Monolaurin Confers a Protective Effect Against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection in Piglets by Regulating the Interferon Pathway

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has reemerged as the main pathogen of piglets due to its high mutation feature. Monolaurin (ML) is a natural compound with a wide range of antibacterial and antiviral activities. However, the role of ML in PEDV infection is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ML on the growth performance, intestinal function, virus replication and cytokine response in piglets infected with PEDV, and to reveal the mechanism through proteomics analysis. Piglets were orally administrated with ML at a dose of 100 mg/kg·BW for 7 days before PEDV infection. Results showed that although there was no significant effect on the growth performance of piglets, ML administration alleviated the diarrhea caused by PEDV infection. ML administration promoted the recovery of intestinal villi, thereby improving intestinal function. Meanwhile, PEDV replication was significantly inhibited, and PEDV-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-8 were decreased with ML administration. Proteomics analyses showed that 38 proteins were differentially expressed between PEDV and ML+PEDV groups and were significantly enriched in the interferon-related pathways. This suggests ML could promote the restoration of homeostasis by regulating the interferon pathway. Overall, the present study demonstrated ML could confer a protective effect against PEDV infection in piglets and may be developed as a drug or feed additive to prevent and control PEDV disease.

The Influence of Highly Dispersed Metal Forms on Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism in Polygastric Animals

Determining which forms of mineral feed additives can increase farm animal productivity is a key area of research. This study assessed the mineral composition of ruminal fluid and the effectiveness of calcium and phosphorus used by animals after the introduction of finely dispersed particles (FDP) of SiO2 (group I) and FeCo (group II) with a hydrodynamic radius of 109.6 ± 16.6 and 265 ± 25 nm, respectively. The deposition and use of calcium and phosphorus in the body of the experimental animals exceeded the control values. In group I, 30.8% more calcium was deposited (p ≥ 0.05), and in group II, the value was 30.3% (p ≥ 0.01). In the experimental groups, the calcium utilization rate was 27.3% higher in group I (p ≥ 0.05), and 28.2% higher in group II (p ≥ 0.01) compared to in the control. Phosphorus deposition was 34% higher (p ≤ 0.01) in experimental group I and 6% higher in experimental group II, compared with the control. Group I had a high utilization rate of phosphorus from the feed (with a 29% difference compared to the control). Comparison of the experimental groups revealed that the introduction of SiO2 FDP promoted an increase in the concentration of silicon, phosphorus, and calcium in the ruminal fluid. The introduction of FeCo FDP was accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of iron and cobalt in the ruminal fluid. Thus, the use of feed additive in finely dispersed form in the diet of animals was accompanied by an increase in the use of calcium and phosphorus by the animal’s body, which is advisable when intensifying milk and meat productivity. The obtained results require further research. Keywords: finely dispersed forms of microelements, ruminants, calcium and phosphorus exchange, feeding

A Substitute for Fishmeal in the Diet of Broiler Chicks

The aim of this research was to study the biochemical properties of a new protein-rich feed additive produced by the short-term intense thermal treatment and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the wastes of poultry slaughter and primary processing (feathers and fluff). It was found that this feather-based fermented feed additive contained high amounts of crude protein (86.52%); and the content of easily digestible low-molecular peptides in the additive was 9% higher compared to fishmeal. The amino acid profiles of the additive and fishmeal were compared. The effectiveness of substituting the additive for fishmeal in the diet of broiler chicks was demonstrated by the in vivoexperiments. The results showed that the digestibility of the dietary nutrients was higher in broilers that were fed the new additive compared to those fed fishmeal, which resulted in higher meat productivity: the average daily weight gains in additive-fed broilers was 3.82% higher (p <0.01) compared to fishmeal-fed control broilers, the dressing was 1.4%higher, the muscle in the carcass was 2.1% higher, and the feed conversion ratio was 3.57%lower. The sensory evaluation scores of the meat and broth were also higher in the additive-fed broilers. Keywords: feedadditive, feather wastes of poultry slaughter, enzymatic hydrolysis, distribution of molecular peptide weights, digestibility, productive performance in broilers

Dietary Agaricus blazei Spent Substrate Improves Disease Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against Streptococcus agalactiae In Vivo

