Journal of Poultry Sciences and Avian Diseases

Chickens play a vital role in supplying eggs and meat. Chicken production is expanding rapidly to meet the growing demand for human nutritional needs. Nevertheless, backyard husbandry chickens are susceptible to nematode parasites and continue to sustain substantial populations. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to February 2024 to determine the prevalence of ascaridiasis and assess the availability of anthelmintic drugs for managing chicken health. Fresh fecal samples from 380 chickens were directly collected from the cloaca using gloves and preserved in 10% formalin to conduct the flotation technique. In addition, postmortem examinations were done on 30 chickens, and adult parasites were collected to evaluate the parasite load of the chickens. Additionally, 120 farmers were interviewed to analyze the use of anthelmintic drugs for parasitic infections in their chickens. Data analysis was performed using SPSS to explore the risk factors involved. The results revealed that the prevalence of chicken ascaridiasis was 41.07% (N=115/380). Sex was identified as a significant factor, with a prevalence of 34.03% in females compared to males (χ² = 4.29, p = 0.038). Local breeds showed a higher prevalence (45.63%) compared to exotic breeds (24.55%) (χ² = 15.81, p < 0.001). Regarding management practices, the prevalence was 35.3% under extensive, 33.45% under semi-intensive, and 19.84% under intensive systems (χ² = 4.994, p = 0.025). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age (χ² = 9.915, p = 0.002), sex (χ² = 4.29, p = 0.038), breed (χ² = 15.81, p < 0.001), and management type (χ² = 4.994, p = 0.025) (OR = 1.521, 95% CI: 0.85–2.7) were significantly associated with the prevalence. Among the 30 chickens necropsied, intestinal parasite counts varied: 50% (15/30) had 1–5 parasites, 36.67% (11/30) had 6–10, and 13.33% (4/30) had 11–15 parasites in their intestines. Adult parasites were found in the small intestine, and notably, pathological lesions of varying degrees, including mild ulcerations, were present in 50% of the chickens (N = 15/30). Herbal remedies were commonly used by farmers for poultry health management, with full reliance on backyard systems (100%), followed by 90% in semi-intensive and 80% in intensive systems. These findings emphasize the importance of anthelmintic drugs for chickens' seasonal deworming programs for the effective management of Ascaridia galli.

The neurobiological mechanisms underlying appetite regulation and feeding behavior exhibit considerable complexity and interspecies variation. Among the key neurotransmitters implicated in the modulation of feeding behavior are dopamine and insulin, yet the interplay between these signaling molecules remains inadequately characterized. This investigation aimed to elucidate the interactions between insulin and the dopaminergic system in the context of appetite regulation in broiler-type chickens (Ross 308). Experimental protocols involved the intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of insulin at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 ng, respectively. Additionally, dopaminergic agents, including L-DOPA (a dopamine precursor) and receptor-specific antagonists SCH 23390 (D1), AMI-193 (D2), NGB 2904 (D3), and L-741,742 (D4), were administered alone or in combination with insulin (10 ng). Meal consumption was quantified cumulatively at 30-, 60-, and 120-minute intervals following the infusion. The findings revealed that insulin elicited a dose-dependent suppression of food intake (p < 0.05). Notably, the anorexigenic effect of insulin was attenuated by SCH 23390 (5 nmol) (p < 0.05), implicating D1 receptor-mediated pathways, whereas antagonists targeting D2, D3, and D4 receptors failed to modulate this response (p > 0.05). These results substantiate the critical role of D1 receptors in mediating insulin-induced anorexia in meat-type chickens, thereby advancing our understanding of the neurochemical interactions governing avian feeding behavior.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of organic copper (copper-methionine chelate) in combination with synbiotics (SYN) on the growth performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. 360 mixed-sex, one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three levels of organic Cu (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg) and two levels of SYN (0 and 200 mg/kg) in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with five replicates of 12 birds each at 6 weeks of age. Interaction effects indicated that from 11 to 24 and 25 to 42 days of age, diets containing higher copper levels (16 and 32 mg/kg) combined with SYN resulted in greater body weight gain compared to diets with 8 or 16 mg/kg of copper without SYN (p<0.05). Birds fed a diet containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN exhibited the highest coliform population and pH in the ileum (p<0.05). Elevated Cu levels or SYN supplementation improved intestinal morphology, particularly increasing villus surface area and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The total antibody titer and IgM in the serum of chickens fed a diet containing 16 mg/kg of Cu along with SYN were significantly higher compared to those fed diets containing 8 and 16 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. Meat analysis (thigh muscle) showed that the percentage of cooking loss in the meat of chickens fed diets containing 32 mg/kg of Cu with SYN was significantly lower compared to chickens fed diets containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. The inclusion of Cu-methionine chelate alongside SYN significantly improved the performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. These findings provide a basis for the simultaneous application of organic copper and SYN in the diet of broiler chickens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), selenium-chitosan (SeCh), and selenized glucose (SeGlu) as organic selenium sources, probiotics, and the interactions between selenium sources and probiotics on the intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology, and immune response in broilers. In a 3×2 factorial treatment design, 300 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six experimental groups. Selenium sources (0.3 mg/kg SeY, SeCh, and SeGlu) and probiotic levels (0 and 100 mg/kg) were among the factors investigated. Five-floor pens with 10 birds each have been used to replicate the treatments. Compared to SeY, broiler chickens fed SeCh or SeGlu had lower coliform bacteria counts, higher lactic acid bacteria counts, and lactic acid bacteria/coliform ratios in the ileum (p<0.05). Interaction results showed that birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu plus probiotics had higher villus height per crypt depth, villus surface area, and goblet cell density, as well as lower epithelial cell layer thickness in the ileum (p<0.05). At 28 and 42 days, birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu had the highest total antibody response to sheep red blood cells, IgG, and IgM titers (p<0.05). Birds fed diets supplemented with SeCh and SeGlu plus Probiotic had higher IgG levels than SeY without Probiotic (p<0.05). As a result, it is possible to conclude that SeCh and SeGlu, as novel and simple Se sources plus Probiotic, can improve intestinal microflora, morphology, and immune response in broiler chickens when compared to SeY alone.

