Morphometric Assessment of Common Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) in Cameroon

A survey was conducted in the Sudano-Sahelian, High Savannah, and Western Highlands agroecological zones of Cameroon to assess the morphometric features and to determine the population structure of the native common guinea fowl breed. A total of 1021 adult common guinea fowls were sampled in the dominant pastoral production system. The main results showed that there was a phenotypic variability (p < 0.01) of the morphometric characteristics of common guinea fowls with a dominance of pearl gray coloring of the plumage (23.02%), bluish red barbels (29.09%), black eyes (36.04%) and tarsi (39.18%). The development of the barbels and the shape of the comb are determinants of the sex (p < 0.01), as well as the live weight which presents a dimorphism in favor of the females (p < 0.01). The average measurements (in cm) were: Crest height (2.07 ± 0.03), Crest length (2.79 ± 0.03), Barbel length (3.35 ± 0.04), Barbel height (2.28 ± 0.02), Spout length (2.11 ± 0.01), Caruncle length (0.69 ± 0.01), Baleen length (4.32 ± 0.04), Chest circumference (31.81 ± 0.99), Wing length (25.99 ± 0.18), wingspan (41.82 ± 0.32), Thigh diameter (9.17 ± 0.10), Thigh length (11.30 ± 0.07), Tarsus length (6.62 ± 0.04), Tarsus diameter (1.20 ± 0.07), Body length (40.13 ± 0.15), and Live weight (1.68 ± 0.02 kg). The highest positive correlation (r < 0.70) was observed between thigh and ridge length. The PCR revealed that three (3) components (F1, F2 and F3) make it possible to better explain phenotypic variability (50.21%). The variables that contributed most to the explanation of the observed total variability are the length of the crest (0.70%), the beak (0.61%), the wattle (0.70%), the body (0.44%), the wing (0.35%), thigh (0.68%), tarsus (0.29%) and wing span (0.41%) for the main component F1 while the F2 and F3 components mainly concern the length of the barbel (0.43%) and the height of the crest (0.48%) respectively. The F1 factor constitutes the most discriminating variable (89.40%). The AFD and the CAH made it possible to detect 03 sub-populations (T1, T2, and T3) which can be grouped into 2 subgroups on the basis of intra/inter population variations and genetic distances. Morphometric assessment coupled with genomics would increase the efficiency of selection, improvement, and conservation of common guinea fowl in Cameroun.

Indigenous Breeding Practices in Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) as Influenced by Plumage Features in Northern Cameroon

The objective of this work was to draw up an inventory of environmental and anthropogenic factors linked to indigenous breeding practices of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) influenced by plumage characteristics. The information was collected using the snowball technique and using a formal questionnaire developed (AU-IBAR, 2015). The dominant plumage is pearl gray with a frequency of 38.89% followed by black (13.85%). In total, 154 adult animals were lost by operators with a frequency of 22.95%. According to plumage, white comes first with a frequency of 51.61% followed by Lavender plumage (36.58%). Predation is the major constraint with a frequency of 35.72%. The guinea fowl most targeted by predators are the white guinea fowl with a frequency of 56.25%, while predation is low for black plumage (25%), royal purple (33.34) and pearl gray (34.69). The pearl gray guinea fowl and the royal purple guinea fowl appear to have a more developed wild instinct, which explains the frequency of recorded escapes. White plumage is perceived as being more docile during breeding and tends to exhibit better resistance to heat stress compared to other phenotypes, making it more valued for traditional rituals. Dark plumage seems more sought after in breeding for its supposed prolificacy, its resistance to infections and its weight. According to breeders, the dominance relationship mainly depends on the number of individuals of the same plumage. Dark plumage in significant numbers in most flocks seems to have dominance in terms of food and choice of sexual partners, which would explain their large numbers.

