No abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of rearing systems on reproductive performance of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). A total of 180 Beltsville Small White and Board Breasted Bronze turkeys were taken for the study and reared under three different rearing system viz. intensive system (full confinement), semi-intensive system (partial confinement and partial day scavenging) and free range system (all-day scavenging). Average egg weight (g), percentage of infertile eggs, embryonic mortalities, total egg hatchability, fertile egg hatchability, fertility and poults survivability values were significantly (P>0.01) higher in turkeys reared under intensive system of management followed by semi intensive system and free range system of management. The highest percentage of dead in shell was found in intensive system and was did not differ significantly from semi intensive and free range system. Hatched weight of poults (g) between semi intensive and intensive system did not differ significantly between them, but both groups found statistically significant (P>0.01) from free range system. From the study, it is concluded that higher reproductive performance was obtained in intensive system of management followed by semi intensive and free range system of management.

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin was studied after intravenous and oral bolus administration at 10 mg/kg in healthy emus aged between 18 and 24 months. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein at predetermined time intervals after drug administration. Enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin in plasma were determined by HPLC. Plasma concentrations versus time were analyzed by a non-compartmental analysis. For i.v. and oral bolus dose of administration, elimination half-life (t 1/2b ) was 4.364 ± 0.179 and 4.125 ± 0.361 h, respectively; AUC 0-? was 20.085 ± 3.493 and 16.056 ± 1.436 lg h/mL, respectively; mean residence time (MRT) was 5.105 ± 0.216 and 6.616 ± 0.475 h, respectively; volume of distribution was 3.921 ± 1.005 and 3.171 ± 0.296 L/kg, respectively and total body clearance was 0.629 ± 0.164 and 0.507 ± 0.003 L/h kg, respectively. Mean absolute bioavailability for enrofloxacin after oral administration was 79.941 ± 7.147 %. The metabolite ciprofloxacin could be detected from 15 min to 24 h following i.v. and oral administration of enrofloxacin. The ratio of AUC 0-t cipro/AUC 0-t enro was 7.764 and 9.031 %, respectively for i.v. and oral administration of enrofloxacin. The t 1/2b and MRT of the metabolite were longer than those of parent substance. From the PK/PD indices such as C max /MIC, AUC/MIC and C max /MPC, AUC/MPC study, the recommended doses of enrofloxacin in emu birds were 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for i.v. and oral routes against organisms susceptible to 0.25 and 0.125 lg/mL, respectively. Taking the PAE and active metabolite ciprofloxacin into consideration, it is recommended that enrofloxacin could be used at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg at every 24 h even against the organisms susceptible to 0.5 lg/mL. Abbreviations bElimination rate constant AUC 0-t Area under the concentration vs. time curve 0 to time AUC 0-? Area under the concentration-time curve 0 to infinity AUMC 0-t Area under the first moment curve from 0 to time AUMC 0-? Area under the first moment curve from 0 to infinity MRT Mean residence time MAT Mean residence time

The study was conducted to compare the reproductive performance of Beltsville Small White and Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys (<italic>Meleagris gallopavo</italic>) under the hot humid climatic condition. Beltsville Small White and Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were raised in an intensive production system under standard management practices. A total of 560 Beltsville Small White turkey eggs and 520 Broad Breasted Bronze turkey eggs were used for this study. Average egg weight (g), infertile eggs (%), early embryonic mortality (%), late embryonic mortality (%), dead in shell (%) and poults hatched weight (g) were significantly (P>0.01) higher in Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys as compared to Beltsville Small White turkeys. The total hatchability (%), fertile egg hatchability (%) and poults survivability (%) were (P>0.01) significantly higher in Beltsville Small White turkeys as compared to Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys. Non significantly higher fertility percentage was observed in Beltsville Small White turkeys as compared to Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys. It is concluded that Beltsville Small White turkeys are more suitable to obtain better reproductive performance under hot humid climate condition followed by Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys.

The study was conducted to formulate the enrofloxacin solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with sustained release profile and improved pharmacological activity and evaluate the pharmacokinetic behaviour of enrofloxacin SLNs after oral routes of administration in emus. The SLNs were prepared using tripalmitin as lipid carrier, Tween 80 and Span 80 as surfactants and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer by a hot homogenization coupled with ultrasonication method. The prepared enrofloxacin SLNs formulations were characterized for further investigation in emu birds. The pharmacokinetics of native enrofloxacin was studied after i.v. and oral bolus administration at 10 mg/kg in emu birds and compared with the disposition kinetics of enrofloxacin SLNs. Enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in plasma were estimated using HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by a noncompartmental analysis. The results demonstrated that the particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the SLNs were 154.72 ± 6.11 nm, 0.42 ± 0.11, -28.83 ± 0.60 mV, 59.66 ± 3.22 and 6.13 ± 0.32 %, respectively. AFM and TEM images showed spherical to circular particles with well-defined periphery. In vitro drug release exhibited biphasic pattern with an initial burst release of 18 % within 2 h followed by sustained release over 96 h. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the t 1/2b , AUC 0-? , V darea /F, MRT and bioavailability were 3.107, 1.894, 1.594, 2.993 and 1.895 times enhanced (p \ 0.01), while CL B and b were significantly (p \ 0.01) decreased by 1.958 and 3.056 times compared to the values of native enrofloxacin administered orally. The ratio of AUC 0-t cipro/AUC 0-t enro after administration of native enrofloxacin and enrofloxacin SLNs was less than 10 %. The t 1/2b and MRT of the metabolite were longer than those of the parent substance. The PK/PD results confirmed that the SLNs extended the enrofloxacin concentration upto 48 h against pathogens susceptible to 0.125 lg/mL in emus. The results indicated that SLNs might be a promising delivery system to prolong and enhance the pharmacological activity of enrofloxacin.