The aim of the present study was to investigate the usage of thyme leaves and its effects on performance, some egg quality traits and humoral immunity in laying hens. A total of 108 laying hens aged 36 weeks were randomly assigned to three dietary groups for 16 weeks. Dried and ground (Thymus vulgaris L.) thyme leaves were used at the level of 0, 1 and 2% in the diets of groups. Feed intake, body weight, egg production, egg weight and egg quality characteristics were not affected by dietary thyme supplementation. Thyme supplementation at 2% resulted in beneficial effects in laying hens due to the lowering of yolk cholesterol and total saturated fatty acids concentration while increasing omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the yolk malondialdehyde, blood serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels were reduced and antibody titers against SRBC were increased with 2% thyme supplementation. In conclusion, the results showed the antioxidative and hypolipidemic effects of thyme supplementation in laying hens along with improved humoral immune response without any negative effects on performance and egg quality characteristics.

Essential oils (EOs) and organic acids (OAs) are promising feed additives with crucial roles in promoting animal health and performance. This study aimed to assess the combined effects of phytobiotics with organic acids (EOAs) in broiler diets for 39 days. A total of daily 300 male chicks were assigned to three groups, each containing 100 chicks with 5 replicates. The basal diet was supplemented with 0, 0.1, and 0.2% EOAs, respectively. EOAs supplementation did not significantly affect performance values. The villus height/crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and villus dimensions in the ileum showed improvement with EOAs. Dietary EOAs supplementation led to a reduction in the count of Enterobacteriaceae and an increase in Lactobacillus in the caecum. Serum IgA and IgG levels increased with EOAs. Ultimate load, yield load, and the levels of ash, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese in tibia and femur were higher at high levels of EOAs than in the other groups. In conclusion, the study suggests that 0.1% EOAs usage in diets could be a viable option for enhancing intestinal health, immunity, and bone mineralization as an alternative growth promoter, especially in commercial broiler production.

Several studies have indicated the influence of a maternal low protein diet on the fetus. However, the effect of a maternal low quality protein diet on fetal growth and development is largely unknown. Wistar rats (11 weeks old) were mated and maintained on either a chow diet with 20% casein (n = 6) as the control group (C), or a low quality protein diet with 20% wheat gluten (n = 7) as the experimental group (WG) through gestation and lactation. Maternal body weights were similar in both groups throughout the study. Birth weights were not influenced by maternal diet and offspring body weights during lactation were similar between the groups. Offspring’s plasma amino acid profiles showed that plasma methionine, glutamine and lysine were significantly lower and aspartic acid, ornithine and glycine-proline were significantly higher in the WG. Plant based protein comprises an important part of protein intake in developing countries. It is well-known that these diets can be inadequate in terms of essential amino acids. The current study shows differential effects of a maternal low quality protein diet on the offspring’s plasma amino acids. Future studies will examine further aspects of the influence of maternal low quality protein diets on fetal growth and development.

Objective: To compare fetal cell microchimerism in normal and immunocompromised gestations. Materials and methods: The study consists of two groups of mature female mice. In the control group and the immunocompromised study group, 5 mg of saline and cyclosporine were injected intraperitoneally, respectively. In the second step, all female mice were mated with “Actine-Luc (+) green fluorescent protein (GFP)” transgenic male mice. Immunohistochemical studies (ALPL-antiluciferase, cytokeratin-antiluciferase, and CD 105-antiluciferase) were carried out on maternal liver, skin, and lung tissues at 6–7th and 14–15th gestational days, and postpartum 3–4th, 12th, and 18–24 months. Results: GFP (+) cells were detected in maternal liver and skin but not in lung tissue. Liver was the most affected tissue. GFP was found to be more intense in the immunocompromised group. Conclusion: Fetal microchimerism was demonstrated in maternal liver and skin and found to be more intensive in the immunocompromised group.

This study aimed to investigate the immunogenicity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine by applying a normal and high-dose hepatitis B virus vaccination program in the mice modeling of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD was induced in mouse livers via diet. At the 10-week mark, both groups were divided into 3 subgroups. While the standard dose vaccination program was applied on days 0, 7, and 21, two high-dose programs were applied: one was applied on days 0 and 7, and the other was applied on days 0, 7, and 21. All mice were euthanized. Blood samples from anti-HB titers; T follicular helper, T follicular regulatory, CD27⁺, and CD38⁺ cells; and the liver, spleen, and thymus were taken for histopathologic evaluation. NAFLD subgroups receiving high doses showed higher hepatocyte ballooning scores than normal-dose subgroup. There were differences in CD27⁺ and CD27⁺CD38⁺ cells in animals fed on different diets, without any differences or interactions in terms of vaccine protocols. In the NAFLD group, a negative correlation was observed between anti-HB titers and T helper and CD27⁺ cells, while a positive correlation was observed with CD38⁺ cells. NAFLD induced changes in immune parameters in mice, but there was no difference in vaccine efficacy among the applied vaccine protocols. Based on this study’s results, high-dose vaccination protocols are not recommended in cases of NAFLD, as they do not enhance efficacy and may lead to increased liver damage.