Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106546
Maryam Karimi Zandi , Hassan Shirzadi , Hossein Ali Ghasemi , Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi , Kamran Taherpour , Enayat Rahmatnejad
This study evaluated the effects of a multicomponent toxin binder (MTB) and an organic acid blend (OAB) on performance, immunity, oxidative status, liver histology, and jejunal inflammatory/antioxidant gene expression in broilers challenged with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Clostridium perfringens. A total of 420 Ross 308 broilers were assigned to seven groups (6 replicates × 10 birds): Control (unchallenged), A (AFB1), AM (AFB1 + MTB), AMO (AFB1 + MTB + OAB), AC (AFB1+ C. perfringens), ACM (AFB1 + C. perfringens + MTB), and ACMO (AFB1 + C. perfringens + MTB+OAB). AFB1 (500 ppb) was provided throughout days 0–42; C. perfringens (1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) was administered on days 15–24. AFB1 alone, and more markedly the AFB1+C. perfringens co-challenge, reduced body-weight gain and feed efficiency, increased hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde level, enlarged central-vein diameter, upregulated jejunal NF-κB1, TNF-α, and IL-6, and downregulated hepatic total antioxidant capacity and jejunal NRF2 and SOD1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). The co-challenge also lowered Newcastle disease antibody titers, reduced phytohemagglutinin-induced toe-web swelling, and increased the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (P < 0.05). Although MTB attenuated several AFB1-related impairments, MTB+OAB provided superior protection under co-challenge, increasing hepatic total antioxidant capacity, lowering malondialdehyde, improving liver histoarchitecture (central-vein diameter), and normalizing the expression of immune and antioxidant genes toward control levels, alongside improvements in performance indices (P < 0.05). In conclusion, although co-exposure to AFB1 and C. perfringens caused greater detriments than AFB1 alone, adding OAB to MTB improved performance, oxidative, histological, and immunological outcomes, supporting MTB+OAB as a practical strategy for broilers under concurrent mycotoxin–enteric challenge.
{"title":"Protective effects of a multicomponent toxin binder and organic acid blend on feed efficiency, oxidative status, hepatic histology, and jejunal immune–antioxidant responses in broilers co-challenged with aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens","authors":"Maryam Karimi Zandi , Hassan Shirzadi , Hossein Ali Ghasemi , Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi , Kamran Taherpour , Enayat Rahmatnejad","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of a multicomponent toxin binder (<strong>MTB</strong>) and an organic acid blend (<strong>OAB</strong>) on performance, immunity, oxidative status, liver histology, and jejunal inflammatory/antioxidant gene expression in broilers challenged with aflatoxin B<sub>1</sub> (<strong>AFB<sub>1</sub></strong>) and <em>Clostridium perfringens</em>. A total of 420 Ross 308 broilers were assigned to seven groups (6 replicates × 10 birds): Control (unchallenged), A (AFB<sub>1</sub>), AM (AFB<sub>1</sub> + MTB), AMO (AFB<sub>1</sub> + MTB + OAB), AC (AFB<sub>1</sub>+ <em>C. perfringens</em>), ACM (AFB<sub>1</sub> + <em>C. perfringens</em> + MTB), and ACMO (AFB<sub>1</sub> + <em>C. perfringens</em> + MTB+OAB). AFB<sub>1</sub> (500 ppb) was provided throughout days 0–42; <em>C. perfringens</em> (1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) was administered on days 15–24. AFB<sub>1</sub> alone, and more markedly the AFB<sub>1</sub>+<em>C. perfringens</em> co-challenge, reduced body-weight gain and feed efficiency, increased hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde level, enlarged central-vein diameter, upregulated jejunal NF-κB1, TNF-α, and IL-6, and downregulated hepatic total antioxidant capacity and jejunal NRF2 and SOD1 mRNA expression (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The co-challenge also lowered Newcastle disease antibody titers, reduced phytohemagglutinin-induced toe-web swelling, and increased the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Although MTB attenuated several AFB<sub>1</sub>-related impairments, MTB+OAB provided superior protection under co-challenge, increasing hepatic total antioxidant capacity, lowering malondialdehyde, improving liver histoarchitecture (central-vein diameter), and normalizing the expression of immune and antioxidant genes toward control levels, alongside improvements in performance indices (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In conclusion, although co-exposure to AFB<sub>1</sub> and <em>C. perfringens</em> caused greater detriments than AFB<sub>1</sub> alone, adding OAB to MTB improved performance, oxidative, histological, and immunological outcomes, supporting MTB+OAB as a practical strategy for broilers under concurrent mycotoxin–enteric challenge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106546"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126393","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106540
Wenjun You, Jie Pan, Xiaoxian Lai, Yujie Huang, Yaqiong Ye, Xiaoshu Zhan, Canying Liu, Xiaojun Li, Hui Zhang
In this study, we sought to isolate telocytes (TCs) from embryonic silky fowl skin, characterize their morphological features, and establish a stable in vitro culture system. The isolated and cultured TCs exhibited canonical morphological features, including 2-3 cytoplasmic prolongations (telopodes, Tps) with a moniliform structure. Morphometric analysis using ImageJ (FIJI) software revealed that Tps had an average length of 78.56 ± 10.66 μm, while their podoms and podomers exhibited average thicknesses of 0.20 ± 0.01 μm and 0.06 ± 0.01 μm, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the identity of the isolated cells, with positive expression of CD34 and vimentin, consistent with known TCs markers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Tps frequently established homocellular connections. Collectively, the isolated and in vitro-cultured cells exhibited structural and immunophenotypic features characteristic of TCs, confirming their successful isolation from avian embryonic skin. These cells establish a valuable in vitro model for future studies into the physiological functions of avian skin TCs.
