Poultry Science最新文献

To assess the potential threat of the novel H3 subtype Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) to the poultry industry and human health, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic tree and homology analysis were conducted on four H3N3 viruses and one H3N8 virus isolated from three different regions. Representative strains were selected for the study of pathogenicity and transmissibility in Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) chickens, BALB/c mice, and Hartley guinea pigs. Phylogenetic tree and homology analyses indicate that the eight gene segments of the four H3N3 viruses are derived from reassortments involving H3N8 virus (HA gene), H10N3 virus (NA gene), and H9N2 virus (internal genes). Additionally, the gene segments of one H3N8 strain are the result of reassortment between H3N8 virus (HA and NA genes) and H9N2 virus (internal genes). Multiple mammalian-adaptive mutations were detected in the gene fragments, including amino acid substitutions and alterations in glycosylation sites. Animal experimental results indicate that the B166 (H3N3) and K245 (H3N8) isolates were pathogenic to SPF chickens and BALB/c mice, and were also capable of infecting Hartley guinea pigs. Both strains transmitted among chickens, with B166 displaying slightly lower transmissibility than K245. However, only K245 was transmissible via direct contact in Hartley guinea pigs. This highlights the potential public health risks of H3 subtype viruses, posing a threat to the poultry industry and human health, which makes ongoing monitoring and further research crucial.

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs), used to be recognized as non-malignant pathogens, have now evolved into notable pathogens threatening global poultry productions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the escalating challenges posed by FAdVs. There is already a wide variety of genetic types or strains within the virus population of the genus Aviadenovirus, FAdVs, where distinct serotypes are already present as the causative agent of Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) and Hydropericardium Hepatitis Syndrome (HHS). These viruses are widely distributed throughout the globe, hypervirulent strains are arising particularly novel genotypes of FAdV-4, spreading from Asia into new regions. As these pathogens cause high mortality, decreased growth performance, carcass being unfit for consumption, and various measures are needed to be taken for controlling these pathogens by vaccination and other control measures, its economic impact is considerably significant. Intensive farming system, new virus strain formation via mutation and recombination, immunosuppressive co-infection worsening the health of host usually facilitates the appearance of these pathogens. Controlling these diseases is hard because of having different serotypes and prevention includes mainly maintaining proper biosecurity and specific vaccination against specific serotype of the virus. However, it is more important to conduct more research into cross-protective vaccines, improved molecular diagnostics, and enhanced global surveillance. This review focuses on the importance of integrating strategies to lessen the adverse effects of FAdVs, as it's endangering poultry health, economic sustainability, and food security.

Quercetin (Que) possesses diverse biological activities and has been extensively investigated in various fields, but its impact on rooster reproductive performance and the underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of quercetin on reproductive performance of roosters and preliminarily explored its underlying regulatory mechanism. Forty-eight 100-day-old roosters were randomly divided into control group and three quercetin groups (Que_5mg/d, Que_10mg/d, and Que_20mg/d). Daily gavage was conducted continuously for 60 days. Semen quality was evaluated using a sperm analyzer. Then, metabolomics, proteomics, network pharmacology, molecular dynamics simulation, hormone detection, qRT-PCR, and their combination analysis was employed for mechanism validation. The result of semen quality evaluation and testicular tissue morphology observation showed that quercetin can significantly increase the semen collection volume, semen motility (P < 0.05), sperm density was significantly higher in the Que_5mg/d and Que_10mg/d groups than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, the height of the seminiferous epithelium of the testes (P < 0.05). Consistently, both testicular metabolomics and hormone detection results indicated that quercetin significantly increased testosterone levels (P < 0.05). Metabolite KEGG enrichment analysis revealed a significant upregulation of the steroid hormone biosynthesis. Proteomics and qRT-PCR assays confirmed that quercetin upregulated the expression of genes such as CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further indicate that quercetin has a favorable binding with steroid hormone biosynthesis related protein CYP11A1. These results demonstrates that supplementation with quercetin at a dosage of 10 mg/d can enhances reproductive performance in roosters by targeting steroid hormone biosynthesis-related proteins to promote hormone synthesis.

