The amino acids differences in epitopes may promote the different allergenicity of ovomucoid derived from hen eggs and quail eggs

Quail egg ovomucoid can inhibit activation of basophils and eosinophils,while hen egg ovomucoid has been shown to be a major allergen,named Gal d 1.At present,the differences in structure and function between two ovomucoid are unclear.We found the homology of ovomucoid in quail eggs and hen eggs reached77%.Compared with hen egg ovomucoid,the distribution of secondary structure was different in AA52-53,AA57-58,AA66-68,AA71-72,AA131-133,AA139-140,AA157-159 and AA184-185.Among 9 epitopes of egg ovomucoid,there were different amino acids from quail egg ovomucoid in 8 epitopes.Recombination quail egg ovomucoid had trypsin inhibition activity and quail egg ovomucoid didn't specifically bind to serum of eggs allergic patients.Quail egg ovomucoid can significantly inhibit RBL-2 H3 cells degranulation and protect cells morphology to a certain extent,indicating quail egg ovomucoid can inhibit cells activation and have potential anti-allergic effects,which is related to trypsin inhibitory activity.The difference in sensitization compare to hen egg ovomucoid may be due to amino acids differences affecting protein structure by changing antigenic epitopes.

Effection of Lead Poisoning and Newcastle Disease Vaccine on Development of Egg Yellow Feather Quail

[ Objective] To investigate the effects of Newcastle disease vaccination and lead exposure on growth and development of egg yellow feather quail. [ Method] Ninety 14-day-old quails were assigned randomly to 10 groups （ n = 9）, and they fed and drunk at liberty. A 2 ×5 factorial design was used. The quail immunized with ND vaccine and those non-immunized were exposed to lead at a dosage of 0, 50,500, 1 000 and 2 000 mg/L, respectively. [Result] The ND immunization reduced body weight significantly （ P 〈 0.01 ） and increased liver index and serum levels of hy- aluronic acid in quail within 1 -2 weeks post inoculation. The quail exposed to 2 000 mg/L lead acetate had significantly lower body weight than the control （ P 〈 0.01 ）. From 7 weeks old, the same inhibitory effect was observed in the quail＇exposed to lead at different dosages （ P 〈 0.01 ）. In addition, the lead poisoning could cause decreased feed intake, depilation, gonadal dysgenesis, and increased serum levels of hyaluronic acid. [ Conduslon] The inhibitory effect of ND vaccination on growth of quail occurs within 1 -2 weeks post inoculation; thus, the effects of immune stress should not be worried in quail production. The lead poisoning has significant effects on body weight and feed intake of quail, and lead dosage and duration affect the inhibitory effects of lead. Gonadal dysgenesis is an important indicator of lead poisoning in. quail. The serum levels of hyaluronic acid can be used to determine whether the quail have been immunized with ND vaccine or have contacted lead pollutants.

Identification of the Sex of Earlier Embryos from Generic Hybrids of Chicken-Quail by Wpkci

In this study, a protocol was developed to identify the sex of earlier embryos of chicken （♂）-quail （♀） hybrids and successfully tested the sex proportion of each period （66-120 h）. We acquired cross bred eggs by artificial insemination, hatched them in the same batch according to the standard hatching condition of chicken, and collected earlier living embryos at 66, 72, 78, 84, 90, 96, 102, 108, 114, and 120 h randomly. We adopted RT-PCR protocol and multiple PCR, made the known sex quail as the external control, employed fl-actin as the internal control, and used primers that were designed according to conservative area of gene Wpkci of quail to identify the sex of earlier hybrid embryos. The results indicated that the primer of Wpkci can be used to identify the sex of hybrid embryos accurately; there were more male than female in earlier embryos, the sex proportion of earlier embryos compared with academic numerical value was significantly different （P〈0.01）, and there was no difference between different periods （P〉0.05）. In the present study, we concluded that a simple, fast, credible and stable protocol to identify the sex of earlier hybrids embryos had been established by using primer of Wpkci; in earlier embryos, the death rate of female was higher than that of male and there was no fluctuant peak.

