Goats

Among the genotype/species causing cystic echinococcosis, the taxonomic status of Echinococcus canadensis is only partially resolved. Within E. canadensis, four genotypes (G6, G7, G8 and G10) have been described based on short mitochondrial sequences, of which G6 and G7 (the 'camel' and the 'pig' strain, respectively) are closely related and variously regarded as microvariants of a single strain G6/7. Globally, this G6/7 cluster is the second most important agent of human cystic echinococcosis and is the predominant Echinococcus taxon in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. To add data on the internal structure and the geographical distribution of this cluster, we analysed diversity and population structure of 296 isolates of E. canadensis from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Europe using the complete mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) (1,608bp) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) (894bp) gene sequences. Polymorphism of the mtDNA loci gave ...

This review paper discusses the exciting scientific and technical advances in genomic biotechnologies which covers a wide range of high throughput techniques for the genetic improvement in animal and livestock production. Advances in molecular genetics and in high throughput technologies for genotyping and sequencing now facilitate the integration of molecular data in genetic improvement programs for livestock on a more comprehensive basis. Moreover, these methods enable a change from using markers on a within family basis for detection and selection on quantitative trait loci (QTL) to using markers that are linkage disequilibrium across the population. Biotechnology has been directed primarily towards reproductive technology have been employed for genetic improvement of farm animals which is foremost concern over the years for scientist and researchers. Transgenesis and cloning are expected to have a significant impact on the future genetic improvement of livestock. This review als...

Background Toxoplasma gondii is a major problem for the sheep industry as it may cause reproduction problems. The importance of T. gondii in Norwegian goat herds is uncertain, but outbreaks of toxoplasmosis in dairy goat farms have been recorded. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of T. gondii infection in Norwegian dairy goats by using serology. Findings Goat serum originally collected as part of two nationwide surveillance and control programmes between 2002 and 2008 were examined for T. gondii antibodies by using direct agglutination test. In total, 55 of 73 herds (75%) had one or more serologically positive animals, while 377 of 2188 (17%) of the individual samples tested positive for T. gondii antibodies. Conclusions This is the first prevalence study of T. gondii infection in Norwegian goats. The results show that Norwegian goat herds are commonly exposed to T. gondii. Nevertheless, the majority of goat herds have a low prevalence of antibody positive animals...

SUMMARYWe report a retrospective analysis of 1933Brucellastrains isolated from humans and animals in Latin American countries between 1968 and 1991 and in Argentina between 1994 and 2006. During the first period 50% of strains were from humans, mainly from Argentina, Mexico and Peru but, whileB. suiswas the main cause of infection in Argentina,B. melitensiswas responsible for most infections in the other countries. In Argentina in the later years,B. melitensisandB. suiswere observed more frequently than in the first period while isolation ofB. abortusdecreased. Of 145B. melitensishuman isolates, eight gave susceptibility patterns to dyes and penicillin and two wereB. melitensisbiovar 3, which has never been reported in animals. Forty-six percent ofB. suisisolated were resistant to dyes which is an atypical feature in this species.

This study investigated the haematological and biochemical profiles of Muturu and Bunaji cattle breeds to elucidate differences associated with trypanotolerance and production characteristics. A total of 80 cattle, comprising 40 Muturu and 40 Bunaji, were sampled. Blood samples were collected from the rump vein of (Muturu) and jugular vein of (Bunaji) for comprehensive haematological and biochemical analyses. Using single-factor multivariate ANOVA (SAS software, version 9.4), significant differences in haematological and biochemical parameters were identified between breeds. The results revealed distinct profiles indicative of Muturu's hardiness and disease resistance, contrasting with Bunaji's superior milk and meat production. Effects of breed, sex, and age on haematological and serum biochemical parameters in Muturu and Bunaji cattle showed significant (P < 0.01) (breed differences, with Muturu cattle exhibiting higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin, while Bunaji cattle had higher packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and hemoglobin concentrations. Additionally, Bunaji cattle showed higher total protein, albumin, globulin, phosphorus, potassium, and alkaline phosphatase levels, but lower ALT and calcium levels compared to Muturu cattle. Sex and age also had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on both haematological and biochemical parameters, with males showing higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total protein levels, and age-related changes observed in various parameters. Interactions between breed, sex, and age were also noted, highlighting the complex relationships between these factors and their effects on physiological parameters in Muturu and Bunaji cattle. This study highlights significant haematological and biochemical variations between Muturu and Bunaji cattle breeds, suggesting genetic or physiological differences influencing metabolic profiles and potential implications for disease resistance, productivity and the importance of breed-specific considerations in cattle management and healthcare. Future research on indigenous cattle should be geared toward optimizing the potential of determining specific nutritional needs for optimal growth, productivity and enhancing natural immunity and developing strategies to combat infections.

