The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of eubiotics on the intestinal morphology of broilers. For this purpose, 125 birds were divided into six groups with two replicates each (10 birds in each replicate). Group A was given a Basal diet. All groups except group A were challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Group B was provided the basal diet, group C was fed a Probiotic-added diet; group D was fed a Prebiotics-based diet; group E was given essential oils plus the basal diet; and group F was provided with organic acids plus the basal diet. Two separate experiments were carried out for Salmonella recovery, checking the cecal tonsils and conducting an intestinal pathomorphic evaluation. Villus length, villus width, villus surface area, and crypt depth were measured by micrometry. There was an overall improvement (p<0.05) in intestinal morphometric parameters for all the treatment groups except for the negative control group, which showed the lowest villus height and villus depth values. Maximum villus height (p<0.05) of the duodenum was achieved by group E, which was fed a diet containing essential oils, whereas a maximum villus surface area index (p<0.05) was recorded for the birds of Group D, which were fed a diet containing prebiotics. Maximum villus height (p<0.05) and surface area index in ileum mucosa was recorded (p<0.05) in the birds of group D (treated with prebiotics). It is concluded that there is an overall increase in the gut histology of broilers fed non-antibiotic based feed.

Pathotyping and Genetic Characterization of Avian Avulavirus-1 and Low Pathogenicity H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Punjab, Pakistan

The present study aims at analyzing effects of mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) and organic acid blend (OAB) supplementation individually and in combination on carcass yield, small intestinal microarchitecture and serum biochemistry in Hubbard chicks. A total of 128 one day-old chicks were divided equally in four different groups with each group having 4 replicates. The number of birds per group were 32 whereas the number of birds per replicate were 8.The first group was kept as control (CONT) whereas, the second (MOSG) and third (OABG) groups were given MOS (2g / kg of feed) and OAB (3g / kg of feed), respectively. The fourth group (MOS+OAB) was given combination of MOS (2g / kg of feed) and OAB (3g / kg of feed). Birds were given ad-libitum feed and water during an experiment of 35 days. At the end of trial, two birds from each replicate were slaughtered for analysis of the selected parameters. The results showed that carcass weight and carcass yield were significantly high (p < 0.05) in MOS+OAB compared to MOSG, OABG and CONT. The results of small intestine microarchitecture showed that villus length, villus width, villus to crypt ratio, villus surface area, acidic, mixed and total goblet cells increased significantly (p < 0.05) in birds that were fed MOS and OAB alone and in combination whereas crypt depth decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the selected supplementation in all small intestinal segments compared to control group. Level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was increased significantly (p < 0.05) by the dietary treatments under study individually and in combination. It is concluded that supplementation of MOS and OAB in combination is beneficial compared to their individual effects in broiler chicks.

Foot-and-mouth disease is responsible for severe economic losses to the livestock industry of Pakistan. This study aimed to use Swiss albino mice as a cost-effective experimental animal model to study different immunological and histopathological aspects of FMDV instead of natural targeted species like cattle. After isolation of field isolates FMDV on BHK-21 cell line, biological titer of the virus and mice infectious dose₅₀ was calculated. Virus was injected in 45 Swiss albino mice (group A) through intraperitoneal route. The gross, histopathological and immunopathological lesions in heart, trachea and lungs were recorded at different day’s intervals. Histopathologically, the heart showed congestion, hemorrhages and necrosis of cardiac muscles. Trachea showed deciliated epithelium and lungs showed hemorrhages, bronchial edema and alveolar emphysema. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of virus in cardiac muscles, tracheal and bronchial epithelium and alveolar lumen. The findings evoked a thought that laboratory animals could be an alternative to large animals to meet budget limitations for further research on foot-and-mouth-disease.