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PubMed1991

Immunopathology of Marek's disease in quails: presence of antinuclear antibody and immune complex.

Antinuclear antibody (ANA), a marker for autoimmune reactions, was detected in the sera of quails with Marek's disease (MD). The autoantibody was detected 3 weeks after infection in quails infected with chicken Marek's disease virus and 4 weeks after infection in quails infected with quail Marek's disease virus. The ANA titers were low and ranged from 10 to 40. A speckled type of nuclear fluorescence was the characteristic staining feature. In addition to the presence of ANA, immune complexes (IC) were also detected in the kidney glomeruli of quail infected with Marek's disease virus. Initially about 25-30% of the glomeruli in the kidneys of infected quails had IC deposits. In subsequent periods, the amount of IC deposit and the number of glomeruli showing IC also increased considerably. The findings of the present study suggested autoimmunity may play a pathogenic role in MD.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Changes of GTP binding proteins, not neurofilament-associated proteins, in the brain of the neurofilament-deficient quail, "Quiver".

A neurofilament (NF)-deficient mutant of the Japanese quail was named "Quiver", as it showed generalized quivering as a clinical sign. NF consists of three major subunits; low, middle and high. We previously reported that the noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine content in the neostriatum of the Quiver's brain was different from that in the normal quail, although disappearance of the three NF proteins occurred in all areas of the Quiver's brain. Thus, NF-related proteins may show considerable changes in the specific sites of Quiver's brain. In this study, an examination was made of the changes in NF-related proteins in the Quiver, by immunoblotting analysis. The amounts of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5), which phosphorylates NF proteins, and tau which is a substrate of cdk5, in the neostriatum of the Quiver, were essentially the same as those in the normal quail, although NF proteins could not be detected in the Quiver. The amount of alpha-tubulin in the Quiver's brain was similar to that in the normal quail. Next, we investigated the changes of GTP binding (G) proteins in the Quiver's brain, because cytoskeletal components such as tubulin and F-actin bind with G proteins. [32P]ADP-ribosylation of G proteins (Gs by cholera toxin and Gi/G0 by pertussis toxin) in the neostriatum of the Quiver increased significantly, although alpha subunits of G proteins showed no change by immunoblotting analysis. The ratios of the trimer form in G proteins thus appear to increase more in the NF-deficient Quiver brain than in the brain of the normal quail. The G proteins-mediated adenylate cyclase activities were the same in the brain of both the Quiver and the normal quail. Possible interactions between NFs and G proteins are discussed.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1996

Renal compensation for cecal loss in Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii).

Some studies have implicated the avian digestive cecae as important sites of water and solute reclamation working in concert with the lower intestine and the kidneys as part of an integrated osmoregulatory system. In Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii), we studied compensatory adjustments in renal function on days 6-7 and 16-17 following ligation of cecae. Plasma osmolality (Posm) varied significantly between groups with sham-operated birds (Cs), with an average (Posm) of 348 mOsm/kg H2O and quail with ligated cecae (Cx) having a (Posm) of 355 mOsm/kg H2O. We detected no change in the rate of glomerular filtration (GFR) between experimental and control groups either shortly after cecectomy or after 16-17 d following surgery. Regression analysis of GFR and urine flow rate (V) showed that Cx birds had a significantly lower V at a given GFR than did controls, evidence that Cx quail absorbed more fluid in their renal tubules. Increased fluid reabsorption was apparently driven by an enhanced reabsorption of sodium. Indeed, sodium excretion was lower in Cx quail as compared to sham-operated birds. On days 6-7, Cx quail drank more water than Cs birds, but by days 16-17 drinking rates were similar. At the end of the experiments, Cx quail showed a proliferation of microvilli along the apical membrane of the rectum, an adjustment consistent with the idea that the rectum alters its absorption capacity to adjust for the loss of cecal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of L-thyroxine on metabolism in Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix japonica)--II. Activity of GOT and GPT in liver, LDH and ICDH in heart and kidney after multiple injections of L-thyroxine.

1. Quails hatched from eggs incubated at physiological temperature (37.5 degrees C--normal quails) and elevated (39.3 degrees C--warm quails) were injected with L-thyroxine (T4) at the dose of 600 micrograms/kg of body weight, every 48 hr for 17 days. 2. Twenty-four hours after the last injection activity of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT) was determined in liver homogenates and lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in homogenates of heart and kidney. 3. Significant increase of the activity of GPT in liver homogenates was observed in normal and warm quails up to 252.9 and 186.8% of control, respectively). 4. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase increased significantly in liver homogenates of T4-treated normal quails, while such changes in the warm quails were not observed. 5. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) in heart and kidney homogenates in both T4-treated groups of birds did not change.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1990

Synapse formation on quail trochlear neurons transplanted in duck embryos before naturally occurring motor neuron death.

