Estimates of genetic parameters for growth traits in dorper crossbred sheep population.

The study was carried out to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth traits in Dorper crossbred sheep. The data set consisted of 5717 growth records from 1347 individuals of Dorper 50% crossbred sheep descended from 43 sires and 344 dams born between the years 2012 and 2022 at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center sheep research station, Ethiopia. Studied traits were birth weight (WT0), weaning weight (WT3), six months weight (WT6), yearling weight (WT12), average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG1), average daily gain from weaning to six months (ADG2), average daily gain from six months to yearling (ADG3). The (co)variance components were estimated by fitting six different univariate animal models using Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AI-REML) procedure. Contrary to the genetic trend, phenotypic performance for all studied traits showed a declining trend over the years. Direct heritability estimates of 0.10 ± 0.06, 0.29 ± 0.09, 0.37 ± 0.10, 0.10 ± 0.09, 0.43 ± 0.15, 0.04 ± 0.05, and 0.14 ± 0.09 were obtained for WT0, WT3, WT6, WT12, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3, respectively. Genetic correlations among the studied traits ranged from -0.43 (between ADG2 and ADG3) to 0.99 (between WT3 and ADG1). Selection for weaning, six months and pre-weaning average daily gain would be expected to yield good response as these traits were found moderately heritable. Strong to moderate genetic correlation of WT3 with WT6, WT12, and ADG1 suggested that selection based on WT3 would result in improvement of other growth traits due to correlated response.

Importance of livestock diseases identified using participatory epidemiology in the highlands of Ethiopia.

Livestock are a major cornerstone for livelihoods of smallholders in the highlands of Ethiopia. However, infectious diseases are a key constraint in livestock production affecting productivity and food security. This study aimed to understand livestock producers' perception on importance and epidemiology of livestock diseases. Participatory tools using focus group discussions were used to identify and rank livestock species, major livestock diseases, and their epidemiological patterns in smallholder systems. The study covered 17 districts in four regions, with two or three kebeles (smallest administrative unit) included in each district. To capture views of women and men, separate focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted. Data collected through proportional piling were used in generalized linear model analysis. Taking sheep as a reference, cattle were significantly the most preferred species with the odds of cattle scoring higher than sheep being 2.08 times (P = 0.000). Sheep and poultry were equally the second most important livestock, followed by goat and equine. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women FGD groups and between the four regions in their preference for livestock species. Twelve out of 28 identified livestock diseases were mentioned by at least 10% of FGDs in their list of five most important diseases. Blackleg, foot, and mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, anthrax, and bovine pasteurellosis were ranked as the top five diseases by both men and women focus groups. Reasons for high scores included suddenness of death, zoonosis risks, animal age groups and species affected, frequency of occurrence, rate of transmission in herds, curability, and inefficient vaccination. Seasonality and agro-ecology were also factors associated with disease occurrence. The study also documents that adult men and women are more involved in activities related to disease transmission compared with other family members. When asked about impacts of diseases, loss of livelihood, displacement, and infection with zoonoses were mentioned, with women considered equally affected as men. In conclusion, participatory tools allowed understanding disease priorities of and their perceived epidemiology in smallholder systems. The perceptions and priorities of men and women are very similar, and both need to be involved in designing health management interventions. Based on the findings of this study, the intervention strategies listed in the 2013 animal health strategy of Ethiopia (MoA and ILRI 2013) seem pertinent and need to be implemented to overcome the challenges of diseases.

Coat color alterations over the years and their association with growth performances in the Menz sheep central nucleus and community-based breeding programs.

