Bioavailability of the digestible lysine and total sulfur amino acids in meat and bone meals varying in protein quality

The digestibility and bioavailability of amino acids (AA) in meat and bone meals (MBM) may vary greatly due to different processing conditions. In the present study, two experiments were conducted to evaluate formulation of diets containing high or low quality MBM on a total AA basis vs a digestible or bioavailable AA basis compared to a corn-soybean meal control diet. Lysine, methionine, and cystine digestibilities (precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay) were 92, 91, and 71%, respectively, for high quality MBM and were 71, 83, and 31%, respectively, for the low quality MBM. Bioavailability values (slope-ratio chick growth assay) for TSAA in the two MBM were approximately 15 percentage units lower than the digestibility values. Male crossbred chicks were fed a 20% CP corn-SBM diet or corn-SBM diets containing 10 or 20% high or low quality MBM that were formulated to be equal in total, digestible, or bioavailable AA to the corn-SBM diet. All diets contained 3,200 kcal of TMEn/kg, 1.4% Ca, and 0.7% nonphytate P and were fed to chicks from 8 to 22 d posthatching. Growth performance of chicks fed 10 or 20% high or low quality MBM on a total AA basis was lower (P < 0.05) than that of chicks fed the corn-SBM diet. Growth of chicks fed 10% low quality MBM or 10 or 20% high quality MBM on a digestible or bioavailable basis was equivalent to that of chicks fed the corn-SBM diet; however, dietary inclusion of 20% low quality MBM depressed growth (P < 0.05) even on a digestible or bioavailable AA basis. Further supplementation of the latter diet with additional AA yielded growth that was similar to the corn-SBM control diet. The results indicated that formulation of diets containing MBM on a digestible or bioavailable AA basis is superior to formulation on a total AA basis. However, feeding high levels of a low quality MBM may require additional AA supplementation to obtain maximum chick growth.     

Further studies on the influence of genotype and dietary protein on the performance of broilers

An experiment was conducted to quantify genetic differences in response to dietary protein level of male vs female broilers. Broilers (1 d old) from a "high-yield" strain cross (Ross x Ross 208) and a "fast-growing" strain cross (Peterson x Arbor Acres) were placed on fresh pine shavings in floor pens. From Day 0 to 18, all birds were fed a 23% CP starter diet. During Days 18 to 53 male birds were fed either a 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, or 26% CP diet (3,200 kcal ME/kg) and female birds were fed the 16, 20, or 24% CP diet. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were noted in the performance of the different strains. Ross x Ross 208 male birds had a higher body weight (3.37 vs 3.16 kg), higher feed intake (7.08 vs 6.78 kg), higher breast yield (31.76 vs 29.25%), higher carcass yield (73.90 vs 71.85%), and a lower adjusted feed conversion ratio (FCR; 2.10 vs 2.16 g:g) than Peterson x Arbor Acres males at 53 d of age. As compared to Peterson x Arbor Acres females, Ross x Ross 208 female broilers also had a higher body weight (2.68 vs 2.55 kg), higher breast meat yield (33.61 vs 30.80%), higher carcass yield (75.31 vs 73.91%), and lower adjusted FCR (1.97 vs 2.04 g:g). Qualitative differences in the response of these strains were confirmed and better qualitative data is presented that can be used to predict the important output parameters from the import inputs in broiler production.     

Organoleptic evaluation of eggs produced by laying hens fed diets containing graded levels of flaxseed and vitamin E

Eighteen-week-old laying hens were fed diets containing 0, 10, or 20% ground flaxseed and 10 or 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet, in a factorial arrangement. When birds were 60 wk of age, eggs were collected from various treatments and used in taste panel studies. All studies involved freshly boiled eggs. In Experiment 1, four separate panels were conducted to obtain information on egg aroma, egg flavor, presence of any off-flavor, and overall acceptability of the egg. Pooled data showed a very significant difference among panelists for all attributes tested (P < 0.01) and off-flavors were detected in eggs from hens fed 10 and 20% flaxseed with 10 mg vitamin E/kg. In Experiment 2 panelists were asked to evaluate egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability in eggs from birds fed the lowest level of vitamin E with 0 or 10% flaxseed, and birds fed 20% flaxseed and 10 or 100 mg vitamin E/kg. The highest ratings for egg aroma, yolk flavor, and overall acceptability were for the control eggs. There was a significant reduction in overall acceptability as flaxseed concentration increased (P < 0.05) and an interesting and significant (P < 0.05) decline in overall acceptability for birds fed 100 vs 10 IU vitamin E/kg diet in eggs for birds fed 20% flaxseed. In a third study, there was an indication of preference for eggs from birds not fed flaxseed, when the diet contained 10, rather than 100 IU vitamin E/kg diet. These data suggest that high (> 10%) levels of flaxseed used in the bird's diet will result in some decrease in overall egg acceptability as assessed by aroma and flavor. These effects seem to be accentuated by using high levels of vitamin E in the bird's diet.     

