Pathogenesis of Aquatic Bird Bornavirus in Muscovy Ducks

Aquatic bird bornavirus (ABBV), a type of avian bornavirus, has been associated with inflammation of the central and peripheral nervous systems and neurological disease in wild waterfowl in North America and Europe. The potential of ABBV to infect and cause lesions in commercial waterfowl species is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of ABBV to infect and cause disease in day-old Muscovy ducks (n = 174), selected as a representative domestic waterfowl. Ducklings became infected with ABBV through both intracranial and intramuscular infection routes: upon intramuscular infection, the virus spread centripetally to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), while intracranial infection led to virus spread to the spinal cord, kidneys, proventriculus, and gonads (centrifugal spread). Infected birds developed both encephalitis and myelitis by 4 weeks post infection (wpi), which progressively subsided by 8 and 12 wpi. Despite development of microscopic lesions, clinical signs were not observed. Only five birds had choanal and/or cloacal swabs positive for ABBV, suggesting a moderate potential of Muscovy ducks to shed the virus. This is the first study to document the pathogenesis of ABBV in poultry species, and confirms the ability of ABBV to infect commercial waterfowl.

The Role of Ducks (Muscovy) and Catfish (Clarias Lazera) Meat in Transmitting Trichinella Spiralis Infection

Trichinellosis is a worldwide zoonotic food-borne disease that causes public health problems. The present study investigated the role of domestic ducks (Muscovy) and catfish (Clarias lazera) in transmitting Trichinella spiralis infection in Egypt. Ducks, fish, and rats were inoculated by high doses of Trichinella spiralis (T. Spiralis) larvae in naturally infected muscles of pigs and by free larvae extracted from artificial digestion. Both methods failed to develop an infection in ducks. No worms or cysts could be detected in ducks slaughtered 10, 25, and 45 days after inoculation. Moreover, there was no significant increase in the mean ELISA optical density (OD) value, compared to the control non-inoculated ducks. Inoculation of fish resulted in a significant increase in the mean ELISA OD value, compared to the control non-inoculated fish. This elevation was associated with the temporary detection of a few adult worms in the intestine of these fish which decreased with time till disappeared 45 days after inoculation but a non-significant increase was observed, compared to that obtained in the inoculated rats at the same stages. A large number of T. spiralis adult worms and cysts associated with a significant increase in the mean ELISA OD were recorded in the inoculated rats. Infection of rats (xenodiagnosis) by muscles collected from the inoculated ducks or fish failed to induce infection or elevation in the level of anti-T. spiralis antibodies (ATs-Ab) in their sera. In conclusion, Muscovy ducks and Clarias lazera could not be infected by T. spiralis in their muscles and the consumption of their meat could not transmit this infection to consumers in Egypt. However, proper cooking of meat is still necessary to avoid infection with other species.

Retrospective analysis of post-mortem findings in domestic ducks and geese from non-commercial flocks in Sweden, 2011–2020

Background Small poultry flock ownership has become a popular hobby in Europe and North America in recent years but there is a general lack of information regarding bird health and welfare. This retrospective analysis of routine post-mortem cases of non-commercial anseriform poultry aimed at providing information on causes of mortality mostly in relation to mortality events. For this purpose, birds that were submitted for routine post-mortem diagnostics to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Sweden in 2011–2020 were retrospectively reviewed to determine main causes of mortality. Results Records from 79 necropsy submissions involving 120 birds (domestic ducks n = 41, Muscovy ducks n = 45, hybrid ducks n = 2 and domestic geese n = 32) were retrieved and analysed. Most submissions (72.2%) represented flock disease events and unexpected mortality was the most common cause of submission (70.9% of submissions). Twenty-two submissions (27.8%) were referred by veterinarians. There was a wide range of diagnoses of infectious and noninfectious aetiologies. Infectious causes of mortality included parasitic (19.2%), bacterial (13.3%), fungal (10.0%) and viral infections (3.3%) (at bird level of all 120 birds). Some of these infections such as duck virus enteritis (DVE), highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI H5N8) in Muscovy ducks and leucocytozoonosis (Leucocytozoon sp.) in all three species were most likely acquired from contact with wild free-living waterfowl. Generalised yeast infection (Muscovy duck disease) was diagnosed in Muscovy ducks and in a Muscovy duck/domestic duck hybrid. Other diseases were related to generalised noninfectious causes (27.5% of all birds) including diseases such as kidney disease, amyloidosis, cardiac dilatation, reproductive diseases and idiopathic inflammatory conditions. Nutritional or management-related diseases were diagnosed in 14.2% of all birds including rickets and gastrointestinal impaction/obstruction. Congenital/developmental, neoplastic, toxic and traumatic causes of mortality were rare. Conclusions The information obtained in this study can be used to identify and evaluate risks and help owners and veterinarians to prevent disease and provide adequate veterinary care for non-commercial anseriform poultry.

