Once again, the world of publishing is moving apace and the WPSJ is keeping up with the new trends. By the time of this publication, the FirstView system should be set up and running – whereby papers, once completed at the editing side, will go online in advance of the print publication. This will help us to get papers out to members as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the next quarterly print run. Citing the papers will still be as before, as each will be allocated to the next available issue. I would like to thank our team at Cambridge University Press for assisting with this change.

Our little team at WPSJ have been busy in the last few months with such changes, and also working with the new Editorial Board appointed in October by the Board Members, which will be have direct input into the running of the journal, making life rather easier on my side. Our previous editorial board members remain an important part of the process, but rather being concerned with reviewing, as with only one meeting per year, their input to the actual running of the journal is, obviously, more limited. In addition, my right hand woman, Dr Shay Hill, whom many authors have had correspondence with, has been invited to attend the next board meeting in Prague in June. Dr Hill is responsible for much of the day-to-day running of the journal, and I would like to thank the board for recognising her efforts by this invitation.

Otherwise, we have various papers for this issue. One aspect that has cropped up recently is the number of more ‘general’ reviews we have received on topics such as plant extracts. As this field is, like many others, very large now, such reviews must be specifically targeted at specific modes of action or individual active compounds. In addition, we are receiving papers on more novel ideas – which are always most welcome. We try to help authors with their papers as much as we can, believing that the advancement of science is principally dictated by communication, and younger scientists should be encouraged to publish their work.

We are now in the middle of 2015, with many exciting conferences and meetings in the poultry world, and I look forward to seeing as many members and authors as possible this year!

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause extra intestinal disease in chickens, turkeys, and other avian species via respiratory tract infection, giving rise to typical signs related to colibacillosis, such as: septicaemia, enteritis, granulomas, omphalitis, sinusitis, airsacculitis, arthritis/synovitis, peritonitis, pericarditis, perihepatitis, cellulitis, and swollen head syndrome. Disease caused by APEC strains results in significant financial losses to the poultry industry worldwide. This review provides essential information on the diagnosis of APEC. The information cited in this review will elucidate the various forms of APEC diagnosis while demonstrating the, lack of a precise diagnosis of this strain. The diagnoses mentioned herein reinforce the necessity to make progress toward a more accurate diagnosis of APEC to contribute to its reduction in poultry flocks.

Intestinal health is important for maximising the health, welfare, and performance of poultry. In addition, intestinal health issues in poultry can have devastating financial impacts for producers, and food safety concerns for consumers. Until recently, intestinal health issues were seen as a handful of known infectious agents leading to a set of severe and identifiable named diseases. There is however an emerging area which depicts intestinal health as a more complex and multifaceted system than previously known. Recent progress in technology suitable for microbial community analysis has evolved our understanding of the chicken intestinal microbiome. It is now understood that shifts in the composition of microbial communities can occur. These shifts can result in a series of implications, including: disease, welfare, environmental, and food safety concerns. Minor shifts in intestinal microbial balance can result in a wide continuum of disease presentations ranging from severe to mild clinical, subclinical or asymptotic. Differential diagnosis of poultry intestinal health issues may be challenging and is important for applying appropriate treatment options. This review discusses new and emerging topics in broiler chicken intestinal health, with a focus on microbial composition, newly discovered microbial shifts in classical poultry diseases, range in severity of enteric diseases, newly identified organisms in normal intestinal flora, implications of shifts in intestinal microbial communities and diagnosis of emerging intestinal health issues in poultry.

Heat stress is characterised by reduced antioxidant status, and is one of the physiological alterations in response to exposure to higher temperatures in birds, which results in increased oxidative stress and immune suppression. The transcription entity nuclear factor-kappa light chain enhancer of B cells (NF-κB) controls the expression of genes involved in a number of physiological responses, including immune inflammatory responses, acute-phase inflammatory responses, oxidative stress responses, cell adhesion, differentiation, and apoptosis. The nuclear factor-2 erythroid related factor-2 (Nrf2), the redox-sensitive transcription factor, plays a key role in regulating induction of phase II detoxifying or antioxidant enzymes. Thus, activation of Nrf2 is considered to be an important molecular target of many anti-stressor agents. However, during heat stress conditions this regulation is disturbed offering an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Heat stress is a condition in which the expression pattern of NF-κB and Nrf2 changes. To reduce the negative effects of heat, antioxidants are used in poultry diets for their anti-stress effects, associated with improved nutrient utilisation. For instance, lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is particularly important because of its ability to quench reactive oxygen. This review focuses on the role of the NF-κB and Nrf2 in heat stress condition and summarises the therapeutic outcomes of lycopene in feed, targeted at the NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways in heat-stressed poultry.