About half of the trochlear motor neurons in duck and quail embryos die during normal development. In a previous study the role of target muscle in controlling the number of surviving motor neurons was investigated by reducing the number of neurons innervating the muscle. This was accomplished by removing the midbrain of the duck embryo and grafting in its place the midbrain of the quail embryo before motor neuron death begins. It was observed that the number of surviving trochlear motor neurons in the quail-duck chimera embryos was not significantly different from that of the normal quail. The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether trochlear motor neurons in the chimera embryos received afferent synapses. Brains of duck, quail and chimera embryos on days 16 and 20 were processed for electron microscopical observations. Synapses formed on motor neurons of the chimera embryos. Surprisingly, synapses on motor neurons of quail differed from those of duck, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Synapses on the motor neurons of the chimera embryos developed in a fashion similar to that for the duck motor neurons. Our failure to rescue trochlear motor neurons in the chimera embryos suggests that the developing motor neurons may respond to a larger target muscle only if they received a normal complement of afferent synaptic input.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Emotional reactivity modulates autonomic responses to an acoustic challenge in quail.

Emotional reactivity modulates autonomic responses to an acoustic challenge in quail. Physio Behav 00(0) 000-000, 2006. This study investigated the relationship between emotional reactivity and behavioral and autonomic responses to an acoustic stimulus in quail. It was hypothesized that birds with high emotional reactivity would have higher motor inhibition combined with higher sympathetic activation than birds with low emotional reactivity. Two experiments were performed. The first looked for correlations between emotional reactivity, evaluated by a tonic immobility test, and motor and Heart Rate Variability in relation to an acoustic stimulus. The second experiment compared the motor and autonomic responses to the acoustic stimulus of quail selected on either long (LTI) or short (STI) duration of tonic immobility. The first experiment showed that the acoustic stimulation induced motor inhibition and cardiac activation. Correlations were found between tonic immobility duration and both autonomic activity before stimulation and sympathovagal balance after stimulation. In the second experiment, LTI quail showed strong sympathetic activation, whereas STI quail showed parasympathetic and sympathetic activation. The activation of the parasympathetic system induced by the noise in STI quail can be explained by the predominance of this system at rest in this line. In conclusion, both the basal autonomic activity and the autonomic responses differed according to the emotional reactivity, and changes in autonomic activity appear to be related to the genetic selection process.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2002

Antioxidant systems of the developing quail embryo are compromised by mycotoxin aurofusarin.

The effects of aurofusarin in the quail diet on the antioxidant systems of the developing embryo are investigated. Thirty eight 45-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were divided into two groups and were fed on a corn-soya diet or the same diet supplemented with aurofusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with aurofusarin. Eggs obtained after 7 weeks of feeding were incubated. Samples of quail tissues were collected at day 17 of embryonic development and from day old hatchlings. Antioxidants and malondialdehyde were analysed by HPLC-based methods. Inclusion of aurofusarin in the maternal diet was associated with decreased concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols, alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols, retinol, lutein and zeaxanthin in egg yolk. The vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) concentration in the liver and yolk sac membrane (YSM) of the day 17 embryos and the hatchlings from aurofusarin-fed group was significantly decreased. Alpha-tocopherol concentration was also reduced in kidney, lung, heart, muscle and brain of day-old quails. In the liver of day-old quails, concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, retinol, retinyl linoleate, retinyl oleate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate were also reduced. As a result of these diminished antioxidant concentrations, tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation was significantly increased. It is suggested that a compromised antioxidant system of the egg yolk and embryonic tissues could predispose quails to increased mortality at late stages of their embryonic development.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Amino acid sequence of California quail lysozyme. Effect of evolutionary substitutions on the antigenic structure of lysozyme.

