Reference intervals of the plasma protein fractions according to electrophoresis in the Green Iguana can be affected by seasonal changes and sex of animals. It should be taken into account when clinical evaluation is performed.

ABSTRACT:Coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility (CIAD) for crude protein (CP) and amino acids in five protein feedstuffs: corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), raw full-fat soybean (RFFSB), extruded full fat soybean (EFFSB), soybean meal (SBM), and rapeseed meal (RSM) were determined using 5-week-old male broiler chickens. Trypsin activity in digesta in the ileum and jejunum were also measured. CIAD of CP was the highest in SBM (0.73). The lowest (P < 0.05) CIAD of CP was determined for RFFSB (0.45). There was no significant difference in CIAD of CP between RSM (0.61) and DDGS (0.62). The CIAD values for all essential amino acids except Lys (0.52) were the lowest in RFFSB (P < 0.05). The CIAD of Lys was the lowest in DDGS (0.39, P < 0.05). The CIAD for all essential amino acids was the highest in SBM (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between EFFSB and SBM (P > 0.05) in CIAD of Leu (0.71, 0.73), His (0.66, 0.69), Lys (0.70, 0.77), Met (0.74, 0.80), Thr (0.60, 0.62), and Val (0.65, 0.67). Both the feedstuff and the intestinal region and their interaction had a significant (P < 0.01) effect on trypsin activity. The CIAD of CP and amino acids were very high and comparable both in EFFSB and SBM. The CIAD values for CP and amino acids in DDGS and RSM were lower than in SBM, but they seemed to be comparable to each other.Keywords: soybean meal; rapeseed meal; raw full fat soybean; extruded full fat soybean; DDGS List of abbreviations: CIAD = coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility, CP = crude protein, DDGS = distillers dried grains with solubles, EFFSB = extruded full fat soybean, RFFSB = raw full-fat soybean, RSM = rapeseed meal, SBM = soybean meal, Ala = Alanine, Asp = Aspartate, Arg = Arginine, Glu = Glutamate, Gly = Glycine, His = Histidine, Ile = Isoleucine, Leu = Leucine, Lys = Lysine, Met = Methionine, Phe = Phenylalanine, Pro = Proline, Ser = Serine, Thr = Threonine, Tyr = Tyrosine, Val = Valine

This study was conducted to determine apparent ileal amino acids digestibility (AIAAD) of diets with different levels of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and to determine AIAAD of corn DDGS by difference and regression methods in broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty 30-day-old male broiler chickens were used in the experiment. The corn DDGS were incorporated into basal diets at graded levels (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16%). All birds were killed at the age of 35 days and the contents of the lower half of the ileum were collected. AIAAD was calculated using chromic oxide as the indigestible marker. For AIAAD of DDGS determination, difference and regression methods were used. AIAAD of Lys (78.6%) and Met (91.3%) were the significantly highest in the diet without DDGS in comparison with other diets (P < 0.01). AIAAD of the rest of essential and nonessential amino acids were the lowest in the diet with 8% of DDGS in comparison with the diets with 0 or 16% of DDGS (P < 0.01). The apparent ileal crude protein digestibility was also the lowest in the diet with 8% (61.8%) of DDGS (P < 0.01). The highest differences in AIAAD of DDGS determined by the difference method and in the diet without DDGS (basal diet) determined by the regression methods were found in Lys and Met. There were very low differences between DDGS and basal diet in AIAAD of nonessential amino acids, except Ala and Asp. These results show that higher levels of DDGS decrease AIAAD.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of exogenous phytase on egg quality in laying hens fed diets with low levels of only plant original phosphorus. Twenty four Lohmann Brown hens at 31 weeks of age were housed in individual cages. In total three experiments were successively carried out with the same laying hens. In all three experiments the same diet with the same content of nutrients were always used. The control diet contained no exogenous phytase. Experimental diets differed in the level and sources of exogenous phytase. Eggs were collected daily during period of the experiment to measure egg quality. Measurement of physical parameters such as egg weight and strength of eggshell were performed daily. Shell weight and shell thickness were determined after washing and drying of shells. The shell thickness was evaluated using the micrometer. Shell proportion was calculated. The addition of phytase (150, 200, 250 and 300 FTU per kg diet) did not affect egg weight. Addition of exogenous phytase at levels 150, 200 and 250 FTU per kg had no significant effect (P >0.05) on eggshell quality. Only addition of both phytases (Natuphos and Optiphos) at the level 300 FTU to the same diet had positive effect on eggshell quality (P <0.05).

The goals of this study were to evaluate electrophoretograms in green iguanas suffering from hepatic, renal and inflammatory skin diseases. Plasma samples were obtained from 14 green iguana patients. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination, evaluation of biochemical and haematological profiles or histopathological examination. Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed using an automated HYDRASYS system. A decrease in the albumin/globulin ratio was observed in 11 out of 14 patients (three out of four patients with liver failure, one out of one patient with chronic renal insufficiency and suspected hepatopathy, two out of two patients with chronic interstitial nephritis, four out of five patients with chronic renal insufficiency and one out of two patients with dermatitis). The alpha globulin fraction was elevated in 1 out of 14 patients (patient with dermatitis). The fraction of beta globulins was increased in 8 out of 14 patients (two out of four patients with liver diseases, four out of eight patients with various forms of renal failure and two out of two patients with inflammatory skin diseases). Increased gamma globulin levels were observed in 4 out of 14 patients (one out of four patients with impaired function of the liver, two out of eight patients with renal diseases and one out of two patients with dermatitis). Changes in the electrophoretograms of green iguanas are not disease-specific, but in conjunction with other biochemical blood tests the electrophoresis of plasma proteins may be a useful indicator in the diagnosis of metabolic and infectious diseases and in the monitoring of disease progress.