Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FOWLS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Occurrence of intraportally-infused urea-15N in the urine of domestic fowl.

1. Measurements were made in situ to determine the occurrence of intraportally infused urea-15N in ureteral urine of the fowl. 2. Of the total amount of infused urea-15N, 15% was excreted intact into the urine (90% of urinary total 15N) whereas 9% remained unchanged in the blood (78% of blood non-protein-15N). 3. The proportions of non-protein-15N in the blood, liver and kidney were 12, 3 and 1%, respectively of the infused 15N. Protein-15N was 3% of that infused in blood and much less in liver and kidney. 4. About 1% of the infused 15N was observed in the urinary uric acid, and 3% of the infused 15N in non-protein N, other than urea, ammonia and glutamine amide N, of blood and liver. 5. No appreciable amounts of 15N were present in ammonia and glutamine amide N of blood, liver or kidney and in uric acid of liver or kidney. 6. The caecal contents contained about 1% of the infused 15N with 15% of this as ammonia-15N. 7. It is concluded that intraportal urea is mostly excreted unchanged into ureteral urine of the fowl.

Animals↗

Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a selection criterion for heat resistance in domestic fowls.

1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L) as criterion for selection for resistance to heat stress and some aspects of general resistance in domestic fowls. 2. The first experiment on a small sample (n = 64) of light breed Iraqi local fowls showed that this ratio could be used as an indicator of heat stress resistance. 3. The second experiment on a large sample (n = 1160) of heavy parent stock confirmed the results. It showed that there was a different H/L ratio for the two strains and that there was much individual variability in the H/L ratio within-strain that could be utilised for individual selection for heat resistance. 4. The H/L ratio was highly heritable; Resistant and Sensitive groups, defining all individuals with an H/L ratio over the upper 95% confidence limit as 'Sensitive' and those below as 'Resistant' produced progeny with significantly different H/L ratios. 5. There were indications of differences in mortality between the progeny of the Resistant and the Sensitive groups. 6. The H/L indicator could be used as a criterion to select for heat stress resistance.

Animals↗

Spectral sensitivity of the domestic fowl (Gallus g. domesticus).

1. The spectral sensitivity of 7 broiler fowl was determined in a behavioural test. 2. Initially the birds were trained to receive a food reward by pecking at a clear, Perspex panel behind which was a light stimulus (circular, diameter = 9 mm), originating from a tungsten-halogen lamp. Subsequently, they were trained to choose between 2 panels only 1 of which was lit; the assignation of light and dark on each panel was randomly ascribed between trials. The colour of the lit panel was determined by the wavelength of the light transmitted through one of 13 closely defined narrow bandwidth filters between 326<lambda<694 nm. The flux of photons and hence the intensity of the stimulus received by the bird could be controlled by changing the voltage across the lamp. The photon flux was gradually reduced until the birds failed to detect accurately the lit panel. Success was defined as a choice of the lit panel 9 or more times in a sequence of 10 trials, providing that the sequence contained at least 4 changes in the position of the stimulus. 3. Generally, the birds showed a peak sensitivity between 540<lambda<577 nm. The results agree with electrophysiological data between 507<lambda<694 nm and psychophysical data between 500<lambda<700 nm but our data showed higher sensitivities between 380<lambda<507 nm compared with electro-physiological findings. 4. Our findings confirm that broilers can 'see' into the UV(A) range and that their spectral sensitivity is different to the human. The implication of this is that the measurement of light intensity in poultry housing using the lux unit does not accurately describe the intensity perceived by fowl. 5. Experimenters using colour, for example differently coloured lighting or food, need to account for this different sensitivity when interpreting their results.

Animals↗

In ovo infection with an avian leukosis virus causing fowl glioma: viral distribution and pathogenesis.

