Background: In the current Iranian poultry industry, antibiotics are the most frequently used additive in poultry feeds to increase productivity. The negative effects on human health, resulting from the consumption of chicken whose feeds contain antibiotics, makes finding an appropriate alternative of great importance. As a result of their nature, herbal extracts could be specifically considered for this purpose. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find an appropriate and harmless feed additive to increase the quality and quantity of poultry eggs. METHODS: A completely randomized design including 4 treatments, 4 replications and 4 birds in each experimental unit was applied. Herbal extracts were added to drinking water of treatments in ratio of 1:1000, with the control group containing no additives in their water. The number and weight of produced eggs were measured on a daily basis, feed consumption on weekly basis and the egg quality, yolk cholesterol, hatchability and intestinal bacterial population were measured at the end of experiment after 8 weeks. RESULTS: Herbal extract treatments showed no overall effect on quality and quantity of produced eggs in comparison with control; however, the thyme and garlic extracts reduced the cholesterol of serum and yolk relative to the control. Herbal extracts did not significantly affect the hatchability of fertile eggs. The herbal extracts caused a significant decrease in the intestinal bacterial population of laying quails. CONCLUSIONS: The garlic extract had the most decreasing effect on the cholesterol of serum and egg yolk. Furthermore, thyme extract had the most decreasing effect on the intestinal bacterial population.

Background: Nutritional strategies targeting improvement of poultry performance and disease prevention are currently being developed and in this respect the dietary intake of spiced essential oils and pre-biotics in raising broilers is receiving attention. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the effects of diet containing ginger essential oils (GEO) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) on growth performance,  biochemical and hematological parameters, lymphoid organ weights and antibody response of broilers. METHODS: A total of 375 day old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments (five replicates per treatment). Dietary treatments included basal diet as control, GEO-supplemented diets with inclusion levels of 50 (GEO1), 100 (GEO2) or 200 (GEO3) mg/kg, and MOS supplemented diet with an inclusion level of 2 g/kg. RESULTS: The birds fed on MOS and GEO3 diets exhibited better feed conversion ratio and higher body weight gain from 1 to 42 day of age compared with control birds (p<0.05). Serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level in the MOS, GEO2 or GEO3 groups was lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). Serum cholesterol level was also lower in the GEO2 and MOS groups (p<0.05). Feeding on GEO3 and MOS diets significantly increased relative bursa weight and secondary antibody titer against infectious bursal disease (IBD) and infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccines as compared with control diet (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that higher level of GEO (200 g/kg) similar to MOS supplementation, improved feed efficiency and immune response. This could meet consumers’ demand for a safe feed additive.

BACKGROUND: Growth promoters are chemical and biologicalsubstances that are added to livestock food with the aimto improve the growth of chickens in fattening and the utilizationof food, and in this way achieve better production and financialresults. OBJECTIVES:An experiment was conducted to evaluatethe effects of enzyme complex, probiotic, and their combinationon performance of broilers fed a basal wheat-barley-soybeanmeal diet from 1 to 47 d of age. METHODS:Atotal of 480-dayoldmale broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to6 treatments, with 4 replicate cages per treatment and 20 birds percage. The experiment consisted of a 3×2 factorial arrangementof the treatments, with 3 concentrations of enzyme complex (0,half of the commercial suggested level or commercial suggestedlevel) and 2 concentrations of probiotic (0 and suggested level).RESULTS: Results showed that the suggested level of enzymecomplex could improve body weight and feed conversion ratio(p<0.05), but addition of probiotic only decreased the feedconversion ratio (p<0.05). There was no interaction betweenenzyme complex and probiotic on performance (p>0.05).Probiotic supplementation did not improve the efficacy ofenzyme complex at any levels. The examination of length andrelative weight of different regions of intestine showed that onlyenzyme complex could decrease the relative weight of duodenumand length of jejunum; however, there was no interactionbetween treatments for these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Thisresearch did not demonstrate any interaction effect betweenenzyme complex and probiotic on broilers performance fedwheat-barley-soybean meal diet.

