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β-Casein accounts for approximately 30% of total milk protein, with the A1 and A2 variants being the most common. A1 β-casein may release β-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) during digestion, which is associated with adverse health effects, whereas A2 β-casein does not. This study investigated the A2 allele frequency and its potential influence on milk performance in Holstein cattle in Taiwan. A total of 1,050 cows from five herds were genotyped using the GeneSeek 50K SNP chip. The A2 allele frequency ranged from 0.58 to 0.75 among herds, with an average of 0.66. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium tests indicated no significant deviation within herds. Pedigree validation confirmed Mendelian inheritance of A1 and A2 alleles. Furthermore, 348 cows with complete lactation records were evaluated for 305-day mature equivalent milk and fat yields across genotypes. Although cows with the A1/A1 genotype showed numerically higher milk and fat yields, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests revealed no statistically significant differences. These results suggest that while A2 allele selection is increasing in Taiwan, β-casein genotype does not significantly influence milk or fat production in the studied population.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of single or combined use of intermittent fasting and probiotics, which have been recommended as an alternative to antibiotics in recent years due to their proven efficacy, against Campylobacter colonization in mice. For this purpose, mice infected with Campylobacter jejuni were divided into groups and exposed to intermittent fasting and probiotics, alone and together. At the end of the experimental study, ileum and cecum contents were obtained for microbiological analyzes, and stomach and intestinal tissue samples were collected for histopathological analyzes. It was determined that the level of C. jejuni colonization in the ileum and cecum of mice in the positive control group (PC group) was significantly higher than in the other groups (P<0.05). It was also determined that the level of C. jejuni colonization in the ileum of mice in the probiotic and intermittent fasting group (PB +IF group) was lower than in the other groups and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). As a result of the histological analyzes, mild inflammatory reactions was observed to occur in the stomach and intestinal tissues of the animals in the experimental groups, and the severity of the inflammation was lower in the PB +IF group than in the other groups. The findings of this study indicated that single or combined use of intermittent fasting and probiotics may represent a safe and feasible strategy for the control of Campylobacter infections.

This study was conducted to determine the presence of bacterial flora in the preputium samples of healthy rams in the province of Afyonkarahisar and identify the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates. Preputial swab samples were collected from a total of 50 healthy 2-3-year-old rams in the center, districts, and villages of Afyonkarahisar, including 20 Merino, 10 Hampshire, and 20 Pirlak breed rams. Seventy-eight isolates obtained from the 50 clinically healthy rams were identified using standard microbiological and biochemical methods, as well as the VITEK-2 automated system device. Forty-four isolates were Gram-positive bacteria (56.4%), 29 isolates were Gram-negative bacteria (37.2%), and 5 isolates were yeasts (6.4%). Seventeen genera consisting of Acinetobacter lwoffii, Aerococcus viridans, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus spp., Candida spp., Escherichia coli, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Kocuria kristinae, Kocuria rosea, Kytococcus sedentarius, Lactococcus lactis, Mannheimia haemolytica, Neisseria animaloris, Salmonella enterica ssp. diarizonae, Sphingobacterium thalpophilum, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus cohnii spp. urealyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus lentus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Streptococcus ovis, and Streptococcus thoraltensis were isolated. The most frequently isolated species in the tested animals were Staphylococcus spp. (25.6%), E. coli (21.8%), Streptococcus spp. (7.7%), A. viridans (6.4%), Lactococcus lactis ssp. (6.4%), and Candida spp. (6.4%). The susceptibility of the isolates to ampicillin, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline, ceftiofur, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Most isolates were susceptible to ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, and florfenicol, while most were resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin.

Metabolic diseases in cows have a significant influence on their health status, milk production, and the health and immune parameters of newborn calves. One of the most critical periods in the lactation cycle of dairy cows is the transition period, which covers the last three weeks before and the first three weeks after calving. It is characterized by the occurrence of metabolic and endocrine adaptations resulting from the increased demand for nutrients to support future lactation and avoid metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic stress is a hypermetabolic and catabolic response to homeostatic imbalance which affects the development and maturation of foetus. Lipid mobilization is a typical feature of a negative energy balance (NEB), whereby non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are released into the bloodstream and used as a source of energy. The aim of this review was to present the results of our research and research of other authors on the impact of metabolic disorders in dairy cows on the immune and health status of calves. The results confirmed the correlation between the metabolic stress in cows during pregnancy and the immune status of calves, which determines their development and maturation, as well as increased incidence of failure of passive transfer and health status (diarrhoea, sepsis, and respiratory disease).

