Antimicrobial Use in On-Farm Hatching Systems vs. Traditional Hatching Systems: A Case Study.

On-farm hatching is a relatively new method in the broiler industry, in which fertilized broiler eggs are transported to the farms at the stage of 17-19 days of incubation. Once hatched, the broiler chicks have direct access to feed and water. Previous studies have shown on-farm hatching to increase animal welfare and intestinal development.

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis related Enterococcus cecorum isolates are genetically distinct from the commensal population and are more virulent in an embryo mortality model.

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a common cause of broiler lameness. Bacteria that are found in BCO lesions are intestinal bacteria that are proposed to have translocated through the intestinal epithelium and have spread systemically. One of the specific bacterial species frequently isolated in BCO cases is Enterococcus cecorum.

A case of clubbed down syndrome in broilers.

This study presents a case of clubbed down syndrome in conventional broilers. During the first week of life, severe growth retardation was observed in approximately 25% of the flock. The growth-retarded chicks weighed only 45 g and showed a typical feather disorder which was most apparent on their abdomen and was defined in literature as typical for clubbed down syndrome.

Risk factors for poor health and performance in European broiler production systems.

Background: Conventional broilers are currently one of the most efficient protein converters. Although decades of progress in genetic selection and feed formulation have lead to high standards of efficient broiler production, still a lot of variability is found between farms and between successive flocks. The aim of this study was to investigate risk- and/or protective factors for poor health and performance in conventional broiler-farms in Europe by developing eight multivariable linear mixed models.

Incidence and associated risk factors of necrotic enteritis in Belgian layer pullet flocks.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by is commonly reported in broilers. Recently, increased NE prevalence in layer breeds was reported in the Indian subcontinent. NE is also frequently observed by veterinary practitioners in Europe, mainly during the pullet rearing phase.

Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizure Susceptibility in the Tau58/4 Transgenic Mouse Model of Tauopathy.

In several tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), an increased incidence of seizures is observed. Tau, one of the major proteins implicated in AD pathology, is an important regulator of neural network excitability and might participate in the underlying epileptic cascade. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully elucidated.

Alzheimer's disease: Neurotransmitters of the sleep-wake cycle.

With aging, our sleeping pattern alters. Elderly often wake unrested because their sleep time and sleep efficacy is reduced. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, these alterations are even more pronounced and may further aggravate cognitive decline.

Sleep architecture changes in the APP23 mouse model manifest at onset of cognitive deficits.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which accounts for most of the dementia cases, is, aside from cognitive deterioration, often characterized by the presence of non-cognitive symptoms such as activity and sleep disturbances. AD patients typically experience increased sleep fragmentation, excessive daytime sleepiness and night-time insomnia. Here, we sought to investigate the link between sleep architecture, cognition and amyloid pathology in the APP23 amyloidosis mouse model for AD.

Effect of a Drinking Water Conditioner on Stability and Efficacy of Fluralaner in Laying Hens Infested with Poultry Red Mites.

Concurrent use of a colorant during drinking water treatment could contribute to the correct application of fluralaner to poultry. The present studies therefore examined whether the blue-colored drinking water conditioner Vac-Safe has an influence on the stability of fluralaner in water and/or on its efficacy for the control of poultry red mites (PRM). Laboratory trials showed that fluralaner dissolved at various concentrations in water conditioned with Vac-Safe retained full stability for at least 27 hr at temperatures up to 40 C.

PTZ-induced seizures in mice require a revised Racine scale.

Seizure severity in experimental models of epilepsy is often evaluated by means of the Racine scale, in spite of the use of seizure induction methods that are different from those of the original paper by Racine in 1972. In such cases, the use of this scale is not always justified because some seizure behaviors are significantly different from those originally described or not present at all. Correspondingly, the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model, which is frequently used for antiepileptic drug research, lacked an adequate assessment tool to measure seizure severity.

Adenoviral Gizzard Erosions in Two Belgian Broiler Farms.

Fowl adenovirus infections are widely prevalent in poultry. Many of the viruses can infect chickens without resulting in overt disease. Nevertheless, some fowl adenoviruses can cause important disease complexes in chickens such as inclusion body hepatitis, hydropericardium syndrome, necrotic pancreatitis, and gizzard erosion.

Sleep and Alzheimer's disease: A pivotal role for the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which accounts for most of the dementia cases, is, aside from cognitive deterioration, often characterized by the presence of non-cognitive symptoms. Society is desperately in need for interventions that alleviate the economic and social burden related to AD. Circadian dysrhythmia, one of these symptoms in particular, immensely decreases the self-care ability of AD patients and is one of the main reasons of caregiver exhaustion.

An outbreak of histomoniasis in free-range layer hens.

Histomonas meleagridis was held primarily responsible for an outbreak of 6% increased mortality and 11% decreased egg production between weeks 57 and 72 in a flock of free-range layer hens, concurrently infected with Brachyspira-like bacteria. This case can be considered an example of ancient diseases re-emerging in alternative housing systems that are promoted because of animal welfare considerations, but that at the same time allow rapid spread of pathogens in birds for which only few curative drugs are registered. Therefore, new housing methods should be introduced gradually to gain experience with them.