We have previously isolated an avian leukosis virus (ALV) from a chicken affected with so-called fowl glioma. A resistance-inducing factor test indicated that the isolate was classified into a subgroup A. The distribution and pathogenicity were investigated in C/O specific pathogen free chickens infected in ovo with this virus. Histologically, 11 of 12 (92%) infected birds had non-suppurative encephalitis and three birds (25%) showed the characteristic nodules of fowl glioma at 50 or 100 days of age. Non-suppurative myocarditis with matrix inclusions and atypical myocytes were also noted in nine (75%) of the birds and the ALV antigens were immunohistochemically detected in various general organs as well as the central nervous system and heart. The semi-quantitative determination of the proviral DNA and viral RNA supported the immunohistochemical results and indicated that the virus was likely to replicate especially in myocardial fibres. The isolated ALV failed to induce other neoplastic lesions in this line of chickens within the experimental period of 100 days, despite the broad tissue tropism throughout the body. These results confirmed that this virus was able to induce glioma in embryo-inoculated chickens.

Animals↗

Walter T. Johnson (1892 to 1937): pioneer of coccidiosis research in the fowl.

Walter T. Johnson (1892 to 1937), veterinarian at Western Washington Agricultural Experiment Station (WWAES), Puyallup, Washington, USA, and subsequently poultry pathologist and professor of veterinary medicine at Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station (OSAES), Corvallis, Oregon, USA, made many important contributions to our understanding of the disease coccidiosis. His pioneering work included the first description of Eimeria necatrix and Eimeria praecox from the chicken and identification of four other species of Eimeria from the fowl. He demonstrated the relationship between numbers of oocysts ingested and severity of infection, and described the phenomenon of host specificity and the significance of immunity. Contrary to widespread opinion, he considered that coccidia were not involved in blackhead disease and other pathological conditions reported from the fowl. His views on control were ahead of his time and he anticipated the possibility of vaccinating birds by infecting them with live oocysts. In addition to his studies of coccidiosis, Johnson introduced a vaccine for fowlpox and ran a pullorum-testing laboratory. He produced numerous articles of an advisory nature on a diverse range of topics concerned with poultry and cattle. Much of Johnson's research was published in bulletins of the WWAES and OSAES that are not widely available and consequently have often been overlooked by the scientific community. Following his premature death, the director of OSAES claimed, "more information on the parasitic disease coccidiosis has been discovered at the Oregon Station than at almost any other place. The Oregon Station is probably the only institution in the world where six known species of coccidia of the chicken are available in pure culture" (Anonymous, 1938a). This is a claim that few institutions can match today.

Animals↗

Detection of multiple strains of Pasteurella multocida in fowl cholera outbreaks by polymerase chain reaction-based typing.

Applicability of molecular methods for the detection and differentiation of Pasteurella multocida strains involved in two separate fowl cholera outbreaks in a single poultry farm was investigated. A total of 12 and 18 strains of P. multocida obtained from two separate outbreaks were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. Phenotypically, all strains were similar; however, DNA-based techniques by employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were found to be highly specific and sensitive for rapid detection and differentiation of strains. All 30 strains gave amplicons of approximately 460 bp and approximately 1,044 bp specific for P. multocida and capsular serogroup A in the Multiplex Capsular PCR typing system. Molecular typing techniques such as repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR and single primer PCR differentiated all 30 strains into different profiles. However, similar patterns of genome fragments were observed among all strains following restriction endonuclease analysis using the enzyme HpaII. The current investigation revealed involvement of the same and multiple strains of P. multocida in two outbreaks. The results also indicated that molecular methods of detection and typing are rapid in comparison with conventional methods for epidemiological investigations of fowl cholera outbreaks.

Animals↗

Clonal stability of Pasteurella multocida in free-range layers affected by fowl cholera.

