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PubMed1983

The prevalence and pathogenicity of Chorioptes bovis (Hering, 1845) and Psoroptes cuniculi (Delafond, 1859) (Acari: Psoroptidae) infestations in feral goats in New Zealand.

Between October 1976 and January 1980 a total of 368 feral goats was examined in New Zealand for the presence of Chorioptes bovis and 434 for the presence of Psoroptes cuniculi. The seasonal pattern of C. bovis infestation in feral goats was similar to that seen in sheep and cattle. The prevalence of infestation reached 100% in July and August (winter) and declined to 27% in February and March (summer). Fewer goats were infested with P. cuniculi and prevalence of infestation reached a maximum of 41% in July. No goats were found infested in the December and January samples. Chorioptes bovis infestation was independent of the age and sex of hosts. Infestation with P. cuniculi was independent of the sex of the hosts, but older goats were more frequently infested (16%) than younger goats (8.6%). Unilateral infestation with P. cuniculi was more common (74.5%) than bilateral infestation. No severe lesions were associated with C. bovis, but 21.3% of goats with P. cuniculi had the external auditory meatus blocked by waxy material and 12.8% had scabby encrustations on the ears. The importance of goats as a possible source of infestation to domestic animals is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Arrested development of gastrointestinal trichostrongylids in goats in Nigeria.

Arrested development of Haemonchus, Cooperia and Trichostrongylus spp. was studied in (1) 14 naturally infected and eight experimentally infected West African Dwarf (WAD) goats reared in the derived savanna zone of eastern Nigeria and (2) 55 naturally infected slaughter goats obtained from the savanna and sahel regions of northern Nigeria. Six of the WAD goats carried natural infections of H. contortus and T. colubriformis and eight other (tracer) goats acquired their infections from a grass paddock artificially contaminated with H. placei, C. pectinata and C. punctata, during May to October. Another three WAD goats were artificially infected with mixed cultures of L3 of the latter three nematodes, while five goats were inoculated with 1500-2000 L3 of H. contortus harvested from cultures incubated at 25-30 degrees C for 8 days either in the dark or under normal laboratory conditions. Approximately 41% (9/22) of the infected WAD goats harboured arrested larvae of Haemonchus and/or Cooperia. No arrested larvae of Trichostrongylus were found in the six animals that were infected with this nematode. The level of inhibition varied from 0.4 to 20% and only three animals showed greater than 10% inhibition. This very low level of inhibition occurred in naturally and experimentally acquired infections, irrespective of the time of year. In the case of Haemonchus, the species and strain of the parasite and infection with L3 cultured in the dark also appeared not to influence the level of inhibition. By contrast, 65.5% (36/55) and 5.5% (3/55) of the northern savanna and sahel goats harboured arrested larvae of H. contortus and T. colubriformis, respectively. The mean percentage inhibition of the former was low (2-25%) during most of the rainy season (June-August) and high (75-90%) during the late rains and the dry season (October-April). The lowest and highest mean percentage inhibitions occurred during July and November, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats in Pernambuco State, Brazil.

During each of 36 1-month periods from April 1979 to March 1982, 3-4 goats selected from typical farms were necropsied and examined for gastrointestinal nematodes. The goats were male, 12 months old, born on the farm and raised without any anthelmintic application. At the beginning of each month, from April 1981 to March 1982, three 12-month-old male goats shown to be free of gastrointestinal nematodes after anthelmintic treatment were grazed with a flock of naturally infected goats (tracer goats). At the end of each month, these goats were placed on a cement-floored pen and were maintained there for 4 weeks prior to necropsy and examination for gastrointestinal nematodes. Every goat examined was found to be parasitized by more than one species of nematode. Haemonchus contortus, Strongyloides papillosus and Oesophagostomum columbianum were the most prevalent nematodes found. Total worm burdens present in the farm animals were highest during late rainy/early dry season (March-June) and lowest in mid-rainy season (January-February). The acquisition of nematodes by tracer goats occurred mainly from mid-rainy to early dry season (January-June).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Immunological evaluation of SW-HSA conjugate on goats.

