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Naif A Al-Gabri,1,2 Sultan AM Saghir,3 Sallah A Al-Hashedi,4 Ali H El-Far,5 Asmaa F Khafaga,6 Ayman A Swelum,7 Abdullah S Al-wajeeh,8 Shaker A Mousa,9 Mohamed E Abd El-Hack,10 Mohammed AE Naiel,11 Khaled A El-Tarabily12,13 1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen; 2Laboratory of Regional Djibouti Livestock Quarantine, Abu Yasar international Est. 1999, Arta, Djibouti; 3Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, AlHussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, 71111, Jordan; 4Central Labs, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt; 6Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, 22758, Egypt; 7Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt; 8Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doha, Qatar; 9Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA; 10Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt; 11Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt; 12Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 13Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, AustraliaCorrespondence: Khaled A El-Tarabily Email ktarabily@uaeu.ac.aeAbstract: As a crucial organ, the lung is exposed to various harmful agents that may induce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may cause chronic or acute lung injury. Nigella sativa, also known as black seed, has been widely used to treat various diseases and is one of the most extensively researched medicinal plants. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component of black seed volatile oil and has been proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. The potential therapeutic properties of TQ against various pulmonary disorders have been studied in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnology may increase drug solubility, cellular absorption, drug release (sustained or control), and drug delivery to lung tissue target sites. As a result, fabricating TQ as nanoparticles (NPs) is a potential therapeutic approach against a variety of lung diseases. In this current review, we summarize recent findings on the efficacy of TQ and its nanotypes in lung disorders caused by immunocompromised conditions such as cancer, diabetes, gastric ulcers, and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is concluded that TQ nanoparticles with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiasthma, and antitumor activity may be safely applied to treat lung disorders. However, more research is required before TQ nanoparticles can be used as pharmaceutical preparations in human studies.Keywords: anticancer activity, antimicrobial activity, bioavailability, drug delivery, molecular potential, lung disease, nanoparticle, thymoquinone

Sultan AM Saghir,1 Naif A AlGabri,2,3 Mahmoud M Alagawany,4 Youssef A Attia,5,6 Salem R Alyileili,7 Shaaban S Elnesr,8 Manal E Shafi,9 Omar YA Al-shargi,10 Nader Al-balagi,11 Abdullah S Alwajeeh,12 Omar SA Alsalahi,13 Amlan K Patra,14 Asmaa F Khafaga,15 Ahmed Negida,16,17 Ahmed Noreldin,18 Wesam Al-Amarat,19 Amer A Almaiman,20 Khaled A El-Tarabily,21,22 Mohamed E Abd El-Hack4 1Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, 71111, Jordan; 2Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen; 3Laboratory of Regional Djibouti Livestock Quarantine, Abu Yasar International Est. 1999, Djibouti, Djibouti; 4Department of Poultry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt; 5Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt; 7Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 8Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, 63514, Egypt; 9Department of Biological Sciences, Zoology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 11Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 12Anti-DopingLab, Doha, Qatar; 13Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Al Hodaidah, Yemen; 14Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Belgachia, Kolkata, India; 15Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, 22758, Egypt; 16School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK; 17Zagazig University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 18Histology and Cytology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt; 19Department of Medical Support, Al-Karak University College, Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Salt, Jordan; 20Department of Applied Medical Sciences, Community College of Uniazah, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 21Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 22Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, AustraliaCorrespondence: Youssef A Attia; Khaled A El-Tarabily Email yaattia@kau.edu.sa; ktarabily@uaeu.ac.aeAbstract: In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) that began in China had infected so far more than 109,217,366 million individuals worldwide and accounted for more than 2,413,912 fatalities. With the dawn of this novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), there was a requirement to select potential therapies that might effectively kill the virus, accelerate the recovery, or decrease the case fatality rate. Besides the currently available antiviral medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) regimen with or without azithromycin has been repurposed in China and was recommended by the National Health Commission, China in mid-February 2020. By this time, the selection of this regimen was based on its efficacy against the previous SARS-CoV-1 virus and its potential to inhibit viral replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. There was a shortage of robust clinical proof about the effectiveness of this regimen against the novel SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, extensive research effort has been made by several researchers worldwide to investigate whether this regimen is safe and effective for the management of COVID-19. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of the CQ/HCQ regimen, summarizing data from in vitro studies and clinical trials for the protection against or the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Despite the initial promising results from the in vitro studies and the widespread use of CQ/HCQ in clinical settings during the 1st wave of COVID-19, current data from well-designed randomized controlled trials showed no evidence of benefit from CQ/HCQ supplementation for the treatment or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Particularly, the two largest randomized controlled trials to date (RECOVERY and WHO SOLIDARITY trials), both confirmed that CQ/HCQ regimen does not provide any clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of this regimen in COVID-19 patients outside the context of clinical trials.Keywords: antiviral drugs, chloroquine, COVID-19, drug safety, hydroxychloroquine, SARS-CoV-2, treatments

The objective of the present study was to ascertain the influence of thyme leaf powder (TLP) on growth rate, carcass features, and blood indicators in broiler diets as a natural antioxidant and antibiotic substitute. A fully randomized design experiment divided 264-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) into 4 experimental groups. Six replicates of each group, each containing 11 unsexed chicks, were created. The following were the therapies: control group without additive (basal diet); TLP1, TLP2 and TLP3: basal diet + 1, 2 and 3 g thyme leaves powder/kg diet, respectively. Results showed that TLP added at 2 or 3 g/kg of feed significantly enhanced body weight gain (except for the period from 16 to 30 d of life), feed intake (except for the period from 1 to 15 d of life), and feed conversion ratio throughout study period. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with different TLP levels, particularly at a 3 g TLP/kg diet. Compared with the control group, the birds' 2 g TLP/kg diet included the highest levels of albumin and total protein and A/G (albumin/globulin) ratio. Furthermore, the birds fed 1 g TLP/kg feed had the lowest concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC). Moreover, chicks fed all treatment diets containing TLP had higher IgY concentrations than the control group. Nevertheless, the group that was fed a diet including 2 g TLP/kg had the highest IgM levels. Additionally, the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) levels were highest in the birds fed a 1g TLP/kg diet and minimum in the birds fed the control diet. Notably, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were maximum in birds fed a control meal and lowest in birds with a diet containing 1 g of TLP/kg. We may conclude that using TLP in broiler diets increases the birds' immunity, productivity, and overall health, especially at level 2 g of TLP/kg diet., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This experiment was designed to explore how different types of probiotics affect the growth, carcass traits, and seasonal variations in growing New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). Two parallel experiments using the same strain of NZW during winter and summer, each alone from 5 to 13 weeks of age. Each experiment uses a total of 125 unsexed rabbits. These rabbits are separated into 5 groups of 25 rabbits each. Each group has five replicates, with five rabbits in every replicate. In each experiment, 1st group acting as the control group did not receive any probiotics. The 2nd was given a dose of 1 ml of Bifidobacterium bifidum, the 3rd received a dose of 1 ml of Lactobacillus acidophilus, and the 4th was treated with a 1 ml blend of both Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and 5th group was treated with 1 ml of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results indicated that the Bifidobacterium bifidum group had the best live body weight (LBW) values and daily weight gain (DWG). Meanwhile, during summer, the Lactobacillus acidophilus group had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) and performance index (PI) values. Also, growing rabbits fed Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifiduim had significantly increased carcass traits during the summer and winter seasons. Furthermore, seasonal changes indicated that the Bifidobacterium bifiduim group improved LBW, DWG, and PI during summer than winter. So, it could be concluded that using Bifidobacterium bifidum can enhance rabbit growth by improving feed utilization and carcass traits, making it an effective addition to hot weather diets., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This study explores the impact of chitosan nanoparticles ( CNP ) on the performance, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical, immunity, microbial load, carcass traits, and meat attributes of broilers. A total of 200 7-d-old Cobb chicks were distributed to 4 groups, each replicated 5 times, with 