for 35 days. The treatment diets given in the finisher period consisted of R0 (a commercial finisher diet), R1 (R0+0% BSF larva meal), R2 (R0+7.5% BSF larva meal), and R3 (R0+15% BSF larva meal). The result showed that the treatment diet had a significant effect (P<0.05) on BW, ADG, and FI during the finisher period, while FCR did not have a significant effect (P>0.05). No significant differences in carcass characteristics and income over feed cost were observed among treatments. However, the inclusion of BSF larva meal (7.5% and 15%) significantly increased (P<0.05) gizzard weight compared to the R0 treatment. The use of 15% BSF larva meal in the finisher diet is a viable alternative protein source for broiler chickens, positively impacting gizzard percentage while maintaining comparable carcass characteristics and feed conversion efficiency. Additionally, it offers cost-saving potential compared to non-BSF diets
Genetic and phenotypic impacts of calf gender on productive and reproductive traits in Friesian cattle under Egyptian farm conditions
Get PDFThis study was implemented to evaluate utilizing sexed semen that favors female births for enhancing milk production and herd replacements. 4913 calf records from 1047 Friesian cows between 1975 and 2020 at Sakha Farm were analyzed to estimate the impacts of calf gender and some environmental factors on the productive traits: lactation period (LP), total (TMY) and 305-day (305MY) milk yields and reproductive traits: age at first calving (AFC); gestation length (GL); days open (DO) and calving interval (CI). Fixed effects were parity; calving year and season (SC). Genetic (rg) and phenotypic (rp) correlations were estimated using BLUPF90 software. Results showed highly significant effects (P<0.001) of the fixed factors on all studied traits, except SC (P< 0.05) on LP and TMY, (P< 0.01) on 305MY and DO, but non-significant effects on reproductive traits. Calf gender presented strongly meaningful effects (P<0.001) regarding CI plus (P<0.05) for other traits, except AFC and genders on DO. Moderate positive rg estimates were found from 0.29 to 0.32 for female births with productive traits; weak values were found with reproductive traits, except 0.14 with GL. The corresponding rp estimates ranged from 0.26 to 0.36 with productive traits; from 0.11 to 0.19 with reproductive traits, except for weak values with DO and CI. It can be strongly encouraged to alter calf gender in females to diminish the generation interval, maximize milk production, and increase the genetic superiority of replacements
Clinical assessment of copper oxide nanoparticles and black elderberry extract in therapy of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infection in SPF chicks
Get PDFEscherichia coli (E.coli) infections pose significant health risks to poultry and humans globally. In the face of antibiotic-resistant strains, metal oxide nanoparticles and plant extracts have emerged as promising alternatives. This study evaluated the effectiveness of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and black elderberry extract (BEE) against E. coli O78 infection in specific pathogen-free chicks. The birds were divided into four groups: a negative control NC, a positive control (PC; challenged with E. coli O78), CuO-NPs treatment post-challenge, and BEE treatment post-challenge. Various parameters, including clinical signs, organ lesions, bacterial load, biochemical markers, and histopathology, were assessed. Both CuO-NPs and BEE demonstrated a reduction in clinical morbidity, organ damage, and E. coli counts compared to the PC. However, BEE exhibited slightly greater efficacy in alleviating liver and kidney dysfunction. Overall, CuO-NPs and BEE hold therapeutic potential against avian colibacillosis, likely acting through antimicrobial and immunomodulatory mechanisms. These findings underscore the potential of bio-based nanoparticles and plant extracts as safer, multi-modal alternatives to antibiotics for avian colibacillosis. Further optimization and mechanistic studies are needed to support their clinical application
Evidence of mastitis in buffalo in Iraq: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFThis study was conducted to identify the evidence and knowledge gaps in studies investigated mastitis, and quantify the prevalence of clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM) in buffalo in Iraq. Databases used as search engines to track the studies included PubMed, CABI, IASJ, and Google Scholar. Additional pertinent studies identified via other methods were also considered for inclusion. Identified studies were divided into two main groups: (i) studies reported proportion of mastitis cases in lactating buffaloes, which were considered for meta-analysis; and (ii) studies that investigated presence of bacteria in milk sampled from buffaloes with different status of mastitis. A total of 17 studies were qualified for review; 9 reported proportion of mastitis episodes, and 13 isolated pathogenic bacteria in lactating buffalo milk. Prevalence of CM and SCM was 20.89% and 29.62%, respectively. The most isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus spp. (46.75%) followed by Streptococcus spp. and other miscellaneous bacteria at 32.96%, 19.04%, respectively. A substantial risk of bias was revealed in most of the identified studies. In conclusion, it is important to conduct further studies that apply standard epidemiological tools for estimating incidence and identifying risk factors of CM and SCM in buffaloes in Iraq
