Gut microbiota has become an integral component of the host, and received increasing attention. However, for many domestic animals, information on the microbiota is insufficient and more effort should be exerted to manage the gastrointestinal bacterial community. Understanding the factors that influence the composition of microbial community in the host alimentary canal is essential to manage or improve the microbial community composition. In the present study, 16S rRNA gene sequence-based comparisons of the bacterial communities in the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) intestinal contents and fish culture-associated environments are performed. The results show that the fish intestinal microbiota harbors many cellulose-decomposing bacteria, including sequences related to Anoxybacillus, Leuconostoc, Clostridium, Actinomyces, and Citrobacter. The most abundant bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the grass carp intestinal content are those related to feed digestion. In addition, the potential pathogens and probiotics are important members of the intestinal microbiota. Further analyses show that grass carp intestine holds a core microbiota composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The comparison analyses reveal that the bacterial community in the intestinal contents is most similar to those from the culture water and sediment. However, feed also plays significant influence on the composition of gut microbiota.
Panpradub Sinpru, Kristen Diehl, Laura E. Ellestad
et al.
Selective breeding of broilers has significantly improved growth rates, muscle mass, and feed efficiency and may have influenced the neuroendocrine systems that regulate growth and metabolism. Embryonic development represents one-third of the life of a modern broiler. To assess the impact of genetic selection on the neuroendocrine regulation of growth and metabolism during embryonic development, we examined mRNA expression of growth-related genes in the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary of two chicken breeds: the modern Ross 708 broiler and the Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB) line, the oldest established strain for meat-type chickens. Hypothalami and pituitary glands were dissected from embryos at days 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 of incubation (n = 4 for each combination of breed, age, and gender). Levels of mRNA for each target gene were quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In the adrenocorticotropic axis, pituitary corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 mRNA levels were influenced by the interaction of breed, age, and gender (P < 0.05). In the thyrotropic axis, pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone β-subunit mRNA levels were affected by the interaction of breed, age, and gender (P < 0.05). In the somatotropic axis, mRNA levels of hypothalamic somatostatin were higher in ACRB than Ross, whereas overall pituitary growth hormone mRNA levels were greater in Ross than ACRB (P < 0.05). Pituitary growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor 2 and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor 1 were influenced by the interaction between breed and age (P < 0.05). In the gonadotropic axis, hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 and gonadotropin-inhibiting hormone were influenced by breed, age, and gender, while mRNA levels of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone β-subunit were affected by the interaction between breed and age (P < 0.05). Hypothalamic agouti-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, and proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels were higher in ACRB than Ross in females (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that genetic selection of broilers has altered the adrenocorticotropic, somatotropic, thyrotropic, and gonadotropic axes, as well as hypothalamic control of appetite and metabolism during embryonic development.
Temy Coppola, Olimpia Barbato, Laura Menchetti
et al.
Kisspeptins are neuropeptides that play a key role in regulating reproductive function. They are also involved in maternal-fetal communication and the development of the placenta in several mammalian species. In humans and cattle, circulating kisspeptin concentrations increase during pregnancy, and the placenta has been proposed as their main source of production. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no data are currently available regarding serum kisspeptin concentrations during canine pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, serum kisspeptin concentrations in pregnant bitches compared with non-pregnant diestrus bitches. Eight clinically healthy German Shepherd bitches were enrolled and divided into two groups: pregnant (n = 4) and non-pregnant diestrus (n = 4). Blood samples were collected from ovulation and every 15 days until the end of pregnancy or diestrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed using ultrasonography at 19 days post-ovulation and was monitored simultaneously with blood sampling. Median serum kisspeptin concentrations throughout the observation period tended to be higher in pregnant bitches, with a statistically significant difference between groups observed on Day 15 post-ovulation (p = 0.029). This early increase in serum kisspeptin concentrations suggests that kisspeptin circulating in the bloodstream deserves further investigation as a potential biomarker for the early detection of pregnancy in bitches. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the exploratory nature of the study and its small sample size.
Ahmed Fotouh, Nady Khairy Elbarbary, Said Elshafae
et al.
