A method for collecting breath samples from individual chickens for analysis of ¹³CO₂, H₂, and CH₄
Date
2008
Authors
Hughes, R.
Tivey, D.
Butler, R.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Poultry Science, 2008; 87(9):1804-1809
Statement of Responsibility
R. J. Hughes, D. R. Tivey, and R. N. Butler
Conference Name
Abstract
This study describes experiments using simple helmets to collect breath samples from individual birds for measurement of (13)CO(2), H(2), and CH(4), which form the basis for various diagnostic tests for intestinal dysfunction in humans. Peak enrichment in (13)C in breath CO(2) occurred between 5 and 30 min postingestion by 18-d-old chickens administered a gelatin capsule containing approximately 3.6 mg of (13)C-octanoic acid dissolved in vegetable oil. For 25-d-old chickens given 10 mL of homogenized cooked corn by oral gavage, peak enrichment occurred 60 to 90 min postingestion. In fully fed 25-d-old chickens, H(2) and CH(4) concentrations in breath ranged from 7 to 115 ppm and from 0 to 5.5 ppm, respectively. Following an overnight fast, H(2) and CH(4) concentrations in breath ranged from 0.5 to 7.5 ppm and 0 to 3.0 ppm, respectively, in the same chickens. Ranges in H(2) (1.0 to 56.5 ppm) and CH(4) (0 to 8.0 ppm) concentrations widened considerably 3 h after oral gavage with approximately 130 mg of lactulose (an indigestible disaccharide) dissolved in 5 mL of water. The results from these investigations indicate that collection of re-breathed air samples from chickens is plausible, which opens the way for development of noninvasive methods for evaluating gastrointestinal functions in chickens.