Blastocystis sp. is a unicellular, anaerobic intestinal protist regularly reported in humans and various animals worldwide. There seems to be little research on Blastocystis infection in poultry in Malaysia, and none on Blastocystis in quail specifically. In Malaysia, the consumption of quail meat and eggs is rapidly gaining popularity as a significant source of protein. It is, therefore, essential to explore the presence of Blastocystis in Malaysian quails in order to aid in the understanding of Blastocystis in this group of birds and their role in its transmission . Intestinal contents were collected from 90 commercial quails raised on two farms in Penang, Malaysia, in a multi-layer cage system with adequate farm management. Detection of Blastocystis sp. was by cultivation in modified Jones’ medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. Giemsa-stained slides made from positive cultures were used for morphological studies whereas Blastocystis subtyping was conducted by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A prevalence of 17.8% (16/90) was recorded for Blastocystis sp. in quail in this study. The most common forms detected in the in vitro culture medium were vacuolar and granular forms with cell diameters ranging from 9.09 μ m to 33.33 μ m. None of the quail birds screened had any visible gastrointestinal symptoms or signs. All successfully sequenced isolates were identified as Blastocystis sp. ST6, one of the potentially zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis . This study posits that the quail birds may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis. More studies are required to understand the source of Blastocystis infection to poultry under intensive care and the role of poultry animals in the transmission of Blastocystis to humans.

Natural infection of Blastocystis ST6 among commercial quails (Coturnix coturnix) in Penang, Malaysia

The current study was conducted to examine the point prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of migratory quails. Due to its economic importance, the control of ascaridiosis is critical. Migration of birds is considered to enhance the global spread and cross-species transmission of pathogens. The current study was aimed to detect A.galli in migratory quails, a potential contributory risk factor for transmission of this parasite to local birds. A total of 230 migratory quails were trapped using nets from migratory routes in Balochistan and examined under the compound microscope for the presence of A. galli. Conventionally, A. galli was identified by its morphology with the presence of three large lips and absence of posterior esophageal bulb. Results revealed that out of 230, 120 (52.17%) quails were positive for A. galli by targeting COX1 gene (533 bp) by using conventional PCR. Further, the amplicon was sequenced which showed 99% similarity with A. galli publically available in NCBI Gen Bank. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of our isolated parasite indicated the close relationship with A.galli isolated from chickens. In conclusion migratory quails and other migratory birds may play a key role in spreading and transmission of these parasites and other pathogens to domestic chicken. Therefore, strict biosecurity measures should be adopted especially for commercial poultry farms.

Morphological and molecular evidences of Ascaridia galli in migratory quail Coturnix coturnix japonica from Baluchistan Pakistan.

Thermal comfort is essential to animal production directly influencing feed conversion and increase in production. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Rural Buildings and Ambience-seals, the Federal University of Campina Grande. Is conducted in two stages lasting 32 days each. 768 European quail (Cortunix cortunix cortunix) were used. We used 2 battery cage\s, each containing 6 cages and they split into two boxes, totaling 12 boxes per battery. Environmental temperatures (25 °C and 29 °C) to population density (70 birds / m² and 90 birds / m²) in the two temperature ranges were simulated, and the relative humidity equal for both the stages, around 60%. Performance in weight gain under such circumstances, where the difference in population density no significant interference occurred, however, a difference of 20 g in average weight gain per animal was analyzed as the lower temperature.

/pdf/ganho-de-peso-de-codornas-europeias-mantidas-em-ambiente-3v6bs7x81f.pdf

Ganho de peso de codornas europeias mantidas em ambiente controlado

A area de coturnicultura e uma das que mais se expande, apresentando-se como importante alternativa economica, sendo o Brasil o quinto maior produtor mundial. Objetivou-se avaliar o perfil endoparasitario que acometem codornas de duas granjas na cidade de Porto Velho – RO. A pesquisa foi realizada em duas granjas de codornas poedeiras na cidade, nos meses de agosto a novembro de 2019. Foram colidas 25 amostras de cada criatorio, totalizando 50 amostras, processadas pelo metodo de WILLIS-MOLLAY para identificacao qualitativa dos endoparasitas. Foram positivas todas as 25 amostras (100%) do G1, sendo possivel a identificacao dos parasitas dos generos Echinuria spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Amidostomum spp., Heterakis gallinarum, Choanotaenia infundibulum, e oocistos de Eimeria spp. No segundo criatorio 15 amostras (60%) apresentavam endoparasitas, entre eles Ascaris spp, Giardia spp., Trichostrongylus spp., com maior prevalencia de Amidostomum spp. A exposicao desta fauna parasitaria em codornas demonstra a importância das pesquisas na coturnicultura e seu potencial desenvolvimento.