To examine the effect of amino acid substitutions in lysozyme on the binding of antibodies to lysozyme, we purified lysozyme from the egg whites of California quail and Gambel quail. Tryptic peptides were isolated from digests of the reduced and carboxymethylated lysozymes and subjected to quantitative analysis of their amino acid compositions. The two proteins were identical by this criterion. Each peptide from the California quail lysozyme was then sequenced by quantitative Edman degradation, and the peptides were ordered by homology with other bird lysozymes. California quail lysozyme is most similar in amino acid sequence to bobwhite quail lysozyme, from which it differs by two substitutions: arginine for lysine at position 68 and histidine for glutamine at position 121. California and bobwhite quail lysozymes were antigenically distinct from each other in quantitative microcomplement fixation tests, indicating that substitutions at one or both of these positions can alter the antigenic structure of lysozyme. Yet neither of these positions is among those claimed to account for the precise and entire antigenic structure of lysozyme [Atassi, M. Z., & Lee, C.-L. (1978) Biochem. J. 171, 429--434]. Two possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Continuous ingestion of different chlordecone (Kepone) concentrations and changes in quail reproduction.

To determine the effects of continuous ingestion of different chlordecone concentrations on quail reproduction and mortality, 5-wk-old female japanese quail were fed a diet containing 10, 40, 80, and 160 ppm chlordecone for exactly 250 d. Continuous ingestion of 10-80 ppm chlordecone did not induce excessive mortality or significantly alter reproductive functions. Similar ingestion of 160 ppm chlordecone increased quail mortality, produced a log in egg production, and affected the normal sequence of egg laying. Increased mortality occurred in quail that either did not initiate egg laying or ceased egg laying completely. Reproductive tracts of dead quail were noticeably reduced and the ovaries atrophied. Quail that continued to ingest the highest chlordecone dose produced significantly more defective eggs, which were eigher cracked, soft-shelled, or shell-less.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Role of quail in the interspecies transmission of H9 influenza A viruses: molecular changes on HA that correspond to adaptation from ducks to chickens.

H9 influenza viruses have become endemic in land-based domestic poultry in Asia and have sporadically crossed to pigs and humans. To understand the molecular determinants of their adaptation to land-based birds, we tested the replication and transmission of several 1970s duck H9 viruses in chickens and quail. Quail were more susceptible than chickens to these viruses, and generation of recombinant H9 viruses by reverse genetics showed that changes in the HA gene are sufficient to initiate efficient replication and transmission in quail. Seven amino acid positions on the HA molecule corresponded to adaptation to land-based birds. In quail H9 viruses, the pattern of amino acids at these seven positions is intermediate between those of duck and chicken viruses; this fact may explain the susceptibility of quail to duck H9 viruses. Our findings suggest that quail provide an environment in which the adaptation of influenza viruses from ducks generates novel variants that can cross the species barrier.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Evidence for clostridial implication in necrotizing enterocolitis through bacterial fermentation in a gnotobiotic quail model.

Despite extensive research, the pathogenesis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains elusive. The aim of our work was to investigate the role of bacterial strains involved in NEC in gnotobiotic quails as experimental model. Six groups of germ-free quails that were fed a lactose diet were associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Clostridium perfringens, C. difficile, C. paraputrificum, or C. butyricum (two strains). Implantation level, incidence of cecal lesions, production of short-chain fatty acids, and histologic lesions of the cecal wall were investigated. Whatever the strain, the implantation level was high (10(9) UFC/g). Neither K. pneumoniae nor C. difficile induced any cecal lesions. In contrast, the four other clostridial strains led to cecal NEC-like lesions with a variable occurrence: four of 12 quails for C. perfringens, eight of 12 quails for C. paraputrificum, and the same highest value, nine of 12 quails and eight of 10 quails for both C. butyricum strains. Gross aspects of the lesions may be linked to the short-chain fatty acid profiles and/or concentrations: thickening of the cecal wall (C. butyricum and C. perfringens) with high proportion of butyric acid, hemorrhages (C. paraputrificum) with high proportion of iso-butyric acid, and presence of other iso-acids. In addition, C. butyricum was characterized by pneumatosis, linked to a high gas production. Microscopic aspects confirmed the presence of edemas and intramucosa hemorrhages. Clostridia species, whose role is controversial, seem to be strongly implicated in NEC through excessive production of butyric acid as a result of colonic lactose fermentation. These results call for anaerobe detection in feces of infants who have NEC.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Behavioural responses to sex steroids of gonadectomized and sexually regressed quail.