A2-year-old cachectic cross-breed gelding was admitted toVeterinary Teaching Hospital of University of Tehran followingthe onset of a marked respiratory distress, coughing and ventraledema. Clinical examinations indicated harsh respiratory andexpiratory sounds as well as jugular vein distention. Therespiratory and heart rates were 35/min and 60 bpm, respectively.Agrade III/IV pansystolic murmur with the PMI on the tricuspidvalve, which could be heard on the left side, was detected. Sinustachycardia was revealed by electrocardiography. Rupture of thechorda tendineae of the tricuspid valve, pulmonary arteryregurgitation, pulmonary artery hypertension, tricuspid valveregurgitation, pulmonary artery, and right ventricular dilationwere also found in echocardiography. These findings wereconfirmed at post mortem examinations. On the basis of thefindings, chorda tendineae rapture of the tricuspid valve andright side heart failure due to primary pulmonary hypertensionwere diagnosed.

Some heavy metals are dangerous to health and there is rising concern about the quality of foodstuffs in some parts of the world. Fish, particularly Tuna fish, can concentrate huge quantities of several metals from water and they even play a significant role in human nourishment. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the concentrations of mercury and four trace metals in five brands of canned tuna samples purchased within the Tabriz city (Iran) were determined after digestion via the Association of Official Analytical Chemists techniques. METHODS: A total of 40 samples were collected. Lead and cadmium levels were determined via graphite tube atomic absorption spectrophoto-metry, whereas nickel and tin levels were determined via flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and mercury levels were determined via hydride generation atomic absorption spectro-photometry. RESULTS: The ranges obtained for the elements were Pb (0.01-0.242), Ca (0.0-1.05), Ni (0.113-0.589), Sn (0.05-0.9), and Hg (0.1-0.205) mg/kg wet weight. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that tuna fabricated and marketed in Tabriz (Iran) had safe level of heavy metals that were lower than the averages of EC/FAO/WHO levels for these toxic metals.

The mucus layer plays an important role as an intermediate for the protection of the gut against acidic chyme, digestive enzymes, and pathogens; in addition, it acts as a lubricant and facilitator of nutrient transportation. Phytogenic compounds seem to promote intestinal mucus production. OBJECTIVES: The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of low and high levels of energy and amino acids in combination with turmeric, thyme, and cinnamon on chicken performance and expression of mucin 2 gene. METHODS: The eight experimental groups consisted of diluted and condensed diet with and without the addition of 5g/kg of each turmeric, thyme, and cinnamon to the diet. Chicken performance was recorded. Expression analysis of the mucin 2 gene was carried out by quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Body weight gain, feed intake, FCR, and mortality rate were not affected by diets (p>0.05). A significant (p<0.05) reduction of the mucin 2 gene expression was observed in chickens fed by condensed diet; however, the expression increased by supplementation of turmeric, thyme, and cinnamon. CONCLUSIONS: These results, in addition to the function of herbs in increasing the activity of some enzymes which is possibly related to the mucin biological pathways, showed that the application of turmeric, thyme, and cinnamon could be useful in poultry diets. It appears that supplementation of turmeric, thyme, and cinnamon could increase mucin 2 gene expression in the small intestine, and this can improve intestinal digestive function and defense.

A captive adult common mynah (Acridotheres tristis) died shortly after a course of seizure and opisthotonous with an illness characterized by severe lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, polyurate, and urate discoloration. Abdominal distention and hepatomegly, visible over the abdominal skin, were noticed clinically. At necropsy, severe enlargement of liver with general discoloration was obvious. Histopathological findings included schizonts and gametes in the intestine, especially in the duodenum. Cytology from impression smears revealed intracyto-plasmic Atoxoplasma-like zoites in the inflammatory cells especially macrophages within the liver and in the contact smears prepared from the liver, lung, and spleen. Based on postmortem findings of the organisms in blood mononuclear cells and in impression smears of liver and Giemsa stained impression smears of liver, the spleen and lung atoxoplasmosis caused by Isoapora sp. was specified as the cause of death. According to the literature, visceral coccidiosis (atoxo-plasmosis), described here, could be considered as one of the severe causes of mortality among captive birds.

