Physicochemical properties, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of different hydrolysates of goat milk protein.

There is growing interest in the origin, preparation, and application of bioactive peptides. This study investigated the impact of 6 enzymes on the structural, physicochemical properties, antioxidant activities, and antidiabetic potential of defatted fresh goat milk. Structural and functional changes resulting from enzymatic hydrolysis were assessed using gel electrophoresis, laser particle size analysis, multi-spectroscopy, and evaluations of foaming and emulsification properties. Antioxidant capacity was determined through free radical scavenging, Fe2+ chelation, and reducing ability experiments. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of the hydrolysates on α-glucosidase and α-amylase were measured to evaluate antidiabetic activity. Results showed that enzymatic hydrolysis disrupted the spatial structure of goat milk protein and reduced its molecular weight. Papain hydrolysate exhibited the highest degree of hydrolysis (32.87 ± 0.11%) and smallest particle size (294.75 ± 3.33 nm), followed by alcalase hydrolysate (29.12 ± 0.09%, 302.03 ± 7.28 nm). Alcalase hydrolysate showed the best foaming properties, while papain hydrolysate demonstrated the strongest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, Fe2+ chelation, and antidiabetic potential. These findings provide solid theoretical basis for utilizing defatted goat milk as functional ingredients or excipients in the food, medical, and cosmetic industries.

Genetic and environmental factors shaping goat milk oligosaccharide composition.

Oligosaccharides (OS) in milk have been suggested to influence the health and development of the newborn by promoting growth of beneficial gut bacteria, stimulating brain development, and enhancing immune functions. Goat milk is a natural source of specific OS, which could be a potential beneficial ingredient for infant formula. In this study, goat milk oligosaccharide (gMOS) content from approximately 1,000 dairy goats across 18 commercial farms was studied. A genomic relationship matrix was used to unravel genetic and environmental factors shaping gMOS content. The most abundant gMOS identified was 3'-NGL, with a concentration of 32.05 mg/kg, while 3-FL exhibited the lowest concentration at 1.85 mg/kg. Acidic OS had a notably higher content (81.67 mg/kg) than neutral OS (24.88 mg/kg). High variability in gMOS content was observed among individual goats, which could for a large extent be attributed to genetic differences. Heritability estimates ranged from 31% for 3'-GL to 85% for 3-FL. High positive genetic correlations (>0.57) were estimated between 3'-SL and 6'-SL, and between 6'-GL and 3'-GL. The contribution of differences between farms to variation in milk OS content varied from 3% for 3'-NGL to 45% for 6'-SL. While gMOS like 3'-GL, 6'-GL, and 6'-NGL, were significantly influenced by systematic environmental factors such as the lactation stage, the impact of these factors was relatively minor compared with the importance of genetic and farm effects. This research, which stands out due to its relatively large sample size, underscores the pivotal role of genetics, and to a smaller extent farm practices like feed ration, in determining gMOS composition.

Listeria monocytogenes: possible mechanism of infection of goat uterus and its effects on uterine autophagy and cell apoptosis.

Listeriosis is highly prevalent in the animal farming industry, with Listeria monocytogenes as the causative pathogen. To identify potential therapeutic targets for LM infection, we investigated the mechanisms of LM infection in goat uteri. We inoculated a group of goats with LM via jugular vein injection, isolated and raised them, and subsequently collected sterile samples of their uterine tissue after they exhibited clinical symptoms of LM infection. We used Giemsa staining, immunohistochemical staining, real-time qPCR, and Western blotting as experimental methods.First, we investigated the mechanism of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection in the goat uterus by examining the expression levels of listeriolysin O, E-cadherin, and tyrosine kinase c-Met in the uterus.Furthermore, we investigated the impact of LM infection on uterine autophagy and cell apoptosis. The results indicate that the injection of LM into the goats' jugular veins leads to LM infection in the goats' uteri. During LM survival inside the goat uterine cells, there is a significant increase in the expression levels of LLO, E-cadherin, and c-Met in the host uterine tissue. This suggests that LM may potentially infect goat uteri through the InlA/E-cadherin and InlB/c-Met pathways. Furthermore, LM infection increases the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in goat uteri. Apoptosis genes Bcl-2 and Bax, as well as autophagy-related genes LC3B, PINK1, and Parkin, exhibit varying degrees of changes in localization and expression in goat uteri, mediating the occurrence of apoptotic and autophagic responses.

