In order to investigate the effect of inorganic selenium replacement with organic selenium from Spirulina algae on performance and breast meat quality of broilers, a total of 160 one-day-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments, eight replicates and five birds per each replicate. The sources of selenium used included sodium selenite and organic selenium from Spirulina algae which were replaced at two levels of 50 and 100 percent. The organic selenium was produced by the culture of Spirulina algae and its enrichment with selenium. The selenium content of different treatments was measured by ICP-Mass method. In this experiment, the feed intake and body weight gain parameters were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At 42 day of age, one bird was slaughtered from each replicate and the weight of carcass ready to cook was measured. The breast meat was sampled for measurement of pH and selenium storage. The results showed that it was not observed any significant difference in performance traits and ready to cook carcass percentage among different treatments. There was no significant difference in breast muscle pH at 0 and 24 hours after slaughtering. The amount of selenium deposited in breast muscle of birds fed organic selenium had significant increase when compared with other treatments (P<0.05). Generally, the results of this study showed that 100% replacement of sodium selenite with organic selenium from Spirulina algae led to increase in breast muscle selenium deposition without reduction in bird performance.

The aim of this study was to determinate the drug resistance patterns of avian E.coli isolates from cases of colibacillosis in Golestan Province, Iran.One hundred and fifty isolates of E. coli from pericarditis lesions (5 samples per farm and in 30 farms) submitted to the microbiology laboratory. After sampling and confirmation by biochemical reactions, the E.coli isolates were tested for their susceptibility to a panel of 15 antibacterial agents using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.The drug susceptibility test showed that all isolates were resistant to Nalidixic acid, Erythromycin, Flumequine and were susceptible to Gentamicin and Ceftiofur. More than 80% of the isolates were resistant to Colistin, Tetracycline, Sulfadiazine+Trimethoprim, Enrofloxacin, Cyprofloxacin, Danofloxacin, Lincospectin, Difloxacin, Sulphachlorpyridazin+Trimethoprim and Doxycycline. There were 29 drug resistance patterns among 150 E.coli isolates. Eighty eight percent of isolates belonged to more than one pattern, whereas the rest (12%) of isolates, each isolate belonged to one pattern only.The results of this study confirmed the possibility of indiscriminate abuse and misuse of antibacterial agents in poultry industry and this could be dangerous for public health as well.

Avian Metapneumovirus infection first emerged in South African turkeys, followed by respiratory problems in chickens with a swollen head syndrome. The etiological agent is a Metapneumovirus in the Pneumoviridae family and the first pneumovirus identified in avian species. This virus causes respiratory and reproductive affections that are worsened in the presence of other pathogens. The present review summarized the current knowledge about the virus’s properties and spread, its different subtypes, and the immunological and pathological mechanisms, especially in the broilers. The diagnostic methods are based on serology and essentially ELISA to show and titer antibodies following infection in naïve birds. Molecular tools such as PCR aim to detect and subtype avian Metapneumovirus genetic material. Besides biosecurity, prevention relies mostly on good management and vaccination.

Campylobacter jejuni infectious are one of the most important foodborne diseases in many countries  and causing of diarrhea in more contries. A total of 400 liver samples in order to detection of Campylobacter jejuni in liver of broilers chickens during summer 2001 to spring 2002 in slaughterhouse and retail market broilers of Shahr-e- Kord township. All of the samples were culture in enrichment and specific bacteriological media for C.jejuni. Out of 400 samples, 64.75%were positive due to C. jejuni. From 200 samples taken from slaughter house 64.5% and from 200 samples taken from retail markets, 65% were positive. In comparison of the infection rate in different seasons, autumn 2001 with 80% was highest rate and spring 2002 with [45%] was lowest rate. According to the bacteriological findings of this study, Therefore the consumption of infected livers to C. jejuni constitutes a major health hazard for human in this city.

The clinical and laboratory findings associated with Cryptosporidium infection in four broiler flocks were reported. The severity of Cryptosporidium-induced disease is greatly compounded by the presence of other pathogens. Tracheal swab culture on blood agar revealed a bacterium which identified as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale by further biochemical and serological characteristics. This isolate was resistant to enrofloxacin and flumequine, and sensitive to ampicillin and tiamulin. Escherichia coli isolated from heart of the carcasses were resistant to all conventional antibiotics. Eimeria tenella was also detected in the ceca of some carcasses of this flock. Simultaneous isolation of C.baileyi, Clostridium perfringens type A, and E. coli serogroup 08 in a broiler flock affected by gangrenous dermatitis and serious weight gain loss was also reported.  

An experiment was conducted in order to evaluate five synthesized vitamin premixes including: 1 NRC’s(1994) recommended requirements, 2- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz one half of NRC’s recommended requirements, 3- 1.5 times of NRC’s recommended requirements, 4- two- fold of NRC’s recommended requirements, 5poshtibani Co. recommended levels and three commercial vitamin premixes in feeding Arian broiler. This experiment was carried out using completely randomized design (CRD) with 480 sexually mixed broiler chickens including 3 replicates in 24 pens. Different vitamin premixes had no significant effects on feed consumption and weight gain in various experimental periods and total experimental period. The feed efficiency was significantly affected (P<0.05) with vitamin premixes in starter period. One-half NRC’s recommended requirements had the lowest feeding efficiency as compared to other premixes (1.79), but there were not significant differences between the other vitamin premixes. Various vitamin premixes had no significant effects on the carcass characteristics and mortality rate. The results of this experiment indicated that the NRC’s recommended requirements have the best performance and the lowest feed cost per kilogram weight gain than other vitamin premixes.