Mokrane Iguer-Ouada

Medicinal plants, such as nettle (Urtica dioica), are increasingly popular as sustainable alternatives to synthetic growth promoters and antioxidants in poultry production. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary nettle leaves on growth performance, welfare indicators, hematological and biochemical parameters, and oxidative status of broiler turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) reared under intensive conditions. Seventy-two turkeys were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments from 3 to 15 weeks of age, including a control diet (CN), a diet with 3% nettle leaf powder (N3), and a diet with 6% nettle leaf powder (N6). Growth performance was monitored until week 13, while blood, carcass, and organ parameters were measured at the end of the trial. Mortality occurred only in the control group (3.33%), while there was no mortality in groups N3 or N6. Growth performance was significantly influenced by diet and sex. Male turkeys fed the N3 diet achieved higher final body weight compared to those receiving the CN or N6 diets. Conversely, no growth-promoting effect was observed in female turkeys. Female turkeys receiving the N3 diet exhibited lower final body weight and a higher feed conversion ratio than those in the CN group, indicating reduced feed efficiency. Nettle supplementation had no significant effect on carcass yield, organ development, or welfare indicators, including feather cleanliness and tarsal and plantar lesions. Hematological parameters, notably mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and platelet count, were significantly affected by nettle supplementation diets, whereas biochemical parameters remained within physiological ranges, indicating preserved systemic homeostasis. Dietary nettle supplementation enhanced antioxidant status, with both supplemented groups exhibiting significantly increased total antioxidant capacity, as measured by 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid; ABTS) radical scavenging activity, and a decrease in lipid peroxidation, assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), compared to the control group. Nettle leaf supplementation enhanced antioxidant defenses without compromising turkeys' welfare. A sex-dependent pattern was observed in growth performance parameters, with male turkeys exhibiting a greater response than females at the 3% nettle leaf inclusion level. However, both sexes exhibited consistent increases in antioxidant levels, highlighting the potential of nettle as a natural supplement in turkey production.

Elevated ammonia and urea, common byproducts of nitrogen metabolism, are increasingly found in dairy cows and may negatively impact reproductive function. However, their effects on bull sperm remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of ammonia and urea at physiologically relevant concentrations on key sperm characteristics. Thawed bull semen was incubated under five treatment conditions: control (no added ammonia or urea), low urea (LU), high urea (HU), low ammonia (LA), and high ammonia (HA). Sperm motility and kinematics were assessed using Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA), and sperm viability, DNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and oxidative stress markers were evaluated using flow cytometry. HA significantly reduced MMP (p = 0.008) and several motility parameters, including progressive motility and velocity (VCL, VSL, ALH), compared to LA and control groups. A decrease in sperm viability was observed in the HA group compared to LA at the beginning of incubation. While HU reduced MMP (p = 0.002), sperm motility was not significantly affected compared to LU. No significant differences were found in DNA fragmentation or oxidative stress biomarkers between groups. These results highlight the impact of ammonia, specifically, on sperm mitochondrial function and motility, which are crucial for successful fertilization.

The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), the only African macaque and an endangered species, faces significant conservation challenges. By compiling both published and unpublished data, this review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge on the Barbary macaque in Algeria, with a specific focus on (1) geographic distribution and population estimates, and (2) anthropogenic threats. We reviewed 409 studies and identified 41 relevant to the Algerian context. Our findings update population estimates, revealing over 9000 individuals across national parks such as Djurdjura, Gouraya, and Chréa. We also document new presence data of the species in Skikda and Jijel. Finally, an analysis of the available studies on the impact of anthropogenic activities on the species in Algeria shows that the primary factors affecting macaques include habitat loss, overgrazing, illegal trade, road mortality, and tourism-related disease transmission. While species monitoring has improved, many forest regions remain understudied. We call for expanded systematic research and conservation efforts, particularly in unsurveyed habitats such as the Akfadou and Guerrouche forests and Babors-Tababort National Park. By integrating diverse data sources, this review supports the need for evidence-based conservation of M. sylvanus in Algeria and highlights its critical role in North African biodiversity.

