Katarzyna Burlikowska

DIETARY FRUCTANS AND THEIR POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE PARAMETRS IN BROILER CHICKENS

Fructans, which include inulin and fructooligosaccharides, are non-digestible carbohydrates that are fermented in the large intestine. This review focuses on the effect of these prebiotics on gut microflora, fermentation characteristics, gut morphology, enzymes activity, nutrients digestibility and absorption, lipids metabolism and performance parameters in broiler chickens. Inulin-type fructans can improve performance of birds and health by affecting microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract, gut morphology and nutrient digestion. It is documented that dietary fructans influence the intestinal gut microflora of broiler chickens by increasing the population of Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and Eubacterium spp. while decreasing the concentration of Clostridium spp. and Escherichia coli in the large intestine and caeca. The supplementation of poultry diets with inulin or oligofructose can lead to an increase of the length of small and large intestines in broilers, elongation of the villus in the chickens jejunal mucosa and increase in the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The beneficial effect of inulin-type fructans on performance parameters in broilers may be partially explained by the elevated intestinal enzymatic activity under the influence of the fructooligosaccharides and increase of digestibility and absorption of nutrients, mainly protein and fat. The prebiotic effectiveness of inulin-type fructans in broilers depends on a number of factors, like the type of supplement (inulin vs. oligofructose), inclusion level, composition of the basal diet, animal characteristics (age, sex, stage of production) and hygienic conditions (i.e. stress factors).

Ileal digestibility of fat and fatty acids in polar foxes (Alopex lagopus L.) fed diets used during the reproductive period

Abstract This study evaluates apparent ileal digestibility of fat and fatty acids in ‘end-to-end’ ileorectal anastomosed blue foxes fed diets used over the reproduction (diets A1 and B1) and lactation (diets A2 and B2) periods on two farms (A and B). The experimental diets A1 and A2 were composed of different animal offal and cereals, while diets B1 and B2 contained beef offal and barley. Diets B1 and B2 had a higher content of fat (315.4 and 361.0 g kg−1), SFA (164.3 and 185.7 g kg−1) and MUFA (116.7 and 133.6 g kg−1), while diets A1 and A2 contained more PUFA (13.1 and 30.4 g kg−1). Significantly higher (P < 0.05) values of ileal fat digestibility coefficients (97.33 and 96.92%), SFA (97.24 and 95.96%) and MUFA (98.69 and 98.87%) were found in diets B, whereas PUFA were better absorbed from diets A1 and A2 (85.54 and 94.42%).

Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of the joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers.

AIM To evaluate the role of 99m-technetium methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scintigraphy on the detection of joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 20 male asymptomatic alpine ski racers (age range: 18-21 years). None of the skiers had a history of ski crashes. Bone scan findings of the racers were examined with Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy during the active racing season and the inactive training season. Planar anterior and posterior images of hip, knee, and ankle joints were obtained 4 h after intravenous injection of 20 mCi Tc-99m MDP. All images were interpreted visually by 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Free regions of interest were drawn on hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as background regions. Joint-to-background ratios were calculated for each joint, and the uptake ratios of both right and left joints during active ski season were compared to those during the inactive training period. RESULTS Uptake ratios of the right and left hip, knee, and ankle joints were significantly higher during the active racing period than those calculated during the inactive period (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION Bone scintigraphy may have an important role in detecting joint injuries of hip, knee, and ankle joints in asymptomatic alpine ski racers and can be used successfully when MRI is unavailable.

Ileal absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox (Alopex lagopus L.) nutrition

Abstract Five mature ileorectal anastomosed blue foxes (6.18±0.15 kg) were used in digestibility experiments to evaluate the L-carnitine apparent ileal absorption from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition over the year-long farm-feeding period on two domestic farms (A and B) differing in reproduction results. The concentration of L-carnitine was higher in diets from farm B (136.1–241.7 mg kg−1 DM) than in the diets from farm A (88.5–135.2 mg kg−1 DM). The coefficients of ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine ranged from 60.23 to 75.57% for diets A (farm A) composed mainly of fish and poultry offals. The coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility of L-carnitine were higher for diets B (farm B) (83.75–94.78%; P<0.05) based on beef offals. These data indicate high concentration and efficient ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition on both farms examined.