{"title":"Research note: Isolation and characterization of telocytes from the silky fowl embryonic skin.","authors":"Wenjun You, Jie Pan, Xiaoxian Lai, Yujie Huang, Yaqiong Ye, Xiaoshu Zhan, Canying Liu, Xiaojun Li, Hui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, we sought to isolate telocytes (TCs) from embryonic silky fowl skin, characterize their morphological features, and establish a stable in vitro culture system. The isolated and cultured TCs exhibited canonical morphological features, including 2-3 cytoplasmic prolongations (telopodes, Tps) with a moniliform structure. Morphometric analysis using ImageJ (FIJI) software revealed that Tps had an average length of 78.56 ± 10.66 μm, while their podoms and podomers exhibited average thicknesses of 0.20 ± 0.01 μm and 0.06 ± 0.01 μm, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the identity of the isolated cells, with positive expression of CD34 and vimentin, consistent with known TCs markers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Tps frequently established homocellular connections. Collectively, the isolated and in vitro-cultured cells exhibited structural and immunophenotypic features characteristic of TCs, confirming their successful isolation from avian embryonic skin. These cells establish a valuable in vitro model for future studies into the physiological functions of avian skin TCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"106540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12892044/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106547
Vitor Santos Haetinger, Olayiwola Adeola
The non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) concentration in the diet fed during the starter period can impact bone formation, and phosphorus digestibility in the following phase, which may influence the effectiveness of phytase supplementation. To investigate the impact of nPP concentration in the starter diet on response to phytase in the subsequent period, an experiment was conducted in a 2 × 3 split-plot design, consisting of 2 starter diets with 3 or 4.5 g/kg of nPP (24 replicates with 8 birds per cage), and 3 grower diets with increasing doses of phytase (0, 1,000 or 2,000 FYT/kg) with 8 replicates and 6 birds per cage. Starter diets were fed for the first 11 d post hatching. On d 11, birds were selected to maintain the ratio of BW between the two starter diets, and allotted to the grower diets for the subsequent 11 d. On d 22 post hatching, birds were euthanized to collect ileal digesta and tibia samples. Data was analyzed as a randomized complete block in a split-plot design to determine the effect of starter and grower diets and their interaction. Birds fed adequate nPP during the starter period had greater (P < 0.05) tibia breaking strength and tibia weight, and lower (P < 0.05) calcium and dry matter ileal digestibility, and tended to have lower phosphorus digestibility (P = 0.088). Phytase supplementation led to greater (P < 0.05) phosphorus digestibility, feed efficiency, tibia weight, Ca in tibia, and breaking strength regardless of the starter diet. An interaction between the level of nPP in the starter diet and grower diet phytase supplementation was noted (P < 0.05) for tibia ash weight and concentration, and a tendency (P = 0.073) for phosphorus in tibia, where phytase supplementation led to a greater response in birds fed the low nPP starter diet. In conclusion, the starter diet nPP concentration did not influence phytase efficacy in enhancing phosphorus digestibility or performance during the grower period but did affect tibia ash.