The onset of feeding broiler chicks after hatch is often delayed by 48-72 hours due to variations in hatching time and follow up hatchery practices, affecting their ultimate performance at marketable age. In the newly hatched chicks, residual yolk serves as a source of nutrients until access to exogenous sources of feed is established. However, despite the residual yolk being sufficient to maintain the chicks during the first three to four days of life, it does not provide the required level of nutrients to fully support the genetic expression of the bird's potential for growth, development of the gastro-intestinal tract or the immune system. Development of the avian immune system is triggered during embryogenesis, but is not evolved until a few weeks of age post hatch, and can be stunted due to the unavailability of nutrients if hatchlings are deprived of food immediately after hatch. Early feeding is not only associated with immune organ development, but also with the functioning of the immune system in broiler hatchlings. With the continued increase in the economic importance of broiler chickens, an understanding of the development and function of the immune system in these birds and their capacity to respond effectively to divergent antigens is necessary.

The hypothesis that glucose and amino acids should be made available in appropriately balanced quantities at the sites of protein synthesis for efficient protein deposition and growth performance is not new in animal nutrition. The objective of this review is to consider starch and protein digestive dynamics in light of recent developments and research outcomes in relation to chicken-meat production. This will concentrate on the concept that catabolism of amino acids in enterocytes provides energy for the gut and slowly digestible starch benefits performance. These are supported by relatively recent developments and studies with reducing agents. Practices such as whole grain feeding, hydrothermally processing diets, addition of exogenous enzymes and synthetic amino acids to broiler diets modify starch and protein digestive dynamics. It may be possible to enhance feed conversion efficiency of broiler chickens by manipulating starch and protein digestive dynamics and likelihood of using these methods is considered in this review.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is has recently lost relevance especially when utilised to study species that are characterised with a history of several migrations. Nonetheless, mtDNA can still represents a useful additional tool in the study of molecular genetic diversity. The reason for the adoption of mtDNA is that it is easy to amplify because it appears in multiple copies in the cells and the mitochondrial gene content is strongly conserved across generations. Thousands of published studies have reached conclusions about population history, patterns of gene flow, genetic structure, and species limits, on the basis of mtDNA sequence variation. MtDNA has been used to study phylo-geographic structure of avian species, and to identify the number of maternal lineages and their geographic origins. Most studies of chicken mtDNA rely on sequences of partial control region but recent researches used the complete mtDNA genome to reconstruct the history of animal domestication. The first genetic study on mtDNA suggests that the Indochinese Red Junglefowl subspecies Gallus gallus gallus is the primary ancestor of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). Other studies showed that at least three subspecies of Gallus gallus were enrolled in the origin of domestic chicken breeds, and that there may be at least two domestication centres: one in Southeast Asia and one in the Indian subcontinent. The authors suggested nine highly divergent clades (named clade A-I) related to geographical distribution in a wide range of domestic chickens and Red Junglefowls across Eurasian regions. Understanding when chickens were transported out of domestication centres and the directions in which they were moved provides information about prehistoric human migration, trade routes and cultural diffusion. MtDNA has been used to infer regions of domestication and to identify the number of maternal lineages and their geographic origins in macroevolution studies.

In recent years, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have received considerable attention in both human and animal nutrition, particularly those of the n-3 family (omega-3 fatty acids). These are PUFA in which the first double bond is situated on the third carbon atom from the methyl end of the fatty acid molecule. Consumption of n-3 PUFA are low, particularly the long chain (>18 carbon atoms) ones that are most commonly found in fish oils. As a means of increasing the low consumption of the long chain n-3 PUFA in humans, there is interest in the enrichment of poultry meat with these fatty acids for people seeking healthy lifestyles.

Boron (B) is a trace element that plays an important role in mineral and hormonal metabolism, cell membrane function, and enzymatic reactions. The current evidence supports the hypothesis that boron has an important biological role that affects the mineral metabolism of both humans and animals by interacting with Ca, Mg, P and cholecalciferol (vitamin D), all of which are important in bone metabolism. This implies that B can play a vital role in bone development and normal growth. However, the use of B occasionally results in apparently inconsistent responses in terms of performance in broiler chickens and layer hens. Although some studies have reported the effectiveness of B, no clear mode of action has been proposed. There are many potential reasons for the inconsistent results of B in eliciting beneficial responses. Available data obtained from relevant studies suggest that there are several concurrent factors involved. Of these, nutritional variables predominate. The purpose of this paper is to review the available studies examining the nutritional role of B on the production performance in broiler chickens and laying hens.