Locoweeds cause significant livestock poisoning and economic loss all over the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immune effects of locoweed toxin, swainsonine (SW) and human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate (SW-HSA), on goats. Twenty-four Sannon goats were randomly separated into immune control group (eight goats), immune poisoning group I (six goats), immune poisoning group II (six goats) and poisoning control group (four goats). Immune control group, immune poisoning groups I and II were first vaccinated with SW-HSA conjugate. The poisoning control group, immune poisoning groups I and II were then fed with 10.0 g/kg BW/day dry powder of Oxytropis kansuensis Bunge everyday morning. The immune control group was supplied with an alfalfa-based diet. Blood samples of these experimental animals were collected at different time interval. Immunoassay was performed using indirect ELISA and E-rosette technique. The results show that, after second booster immunization: (1) anti-SW antibody level in some goats increased to 2(8), which proves that SW-HSA conjugate can induce experimental animals to produce high-level anti-SW antibody in their bodies; (2) the high-level antibody in their bodies could maintain 30 days, and decreased gradually after poisoning experiment (in our experiment, there was a return of the antibody level on day 21 after poisoning experiment); (3) the decreasing of the E-rosette rate of the immune poisoning group was delayed 14 days, which suggests that SW-HSA could low down the loss of the immunity of the goats; (4) swainsonine concentration in the blood was significantly lower (p<0.01) in the immune poisoning groups than that in the poisoning control group, and there was no significant difference (p>0.01) between the two immune poisoning groups within the poisoning experiment.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

In utero transplantation of human hematopoetic stem cells into fetal goats under B-type ultrasonographic scan: an experimental model for the study of potential prenatal therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Using fetal goats as animal models, to establish the methodology of in utero transplantation of human hematopoeitic stem cell (HSC) under B-scan ultrasonographic guidance for prenatal therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Human HSC were directly injected into the peritoneal cavities of the recipient fetal goats at 45-55 days of gestation (term: 145 days) under the guidance of B-type ultrasound scan. After birth, the peripheral blood was collected for fluorescence assisted cell sorting (FACS), quantitative real-time PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect and analyze the presence of human cells in the recipients. RESULTS: The 32 recipients were born alive except one miscarriage. To test for the presence of human-goat chimeras, cells from 13 randomly selected transplanted goats were collected. FACS analyses showed the presence of human cells in all the transplanted goats tested. The average proportion of CD34+ cells and GPA+(glycophorin A) cells in the peripheral blood were 1.34 +/- 1.10% and 2.80 +/- 2.10%, respectively. No CD34+ or GPA+ cells were found in the non-transplanted goats tested. The results of the quantitative real-time PCR in three engraftment goats were 1.2 x 10(4), 2.9 x 10(4), and 3.2 x 10(4) copies of human GPA DNA per mug of genomic DNA. FISH experiments showed that cells containing human specific alpha-satellite DNA sequence were present in the peripheral blood of the transplanted goats. CONCLUSIONS: The method described herein is safe and reliable, with low miscarriage risk and high chimerism rate. This approach may provide a promising animal model for potential prenatal treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Isolation and characterization of goat ovarian aromatase cDNA: assessment of the activity using an intact cell system and placental expression.

Goat ovarian follicles produce estrone and estradiol from androgens. The synthesis of C18 estrogens from C19 androgens requires cytochrome P450 aromatase, but little information about this key enzyme is available in the goat. We report here for the first time the cDNA sequence of the goat ovarian aromatase, the activity of the enzyme in a cell system, and its expression in the term goat placenta. A cDNA library from goat ovarian poly(A)+ RNA was constructed. Human aromatase cDNA was selected as probe to screen the library; several clones were isolated, but none was complete. The longest clone was 3.1 kb long, but it lacked the sequence coding for a few amino acids in the NH(2)-terminal. To obtain the missing sequence, we performed reverse amplification of the cDNA end (RACE). Sequence analysis indicated that goat aromatase possessed a very long 3'-untranslated region ( approximately 1790 bp), and a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) located at position 3320 downstream from the ATG start codon. The coding region of goat cDNA was inserted in an expression vector and transfected into HEK-293 cells that were cultured in presence of [14C]-androstenedione, steroids extracted and further separated by TLC. The transfected cells efficiently transformed [14C]-androstenedione into estrone. This activity was inhibited by 4-hydroxyandrostenedione. We also investigated the presence of mRNA for P450 aromatase in the goat placenta, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and primers derived from the cDNA ovarian sequence and confirmed the expression of the mRNA in term placenta.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of ampicillin/sulbactam (2:1) combination after intravenous administration to sheep and goats.