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains cause a wide spectrum of infections in domesticated livestock owing to acquisition of multiple antibiotic resistance and virulence genes which increase their pathogenicity. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence, antibiotic and virulence gene profile as well as molecular characterization of the MRSA isolates in Punjab, India. A total of 650 samples including nasal swabs from sheep, goats and pigs; caprine milk samples and human hand swab samples were collected from different districts of Punjab and processed for isolation of S. aureus followed by confirmation by MALDI-TOF. The confirmed S. aureus isolates were subjected to PCR for detection of methicillin resistance gene and all the MRSA isolates obtained were studied for their culture sensitivity, antibiotic resistance and virulence gene profile. A total of 45 S. aureus isolates were obtained, out of which, 15 carried mecA gene and were thus confirmed as MRSA isolates. All 15 MRSA isolates were completely resistant to cefoxitin and Penicillin. In all, 53.33% MRSA isolates were found to be multidrug resistant with majority of isolates exhibiting a MAR index greater than 0.2 which indicates high antimicrobial usage in farms across Punjab. tetK gene which confers resistance to tetracycline was the most prevalent, followed by aac-aphD gene while eno gene was found to be the predominant virulence gene. A total of five SCCmec types viz., SCCmec type IVd, Type III, Type I, Type IVc and Type V were observed with SCCmec Type IVd being the predominantly detected SCCmec type.

Effective control of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) infestation is essential for human and animal health. To date, several ectoparasitic drugs, such as carbamates, neonicotinoids, phenylpyrazoles, and pyrethroids have been used to control flea infestations; however their widespread use has led to resistance, hampering treatment success. In this study, the resistance potential of C. felis collected from cats to fipronil (FIP), imidacloprid (IMI), flumethrin (FLU), and propoxur (PRO), which are the commonly used compounds for flea control, was investigated by molecular analyses. Bioassays encompassed exposure of adult cat fleas to FIP (2%), IMI (6%), FLU (0.1%), and PRO (0.1%)-impregnated papers using an insecticide susceptibility test kit according to the WHO protocol. Afterward, PCR was performed to identify mutations indicating resistance to FIP and FLU. Based on molecular analyses, mutations in the para gene of C. felis were identified as L1014F and T929V, indicating FLU resistance. Frequencies of T929V and L1014F mutations in fleas were 2.5% and 10%, respectively. On the other hand, two fleas that survived after eight hours of exposure to FIP lacked the A302S mutation, which was partially associated with FIP resistance. Even though our results revealed no resistance to FIP, IMI, and PRO in fleas collected from the study’s cat population, the occurence of FLU resistance due to mutations in the para gene of the fleas was demonstrated at the molecular level.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) against cadmium (Cd)-induced hepatic oxidative damage and analyze its underlying antioxidant mechanism. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group and four others treated with cadmium chloride (CdCl2)(2 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) and different MOS levels at 0, 100, 300, 500 mg/kg b.w.. The results demonstrated that administration of MOS at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly reduced Cd-induced oxidative damage in rat livers. This was evidenced by an increase in body weight gain (BWG) and thymus index. Additionally, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities were significantly improved compared to the group exposed to Cd alone. Conversely, MOS resulted in significant reductions in liver index, liver malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), glutathione (GSH), and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Morphological analysis showed that MOS ameliorated Cd-induced histopathology of the rat liver. Notably, Nrf2 gene expression levels increased, while heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) mRNA levels decreased in the MOS group. In conclusion, MOS effectively attenuated Cd-induced oxidative damage in rat liver and the Nrf2 signaling pathway was involved in this process. This study provides valuable insights for the implementation of MOS applications in livestock and poultry production.

The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the composition and physicochemical properties of cow’s colostrum and the levels of immunoglobulin G in the serum of their calves, depending on the inclusion of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) as a substitute for concentrate feeds in the diet during the dry period. Sixty cows were divided into four groups: Group C – traditional TMR feed, Group I – modified feed with the inclusion of DDGS at 10% of DM, Group II – DDGS inclusion increased to 15% of DM, Group III – DDGS inclusion increased to 20% of DM. Colostrum samples were collected from all cows during the first full milking after calving. Blood samples were taken from all cows after calving and from their calves on days 3rd and 30th of life.. No significant changes were observed in the basic composition of cows’ colostrum. The levels of amino acids were significantly lower in DDGS groups. There was an increase in concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, lactoferrin, K, Na and proportion of α-casein and κ-casein in the colostrum of cows receiving DDGS. The total protein content was lower in the serum of cows receiving DDGS, despite a higher content of IgG. On the 3rd day of life, significantly higher levels of total protein and IgG were found in the calves' serum. Analysing the obtained results, it can be concluded that the use of DDGS in a cow's diet during the dry period as a substitute for concentrated feeds does not reduce the colostrum quality. However, including DDGS at a level of 15% DM in the cows' diet results in higher IgG content and, consequently, a higher level of passive immunity in their calves.

