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Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chronically infected dairy goats.

A herd of 88 Alpine goats in Northern Italy was monitored for a complete lactation. Milk samples were taken from each udder half during 8 monthly visits. Goats (n = 28) with > or =2 consecutive positive tests for Staphylococcus aureus in the same udder half were identified as chronically infected, and all of those had > or =4 positive tests of the 8 samples. Goats with no infections in either udder half during any visit were considered healthy (n = 26). Linear mixed models were used to examine the relationship between chronic infection by S. aureus and SCC and production traits. The bacteria isolated from one sample from each infected goat were genotyped on the basis of polymorphism in several genes and evaluated for the presence of genes encoding for enterotoxins. The bacteria isolated from each animal were also subject to a test for beta-lactamase production and to minimum inhibitory concentration tests for 11 antimicrobial agents. As expected, SCC (log2) was significantly higher in infected goats than in healthy goats (7.55 vs. 5.50). Also, mean log SCC from infected udder halves (8.02) was greater than that in uninfected udder halves from the same goats (6.44). No significant differences were observed in milk yield or for fat and protein percentages between infected and healthy goats. No genetic variability was observed among the bacteria isolated, suggesting that all were from the same strain, although isolates did vary in susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents. All S. aureus isolates were negative for the beta-lactamase production test. The most effective drugs when tested in vitro were benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, cloxacillin, and cephalosporins.

Animals↗

Infection of lactating goats by mammary instillation of cell-borne caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus.

The possibility of transmission of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus between lactating goats by the transfer of infected cells during milking has been examined experimentally. Four virus-free Saanen goats were infected, two in full lactation and two during the drying off period, by instillation of infected allogeneic cells into the milk canal of one-half of the udder. All four goats became infected, as shown by the isolation of virus from peripheral blood monocytes, seroconversion, and presence of typical lesions in the mammary gland. The virus was rapidly and constantly demonstrable in cells from the mammary secretions of the dry goats, but less regularly detected from milk cells from the lactating goats. Virus was more frequently isolated when milk SCC were elevated. Virus was present as often in secretions from the uninoculated half of the udder as the inoculated half. Dry goats seroconverted progressively, although antibody concentrations remained low; the lactating goats developed weak, positive Western blots in the late phase of lactation but only gave positive ELISA titers after drying off and artificial reinduction of lactation. At necropsy, lesions typical of the virus were observed in the mammary tissues of all four goats, and three had arthritis of the carpi.

Animals↗

Effects of infection by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus on milk production of goats.

The effects of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus on lactational performance of goats were examined. The results of an ELISA for antibodies against caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus were compared with milk production records. Mean production of milk, protein, fat, and lactose and somatic cell counts were compared for seropositive and seronegative goats of similar ages. The results from 1799 lactating goats from 66 herds suggested that milk production was similar for 1-yr-old goats that tested seropositive and those that tested seronegative. For 900 of those goats for which data permitted comparison, milk fat and protein were also similar. A comparison of 331 goats showed that lactose contents did not differ between 1- and 2-yr-old goats, but somatic cell counts were higher in 2-yr-old seropositive goats.

Animals↗

An economic analysis of communal goat production.