The impact of domestic violence on women''s mental health

Broiler chicks were spray treated on the day of hatch with titrated dosages (10(6), 10(7), or 10(8) anaerobic CFU) of a characterized competitive exclusion culture (CF3) and challenged orally on day 3 with 10(4) CFU of Salmonella typhimurium. On day 10, cecal contents from control and CF3-treated chicks were cultured for S. typhimurium to determine the minimal efficacious dosage of the CF3 culture. The experiment was repeated in three replicated trials. Resistance to Salmonella cecal colonization was dosage related and progressively enhanced at the 10(7)- and 10(8)-CFU dosages compared with the 10(6)-CFU dosage. The 10(7)-CFU dosage was selected as the minimal effective dosage and evaluated for efficacy during a 43-day broiler growout study. Six hundred broilers were spray treated on the day of hatch and compared with 600 controls. One-half of the control and CF3-treated birds were challenged orally on day 3 with 10(4) CFU of S. typhimurium and designated "seeders." The remaining unchallenged birds were designated "contacts." Compared with the controls, the recovery of Salmonella cells from the ceca of the CF3-treated broilers was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the challenged seeders on days 21 and 43 of growout. Salmonella contamination of floor pen litter was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in pens of CF3-treated birds compared with controls. The transmission of Salmonella cells from seeder to contact birds in the same pens was decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The results indicated that treatment of broiler chicks on the day of hatch with the 10(7)-CFU dosage of CF3 culture effectively increased resistance to S. typhimurium challenge during growout to market age.     

Cigarette smoking as a determinant of high-grade carotid artery stenosis in Hispanic, black, and white patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack

The effect of chitin, poly-beta-(1 --> 4)-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine obtained by the deacetylation of chitin, on growth and nutrient digestibility was studied in grass shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Shrimp were fed for 8 wk diets containing no supplement (control) or 2, 5 or 10 g/100 g chitin or chitosan. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of shrimp with a mean initial body weight of 0.45 +/- 0.05 g. Significantly higher body weight gains were observed in shrimp fed the 5% chitin diet than in those fed the 10% chitin or the control diet. The weight gain of shrimp decreased as dietary chitosan supplementation level increased (r = 0. 87, P < 0.05). Feed efficiencies (FE) and protein efficiency ratios (PER) followed the same pattern. Lower protein and lipid digestibilities and lower body protein and lipid contents were observed in shrimp fed all chitosan-containing diets than in controls (P < 0.05). Carbohydrate digestibility was lower in shrimp fed the 10% chitosan diet than in those fed the control diet. Lower protein and lipid digestibilities, body lipid content and blood cholesterol concentration were observed in shrimp fed the 10% chitin diet compared with controls (P < 0.05). Higher weight gains, body lipid contents and blood cholesterol concentrations were observed in shrimp fed the 2 and 5% chitin diets than in those fed the chitosan diets. Shrimp fed the 5% chitin diet had higher protein and lipid digestibilities and higher body protein content than those fed the 5% chitosan diet (P < 0.05). These data suggest that dietary chitin, supplemented at 5%, enhances P. monodon growth, whereas chitosan depresses shrimp growth, regardless of the supplementation level.     

