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The coccidia of sheep and goats in Senegal.

A survey of the coccidia in domestic sheep and goats was undertaken to ascertain the type of Eimeria species and the number of different coccidial species in individual faecal samples. Simultaneously the prevalence and the oocyst output was investigated in 2234 sheep and 577 goats during a 12-month period. Eight Eimeria species were encountered in sheep: E. ahsata, E. crandallis, E. faurei, E. intricata, E. ovina, E. ovinoidalis, E. pallidas and E. parva. In goats the following species were found: E. ahsata, E. arloingi, E. christenseni, E. crandallis, E. faurei, E. intricata, E. ninakohlyakimovae and E. parva. The prevalence in sheep ws 94% and in goats 85%, multiple parasitism was the rule. No seasonal fluctuation was observed in the prevalence or oocyst output. The sheep and goats' oocyst output was moderate, the mean for both being in the range of 1000-5000 oocysts/g of faeces.

Animals↗

Isolation and properties of goat beta 2-microglobulin.

Goat beta 2-microglobulin was isolated and purified from colostrum. Comparisons of the amino acid composition and amino-terminal sequence of the goat protein with the bovine and human homologues, indicates a high degree of similarity. Both goat and bovine beta 2-microglobulins differ slightly in composition from the human molecule, most notably in threonine and proline values. For the first 32 residues, bovine and goat differ only at two positions, one of which is a valyl/isoleucyl substitution consistent with the amino acid compositions. The equivalent goat/human sequence comparison shows seven differences. Immunological studies, using the ELISA method, also confirm the close relatedness of goat and bovine beta 2-microglobulin and their more distant relatedness to the human homologue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Influence of pregnancy, lactation and environment on some clinical chemical reference values in Danish landrace dairy goats (Capra hircus) of different parity--I. Electrolytes and enzymes.

1. Plasma calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium and potassium concentrations, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase activities were determined in young and adult non-pregnant non-lactating, early and late non-lactating pregnant and early, mid- and late non-pregnant lactating Danish landrace goats in five herds. The purpose was to determine the influence of pregnancy and lactation on the levels of these parameters and the effect of age and parity on the changes. 2. Calcium, phosphorus, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased in late gestation. Magnesium and creatine kinase decreased in early lactating goats but increased in subsequent lactation periods. Sodium and potassium fluctuated little during pregnancy and lactation. Calcium, magnesium and potassium profiles were inversely, while phosphorus was directly, proportional to parity. 3. There were significant differences in most ions and enzymes between goats of different herds (within the same physiological state). 4. The transferases and creatine kinase were higher in young goats than in old ones, while alkaline phosphatase was unpredictably high or low in individual goats. 5. Alterations in the level of plasma electrolytes and enzyme activities occur due to pregnancy and lactation and the degree depends on age and parity, influenced also by environment.

Aging↗

A mouse lethal dose assay for detection and titration of Cowdria ruminantium (Kwanyanga strain) in goats and ticks.

A mouse lethal dose assay was used to detect a mouse pathogenic strain (Kwanyanga) of Cowdria ruminantium, the etiological agent of heartwater in goats and ticks. The titer of the rickettsial organisms in goat blood was directly related to the febrile response of the goat and the rickettsia were undetectable after the fever subsided. The maximum rickettsial titer in goat blood was 10(3) mouse LD50 ml-1. Cowdria-infected goat blood was shown to retain infectivity when held on ice for up to 2 h, but when held at room temperature infectivity declined by greater than 50% in 2 h. The mouse assay detected Cowdria in feeding female Amblyomma variegatum only on the eighth day of feeding and in feeding males on the second and eleventh days of feeding. Cowdria was shown to persist in the hemolymph of the soft tick Ornithodoros coriaceus for a period of at least 2 years.

Animals↗

Effect of rumen development and pre-exposure to chemicals on the activity of the mixed function oxidase system in goats.

1. The activity of the mixed function oxidase (MFO) system of the lung and liver of goats were measured in three age groups. The induction of the MFO system by sodium phenobarbital (PB) and the inhibition of piperonyl butoxide (BT) in each age group were also determined. 2. The cytochrome P-450 contents of the liver and lung were less in the newborn than that of the weanling or mature goats. There was no significant change in these parameters between weanling and mature goats. 3. The activity MFO system in the lung was consistently lower than that of the liver in all age groups. 4. Administration of PB induced hepatic cytochrome P-450; however, PB was not a suitable inducer in the lung of goats. BT inhibited this enzyme system in weanling and mature but not in newborn goats.

