• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.964-974
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• 2022

Objective: The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a threat to the poultry industry and economy and remains a potential source of pandemic infection in humans. Antiviral genes are considered a potential factor for studies on HPAIV resistance. Therefore, in this study, we investigated gene expression related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway by comparing non-infected, HPAI-infected resistant, and susceptible Ri chicken lines. Methods: Resistant (Mx/A; BF2/B21) and susceptible Ri chickens (Mx/G; BF2/B13) were selected by genotyping the Mx and BF2 genes. Then, the tracheal tissues of non-infected and HPAIV H5N1 infected chickens were collected for RNA sequencing. Results: A gene set overlapping test between the analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functionally categorized genes was performed, including biological processes of the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. A total of 1,794 DEGs were observed between control and H5N1-infected resistant Ri chickens, 432 DEGs between control and infected susceptible Ri chickens, and 1,202 DEGs between infected susceptible and infected resistant Ri chickens. The expression levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related genes (including MyD88, NF-κB, AP-1, c-fos, Jun, JunD, MAX, c-Myc), cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), type I interferons (IFN-α, IFN-β), and IFN-stimulated genes (Mx1, CCL19, OASL, and PRK) were higher in H5N1-infected than in non-infected resistant Ri chickens. MyD88, Jun, JunD, MAX, cytokines, chemokines, IFNs, and IFN-stimulated expressed genes were higher in resistant-infected than in susceptible-infected Ri chickens. Conclusion: Resistant Ri chickens showed higher antiviral activity compared to susceptible Ri chickens, and H5N1-infected resistant Ri chickens had immune responses and antiviral activity (cytokines, chemokines, interferons, and IFN-stimulated genes), which may have been induced through the MAPK signaling pathway in response to H5N1 infection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to characterize the mRNA expression profile of type IIb sodium-inorganic phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb) and the biochemical values of serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP), calcium, inorganic phosphorus, tibial ash and minerals of broiler chickens with aging. Methods: A total of 56 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chickens were used. Broiler chickens were weighed and samples were collected weekly from day 1. Results: The result showed that before the growth inflection point, ash, calcium, and phosphorus content in the tibia of broiler chickens increased with growth (before 3 weeks of age), although there were no significant differences in chicks at different ages in the later period of the experiment and weight gain rate was relatively slow at this stage (4 to 6 weeks). NaPi-IIb gene expression in the small intestine in the early growth stage was higher than that in the later growth stage. Expression of calbindin and the vitamin D receptor protein in the intestinal mucosa increased with age in the duodenum and jejunum. Serum AKP activity first increased and subsequently decreased after peaking at 1 week of age, but there was no significant difference after 3 weeks of age. Conclusion: These results show that compared with the early growth stage, the weight-gain rate of broiler chickens in the late growth stage gradually decreased with gradual tibia maturation, along with weaker positive transport of phosphorus in the intestine and reinforced re-absorption of phosphorus in the kidney, which might be the reason that phosphorus requirement in the late growth stage was decreased.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.281-287
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• 2001

The Artichoke extract at 10% was used to add in drinking water to understand its effect on Aflatoxicosis of chickens. The Artichoke extract at the dose of 6 ml per liter of drinking water was given (experiment group) or not (control group) and to Hybro chickens (150 birds), during the first 49 days of life. Also, the chickens were fed with foodstuff containing 200 ppb or 500 ppb Aflatoxin $B_1$. Results showed that, the chickens having Artichoke extract: (1) Had overcome the growth retardation caused by the toxin at concentration of 200 ppb and 500 ppb of Aflatoxin $B_1$ (an addittonal weight gain of about 200-400 g/bird). (2) The feed conversion was improved (a reduction of 200-400 g of feed per kg of bird living weight). (3) Aflatoxicosis lesions were mild in the chickens, which fed 500 ppb of Aflatoxin $B_1$ or not found in those having the toxin 200 ppb. The blood examinations at 28th and 49th days of the trial gave the following results: (1) The Artichoke extract had an effect of suppressing the changes of blood cell numbers, hemoglobin amount. packed cell volume. leukocyte formula that were caused by Aflatoxin $B_1$. (2) The Artichoke extract had an effect of suppressing the diminution oj sugar, protein levels and the increase of the levels of GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in the blood of intoxicated chickens. There was not or very Jew residue of Aflatoxin $B_1$ contained in the liver and muscle of chickens intoxicated by Aflatoxin $B_1$ having Artichoke, that was much lower than the allowed level in animal products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.256-260
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• 2012