Significant impact of physicochemical water parameters in tilapia aquaculture
Get PDFWater quality is an important part of any aquaculture system. Water provides aquatic animals with oxygen, allows for waste removal, and is the conduit for their food. Similar to all other organisms, fish are heavily influenced and dependent on the characteristics of their environment. Non-optimum water physicochemical parameters as dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, ammonia, temperature etc. can cause stress to the cultured fish and thus make them more susceptible to disease outbreaks. Nile tilapia is the most cultured fish in Egypt. While its sustainable production is hindered by many obstacles. One of them is the water quality, therefore the hygienic effects of the water parameters are important to be clear in culturing
Evaluation of biosecurity practices applied on some dairy cattle farms in egypt and their impact on milk quality and production
Get PDFBiosecurity is a set of practices applied to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases in animal farms. Mastitis is one of the most important diseases affecting dairy cows worldwide.This work aimed to evaluate the impact of biosecurity practices, environmental hygiene, and sanitation on milk quality, quantity, and prevalence of subclinical mastitis in some Egyptian dairy cattle farms. Along six months, Daily milk yield (DMY) was recorded and the total average milk production (TAMP) was calculated for six randomly selected cows of each of three farms (in Giza, Ismailia, and Alexandria Governorates, Egypt). A detailed questionnaire was also designed and filled out to detect the different biosecurity practices and hygienic levels. Milk, water, feed, and bedding samples were collected. In addition, swabs from workers' hands, cows' teats (before and after sanitation with Iodine 1% solution), equipment, and milking parlour surfaces were collected to assess the milk quality and environmental hygiene. Total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) were determined. Subclinical mastitis (SCM) was detected using the White Side Test (WST). The obtained data revealed variable biosecurity practices in the investigated farms with different levels of environmental hygiene. A negative correlation was detected between the produced quantity and microbial quality of produced milk, besides the prevalence of SCM. Data reflected the negative impact of poor environmental hygiene on milk production and highlighted the role of following proper sanitary measures and biosecurity practices for improving milk production in dairy farms
Probiotics and ascorbic acid improved radiographic bone density and mitigated oxidative stress and multiple organ dysfunction induced by heat stress in rats
Get PDFHeat stress is a substantial environmental challenge that adversely affect health and performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of advanced short-term dietary supplementation of probiotics or vitamin C on serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, and radiographic bone density in heat-stressed rats. A 48 male albino rat were randomly allocated into six groups: Control, Heat stress, Probiotics, Probiotics+Heat stress, Vitamin C, Vitamin C+Heat stress group. Rats in supplementation groups received probiotics or ascorbic acid orally from week 1 to 8. Heat stress groups were subjected to elevated temperature (42 ±1 ˚C and relative humidity 65 ± 2%) 60 minutes daily for 4 weeks starting from week 5 to 8, while other groups were maintained under standard laboratory conditions. Heat stress resulted in increased serum ALT, AST, urea and creatinine (P<0.001), decreased calcium, increased phosphorus and osteocalcin (P<0.001), increased serum MDA, decreased TAC (P<0.001), decreased radiographic bone density (P<0.001) compared to other groups. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney and adrenal glands reflected the ongoing heat-stress damage. Administration of probiotics and ascorbic acid demonstrated substantial protection, suggesting their potential efficacy against heat stress. The obtained findings hold promise for the development of novel strategies to enhance heat stress resilience in animals
Genetic characterization of velogenic and lentogenic Newcastle disease viruses circulating among broiler chickens in Al-wadi Al-gadid Governorate, Egypt (2021)