Aging↗

Xenobiotic biotransformation in livers and lungs of adult black-tailed deer: comparison with domestic goat and sheep.

1. The capacity of liver and lung tissue of black-tailed dear (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) to biotransform xenobiotics was compared in vitro to the domestic sheep and goat. Donor animals were all females of varying ages. Tissues from the black-tailed deer were collected in the wild. A variety of biotransformation enzymes were measured in both microsomal and cytosolic fractions. 2. Deer liver was lower in total cytochrome P450 concentration, but mono-oxygenase activities were greater compared to sheep and goat. The opposite was true for the lung. 3. Epoxide hydrolase activities were significantly different in deer vs sheep and goat. 4. In general, both hepatic and pulmonary activities were more similar between sheep and goat than either species compared to the deer, however, the magnitude of the hepatic differences did not exceed 5-fold. 5. Based on these limited results, there is no reason to discredit the sheep or goat as a toxicity testing model for deer.

Animals↗

Activities of glutathione-S-transferase and ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase in tissues of camels, sheep, goats and rats.

1. The activities of the drug metabolizing enzymes ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase, glutathione-S-transferase, and protein concentrations were measured in vitro in the liver, kidney and duodenal mucosa of camels, sheep, goats and rats. 2. Enzyme activities were generally higher in the liver than in the kidney and duodenal mucosa in the four species studied. 3. The activities of ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase and glutathione-S-transferase in liver of male kids were about one third and half of that in adult male goats, respectively. In the kidney and duodenal mucosa of male kids, the activity of glutathione-S-transferase was about 70% and 53% of that in the mature male goat, respectively. In the latter tissues, however, there was no detectable activity of ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase. 4. In general, goats and sheep had similar activities of the two enzymes which were significantly higher than those found in camels and rats. 5. Some sex-related differences were noted in the activity of the two enzymes studied. Female sheep had significantly higher hepatic glutathione-S-transferase than the male: while the enzyme activity in the kidney and duodenal mucosa of male goats was significantly higher than in females. Male rats had higher hepatic ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity than females.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗

Primary structure of the goat beta-globin locus control region.

The goat beta-globin cluster is composed of a triplicated four-gene set. A locus control region (LCR) containing elements homologous to 5'DNase I hypersensitive sites (HS) 1, 2, and 3 of the human beta-globin LCR has been identified at the 5' end of this locus. We determined 10.2 kb of nucleotide sequence from the goat beta-globin locus control region. Self-comparison of this sequence by dot matrix analysis revealed the presence of six complete and three incomplete artiodactyl repeats. A novel repeated element, termed D repeat, was also identified. Southern blotting analysis demonstrated that these elements exist in the goat genome as a low to medium frequency interspersed repeat family. The absence of any other large region of self-homology (direct or inverted) in the goat LCR suggests that 5'HSs 1, 2, and 3 did not arise through duplication, but rather evolved independently. By comparing goat 5'HS 1 to those of human, rabbit, and mouse, we show a greater than 80% conservation in sequence between the four species. This level of evolutionary conservation suggests that 5'HS 1 plays an important role in the regulation of beta-globin loci.

Animals↗

The influence of the corpus luteum on ovarian follicular dynamics during estrous synchronization in goats.

Ovarian follicular dynamics and fertility are unaffected by the presence or absence of a corpus luteum during synchronization of estrus with progestins in goats. On day 5 of the estrous cycle (estrus= day 0), a gestagen-containing sponge was inserted in the vagina for 11 days. To remove corpora lutea, one group of goats (CL-, n=41) received 7.5 mg of luprostiol on days 7 and 8 of the estrous cycle. The second group of goats retained the CL (CL+, n=38). Growth and development of follicles > or =4 mm in diameter were measured daily from onset of estrus to 2 days after subsequent ovulation in seven goats from each group, using rectal ultrasonography. Estrus was detected by the use of a reproductively sterilized buck and estrous does were subsequently mated. The number of waves of follicular development (CL- =3.57+/-0.2 versus CL+ =3.14+/-0.14; P>0.05) did not differ between groups. The second wave of follicular development was present at the time of progesterone decline in the CL- group and neither its duration (CL- =4.8+/-0.4 versus CL+=5.6+/-0.7 days; P>0.05) nor the day of commencement of the third wave of follicular development (CL -=11.6+/-0.7 versus CL+=11.8+/-0.6; P>0.05) were altered by the concentration of endogenous progesterone. The pregnancy rate was similar between the two groups. (CL-=68.29% versus CL+=65.79%; P>0.05). Thus, in goats, ovarian follicular dynamics and fertility were not altered by the presence or absence of a corpus luteum during estrous synchronization.