The economic impact of different extension messages used was calculated using enterprise budgeting (gross margin analysis). Input data were gleaned from the literature, from participatory appraisals, as well as a field study, spanning 12 months, of small-scale communal goat farming systems in Jericho in the Odi District of North West Province. The number of offspring weaned per annum, as a proportion of does owned, was selected as the desired output for analysis. This study has shown that small-scale communal goat farmers are not adopting or implementing extension messages to improve production capacity. In South Africa the majority of goats are slaughtered in the informal sector. If the informal sector is to be persuaded to market goats commercially through formal channels, then knowledge of the economics of goat farming on communal lands should be provided. The economic aspects of extension messages are probably an important factor in determining acceptance and sustainability yet appear to be seldom investigated. The probable reason for lack of adoption of standard extension messages, which promote improved nutrition, parasite control, vaccination and treatment of goats, was economic. In other words, the so-called 'poor management practices' used by communal farmers appeared to be economically more profitable than the 'good management practices' suggested to increase production. The price of communal goats was not related to their mass. A higher level of inputs would probably have resulted in a heavier kid, however it was established that this would not have influenced the price received as a majority of the goats were slaughtered for ritual purposes where age, colour and sex were more important to the purchaser than body mass. It is standard practice in commercial farming systems to evaluate the economic benefits of all management practices before they are implemented. Production animal veterinarians use veterinary economics to compare different scenarios to control diseases or select management practices in commercial herds. It is suggested that the inputs and outputs of small-scale farming systems should be carefully analysed and that veterinary economics should also be used to evaluate the probable impact of extension messages formulated by veterinarians and animal health technicians.

Animal Husbandry↗

Isolation of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus from goats in Mexico.

A lentivirus was isolated from 2 goats in Mexico that were seropositive to caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) by the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. The lentivirus was identified as CAEV by the observation of giant multinucleated cells (syncytia) in goat synovial membrane (GSM) monolayers co-cultivated with blood mononuclear (BMN) cells from the seropositive goats, and by amplifying a DNA segment of the CAEV gag gene using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Subsequently, cell supernatants from the GSM cells co-cultivated with BMN cells were used to infect 2 CAEV-seronegative goats. These goats seroconverted to CAEV as determined by the AGID test, and CAEV was re-isolated from these goats. One of the goats developed polyarthritis 8 mo after inoculation. Previous serological surveys indicate that infection with CAEV is prevalent among goats in Mexico. To our knowledge this is the first report of CAEV isolation in Mexico. Because of globalization of markets and increased trading among nations, the rapid identification and reporting of diseases such as CAEV are important to prevent the dissemination of these diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ixodid ticks of angora and boer goats, grysbok, common duikers, kudus and scrub hares in Valley Bushveld in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

At monthly intervals from February 1983 to January 1984 two Angora goats, two Boer goats, one grysbok, Raphicerus melanotis, one common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, one greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, and four scrub hares, Lepus saxatilis, were killed on a farm in Valley Bushveld in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and examined for ticks. Seven ixodid tick species were collected, of which Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum followed by Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus oculatus were the most numerous. Amblyomma hebraeum was mainly a parasite of the two goat breeds, with the Angora goats harbouring greater numbers than the Boer goats, while large numbers of R. glabroscutatum parasitized the goats and the antelopes. Rhipicephalus oculatus was nearly exclusively a parasite of scrub hares. The larvae of A. hebraeum were most numerous on goats from May to July, the nymphs from September to November and the adults from August to December and during February, while the immature stages of R. glabroscutatum were most numerous on these animals from April to July and the adults from August to December. Peak activity periods of the latter tick were somewhat longer on kudus than on goats; the immature stages were most numerous from January to August and the adults from July to February. The larvae of R. oculatus were most numerous on scrub hares from March to May, nymphs from September to November and adults from October to December.

Animals↗

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in goats.

Using a heat and sonicated Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Cordoba antigen (COA1) and the commercial protoplasmic-antigen (PPA-3) as antigens, an ELISA for detecting goat antibodies was standardized. When 2 reference populations, 1 positive (17 goats) and the other negative (63 goats) to disease, were used, this test showed 87.5% sensitivity and 93.6% specificity for COA1, and 88.2 and 95.2%, respectively for PPA-3. Absorption with M phlei was performed; no significant differences were found for COA1, but a lower sensitivity was found with PPA-3. This test was not especially affected by cross-reactivity with other mycobacterial disease because when 9 goats with M bovis infection were included in the M paratuberculosis control group, the specificity was only slightly different for absorbed (94.4%) and nonabsorbed sera (91.7%) for COA1, and (93.1 and 94.4%, respectively) for PPA-3. This test was used to study the percentage of seropositive goats for M paratuberculosis in 3 herds with different prevalences. Among 251 goats in southern Spain (Huelva), 40% were found positive for COA1 and 41% for PPA-3. Among 242 goats studied in southern Spain (Córdoba), 10.0% were positive for COA1 and 13.0% for PPA-3. In the Canary Island population of 176 goats, 3% were positive for COA1 and 0.5% for PPA-3. According to the accuracies of both positive and negative predictions, our test could be applied to populations with high prevalence to prevent additions to the herd and to cull infected animals (with 40% prevalence, the positive and negative predictive values are 90%), and to prevent adding infected animals to populations with moderate or low prevalence.