The genus Teschovirus consists of two species, Teschovirus A and Teschovirus B, with over 19 genotypes. This study sequenced the near-complete genomes of the PTV YC2 strain, previously isolated. Comparative analyses revealed nucleotide and amino acid homologies between PTV-YC2 and other PTV strains ranging from 69.7% to 93.2% and 75.6% to 99.0%, respectively. Genetic divergence analysis of the P1, polyprotein and 2C-3CD genes confirmed that PTV-YC2 belonged to the Teschovirus B species. Phylogenetic analyses showed a close evolutionary relationship between YC2 and the HuN42 strain, the prototype of the TV-B3 genotype, leading to PTV-YC2's categorization as TV-B3. This study is the first to document the prevalence of the TV-B3 genotype in Jiangxi Province, China.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an acute viral disease in animals. Inactive parapoxvirus ovis (IPPVO) strengthens humoral immunity. This study aimed to determine the effect of IPPVO application together with FMD vaccine on cattle immunity. It included 30 Holstein cattle randomly divided into two groups: one was only administered the FMD vaccine, and the other was administered the FMD vaccine and IPPVO simultaneously. Control blood was collected from all animals at 0 hours. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were measured in blood samples collected at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours post-vaccination, while serum IgG and IgM levels were measured in blood samples collected at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 days post-vaccination using ELISA kits. While no changes in serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were detected in the FMD group, IL-1β levels significantly increased (peaking at four hours) in the FMD + IPPVO group. In the FMD group, while IgG levels increased significantly (peaking at 16 days), while IgM levels did not change. In the FMD + IPPVO group, IgG level of the 8 days was higher than the 16 days value. Also, the IgM level increased significantly on day 16. In conclusion, it can be stated that the application of FMD with IPPVO increases the primary immune response (IgM), but it does not effect on the long-term immune response (IgM).

The aim of the study was to carry out a follow-up evaluation of cryopreserved semen of native breed cattle collected in the National Bank of Biological Material. The oldest material, from 2004–2010, was included in the study. A total of 70 ejaculates from 62 bulls (5 Polish Red-and-White, 7 Polish Black-and-White, 11 Whitebacked, 39 Polish Red) were used in the study. After thawing sperm concentration and viability (plasma membrane intactness) were determined using a fluorescence-based instrument – NucleoCounter SP-100. Sperm concentration was higher (p≤0.05) for the semen of Polish Red-and-White and Polish Red bulls compared to the semen of Polish Black-and-White and Whitebacked bulls. For the viability, no significant differences were observed between breeds. The number of viable spermatozoa per straw in the examined semen ranged from 4.09 to 18.29 × 106 . This study has shown large differences in the quality of bull semen frozen between 2004 and 2010, from the collection of the National Bank of Biological Material while its quality parameters allow it to be used for insemination.

This research aims to estimate the heritability and genetic trend for herd life (HL) and productive life (PL) in an organic dairy cattle farm in the Aegean Region of Turkey. The data of 1093 cows culled from the farm were evaluated. Ancestors were collected by going 6 generations back. Thus, the pedigree file consisted of 4212 animals. Variance components and breeding values were estimated using MTDFREML. The heritability for both HL and PL was found to be equal and 0.16. Standard errors of the heritabilities were 0.06 and 0.08, respectively. Genetic progress per year for HL and PL were 1.60 and 0.60 days, respectively. Estimations for HL and PL were generally consistent with other studies. Heritabilities indicate that breeding for HL and PL is possible; however, response to selection would be slow. Despite the extended length of the selection process, genetic variation could be sufficient for a successful breeding. Indirect selection based on particular traits that have a strong relationship with HL and PL may be beneficial. Our study showed a phenotypic decline in HL and PL, confirming the fluctuation in genetic trends. Therefore, the importance of life traits in the selection index should be increased.

The global consumption of poultry is expected to increase by 2032, especially in Asian and European countries. Proper nutrition, including feed additives, plays a role in meeting the global demand for livestock products. In addition, the prohibition of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters resulted in antibiotic resistance issues, leading to the need to investigate alternative methods for replacing the role of antibiotics. The use of probiotic bacteria has proved to be able to improve the growth performance of poultry and suppress pathogenic bacteria growth in the digestive tract. However, microenvironment conditions in the digestive tract affect the survival of probiotic bacteria. Modification of bacteria by encapsulation shows promising potential to protect bacteria from harsh conditions in the poultry digestive tract. In addition, probiotic encapsulation also showed improvement in performance in poultry. This review will discuss the current encapsulation technology in probiotics applied to poultry and its effects. It also will explore the prospect of encapsulated probiotics, especially in the poultry industry, and its challenge.