Detailed longitudinal studies of the genetic stability of Pasteurella multocida ssp. multocida, the cause of fowl cholera, have not previously been carried out. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to provide detailed information on the genetic stability and diversity of P. multocida ssp. multocida in poultry flocks over time, enabling new insights into the molecular epidemiology of this important poultry pathogen. Longitudinal investigations of the rate and causes of mortality were carried out on two free-range layer farms (A and B) over a period of 11 months. The total mortality of two flocks, A1 and A2, on farm A were 62 and 91%, respectively, while the total mortality of a single flock B1 on farm B was 6%. Postmortem examinations were performed on 708 layers from flocks A1 and A2 and in 159 from flock B1. Fowl cholera was the main cause of mortality on both farms. Pasteurella multocida isolates recovered from layers on both farms were characterized phenotypically and genotypically, and 322 isolates were identified as P. multocida ssp. multocida. The genetic diversity of 99 isolates from farm A and 31 from farm B was characterized by restriction endonuclease analysis and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. The isolates on each farm had a unique restriction endonuclease analysis and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis type, suggesting a single introduction of a successful clone. Furthermore the clone on farm A was identical to clones previously isolated from outbreaks in the avifauna of Denmark in 1996 and 2001 and in Sweden in 1998. This study provides convincing evidence for the clonal stability of outbreak clones of P. multocida.

Aging↗

Factors influencing the levels of fatty acid synthase complex activity in fowl.

There is a notable discrepancy between the FAS (fatty acid synthase) activity of four types of fowl (egg chicken, meat chicken, egg duck, and meat duck) with distinctively different body fat levels. There is a 14.8 fold difference per unit body weight between the maximum and minimum FAS activities. The three major factors affecting this discrepancy are liver weight per unit body weight, which is 2.3 times greater in meat ducks than in egg chickens, the amount of FAS protein per gram of liver, which is 1.85 times greater in meat ducks than in egg chickens, and the FAS specific activity in meat ducks, which is 3.5 times greater in meat ducks than in egg chickens. Within the same species of egg chickens, the abdomen fat per kg of body weight at 470 days after egg production is 66 times greater than 90 days before egg production and the liver FAS activity is increased 9.6 fold. The 9.6 fold FAS activity increase resulted from an increase in the specific activity, since the liver weight per kilogram of body weight remained constant at approx. 20 grams and the FAS weight per gram of liver also remained constant at approx. 4.5 mg. This shows that the control of the basic FAS activity level which is closely related to the level of body fat does not mainly arise from genetic control. For the same kind of fowl, the control of the basic FAS activity level occurs after gene expression. It is suggested that control may be imposed in the folding phase when new peptides give rise to functional proteins.

Adipose Tissue↗

Analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to SIV proteins in SIV-infected macaques using antigen-specific stimulation with recombinant vaccinia and fowl poxviruses.

Methods to analyze CD8+ CTL responses to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-encoded proteins are essential to understand lentivirus immunopathogenesis and protective immune responses. Recombinant infectious shuttle vectors are useful for analyzing CTL responses to many viruses, including HIV. Therefore, CTL responses in SIV-infected Macaca fascicularis to SIV env and SIV gag/pol were evaluated using specific antigen stimulation with recombinant vaccinia (rVV) and fowl poxviruses (rFPV) containing SIV genes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SIV-infected animals were stimulated with autologous cells infected with rVV expressing SIV env/gag/pol, and CTLs specific for SIV env and for SIV gag/pol were detected by testing for lytic activity in target cells expressing these genes separately. Lymphocyte subset purifications from the effector population demonstrated that the CTL response was mediated by CD8+ cells, and the use of brefeldin A to selectively block antigen presentation in association with MHC class I products affirmed this cytolytic activity was class I restricted. The use of rVV to analyze responses to SIV genes is potentially problematic in hosts immunized to vaccinia. Fowl poxvirus is an alternative virus that has many of the molecular advantages of vaccinia virus but is genomically distinct. Therefore, the ability of rFPV to expand and detect SIV-specific CTLs was evaluated. Although there was no cytopathic effect following infection with rFPV, macaque cells infected with this vector did express rFPV gene products, and could be used as stimulator and target cells to detect SIV-specific CD8+ CTLs. The results suggest that these recombinant viral vectors can be used to specifically stimulate CD8+, MHC class I-restricted CTLs reactive to SIV proteins, and should facilitate evaluating CTL responses in both SIV-infected animals and animals vaccinated against SIV.