Animals↗

Therapeutic potential of thiamine hydrochloride in experimental chronic lead intoxication in goats.

The therapeutic potential of thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) was evaluated in experimental chronic lead poisoning in goats. Eighteen goats divided into three groups were used. Goats of group A served as healthy controls while those of B1 and B2 received oral doses of 10, 15 and 20 mg lead acetate (5.43, 8.15 and 10.86 mg lead kg-1 body-weight) for 30, 30 and 31 days, respectively. At the end of the 91 days, thiamine hydrochloride was given at 20 mg kg-1 bodyweight subcutaneously for 15 days to group B2. Goats of group B1 served as lead exposed untreated controls. Significantly (P less than 0.05) higher lead concentrations were found in blood, liver, kidney and brain samples of lead exposed untreated goats than in healthy control or in lead exposed thiamine treated goats. The lead concentration, however, remained significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in all these tissues of thiamine treated goats than in healthy controls and no appreciable difference could be recorded in histopathological lesions between lead exposed untreated and thiamine treated goats.

Animals↗

Immunological detection and characterization of an estrus-associated antigen in the goat oviduct.

The present study was designed to investigate the possibility that the goat oviduct produces specific substance(s) similar to the oviductal glycoprotein (BOGP) of the bovine oviduct. Oviductal flushings obtained from goats at the follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle were examined by immunoblotting for the presence of material that cross-reacted with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for BOGP. The MAbs immunoreacted with a broad band with a molecular mass of protein of about 97 kDa in the flushings of goat oviducts after fractionation of proteins by electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The antigen was present in flushings obtained from the ampullar segments of oviducts from goats at the follicular stage, but this antigen could hardly be detected in the flushings from the ampulla at the luteal phase and or the flushings from the isthmus at either the follicular or the luteal phase. This antigen was not detected in uterine flushings, follicular fluid, or serum. An immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the MAbs reacted specifically with the epithelial cells of the goat oviduct. Intense labeling was observed in the ampullar and fimbrial epithelia of goat oviducts at the follicular phase, but the immunohistochemical reaction was very weak at the luteal phase. In the isthmus, the reaction was faint during both the follicular and the luteal phase. No specific immunohistochemical reactivity with the MAbs was observed with other tissues from the reproductive tract or with nonreproductive tissues. Immunofluorescent staining showed that the antigen was associated with the zona pellucida of goat ovarian eggs that had been incubated with ampullar flushings from goats at the follicular stage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Configurations of germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin in the goat differ from those of other species.