10 birds in each replicate. The experimental diets were as follows: First group was fed a basal diet only (control); 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups received a basal diet supplemented with 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g CNP/kg of feed, respectively. Results showed that the body weight ( BW ) and body weight gain significantly improved ( P  < 0.05) in the birds belonging to the 0.4 CNP group compared to the other groups. The best feed efficiency (feed conversion ratio [ FCR ]) was found in the group supplemented with a 0.4-g CNP/kg diet. The digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude protein were significantly higher, and ether extract was significantly lower in the 0.4 g CNP/kg group than in other groups ( P  < 0.05). Broiler birds of the 0.4 CNP group had significantly ( P  < 0.05) reduced serum cholesterol, AST, and ALT levels. The humoral immunity (increased serum IgG and IgM levels) tended to improve in birds fed 0.3 and 0.4 g CNP/kg of feed. Compared to the control, total bacterial load and coliform count decreased significantly ( P  < 0.05) by supplementing 0.4 g CNP in the diet. The dressing weight, breast weight, and abdominal fat % were altered in birds receiving dietary 0.4 g CNP/kg. The treatment with CNP at 0.4 g/kg feed enhanced the broiler meat quality by increasing the values for water holding capacity, ABTS [2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)], DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) while reducing the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value. Based on the results above, it could be concluded that CNP supplementation at 0.4 g/kg is recommended as a beneficial feed additive for broiler chickens., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest to declare., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)

Background: The demand for animal products is increasing in developing countries due to population growth. However, livestock production contributes significantly to global warming, accounting for 25%. Probiotics can help improve livestock efficiency by enhancing gut microbes and fat metabolism. They can modify rumen populations, enhance fermentation, reduce methane emissions and improve feed digestion. In this study, the goal was to determine the most effective method of reducing methane emissions in the rumen of sheep in vitro by adding different concentrations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis., Results: Adding 8 × 10 6  CFU g -1 S. cerevisiae during fermentation reduced pH levels after 48 h. This also increased the concentrations of NH 3 -N, microbial protein and total gas production. At the same time, it decreased methane emissions. Furthermore, adding 20 × 10 6  CFU g -1 B. subtilis to the mixture increased total gas production (TGP) and methane production, with the highest production observed after 48 h. However, it did not affect pH levels after 48 h., Conclusion: It can be concluded that S. cerevisiae had significantly increased microbial protein and NH 3 -N concentrations after fermentation without altering pH. Additionally, the addition of S. cerevisiae enhanced TGP and reduced methane emissions. It is worth noting that TGP increased because B. subtilis was added at a concentration of 20 × 10 6  CFU g -1 , with no significant differences between concentrations. Therefore, we recommend adding S. cerevisiae and B. subtilis to the diet at doses of 8 and 20 × 10 6  CFU g -1 , as it resulted in higher TGP and reduced methane emissions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

This study explored the ability of formic acid (FA) to replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets. It examined how FA affected the chickens' growth, carcass characteristics, blood chemistry, and gut bacteria. The experiment randomly assigned 300 one-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chicks to 5 groups, each divided into 6 replicates with 10 unsexed chicks. The following were the treatments: 1st group, negative control (NC): only received a basal diet; 2nd group, positive control (PC): received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 grams of Colistin antibiotic per kilogram of diet; 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups (FA2, FA4, and FA6) these groups received a basal diet along with formic acid added at increasing levels: 2, 4, and 6 Cm 3 per kilogram of diet, respectively. Results found no significant differences in live body weight (LBW) or body weight gain (BWG) between treatment groups, except for LBW at one week and BWG at 0 to 1 and 4 to 5 wk of age. No significant variations were found in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the treatment groups, excluding FI and FCR at 1 to 2 wk of age. The treatments significantly impacted carcass traits, dressing percentage, breast meat, thigh meat, spleen, giblets, blood levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, and albumin, as well as the activity of enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in chicks fed different diets compared to control groups. The addition of FA to the diet significantly impacted antioxidant levels. Also, the FA2 group had the highest total bacterial count (TBC). However, the FA6 group was the opposite; it had the lowest levels of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Coliform. Supplementing broiler diets with formic acid improves blood parameters, antioxidant activity, and gut bacteria counts, with 4.0 cm³ formic acid/kg diet supplementation promoting optimal broiler health and product quality., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This experiment examined how adding mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) to the diet affected fertility, hatching rates, egg production, carcass characteristics, cost-effectiveness, and immune function in laying hens. One hundred and twenty Mandarah chickens (30 hens and 3 roosters per group) were randomly chosen between 34 and 50 wk old and divided into four groups. The first group was the control group, which was given just the basal diet. The basal diet was given to the second, third, and fourth experimental groups along with three different levels of MOS (0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 g/kg diet, respectively). Results found that hens fed MOS at various levels laid eggs at a significantly higher rate, enhanced egg number, egg mass and feed conversion ratio than the control group ( P < 0.05). MOS seemed to improve carcass quality. The best results for egg quality (Haugh unit) and testosterone levels were seen with a dose of 0.5 g/kg of MOS compared to the control birds ( P < 0.05). All MOS levels led to higher estradiol-17β (E2) levels and better economic efficiency (EE). MOS also improved the hens' immune systems as compared to the control group. Hens-fed MOS had significantly greater levels of antibodies against Influenza viruses (H9N2) and Infectious Bronchitis Virus ( P < 0.05). Also, the spleen and thymus gland, both crucial immune system components, were slightly larger ( P < 0.05). It's important to note that fertility rates, hatchability, and embryo mortality rates remained similar across all groups. So, our findings suggest that incorporating MOS into the birds' diet enhances their productivity, strengthens their immune system, improves EE, and contributes to the overall health of the hens., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)

This investigation aimed to evaluate the impact of immersion (IM) riboflavin treatment on the hatchability, production efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail eggs. A total of 260 eggs of Japanese quail birds were used for hatching and were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates (13 eggs/replicate) in a fully randomized design. Hatching eggs were immersed in riboflavin for 2 min before incubation. The experiment treatments were designed as follows: G1 control group with no treatment, G2 treated with 3 g/L vit. B2 (IM), G3 treated with 4 g/L vit. B2 (IM) and G4 were treated with 5 g/L vit. B2 (IM). After hatching, 128 Japanese quail chicks, aged 7 d, were randomly grouped into 4 treatment groups, with 32 birds in each group. When quails were given vitamin B2 via immersion, they demonstrated significant enhancements in live body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio at different stages compared to the control group. Compared to control and other groups, the carcass parameters of Japanese quails given a 4 g/L immersion solution showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05). Hatchability and fertility (%) were considerably raised by Vit.B2 treatments of 3, 4, and 5g; the group immersed in 5 g/L had the highest percentages compared to the other groups. Furthermore, treated chickens with all concentrations of vitamin B2 had significantly higher blood indices than the controls. During the exploratory phase (1-6 wk) of age, the highest returns were reported in G4 treated with 5g/L vit. B2 (IM). Treating Japanese quail eggs with different dosages of vitamin B2 by immersion may be recommended to improve their productive and reproductive performance, blood indices, carcass traits, and economic efficiency., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study examined how broilers up to 38 days of age fared regarding growth efficiency and carcass characteristics concerning selenium nanoparticle activities (SeNPs). A total of 180 one-week-old broiler (Cobb 500) chicks without sex were randomly allocated into three groups, each with six replications of 10 chicks. The trial took 38 days to complete. The three study dietary groups were fed ad libitum feed and water throughout their 38-day of age, along with corn-and-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 0 (control), 1.5, and 2.0 ml SeNPs (concentration = 5%) /kg diet, respectively. According to the current findings, the SeNP supplementation groups had greater body weight, weight gain, and performance indicators than the control group after 38 days of the feeding experiment. The findings demonstrated that dietary interventions did not affect the amount of feed consumed (FC) per chick per day or the feed conversion ratio (FCR). The conclusion is that adding SeNPs to broiler diets at 1.5 or 2.0 ml/kg increased productivity. In contrast, lower levels of selenium (Se) (1.5 ml/kg diet) showed encouraging results and could be employed as a useful feed additive in broilers., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This investigation aimed to assess how Japanese quail hatchability, growth, and carcass traits were affected by quail egg weight, storage length, and their interactions. One thousand two hundred sixty eggs of the commercial Japanese quail were purchased, and the average age of the birds was 13 wk. Quail egg weights were divided into 3 groups