Simultaneous Presence of Antibodies against Five Respiratory Pathogens in Unvaccinated Dairy Calves from South-Western Poland.

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) poses a significant threat to cattle welfare worldwide, affecting their respiratory system and causing substantial economic losses. BRD is multifactorial in nature. This research aimed to investigate the serological profile of calves for the five main bovine respiratory pathogens. Serum samples were collected from dairy calves aged 7-12 months that had never been vaccinated against tested pathogens and had recently shown signs of BRD. A total of 4095 calves from 650 dairy herds located in south-western Poland were examined. The Commercial Indirect Respiratory ELISA Kit Multiplexed-Double well-BIO K 284/5 (Bio-X Diagnostics, Rochefort, Belgium) was used to determine the presence of antibodies against BVDV, BoAHV1, BRSV, BPIV3, and M. bovis. The presence of antibodies against at least one of the tested pathogens was found in 306 (47.08%) herds. The overall prevalence of antibodies was as follows: BoAHV1 21.54%, BVDV 32.0%, BRSV 34.15%, BPIV3 34.31%, and M. bovis 31.38%. The strongest correlation was between BRSV antibodies positive sera and BPIV3 antibodies positive sera. Among the five pathogens tested, antibodies to BVDV, BRSV, BPIV3, and M. bovis were most commonly detected simultaneously. The results of this study indicate the need for preventive measures against these pathogens in the studied region.

The influence of manual semen collection in male trained dogs (Canis familiaris), in the presence or absence of a female in estrus, on the concentrations of cortisol, oxytocin, prolactin and testosterone.

Sex pheromones are chemical substances secreted into the environment that affect the physiology and behavior of recipients. Females use these compounds during oestrus to attract males, which leads to attempts of mating. This study evaluates the influence of manual semen collection in male dogs, in the presence or absence of a female in estrus, on the blood concentrations of cortisol (CRT), oxytocin (OXT), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T), as hormones involved both in the physiology of reproduction and stress. Ten male dogs were used in Experiment 1 to measure the serum and plasma concentrations of the aforementioned hormones in the absence of semen collection. Subsequently in the same animals, the concentrations of these hormones were evaluated before and after semen collection in the presence (Exp. 2) or in absence of a female in estrus (Exp. 3). No significant changes in hormone concentration caused by the semen collection were found, either with, or without the presence of female in estrus. Obtained results suggest that the procedure of manual semen collection in dogs, probably due to its passive character, does not stimulate endocrine glands to secrete hormones, and the process of ejaculation is probably controlled by neural pathway. The lack of effect of semiochemical stimulation to the CRT, PRL, OXT and T level, could be caused by a short contact with female during semen collection. Further studies on involvement of the hormones during the process of natural mating, especially preceded by long courtships, similar to that observed under natural conditions, should shed a light on the physiology of mating and the connection between the endocrine system and semiochemical stimulation in dogs.