Anticoccidial effect of Origanum majoranum aqueous extract on Eimeria tenella-infected chicken.

Avian coccidiosis, an important protozoal disease of chicken triggered by coccidian protozoa of genus Eimeria, causes considerable economic losses to broiler producers. The study was designed to assess the efficiency of Origanum majoranum aqueous extract (OMAE) on E. tenella-infected broiler chicken. Birds were divided into four groups including: positive control (PC, challenged with 5×104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at the 12th day of age), PC+OMAE (challenged with E. tenella oocysts at the 12th day of age and received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, started at the 7th day of age, and continued for 14 consecutive days), OMAE (received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, at the 7th day of age, for 14 consecutive days), and negative control (received basal diet only). Anticoccidial efficacy of OMAE was evaluated by complete blood picture, serum chemistry, serum protein electrophoresis, antioxidants markers, cecal oocysts count, and cecal lesions score. Briefly, collected data indicated that supplementation of OMAE could increase antioxidants concentrations and improve changes in hematobiochemical parameters and serum protein fractions, as well as decrease cecal oocysts count and reduce cecal lesion scores in E. tenella-infected birds. In conclusion, OMAE restores oxidant-antioxidant balance, and its supplementation in broiler chicken can alleviate E. tenella-infection and reduce its severity.

Anticoccidial effect of Origanum majoranum aqueous extract on Eimeria tenella-infected chicken

@#Avian coccidiosis, an important protozoal disease of chicken triggered by coccidian protozoa of genus Eimeria, causes considerable economic losses to broiler producers. The study was designed to assess the efficiency of Origanum majoranum aqueous extract (OMAE) on E. tenella-infected broiler chicken. Birds were divided into four groups including: positive control (PC, challenged with 5×104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at the 12th day of age), PC+OMAE (challenged with E. tenella oocysts at the 12th day of age and received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, started at the 7th day of age, and continued for 14 consecutive days), OMAE (received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, at the 7th day of age, for 14 consecutive days), and negative control (received basal diet only). Anticoccidial efficacy of OMAE was evaluated by complete blood picture, serum chemistry, serum protein electrophoresis, antioxidants markers, cecal oocysts count, and cecal lesions score. Briefly, collected data indicated that supplementation of OMAE could increase antioxidants concentrations and improve changes in hematobiochemical parameters and serum protein fractions, as well as decrease cecal oocysts count and reduce cecal lesion scores in E. tenella-infected birds. In conclusion, OMAE restores oxidant-antioxidant balance, and its supplementation in broiler chicken can alleviate E. tenella-infection and reduce its severity.

Novel polymorphisms of the IGF1R gene and their association with average daily gain in Egyptian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The objective of this study was to detect insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) polymorphisms, their allele, and genotype frequencies and to determine associations between these polymorphisms and growth traits in Egyptian water buffalo. Three loci of the IGF1R coding region were amplified by RT-PCR and, subsequently, subjected to sequence analysis, followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism to identify different allelic patterns. A total of 11 novel polymorphisms were detected; 6 SNPs among Egyptian water buffaloes and 5 polymorphisms compared with Indian buffalo (Y12700). Three of those polymorphisms; GAG Indel polymorphism, C261G, and G263C SNPs, were nonsynonymous mutations. The GAG Indel polymorphism led to deletion of E (glutamic) amino acid (aa) in the IGF1R of Egyptian water buffaloes compared with Indian buffalo. However, C261G SNP, which replaced A (alanine) by G (glycine) aa, and G263C SNP, which changed A (alanine) to P (proline) aa, were detected among Egyptian water buffaloes. Three different single-strand conformation polymorphism patterns were observed in exon 21: CC/CC, GG/GG, and CG/GC with frequencies of 0.291, 0.253, and 0.556, respectively. The heterozygous animals (CG/GC) had a higher ADG than homozygous animals (CC/CC and GG/GG) from birth to 6 mo of age. We conclude that the heterozygous haplotype, C261G/G263C, in exon 21 of the IGF1R gene is associated with the ADG during the early stages of life (from birth to 6 mo of age) and could be used as a genetic marker for selection of growth traits in Egyptian buffalo.