BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) is a neurotropic virus that causes chronic infection in parrots, affecting their nervous and gastrointestinal systems and often resulting in high mortality in captive populations. It is a major threat to the parrot breeding industry and the ornamental bird trade. We used Enzyme-Mediated Dual Exponential Amplification (EmDEA) rapid nucleic acid detection technology to create a novel, simple, and highly sensitive method for detecting parrot bornavirus type 4 (PaBV-4). Primers and probes specific to the M gene of PaBV-4 were designed. After two rounds of screening and optimization, the optimal primer pair was identified as F4R7RNA1. The assay was tested for specificity, sensitivity, and clinical usefulness. The test showed no cross-reactivity with H5N2, H7N9, H9N2, NDV, IBV, or IBDV. It had a detection limit of 5 copies/µL and a repeatability coefficient of variation of less than 5%. Among 270 clinical tissue samples from parrots, the assay achieved a 100% positive concordance rate and an overall agreement of 97.03% with conventional RT-PCR results. The entire detection process takes only 30 min and allows for direct RNA detection of PaBV-4. The method is simple to use, fast, sensitive, and accurate, making it an invaluable tool for on-site detection of PaBV-4.

Background: The aardwolf skulls were analyzed and compared to the spotted hyena, the brown hyena and the striped hyena, using specimens from Polish and South African collections. Addressing gaps in detailed anatomy and morphometrics, this study used extensive analyzes, encompassing 64 morphometric parameters and 7 indices, to examine the morphology and morphometrics of cranial and mandibular structures and quantify interspecific and intraspecific variation.

Results: The comparative analysis of hyena skulls revealed significant differences between the aardwolf and the other three species. The aardwolf consistently had the smallest and proportionally narrowest skull, characterized by high morphological stability and a wide neurocranium. The brown hyena and spotted hyena had the largest skulls; however, the brown hyena showed greater homogeneity, while the spotted hyena displayed higher absolute variability. Morphologically, the aardwolf's basilar part was cylindrical, unlike the pyramidal shape in the spotted hyena, and it possessed prominent nuchal tubercles that were reduced in the brown and spotted hyenas.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the morphological and morphometric features of the aardwolf's skull are highly specialized and fundamentally distinct from the other three hyena species, reflecting its unique dietary niche. The powerful skulls of the spotted and brown hyenas, in contrast, correlate with their roles as apex predators and scavengers.

Background: Recently, hydroponic feed production has come to the fore to reduce the intense competition between food and feed production in the poultry industry, improve product quality, and make environmentally friendly and sustainable production. It is thought that using hydroponic forage resources in the poultry industry positively affects production performance, welfare level, and digestive system microflora. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effects of hydroponic green fodder (HGF) supplementation on carcass characteristics and meat quality during the last 1/4 of the growth period in the slow-growing Gerze Turkish native chicken breed.

Methods: Chicks were fed ad libitum with starter feed (until 8 wk), finisher feed (8-14 wk), and from 14 to 18 wk were allocated to either finisher feed alone (control) or finisher feed plus HGF.

Results: Abdominal fat weight, dry matter percentage, and protein content were significantly higher in chickens fed the commercial diet (CD) compared with the HGF group (P < 0.05). Conversely, ash content was significantly lower in the PM and GN muscles of CD-fed birds (P < 0.05). The drip loss value on the 2nd storage day and the intramuscular fat ratio of chickens fed with HGF were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in GN muscle. The cooking loss value in GN muscle (except for PM muscle) and freezing loss value in PM muscle (except for GN muscle) of Gerze chickens fed with HGF was significantly lower than those fed with CD (p < 0.05). Hardness and gumminess values in the PM muscle of Gerze chickens fed with CD were higher (p < 0.05) than those fed with HGF.

Conclusions: Supplementation with HGF during the final quarter of the growth period altered several meat-quality parameters but did not significantly change growth performance measures during the finishing period.