Showing papers on "Coturnix published in 2022"

Quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs after extended refrigerated storage

Abstract: Commercial Japanese quail ( Coturnix c, japonica) eggs were stored for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d at 4°C to determine the effects of storage on egg quality. Total aerobic microorganisms ( APC ) and yeast and mold ( YM ) were recovered from the same eggs using 3 different methods, including an eggshell surface rinse, eggshell crush rinse, and contents enumeration. Both APC and YM on eggshell surfaces decreased by 87% (0.9 log reduction) from 0 d to 120 d of storage. APC from crushed eggshells ranged from 2.4 to 3.1 log cfu/egg. YM were not detected in crushed eggshells until 120 d of storage where levels were 1.3 log cfu/egg. Aerobic microorganisms were found in contents of eggs stored 30, 60, or 90 d, but no YM were not detected in egg contents. Albumen pH increased from 0 to 30 d of storage (pH 8.91–9.22). Similarly, the largest decrease in albumen height was between 0 (3.9 mm) and 30 d (3.4 mm) before decreasing to 2.5 mm after 120 d storage. Yolk pH also increased with longer storage times, but the most significant increase occurred between 90 and 120 d of storage (0.49 pH unit increase). Similarly, Haugh units ( HU ) decreased with longer storage time, with the most significant changes occurring between 90 and 120 d of storage where HU decreased by 3.7. Overall, quail eggs stored for up to 120 d at 4°C had HU values above 72, placing them at AA grade by USDA standards. Findings may be of commercial interest to quail egg producers as a part of their marketing strategy.

Microplastic Ingestion Induces Size-Specific Effects in Japanese Quail

Abstract: Plastic pollution can pose a threat to birds. Yet, little is known about the sublethal effects of ingested microplastics (MP), and the effects of MP < 1 mm in birds remain unknown. This study therefore aimed at evaluating the toxicity of environmentally relevant polypropylene and polyethylene particles collected in the Norwegian coast in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Birds were orally exposed to 600 mg MP over 5 weeks, covering small (<125 μm) and large (3 mm) MP, both separately and in a mixture. We evaluated multiple sublethal endpoints in quail, including oxidative stress, cytokine levels, blood-biochemical parameters, and reproductive hormones in blood, as well as body mass. Exposure to small MP significantly induced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase. Exposure to large MP increased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (liver parameter) and decreased 17β-estradiol levels in females. Body mass was not directly affected by MP ingestion; however, quail exposed to small MP and a mixture of large and small MP had a different growth rate compared to control quail. Our study used similar levels of MP as ingested by wild birds and demonstrated size-dependent effects of MP that can result in sublethal effects in avifauna.

Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms

Abstract: Abstract All around the world, there are species of birds that have developed the ability to acquire toxic chemicals in their bodies making them less palatable or even lethal when consumed or contacted. Exposure to poisonous bird species is rare among humans, yet their poisons can produce serious clinical outcomes. In this study, we conducted a literature search focusing on seven avian species: the pitohuis ( Pitohui spp.), blue-capped ifrita ( Ifrita kowaldi) , European quail ( Cortunix corturnix coturnix ), spur or spoor-winged goose ( Plectropterus gambensis ), North American ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ), Brush bronzewings ( Phaps elegans ), and European hoopoes and woodhoopoes ( Upupa epops and Phoeniculus purpureus , respectively). We present the geographic distribution of each poisonous bird, toxin physiology and origin, clinical signs and symptoms of poisoning, cases of human toxicity if available and discuss the birds’ ability to prevent self-intoxication. Our results suggest that most cases of contact with toxic birds produce mild symptoms as most of these birds apart from the European quail ( C. c. corturnix ) and North American ruffed grouse ( B. umbellus ) are not commonly consumed by humans. Furthermore, we discuss several methods of toxin acquisition in these bird species, which are mostly diet acquired apart from the hoopoes and woodhoopoes ( Upupa and Phoeniculus spp.) who have a symbiotic relationship with chemical-producing bacteria in their uropygial glands. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive review of the toxic physiology, clinical manifestations, and evolutionary insight to avian toxins.