Effects of a mixture of organisms, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Streptococcus faecalis on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed on a fat- and cholesterol-enriched diet

The effect of a mixture of organisms (a probiotic mixture) comprising Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Clostridium, Saccharomyces and Candida (10(7-8) colony-forming units/g rice bran of each component) on lipid metabolism was compared with that of L. acidophilus and that of S. faecalis. There were four treatment groups: rice bran (control), the mixture of organisms, L. acidophilus or S. faecalis (30 g/kg) were given to rats in a fat- and cholesterol-enriched diet for 4 weeks. The serum total cholesterol concentration of the group fed on the mixture of organisms was reduced by 15-33% compared with the other groups at the end of the 4-week feeding period (P < 0.05). This group also had a lower hepatic cholesterol concentration (36-44%) than the two single-bacteria groups (P < 0.05). 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Co A reductase (NADPH; EC 1.1.1.34) activities of the mixed-organism and L. acidophilus groups were significantly lower (61-63%) than those of the other groups (P < 0.05); the activity of the S. faecalis group was also significantly lower (42%) than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The faecal cholesterol and bile acid concentrations of the mixed-organism group increased compared with those of the L. acidophilus and S. faecalis groups (P < 0.05). The capacity of the mixed-organism cells to bind bile salt in vitro was significantly higher (approximately 50%) than that of the single-bacteria cells (P < 0.05). On the other hand, cholesterol micelle formation for the mixed-organism cells was significantly (approximately 9%) lower than that of the single-bacteria cells (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the mixture of organisms decreased the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver and increased the loss of steroids from the intestine, in rats. Thus, the mixture of organisms had a hypocholesterolaemic role.     

Doxorubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil combination in advanced prostate and transitional cell carcinoma

Hubbard cockerels, 1 day of age (n = 91), were divided into 3 handling groups: (1) chicks from the 5-Day group were removed from the brooder and isolated at 22 degrees C for 3 min on each of the first 5 days; (2) chicks from the 15-Day group received this treatment for 15 days; and (3) Control chicks were not handled. Within each group half were fed broiler starter for 5 weeks, and half were fed layer starter which produces slower growth. On Days 28, 35, 42, and 49 the average weight of 5-Day birds was significantly higher than that of Controls; 15-Day birds weighed slightly less than birds in the 5-Day group. The weight advantage of the 5-Day birds occurred with both starter rations, at all weighing periods, and did not appear to reflect increased food consumption. Similarities between these findings and results obtained with rodents were noted.     

The utilization of sodium in sodium zeolite A by broilers

Two identical experiments were conducted with 1-d-old broiler chicks to determine whether the Na in sodium zeolite A (SZA) was utilizable. Three male and three female chicks were randomly assigned to each of eight replicate pens per treatment. A corn-soybean meal basal diet was formulated to contain supplemental levels of 0, .02, .04, .06, .08, and .16% Na from either SZA or NaCl. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The Cl level within each dietary Na level was kept constant. Feed and deionized water were offered for ad libitum consumption throughout each 21-d experiments. In both experiments, broiler body weight was increased with each addition of Na from either NaCl or SZA. In Experiment 1, the addition of Na, whether from NaCl or SZA, resulted in an improvement in feed consumption and feed conversion compared with birds fed the control diet. In Experiment 2, body weights of birds fed .04 to .08% Na from SZA were heavier than those fed the same levels from NaCl. Overall the addition of Na from SZA or NaCl resulted in an improvement in body weight, increased feed consumption, and improved feed conversion. Data from these experiments indicated that the Na in SZA was able to be utilized by broilers as efficiently as the Na from NaCl.     

Hypocholesterolemic action of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121 and calcium in swine with hypercholesterolemia induced by diet

Thirty-three Yorkshire barrows (92 kg), fed a high cholesterol diet for 14 d had mean concentrations of serum cholesterol of 294.6 +/- 7.8 mg/dl. Starting on d 15 and for an additional 15 d, crystalline cholesterol was removed from the diet and pigs were assigned to one of four treatments: including two levels of calcium (0.7% and 1.4%) with and without added viable Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121 (2.5 x 10(11) cells per feeding). Serum cholesterol levels decreased, as expected, for all groups. However, the declines were initiated sooner for the groups receiving L. acidophilus. and those receiving the high level of calcium than for the respective control groups. When averaged over days, pigs fed L. acidophilus had 11.8% lower total cholesterol than pigs fed a diet without L. acidophilus. Similarly, pigs fed 1.4% calcium had a significantly lower total cholesterol than pigs fed 0.7% calcium. The effects were greater on low density lipoprotein cholesterol than on high density lipoprotein cholesterol. In addition, during the overall 15-d experimental period, serum bile acids were reduced 23.9% by dietary L. acidophilus and by 21.4% by 1.4% dietary calcium compared with those of their controls. Total bile acid concentration was positively correlated with total cholesterol concentration for pigs fed L. acidophilus or 1.4% calcium. These data suggest that both L. acidophilus and calcium can enhance the reduction of serum cholesterol in pigs that had been fed a high cholesterol diet, probably through alteration in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.     

