Meat has played a central role in human evolution, shaping not only our diets but also our societies, cultures, and technologies. From early hunting practice to the domestication and systematic production of livestock, the history of meat production closely parallels human development. Today, however, industrial meat production faces growing challenges, including environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, ethical concerns, and evolving consumer expectations. In this review, the transformation of meat production is discussed, with a focus on emerging scientific and technological innovations aimed at improving meat quality, sustainability, and production efficiency. In addition, the concept of cellular agriculture is summarized as a complementary approach for producing future agricultural products, including protein sources, along with conventional meat production and other meat alternative technologies. The future of meat is not merely a technological challenge, but a multidisciplinary endeavor, as the market introduction of cell-based foods, a key component of cellular agriculture, broadens the meat science landscape and enables innovation to advance alongside conventional meat production in support of sustainable and resilient food systems.
Previous studies suggest red and processed meat consumption may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer (PC); however, there is no consensus regarding the associations. A systematic review and meta-analysis were therefore performed to explore the relationship between red and processed meats and PC risk. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for articles up to April 13, 2026, using random-effects models to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs, restricted cubic splines for dose-response relationship, and subgroup/meta-regression for heterogeneity. This systematic review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022384026; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=384026). Sixteen articles with 1,959,527 participants and 8,856 PC cases were included. There was a 16% increased risk of PC found in the highest versus lowest red meat consumption levels (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.31). A linear association was observed between red (P non-linear = 0.656) and processed meats (P non-linear = 0.857) and PC risk, with a 10% increase in the risk of PC for each additional 100 g/d of red meat consumption (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00-1.21). For processed meat products, no significant association with PC risk was found. This finding indicates that increased red meat consumption may elevate the PC risk; therefore, daily red meat intake is recommended to be controlled. No evidence links processed meat to PC risk.
Rabbit meat is increasingly valued for its high nutritional quality, driving growing interest in enhancing its production through phytobiotics like plant-based flavonoid blend (PFB). So, this study looked at how a PFB at different doses influences the performance, digestibility, gut microbiota, blood biomarkers, liver health, and meat quality of growing rabbits. Sixty rabbits (body weight 552.63 ± 13.44 g) were assigned at random to five dietary groups, having twelve replicates per group. The rabbits were fed a basal diet as a total mixed ration having 17.02% crude protein and 11.60 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter (DM), supplemented with PFB (g/kg diet) at 0.0 (control), 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, and 0.80. Following a 2 weeks adjustment period, the feeding trial was conducted for 5 weeks. When the trial was over, rabbits were sacrificed to collect digesta, blood, and meat samples for further analysis. Supplementation with PFB at 0.60 g/kg diet (range: 0.50-0.70 g/kg) showed a better final body weight (p = 0.01), weight gain (p < 0.001), and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.001), while significantly improving DM, nitrogen-free extract (p < 0.001), and ether extract (p = 0.02) digestibility. Besides, supplementation with PFB presented a linear reduction in Escherichia coli (p = 0.003), accompanied by linear improvement in Lactobacillus spp. (p < 0.001) and serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C; p = 0.001). Broken-line analysis indicated optimal PFB supplementation levels of 0.60, 0.47, and 0.60 g/kg diet for E. coli, Lactobacillus spp., and HDL-C, respectively. However, feed intake, serum triglycerides, other cholesterols, total protein, albumin, globulin, and uric acid remained unchanged across the groups. Furthermore, supplementation with PFB with an estimated breakpoint of 0.55 g PFB/kg of diet effectively (p ≤ 0.02) reduced serum liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) indicating better liver health. In addition, PFB supplementation linearly reduced meat ether extract content and improved meat redness (p < 0.001), with optimal responses at 0.58 and 0.60 g/kg diet, respectively, while having no impacts on meat protein, ash, lightness, or yellowness. Therefore, dietary inclusion of PFB at 0.55 g-0.60 g per kg diet optimized growth performance through enhanced weight gain, feed efficiency, and nutrient digestibility, while favorably modulating cecum microbiome, serum cholesterol, liver enzyme activities, and ameliorated meat quality.