Configuration of germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin has been studied and found correlated with the developmental competence of oocytes in several mammalian species. A common feature in the configuration of GV chromatin in the species studied so far is that the diffuse chromatin (the so called "NSN" pattern) condenses into a perinucleolar ring (the so called "SN" configuration) with follicular growth. However, no study has been published on the configuration of GV chromatin in the goat. Nor is it known whether the perinucleolar ring of condensed chromatin (CC) in an oocyte represents a step toward final maturation or atresia. Changes in configurations of GV chromatin and RNA synthesis during goat oocyte growth, atresia and maturation in vivo and in vitro were investigated in this study. Based on both the size of nucleoli and the degree of chromatin condensation, the GV chromatin of goat oocytes was classified into GV1 characterized by large nucleoli and diffuse chromatin, GV2 with medium-sized nucleoli and condensed net-like (GV2n) or clumped (GV2c) chromatin, GV3 with small nucleoli and net-like (GV3n) or clumped (GV3c) chromatin, and GV4 with no nucleolus but clumped chromatin. The results showed that (i) the configurations of GV chromatin in the goat differ from those of other species in that the chromatin did not condense into a perinucleolar ring; (ii) most of the goat oocytes are synchronized at the GV3n configuration before GVBD; (iii) the GVn pattern might represent a healthy state, but the GVc an atretic state; (iv) in both goats and mice, the GC-specific (Chromomycin A3, CMA3) and the AT-specific (Hoechst 33342) fluorochromes followed the same pattern of distribution in GV chromatin; (v) the nucleolar size decreased significantly with oocyte growth and maturation in vivo and in vitro; and (vi) goat oocytes began GVBD at 8 hr and had completed it by 20 hr after onset of estrus. The peculiar configuration of GV chromatin of goat oocytes can be a useful model for studies of morphological and functional changes of different nuclear compartments during the cell cycle and cell differentiation, and the functional differentiation between GV3n and GV3c might be used for reference to the question whether the "SN" configuration in other species inclines toward ovulation or atresia.

Animals↗

Effect of cytoplast on the development of inter-subspecies nuclear transfer reconstructed goat embryo.

The aim of this study was to investigate effect of cytoplast on the development competence of reconstructed embryos derived from inter-subspecies somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT). First, the development potency of reconstructed embryos produced by transferring Boer goat fibroblast cell nucleus of different ages into enucleated Sannen goat ova was evaluated in order to determine which age of nuclear donor is favorable for the reconstructed embryos development. Secondly, the another component of reconstructed embryos, "cytoplast," was evaluated by comparing the effect of ovum cytoplast derived from Sannen male symbol x Boer female symbol descendant on the reconstructed embryos development to that of Sannen goat ovum cytoplast. The results revealed that the development rate of the reconstructed embryos derived from 2 months old Boer goat somatic cells was the highest, their gestation rate was up to 50%, and one viable male offspring was obtained. The cytoplast derived from the crossbreeding goats improves the development competence of reconstructed embryos, which birth rate was 5.5%. The genetic identification of offspring by using PCR-SSCP analysis confirmed that these cloned kids were derived from the donor. The results above reveal that the cytoplast of Sannen goat ovum could induce the dedifferentiation of somatic cell nuclei derived from Boer goat, but the reprogramming process of these reconstructed embryos seems incomplete, probably due to some incorrect processes happened after implantation. Relatedness components of nucleus donor in cytoplast of the crossbreeding goat may be helpful to induce the dedifferentiation of somatic cell nuclei completely and improve the development competence of the reconstructed embryos.

Animals↗

Some economic effects of trypanosomiasis in goats.

A study into the economic effects of trypanosomiasis was carried out using three goat breeds at the south coast of Kenya. The economic losses were worked out by comparing the performance of the goat groups receiving Samorin on a monthly basis with that of goat groups not receiving any Samorin. The losses were based on quantities of weight lost through deaths and that not produced as a result of the disease. The groups of goats were exposed to natural trypanosomal challenge. The losses in KSh per Tropical Livestock Unit within six months of the study were 198.07 for the East African goats, 501.95 for the Galla X East African goats and 785.42 for the Toggenburg X East African goats. The cost benefit ratio by using Samorin at the dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg body weight was 1:7.3, 1:18.52 and 1:28.94 for the three goat breeds respectively.

Animals↗

Beneficial effect of goat milk on bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium in rats.

We studied the effects of dietary inclusion of freeze-dried goat and cow milk on the utilization of copper, zinc and selenium, and on the metabolic fate of copper and zinc, in rats using a standard (non-milk) control diet recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition and diets based on goat or cow milk. For animals given the goat milk diet, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of copper is similar to that obtained with the standard diet and higher than that in animals given the cow milk diet. The copper balance was higher among the rats given the goat milk and the standard diets than among those given cow milk. The ADC and retention of zinc and selenium were higher for the goat milk diet than for the other two diets. The copper content in the kidneys and in the femur was greater when the animals consumed a goat milk diet than a cow milk diet. Zn deposits in femur, testes, liver, kidney, heart and longissimus dorsi muscle were greatest with the goat-milk diet, followed by the standard diet and were lowest for the rats given cow-milk diet. This study shows that the goat-milk has an important and beneficial effect on the bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium.

