Diagnostic Performance of the BHBCheck β-Hydroxybutyrate Meter for Hyperketonemia in Indian Cows and Buffaloes

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate diagnostic performance of the electronic hand-held BHBCheck meter (PortaCheck, Inc, USA; BHM) to determine blood, plasma and serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) against serum BHB determined using reference laboratory method of Randox D-3 Hydroxybutyrate Ranbut assay (RSM) in Indian cows and buffaloes. Blood samples were collected by puncturing coccygeal vessels for determining serum and plasma BHB using BHM and serum BHB using RSM from 217 cows (Gir breed; median 42 DIM and 3rd lactation) and 223 buffaloes (non-descript; median 39 DIM and 3rd lactation) from nearby herds. Cow-side blood BHB were determined with BHM. The Pearson’s correlation between blood (0.988; 0.987), plasma (0.985; 0.983) and serum (0.985; 0.983) BHB determined using the BHM and serum BHB determined with the RSM were significant. Bland-Altman plot demonstrated an excellent agreement between blood, plasma and serum BHB determined with BHM, against the serum BHB determined with RSM. For hyperketonemia with reference serum BHB cut-off values ≥ 1.2 and 1.4 mmol/L determined with RSM; recorded optimized BHB thresholds, sensitivity and specificity for blood (≥ 0.9 to 1.0 mmol/L; 91 to 95% and 88 to 98%) plasma (≥ 0.9 to 1.0 mmol/L; 91 and 100%) and serum (≥ 0.9 to 1.0 mmol/L; 92 to 100% and 85 to 94%) with BHM in cows and buffaloes. In conclusion, BHB determined with BHM demonstrated an excellent correlation, agreement and test characteristics with BHB determined with RSM, hence, can accurately determine blood, plasma and serum BHB in cows and buffaloes.</jats:p

Dynamics of Vaginal Microbiota During Estrous Cycle in Cows through Metagenomic Approach

Abstract Background: Using 16s rRNA sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region, the present study is aimed to check vaginal microbiota diversity throughout different stages of the estrous cycle, with attention to hormonal changes and microorganism diversity. Metagenomic research was conducted on vaginal swab samples obtained from healthy cows' at different stages of the estrous cycle. Results: Total sixteen cows were synchronized with dobble PG regime. Nine cows demonstrated estrus within 96 hours and were eligible for the experiment. Vaginal samples for metagenomics and blood samples for hormonal analysis were collected during estrus, metestrus, diestrus and proestrus of synchronized Estrous cycle. The study's findings revealed that the diestrus phase has a different diversity than the other three estrous cycle phases, implying that hormones affect bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the most abundant phyla at the phylum level, accounting for 94 % of bacterial diversity. Actinobacteriota, Patescibacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, and others are fewer common phyla. Proteobacteria are most common throughout the estrus, metestrus, and proestrus stages of the estrous cycle at the phylum level, there was no discernible distinction between the follicular and luteal phases. After statistical correction, Bacillaceae, Alcaligenes, and Enterobacteriaceae &amp; Morganellacea families are more significant. At the diestrus stage, the Family Enterobacteriaceae is lower than at other stages; otherwise, all statistically significant genera are high at diestrus stages. The luteal phase had higher levels of Micrococcus, Stenotrophomonas, UGC-010, Massilia, and Methylobacillus than the follicular phase, however, statistical analysis revealed no substantial difference between the two phases. Lactobacillus genus is present on two samples including the estrus stage and diestrus stages. Conclusions: This study represents an important step towards the understanding of microbial diversity within different stages of the estrous cycle of the dairy cow. The study results revealed dynamics of metabiota during estrous cycle.</jats:p