Novel Synergistic Approach for Bioactive Macromolecules: Evaluating the Efficacy of Goat Placenta Extract in PEGylated Liposomes and Microspicules for Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss.

Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is a distressing side effect of cancer treatment, and medical interventions are often needed to address this problem. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bioactivity of goat placenta (GP) extract on both normal and chemotherapy-induced hair cells and to develop PEGylated liposomes (PL) and microspicule (MS) formulations for promoting hair growth in patients with chemotherapy-induced hair loss. The bioactivities of GP extract on human follicle dermal papilla (HFDP) cells and cells damaged by chemotherapy were assessed. GP extract was incorporated into PLs and MS gel (PL-MS) and then investigated in vitro skin permeation and in vivo studies on the scalps of patients with chemotherapy-induced hair loss. GP extract stimulated HFDP cell proliferation in both normal and cisplatin-damaged cells. PL nanovesicles and MS gel worked synergistically to deliver macromolecular proteins into the skin and hair follicles. The application of GP extract-loaded PL-MS to the scalps of chemotherapy-treated patients for 12 weeks significantly enhanced the hair growth rate, without causing skin irritation. In conclusion, GP extract promoted the proliferation of hair cells damaged by chemotherapy, when this extract, combined with PL-MS, effectively delivered bioactive macromolecules across the skin and hair follicles, resulting in successful regrowth of hair post-chemotherapy.

Identification and Full-Length Sequence Analysis of a Novel Recombinant Goat Astrovirus Genotype in Guangxi, China.

Astroviruses are single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses capable of infecting humans as well as a wide range of mammalian and avian species, with a length of approximately 6.6-7.7 kb. In this study, 139 goat fecal samples collected from the Guangxi province were used for the RT-PCR detection, and two of these were positive for goat astrovirus, with a positivity rate of 1.44% (2/139). The complete genome sequence of an astrovirus strain and the partial genome sequence of a strain astrovirus, named GX WZ 2023 and GX HC 2023, were amplified and sequenced, and their sequence lengths were 6284 nt and 6213 nt, respectively. Among them, the capsid protein of goat astrovirus GX HC 2023 showed the highest amino acid identity of 95.9% with ovine astrovirus GX, which belonged to the MAstV-2 genotype. However, the closest relative of the GX WZ 2023 strain was found to be the caprine astrovirus Sichuan, with a nucleotide sequence identity of 76.8%. The ORF1ab nonstructural protein of this strain showed the highest amino acid identities of 89.2 and 95.8% with the ovine astrovirus S5.1 and caprine astrovirus G5.1 strains, respectively. However, its ORF2 capsid protein has 68.4% amino acid identity with the bovine astrovirus (BAstV) 16 2021 CHN strain and only 21.9-64% amino acid identity with all available strains of goat astrovirus. The GX WZ 2023 strain was recombined with the Chinese (BAstV 16 2021 CHN) and Japanese bovine strains (BAstV JPN 2015) in the ORF2 region. Therefore, the goat astrovirus GX WZ 2023 is proposed as a new member of the family goat astroviridae based on the species classification criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. These findings enhance our understanding of the prevalence and genetic evolution of goat astrovirus and provide a scientific basis for future studies of these viruses in other animals.

LncRNA018392 promotes the proliferation of Liaoning cashmere goat skin fibroblasts by upregulating CSF1R through binding to SPI1.