using a 3 × 4 factorial design: small (< 11 g), medium (11-12 g), and large (> 12 g). Each group had four storage times (1, 4, 7, and 10 d) and held 105 eggs. The study used a storage room with 70% humidity and 18°C. There were 12 treatment groups. For the final 3 d of incubation, the eggs were positioned in a hatching machine after being incubated for 14 d at 37.6°C and 65% humidity. For the study, 540 one-day-old Japanese unsexed quail chicks were randomly chosen and placed in groups of 5 that resembled the distribution of eggs. Three duplicates (15 chicks each) made up each of the 4 storage periods that comprised the 180 birds. The findings showed that the percentage of hatchable eggs is significantly influenced by their weight and the length of storage; medium and heavy-weight eggs exhibited higher percentages of hatchability while holding for 7 to 10 d. However, no significant interaction was observed-additionally, heavy egg weight results in higher weight at different ages. Egg weight also significantly impacts chick weight at hatch, 3 wk, and 6 wk. Egg weight and storage time affect dressing and carcass measurement percentages. We can conclude that the best results in terms of hatch and post-hatch efficiency, as well as carcass characteristics, were obtained with medium or heavy quail eggs and storage times of either 1 d or 4 d., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This work aimed to investigate the effects of dietary frankincense oil and ginger on the growth efficiency of growing Japanese quail, including live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, and physical characteristics of the meat. In total, 150 unsexed Japanese quail chicks that were 7 d old were utilized in the experiment. The chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups. Each group was divided into 3 replicates with ten birds in a completely randomized design. Group 1 received a basal diet without supplements and was used as a control group. Groups 2 and 3 received basal diets with 250 and 500 mg of ginger per kg of diet, respectively. Groups 4 and 5 received basal diets with 200 and 400 mg of frankincense oil per kg of diet, respectively. Results showed that BW of chicks received 500 mg of ginger and the 2 levels of frankincense oil at 5 wk of age, and 250 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil at 6 wk significantly increased. BWG was significantly increased by using 500 mg of ginger and 2 levels of frankincense oil at 1 to 3 wk, 250 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil at 3 to 6 wk, and 1 to 6 wk of age, in comparison with the control group. Treatments insignificantly influenced feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved considerably by using 250 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense at 3 to 6 wk and 1 to 6 wk of age, respectively. Gizzard% was notably reduced with 200 mg of frankincense oil. The pH value of meat was significantly increased by having 2 levels of ginger. Still, water holding capacity and tenderness significantly decreased owing to 500 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil. We can conclude that adding ginger and frankincense oil to Japanese quail diets may be beneficial., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, are essential for enhancing the performance and health of poultry. Avian species lack desaturase enzymes for endogenous synthesis of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. This work aimed to determine the impacts of including soybean oil (SO) and linseed oil (LO) in quail diets on growth, lipid profile, hepatic and renal functions, immunity, and antioxidant status. A total of 350 Japanese quail chicks (1-wk-old) were randomly arranged into 7 dietary treatment groups. Seven isocaloric and isonitrogenous experimental basal diets were formed based on the nutritional requirements of growing Japanese quail. Group 1, the control, received a basal with no oils, while groups 2 to 7 received a basal diet containing either 1% SO, 1.5% SO, 2% SO, 1% LO, 1.5% LO, or 2% LO, respectively. Quail groups that consumed diets containing LO at all levels showed significantly greater live body weight (LBW) at 5th wk of age than other experimental groups. The dietary incorporation of 1.5 or 2% SO or LO at all levels yielded significant improvements in body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) through 3 to 5 and 1 to 5 wk of age. Different dietary oil sources and levels have no significant impacts on feed intake (FI) and carcass yield parameters. Lipid profile parameters were improved by adding SO and LO in quail diets, with LO having a higher effect than SO. The hepatic and renal functionality were improved by adding SO and LO in quail diets. The lowest uric acid (UA) bloodstream concentrations were recorded in the quail group fed a diet with 2% LO. Values of Gamma globulins (G-GLO) and immunoglobulins (G, M, and A) were increased by adding SO or LO to quail diets. Blood levels of MDA and TAC were improved significantly by including LO in quail diets. The activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was significantly increased by adding SO or LO to quail diets. Generally, adding SO or LO to growing quail diets up to 2% could yield favorable effects on growth performance, blood lipids, hepatic and renal functions, immunity, and antioxidant status; however, LO seems to have better effects than SO., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The goals of the current research are to ascertain the impacts of Dunaliella salina (DS) on quail growth, carcass criteria, liver and kidney functions, lipid profile, and immune response. Two hundred and forty 7-day-old quail chicks were divided equally into 4 separate groups with 6 replicates with 10 birds each. The groups were as follows: 1) control diet (the basal feed without DS), 2) control diet enriched with 0.25 g DS/kg, 3) control diet enriched with 0.50 g DS/kg, and 4) control diet enriched with 1.00 g DS/kg. Results elucidated that the birds which consumed 0.5 and 1 g DS/kg diet performed better than other birds in terms of live body weight (LBW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). There were no significant changes in feed intake (FI) and carcass characteristics due to different dietary DS levels. Compared to the control group, DS-treated groups had better lipid profile (low total cholesterol and LDL values and high HDL values) and immune response (complement 3 values). The quails consumed feeds with different levels of DS had greater (P < 0.038) C3 compared to control. Adding 0.5 and 1 g DS/kg lowered blood concentrations of triglycerides and total protein (TP) values. The high level of DS (1 g/kg) had higher albumin values and lower AST values than other groups (P < 0.05). The creatinine values were at the lowest levels in the group consumed 0.50 g DS/kg feed. No changes (P > 0.05) were demonstrated among experimental groups in the ALT, urea, and lysozyme values. In conclusion, adding D. salina to growing quail diets enhanced growth, immune system, blood lipid profile, and kidney and liver function., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the potential effects of purified bee venom (BV) on various aspects of growth, carcass, antioxidant, intestinal bacterial count and economic considerations in rabbits. A total of 240 male rabbits, comprising two distinct breeds (V-Line and New Zealand White [NZW]), 5 weeks old, with an average live body weight (BW) of 680 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into six groups, each containing 30 rabbits. Each group had five replicates, with six rabbits in each replicate. The allocation of animals to the groups followed a fully factorial design, incorporating two factors: breed (V-Line and NZW) and four levels of purified BV derived from Apis Mellifera. The control group (G1) received a basal diet without additives. The other three groups (G2, G3 and G4) received the basal diet with BV supplementation in their drinking water at 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L respectively. The study results indicated that NZW rabbits significantly enhanced feed conversion ratio while maintaining consistent carcass attributes compared to the V-Line breed. Despite variations in growth parameters being less pronounced, the supplementation of BV at levels of 1-2 mg/L demonstrated significant improvements in various other parameters. Notably, the interaction between the BV supplement and the breed factor (p < 0.001) yielded notable distinctions in most production metrics, encompassing BW, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass attributes and blood parameters. Increasing levels of BV supplementation, particularly at 1 mg/L, led to substantial improvements in serum and tissue metabolites. Moreover, the levels of total bacterial count and Escherichia coli in the jejunum and colon were significantly diminished, while the population of Lactobacilli in the colon was augmented (p < 0.001) in rabbits from both breeds receiving BV supplementation (1-2 mg/L) compared to the control group. The results underscore the potential of the BV supplement to enhance final weights, bolster antioxidant status and mitigate the presence of pathogenic bacteria, thereby contributing to enhanced economic efficiency in rabbits. Further inquiries are warranted to comprehensively investigate BV supplementation's potential advantages and limitations across different breeds and dosage levels., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The present investigation aimed to examine the impact of different dietary organic zinc nanoparticle (ZnNP) levels on gut bacteria, meat quality, growth performance, carcass traits, and blood indicators of broilers. A total of 180 unsexed one-wk broiler chicks (Cobb) were allotted to 3 experimental groups and received a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, and 0.4 mg ZnNPs/Kg diet, respectively. The results showed that, after 38 d of age, the supplementary ZnNPs at a level of 0.4 mg/kg raised body weight and weight gain compared to the control and 0.2 mg ZnNPs/kg diet. The addition of ZnNPs improved the daily feed intake. Some of the carcass characteristics in ZnNPs groups excelled that of the control. ZnNPs treatments gave higher dressing % and decreased (P < 0.05) the cholesterol rates, LDL, and uric acid in the blood. In addition, it gave the best concentrations of ALT and AST. The ZnNPs groups exhibited substantially (P < 0.05) improved moisture and fat values in meat samples. The group given ZnNPs at a concentration of 0.4 mg/kg had a substantially (P < 0.05) lower count of TYMC and E. coli. In conclusion, the high level of ZnNPs (0.4 mg/kg) improved the broilers' performance and some of their carcass traits, enhancing their health and meat quality., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This experiment investigated the