Semen cryopreservation represents a pivotal technology for the long-term conservation and efficient utilization of poultry genetic resources. The primary challenge impeding the implementation of this technology pertains to the phenomenon of frozen-thaw-induced oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been demonstrated to exhibit remarkable antioxidant capacity within the context of biomedical applications. The present study therefore systematically evaluated the effects of adding ZnO NPs to a dimethylformamide (DMF) cryoprotectant on the morphology, antioxidant capacity, and reproductive potential of frozen-thawed sperm. The results demonstrated that, in comparison with the DMF group, the ZnO-DMF group exhibited significantly increased plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity (MA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in frozen-thawed sperm (P < 0.05). Concurrently, the rates of abnormal morphology, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Following artificial insemination, the fertilization rate of the experimental group 87.92% ± 10.66, the hatching rate was 97.79% ± 3.59, and late embryonic mortality was found to be significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). In summary, the study demonstrates that ZnO NPs enhance sperm antioxidant capacity and exhibit synergistic protective effects with DMF, effectively mitigating cryopreservation-induced damage. This finding provides scientific rationale and technical support for the optimisation of rooster semen cryopreservation protocols and the enhancement of the efficiency of poultry genetic resource conservation.

Frizzled 4 (FZD4), a member of the frizzled family, is involved in various cancers and neurological disorders because of its abnormal expression. However, its regulatory role in skeletal development and bone formation, especially in livestock and poultry, remains poorly characterized. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of bone tissue samples collected during physiological bone remodeling in chickens identified FZD4 as a differentially expressed gene. To investigate the function of FZD4 in the osteogenic differentiation of chicken bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), we assessed the expression of osteogenic marker genes and canonical Wnt signaling pathway factors at the mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, we evaluated differentiation and mineralization potential via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining. The results demonstrated that FZD4 expression was significantly upregulated during early differentiation. Furthermore, FZD4 overexpression increased the expression of early osteogenic markers, whereas FZD4 knockdown suppressed this expression. Although FZD4 acts as a receptor for the canonical Wnt pathway, its role in promoting osteogenesis in chickens through this pathway remains unclear. Importantly, FZD4 overexpression upregulated key canonical Wnt signaling factors at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas FZD4 knockdown had the opposite effect. These findings indicate that FZD4 participates in chicken bone formation by regulating osteogenic marker expression, likely through activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This study elucidates the specific regulatory role of FZD4 in avian skeletal development, providing novel insights and theoretical support for understanding bone development and skeletal health in poultry and livestock.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is a leading foodborne pathogen, and cecal colonization in broilers is a major source of carcass contamination at processing. Understanding how colonization relates to immune activity in systemic and B cell-rich lymphoid tissues is needed to identify immune markers and guide practical strategies to mitigate C. jejuni persistence. We used a chick challenge model to relate treatment group- and time-dependent colonization to gene expression in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Seventy-two 1-day-old male broilers were orally inoculated at 7 days of age (negative control, low dose 10⁴ CFU/mL, high dose 10⁶ CFU/mL; six cages per group). At 7 and 14 days post inoculation (DPI), one bird per cage was sampled (n = 6 per group per time point). Cecal and intestinal loads were enumerated, and a 10-gene cytokine panel (IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, SOCS3, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1, BAFF, CD40, TLR-21) was quantified in spleen and bursa by RT-qPCR. Cecal colonization showed a clear group × DPI interaction (P = 0.005) and was more consistent than intestinal recovery. Cecal counts were similar at 7 DPI, but by 14 DPI the high-dose group had higher counts than low-dose and control birds (P < 0.05). Intestinal counts were variable and frequently at or below the detection limit. Splenic responses were largely time-driven, with strong DPI effects but few significant group differences or group × DPI interactions. In contrast, bursal profiles showed marked group × DPI interactions (P < 0.05). At 7 DPI, only CD40 differed among groups, whereas by 14 DPI the high-dose group exhibited significantly higher expression than controls of pro-inflammatory mediators, B cell-associated markers, and regulatory cytokines. Overall, sustained high cecal colonization was associated with a delayed, B cell-centered bursal inflammatory and regulatory signature, while splenic profiles remained primarily time-driven. Cecal load and bursal B cell-related pathways at 14 DPI are promising endpoints for future vaccine and intervention studies in young broilers.

