The aim of the study was to determine the effect of yeast probiotic on body weight, and the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of broiler chickens. The experiment was carried out on hybrid Hubbard broiler chickens (n = 200). Two-hundred day-old chicks were randomly selected and distributed into four groups of 50 day-old chicks each: Control, C, and treatment groups comprising T1, T2 and T3 administered with 0.25 mL, 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL yeast probiotic, respectively. Chicks were fed a commercial starter diet for the first 28 days of age, followed by pelleted finisher diet from 29 to 42 days. Chickens in T1 had a significantly (p < 0.01) higher body weight at 4th week of age when compared with the control. SOD activity in all treatment groups was not significantly (p > 0.05) different when compared with the control. GPx activity was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in T1, when compared with the control. GPx activity in T2 was higher (p < 0.01) when compared with the control. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in MDA level in all the treatment groups. In conclusion, administering yeast probiotic supplement increased body weight and enhanced serum anti-oxidant enzyme activities of broiler chickens.

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ABSTRACT. In poultry, the benefits of probiotic supplementation on broiler performance and health have been reported. The present study examined the effect of supplemental yeast probiotic preparations on body weight, thyroid hormone metabolism and serum lipid profile in broilers. The experiment was carried out on hybrid Marshall broiler chickens (n=200). Two hundred 1-day-old chicks were randomly selected and distributed into 4 groups of 50 1-day-old chicks each (control, C; E 1 0.5%, E 2 1.5% and E 3 2.0%, experimental groups). The birds were housed in an environmentally controlled poultry house with the floor covered with wood shavings. Chicks were fed commercial broiler starter diet for the first 28 days of age, followed by pelleted finisher diet from 29-42 days. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Chickens fed 2.0% probiotic had a significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight when compared with the control group. The blood glucose concentration was significantly (P<0.05) different in the E 3 1.5% probiotic supplemented group when compared with the control. There was highly significant (P<0.05) difference in T 4 level in the E 3 2.0% probiotic group when compared with the control. However, there was a significant difference in cholesterol concentrations observed in the experimental group supplemented with E 1 0.5% probiotic. The concentration of triglycerides was not affected by the probiotic supplementation. Significant differences (P<0.01) were observed in HDL concentrations in all experimental groups supplemented with the probiotic when compared with the control group. In conclusion, supplementing broiler feeds with a yeast probiotic increased body weight, enhanced thyroid hormone metabolism, and decreased cholesterol and lipoproteins in broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses of adult male Red Sokoto goats (n = 10; indigenous to the Guinea Savannah climate) and Sahel goats (n = 10; indigenous to the Sahel climate) at the peak of the cold-dry (CDS), hot-dry (HDS) and rainy seasons prevailing in the Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria. Results revealed that Red Sokoto goats had significantly higher rectal temperature (RT), PCV, red blood cell (RBC), Hb, thyroxin (T 4 ), but lower respiratory rate (RR) and total leucocyte count (TLC) than Sahel goats during the CDS. Comparison within breeds for the three seasons showed that both breeds exhibited the highest (P < .05) PR, RT, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (N:L), but lower mean corpuscular volume and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) during the HDS. In addition, Red Sokoto goats showed higher (P < .05) RR and T 4 , but lower RBC, Hb, lymphocyte counts and T 3 :T 4 . However, Sahel goats exhibited higher (P < .05) PCV, RBC, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, but lower circulating T 4 . It was concluded that the cold and hot seasons exerted different physiological effects on the two breeds of goats with marked variation in RT, composition of blood cellular components, thyroid physiology and erythrocyte membrane integrity. ARTICLE HISTORY

ABSTRACT:The current study was aimed at evaluating the effect of heat stress (during the hot-dry period) on some physiological variables, haematology and erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) in bucks, pregnant (single and twin) and lactating Red Sokoto (RS) goats. Forty apparently healthy adult goats were used for the study and were allotted to four groups [bucks (n = 10), pregnant (n = 10) dry (n = 10), and lactating (n = 10) does]. The pregnant goats were further re-grouped according to number of foetuses (single foetus, n = 5 and twins, n = 5). The temperature-humidity index and physiological variables measured were significantly higher in the afternoon compared to morning hours. Pregnant does had higher respiratory and pulse rates than the dry does, but no significant change (P > 0.05) in rectal temperature was observed between groups. On the basis of sex, bucks had lower (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular volume (MCV) than other groups, in addition to having higher (P < 0.01) mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and total leucocyte counts than dry does. Pregnant does exhibited significantly lower (P < 0.05) packed cell volume, but significantly higher (P < 0.05) MCH and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) than lactating does. Does with a single foetus had significantly lower (P < 0.05) MCV, but higher MCHC than does with twin pregnancies. Using EOF as a biomarker of oxidative stress, erythrocytes of bucks were significantly more resistant to hypotonic haemolysis than those of dry, pregnant and lactating does, with no significant difference in EOF between does of different groups. The erythrocytes of single and twin pregnancies showed similar haemolysis pattern. In conclusion, sex, lactation, and the number of foetuses carried by pregnant does significantly influences physiological and haematological variables in RS goats during the hot-dry season. Also, during heat stress, the changes in physiological variables seem to enhance favourable adaptation by preventing an increase in rectal temperature even in twin pregnancies.

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Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that hyperglycaemia is responsible for the oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus. The study was designed to investigate the comparative effects of probiotic and vitamin C (Vit-C) treatments on hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg). Six groups of the animals received the following treatment regimens for four weeks: (1) Normal saline, per os; (2) alloxan (150 mg/kg, i.p.); (3) alloxan (150 mg/kg) + insulin (4 U/kg, subcutaneously); (4) alloxan (150 mg/kg) + probiotic (4.125 × 106 CFU/100 mL per os); (5) alloxan (150 mg/kg) + Vit-C (100 mg/kg, i.m.); (6) alloxan (150 mg/kg) + probiotic (4.125 × 106 CFU/100 mL per os) + Vit-C (100 mg/kg, intramuscularly). Probiotic + Vit-C decreased (p < 0.05) blood glucose concentration in diabetic treated group, when compared with the untreated diabetic group. Probiotic + Vit-C reduced malondialdehyde concentration, in the serum, brain and kidneys, respectively, but increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Probiotic and Vit-C may be more effective than Vit-C alone, in ameliorating hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

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