Animals↗

Ovulatory response and embryo yield in Jakhrana goats following treatments with PMSG and FSH.

Superovulatory response and embryo production efficacy were investigated in adult (age 2-4 years, average body weight: 27-43 kg) cycling Jakhrana goats (n = 15) under semi-arid environmental conditions of India by administering different superovulatory regimens. Goats were reared under semi-intensive system of management in established farm conditions. To synchronize oestrus, a luteolytic dose of carboprost tromethamine (Upjohn, UK) was administered intramuscularly to all does at the dose rate of 5 microg per kg body weight in a double dose schedule with an interval of 11 days. For superovulation, 750 IU of PMSG (Folligon, Intervet, Boxmeer, Holland) per goat was administered intramuscularly 24 h before administering a second dose of luteolytic agent in five does (treatment 1). FSH (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) 12.50 IU per goat was administered intramuscularly in a decreasing daily dose schedule (2.50, 2.50; 1.875, 1.875; 1.25, 1.25; 0.625, 0.625) at 12 h intervals over four days, initiated 48 h before administering second dose of carboprost tromethamine in 5 does (treatment 2). FSH (Super-Ov, Ausa Intern, USA) was administered at a uniform dose rate of 8.33 units per goat intramuscularly at 24 h intervals over three consecutive days (total dose was 25 units), initiated 48 h before administering a second dose of carboprost tromethamine in 5 does (treatment 3). To synchronize ovulation in responders, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG, Chorulon, Intervet) was injected intramuscularly at a dose rate of 500 IU in each goat on the day of oestrus appearance. Goats were laparotomized 72-82 h following the onset of synchronized oestrus and their genitalia were flushed using a standard collection procedure. Variability (p > 0.05) in superovulatory response (number of established corpora lutea) was observed: FSH (Sigma), 11.8 +/- 2.9; FSH (Super-Ov), 11.6 +/- 4.5; PMSG (Intervet), 8.4 +/- 2.3. A similar pattern was reflected in mean embryo and transferable embryo recovery, respectively (p > 0.05): FSH (Sigma), 8.0 +/- 1.8, 5.2 +/- 1.7; FSH (Super-Ov), 6.6 +/- 2.4, 5.4 +/- 2.4; PMSG, 5.8 +/- 1.9, 3.8 +/- 2.2. In PMSG-treated does, comparatively more unfertilized ova or retarded embryos were recovered than in FSH-treated does. The superiority of FSH preparations over PMSG was reflected in terms of total and transferable embryo production (p > 0.05). On average, five transferable embryos (excellent and good quality) were recovered per doe treated with FSH of either source. The mean ova/embryo recovery was satisfactory (55-68%). Results indicated that Jakhrana goats can be superovulated for embryo production using FSH of either source to augment productivity.

Animals↗

Milk production of West African Dwarf goats in the Gambia.

Goats are important in the low-input systems of West Africa and their main importance lies in their role for income and saving. In addition, it is known that milk offtake for home consumption is also important. In order to obtain information about the real importance of milk offtake, a recording scheme was operated in 27 villages in the Central River Division of The Gambia from July 1998 until January 2000. Detailed information was obtained from about 1500 kiddings. In the recording scheme, any sheep being milked as well as the goats of the International Trypanotolerance Centre nucleus flock were also recorded. In the villages, 36% of all lactations were used for milk offtake, but the fraction milked was lower for the first two lactations. The average length of lactation was 127 days and the average daily milk offtake was 0.18 L. Goats are milked once a day and the residual milk is left for the kids. Milking starts about one week after parturition and stops when the goat becomes pregnant or the kid(s) die or the goat is drying off. The repeatability of the 90-day milk offtake was 0.24 +/- 0.09. Sixty-five percent of goat owner were women and a large fraction of goat owners also owned cattle. Goat milk was used exclusively for home consumption. It is concluded that in breeding and extension work more attention should be given to aspects of milk production.

