Title of article :
Changes in biochemical parameters of a broiler chicken line with cold-induced ascites
Author/Authors :
Jabbari Ori, Roghayeh Department of Animal Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran , Shodja, Jalil Department of Animal Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran , Esmailizadeh, Ali K Department of Animal Science - Faculty of Agriculture - Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran , Rafat, Abbas Department of Animal Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran , Hasanpur, Karim Department of Animal Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract :
Ascites syndrome (AS), caused by an imbalance between high oxygen
demand and its supply by cardiopulmonary system in broiler chickens, is a major
problem in the broiler industry worldwide. An experiment was designed to investigate the differences in biochemical parameters between the ascitic and healthy
chickens in a pure broiler sire line under cold conditions. A total of 817 one-dayold mixed-sex chickens from 71 half-sib families were grown and AS was induced
on day 21 using a cold temperature model. On the 32nd day of the trial, blood samples from five birds per sire family were collected and blood parameters (hematocrit percentage and serum metabolites including, glucose, total protein, albumin,
triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), calcium,
magnesium, phosphorus, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase,
malonedialdehyde and total antioxidant status) were measured. The results showed
that the male birds were more sensitive to AS than the female birds. Hematocrit
percentage of the ascitic chickens was higher than the healthy chickens (P<0.0001).
In both sexes, the ascitic birds showed higher right ventricle/total ventricle ratio
(RV/TV) than the healthy birds (P<0.0001). The concentrations of serum HDL and
cholesterol in the ascitic male birds were significantly lower than that of the nonascitic male birds. Reduction of serum cholesterol in ascitic birds may be due to its
use for the synthesis of corticosterone under cold stress conditions and ascites. In
this work, the traits were measured after the occurrence of ascites. Therefore, traits
such as RV/TV, hematocrit, HDL and cholesterol could be useful only in diagnosis
of birds that are developing AS. Since it is shown that the values of these traits are
different between the healthy and ascitic chickens before the start of AS, these
could be potential predictors of AS. Thus, they may be useful in designing breeding
programs to produce more AS-resistant birds
Keywords :
pulmonary hypertension syndrome , hematocrit , HDL , broiler line , cold stress