In the traditional Menz sheep breeding, communities select against black coat color and therefore its frequency is declining over time. We hypothesize that this exercise is causing the loss of an important gene pool. Data collected from on-station Menz sheep nucleus (n = 1992) and community-based breeding program (CBBP) (n = 5578) were analyzed to (1) assess color proportion dynamics over years and (2) associate phenotypic performances and estimated breeding values (EBVs) for growth traits with coat color of the animals. The on-station nucleus considered growth trait as selection criteria, while CBBP focused on a combination of growth and morphological characters. The results showed that the proportion of black coat color increased across years in the on-station nucleus flock (2.1% per year). However, in the CBBP, flocks' proportion of black coat color declined over time (1.03-1.05% per year). Birth and growth traits of black-colored sheep were consistently superior (P < 0.05) to white-colored sheep. Mean yearling weight and EBV of black rams used in the on-station flock was 24.3 kg and 3.7 kg, respectively, while the values for white-colored sheep were 19.7 kg and 1.6 kg, respectively. This variation in growth performances of Menz sheep among different colors may be due to the linkage between color and growth performance genes. Thus, selection against black coat color in the CBBPs seems to have an adverse effect on the genetic progress of growth traits in the Menz sheep. Understanding the core reasons behind the prevailing selection against black coat color and devising measures to address them should be considered. Developing a black line targeting specific markets might also be worthy to maximize production as well as maintain qualities associated with black color.

Highly Sensitive O-Glycan Profiling for Human Serum Proteins Reveals Gender-Dependent Changes in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

A newly developed microscale protocol for profiling serum O-glycans has been validated here with multiple serum samples obtained from different cohorts of colorectal cancer patients. The simultaneous cleavage and permethylation steps in this procedure preserve the integrity of released minor O-glycans, so that 39 O-linked oligosaccharides could be reliably recorded in a profile. This is far more detected components than shown in any previous studies. The analytical results were further subjected to a battery of statistical tests. Our O-glycan compositions compare favorably with the previous results obtained with solid tumors and cancer cell lines, suggesting that smaller circulatory mucins protruding into the blood circulation may be one source of O-glycans that we observe in the serum samples. While the control vs cancer statistical comparisons generally agree with the expected glycosylation trends, the comparisons of male vs female subjects have led to some surprising results for which we do not have a ready explanation due to lack of any literature describing hormonal control of O-glycosylation. Our results thus underscore the necessity of applying new analytical technologies to clinically interesting sample sets.

Community-based breeding programmes are a viable solution for Ethiopian small ruminant genetic improvement but require public and private investments.

Ethiopia has a large and diverse population of small ruminants, which contribute substantially to the livelihood and income of the rural poor and the country at large. However, the sector faces a number of challenges. Productivity per animal and flock offtake are both very low. Reasons attributed for the apparent low productivity are as follows: absence of appropriate breeding programmes, lack of technical capacity, inadequate and poor-quality feeds, diseases leading to high lamb mortality, and underdeveloped markets in terms of infrastructure and information. Historically, sheep and goats have received little policy or investment attention. Genetic improvement of small ruminants could contribute to bridging the productivity gap. In the past, the government of Ethiopia has placed much emphasis on importing exotic genetics and cross-breeding with local stock as a strategy for genetic improvement. However, this has not led to a significant productivity improvement and the programmes have generally been unsustainable. Currently, there is a change in approach and a recognition of the need to focus genetic improvement efforts on the local genetic resources that are well adapted to the diverse agro-ecologies and production environments in the country. Community-based breeding programmes (CBBPs), which focus on indigenous stock and consider farmers' needs, views, decisions and active participation, from inception through to implementation, have been identified as programmes of choice. The Ethiopian government and the private sector need to invest in strategic areas around CBBPs to make the programme work for the poor and be sustainable in low-input systems.

Growth, reproductive, and productive performance of Begait cattle under different herd management systems in northern Ethiopia.