Keragaman genotipik entok (Cairina moschata) berdasarkan polimorfisme protein darah

<p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to identified genetic diversity of muscovy duck in Central Java through blood protein polymorphisms by using electrophoresis method.</p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood sample was collected from a total of 60 muscovy ducks from the districts of Demak, Magelang and Pekalongan, 20 samples each. The Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide Gel of Electrophoresis–Thin Layer Electrophoresis (PAGE-TLE) was used in this study. Parameters observed were protein of albumin (Alb), ceruloplasmin (Cp), transferrin (Tf) and amylase-I (Am-I). Gene frequency, heterozygosity (Ho) and genetic distance were analyzed by using DISPAN program.<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Results</strong><strong>: </strong>The results showed that the Alb, Cp, Tf and Am-I of muscovy duck showing polymorphic characters. Gene frequency of Alb^B (0.61) was higher compared to Alb^A (0.39). Gene frequency of Cp^A (0.62) was higher than the Cp^B (0.38). Furthermore, gene frequency of Tf^A and Tf^B were 0.32 and 0.68, respectively as well as gene frequency of Am-I^A (0.82) was higher than Am-I^B (0.18). Muscovy duck population of Demak showed higher Ho value for Alb and Am-I, whereas Magelang showed higher value for Cp and Tf. Population of muscovy duck of Demak showed closer genetic distance to Pekalongan than Magelang.<strong></strong></p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The protein blood locus of three population of muscovy duck in Central Jawa showed polymorphic characters.

Haemoglobin Type, Haematology and Morphometric Characteristics of Muscovy Ducks Reared in Calabar, Nigeria

This study determined the haemoglobin polymorphism, haematology and morphometric characteristics of Muscovy ducks. A total of 80 adult Muscovy ducks (40 per sex) respectively were used for the study which lasted 60 days. Blood samples of the ducks were collected and analysed for haemoglobin type and haematological traits while body weight (BWT) and body parts such as body girth (BG), wing length (WL), keel length (KL), shank length (SL), body length (BL), thigh length (TL) and Body circumference (BC) were taken and subjected to one –way ANOVA. Drakes exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher values in body girth, body length and thigh length than the ducks. Average values recorded were BWT (2040 g), BC (30.43cm), KL (25.75cm), BL (25.78cm) and TL (4.85cm). Haemoglobin types found among the ducks were Hb AA, AB and BB, males being predominantly of Hb BB and females of Hb AA. Gene frequencies of 0.5435 and 0.4565 were recorded for alleles A and B respectively among the ducks. Genotype frequencies were AA (39.14%), AB (30.43%) and BB (30.43%). Some average haematological values recorded were Packed Cell Volume (PCV) (29.86%), Erythrocytes Sedimentation Rate (ESR) (7.34mm/hr), Haemoglobin Concentration (HBC) (11.93g/dl), Red Blood Cell Counts (RBC) (2.4 × 106/L) and White Blood Cell (WBC) (1.98 × 103/L). Results of body morphometry from this research could serve as an important basis for characterization, conservation and improvement of this duck breed in the study location. The establishment of the haemoglobin types of ducks in Calabar is a precursor to the determination of its relationship(s) with economic traits in the birds. Haematological values recorded in this study showed that the ducks were in normal condition of health and growth.