Wild meat remains a critical source of food security and income in tropical regions, yet it poses significant public health risks due to the potential for zoonotic disease transmission. To better understand these risks, we conducted 2,374 structured interviews with hunters and food preparers across 44 rural villages in Cameroon and surveyed 64 wild meat vendors in four regional markets. This study explores prevailing wild meat handling practices and perceptions of disease risk, providing essential insights for designing targeted interventions to safeguard human health and livelihoods. Hunting patterns varied by ethnicity: a higher percentage of Indigenous Baka reported hunting than Bantu, and Baka hunters were more likely to target bats, a high-risk taxonomic group. Gender, age, and ethnicity also shape behaviours. Women and older individuals were generally less likely to hunt or handle animals exhibiting clinical abnormalities. However, notable differences were observed between ethnic groups. Among the Indigenous Baka, women frequently participated in hunting, particularly by setting snares, whereas Bantu women seldom did so. Across both groups, women were more likely than men to take home carcasses found dead and to hunt small mammals such as rodents. These distinctions highlight how gendered and cultural norms influence patterns of wildlife contact and exposure to zoonotic risk. Hygiene standards during the handling and processing of wild meat were generally very low. Fewer than 1% of household respondents reported using any protective equipment, and only 6% cleaned butchering surfaces with soap. A substantial number admitted to consuming or selling meat from animals that appeared visibly diseased, exhibiting signs such as abnormal organs, discolouration, or unusual odours. Injuries sustained during butchering were also commonly reported, further compounding health risks. Concern about disease was relatively low, reported by only 14.7% of households. However, it was associated with a modest increase in the likelihood of handwashing (by 5 percentage points) and a more substantial increase in the possibility of avoiding contact with dead animals (by 16 percentage points). Ethnic and gender differences influenced both concerns about disease risk and behaviours. These findings highlight the importance of designing public health strategies grounded in local sociocultural realities, aimed at reducing zoonotic risk while safeguarding livelihoods and respecting the economic and cultural roles that wild meat plays within communities.
This study investigated effects of three feeding systems - indoor feeding (CK), artificial pasture grazing for 4 h with indoor feeding (G4H), and 8 h with indoor feeding (G8H) - on lamb growth performance, meat quality, rumen microbiota, and muscle metabolites using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Pasture-grazing groups produced meat with superior quality, particularly in fatty acid (FA) profiles than CK group, and G4H lambs exhibited higher average daily gain and meat crude protein (CP) content (P < 0.05). Key rumen microorganisms, including Butyrivibrio 2 and Prevotellaceae UCG-003, as well as metabolites such as (R)-salsolinol and acrylamide, were significantly associated with meat tenderness, CP content, and FA content (P < 0.05 and |r| ≥ 0.49). Artificial pasture grazing improved meat quality by reshaping rumen microbiota and modulating metabolic pathways, presenting a preferable strategy for producing healthier lamb meat, with the G4H system offering the greatest growth performance.
Twenty-four Belgian Blue × Holstein heifers (205 kg ± 34) were equally subdivided into two dietary treatments for 8 months: a conventional cereals-based diet (CTRL), and a low human edible input diet (EXP) composed of hay and a concentrate including agri-food by-products (hazelnut peel, spelt bran, corn germ, and wheat middlings) and faba bean var. minor. The effects on animal performance, meat quality, economic and sustainability indicators were evaluated. Both diets provided similar energy and crude protein, but the EXP diet was lower in starch and greater in fiber and lipids than the CTRL diet. The EXP diet reduce human-edible feed intake and input per kg of carcass gain without detriments of animal performance and carcass traits. Similarly, the EXP diet reduced feeding costs and improved the material circularity index. EXP meat showed higher proportions of trans-18:1 fatty acids and PUFA n-3 as well as lower 18:1 t10/t11 and PUFA n-6/n-3 ratios, suggesting a modulation of biohydrogenation, reliably driven by the greater intake of fiber and phenols. Moreover, meat from the EXP group exhibited greater antioxidant capacity than the CTRL meat. This study indicates that the inclusion of agri-food by-products and forages in place of conventional ingredients, such as cereals and soybean meal, in the diet for dairy-beef allows to reduce feeding cost, feed-to-food competition while maintaining animal performance and partially improving meat quality. Overall, the results support the use of alternative feed resources as reliable strategy to enhance the quality and the sustainability of beef meat from dairy systems.