Functional dissociation along the rostrocaudal axis of Japanese quail hippocampus

Abstract: The mammalian hippocampus (Hp) can be functionally segregated along its septotemporal axis, with involvement of dorsal hippocampus (dHp) in spatial memory and ventral hippocampus (vHp) in stress responses and emotional behaviour. In the present study, we investigate comparable functional segregation in proposed homologues within the avian brain. Using Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica), we report that bilateral lesions of the rostral hippocampus (rHp) produce robust deficits in a spatial Y-maze discrimination (YMD) test while sparing performance during contextual fear conditioning (CFC), comparable to results from lesions to homologous regions in mammals. In contrast, caudal hippocampus (cHp) lesions failed to produce deficits in either CFC or YMD, suggesting that, unlike mammals, both cHp and rHp of birds can support emotional behavior. These observations demonstrate functional segregation along the rostrocaudal axis of the avian Hp that is comparable in part to distinctions seen along the mammalian hippocampal septotemporal axis.

Are external head measurements a reliable predictor of brain size in the Common quail?

Abstract: Comparative research conducted during the past two decades revealed ecological and evolutionary consequences of inter-species differences in relation to brain size. However, relatively much fewer studies have focused on intra-specific variation in brain sizes. This may arise from the lack of a reliable and universal methodology to estimate brain size that can be employed in wild populations in vivo and in a minimally invasive manner. Here, we assessed whether variation in brain mass of Common quails (Coturnix coturnix Linnaeus, 1758) was predicted by external measurements of the head. Contrary to previous work, we found that the height of the head and not the volume of the head was the best predictor of brain mass in the Common quail. However, we found that the height of the head explained only a relative small proportion of variance in brain masses (i.e. 74.4%). Our data suggest that the external measurements of the head may not represent a universally applicable methodology to estimate brain sizes in birds and should, therefore, be used cautiously and validated for the studied species.

A novel male Japanese quail structural connectivity atlas using ultra-high field diffusion MRI at 11.7 T

Abstract: Abstract The structural connectivity of animal brains can be revealed using post-mortem diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite the existence of several structural atlases of avian brains, few of them address the bird’s structural connectivity. In this study, a novel atlas of the structural connectivity is proposed for the male Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ), aiming at investigating two lines divergent on their emotionality trait: the short tonic immobility (STI) and the long tonic immobility (LTI) lines. The STI line presents a low emotionality trait, while the LTI line expresses a high emotionality trait. 21 male Japanese quail brains from both lines were scanned post-mortem for this study, using a preclinical Bruker 11.7 T MRI scanner. Diffusion-weighted MRI was performed using a 3D segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) sequence with a 200 $$\upmu$$ μ m isotropic resolution, 75 diffusion-encoding directions and a b-value fixed at 4500 s/mm 2 . Anatomical MRI was likewise performed using a 2D anatomical T 2 -weighted spin-echo (SE) sequence with a 150 $$\upmu$$ μ m isotropic resolution. This very first anatomical connectivity atlas of the male Japanese quail reveals 34 labeled fiber tracts and the existence of structural differences between the connectivity patterns characterizing the two lines. Thus, the link between the male Japanese quail’s connectivity and its underlying anatomical structures has reached a better understanding.

Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail)

Abstract: This datasheet on Coturnix japonica covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Further Information.

Effects of early social experience on sexual behavior in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica)

Abstract: Experiences during immature phases of development, especially social experiences with individuals of the opposite sex, have implications for adult sexual behavior. Nevertheless, whether and how early experience can affect sexual learning in adulthood is still unclear. We present two experiments exploring how early experience impacts adult sexual Pavlovian conditioning in male Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, 25 male Japanese quail divided into three groups received different stimuli presentations at an early age, namely paired presentations of a conditioned stimulus (CS; a terry cloth model) and an unconditioned stimulus (US; an adult female quail), unpaired presentations of CS and US, and no exposure to stimuli. When they reached sexual maturity, we performed a sexual Pavlovian conditioning procedure with all groups using the same stimuli and tested their conditional response. In Experiment 2, we replicated the first experiment but with younger subjects and additional control variables. In the first experiment, we observed shorter approaching latencies to the CS and longer times near the CS in subjects with paired CS-US presentations compared to unpaired stimuli presentations. This was not replicated in Experiment 2. In both experiments, we found shorter approaching latencies and longer times near the CS in the groups with early exposure to the stimuli (paired or unpaired) compared to the group without this experience. Our findings indicate that the early presentations of stimuli at early stages of life can influence males' (speed of) sexual Pavlovian conditioning during adulthood.

