Endocrine, energy, and lipid status during parturition and early lactation in indigenous goats native to the Algerian Sahara.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Goats are widely distributed in southwest Algeria. The Saharan goat is perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of arid areas, and it is characterized by resistance to long photoperiod and reduced metabolic needs, allowing the survival of its offspring by maintaining lactation. Several studies have demonstrated that parturition and lactation are critical periods that induce hormone, energy, and lipid status changes in mammals. However, the relationship between the blood biochemical parameters of parturition control and lactation functions in the Algerian Saharan goat has not been thoroughly documented. Therefore, this study assesses hormone and metabolite levels during parturition and early lactation in Saharan goats reared in arid areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were performed on 14 multiparous female goats, and blood samples were collected during parturition, 4 days postpartum (D1PP-D4PP), and during the first 12 weeks of lactation (W1-W12) to analyze prolactin, cortisol, glucose (GLU), total proteins (TP), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TGs), total lipids (TL), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), and very LDLs (VLDLs). RESULTS: Statistical data analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in plasma prolactin concentrations at W1 after parturition, reaching maximum values at W3 and W9, and remained high until W12 of lactation. Plasma cortisol levels were high at parturition, reaching two peaks at W3 and W9, and then decreased at W5, W7, and W12 of lactation. No significant changes were found in serum GLU levels during the first 7 weeks of lactation compared with parturition day; then, the levels became significantly (p<0.05) lower at W8, W11, and W12 of lactation. Plasma TP increased significantly (p<0.05) at D3PP, W1, and W4, then decreased significantly (p<0.05) at W8. In addition, this decrease coincided with that of GLU production. Serum CHO, TGs, TL, LDLs, and VLDLs, were low at parturition and high at D4PP and during the first 3 months of lactation. Furthermore, HDL levels were low at D3PP, 1st, and 3rd months and high at the 2nd month of lactation. CONCLUSION: This study emphasized the impact of parturition and the 1st weeks of lactation on endocrine and metabolic changes in indigenous goats living in the Algerian Sahara Desert. These results can be used to monitor and improve farming management and understand physiological adaptive strategies, mainly lactation function sustainability, of this goat living in marginal zones.

Lower urinary tract lithiasis of cats in Algeria: Clinical and epidemiologic features.

AIM: This study aims to describe the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of urolithiasis of the lower urinary tract and to determine the main risk factors involved in the occurrence of urinary lithiasis in cats in Algeria from 2016 to 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the study period, 465 cats were examined and 32 cases of urolithiases were selected and investigated by conducting physical examinations, blood analyses, urinalysis, X-ray radiography, and ultrasonography. Parameters such as breed, age, or sex were studied and reported in a farm return to analyze risk factors involved in the formation of lower urinary urolithiasis. RESULTS: The most clinically relevant symptoms of urolithiasis observed in cats were dysuria, pollakiuria, hematuria, and stranguria. Urinalysis and blood analysis revealed a significant presence of urinary crystals and acute kidney failure in nine cats. The ultrasonography and radiography confirmed the diagnosis of urolithiasis with the incidence of 43.75% and 31.25%, respectively. The lower urinary tract urolithiasis appeared to be more frequent in European and Siamese cats. In addition, cats aged between 4 and 8 years old were the most affected. Male cats (87.50%) were more affected than female cats. Finally, the lower urinary tract urolithiasis was more frequent in cats consuming the commercial pet food, previously castrated, and confined inside the house. CONCLUSION: Complete clinical assessments, in addition to complementary examinations, are necessary and beneficial in treating the animal and preventing possible complications. Whether the choice of therapy is surgical or treatment with drugs, it is crucial to understand that the elimination of the stone is not an end, but the beginning of a series of investigations. Because of their impact on both the formation and elimination of metabolites, it has been found that factors, such as race, gender, age, diet, and lifestyle, should be considered as potential risk factors for urolithiasis.

Staphylococcus aureus isolated from selected dairies of Algeria: Prevalence and susceptibility to antibiotics.

