No abstract

The genus Fusarium, especially F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, has been found in several agricultural products worldwide, especially in maize. Regardless the occurrence of symptoms, the presence of Fusarium in maize constitutes an imminent risk due to its ability to produce fumonisins, mycotoxins with proven carcinogenic effect on rats, swine, and equines and already classified as possible carcinogens to humans. The toxicity of incremental levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1), that is, 50, 100, and 200 mg FB1/kg diet, and the role of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis DSM 20076 (LL) and Pediococcus acidilactici NNRL B-5627 (PA) supplementation in counteracting the FB1 effects in intoxicated rats were monitored over a period of 4 weeks. Effects on the feed intake and body weight gain were noticed. A significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the level of liver and kidney functions markers and DNA fragmentation was also noticed in rat groups T100 and T200. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) supplementation could bring back the normal serum biochemical parameters in rats fed on fumonisin B1-contaminated diets (T50 and T100) compared to FB1-treated groups. In rats of high-dosage dietary groups supplemented with LAB (T200-LL and T200-PA), the supplementation reduced the serum activity levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatinine by 11.3, 11.9, 32, and 20%, respectively. DNA fragmentations were observed in the rat group treated with 200 mg FB1 after 3 weeks, while fragmentation was noticed in treated groups with 100 and 200 mg FB1 after 4 weeks. No DNA fragmentation was apparent in FB1-treated rats co-administered the LL or PA strain. These results suggest that in male rats consuming diets containing FB1, there is a time- and dose-dependent increase in serum enzyme activities and DNA lesions. Moreover, Lb. delbrueckii subsp. lactis (LL) and P. acidilactici (PA) strains have a protective effect against antigenotoxicity and precancerous lesions.

Five diets were prepared to include date palm seed meal (DSM) fermented with Aspergillus oryzae (ASP) at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg diet and fed for Nile tilapia (26.93 ± 0.01 g) for 8 weeks. Fermented DSM significantly affected the final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate in a dose‐dependent manner (p = .001) with insignificant differences in feed conversion ratio (p > .05). Dietary fermented DSM significantly increased the lipase, amylase and protease activities (p = .008, p = .001 and p = .01, respectively) and the Hb, RBCs and WBCs (p = .001, p = .005, and p = .009, respectively). The intestinal villus length and number of goblet cells were significantly affected by fermented DSM inclusion (p < .05). Additionally, the total protein, albumin and globulin significantly affected by the inclusion of fermented DSM in a dose‐dependent manner (p = .04, p = .045, and p = .03, respectively). Furthermore, dietary fermented DSM significantly altered the phagocytic index, phagocytic activity and lysozyme activity (p = .001, p = .045 and p = .04, respectively). Based on the polynomial regression analysis, the inclusion of fermented DSM at 103.3–164.8 g/kg diet can be used effectively in tilapia diets for improving the growth, digestion activity and immune response.

No abstract

This work was conducted to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters for body weight, carcass traits and visceral portions of the native large Beladi chicken. Data set consisted of 1114 observations obtained from 50 sires and 150 dams were analyzed using Harvey's SLMLMW (1990) to obtain variance and covariance components for genetic parameters estimates. The average body weight at twelve weeks of age (800.74± 162.98g) was lower than that of exotic strains at slaughter age. The results exhibited significant differences between sexes for all traits measured with males being heavier than females. As proportion of body weight at 12 weeks of age the hot carcass weight was 63.30 percent, whereas breast, thigh, drum and leg constituted 24.60, 15.50, 14.70 and 30.10 percents of the cold carcass weight respectively. Moreover, the abdominal fat, gizzard, heart, liver and shanks represented 0.72, 2.4, 0.55, 2.38 and 4.04 percents of live body weight at 12 weeks of age respectively. The heritability estimates for body weight at 12 weeks of age and carcass traits ranged from moderate to high. This indicates the possibility of improving these traits in local chicken using selection procedures. The heritability estimates for visceral portions were low. The genetic correlation estimates for body weight and carcass traits, body weight and abdominal fat and carcass weight and abdominal fat were high and positive. Therefore attempts to improve body weight in indigenous chicken may lead to concomitant increase in carcass traits including abdominal fat.