title: The effect of eggshell apex abnormalities on table egg quality during storage in 2 seasons of the year.
abstract: Mycoplasma synoviae infection of hens has been associated with problems of eggshell quality called eggshell apex abnormalities (EAA). Little is known about the quality of EAA eggs from a commercial point of view, especially during their storage. The study aimed to examine the differences between EAA and normal eggs during storage under controlled conditions in 2 seasons, summer and winter, by comparing internal and external quality parameters. In a conventional egg production farm with white laying hens of varying ages in the city of Bastos, state of São Paulo, Brazil, 232 eggs were used in the summer season and 400 eggs in the winter season. Half of the eggs had EAA, and the other half were considered normal eggs for each season. The eggs were analyzed at 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after being laid and stored from 24.6 to 25.8°C in summer and from 24 to 25°C in winter. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the average egg weight between EAA and normal eggs at any studied time point, but in both seasons, the weight loss in EAA eggs was higher than in normal eggs. The losses in Haugh unit scores from the first to the last measurements were approximately 40% regardless of egg type or season of production. In comparing eggshell thickness, only the apices of the EAA eggs were thinner (P < 0.0001) than normal eggs in the summer, but in the winter, the EAA egg apices (P < 0.0001) and sides (P = 0.03) were both thinner. The presence of EAA did not affect the eggshell weight (P > 0.05) or eggshell percentage (P > 0.05). The eggshell strength of the EAA eggs was lower (P < 0.0001) than normal eggs in both the summer (16.57%) and winter (19.86%). The presence of EAA did not affect the internal quality of the egg, but was related to a greater loss of external quality and weight during storage.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil dinah.84vet@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: M D M
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Verinaud
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Bastos, Instituto Biológico, Bastos, 17690-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil.
authors.forename: V L A
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002645:Chickens; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000382:microbiology*; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D061353:Food Storage; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045805:Mycoplasma synoviae / Q000502:physiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Mycoplasma synoviae; egg weight; eggshell strength; eggshell thickness