Evaluation of induced molting methods on the livability and reproductive system regression of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

This study aimed at evaluating the alternative method of zinc oxide and fasting to induce molt in Japanese quails. A total number of 190 48-week-old quails was used. They were at end of laying cycle, and presented low egg production. Quails molted by zinc oxide (Z) were fed a diet containing 25,000 ppm of zinc oxide, and received water ad libitum. Quails treated by fasting (F) received no feed and a day of water restriction. The treatment period was determined by the experimental level of body weight loss (BWL). Birds were submitted to different levels of BWL in order to analyze reproductive system regression (ovary + oviduct), and livability. The following groups were established according to their BWL: Control (untreated quails); F25 (25% BWL by F); F35 (35% BWL by F); Z25 (25% BWL by Z), and Z35 (35% BWL by Z). Z25, Z35, and F35 presented no significant differences in reproductive system weights after molting; however, their weights were lower than F. Z, Z, and F presented the following livability: 97.5, 72.5, and 90%. Japanese quails treated by the alternative method of zinc oxide, presenting body weight loss of 25%, showed low mortality rate, and adequate regression of the reproductive organs.

Evaluation of induced molting methods on the livability and reproductive system regression of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

This study aimed at evaluating the alternative method of zinc oxide and fasting to induce molt in Japanese quails. A total number of 190 48-week-old quails was used. They were at end of laying cycle, and presented low egg production. Quails molted by zinc oxide (Z) were fed a diet containing 25,000 ppm of zinc oxide, and received water ad libitum. Quails treated by fasting (F) received no feed and a day of water restriction. The treatment period was determined by the experimental level of body weight loss (BWL). Birds were submitted to different levels of BWL in order to analyze reproductive system regression (ovary + oviduct), and livability. The following groups were established according to their BWL: Control (untreated quails); F25 (25% BWL by F); F35 (35% BWL by F); Z25 (25% BWL by Z), and Z35 (35% BWL by Z). Z25, Z35, and F35 presented no significant differences in reproductive system weights after molting; however, their weights were lower than F. Z, Z, and F presented the following livability: 97.5, 72.5, and 90%. Japanese quails treated by the alternative method of zinc oxide, presenting body weight loss of 25%, showed low mortality rate, and adequate regression of the reproductive organs.

Initial identification and sensitivity to antimicrobial agents of Salmonella sp.isolated from poultry products in the state of Ceara, Brazil

The objective of this research was to isolate and to verify the sensitivity to antimicrobial agents of strains of Salmonella sp. isolated from poultry products in the state of Ceara, Brazil. A total number of 114 samples was collected from 63 broiler carcasses derived from two processing plants and two supermarkets, and 51 excreta samples were collected in broiler farms located in the state of Ceara, which used three live production stages. Each excreta sample consisted of a fresh excreta pool from 100 birds. Samples were submitted to microbiological analyses, and the isolated Salmonella strains were tested for antimicrobial sensitivity. No Salmonella was isolated from excreta samples, while broiler carcass samples showed a high contamination rate of11.8%. Three serotypes were identified: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, 50%; Salmonella enterica serovar Panama 33%, and Salmonella enterica serovar Newport, 17%. As to the susceptibility tests to antimicrobial agents, 100% of the isolated Salmonella strains showed resistance to Ampicillin and Tetracycline, and sensitivity to Gentamycin, Netilmycin, Carbenicillin, Chloramphenicol.

Interference of infectious bursal disease virus on antibody production against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis virus

This work has the objective of verifying the interference of infectious bursal disease virus in the antibody production against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. The experiment was carried out with 640 day-old-chicks from a 42 weeks old hen flock. The birds were separated into eight experimental groups (n=80/group) and were submitted to different combinations of vaccinations, with live vaccines, to Newcastle disease, avian infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease with diverse combinations of days of vaccination. We verified that the utilization of polyvalent vaccinal programs have a different efficacy comparing to monovalent vaccinations when Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease vaccinations are applied. This way, the use of vaccinations to infectious bursal disease in polyvalent vaccinal programs is desirable due to improvement of NDV response with the presence of IBV by the probable reduction of interference of IBV under NDV.