To evaluate the effect of in-ovo supplementation of bovine milk-derived Osteopontin (bmOPN) in chicks, fertilized specific-pathogen-free eggs were randomly allocated into six treatment groups (n = 26 eggs/group) on embryonic day 18. The hatchability was collected from six independent experiments. Eggs in each treatment received a 200 μL in-ovo injection of PBS containing 0 mg, 0.1 mg, 1 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg of bmOPN. On day of hatch (DOH), hatchability and chick quality parameters were assessed. Body weights were recorded on DOH, 7, and 14 days of age. On day 7 of age, intestinal histomorphometric parameters, including villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and VH:CD ratio, were measured in the 0, 1, and 25 mg groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) were isolated from 0 and 1 mg groups for flow cytometry analysis. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Model, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U test followed by Tukey HSD/Dunn test. The hatchability increased by approximately 8% in the 1 mg and 25 mg groups compared to the control, reaching 93.6% and 93.9%, respectively. We observed dose-dependent decreases in chick length and residual yolk percentage, along with an increase in navel score up to 25 mg bmOPN. Hatched chick body weights increased slightly (1-2 g) in the 1, 10, and 25 mg groups, and by day 14, chicks in the 1 mg and 10 mg groups maintained higher body weights and body weight gains. On day 7, bmOPN administration increased the number of intestinal T-cell IELs (TCRαβ⁺ subsets and TCRγδ⁺), as well as non-T IELs (including iCD8α⁺ cells), while no changes were observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These findings suggest that in-ovo supplementation of bmOPN enhances hatchability, chick quality, growth performance, and mucosal immune development. However, further studies are warranted to investigate the effects of bmOPN administered through different routes on intestinal function and immune responses during inflammation in both broiler and layer chickens.

The aim of this study was to test the in vivo antioxidant capacity in broilers of two phytogenic additives, one derived from olive pomace (OE) and an encapsulated product based on Capsicum sp., black pepper, and ginger (SPICY), in a challenge using oxidized lipids in the feed. A total of 720 one-day-old male Cobb 500 were allocated to 72 pens (8 treatments, 9 replicates, 10 birds/replicate). The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial, the factors being: fat source (4% soybean oil or 4% peroxidized soybean oil); SPICY (0 or 250 ppm); and OE (0 or 3077 ppm). From 1 to 21 days (global period) no significant differences were observed on performance. Broilers fed peroxidized oil showed higher plasma ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; P < 0.05) values and higher catalase (CAT) activity compared to those fed fresh oil except in those birds fed the OE which remained constant with both oil sources (P < 0.05 for the interaction). Broilers fed OE showed a significant lower CAT gene expression in the liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression was lower in birds fed fresh oil and OE compared to those fed fresh oil without OE but higher in birds fed peroxidized oil and OE compared to those fed peroxidized oil without OE (P < 0.05 for the interaction). By contrast, broilers fed SPICY upregulated CAT (P < 0.05) and downregulated HSP70 (P < 0.05) gene expression in the liver compared to those not supplemented with SPICY. In conclusion, feeding broilers with peroxidized soybean oil from 1 to 21 days of age did not affect the productive parameters. However, the presence of lipid peroxidation products in the feed triggered both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant responses to maintain the oxidant/antioxidant balance. In the case of birds fed the OE, the enzymatic antioxidant response was more attenuated, indicating a better control of oxidative stress, likely mediated by HSP70.

Campylobacter jejuni remains a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide, with poultry serving as the primary reservoir. In the absence of commercial vaccines or effective feed additives, probiotics and their byproducts (postbiotics) represent a promising and sustainable approach to reducing Campylobacter colonization in poultry. This study compared the efficacy of oral and cloacal administration of probiotic lactobacilli and their postbiotics in reducing Campylobacter colonization and modulating the cecal microbiome in broiler chickens. Day-old chicks were assigned to seven treatment groups that received either probiotics (live cells of four poultry-derived Lactobacillus strains: L. reuteri P43, L. acidophilus P42, L. animalis P38, and L. crispatus C25) or postbiotics (Lactobacillus supernatants) or their combination (whole cultures) orally or intracloacally, with a non-treated group serving as a control. Chickens were challenged with C. jejuni strain 81-176 at the second week of age, and cecal contents were collected at the fifth week for Campylobacter enumeration and microbiome profiling. The results revealed that both oral and cloacal administration of Lactobacillus cells significantly reduced Campylobacter cecal loads by 0.34 and 0.78 log₁₀, respectively, compared to the control. Significant differences in microbial richness and evenness were observed among treatment groups, with groups administered orally with probiotics, postbiotics, or their combination consistently showing higher alpha diversity indices than controls. NMDS ordination confirmed distinct community clustering among the treatment groups. Differential abundance analysis (MaAsLin2) further revealed that Ruminococcus was significantly enriched in the group receiving intracloacal postbiotic treatment, whereas the genus unclassified Firmicutes was more abundant in the group that received the combined probiotic-postbiotic treatment orally. Opportunistic genera, such as Escherichia-Shigella and Faecalicoccus, were significantly higher in the control group compared to all treated groups. Overall, while probiotics and postbiotics, whether given alone or together, modulated the gut microbial composition in Campylobacter-infected broilers, the administration of probiotic cells offered additional benefits by reducing Campylobacter colonization.