The performance of indigenous Begait cattle (498 cows, 284 calves, and 48 heifers) in northern Ethiopia was studied. System of herd management significantly (P < 0.01) influenced all production traits. Calves in medium-input herds (MIHM) grew faster than those in low-input herds (LIHM), by 232 g/d from birth to 9 months (Gain1) and by 385 g/d from 9 to 12 months (Gain2). Cow's dry period, calving interval (CI), and age at first calving (AFC) were 234, 222, and 343 days shorter for MIHM than for LIHM. Compared with LIHM, cows from MIHM had 74% higher daily milk yield (DMY) and 91% higher lactation milk yield (LMY). Calves born at wet season grew faster by 14 and 10% than those calves born in the dry season at Gain1 and Gain2. The subsequent CI of cows calved in the wet season had 77 days shorter, 0.45 kg DMY, and 93 kg LMY increment. The differences between production systems can be attributed to differences in management skills and access to better quality feeds. Technical intervention is needed to ensure provision of balanced rations to exploit the potential productivity of Begait cattle.

Identification of breeding objectives for Begait goat in western Tigray, North Ethiopia.

A sound breeding objective is the basis for genetic improvement in overall economic merit of farm animals. Begait goat is one of the identified breeds in Ethiopia, which is a multipurpose breed as it serves as source of cash income and source of food (meat and milk). Despite its importance, no formal breeding objectives exist for Begait goat. The objective of the present study was to identify breeding objectives for the breed through two approaches: using own-flock ranking experiment and developing deterministic bio-economic models as a preliminary step towards designing sustainable breeding programs for the breed. In the own-flock ranking experiment, a total of 45 households were visited at their homesteads and were asked to select, with reasons, the first best, second best, third best, and the most inferior does from their own flock. Age, previous reproduction, and production information of the identified animals were inquired; live body weight and some linear body measurements were taken. The bio-economic model included performance traits (weights, daily weight gain, kidding interval, litter size, milk yield, kid mortality, pregnancy, and replacement rates) and economic (revenue and costs) parameters. It was observed that there was close agreement between the farmers' ranking and bio-economic model results. In general, the results of the present study indicated that Begait goat owners could improve performance of their goats and profitability of their farms by selecting for 6-month weight, litter size, pre-weaning kid survival rate, and milk yield.

Glycoblotting method allows for rapid and efficient glycome profiling of human Alzheimer's disease brain, serum and cerebrospinal fluid towards potential biomarker discovery.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of the significance of posttranslational glycosylation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of growing importance for the investigation of the pathogenesis of AD as well as discovery research of the disease-specific serum biomarkers. METHODS: We designed a standard protocol for the glycoblotting combined with MALDI-TOFMS to perform rapid and quantitative profiling of the glycan parts of glycoproteins (N-glycans) and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) using human AD's post-mortem samples such as brain tissues (dissected cerebral cortices such as frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal domains), serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). RESULTS: The structural profiles of the major N-glycans released from glycoproteins and the total expression levels of the glycans were found to be mostly similar between the brain tissues of the AD patients and those of the normal control group. In contrast, the expression levels of the serum and CSF protein N-glycans such as bisect-type and multiply branched glycoforms were increased significantly in AD patient group. In addition, the levels of some gangliosides such as GM1, GM2 and GM3 appeared to alter in the AD patient brain and serum samples when compared with the normal control groups. CONCLUSION: Alteration of the expression levels of major N- and GSL-glycans in human brain tissues, serum and CSF of AD patients can be monitored quantitatively by means of the glycoblotting-based standard protocols. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The changes in the expression levels of the glycans derived from the human post-mortem samples uncovered by the standardized glycoblotting method provides potential serum biomarkers in central nervous system disorders and can contribute to the insight into the molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and future drug discovery. Most importantly, the present preliminary trials using human post-mortem samples of AD patients suggest that large-scale serum glycomics cohort by means of various-types of human AD patients as well as the normal control sera can facilitate the discovery research of highly sensitive and reliable serum biomarkers for an early diagnosis of AD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Glycans in personalised medicine" Guest Editor: Professor Gordan Lauc.

Comprehensive Analytical Approach toward Glycomic Characterization and Profiling in Urinary Exosomes.

