Pathways regulating equine skeletal muscle protein synthesis respond in a dose-dependent manner to graded levels of protein intake.

Activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-controlled anabolic signaling pathways in skeletal muscle of rodents and humans is responsive to the level of dietary protein supply, with maximal activation and rates of protein synthesis achieved with 0.2 to 0.4 g protein/kg body weight (BW).

The effect of dietary supplementation with globin and spray-dried porcine plasma on performance, digestibility and histomorphological traits in broiler chickens.

This study evaluated the effects of globin and spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on growth performance, digestibility, nitrogen retention, energy retention efficiency (ERE) and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 336-day-old male broiler chickens were reared from 1 to 40 days of age and fed 3 diets (8 replicates/diet, 14 birds/replicate) during 3 feeding phases: starter (1-12 days), grower (12-25 days) and finisher (25-40 days). Isonitrogenous diets were formulated by replacing gluten protein isolate contained in the control diet (C diet) with 2% (starter) or 1% (grower and finisher) spray-dried porcine plasma in the plasma diet (SDPP diet).

Serologic screening for 13 infectious agents in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Flanders.

Introduction: In order to investigate the role of roe deer in the maintenance and transmission of infectious animal and human diseases in Flanders, we conducted a serologic screening in 12 hunting areas.

Materials And Methods: Roe deer sera collected between 2008 and 2013 (n=190) were examined for antibodies against 13 infectious agents, using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, virus neutralisation, immunofluorescence, or microagglutination test, depending on the agent.

Results And Discussion: High numbers of seropositives were found for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (45.

Longitudinal monitoring for respiratory pathogens in broiler chickens reveals co-infection of Chlamydia psittaci and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale.

Chlamydia psittaci is prevalent in broiler chicken production. However, the role of C. psittaci in the respiratory disease complex needs to be clarified.

Host-pathogen interactions in specific pathogen-free chickens following aerogenous infection with Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus.

Although Chlamydia (C.) psittaci infections are recognized as an important factor causing economic losses and impairing animal welfare in poultry production, the specific mechanisms leading to severe clinical outcomes are poorly understood. In the present study, we comparatively investigated pathology and host immune response, as well as systemic dissemination and expression of essential chlamydial genes in the course of experimental aerogeneous infection with C.

Pathogenicity of low and highly virulent Chlamydia psittaci isolates for specific-pathogen-free chickens.

In commercially raised poultry, chlamydiosis mostly seems to occur on turkey or duck farms, sometimes associated with zoonotic transmission and disease (psittacosis) in humans. However, Chlamydia infections are apparently emerging in chickens, and information on the virulence of Chlamydia in chickens is limited. Up-to-date Chlamydia psittaci genotypes B and D are most frequently found in broilers.

Zoonotic infection with Chlamydia psittaci at an avian refuge centre.

This paper reports the zoonotic transmission of Chlamydia psittaci at a wild bird refuge centre resulting in the infection of members of the staff. Pharyngeal swabs were culture positive in 26% (11/42) of the sampled birds, and molecular characterisation of isolates revealed genotypes A, B, D, and E/B. The finding reflects multiple distinct infections and highlights the endemic nature of this pathogen in avian wildlife.

Emerging Chlamydia psittaci infections in chickens and examination of transmission to humans.

Chlamydia psittaci and atypical Chlamydiaceae infections are (re)-emerging in chickens. We therefore examined the prevalence of C. psittaci, atypical Chlamydiaceae and their zoonotic transmission on 19 Belgian chicken farms.

Animal models for studying female genital tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. It is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world, with more than 100 million new cases of genital tract infections with C. trachomatis occurring each year.

Broiler ascites syndrome: collateral damage from efficient feed to meat conversion.

Chickens have been raised as food for human consumption for over 4000 years. Over this time they have been continuously selected for specific desirable characteristics by active selection of parents to produce birds which fit perceived needs. Despite this long history of selective breeding and improvements in rearing techniques, the efficiency with which broiler meat is produced has shown a remarkable leap in recent decades.

Tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis in cases of reproductive failure on Belgian, Cypriote and Israeli pig production farms.

Similar cases of severe reproductive failure associated with the presence of Chlamydia suis in two Belgian, one Cypriote and one Israeli pig farrowing to slaughter farms are presented. Vaginal and rectal swabs from 39 sows were examined by culture and DNA microarray. Nineteen of 23 (83 %) C.

Emerging Chlamydia psittaci infections in the chicken industry and pathology of Chlamydia psittaci genotype B and D strains in specific pathogen free chickens.

Sera of 30 Belgian and 10 Northern French chicken farms were tested by a Chlamydia (C.) psittaci major outer membrane protein (MOMP) based ELISA. Ninety-six percent, 93% and 90% of the Belgian broilers, broiler breeders and layers were seropositive.

The effect of different working definitions on behavioral research involving stereotypies in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Many sources of variation in animal experiments are related to characteristics of the animal or its husbandry conditions. In ethologic studies, observational methods can also affect interexperimental variation. Different descriptions for a behavior can lead to divergent findings that may be incorrectly attributed to other factors if not recognized as stemming from a classification dissonance.

Tolerance and safety evaluation of N,N-dimethylglycine, a naturally occurring organic compound, as a feed additive in broiler diets.

N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) is a tertiary amino acid that naturally occurs as an intermediate metabolite in choline-to-glycine metabolism. The objective of the present trial was to evaluate tolerance, safety and bioaccumulation of dietary DMG in broilers when supplemented at 1 g and 10 g Na-DMG/kg. A feeding trial was conducted using 480 1-d-old broiler chicks that were randomly allocated to twenty-four pens and fed one of three test diets added with 0, 1 or 10 g Na-DMG/kg during a 39 d growth period.

Micromineral source affects intestinal morphology but not feather formation in pigeons.

During 7 weeks, two groups of eight pigeons received Zn, Cu, Mn and Se either as inorganic salts or organically bound to investigate the effect of micromineral source on two fast processes in avian metabolism: feather regrowth and intestinal renewal. Increased plasma Zn with reduced hepatic Cu in the organically bound minerals group suggests improved Zn bio-availability with a net antagonistic effect on Cu. Micromineral source did not affect feather regrowth, organ weight or intestinal pH, but the increased villus height with similar crypt depth pointed to increased absorptive surface.

Guidelines and ethical considerations for housing and management of psittacine birds used in research.

The Psittaciformes are a large order of landbirds comprising over 350 species in about 83 genera. In 2009, 141 published studies implicated parrots as research subjects; in 31 of these studies, 483 individuals from 45 different species could be considered laboratory animals. Amazons and budgerigars were by far the most represented psittacine species.

Psittacine birds as laboratory animals: refinements and assessment of welfare.

We address housing, refinements of husbandry, and some concerns regarding the use of parrots as laboratory animals. Because the duration of a project is most likely brief relative to the lifespan of the bird, among the most important goals is a well-established socialization program to maximize success of rehoming the birds after laboratory housing. We also present appropriate methods for catching and restraining parrots during experimental procedures.