title: Deterioration of eggshell quality is related to calbindin in laying hens infected with velogenic genotype VIId Newcastle disease virus.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism by which Newcastle disease virus (NDV) affects eggshell quality. Thirty-week-old specific pathogen free (SPF) egg-laying hens were inoculated with the velogenic genotype VIId NDV strain (infected group) or with inoculating media without virus (control group) by combined intraocular and intranasal routes. The levels of CaBP-D28k mRNA expression in the uterus, a gene related to eggshell quality, were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The quality of eggshells was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The infected group showed a marked decline in egg production when compared to the control group. The NDV antigen was found more abundantly in the glandular epithelium of the infected hens' uteri from 1 to 15 d post-inoculation (dpi). The levels of CaBP-D28k mRNA expression in the uteri of infected hens were significantly lower than in the control hens from 3 to 15 dpi (P < 0.05). The changes in the Ca concentrations in the eggshells were consistent with the expression of CaBP-D28k mRNA in the infected hens. Ultrastructural examination of eggshells showed significantly reduced shell thickness in the infected hens from 1 to 15 dpi (P < 0.05). Furthermore, obvious changes in the structure of the external shell surface and shell membrane were detected in the infected hens compared with the control hens. In conclusion, the current study confirmed that velogenic genotype VIId NDV infection is associated with the deterioration of the eggshell quality of the laying hens.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ruiqiao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ruichun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: jinhaih@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinhai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064026:Calbindins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D064026:Calbindins; D002118:Calcium
keywords: CaBP-D28k mRNA; Eggshell ultrastructure; Laying hens; NDV