一株鹌鹑源禽流感病毒A/quail/Jilin/7/2015(H9N2)的遗传进化分析和致病性研究

为探究从死亡鹌鹑肺脏分离鉴定出的1株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)A/quail/Jilin/7/2015(简称QA/JL/7/15)在流感病毒生态分布中的进化关系,本研究对QA/JL/7/15株进行了全基因序列测定,并结合Gen Bank中登录的代表性H9N2亚型流感病毒的基因组序列及其它参考株序列进行了遗传进化分析。结果显示,QA/JL/7/15为一株重组病毒,血凝素基因(HA)来自A/chicken/Jiangsu/1/00类病毒株;神经氨酸酶(NA)来自A/chicken/Guangxi/KMIII/1999类病毒株;PB2基因来自A/duck/Shantou/163/2004类病毒株;PB1、PA、NP和NS基因来自A/chicken/Shanghai/F/98类病毒株;M基因来自A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97类病毒株。HA基因与近年中国湖北分离株A/chicken/Hubei/R386/2012(H9)的核苷酸序列同源性最高(98.5%),HA裂解位点推导氨基酸序列为"-RSSR-",为典型低致病性AIV的特征序列,动物实验也显示该病毒株对鸡和小鼠呈现低致病性。本研究首次证实H9N2重组病毒株在我国鹌鹑中出现,为AI防控提供了实验依据。

Effect of Active Dried Yeast on Intestine Development,Intestinal Flora and Serum Cholesterol Mass Concentration of Quails

[ Objective] The experiments aimed to investigate the effect of dietary active dried yeast on intestine development, intestinal flora and serum cholesterol mass concentration of quails. [ Method] One-day-old 180 quails were randomly divided into 4 groups, 3 repetitions, each with 15 quails. Control group was fed with basic dietary, while experimental groups were added with 0.6, 1,2 g/kg active dried yeast respectively in basic dietary, [ Result] Addition of active dried yeast had little effect on quails＇ intestine development（ P 〉0.05）. With the increasing adding amount active dried yeast, the number of colibacillus decreased significantly （P 〈0.05） while lactobacillus content increasing sharply （P 〈 0.05）. Dietary with 1 and 2 g/kg active dried yeast can significantly decrease the mass concentration of cholesterol in serum （ P 〈 0.05）. [ Conclusion ] Adding active dried yeast in feed can decrease the number of colibacillus while increasing lactobacillus content in intestinal tract of quails, also can low serum cholesterol mass concentration.

Calcium Participates in Secretion of Porphyrin from Shell Gland Epithelial Cells of Japanese Quail (<i>Coturnix coturnix japonica</i>)

To investigate factors involved in the secretion of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a superficial eggshell pigment, from shell gland epithelial cells of Japanese quail, we cultured cells in Ham’s F12 medium with calcium chloride and quail plasma. The addition of hormones (prostaglandin F2α, progesterone, estradiol-17β) to the medium did not change the PpIX concentration in the culture supernatant, but changing the calcium chloride (CaCl2) concentration did: a lower concentration of CaCl2 led to a higher PpIX concentration;0 mM CaCl2 enhanced the secretion of PpIX from epithelial cells prepared at 5 or 7 mM CaCl2. The result suggests that a drop in concentration of CaCl2 mimics the end of shell calcification and stimulates rapid secretion of PpIX in vivo. Bovine serum albumin was almost as effective as quail plasma for PpIX secretion in culture, and would facilitate further study of the mechanism of PpIX secretion.

<i>In Vitro</i>Culture of Shell Gland Epithelial Cells in Japanese Quail (<i>Coturnix coturnix japonica</i>)

To investigate the secretion of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), superficial eggshell pigment, from shell gland cells of Japanese quail, the epithelial cells of the gland were collected and isolated for cultivation in vitro. An analysis of a peak for PpIX in the cells was performed using a fluorescence microplate reader. The measurement showed that PpIX has a peak of excitation wavelength at 410 nm and emission wavelength at 606 nm in the culture medium (HamF12 + 4% HCl). Volumes of PpIX in the medium after 4 hour culture of the cells were measured with a microplate reader using filter set of excitation wavelength 400/30nm and emission wavelength 620/40nm. However the cells did not secrete significantly PpIX during 4 hour incubation in this culture system, addition of quail plasma to the medium resulted in significantly higher secretion. A cultivation system in this study is able to use for the study on the mechanism of the secretion of eggshell pigment, PpIX from Japanese quail shell gland epithelial cells.