Rabbit meat is widely recognized for its favorable nutritional properties, while the molecular mechanisms underlying differences in meat quality between New Zealand White rabbits and Rex rabbits are essential for rabbit production. In this study, a total of 120 healthy 13-week-old rabbits (60 per group) were used to evaluate meat quality traits. The longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) was then collected for transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. The results showed that New Zealand White rabbits exhibited significantly higher live weight before slaughter, eviscerated weight, semi-eviscerated weight, and pH24 (p < 0.01), whereas Rex rabbits displayed higher cooking loss (p < 0.01) and intramuscular fat content (p < 0.05). Metabolomic profiling identified 218 differential metabolites (DMs), which were mainly enriched in amino acid biosynthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, including key metabolites such as DL-arginine, gallic acid, and lipid-related compounds. Transcriptomic analysis identified 227 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in pathways associated with muscle development and meat quality, including oxidative phosphorylation, FoxO, and MAPK signaling pathways. Key DEGs, such as MYH13, HOXA13, and PDK4, were associated with muscle fiber formation and fat deposition. Integrated analysis revealed that 34 DEGs and 24 DMs were co-enriched in 26 pathways, with strong correlations observed between oxidative phosphorylation-related genes and energy metabolites, as well as between collagen-associated genes and amino acids. These findings establish a gene-metabolite regulatory network underlying breed-specific differences in meat quality and identify potential molecular markers to improve rabbit meat quality and to better understand muscle metabolism across different rabbit breeds.
The integration of multiple omics strategies represents a transformative paradigm in farm animal genetics and breeding. By capturing molecular complexity across biological layers, integrative omics offers new opportunities to reveal the regulatory mechanisms underlying economically important traits. Here, we characterize the hepatic transcriptomic landscape of Nelore cattle and its relationship with meat and carcass quality phenotypes. For that, we integrated gene expression data, co-expression networks, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-phenotype associations, chromatin accessibility, and transcription factor motif analyses using hepatic RNA-seq data from 90 animals and assay for transposase‑accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) data from two animals. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 10 gene modules associated with our phenotypes of interest, particularly the blue module (r = -0.4), which is linked to meat color and enriched in insulin and mTOR signaling pathways. eQTL mapping revealed 1,198 cis- and 39,227 trans-eQTLs (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05), including hotspots on chromosome 25. Notably, rs449155362 was found to regulate 848 genes, within them MLXIPL, a transcription factor involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. Phenotype-eQTL associations revealed 54 SNPs (FDR < 0.05) related to meat and carcass traits, among which rs110069409, within an open chromatin region, modulates PLA2G2D1 expression and was associated with meat color (yellowness 24 h after the slaughter-b*₀), representing a convergence point across regulatory layers. These findings provide novel insights into the multilayered genetic architecture of the liver that controls meat quality traits in beef cattle, supporting the use of integrative omics to guide functional genomic selection.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Rosa roxburghii Tratt. pomace (RRP) as a functional feed ingredient on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and muscle chemical composition in broilers, and to determine the optimal inclusion level through a dose-response approach. A total of 360 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments with nine replicates of 10 birds each for 42 days: a control group (basal diet) and three groups supplemented with 50, 100, or 150 g/kg RRP, respectively. Results showed that RRP supplementation at 100 or 150 g/kg significantly increased final body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, while decreasing the feed-to-gain ratio compared with the control (P < 0.05). RRP dose-dependently enhanced superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity activities in both serum and breast muscle, and reduced malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). Meat quality parameters, including pH, drip loss, shear force, and meat color, were not affected by RRP supplementation. RRP supplementation significantly increased crude protein content and decreased crude fat content in breast muscle (P < 0.05). Regarding detailed chemical composition, RRP supplementation increased total amino acids, total essential amino acids, and the contents of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, while improving the PUFA/SFA ratio and reducing the ω-6/ω-3 ratio. For all significantly affected parameters, the 100 and 150 g/kg groups showed comparable effects, with no significant differences between them. Mortality rate was not affected by any treatment. In conclusion, dietary RRP supplementation at 100 g/kg is recommended as the practical and cost-effective inclusion level to improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and muscle nutritional value in broilers, without compromising meat quality. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of RRP as a functional feed ingredient, rather than a conventional trace-level additive, in broiler production and support the high-value utilization of agricultural by-products. The relatively high inclusion levels (5-15%) were deliberately chosen to establish a complete dose-response curve and identify both the minimum effective threshold and the safety plateau for this novel by-product.