Effects of different inorganic selenium levels in laying quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) diets on performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical parameters

Abstract: Inorganic selenium supplementation in poultry diet has been controversial. It has been linked that the excess and deficiency of this mineral can lead to health problems in these animals. However, this fact is not so evident in quails. In this research 120 female quails (220.6 ± 8.2 g) at 10 weeks of age were allocated to five treatment groups with six replicates of four quails in each. Experimental diets were formed by adding 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or1.00 mg/kg of inorganic selenium (sodium-selenite) to the diet containing 0.12 mg/kg of selenium. We observed that performance parameters, mortality, egg external, and internal quality of quails were not affected by the supplementation of inorganic selenium to the diet Serum glucose (P = 0.0020) and creatinine (P = 0.0333) levels were affected by inorganic selenium supplementation, but no differences were found for other parameters among those treatments. The addition of 0.50 mg/kg of inorganic selenium to the diet increased serum glucose levels of laying quails compared with the control group. While serum creatinine level was maximized with the addition of 0.25 mg/kg inorganic selenium to the diet, and it was minimized with the addition of 0.50 mg/kg inorganic selenium. Supplementation with inorganic selenium (0 to 1.00 mg/kg) in laying quail diets did not have any adverse effect on performance, mortality, and egg quality during the study. No abnormalities were found in the serum parameters that would lead to the suspicion of metabolic disease in the quails.

A comparative study on egg cholesterol contents and eggshell protoporphyrin and biliverdin pigments of different poultry species

Abstract: This study compared the cholesterol levels and shell pigments (protoporphyrin and biliverdin) of chicken (conventional and organic), quail, pheasant, and goose eggs. The material for the study was chicken (organic system - Lohmann Brown and conventional system - HyLine Brown) eggs, quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), goose (local), and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) eggs homogeneously selected with a subjective scoring. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection was used to analyze the samples (HPLC-PDA). There were no significant differences in the yolk cholesterol content of eggs between species. Based on mg/g of yolk, different poultry species had comparable amounts of cholesterol. Quail eggshells contained significantly more protoporphyrin (81.92 M/g) than chicken (conventional-organic) and pheasant eggshells (P&lt;0.01), but conventional chicken eggshells contained less protoporphyrin (10.73 M/g) than other species (P&lt;0.01). Biliverdin was found only in the eggshells of quail (2.83 M/g) and pheasant (1.02 M/g) (P&lt;0.01). It was observed that white shelled goose eggs had no detectable pigment. Research is required to elucidate the role of diet, age, stressor, strain, and housing systems on protoporphyrin and biliverdin pigment concentrations and cholesterol in table eggs and breeder eggs production.

Internal Quality of Eggs from Japanese Quail (Coturnix - Coturnix Japonica L.) Feeded by Fermented Sauge Waste

Abstract: Japanese quail (Coturnix-coturnix japonica L.) is one type of quail that can be developed to support animal protein sources' needs in fulfilling community nutrition. The quality and quantity of feed influences production and quality. Bean sprouts waste contains 63.35% water content, 7.35% ash conten

Epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands are expressed in the spleen of the Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during the post-hatch period

Abstract: ABSTRACT 1. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family plays an important role in the development, differentiation, migration and apoptosis of cells, as well as in wound healing, which are all essential to the viability of multicellular organisms. The avian spleen is a principal organ of systemic immunity and its importance in disease resistance is presumably accentuated by the scarcity of avian lymph nodes. 2. The aim of this study was to determine whether EGF receptors (ErbB1-4) and their ligands (EGF, AREG and NRG) are expressed in the structural components of the quail spleen during the post-hatch period. At each selected age, from 1 d to 7, 14, 21 and 60 d, 10 quails were euthanised under ether anaesthesia and their spleens were fixed in a 10% formaldehyde-alcohol solution. Following routine histological processing, the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used for immunohistochemical examination. 3. Strong cytoplasmic immunoreactions for ErbB2, ErbB4 and NRG were observed in the ellipsoid associated cells (EAC) of the quail spleen throughout the post-hatch period. This immunoreactivity in the EAC increased after the 7th d post-hatch. ErbB1 and ErbB3 immunoreactions were relatively similar and weak in all components of the spleen during the post-hatch period. Some immune cells of the peri-arterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) and peri-ellipsoidal lymphatic sheath (PELS) showed positive immunoreactivity for the ErbB receptors and their ligands. In the vascular smooth muscle cells, immunoreactivity for ErbB2 was stronger than that for the other ErbB receptors and their ligands. 4. The data showed that ErbB receptors and their ligands (EGF, AREG and NRG) are expressed by different structural components of the quail spleen during the post-hatch period.