influence of different synbiotic processing methods on the intestinal bacterial count, morphology and histological status of developed male Mandarah chicks. Two hundred and ten male Mandarah line chicks aged 1 d were randomized to receive one of 7 chicks. The method and dose for 1-time synbiotics administration to the day-old chicks were as follows: G1: chicks on basal diet received no treatment (control); G2: 0.25 mL synbiotics sprayed; G3: 0.50 mL synbiotics sprayed; G4: 0.25 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G5: 0.50 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G6: 0.25 mL of synbiotics dripped into the mouth; and G7: 0.50 mL of synbiotics dripped into mouth drops. Lactic acid bacteria(LAB) were significantly increased (P<0.0001) compared to the control group and other treated groups and had the maximum values after the use of synbiotics via drinking water (0.25 or 0.50 mL). Furthermore, when comparing the treated birds (G4, G5) with the control birds, the Escherichia coli concentration in the drinking water containing synbiotics was significantly lower. In addition, treated chickens at (G7) showed a higher duodenum, ileum villus height (VH), and VH. - Ileum crypt depth (CD) ratio compared to other groups. In addition, birds treated with 0.50 mL of synbiotics in drinking water (G5) performed better in duodenum, ileum, CD and VH. - CD ratio than the other groups. Meanwhile, intestinal tract length and visceral pH did not differ significantly between groups. It can be concluded that the use of 0.25 mL of synbiotics in drinking water can improve the overall health of birds., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Moringa oleifera (MO), a cultivated species of the Moringa, is known for its high concentration of essential nutrients that promote growth. To assess its impact on rabbits' gut morphometric, behavioural, and physiological parameters, a study was conducted using sixty growing male white New Zealand rabbits at 40 days old. The rabbits were divided into four groups and supplemented with dried MO leaves at varying levels (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% of body weight) for four weeks. The results revealed significant increases in organ weights, such as liver and intestinal length, and the height of intestinal villi and crypt depth in the large intestine. The muscular layer's and submucosa's thickness also increased in different parts of the intestine in rabbits fed with MO compared to the control group. No significant effect was observed on the caecum mucosa depth. Interestingly, no significant differences were found in body weight or weight gain between the Moringa supplementation groups and the control group. However, rabbits offered 0%, 0.5% and 1% MO spent more time feeding and resting than those given 2% MO. The grooming and sniffing percentage remained unaffected by Moringa supplementation. Regarding blood parameters, rabbits that received MO leaves in their diet showed improvements in red blood cell count, haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, total protein, globulin, and A/G ratio. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels and an increase in glutathione and high-density lipoprotein levels, indicating an antioxidative effect. Overall, the study concluded that MO leaves supplementation in the rabbit diet positively influenced the rabbits' health by modulating the immune system, improving histological aspects of the intestine, liver, and spleen, and enhancing physiological parameters through its antioxidative properties., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Over the past years, the poultry industry has been assigned to greater production performance but has become highly sensitive to environmental changes. The average world temperature has recently risen and is predicted to continue rising. In open-sided houses, poultry species confront high outside temperatures, which cause heat stress (HS) problems. Cellular responses are vital in poultry, as they may lead to identifying confirmed HS biomarkers. Heat shock proteins (HSP) are highly preserved protein families that play a significant role in cell function and cytoprotection against various stressors, including HS. The optimal response in which the cell survives the HS elevates HSP levels that prevent cellular proteins from damage caused by HS. The HSP have chaperonic action to ensure that stress-denatured proteins are folded, unfolded, and refolded. The HSP70 and HSP90 are the primary HSP in poultry with a defensive function during HS. HSP70 was the optimal biological marker for assessing HS among the HSP studied. The current review attempts to ascertain the value of HSP as a heat stress defense mechanism in poultry., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This experiment was carried out to investigate the nutritional value of Spirulina and Dunaliella (SD) combination levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g/kg) that affected the laying Japanese quail's efficiency, egg quality, fertility, and blood biological indicators. A total of 150 adult Japanese quails, aged 8 wk, were divided into 5 treatments at random, each consisting of 30 quails. There were 5 duplicates for every treatment, with 2 male and 4 female quails in each. Comparing the addition of various concentrations of a mixture of SD to the control treatment, the results showed no substantial rise in egg production, egg weight, or egg mass. When compared to the control group, final body weight (FBW) was improved with SD supplementation. The quails in control consumed more feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), and they were different from the groups who got SD therapy in that they had a regular feed conversion ratio (FCR). The percentages of hatchability and fertility increased when SD was added to quail meals at up to 1.00 g/kg. When compared to the control quail, the quail supplemented with SD levels showed a non-significant rise in albumin%, yolk%, Haugh unit, and unit surface shell weight (USSW), as well as an increase in eggshell percentage and a drop in egg shape index (p < 0.05). Renal and hepatic enzyme functioning improved when SD was added to the diets. Additionally, lipid profile indicators were reduced by SD supplementation (except low-density lipoprotein-LDL). Moreover, compared to the control, incorporating SD led to a nonsignificant rise in immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG and IgM). In conclusion, adding SD to the diet can improve body weight, lipid profile, immunological response, and liver and kidney functions in Japanese quail., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the effect of age in male quail on testicular weight and histology, sexual libido and semen characteristics, a study was performed on 100 quails at 10, 16, 22, 28 and 34 weeks of age. The body and testicular weights were significantly (p < .05) higher at 16 and 22 than at 28 weeks of age. The circumference and diameter of the seminiferous tubules were significantly (p < .05) higher at 28 and 34 than at 10 and 16 weeks of age. Histological evaluation of testicular slices revealed advanced and effective seminiferous tubes as early as 10 weeks, while spermatogenic activity peaked at 16 weeks of age. The highest semen volume, sperm motility and sperm concentration were observed at weeks of age and then decreased gradually with age. At the same time, the testosterone level and libido were significantly (p < .05) higher at 22 than at 10 weeks of age. Furthermore, the age was positive (p < .05), correlated to seminiferous tubule circumference and diameter, and negative (p < .05), correlated to sperm concentration. In conclusion, the age of quail markedly affected the testicular histological structure, libido, testosterone level and semen characteristics., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impacts of vitamin A (VA) supplementation in feed at levels of 0 (control), 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 IU VA/kg diet on the reproductive efficiency and antioxidative properties of aged Sinai laying hens at 52 wk of age (n = 300 females and 30 males) in 6 replicates (10 females + 1 male/replicate). As well as blood biochemical indicators, carcass characteristics, growth performance, immunity, and the antioxidative status of their chicks. Results showed that diets supplemented with 2,000 or 6,000 IU/kg of VA increased fertility rate and decreased early embryonic mortality (P < 0.05). Increasing VA from 4,000 to 6,000 IU/kg significantly boosted hatchability rates. All VA levels significantly enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and late embryonic mortality. In the shell gland, dietary supplementation of 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA enhanced actions of GPx actions, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In hatched chicks, all VA levels boosted (P < 0.05) hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and serum concentration of total proteins and IgA while decreasing eosinophils percentage and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST) concentration. Dietary VA supplementations from 4,000 to 8,000 IU/kg improved lymphocytes, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), SOD, and IgM, while decreasing heterophils, heterophils/lymphocytes ratio, and creatinine in hatched chicks. Serum triglyceride concentration was reduced by adding 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA, while globulin and high-density lipoprotein concentrations were heightened only by 8,000 IU/kg of VA. It could be concluded that the dietary supplementation of VA (6,000 IU/kg) improved reproductive efficiency and antioxidative status in the liver and the shell gland of aged laying hens and improved hemato-biochemicals parameters, antioxidative status, and immunity of their offspring., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A significant public health issue worldwide is metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic illnesses that comprises insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The creation of natural treatments and preventions for metabolic syndrome is crucial. Chitosan, along with its nanoformulations, is an oligomer of chitin, the second-most prevalent polymer in nature, which is created via deacetylation. Due to its plentiful biological actions in recent years, chitosan and its nanoformulations have drawn much interest. Recently, the chitosan nanoparticle-based delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 has been applied in treating metabolic syndromes. The benefits of chitosan and its nanoformulations on insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension will be outlined in the present review, highlighting potential mechanisms for the avoidance and medication of the metabolic syndromes by chitosan and its nanoformulations.

