Background: Both proper animal welfare and economic benefit are very essential to the broiler industry. Aim: Our study assessed the productivity and profitability of open and closed broiler production systems in Egypt, with a particular focus on the histopathological effects of heat stress on broiler health. Methods: Data were collected from 18 broiler cycles involving 186,300 broiler chicks (9 cycles for each system for about 6 months). An independent t-test was used to analyze the data and assess the outcomes. Results: According to the findings of the broiler performance study, the study was analyzed using an independent t-test to test the average body weight and performance index that significantly increased in the closed system (2.31 kg and 377.1, t ≤ 0.05, respectively) compared to the open system (2.07 kg and 224.48, t ≤ 0.05, respectively) with better feed conversion ratio (FCR) and lower mortality rate in the closed system (1.65 and 5.46%, t ≤ 0.05, respectively) than in the open one (1.93 and 15.96%, t ≤ 0.05, respectively). Additionally, the profitability index for open and closed broiler houses in Egypt, as reported in our study, was 0.04 and 0.14, t ≤ 0.05, respectively. This indicates that for every 100 EGP earned as revenue, 4 EGP are returned to the farmer as net income in the open system, compared to 14 EGP in the closed system. Moreover, heat-stressed birds in an open system induced several pathological alterations in different organs, such as congestion of blood vessels, degeneration, and vacuolation of breast muscle and parenchymatous organs (liver and kidney). Conclusion: Productive and economic performance favors fully automated climate control broiler housing, so the closed system is recommended for broiler farm owners. These improvements are crucial, as they can directly contribute to increased profitability and sustainability in poultry farming, especially in regions experiencing extreme heat stress.

Background and Aim:The importance of monitoring antimicrobial residues in food is underlined by increasing worries about food safety and public health. The potential toxicity of azithromycin (Az) on broilers and its impact on chicken meat residues require further investigation. This study assesses Az's toxicity effects and associated risks in broiler chickens through evaluation. Materials and Methods:One hundred and twenty chicks were distributed into four equal groups randomly. Each group received different daily oral doses of Az: 200 mg/kg for Az1, 100 mg/kg for Az2, and 50 mg/kg for Az3. The FAz group was given plain water. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure Az residue levels in muscle and liver. Oxidative markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT]), liver and kidney function tests, and histopathological examination were conducted. Results:The levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase increased in Az1 and Az2 groups from 8 h to 3 days and decreased slightly in Az2 by 7 days, while they remained normal in Az3. The levels of uric acid and creatine in the Az1 and Az2 groups increased from 8 h to 3 days and subsequently decreased in Az2 by the 7th day. Az1 group showed the highest increase in MDA levels within 7 days. With higher Az doses, SOD and CAT levels showed a more significant decrease post-treatment. 9.1 μg/kg Az1 liver had the highest residues, whereas none were detected in muscle. Conclusion:At higher doses, Az caused significant liver and kidney damage, whereas lower doses had negligible effects. Muscle tissue contains fewer Az residues than liver. Assessing risks and ensuring compliance with regulations necessitate constant surveillance of Az residues in food. The health implications and risk management insights necessitate further investigation into the long-term effects of Az residues.

OBJECTIVE A comprehensive research was conducted to investigate the incidence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in ostrich farms in Egypt. METHODS The study involved seven farms with bird ages ranging from 1 to 12 weeks and capacities of 2,000 to 5,000 birds per farm. 175 tissue specimens were collected from different organs (liver, spleen, heart, lung, kidney, intestine, and meat). RESULTS Clinical signs of APEC infection included diarrhea, lethargy, depression, and weight loss, with a morbidity rate of 36% and a mortality rate of 7.6%. In the current study, 52.5% of the samples have Ecoli. The highest prevalence was observed in the liver (10.8%), followed by the spleen and intestine (8% and 9.1%, respectively). The most common serotype identified was O27 (28%), after that O78 (20%) and O44 (12%). Histopathological examination revealed severe lesions in various organs, including the liver, kidney, heart, and intestine. CONCLUSIONS The study concluded the presence of APEC in different organs of ostrich in Egypt especially the liver, spleen, intestine, and breast muscle (meat) with evidence of severe pathological lesions in various organs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The study highlights the significance of APEC as a main cause of morbidity and mortality in ostriches. It underscores the necessity for actual control measures to avoid spreading the disease.