Recent studies on cultured meat have shown that muscle satellite cells can be induced to form muscle-like tissues through proliferation and myogenic differentiation. Optimizing these processes is essential for reproducing the structure and texture of conventional meat; however, limited myogenic differentiation remains a major technical challenge. Stanozolol (STZ), a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone, is known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophy, but its effects on livestock-derived muscle cells for cultured meat production remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether STZ enhances myogenic differentiation and myotube formation in primary porcine muscle satellite cells (PMSCs). PMSCs were treated with STZ at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed to determine the non-cytotoxic concentration range. Myogenic differentiation was evaluated by measuring the expression of myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD), myogenin (MyoG), myosin heavy chain (MyHC), and myostatin (MSTN). Myotube formation was analysed by immunofluorescence staining, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by examining PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Smad2/3, and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling. STZ showed no cytotoxicity and did not significantly affect PMSC proliferation at 0.1-1 μM. In differentiation medium, STZ significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of myogenic markers, including MyoD, MyoG, and MyHC, in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, 1 μM STZ promoted the formation of larger multinucleated myotubes. In addition, STZ decreased MSTN expression, activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR hypertrophic signaling, and suppressed Smad2/3 phosphorylation and FoxO3a activity. STZ promoted myogenic differentiation and myotube formation in PMSCs by enhancing myogenic marker expression and modulating hypertrophy- and atrophy-associated signaling pathways. These findings suggest that STZ may serve as an effective culture medium supplement for improving PMSC differentiation in cultured meat production.
Campylobacter is a major bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, and poultry meat is widely recognized as a principal reservoir for human Campylobacter infection. This study characterized the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, genomic diversity, key antimicrobial-resistance determinants, and virulence genes of Campylobacter isolates collected from chicken farms and fresh retail poultry meat in ten regions of Jiangsu Province, China. The biofilm- forming capacity of selected strains was also evaluated. MLST identified CC-574 and CC-828 as the predominant clonal complexes of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, respectively. The isolates exhibited a broad range of sequence types (STs), including 21 previously documented STs in C. jejuni and 16 in C. coli, as well as six novel STs from C. jejuni and three novel STs from C. coli. Phylogenetic analysis revealed extensive genetic diversity among the Campylobacter isolates. Overall, 46.6 % of isolates were classified as MDR. The MDR proportion was significantly higher in C. coli (75.4 %) than in C. jejuni (17.5 %), and C. coli exhibited broader resistance across the ten antibiotics assessed. Among the detected resistance genes, the resistance-enhancing variant RE-CmeABC, which was primarily harbored by C. jejuni, had the highest prevalence (32.8 %), followed by tet(O) (31.3 %), the aminoglycoside resistance gene cluster aadEsat4-aphA-3 (21.9 %), and erm(B) (9.4 %). Virulence-gene profiling of the 128 Campylobacter isolates identified 10 virulence genes across five functional categories: adhesinon, invasion, immune modulation, motility, and toxin production. The wlaN gene, which is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, was detected in 7 (5.5 %) C. jejuni isolates. Among the 38 Campylobacter strains tested for biofilm formation, six C. coli isolates exhibited pronounce biofilm-forming capacity. These findings indicate that Campylobacter isolates from chicken farms and retail poultry meat pose potential public health risks, underscoring the need for targeted Campylobacter control strategies and providing a useful reference for future surveillance pograms.
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) poses a substantial economic and health challenges for poultry and meat industries. One of the promising alternative approaches to overcome bacterial contamination in food products is bacteriophage, due to its high specificity, safety, and effectiveness. We aimed to isolate a bacteriophage against E. coli causing poultry diseases and investigate its potential as biocontrol/therapeutic agent. A novel E. coli phage vB_EcoP_ZCEC16 was isolated from poultry samples. vB_EcoP_ZCEC16 is a podophage as visualized by transmission electron microscope, and it exhibited a high thermal and pH stability, and high lytic activity at MOIs 0.1 and 1 demonstrated by rapid reduction in bacterial optical density. Whole-genome analysis clustered the phage within Kuravirus genus and confirmed its virulence and the absence of antimicrobial resistance genes. The phage was also safe at high concentration (109 PFU/mL) on human fibroblast cells (HSF) and human colon carcinoma (Caco-2) cell lines as no cytotoxic effect was observed after 24 h. In addition, the lowest tested phage MOI (0.1) was the most protective to HSF cells against bacterial infection. Finally, phage vB_EcoP_ZCEC16 was evaluated for its biocontrol efficacy, where it significantly reduced the count of E. coli contaminating fresh poultry meat after 2 h of treatment. Our study introduced a novel virulent phage with the potential of biocontrol agent for enhancing food safety.