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of a combination of ampicillin and sulbactam (2:1) in six sheep and six goats after single intravenous doses of 20 mg kg body weight-1 (13.33 mg kg-1 of ampicillin and 6.67 mg kg-1 of sulbactam) was investigated by using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determining plasma concentrations. The objective was to determine whether there are differences between sheep and goats in the disposition kinetics of ampicillin and sulbactam. The plasma concentration-time curves were analysed by compartmental pharmacokinetic and non-compartmental methods. The disposition curves for both drugs were best described by a biexponential equation (two-compartment open model) in both sheep and goats. The mean (SD) elimination half-lives of ampicillin were 0.32 (0.05) h in sheep and 0.32 (0.04) h in goats, and the half-lives of sulbactam were 0.74 (0.10) h and 0.79 (0.18) h in sheep and goats, respectively. The apparent volumes of distribution of ampicillin and sulbactam were similar in the two species. Mean (SD) body clearances of ampicillin were 0.69 (0.07) litre h-1 kg-1 in sheep and 0.72 (0.11) litre h-1 kg-1 in goats, and the body clearances of sulbactam were 0.38 (0.03) and 0.38 (0.07) litre h-1 kg-1 in sheep and goats, respectively. There were no significant differences between any of the pharmacokinetic parameters of ampicillin and sulbactam in the sheep and goats.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed2002

Follicular recruitment and ovulatory response to FSH treatment initiated on day 0 or day 3 postovulation in goats.

The present study evaluates the effect of the presence of a large growing follicle at the onset of superovulatory treatment on follicular recruitment and ovulatory response in dairy goats. The treatment consisted of six equal doses of pFSH given every 12 h (total dose: 200 mg NIH-FSH-P1) which was initiated at Day 0 (Group D0) or Day 3 (Group D3) postovulation. Two half-doses of an analogue of prostaglandin F2alpha (delprostenate, 80 microg each) were administered together with the last two FSH doses to ensure luteolysis. A dose of a GnRH analogue (busereline acetate, 10.5 microg) was administered at the onset of estrus. Ovarian changes were evaluated twice a day by transrectal ultrasonography. Follicles were classified according to follicular diameter as small (3 to < 4 mm), medium (4 to < 5 mm) and large follicles (> or = 5 mm). The number of corpora lutea (CL) was recorded after laparotomy performed 6 days after estrus. The work was conducted in replicates. In the first trial, the does were assigned to either the D0 (n = 4) or D3 group (n = 4) and in the second replicate, each goat was assigned to the alternate group. No large follicles were recorded and the diameter of the largest follicle was 3.3 +/- 0.1 mm (mean +/- S.E.M.) at the initiation of the treatment in D0-treated goats. In contrast, a growing large follicle was present (6.7 +/- 0.4 mm, P < 0.01) when the treatment was initiated in D3-treated goats. In these goats, the number of small follicles increased 24 h after ovulation but then declined 48 h later, temporally correlated with the growth of the largest follicle of the first follicular wave. The number of small follicles recruited by the FSH treatment was significantly higher and occurred earlier in D0- than in D3-treated goats (9.0 +/- 1.3 versus 5.6 +/- 1.1 follicles; P < 0.05; and 24 h versus 48 h from the onset of the treatment, respectively). The number of large follicles at the onset of estrus was higher in D0- than in D3-treated goats (14.4 +/- 1.9 versus 10.3 +/- 1.3; P < 0.05). Consequently, the number of CL recorded 6 days after estrus were higher in D0- than in D3-treated goats (13.6 +/- 1.9 versus 10.4 +/- 1.9; P < 0.05, respectively). These results demonstrate that the presence of a dominant follicle at the time of initiation of super-stimulatory treatment is detrimental to ovulatory response. This study supports the advantages of the so-called Day 0 protocol, e.g. treatment starting soon after ovulation, when the emergence of the first follicular wave takes place and there are no dominant follicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Growth hormone-binding protein in the goat: characterization, evolution under exogenous growth hormone treatment, and correlation with liver growth hormone receptor levels.