Enterobacteria isolation in broiler carcasses from commercial establishments in fortaleza, ceará state, brazil

ABSTRACT Processing of poultry products requires a severe microbiological quality control, considering they are one of the main sources of foodborne infections. The objective of this research was to perform the isolation of enterobacteria in broiler carcasses from commercial establishments in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza in Ceará State, Brazil. Broiler carcasses were collected and selected as fresh (n = 14), refrigerated (n = 18) and frozen (n = 19). Carcasses were submitted to a rinsing method, followed by pre-enrichment and enrichment with Rappaport-Vassiliadis and Selenite-Cystine, streaked on plates with Brilliant Green, MacConkey and Salmonella-Shigella agars, and to a presumptive biochemical identification. It was verified that all broiler carcasses categories presented enterobacteria contamination, with the following frequency of isolation: Proteus sp., 66.7%; Enterobacter sp., 15.7%; Citrobacter sp., 2%; Escherichia coli, 47.1%; Klebsiella sp., 11.8%; Shigella sp., 5.9%, and Salmonella sp. 11.8%. It was observed that no combination of culture media was able to detect all enterobacteria contamination in the broiler carcasses. Thus, it may be necessary the use of several combinations of culture media to determine the real microbiological quality of broiler carcasses.

RESUMO A carne de frango requer um rígido controle de qualidade microbiológica em seu processamento, uma vez que é uma das principais fontes de infecção alimentar para o homem. Desta forma, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo realizar o isolamento de enterobactérias em carcaças de frango de corte obtidas em estabelecimentos comerciais na região metropolitana de Fortaleza no Estado do Ceará, Brasil. As carcaças foram coletadas e agrupadas em três categorias: frescas (n = 14), refrigeradas (n = 18) e congeladas (n = 19). As amostras foram submetidas a um método de enxaguadura, seguido por pré-eriquecimento e enriquecimento seletivo com os meios Rappaport-Vassiliadis e Selenito-Cistina, plaqueamento nos meios sólidos Verde Brilhante, MacConkey e Salmonella-Shigella e, posteriormente, a provas bioquímicas de identificação. Foram realizadas diversas combinações entre os meios para o processamento das amostras. Todas as categorias de carcaças apresentaram contaminação por enterobactérias, com as seguintes freqüências de isolamentos Proteus sp., 66,7%; Enterobacter sp., 15,7%; Citrobacter sp., 2%; Escherichia coli, 47,1%; Klebsiella sp., 11,8%; Shigella sp., 5,9% e Salmonella sp., 11,8%. Nenhuma combinação dos meios de cultura empregados foi capaz de isolar todas as contaminações por enterobactérias nas carcaças. Desta forma, é necessário o uso de várias combinações de meios de cultura para determinação real da qualidade microbiológica de carcaças de frango.

Interference of infectious bursal disease virus on antibody production against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis virus

This work has the objective of verifying the interference of infectious bursal disease virus in the antibody production against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. The experiment was carried out with 640 day-old-chicks from a 42 weeks old hen flock. The birds were separated into eight experimental groups (n=80/group) and were submitted to different combinations of vaccinations, with live vaccines, to Newcastle disease, avian infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease with diverse combinations of days of vaccination. We verified that the utilization of polyvalent vaccinal programs have a different efficacy comparing to monovalent vaccinations when Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease vaccinations are applied. This way, the use of vaccinations to infectious bursal disease in polyvalent vaccinal programs is desirable due to improvement of NDV response with the presence of IBV by the probable reduction of interference of IBV under NDV.

Initial identification and sensitivity to antimicrobial agents of Salmonella sp.isolated from poultry products in the state of Ceara, Brazil

The objective of this research was to isolate and to verify the sensitivity to antimicrobial agents of strains of Salmonella sp. isolated from poultry products in the state of Ceara, Brazil. A total number of 114 samples was collected from 63 broiler carcasses derived from two processing plants and two supermarkets, and 51 excreta samples were collected in broiler farms located in the state of Ceara, which used three live production stages. Each excreta sample consisted of a fresh excreta pool from 100 birds. Samples were submitted to microbiological analyses, and the isolated Salmonella strains were tested for antimicrobial sensitivity. No Salmonella was isolated from excreta samples, while broiler carcass samples showed a high contamination rate of11.8%. Three serotypes were identified: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, 50%; Salmonella enterica serovar Panama 33%, and Salmonella enterica serovar Newport, 17%. As to the susceptibility tests to antimicrobial agents, 100% of the isolated Salmonella strains showed resistance to Ampicillin and Tetracycline, and sensitivity to Gentamycin, Netilmycin, Carbenicillin, Chloramphenicol.