ABSTRACT Feral birds pose a significant concern to many authors, as they can serve as long‐distance vectors for various microorganisms that may be transmissible to animals and poultry. This study aimed to identify bacterial infections in feral pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica), their potential role in spreading bacterial pathogens to various Egyptian livestock and the zoonotic significance of this bird species. We conducted the study on 80 healthy feral pigeons, collected from a non‐urban area (Ismailia city) in Egypt during the hunting season from October 2022 to July 2023. We kept the birds in the lab for 72 h, conducting a thorough clinical examination and collecting tissue specimens from various organs of the body. The observed histological lesions were various and numerous, with variable incidences in different body organs. Bacteriological examination revealed the isolation of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Salmonellae, Shigella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. We concluded that feral pigeons could significantly contribute to transmitting some bacterial pathogens to humans, poultry farms and other farm animals.
Cancer is a multifaceted pathology, where cellular and acellular players interact to drive cancer progression and, in the worst-case, metastasis. The current methods to investigate the heterogeneous nature of cancer are inadequate, since they rely on 2D cell cultures and animal models. The cell line-based drug efficacy and toxicity assays are not able to predict the tumor response to anti-cancer agents and it is already widely discussed how molecular pathway are not recapitulated in vitro so called flat biology. On the other side, animal models often fail to detect the side-effects of drugs, mimic the metastatic progression or the interaction between cancer and immune system, due to biologic difference in human and animals. Moreover, ethical and regulatory issues limit animal experimentation. Every year pharma/biotech companies lose resources in drug discovery and testing processes that are successful only in 5% of the cases. There is an urgent need to validate accurate and predictive platforms in order to enhance drug-testing process taking into account the physiopathology of the tumor microenvironment. Three dimensional in vitro tumor models could enhance drug manufactures in developing effective drugs for cancer diseases. The 3D in vitro cancer models can improve the predictability of toxicity and drug sensitivity in cancer. Despite the demonstrated advantages of 3D in vitro disease systems when compared to 2D culture and animal models, they still do not reach the standardization required for preclinical trials. This review highlights in vitro models that may be used as preclinical models, accelerating the drug development process towards more precise and personalized standard of care for cancer patients. We describe the state-of-the art of 3D in vitro culture systems, with a focus on how these different approaches could be coupled in order to achieve a compromise between standardization and reliability in recapitulating tumor microenvironment and drug response.
Kosei Sakai, Masaki Hirao, Satoshi Kameshima
et al.
ABSTRACT Glutamine metabolism plays a crucial role in tumour progression, making glutaminase a promising therapeutic target in various human cancers. However, its role in canine large‐cell alimentary lymphoma (AL) remains unclear. This study investigated glutaminase expression and the effects of a glutaminase inhibitor (CB‐839) on canine large‐cell AL cell lines. Western blotting analysed glutaminase expression in three canine large‐cell AL cell lines (CLC, Ema and Nody‐1) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from eight clinically healthy dogs. Cell viability was determined in each cell line after treatment with varying concentrations (0–10 µM) of CB‐839. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the cell cycle and assess annexin assays in each cell line following treatment with 1 µM of CB‐839 or a vehicle control. Additionally, metabolome analysis was performed in Nody‐1 cells after treatment with 1 µM of CB‐839 or a vehicle control. Glutaminase expression was significantly higher in cell lines than in PBMCs. CB‐839 suppressed cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner, with CLC and Nody‐1 cells exhibiting greater susceptibility than Ema cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CB‐839 induced G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in susceptible cell lines. Metabolomic analysis revealed that CB‐839 led to glutamine accumulation and depletion of key tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in Nody‐1 cells. These findings indicate that glutamine metabolism is upregulated in canine large‐cell AL and plays a crucial role in tumour cell growth and survival. Inhibiting glutaminase could serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for this disease.
Goose gout, a metabolic disorder characterized by systemic urate deposition in visceral organs (e.g., liver, kidneys) and joints of goslings, is strongly associated with goose astrovirus (GAstV) infection and environmental stressors such as high humidity. This disease severely compromises growth performance and survival rates, yet no licensed prophylactic or therapeuti interventions are currently available. Here, we investigated the efficacy of SIA, a Chinese herbal formula comprising Saposhnikovia divaricata, Isatis indigotica and Astragalus membranaceus against GAstV-induced gout in goslings. An experimental model was established by combining oral GAstV challenge with high-humidity environmental exposure. We systematically evaluated the protective effects of SIA by monitoring mortality rates, growth parameters (body weight, feed conversion ratio), serum biomarkers (uric acid, creatinine, inflammatory cytokines), and histopathological alterations in target organs. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze shifts in intestinal microbiota composition. Notably, medium-dose SIA administration significantly reduced mortality (p<0.05), restored growth performance, and attenuated hepatic and renal pathologies. Serum analysis revealed marked decreases in serum uric acid and creatinine levels, alongside suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, SIA treatment modulated gut dysbiosis by reducing the relative abundances of pathogenic taxa, including Oceanobacillus picturae, Veillonellales, Streptococcus equinus and Synechococcus while promoting commensal microbiota associated with intestinal homeostasis.These findings highlight the dual prophylactic and therapeutic potential of SIA against goose gout, likely mediated through multi-target mechanisms involving renal urate excretion, anti-inflammatory activity, and gut microbiota regulation. This study provides a scientific foundation for developing SIA as a phytotherapeutic agent for goose gout management.