Background and Aim: Several approaches have been employed to mitigate methane emissions from livestock, with varied results. This study evaluated the effects of shade-dried ground garlic leaf (GL) powder and papaya leaf (PL) powder as crop waste on feed intake, growth performance, ruminal microbial counts, gut epithelial barrier functions, and meat quality in goats.

Materials and Methods: Forty male adult Beetal goats were randomly divided into five treatment groups: (1) Control (basal diet only); (2) basal diet supplemented with 6% bromodichloromethane (BCM); (3) basal diet supplemented with 30% GL powder; (4) basal diet supplemented with 26% PL powder; and (5) basal diet supplemented with 30% GL powder and 26% PL powder (GP).

Results: Average weight gain, feed conversion ratio, fecal score, and albumin improved in the GP. Aspartate transferase increased significantly in BCM, GL, and PL and was insignificant in the GP group compared with the C group. There was a 13% decrease in methanogen count in PL compared with C, but this difference was not significant between BCM and GP. Ruminal bacteria and protozoa were lowest in GL. Ruminal papilla height and surface area increased in the supplemented groups compared with C (p < 0.05). In vitro experiments using isolated ruminal epithelia revealed a 39% increase in short-circuit current in GP compared with C (p < 0.05). For meat parameters, the pH 24 h decreased significantly in GL compared to BCM.

Conclusion: Dietary supplementations with GL and PL alone or in combination improved growth parameters and gut performance and reduced rumen methanogen levels without altering meat quality parameters. Proper diet formulation and further research on other ruminants may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

Keywords: Beetal goat, growth performance, methane emissions, short-circuit current.

Tendon is a highly specialized, hierarchical tissue designed to transfer forces from muscle to bone; complex viscoelastic and anisotropic behaviors have been extensively characterized for specific subsets of tendons. Reported mechanical data consistently show a pseudoelastic, stress-vs.-strain behavior with a linear slope after an initial toe region. Many studies report a linear, elastic modulus, or Young&#39;s modulus (hereafter called elastic modulus) and ultimate stress for their tendon specimens. Individually, these studies are unable to provide a broader, interstudy understanding of tendon mechanical behavior. Herein we present a metaanalysis of pooled mechanical data from a representative sample of tendons from different species. These data include healthy tendons and those altered by injury and healing, genetic modification, allograft preparation, mechanical environment, and age. Fifty studies were selected and analyzed. Despite a wide range of mechanical properties between a...

The epidemiology of Rift Valley fever (RVF) is poorly understood in Malawi. Here, a cross-sectional study was conducted (March–June 2020) to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF virus (RVFV) in cattle, goats, and sheep in three ecological zones of Malawi. A total of 1523 serum samples were tested for anti-RVFV IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was used to assess potential RVF risk factors. The overall seroprevalence was 17.14% (261/1523; 95% CI = 15.33–19.11) for individual livestock and 33.24% (120/361; 95% CI = 28.18–38.11) for the livestock herd. Seroprevalence was significantly high in sheep (25.68%, 95% CI = 19.31–33.26) compared with cattle (21.35%, 95% CI = 18.74–24.22) and goats (7.72%, 95% CI = 5.72–10.34), (p = 0.047). At the individual livestock level, the risk was elevated in female livestock (OR: 1.74, 95% CI = 1.08–12.82) (p = 0.016), while at the herd level, areas receiving approximately 1001–1500 mm of r...