一类二阶Emden-Fowler型微分方程的若干振动条件

利用Riccati变换技术,借助Bernoulli不等式和Yang不等式以及数学分析技巧,研究了具有非线性中立项的二阶广义Emden-Fowler型微分方程的振动性,考虑非正则情形■,建立了该方程的若干振动准则。最后用2个例子说明,这些准则推广并改进了一些已有的结果,且具有较好的实用性和可操作性。

Fowler－Nordheim公式应用于实际场发射体的修正

Ｆｏｗｌｅｒ－Ｎｏｒｄｂｅｉｍ公式是一个在理想条件下推导的计算场致发射电流的公式。对场发射体的实验测量表明：实验结果往往比根据Ｆｏｗｌｅｒ－Ｎｏｒｄｈｅｉｍ公式计算的结果大得很多，说明这一理想化了的公式应用于实际场发射体时，必需得到修正。本文讨论了产生这一问题的原因，并提出了合理的定量修正方法。

Molecular Characterization of Peruvian Fowl Adenovirus (FAdV) Isolates

Forty seven clinical samples of Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) associated with Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) from Peruvian broilers received between July 2006 and April 2013 were genotyped using sequencing of L1 Loop of Hexon gene. All 47 clinical samples presented macroscopic and histopathology lesions consistent with IBH, and amplified a specific fragment of Hexon gene by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A unique nucleotide sequence of 789 base pairs of Hexon gene (position 273 to 1061) was obtained in all 47 clinical samples analyzed. This sequence showed a high level of conservation in amino acid and nucleotide sequence (>99%) with a Fowl Adenovirus C serotype 4 previously identified. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicate no genotypic variation in Peruvian isolates. The presence of a unique genotype very closely related with genotype C1 previously reported in Peru and Ecuador (>99%), suggests the presence of FAdV C serotype 4 genotype C1 in clinical cases of IBH from Peruvian broilers.

Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate enhances release of virions of cultured <i>Fowl Pox Virus</i>and inhibits the virus

Antiviral effects of a synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate (AMS) were tested on Fowl Pox Virus (FPV). Five batches of the Nigerian brand of FPV vaccine were used as sources of the virus. The reconstituted vaccines were mixed with The Synthetic AMS on equal volume to weight basis and incubated at room temperature for one hour. They were centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2000 revolutions per minute. The incubation and centrifugation were repeated on a portion of each vaccine supernatant. The two sets of supernatants were tested by the Modified Passive Haemagglutination test, for FPV titres. Portions of the vaccines, not incubated with the AMS, were served as controls. Fowl Pox Virus titres of the vaccines increased from a mean of 2.8 ± 1.10 to 11.2 ± 4.38 when incubated with the AMS once. When incubation with the AMS was repeated, the titres reduced (P< 0.05) to zero in each sample.

Comparative Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Fertility and Hatchability of Guinea Fowl with Tilili, Horro and Potchefstroom Koekoek Chicken Breeds

A study was conducted to compare laying performance, fertility, hatchability, and egg quality of guinea fowl (GF) with Horro (HR) and Tilili (TL) local chicken and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) exotic chicken. Forty five layers from each genotype and 6 cocks from each chicken genotype and 9 cocks from GF were used in 3 replications in a completely randomized design. Commercial layer feed was used ad libitum for the study that lasted 29 weeks. Daily DM intake per hen was 85, 114, 103 and 137 g (SEM = 3.1) for GF, HR, TL and PK, respectively, and was in the order of GF < TL < HR < PK. Final body weight of hens was highest for PK (2490 g), intermediate for HR (1983 g) and lowest for TL (1671 g) and GF (1641 g). Egg number per production week followed a similar trend like that of DM intake and was 71, 101, 75 and 121 (SEM = 0.5) for GF, HR, TL and PK, respectively. Both fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs for GF were 57%, which were lower than the mean of chicken genotypes by 41% and 34%, respectively. Embryonic mortality was higher for GF (early, middle and late was 15.8%, 10.0%. and 17.4% respectively) compared to chicken genotypes. Chick weight was highest for PK, intermediate for HR and TL and lowest for GF;while chick length was in the order of PK > HR > TL > GF. Average egg weight was higher for PK eggs (46.4 g), intermediate for HR (43.5 g) and TL (42.3 g), and lowest for GF (35.9 g). Eggshell weight and thickness were higher for GF than chicken genotypes. Haugh unit was similar among genotypes. Such differences among poultry genotypes could be reflection of previous selection and breeding interventions, which are apparently more in chicken genotypes than GF. A possible more stressful condition of the confined environment for GF versus chicken genotypes could have also contributed to such differences. This study highlighted the need of implementing future selection and breeding schemes to improve the performance of GF and TL birds to the level achieved by other genotypes.