Animals↗

Effect of plane of nutrition on seasonality of reproduction in Spanish Payoya goats.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a seasonal pattern of sexual activity in female Payoya goats and if this seasonality could be modulated by nutrition. During the experimental period of 20 months, 43 non-pregnant adults goats were penned under natural photoperiod at latitude 37 degrees 15'N. At the onset of the experiment, the animals were allocated to three experimental groups differing in the level of nutrition and whether the animals were entire or ovariectomized does. The high nutrition group (H, n = 16 entire does) receiving 1.5 times maintenance requirements. The low nutrition group (L, n = 16 entire does) and an ovariectomized and oestradiol treated group (OVX, n = 11 ovariectomized does) received a diet supporting their maintenance requirements. The groups were balanced for live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) at the beginning of the study. In entire goats, oestrus was tested daily using aproned males, ovulation rate was assessed by laparoscopy 7 days after identification of oestrus and plasma samples were obtained twice per week for progesterone assay. OVX goats were isolated from the other groups and bucks, plasma samples were assayed twice per week for LH and there were four intensive sampling periods during the year to determine LH pulsatility. LW and BCS were recorded for all animals once a week. A clear circannual cycle in live weight change was observed in all experimental groups, being relatively stable or slightly decreasing in summer and autumn and increasing during winter and spring. The effect of exposure to high (H) rather than low (L) nutrition was to cause earlier onset of ovarian activity (5 versus 17 August; P < 0.05), and expression of oestrous (16 August versus 2 September; P < 0.01) and later cessation of reproductive activity (ovulation 11 February versus 17 January; P < 0.01). Consequently, seasonal anoestrus was 32 days shorter in does on the higher plane of nutrition (P < 0.01). The seasonality of reproductive activity was confirmed in the OVX does, with reduced LH concentrations during spring and summer, and increased LH concentrations in autumn and winter. There was no effect of nutrition on ovulation rate. These results demonstrate that the female Payoya goat exhibits marked reproductive seasonality which is modulated by nutrition but possibly not ovulation rate.

Animals↗

Vermicomposting of cattle and goat manures by Eisenia foetida and their growth and reproduction performance.

Vermicomposting is commonly adopted for the treatment of livestock organic wastes. In the present study, two types of livestock manure were used for culturing of the earthworm, Eisenia foetida. Each treatment group consisted of six replicates and worm vermicasts were examined after 5 weeks. The concentrations of total C, P and K in goat manure vermicasts were higher than those in cattle manure vermicasts. Cattle vermicasts had a higher N content than goat vermicasts but the C:N ratio of fresh manure was higher than that of vermicasts for both materials. Earthworm biomass and reproductive performance, in terms of number of worms after 5 weeks of experiment, were higher in cattle manure than in goat manure. The cocoon production per worm in cattle manure was higher than in goat manure. However, the hatchability of cocoons was not affected by manure treatments. In conclusion, cattle manure provided a more nutritious and friendly environment to the earthworms than goat manure.

Analysis of Variance↗

Purification and characterization of milk clotting enzyme from goat (Capra hircus).

Chymosin, the major component of rennet (milk clotting enzyme), is an acid protease produced in the fourth stomach of milk-fed ruminants including goat and sheep in the form of an inactive precursor prochymosin. It is responsible for hydrolysis of kappa-casein chain in casein micelles of milk and therefore, used as milk coagulant in cheese preparation. The present investigation was undertaken to purify and characterize goat (Capra hircus) chymosin for its suitability as milk coagulant. The enzyme was extracted from abomasal tissue of kid and purified nearly 30-fold using anion exchanger and gel filtration chromatography. Goat chymosin resolved into three major active peaks, indicating possible heterogeneity when passed through DEAE-cellulose ion exchange column. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 36 kDa on SDS-PAGE, which was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. The purified enzyme preparation was stable up to 55 degrees C with maximum activity at 30 degrees C. The milk clotting activity was decreased steadily as pH is increased and indicated maximum activity at pH 5.5. Proteolytic activity of goat chymosin increased with incubation time at 37 degrees C. Goat chymosin was found to be more thermostable than cattle chymosin and equally stable to buffalo chymosin.

Abomasum↗

Vitrification of goat, sheep, and cattle skin samples from whole ear extirpated after death and maintained at different storage times and temperatures.