{"title":"Non-phytate phosphorus concentration in the pre-experimental starter period impacts broiler tibia mineralization response to phytase supplementation","authors":"Vitor Santos Haetinger, Olayiwola Adeola","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The non-phytate phosphorus (<strong>nPP</strong>) concentration in the diet fed during the starter period can impact bone formation, and phosphorus digestibility in the following phase, which may influence the effectiveness of phytase supplementation. To investigate the impact of nPP concentration in the starter diet on response to phytase in the subsequent period, an experiment was conducted in a 2 × 3 split-plot design, consisting of 2 starter diets with 3 or 4.5 g/kg of nPP (24 replicates with 8 birds per cage), and 3 grower diets with increasing doses of phytase (0, 1,000 or 2,000 FYT/kg) with 8 replicates and 6 birds per cage. Starter diets were fed for the first 11 d post hatching. On d 11, birds were selected to maintain the ratio of BW between the two starter diets, and allotted to the grower diets for the subsequent 11 d. On d 22 post hatching, birds were euthanized to collect ileal digesta and tibia samples. Data was analyzed as a randomized complete block in a split-plot design to determine the effect of starter and grower diets and their interaction. Birds fed adequate nPP during the starter period had greater (<em>P</em> < 0.05) tibia breaking strength and tibia weight, and lower (<em>P</em> < 0.05) calcium and dry matter ileal digestibility, and tended to have lower phosphorus digestibility (<em>P</em> = 0.088). Phytase supplementation led to greater (<em>P</em> < 0.05) phosphorus digestibility, feed efficiency, tibia weight, Ca in tibia, and breaking strength regardless of the starter diet. An interaction between the level of nPP in the starter diet and grower diet phytase supplementation was noted (<em>P</em> < 0.05) for tibia ash weight and concentration, and a tendency (<em>P</em> = 0.073) for phosphorus in tibia, where phytase supplementation led to a greater response in birds fed the low nPP starter diet. In conclusion, the starter diet nPP concentration did not influence phytase efficacy in enhancing phosphorus digestibility or performance during the grower period but did affect tibia ash.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106547"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171035","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106548
Dan Liu, Honglei Guo, Yaxian Yang, Xin He, Xinghua Zhao
Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hepatic lipid metabolism dysfunction in poultry. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanism of a solid dispersion of genistein (SDG) in ameliorating FLHS in laying hens. In this study, a total of 60 Lohmann gray laying hens, aged 40-week-old, were randomly divided into five groups including the control group (normal diet), MOD group (high-energy low-protein diet; HELP diet), GEN group (400 mg/kg GEN + HELP diet), SDG group (3200 mg/kg SDG + HELP diet), and physical mixture of GEN group (PMG) (3200 mg/kg PMG + HELP diet). The results demonstrated that all three treatment groups exerted therapeutic effects on FLHS, with SDG exhibiting the superior efficacy. SDG improved the production performance of laying hens, modulated hepatic function, and reduced blood lipid levels. Furthermore, SDG supplementation attenuated intestinal pathological damage and restored intestinal permeability and barrier function. Meanwhile, SDG reshaped gut microbiota structure and metabolite composition, increasing the abundance of Akkermansia, UCG-008, Elusimicrobium, Zag_111, and phosphoglycerides (P < 0.05), and reducing Bifidobacterium and lysophospholipids (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that the pyruvate metabolism pathway was significantly enriched. SDG upregulated the expression of PCK2, PC, and ACAT2 within this pathway, while downregulating the expression of ME1. The underlying mechanism may involve the inhibition of hepatic triglyceride synthesis, the facilitation of free cholesterol conversion into cholesterol esters, and the promotion of oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA entry into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, thereby suppressing hepatic lipid deposition. In conclusion, our study demonstrated solid dispersion technology enhanced the effect of GEN on alleviating FLHS, and established a foundation for applying SDG to improving poultry liver health.
