Telomeres are sensitive to damage induced by oxidative stress, and thus it is expected that dietary antioxidants may support the maintenance of telomere length in animals, particularly those with a fast rate of life (e.g. fast metabolism, activity and growth). We tested experimentally the effect of antioxidant supplements on telomere length during early development in wild gull chicks with natu...

This study was conducted to determine whether early age feed restriction improves heat tolerance in female broiler chickens. Chicks were brooded for 3 wk and then maintained at 24+/-1 C. On Day 0, chicks were assigned to one of four feeding regimens; each regimen was applied to four cages of chicks. The feeding regimens were 1) ad libitum feeding (ALF); 2) 40% feed restriction at 4, 5, and 6 d ...

Prevalence of lead exposure and elevated tissue lead was determined in Laysan albatross (Diomedea immutabilis) in Hawaii. The relationship between lead exposure and proximity to buildings, between elevated blood lead and droopwing status, and elevated liver lead and presence of lead-containing paint chips in the proventriculus in albatross chicks was also examined. Finally, the effects of lead ...

Using distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a feed ingredient in poultry nutrition has lately been increased. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding different dietary levels of DDGS on the productive performance of broiler chicks from 1 to 35 d of age. Two hundred forty one-d-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed among 3 treatment groups with eight replicates...

Acute toxic effects of three commonly used insecticidal preparations of the organophosphates chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and dichlorvos were examined in mixed breed broiler chicks, and cholinesterase activity in plasma and brain were measured. The acute (24 h) oral median lethal doses (LD50) of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and dichlorvos were 10.79 mg kg(-1), 6.32 mg kg(-1), and 6.30 mg kg(-1), respecti...

The present study was undertaken to examine the acute toxicity (LD50) and neurobehavioral manifestations in the open-field activity and tonic immobility tests in 7-14 day-old chicks treated with the H1-receptor antagonist diphenhydramine. Plasma and whole brain cholinesterase activities were also determined in the chicks. The LD50 of diphenhydramine in chicks was 49.3 mg/kg, intramuscularly (i....

Greater flamingos in southern Spain foraged in areas distant from a breeding site, spending 4-6 days in foraging areas between successive visits to the colony to feed their chicks. During four years, we took blood samples from chicks to ascertain whether there were interannual variations in several blood parameters, indicative of food quality and feeding frequencies. When the chicks were captur...

Young chicks were inoculated with six different strains of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of calves, pigs, chicks, and humans. Colibacilli of some serotypes had colonized the cecum of chicks by 7 days after inoculation. The characteristic lesions associated with bacterial attachment were also seen on the mucosal surface of the cecum. Electron microscopy revealed...

We describe a new species of piroplasm from brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) on Sand Island, Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, central Pacific. Mean parasitemia in adults and chicks was less than 1%, with the parasitemia in chicks significantly greater than in adults. There was no significant relation between the age of chicks and the degree of parasitemia. Parasitized red cells and red ...

Coccidia oocysts were demonstrated in the faeces of 53 (about 34%) of 156 apparently healthy ostrich chicks. Young chicks had the highest proportion of infestation while those more than 9 weeks old had no oocysts at all in their faeces. These coccidia may be considered no pathogenic since the infected chicks grew normally without any evidence of diarrhoea.