This study evaluated the effects of the feeding of spent mushroom substrate from Agaricus blazei on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The safety of 0–1000 μg/mL A. blazei spent substrate water extract (ABSSE) was demonstrated in the primary hepatic and splenic macrophages and the THK cell line (a cell line with characteristics of melanomacrophages) using a cytotoxicity assay. Here, 10 μg/mL of crude ABSSE promoted the phagocytic activity of macrophages and THK cells. Stimulating ABSSE-primed THK cells with lipopolysaccharides or peptidoglycan resulted in higher expression levels of four cytokine genes (e.g., interleukinz (IL)-1β, IL-12b, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)) and one cytokine gene (TNFα), respectively. An in vitro bacterial growth inhibition assay demonstrated that ABSSE could inhibit the growth of Streptococcus agalactiae. In the first feeding trial, Nile tilapia were fed with experimental feed containing 0, 1, or 5% of A. blazei spent substrate (ABSS) for seven and fourteen days followed by bacterial challenge assay. The best result was obtained when Nile tilapia were continuously fed for seven days on a diet containing 1% ABSS, with the survival rate being higher than in groups with 0% and 5% ABSS after challenge with S. agalactiae. In the second trial, fish were fed diets supplemented with 0% or 1% ABSS for seven days, and then all the groups were given the control feed for several days prior to bacterial challenge in order to investigate the duration of the protective effect provided by ABSS. The results showed that the protective effects were sustained at day 7 after the feed was switched. Overall, spent mushroom substrate from A. blazei is a cost-effective feed additive for Nile tilapia that protects fish from S. agalactiae infection.

Invitro bioprocessing of corn as poultry feed additive by the influence of carbohydrate hydrolyzing metagenome derived enzyme cocktail

The carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes play a crucial role in increasing the phenolic content and nutritional properties of polysaccharides substrate, essential for cost-effective industrial applications. Also, improving the feed efficiency of poultry is essential to achieve significant economic benefits. The current study introduced a novel thermostable metagenome-derived xylanase named PersiXyn8 and investigated its synergistic effect with previously reported α-amylase (PersiAmy3) to enhance poultry feed utilization. The potential of the enzyme cocktail in the degradation of poultry feed was analyzed and showed 346.73 mg/g poultry feed reducing sugar after 72 h of hydrolysis. Next, the impact of solid-state fermentation on corn quality was investigated in the presence and absence of enzymes. The phenolic content increased from 36.60 mg/g GAE in control sample to 68.23 mg/g in the presence of enzymes. In addition, the enzyme-treated sample showed the highest reducing power OD 700 of 0.217 and the most potent radical scavenging activity against ABTS (40.36%) and DPPH (45.21%) radicals. Moreover, the protein and ash contents of the fermented corn increased by 4.88% and 6.46%, respectively. These results confirmed the potential of the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes cocktail as a low-cost treatment for improving the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and nutritional values of corn for supplementation of corn-based poultry feed.

Effect of a Carotenoid Extract from Citrus reticulata By-Products on the Immune-Oxidative Status of Broilers

Although carotenoids generally possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, the in vivo synergistic action of carotenoid blends derived from plant-based by-products has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the carotenoid characterization and antimicrobial potential of Citrus reticulata extract as well as the impact of this carotenoid-rich extract (CCE) dietary supplementation on the performance, meat quality, and immune-oxidative status of broiler chickens were determined. One hundred and twenty one-day-old hatched chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to two dietary groups, with four replicate pens of 15 birds each. Birds were fed either a basal diet (CON) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% CCE (25 mg carotenoid extract included in 1 g of soluble starch) for 42 d. β-Cryptoxanthin, β -Carotene, Zeaxanthin, and Lutein were the prevailing carotenoid compounds in the Citrus reticulata extract. The CCE feed additive exerted inhibitory properties against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and negative (Klebsiella oxytoca, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria. Both the broiler performance and meat quality did not substantially differ, while the breast muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration tended to decrease (p = 0.070) in the CCE-fed broilers. The inclusion of CCE decreased the alanine aminotransferase and MDA concentration, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase, while the activity of superoxide dismutase was increased in the blood. Catalase and NADPH oxidase 2 relative transcript levels were significantly downregulated in the livers of the CCE-fed broilers. Additionally, Interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) relative transcript levels were downregulated in the livers of the CCE- fed broilers, while TNF and interferon γ (IFNG) tended to decrease in the spleens and bursa of Fabricius, respectively. The present study provided new insights regarding the beneficial properties of carotenoids contained in Citrus reticulata in broilers’ immune-oxidative status. These promising outcomes could be the basis for further research under field conditions.