{"title":"Mult omics reveal the mechanism of solid dispersion of genistein in alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens","authors":"Dan Liu, Honglei Guo, Yaxian Yang, Xin He, Xinghua Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (<strong>FLHS</strong>) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hepatic lipid metabolism dysfunction in poultry. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanism of a solid dispersion of genistein (<strong>SDG</strong>) in ameliorating FLHS in laying hens. In this study, a total of 60 Lohmann gray laying hens, aged 40-week-old, were randomly divided into five groups including the control group (normal diet), MOD group (high-energy low-protein diet; HELP diet), GEN group (400 mg/kg GEN + HELP diet), SDG group (3200 mg/kg SDG + HELP diet), and physical mixture of GEN group (PMG) (3200 mg/kg PMG + HELP diet). The results demonstrated that all three treatment groups exerted therapeutic effects on FLHS, with SDG exhibiting the superior efficacy. SDG improved the production performance of laying hens, modulated hepatic function, and reduced blood lipid levels. Furthermore, SDG supplementation attenuated intestinal pathological damage and restored intestinal permeability and barrier function. Meanwhile, SDG reshaped gut microbiota structure and metabolite composition, increasing the abundance of <em>Akkermansia, UCG-008, Elusimicrobium, Zag_111</em>, and phosphoglycerides (<em>P</em> < 0.05), and reducing <em>Bifidobacterium</em> and lysophospholipids (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that the pyruvate metabolism pathway was significantly enriched. SDG upregulated the expression of <em>PCK2, PC</em>, and <em>ACAT2</em> within this pathway, while downregulating the expression of <em>ME1</em>. The underlying mechanism may involve the inhibition of hepatic triglyceride synthesis, the facilitation of free cholesterol conversion into cholesterol esters, and the promotion of oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA entry into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, thereby suppressing hepatic lipid deposition. In conclusion, our study demonstrated solid dispersion technology enhanced the effect of GEN on alleviating FLHS, and established a foundation for applying SDG to improving poultry liver health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106548"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146114021","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106529
Xiaolong Lu , Chenyu Lu , Mengyang He , Xinen Tang , Zhuxing Ji , Hongqi Wu , Kaituo Liu , Wenhao Yang , Yu Chen , Ruyi Gao , Jiao Hu , Min Gu , Shunlin Hu , Xiaowen Liu , Xiaoquan Wang , Xiufan Liu
The H7N9 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a significant and ongoing threat to public health. As a critical structural and functional component, the viral nucleoprotein (NP) is abundantly expressed during the early stages of AIV replication; however, its interactions with host proteins and their functional consequences remain largely uncharacterized. This study aimed to identify the NP-host interaction and elucidate the mechanisms by which these interactions modulate AIV replication. Here, we employed mass spectrometry and identified the DEAD-box helicase 6 (DDX6) as a novel NP-interacting partner, an association found to be regulated by an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG15). The NP-DDX6 interaction was robustly validated by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence co-localization, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and molecular docking assays. Functional investigations revealed that DDX6 acts as a potent negative regulator of AIV replication. Mechanistically, DDX6 not only impaired the nuclear import of NP and suppressed viral polymerase activity, but also stimulated the production of interferon (IFN)-α/β. This IFN-I induction, in turn, triggers the expression of downstream antiviral effectors such as ISG15. Furthermore, we uncovered that DDX6 fine-tunes this pathway by playing a sophisticated dual regulatory role: it enhances the pool of free, antiviral ISG15 monomers while concurrently reducing ISGylation via two deubiquitinases (USP16/USP18). Collectively, these findings not only establish DDX6 as a crucial host factor with potent antiviral activity but also enrich our understanding of host-virus interaction networks.
{"title":"The host RNA helicase DDX6 restricts avian influenza virus replication by targeting viral NP and modulating ISG15","authors":"Xiaolong Lu , Chenyu Lu , Mengyang He , Xinen Tang , Zhuxing Ji , Hongqi Wu , Kaituo Liu , Wenhao Yang , Yu Chen , Ruyi Gao , Jiao Hu , Min Gu , Shunlin Hu , Xiaowen Liu , Xiaoquan Wang , Xiufan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106529","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106529","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The H7N9 subtype of avian influenza virus (<strong>AIV</strong>) poses a significant and ongoing threat to public health. As a critical structural and functional component, the viral nucleoprotein (<strong>NP</strong>) is abundantly expressed during the early stages of AIV replication; however, its interactions with host proteins and their functional consequences remain largely uncharacterized. This study aimed to identify the NP-host interaction and elucidate the mechanisms by which these interactions modulate AIV replication. Here, we employed mass spectrometry and identified the DEAD-box helicase 6 (<strong>DDX6</strong>) as a novel NP-interacting partner, an association found to be regulated by an interferon-stimulated gene (<strong>ISG15</strong>). The NP-DDX6 interaction was robustly validated by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence co-localization, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and molecular docking assays. Functional investigations revealed that DDX6 acts as a potent negative regulator of AIV replication. Mechanistically, DDX6 not only impaired the nuclear import of NP and suppressed viral polymerase activity, but also stimulated the production of interferon (<strong>IFN</strong>)-α/β. This IFN-I induction, in turn, triggers the expression of downstream antiviral effectors such as ISG15. Furthermore, we uncovered that DDX6 fine-tunes this pathway by playing a sophisticated dual regulatory role: it enhances the pool of free, antiviral ISG15 monomers while concurrently reducing ISGylation via two deubiquitinases (<strong>USP16</strong>/<strong>USP18</strong>). Collectively, these findings not only establish DDX6 as a crucial host factor with potent antiviral activity but also enrich our understanding of host-virus interaction networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106529"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113998","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}