Meat adulteration is a significant global food safety challenge, creating a pressing need for rapid and on-site detection technologies. Herein, we present an intelligent one-pot biosensing platform termed one-pot TLAMP-PfAgo assay (OTPA) that integrates the rapid amplification of turn-back loop primer-accelerated loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) (TLAMP) with the sequence-specific detection of Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute (PfAgo). This system features a clever heat-activatable design using microcrystalline wax to spatially separate reactions within a single tube, enabling contamination-free and streamlined operation. The OTPA assay achieves sensitive and specific detection, with limits of detection as low as 3×10-4 ng/μL for pork DNA and 2×10-4 ng/μL for beef DNA within 30 min. It successfully enables duplex target identification and has been validated with commercial meat products, showing perfect concordance with standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based qualitative detection. Notably, the result can be directly visualized under blue light, underscoring the substantial potential of this cost-effective and simple platform for point-of-care testing (POCT) and intelligent biosensing in food safety surveillance. 肉类掺假是全球食品安全面临的一项重大挑战，因而迫切需要开发快速的现场检测技术。在此，本研究提出了一种名为OTPA（一锅法TLAMP-PfAgo分析）的智能一锅法生物传感平台。该平台将基于折返环引物加速的环介导等温扩增技术（LAMP）（TLAMP）与激烈火球菌（Pyrococcus furiosus）的Argonaute蛋白（PfAgo）的序列特异性检测功能完美融合，采用一种巧妙的热激活设计，利用微晶蜡在单管内实现反应的空间隔离，从而确保了操作的无污染与流程的简化。OTPA分析法具备极高的灵敏度与特异性，在30分钟内对猪肉DNA和牛肉DNA的检测限分别低至3×10-4 ng/μL和2×10-4 ng/μL。此外，它成功实现了双靶标鉴定，并在市售肉制品中得到了验证，其结果与标准的PCR定性检测高度一致。值得注意的是，检测结果可在蓝光下直接通过肉眼可视化，这充分凸显了这种经济高效且简便的平台在食品安全监测的即时检测（POCT）与智能生物传感领域中所具备的巨大潜力。.
This study tested whether Xanthoceras sorbifolium meal (XSM) could replace soybean meal (SBM) in finishing lamb diets at 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Forty male lambs were fed for 112 days. At 50% replacement, growth performance and carcass traits were not affected, but full replacement lowered feed efficiency. Across all XSM groups, press loss decreased and muscle antioxidant capacity improved, with higher catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity and lower malondialdehyde. XSM also increased n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and essential amino acid (EAA) levels in the longissimus thoracis. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) volatile profiling showed that the 50% group had the most distinctive aroma, with higher levels of 1-octen-3-one, (E)-2-octenal, and benzeneacetaldehyde but lower off-flavor precursors. Correlation analysis linked these volatile shifts mainly to n-6 C20 PUFA. We conclude that 50% XSM substitution best balances production, meat quality, and flavor.
This study examined how protein source and redox treatment influence structural properties and peptide profiles of high-moisture extruded (HME) meat analogs. Wheat gluten (WG) was blended with soy protein (SP) or pea protein (PP) and L-cysteine/ascorbic acid (LC/AA) followed by HME. The optimum feed moisture content (FMC) was selected based on the degree of texturization, which was subsequently analyzed for structural, thermal, digestibility, bioactivity, and celiac-related peptide. WG-SP formed stronger β-sheet-rich networks, whereas WG-PP showed more molecular flexibility with higher β-turn and random coil. LC/AA treatment promoted intermolecular disulfide bond rearrangement and re-polymerization, resulting in increased β-sheet formation, a higher denaturation temperature, and improved hardness. Peptide analysis revealed that WG-PP produced more predicted bioactive peptides and fewer celiac-related epitopes than WG-SP. The immuno-dominant 33-mer celiac-related peptide was detected only in WG-SP. Overall, structural strengthening through redox-mediated modification did not sufficiently reduce potential celiac-related risks in WG-based meat analogs.