Olive oil (OL) production is the most significant agro-industrial business and has a high impact on the economy of numerous Mediterranean countries. However, OL extraction results in massive amounts of byproducts, including a solid residue (olive cake or olive pomace) and an aqueous stage (olive mill wastewater), which have serious environmental effects due to their hazardous nature and excessive organic content. Despite these byproducts causing environmental pollution, they can be applied for animal feeding. According to the literature, OL or its derivatives have been used to promote broiler performance, feed utilization, and health status in broilers as growth promoters or protein sources. Furthermore, using OL and its derivatives could improve heat resistance in stressed broilers via struggling thermal stress effects. In this framework, we highlighted the use of OL and its byproducts in broiler feeding to promote performance and health status. Additionally, the role of these byproducts and OL in combating thermal stress is investigated for sustainable strategy and promoting circular economy in broiler industry., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of various concentrations of ginger and cinnamon oils as antibiotic substitutes on some blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, and histopathological profile of the liver and gut of growing Japanese. A total of 900 Japanese quails were randomly allotted into 6 treatment groups. Each group had 5 replicates (30 chicks each). The first group received a basal diet and served as the control, while the second received a basal diet plus 0.5 g of colistin antibiotic/kg diet. The third and fourth groups were supplemented with 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL of ginger oil (GO)/kg diet, respectively. While the fifth and sixth groups received basal diet with 0.5 and 1.0 mL of cinnamon oil (CO)/kg diet, respectively. Results showed that adding herbal oils significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and urea levels compared to control and colistin groups. Various levels of GO and CO significantly (P < 0.05) reduced cholesterol levels compared to control birds. Compared to the control and antibiotic groups, Japanese quails supplemented with various levels of herbal oils (GO and CO) had more extraordinarily significant (P < 0.05) values for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GSR). Regarding histopathologic examination, the jejunum displayed a nearly empty lumen, a few fusions, and mild goblet cell metaplasia. On the other hand, the duodenum looked tall and had a few fusions of villi and remnants of removal in its lumina. It could be concluded that cinnamon and GO improved birds' blood biochemical parameters, electorate oxidative stress, and enhanced intestinal and hepatic histology of the treated quails. Also, the levels of 0.5 mL CO and 0.5 mL GO may be an acceptable substitute for antibiotics (colistin) in the diets of growing Japanese quail., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Heat stress (HS) is still the essential environmental agent influencing the poultry industry. Research on HS in poultry has progressively acquired growing interest because of increased attention to climate alteration. Poultry can survive at certain zone of environmental temperatures, so it could be considered homoeothermic. In poultry, the normal body temperature is essential to enhance the internal environment for growth, which is achieved by normal environmental temperature. Recently, many studies have revealed that HS could cause mitochondrial dysfunction in broilers by inducing redox dysfunction, increasing uncoupling protein, boosting lipid and protein oxidation, and oxidative stress. Moreover, HS diminished the energy suppliers supported by mitochondria activity. A novel strategy for combating the negative influences of HS via boosting the mitochondria function through enrichment of the diets with mitochondria enhancers was also described in this review. Finally, the current review highlights the mitochondria dysfunction induced by HS in broilers and attempts to boost mitochondria functionality by enriching mitochondria enhancers to broiler diets., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The exploration for effective in-feed additives is growing owing to the global climatic change trend to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress in laying hens. This research assessed the potential of using B-glucan (G) as an antiheat stress agent in Matrouh laying hens subjected to early heat shock programs during the growing period. Factorial design (3 × 3) was used, including 3 levels of heat stress (control, heat shock at 3 d and at 3 d and 8 wk of age) and 3 levels of β-glucan (0, 100, and 200 mg β-glucan /kg diet). During the first 12 wk of egg production (EP), treatments were exposed to heat challenge. The results revealed that heat shock program applications at 3 d and 8 wk of age significantly decreased body weight at 36 wk of age (P < 0.05) and reduced (P < 0.05) feed intake (FI). While significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), hemoglobin, RBCs, WBCs, immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and Heat shock protein (HSP70) of the Liver (P < 0.01) as compared with the control group. At the same time, there was a decrease in lymphocyte%, H/L ratio, cortisol, and T3 compared to the thermo-neutral control. When compared to the control group, hens fed a diet containing 200 mg of βG significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight at 16 wk and final weight at 36 wk, feed conversion (FCR) (g. feed/g. egg mass), hen-day egg production, and egg mass, as well as the digestibility coefficients of crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), metabolizable energy (ME), and cortisol. The interactions between heat chock programs and βG levels were nonsignificant for the most studied traits except daily feed intake. Therefore, the early heat shock exposure 2 times and supplementation of Β-glucan (βG) at 200 mg/kg diet during the growth period for laying hens that are exposed to heat stress during the reproductive period could improve productive, reproductive performance, HSP70 level and enhance immunity responses., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sex reversal of male to female is a characteristic of barramundi ( Lates calcarifer ), which is affected by several factors, thereby changing the broodstock population. A study was conducted in floating cages in Langkawi, Malaysia, to determine the weight point at the onset of the sex reversal phenomena. A total of 75 female and 55 male adult individuals (3-4 weeks of age) were sampled from the fish cultured in cages to ascertain their sex at different weights. The water temperature and salinity values were 29.82 °C and 33.12 ppt, respectively. The specimens were classified into twelve bodyweight classes (2.00-8.00 ± 0.5 kg intervals). Female specimen body weight distribution was highest in the 6.01-6.50 kg class (22.6%), followed by the 5.51-6.00 kg and 4.51-5.00 class (13.3%), while male specimen body weight distribution was highest in the 4.51-5.00 kg class (32.1%), followed by the 4.01-4.50 kg class (30.3%). Length-to-weight relationships for females and males of Asian Seabass indicated positive allometric growth. The correlation between body weight and GSI, using Pearson's correlation, for both sexes, for the male and female barramundi, there was a weak correlation between body weight and GSI, which was 37 and 30%, respectively. Based on the present study's findings, it can be concluded that sex reversal from male to female in Barramundi largely occurred at 4.57 kg body weight and 66.8 cm total length.