BACKGROUND: Liaoning cashmere goat is recognized as a valuable genetic resource breed, with restrictions on genetic outflow in China. Hair follicle development in the cashmere goat is influenced by melatonin and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the role of lncRNAs in facilitating melatonin-promoted cashmere growth remains poorly understood. Previous studies have identified a new lncRNA, lncRNA018392, which is involved in the melatonin-promoted proliferation of cashmere skin fibroblasts. METHOD: Flow cytometry and CCK-8 assays confirmed that silencing lncRNA018392 negates the effects of melatonin on cell proliferation, and that proliferation was reduced when the gene CSF1R, located near lncRNA018392, was inhibited. Further investigation using a dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that lncRNA018392 could positively regulate the promoter of CSF1R. RESULTS: Results from RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) revealed that lncRNA018392 interacts with the transcription factor SPI1, with CSF1R being a downstream target gene regulated by SPI1. This interaction was confirmed by ChIP-PCR, which demonstrated SPI1's binding to CSF1R. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the melatonin-responsive lncRNA018392 accelerates the cell cycle and promotes cell proliferation by recruiting SPI1 to upregulate the expression of the neighboring gene CSF1R. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cashmere growth and for the molecular breeding of cashmere goats.

Comparison of production performance and meat quality characteristics between Guizhou Black goats and F4 generation hybrids of South African Kalahari Goats.

This study spanned 6 years and 4 generations, involving the progressive crossbreeding of South African Kalahari Goat (SK) and Guizhou Black Goat (GB) over three generations, followed by cross fixation F3 with F1 in the fourth generation, accompanied by the use of molecular markers technology to select a high fertility population, resulting in the creation of a hybrid goat, BKF4 (11/16 SK lineage and 5/16 GB lineage). A comparative evaluation of the BKF4 hybrid breed and its parental breeds was conducted. Reproductive and production parameters of GB, SK, and BKF4 goat groups were monitored, including lambing rate (LR), survival rate (SR), daily weight gain at 3 months of age (DWG), and adult body weight (ABW) (n = 110, 106, 112 per group). In addition, dressing percentage (DP) (n = 12 per group) and analyses of amino acids (n = 8, 6, 10 per group) and fatty acids (n = 6 per group) were conducted to evaluate meat quality indicators. Results: (1) Reproductive and production performance: The index of LR reached 199%, significantly higher than GB and SK (p ≤ 0.001), with a SR of 95.0%, markedly higher than SK (p ≤ 0.001); DWG was 276.5 g, ABW reached 56.6 kg and with a dressing percentage (DP) of 54.5%, they are significantly surpassing GB (p ≤ 0.001). (2) Regarding meat quality: pH45-value and crude protein content (CP) increased, while intramuscular fat content increased compared to GB and ash content decreased. The amino acid composition was similar to GB, but the taste was more similar to SK. However, there were some negative impacts on fatty acid composition and functionality. (3) PCA analysis revealed that: BKF4 exhibited superior meat quality compared to GB and SK, influenced by two key factors contributing 83.49% and 16.51% to the explained variance, respectively. The key factors affecting meat quality include intramuscular fat (IMF), nutrient index (NI), PUFAs/MUFAs, n-6FAs, and drip loss (DL).

Determining orbital volumes of sheep, goats and gazelles via computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Orbital volume refers to the sum of bulbus oculi volume and orbital cavity volume. Scientists use orbital volume as a guide to diagnose, treat and prognose various eye diseases such as thyroid eye disease and enophthalmos. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the orbital volumes of sheep, goats and gazelles to demonstrate homotypic variations and interspecific differences between them. METHODS: Crania of six male tuj sheep, five male hair goats and five male gazelle were used in this study. The crania were scanned using a 64-detector multi-detector computed tomography with a slice thickness of 0.625 mm at 80 kV, 200 MA and 639 mGy. The cross-sectional images were stored in DICOM format and then transferred to MIMICS 20.1 software. Afterwards, models were made by establishing the orbital borders on the cross-sections. Volume values were calculated based on the models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No homotypic variation was found between the right and left volumes within the species (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in terms of interspecific right and left orbital volumes between sheep and gazelles (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the orbital parameters of the sheep, goats and gazelles in the same family help reveal their differences in the visual anatomy of these species and provide reference data for clinical diagnosis, treatment and the prognosis follow-up of ocular diseases in animals.

Exploring the reticulo-ruminal motility pattern in goats through medical barium meal imaging technology.

