Upregulated bovine tuberculosis microRNAs Trigger oncogenic pathways: An In silico perception.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although microRNA (miRNA)-directed regulation of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) has already been reported, very little is known about the incited pathways and genes. We profiled bTB-upregulated miRNAs through an in silico methodology. METHODS: The data of upregulated miRNAs in bTB versus healthy controls were collected and clustered into three groups by their tissue specificity as follows: G1 (mammary gland-specific): bta-miR-146a; G2 (peripheral blood mononuclear cell-specific): bta-miR-155; and G3 (alveolar macrophage-specific): bta-miR-146a, bta-miR-155, bta-miR-142-5p, bta-miR-423-3p, bta-miR-21-5p, bta-miR-27a-3p, bta-miR-99b, bta-miR-147, bta-miR-223, and bta-let-7i. The miRNA-mRNA interaction network was defined by TargetScan. The gene ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways of these transcripts were examined. RESULTS: The results illustrate the induction of pathways in cancer, highly enriched, and unanimous to all three gene sets (G1, G2, and G3). Mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3K-Akt signaling were specific to G2 and G3 with fibroblast growth factors formed the key factors. CONCLUSION: The inferred cancer cascades denote a probable modulation of innate immune response in an infectious state. These baseline pictures could lay the ground for further substantive studies.

Effect of cow parity and synchronization method with PGF2α on conception rates of Bos indicus cows in Cameroon.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of two synchronization methods with prostaglandins F2α (PGF2α) on heifers and multiparous cows. Fourty-three Bos indicus cows (white and Red Fulani) were divided into four groups in a two-by-two factorial structure, parity x method of synchronization. The synchronization methods consisted of a two-dose regime which involved injection of animals on day 0 with PGF2α (Lutalyse) at 5 ml per cow intramuscularly. On day 11, the injection was repeated at the same dosage. On day 14 (72 h after the second injection), a fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) was done. On day 15 (96 h after the second injection), a second insemination was done. The one-and-a-half-dose regime consisted of an injection similar to the first treatment mentioned above on day 0. Thereafter, cows were observed for heat, and anyone showing heat was inseminated. A second dose was given on day 11 to all animals not having shown any heat. A fixed-time AI was done on days 14 and 15. Blood samples were collected on the day 0 of insemination for each cow while day 11 and day 21 after insemination. Progesterone was analysed by means of standard ELISA progesterone kits to determine its profiles after insemination. Results show no evidence of the effect of treatments on conception rates (P > 0.05). Similarly, heifers and multiparous cows had similar conception rates (P > 0.05). Between 3 weeks and 3 months of pregnancy, there was a loss of embryos of 28% in heifers and 20% in multiparous cows, but the difference between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). It recommended that farmers do not synchronize animals with poor body condition score (BCS). They should also monitor weight gains of heifers, remove them from the herd when they have been mixed with young growing bulls and put them in a breeding herd. The two-dose regime is better to be used in areas where the inseminator cannot easily be available.

Effect of pre-partum feed supplementation on post-partum ovarian activity, milk production and calf growth of small holder dairy Cattle in Cameroon.

Seventy-two cows were selected for an on-farm study on the effect of feed supplementation before calving on milk production, ovarian activity and calf growth of Holstein, indigenous Red Fulani cows and their crosses. Pre-partum feed supplementation was done using cotton seed cake (80%), maize (18%), bone meal (1%) and kitchen salt (1% NaCl). Supplementation levels consisted of a low supplementation fed at 1 kg per animal per day and high supplementation fed at 2 kg per animal per day. In addition, Red Fulani cows received the supplements in two different ways namely a pre-partum supplementation consisting of 1 kg per cow per day and pre- and post-partum supplementation consisting of 1 kg per cow per day before calving and 1 kg per cow per day post-partum up to 30 days after calving. Blood samples were analysed using ELISA Progesterone kits to determine the length of post-partum anoestrus. Results show that pre-partum levels of feeding did not have any effect (P > 0.05) on body condition score (BCS) at 12 weeks after calving, calf birth weight, average daily weight gain of calves, milk production and post-partum anoestrus. High BCS at calving was shown to influence BCS at 12 weeks of lactation. Holstein cows had bigger calves (P < 0.01) at birth (45 kg) compared to traditional cows (36 kg) and crosses (34 kg). There was little benefit of pre-partum supplementation on the parameters investigated in this study. Consequently, low income farmers are advised to concentrate their efforts of supplementation early in lactation.