Light exposure has significant effects on animal development, metabolism, and immune function; however, few genes regulating these functional changes have been identified. In this study, a total of 160 broilers were randomly housed in 4 groups under different colors of light (white, red, blue, and green, n = 40 each). Body, liver, and spleen weights and serum indices were measured at 56 days, and liver and spleen samples were taken for transcriptomic sequencing. Chicken body, liver, and spleen weights; liver and spleen indices; and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels significantly increased under blue light. In the spleen, 520, 713, and 733 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including CRLF2, IFIH1, STAT2, XDH, were found in the red, blue, and green light groups, respectively, compared to the white light group. Compared with those in the white light group, a total of 436, 825, and 596 DEGs, including UPP2, SCD, FASN, were found in the red, blue, and green light groups, respectively. A total of 47 modules were identified by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), the darkolivegreen and royalblue modules of which were significantly positively correlated with blue light exposure and the liver, and the cyan and black modules were positively correlated with blue light exposure and the spleen. KEGG analysis of the hub genes with a |KME| > 0.8 in the module revealed that the effects of blue light on the liver were related mainly to NOD-like receptor signaling and PPAR signaling pathways. The effects of blue light on the spleen were primarily related to NOD-like receptor signaling and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways. Expression of UPP2, FASN, and SCD, which promotes hepatic fat accumulation, was upregulated in the blue light group. Moreover, in the blue light group, upregulated XDH, CRLF2, and IFIH1 expression facilitates the immunity of chickens. This study reveals potential pathways through which light affects lipid metabolism and immune function, providing new insights into how light influences animal development and production.
P.V. Albuquerque, E.P. Mesquita, S.F. Alcântara
et al.
ABSTRACT The sloth is known for its slow movements and arboreal habits. Most parts of its anatomy need yet to be unveiled, in order to understand the peculiarities that justify its behavior. In this sense, an investigation of the external characteristics of the heart of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus, was carried out to indicate the shape, the faces, the dimensions, the topography, and the coating of this organ. For this purpose, fifteen corpses destined for dissection and four healthy specimens were used to carry out thorax digital x-ray. Based on the obtained results, it was noticed that the heart of the species in question presents conical shape, situated obliquely in the mediastinum, is displaced to the left and has latero-lateral slight flattening. Among the animals, discrepancies were found in the organ skeletopy, which presents the tapered apex and the base, in which the large vessels can be observed, whose arrangements also proved to be variables. The heart presents faces (right and left), margins (cranial and caudal) and is surrounded by the pericardium, which gives off two ligaments, sternopericardial and phrenico pericardial. Its size is proportional to the age and length of the individual, with measurements, in general, slightly larger in males.
A. P. Rodionov, E. A. Artemeva, L. A. Melnikova
et al.
Anthrax remains a global problem, both for veterinary and human medicine, due to the wide spread of its soil foci throughout the world. The ability to sporulate is the main feature of Bacillus anthracis, which allows the pathogen to persist in the environment for a long time. Understanding the ecology of B. anthracis is essential for successful control of this infection. This review analyzes the data from the global literature, reflecting the modern understanding of the vital functions of the anthrax agent in various ecological niches. As a result of the work, it was revealed that many links in the chain of B. anthracis lifecycle in the abiotic environment remain poorly understood. A more in-depth study is required for issues related to the mechanisms, ways of living and evolution of the anthrax causative agent outside the animal body. A separate section of the review describes the problems of anthrax foci in soil. It is shown that today there are no effective and environmentally friendly methods and means of their elimination. In addition, the question of the expediency of their use remains open. According to some researchers, the increasingly emerging initiatives for the elimination or conservation of anthrax burial sites are not only useless, but also harmful, since they exclude the possibility of further predicting the risks associated with soil foci that surround livestock burial sites and cannot be decontaminated. The study and new approaches to solution of the highlighted issues will make a significant contribution to solving the global problem of protecting animals and people from this infection.