Exosomes are extracellular nanosized vesicles with lipid bilayers encapsulating nucleic acids and proteins, both with and without glycosylation. While exosomal nucleic acids and proteins have previously been explored to identify cancer biomarkers with some promising results, little information has been available concerning their glycoconjugate content. Exosomes were isolated from normal urine samples through multistep differential centrifugation. The isolated exosomes have an average size of 146 nm and a spherical shape, as determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. N-Glycans were enzymatically released from the isolated vesicles. After being reduced and permethylated, N-glycans were measured by MALDI mass spectrometry. Paucimannosidic, high-mannose, and complex type glycans were identified and their relative abundances were determined. Some detailed structures of these glycans were revealed through liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). The reduced N-glycans, without being permethylated, were also separated and analyzed by LC/MS-MS, and their structures were further detailed through isomeric separation on porous graphitized carbon (PGC) packed in long capillaries. Using microfractionation before LC/MS-MS, minor multiantennary N-glycans were preconcentrated as based on hydrophobicity or charge. Preconcentration of the reduced and permethylated glycans on a C18 cartridge revealed numerous large glycans, whereas fractionation of the reduced N-glycans by ion-exchange cartridges facilitated detection of sulfated glycans. After removing N-glycans from the original sample aliquot, O-glycans were chemically released from urinary exosomes and profiled, revealing some unusual structures.

A comprehensive glycome profiling of Huntington's disease transgenic mice.

BACKGROUND: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal, dominantly inherited and progressive neurodegenerative disease, nosologically classified as the presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies and the loss of GABA-containing neurons in the neostriatum and subsequently in the cerebellar cortex. Abnormal processing of neuronal proteins can result in the misfolding of proteins and altered post-translational modification of newly synthesized proteins. Total glycomics, namely, N-glycomics, O-glycomics, and glycosphingolipidomics (GSL-omics) of HD transgenic mice would be a hallmark for central nervous system disorders in order to discover disease specific biomarkers. METHODS: Glycoblotting method, a high throughput glycomic protocol, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) were used to study the total glycome expression levels in the brain tissue (3 mice of each sex) and sera (5 mice of each sex) of HD transgenic and control mice. All experiments were performed twice and differences in the expression levels of major glycoforms were compared between HD transgenic and control mice. RESULTS: We estimated the structure and expression levels of 87 and 58N-glycans in brain tissue and sera, respectively, of HD transgenic and control mice. The present results clearly indicated that the brain glycome and their expression levels are significantly gender specific when compared with those of other tissues and serum. Core-fucosylated and bisecting-GlcNAc types of N-glycans were found in increased levels in the brain tissue HD transgenic mice. Accordingly, core-fucosylated and sialic acid (particularly N-glycolylneuraminic acid, NeuGc) for biantennary type glycans were found in increased amounts in the sera of HD transgenic mice compared to that of control mice. Core 3 type O-glycans were found in increased levels in male and in decreased levels in both the striatum and cortexes of female HD transgenic mice. Furthermore, serum levels of core 1 type O-glycans decreased and were undetected for core 2 type O-glycans for HD transgenic mice. In glycosphingolipids, GD1a in brain tissue and GM2-NeuGc serum levels were found to have increased and decreased, respectively, in HD transgenic mice compared to those of the control group mice. CONCLUSION: Total glycome expression levels are significantly different between HD transgenic and control group mice. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Glycoblotting combined with MALDI-TOF/MS total glycomics warrants a comprehensive, effective, novel and versatile technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of total glycome expression levels. Furthermore, glycome-focused studies of both environmentally and genetically rooted neurodegenerative diseases are promising candidates for the discovery of potential disease glyco-biomarkers in the post-genome era.

