   Comparison of corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartateaminotransferase and uric acid plasma concentrations during a foie gras production period in male mule ducks (Anas platyrhynchos X Cairina moschata); Delleur, Valéry  ; Poulipoulis, Anastassios et alin British Poultry Science (2012), 53(4), 408-414 1 Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid (UA) plasma concentration were measured at 8 and 12 weeks of age, at slaughtering and 45 min after an ... [more ▼] 1 Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid (UA) plasma concentration were measured at 8 and 12 weeks of age, at slaughtering and 45 min after an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test (8 weeks of age) in twelve male mule ducks. 2 No significant increase of corticosterone was found during the force feeding period. 3 Comparison of corticosterone and cortisol levels indicates that cortisol can be considered as a reliable acute stress indicator in future routine examinations. 4 Triglycerides and AST plasma concentrations progressively increased from pre-force feeding period to slaughtering. 5 UA plasma concentrations also increased from the start at 8 weeks of age to mid-force feeding time but no difference was noticed between mid-force feeding period and slaughtering. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 34 (7 ULg)Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in male mule ducks in Belgium; ; Mainil, Jacques et alin Veterinary Record : Journal of the British Veterinary Association (2012) Salmonella species infections of male mule ducks were studied for 32 months in 100 flocks on nine duck farms in Belgium. The prevalence of Salmonella species infections changed significantly over time (P ... [more ▼] Salmonella species infections of male mule ducks were studied for 32 months in 100 flocks on nine duck farms in Belgium. The prevalence of Salmonella species infections changed significantly over time (P<0.001) with infection rates of 50, 13.4, 6.7, 2.6 and 2.9 per cent, respectively, at the time of arrival on the farm, at three, six and nine weeks of age, and when the ducks left the breeding unit to enter the force-feeding rooms (at 11 or 12 weeks of age). During the study period, 95 strains of Salmonella were isolated, belonging to 11 serotypes. S Indiana (42.1 per cent) and S Regent (36.8 per cent) were the two most common serotypes, whereas S Typhimurium and S Enteritidis were found only once (1.1 per cent). All isolated strains were resistant to at least two antimicrobials, but resistance to more than five antimicrobials was observed in 21.6 per cent of the strains. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 16 (5 ULg) |
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