Genetic and sex differences or variation in carcass characteristic and slaughter yield were studied using a total of 150 intensively reared and clinically normal chickens consisted of 50 each of normal feather, naked neck and frizzled matured chickens genotypes. The result showed that genotype as well as sex have significant effect (P<0.05) on carcass characteristics and slaughter yield at twen...

The results of this study constitute a part of a project aiming at developing a cross-breed suitable for an extensive rearing system, utilising local biodiversity. Hybrids from mating a commercial broiler’s male component (C) with Green-legged Partridgenous (GP) or Sussex (Sx) hens were compared with Cobb broilers. The study included 720 chickens of 3 genetic groups. Up to the third week of age...

Since poultry is a very common source of non-typhoid Salmonella for humans, different interventions aimed at decreasing the prevalence of Salmonella in chickens are understood as an effective measure for decreasing the incidence of human salmonellosis. One such intervention is the use of probiotic or competitive exclusion products. In this study we tested whether microbiota from donor hens of d...

The present study examined the role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in the production of experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis (EAG) in chickens deficient in humorally mediated immunity (HMI). Cyclophosphamide bursectomized (Bsx) and normal control chickens were used. Bsx chickens were used only if they had severe depression of HMI, which was evidenced by marked reduction in bursal weights...

Two independent trials were conducted to evaluate the utilization of rye as energy source on bacterial translocation (BT), intestinal viscosity, gut integrity, gut microbiota composition, and bone mineralization, when compared with a traditional cereal (corn) in broiler chickens. In each experiment, day-of-hatch, broiler chickens were randomly assigned to either a corn or a rye diet (n = 20 chi...

We genetically characterized fowl adenoviruses (serotype 4 FAdV, FAdV-4) isolated from chickens with hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in Japan by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method coupled with direct sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis based on the part of the hexon gene that included the L1 region revealed that all FAdV-4 isolates from chickens with HPS in Japan were identical and were d...

To investigate the prevalence of fungal agents in local Egyptian broiler breeder chicken’s premises, tracheal and cloacal swabs from chickens, feed, and water samples were collected. The targeted breed's dead-in-shell eggs and newly hatched chick’s samples were also tested. All fungal isolates were morphologically typed and the predominant fungal species were further subjected to molecular typi...

We evaluated the susceptibility, duration and intensity of viremia, and serologic responses of chickens to West Nile (WN) virus (WNV-NY99) infection by needle, mosquito, or oral inoculation. None of 21 infected chickens developed clinical disease, and all these developed neutralizing antibodies. Although viremias were detectable in all but one chicken, the magnitude (mean peak viremia <10,000 P...

We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of a proanthocyanidin-rich extract (PAE) from Pinus radiata bark in Korean native chickens. In experiment 1, proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly enhanced in chickens administered 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg of PAE for 2 wk once daily by oral gavage compared with no administration of PAE in vitro. Proliferation of splenoc...

Chicken skeletal muscle satellite cells are located between the basement membrane and the sarcolemma of mature muscle fibers. Avian broilers have been genetically selected based on their high growth velocity and large muscle mass. The Wuding chicken is a famous local chicken in Yunnan Province that undergoes non-selection breeding and is slow growing. In this study, we aimed to explore differen...