This report describes the identification and characterization of a specific, high-affinity growth hormone-binding protein (GHBP) in lactating goat serum. Serum samples were incubated with [125I]human GH as ligand and in the absence or in the presence of bovine GH as competitor. GH-GHBP complex formation was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the radioactivity was recorded on-line with a Berthold LB detector connected to a computer. The results showed that a serum protein was able to bind specifically to human GH and bovine GH but not to ovine prolactin. Scatchard plots indicated an affinity constant of 4.5 x 10(8) M-1 and a maximum binding capacity of 4.8 x 10(-10) mol/l. In addition, we conducted a 4-wk study to determine the effects of recombinant bovine GH administration on milk production in lactating goats. The effects of recombinant bovine GH treatment on milk production and on the regulation of GHBP and hepatic GH receptor levels were studied. As expected, recombinant bovine GH injected daily increased yields of milk, fat, protein (40, 61, and 40%, respectively), and circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations compared with controls. During the pretreatment and treatment periods, the control goats exhibited a constant amount of GHBP in serum. No consistent effect of GH treatment on GHBP level was observed. The binding of [125I]bovine GH to hepatic microsomal membranes of GH-treated goats was significantly decreased compared with that of control goats. After MgCl2 desaturation of membranes, the results demonstrated that the down-regulation of GH hepatic receptors, observed for the treated goat group, was induced by receptor occupancy without modification of binding affinity. The GH receptor gene expression, analyzed by slot blot and hybridization with an [alpha-32P]GH receptor cDNA probe, was not modified by the GH treatment. In lactating goats, the galactopoietic effect of exogenous GH involved a hepatic receptor occupancy. The individual concentration of GHBP in serum cannot explain the individual variations of responses to GH treatment in goats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Bezoar (Capra aegagrus) is a matriarchal candidate for ancestor of domestic goat (Capra hircus): evidence from the mitochondrial DNA diversity.

The leading hypothesis on the ancestor of domestic goats (Capra hircus) is that it is the wild goat called the bezoar or pasang (Capra aegagrus). To verify this hypothesis, we sequenced and compared the cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA from six domestic goats and bezoar. A further sequence for the markhor was taken from the database. In total we detected 51 nucleotide substitutions among the domestic goats, bezoar and markhor. However, only one specific nucleotide substitution was found between the domestic goats and the bezoar. On the other hand, 43 nucleotide substitutions were specific for the markhor. This result suggested a close relationship between the domestic goats and the bezoar. A neighbor-joining and parsimony phylogenetic tree constructed using the sequences showed that the domestic goats and the bezoar belong to the same cluster, while the markhor showed a distinct cluster separate from that of the domestic/bezoar cluster. This result was confirmed by trees based on the sequence of the mitochondrial displacement loop regions. These results suggest that the strongest candidate for a matriarchal ancestor of domestic goats is the bezoar.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The role of bioactive tannins in the postpartum energy retention and productive performance of goats browsed in a natural rangeland.

The role of bioactive tannins in browse in the postpartum performance of goats grazed under natural range conditions was studied using 40 yearling Mubende goats (20+/-0.32 kg). In a completely randomized design, goats of one group (n = 20) received a daily drench of 50 g per goat of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of molecular weight 4000 given as a condensed tannin (CT) deactivator, and goats of the other group (n = 20) acted as the control (no PEG). Mean birth weights, live weight gains, abortion and twinning rates, litter size and tissue energy retention were measured. The PEG drench resulted in lower postpartum weight gains and tissue energy retention (p < 0.05). Postpartum weekly weight loss per doe was 0.65 kg in the PEG group and 0.46 kg in the control group, while tissue energy loss was 17.7 MJ per goat in the PEG group and 10.23 MJ per goat in the control group in the first 8 weeks. Net weight gain was observed in the control group at the 11 th week but was delayed in the PEG group (15th week). The PEG group had lower birth weights and higher kids mortalities (p <0.05). Selective feeding in the Ankole rangeland exposes goats to beneficial concentrations of dietary CT with apparent cumulative effects leading to improved postpartum performance of does and kids.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Cerebral vasoconstriction produced by vasopressin in conscious goats: role of vasopressin V(1) and V(2) receptors and nitric oxide.

