ABSTRACT
Hepatic lipidosis (HL) is a well-known disease in fattening and in parent turkey flocks. Among others, dietary effects like (a lack of) essential amino acids (AA) as lipotrophic factors (e.g., methionine) have been considered as potentially predispositing for HL. Several studies have reported abnormal AA profiles in hepatic diseases of humans and other livestock. The ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to aromatic amino acids (AAA) in plasma is used to predict hepatic cirrhosis. In this study, the state of supply of AA was investigated by comparing non-affected (NA) animals and those affected by HL. The AA pattern in the liver and blood can provide potential indications of pathogenesis of HL. In cooperation with German poultry veterinarians, 3 cases of HL on 3 different fattening turkey farms were visited (13/14 wk old, "B.U.T. Big 6" and "TP7"). Overall, 73 birds were examined, of which 42 birds suffered from HL and 31 were not affected. Feeding samples of the respective actual feed were taken and analyzed. The selection of animals was carried out (NA randomly) by clinical signs such as apathy and dyspnea and the diagnosis was made at necropsy, which could be confirmed by crude fat content in liver tissue (HL: 309, NA: 155). In liver tissue, the CP and AA contents were lower among animals with HL than among NA (P < 0.05). In blood samples, the sum of AA, ammonia, and urea was more than 3 times higher among animals with HL (431 mg/dL serum) than among NA (114 mg/dL serum; P < 0.01). The ratio of BCAA to AAA was also significantly different between the groups (HL: 0.85, NA: 1.42; P < 0.05). In the case of HL, entire herds were not affected and the "non-affected" ones were comparable with healthy slaughtered animals. There seems to be a clear change in protein and AA metabolism of HL animals, which could lead to an optimization in feeding practice in repeated cases of HL.
Subject(s)
Amino Acids/metabolism , Lipidoses/veterinary , Liver Diseases/veterinary , Poultry Diseases/metabolism , Turkeys , Amino Acids/blood , Animals , Female , Lipidoses/blood , Lipidoses/etiology , Lipidoses/metabolism , Liver Diseases/blood , Liver Diseases/etiology , Liver Diseases/metabolism , Poultry Diseases/blood , Poultry Diseases/etiologyABSTRACT
Two cases of vitamin D3 intoxication in piglets are described. The dietary concentrations of vitamin D3 were 265 and 435 thousand IE/kg. Decreased feed intake, growth depression and polyuria or polydypsia were observed. In some animals hypercalcemia and symptoms of impaired renal function were found. Pathological findings included calcinosis of several tissues and degenerative damage.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Cholecalciferol/toxicity , Feeding and Eating Disorders/veterinary , Foodborne Diseases/veterinary , Swine Diseases , Animals , Calcinosis/chemically induced , Calcinosis/pathology , Calcinosis/veterinary , Feeding and Eating Disorders/etiology , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Hypercalcemia/chemically induced , Hypercalcemia/veterinary , Kidney/drug effects , SwineABSTRACT
Two cases of disturbed health and growth of the skeleton in emus and rheas caused by faults in feeding and mineral supply are reported. 13 of 37 emus developed (beginning in the 3rd week) more and more signs of perosis. The diet fed in this case was based mainly on pelleted diets for piglets and rabbits and unpelleted supplements. The ingesting behaviour (selective intake and refuse of fines and supplements) resulted in an imbalanced mineral intake. In the second case 3 of 15 young rheas showed unphysiological postures of the necks vertebral column. Disposed by an absolutely insufficient calcium supply (the real ingested diet was based on corn and white bread mainly) fractures of vertebrae were provoked by unprofessional handling. During the healing process (uncalcified) connective tissue near to fractures localization led to the abnormal posture of the neck.