Optimizing the use of dietary emulsifiers and prebiotics in relation to fat source may enhance nutrient-utilization efficiency in broiler production. This 42-d study evaluated the effects of an emulsifier (lysophospholipid; LPL) and inulin supplementation in diets with two fat sources on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, muscle fatty acid composition, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal histomorphology. Eight hundred 1-d-old male broiler chickens were assigned to eight treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with two fat sources (soybean oil or beef tallow), two LPL levels (0 or 1 g/kg), and two inulin levels (0 or 1 g/kg). Interactive effects were detected for fat source × inulin on average daily gain (ADG), mortality, and the European Production Index (EPI), with inulin addition to soybean-oil–based diets yielding superior growth and survival rates (P < 0.05). The LPL × inulin interaction increased feed intake and improved gain-to-feed ratio (P < 0.05). The fat source × LPL interaction significantly influenced lipid-metabolism–related traits (P < 0.05); in tallow-based diets, LPL supplementation increased fat digestibility and AMEn, reduced breast fat deposition, and improved the fatty acid profile of thigh muscle by elevating n-3 PUFA and lowering the n-6/n-3 ratio, whereas no significant effects occurred in soybean-oil–based diets. When interaction terms were not significant, LPL increased protease and lipase activities and improved duodenal villus height and surface area, whereas inulin increased protease activity, improved protein digestibility, and enhanced jejunal villus architecture (P < 0.05). In conclusion, LPL is particularly beneficial in tallow-based diets by enhancing lipid digestibility, energy utilization, and the thigh-muscle fatty acid profile, while inulin improves growth performance, especially in soybean-oil–based diets—offering a practical strategy to optimize broiler production.
{"title":"Fat source–dependent effects of lysophospholipid and inulin supplementation in broilers: Impacts on performance, muscle fatty acids, digestibility, enzyme activity, and intestinal morphology","authors":"Mozafar Rahimpour , Kamran Taherpour , Hossein Ali Ghasemi , Hassan Shirzadi","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106531","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106531","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimizing the use of dietary emulsifiers and prebiotics in relation to fat source may enhance nutrient-utilization efficiency in broiler production. This 42-d study evaluated the effects of an emulsifier (lysophospholipid; LPL) and inulin supplementation in diets with two fat sources on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, muscle fatty acid composition, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal histomorphology. Eight hundred 1-d-old male broiler chickens were assigned to eight treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with two fat sources (soybean oil or beef tallow), two LPL levels (0 or 1 g/kg), and two inulin levels (0 or 1 g/kg). Interactive effects were detected for fat source × inulin on average daily gain (ADG), mortality, and the European Production Index (EPI), with inulin addition to soybean-oil–based diets yielding superior growth and survival rates (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The LPL × inulin interaction increased feed intake and improved gain-to-feed ratio (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The fat source × LPL interaction significantly influenced lipid-metabolism–related traits (<em>P</em> < 0.05); in tallow-based diets, LPL supplementation increased fat digestibility and AMEn, reduced breast fat deposition, and improved the fatty acid profile of thigh muscle by elevating n-3 PUFA and lowering the n-6/n-3 ratio, whereas no significant effects occurred in soybean-oil–based diets. When interaction terms were not significant, LPL increased protease and lipase activities and improved duodenal villus height and surface area, whereas inulin increased protease activity, improved protein digestibility, and enhanced jejunal villus architecture (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In conclusion, LPL is particularly beneficial in tallow-based diets by enhancing lipid digestibility, energy utilization, and the thigh-muscle fatty acid profile, while inulin improves growth performance, especially in soybean-oil–based diets—offering a practical strategy to optimize broiler production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106531"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119775","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106539
Yongqing Cao , Tao Zeng , Li Chen , Jindong Ren , Yong Tian , Tiantian Gu , Wei Han , Jing Feng , Lili Xian , Shuangbao Gun , Lizhi Lu
The Tibetan chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), a native breed inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has developed remarkable tolerance to chronic hypoxia. However, the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying its high-altitude adaptation remain unclear. In this study, we integrated genome, transcriptome, and DNA methylome data from Tibetan chickens (TC) and three low-altitude breeds. Principal component analysis revealed clear genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional divergence between TC and lowland chickens. Cardiac enzyme assays showed significantly higher activities of LDH, SDH, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px in TC (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced oxidative metabolism and antioxidant defense under hypoxia. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2,532 common differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs), with upregulated genes enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, and hypoxia response pathways. Integration with methylome data demonstrated a significant negative correlation between promoter methylation and gene expression. Among 144 genes showing promoter hypomethylation coupled with transcriptional activation, five key genes—PDK4, BNIP3L, ATG3, SLC7A5, and OMA1—were identified as central regulators of hypoxia adaptation, participating in metabolic reprogramming, mitochondrial homeostasis, and autophagy. Our findings reveal that promoter hypomethylation acts as a major epigenetic mechanism mediating transcriptional activation of hypoxia-responsive genes in Tibetan chickens. The coordinated regulation of energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and mitochondrial quality control contributes to their physiological resilience in high-altitude environments. This study provides novel insights into the molecular and epigenetic basis of high-altitude adaptation in avian species and offers valuable references for hypoxia-resistance breeding in poultry.
