Project Number: 6406-32000-010-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2004
End Date: Jul 31, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to determine eggshell microstructural characteristics and associated physiological profiles in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-vaccinated egg-laying chickens.

Approach:
Chickens will be monitored to determine the effects of MG infections on various properties of the eggshell, including its microstructure. Light and scanning electron microscopes with digital imaging systems will be used to measure eggshell parameters such as total shell thickness, mammillary cone thickness, and columnar region thickness. Digital micrographs will be taken to assess shell structural features including radial shell sections, shell membranes, and mammillary cones. Serum lipoprotein chacteristics (VLDL diameter and cholesterol recovery in VLDL, LDL, and HDL fractions) of eggs will be determined. The effects of diet supplements on MG-inoculated birds and the effects of inoculation of various MG strain overlays will also be studied in several consecutive trials.