PREVENTION OF AVIAN MYCOTOXICOSIS WITH FEED WITH THE ZEODO ADDITIVE

The article presents the results of the study of the feed additive Zeodo in experimental mycotoxicosis in chickens. The authors found that the use of Zeodo feed additive contributes to an increase in live weight gain in chickens by 7.3 %. Conditions of feeding chickens with low-toxic feed and single injection with a mixture of mycotoxins. The authors also concluded that Zeodo reduces the synergistic effects of mycotoxins and has a preventive property against mycotoxicosis. The results of the experiments on the test of Zeodo feed additive give grounds for its further production tests.

The Impact of Pre- and Probiotic Product Combinations on Ex vivo Growth of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella Enteritidis

Due to the global spread of antibiotic resistance, there is a strong demand to replace antimicrobial growth promotors in livestock. To identify suitable additives that inhibit the growth of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O1/O18 and Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis strains, an ex vivo screening was performed. Inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were investigated as prebiotics. Enterococcus faecium and Bacillus coagulans served as probiotic strains. Firstly, the pathogen was anaerobically incubated in caecal digesta from different broiler breeder flocks with the addition of feed additives. Secondly, subsamples of these suspensions were incubated in an antibiotic medium for selective growth of the pathogen. During this step, turbidity was recorded, and lag times were calculated for each pathogen as readout of growth inhibition. Combinations of E. faecium with inulin or FOS significantly extended the lag time for E. coli compared to control. Moreover, older age was a significant factor to enhance this inhibitory effect. In contrast, the combination of FOS and B. coagulans showed shorter lag times for S. Enteritidis. Our results indicate that the E. faecium strain with prebiotics may inhibit the pathogen proliferation in the studied poultry flocks. Furthermore, our results suggest that prophylactic treatments should be assigned by feed additive, age and animal origin.

Microstructural Evolution of AA5154 Layers Intermixed with Mo Powder during Electron Beam Wire-Feed Additive Manufacturing (EBAM)

AA5154 aluminum alloy wall was built using EBAM where the wall’s top layers were alloyed by depositing and then remelting a Mo powder-bed with simultaneous transfer of aluminum alloy from the AA5154 wire. The powder-beds with different concentrations of Mo such as 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 g/layer were used to obtain composite AA5154/Mo samples. All samples were characterized by inhomogeneous structures composed of as-deposited AA5154 matrix with coarse unreacted Mo articles and intermetallic compounds (IMC) such as Al12Mo, Al5Mo, Al8Mo3, Al18Mg3Mo2 which formed in the vicinity of these Mo particles. The IMC content increased with the Mo powder-bed concentrations. The AA5154 matrix grains away from the Mo particles contained Al-Fe grain boundary precipitates. Mo-rich regions in the 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 g/layer Mo samples had maximum microhardness at the level of 2300, 2600, 11,500 and 9000 GPa, respectively. Sliding pin-on-steel disk test showed that wear of A5154/Mo composite reduced as compared to that of as-deposited AA5154 due to composite structure, higher microhardness as a well as tribooxidation of Al/Mo IMCs and generation of mechanically mixed layers containing low shear strength Mo8O23 and Al2(MoO4)3 oxides.

The effect of the feed additive Bioprotectin-KD on the productivity of dairy cows and the correction of the microbiota of calves

The results of tests of a new combined feed additive Bioprotektin-KD based on milk thistle extract with the addition of a complex of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium to restore intestinal microbiota of animals are presented. Preclinical studies on the effectiveness of the feed additive were conducted on mice with experimental antibiotic-associated dysbacteriosis. Studies on the intestinal microbiota of mice revealed varying degrees of effect of different doses of feed additive on the recovery of resident microflora. The results of pre-clinical studies have proven the harmlessness, non-toxicity and efficacy of the feed additive. Clinical trials of the additive were carried out on productive animals. Its effect on the productivity of black-motley breed cows in a livestock farm in the Belgorod region was studied. The use of the functional feed additive Bioprotectin-KD had a positive effect on the milk productivity of black-motley breed cows. Cows in the experimental groups that received the feed additive had increased their milk yield per lactation by 209.41-499.01 kg compared to the control animals, which was 4.01-8.78%. The quality indicators of milk have increased. The composition of the microflora of the experimental (feed supplement recipients) and control calves was studied. It was found that the quantitative composition of probiotic flora in the intestines of young calves of the control group remained practically unchanged throughout the experiment. The number of indigeneous microflora (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) increased in the experimental animals. The content of lactic acid microorganisms in the experimental calves began to increase on day 6 of feed supplementation and reached physiological norm on day 30. The safety index of the product has been calculated. The use of the functional feed additive Bioprotektin-KD in conditions of a livestock complex has improved such production indicators as calf survival, average daily weight gain, and milk productivity of cows in the experimental groups of animals as compared to the control ones.