To examine the role of vasopressin V(1) and V(2) receptors, nitric oxide and prostanoids in the cerebrovascular effects of arginine vasopressin, cerebral blood flow was electromagnetically measured in awake goats. In 16 animals, vasopressin (0.03 - 1 microg), injected into the cerebral circulation, caused increments of resting cerebrovascular resistance which ranged from 18% (0.03 microg, P<0.01) to 79% (1 microg, P<0.01). Desmopressin (0.03 - 1 microg, four goats) did not affect significantly cerebrovascular resistance. The cerebrovascular resistance increases by vasopressin were reduced significantly by the antagonist for vasopressin V(1) receptors d(CH(2))(5)Tyr(Me)-AVP in a rate depending way (five (six goats) and 15 (four goats) microg min(-1)), and by the mixed antagonist for vasopressin V(1) and V(2) receptors desGly-d(CH(2))(5)-D-Tyr(Et)Val-AVP (5 microg min(-1), four goats), and they were not significantly affected by the antagonist for vasopressin V(2) receptors d(CH(2))(5), D-Ile(2), Ile(4)-AVP (5 microg min(-1), four goats). The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 47 mg kg(-1) i.v., five goats) augmented cerebrovascular resistance by 130% (P<0.01), and for 24 h after this treatment the cerebrovascular effects of vasopressin were potentiated. The inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase meclofenamate (6 mg kg(-1) i.v., five goats) did not modify significantly resting haemodynamic variables measured or the cerebrovascular effects of vasopressin. Therefore, the vasopressin-induced cerebral vasoconstriction may be mediated by vasopressin V(1) receptors, without involvement of vasopressin V(2) receptors, and may be modulated by nitric oxide but not by prostanoids.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Involvement of melatonin in the seasonal changes of the gonadal function and prolactin secretion in female goats.

Ovarian cyclicity in the goat continues under short days (8L: 16D), while it ceases for 150-200 days under long days (16L: 8D). During the anovulatory period under long days, prolactin secretion is enhanced. Experiments were conducted to investigate the role of the pineal gland in the photoperiodic control of the gonadal function and prolactin secretion in the goat. Firstly, the effects of the abolition of the diurnal change in melatonin secretion on the photoperiodic responses of the gonadal axis and prolactin secretion were examined. Female Saanen goats, reared under short days (8L:16D, 22 +/- 2 degrees C) for 5 months, were bilaterally superior cervical ganglionectomized (SCGX) to denervate their pineal gland. One month after surgery, both SCGX and intact control goats were divided into two groups. Animals in group 1 were maintained under short days and those in group 2 were transferred to long days (16L:8D). In group 1, both SCGX and intact goats ovulated periodically and basal plasma levels of prolactin were maintained throughout the day. In intact controls, exposure to long days blocked ovulation and increased prolactin secretion for the first 150-200 days of exposure. The animals became photorefractory after this time; ovulation recurred and prolactin secretion was suppressed. The continuous melatonin secretion appeared simultaneously with the photorefractoriness. Superior cervical ganglionectomy abolished or weakened the suppression of gonadal axis and eliminated the increase in prolactin secretion induced by the exposure to long days in intact animals. Secondly, the effect of melatonin replacement by timed melatonin infusion on prolactin secretion was examined in SCGX goats to establish that the effect of SCGX could be ascribed to the abolition of the diurnal change in melatonin. Ovariectomized SCGX Shiba goats (n = 5) were infused with melatonin (20 micrograms/h, s.c.) daily for 8 h (the long-day-type infusion) and for 16 h (the short-day-type infusion) to mimic the nocturnal profiles of plasma melatonin under long days and short days, respectively. The long-day-type melatonin infusion for 9 days accelerated prolactin secretion, inducing a nocturnal rise in plasma prolactin; this was comparable to that observed in intact controls under long days. On the other hand, by the short-day-type infusion, the plasma prolactin concentrations were maintained at a low level throughout the day as were observed in intact goats under short days. The prevailing photoperiod appeared to have no distinct effect on these prolactin responses to exogenous melatonin, which were indistinguishable under long and short days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Use of single or multiple injections of FSH in embryo collection programmes in goats.

