Effect of thymol and carvacrol on nutrient digestibility in rams fed high or low concentrate diets

Published data on the effects of essential oils [EO] on in vivo nutrient digestibility in sheep are contradictory. In 2 experiments, the effect of thymol and carvacrol on nutrient digestibility was studied in sheep fed with high [70%] or low [52%] concentrate diets, using incomplete Latin Square designs. The essential oils were mixed with the concentrate portion of the diet at the rate of 0.0, 0.3, or 0.6 g per kg dry matter [DM] diet. Supplementation of thymol had no significant effect on digestibility of dry matter [DM], organic matter [OM], crude protein [CP] and acid detergent fiber [ADF]. The main effect of thymol on neutral detergent fiber [NDF] and ether extract [EE] digestibility and on nitrogen balance [NB] was significant [P<0.05], but within each level of dietary concentrate no significant differences were observed for these measurements. Overall, ruminal ammonia concentration was higher [P<0.05] in both HCD and LCD lambs receiving 0.3 mg thymol per kg diet. Supplementation of carvacrol had no significant effect on nutrient digestibility. The main effect of carvacrol on ruminal ammonia levels and NB was significant, but within each level of dietary concentrate no significant differences were observed in ammonia levels and NB. Inclusion of 0.3 g/kg diet DM of carvacrol or thyme was more effective than 0.6 g/kg diet DM in terms of NB but neither dose affected nutrient digestibility. Future research should determine the long-term effects of essential oils on digestibility and performance in sheep, before recommendation can be made for their use under practical husbandry conditions

[ effect of oregano and thyme based essential oils and [beta]-glucanase on performance and nutrients digestibility in broiler chicks fed barley-based diets]

Essential oils [EO] are antimicrobial compounds, but may be beneficial under unfavorable nutritional and environmental conditions. Essential oils produced in Iran are of comparable quality to imported ones. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Orego-Stim [Essential oil based on Oregano; 0.5 g/kg; imported] and Anti-Biophin [Essential oil based on Thyme; 1 g/kg; local] essential oils on performance and precaecal digestibility of nutrients in broiler chicks fed barley-corn based diets with and without b-glucanase [0.05 g/kg]. At the beginning of the second week of rearing period, 192 chicks of mixed sex were allotted into six groups of four replicates with eight chicks per replicate according to a 2x3 factorial experiment arranged as a completely randomized design. Inclusion of Orego-Stim or Anti-Biophin in barley based diets caused a significant [p<0.05] improvement in total feed conversion, final body weight and nutrients digestibility, without a significant effect of [beta]-glucanase addition to the diets. The type of essential oils [imported vs. local] did not affect the measured characteristics. Feeding broiler chicks with barley based diets, supplemented with essential oils, decreased the anti-nutritional effects of barley grains in these diets and improved broiler performance, without the need to supplement the barley-based diets with b-glucanase. Because of the lack of any significant difference between the imported and locally-produced essential oils, and the higher cost and scarcity of the imported EO, domestic products such as Anti-Biophin at recommended levels can replace the imported ones

Artificial insemination practice in British United Turkeys: a report in Iran

No domestic availability to breeder turkey stocks and turkey hatching eggs prompted the present experiment that aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a conventional artificial insemination [AI] procedure in British United Turkey [BUT] for the first time in Iran. Broiler turkeys were restrictedly fed, grown for 46 weeks, and used for the current study [10 turkey toms and 24 turkey hens in total]. After a 3 week period of habituating the toms to abdominal massage, the pooled semen was used for insemination after the dilution in sterilized and homogenized low-fat milk [at the ratio of 1 to 6]. The hens were inseminated [14:00 h] and hatching eggs were collected [n = 148]. All the eggs were broken open to assess the fertility rate. Although being lower than the conventional average fertility rate noticed for breeder turkeys in the production manuals [91%], a fertility rate of 61.5% was obtained. The present report provided a preliminary data on the feasibility of the conventional procedure used in chickens to artificially inseminate the turkey, using low-fat milk as a simple available extender. The present findings might also be promising to the future establishment of turkey breeder enterprise in Iran

frequency of three common mutations of CARD15/NOD2 gene in Iranian IBD patients

CARD15/NOD2 gene, located on the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 [IBD1] has been reported to have an association with IBD, especially Crohn's disease [CD]. Many independent studies have shown a variable association between three common mutations of CARD 15, with Crohn's disease in different ethnic groups. Thus, raising the hypothesis that genetic and / or allelic heterogeneity may influence the relationship between CARD 15 and Crohn's disease. In the present study, we have investigated the frequency of three main mutations of CARD 15 gene [Arg 702 Trp, Gly 908 Arg and Leu 1007 fsinsC] in Iranian IBD patients and compared it with healthy control population. For this case-control study, 100 ulcerative colitis [UC], 40 Crohn's disease patients and 100 sex- age- and ethnicity-matched controls were enrolled from a teaching hospital during a one year period [2003-2004]. All three mutations were assessed on DNA of leukocyte cells, by PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction] and RFLP [Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism] methods. The mean age of UC, CD and healthy controls were 38.6 +/- 14.3, 36.6 +/- 14.1, and 38.6 +/- 14.2 years. Among the three evaluated CARD 15 gene mutations, the frequency of Arg702Trp mutation was significantly higher in Iranian patients with Crohn's disease [OR19.2; 95%CI:4.2-87.3, p<0.001]. None of these mutations were associated with ulcerative colitis. This study showed that Arg702Trp mutation of CARD 15 gene is probably associated with Crohn's disease in Iranian population; indicating that genetic polymorphisms may differ between populations

CTLA 4 polymorphism at position 49 in exon 1 and susceptibility to type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

CTLA-4 expressed on activated T cells, binds to B7 molecules and functions as a negative regulator of T cell activation. In theory, reduced expression or function of CTLA-4 might augment autoimmunity. Recently an A-G polymorphism in exon 1 of the CTLA-4 gene was associated with predisposition to AIH type1 [AIH-1] and several other autoimmune diseases in white individuals in distinct populations. We investigated the frequency of this polymorphism in Iranian patients with AIH-1, using a case-control association analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells' DNA were prepared from AIH patients [n=76] and healthy controls [n=185]. Determination of CTLA-4 genotypes was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method. The allele frequency for G allele was 25.6% and 24.3% in patients and healthy controls, respectively that shows no significant difference in subjects with AIH as compared to the healthy controls. Meanwhile, the frequencies of AA, AG and GG genotypes in patients and in healthy controls revealed no statistical difference in the distribution of CTLA-4 genotype in the studied groups. This study demonstrates that susceptibility to AIH in Iranian population is not influenced by exon 1 CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms at position 49. This polymorphism may either have a recent founder population or be associated with AIH only among the Caucasians