No abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of adding different turmeric amounts to sorghum-based diets for Japanese quails on animal performance, animal metabolism, yolk colour, egg quality, blood and liver biochemical parameters and sensory attributes of the eggs. The study included 210 egg-laying quails aged 50 days and lasted for 90 days. The study had a completely randomised design with six treatments and five replicates with seven birds per replicate. A control corn-based feed and sorghum-based feeds to which different turmeric levels were added (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2%) were tested. The results showed that the sorghum-based feeds with added turmeric levels did not affect animal performance, metabolisation of protein and ether extract, internal and external quality of eggs, serum biochemical profile, including calcium, phosphorous, protein and liver transaminase enzymes. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased when !0.5% percentages of turmeric were added to the feed. Yolk colour of the treatments differed significantly from that of the control, but the yolks were considered well suited for consumption. Turmeric reduced the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in egg-laying quails.

An experiment was carried out with 630 oneday-old chicks to evaluate the effects of organic acids when birds were experimentally inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium. Liver damage and the persistence of the bacterium in the organs were evaluated as well. Broilers were distributed in a completely randomised experimental design in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of six treatments with seven replicates of 15 birds each. Birds were inoculated with saline solution or the bacterium via gavage at 1 day of age, or were offered a feed containing or not the organic acid blend for the period of 7 to 14 days of age. A dose of 5.0x10 2 colony-forming units (CFU)/0.5 mL of Salmonella Typhimurium was used for inoculation both via gavage and feed. The parameters evaluated are weight, liver histopathology, liver and serum biochemistry, and bacteriological analyses of the caeca, crop, spleen, and liver and heart pool. At 21 and 28 days of age, the liver of the non-inoculated groups was significantly lighter as compared to the other treatments. Birds fed organic acids presented lower bacterial isolation rates in all organs tested. Birds inoculated in the crop and treated with organic acids presented lower E. coli CFU counts (P<0.05). Birds inoculated with Salmonella presented significant changes (P<0.05) in liver enzymes, as detected by serum biochemistry, and in liver histopathology. It was concluded that organic acids effectively controlled Salmonella Typhimurium and did not cause any liver damage.

Currently, dysbiosis, rupture of the intestinal barrier and inflammation have become concerns of industrial poultry, since they culminate in the physiological and productive impairment of birds. The objective was to discuss the role of the intestinal microbiota of birds in animal development, as well as to highlight the benefits and/or losses caused by these microorganisms. The methodology adopted was a descriptive study, with a bibliographic review of scientific papers published in different indexed bases, with a time frame of the last decades. It was found that the use of sequencing the RNA ribosomal gene (rRNA) 16S is an important tool to identify and enumerate the intestinal bacteria present in production birds. Regarding the composition of the microbiota, in the small intestine there are mainly Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Bacterioides, Clostridium, Fusobacterium and coliforms. In the large intestine, Lactobacillus, Bacterioides, Proteobacteria, Bacillus, Clostridium and Bifidobacterium. In the small intestine, bacteria participate in metabolism by improving nutrient absorption, hydrolyze polysaccharides to produce short-chain fatty acids, which will be absorbed and participate in important metabolic pathways in the supply of carbon and energy sources to birds. Despite the benefits of the microbiota in promoting a stable intestinal environment, in unfavorable situations, such as inadequate breeding, it can act as pathogens, produce toxic metabolites and impair the productive performance of birds.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com objetivo de pesquisar Salmonella em amostras de fígado, coração, saco da gema e mecônio de pintos de corte de um dia; inglúvios e cecos obtidos em abatedouros e em suabes de arrasto; larvas ou adultos de Alphitobius diaperinus. Complementarmente, determinou-se o perfil de suscetibilidade aos antimicrobianos: amoxicilina (10 mcg), ampicilina (10 mcg), ciprofloxacina (5 mcg), enrofloxacina (5 mcg), florfenicol (30 mcg), neomicina (30 mcg), sulfonamida (300 mcg), tetraciclina (30 mcg) e trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol (25 mcg) dos serovares tipificados isolados. As amostras foram submetidas às análises microbiológicas pelos métodos bacteriológicos convencionais. Salmonella sp. foi isolada em 6,2% (4/64) do fígado, 4,7% (3/64) do coração, 3,1% (2/64) dos sacos da gema e 4,7% (3/64) do mecônio, num total de 4,7% (12/256) (pinto de um dia); em 10,2% (13/128) das amostras ambientais, sendo 9,4% (9/96) de suabes de arrasto 12,5%, (4/32) de larvas e adultos Alphitobius diaperinus e em 4,4% (28/640) das amostras em abatedouros, sendo 6,5% (21/320) dos inglúvios e 2,2% (7/320) dos conteúdos cecais de abatedouro. Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis foi identificada em suabes de arrasto e em amostras de Alphitobius diaperinus, enquanto Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium foi encontrada nos inglúvios e cecos. Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis apresentaram 75% (6/8) de resistência às sulfonamidas e Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium 100% (3/3). A amoxicilina foi outro antimicrobiano com elevada frequência de resistência. Adicionalmente, 20,7% (11/53) dos serovares apresentaram resistência simultânea a pelo menos dois princípios ativos. Conclui-se que Salmonella encontra-se amplamente distribuída no fluxo de produção de frangos de corte, e a via vertical continua sendo uma fonte de introdução de Salmonella sp. à cadeia de produção; cama e insetos podem perpetuar e veicular Salmonella de interesse zoonótico no ambiente avícola; a existência de cepas resistentes aos antimicrobianos, bem como a resistência múltipla, constituem ameaça à saúde pública.