Roles of Sex Steroids in the Crowings with Sexual and Non-Sexual Motivations in Female Japanese Quail, <i>Coturnix Japonica</i>

To examine the sex differences in the crowing behavior of the Japanese quail, we investigated the effects of sex steroids on calling behaviors using female birds, and the data were compared with those obtained in our previous study in male birds which was performed using the same experimental procedures as those in the present study. We injected the female quails daily from 11 to 41 days after hatching with testosterone propionate (TP), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT;a non-aromatizable androgen), estradiol benzoate (EB) or vehicle, and examined their calling behaviors in both sexual and non-sexual contexts. In a non-sexual context of the birds being isolated in a recording chamber, androgens, either TP or DHT, induced crowing in place of distress calling while EB simply inhibited distress calling. These effects of sex steroids on the calling behaviors were almost identical to those in the male quails. In a sexual context of the birds being left undisturbed in their home cages, crowing was induced by chronic treatment with TP, but not either DHT or EB, suggesting that both estrogenic and androgenic actions are required to induce the sexually motivated crowing. Although these results were basically the same as those in the male quails, the crowing in the female quails occurred much less frequently compared to that of the male quails. These data suggest that in the Japanese quail, crowing behavior, when it is restricted to sexually motivated one, is quantitatively different between male and female in the responsiveness to sex steroids.

Effect of the Quail Phenotype and Breeding Age on Egg Laying and Characteristics

In order to evaluate the effect of phenotype and quail age on laying rate and egg characteristics, a study has been carried out in Ngaoundéré from February to August 2019. 216 quails were divided into 36 batches of 6 animals each (5 females and 1 male) according to age and phenotype. The experimental animals were white, spotted white, grey and brown phenotypes and were one, six and ten months old. Eggs were collected for three weeks between 8 pm - 4 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm, counted, weighed and measured. 15 eggs per phenotype were randomly selected, broken individually, which allowed the internal parameters to be evaluated. The main results show that the quails laid more eggs between 4 pm - 8 pm, the highest laying rate was obtained in quails at one moth of laying and the spotted white phenotype had a high laying rate (74.03%) compared to other phenotypes. At one month of breeding age, quails with the spotted white phenotype showed a higher laying rate (93.34%), brown (78.75%) and grey (74%) at six months and finally white (71%) at ten months. Weight, height, diameter and egg shape index did not vary with the quail phenotype. The highest egg volume (12.60 ml) was found in white quails. The shells of white spotted quails were thicker than those of other phenotypes. Grey quails laid eggs with the highest Haugh’s index and proportion of edible matter. Brown quail eggs were found to have a higher proportion of dry yolk matter. Dry matter and moisture content of albumen did not vary with the quail phenotype. Considering the results obtained, it has been concluded that spotted white phenotype quails are more suitable for reproduction as they presented the best egg-laying proportions of edible matter.

Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizomes Essential Oil on Some Reproductive Parameters in Laying Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

To assess the effect of ginger rhizomes essential oil on some reproductive parameters of laying birds, 80 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) aged 3 weeks and weighing between 120 - 130 g were randomly assigned into 4 dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. From 3 till 13 weeks, birds in group 1 (control) received distilled water orally (100 μl/kg body weight), while the other three test groups during the same period, received respectively by gavage 50, 100 and 150 μl of ginger roots essential oil per kg body weight. At 11 weeks old, eight birds per group in each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered, blood samples collected for analysis. On the other hand, the remaining females were maintained 3 with one untreated male in identical boxes per treatment, for fertility assessment, eggs characteristics and hatchability traits. Throughout the experiment, biochemical parameters, eggs characteristics, fertility and hatchability traits were analyzed. No significant change (p > 0.05) was observed during the experimental period for body and relative ovary weights. Contrary, the relative uterus weight significantly increased (p < 0.05) in dose-dependent manner. The level of serum total proteins, LH, FSH and estradiol significantly increased (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Also, fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs, total hatchability and chick’s weight significantly increased (p < 0.05) in birds received 100 and 150 μl/kg b.w compared to those of control group. On the other hand, embryonic mortality decreased significantly (p < 0.05) whatever the ginger rhizomes essential oil dose. It was concluded that ginger rhizomes essential oil enhances bird reproductive performances, proteins and reproductive hormone levels and hatchability traits in treated female quails.