The purpose of these experiments was to compare the behavioural and morphological effects of exogenous sex hormones in gonadectomized quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with those in quail having regressed gonads as a result of exposure to short days. In Expt 1, male quail were assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) intact, exposed to 16 h light: 8 h darkness and injected with oil (group 16L); (2) gonadectomized, exposed to 16 h light: 8 h darkness and injected with 2-5 mg testosterone propionate (TP)/day (group 16L-castrated); and (3) intact, exposed to 8 h light: 16 h darkness, and injected with 2-5 mg TP/day (group 8L). Groups 16L-castrated and 8L responded similarly to testosterone, copulating with equal frequency and rapidity after the same number of days of treatment, and also developing proctodeal (foam) glands of a similar size. Only on day 7 of testosterone treatment did the results for these two groups differ. By day 14, the behaviour of both groups resembled that of the 16L birds. In Expt 2 female quail were assigned to the same three treatment groups, except that the hormone treatment was 25 mug oestradiol benzoate/day. Group 8L became sexually receptive sooner than the 16L-ovariectomized quail, but by day 13 both groups had oviducts of similar size, were equally receptive, and were as receptive as the 16L females. The results suggest that the effects of photoperiod on sexual behaviour in this species are mediated largley, if not wholly , by the gonads. They also suggest exposure to short days and surgical gonadectomy are rather similar experimental procedures in the quail.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed Japanese quail: evidence for amelioration by dietary vitamin E.

Three experiments were conducted with adult, male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) from 5 through 14 weeks of age. In Experiment 1, quail fed a cholesterol-free diet were compared with quail fed .5% of United States Pharmacopoeias (USP), recrystallized (RCR), or oxidized (OXI) cholesterol preparations. In Experiment 2, .5% OXI cholesterol was fed alone and with .1% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or 100 mg d-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet and compared with .5% RCR cholesterol. Experiment 3 was the same as Experiment 2 except the BHT treatment was deleted. In comparison to RCR-treated quail, OXI-treated quail exhibited significantly increased serum (P less than .05) and liver (P less than .01) cholesterol concentrations and increased severity of atherosclerotic lesions (P less than .05). Addition of vitamin E to the OXI cholesterol diet appeared to reduce severity of atherosclerotic lesions. Vitamin E did not completely prevent atherosclerosis nor did it change the proportion of the quail population that exhibited lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Histochemical analysis of liver cells from short term, aflatoxin-dosed and nondosed Coturnix coturnix japonica. 1. Aflatoxin-sensitive quail.

Although aflatoxicosis in Coturnix coturnix japonica has been described, the histochemical localization of liver chemicals and the occurrence of ingested aflatoxins within blood, feces, and liver have not been described. Six to 8-week-old quail, which were intubated with a carrier with or without .3 mg mixed aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2)/kg body weight were sacrificed within .25 to 5 days of intubation. Deparaffinized sections of livers were stained for lipids, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and proteins. Other livers and excrement were homogenized and filtered homogenates as well as blood partitioned against chloroform. The aqueous phase was treated with pepsin and then partitioned, but the organic phase was analyzed directly. Organic phases of .25 to 5 day blood, feces, and liver lacked aflatoxins. Pepsin digesta of blood from males and females dosed 6 hr appeared to contain aflatoxicol (disappeared by 24 hr) and an unknown fluorescent compound, respectively. Whereas an unidentified fluorescent compound was observed within excrement of males dosed 6 hr, female excrement contained a fluorescent compound with an AFB1 Rf (disappeared by 24 hr). Although the liver of males dosed 6 hr had three fluorescent compounds (Rfs for AFB1 and AFB2a), only one was seen within dosed females. Ultra violet absorption spectra of presumed AFB2a and aflatoxicol failed to yield their reported absorption maxima. Livers from dosed quail exhibited bile duct proliferation, cellular necrosis, vacuolization, congestion, fatty changes and mild hepatitis. Sinusoidal membranes were thickened and contained abundant periodic acid-Schiff's (PAS)-positive substances. Although livers of nondosed quail abounded with regularly shaped and uniformly distributed, Sudan IV-positive droplets, livers of dosed quail accommodated few, irregularly-shaped and positioned droplets. Hepatocyte nuclei and nucleoli of dosed quail displayed marked affinities for the Feulgen reagent and toluidine blue O, respectively. Lobules of dosed quail possessed concentrations of cells in which their entire cytoplasm was PAS positive. Treatment of sections with alpha-amylase reduced staining suggesting the presence of glycogen. Ninhydrin-positive substances were distributed throughout the liver in both DQ and non DQ with no apparent difference in intensities between the two livers. Generally the DQ showed mild hepatitis due to aflatoxicosis and the toxin altered liver histochemistry for the major classes of cellular chemicals.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1989

Pathogenicity and immunogenicity of mynah pox virus in chickens and bobwhite quail.