The motility pattern of the reticulo-rumen is a key factor affecting feed intake, rumen digesta residence time, and rumen fermentation. However, it is difficult to study reticulo-ruminal motility using general methods owing to the complexity of the reticulo-ruminal structure. Thus, we aimed to develop a technique to demonstrate the reticulo-ruminal motility pattern in static goats. Six Xiangdong black goats (half bucks and half does, body weight 29.5 ± 1.0 kg) were used as model specimens. Reticulo-ruminal motility videos were obtained using medical barium meal imaging technology. Videos were then analyzed using image annotation and the centroid method. The results showed that reticulo-ruminal motility was divided into primary (stages I, II, III, and IV) and secondary contraction, and the movements of ruminal digesta depended on reticulo-ruminal motility. Our results indicated common motility between the ruminal dorsal sac and ruminal dorsal blind sac. We observed that stages I (3.92 vs. 3.21 s) (P < 0.01), II (4.81 vs. 4.23 s) (P < 0.01), and III (5.65 vs. 5.15 s) (P < 0.05); interval (53.79 vs. 50.95 s); secondary contraction time (10.5 vs. 10 s); and were longer, whereas stage IV appeared to be shorter in the bucks than in the does (7.83 vs. 14.67 s) (P < 0.01). The feasibility of using barium meal imaging technology for assessing reticulo-ruminal and digesta motility was verified in our study. We determined the duration of each stage of reticulo-ruminal motility and collected data on the duration and interval of each stage of ruminal motility in goats. This research provides new insights for the study of gastrointestinal motility and lays a solid foundation for the study of artificial rumen.

Identification and quantification of goat milk adulteration using mid-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

The fraudulent adulteration of goat milk with cheaper and more available milk of other species such as cow milk is occurrence. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of goat milk adulteration with cow milk on the mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum and further evaluate the potential of MIR spectroscopy to identify and quantify the goat milk adulterated. Goat milk was adulterated with cow milk at 5 different levels including 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Statistical analysis showed that the adulteration had significant effect on the majority of the spectral wavenumbers. Then, the spectrum was preprocessed with standard normal variate (SNV), multiplicative scattering correction (MSC), Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), SG plus SNV, and SG plus MSC, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to establish classification and regression models, respectively. PLS-DA models obtained good results with all the sensitivity and specificity over 0.96 in the cross-validation set. Regression models using raw spectrum obtained the best result, with coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of cross-validation set were 0.98, 2.01, and 8.49, respectively. The results preliminarily indicate that the MIR spectroscopy is an effective technique to detect the goat milk adulteration with cow milk. In future, milk samples from different origins and different breeds of goats and cows should be collected, and more sophisticated adulteration at low levels should be further studied to explore the potential and effectiveness of milk mid-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Detection of caprine paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in pre- and post-vaccinated herds: morphological diagnosis, lesion grading, and bacterial identification.

Samples from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MS LNs) and ileocecal valves (ICV) of 105 goats, comprising 61 non-vaccinated and 44 vaccinated against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), were collected at slaughter from a farm with a confirmed history of paratuberculosis (PTB). These goats had subclinical infections. PTB-compatible lesions in the MS LNs, ICV lamina propria (LP), and Peyer's patches (PPs) were graded separately. Furthermore, the load of acid-fast bacilli was quantified using Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZN), MAP antigens by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and MAP DNA by PCR targeting the IS900 sequence. Gross PTB-compatible lesions were found in 39% of the goats, with 31.72% vaccinated (V) and 68.29% non-vaccinated (nV). Histopathological lesions induced MAP were observed in 58% of the animals, with 36.07% vaccinated and 63.93% non-vaccinated. The inclusion of histopathology as a diagnostic tool led to a 28% increase in diagnosed cases in MS LNs and 86.05% in ICV. Grade IV granulomas with central mineralization and necrosis were the most common lesions in MS LNs. In the ICV, mild granulomatous enteritis with multifocal foci of epithelioid macrophages was predominant, occurring more frequently in the PPs than in the LP. Furthermore, statistical differences in the presence of histopathological lesions between vaccinated and non-vaccinated goats were noted in MS LNs, ICV LPs, and ICV PPs. Non-vaccinated animals showed higher positivity rates in ZN, IHC, and PCR tests, underscoring the benefits of anti-MAP vaccination in reducing PTB lesions and bacterial load in target organs. Our findings emphasize the necessity of integrating gross and histopathological assessments with various laboratory techniques for accurate morphological and etiological diagnosis of PTB in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated goats with subclinical disease. However, further studies are required to refine sampling protocols for subclinical PTB in goats to enhance the consistency of diagnostic tools.

Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of functional changes of goat milk whey proteins subject to heat treatments of ultra-high-temperature and the common low-temperature.

This work investigated the functional changes in whey proteins obtained from goat milk subject to various temperature treatments. Ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization (UHTIS) caused less damage than the common low-temperature, whereas spray-drying treatment had the opposite effect. A total of 426 proteins were identified in UHTIS and control treatment groups, including 386 common proteins and 16 and 14 unique proteins. The UHTIS treatment upregulated 55 whey proteins while down-regulated 98. The UHTIS-treated whey proteins may upregulate three metabolic pathways but downregulate one. Overall, UHTIS only slightly impacted the composition and functions of whey proteins from goat milk compared to the common low-temperature treatments.

Conserving goat sperm post-thawed gene expression and cellular characteristics using the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 supplementation.

Background and Aim: The use of frozen goat semen for artificial insemination frequently results in a decline in sperm quality following thawing, which can be attributed to cold shock from cryopreservation, reduced motility, and possible DNA damage. Freezing may compromise mRNA stability due to the presence of free radicals. Despite strong post-thaw motility and no visible DNA fragmentation, sperm can still exhibit altered gene expression patterns. To reduce the damaging impact of free radicals during cryopreservation, antioxidants are typically added to the freezing medium. This study assessed the impact of adding coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to frozen sperm diluent on the ATP5F1A and CPT2 gene expression, sperm motility, and viability post-thawing. Materials and Methods: CoQ10 was added to sperm at six different concentrations: 0 mg/dL (P0), 6.25 mg/dL (P1), 12.5 mg/dL (P2), 25 mg/dL (P3), 50 mg/dL (P4), and 100 mg/dL (P5). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 was used to conduct comparative tests using one-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan's test for motility and viability and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by pairwise comparison test for membrane integrity and gene expression. Results: The addition of CoQ10 to semen diluent has a notable impact on the post-thawed quality of sperm. The most significant outcomes were observed with a 25 mg/dL dosage (P3) for cell viability, membrane integrity, and ATP5F1A gene expression, and with a 50 mg/dL dosage (P4) for sperm motility, membrane integrity, and CPT2 gene expression. Conclusion: Incorporating CoQ10 into frozen semen diluent improves gene expression and prevents deterioration of the cell quality of thawed goat spermatozoa. While the study demonstrates the benefits of CoQ10, the precise molecular mechanisms through which CoQ10 enhances gene expression and cell quality were not fully elucidated. Further investigation is needed to understand these mechanisms in detail. Comparative studies with other antioxidants and cryoprotectants can help establish the relative efficacy of CoQ10 and potentially develop more effective combinations.

Investigation of miniature goat cheese produced from Cynara scolymus L. pistil cell suspension culture extracts elicited with melatonin and salicylic acid.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of enzymes produced by artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) flower cell suspension cultures elicited by melatonin (5 µm) and salicylic acid (50 µm) on the production and characteristics of miniature goat cheeses. In this study, five types of fresh miniature goat cheese were produced using whole artichoke flower extract, salicylic acid (50 µm) or melatonin (5 µm) treated artichoke suspension cell culture extracts, a culture extract without elicitor treatment (control) and rennin enzyme. RESULTS: The milk clotting activity values of the enzymes were measured in the range 0.52-0.74. The effect of the enzymes on the titratable acidity, water-soluble nitrogen, ripening index, αs-caseins and ß-caseins of goat cheese was significant (P < 0.05). The highest level of casein degradation was observed in the cheese produced with the enzyme containing melatonin, followed by the cheese produced with the enzyme containing salicylic acid. CONCLUSION: For the enzymes produced by the suspension cell culture method, the addition of melatonin and salicylic acid had a slightly positive effect on the proteolytic activity of the extracts. It was also found that the enzymes obtained from artichokes by the suspension cell culture method did not achieve successful cheese production in terms of chemical, textural and biochemical aspects compared to those obtained from animal enzymes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of the Fatty Acid Profiles of Sow and Goat Colostrum.