Isolation,Identification and Immunogenicity of a Chicken-derived Strain of Fowl Avidenovirus Type 4

In order to obtain a fowl avidenovirus type 4 strain with good immunogenicity,chicken liver tissues suspected of adenovirus infection in a chicken farm in Binzhou were treated and then inoculated to chicken liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells(LMH).The cell cultures were extracted for DNA,which was subjected to PCR identification and sequencing analysis,and animal regression test and immunogenicity test were also carried out.The results showed that one fowl avidenovirus strain was successfully isolated.The isolated strain was inoculated to LMH cells,and the first generation showed obvious cytopathic changes.The PCR identification result of the 8^(th)generation cell culture of the isolated virus strain on LMH cells was positive.The sequencing result and NCBI sequence alignment analysis showed that the isolated virus strain had the highest nucleotide similarity with fowl avidenovirus type 4,reaching 100%,indicating that the isolated strain was of fowl avidenovirus type 4.The strain could cause the death of 21-day-old SPF chickens,with a mortality rate of 100%,and could completely replicate the same symptoms as clinically infected chickens after being challenged.The three batches of oil vaccine prepared with the isolated strain had a protection rate of 100%,and the geometric mean values of serum agar expansion titers were 1∶4.6,1∶4.9,and 1∶4.6,respectively.It can be seen that the isolated virus is of fowl avidenovirus type 4 in group I,and has good immunogenicity.

Carcass Characteristics of Guinea Fowl Raised under Intensive System and Fed Diets Containing Yellow Maize, Millet and White Sorghum as Energy Sources

This study investigated carcass characteristics of guinea fowl reared under intensive system and fed diets containing yellow maize, millet and white sorghum as energy sources compared to commercial broiler diets (control). A completely randomized design was used where 160 guinea fowl keets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. Data were analyzed using Procedure General Linear Model in Statistical Analysis Software (version 9.0). Results showed that dietary treatment did not (p > 0.05) influence carcass characteristics of guinea fowl at the same age. However, carcass characteristics significantly (p < 0.05) increased with age. From 6 to 16 weeks of age carcass dressed weight of guinea fowl increased from 301.73 ± 9.49 g to 1003.65 ± 26.77 g;288.18 ± 9.49 g to 952.58 ± 26.77 g;305.00 ± 9.49 g to 976.55 ± 26.77 and 292.81 ± 9.49 g to 970.08 ± 26.77 g for control, maize, millet and sorghum diets, respectively. Carcass yield slightly increased from 69.93% ± 3.67% to 72.81% ± 2.67%;73.85% ± 3.67% to 76.31% ± 2.67% and 70.55% ± 3.67% to 72.37% ± 2.67% for control, millet and sorghum diets, respectively. Carcass yield of guinea fowl on maize diet decreased with age (76.18 ± 3.67 to 71.68 ± 2.67). Other parameters including empty gizzard, heart, liver, drumstick, thigh, back and breast increased with guinea fowl age for all the dietary treatments. Maize, sorghum or millet diets can be used in guinea fowl diets without affecting carcass characteristics. Further studies on the acceptance of meat by consumers and cost-benefit analysis of the dietary treatments should be conducted to enable formulation of guinea fowl diets using local feed resources.

Establishment of Indirect ELISA Method for Detection of Penton Protein of Fowl Adenovirus GroupⅠ

[Objective] To establish an indirect ELISA method which can detect fowl adenovirus group I (FAVI) antibody easily and rapidly. [Method] The expressed and purified FAVI penton recombinant protein was used to be an antigen, optimized the reaction conditions, and then established the FAVI indirect penton-ELISA antibody detection method. [Result] The optimal coating concentration of antigen was 1.5 μg/hole, the optimal coating condition was 37 ℃ 2 h and 4 ℃ overnight; the optimal dilution of serum was 1∶ 100; the optimal working concentration of anti-chicken IgG-HRP was 1∶2 000; the positive and negative critical value of ELISA was 0.335. Detected the 100 chicken serum samples by the established penton-ELISA method, the positive rate was 41%. [Conclusion] Through the study, the established penton-ELISA method has a good specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility. And it offers an effective tool for the diagnosis of FAVI, the survey of antibody and epidemiology survey.