Bio-based films have garnered significant attention in the food packaging industry due to their eco-friendliness and multifunctional properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of silver oxide nanocomposites and encapsulation processes on the physical, chemical, thermal, and microbiological properties of bio-based films. Three types of films were prepared and analyzed, including a base film (containing protein and plant fiber), a film with silver oxide nanocomposites, and an encapsulated film with silver oxide nanocomposites. FTIR, TGA, DSC, SEM, and microbiological tests were conducted to evaluate the structural, thermal, and antimicrobial properties of the films. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS at a significance level of α = 0.05. The t-Test was used for microbiological tests, while Duncan's test was applied for other data. Results showed that the addition of silver oxide nanocomposites, particularly in the encapsulated film, significantly enhanced antibacterial performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The encapsulated film effectively reduced the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and prevented Salmonella growth. Additionally, it minimized lipid oxidation and maintained the natural color of chicken meat during storage. This study demonstrated that the incorporation of silver oxide nanocomposites and encapsulation technology can contribute to the development of active and intelligent packaging solutions to extend food shelf life.
Vietnamese indigenous chickens and their wild progenitors represent a critical but under-characterized reservoir of avian genetic diversity. This study used a multi-locus approach, incorporating 28 neutral microsatellite markers and candidate functional genes (HSP70, HSP90, and ADSL). We successfully delineated the genetic structure and adaptive potential of 12 native Vietnamese indigenous chicken populations and red junglefowl (Gallus gallus). Microsatellite analysis revealed high genetic diversity (411 alleles) and significant regional structuring into three primary groups, suggesting extensive historical gene flow and shared ancestral heritage with Thai indigenous breeds. High-throughput sequencing of functional loci identified five novel HSP70, 10 novel HSP90, and five novel ADSL alleles, underscoring the unique genetic heritage of Vietnamese avian resources. Selective signature analyses confirmed that, while purifying selection maintains core protein stability, specific codons, notably in HSP70 (18, 33, 41, and 42) and HSP90 (7), exhibit putative signals of positive selection. These loci emerge as compelling candidates for functional studies underlying thermal adaptation. Moreover, the meat quality gene ADSL exhibited diversifying selection at codon 58, highlighting a candidate molecular marker for the potential enhancement of savoriness and inosine monophosphate content. These findings, which reconcile neutral population structure with candidate signals of localized adaptive divergence, address a critical regional knowledge gap and provide a scientific foundation for future marker-assisted selection programs. By integrating these results into the Siam Chicken Bioresource Project, this study promotes transboundary conservation and the sustainable development of climate-resilient poultry systems in a warming world.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen in Europe, mainly transmitted via consumption of naturally contaminated food or contact with infected animals. People living in the Balkans have diverse dietary habits, with high pork consumption in some countries, making this region a relevant setting for investigating HEV seroprevalence and its possible determinants. The current study aimed to estimate pooled HEV seroprevalence among adults in the general population and blood donors and to assess factors associated with regional variation. Twenty-eight eligible studies were identified from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following the PRISMA guidelines. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis of proportions implemented via a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with logit transformation. Potential factors associated with HEV seroprevalence, including national pork consumption, serological assay type, population group, year of publication, sex, and country, were evaluated. The pooled anti-HEV seroprevalence was estimated to be 5.68% (95% CI: 3.48-9.12%), with substantial heterogeneity. Country-specific estimates ranged from 1.01% in Greece to 26.66% in Bulgaria. Subgroup analyses showed significant variation according to national pork consumption category, serological assay type, year of publication, and country. However, meta-regression indicated that methodological and temporal factors, particularly serological assay type and year of publication, were the main significant moderators, whereas national pork consumption was not independently associated with seropositivity. Therefore, pork consumption should be interpreted as an exploratory ecological indicator rather than as evidence of a direct association. The methodological differences contribute substantially to the variability in HEV seroprevalence across the Balkans, emphasizing the need for standardized diagnostic approaches within a One Health framework.