Hypocholesterolemia and growth-depression in chicks fed guar gum and konjac mannan

Two mannans (guar gum and konjac mannan) were fed to growing chicks at a level of 2% in a semipurified diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 4 weeks. The mannans were nearly identical in producing growth depression, pancreatic hypertrophy and reduction in plasma and hepatic cholesterol when compared to controls fed corn starch or the sugars D-galactose or D-mannose. Hepatic triglyceride levels were higher for chicks fed konjac mannan, but no significant differences in fasting plasma glucose were observed. Apparent metabolizable energy levels for the mannan diets were significantly less than those of the other diets. The effects of the mannans in this study were not correlated with viscosity measurements made in vitro.     

Evidence for hypocholesterolemic effect of Lactobacillus reuteri in hypercholesterolemic mice

Swiss Albino mice were fed a diet enriched with fat to produce hypercholesterolemia. The further administration of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 (10(4) cells/d) to hypercholesterolemic mice for 7 d decreased total cholesterol by 38%, producing serum cholesterol concentrations similar to that of the control group (67.4 mg/ml). This low dose of L. reuteri caused a 40% reduction in triglycerides and a 20% increase in the ratio of high density lipoprotein to low density lipoprotein without bacterial translocation of the native microflora into the spleen and liver. These data suggest that L. reuteri CRL 1098 is an effective hypocholesterolemic adjuvant at a low cell concentration for mice.     

The effect of vitamin B12 on the tolerance of chicks for high levels of dietary fat and carbohydrate

Three experiments were conducted with White Leghorn chicks hatched from hens fed diets varying in levels of protein, fat, and vitamin B12. Adding animal fat at a level of 10% in the chick diet caused growth depression of vitamin B12 deficient chicks, regardless of protein or energy level of hen or chick diet. Increasing the level of fat to 20% in the chick diet caused further growth depression and increased mortality. Feed efficiency of vitamin B12 deficient chicks was severely depressed by each additional increment in the fat level. Increasing protein content from 20 to 30% in the chick diet resulted in severe growth depression and poor feed efficiency. Although the added fat in the 30% protein chick diet depressed growth of chicks hatched from hens fed the 16 and 32% protein with added fat, it improved growth of those hatched from hens fed the similar diets with no added fat. Added fat in the 30% protein chick diet also improved feed efficiency of all chicks regardless of breeder diet treatments. Chicks hatched with an adequate carry-over of vitamin B12 from hens or chicks fed a diet with 10 micrograms of added vitamin B12/kg of feed did not show the growth depression caused by the high level of fat in the 20 and 30% protein chick diets. Feed efficiency was greatly improved by the addition of vitamin B12 to all chick diets. In a 22% protein vitamin B12 deficient diet, isocaloric substitution of glucose for fat depressed chick growth significantly and this growth depression was counteracted by supplementing the diet with 10 or 100 micrograms of vitamin B12/kg of feed. The vitamin B12 requirement was not increased by such substitution in the 22% protein diet. In contrast, isocaloric substitution of fat for glucose in the 32% protein chick diet increased the vitamin B12 need for optimum growth.     

Plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels and fecal neutral sterol excretion are altered in hamsters fed straw mushroom diets

The effect of the fruiting body and mycelium of Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) on the concentrations of plasma lipids, liver cholesterol, fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretions was investigated in male Golden Syrian hamsters. The hamsters were fed a purified hypercholesterolemic diet (0.1% cholesterol, 10% fat) for 4 wk to elevate plasma lipid concentrations. Twelve hamsters with elevated plasma total cholesterol were randomly assigned to each treatment group: control (5% cellulose), mushroom fruiting body (5%) and mushroom mycelium (5%). After 4 wk of mushroom diet consumption, the plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and combined VLDL + LDL cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L) were significantly lower than control in the group fed the fruiting body-diet (40, 38 and 43%, respectively) (P < 0.05). The liver cholesterol levels were significantly lower in both the mushroom fruiting body- and the mycelium-fed groups (28 and 21% in terms of concentration; 39 and 30% in terms of total content, respectively) (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Fecal neutral sterol excretion in the mushroom fruiting body- and mycelium-fed groups was significantly higher (81 and 74%, respectively) (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Although no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the excretion of fecal bile acids were observed among groups fed the mushroom diets and the control diet, the mushroom fruiting body diet-fed hamsters apparently had less bacterial degradation of cholic acid as indicated by a significantly greater proportion (P < 0.05) of fecal cholic acid than in controls. They also had a significantly lower proportion of fecal deoxycholic acid (P < 0.05). This study suggests that the fruiting body of the straw mushroom lowers elevated plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic hamsters, whereas the mycelium does not.     