Polymorphism in Mitochondrial DNA of Six Fowl Breeds Revealed by Restriction Endonuclease

１ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＭｉｔｏｃｈｏｎｄｒｉａｌＤＮＡｐｏｌｙｍｏｒｐｈｉｓｍｓｂａｓｅｄｏｎａａｎａｌｙｓｉｓｏｆｒｅｓｔｒｉｃｔｉｏｎｅｎｄｏｎｕｃｌｅａｓｅｄｉｇｅｓｔｓａｌｌｏｗｕｓｔｏｃｌａｒｉｆｙｔｈｅｇｅｎｅｔｉｃｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎ...

A Comparative Study of the Karyotypes from Four Egg-type Fowl Breeds

ＡＣｏｍｐａｒａｔｉｖｅＳｔｕｄｙｏｆｔｈｅＫａｒｙｏｔｙｐｅｓｆｒｏｍＦｏｕｒＥｇｇ－ｔｙｐｅＦｏｗｌＢｒｅｅｄｓＬｉｕＤｉ，ＨｕＢａｏｚｈｏｎｇ，ＹａｎｇＹｕｌｉｎ，ＷａｎｇＳｉｐｉｎｇ（ＮｏｒｔｈｅａｓｔＡｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉ...

一类二阶广义Emden-Fowler型微分方程的振动性

研究了具非线性中立项的一类二阶广义Emden-Fowler型泛函微分方程的振动性,考虑方程是非正则的情形(即∫t0^+∞a^-1/β(t)dt<+∞的情形),利用广义黎卡提变换技术及不等式技巧,获得了方程振动的几个新型的判别准则.

表达鸡传染性贫血病毒VP1蛋白的新型重组血清4型禽腺病毒的构建

为研制新型鸡传染性贫血(CIA)高效疫苗以解决国内商品鸡群中普遍存在的鸡传染性贫血病毒(CIAV)感染问题,试验利用CRISPR-Cas9技术和Cre-LoxP系统,以血清4型禽腺病毒(FAdV-4)为载体,构建表达CIAV VP1蛋白的重组FAdV-4。通过间接免疫荧光试验和蛋白免疫印迹试验对重组病毒进行验证,通过体外病毒生长曲线来研究其复制效率。结果显示:该重组病毒构建成功,能有效表达CIAV VP1蛋白,命名为rFAdV-4-CIAV-VP1,且发现rFAdV-4-CIAV-VP1在LMH细胞中的复制效率远低于野生型FAdV-4。研究表明构建的重组病毒rFAdV-4-CIAV-VP1为CIAV和FAdV-4的联防联控提供了二联候选疫苗株。

氟苯尼考在泰和乌鸡可食性组织中残留消除规律研究

为研究氟苯尼考可溶性粉在泰和乌鸡体内可食性组织的残留变化规律,试验选择64只110日龄健康泰和乌鸡(公母各半),按推荐剂量0.5 g可溶性氟苯尼考粉/L饮用水连续给药5 d。在停药后第0.16、1、3、5、7、9、12、15天随机屠宰4只公鸡和4只母鸡,分别采集肌肉、肝脏、肾脏、皮脂样本,采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用法测定组织中氟苯尼考和氟苯尼考胺残留量,并利用WT1.4软件计算氟苯尼考在泰和乌鸡体内的休药期。结果显示,氟苯尼考和氟苯尼考胺在泰和乌鸡肌肉、肝脏、肾脏组织内残留消除较为迅速,而在皮脂组织消除相对缓慢;氟苯尼考可溶性粉在泰和乌鸡肌肉、肝脏、肾脏、皮脂中的休药时间分别为4.36 d、0.00 d、0.00 d、9.81 d。研究表明,为保证泰和乌鸡产品质量安全,氟苯尼考在泰和乌鸡体内的推荐休药期应大于10 d。

