The main objective of this study was to determine the possible effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (Cur) on immune-response and pathogenesis of H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in turkeys. The experiment was performed on 75 non-vaccinated mixed-sex turkey poults, divided into 5 experimental groups (A, B, C, D, and E) of 15 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control (ctrl group) while group B was kept as infected and non-treated positive control (H9N2 group). Turkeys in groups A and B received normal commercial feed while turkeys in groups C and D received TQ, and Cur respectively, and group E concurrently received TQ and Cur from d one through the entire experiment period. All groups were challenged intra-nasally with H9N2 AIV (A/chicken/Pakistan/10RS3039-284-48/2010) at the fourth wk of age except group A. Infected turkeys showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in turkeys in group B. All infected turkeys showed positive results for virus shedding; however, the pattern of virus shedding was different, and with turkeys in group B showing more pronounced virus secretion than the turkeys in the other groups receiving different levels of TQ and Cur. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titer against H9N2 AIV in turkeys shows the immunomodulatory nature of TQ and Cur. Similarly, increased cytokine gene expression suggests antiviral behavior of TQ and Cur especially in combination, leading to suppressed pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses. However, reduced virus shedding and enhanced immune responses were more pronounced in those turkeys receiving TQ and Cur concurrently. This study showed that supplements of TQ and Cur in combination would significantly enhance immune responsiveness and suppress pathogenicity of influenza viruses in turkeys.
The study was conducted to investigate the role of aflatoxin on the infectivity and transmissibility of H9N2 AI virus. The experiment was performed on 80 non-vaccinated turkeys, divided into 4 groups of 20 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control; Group B was inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10(7) EID50) at 4 weeks of age; Group C was fed on a diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin from Day 1 through the entire experiment period and Group D was fed on diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin as for Group C but inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10(7) EID50) at the fourth week of age and then mixed with naïve birds. Infected and contact birds showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group. All infected birds showed virus shedding, however, the pattern of virus shedding was different for birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group showing pronounced virus secretion. Similarly, efficient transmission of virus was observed between infected and contact birds, but more prominent virus transmission was seen in those birds inoculated and fed aflatoxin-treated diet. Moreover, significantly lower antibody titres against H9N2 AIV were observed in birds fed aflatoxin-treated diet, indicating an immunotoxic nature of aflatoxin as the reason for poor seroconversion. Similarly, decreased IFNγ mRNA expression and higher mortality (35%) suggest an immunotoxic and immunosuppressive effect of aflatoxin leading to enhanced pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses in aflatoxin-fed birds. The immunosuppressive nature of aflatoxin might delay influenza virus clearance and this may be one of the reasons for increased pathogenicity of H9N2 LPAI viruses in turkeys under field conditions.
BackgroundMaize fodder is being used as staple feed for livestock but it lacks protein and essential amino acids; lysine and tryptophan. Intercropping maize with leguminous soybean crop is promising technique under limited land resources of South Korea but it can only give considerable advantages when adequate distance is provided between corn and soybean rows. Main aim of present study was to find-out adequate distance between corn and soybean seeding rows for optimum growth, yield and nutritive value of intercropped forage.MethodsDifferent interrow distances between corn and soybean were evaluated under four treatments, viz. 1) Corn sole as positive control treatment 2) Zero cm between corn and soybean (control); 2) Five cm between corn and soybean; 3) 10 cm between corn and soybean, with three replicates under randomized block design.ResultsFindings depicted that height and number of corn stalks and ears were similar (P > 0.05) among different treatments. Numerically average corn ear height was decreased at zero cm distance. Dry matter percentage in all components; corn stalk, corn ear and soybean was also found not different (P > 0.05) but dry matter yield in component of corn ear was lower (P < 0.05) at zero cm distance as compared to that of 5 and 10 cm interrow distances. In case of nutritive value, total digestible nutrient yield in intercropped corn was also found lower (P < 0.05) at zero cm distance than that of 5 and 10 cm interrow distances between corn and soybean seeding rows. Substantial decrease in dry matter yield of maize ear at zero cm distance might be attributed to factor of closed interrow spacing which made interplant competition more intensified for light interception, necessary for photosynthetic activity. Lower dry matter yield in ear also reduced total digestible nutrients in intercropped maize because it was determining factor in calculation of digestible nutrients. The optimum yield and nutritive value of forage at wider interrow distance i.e. 5 cm between corn and soybean might be due to adequate interseed distance.ConclusionConclusively, pattern of corn and soybean seeding in rows at 5 cm distance was found suitable which provided adequate interrow distance to maintain enough mutual cooperation and decreased competition between both species for optimum production performance and nutritive value of intercropped forage.
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