Morphology of the Tracheal Epithelium in the Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Pourlis, Aris; Siasios, Athanasios; Grivas, Ioannis

doi:10.3923/ajava.2018.301.304

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the mallard duck ( Anas platyhrynchos ) trachea, Mokhtar & Hussien (2019) observed relatively large cytoplasmic vacuoles in microvilli‐possessing and ciliated cells, indicating secretory and/or absorptive functions. The epithelial lining of the trachea of the mallard, turkey and quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) has cells with microvilli that appear to serve as vesicle‐generating organelles, which may contain various active catalytic enzymes (McConnell et al ., 2009; Al‐Mussawy, Al‐Mehanna & Al‐Baghdady, 2012; Pourlis, Siasios & Grivas, 2018; Mokhtar & Hussien, 2019). Airway epithelial cells synthesise an assortment of antiviral substances which further to producing pro‐inflammatory cytokines are vital to triggering innate and adaptive immune responses (Hiemstra, 2001).…”

Section: Pulmonary Airway Mucosal Defencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical assessment of the cellular defences of the avian respiratory system: are birds in general and poultry in particular relatively more susceptible to pulmonary infections/afflictions?

Maina

2023

Biological Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In commercial poultry farming, respiratory diseases cause high morbidities and mortalities, begetting colossal economic losses. Without empirical evidence, early observations led to the supposition that birds in general, and poultry in particular, have weak innate and adaptive pulmonary defences and are therefore highly susceptible to injury by pathogens. Recent findings have, however, shown that birds possess notably efficient pulmonary defences that include: (i) a structurally complex three‐tiered airway arrangement with aerodynamically intricate air‐flow dynamics that provide efficient filtration of inhaled air; (ii) a specialised airway mucosal lining that comprises air‐filtering (ciliated) cells and various resident phagocytic cells such as surface and tissue macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes; (iii) an exceptionally efficient mucociliary escalator system that efficiently removes trapped foreign agents; (iv) phagocytotic atrial and infundibular epithelial cells; (v) phagocytically competent surface macrophages that destroy pathogens and injurious particulates; (vi) pulmonary intravascular macrophages that protect the lung from the vascular side; and (vii) proficiently phagocytic pulmonary extravasated erythrocytes. Additionally, the avian respiratory system rapidly translocates phagocytic cells onto the respiratory surface, ostensibly from the subepithelial space and the circulatory system: the mobilised cells complement the surface macrophages in destroying foreign agents. Further studies are needed to determine whether the posited weak defence of the avian respiratory system is a global avian feature or is exclusive to poultry. This review argues that any inadequacies of pulmonary defences in poultry may have derived from exacting genetic manipulation(s) for traits such as rapid weight gain from efficient conversion of food into meat and eggs and the harsh environmental conditions and severe husbandry operations in modern poultry farming. To reduce pulmonary diseases and their severity, greater effort must be directed at establishment of optimal poultry housing conditions and use of more humane husbandry practices.

show abstract