Titres of Specific Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Goats and their Kids

The aim of our study was to perform repeated determination of specific antibody levels in mothers and their kids in order to assess indirectly the possibility of vertical transmission of toxoplasmosis in goats. Twenty-eight goats with their kids were included in the study. The following variables were assessed: number of born kids in relation to antibody titres of goats; levels of specific antibodies in the blood of goats and kids; and concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig), total protein (TP) and total globulins (G) in order to define the end of colostral immunity and the start of active production of antibodies in kids under 69 days of age. Specific antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in goats were detected by IFAT in titres ranging from 0 to 1 280. Out of a total of 28 animals, 5 goats were negative (17.9%) and 23 goats were seropositive (82.1%). The goats delivered 42 kids. A total ratio of number of kids to number of mothers was 1.5. Partial evaluation of results in goats without positive titre against T. gondii before parturition and goats with positive titre showed that negative goats tended to have more kids (p p < 0.01) of monitored non-specific immunity indicators. During this period, we observed increased titres of specific antibodies against toxoplasmosis in 20 kids (5 kids 41 days old, 5 kids 55 days old, and 10 kids 69 days old) and thus we could assume the possibility of vertical transmission of toxoplasmosis

The Influence of Zinc in Nutrition on Meat Quality of Young Goats

A total of 22 young goats were used to assess the effect of two organic zinc sources, i.e. Zn lactate and Zn chelate, compared with Zn oxide and a control treatment without Zn supplementation on meat quality and zinc concentration in muscle. Muscle pH and colour (L*– lightness, a* – redness, b* – yellowness) were determined in the triceps brachii muscles, immediately after slaughter and chilling (24 h). Zn content, chemical composition (dry matter, fat, protein and collagen content), drip losses, cook losses, hardness, cohesiveness, pH (48 h) and colour (48 h) were determined. We did not found statistical significant differences in meat quality between treatments. Significant difference was found in concentration of Zn only between control and group receiving Zn oxide (P < 0.05)

Levels of protein fractions in blood serum of periparturient goats

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare contents of individual protein fractions determined by electrophoresis in blood serum of healthy periparturient goats. Eight clinically healthy white shorthaired goats were examined. Blood samples of these goats were taken from v. jugularis three weeks and two weeks before the anticipated parturition, on the parturition day, 7 days after the parturition, and 28 days after the parturition. Individual protein fractions, albumins, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2-and γ-globulins were identified by electrophoretic analysis of blood serum. Percentage shares of individual protein fractions were converted from total protein values to g·l -1 values. The results indicated that individual serum protein fractions in periparturient goats showed significant dynamics of change. There were no significant differences between samples taken before the parturition and on the parturition day (except for the increase of β2 from 2.5 ± 0.3 g·l -1 observed 3 weeks before the parturition to 3.2 ± 0.4 g·l -1 measured 2 weeks before the parturition, and the decrease of γG levels from 9.5 ± 2.6 g·l -1 observed three weeks before the parturition to 8.1 ± 1.7 g·l -1 found on the parturition day), yet most indicators measured after the parturition were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) than on the parturition day (values in g·l -1 observed on the parturition day versus values measured 28 days after the parturition: total protein 60.6 ± 4.3 vs. 71.3 ± 2.4, albumins 37.4 ± 2.9 vs. 42.7 ± 1.0, α2 3.4 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.8, β1 5.6 ± 0.5 vs. 6.3 ± 0.9, γG 8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 12.3 ± 1.9). The results bring new knowledge on the values of individual fractions of serum proteins in healthy goats, which is necessary for diagnostic interpretation of pathological findings in animals and also for experimental studies