Get PDFThe present study aimed to investigate circulated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) genotypes, and avian influenza virus (AIV) co-infection among chicken flocks receiving NDV vaccines in Al-Wadi Al-Gadid governorate, Egypt. Ninety-eight clinical samples were collected from diseased chickens in 10 chicken farms during 2021. The virus propagation in embryonated chicken eggs was confirmed serologically by hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests and molecularly by RT-PCR using specific primers of the Fusion (F) gene and matrix gene of AIV. The results revealed that 15 isolates were NDV-positive, of them, four were AIV co-infected. The F genes amino acid sequence alignments for selected six isolates indicated two cleavage site motifs characteristic to lentogenic (1) and velogenic (5) strains. Also, specific amino acid substitutions in F1 and HRa regions correlated to fusion activity and neutralizing antibody production in the present velogenic isolates were observed. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial F gene sequences revealed the circulation of two genotypes, GII and GVII.1.1 (VIIj), in class II circulating among vaccinated chicken flocks in Al-Wadi Al-Gadid governorate. In addition, velogenic isolates are segregated into a distinct sub-clade from NDVs isolated in southern and northern Egypt. In conclusion, this is the first report on the genetic characterization of NDV among vaccinated chicken flocks in Al-Wadi Al-Gadid governorate. The current data will contribute to the NDV endemicity, genetic evolution, and biosecurity measurements to overcome NDV infection in this promising area for poultry production
The ameliorative effects of bee bread supplement on the ovarian dysfunction induced by high-fat diet: Comparison with S. officinalis and shifting to normal diet supplement
Get PDFBee bread, a naturally fermented bee product, could alleviate obesity-related disorders but its protective role against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced ovarian dysfunction has not been studied yet. Thirty-eight Wister albino female rats were divided into control and HFD groups. The control group (n=7) received a normal diet for 14 weeks whereas HFD group was supplemented with 40% HFD for 10 weeks and then subdivided into 4 subgroups that received either HFD or HFD and S. Officinalis (300 mg/kg) or HFD and bee bread (0.5 gm/kg) or normal diet for another 4 weeks. Histopathological examination of ovarian tissues was done. The estrus cycle, final body weight, lipid profile, fasting serum glucose, and reproductive hormone levels were investigated. mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in the blood and the ovarian cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 (CYP17A1), cyclin D1(CCND1) and autophagy-related protein-5 (Atg5) were determined. Immunohistochemical assessment of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR????), and caspase-3 was done in all groups. Irregular estrous cycle altered folliculogenesis and reproductive hormones, dyslipidemia, and increased body weight were detected in HFD group. Also, upregulation of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase -3 expressions, and downregulation of CCDN1, Atg5 and PPAR???? were observed in HFD group. Bee bread, S. officinalis and to a lesser extent normal diet supplements bee bread improved ovarian dysfunction induced by HFD by inducing autophagy and steroidogenic genes and inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. Bee bread and S. officinalis could be protective agents against ovarian dysfunction and obesity induced by HFD
Prospective Risk Assessment of some Heavy Metals on Tilapia zilli in Temsah Lake
Get PDFThis study was conducted to determine the pollution index of some heavy metals in Temsah Lake water to assess their transfer into Tilapia zillii tissues using bioaccumulation factors as well as evaluate their associated health risks. Results showed that Pb, Cd, and Cu levels increased significantly during spring, summer, and both spring and summer, respectively. The pollution index of heavy metals in the Temsah Lake revealed that Fe had a moderate effect in winter and a strong effect in the other seasons. Pb had a serious impact on aquatic life in the spring and autumn, while Cd had a serious impact in the summer and autumn. Water temperature is strongly correlated with Cu in the liver, Pb in the musculature, and Cd in the water and liver. Conversely, it negatively correlated with fish weight, length, Fe, Zn, and Cu in the musculature. Fish length showed an inverse relationship with water Cu, Cd, Pb, and Cd. The histopathological examination revealed hydropic degeneration, fatty changes, and interstitial and focal infiltration of immunocompetent cells. Muscular tissue revealed degenerative changes manifested by atrophy and fragmentation of muscular fibers in some specimens. The bioaccumulation factor of heavy metals in Tilapia zilli musculature and liver was found to be highest during winter. Fish musculature was safe for Pb, Cd, and Cu and might represent potential risks for Fe and Zn. In conclusion, warm seasons have the highest integrated biomarker response (IBRv2) scores for the detected heavy metals, also the sum of IBRv2 of the heavy metals content is the highest in musculature followed by livers then water samples. Herein, TCR results for Pb and Cd in Tilapia zilli are within the permissible range (10−4 to 10−6)