Background:Coccidiosis is one of the most economically significant poultry diseases worldwide, caused by the pathogenic Eimeria species, and is characterized by decreased weight gain (WG) and failure to grow due to malabsorption, low feed conversion rate, bloody diarrhea, and dehydration. Aim:This study investigated the effectiveness of licorice root extract (LRE) in controlling cecal coccidiosis to determine whether its combination with maduramicin could help alleviate the pathological, biochemical, and histopathological effects of cecal coccidiosis in Sasso broiler chicks. Methods:A total of 125 one-day-old Sasso broiler chicks were categorized into five equal groups (n = 25), each consisting of five replicates (n = 5 per replicate). G1-LE received a basal diet supplemented with LRE (3 g/kg); G2-ME received a basal diet containing maduramycin (0.5 g/kg); and G3-LME received a basal diet containing LRE and maduramicin together with the same rates. G4-E (positive control) and G5-N (negative control) received no additives in their feed. Birds in groups (G1-4) were challenged on day 14 of the experiment by orally intercropping a 1 ml suspension of Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts. Results:Groups of birds fed on LRE and maduramicin separately or together appeared to be in good condition where no deaths or clinical abnormalities were observed, based on the analysis of clinicopathological examination. Compared with the G4-E positive control, the dropping scoring and oocyst shedding of groups G1-LE, G2-ME, and G3-LME along the 10th-day post-challenge (dpc), as well as macroscopic and microscopic lesions scoring at the 7th dpc, was considerably lower. The dual supplementation use of LRE and maduramicin in G3-LME's reduced the harmful effects of coccidian, which appeared only as a mononuclear cellular infiltration and a small number of oocysts invading the intestinal glands. Molecular docking revealed that LRE and maduramicin interacted with E. tenella DNA polymerase, E. tenella apical membrane antigen 1, and microneme protein binding sites resulting in reduced E. tenella replication and invasion. Conclusion:The inclusion of LRE and maduramicin, individually or in combination, in the diet might effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of coccidiosis.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic medicine frequently used to treat various forms of cancer. The objective of our research was to examine whether allicin (ALC) and lycopene (LP) could alleviate the harmful effects of MTXinduced testicular toxicity in rats. A total of 49 male white albino rats were divided into 7 groups (7 rats in each group). The rats of group 1 was kept as a control group and received normal saline orally; while rats of group 2 and group 3 administered ALC (20mg/kg/BW) LP (10mg/kg/BW) orally. On day 15, the rats of group 4 received a single dose of MTX (20mg/kg, IP). In group 5, rats received ALC and MTX; in group 6, rats received LP and MTX, and in group 7, rats received ALC, LP, and MTX. Results showed that MTX induced significant increase in values of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with a substantial reduction in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lowered the serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH) levels. MTX induced a marked decline in seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelium height. MTX showed a widening of the interstitial space of seminiferous tubules, atrophy, vacuolar degeneration of the germinal epithelium and Leydig's interstitial cells had scanty cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei. Also, testicular proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was recorded. In MTX-intoxicated rats, ALC and LP increased antioxidant biomarkers, decreased MDA, and attenuated changes in serum hormonal parameters. It is concluded that ALC and LP have significant protective effects on MTX- induced testicular toxicity due to their antioxidant properties.

Spirulina and Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract (GSPE) were studied for their potential therapeutic and protective properties in hypothyroidism-induced rats.Six equal groups of forty-eight rats were formed.Group 1is a control and Group 2 (hypothyroidism) received an oral dose of carbimazole (1.8 mg/kg b.wt.) every day.Rats in Group3 (GSPE Protected) got (150/kg b. wt) of GSPE per day for the first 3 weeks, then continued administered with carbimazole for another 3 weeks.Group 4 (carbimazole + GSPE treated): Rats were administered a daily dose of carbimazole (1.8mg/kg b.wt) for 3 weeks, followed by GPSE (150/kg b. wt/day) for another 3 weeks.Group 5 (Spirulina Protected); Rats received Spirulina (300 mg/kg body weight per day) for the first three weeks, then continued with carbimazole for another 3 weeks.Group 6 (Spirulina treated): Rats administered a daily dose of carbimazole for 3 weeks, followed by Spirulina (300/kg b. wt/day) for other 3 weeks.The results collected demonstrated a significant rise in liver Caspase-8 gene expression in the hypothyroidism group along with significant increases in blood TSH, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerols.However, serum T3, T4 levels drastically dropped along with Bcl2 expression in the liver tissue.Treatment and protection of spirulina and GPSE reduced TSH, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and Caspase-8 with significant upregulation of Bcl-2 and marked decrease in total cholesterol and triacylglycerols concentrations.In conclusion, grape seed extracts and Spirulina platensis had therapeutic potential in hypothyroidism, protect liver damage and mitigate Thyroid disruptors via anti-apoptotic activities.Hypothyroidism GSPE

