Expression profile of caseins, estrogen and prolactin receptors in mammary glands of dairy ewes

In this study, we analyzed the developmental expression of estrogen receptors (ESR1 and ESR2), prolactin receptors (PRLR) and casein genes (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2 and CSN3) in the ewe mammary glands from prepubertal stage to involution. Using Real-time PCR we showed that the activation of casein genes transcription was up regulated during lactation and significantly down regulated before lambing and at involution in comparison to the expression measured in the prepubertal group. The highest expression of ESR1 and ESR2 genes occurred in prepubertal group compared to adult group. The PRLR expression of the short and long forms was up regulated before lambing and down regulated during lactation and involution. Thus, the mRNA expression data for ESRs and PRLR show clear regulatory changes suggesting involvement of these receptors in sheep mammary glands during development to involution. Casein genes transcription could be primed through PRLR signal, but other factors may be necessary for milk protein longterm expression during lactation

Expression of selected genes related to energy mobilization and insulin resistance in dairy cows

The physiological and metabolic adaptation characterizing the transition period in the dairy cows is developed by a complex modulation of different metabolic pathways as well as the expression of selected tissue-specific gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the age effect on expression of selected genes in adipose, hepatic and muscle tissues in dairy cows during their dry period using the quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Twenty-two pluriparous dairy cows were divided into 3 groups in relation to the age: Group A (38 \uc2\ub1 2 months); Group B (52 \uc2\ub1 2 months) and Group C (80 \uc2\ub1 8 months). Lower levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) and higher levels of adiponectin (ADIPOQ) were found in adipose tissue in Group C than Groups A and B (P < 0.05). Higher levels of solute carrier family 2/facilitated glucose transporter member 4 (SLC2A4) were found in muscle in Group C than Group A (P < 0.001) and Group B (P < 0.05). The present study showed in dairy cows that the expression of selected genes associated with mobilization of energy and with insulin resistance are influenced by age demonstrating and highlighting the importance of a genomics approach to assess the metabolic status of dairy cows during the transition period

Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy

Due to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of the disease. This study aimed to describe for the first time the seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cows and water buffalos in the Campania region (Southern Italy). A total of 424 dairy cattle and 214 water buffalo were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 11.7% confirmed the wide distribution of C. burnetii in this region. Several factors were positively associated with higher seroprevalence, such as species (higher in cattle than in water buffalo), age, and coexistence with other ruminant species. The final model of logistic regression included only age (older) and species (cattle), which were positively associated with the presence of Q fever antibodies. Our findings support the widespread presence of Coxiella burnettii in Campania and show a seroprevalence similar to that observed in previous studies in other Italian regions and European countries. Since human cases are typically linked to contact with infected ruminants, there is a need to improve surveillance for this infection

The Evolution of mammary glands at different stages in Sarda dairy ewes: preliminary results

The significance of cytological evolution of alveolar cells explains differences in milk yield that resulted in a different shape of lactation curve. In this paper, investigation of cellular background for this pattern was studied morphometrically in mammary gland of dairy ewes prior to lambing to involution. The ratio of epithelial to the luminal area was greatest at 7 days from lambing, it diminished on day 30 and 60 of lactation and it increased thereafter on day 150 of lactation and on day 7 of involution. The evolution of mammary tissues shows a clear decrease in stromal mass from prepartum until 60 DIM. Structural changes of mammary tissues during late pregnancy, lactation and dry off, can be used as a basis to estimate the evolution of the number of secretory cells in dairy ewes

The rapid spread of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant in Italy reflected early through wastewater surveillance

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged in South Africa in November 2021, and has later been identified worldwide, raising serious concerns. A real-time RT-PCR assay was designed for the rapid screening of the Omicron variant, targeting characteristic mutations of the spike gene. The assay was used to test 737 sewage samples collected throughout Italy (19/21 Regions) between 11 November and 25 December 2021, with the aim of assessing the spread of the Omicron variant in the country. Positive samples were also tested with a real-time RT-PCR developed by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and through nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Overall, 115 samples tested positive for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. The first occurrence was detected on 7 December, in Veneto, North Italy. Later on, the variant spread extremely fast in three weeks, with prevalence of positive wastewater samples rising from 1.0% (1/104 samples) in the week 5–11 December, to 17.5% (25/143 samples) in the week 12–18, to 65.9% (89/135 samples) in the week 19–25, in line with the increase in cases of infection with the Omicron variant observed during December in Italy. Similarly, the number of Regions/Autonomous Provinces in which the variant was detected increased fromone in the first week, to 11 in the second, and to 17 in the last one. The presence of the Omicron variant was confirmed by the JRC real-time RT-PCR in 79.1% (91/115) of the positive samples, and by Sanger sequencing in 66% (64/97) of PCR amplicons