The objectives of this study were to investigate the immune responses of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with different level of chromium methionine (CrMet) in heat stress (HS) condition. Two hundred and eighty eight male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to four treatment groups (supplementation with 0, 200, 400 or 800 ppb Cr in the form of CrMet) in a completely randomized design. The experiment was conducted at heat stressed condition and all birds were kept under temperature of $33{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. Antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H/L), and concentration of plasma cortisol (CPC) were measured at 21 and 42 d. At 42 days of age two birds were chosen randomly from each replicate, slaughtered, spleen and bursa of Fabricius were collected, weighed and expressed as a percentage of live body weight. Antibody titers against NDV and IBV at 21 and 42 days of age in broiler fed supplemental CrMet were higher than in broiler chickens fed control diet (p<0.05). CPC level in broiler chickens fed CrMet were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. Increases in lymphocyte counts and consequently a decrease in heterophil to lymphocyte ratios in broiler chickens fed 800 ppb Cr were observed at 21 and 42 d. Supplementation with CrMet had no significant effect on lymphoid organs of broilers. The results suggest that dietary CrMet supplementation at a level of 800 ppb can improve some immune responses of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2003

In this study, antibacterial activity on the chicken feed supplemented with different concentrations of oriental herbal medicine feed additives (OHMFA) extract was tested for some organisms and their preventive effects on the colonization of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) in broiler chickens were examined. The growth of Bacillus cereus, listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited on the feed of 0.25% OHMFA and Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were inhibited on the feed containing 2.0% level. The broiler chickens fed a forage additived 1.0% level of OHMFA after inoculation of a $10^7CFU/ml$ of SE were increased in weight than the chicken fed forage without OHMFA. The incidence of SE in liver, spleen and cecum of the chickens fed forage with OHMFA was decreased on the 7th days of postinfection and SE was not isolated from the organs of the chickens after the 14th days of postinfection. Serum antibody titers of the chickens were lowered than the control group.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2007

Fowl cholera(FC), which has been classified as reportable animal disease in Korea, occurred in the backyard farm located in Chungju, Chungbuk province. The farm was not ordinary domestic poultry farm but backyard farm with main cultivation of fruits. The farmer reported unusual mortality of chickens which were grazed in his own fruit farm without any poultry house. There was a lots of opportunities to contact with wild animals including wild birds freely. Clinical signs observed in the chickens were torticolis, mucous excretion from mouth and greenish diarrhea. On the necropsy we found multifocal necrosis on the surface of liver, hemorrhages in the epicardium and ovary and mucopurulent exudates in the joint. The causative agents was isolated from the liver of chickens collected from the farms and identified as Pasteurella multocida using biochemical tests of bacteria. Also, the isolated bacteria were inoculated into specific pathogen free chickens to evaluate the pathogenicity. High mortality and similar pathological lesions compared to those of chickens died in the farm were observed. We report the first case of fowl cholera of the chickens in Korea and further studies are needed to evaluate the serotype, genotype and pathogenicity of isolated Pasteurella multocida.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1547-1554
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• 2016