Animals↗

Virus-induced pancreatic cancer in guinea fowl: a morphologic study.

The morphologic lesions in the pancreas of 350 guinea fowls infected with avian osteopetrosis virus strain Pts-56 were studied. Focal unspecific changes in the acinar tissue, including reduction of zymogen content, diminution of cytoplasm, and dilatation of acinar lumens accompanied with substitution of the affected acini by tubular structures lined with centroacinar-like cells, developed 2 months from post infection (p.i.) in about 30% of the birds. Adenomatous growths of ductules with mucin-producing or mucin-nonproducing epithelium were observed independently or parallelly to these changes after 3 months p.i. Pancreatic carcinomas arose as early as 4 months p.i. The number and size of the neoplastic foci increased with time, and after the 6th month neoplastic foci were established in almost all infected guinea fowls. Neoplastic proliferations of type A and D endocrine cells were identified in the carcinoma foci of separate cases. Other associated neoplasms were bone tumors and papillomatous growths of the duodenal mucosa.

Adenoma↗

Conformation of the fowl protamine, galline, and its binding properties to DNA.

1. CD spectra showed that the fowl protamine, galline, has an unordered structure rich in reverse turns in neutral solution. Eight reverse turns were predicted to be present in the galline molecule on the basis of its amino acid sequence. Spectrophotometric analyses revealed that galline efficiently bound to DNA in 0.25 mM EDTA/10 mM Tricine-HCl, pH 7.4, but hardly so in 30 mM NaCl/3 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0. Citrate ions bound specifically to the galline molecule, causing a conformational change in it. As a result, galline could not interact with DNA. 2. The concentration of unbound galline in a mixture of DNA and galline in 100 mM NaCl/50 mM Tricine-HCl, pH 7.4, at 37 C was determined by measurement of the intrinsic fluorescence of tyrosine residues of galline in the supernatant after ultracentrifugation of the mixture. The Scatchard plot showed positive co-operativity in the binding of galline to DNA and the binding parameters were determined: the co-operative binding constant (Kc) = 3.3 X 10(7)M-1, the co-operativity factor (q) = 800, and the number of nucleotides of DNA occupied by one galline molecule (n) = 28. The Kc and q values were intermediate between those for clupeine Z from herring sperm and S-methyl protamine from boar sperm. That is, the binding constants of protamine as to DNA decrease in the order of herring, fowl, and boar, while the co-operativities in binding increase in that order.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Soluble proteins from fowl feather keratin. II. Isolation of some proteins from barbs.

Four fractions, GF-1, 2, 3, and 4, which had been separated from S-carboxymethylated (SCM-) proteins of fowl feathers by gel filtration, were each chromatographed on a DEAE-cellulose column in 0.05 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) containing 8 M urea. The major fraction, GF-3, was further separated into seven peaks; the first four were shown to be single components by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Chromatograms of GF-1 and 2 showed broad peaks which appeared at nearly the same volume as in GF-3. The components from GF-3 had very similar amino acid compositions except that the SCM-cysteine content showed a tendency to increase in the order of elution from the column. SCM-extract prepared from barbs of the wing feathers of a fowl was more heterogeneous than that taken from the body feathers. A combination of gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose was found to be more effective for the isolation of soluble SCM-proteins.

Amino Acids↗

Tenderizing spent fowl meat with calcium chloride. 1. Effects of delivery method and tumbling.