Relative resistance of Menz and Washera sheep breeds to artificial infection with Haemonchus contortus in the highlands of Ethiopia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative resistance of Menz and Washera sheep breeds to artificial infection with Haemonchus contortus. The challenge trial was conducted at the Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia. A total of 39 (Menz = 21, Washera = 18) lambs of about 6 months old were used for the trial. All lambs were initially treated against internal parasite using albendazole and Fasinex to free them from internal parasites and kept indoors. H. contortus third-stage larvae (L3) were prepared according to standard procedure from adult female parasite collected from abattoirs and recovered using the Baerman technique. Approximately 5000 infective larvae were inoculated to the experimental lambs at about 5 weeks after deworming. Fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), FAffa MAlan CHArt (FAMACHA) score, lamb body weight, and survival of lambs were recorded at 28, 35, and 42 days after challenge. Breed effect was not significant (P > 0.05), whereas time of measurement and the interaction of breed and time had significant (P < 0.05) effects on FEC and PCV. At 28 days after challenge, Menz sheep had lower FEC than Washera sheep, whereas at days 35 and 42, the Washera sheep had lower FEC than Menz lambs. The PCV decreased significantly throughout the post-challenge period. Despite their parasite burden, Menz sheep were able to maintain live weight during the 42 days of challenge. Chi-square tests for breed differences in lamb survival were not significant at any time (28, 35, and 42 days after challenge). Lower FEC at 28 days and delayed rise in FEC after infection in Menz lamb would allow in delaying anthelmintic treatment. In addition to maintain body weights during the infection period, sheep of both breeds exhibited substantial variability in PCV and FEC, suggesting opportunity to consider parasite resistance in selection program.

Feasibility of pedigree recording and genetic selection in village sheep flocks of smallholder farmers.

Pedigree recording and genetic selection in village flocks of smallholder farmers have been deemed infeasible by researchers and development workers. This is mainly due to the difficulty of sire identification under uncontrolled village breeding practices. A cooperative village sheep-breeding scheme was designed to achieve controlled breeding and implemented for Menz sheep of Ethiopia in 2009. In this paper, we evaluated the reliability of pedigree recording in village flocks by comparing genetic parameters estimated from data sets collected in the cooperative village and in a nucleus flock maintained under controlled breeding. Effectiveness of selection in the cooperative village was evaluated based on trends in breeding values over generations. Heritability estimates for 6-month weight recorded in the village and the nucleus flock were very similar. There was an increasing trend over generations in average estimated breeding values for 6-month weight in the village flocks. These results have a number of implications: the pedigree recorded in the village flocks was reliable; genetic parameters, which have so far been estimated based on nucleus data sets, can be estimated based on village recording; and appreciable genetic improvement could be achieved in village sheep selection programs under low-input smallholder farming systems.

Association of maternal serum magnesium with pre-eclampsia in African pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria occurring after 20 weeks of gestation. Several studies have been performed to determine the serum magnesium (Mg) level in PE, but most report inconclusive results. Consequently, this study was designed to resolve this controversy among African women. PubMed, Hinari, Google Scholar and African Journals Online electronic databases were searched for studies published in English. The qualities of included articles were appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment tool. Stata 14 software was utilized for analysis and serum Mg levels in cases and normotensive controls were compared through mean and standardized mean difference (SMD) at the 95% confidence interval (CI). In this review, we found that the mean serum Mg level was significantly reduced in cases (0.910±0.762 mmol/L) vs controls (1.167±1.060 mmol/L). The pooled SMD of serum Mg was significantly lower in cases (-1.20 [95% CI -1.64 to -0.75]). Therefore, since serum Mg is reduced in cases vs controls, we propose that Mg is involved in the pathophysiology of PE. Nevertheless, to know the exact mechanisms of Mg in PE development will require large-scale prospective studies.

Potential diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers of gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC), a malignant epithelial tumor, is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Therapeutic strategies for GC, despite the biggest challenges, can significantly improve survival rates through early detection and effective screening methods. Aim: To provide brief information on the necessity of multiple specific diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers for GC. Methods: This review was conducted using a variety of search engines, including PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others. Results: Some potential biomarkers that provide essential information include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), DNA methylation, claudin 18.2, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), microRNAs, and serum pepsinogens. Conclusion: Multiple tumor markers are essential for screening, tumor identification, staging, prognostic assessment, and monitoring recurrence after therapy due to the absence of a single tumor indicator for diagnosing, prognosticating, and predicting GC.

Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits and kleiber ratio in dorper sheep breed.

The study aimed to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth traits and Kleiber ratio in Dorper sheep breed. Data used in this study were collected over 12 years (2012-2023) at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center sheep research station in Ethiopia. Studied traits were body weights at birth (WT0), weaning (WT3), six month (WT6), and yearling (WT12) age; average daily gains from birth to weaning (ADG0-3), from weaning to six months (ADG3-6), from six months to yearling (ADG6-12); and Kleiber ratios from birth to weaning (KR1) and from weaning to six months (KR2). The (co)variance components were estimated with different animal models using Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AI-REML) procedure. The best-fitted model for each trait was determined using likelihood ratio tests. Phenotypic performance for WT3, WT6, WT12, ADG0-3 and ADG3-6 showed a decline trend at a rate of 0.216 kg, 0.794 kg, 0.671 kg, 2.601 g and 4.865 g over years respectively. However, WT3, WT6, WT12, ADG0-3 showed a positive genetic improvement trend at a rate of 0.029 kg, 0.043 kg, 0.049 kg and 0.257 g over years respectively. Year of birth had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on all studied traits. Model including direct genetic as well as permanent environmental effect (Model 2) was chosen as the most appropriate model for WT0. Model which included only direct genetic effect (Model 1) was the best-fit model for all other studied traits. Direct heritability estimates based on suitable models were 0.07 ± 0.06, 0.11 ± 0.06, 0.09 ± 0.07, 0.11 ± 0.09 0.11 ± 0.06, 0.00 ± 0.04, 0.15 ± 0.07 and 0.00 ± 0.04 for WT0, WT3, WT6, WT12, ADG0-3, ADG3-6, KR1 and KR2 respectively. The variance ratio for the permanent environmental effect was 0.13 ± 0.04 for WT0. Genetic correlations among the traits ranged from negative (-0.39) for WT0-KR1 to high (0.99) for WT3-ADG0-3 and phenotypic correlations ranged from negative (-0.31) for WT0-KR1 to high (0.98) for WT3-ADG0-3. The low direct heritability estimates for the studied traits indicated that genetic improvement by direct selection might be difficult. Further investigation for the unexpected declined trend of phenotypic performance over years need to be required.

Genetic analysis of efficiency-related traits in Boer x Central Highland goats.

This study aimed to identify important non-genetic factors and estimate genetic parameters for efficiency-related traits in Boer x Central Highland goats. The genetic parameters were estimated using the Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood algorithm using the WOMBAT program fitting animal model. The least-squares means for growth efficiency from birth to 3 months (GE1), 3-6 months (GE2), 6-12 months (GE3), relative growth rate from birth to 3 months (RGR1), 3-6 months (RGR2) and 6-12 month (RGR3) were 294.0 ± 5.06, 36.6 ± 1.20, 44.9 ± 1.81, 1.46 ± 0.01, 0.32 ± 0.01 and 0.19 ± 0.01, respectively. Birth type, blood level, sex of the kid, and year of kidding had a sizable effect on efficiency-related traits. About 18, 3.0, 23, 20, and 12% of the phenotypic variation in GE2, GE3, RGR1, RGR2, and RGR3 was explained by the direct additive genetic effect. Except for RGR3, all investigated traits were under the influence of maternal genetic effect, and maternal heritability ranged from 0.09 to 0.17. The total heritability estimate depicts that slow genetic progress would be expected from selection. Nevertheless, even with this level of heritability, selection for efficiency-related traits would improve the efficiency of chevon production as these traits are economically important traits. Nearly six-months of age was when farmers sold Boer crossbred goats. Therefore, improving the growth efficiency till the marketing age (GE2) in such a scenario could increase the production efficiency.

Optimization of selection for growth in Menz sheep while minimizing inbreeding depression in fitness traits.

