muramidase and Poultry-Diseases

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricumon growth performance, immune function, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli K88. Three hundred sixty 1-d-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 treatments: negative control (NC) birds were fed a basal diet and not challenged with E. coli K88; positive control (PC) birds were fed a basal diet and challenged with E. coli K88; C. butyricum treatment (CB) birds were fed a diet containing 2 × 10(7) cfu C. butyricum/kg of diet and challenged with E. coli K88; and colistin sulfate treatment (CS) birds were fed a diet containing 20 mg of colistin sulfate/kg of diet and challenged with E. coli K88. Birds fed CB had greater (P < 0.05) BW than the PC birds from 3 to 21 d postchallenge. Birds fed CB had greater (P < 0.05) serum IgA and IgY at 14 d postchallenge, greater (P < 0.05) serum IgM at 21 d postchallenge, and greater (P < 0.05) mucosal secreted IgA at 3 and 7 d postchallenge than the PC birds. Birds fed CB had greater concentrations of serum complement component 3 at 14 d postchallenge, and greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of serum complement component 4 at 3, 7, and 14 d postchallenge than the PC birds. Birds in the CS or CB treatments had less cecal E. coli population at 3, 7, and 21 d postchallenge, and less cecal Clostridium perfringens counts at 21 d postchallenge compared with the PC birds. The CB treatment increased (P < 0.05) the population of cecal Lactobacillus at 3 d postchallenge and the number of cecal Bifidobacterium at 3, 14, and 21 d postchallenge in comparison with the PC treatment. The results indicate that dietary supplementation of CB promotes growth performance, improves immune function, and benefits the cecal microflora in Escherichia coli K88-challenged chickens.

Topics: Animals; Cecum; Chickens; Clostridium butyricum; Complement C3; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Immunoglobulins; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Probiotics

Antibiotics continue to be used as growth promoters in the poultry industry. Honeybee (Apis melifera) venom (HBV) possesses a number of beneficial biological activities, particularly for regulating the immune system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunoprophylactic effects of HBV against Salmonella Gallinarum in broiler chicks as an initial step towards developing eco-friendly alternatives to reduce antibiotic use. HBV was administered using a spray technique. HBV improved body weight gain, particularly in the presence of infection. Moreover, HBV enhanced antibody production activity against formalin-killed S. Gallinarum. The CD4(+):CD8(+) T lymphocyte ratio, relative mRNA expression levels of interleukin-18 and interferon-γ, and serum lysozyme activity also increased following HBV administration before the infection period as well as during infection. HBV reinforced bacterial clearance and increased survivability against S. Gallinarum. Corresponding pathological analyses demonstrated that the HBV-sprayed group displayed mild and less severe abnormal changes compared with those in the control group. It was presumed that the prophylactic effects of HBV against S. Gallinarum were associated with its non-specific immune response stimulating activity. Thus, HBV may provide an alternative to reduce antibiotic use in the poultry industry.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Bee Venoms; Chickens; Colony Count, Microbial; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-18; Lymphocyte Count; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Random Allocation; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Salmonella enterica; Salmonella Infections, Animal

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Gene Expression Regulation; Muramidase; Mutation; Poultry Diseases; Virulence; Zebrafish

The AcmA binding domains of Lactococcus lactis were used to display the VP1 protein of chicken anemia virus (CAV) on Lactobacillus acidophilus. One and two repeats of the cell wall binding domain of acmA gene were amplified from L. lactis MG1363 genome and then inserted into co-expression vector, pBudCE4.1. The VP1 gene of CAV was then fused to the acmA sequences and the VP2 gene was cloned into the second MCS of the same vector before transformation into Escherichia coli. The expressed recombinant proteins were purified using a His-tag affinity column and mixed with a culture of L. acidophilus. Whole cell ELISA and immunofluorescence assay showed the binding of the recombinant VP1 protein on the surface of the bacterial cells. The lactobacilli cells carrying the CAV VP1 protein were used to immunize specific pathogen-free chickens through the oral route. A moderate level of neutralizing antibody to CAV was detected in the serum of the immunized chickens. A VP1-specific proliferative response was observed in splenocytes of the chickens after oral immunization. The vaccinated groups also showed increased levels of Th1 cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ. These observations suggest that L. acidophilus can be used in the delivery of vaccines to chickens.

