Influence of chronic caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus infection on the population of peripheral blood leukocytes

The influence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) virus infection on the population of peripheral blood leukocytes in goats was evaluated. For this purpose two groups of adult dairy female goats were formed. The experimental group consisted of 17 goats, which had been naturally infected for many years. The control group comprised 29 non-infected goats, which originated from CAE-free herd. All goats were clinically healthy. Whole blood was collected and tested in hematological analyzer and light microscope to assess the total number of leukocytes and the percentage of four leukocyte populations - neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Then, flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies against several surface antigens (namely CD14, CD2, B-B2, CD4, CD8h, TCR-N6, WC1-N2 and WC1-N3) was performed to assess the proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations. Statistically significant differences (α ≤ 0.01) were observed only in the subpopulations of T lymphocytes - percentage of all subpopulations were significantly higher in the group of seropositive goats. No statistically significant differences were revealed with respect to the total number of blood leukocytes, the average percentage of blood leukocyte populations and proportions of both T and B lymphocytes

Effects of antioxidants in fat contained in bulky forages on cows’ milk quality

Antyoksydanty zawarte w paszach objętościowych, tj. tokoferole i karotenoidy, odgrywają istotną rolę w pokryciu zapotrzebowania krów mlecznych na karoten oraz witaminy A i E. W pracy dokonano przeglądu wyników badań naukowych, wykonanych w okresie ostatniej dekady, nad wpływem naturalnych antyoksydantów zawartych w tłuszczu pasz objętościowych na potencjał oksydacyjny mleka i zawartość w nim składników funkcjonalnych. Z badań tych wynika, że istnieje możliwość produkcji mleka o zwiększonej zawartości nienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych oraz substancji o charakterze antyoksydacyjnym (witamin A, E i β-karotenu) pod warunkiem żywienia krów paszami o dużej zawartości karotenoidów i tokoferoli. Wymienione antyoksydanty chronią zawarte w mleku nienasycone kwasy tłuszczowe przed niekorzystnymi procesami utleniania, zachowując jednocześnie ich wysoką aktywność biologiczną oraz odpowiedni smak i zapach mleka. Zawartość karotenoidów i tokoferoli w paszach objętościowych oraz wysokość wskaźnika ich transferu do mleka w decydującym stopniu zależą od: gatunku i odmiany roślin, stadium wegetacji, zabiegów agrotechnicznych, warunków atmosferycznych w okresie wegetacji oraz sposobu konserwacji (suszenie, kiszenie). Zielonki i kiszonki z porostu łąkowego, roślin motylkowatych oraz mieszanek roślin motylkowatych z trawami powinny być w maksymalnym stopniu wykorzystywane w żywieniu krów mlecznych jako cenne źródło witaminy A, E i β-karotenu, które obok nienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych wpływają korzystnie na jakość produkowanego mleka i zdrowie konsumentów.Antioxidants contained in bulky forages, i.e. Tocopherols and carotenoids, play a significant role in meeting the demand for carotene, and vitamins a and e in dairy cows. This paper is a review of the results of some scientific research carried out during the last decade in order to study the impact of natural antioxidants in fat contained in bulky forages on the oxidative status of milk as well as on the content of functional components in milk. Based on the research results analyzed, it is possible to manufacture milk with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidative substances (vitamins a, e, and β-carotene), provided, however, that the cows are fed forages with a high content of carotenoids and tocopherols. The antioxidants as named above protect the unsaturated fatty acids contained in the milk fat from adverse oxidation processes, and, at the same, they retain their high biological activity and a proper taste and odour of milk. The content of carotenoids and tocopherols in bulk forages, as well as the rate of their transfer into milk depend crucially on the following: species and variety of plants, stage of vegetation, agrotechnical measures applied, weather conditions during the vegetation period, and forage conservation methods (such as drying or silage). Green fodders and silages from vegetative meadow covers, papilionaceous plants, and mixtures of grasses and papilionaceous plants should be maximally utilized in feeding dairy cows as a valuable source of vitamins a, e, and β-carotene, since they, together with the unsaturated fatty acids, beneficially impact the quality of milk and consumers' health