In this study, different methods of 0.2 M or 0.3 M CaCl2 delivery into hot-boned spent Leghorn breast fillets followed by tumbling were evaluated. The CaCl2 was delivered by adding 10% (wt/wt) solution into the tumbler, injection 10% (wt/wt) into the fillet, or soaking at room temperature for 15 min followed by soaking at 2 C for 45 min. All these treatments were subjected to either tumbling at room temperature for 1 h or no tumbling. Water injected and untreated samples served as controls. All fillets were baked and sheared with an Allo-Kramer cell. Introduction of 0.2 M CaCl2 through different delivery methods was not sufficient to improve spent fowl meat tenderness, even when followed by tumbling. When 0.3 M CaCl2 injection was followed by tumbling, the mean shear value of the hot-boned spent hen fillets was reduced to near the tenderness level acceptable to consumers. However, when tumbling was performed on the fillets treated with calcium introduced by methods other than injection, the shear values were higher than samples using the calcium injection method. Therefore, tumbling in combination with injection of 0.3 M CaCl2 is essential for maximal tenderization of spent fowl meat.

Animals↗

High temperature processing effects on the properties of fowl meat gels.

The effects of three moisture levels (0, 10, and 20% added water) and three processing temperatures (115.6, 121.1, and 126.7 C) on texture and collagen solubilization of fowl meat gels were examined. Meat gels were formulated from spent fowl breast meat that were cooked in water (71.1 C internal temperature) prior to heat processing. The water-cooked gels were heat processed at the three temperatures to an F0 value of 6.0 (Z value = 10 C). The addition of 20% water resulted in a reduction of the soluble collagen compared to the 10% water-added treatment. The lowest processing temperature increased the soluble collagen compared to the highest processing temperature. Shear stress and hardness decreased as the amount of added water was increased; and the lowest processing temperature resulted in the lowest hardness values. The increase in soluble collagen parallels the decrease in hardness in the samples processed at the lowest temperature. Because each sample was processed to equivalent F values, the lowest processing temperature had the longest exposure time (26 min at 115.6 C, 12 min at 121.1 C, and 6 min at 126.7 C). The longer exposure to moist heat allowed for greater collagen solubilization and lower hardness values. The 0% added-water treatment had the highest yield from before and after heat processing. However the 10% water-added samples had the greatest overall water retention when each treatment was placed on an equal level of initial water content. Furthermore, the highest processing temperature (shortest processing time) resulted in the greatest yield and moisture retention compared to the other processing temperatures.

Analysis of Variance↗

Electrocardiographic and genetic evaluation of giant jungle fowl, broilers, and their reciprocal crosses following unilateral bronchus occlusion.

Electrocardiography is useful as a noninvasive technique for detecting right ventricular hypertrophy in birds developing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS, ascites). The objective of this study was to identify every aspect of the Lead II ECG wave form (amplitude or duration) that can be correlated with right ventricular hypertrophy [increased right:total ventricular weight ratios (RV:TV)] indicative of PH across a broad genetic background. Sham operations were conducted, or PH was induced by occluding one extrapulmonary primary bronchus in 14-d-old chicks produced from matings of broilers (B x B), Giant Jungle Fowl (J x J), and their reciprocal crosses (B x J and J x B). Standard three-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded on Days 28 and 42, and final necropsies were conducted to evaluate the incidence of ascites, confirm sex, and obtain ventricular weights for calculating RV:TV. Ascites did not develop in the J x J, and one each of the B x J and J x B chicks developed ascites; consequently, only data from birds that did not develop ascites were compared. Heart rate was recorded, and the following amplitudes and durations were measured or calculated for three consecutive wave cycles of the Lead II ECG: base of R to the peak of R (RbR), peak of R to base of S (RS), base of S to peak of R' (SR'), S, peak of R' to base of R' (R'R'b), and base of S to peak of T (ST). Differences between the ECG of sham and bronchus clamp groups were more prominent in B x B and B x J than in J x B, and bronchus occlusion did not affect the ECG, growth, or RV:TV ratios of J x J. In contrast, sex influences were more prominent in J x J and J x B than in B x J and B x B. These observations suggest a paternal pattern of inheritance for Lead II ECG wave forms, with crosses sired by broilers (B x B, B x J) exhibiting susceptibility to PH and few ECG differences related to sex, whereas crosses sired by Giant Jungle Fowl U x J, J x B) exhibited resistance to PH and numerous ECG differences related to sex.