An avian pox virus was isolated from cutaneous proliferative lesions removed from greater hill mynahs (Gracula religiosa) imported from Malaysia. Cutaneous inoculation of specific pathogen-free chickens and bobwhite quail with the mynah pox virus resulted in severe proliferative cutaneous lesions similar to those seen in the naturally infected mynah birds. Microscopically, the reaction in the chickens and quail at sites of virus inoculation was characterized by marked epithelial hyperplasia with ballooning degeneration and formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Inoculation of conjunctival and oral mucosae of chickens by applying pox virus with a cotton swab did not result in gross or microscopic lesions. In cross-protection studies, chickens and bobwhite quail immunized with either quail, fowl, pigeon, turkey, or psittacine pox vaccines were not protected from challenge with mynah pox virus. Following vaccination of quail and chickens with mynah pox virus vaccine, there was no resistance to challenge by quail, fowl, pigeon, turkey, or psittacine pox viruses. Significant protection against development of lesions following inoculation with mynah pox virus was attained only when the homologous virus was used as a vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The coccidia of quail in the United States.

Intestinal contents from 12 scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), 10 bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), 20 harlequin quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), 35 California quail (Lophortyx californicus), 15 Gambel's quail (Lophortyx gambelii), and 29 mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) were examined for coccidian oocysts. Only 18 (14.9%) of 121 birds had coccidian oocysts in their feces at the time of collection; these included 9 L. californicus and 9 O. pictus. Four eimerians and an isosporan were found in the 18 infected birds. Eimeria lophortygis and E. okanaganensis had been previously described from L. californicus, but were also seen in O. pictus. Eimeria crusti sp. n. and Eimeria oreortygis sp. n. are described from O. pictus; E. oreortygis was also found in L. californicus. Broadly ellipsoid oocysts of E. crusti had a rough outer wall, were 26.0 X 21.2 (24-28 X 20-23) microns, and contained ovoid sporocysts 15.7 X 7.5 (14-18 X 7-8)microns. Micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but a polar granule, sporocyst residuum, Stieda and substieda bodies were present. Slightly ovoid oocysts of E. oreortygis had a smooth outer wall, were 24.4 X 18.7 (21-28 X 17-23) microns, and contained ovoid sporocysts 14.1 X 7.21 (13-16 X 6-9) microns. Micropyle and polar granules were absent but a small oocyst residuum, large sporocyst residuum, Stieda and substieda bodies were present. Oocysts of an isosporan were found and compared to oocysts of Isospora lacazei isolated from sparrows in a previous study.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathology of experimentally induced quail bronchitis.

Bobwhite quails (Colinus virginianus) were inoculated with 10(6) mean tissue-culture infective dose of quail bronchitis virus at 1, 3, 6, or 9 weeks of age by intratracheal, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous routes. Quails developed necrotizing tracheitis, proliferative and necrotizing bronchitis and pneumonia; multifocal necrotizing hepatitis; necrotizing splenitis, with or without hyperplasia of splenic mononuclear phagocytes; bursal lymphoid necrosis; and bursal atrophy. Lesions were more extensive and severe in quails inoculated at 1 or 3 weeks of age than in older quails. Large intranuclear inclusions, characteristic of adenovirus infection, were identified in trachea, lung, liver, and bursa of Fabricius. This is the first report of the histopathology of experimentally induced quail bronchitis.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1985

An ultrastructural and histochemical study of the development of secondary palate in Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

Embryonic development of the secondary palate of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, was studied. The palatal shelves appeared on day 5 of incubation in a horizontal direction over the dorsal surface of the tongue. Subsequently, unlike those in mammals, the opposing palatal shelves do not fuse, and a physiological cleft persists between them. In comparison with the chick, where the palatal shelves do not fuse and the medial edge epithelium (MEE) becomes orthokeratinized stratified squamous type, the quail MEE differentiates into a parakeratinized stratified squamous type. The basal cells of the quail MEE differentiated from cuboidal to columnar and showed reorganization of their cytoplasmic organelles. In contrast to both the chick and mammalian MEE, quail MEE showed very little ruthenium red (RR) binding at the plasma membrane of both the basal and superficial cells. Initial development in a horizontal direction, lack of fusion, and an absence of programmed cell death in MEE of developing quail palate distinguished it from the mammalian palatogenesis. Also, although the morphogenesis of palate in quail and chick was similar, the pattern of cytodifferentiation in their MEE was different, which may be attributed to their ontogenesis.

Animals↗