In Kuwait, poultry meat is popular and a major source of dietary protein. Despite the increase in local production, importation to Kuwait has increased, to cover the high local demand for poultry meat. Self-sufficiency has, however, reached 20% of the local demand for poultry meat. This is mainly due to the continuous rise in human population and an increased demand for poultry meat with an average of 75.3 kg/capita/yr from year 2000 to 2011. Conversely, local egg production reached 42000 tons in 2011 with self-sufficiency of 101%. The poultry industry in Kuwait depends on the import of major feed ingredients such as corn and soybean from Unite States of America (USA) and India. In addition, the industry imports one day old chicks for layer and broiler hatching from Europe. Therefore, any changes in the quality or price in Europe and USA will affect the local poultry industry in Kuwait. As a result, the major challenges facing the poultry industry in Kuwait include high production costs, improvements in production efficiency, health monitoring programmes, environmental impact, and changes in policies and trade practices in the country. Solutions to these challenges are discussed in this paper. It can be concluded that more development and improvement in poultry meat production is needed through technology transfer as well as research and development relative to local production. This can be done by working closely with the local scientific institutions and government organisations to enhance and develop the poultry sector's capability to reduce production cost and improve profit.

Domestication of chickens from the wild red jungle fowl and modernisation of the poultry industry has changed both poultry and their intestinal microbiome, specifically the eimerian-microbiome-host relationship. Eimeria spp. represent an enteric parasite that has a long co-evolutionary history with their hosts. These parasites have adapted to suit an environment in which chickens thrive and the chickens’ intestinal environment, including the changing host microbiome. This review will delve into the changes in eimerian-host interactions with wild red jungle fowl versus domesticated chickens. The changing nature and composition of the intestinal microbiota as it followed the red jungle fowl into domestication and the relationship of this evolving microbiota with coccidia will be explored. Better comprehension of the web of interactions among the evolving eimerian-microbiome-host relationship will allow for the responsible exploitation of these relationships to maximise poultry health and productivity.

During the past few decades there has been a notable increase in the demand for poultry meat due to its low cost, good nutritional profile and suitability for further processing. Moreover, current forecasts and projection studies have predicted that the expansion of the poultry market will continue in the future. This growing demand has led to progressive improvements in genetic selection to produce fast-growing broilers, inducing the appearance of several spontaneous, idiopathic muscle abnormalities along with an increased susceptibility to stress-induced myopathy. Such muscle abnormalities have several implications for the quality of fresh and processed products, as breast meat that is affected by deep pectoral myopathy is usually rejected due to its unacceptable appearance. In addition, pale, soft and exudative like meat has a low processing ability due to its reduced water holding capacity, soft texture and pale colour. Finally, the high incidence of abnormalities observed in chicken breast muscles such as white striping (characterised by superficial white striations) and wooden breast (characterised by pale and bulging areas of substantial hardness) impair both the appearance and technological traits of breast meat. This review evaluates the consequences of genetic selection on muscle traits and describes the relevance of major breast abnormalities on nutritional, technological, sensorial and microbial characteristics of raw and processed meat.

Outdoor access is a defining characteristic of organic poultry that provides poultry with fresh grass, insects and worms that may lead to enhanced product quality. There is evidence that meat from pastured-based poultry may contain some additional nutritional benefits through lower fat content, as well as higher vitamin and mineral contents. At the same time, under good pasture management, bird health and welfare can be achieved. This review gives an overview on the pasture management practices that can be employed to prevent potential risks in organic poultry systems such as uncontrolled weather conditions or mortality due to predators. This paper discusses the various effects of pasture management on (a) poultry health and welfare, including physical comfort, absence of hunger and disease, possibilities to perform motivated behaviours and (b) meat quality, including both consumer and nutritional quality and sensory attributes as related to pasture synthesis and intake.

Vietnam enjoys the richest natural resources and favourable conditions for agricultural development including poultry production. Backyard chicken production is considered as a traditional system in Vietnam, as it has a short production cycle and requires low investment. Despite the increase of semi-intensive and intensive farming, the self-sufficient backyard farming system is still practised by 84-85% of rural families in the Northeast-Northwest of Vietnam and approximately 42-71% of those in the Southeast-Mekong River Delta regions. Breeds raised in such systems are mostly popular local chicken breeds which accounted for over 70% of the country's total chicken population in 2007. In this paper, more than 30 native Vietnamese chicken breeds with their origin and endangered status are listed and the breeding traditions related to these native breeds are discussed. Moreover, some proposals are given for a particular conservation strategy regarding the possibilities to utilise the native Vietnamese chicken breeds in sustainable rural farming. It has been concluded that governmental conservation efforts should meet the natural way to save the local native breeds by local inhabitants. In this way, a sustainable on-farm chicken conservation pattern can be elaborated not only for Vietnam but also for the countries or regions which have similarly rich, valuable biodiversity, agro-biodiversity and agricultural traditions. For this, local researchers should be encouraged to study economic traits, veterinary status, and all special characteristics of the local breeds in the frames of an official, national gene conservation programme.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.