The Potential Uses of Curcumin and PMSG Hormones to Increase Egg Production of Muscovy Ducks through Increasing Estradiol Concentrations and Shortening Laying Rest Period

The aim of this research was to study the effects of curcumin administration, injection of PMSG hormone, and the combination of curcumin supplementation and PMSG injection on the physiological parameters and performance of female Muscovy ducks. The objects of this research were 40 young female Muscovy ducks, aged 24 weeks, subjected to treatments: control (P1), curcumin supplementation at a dose of 24 mg/100 g feed (P2), intramuscular injection of PMSG hormone at a dose of 0.015 mL/hen (P3), and the combination of curcumin and PMSG (P4). The results showed that the treatment gave nonsignificant improvements in Muscovy duck performances, including feed consumption, egg production, and the day of laying period and molting period. Treatment gave a significant increase in serum estradiol concentration at molting period after treatment. This study concluded that the treatment provides no significant improvement in the performance of female Muscovy ducks because the genetic diversity of Indonesian ducks remains high.

Hepatic Proteomic Analysis Reveals That Enhanced Carboxylic Acid Metabolism and Oxidoreduction Promote Muscle and Fat Deposition in Muscovy Duck

Liver is responsible for 90% of lipid synthesis in poultry; thus, it plays an important role in the growth of Muscovy ducks, which have a high fat deposition ability in a time-dependent manner. Therefore, male Muscovy ducks at 14, 28, 42, and 56 days were selected for body weight (BW), carcass weight (CW), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), abdominal fat weight (AFW), intramuscular fat content (IMF), and breast muscle fiber (BMF) diameter and density determination. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) combining liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze proteomic changes in liver at each stage. The BW, CW, AFW, SFT, and BMF diameter and density were significantly increased, while IMF content was significantly decreased at 28 to 42 days of age (p < 0.05). There were 57 differentially abundant protein (DEP) spots representing 40 proteins identified among the ages, in which 17, 41 and 4 spots were differentially abundant at 14 vs. 28, 28 vs. 42, and 42 vs. 56, respectively. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis found that DEPs were mostly enriched in the oxidation-reduction process, carboxylic acid metabolism, etc. Protein–protein interaction showed that catalase (CAT), triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), and protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI) were the key proteins responsible for the growth of Muscovy duck. In conclusion, 28 to 42 days of age is the crucial period for Muscovy ducks, and the ability of metabolism and antioxidants were significantly enhanced in liver.

Modulation of the Intestinal Microbiota by the Early Intervention with Clostridium Butyricum in Muscovy Ducks

This study evaluated the effects of early intervention with Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) on shaping the intestinal microbiota of Muscovy ducklings. A total of 160 1-day-old male ducks were randomly divided into two groups: the CB group was administered with 1 mL of C. butyricum (2 × 109 CFU/mL), while the C group was given 1 mL of saline. The administration lasted for 3 days. We found that C. butyricum had no significant effect on growth performance. The results indicated that inoculation with C. butyricum could significantly increase the abundance of genera Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_uncultured, and Ruminococcaceae on Day 14 and reduce the abundance of Escherichia–Shigella and Klebsiella on Days 1 and 3. Moreover, the CB group ducks had higher concentrations of acetic, propionic, and butyrate in the cecum than the C group. Overall, these results suggest that early intervention with C. butyricum could have positive effects on Muscovy ducks’ intestinal health, which might be attributed to the modulation in the intestinal microbial composition and the increased concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). C. butyricum might even have the potential to help the colonization of beneficial bacteria in the intestine microbiota in Muscovy ducks in poultry and other livestock.