Prevalence of Nematode Parasites in Different Birds with Histopathological Changes in the Intestinal Tissue of Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix L.) with Special Reference to Heterakis gallinarum Schrank, 1788

Abstract: Prevalence of Nematode Parasites in Different Birds with Histopathological Changes in the Intestinal Tissue of Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix L.) with Special Reference to Heterakis gallinarum Schrank, 1788

Circadian Systems in Development and Photoperiodism in Japanese Quail.

Abstract: Section I: The daily rhythm of plasma levels of adrenal corticol hormones (ACH) differed in phase and amplitude in Japanese quail of different ages and reproductive condition. Treatment with thiouracil accelerated and thyroxine delayed maturation of the ACH rhythm and development of the reproductive system. In contrast to the ACH rhythm, the rhythm of plasma thyroxine concentrations was similar at all ages tested. Section II: The roles of circadian rhythms in photoperiodism as they relate to adrenal cortical hormone (ACH) were examined in male Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. Plasma ACH concentration was found to undergo circadian variations, which varied in phase with respect to the daily photoperiod depending on the length of photoperiod and condition of the reproductive system. The ACH peak occurred at light onset in sexually regressed quail maintained on LD 8:16 and at 12 and 16 hours after light onset in sexually developed quail kept on LD 8:16 or LD 16:8 respectively. In blind, sexually developed quail maintained on LD 16:8, daily injections of corticosterone for 15 days given early during the photoperiod (4 hours after light onset) induced a 40% reduction in the left testis volume (LTV) whereas injections 16 hours after light onset were ineffective. Thus, it appears that the daily rhythm of plasma concentrations of ACH and the photosensitivity rhythm are expressions of the same neural oscillation, and that injections of corticosterone at different times with respect to the photoperiod can entrain the oscillation so as to shift the photoinducible phase into or out of the light. Section III:The roles of the eyes and the daily rhythm of adrenal cortical hormone (ACH) and thyroxine in photoperiodism were examined in male Japanese quail. The reproductive system of quail developed in continuous darkness (DD) after pretreatment with LD 8:16 for 3 weeks. The reproductive system of Japanese quail raised and enucleated after 6 weeks exposure to LD 16:8 regressed initially in response to LD 8:16, but recrudesced during the next 8 months exposure to LD 8:16. Reproductively undeveloped quail raised and enucleated on LD 8:16, developed reproductively when exposed to LD 16:8 and did not regress on subsequent exposure to LD 8:16 unless treated with 0.2% 2-thiouracil in the food. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UMI.

D2 receptor antagonism enhances cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in female, but not male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract: Sex differences in cocaine-induced behaviors are well established. In rodents, females show enhanced locomotion to cocaine over multiple trials compared with males, a behavioral response known as sensitization. Estradiol enhances cocaine-induced sensitization in female rats by agonizing dopaminergic activity within the brain. In female quail, cocaine does not increase locomotion regardless of increased estradiol. A higher D2:D1 dopamine receptor ratio in quail compared with rodents may explain this sex and species difference. The goal of the present work was to investigate the role of D2 receptors in cocaine-induced locomotion and sensitization in Japanese quail and to determine whether a greater D2 receptor availability contributed to the lack of cocaine-induced sensitization in female quail found in previous studies. Male and female quail were administered 0, 0.03, 0.05, or 0.07 mg/kg of eticlopride (Eti) followed by 10 mg/kg of cocaine or saline then immediately placed in open-field chambers. Distance traveled was recorded for 30 min daily for 7 days. In female quail, cocaine-induced sensitization was observed with 0.03 or 0.05 mg/kg Eti, but not in cocaine-only females. In male quail, cocaine-induced sensitization was observed similar to previous research. However, Eti did not enhance cocaine-induced locomotion or produce sensitization in male quail. The D2 receptor likely mediates cocaine's motor stimulating effects in quail. In females, this effect is more pronounced. Since high D2 availability is protective against stimulant abuse, Japanese quail may be a useful model for investigating the role of the D2 receptor in cocaine addiction, but further research is needed.