One of the effective recommendation for control of Foot and Mouth disease virus is the proper vaccination by a highly potent vaccine. Such a vaccine should be specific to the circulated field serotype of foot and mouth disease virus inducing rapid, highly protective immunity with a long duration. This research is concerned with using plant extracted oil adjuvants prepared from rapeseed oil mixed with or without Ginseng extracts and from Soybean oil as well with or without Ginseng extracts. Some humoral and cellular immune responses were compared using the different plant-extracted oils and the mineral-based adjuvant called Montanide oil ISA 206 after one dose vaccination of the prepared vaccines at different interval times post vaccinations. Lymphocyte blastogenesis, Interleukin-6, and Interleukin-12 showed higher expression in calves vaccinated by FMDV serotypes (O pan Asia, A Iran O5, and SAT2 / EGY/2012) with plant extract oil containing Ginseng extract comparable to that of plant extracts without Ginseng and Montanide oil ISA 206 adjuvants vaccines. It was found that FMD vaccine adjuvant with ginseng either with rapeseed or Soybean showed a higher post vaccinal cellular immune response than that without ginseng or ISA 206 alone. Estimation of the humoral immune response of vaccinated calves revealed that antibody against FMD virus serotypes O pan Asia, A Iran O5 and SAT2 / EGY/2012 by SNT and ELISA assay induced by the inactivated FMD adjuvant with rapeseed oil and ginseng vaccine and the inactivated FMD adjuvant with soybean oil and ginseng vaccine were higher than those induced by inactivated FMD adjuvant with Montanide oils 206. In contrast, the obtained antibody levels by the inactivated FMD adjuvant with rapeseed oil vaccine and inactivated FMD adjuvant with soybean oil vaccine was lower than those induced by inactivated FMD adjuvant with Montanide oils 206. So, it could be concluded that the use of plant origin oil adjuvant as rapeseed and soybean oil is considered a beneficial and alternative adjuvant to the imported mineral oil as it is much cheaper and induce better post vaccinal immune responses especially when mixed with ginseng extract.
Hae Seong Jeong, Dicky Tri Utama, Juntae Kim
et al.
Objective The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics of retorted Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) made from white semi-broilers (WSB; Ross× Hyline white, 3 weeks old), commercial broilers (CB; Ross, 4 weeks old), Korean native chickens (KNC; Hanhyup-3-ho, 12 weeks old) and old laying hens (OLH; Hyline white, 72 weeks old) and to explore the possibility of using the carcasses of KNCs and OLHs as raw material for product diversification. Methods Raw and cooked meat quality, fatty acid composition and consumer acceptance were analyzed. Results Among the chicken breeds, OLH and KNC showed a higher shear force value than WSB and CB due to high insoluble collagen contents. However, the meat of KNC was more tender than that of OLH. The meat of OLH was characterized by the lowest moisture content and highest crude fat content. The meat of KNC was characterized by a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid than that of OLH. The meat of OLH showed the highest content of unsaturated fatty acid, particularly linoleic acid, in its thigh meat. Electronic nose readings revealed that the meat aroma pattern was clearly different across breeds. OLH had the lowest overall acceptance score, while no differences were found in flavor, texture, juiciness and appearance among WSB, CB, and KNC. Conclusion KNC shows potential as raw material for Samgyetang, while additional preprocessing methods, such as tenderization and fat removal, are required for the utilization of OLH as raw material for retorted Samgyetang.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of air chilling (AC), water chilling (WC), combined chilling consisting of WC for 20 min and AC (CO20), and combined chilling consisting of WC for 30 min and AC (CO30) on the microbiological status, surface color, processing yield, and moisture content of yellow-feathered chicken carcasses. After chilling, the carcasses treated by AC exhibited the highest total viable counts (TVC) (4.7 cfu/cm2), followed by those treated by CO20 and CO30, whereas the carcasses treated by WC showed the lowest (P < 0.05) mean log TVC (4.2 cfu/cm2). Based on an instrumental color evaluation and photographs of carcass surfaces, the carcasses treated by AC showed a notable yellow color (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found among the carcasses treated by CO20, CO30, and WC. The skin samples of carcass parts treated by WC (breast, thighs, drumsticks, back, neck, and wings) exhibited higher moisture contents than the skin samples of the carcasses treated by AC (P < 0.05), providing evidence that weight gain during WC is due to higher water absorption by the skin. The different parts of the broiler carcasses treated by AC had lower cooking losses than those of carcasses treated by combined chilling or WC (P < 0.05), except for the thighs and claws. In breast and drumstick muscles, the moisture contents of the superficial parts from carcasses treated by WC were higher than those of the carcasses treated by AC, whereas the internal parts were not significantly affected by the chilling methods (P > 0.05). The results of this work can be useful for understanding and improving the chilling process for yellow-feathered chickens.