Currently, the utilization of hyperprolific sows has stimulated the search for supplements aimed at enhancing piglet survival, as these sows yield more offspring than they can adequately feed with their colostrum production. In contrast, intensive goat farming often yields surplus colostrum, thus necessitating its removal, since kids are exclusively fed colostrum through lactation solely within the initial day of birth. The objective of this study was to examine and compare the fatty acid (FA) profiles of colostrum from sows and goats, together with possible influencing factors such as sow parity and the postpartum day of the goat, for possible use as an energy supplement for neonatal piglets. Swine colostrum was collected from sows with a 0-5 parity. In addition, samples of goat colostrum were collected on their first (D1) and second (D2) days of postpartum milking. The FA profiles of the colostrum were analyzed via gas chromatography. The parity value of the sows did not affect (p > 0.05) the FA colostrum composition. High proportions of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were found in both types of colostrum. Levels of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were significantly higher in D1 goat colostrum, whereas saturated FAs of less than 14 carbons (4:0, 6:0, 8:0, 10:0, and 12:0) were found in higher proportions in D2. These FAs play an important role in colostrum as they are a readily available source of energy and have also been attributed strong antibacterial activity. Therefore, goat colostrum, especially D2, could be used as an alternative energy supplement for newborn piglets, in particular for the weakest and smallest of the litter, which are the most in need.

The Effects of Hemp Hay (Canapa sativa L.) in the Diets of Grazing Goats on Milk Production and Fatty Acid Profile.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant used in the past as a source of textile fiber. Currently, hemp is receiving great interest as animal feed due to its chemical and nutritional properties. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of supplementing goats' diets with hemp hay on the milk yield, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty multiparous goats, immediately after kidding, were divided into two homogenous groups (C: control vs. H: hemp); the goats had free access to the pasture, and both groups received a supplement of 500 g/head/day of a barley and corn meal mixture (50/50). In addition, group H was given 250 g/head/day of hemp hay while group C received the same amount of alfalfa hay. The milk yield was measured daily, and milk samples were collected monthly 4 times to evaluate the milk composition and fatty acid profile. The milk yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the experimental group, while no differences were found in the milk chemical composition. Concerning the fatty acid profile, the milk from group H was characterized by significantly lower concentrations of C11:0, C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C17:0 and higher C16:0 and C18:0. Among the polyunsaturated FA, C18:2 n6 and C20:4 were significantly (p < 0.001) lower, and C20:5 n3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the milk from group H than that from group C. The n6/n3, LA/ALA and AA/EPA ratios were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the milk from group H, while the CLAs were unaffected by the treatment.

Supplementation with mulberry leaves improves growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats.

Objective: Mulberry (Morus alba) leaf (ML) is a high-quality feed source for ruminants, while it is unclear whether it can enhance the growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of ML supplementation (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) on the growth performance, serum variables, and the profiles of amino acids and fatty acids in the muscle of Xiangdong black goats. Results: Results showed that the final body weight, initial and final dry matter intake, and average daily gain increased linearly and quadratically with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased linearly, while immunoglobulin G (IgG) increased quadratically with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). Conversely, the saturated fatty acids (SFA) content in meat decreased linearly with the increasing ML content (P < 0.05). Compared to goats without ML supplementation, goats fed with 15% ML showed significant increases in serum concentrations of T-AOC, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and IgG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, goats fed with 20% ML displayed significant decreases in SFA (C18:0) content, compared to goats without ML supplementation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that ML supplementation promotes the growth performance of goats. A diet containing 15% ML showed better effects in promoting antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, while a diet with 20% ML was more effective in enhancing meat flavor in Xiangdong black goats.