BACKGROUND: Betaine has been shown to be antioxidantand methyl donor effects in our recent studies. OBJECTIVES: Inthe present study, the antioxidant and methyl donor properties ofbetaine in levodopa/benserazide-mediated hyperhomocysteinemiaand levodopa-induced oxidative stress in rat's kidney wereexamined. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were dividedinto levodopa (LD), Betaine (Bet.), levodopa plus betaine(LD/Bet.), levodopa plus benserazide (LD/Ben.), levodopa plusbetaine-benserazide (LD/Bet.-Ben.), and control groups. Theexperimental groups received LD (3 × 100 mg/kg), Bet. (1.5%w/w of the total diet), Ben. (3 × 25 mg/kg), and distilled waterwas given to controls for 10 consecutive days, orally by gavage.RESULTS: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrationdecreased significantly in Bet.-, LD/Bet.-, and LD/Bet.-Ben.-treated rats compared to LD/Ben. group. Thiobarbituric acidreactive substances concentration (as a lipid peroxidationmarker) in renal tissue reduced statistically in betaine group incomparison with LD and LD/Ben. groups. Renal catalaseactivity increased significantly in LD-treated rats whencompared to controls. Renal superoxide dismutase activitysignificantly decreased in LD-treated group when compared toLD/Ben. group. However, there was not any significantdifference in renal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity amongthe groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that LD andLD/Ben. have side effects in kidney due to induction ofhyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress. In contrast, betaineacts as a promising antioxidant and methyl donor agent versusLD-induced complications.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence of resistance against antibioticsand inadequate efficacy of some vaccines necessitates studies ofnatural immunostimulators in aquaculture. Shrimps shell derivedfrom Chitosan can be used as immune stimulators in fish.OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effects of oral administration ofchitosan, derived from shrimp shell, on some immune responsesand disease resistance in Cyprinus carpio were studied. METHODS:Three hundred healthy fish weighing 42.4+8.1 g were divided into4 equal groups: the first group (G10) was fed with foodsupplemented with 10 mg kg-1 chitosan, the second (G5) and thirdgroups (G2.5) were fed with food supplemented with 5 mg kg-1 and2.5 mg kg-1, respectively. The control group was fed with basal feed(without chitosan). All groups were treated for 60 days. Bloodsamples were taken on 0, 20, 40, and 60 days post- experiment; Inaddition, some immunological indices, including serum lysozymeactivity, serum bactericidal activity, Nitro Blue Tetrazolium (NBT)reduction activity, serum proteins, white blood cell count (WBC),and differentiated count were measured. At the end of the treatment,fish were challenged with live Aeromonas hydrophila and mortalityrate was recorded for 14 days. RESULTS: Oral administration ofchitosan (0.5 and 1%) significantly enhanced NBT reductionactivity and resistance to A. hydrophila infection (p=0.012). Serumlysozyme and bactericidal activity, serum total protein andglobulin, WBC and leukocytes ratio showed no significant changeamong the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicatesthat oral administration of shrimp shell chitosan may have a positiveeffect on some immune parameters and resistance against bacterialinfection in Cyprinus carpio.

BACKGROUND:Herbal methionine can be compared relative toDl-methionine with evaluation of bioavailability of this source ofmethionine. OBJECTIVES: An experiment was carried out todetermine the relative bioefficacy of herbal methionine (H-Met)®relative to DL-methionine (DL-Met) on performance criteria andimmunocompetence of Met sources in male broilers. Atotal of 160male broilers were fed a Met-deficient basal diet or the basal dietsupplemented with three or four concentrations of each Metsources. METHODS: Multiexponential and multilinear regressionswere used to determined bioavailability of herbal methionine (HMet)®relative to DL-Met on performance and immunocompetenceof broilers. RESULTS: Body weight gain and feed intake of thebroilers fed H-Met or DL Met improved in the experiment,regardless of Met sources, relative to those broilers that were fed thebasal diet. Immunocompetence of broilers were not significant at 28day of age (p>0.05), whereas the broilers were significantlyaffected by the additional levels of Met sources at 42 day of age.CONCLUSIONS: The bioefficacy estimates for H-Met® relative toDL-Met on a product basis were 55% for weight gain, 71% for feedintake, 78% for feed conversion ratio, 70% for dilution 1-choloro 2-3-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), 67% for sheep red blood cell (SRBC),and 68% for phytohemagglutinine (PHA-P). The relativeeffectiveness of H-Met® compared to that of DL-Met is 68% onaverage across performance criteria and all immune criteria tested.H-Met®can be supplemented as a new and natural source of Met forthe poultry industry.