Poultry Science最新文献

{"title":"Combined effects of incubation temperature and lipopolysaccharide exposure on immune response modulation in the quail gut","authors":"Juliana dos Santos Conceição ,&nbsp;Angélica de Souza Khatlab ,&nbsp;Eliane Gasparino ,&nbsp;Thais Pacheco Santana ,&nbsp;Amanda Silva Carvalho ,&nbsp;Marcus Vinicius de Aragão Batista ,&nbsp;Marcelo Santana Filho ,&nbsp;Simone Eliza Facioni Guimaraes ,&nbsp;Jodnes Sobreira Vieira ,&nbsp;Ana Paula Del Vesco","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Embryogenesis is a critical programming window in birds, during which environmental factors can reshape gene expression and influence adaptive capacity after hatching. However, little is known about how embryonic thermal manipulation modulates intestinal immune and metabolic responses to inflammatory challenge later in life. This study evaluated the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation on the intestinal transcriptomic response of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A 2 × 2 factorial design was applied, including two incubation temperatures (control – 37.5°C; high – 39°C) and two challenge conditions (LPS and saline solution). At 25 days post-hatch, jejunum samples were collected after inoculation and subjected to RNA-seq analysis. High incubation temperature significantly reduced (p&lt;0.05) hatchability but did not affect embryo morphology. Under control temperature, LPS induced differential expression of 41 genes (adjusted-p&lt;0.05), including IL1R2, IL18BP, and S100A12, associated with inflammatory modulation and mucosal integrity. In contrast, high-temperature incubation triggered a broad transcriptomic reprogramming in response to LPS, with activation of inflammatory pathways, metabolic processes (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, pentose metabolism), lipid homeostasis, and vesicular trafficking, while simultaneously suppressing genes involved in adaptive immunity, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, and epigenetic regulation. A conserved set of inflammatory genes, including MMP7, PI3, and SLC6A14, was regulated under both thermal conditions, suggesting activation of central defense mechanisms. In conclusion, embryonic thermal manipulation did not change gross embryonic phenotype but markedly altered the magnitude and direction of intestinal gene expression responses to LPS, indicating a shift toward an innate inflammatory–metabolic profile at the expense of adaptive immune-related pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomic insights into the influence of goose farming on the gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome of workers","authors":"Yuqing Hao ,&nbsp;Yuan Li ,&nbsp;Fang Liu,&nbsp;Jinzhao Long,&nbsp;Haiyan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106487","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106487","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) seriously threatens the health of humans and animals. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were enriched in the goose farms. However, the influence of goose farming exposure on the gut microbiota and ARGs of workers was unclear. In this study, metagenomic analysis was used to characterize gut microbiome structures, annotate bacterial taxa, and quantify the abundances of ARGs and MGEs in geese and human samples. Results showed that goose feces harbored more abundant ARGs and ARB than human feces. Significantly higher abundances of special ARGs (such as <em>vanY, lsaE, AAC3-IId</em> and <em>ampC</em>) were identified in workers compared to villagers. Compositions of gut bacteria were significantly different between workers and villagers, and some certain gut pathogens were abundant in the feces of workers, including <em>Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium perfringens</em>, and <em>Escherichia coli</em> O45:K1:H7. A total of 51 ARGs were pinpointed in the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Based on ARG-MGE associations and co-occurrence signals in MAGs, the potential for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) was inferred. With this transfer capacity and ubiquitous gut colonization, <em>E. coli</em> carrying 38 ARGs is proposed as a putative AMR indicator for the goose farm. This study demonstrates that goose farming had non-ignorable influences on the gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome of workers. More efforts should be made to control the ARGs and ARB in the goose farm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106487"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146006512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative analysis of circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA profiles to reveal ceRNA regulation in geese ovarian development from the birth /laying to ceased periods","authors":"J.H. Fan ,&nbsp;X.J. Li ,&nbsp;M.M. Hou ,&nbsp;W.W. Cai ,&nbsp;X.W. Tong ,&nbsp;M. Ren ,&nbsp;C.S. Jiang ,&nbsp;S.H. Li","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laying performance is a key metric for assessing avian reproductive efficiency. Ovarian tissues from Wanxi White Geese (WWGs) at different laying stages (birth period, laying period, and ceased period) were used in this study as research subjects. mRNA and circRNA expression profiles of ovarian tissues were constructed across various laying phases using transcriptome sequencing technology and bioinformatics approaches. The results revealed a total of 504 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) (BO vs LO), 369 DEcircRNAs (LO vs CO), and 306 DEcircRNAs (BO vs CO) across different laying stages. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses demonstrated that DEcircRNA target genes were significantly enriched in processes including ovarian granulosa-cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and folliculogenesis. Concurrently, these targets were prominently implicated in phosphoinositide metabolism and played key roles in the GnRH, MAPK, and p53 signaling pathways. The expression of DEGs and proteins in ovarian tissues at different laying periods was detected by qRT-PCR technology and Western blot technology respectively. The results showed that the sequencing results were true and reliable. A ceRNA (circRNA-miRNA-mRNA) network was successfully constructed, and four key ceRNA regulatory axes implicated in ovarian development and steroid hormone synthesis/secretion were identified, namely novel_circ_107999-miR-1 44-y-<em>NR2F2/TGM2</em>, novel_circ_072697-miR-143-x-<em>FMN2</em>, novel_circ_031722-miR-101-x-<em>CASP2/RPN 2</em>, and novel_circ_100886-miR-101-y-<em>PTX3/SEMA3 E/HSD3B1</em>. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed a targeting relationship between the novel_circ_072697-miR-143-x-<em>FMN2</em> axis. In conclusion, this study system-atically explored the coordinated regulatory mechanisms of DEcircRNAs and their target genes, providing a theoretical foundation for identifying the key genes and molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian development in WWGs across different laying stages. These findings advance our understanding of the biological features of seasonal reproduction in this species and offer valuable insights for enhancing avian reproductive performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106498"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial resistance and genomic characteristics of avian Pasteurella multocida","authors":"Fengcheng Miao ,&nbsp;Bing Dai ,&nbsp;Zhiyu Li ,&nbsp;Kaikai Lv ,&nbsp;Junxing Li ,&nbsp;Shuangmao Li ,&nbsp;Shuaijie Song ,&nbsp;Huafeng Jian ,&nbsp;Xiaoqian Long ,&nbsp;Yao Shen ,&nbsp;Yinghui Wei ,&nbsp;Hua Yang ,&nbsp;Jiangang Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Pasteurella multocida</em>, the cause of fowl cholera, poses a significant economic threat to poultry. The escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in this pathogen, driven by drug misuse, is a serious concern. Crucially, a comprehensive understanding of AMR patterns, molecular epidemiology, and virulence in Chinese avian strains is still lacking<em>.</em> This study aimed to elucidate the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of <em>P. multocida</em> strains isolated from avian in Zhejiang Province, China.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>Twenty avian-origin <em>P. multocida</em> strains isolated in Zhejiang Province were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, and virulence assessment. Resistance was most frequent to florfenicol (65%) and tetracycline (50%). Multi-Locus Sequence Typing analysis revealed that ST471 and its closely related variant ST129 collectively constituted the dominant clonal group. A total of 13 resistance genes belonging to 5 major classes were identified, with <em>floR</em> (75%), <em>sul2</em> (50%), and <em>tet</em> (B) (50%) exhibiting the highest prevalence. In the <em>Galleria mellonella</em> model challenged with 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU/larva, ST471 strains exhibited a slower killing rate compared to ST129 strains, while the ST7 strain demonstrated low virulence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates the increasing prevalence of avian <em>P. multocida</em> in China, specifically the sustained circulation of ST129 and the recent emergence of ST471, particularly in ducks. These findings underscore the urgency of continuous monitoring of strain dissemination and the evolution of multidrug resistance, providing a scientific basis for precise and rational antimicrobials use in farms and for blocking the spread of potentially high-risk strains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106524"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of