A Simple and Versatile Method for Ex Vivo Monitoring of Goat Vaginal Mucosa Transduction by Viral Vector Vaccines.

Goat may represent a valid large animal model for human pathogens and new vaccines testing. Appropriate vaccine administration is a critical component of a successful immunization program. The wrong route of administration may reduce the efficacy of the vaccine, whereas the proper administration strategy can enhance it. Viral vectors have been employed successfully for goat and sheep immunization; however, no data concerning the vaginal route are available. A viral vector's ability to transduce the site of inoculation is of primary interest. In this study, a fast and reliable ex vivo assay for testing the transduction capability of an Ad5-based vector when intravaginally administered was developed. An Ad5 vector delivering an expression cassette with a bicistronic reporter gene, Ad5-CMV-turboGFP-IRES-Luc2, was constructed. We demonstrated Ad5-CMV-turboGFP-IRES-Luc2's ability to transduce caprine vaginal mucosa by ex vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) employing a simple CCD camera apparatus for chemiluminescence western immunoblotting. These data, though simple, provide valuable insights into developing a vaginal immunization strategy using a viral vector-based vaccine to protect against pathogens causing genital diseases.

Characterisation of European Field Goat Prion Isolates in Ovine PrP Overexpressing Transgenic Mice (Tgshp IX) Reveals Distinct Prion Strains.

After the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and a zoonotic transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) caused by the pathological prion protein (PrPSc) in two goats, the investigation of goat prions became of greater interest. Therefore, a broad collection of European goat TSE isolates, including atypical scrapie, CH1641 and goat BSE as reference prion strains were biochemically characterised and subsequently inoculated into seven rodent models for further analysis (already published results of this comprehensive study are reviewed here for comparative reasons). We report here the histopathological and immunohistochemical data of this goat TSE panel, obtained after the first passage in Tgshp IX (tg-shARQ) mice, which overexpress the ovine prion protein. In addition to the clear-cut discrimination of all reference prion strains from the classical scrapie (CS) isolates, we were further able to determine three categories of CS strains. The investigation further indicates the occurrence of sub-strains that slightly resemble distant TSE strains, such as BSE or CH1641, reinforcing the theory that CS is not a single strain but a mixture of sub-strains, existing at varying extents in one isolate. This study further proved that Tgshp IX is a potent and reliable tool for the in-depth characterisation of prion strains.

Seroepidemiology of bovine herpesvirus-1 in goats in south-western Iran.

BACKGROUND: Widely regarded as one of the chief causes of diseases in cattle population, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) has the potential to infect sheep and goat, making them potential reservoirs or hosts for this virus. Thus, preventive measures against BoHV-1 in cattle should not overlook the ability of this virus to infect other animals. AIMS: Therefore, the focal point of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 in 300 healthy goats, the relationship between host and the environmental determinants of infection, and the contributing role of goats in the epidemiology of the BoHV-1. MATERIALS & METHODS: In order to pinpoint the existing antibodies to BoHV-1, the obtained sera were analyzed by Virus Neutralization test. RESULTS: According to this test, the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 appeared to be 64.33% in southwestern Iran. What logistic regression disclosed was that the odds ratio between age and infection with BoHV-1 was 0.83 (p = 0.01), representing a decrease of 17% as goats grew one year older. In addition, females manifested a higher relative frequency of infection compared to males, with the odds of infection in female goats being registered at 1.88, compared to those in males (p = 0.2). Moreover, contrasted with goats lacking any history of abortion, those with a history of abortion featured 1.1 as the odds ratio (p = 0.87). The seroprevalence in Hendijan, Ahvaz, Shushtar and Dasht e Azadegan was detected to stand at 73.24, 71.30, 55.56 and 47.06 percent, respectively, with 6% of fluctuation in the infection rates being attributed to various geographical locations under the scrutiny of this study (p = 0.003). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Having attested the marked seroprevalence of BoHV-1, the definitive role of goats in the epidemiology of this virus as a secondary host or reservoir was confirmed by the present study, necessitating the strict monitoring of BoHV-1 in goats by animal health authorities in areas where BoHV-1 abounds in cattle.