In vitro production of bovine interferon gamma (BoIFN-γ) cytokine from bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be detected using the most sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay. ELISPOT assays are dependent on the quantity and quality of PBMC preparations and hence contribute significantly to the performance of this assay. In order to standardise the methods for isolation of PBMCs, we compared two methods for the processing of bovine blood which included aliquots of blood that were stored in a horizontal position without dilution or agitation and aliquots of blood that were immediately diluted 1:1 with complete Rosewell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium and stored in a horizontal position with gentle agitation. PBMCs were isolated at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h and at 4°C and at 22°C ± 2°C. They were stimulated using tuberculosis-specific antigens, after which the ELISPOT assay was performed. Quantities of spot-forming cells (SFC) created by the re...

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a severe and devastating respiratory disease of goats, which is characterized by severe serofibrinous pleuropneumonia accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. A crosssectional study was conducted from July 2022 to January 2023 to determine the seroprevalence of CCPP and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of CCPP in goats in five selected districts of the South Wollo Zone of the Eastern Amhara region. A total of 384 sera samples were collected from goats and examined for antibodies specific to Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) using Competitive Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (cELISA) test. Out of the total examined sera, 26 samples were positive for CCPP, giving an overall seroprevalence of 6.7% (95% CI = 6.64-9.77). A seroprevalence of 5.05%, 4.65%, 2.78%, 12.90%, and 10.77% were recorded in Ambasel, Tehuledere, Kalu, Dessie Zuria and Kutaber districts, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference among these five districts (p > 0.05). The seroprevalence of CCPP varies significantly between age groups and agroecology (p < 0.05). However, the seroprevalence did not vary with sex, body condition score (BCS), and flock size (p > 0.05). Old-aged goats (OR = 4.10) and goats found in the lowlands (OR = 5.09) were at higher risk of infection with CCPP than young-aged goats and goats found in the highlands, respectively. In conclusion, the present seroprevalence investigation indicated the occurrence of CCPP in those selected study districts of the South Wollo Zone. Therefore, appropriate control measures, including avoiding the mixing of flocks and vaccination should be designed and implemented especially in the lowland areas and older goats to reduce the further spread and magnitude of the disease.

Kualitas susu sering hanya dikaitkan dengan pakan, padahal sanitasi dan higiene pemerahan juga sangat mempengaruhi. Konsistensi dan ketekunan pelaksanaan budidaya sertaproses pemerahan yang higienis merupakan bagian yang penting untuk mencegah tingginya kontaminasi mikroba dan percepatan kerusakan susu. Tujuan penyusunan makalah ini adalah untuk memperkuat teori tentang hubungan sanitasi dan higienitas pemerahan terhadap kualitas susu. Makalah ini disusun sebagai literature review dari berbagai pustaka dan hasil penelitian tentang kualitas susu serta hubunganya dengan sanitasi dan higiene pemerahan. Hasil review menunjukkan bahwa sanitasi dan higiene pemerahan mampu meningkatkan kualitas susu secara fisik dan kimia. Secara mikrobiologis juga mampu menurunkan angka total plate count (TPC)dengan waktu reduktase yang lebih lama. Sanitasi dan higiene pemerahan mampu mempertahankan bahkan meningkatkan kualitas susu baik secara fisik atau kimiawi, karena mampu menurunkan tingkat kontamina...

This research aimed to conduct a genetic analysis of maternal imprinting effects on growth and reproductive characteristics in the Murciano-Granadina goats. Data for the present study were recorded between 2016 and 2022 on a farm in the Kerman province, Iran. Traits studied were body weight at birth (WB) and weaning (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG), Kleiber ratio (KR) and growth efficiency (GE). Reproduction traits were litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter size at birth (TLWB) and total litter size at weaning (TLWW). An animal model was used to analyze the data. Comparison of the models with and without maternal imprinting effects was performed using Akaike's information criterion (AIC). Maternal imprinting had a significant impact on WB and LSW. The heritability estimates for maternal imprinting (h mi 2) were 0.07±0.07 for WB and 0.07±0.02 for LSW. Accounting for maternal imprinting effects into the model resulted in a reduction of 2% and 56% in the direct heritability of WB and LSW, respectively. In addition, the value of h m 2 for WB was reduced by approximately 75%. The results implied that there are maternal imprinting effects on the WB and LSW of Murciano-Granadina goats. Hence, the genetic evaluation models for these traits should consider the effect of maternal imprinting effect.