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, where more than half of patients die within 1 year due to late diagnosis and limited treatment. Without ready access to screening, identifying risk factors is critical. However, regional data are scarce, and it is unclear whether risk factors from high-income populations apply to Nigerians, who may have distinct clinicodemographic patterns and tumor characteristics. To assess whether 13 CRC risk factors identified in high-income populations are associated with CRC in adults in Nigeria. This multicenter case-control study was conducted in 6 hospitals across 3 of Nigeria's 6 geopolitical zones, with recruitment from April 2020 to September 2024. Participants were patients newly diagnosed with CRC and cancer-free controls matched on age, sex, location, education, and recruitment site. Data were analyzed from April 2023 to November 2025. Family history of cancer, anthropometric factors (adult height, body mass index [BMI], and somatotype or body size over the life course), physical activity, and dietary and lifestyle factors (processed meat, red meat, fruit, vegetables, fiber, alcohol, smoking, and diabetes). The associations of risk factors with CRC were assessed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, estimated using multivariable unconditional logistic regression. Among 2063 participants (1103 [53.5%] male; median [IQR] age, 54 [42-64] years) enrolled, most had secondary education or higher (1756 participants [85.2%]), lived in urban areas (1817 participants [88.1%]), and were Yoruba (1524 participants [73.9%]). Cases were older than controls (median [IQR] age, 56 [45-66] vs 52 [41-63] years) but were otherwise similar. Family history of cancer (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.06-2.26), adult height (OR per 5-cm increase, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00-1.20), body size or type over the life course (tertile 3 vs tertile 1: OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.30-2.72), and processed meat intake (lowest vs highest tertile of intake: OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.07-1.91) were positively associated with CRC risk, and an inverse U-shaped association was identified between physical activity and CRC risk (OR vs first quartile of activity, quartile 2: 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.88; quartile 3: 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34-0.79; quartile 4: 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.02), consistent with data from high-income populations. BMI was inversely associated with CRC risk (OR vs BMI 18.5-24.9, BMI <18.5: 2.63; 95% CI, 1.79-3.86; BMI ≥30: 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28-0.63), likely reflecting prediagnostic weight loss. No associations with diabetes, smoking, or intakes of red meat, fruit, vegetables, fiber, or alcohol were observed, likely due to low prevalence or variability. This case-control study of CRC risk factors in adults in Nigeria found CRC risk patterns similar to those observed in high-income populations. These insights offer immediate opportunity to tailor education, prevention, and early detection in the region, especially as economic development leads to lifestyles more similar to high-income populations. These data provide a foundation for prospective research and investigations in other African populations.
Racer pigeons are renowned for their exceptional flying abilities, and Shiqi pigeons are meat pigeons prized for their tender and nutritious meat. This study investigated the physiological and metabolic differences between the two breeds under distinct breeding objectives by examining their feeding habits, carcass performance, meat quality, and intestinal development, thereby providing insights for pigeon breeding programs. Six racer and six Shiqi pigeons, each aged 28 d, were selected. They were fed a basal diet until 35 d of age, after which they were slaughtered for testing. Racer pigeons had substantially lower daily feed and pellet intake than Shiqi pigeons. There was no difference in the proportion of the major grains consumed. Slaughter traits, including live, carcass, semi-eviscerated weights, and weights of the spleen, gizzard, and bursa of Fabricius were substantially lower in racer pigeons. Racer pigeons had substantially higher pectoral muscle redness and yellowness at 45-min post-slaughter but lower pH values at 45 min and 24 h. Racer pigeons had substantially higher plasma GSH-Px activity and glucose concentrations. Racer pigeons had a higher pectoral muscle triglyceride (TG) content, greater duodenal weight and length, higher duodenal villus-to-lumen ratio, and elevated catalase (CAT) activity. However, they had a lower pectoral muscle GLU content and reduced jejunal weight and length. Compact racer pigeons are physiologically adapted for flight and are characterized by a strong antioxidant capacity and a well-developed duodenum. In contrast, the larger Shiqi pigeon, with a more developed jejunum and heavier pectoral muscles, was optimized for digestion and meat yield. These distinct profiles highlight the strong influence of genetic selection; the identified metrics offer valuable insights into targeted breed development.