Preservation of hatchery waste by lactic acid fermentation. 2. Large-scale fermentation and feeding trial to evaluate feeding value

Two waste streams from a Leghorn hatchery were preserved and recycled by fermentation with a by-product carbohydrate and extrusion processing into new feed ingredients that were evaluated with broiler chickens. Cockerel chicks (CC) and a 60:40 ratio of CC:shell waste (CC:SW) were fermented in 189-L barrels for 21 d following grinding, then mixing with a liquid culture (0.2%) and carbohydrate source at 15 and 16.66%, respectively. At 2 wk, pH was 4.44 and 5.09 for the CC and CC:SW products compared with higher values of 6.54 and 6.98 for the raw ingredients at the onset. Negligible hydrogen sulfide and no ammonia gas were recorded during the fermentation period. At 21 d, the fermented CC and CC:SW were extruded, dried, and ground to meals containing CP and TMEn levels of 47.4%, 3,187 kcal/kg, and 33.1%, 2,696 kcal/kg, respectively. Broiler chickens were fed a control diet and the CC (5 and 10%) and CC:SW (2.5 and 5%) ingredient diets with corn and soybean meal for 6 wk to evaluate feeding value and carcass yield. Body weight, gain and feed conversion at 42 d for birds fed diets supplemented with CC or CC:SW at all levels were comparable to those of the control. Diets supplemented with hatchery by-product had no negative effect on carcass measurements except ready to cook carcass and wing yield, which were significantly greater for the 10% CC:SW birds than for the control. These data indicate that nutrient dense hatchery by-products can be preserved with fermentation up to 21 d and support broiler live performance and carcass yield as dietary ingredients equal to or better than a corn-soybean meal control.     

Effect of betaine on the growth performance of chicks inoculated with mixed cultures of avian Eimeria species and on invasion and development of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria acervulina in vitro and in vivo

At 7 d postinoculation (DPI) with a mixed culture of avian Eimeria species, 21-d-old chicks maintained in batteries and floor pens on a diet containing 0.15% (3 lb/ton) betaine plus 66 ppm (60 g/ton) salinomycin were significantly heavier and had significantly lower feed conversion ratios and mortality than chicks fed diets containing 0.15% betaine or 66 ppm salinomycin alone, or the control diet. At 31 DPI, when the chicks were 45 d old, the differences between the diet groups were not as great as at 7 DPI. In vitro, except at high concentrations, betaine was nontoxic to sporozoites of Eimeria tenella or Eimeria acervulina and had little effect on their invasion and development in cultured cells. In vivo, invasion by E. tenella and E. acervulina sporozoites was significantly reduced in all chicks fed diets containing betaine or salinomycin compared with that in control chicks. There was a significant interaction between betaine and salinomycin that impacted on invasion by both species. Overall development of E. tenella did not appear to be adversely affected by addition of betaine to diets containing salinomycin. Conversely, development of E. acervulina was reduced in chicks fed diets containing 0.075% (1.5 lb/ton) betaine plus 66 ppm salinomycin as compared with that in chicks fed salinomycin alone.     

Effects of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin on aflatoxicosis in broilers

In 2 x 3 factorial experiments, 240 broiler chicks were fed diets containing 0, 0.01, and 0.02% beta-carotene or canthaxanthin with or without 5 ppm aflatoxin to determine the effects of these two carotenoids on the health and well-being of broilers subjected to aflatoxin poisoning. Neither beta-carotene nor canthaxanthin was effective at overcoming the growth-depressing effects of aflatoxin. Relative liver weights were significantly higher in broilers receiving dietary aflatoxin in the presence of beta-carotene but not canthaxanthin. beta-Carotene and canthaxanthin had no effect on antibody production against infectious bursal disease (IBD). Interestingly, secondary antibody production against IBD was enhanced by the presence of aflatoxin in the diet. Canthaxanthin significantly increased the concentrations of cholesterol, total protein, uric acid, and triglyceride, all of which were significantly depressed by aflatoxin. beta-Carotene did not effect any of the measured blood analytes. There was a significant interaction between canthaxanthin and aflatoxin with respect to creatine kinase activity. Creatine kinase activity decreased as dietary canthaxanthin increased in the presence of aflatoxin. The data suggest that beta-carotene is not effective at ameliorating aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens but that canthaxanthin may be somewhat effective with respect to certain clinical blood chemistry indicators.     