dietary myo-inositol supplementation on the expression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and αKlotho in two commercial laying hen strains","authors":"Leonie Meier ,&nbsp;Ákos Szentgyörgyi ,&nbsp;Nadine Wallauch ,&nbsp;Martina Feger ,&nbsp;Michael Oster ,&nbsp;Vera Sommerfeld ,&nbsp;Sonja Schmucker ,&nbsp;Korinna Huber ,&nbsp;Volker Stefanski ,&nbsp;Klaus Wimmers ,&nbsp;Markus Rodehutscord ,&nbsp;Michael Föller","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106522","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106522","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphate homeostasis is controlled by fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) produced by bone cells in mammals and primarily acting in the kidney. For its phosphaturic effect and for suppression of production of active vitamin D, it requires αKlotho as a co-receptor. FGF23 and αKlotho have emerged as disease biomarkers. Relatively little is known about their significance in laying hens that are in particular need of balanced mineral homeostasis for eggshell formation. Dietary <em>myo</em>-inositol (MI) and phosphate metabolism are interdependent, and this study aimed to explore FGF23 and αKlotho expression in two commercial hen strains fed different amounts of MI. Forty Lohmann Brown Classic (LB) and Lohmann LSL-Classic (LSL) 26-week-old hens received standard diets with 0, 1, 2, or 3 g supplemental MI per kg feed for four weeks, and gene expression of FGF23 and αKlotho was measured by quantitative real-time PCR in different organs. Statistical analysis was performed with the MIXED procedure, and correlation analysis with markers of phosphate homeostasis and hepatic inflammation applying Pearson's correlation coefficient or Spearman's Rho. Three g supplemental MI per kg feed resulted in lower hepatic FGF23 expression only in LB hens. Regardless of MI supplementation, tibial FGF23 expression tended to be lower in LSL than LB hens. Moreover, supplemental MI did not significantly impact αKlotho expression, but hepatic αKlotho expression was higher in LSL than LB hens without MI supplementation and tibial and renal αKlotho expression was significantly higher in LB than in LSL hens, regardless of dietary MI. To summarize, MI supplements at 3 g/kg reduced hepatic FGF23 expression in LB, but not in LSL hens at the peak of egg-laying. Further studies might be needed to elucidate the effect before sexual maturity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106522"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population genomic analysis of Weining chicken via dd-RAD sequencing: Unraveling diversity, structure, and selective sweeps","authors":"Zhaobi Ai ,&nbsp;Zhonglong Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiben Zhang ,&nbsp;Runqian Yang ,&nbsp;Yong Zhang ,&nbsp;Zelin Chen ,&nbsp;Weibo Li ,&nbsp;Yixing Ou ,&nbsp;Lanying Lei ,&nbsp;Hongying Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106499","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106499","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To characterize the genetic diversity and evolutionary patterns of four Weining chicken strains from Guizhou Province, China, we generated genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using dd-RAD sequencing. We found that Weining chicken exhibited moderate genetic diversity, with observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.267) lower than expected heterozygosity (He = 0.312) and a positive inbreeding coefficient (FIS ≈ 0.14), indicating some degree of inbreeding across the population. Among strains, HM showed the highest diversity while HT had the lowest. Analyses of population structure, phylogeny, principal component analysis, and admixture consistently revealed weak genetic differentiation (FST &lt; 0.06) and frequent gene flow among strains. Kinship analysis demonstrated mostly low pairwise relatedness, with a minority of individuals exhibiting closer kinship. Selection signature scans identified multiple candidate regions; genes within these regions were significantly enriched for biological processes and pathways related to immune response (e.g., IL-17 signaling) and metabolic regulation (e.g., MAPK signaling), which were consistently highlighted in both GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. These results demonstrate that Weining chicken has moderate genetic diversity, low population differentiation, and evidence of inbreeding and gene flow, with candidate selection signals in immune and metabolic pathways (e.g., IL-17 and MAPK signaling), providing a quantitative basis for conservation and breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106499"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ammonia mitigation and welfare enhancement in broilers using zeolite–clay–rice husk ash bedding supplement","authors":"Nhi Thai Thao Nguyen ,&nbsp;Kris Angkanaporn ,&nbsp;Chackrit Nuengjamnong ,&nbsp;Wantanee Buggakupta","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonia (NH₃) accumulation in broiler houses poses serious environmental and welfare challenges, causing respiratory irritation, impaired immunity, and footpad dermatitis. To address the limited long-term effectiveness of conventional materials like rice husk, this study evaluated a novel zeolite–clay–rice husk ash (ZCR) bedding formulation on broiler performance, welfare, litter quality, and in-house ammonia concentrations under commercial-like conditions. A total of 476, female Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four treatments following a completely randomized design (seven replicate pens per treatment): control (5 cm thickness of rice husk, T1) or rice husk supplemented with ZCR bedding formulation at 10 % (T2), 20 % (T3), or 40 % (T4) of rice husk weight in T1 group. Birds were reared for 38 days in an evaporative-cooled house. Growth performance, including body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio, did not differ significantly among treatments (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). In contrast, welfare indicators were significantly improved in birds reared on the 40 % ZCR bedding. Compared with the control, T4 birds exhibited lower heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, reduced serum cortisol concentrations (approximately 30 % reduction), and decreased footpad lesion severity (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). T4 also maintained lower in-house NH₃ concentrations, reaching 50 % lower levels than the control at the end of the grow-out period. Litter collected at day 38 from ZCR-treated pens exhibited lower pH, reduced moisture content, and markedly lower NH₃ emissions. Correlation and orthogonal polynomial analyses further demonstrated dose–response relationships between graded ZCR inclusion, ammonia reduction, and welfare-related parameters. In conclusion, the novel ZCR bedding formulation effectively reduced NH₃ emissions, reduced physiological stress and improved broiler welfare without compromising growth performance. These benefits are particularly relevant for tropical poultry production systems, where high humidity accelerates litter degradation and NH₃ release.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106491"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of drinking water temperature in summer on growth performance, water consumption, surface temperature, blood parameters, and intestinal development of geese from 14 to 42 days of age","authors":"X.F. Huang ,&nbsp;H. Zhong ,&nbsp;Y. Chen ,&nbsp;Z.L. Liu ,&nbsp;J.J. Xue ,&nbsp;Q. Xie ,&nbsp;Y. Luo ,&nbsp;G.T. Dai ,&nbsp;X. Han ,&nbsp;C. Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to investigate the effects of drinking water temperature on growth performance, water consumption, surface temperature, blood parameters, and intestinal development in geese, and to determine the optimal drinking water temperature for geese aged 14 to 42 days during summer. A total of 192 14-day-old male Yuzhou white geese were randomly allocated into four groups with eight replicate pens per group, corresponding to different drinking water temperatures: ambient temperature (T_C, 28-37°C), 14°C (T₁), 21°C (T₂), and 37°C (T₃). The results showed that decreasing the drinking water temperature significantly increased body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Geese in groups T₁ and T₂ consumed more water per day compared to those in the T_C and T₃ groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Drinking both cold and hot water (T₁ and T₃) reduced surface temperatures around the eyes and underwings (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). The provision of hot water significantly decreased blood levels of total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Adjusting water temperature did not significantly promote intestinal development (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). However, drinking hot water (T₃) significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the ileum (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that providing drinking water at 14°C and 21°C improves growth performance and water consumption, whereas water at 37°C may have certain adverse effects on geese. Under the conditions of this experiment, the optimal drinking water temperature for geese from 14 to 42 days of age is recommended to be 21°C.