Weudes Rodrigues Andrade, Marielly Maria Almeida Moura, Vicente Ribeiro Rocha Júnior
et al.
This study evaluated the effect of increasing levels of leucaena forage in sorghum: forage. In addition to pure sorghum, it was evaluated different levels of inclusion of leucaena (15, 30 and 50%) at the time of ensiling. Forage was ensiled in PVC tubes (100 mm diameter, 500 mm length) under the density of 500 – 600 kg m-3, a total of 20 silos were prepared, which were opened 35 days after ensiling. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of leucaena inclusion levels for pH, water activity (Aw) and total ammonia nitrogen (total NH3-N). There was an increasing linear effect (p < 0.05) for the content of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and lignin that increased from 33.47 to 34.75%, 7.82 to 16.05% and from 7.29 to 9.93%, at the levels from 0 to 50% inclusion of leucaena, respectively. There was a decreasing linear effect (p < 0.05) for neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFcp) and hemicellulose, which reduced from 56.65 to 48.37% and from 24.07 to 17.67% at the levels of 0 and 50% inclusion, respectively. For the ash content, there was a quadratic effect (p < 0.05), with a maximum at 8.3% with 8.9% inclusion of leucaena. The inclusion of up to 50% leucaena into sorghum silage is recommended, because, in addition to maintaining the fermentation quality, it also improved nutritional quality of sorghum silage.
D. Montgomery Bissell, Lydia E. Hammaker, U. Meyer
Parenchymal cells from adult rat liver have been established in primary monolayer culture. Donor animals are subjected to a partial hepatectomy and, 4 days later, cells are prepared by collagenase perfusion of the regenerated liver. The hepatic parenchymal cells, separated from nonparenchymal material and suspended in serum-free medium, are placed in plastic tissue culture dishes, where they form a monolayer within 24 h. The monolayer cells exhibit minimal mitotic activity and demonstrate several major metabolic functions characteristic of liver in vivo; these include albumin synthesis and secretion, gluconeogenesis from 3-carbon precursors, responsiveness to insulin and glucagon, glycogen synthesis, and activity of two microsomal enzymes. These functions are present in the monolayer cells for several days at activities similar to those observed in the liver in vivo. The findings indicate that hepatic parenchymal cells in this monolayer system are viable and behave in many respects like normal adult rat liver.
Objective: The present study was planned to identify the efficacy of Datura metel aqueous seeds extract against Ascaridia galli infection on body weight and some haematological parameters among in vivo in Birds.
Methodology: The present study was carried out in advanced zoology laboratory/science college-Kufa university from February,2015 to January,2016. This study was carried out on 70 bird from layer hens
type Domestic Pigeons naturally infected with A. galli , after determination LD50 on Ascaridia galli and certain that Datura metel without toxicity where used three groups were concentrations this material by two way the one orally 100 and 300 mg/kg respectively from body weight with Datura metel aqueous seeds extract and leave about other groups as positive control for 21 days.
Result: The results showed that Datura metel aqueous seeds extract with concentration (300mg / kg) gave significantly (p<0.05) improving in body weight gain , increasing Hemoglobin values (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV) and determination of Total erythrocyte count (TEC) to weeks (7,14 and 21) days following the concentration (100 mg / kg) which gave same result but lesser than above concentration compared with positive groups control (non-treated).
Conclusion: The study proved that gave Datura metel aqueous seeds extract with concentration (300mg / kg) improved studied standers for naturally infested birds with Ascaridia galli after twice orally administration per day for continuous three weeks .
Recommendations: Heading to use of medicinal plants for abundance, cheap price, more effective and side effects less.