• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2012

Coccidiosis control programs such as vaccines or in-feed anticoccidials are commonly practiced in the poultry industry to improve growth performance and health of commercial broiler chickens. In this study, we assessed the effects of various coccidiosis control programs (e.g., in ovo vaccination, synthetic chemicals, and antibiotic ionophores) on immune status of broiler chickens vaccinated against infectious bronchitis virus and Newcastle disease virus (ND) and raised on an Eimeria-contaminated used litter. In general, the levels of ${\alpha}$-1-acid glycoprotein, an acute phase protein, were altered by the treatments when measured at 34 days of age. Splenocyte subpopulations and serum antibody titers against ND were altered by various coccidiosis control programs. In-ovo-vaccinated chickens exhibited highest mitogenic response when their spleen cells were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) at 7 days of age. It is clear from this study that the type of coccidiosis control program influenced various aspects of innate and adaptive immune parameters of broiler chickens. Further studies will be necessary to delineate the underlying relationship between the type of coccidiosis control program and host immune system and to understand the role of other external environmental factors such as gut microbiota on host-pathogen interaction in various disease control programs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2007

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an important factor in regulation of cardiovascular tone in humans and mammals, but the biological function of ET-1 in the avian vascular system has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of endogenous ET-1 in the vascular system of poultry by investigating the effect of endothelin A receptor ($ET_AR$) antagonist BQ123 on the femoral artery pressure (FAP) and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in broiler chickens. First, we found that plasma and lung homogenate ET-1 levels were both increased with age over the seven weeks life cyccle of broiler chickens. Second, 60 min after intravenous injection, BQ123 ($0.4{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and $2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively) induced a significant reduction in FAP and PAP (p<0.05). Third, chronic infusion of BQ123 ($2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ each time, two times a day) into abdominal cavities led to significant decrease in systolic pressure of the femoral (p<0.05) and pulmonary arteries (p<0.01) in broiler chickens at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Taken together, the $ET_AR$ antagonist BQ123 lead to a significant reduction of FAP and PAP, which suggests that endogenous ET-1 may be involved in the maintenance and regulation of systemic and pulmonary pressure in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1113-1125
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• 2020

Objective: This study was investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of Antrodia cinnamomea fermented product on modulation of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and lipid metabolism in broilers. Methods: Functional compounds and in vitro antioxidant capacity were detected in wheat bran (WB) solid-state fermented by Antrodia cinnamomea for 16 days (FAC). In animal experiment, 400 d-old broiler chickens were allotted into 5 groups fed control diet, and control diet replaced with 5% WB, 10% WB, 5% FAC, and 10% FAC respectively. Growth performance, intestinal microflora, serum antioxidant enzymes and fatty acid profiles in pectoral superficial muscle were measured. Results: Pretreatment with hot water extracted fermented product significantly reduced chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells death induced by lipopolysaccharide and 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. Birds received 5% and 10% FAC had higher weight gain than WB groups. Cecal coliform and lactic acid bacteria were diminished and increased respectively while diet replaced with FAC. For FAC supplemented groups, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased at 35 days only, with catalase elevated at 21 and 35 day. Regarding serum lipid parameters, 10% FAC replacement significantly reduced triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein level in chickens. For fatty acid composition in pectoral superficial muscle of 35-d-old chickens, 5% and 10% FAC inclusion had birds with significantly lower saturated fatty acids as compared with 10% WB group. Birds on the 5% FAC diet had a higher degree of unsaturation, followed by 10% FAC, control, 5% WB, and 10% WB. Conclusion: In conclusion, desirable intestinal microflora in chickens obtaining FAC may be attributed to the functional metabolites detected in final fermented product. Moreover, antioxidant effects observed in FAC were plausibly exerted in terms of improved antioxidant enzymes activities, increased unsaturated degree of fatty acids in chicken muscle and better weight gain in FAC inclusion groups, indicating that FAC possesses promising favorable mechanisms worthy to be developed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2004

The present study was designed to define whether dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could affect antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S transferase (GST), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the small intestine and liver from broiler chickens. A total of twenty-four 3 wk-old male broiler chickens were assigned to three dietary treatments (1.5% corn oil, 0.75% corn oil plus 0.75% CLA, and 1.5% CLA, isocalorically), and fed a grower-finisher diet from 22 to 35 days. In the small intestinal mucosae, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and GST, and the level of MDA were not substantially influenced by dietary CLA. In the liver, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and GST, and the level of MDA were also unaffected by dietary CLA at the level of either 0.75% or 1.5% compared with corn oil at the level of 1.5%. However, the broiler chickens fed the diet containing 1.5% CLA resulted in a significant increase in peroxisomal CAT activity and a marked decrease in total lipid and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from liver tissues compared with those fed the diet containing 1.5% corn oil. In conclusion, ability of CLA to increase hepatic CAT activity suggest that dietary CLA may affect, at least in part, antioxidant defense system as well as lipid metabolism in the liver of broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1685-1690
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• 2018

Objective: The pituitary specific transcription factor-1 (Pit-1) gene is responsible for pituitary development and growth hormone expression and is regarded as a pivotal candidate gene for growth and production in chickens. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association of Pit-1 polymorphisms with growth and feed efficiency traits in yellow meat-type chickens. Methods: In the present study, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Pit-1 were selected and genotyped by high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in 724 meat-type chickens. Results: Association analysis showed that rs13687126 of Pit-1 was strongly associated with body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) (p<0.05), and that rs13687128 was significantly correlated with body weight at 70 days of age (BW70), BWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.05). SNP rs13905622 was strongly related to BW70 and FCR (p<0.05). Furthermore, birds with the GG genotype of rs13687126 had larger BWG and FI than those with the AG genotype (p<0.05). Individuals with the TT genotype of rs13687128 were significantly higher BW70 and BWG than those of the CT and CC genotype, while FCR was just the opposite (p<0.05). For rs13905622, the AA chickens showed strongly larger BW70 and lower FCR compared with the AT and TT chickens (p<0.05). Additionally, an ACA haplotype based on rs13687126, rs13687128, and rs13905622 had significant effects on BW70 and FCR (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our studies thus provide crucial evidence for the relationship between polymorphisms of Pit-1 and growth and feed efficiency traits which may be useful for meat-type chicken breeding programs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2016

