Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of normal and low protein content (PC) of starter diet supplemented or not with blends of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on growth performance of broilers under summer conditions and to investigate whether these effects altered some quality traits and the characteristics of gastrointestinal tract. Methods: A total of 768 mixed-sex broiler chicks (Ross 308, one-d-old) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 47.6±1.03 g were allocated into six treatments with four replications in 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Factors were: PC-normal (N, 22% to d 15) and low (L, 20% to d 15

The study evaluated the effect of essential oils from lavender (Lavandula stoaches) (LEO), on growth performance, carcass quality and antioxidant status of broilers. Three nutritionally adequate diets were composed with the addition of LEO at 0, 24, and 48 mg/kg of feed. The diets were fed as mash in the starter (d 0-21) and grower (d 22-39) phases. A total of 405 day-old chicks (Ross-308) were allocated to the three dietary treatments, each with three replicate pens with 45 birds per pen. After the first 21-day feeding period, the bodyweight of chicks fed 24 mg/kg LEO was higher (P <0.01) than the 48 mg/kg LEO treatment, but only slightly higher than that of the untreated group. Diets with 24 and 48 mg/kg of LEO tended to increase final bodyweight of birds at 39 days old. No differences were observed for feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality among treatments. Feeding chickens on a diet with added LEO significantly reduced the relative weight of liver (P <0.01) compared with the control (CNT) group. Percentage of spleen weight of birds fed 24 mg/kg LEO was lower (P <0.05) than for those who received 48 mg/kg LEO. However, it was similar to that of the CNT. Birds fed diets supplemented with 24 and 48 mg/kg LEO had breast meat with higher brightness (L* value) and higher concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared with birds that did not receive LEO. Based on the data, it can be concluded that LEO could be used as a growth promoter in broiler nutrition with potential improvements in breast meat quality. ______________________________________________________________________________________

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) share similarities in clinical, imaging findings and may present with respiratory distress. Differentiating a new-onset EGPA from COVID-19 during the current pandemic is a diagnostic challenge, particularly if other EGPA symptoms are overlooked. Here in this study we reviewed the literature regarding EGPA patients with COVID-19 and patients who diagnosed with EGPA or suffered an EGPA flare mimicking COVID-19. We conducted a literature survey in PUBMED database using meshed keywords "COVID-19" and "EGPA", "COVID-19" and "eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis", "COVID-19" and "Churg Strauss Syndrome", to reveal previously reported cases involving EGPA patients who had COVID-19 infection, patients who suspected to have COVID-19 but eventually diagnosed with EGPA and patients with a known diagnosis of EGPA who suffered a flare but a COVID-19 infection was suspected initially. A total of 11 cases (6 literature cases, 5 cases from our clinic) were included in our study. Seven (63.6%) of the cases were defined as COVID-19 mimicker and 4 (36.4%) were EGPA with COVID-19. All of the cases in EGPA with COVID-19 group had a history of asthma. All of them had a positive PCR result and ground-glass opacities in thorax CT. In COVID-19 mimicker group, six (85.7%) patients had a history of asthma and other EGPA features that were observed were eosinophilia in 6 (85.7%). Our study provided clues regarding the EGPA/ COVID-19 diagnostic challenge which may be useful in the current pandemic. Since none of the findings in COVID-19 are disease-specific, other conditions like EGPA should not be overlooked particularly in PCR negative patients and clinical, laboratory and imaging findings should be interpreted carefully. Furthermore, we did not observe poor outcomes in EGPA patients who had COVID-19.

This study investigated the laying performance, egg quality, and egg yolk fatty acids (FAs) and cholesterol content in layer hens housed with free access to chicory- and/or white clover-vegetated areas. During a 16-week study, 400 Lohmann Brown hens (32 weeks old) housed with free outdoor access were allocated randomly into four groups, each with four replicates of 25 hens. Control hens were fed a conventional diet with free access to a soil area (C), whereas other hens were fed on a conventional diet with free access to a chicory (CI)- or white clover (TR)-vegetated area or a CI and TR mixture (MIX)-vegetated area. The C hens consumed more concentrate feed (p = 0.018) than the TR and MIX hens, which had a higher herbage intake than the CI birds (p < 0.001). The C hens produced eggs with a thicker shell than those in the other treatment groups (p = 0.013). Compared with C, the saturated FAs of egg yolk decreased for MIX (p = 0.010). The polyunsaturated FAs were higher in the MIX eggs than in the C and TR eggs (p < 0.001). Although FAs were distributed in all quadrants of the principal component analysis (PCA), three main FA profiles could be identified based on the loadings of natural groupings in the PC2 versus PC1 plot. The present study shows clear evidence for the contribution of herbage to the hen diet without affecting laying performance. In addition, the FA composition of the CI and MIX vegetation contributed to the production of eggs with preferred FA attributes, such as polyunsaturated FAs and a favourable n-6 to n-3 ratio.

To evaluate the effect of reduced calcium (Ca) and available P (aP) levels in starter diets on growth performance and tibia, sternum and serum characteristics, and to assay the association between Ca and P (aP) intakes and these variables, 600 one‐day‐old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a 21‐days trial. Broilers were randomly allotted to five treatments with five replicate pens. Chicks were fed on one of the five starter diets that were formulated with a 10% reduction in the Ca and aP contents, starting from the control diet and hence, named as C (0.96% Ca, 0.45% aP), L1 (0.85% Ca and 0.42% aP), L2 (0.77% Ca and 0.38% aP), L3 (0.68% Ca and 0.34% aP) and L4 (0.61% Ca and 0.31% aP). Declining dietary Ca and aP levels did not affect body weight and levels of Ca, P and alkaline phosphatase in serum, but reduced linearly feed intake, the feed conversion ratio and the bone weight and ash content. The Ca and aP intakes and Ca:aP ratio displayed a positive correlation with both tibia and sternum weights, and the mass of the bones were equally sensitive to dietary Ca and aP levels. In conclusion, the body weight of young broilers was irresponsive to changes in the skeleton when exposed to early dietary Ca and aP restrictions (up to 0.61% Ca and 0.31% aP) and the mechanostat had limits due to the association between Ca and aP intakes, and bone properties.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of In ovo injection of β-Alanine which is a modified form of the alanine amino acid on hatchability, hatching weight, chick quality score and survival in broiler breeder eggs. For this purpose, 120 fertile eggs from Ross 308 breeder (32-week-old) were allocated randomly to four groups with 3 replicates. Except the negative control group eggs (non injected; NC), to the amniotic fluid of the eggs in the other 3 groups were injected with 1 ml solutions 0.9% salt (Positive control, PK), 0.75% (0.75βA) or 1.5% (1.5βA) by using 19 mm and 27 gauge needle. Death rates at the different stages of embryonic development, hatching yield, weights and quality scores of chicks and mortalities were recorded at hatching day. Hatching weight of the chicks in the 0.75βA group was higher than other two control groups. Accessing feed, determined as an indicator of chick quality, was better in the 0.75βA group. Conversely, mobility score of chicks in the NC group was higher than other groups. Hatching yield, chick quality score and mortalities of the first week were not affected from In ovo βA injection. Results of this study demonstrated that In ovo βA injection can be used up to 1.5% without any deteriorations on weight, quality and mortalities of chicks but 0.75% βA injection induced better hatching characteristics.

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