The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis affecting human and veterinary medicine, highlighted within the One Health framework. Horses, classified as both meat and companion animals, play a crucial role in facilitating resistant bacteria spread to humans. Despite increased awareness and reduced antibiotic use in livestock, data on equine antibiotic use and resistance remain limited. This retrospective study examines antimicrobial resistance in 978 bacterial isolates from horses in Poland over 12 years (2010-2022), utilizing data from the Microbiological Diagnostic Laboratory at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The most common isolates were Streptococcus spp. (45.60%) and Staphylococcus spp. (19.22%). Clinical isolates resistance pattern observed in this study, particularly to gentamicin, tetracyclines, enrofloxacin, third-generation cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol, strongly suggests the overuse and misuse of these antibiotics, a trend that urgently needs to be addressed to preserve their efficacy. The detection of high-resistance Rhodococcus equi isolates to erythromycin, rifampicin, and doxycycline may pose challenges for foal rhodococcosis treatment soon, especially considering the lack of alternative treatment. The outcomes of this study show the urgent and critical need to collect and analyze local data for improved antimicrobial stewardship. They also emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring of resistance patterns in equine pathogens, as this is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies and staying ahead of potential threats.

In Northern Cyprus, around 51% of halloumi cheese is produced from sheep milk, so there the livelihood of the farmers mostly depends on the sheep milk production. But mastitis, an inflammation of the udder, significantly affects this production. Due to a lack of sufficient data concerning the prevalence, aetiology, and antimicrobial resistance of sheep mastitis, there remains no effective method to control the disease. This study aims to estimate their prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) and identify bacterial aetiological agents and its antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of bacterial isolates in sheep in Northern Cyprus. A total of 227 milk samples taken from sheep were analysed using somatic cell count (SCC), bacteriological isolation-identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility procedures. Pathogens were isolated in 62 (27.3%) sheep milk samples. Somatic cell counts of more than 500.000 cells/ml were found in 56 (24.6%). S. aureus (12.8%) was the most common isolate from the milk samples, followed by NAS (non-Aureus staphylococci) species (11.9%), Escherichia coli (0.9%), Streptococci (0.4%), Bacillus spp. (0.9%) and Staph spp. (0.4%). While a high resistance to sulphamethaxazole/trimetoprim (81.5%) was found, no resistance to gentamicin (10.6%) was found. The study findings indicate that subclinical mastitis is a serious problem in Cyprus. Therefore, continuous observation of subclinical mastitis and application of antibiogram tests to combat mastitis and antibiotic resistance and reduce economic losses are needed.

This study aimed to assess the effect of lactation number, lactation stage and somatic cell count (SCC) on the presence of pathogenic or opportunistic pathogens in cow milk. A total of 1712 milk samples were collected from the udder quarters of 428 lactating Holstein breed cows for bacteriological examination. Somatic cell count was taken from the controlled bovine records. The cows were divided into four groups according to the lactation number (viz. lactation numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and above) and into three groups according to the lactation month (viz. 1-4, 5-8, 9 months and above). The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 27.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Microorganisms' frequency was calculated by determining their confidence intervals (Wilson Confidence Interval 95%, CI). Various farm pathogens were identified: CNS (Coagulase negative staphylococci), S. aureus, Enterococcus spp., Str. agalactiae, E. coli).It was found that CNS and S. agalactiae increased with somatic cell count, lactation number and lactation stage. E. coli increased at the end of the lactation stage (p≤0.05). Enterococcus spp., count in milk differed significantly between cows in lactations 1 and 4 and older (p≤0.05). Pathogen number also increased with milk fat, but decreased with increased protein content (p≤0.01).

In this study, the effects of in-ovo injection of Chrysin (CR) into Japanese quail eggs on testicular histology, oxidant status and epididymal sperm quality were investigated. 720 Japanese quail eggs were divided into 4 groups and 0.1 mL saline was given to the control group, 0.25 mg CR to the 0.25 group, 0.50 mg CR to the 0.50 group and 0.75 mg CR to the 0.75 group. On the 60th day after the laying of eggs, 8 Japanese quails were randomly selected from each group and sacrificed under mild sevoflurane anesthesia. The abdominal cavity was opened and both testicular tissues and epididymal parts were removed. The right testicular tissue was used for histopathological examinations and the left one was used for biochemical analyses. The epididymal part at the tip of the vas deferens at the end of the right testis was trimmed in 100 µL saline at 37 oC. Histopathological examinations showed that histological scoring was higher in the CR 50 and CR 75 groups. A decrease in oxidant status was observed in all CR groups compared to the control group. Spermatozoa density was higher in CR groups compared to the control group. Total motility value was statistically significantly higher in CR 50 and CR 75 groups compared to control and CR 25 groups. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of dead and abnormal spermatozoa. In-ovo CR injection at doses of 0.50 and 0.75 mg/egg improved testicular histological score, decreased oxidative stress, and increased epididymal sperm quality.