An excessive amount of thyroid hormone is produced by an overactive thyroid gland, which keeps the body active.This study was carried out to investigate how hyperthyroidismprompted liver damage and apoptosis could be alleviated with spirulina platensis and grape seed proanthocyanin extract in rats.Forty-eight male rats were divided into six groups.Group 1: received no drug.Group2 (hyperthyroidism): Rats received L-Thyroxine at dose of (50, 100, 200 ug/kg b.wt) orally for first three weeks of study, respectively.Group3 (GSPE Protected): Rats received GSPE (150/kg b. wt/day) for the first 3 weeks, then continued administered with L-Thyroxine for other 3 weeks.Group 4 (GSPE treated): Rats administered a daily dose of L-Thyroxinen for 3 weeks, followed by GPSE (150/kg b. wt/day) for another 3 weeks.Group 5 (Spirulina Protected); Rats received Spirulina and L-Thyroxine as in group III.Group 6 (Spirulina treated): Rats received Spirulina and L-Thyroxine similar to group IV.The data obtained demonstrated a substantial rise in serum T3 and T4 with marked decrease in TSH concentrations in hyperthyroid rats.A significant upregulation in miRNA 224 and downregulation in liver Protein kinase C alpha and miRNA 382 were observed in hyperthyroid rats.However, a significant decrease in T3, T4 and miRNA 224 with significant upregulation of miRNA 382 and PKCα and TSH level were observed after Spirulina and GPSE treatment and protection.In conclusion, GSPE and Spirulina platensis had a potential therapeutic and protective effect in Hyperthyroidism, through direct inactivation of T4 to T3 and mitigate micro-RNA and PKCα that essential for thyroid hormone homeostasis and thyroid functions.Hyperthyroidism GSPE Spirulina Thyroid hormones Micro-RNA

Background/aim: Liver cirrhosis is a common health problem that is mostly at the late stage associated with hepatic carcinogenesis. This study aimed to clarify the sequential proliferative lesions in the cirrhotic liver induced chemically by thioacetamide (TAA) in rats. Methods: Thirty male albino rats were equally divided into control and TAA groups. In the TAA group, rats were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg TAA twice /week for 18 weeks. Animals were euthanized after 6, 12, and 18 weeks. Blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical analysis and histopathological examination. Results: TAA-treated group had significantly increased serum levels of liver damage parameters (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase), and hepatic levels of oxidative stress-related markers (malondialdehyde and nitric oxide) as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the TAA group showed significantly decreased hepatic levels of antioxidant markers (reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase) relative to the control group. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed characteristic lesions of liver cirrhosis in form of regenerative nodules, the proliferation of bile ducts epithelium and hepatic stellate cells as well as different types of foci of cellular alterations which were prominent proliferative lesions in the liver of the TAA group. However, with TAA prolonged treatment, cellular atypia and preneoplastic changes became evident in many hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical expression for Ki67 revealed positive nuclear labeling in some hepatocytes of TAA-treated rats. Marked expression for Ki67 in regenerating nodules at 18 weeks following TAA treatment was interesting as it revealed a higher regeneration activity. Conclusion: Some proliferative lesions such as regenerative nodules and foci of cellular alteration in hepatic cirrhosis may later constitute carcinogenic development.

Ivermectin considered natural fermentation product derived from soil bacterium streptomyces avermitis and itis abroad spectrum insecticide, acaricide and anthelimintic. This studies carried out in order to investigate thehistopathological effects of therapeutic and double therapeutic dose of ivermectin on mature male rabbits aswell as effect of therapeutic dose of same drug on pregnant female rabbits. Forty mature rabbits were used inthis study (30 males and 10 pregnant female). Male rabbits received therapeutic and double therapeutic dosesof ivermectin, while female rabbits received therapeutic dose. The histopathological results revealed mild tomoderate reversible degenerative changes in examined organs of male rabbits received ivermectin weekly for4weeks meanwhile, this degeneration become more severe and extended to complete necrosis in some organsafter longer period and higher doses of ivermectin administration. As well as, pregnant females suffered fromabortion in some cases with fetal death. We concluded that ivermectin has adverse effect on male rabbits thatreceived either therapeutic or double therapeutic doses that varied from mild degenerative changes to completenecrosis of spermatogenic cells with complete absence of sperms. Meanwhile, female genital system wasseverely affected that showing severe degeneration and hemorrhage in uterus as well as atritic follicles anddegenerated ova in ovaries. So, caution must be considered for ivermectin administration especially duringbreeding season and for pregnant females.