Preparing and Evaluation of New Nutritious Products from Quail Meat

The objective of this study is preparation of new nutritious products from quail meat compared to other products prepared from chicken meat as control and commercial products which bought from supermarket. The proximate composition, chemical, physical and sensorial properties were evaluated. The different products were prepared as sausage form quail meat (SQ), chicken meat (SC) and commercial (SCo), and, kofta from quail meat (KQ), chicken meat (KC) and commercial (KCo), and, nuggets from quail meat (NQ), chicken meat (NC) and commercial (NCo). The result observed that the chemical composition of products that prepared from quail meat recorded the highest content of protein and ash, on contrary, the lowest content of fat compared with products that prepare from chicken meat as control or commercial. All products that prepared from quail meat recorded high content of K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, Se and vitamin A, Kofta was the highest one followed by nuggets then sausage products. While sausage products that prepared from both quail and chicken meat as control recorded the highest content of vitamin E, followed nuggets and kofta, respectively compared with commercial products. The results indicated decreasing cooking loss after preparing of quail meat products followed by both chicken meat products as control and commercial product, increasing water capacity (WHC) of KQ and plasticity of SQ and NQ. All products were accepted from panelists while slightly significant difference among these products (P > 0.05). SC was the highest score in colour, taste, odour, texture and overall acceptability compared with SQ and SCo. Generally products were prepared from quail meat which showed high acceptance in sensory evaluation by panelists.

Functional Properties of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Eggs Proteins

The eggs of the domestic chicken(Gallus gallus domesticus)are the most consumed,but those of duck,goose,and quail are also consumed,to name a few.An egg is considered as a food rich in proteins,minerals,and lipids.Eggs generally consist of three main components:shell,white,and yolk,these have several functional properties that are used in food and other industries.The functional properties of the egg white and yolk are the ability of foaming,gelling,and emulsifying,which can be dealt with according to storage time.The objective of this work was to evaluate the functional properties of the components of the Japanese quail egg.The functional properties of eggs stored at room temperature for 1,10,20,30,40,50,and 60 days after laying were determined.Results are analyzed using a Tukey paired comparison test.The volume of the foam of the quail egg white did not change with storage time,the emulsion capacity was 193.8 mL of oil per gram of protein from the yolk.The coagulation capacity requires a lower temperature to coagulate the quail egg proteins,due to the slower transformation of ovalbumin to its thermo-stable form(S-ovalbumin)as compared to that of chicken.

Chromosomal Localization of a Quail Homeobox Gene: Quox-1

Quox 1 is an Antp like homeobox gene of quail embryo whose expression occurs throughout the developing central nevous system. Using a Dig labeled probe, we localized quox 1 gene on the terminal region of the long arm of quail's chromosome 1 by ISH.

Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with Salmonella Enteritidis

Antimicrobial use in livestock is faced with various challenges including emergence of antimicrobial resistance and presence of drug residues in meat products,hence the need for alternatives.The aim of this work was to assess the effect a plant(Zehneria scabra)extract on Salmonella infected quails,as an alternative to antibiotic therapy.Quails were randomly assigned into six groups each containing twelve birds.The neutral control(T0)group was not infected and received tap water whereas other groups were infected.The negative control(T-)received tap water.The positive control(T+)received a single dose of oxytetracycline(20 mg/kg).T1,T2 andT3 orally received the plant extract at the following respective doses:9,18 and 37 mg/kg.Quails were infected by oral administration of a single dose of Salmonella Enteritidis(10^(5)CFU).Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated.From day 2 to day 9 to day 16,the bacterial load of all treatment groups(T+,T1,T2,T3)decreased.The infection resulted in a significant(p<0.05)increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,triglycerides,total cholesterol and white blood cells,and a significant decrease in the liver and kidney protein content.The treatment resulted in the correction of the aforementioned effects.The plant extract(18 mg/kg)is as effective as oxytetracycline,and can be safely used in phytomedicine for the treatment of Salmonella Enteritidis infection without kidney and liver damage.

Effect of Combined Vitamin C and Vitamin E Supplementation on Reproductive Performance and Hatching Rate in Japanese Laying Quail

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of vitE(Vitamin E)supplementation in combination with vitC(Vitamin C)on reproductive performance and hatching rate of Japanese quail at the age of 59-114 days.A total of 132 laying quails were arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 4 replicates,each replicate being 9 female quails and 2 male quails at 59 days of age.The experimental treatments were as follows:control fed the basal diet(KPCS),E125C75 including KPCS supplemented with 125 mg vitE/kg feed combined with 75 mg vitC/kg feed and E125C125 including KPCS supplemented 125 mg vitE/kg feed combined with 125 mg vitC/kg feed.Research results showed that the highest WG(Weight Gain)was in E125C125(30.32 g)and lowest in E125C75(17.37 g).There were no statistically significant differences between treatments in terms of laying rate,feed conversion ratio,egg mass and egg weight.However,hatching rate and bodyweight of quails at 1 day of age were significantly different between treatments,the highest was E125C125(74.37%and 7.43 g),followed by E125C75(70.02%and 7.03 g)and the lowest was control(65.89%and 6.82 g).It can be concluded that E125C125 not only improved laying rate but also increased hatching rate and bodyweight of quail chick.