To assess genetic diversity and maternal origin of Turkish and Iranian native chicken breeds, we analyzed the mtDNA D-loop sequences of 222 chickens from 2 Turkish (Denizli and Gerze) and 7 Iranian (White Marandi, Black Marandi, Naked Neck, Common Breed, Lari, West Azarbaijan, and New Hampshire) native chicken breeds, together with the available reference sequences of G. gallus gallus in GenBank. The haplotype diversity was estimated as $0.24{\pm}0.01$ and $0.36{\pm}0.02$ for Turkish and Iranian populations, respectively. In total, 19 haplotypes were observed from 24 polymorphic sites in Turkish and Iranian native chicken populations. Two different clades or haplogroups (A and E) were found in Turkish and Iranian chickens. Clade A haplotypes were found only in White Marandi, Common Breed and New Hampshire populations. Clade E haplotypes, which are quite common, were observed in Turkish and Iranian populations with 18 different haplotypes, of which Turkish and Iranian chickens, Clade E, haplotype 1 (TRIRE1) was a major haplotype with the frequency of 81.5% (181/222) across all breeds. Compared to red jungle fowl, Turkish and Iranian chicken breeds are closely related to each other. These results suggest that Turkish and Iranian chickens originated from the same region, the Indian subcontinent. Our results will provide reliable basic information for mtDNA haplotypes of Turkish and Iranian chickens and for studying the origin of domestic chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caponization on the bone characteristics, biomechanical property and histology in Taiwan country chickens fed to market age of 26 wks. Male Taiwan country chickens $D{\times}L_2$ were caponized or sham-operated at 8 wks of age, and selected healthy sham-operated and completely caponized chickens (prominent degenerated comb) were selected at 16 wks old and fed to 26 wks old for the trials. Fifteen intact male chickens (Intact), sham-operated chickens (Sham) and caponized chickens (Capon) were assigned for trial 1, and sixteen Intact and Capon were assigned for trial 2. Results in trial 1 showed that the abdominal fat and relative abdominal fat weights of Capon were significantly heavier than Intact and Sham (p<0.05), while the tibia weight and relative weight were the lightest (p<0.05). The tibia breaking strength, bending moment and stress of Capon were the poorest among groups (p<0.05). The trial 2 produced the similar observation that Capon were significantly lighter than Intact (p<0.05) in the tibia weight, relative tibia weight and their biomechanical properties. On histological determinations, Capon showed a thinner cartilage end and fewer chondrocytes (about 50%) and trabecular, and bigger marrow cavity; while decreased hemopoietic cells number with increased adipocytes than Intact observed by H&E stain and at low magnification. At high magnification, Capon showed a decrease in the chondrocyte size by 33 to 50%, with smaller nucleus located near the cell membrane, and exhibited monocellular form chondrocytes. Capon also showed a less strongly acidic sulfated mucosubstance with weaker dyeing property within cartilage zone, and smaller chondrocytes size by Alcian blue stain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1796-1804
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• 2016

The high incidence of deaths during transport for slaughter is associated with poor welfare and represents a considerable loss to the poultry industry. In the period from 2009 to 2014, all shipments of broiler chickens to poultry processing plants were monitored in the Czech Republic and the numbers of chickens transported and those dying as a result of their transport were recorded and analysed. Overall transport-related mortality of broiler chickens transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic was 0.37%. It ranged from 0.31% to 0.72%, the increase approximately corresponding to the increasing transport distance. Statistically highly significant (p<0.001) differences were found when comparing transport-related mortality rates in individual seasons of the year. The greatest mortality (0.55%) was associated with transports carried out in winter months whereas the lowest death losses (0.30%) were found in chickens transported for slaughter in summer months. Our study revealed greater transport-related mortality rates in broiler chickens transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic than expected when considering earlier studies. The most pronounced increases were found in transports for shorter distances and in winter months. However, an increase was found at all transport distances monitored except for distances exceeding 300 km and all seasons except for summer. Furthermore, a general increasing tendency in chicken losses during the monitored period was found. The particularly alarming finding is that the mortality of broiler chickens being transported to processing plants has been showing a long-term increasing tendency over the last two decades. Further research should focus on the identification of specific factors leading to such high and growing mortality rates and developing practical guidelines to improve the welfare of the birds in transit accordingly.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2010

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is major cause of chronic respiratory disease in chickens. M. synoviae (MS) most frequently occurs a subclinical upper respiratory infection but may result in airsacculitis and synovitis in chickens and turkeys. Both mycoplasmas induce economic losses by triggering chronic respiratory signs, airsacculitis and decreased egg production. For prevention of the infections, live attenuated andinactivated vaccines are commercially used for prevention of MG but not MS in Korea. Serum plate agglutination (SPA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been commonly used for serological diagnosis for MG and MS. Recently, it is believed that MS spread in chickens is very seriously in Korea and respiratory infection with MS causes substantial loss in poultry farms. In this study, we investigated the serological prevalence of MG and MS in unvaccinated chickens between 2008 and 2009. The overall seroprevalence of MG was 24% of 2,094 for individual chickens and 24% of 189 farms. The overall seroprevalence of MS was 36% in 2,095 chickens and 39% in 198 farms. The results show that seropositive ratio of MS is higher than MG. The geographical prevalence of MG has been estimated in following sequence; Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, and Chungcheong. The geographical prevalence of MS has been estimated as follows; Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, and Jeolla. Seasonal seroprevalencewas also examined, and it found that seroprevalence in spring, fall and winter was higher than that in summer in MG, but not in MS. No significant difference was shown in seroprevalence according to breed. Future study about pathogenicity of MS isolates would be needed and economical losses by MS outbreaks should be analyzed. Moreover, we compared sero-positivity obtained with SPA and ELISA. The kappa value of MG between SPA and ELISA was 0.8061 and the kappa value of MS between SPA and ELISA was 0.7649.