title: Bronchodilator, oxygen level, and temperature effects on ascites incidence in broiler chickens.
abstract: Oxygen level, ambient temperature, and bronchodilator (metaproterenol) effects on performance, ascites incidence, and hematology were investigated using commercial broilers. In Experiment 1, two atmospheric oxygen concentrations (17.6, 20.6%) and two ambient temperatures (26.7, 32.2 C) were examined in a factorial arrangement. The low-oxygen (17.6%), ambient temperature combination (26.7 C) reduced (P < .01) weight gain whereas the high-oxygen ambient temperature combination enhanced (P < .05) such performance. Ascites incidence for chicks housed at 32.2 C was higher (P < .01) for birds maintained at 17.6% oxygen but oxygen concentration did not impact ascites incidence at 26.7 C. White blood cell counts were elevated in the low-oxygen (17.6%) group at both 26.7 and 32.2 C, and hematocrit was positively (R = .84; P < .05) correlated with ascites incidence. In Experiment 2, two oxygen levels (17.6, 20.6%) at constant 26.7 C were examined with and without metaproterenol, a bronchodilator. Metaproterenol reduced (P < .01) ascites incidence at 17.6% oxygen and completely prevented ascites at 20.6% oxygen. The data suggest that therapeutic development may be enhanced by using hematocrit as an indices of ascites and further that studies directed at bronchodilation have potential to alleviate ascites.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Stillwater 74078, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vanhooser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beker
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Teeter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D015994:Incidence; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013696:Temperature; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D009921:Metaproterenol; D010100:Oxygen