Effects of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Leaf Meal on Performance, Carcass, Organs, Eggs and Meat of Japanese Quails

There are several reports on the utilisation of Moringa oleifera in poultry diets due to its essential bioactive compounds yet,little is known about its influence on Japanese quail eggs and meat qualities.Hence,the need to examine performance,eggs and meat qualities of Japanese quail hens fed M.oleifera leaf.To achieve this,240 Japanese quail chicks were allocated to three dietary treatments:D1:control,0.0%(without M.oleifera leaf meal),D2:(0.5%M.oleifera leaf meal)and D3:(1%M.oleifera leaf meal).Data on performance,carcass,organs,eggs and meat qualities were collected and subjected to ANOVA at 0.05.Results revealed that feed consumption was lowest(2,701g)in D1 and highest(2,800g)in D2,carcass weight varied from 100-100.67g,thigh weight(12.66-13.58g)and breast weight was highest(40.41g)in D3.Liver weight was lowest(3.25g)in D1,kidney was largest(0.91g)in D3 whereas,the heart,gizzard and spleen weights ranged from 1.00-1.16g,3.08-3.50g and 0.04-0.08g,respectively.In the eggs,crude protein(10.94%),crude fat(6.71%),ash(1.36%),high-density lipoprotein(96.12mg/100g)and low-density lipoprotein(120.67mg/100g)were highest in D1.Total cholesterol(364.08mg/100g)and triglycerides(147.27mg/100g)were least in D1 and the caloric value varied from 1.46-1.47kcal/g.In the meat,crude protein(17.14%)and energy value(1.96kcal/g)were best in D2 but,crude fat(12.62%),ash(2.85%)and carbohydrates(1.31%)were superior in D3.In both eggs and meat,no crude fibre(0.0%)was detected.In any case,all the parameter values were within the normal ranges given in healthy Japanese quails at similar age.Consequently,addition of M.oleifera leaf meal at 1.0%to Japanese quail diets might not depress performance,affect carcass quality,cause organs dysfunctions but may improve nutritional quality of the eggs and meat.

Abdominal Fat Accumulation with Hyperuricemia and Hypercholesterolemia Quail Model Induced by High Fat Diet

Objective To establish abdominal fat accumulation with hyperuricemia and hypercholesterolemia quail model fed with high fat diet. And then to investigate the pathological characteristics of this quail model. Methods Thirty Longcheng quails were randomly divided into two groups: control group and model group (n=15). The control group quails were fed with normal diet and model group quails were fed with high fat diet for 14 days. After a 12-hour overnight fast, liver and abdominal fat at euthanasia as well as serum were collected. The levels of serum uric acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride, free fatty acid (FFA), and blood glucose were assayed. The activity changes of adenosine deaminase (ADA), xanthine oxidase (XOD), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) were analyzed. Results Compared with control group, the abdominal fat content (0.74±0.63 vs. 1.36±0.65 g, P<0.05) and abdominal fat index (0.44%±0.30% vs. 0.85%±0.30%, P<0.01) as well as live lipid index (3.61%±0.65% vs. 11.33%±2.14%, P<0.01) in model group significantly increased; the levels of serum uric acid (210.61±94.76 vs. 304.25±141.94 μmol/L, P<0.05), total cholesterol (4.20±0.51 vs. 20.10± 11.25 mmol/L, P<0.01), LDL-C (1.16±0.29 vs. 10.78±6.48 mmol/L, P<0.01), and FFA (0.39±0.14 vs. 0.55±0.15 mmol/L, P<0.01) in model group significantly increased; HDL-C (5.85±0.95 vs. 4.14±2.03 mmol/L, P<0.05) significantly decreased; the levels of triglyceride and blood glucose had no significant changes (P>0.05); the activities of ADA (9.71±3.05 vs. 17.19±5.10 U/ml, P<0.01) and XOD (10.58±6.88 vs. 19.22±9.44 U/L, P<0.01) in model group significantly increased; and FAS, LPL, HL had no significant changes (P>0.05). Conclusions High fat diet can induce abdominal fat accumulation with hyperuricemia and hypercholesterolemia quail model. The changes of uric acid and lipid metabolic enzyme activities may be the pathological mechanism of abdominal fat accumulation with hyperuricemia and hypercholesterolemia.