The rapid spread of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant in Italy reflected early through wastewater surveillance

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged in South Africa in November 2021, and has later been identified worldwide, raising serious concerns. A real-time RT-PCR assay was designed for the rapid screening of the Omicron variant, targeting characteristic mutations of the spike gene. The assay was used to test 737 sewage samples collected throughout Italy (19/21 Regions) between 11 November and 25 December 2021, with the aim of assessing the spread of the Omicron variant in the country. Positive samples were also tested with a real-time RT-PCR developed by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and through nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Overall, 115 samples tested positive for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. The first occurrence was detected on 7 December, in Veneto, North Italy. Later on, the variant spread extremely fast in three weeks, with prevalence of positive wastewater samples rising from 1.0% (1/104 samples) in the week 5-11 December, to 17.5% (25/143 samples) in the week 12-18, to 65.9% (89/135 samples) in the week 19-25, in line with the increase in cases of infection with the Omicron variant observed during December in Italy. Similarly, the number of Regions/Autonomous Provinces in which the variant was detected increased from one in the first week, to 11 in the second, and to 17 in the last one. The presence of the Omicron variant was confirmed by the JRC real-time RT-PCR in 79.1% (91/115) of the positive samples, and by Sanger sequencing in 66% (64/97) of PCR amplicons. In conclusion, we designed an RT-qPCR assay capable to detect the Omicron variant, which can be successfully used for the purpose of wastewater-based epidemiology. We also described the history of the introduction and diffusion of the Omicron variant in the Italian population and territory, confirming the effectiveness of sewage monitoring as a powerful surveillance tool

Mammary cell turnover in lactating ewes is modulated by changes of energy fuels

The study of cell turnover of mammary gland helps to gain understanding of the subtle modulation that largely determines milk production. To evaluate the effect of diet composition on cell turnover of mammary gland, pluriparous sheep were allotted to three experimental groups and fed from day 33 after lambing a control diet (BD), a high starch (HS) diet or a high fat (HF) diet. Biopsies of mammary gland tissue were collected at 50 days after lambing for in situ detection of cell death and RT-PCR analysis of bax, bcl-2, caspase-3 and GST expressions. Both apoptotic and proliferation indexes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the BD group compared to HS and HF groups. The relative expressions of GST were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in HF group compared to the BD and HS groups. There was a significant increase in the ratio of bcl-2 to bax mRNA in the HS and HF groups. Availability of energy substrates for mammary gland can interfere with the cell fate, modulating genes involved in the control of oxidative stress which, in turn, can indirectly regulate cell apoptosis and proliferation

Effect of alpha-tocopherol deprivation on the involution of mammary gland in sheep

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-tocopherol deprivation on mammary gland involution and apoptosis in sheep. Two groups of four single lamb ewes were used. The control group received 100 mg/d of RRR-alpha-tocopherol supplementation and the experimental group received no vitamin E supplementation. After 3 mo of suckling, ewes were dried off, and blood samples from the jugular vein and tissue biopsies from the mammary gland were collected at d 1, 3, 5, and 8 after dry-off. The experimental group had lower plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (1.8 vs. 4.2 micromol/L), lower glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes, and higher concentration of malondialdehyde in plasma than the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples resulted in marked differences of bcl-2 and bax protein expressions during involution and between groups. The bax expression was decreased by alpha-tocopherol deprivation at 1, 3, and 5 d, but not at 8 d, while the bcl-2 score was higher only at 8 d (1.5 vs. 0.0 for experimental and control groups, respectively). As a result, the bcl-2 to bax ratios were increased for the experimental group at 1 and 8 d. During involution, apoptotic counts increased (from 0.12 to 4.06%), but no effects were detected in relation to bcl-2 to bax ratio and alpha-tocopherol. These results indicate that alpha-tocopherol can control bcl-2 expression, but not apoptosis in cells of the mammary gland during involution