AIM: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk in Algerian dairies, to study the effect of seasons on the contamination of milk and the susceptibility of isolated strains to antibiotics, and to estimate the risk on the health consumer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ISO method 6888-1 (1) was used for Staphylococcus screening. Antimicrobial susceptibility to the 11most used antibiotics in veterinary medicine was assessed using the disk diffusion assay. RESULTS: The overall prevalence was 31.56% (95/301); 34.84% (85/244) from raw milk collectors cisterns (MCC), 22.73% (5/22) from mixing tank milk before pasteurization, and 14.29% (5/35) from pasteurized tank milk (p<0.05). A significant difference (p<0.001) of contamination on MCC was observed between dairies without season influence (p≥0.05). It was observed that 49.47% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin, 5.26% to tetracycline, 4.21% to erythromycin, 3.15% to neomycin, 2.10% to cefoxitin, 2.10% to clindamycin, and 1.05% to ofloxacin. No resistance was observed for vancomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of S. aureus from MCC was observed without significant effect of season. The pasteurization does not ensure the elimination of bacteria in all samples. Half of the isolates were resistant to penicillin. These findings emphasize the importance of S. aureus control in Algerian milk industry at different levels to improve public health.

Serological Diagnosis of Lentivirus Infection in Goats Raised in Algeria.

INTRODUCTION: Infection of goats with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) has been detected in variable proportions in many countries all over the world. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of CAEV in goats raised in Algeria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A serological survey was performed on serum samples from 1,313 goats, including the local breeds (Arabia and Dwarf of Kabylia) and imported European breeds (Alpine and Saanen). Blood samples were taken from goats on 38 farms distributed across four different geographical regions of Algeria. Serum samples were tested for CAEV antibodies using a commercial ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 390 serum samples were found to be positive for CAEV, giving an overall seropositivity rate of 29.7% in individual animals and 97.37% (37/38) at the goat farm level. CONCLUSION: These results provide the first large-scale serological evidence for the presence of CAEV infection in both the local and imported breeds of goats raised in Algeria, indicating that the virus infection is widespread.

Serotype diversity and slaughterhouse-level risk factors related to Salmonella contamination on poultry carcasses in Algiers.

INTRODUCTION: In Algeria, the latest studies on Salmonella demonstrated warning contamination rates in farms and slaughterhouses. This pathogen can contaminate poultry meat and put humans at risk especially that such product is nowadays widely consumed. METHODOLOGY: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Algiers to evaluate prevalence, determine serotypes and quantify risk for Salmonella contamination in broiler chickens and turkeys at the post-chill stage of slaughter process. RESULTS: batch prevalence was 63.1% for chickens and 34.9% for turkeys. Eleven serotypes were isolated from chickens and five from turkeys. The most predominant at both sample and batch levels was S. Kentucky either in chicken (65.1%) or in turkey carcasses (63.2%). Univariate analysis screened 3 variables for chickens and 5 variables for turkeys. Final multivariate regression models provided one potential risk factor for Salmonella contamination in each poultry species. Presence of less than 6 broilers simultaneously in the traditional scalding tank of small scale slaughterhouses had a significantly reduced contamination risk (OR = 0.31; p < 0.05). Slaughtering turkeys in sites processing only this specie than in mixed poultry slaughterhouses increased significantly the contamination probability (OR = 4.44; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates a high prevalence of Salmonella-contaminated poultry carcass with wide diversity of serotypes. Moreover, two potential risk factors identified for the first time in Algeria are found to be associated with the lack in hygienic management on production sites. A real threat for consumers exists highlighting the imperative need for improved safety throughout the local poultry meat supply chain.

Reproduction performance and blood biochemical parameters in dairy cows: Relationship with oxidative stress status.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: During the last decades, reproduction performances declined dramatically worldwide, but little is known concerning the involvement of oxidative stress as a causative factor. Oxidative stress may act at different levels, with negative impacts on cell membrane integrity and other active molecules with potential subsequent effects on reproduction. The aim of the current study was to investigate the oxidative stress status in cows according to their reproductive performances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood concentration of two oxidative stress biomarkers, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and other biochemical parameters (glucose, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, total proteins, calcium, urea, creatinine, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined in 40 healthy cows. Body condition score (BCS), calving to first service interval (FSI), calving to conception interval (CCI), and the number of service per conception (SPC) were simultaneously recorded for each cow. RESULTS: Concerning FSI, three groups were established: Group 1 (from 44 to 60 days), Group 2 (from 60 to 70 days), and Group 3 (from 70 to 80 days). For CCI, two groups were considered: Group 1 (<110 days) and Group 2 (>110 days). MDA showed significant high values only in cows with the lowest BCS (1.5) compared to cows with BCS note of 2.5 and 3.5. No significant difference was observed in cows oxidative stress status (MDA and GST) according to reproductive performances (FSI, CCI, and SPC) in all studied groups. CONCLUSION: The results revealed relatively altered oxidative stress status in cows with abnormal reproductive performances; however, no significant difference was recorded whatever the considered reproductive parameter.