Animals↗

Male broiler breeder fowl display high levels of aggression toward females.

Commercial broiler breeder males are reported to display high levels of aggression, often injuring and sometimes killing females. Aggression toward females by mature male domestic fowl is rare and may be regarded as aberrant behavior. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of genetic strain and feed restriction on the sexual and aggressive behavior of male domestic fowl. A 3 x 2 factorial design was used to compare the behavior of three genetic strains (two broiler breeder strains and one commercial laying strain) on two feeding regimens (one restricted and one fed ad libitum) between 25 and 37 d of age. At 22 wk of age, pairs of same-strain males were penned with 20 females of a broiler breeder strain. Behavior was sampled from each pen for six 10-min periods during Weeks 25, 27, 29, 33, and 37. Broiler breeder males displayed significantly more male-to-male (P < 0.0197) and male-to-female aggression (P < 0.0005) than laying strain males. Broiler breeder males chased females (P < 0.0001), forced more copulations (P < 0.0003), and displayed little courtship behavior (P < 0.0001) compared with laying strain males. There were no behavioral differences between broiler breeder strains. It was expected that feed restriction would result in increased aggression. However, males fed ad libitum displayed the most male-to-male (P < 0.0035) and male-to-female (P < 0.0273) aggression. Sexual behavior was not affected by feeding regimen. In conclusion, broiler breeder males display aberrant sexual behavior and extremely high levels of aggression, which are associated with genetic differences, not feed restriction.

Aggression↗

Effect of varying metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations in diets of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets 1. Growth performance.

This study was undertaken to assess dietary ME and CP concentrations for optimum growth performance of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 540 one-day-old Pearl Gray guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,900, 3,000, and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 20, 22, and 24% CP, respectively, from 0 to 8 wk of age (WOA). From 9 to 16 WOA, these diets were adjusted to contain 3,000, 3,100, and 3,200 kcal of ME/ kg, and each had 17, 19, and 21% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Overall, feed consumption was higher in birds on 2,900 and 3,000 kcal of ME/kg of feed and the 24 and 21% CP diets than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. When compared with other dietary treatments, cumulative BW gains were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,000 and 3,100, and 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 2 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Pullets receiving 24 and 21% CP diets also exhibited higher BW gains than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Feed conversion ratios were lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,100, and both 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 1 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, than other dietary treatments. Pullets fed 24% CP diets and either 17 or 19% CP diets exhibited lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratios than other dietary treatments at 1 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Thus, diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg were utilized more efficiently by the Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets at 0 to 5 and 5 to 16 WOA, respectively. Also, these birds more efficiently utilized diets containing 24 and 17% CP at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively.

Aging↗

Development of the testes in female domestic fowls submitted to an experimental sex reversal during embryonic life.

The sex differentiation of the female chick embryo can be totally inverted toward the male sex by an early extraembryonic testis grafting. This sex reversal remains permanent, as shown by three adult fowls described in this paper. They possess two testes associated with normally differentiated male excretory ducts and their Müllerian ducts have regressed. The development of male sex characteristics such as external features, behavior and complete spermatogenesis is evidence that these cocks have endocrine and exocrine capabilities similar to those of normal cocks. Although these cocks were able to mate with female fowls, they were sterile. A mechanism is discussed by which grafted testes induce such modifications in females. Hypotheses considering the heterogametic sex (female in birds) as exerting a dominant influence on the phenotypic sexual differentiation can be discarded in light of our results because a homogametic testis provokes the definitive sex inversion of a female.

Animals↗