Essential oils play an important role in the fight against plant pathogens. Clove essential oils are widely used as antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, and antioxidant agents. To increase its solubility and reduce its volatility, clove essential oil was encapsulated in β cyclodextrin, using the freeze-drying method at a weight ratio of 16:84. The composition of clove essential oil was evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-SM). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 11 components, representing 98.7% of the essential oils. The major component was eugenol (79.7%), followed by eugenyl acetate (16.3%). The antifungal activity of clove essential oil and its inclusion complex with β cyclodextrin was tested against an Algerian isolate of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp radicis lycopersici (FORL) and a reference strain, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici race 2 (FOL) in liquid medium. The obtained results demonstrated that the antifungal efficiency of clove essential oil against FORL and FOL enhanced after encapsulation in β-cyclodextrin. A significant difference between the inhibition rates obtained with free clove essential oil and those obtained with the inclusion complex (β-cyclodextrin-clove oil) was observed for the concentrations studied.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of commonly prescribed antibiotics on sperm parameters in breeding roosters. Twenty adult subjects were divided on the basis of their response to the dorso-abdominal massage into four experimental groups (G1: 30 mg/kg of ampicillin, G2: 10 mg/kg of enrofloxacin, G3: 2.5 mg/kg of colistin, and G4: 140 mg/kg of a sulfonamides association (sulphaquinoxaline sodium 150 mg, sulphamethazine sodium 70 mg, sulphadiazine sodium 70 mg). The measurements were performed at (T0) (before treatment), (T3 and T9) (representing 3 and 9 days of treatment) by Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA). All antibiotics did not affect ejaculate color, pH, seminal fluid viscosity, and agglutination. Ampicillin increased slightly sperm volume at T3 (0.31±0.19) with no significant change at T9 (0.30±0.15). No significant effect was observed at T3 on sperm count (224.05±41.9), viability (94±2.08), and total motility (TM) (57%). However, progressive motility (PM) deceased slightly on T3 (36.92%). Enrofloxacin and colistin induced a significant decrease in sperm volume (0.40±0.10, 0.16±0.08), count (2.13±0.27, 0.65±0.33), viability (81.33±5.45, 37.33±18.67), TM (54.95%, 46.91%), and PM (31.24%, 23%) on T3. On T9 some parameters were improved to be closer to those observed at T0. Ampicillin, colistin, and enrofloxacin decreased significantly all (CASA) kinematic parameters. The highest impact was observed on the third day of treatment (T3). Sulfonamides decreased sperm volume and gametes concentration but enhanced significantly sperm viability, total motility TM, progressive motility PM, and all kinematic parameters.

This study focused on novel histological indicators correlated with macroscopic reproductive parameters in male and female European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Weekly sampling from commercial catches in the Gulf of Béjaïa, Algeria, was conducted to measure microscopic parameters, including seminiferous tubule number (STN) and area (STA) in males, and oocyte number (ON) and surface area (OA) in females, independent of maturation stages. Macroscopic reproductive stages were assessed using a standardized five-degree maturity staging system and the gonadosomatic index (GSI). Results showed that OA and ON accurately reflected female maturity stages and exhibited opposing trends with GSI, suggesting their reliability as reproductive activity indicators. Similarly, seminiferous tubules parameters (STN and STA) provided valuable insights into male spermatogenesis and maturation stages. Our findings propose standardized ON/OA and STN/STA measurements as novel, quantitative tools for assessing reproductive activity in anchovy, combining histological and image analysis for a more precise understanding.

This study aimed to determine the effects of air sac injection of rosemary essential oil at different concentrations in ovo in quail eggs on hatching rate, relative chick weight at hatching, and embryonic mortality rate. A total of 1060 Japanese quail eggs were divided into four groups: negative control (non-injected), positive control (30 µL sterile distilled water/egg), and two treated groups with 1 and 3 µL oil/egg, respectively. The concentration of 3 µL/egg showed a toxic effect on embryonic development, as revealed by the significantly (p = 0.015) higher post-injection mortality rate (18.21%) compared to 1 µL/egg with 8.3%. Furthermore, hatchability was significantly increased (p = 0.0001) with 1 µL/egg compared to 3 µL/egg with 69.1% and 44.48%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the concentration of 1 µL/egg and the control groups (p = 0.822). Both l and 3 µL essential oil/egg significantly enhanced (p = 0.0001) relative chick weight at hatching by 67.14% and 70.32%, respectively, compared to the control groups. In conclusion, injecting eggs with 1 µL oil/egg showed positive effects both on hatching and relative chick weight. The concentration of 3 µL/egg was revealed to be toxic, with dramatic effects on embryonic survival.

Previous research has revealed the gut microbiota profile of several primate species, as well as the impact of a variety of anthropogenic factors, such as tourist food supply, on these bacterial communities. However, there is no information on the gut microbiota of the endangered wild Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus). The present study is the first to characterize the faecal microbiota of this species, as well as to investigate the impact of tourist food provisioning on it. A total of 12 faecal samples were collected in two groups of M. sylvanus in the region of Bejaia in Algeria. The first group—a tourist-provisioned one—was located in the tourist area of the Gouraya National Park and the second group—a wild-feeding one—was located in the proximity of the village of Mezouara in the forest of Akfadou. After DNA extraction, the faecal microbiota composition was analysed using 16S rDNA sequencing. Statistical tests were performed to compare alpha diversity and beta diversity between the two groups. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was applied to visualize biodiversity between groups. Behaviour monitoring was also conducted to assess the time allocated to the consumption of anthropogenic food by the tourist-provisioned group. Our results revealed the presence of 209 bacterial genera from 17 phyla in the faecal microbiota of Barbary macaques. Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia. On the other hand, the comparison between the faecal microbiota of the two study groups showed that tourism activity was associated with a significant change on the faecal microbiota of M.sylvanus, probably due to diet alteration (with 60% of feeding time allocated to the consumption of anthropogenic food). The potentially low-fibre diet at the tourist site adversely influenced the proliferation of bacterial genera found in abundance in the wild group such as Ruminococcaceae. Such an alteration of the faecal microbiota can have negative impacts on the health status of these animals by increasing the risk of obesity and illness and calls for special management measures to reduce the provisioning rate in tourist areas.