Animals↗

Comparison of measurement of dialkyl phosphates in milk/urine and blood cholinesterase and insecticide concentrations in goats exposed to the organophosphate insecticide, imidan.

Recognition of exposure to imidan was assessed in goats by dialkyl phosphate concentrations, blood cholinesterase (ChE) determinations, and blood imidan concentrations. Groups of three goats received 5.0 mg imidan/kg/day (low dose) or 10 mg imidan/kg/day (high dose) for 7 days orally. One goat received no imidan and one goat received an acute single dose (200 mg/kg). The urine of all treated goats was examined for the excretory dialkyl phosphates, O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate (DMDTP) and O,O-dimethyl phosphorothionate (DMTP). The overall mean DMDTP urinary concentration was 19.1 ppm (10-mg/kg treatment group) and 7.2 ppm (5-mg/kg treatment group). These metabolites rapidly disappeared following removal of the treatment except in those goats clinically affected. Milk contained no identifiable concentrations of dialkyl phosphates. Cholinesterase depression was observed in all imidan-treated goats, and a dose effect was observed. No imidan was detected in whole blood of either the 5- or 10-mg/kg treatment groups. Low blood concentrations (ppb) of imidan were measured in the acute single-dose exposed goat. Both urinary DMDTP and blood ChE provided recognition of imidan exposure. DMDTP, however, was immediately present in urine after exposure and provided stronger support for organophosphate exposure than did blood ChE.

Animals↗

Mapping of mitochondrial DNA of individual sheep and goats: rapid evolution in the D loop region.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from sheep and goat was compared by restriction endonuclease analysis and heteroduplex mapping in the electron microscope. The fragment patterns produced by endonuclease Hae III from three individual sheep and two goat mtDNAs all differed from each other. The three sheep mtDNAs had identical Eco RI and Hind III fragments, but the two goat mtDNA patterns differed from each other as well as from sheep mtDNA. We estimate that each sheep mtDNA differs from each other by 0.5-1% of its nucleotide sequences, the two goat mtDNAs by 1-2%, and there is a 6-11% sequence difference between sheep and goat mtDNAs. We have mapped the Eco RI and Hind III sites of goat and sheep mtDNA and determined the positions of the D loop, which marks the replication origin, relative to the restriction map. The D loops are at homologous positions on the mtDNAs from both species, but the goat D loop is only 75% as long as the sheep D loop. Regions with a high degree of sequence divergence occur at both ends of the D loop. We suggest that a duplication of about 150 base pairs has occurred in the region where the sheep and goat D loops differ in length. We discuss mtDNA evolution in terms of divergence of isolated "mitochondrial DNA clones."

Animals↗

Interaction of bacterial Fc receptors with goat immunoglobulins.

The interaction of type I (staphylococcal protein A) and type III (streptococcal FcRc) bacterial Fc receptors with goat immunoglobulins has been studied. Staphylococcal protein A bound poorly to the majority of goat immunoglobulins at all pHs tested. There was some evidence that protein A bound IgG2 better than IgG1, particularly at pH 8 and above. One of 10 sera tested demonstrated a high level of reactivity with protein A and this was shown to correlate with the presence of a natural antibody to protein A. The streptococcal Fc receptors, FcRc, bound efficiently to all goat IgG and goat sera tested. Both goat IgG subclasses reacted efficiently with the FcRc between pH 6 and 8. Inhibition of binding of 125I-FcRc to immobilized goat IgG enabled levels of IgG in goat serum to be estimated. These results suggest the streptococcal FcRc will be of value as an immunochemical reagent in studies involving isolation and quantitation of goat immunoglobulins.

Animals↗