Topics: Animals; Capsid Proteins; Chicken anemia virus; Chickens; Circoviridae Infections; Cytokines; Gene Expression; Genetic Vectors; Immunization; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Viral Vaccines

Necrotic enteritis is a worldwide poultry disease caused by the overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens in the small intestine. An experiment with a 2x2 factorial design (supplementation with or without 40 mg lysozyme/kg diet for chickens challenged with or without C. perfringens) was conducted to investigate the inhibitory efficacy of exogenous lysozyme against intestinal colonization by C. perfringens in chickens subject to oral inoculation of C. perfringens type A on days 17 to 20. The C. perfringens challenge resulted in significant increase of C. perfringens, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus populations in the ileum, bacteria translocation to the spleen, the intestinal lesion scores , There was significantly lower intestinal lysozyme activity in the duodenum and jejunum and weight gain during days 14 to 28 of the experiment. The addition of exogenous lysozyme significantly reduced the concentration of C. perfringens in the ileum and the intestinal lesion scores, inhibited the overgrowth of E. coli and Lactobacillus in the ileum and intestinal bacteria translocation to the spleen, and improved intestinal lysozyme activity in the duodenum and the feed conversion ratio of chickens. These findings suggest that exogenous lysozyme could decrease C. perfringens colonization and improve intestinal barrier function and growth performance of chickens.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Chickens; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium perfringens; Dietary Supplements; Escherichia coli; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Lactobacillus; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Spleen; Weight Gain

A cage study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of Entegard REV, a lysozyme-based antimicrobial blend, on the performance of broiler chickens and necrotic enteritis (NE) disease reduction of birds that were challenged with Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens. In the experiment, challenge by the infectious agents without medication resulted in impaired feed consumption, weight gain, and feed conversions and caused high incidence of gross NE lesions and NE mortality rate. Entegard REV included in feed at 200 g/metric ton (MT) was very effective in reducing negative health effects in the birds after NE challenge, and its ability to control the disease was not statistically different from a commonly used antibiotic growth promotant, bacitracin methylene disalicilate, at 55 g/MT.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chickens; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium perfringens; Coccidiosis; Eimeria; Enteritis; Muramidase; Necrosis; Poultry Diseases

Three hundred sixty 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 6 groups with a 2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Three supplemental levels (0, 0.25, and 0.50%) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (XP) were fed to control and Eimeria tenella-infected broilers. Growth performance and immune response criteria were measured after coccidian infection. Broiler ADG was lowered (P<0.01) by coccidian infection and improved by XP supplementation (P=0.04). Supplementation of XP increased CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts (P<0.05) and the ratio CD4+:CD8+ in blood (P=0.06) and spleen (P=0.04) as well as ileum intraepithelial lymphocyte count, cecal tonsil secretory IgA counts, serum lysozyme content (P<0.01), and albumin:globulin ratio (P=0.02). These results suggest that dietary XP supplementation could improve immune function and growth performance in coccidia-infected broilers.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, CD; Cecum; Chickens; Coccidiosis; Eimeria tenella; Ileum; Immunoglobulin A; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Random Allocation; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes

The effects of differential centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation, freeze-thawing, and chemical lysis on the morphology of Pasteurella multocida from the blood of infected turkeys were examined by electron microscopy. Morphologic differences were not seen between thin-section preparations of P multocida after differential and density gradient centrifugation procedures. The internal ultrastructure of in vivo-grown cells was different from that observed previously for P multocida grown in vitro. Large membranous blebs were also observed on the surface of negative-stained preparations of organisms from the plasma, but not in thin sections of cells from the same preparation. Freeze-thaw of bacterial suspensions in sucrose resulted in partial lysis, revealing bacteria in different phases of degradation. Complete lysis (but not solubilization) was enhanced by treatment with EDTA, lysozyme, and Triton X-100. Centrifuged lysate pellets were thin-sectioned or negative-stained. Pellets consisted of vesicles, ranging in size from 0.05 to 1.0 micrometer, that had a characteristic trilaminar membranous appearance similar to those reported from other gram-negative bacteria grown in vitro and treated similarly.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Blood; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Escherichia coli; Freezing; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Microscopy, Electron; Muramidase; Pasteurella; Pasteurella Infections; Poultry Diseases; Turkeys

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Herpesviridae Infections; Laryngitis; Muramidase; Poultry Diseases; Respiratory Therapy; Tracheitis; Vaccination

Topics: Air Sacs; Animals; Arginine; Bacteriophages; Blood; Bronchitis; Chick Embryo; Culture Media; Embryo, Mammalian; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Female; Horses; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Methods; Muramidase; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma Infections; Poultry Diseases; Turkeys; Virulence; Vitelline Membrane

Topics: Aerobiosis; Animals; Arthritis; Chickens; Coagulase; Deoxyribonucleases; Fibrinolysin; Hemolysin Proteins; Lipase; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Muramidase; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Poultry Diseases; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus Phages; Synovial Fluid; Synovitis; Urease

Topics: Agglutination Tests; Animals; Muramidase; Peptide Hydrolases; Poultry Diseases; Ribonucleases; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Tissue Extracts