Background:Grazing circuits and resources consumed differ strongly throughout the year and within a territory. For this reason, animals’ diet composition, as well as their exposure to metals, is variable. No studies have been performed on how habitat use affects the metal concentrations to which sheep and goats reared in serpentine soil areas are exposed.Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate the metal exposure of grazing animals raised in a serpentine soil area of the north-east of Portugal, taking into account the spatial distribution of metal concentrations in soils and plants.Methods:The habitat use and foraging behaviour of six flocks of sheep and goats were studied. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, Mn, Cr and Ni were determined in the soils and plant species most consumed by those animals.Results:The highest Mg, Mn, Cr and Ni concentrations were found in the soils of the ultramafic complex. Ni concentrations above the recommended threshold for agricultural soil...

In an accompanying paper (13), we reported that human polymorphonuclear leukocytes kill only a limited proportion (0.5 log) of an inoculum of Legionella pneumophila (Philadelphia 1 strain) in the presence of human anti-L. pneumophila antibody and complement. We now report on the effect of anti-L. pneumophila antibody on L. pneumophila-monocyte interaction. The studies were carried out under antibiotic-free conditions. Monocytes bind more than three times as many viable L. pneumophila bacteria in the presence of both antibody and complement than in the presence of complement alone. Monocytes requires both antibody and complement to kill any L. pneumophila: however, even then, monocytes kill only a limited proportion (0.25 log) of an inoculum. The surviving bacteria multiply several logs in the monocytes and multiply as rapidly as when the bacteria enter monocytes in the absence of antibody. These findings suggest that humoral immunity may not be an effective host defense against L. p...

Pengamatan viabilitas dan motilitas spermatozoa merupakan dua parameter penting dalam analisis semen untuk menentukan kualitas dan fertilitas sperma. Viabilitas spermatozoa mengacu pada kemampuan sperma untuk tetap hidup setelah ejakulasi, sementara motilitas mengacu pada kemampuan sperma untuk bergerak secara aktif.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an emerging viral disease spreading throughout Kenya and East Africa causing major losses in the small stock. This study is an attempt to evaluate small stock management practices in Turkana pastoral system, Kenya as predictors of PPR outbreaks. Information on the social practices and the occurrence of PPR outbreaks was obtained by participatory techniques. The small stock management practices, evaluated as factors, in a previous study were simultaneously analyzed with seasons and administrative divisions as the independent risk factors for the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks in 142 Adakars (villages) as the dependent variable. Analyses were carried out for the years 2009 and 2010 combined as one data set and considered as longitudinal repeated data. In the analyses, the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks was the dependent variable. Data were further analyzed separately disaggregated by season where the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks ...

The effect of ultrasound therapy on tendon injury healing was studied on 12 locally available non-descript adult goats of either sex divided equally in two groups (I and II) consisting of six animals each. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) was transected and immediately repaired with nylon (2/0) using a locking loop suture pattern under atropine-triflupromazine-lignocaine epidural analgesia and strict aseptic condition. A full limb plaster of Paris cast was applied to immobilize the operated limb for 3 days. Postoperative care was similar in both the groups. In group I, the operated limb was allowed to heal without ultrasound therapy. In group II, pulsed ultrasound therapy was started 3 days after repair of tendinous injury at an intensity of 1 W/cm(2) for 10 min daily for 10 consecutive days. The animals of both groups were evaluated clinically and haemato-biochemically on days 1, 3, 7, 15, 20 and 30 postoperatively. Air tendonograms and ultrasonography were performed on...

SummaryThe effect of ultrasound therapy on tendon injury healing was studied on 12 locally available non‐descript adult goats of either sex divided equally in two groups (I and II) consisting of six animals each. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) was transected and immediately repaired with nylon (2/0) using a locking loop suture pattern under atropine‐triflupromazine–lignocaine epidural analgesia and strict aseptic condition. A full limb plaster of Paris cast was applied to immobilize the operated limb for 3 days. Postoperative care was similar in both the groups. In group I, the operated limb was allowed to heal without ultrasound therapy. In group II, pulsed ultrasound therapy was started 3 days after repair of tendinous injury at an intensity of 1 W/cm2 for 10 min daily for 10 consecutive days. The animals of both groups were evaluated clinically and haemato‐biochemically on days 1, 3, 7, 15, 20 and 30 postoperatively. Air tendonograms and ultrasonography were perform...