{"title":"DNA methylation-mediated regulation of hypoxia-responsive genes facilitates high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan chickens","authors":"Yongqing Cao , Tao Zeng , Li Chen , Jindong Ren , Yong Tian , Tiantian Gu , Wei Han , Jing Feng , Lili Xian , Shuangbao Gun , Lizhi Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tibetan chicken (<em>Gallus gallus domesticus</em>), a native breed inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has developed remarkable tolerance to chronic hypoxia. However, the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying its high-altitude adaptation remain unclear. In this study, we integrated genome, transcriptome, and DNA methylome data from Tibetan chickens (TC) and three low-altitude breeds. Principal component analysis revealed clear genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional divergence between TC and lowland chickens. Cardiac enzyme assays showed significantly higher activities of LDH, SDH, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px in TC (<em>p</em> < 0.05), indicating enhanced oxidative metabolism and antioxidant defense under hypoxia. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2,532 common differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs), with upregulated genes enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, and hypoxia response pathways. Integration with methylome data demonstrated a significant negative correlation between promoter methylation and gene expression. Among 144 genes showing promoter hypomethylation coupled with transcriptional activation, five key genes—<em>PDK4, BNIP3L, ATG3, SLC7A5</em>, and <em>OMA1</em>—were identified as central regulators of hypoxia adaptation, participating in metabolic reprogramming, mitochondrial homeostasis, and autophagy. Our findings reveal that promoter hypomethylation acts as a major epigenetic mechanism mediating transcriptional activation of hypoxia-responsive genes in Tibetan chickens. The coordinated regulation of energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and mitochondrial quality control contributes to their physiological resilience in high-altitude environments. This study provides novel insights into the molecular and epigenetic basis of high-altitude adaptation in avian species and offers valuable references for hypoxia-resistance breeding in poultry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126440","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106537
Sara E. Cloft , Prafulla Regmi , Cara I. Robison , Deana Jones , Darrin M. Karcher
The transition from conventional cages to cage-free aviary systems in egg production presents unique challenges for performance, welfare, and skeletal health of laying hens. While extensive data exists for conventional systems, aviary systems require comprehensive investigation due to larger colony sizes and increased opportunities for vertical and lateral movement. This study evaluated the production, welfare, and skeletal characteristics of four commercial laying hen hybrids, two brown egg (brown) and two white egg (white) strains, in an aviary housing system under common management. Brown strains were consistently heavier with larger tibia volume, surface area, and mineral content compared to white strains. All 4 strains achieved at least 91 % hen day egg production, with white strain C having 8 percentage point higher production rates throughout the majority of lay. Feather coverage deteriorated as all hens aged, but white strains, especially strain C, had more frequent feather damage during assessments. Brown strains had more incidence of keel damage based on manual palpation. However, visual inspection of excised keel bones revealed brown strain B had fewer fractures than all other strains, though 90 % of the keel bones had fractures, frequently in the tip. These findings reveal significant strain-specific differences in production, skeletal health, and welfare in aviary systems. Our use of common management may have hindered hens from achieving their full genetic potential; thus, tailoring management and housing practices to accommodate these differences is crucial for successful cage-free egg production and hen welfare.
