Plasma Serotonin in Laying Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) With and Without Foot pad Dermatitis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) was associated with the presence of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in laying hens. FPD birds (n = 20) and healthy individuals (n = 22) were included. Plasma 5-HT was investigated. FPD laying hens showed significantly higher 5-HT levels (median = 6 µmol/L) compared with healthy individuals (median = 4.28 µmol/L, P < .001). When present, FPD were scored as either 1 (n = 12) indicating mildly to moderately abnormal or 2 indicating severely abnormal (n = 8). The subjects whose lesions scored 2 had higher plasma 5-HT levels than those whose lesions scored 1. Inflammatory mechanisms seem to be related to plasma 5-HT levels in laying hens. Assessing plasma 5-HT could be useful to evaluate chicken welfare.

Effects of arginine and guanidinoacetic acid with or without phenylalanine on ascites susceptibility in cold-stressed broilers fed canola meal-based diet

“…Nevertheless, the present study has found that adding PHE reduced carcass yield, which could be explained by the fact that excess PHE interferes with the transport of other amino acids, particularly tryptophan, from the blood-brain barrier and reduces serotonin production [28]. The neuromodulator serotonin is involved in a variety of physiological processes such as feeding behavior [51]. Also, oversupply of one amino acid may interfere with the absorption of other amino acids, leading to a nutritional imbalance or deficiency [52].…”