The Ecklonia cava Kjellman by-product (ECBP) as a feed additive was evaluated in improvement of productivity and immune enhancement against Salmonella Gallinarum (SG). Lohmann Brown chickens proved SG-free were randomly divided into 3 groups of 8 chickens each. Chickens were fed with the experimental diet treatment: T0, Non treatment-commercial feed; T1, commercial feed with 0.5% ECBP; T2, commercial feed with 0.1% Lactobacillus plantarum. In this study, we evaluated the effect of T1 and T2 groups on the body weight and protective efficacy against SG in chickens. The results demonstrated that treatment of T1 group as a feed additive affected significantly body weight gaining in chickens. In addition, T1 group showed a significant different colonization of SG when compared to T2 and T0 groups. We also studied that serum IgG and $interferon-{\gamma}$ levels were significantly different compared with other treatment groups. Therefore, we suggest that ECBP can be used as a good candidate of feed additives in chicken industry.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.555-568
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• 1997

Fowl typhoid caused by Salmonella gallinarum has increased dramatically since 1992 and has caused a great economic losses in chicken industry by characterizing with high mortality. In these studies, we investigated the immunogenicity and protectivity in chickens which were immunized with outer membrane protein(OMP) extracted from isolates of S gallinarum against challenge with live microorganism. Outer membrane proteins were composed of various sizes of molecular weight including 14K, 22K, 31K, 36K, 40K and 55K and the most of them responded strongly against rabbit antisera in immunoblot analysis. The chickens vaccinated with OMP or vaccinated with whole-cell combined with OMP($200{\mu}g$/chickens) complex showed higher delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) response than that of whole-cell vaccinated group. The protective rates of OMP or whole-cell combined with OMP complex group against challenge of S gallinarum were higher (above 75%) than those (45~50%) of whole-cell vaccinated group. All vaccines were safe and the body weight-gains of all vaccinated groups were not significantly different (p<0.05) from those of nonvaccinated control group. In vitro tests, OMP stimulated both the proliferation of lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, and OMP-induced lymphocyte proliferation was higher in the cells of the immunized chickens with OMP than in those from the control chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2003

A cecostomy technique (surgery for inserted tube into ceca) was developed to quantify urine backflow into the ceca of fed and feed-deprived chickens. Two days post-surgery, cecostomised chickens were flushed with 20ml of warm saline solution every other day for 10 days. Excreta were collected daily from cecal tubing and cloaca by surgical attachment of polyethylene collection vessels to the chickens. Uric acid excretion was significantly increased in fed compared to feed-deprived chickens (P<0.05). Amount of determined uric acid from the ceca was 7.74% and 5.31% of total excretion for fed and ffeed-deprived chickens, respectively. Post-mortem examinations ascertained that the caeca were intact around the Latex tubing. The results of the study indicated that at least 5% of daily urine production flow retrograde into the ceca of roosters.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2011

The influence of supplementing diets with various levels of organic zinc (OZ) on the performance, meat quality attributes, and sensory properties of broiler chickens was investigated. A total of 3,200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 floor pens (replicates) with 200 birds per pen. A corn-wheat-soybean meal basal diet (control) was formulated and 20 ppm OZ (20 OZ), 40 ppm OZ (40 OZ), or 80 ppm OZ (80 OZ) was added to the basal diet to form four dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. Live performance of broiler chickens, meat quality, and sensory properties were evaluated. The results showed no significant difference among the treatments for live performance of broiler chickens. Significant increases (p<0.05) in thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness were shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect of OZ on the thickness of back skin epidermis or dermis was found. Dietary OZ levels did not affect the pH of breast and thigh meat or the water holding capacity (WHC) of thigh meat, but the WHC of breast meat increased significantly (p<0.05) when birds were fed 40 OZ and 80 OZ. Results of a sensory analysis showed no differences among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, dietary OZ did not affect live performance or sensory properties of broiler chickens but did increase the WHC of breast meat and thickness of skin layers; thus, improving carcass quality in broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.429-438
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine whether conjugated linoleic acid and selenium supplementation in broiler chicken diets would be effective, enhance indices of immune status and body weight, and modulate serum lipid concentration. Forty Hyline brown chickens, 1 weeks of age, were divided into 5 groups of 8 chickens. Chickens were fed the experimental diets supplemented with 1% CLA (conjugated linoleic acid; Group 1), 1% CLA + selenium (Group 2), 1% safflower-seed-oil as LA (Group 3), 1% safflower-seed-oil as LA + selenium (Group 4) or nothing (Control) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, serum, liver, spleen and abdominal fat were taken. Measurement of total immunoglobulin were executed using sandwich ELISA. Weight ratio of liver to body showed that the group fed with CLA were significantly higher than the group fed with CLA + selenium. Weight ratios of spleen and fat to body showed no significantly differences. In concentrations of serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, the group fed with CLA showed significantly higher values than that fed with CLA + selenium. In concentrations of serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol there were no significantly differences between the treatment groups. In conclusion, supplementation of CLA with selenium protected hepatomegaly and reduced level of serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholestererol in chickens.