/pdf/prevalencia-de-endoparasitas-em-codornas-japonesas-coturnix-3tq4p3i1a8.pdf

Prevalência de endoparasitas em codornas japonesas (coturnix coturnix japonica) em dois aviários comerciais na região amazônica

Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in freshwater fishes, poultry, and caprine from Penang, Malaysia.

The health monitoring and management systems of coturniculture can be deemed to be in a developmental phase when compared to the poultry industry. Studies regarding taxonomy and parasitic biology in quails (Coturnix japonica) has not been well conducted in Brazil. Most of the information is available from the autopsy case reports, in many ways the parasitic fauna of quails is still unknown. The aim of this study was to conduct a parasitological research in quails in order to contribute to ameliorate this situation. 31 quails, which were 12 months old, were used for the study. Their carcasses and viscera were sent to the Laboratory of Entomology and Tropical Diseases, INPA, Manaus/AM. The circulatory, nervous, respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems of these were studied separately. No blood parasites were found, however, nine species of endoparasites were registered which were distributed among the classes Cestoda, Nematoda and Protozoa. The helminths were distributed in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum and oviduct. The cecum was found to be the most parasitized organ and contained a wide range of parasites having three species of protozoa and three species of nematodes. Six morphotypes of Eutrichomastix globosus were recorded, and some morphotypes were hyperparasitized with sporangia Sphaerita sp. in the cytoplasm. A large number of parasites were recorded in this study, as well as the protozoan Blastocystis hominis was first being observed for quail.

/pdf/parasitic-profiling-of-japanese-quails-coturnix-japonica-on-3jo79a0pxv.pdf

Parasitic profiling of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) on two farms with conventional production system in the Amazon region

Identification of macroscopic injures in japanese quail carcasses during the slaughter process is critical to ensure the high quality of the final product, meat, and decrease the risk of zoonotic diseases. Thus, this study aimed to describe the main pathological changes found in japanese quail in conditions for slaughter process. For this, 31 individuals were sampled at two distinct farms situated in the rural zone of Manaus/AM, all of them with one years old, healthy and in slaughter condition. All analyses were performed in the Laboratory of Triatominae, Phlebotominae and Nidicola fauna of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus/AM. “Ante mortem” and “post mortem” inspection were performed in all carcass. Externally, there was only one specimen showed cachexy and apathy. On internal examination, there were changes in the lungs of 9,5% of specimens, it was marked by hyperemia and fibrin exudate in the apical lobes surface. Ulcerations in the proventriculus and ventriculu mucosal were reported in the 9,6% of analyzed birds. Moreover, changes in the small intestine and caecum area were reported respectively in the 45,1% (14) and 74,1 (23) of birds. The most common intestinal disorders were gas accumulation associated with distension of the loops, congested mucosal, and hemorrhagic fluid or yellow colored mucus and petechiae in serous. Three individual showed mucus fluid, dark colored, similar to coffe grounds, in the region of the jejunum, ileum and cecum. Cecum's area of these birds presented one or more species of a parasite nematodes, cestoda and protozoa. 87% (27) of analyzed livers showed a pale aspect, crumbly texture and multifocal areas, units or bilobar, yellowish or greenish gray colored, showed a diameter of 0,2-1,6 cm. In 25,92% of these livers were found scar punctate injures, which showed a grayish or blackish color circumscribed by a white halo and petechiae. Ovarian follicles were stunted and two quail oviduct presented fibrinous exudate in serous, while the light of the oviduct found partially obliterated by whitish exudate and caseous mass in the mucosa below the exudate had multiple cysts filled with fluid slightly opaque. Some pathological changes described for C. japonica are simliar to those described for laying hens, however, have also been described macroscopic particular injuries to this species, which suggests further research on this kind of growing economic importance.

/pdf/pathological-alterations-in-carcasses-and-viscera-of-kogp0b3snk.pdf

Jefferson Bruno Soares Oliveira

Papers

Parasitic profiling of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) on two farms with conventional production system in the Amazon region

Pathological Alterations in Carcasses and Viscera of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1849) of Commercial Breeding