The genetic trends in fitness (inbreeding, fertility and survival) of a closed nucleus flock of Menz sheep under selection during ten years for increased body weight were investigated to evaluate the consequences of selection for body weight on fitness. A mate selection tool was used to optimize in retrospect the actual selection and matings conducted over the project period to assess if the observed genetic gains in body weight could have been achieved with a reduced level of inbreeding. In the actual selection, the genetic trends for yearling weight, fertility of ewes and survival of lambs were 0.81 kg, -0.00026% and 0.016% per generation. The average inbreeding coefficient remained zero for the first few generations and then tended to increase over generations. The genetic gains achieved with the optimized retrospective selection and matings were highly comparable with the observed values, the correlation between the average breeding values of lambs born from the actual and optimized matings over the years being 0.99. However, the level of inbreeding with the optimized mate selections remained zero until late in the years of selection. Our results suggest that an optimal selection strategy that considers both genetic merits and coancestry of mates should be adopted to sustain the Menz sheep breeding program.

Effect of inclusion of tossign (Thymus serrulatus) in concentrate mix supplementation on performance and sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep.

The experiment was conducted to determine feed intake, digestibility, body weight change, carcass characteristics, and sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep supplemented with a concentrate mix and combinations of different proportions of tossign (Thymus serrulatus). Twenty yearling intact male Menz sheep were divided according to their initial body weight into five blocks of four animals in a randomized block design, and treatments were assigned randomly to each sheep within each block. The treatments were a basal diet of hay alone (T1) and supplemented with 300 g concentrate mix (T2), 200 g concentrate mix + 100 g tossign (T3), and 100 g concentrate mix + 200 g tossign (T4) on a dry matter basis. The results indicated that supplementation of tossign together with concentrate mix significantly increased (P < 0.001) feed intake and improved DM and nutrient digestibility compared to the non-supplemented group. Supplementation of tossign with concentrate significantly improved (P < 0.001) daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and carcass characteristics of sheep compared to the non-supplemented group. Flavor and aroma scores of meat samples of sheep in T3 and T4 were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the corresponding values in T1 and T2. The scores for tenderness, juiciness, and degree of marbling of meat samples of sheep were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in T3 and T4 compared to meat samples of sheep in T1. Inclusion of small amounts of tossign as additive in concentrate mix supplementation can improve the sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep.

Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene variants in pre-eclampsia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Three common endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene variants are existed such as; G-894T, T-786C, and variable number tandem repeats in intron-4 (VNTR intron-4) which has been proposed to be linked with PE. However, there is still debate regarding the findings. To address this, a review was conducted to assess the potential association of eNOS gene variants at these positions with the risk of PE. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Hinari, and African Journal Online databases and Google Scholar search engines were utilized to search studies published in English-language until 30 January 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis instrument was used for data extraction process and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to appraise the quality of the included studies. Meta-regression analysis was conducted using Stata 14 statistical software. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) of fixed and random effect models were utilized to evaluate the association of eNOS gene polymorphism with the risk of PE at 95% CI. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and a funnel plot. RESULTS: The study included 47 observational studies involving 13,795 pregnant women (6216 cases and 7579 controls). Pregnant women carrying TT and CC genotypes of eNOS gene at 894 and 786 positions were found to have a greater probability of developing PE as compared to GG and TT genotypes (OR = 1.54 vs. 1.43 and CI: 1.12 - 2.14 vs.1.02 - 2.00 at 95% CI), respectively. However, a significant association was not observed between aa genotype of eNOS gene in VNTR intron-4 region and risk of PE as compared to bb genotype (OR =1.26, 95% CI: 0.83 - 1.89). The allelic model of eNOS gene at all positions showed nonsignificant association with the risk of PE. CONCLUSIONS: The women having eNOS gene variants at 894 and 786 positions showed a significant association with the risk of PE. Yet, the women having eNOS gene variant at intron-4 region showed nonsignificant association with the risk of PE. Thus, this study suggests that eNOS gene variants may play a role in the development of PE, but large-scale studies are required to inaugurate concrete evidence on the roles of eNOS gene variants in PE pathogenesis.