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106490"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoparticle delivery enhances the immunomodulatory efficacy of dietary methionine in broiler chickens","authors":"Mehran Mehri ,&nbsp;Mahmoud Ghazaghi ,&nbsp;Morteza Asghari-Moghadam ,&nbsp;Mohsen Amraie ,&nbsp;Amir Karamzadeh-Dehaghani ,&nbsp;Mohammad Rokouei","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Methionine, an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, is fundamental for humoral immunity through its roles in immunoglobulin synthesis and as a precursor to the intracellular antioxidant glutathione. Enhancing the bioavailability of such key nutrients is a significant goal in nutritional immunology. This study investigated whether nanotechnology could enhance the immunomodulatory effects of methionine by comparing the efficacy and relative bioavailability (RBV) of conventional DL-methionine (DL-Met) with a novel nanoparticle-conjugated methionine (nano-Met) in an avian model. The humoral immune response was quantified by measuring primary and secondary antibody titers following challenge with a T-cell-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells). Exponential regression modeling revealed that the relative bioavailability of nano-Met was 279% (95% CI: 80–479%) compared to DL-Met. Furthermore, dose-response analysis confirmed that a lower concentration of nano-Met was required to achieve a maximal antibody response, indicating superior biological efficiency. These findings demonstrate that nanoparticle-based delivery systems can dramatically increase the bioavailability and immunomodulatory efficacy of essential amino acids. This approach could have significant implications for human health, particularly in clinical contexts requiring enhanced immune function or in populations with compromised nutrient absorption, offering a novel paradigm for targeted nutritional intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106436"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anthelmintic effects of Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia judaica extracts on Ascaridia galli in poultry","authors":"Anas Abdelqader ,&nbsp;Zeinab Mahasneh ,&nbsp;Samah Albataineh ,&nbsp;Lana Abdelhafiz","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessment of antiparasitic efficacy of <em>Artemisia herba-alba</em> and <em>Artemisia judaica</em> using <em>in vitro, in silico</em>, and animal-based models against <em>Ascaridia galli</em> was conducted. Ethanolic extracts from each <em>Artemisia</em> species were separately prepared in 0.5% DMSO. For the <em>in vitro</em> analysis, a total of 180 adult <em>Ascaridia galli</em> worms were harvested from naturally infected chicks and randomly assigned into four equal groups. Group 1 received Fenbendazole (0.5 mg/mL), Group 2 was treated with <em>A. herba-alba</em> extract (50 mg/mL), Group 3 with <em>A. Judaica</em> extract (50 mg/mL), and Group 4 served as the control, exposed to 0.5% DMSO. All treatments were applied for a duration of 13 hours. For the <em>in vivo</em> investigation, 540 <em>A. galli</em>-infected chicks were divided into six equally sized groups. Groups 1 and 2 received <em>A. herba-alba</em> at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Similarly, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with <em>A. Judaica</em> at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg. Group 5 was administered Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg) as a positive control, while Group 6 served as the untreated control. Both <em>A. herba-alba</em> and <em>A. Judaica</em> significantly inhibited worm motility <em>in vitro</em> compared to the control group. Fenbendazole achieved 100% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while <em>A. herba-alba</em> showed 30.1% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and <em>A. Judaica</em> demonstrated 23.1% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). At 14 days post-treatment, <em>Artemisia</em>-treated groups showed a significant decrease in female fecundity, fecal egg count (FEC), and worm burden relative to the control group. Notably, there was no significant variation (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) based on the <em>Artemisia</em> species or dose level used. In vitro exposure of nematodes to <em>A. judaica</em> and <em>A. herba-alba</em> extracts resulted in a significant, time-dependent reduction in worm motility compared with control treatments, whereas fenbendazole induced rapid and complete immobilization; no significant differences were observed between the two herbal extracts. Molecular docking analysis indicates that camphor demonstrated robust affinity score of -6.25 kcal/mol against ATP synthase, while camphor against glutathione transferase showed promising interactions with an affinity score of -6.90 kcal/mol. In conclusion, extracts of <em>A. herba-alba</em> and <em>A. Judaica</em> demonstrate significant potential as effective and suitable alternatives for managing <em>A. galli</em> infections in poultry by targeting ATP synthase and glutathione transferase in <em>A. galli</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106594"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}