Proper tissue preservation from a wide range of animals of different species is of paramount importance, as these tissue samples could be used to reintroduce lost genes back into the breeding pool by somatic cloning. We aim to study the temporal and thermal post-mortem limits, tested in rabbits and pigs, within which there will be guarantees of obtaining living skin cells in goat, sheep, and cattle. We also intend to study the effect of vitrification on the ability of ear skin cells, stored at different times and temperatures, to attach to the substratum and grow in vitro after warming. Ears were stored either at 4 degrees C for 12, 252, and 348 h post-mortem (hpm), or at room temperature (22-25 degrees C) for 60 and 96 hpm. In all cases, skin samples from these ears were sorted into two groups: one group was in vitro cultured immediately after storage, and the other group was vitrified after storage and further in vitro cultured. In goat and sheep, no differences in attachment (100%: goat; 90-100%: sheep) or subconfluence (75-100%: goat; 70-100%: sheep) rates were observed between experimental groups. However, in days of culture to reach subconfluence, significant differences between non-vitrified and vitrified groups were observed when ears were stored at 4 degrees C for 12 and 252 hpm. In cattle, with respect to attachment rate, vitrified samples from ears stored at 22-25 degrees C for 60 hpm were different from non-vitrified control group (60 vs. 100%, respectively; P < 0.05). Also, days of culture to reach subconfluence were analysed by a non-parametric Cox Survival Analysis. In general, results from ANOVA and Survival Analysis were similar, because the proportion of censored data was quite low (9%), so the bias when using ANOVA is not too high. In spite of all the above, the lowest survival rates (75%: goat; 70%: sheep; and 40%: cattle) were sufficiently high to enable collection of skin samples from the majority of dead animals and their cryopreservation.

Animals↗

Fetal development of vomeronasal system in the goat.

Our previous study morphologically revealed that the adult goat vomeronasal (VN) system was different from the rodent and opossum one, and at least two types of VN systems exist in mammals. However, it remains unknown whether the developments in both types of VN systems are ontogenetically distinct and when the goat VN system is established. In this study, we morphologically observed the fetal development of the goat accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) and VN neuron. In the fetus, Gi2-expressing VN terminals terminated at glomeruli throughout the AOB, and no immunoreactivities for Go were detected in the nerve terminals reaching into AOB. The layer structure of AOB rapidly developed in the latter half of gestation. In the VN organ (VNO), at the middle stage of gestation, the dendritic processes of VN neuron were exposed in the VN lumen, and scattered and thin microvilli existed on the protrusion of the VN neuron. In the apical part of dendritic processes, no clear vesicle existed. However, the immunohistochemistry of an olfactory marker protein (OMP) revealed that a few VN neurons with OMP exist in VN sensory epithelium (VSE) before birth, although marked immunoreactivities were detected in adult VSE. Fetal VN neurons appeared to be underdeveloped. These results suggest that the goat VN system is ontogenetically distinct from the rodent and opossum VN systems, and is underdeveloped before birth. The goat VN system will develop and mature during the early postnatal period similar to the rodent and opossum VN systems.

Age Factors↗

Effect of donor stimulation, frozen semen and heparin treatment on the efficiency of in vitro embryo production in goats.

Investigations on in vitro embryo production in goats in comparison with other domestic species, especially cattle, have been the subject of few reports despite their usefulness for both basic research and commercial application. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficiency of IVP in goats using immature follicular oocytes recovered from FSH-primed and control goats. After IVM, oocytes were fertilized with fresh or frozen-thawed semen capacitated with or without heparin. Mature oocytes were fertilized in vitro with fresh and frozen-thawed sperm of a single buck. Sperm preparation included swim-up separation and heparin treatment (50 micrograms/ml of sperm suspension for 45 min) before spermatozoa were added to oocytes in TALP-IVF. After IVF, the zygotes were cultured for 24h and cleaved embryos were further cultured with goat oviduct epithelial cells or transferred to synchronized recipients. Mean number of oocytes recovered from FSH-primed goats (24.5 +/- 8.6) was significantly higher (P < 0.01; t test) in comparison to control does (14.7 +/- 4.7). Irrespective of fresh or frozen semen, no differences were observed in blastocyst yield when sperm was treated with heparin. However, the highest cleavage rate (99/126; 79.4%) as well as blastocyst yield (47/126; 37.3%) was obtained after IVF with fresh sperm capacitated without heparin. Contrary to fresh sperm, heparin treatment of frozen-thawed sperm significantly improved (P < 0.01) embryo cleavage. No differences between in vivo developmental competence of embryos related to sperm origin were found after transferring into recipients. Overall, more than 60% of the recipients became pregnant and 20% of all transferred embryos survived delivering 13 healthy kids. Our caprine IVP system allows obtaining embryos with developmental competence comparable to bovine IVP.