{"title":"Performance, Skeletal traits, and welfare indicators of four laying hen strains in aviary housing under common management","authors":"Sara E. Cloft , Prafulla Regmi , Cara I. Robison , Deana Jones , Darrin M. Karcher","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition from conventional cages to cage-free aviary systems in egg production presents unique challenges for performance, welfare, and skeletal health of laying hens. While extensive data exists for conventional systems, aviary systems require comprehensive investigation due to larger colony sizes and increased opportunities for vertical and lateral movement. This study evaluated the production, welfare, and skeletal characteristics of four commercial laying hen hybrids, two brown egg (brown) and two white egg (white) strains, in an aviary housing system under common management. Brown strains were consistently heavier with larger tibia volume, surface area, and mineral content compared to white strains. All 4 strains achieved at least 91 % hen day egg production, with white strain C having 8 percentage point higher production rates throughout the majority of lay. Feather coverage deteriorated as all hens aged, but white strains, especially strain C, had more frequent feather damage during assessments. Brown strains had more incidence of keel damage based on manual palpation. However, visual inspection of excised keel bones revealed brown strain B had fewer fractures than all other strains, though 90 % of the keel bones had fractures, frequently in the tip. These findings reveal significant strain-specific differences in production, skeletal health, and welfare in aviary systems. Our use of common management may have hindered hens from achieving their full genetic potential; thus, tailoring management and housing practices to accommodate these differences is crucial for successful cage-free egg production and hen welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137681","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}
Chicken livers can be sustainably developed into nutraceuticals through the circular-agriculture innovation chain. A supplement (GBHP01) formulated from chicken-liver hydrolysates contains free-type hypolipidemic amino acids (threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, and taurine) and the imidazole-ring dipeptide (anserine). In this study, mice were assigned to four groups: (1) Control: control diet (AIN-93M formula; fat providing 9.4% of total calories), (2) HFD: high-fat diet (fat providing 46.5% of total calories), (3) GBHP01.L: HFD supplemented with GBHP01 at 133.61 mg/Kg BW/day, and (4) GBHP01.H: HFD supplemented with GBHP01 at 267.22 mg/Kg BW/day. GBHP01 was administered by oral gavage. In 20-week HFD feeding, GBHP01 supplementation significantly reduced serum lipids, ALT, AST, and hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations, while enhancing reduced GSH, TEAC, catalase, and GSH-Px levels (p<0.05). Histological analysis revealed decreased hepatic lipid accumulation, associated with decreased diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) and increased acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM) expression. GBHP01 also promoted fecal bile acid and triglyceride excretion, indicating reduced fat absorption. Fecal microbiota profiling showed that HFD disrupted microbial diversity, increasing detrimental genera (Desulfovibrio, Bilophila, and Lachnoclostridium) while decreasing beneficial taxa (Lactobacillus and Akkermansia). GBHP01 may contribute to shifts in gut microbial composition by elevating probiotic species (L. reuteri and L. murinus) and reducing inflammatory taxa (Bilophila and Mucispirillum), suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention against HFD-induced metabolic disorders.
{"title":"Free amino-acid and imidazole-ring dipeptide profiles of chicken-liver-hydrolysate supplement and its modulatory effects on lipid metabolism, oxidative status, and inflammation in livers, as well as gut microbiota in a high-fat diet.","authors":"Yi-Ling Lin, Christoper Caesar Yudho Sutopo, Sheng-Yao Wang, Jr-Wei Chen, Yi-Feng Kao, Yi-Chen Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chicken livers can be sustainably developed into nutraceuticals through the circular-agriculture innovation chain. A supplement (GBHP01) formulated from chicken-liver hydrolysates contains free-type hypolipidemic amino acids (threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, and taurine) and the imidazole-ring dipeptide (anserine). In this study, mice were assigned to four groups: (1) Control: control diet (AIN-93M formula; fat providing 9.4% of total calories), (2) HFD: high-fat diet (fat providing 46.5% of total calories), (3) GBHP01.L: HFD supplemented with GBHP01 at 133.61 mg/Kg BW/day, and (4) GBHP01.H: HFD supplemented with GBHP01 at 267.22 mg/Kg BW/day. GBHP01 was administered by oral gavage. In 20-week HFD feeding, GBHP01 supplementation significantly reduced serum lipids, ALT, AST, and hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations, while enhancing reduced GSH, TEAC, catalase, and GSH-Px levels (p<0.05). Histological analysis revealed decreased hepatic lipid accumulation, associated with decreased diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) and increased acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM) expression. GBHP01 also promoted fecal bile acid and triglyceride excretion, indicating reduced fat absorption. Fecal microbiota profiling showed that HFD disrupted microbial diversity, increasing detrimental genera (Desulfovibrio, Bilophila, and Lachnoclostridium) while decreasing beneficial taxa (Lactobacillus and Akkermansia). GBHP01 may contribute to shifts in gut microbial composition by elevating probiotic species (L. reuteri and L. murinus) and reducing inflammatory taxa (Bilophila and Mucispirillum), suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention against HFD-induced metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"106533"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12887177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106534
Lingqi Li, Yang Ye, Zhen Li, Peng Wang, Xinglian Xu, Xiao Sun, Yulong Zhang, Qingqin Lv, Yujia Yang, Tianran Huang, Lei Wang, Zhixin Chen, Rongxin Yuan
Currently, palpation remains the predominant method for classifying wooden breast (WB). This approach requires considerable labor and time resources, and it fails to precisely characterize the complex internal structural distribution of the disease and lacks a rational utilization plan for WB-affected breast fillets. Thus, the scientific stratification and classification of WB must be investigated. This study aims to characterize WB severity using ultrasound-derived internal spatial information, combined with ImageJ threshold binarization and scale calibration to quantify the spatial extent of pathological features. Herein, chicken breast fillets from Arbor Acres broilers were collected (n = 240, males, 42 days old) and categorized into four categories: normal (NORM, n = 60), mild (MILD, n = 60), moderate (MOD, n = 60), and severe (SEV, n = 60) conditions. WB samples were classified via ultrasound scanning and deep learning (DL). MobileNetV3, ResNet18, and AlexNet achieved training accuracies of 99.50%, 96.62%, and 95.64%, respectively, with validation accuracies of 98.71%, 90.09%, and 92.95%. For the four aforementioned classifications, the MobileNetV3 model achieved accuracies of 95%, 100%, 100%, and 99%, respectively, and exhibited a precision of 98.25%, a recall of 98.22%, and an F1-score of 98.23%. Image analysis delineated boundaries between pathological regions and normal muscle tissues in WB, validated by bioimpedance and stress-strain measurements. Segmentation ranges for MILD, MOD, and SEV pathological severity were determined as approximately 55%, 62%, and 65%, respectively, marking the first precise internal stratification of WB. Results showed that ultrasound imaging combined with DL effectively assessed myopathy distribution within WB, enabling accurate classification and stratification for practical applications.