Avian Influenza is an important zoonotic viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds. Current prevention and control strategies are often ineffective, leading to significant economic losses and public health risks. This review highlights the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in enhancing surveillance, early detection, and prediction of avian influenza infections in poultry. Various AI and ML techniques, including Gradient-boosted trees, Convolutional Neural Networks, and Sensor-Based Detection methods, have been applied to classify the pathogenicity of avian influenza virus strains, identify sick and deceased birds, and predict the likelihood of isolating avian influenza viruses in wild bird samples. These innovative solutions can offer high accuracy and efficiency in disease detection, reducing production expenses and enhancing animal welfare. Integrating AI and ML in poultry farming can improve disease management strategies, reduce zoonotic transmission risks, and safeguard global food security. This review provides insights into the current state of AI and ML applications in avian influenza detection and surveillance, highlighting their potential to transform the poultry industry toward a more efficient, sustainable, and healthier future.

Heat stress remains a major challenge for the poultry industry, particularly in tropical regions and warm seasons, where it negatively impacts poultry welfare and performance, leading to economic losses. Although heat stress has been a long-term concern for the poultry industry, existing solutions only partially alleviate the negative impacts on overall productivity. Enhancing our understanding of this challenge and available solutions can aid in shaping future initiatives to develop more robust solutions for managing heat stress. This review explores recent strategies developed to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens, including genetic selection, nutritional approaches such as vitamins (C, E, A, and B groups), amino acids, electrolytes, environmental modifications, and improving behavioral monitoring systems. Furthermore, we discussed the challenges in reducing the impacts of heat stress. Integrating these diverse strategies can improve poultry resilience, ensuring better welfare and sustainable production systems. Therefore, this review contributes to advancing adaptive strategies to safeguard poultry in a warming world.

Extending laying cycles to 100 weeks or more presents significant nutritional challenges for modern high-producing hens. Traditional age-based feeding strategies may no longer meet the birds’ evolving physiological needs. This study evaluates H&N International’s Hybrid Feed system, which integrates pre-lay and early production nutrition into a unified, performance-based approach. Introduced at 17 weeks and maintained until approximately 70% egg production, the Hybrid Feed features reduced energy density, elevated amino acids, moderate fiber, and a high proportion of coarse calcium. Results show improved body weight, feed intake, and metabolic adaptation during early lay. The system supports targeted egg size management through amino acid adjustments and emphasizes energy intake driven by body weight and environment. A three-phase feeding model, with nutrient modifications tailored to production stages rather than age, is proposed. This strategy enhances eggshell quality, skeletal integrity, and overall productivity, offering a dynamic nutritional framework for extended-cycle layer management.

The poultry industry has achieved remarkable advancements in growth rates over the decades, primarily through antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Despite the benefits of AGPs, their use has sparked serious concerns regarding the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potential residues in animal products, and their broader implications for human health. These challenges have prompted increased regulatory scrutiny and a shift toward alternative strategies, such as nutrition, for maintaining poultry health and productivity. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of an encapsulated mixture of essential oils and organic acids as an alternative to AGPs on humoral immunity, lymphoid organs, interleukin-4, and Interferon-gamma gene expression. A total number of 270 one-day-old male Ross-308 were assigned to three groups: control diet, control diet plus flavophospholipol (600 mg/kg), or control diet plus an encapsulated mixture of essential oils and organic acids (KaroGut™; 1L/1000L in drinking water). Humoral immunity was assessed via antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The weight of Fabricius and the spleen's bursa and the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in the jejunum were measured. Results showed that birds supplemented with essential oils and organic acids increased anti-SRBC and NDV antibody titers vs control (p<0.05). The relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and the spleen as key lymphoid organs tended to be higher for essential oils and organic acids. IL-4 and IFN-γ expression in the jejunum were significantly higher in birds supplemented with essential oils and organic acids vs control (p<0.05). These findings suggest that an encapsulated mixture of essential oils and organic acids could enhance immunity and related key gene expression, offering a viable alternative to AGPs in broilers.