Animals↗

Effect of 30 kDa and above buffalo follicular fluid protein treatment and immunization on ovarian functions in goats (Capra hircus).

Information on the use of buffalo follicular fluid (buFF) in modulation of ovarian functions in farm animals is scanty compared to other species. This is an attempt to investigate the effect of direct administration and active immunization of 30 kDa and above buFF proteins on ovarian functions in goats. Treatment of goats (n = 6) with steroid free 30 kDa and above buFF protein fraction during late-luteal phase for 4 days (days 12 or 13 to days 15 or 16) of the natural cycle, delayed the onset of estrus by 24 h compared to control although the mean duration of estrus was unaffected. A 71% increase (P = 0.06) in mean ovulation number was also observed following treatment. However, the population of large (> or =5 mm diameter) follicle was not affected. The ovarian activity calculated as total of ovulation and large follicles increased (1.6 times) significantly (P = 0.02) in treated animals. Active immunization of goats (n = 5) against these proteins did not affect the onset and duration of estrus. Similarly, the ovulation rate, number of large follicles and the ovarian activity did not differ significantly between immunized and control groups. The study revealed that 30 kDa and above buffalo follicular fluid contains some factor(s) that cause delay in the onset of estrus in goats and increase the ovulation rate. Active immunization against these proteins in goat did not show any effect either on onset, duration of estrus or ovulation rate and large follicle population. Detailed study on these buffalo follicular fluid proteins may help to use them further for modulation of ovarian function in farm animals.

Animals↗

Intoxication by Ipomoea sericophylla and Ipomoea riedelii in goats in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil.

A disease of the nervous system was observed in goats from two farms of the semiarid of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Ipomoea sericophylla was found in one farm and I. riedelii in the other. Both plants were administered experimentally to five goats each. Both plants induced clinical signs similar to those observed in spontaneous cases. Two goats died spontaneously and five were euthanatized. Three goats recovered after the withdrawal of the plants. Histological examination showed that all goats that died spontaneously or were euthanized had diffuse vacuolation of neurons, macrophages of lymphatic tissues, and epithelial cells of pancreas, thyroid, renal tubules and liver. On electron microscopy of Purkinje cells, numerous dilated membrane bordered vacuoles were identified as lysosomes. On lectin-histochemical analysis, cerebellar cells gave positive reactions to Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris, and succinylated-T. vulgaris, which indicate the storage of alpha-D-mannose, alpha-D-glucose, beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and acetyl-neuraminic acid. The chemical analysis of I. sericophylla and I. riedelii showed 0.11 and 0.14% of swainsonine, respectively. The latter also contained calystegines B1, B2 and C1. It is concluded that I. sericophylla and I. riedelli cause a lysosomal storage disease.

Alkaloids↗

Divergent roles for estrogens and androgens in the expression of female goat sexual behavior.

We tested the hypothesis that the activation of the androgen receptor (AR) is required for full expression of female goat sexual behavior. Once a week for 6 weeks, ovariectomized (OVX) females were given priming doses of progesterone 72 and 48 h before behavioral observation. Estradiol (E(2); 100 microg), testosterone (T; 100 mg), or sesame oil was supplied 14 h before behavioral testing. Six goats received the AR antagonist flutamide (9 mg/kg sc) 8 h before and 4 h after steroid injection. Six goats received the carrier only. After 3 weeks, flutamide and carrier treatments were switched so that all females received all treatments. Treatments with E(2) and T were equally effective in eliciting estrus-typical behaviors (sniffing, courting, leg kicks, mount attempts by males, bouts of thrusting by males, ejaculations, and flehman responses) compared to treatment with oil. Flutamide treatment enhanced proceptive behaviors in E(2)-treated females compared to other treatment groups; this was most likely via enhanced tail wagging. Moreover, compared to goats given T + carrier, T + flutamide significantly reduced receptivity in females. The results of this experiment implicate the AR as an important facilitator of some aspects of the female goat sexual behavior. However, the results of this experiment do not show whether androgens influence estrous behaviors alone or in some combination with estrogen.

Androgen Antagonists↗