目前，触诊仍然是木质乳房（WB）分类的主要方法。这种方法需要大量的人力和时间资源，不能准确表征疾病复杂的内部结构分布，缺乏合理的利用计划。因此，必须对WB进行科学的分层和分类研究。本研究旨在利用超声来源的内部空间信息来表征WB严重程度，结合ImageJ阈值二值化和尺度校准来量化病理特征的空间范围。选取42日龄爱拔加（Arbor Acres）肉鸡鸡胸片240块，分为正常（NORM, n = 60）、轻度（mild, n = 60）、中度（MOD, n = 60）和重度（SEV, n = 60） 4类。WB样本通过超声扫描和深度学习（DL）进行分类。MobileNetV3、ResNet18和AlexNet的训练准确率分别为99.50%、96.62%和95.64%，验证准确率分别为98.71%、90.09%和92.95%。对于上述四种分类，MobileNetV3模型的准确率分别为95%、100%、100%和99%，准确率为98.25%，召回率为98.22%，f1得分为98.23%。图像分析描绘了病理区域和正常肌肉组织之间的边界，通过生物阻抗和应力-应变测量验证。MILD、MOD和SEV病理严重程度的分割范围分别约为55%、62%和65%，标志着WB首次精确的内部分层。结果显示，超声成像联合DL可有效评估肌病在WB内的分布，为实际应用提供准确的分类和分层。
{"title":"Deep learning-based classification and internal region stratification of wooden breast in broiler by using ultrasound imaging.","authors":"Lingqi Li, Yang Ye, Zhen Li, Peng Wang, Xinglian Xu, Xiao Sun, Yulong Zhang, Qingqin Lv, Yujia Yang, Tianran Huang, Lei Wang, Zhixin Chen, Rongxin Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106534","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Currently, palpation remains the predominant method for classifying wooden breast (WB). This approach requires considerable labor and time resources, and it fails to precisely characterize the complex internal structural distribution of the disease and lacks a rational utilization plan for WB-affected breast fillets. Thus, the scientific stratification and classification of WB must be investigated. This study aims to characterize WB severity using ultrasound-derived internal spatial information, combined with ImageJ threshold binarization and scale calibration to quantify the spatial extent of pathological features. Herein, chicken breast fillets from Arbor Acres broilers were collected (n = 240, males, 42 days old) and categorized into four categories: normal (NORM, n = 60), mild (MILD, n = 60), moderate (MOD, n = 60), and severe (SEV, n = 60) conditions. WB samples were classified via ultrasound scanning and deep learning (DL). MobileNetV3, ResNet18, and AlexNet achieved training accuracies of 99.50%, 96.62%, and 95.64%, respectively, with validation accuracies of 98.71%, 90.09%, and 92.95%. For the four aforementioned classifications, the MobileNetV3 model achieved accuracies of 95%, 100%, 100%, and 99%, respectively, and exhibited a precision of 98.25%, a recall of 98.22%, and an F1-score of 98.23%. Image analysis delineated boundaries between pathological regions and normal muscle tissues in WB, validated by bioimpedance and stress-strain measurements. Segmentation ranges for MILD, MOD, and SEV pathological severity were determined as approximately 55%, 62%, and 65%, respectively, marking the first precise internal stratification of WB. Results showed that ultrasound imaging combined with DL effectively assessed myopathy distribution within WB, enabling accurate classification and stratification for practical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"106534"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12887160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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