Diagnostic performance of ID ScreenR MVV-CAEV Indirect Screening ELISA in identifying small ruminant lentiviruses-infected goats

Diagnostic performance of ID Screen® MVV-CAEV Indirect Screening ELISA in identifying goats infected with small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) was evaluated. In total 299 serum samples from the collection of the Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics - 109 truly positive and 190 truly negative - were used. To be enrolled in the study a serum sample had to come from at least 2 year-old goat which had reacted identically in two serological surveys preceding sample collection and was kept in a herd of stable serological status confirmed at least twice during preceding 5 years. Moreover, in seropositive herds at least 20% of goats had to be serologically positive at the moment when the serum sample was collected for the study. The test proved to have high accuracy. Area under curve was 98.8% (95% CI: 97.5%, 100%). Diagnostic performance of the test was almost identical (Youlden’s index of 90%, sensitivity >90% and specificity >95%) within a fairly wide range of cut-off values - between 20% and 60%. At manufacturer’s cut-off of 50% sensitivity and specificity were 91.7% (95% CI: 85.0%, 95.6%) and 98.9% (95% CI: 96.2%, 99.7%), respectively. For this cut-off positive likelihood ratio was 87 (95% CI: 22, 346) and negative likelihood ratio was 0.08 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.16). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that ID Screen® MVV-CAEV Indirect Screening ELISA is a highly accurate diagnostic test for SRLV infection

Machine induced changes of caprine teats diagnosed by ultrasonography

Analyses were performed on 10 nanny goats of the Polish White Improved breed aged 2 to 5 years. Ultrasound images of the longitudinal cross-section of teats were taken in 9 replications, 4 times daily before and immediately after morning milking, and then 4 and 10 h after milking, using a Hitachi EUB405+ apparatus with a 10 MHz linear probe. The ultrasound probe was placed in a plastic cup filled with water (approximately 30 - 35°C), in which teats were immersed. Measurements of the diameter and length of the teat canals and the thickness of the teat wall were taken on ultrasound images in the MultiScan® 12.05. computer software. Immediately after milking a marked thickening (swelling) of the teat wall, an elongation of the teat canal was observed by approximately 40 and 18%, respectively (p < 0.01). Four hours after milking, the swelling was still considerable and teat walls were thicker byapproximately 30% (p < 0.01). These changes started to subside after approximately 10 h after milking, at that time reaching a level close to the initial condition, which may indicate the necessity to provide animals with an approximately 10 to 12 h intervals between milkings to ensure teat regeneration. Less marked changes in teat morphology is concerned with the measurement of the diameter of the teat canal. No definite effect of age of animals (lactation) and the shape of the udder on teat morphology were observed. Results of analyses indicate considerable suitability of ultrasonography in the monitoring of caprine teat morphology; however, thorough training of operators is required, sincesignificant differences were observed in values of individual measurements between operators with varying professional experience.Keywords: Goat, teat reaction, machine milking, ultrasonograph

A note on the organization and expression of β-defensin genes in Polish goats

Nucleotide (cds) and amino acids sequences of the caprine β2-defensin genes were in silico compared to search for the sequence variation and for the LAP gene sequences in the goat genome and for the presence of LAP gene transcripts in goat tissues. The comparison of the exon sequences revealed that the first 64 amino acids are identical in both LAP and β1-defensin. However, the GBD-1 prepropeptide is shorter by 18 amino acids due to the presence of the stop codon UAA at position 209–211 in GBD-1 mRNA. The LAP gene, which was found, so far, only in Indian goat breeds, is absent in the genome of Polish dairy goats. The introns of the caprine β1- and β2-defensin genes were, for the first time, sequenced; their sequences showed 99.6 % identity, differing in six nucleotide positions