One of the most intriguing areas of research and innovation in the animal production and food sector recently has been designed-enriched products. These items are regarded as functional foods because they feature components that have advantageous physiological impacts on human health. In the production of poultry, designed eggs constitute a significant category of functional foods. The present study hypothesized that adding different kinds of oils to quail diets will help produce designer eggs rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids in addition to enhancing productive performance. So, this study examined how linseed (flaxseed) and canola oils with various levels can affect lipid metabolism, immune function, and the amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in Japanese quail eggs. This work was conducted using 3 different vegetable oils (sunflower, linseed, and canola oils) and 3 different antioxidant supplements (0, 250 mg vitamin E/kg feed, and 1,000 mg ginger/kg feed) in a 3 × 3 factorial experiment. When linseed or canola oil was added to the diet, the number of fatty acids in the egg yolks of Japanese quail layers fell by (12.7 and 18.9%) and (41.4 and 24.6%), respectively. The amounts of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in total eggs fell by 21.9 and 14.6% and 24.5 and 15.8%, respectively, at 20 wk of age. However, when linseed and canola oil were added to the diet, the sum n-3 PUFA content in the egg yolk of Japanese quail-laying hens was noticeably raised at 15 and 20 wk of age. At 15 and 20 wk of age, the same groups' total n-6 PUFA content considerably increased compared to the group that did not receive flaxseed. In conclusion, during the laying period of Japanese quail, linseed oil, canola oil, vitamin E, or ginger positively affected productivity, blood hematology, constituents, resistance, lipid digestion system, and antioxidative properties in serum and egg yolk., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the impact of Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) as a dietary supplement on growth, carcass criteria, liver and kidney function, lipid profile, and immunity of growing Japanese quails. In a 28-day experiment, 240 unsexed 7-day-old quail chicks were used. The quail chicks were divided into 4 treatment sets, each comprising 6 replicates and 10 quail chicks. Group (1) fed the basal diet with no supplements, group (2) fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.25 g A. platensis/kg diet, group (3) fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.50 g A. platensis/kg diet, and group (4) fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.00 g A. platensis/kg diet. The results of this study revealed that the birds that were fed 0.50 g. or 1.00 g A. platensis/kg diet had superior final body weights, body weight gains, feed conversion ratios, and carcass criteria compared to control, furthermore, had significant (P < 0.05) lower levels of liver enzymes and kidney function markers compared to control. Furthermore, birds fed 0.50 g or 1.00 g A. platensis/kg diet had significantly (P < 0.05) reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels compared to control. Dietary supplementation of A. platensis at 0.50 and 1.00 g/kg diet significantly (P < 0.05) increased total antioxidant capacity, total immunoglobulin, and lysozyme activity levels. Using A. platensis at 0.5 or 1 g/kg diet levels during the Japanese quails' growth period can improve growth, carcass criteria, liver and kidney function, lipid profile, and immunity., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: A hydroponic feeding system enables more effective utilization of the entire plant than typical grazing, which only consumes the plant's shoot., Aim: This study evaluated the effects of feeding maize hydroponic fodder on growth performance, nitrogen balance, nutrient digestibility, hematology, and blood metabolites of buffalo calves., Methods: Twelve water buffalo calves, weighing an average of 112 ± 1.18 kg and between 8 and 10 months old, were divided into three treatments, each with four calves. Each group received one of the treatment diets: T1: the basal diet (BD) at 100%; T2: the BD plus hydroponic feed meal (HFM) at 80%: 20%; and T3: the BD plus HFM at 60%: 40%. For 100 days, each animal was fed ad libitum ; the first ten days were used for nutritional adaptation, and the final ten days were used for collection. In addition to their BD, each animal received 200 g/day of a normal concentrate mixture to meet their maintenance needs. The BD included Green Hay (Lucerne) 80% and Wheat straw 20%. Each animal's daily feed consumption was noted. Calves were weighed biweekly to track growth. Upon completion of the experiment, blood samples were obtained., Results: The amount of dry matter (DM) consumed by ruminants fed diets, including hydroponic fodder, was considerably higher ( p < 0.05). Similar trends were seen in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber intake. Ingesting of CP was highest in animals fed T3. Animals fed diets comprising BD 60% + HFM 40% had the highest levels of DM and CP digestibility. Animals fed the T3 diet (BD 60% + HFM 40%) showed the best feed conversion values ( p ˂ 0.05). Blood metabolites like blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose showed non-significant variations in all experimental animals. In hematology, a similar trend was seen., Conclusion: Therefore, it can be said that supplementing the diet with more HFM helped growing buffalo calves gain weight, have a lower feed consumption ratio, and digest their food more efficiently., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics in controlling Escherichia coli (E. coli) spp. isolated from chicken. A total of 230 birds representing 19 different commercial breeds were taken from various points. Birds were monitored for postmortem and clinical investigation. Aseptically collected liver samples, lungs, kidneys, hearts, and yolk sacs were then subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. E. coli were observed in 9 pooled samples from 120 examined with an incidence of 7.5%. Nine farms were E. coli-positive, with an incidence of farm infection of 47.3%. The 9 suspected isolates of E. coli were profiled by morphological and microbiological identification of the colony, motility, and gram reaction. The serogroup analysis showed 9 different E. coli for which 3 other groups were identified: 2 E. coli O78, 3 E. coli O111, and 4 untyped groups. Nine isolates of E. coli were subjected to PCR. Molecular detection of 9 strains was conducted to find the virulence genes of E. coli strains (8 STX1, 4 STX2, and 9 EAE). Probiotics and prebiotics significantly increased the total erythrocytic and leukocytic counts throughout the experiment. The phagocytic percentage's main values at 14 d were 47 and 30%, respectively. An increase in the humoral immunity against Newcastle disease (ND) was noticed after ND vaccination. The geometric mean (HI) was 5.9 and 4.2 for probiotic and prebiotic, respectively. It could be concluded that probiotics and prebiotics could stimulate a nonspecific immune response against experimental infection with a virulent strain of E. coli spp., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Determining the optimal requirements from dietary fiber and fat for Egyptian geese is a matter of great concern regarding health, production and growth. Therefore, the current study estimated the effects of different dietary fiber and fat levels on functions of liver and kidney, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant measurements of the growing Egyptian geese. 150 Egyptian goslings (4 weeks old), with almost the same body weights were randomly allocated into 6 groups (25 goslings/group). All groups were subdivided into five replicates, each replicate contains five geese. Liver and kidney functions, immunity and antioxidant parameters were not significantly affected the different studied levels of fiber and fat or by their interaction. Various levels of fiber significantly affected total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol in a concentration-dependent manner and the lowest the lipid profile values were obtained at 12%. In conclusion, the present findings show that use of dietary fiber up to 12% and 5% dietary fat showed no detrimental effects on the immune status and general health of geese and resulted in the preferable lipid profile. This experiment provides a base for further study about the optimal requirements from dietary fiber and fat for the growing Egyptian geese.

The objective of the current study was to determine the impact of lactic acid (LAC) as an antibiotic alternative in broiler diets on growth performance, carcass traits, blood indices and intestinal microbial load. A total of 300 broiler chicks one day old (Ross 208) were allotted to five experimental groups in a complete randomized design experiment. Each group was subdivided into six replicates, each of ten unsexed chicks. The treatments were as follows: NC: negative control (basal diet); PC: positive control (basal diet + 0.5 g Colistin® antibiotic/kg diet); LAC2, LAC4, and LAC6: basal diet + 2, 4, and 6 cm 3 lactic acid/kg diet, respectively. Results showed no significant effects of dietary treatments (antibiotic or lactic acid) on growth performance traits (body weight, BW; daily body weight gain, DBWG; feed intake, FI and feed conversion ratio, FCR) and carcass characteristics except for Thigh %. All blood biochemical traits were affected ( p  > 0.01) by dietary treatments. The highest values of blood total protein and albumin were found in birds of LAC2 group. Adding graded doses of LAC to broiler diets inhibited the activity of liver enzymes and reduced the concentration of blood urea. The positive effect of LAC supplementation excelled that of antibiotics regarding the antioxidant status parameters. The lowest pathogenic bacteria ( E. coli and Salmonella ) were recorded by LAC4 and LAC6 groups. It could be concluded that dietary supplementation of lactic acid did not significantly affect most growth performance traits. But its use could have beneficial impacts on blood parameters, oxidative status and intestinal microbial counts. Based on our results, the highest level (6 cm 3 LAC/kg diet) is the recommended level for the best results.