禽腺病毒流行株FAdV-4-AH-F41的分子特征及对细胞因子的诱导作用

【目的】分析1株血清4型禽腺病毒(FAdV-4)流行株的分子特征及其感染对细胞因子的影响。【方法】采集安徽省某禽类养殖场疑似心包积水-肝炎综合症的鸡肝脏组织样本,用鸡肝癌细胞(LMH)对病原进行分离,采用PCR、透射电镜(TEM)观察和间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)对分离的毒株进行鉴定。采用分段扩增后拼接的方法克隆分离毒株的全基因组,对其进行遗传进化分析和序列重组分析。基于柯赫法则,用分离毒株接种无特定病原体(SPF)鸡,检验其致病性。采用实时荧光定量PCR法,检测分离毒株对LMH细胞天然免疫相关细胞因子环鸟苷酸-腺苷酸(cGAS)、干扰素刺激因子(STING)、白介素-1β(IL-1β)、IL-6、IL-8、干扰素-α(IFN-α)、IFN-β、干扰素调节因子7(IRF7)、线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(MAVS)、主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)Ⅰ-α、MHCⅡ-β等11种细胞因子的诱导作用。【结果】分离鉴定到1株FAdV,其在LMH细胞中培养未出现明显细胞病变效应;病毒粒子直径为70~90 nm,符合FAdV-4的结构特征;免疫荧光试验结果显示,在接种分离毒株的LMH细胞内可观察到亮红色荧光,而对照细胞没有荧光;将该毒株命名为FAdV-4-AH-F41。采用分段扩增后拼接的策略获得了FAdV-4-AH-F41全基因组序列(43708 bp);遗传进化分析和序列重组分析发现,FAdV-4-AH-F41与FAdV-4株核苷酸相似性为99.6%;存在3个重组事件,第1个重组事件发生在30453-30674 bp,第2个发生在36884-36988 bp,第3个发生在43401-43715 bp。致病性试验显示,FAdV-4-AH-F41是导致鸡心包积水-肝炎综合症的病原。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,与对照(DMEM/F12处理)相比,用FAdV-4-AH-F41处理后LMH细胞中11种免疫因子的表达量水平均有提升,其中cGAS、IL-6、IRF7、MHCⅡ-β差异达极显著水平(P<0.01),IL-1β、IFN-α、MAVS差异达显著水平(P<0.05),STING、IL-8、IFN-β、MHCⅠ-α差异不显著。【结论】成功分离1株重组血清4型禽腺病毒,感染LMH细胞会诱导强烈的天然免疫反应。

血清4型禽腺病毒胶体金免疫层析检测方法的建立

为建立对血清4型禽腺病毒(FAdV-4)进行快速检测的胶体金免疫层析法,将FAdV-4的hexon-L1蛋白进行原核表达,免疫兔制备多克隆抗体,将多抗包被在检测(T)线,将羊抗兔IgG包被在质控(C)线,用胶体金标记的多抗作为示踪剂,制备胶体金免疫层析检测卡,用于检测FAdV-4抗原,并对其敏感性和特异性进行评价,用其检测临床样本并与PCR检测结果相比较。结果显示,制备的胶体金检测卡可检出FAdV-4含量为10^(2.094)^(5)EID_(50),FAdV-8、新城疫病毒、禽白血病病毒等均不出现特异性条带,对临床样本的检测与PCR检测的符合率达98%。建立的胶体金检测方法可用于FAdV-4感染的快速检测。

双酶分步酶解盐津乌骨鸡肉工艺及其氨基酸组成分析

以云南盐津乌骨鸡肉为原料,蛋白水解度为指标,采用响应面分析法优化盐津乌骨鸡肉酶解条件;用氨基酸分析仪及凝胶渗透色谱法检测酶解液的氨基酸组成和多肽分子量分布。结果表明,双酶分步酶解最佳工艺条件为动物蛋白酶酶解时间5 h、酶添加量2.6%、酶解pH值6.5,灭酶后,再加入木瓜蛋白酶酶解3 h、酶添加量2.5%、酶解温度60℃。在该条件下,盐津乌骨鸡肉水解度为(32.62±0.79)%;酶解液中含有17种氨基酸,总游离氨基酸含量可达6.02 mg/mL,且亮氨酸、精氨酸等呈味氨基酸含量较高,其中多肽的相对分子质量主要集中分布在1 kDa以下。该研究结果可为后续盐津乌骨鸡相关新型调味制品的开发提供一定的理论依据。