Alkanna tinctoria is an herbaceous plant belongs to the Boraginaceous family and traditionally known for its effective anti-inflammatory and wound-healing capabilities. Current study was purposed to access the analgesic and inflammation reducing potentials of green synthesized silver nanoparticles of A. tinctoria roots via paw edema analysis produced by carrageenan, abdominal writhes induced with acetic acid and hot plate assay in mice. Freshly prepared aqueous extracts and green synthesized nanoparticles of plant root were given to mice, one hour prior to carrageenan induced inflammation, acetic acid induced writhes and hot plate analgesic test. A well-known inflammation reducing drug, Indomethacin is used as a standard control. The results showed a significant decrease in inflammation especially after 3 hours of inflammation introduction followed the doses of aqueous extract and nanoparticles of roots of A. tinctoria. In hot plate analgesic test, the dose containing combination of aqueous extract and nanoparticles showed 79.17% analgesic effect which was nearest to the standard dose of indomethacin (82.73% analgesia). Similarly, combined dose of aqueous and nanoparticles showed 69.44% of inhibition in abdominal writhes. The differences among the groups and in comparison, to control group were highly significant (p < 0.001). The final outcomes of this investigation revealed nanoparticles of A. tinctoria exhibited the high potentials of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect and this could be used to reduce the pain and inflammation related diseases.

Feline mammary gland tumors are a serious health concern, resulting in a significant reduction in the animal’s lifespan and a decrease in the overall quality of life. Malignant tumors often lead to recurrences and metastases. Among endogenous factors that may influence the development or progression of mammary neoplasia, prolactin (PRL) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) appear to be of crucial importance. The study involved 60 queens with surgically removed mammary gland tumors, which were subsequently stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence to assess the expression of PRL and VEGF. Variables considered during analyses included the time of ovariohysterectomy, inflammation severity and clinical tumor behavior. The VEGF expression in tumors exhibited an increase in malignant cases, providing evidence of heightened angiogenesis. The lack of differences in the overall expression of PRL receptor was found between tumor types. However, the lower expression of PRL receptor in tumor with increased inflammation may suggest PRL’s immunomodulating functions in feline malignant neoplastic tumors. Interestingly, the absence of positive influence of gonadectomy on tumor behavior highlights the need for further research regarding this form of prevention. High expression of PRL receptor and VEGF only in distant metastases may prompt future research on the proangiogenic function of PRL in feline mammary gland tumors.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tideglusib and bone graft mixture on bone healing. Tideglusib is a drug used in the treatment of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. In a relevant study, the positive effect of tideglusib on the Wnt pathway, one of the pathways involved in bone regeneration and dentin tissue regeneration, was demonstrated. Dentin and bone tissues have structurally similar healing mechanisms. Therefore, tideglusib may have a similar effect on bone tissue. The main goal of bone grafting is to provide bone regeneration and functional healing through remodeling. Bone graft materials are divided into four types based on their source: autogenous, allogenous, xenogenous, and alloplastic. Because these graft materials have various advantages and disadvantages, research continues to focus on alternative materials and applications. Sixteen New Zealand rabbits were included in this study. A unicortical 3.5 mm diameter defect was created in the tibia of rabbits under general anesthesia. The groups in the study were as follows: Group 1, left proximal tibia defect area was controlled (defect area was left empty); Group 2, left distal tibia defect area was treated with tideglusib + calcium sulfate; Group 3, right proximal tibia defect area was treated with calcium sulfate only; Group 4, right distal tibia defect area was treated with tideglusib only. Mediolateral (M/L) radiographs of the tibia were taken on the 30th and 60th postoperative days. On the thirtieth day, the first eight rabbits were sacrificed, and on the sixth day, the remaining eight were sacrificed for histopathological examination. New bone formation in the obtained samples was evaluated by radiological and histopathological analyses. The study concluded that the combination of tideglusib and calcium sulfate significantly enhanced bone healing compared with the other groups (p<0.005). This suggests that tideglusib, either alone or in combination with bone graft materials, could serve as a promising alternative for the repair of bone defects.