Effect of dilauryl succinate on reproduction of the cock and hen and preventive effect of vitamin E

Fertility of White Leghorn cocks fed a diet containing 12% of dilauryl succinate (LS) for 16 weeks was significantly lower than that of cocks fed the control diet. Little difference in fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs was observed between White Leghorn hens fed the control or LS diets, but the percentage of chicks at hatch, which showed signs of encephalomalacia with lesions on the cerebellum, and the percentage of the hens and offspring having fragile erythrocytes were much higher when LS was fed. Total tocopherol in the plasma of the cocks and hens fed LS and in the eggs laid by the hens fed LS was lower than that in birds fed the control diet, though that of the hens was within the range of plasma tocopherol of normal hens. Offspring of the cocks and hens fed LS died from encephalomalacia earlier than those fed the control diet. These observations with LS feeding were all prevented by oral administration of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The responses of the cocks and hens to LS were compared with those to linoleic acid in the literature. The direct effect of LS, or more likely of monolauryl succinate, independent of peroxides from unsaturated fatty acids was discussed.     

Influence of Fusarium-infected corn and F-2 on laying hens

Diets containing either Fusarium-infected corn supplying 25 and 100 p.p.m. of F-2 (zearalenone) or purified F-2 at these levels did not adversely influence the reproductive performance of laying hens. In trial 1, no deleterious effects were observed for 20- and 36-week body weights, age at first egg, egg weight, albumen height, shell deformation, fertility or hatchability when Fusarium-infected corn was fed to 20-week-old pullets for 28 days. Percent hen-day egg production of birds fed Fusarium-infected corn supplying 25 and 100 p.p.m. of F-2 was superior (P less than or equal to 0.5) to egg production of nontreated controls. In trial 2, three replications of ten adult Leghorn hens were evaluated under five dietary treatments: (1) 16.7% protein basal; (2) basal plus Fusarium-infected corn (25 p.p.m. of F-2); (3) basal plus 25 p.p.m. of (purified) F-2; (4) basal plus Fusarium-infected corn (100 p.p.m. of F-2); (5) basal plus 100 p.p.m. of (purified) F-2. Difference between dietary treatments for 14-day pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment periods were nonsignificant for 42- and 44-week body weights, egg production, egg weights, fertility and hatchability. Body weights of chicks from hens fed F-2 diets were not significantly different from those of chicks from hens fed the basal diet.     

Atherosclerosis in Marek's disease virus infected hypercholesterolemic roosters is reduced by HMGCoA reductase and ACE inhibitor therapy

OBJECTIVES: Accelerated atherosclerosis is associated with herpesviral infection both in transplant patients and after balloon angioplasty. Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus that induces accelerated atherosclerosis associated with the development of an invasive lymphoma in hyperlipemic roosters. We have examined the effects of pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor and quinapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, on atherosclerosis development in MDV infected, cholesterol fed rooster chicks. METHODS: The effects of these drugs on plaque growth after MDV infection were examined in two studies. In Study 1, MDV infected White Leghorn rooster chicks were divided into 4 groups assigned to normal or high cholesterol diet, and treated at three months of age with either pravastatin or saline. In Study 2, cholesterol fed rooster chicks infected with MDV were divided into 3 groups for treatment with either pravastatin, quinapril, or saline control. RESULTS: A significant decrease in plaque area was detected after 60 days of treatment with both pravastatin and quinapril in cholesterol fed chicks (P < 0.001). Lymphocyte infiltration into the arterial wall or target organs was not inhibited by treatment with either drug. CONCLUSIONS: (1) HMGCoA reductase inhibitor and ACE inhibitor therapy reduce atherosclerosis induced by virus infection and cholesterol diet, but this decrease in plaque growth is not due to a reduction in lymphocyte invasion. (2) MDV infection in cholesterol fed roosters provides a model for virus-induced arterial injury in atherogenesis.