Background: Feed additives that increase nutrient availability in feeds have gained a lot of interest., Aim: An experiment was conducted to determine whether amylase, protease, and their combined supplementation affected broiler performance., Methods: Two hundred eighty broiler chicks were selected and distributed randomly into 28 replicate pens with four treatment groups and seven replicates under a completely randomized design. A total of four diets were developed, having 0, 100, 100, and 100 + 100 g of control (AP0), amylase (A1), protease (P1), and amylase + protease (AP1)/ton of feed, respectively. Four replicates of each treatment were fed each diet. Each diet was randomly allotted to each group. Ad-libitum feeding was provided to the birds. The feeding program had starter and finisher diets. Upon completion of the experiment, three birds from each pen were slaughtered to analyze the carcass characteristics and organ weight., Results: Differences were insignificant between 100 g/ton of amylase supplementation and FI, body weight gain (BWG), or feed conversion ratio (FCR) ( p > 0.05). Supplementation with 10 0g/ton of protease did not significantly affect FI, BWG, and FCR ( p > 0.05). Similarly, 100 + 100 g/ton of amylase + protease addition had no significant effect on FI, BWG, and FCR ( p > 0.05). None of the treatments significantly affected carcass weight, abdominal fat percentage, dressing percentage, drumstick, wings, breast, and thigh weights ( p > 0.05). In addition, there were no significant effects ( p > 0.05) on the weight of the heart, liver, gizzard, and spleen., Conclusion: In conclusion, amylase, protease, and their combined supplementation at a rate of 100 g/ton of feed did not influence BWG, FI, FCR, carcass characteristics, or organ weight., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Global production of the two major poultry products, meat and eggs, has increased quickly. This, in turn, indicates both the relatively low cost and the customers' desire for these secure and high-quality products. Natural feed additives have become increasingly popular to preserve and enhance the health and productivity of poultry and livestock. We consume a lot of polyphenols, which are a kind of micronutrient. These are phytochemicals with positive effects on cardiovascular, cognitive, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, anti-tumor, anti-pathogen, a catalyst for growth, and immunomodulating functions, among extra health advantages. Furthermore, high quantities of polyphenols have unknown and occasionally unfavorable impacts on the digestive tract health, nutrient assimilation, the activity of digestive enzymes, vitamin and mineral assimilation, the performance of the laying hens, and the quality of the eggs. This review clarifies the numerous sources, categories, biological functions, potential limitations on usage, and effects of polyphenols on poultry performance, egg composition, exterior and interior quality traits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that could inappropriately influence this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A facultative parasite called Aspergillus flavus contaminates several important food crops before and after harvest. In addition, the pathogen that causes aspergillosis infections in humans and animals is opportunistic. Aflatoxin, a secondary metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus, is also carcinogenic and mutagenic, endangering human and animal health and affecting global food security. Peppermint essential oils and plant-derived natural products have recently shown promise in combating A. flavus infestations and aflatoxin contamination. This review discusses the antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties of peppermint essential oils. It then discusses how peppermint essential oils affect the growth of A. flavus and the biosynthesis of aflatoxins. Several cause physical, chemical, or biochemical changes to the cell wall, cell membrane, mitochondria, and associated metabolic enzymes and genes. Finally, the prospects for using peppermint essential oils and natural plant-derived chemicals to develop novel antifungal agents and protect foods are highlighted. In addition to reducing the risk of aspergillosis infection, this review highlights the significant potential of plant-derived natural products and peppermint essential oils to protect food and feed from aflatoxin contamination and A. flavus infestation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present work was carried out to study the ability of five probiotics on the in vitro degradation of Aflatoxins B 1 (AFB 1) . The best results of in vitro were tested on the detoxification of AFB 1 in rabbits. A total of 40 growing New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits were assigned to five experimental groups. Animals were fed the following diets: basal diet (control), basal diet contaminated with 300 ppb AFB 1 , basal diet contaminated with 300 ppb AFB 1 . + probiotic 3 (0.5 g/kg diet), basal diet contaminated with 300 ppb AFB 1  + ajowan (0.5 g/kg diet), and basal diet contaminated with 300 ppb AFB 1  + probiotic 3 (0.5 g/kg diet) + ajowan (0.5 g/kg diet). Live body weight significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in rabbits fed AFB 1 contaminated diet compared to the control rabbits. All additives improved (P < 0.05) the live body weight. The best improvement occurred with probiotics + ajowan. The addition of probiotics increased (P < 0.05) daily body weight gain in all weeks except the first week. Adding ajowan or ajowan + probiotic led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in live body weight gain and feed intake compared to rabbits fed AFB 1 alone. The digestion coefficients of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extract (NFE), and digestible crude protein (DCP) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in rabbits fed AFB 1 contaminated diet. All additives improved (P < 0.05) the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, EE, CF, NFE, and total digested nutrients (TDN)%. The best improvement occurred with probiotics + ajowan. Concentrations of serum total protein, albumin and globulin significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in rabbits fed AFB 1 contaminated diet compared with the control rabbits. In conclusion, the addition of probiotic 3 (AVI-5-BAC) + ajowan could be recommended to eliminate the toxicity of AFB1 and improve growth performance criteria in rabbits., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The avian digestive tract is an important system for converting ingested food into the nutrients their bodies need for maintenance, growth, and reproduction (meat, table eggs, and fertile eggs). Therefore, preserving digestive system integrity is crucial to bird health and productivity. As an alternative to antibiotics, the world has recently turned to the use of natural products to enhance avian development, intestinal health, and production. Therefore, the primary goal of this review is to explain the various characteristics of the avian digestive tract and how to enhance its performance with natural, safe feed additives such as exogenous enzymes, organic acids, photogenic products, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and herbal extracts. In conclusion, the composition of the gut microbiome can be influenced by a number of circumstances, and this has important consequences for the health and productivity of birds. To better understand the connection between pathogens, the variety of therapies available, and the microbiome of the gut, additional research needs to be carried out., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Avian campylobacteriosis is a vandal infection that poses human health hazards. Campylobacter is usually colonized in the avian gut revealing mild signs in the infected birds, but retail chicken carcasses have high contamination levels of Campylobacter spp. Consequently, the contaminated avian products constitute the main source of human infection with campylobacteriosis and result in severe clinical symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, spasm, and deaths in sensitive cases. Thus, the current review aims to shed light on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler chickens, Campylobacter colonization, bird immunity against Campylobacter, sources of poultry infection, antibiotic resistance, poultry meat contamination, human health hazard, and the use of standard antimicrobial technology during the chicken processing of possible control strategies to overcome such problems., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lactoferrin (LF) is a protein found in several bodily fluids, such as milk. This protein has a diverse range of functions and is evolutionarily conserved. Lactoferrin is a multifunction protein with distinct biological abilities affecting mammals' immune structures. Reports indicated that the daily uptake of LF from dairy products is unsatisfactory in detecting further health-promoting abilities. Research has shown that it protects against infection, mitigates cellular senescence, and improves nutritional quality. Additionally, LF is being studied as a potential treatment for various diseases and conditions, including gastrointestinal issues and infections. Studies have also demonstrated its effectiveness against various viruses and bacteria. In this article, we'll look closer at the structure of LF and its various biological activities, including its antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-osteoporotic, detoxifying, and immunomodulatory properties. More specifically, the protective effect of LF against oxidative DNA damage was also clarified through its ability to abolish DNA damaging issues without interfacing with host genetic material. Fortification with LF protects mitochondria dysfunction syndromes via sustaining redox status and biogenesis and suppressing apoptosis and autophagy singling. Additionally, we'll examine the potential benefits of lactoferrin and provide an overview of recent clinical trials conducted to examine its use in laboratory and living models., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the existing investigation was to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of threonine amino acid at different levels during feed restriction on growth indices, liver and kidney function parameters, and some hormonal profiles along with economic indicators in broiler chickens. A total of 1,600 from 2 different breeds (800 Ross 308 and 800 Indian River) at 21-day-old age were incorporated. Chicks were randomly assigned into 2 main groups, control and feed-restricted (8 h/d), during the fourth week of age. Each main group was subdivided into 4 groups. The first group was fed a basal diet without adding extra threonine (100%), the second, third, and fourth groups were fed a basal diet with extra threonine levels of 110, 120, and 130%, respectively. Each subgroup consisted of 10 replicates of 10 birds. We noticed that the dietary inclusion of threonine at extra levels in the basal diets significantly enhanced final body weight, body weight gain, and better feed conversion ratio. This was mainly due to the enhanced levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF1), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4). Moreover, the lowest feed cost per kilogram body weight gain and improved return parameters were reported in control and feed-restricted birds fed higher levels of threonine than other groups. Also, a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and urea levels was observed in feed-restricted birds supplemented with 120 and 130% levels of threonine. Hence, we recommend supplementing threonine at levels of 120 and 130% in the diet of broilers to promote growth and profitability., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Many pathogens that cause chronic diseases in birds use the respiratory tract as a primary route of infection, and respiratory disorders are the main leading source of financial losses in the poultry business. Respiratory infections are a serious problem facing the poultry sector, causing severe economic losses. Avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, and avian pneumovirus are particularly serious viral respiratory pathogens. Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Staphylococcus, Bordetella avium, Pasteurella multocida, Riemerella anatipestifer, Chlamydophila psittaci, and Escherichia coli have been identified as the most serious bacterial respiratory pathogens in poultry. This review gives an updated summary, incorporating the latest data, about the evidence for the circulation of widespread, economically important poultry respiratory pathogens, with special reference to possible methods for the control and prevention of these pathogens., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES Authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There has been a rapid increase in the world's output of main poultry products (meat and eggs). This reflects customer desire for these high-quality and safe products and the comparatively low price. Recently, natural feed additives, plants and products have been increasingly popular in the poultry and livestock industries to maintain and improve their health and production. Polyphenols are a type of micronutrient that is plentiful in our diet. They are phytochemicals that have health benefits, notably cardiovascular, cognitive function, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antistress, anti-tumour, anti-pathogen, detoxification, growth-promoting and immunomodulating activities. On the other hand, excessive polyphenol levels have an unclear and sometimes negative impact on gastrointestinal tract health, nutrient digestion, digestive enzyme activity, vitamin, mineral absorption, laying hens performance and egg quality. As a result, this review illuminated polyphenols' various sources, classifications, biological activities, potential usage restrictions and effects on poultry, layer productivity and egg external and internal quality., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Milk contaminated with mycotoxins is a significant issue affecting human health, especially in infants. The current study aimed to investigate the presence of mycotoxins in milk collected from women farmers' vendors (WFV), and to evaluate certain herbal plant fibers as green mycotoxin binders. Moreover, explore the binding efficiency ratios of mycotoxins using shaking or soaking process incorporated with herbal extracts. Furthermore, compare the taste evaluations of tested milk are enriched with herbal extracts. Results indicated that the fumonisins were not detected in the collected cow milk samples but realized a 25% occurrence ratio in buffalo's milk samples. A high occurrence ratio of aflatoxin M1 (aflaM1) was observed in buffalo and cow milk samples. The soaking process of plant fibers in contaminated milk overnight significantly degrades and adsorbs mycotoxins particles. The shacking process incorporated with plant fibers exhibited more effectiveness in mycotoxins degradation than soaking or shacking processes alone. The speed of shacking process played an important role in the mycotoxin's binding process. All the tested plant fibers effectively reduced all mycotoxin presence in contaminated milk, especially green tea, during the soaking or shacking process. Moreover, the shacking process incorporated with plant fibers promoted and supported the mycotoxins degradation process., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The current work examined the impact of Ginkgo biloba oil (GBO) on growth performance, some biochemical parameters, intestinal and hepatic morphology, economic efficiency and expression of some growth-related genes in broiler chickens. A total of 135 chicks (Cobb 500) were allotted into three groups with 3 replications (15 birds/replicate). The experimental groups included: G1 (control), G2 and G3 were supplemented with GBO in the drinking water (0.25 and 0.5 cm/L), respectively. The GBO was added to the drinking water only for 3 successive weeks. Compared to the other groups, supplementation with 0.25 cm/L GBO significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased final body weight, overall weight gain, feed intake and water consumption. When 0.25 cm GBO/L was added, that group significantly differed in intestinal villus length (P ≤ 0.05). Birds received 0.25 cm GBO/L had significantly greater blood total albumin and total protein concentrations (P ≤ 0.05), while birds given 0.5 cm GBO/L had higher serum cholesterol and LDL concentrations (P ≤ 0.05). The cost parameters were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the 0.25 cm GBO/L supplemented group, which exhibited higher total return and net profit. The addition of 0.25 cm GBO/L resulted in higher expression of antioxidant enzymes and insulin-like growth factor while inhibiting the expression of Myostatin in muscles (P < 0.05) compared to the control and those received 0.5 cm GBO/L. In conclusion, broiler chickens that received 0.25 cm GBO/L for 3 consecutive days per week had better performance, intestinal morphology, profitability, and antioxidant status than the control birds., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary chitosan supplementation on sexual behaviour responses, testicular development, and semen quality traits of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit bucks. Twenty-four 5-week-old rabbit bucks were used in this experiment. Animals were grouped into four equal experimental groups: the control group was fed only on a basal diet, whereas the other groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with three levels of chitosan at 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 g/kg, respectively. Also, bucks that received chitosan at 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg had a significantly earlier time of sexual libido (p ≤ .05) and had significantly higher ejaculate volume and sperm concentration than other groups (p ≤ .001). Furthermore, basic and sexual behaviours were significantly improved in bucks fed chitosan at 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg compared with other groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that using chitosan at 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg enhanced sexual behaviour, improved semen quality, and reproductive efficiency in the NZW rabbit bucks., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan supplementation on the growth performance, carcass traits, and some physiological parameters of weaned New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). Sixty-four NZWs were randomly distributed into four dietary experimental groups (n = 16) and fed a basal diet ad libitum for eight weeks: under Egyptian conditions. The basal diet without chitosan served as the control group, while the other three groups were fed diets containing 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g chitosan/kg diet. We observed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences among chitosan treatments. Specifically, groups supplemented with chitosan in their diets had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher final body weight and weight gain, as well as an improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Rabbits fed chitosan at 0.2 g/kg diet performed the best in growth traits compared to other treatment groups. Rabbits fed chitosan at 0.4 g/kg diet had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher levels of total protein in their blood than in the control group. However, levels did not differ significantly from that in the 0.2 group. Likewise, the highest (P ≤ 0.05) levels of glucose and HDL concentrations were detected in rabbits fed chitosan at a 0.2 g/kg diet. All chitosan-supplemented groups (especially at 0.2 g/kg diet) had higher economic efficiency and relative profit levels than the control group. Moreover, morphometric evaluations of the small intestine revealed higher villi number and crypt depth values in chitosan-treated animals compared to the control group. We conclude that using chitosan at levels of 0.2 or 0.4 g/kg diet can effectively improve the body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency, as well as the overall health status of NZW under Egyptian conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Quercetin is one of the most used antioxidant flavonoids and largely exists in many fruits and vegetables because of its capability to scavenge the free reactive oxygen species (ROSs) by repressing lipid peroxy radical fusion, metal ion chelating through enzyme inhibition, and adopting the repair mechanisms. It also exhibits various biological actions, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, it contributes well to sustaining the endogenous cellular antioxidant defence system. The process of cryopreservation is associated with increased oxidative stress, and some steps are potential sources of ROSs, including the method of semen collection, handling, cryopreservation culture media, and thawing, which result in impaired sperm function. Several antioxidants have been proposed to counteract the harmful impact of ROS during semen cryopreservation. The antioxidant capability of quercetin has been verified in different animal species for providing valuable defence to sperm during the cryopreservation process. The beneficial properties of quercetin on various parameters of fresh and post-thaw sperm in different species are clarified in this review. More in-depth investigations are required to clarify quercetin's mechanism of action in different animal species., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)