Regarding the question of the current state of the common quail (coturnix coturnix) breeding group in belarus

Abstract: The Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) is a common bird species and an object of amateur hunting in Belarus. However, insufficient attention is paid to its study in our country. In this work, the occurrence of the Common Quail in all zoogeographic provinces of Belarus was calculated on the basis of data from the counts of the species. According to the results, the occurrence decreases from south to north. As a result of the analysis of the Common Quail population density data obtained from literary sources and collected in the current study in various regions of Belarus and Ukraine, it was found that the population density of the species in the agrocenoses of Ukraine is slightly higher than in Belarus.

Hyperlipidemia Diet Reduces Superoxide Dismutase Inhibition Rate in the Brain Organ of Rattus norvegicus

Abstract: Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica L.) egg yolk is one of the high-fat foods which can trigger hyperlipidemia. The condition of hyperlipidemia can have an oxidative stress effect on the brain. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a natural antioxidant that acts as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress. The inhibition rate of SOD decreases when oxidative stress occurs. This study aims to determine the effect of quail egg yolk on the SOD inhibition rate of brain organs on a rat. This study used male Wistar rats aged 2-3 months with 200-300 grams of weight. The rats were divided into two groups. Each group was fed with ad libitum for two weeks. The A groups as control continued ad libitum consumption, and the B group was given additional quail egg yolk 5 ml / 200 g BW for 2 weeks. At the end of the study, the rats were terminated. The brain organs were examined for SOD inhibition rate with spectrophotometry. The mean SOD inhibition rate in the A and B groups was 74.14% ± 6.16 and 24.14% ± 5.65, respectively. The independent t-test showed significant differences in SOD inhibition rate between groups (p 0.001). Furthermore, quail egg yolk significantly reduced the SOD inhibition rate in the brain organ of the rat.

Protocol for inducing hippocampal formation lesions and associated behavioral testing in Japanese quail

Abstract: Here, we present a protocol for inducing selective lesions in the hippocampal formation of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), coupled with associated behavioral testing. We first describe the surgical procedure for aspiration lesions in Japanese quail. We then detail two well-known hippocampus-dependent behavioral tests adapted to birds-foraging array (FA) and spontaneous object recognition (SOR). This protocol is adapted from those used in mammals and can be used to study the involvement of Japanese quail memory centers in declarative memory. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Damphousse et al. (2022).

Effects of sugar cane extract on steroidogenesis in testicular interstitial cells of male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

Abstract: Sugar cane extract (SCE) is the end product of glucose, fructose, and sucrose elimination in molasses. SCE has various biological effects, such as anti-inflammation and antioxidation, and it is commonly found in animal feed. The present research is aimed at investigating the reproductive endocrine influence of SCE in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) by feeding SCE containing food. In addition, in vitro Leydig cell culture was conducted to clarify the mechanism of SCE's influence. Our results showed that SCE feed extended the latency to the first neck grab, decreased male quail testis and epididymis weights, cloaca gland size, and reduced serum testosterone concentrations. Steroidogenic enzymes 3βHSD, 17βHSD, P450c17, and P450scc gene expression in the testis were decreased in the SCE groups. Western blot analysis showed decreased 3βHSD in the testis after feeding SCE. Isolated testicular interstitial cells cultured with SCE and ovine-LH suppressed testosterone secretion and 3βHSD gene expression. In conclusion, SCE as a feed additive has an impact on the sexual behavior and reproductive function of male Japanese quail, with the suppression of steroidogenesis in the Leydig cell. Our results may provide beneficial information to the livestock management and the poultry industry.

Noises heard in egg mould quail chick personality

Abstract: Far from being cut off from the external world, chicks developing within their eggs are aware of light, temperature and sound; they can even experience stress while secure inside their mini-incubators. But what effects do these experiences have on the behaviour of the youngsters once they have broken free of their early egg homes? How would hearing a natural sound (a sparrowhawk squawk) or a crashing metal dish – which developing quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos would never encounter naturally –while developing inside their eggs affect the behaviour of quail chick hatchlings? Nawel Mezrai from the University of Rennes, France, with colleagues from Rennes, Université F. Rabelais, France, and Normandie University, France, monitored chicks’ reactions to a variety of situations during the first 16 days of life.