The yield of embryos from goats treated with single injections of FSH combined with low doses of PMSG was compared with that from goats treated with conventional superovulatory regimens based on multiple doses of FSH. In one experiment, 101 female goats were assigned to 10 groups. One group received six injections of FSH-P (FSH-P control); a second group received eight injections of Ovagen (Ovagen control). The remaining eight groups conformed to a 2x2x2 factorial design in which goats received a single injection of a low or high dose of either FSH-P or Ovagen in combination with a low or high dose of PMSG. All goats were run with harnessed, entire bucks. Ovaries were examined by laparoscopy and embryos were recovered from goats that had ovulated and been mated. The mean number of normal embryos collected per goat was significantly greater in the FSH-P control group in all except those groups treated with either low or high doses of PMSG combined with a low dose of Ovagen or a low dose of PMSG combined with a high dose of Ovagen. Most goats ovulated and ovulation rates were not significantly different from the mean of the FSH-P control, except for those treated with a low dose of FSH-P combined with either low or high doses of PMSG. Embryo recovery rates were significantly lower in groups treated with a high dose of PMSG combined with a high dose of either Ovagen or FSH-P, or with low doses of PMSG and FSH-P, than in the FSH-P control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Divergent mtDNA lineages of goats in an Early Neolithic site, far from the initial domestication areas.

Goats were among the first farm animals domesticated, approximately 10,500 years ago, contributing to the rise of the "Neolithic revolution." Previous genetic studies have revealed that contemporary domestic goats (Capra hircus) show far weaker intercontinental population structuring than other livestock species, suggesting that goats have been transported more extensively. However, the timing of these extensive movements in goats remains unknown. To address this question, we analyzed mtDNA sequences from 19 ancient goat bones (7,300-6,900 years old) from one of the earliest Neolithic sites in southwestern Europe. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two highly divergent goat lineages coexisted in each of the two Early Neolithic layers of this site. This finding indicates that high mtDNA diversity was already present >7,000 years ago in European goats, far from their areas of initial domestication in the Near East. These results argue for substantial gene flow among goat populations dating back to the early neolithisation of Europe and for a dual domestication scenario in the Near East, with two independent but essentially contemporary origins (of both A and C domestic lineages) and several more remote and/or later origins.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Effects of dietary calcium and fat on cholesterol in tissues and feces of young goats.

To examine the effects of amount of calcium and type of fat in the diet on distribution of cholesterol in plasma, several tissues and feces, 4-week-old goats (6 females and 18 males) were fed isocaloric diets consisting of goat milk supplemented with cholesterol and 1) soybean oil, 2) tallow, 3) soybean oil and CaCO3 or 4) tallow and CaCO3 for 20 weeks. Plasma cholesterol increased initially in all animals; plasma and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, however, were not affected by dietary fat or calcium. Goats fed CaCO3 excreted more calcium and ash in their feces and had greater cholesterol and fat concentrations in their livers. Neutral steroid, but not bile acid, excretion was greater in soybean oil-fed goats than in goats fed tallow. Soybean oil-fed goats had greater cholesterol concentrations in the viscera (minus liver) and tended to have greater cholesterol concentrations in the carcass and whole body. Aortas of soybean oil-fed goats exhibited greater fat deposition. In summary, dietary fat, but not calcium, significantly altered cholesterol disposition in young goats by affecting cholesterol deposition in tissues and excretion in feces, without a concomitant change in plasma cholesterol.

Absorption↗
PubMed2004

Goat milk is less immunogenic than cow milk in a murine model of atopy.

OBJECTIVES: Cow milk protein allergy occurs in 2% to 6% of infants population. Goat milk has been used as an alternative to cow milk, but there is probably some cross-reactivity between the milks. Little is known about the allergenicity of goat milk per se. The aim of this study is to compare cow and goat milk allergenicity in a mouse atopy model. METHODS: Balb/C mice were intragastrically sensitized to cow or goat milk by five doses administrated weekly. Six weeks after the first dose mice were killed, sera were collected and spleens removed for analysis. RESULTS: The number of mice with diarrhea was significantly higher in the cow milk-sensitized group than in the goat milk-sensitized group. Serum cow milk-specific immunoglobulin G1 and histamine levels were also significantly higher in cow milk-sensitized mice. Cytokine production by spleen derived T cells showed a Th2 response with high levels of interleukin-4 production and low levels of interferon-gamma in cow milk-sensitized mice. In addition, goat milk induced a lower lymphocyte sensitization as a result of a significant decrease in the specific proliferation ratio of these cells. CONCLUSION: Goat milk, when used as the first source of protein after a breast-feeding period, is less allergenic than cow milk in mice. Further studies are needed to clarify if goat milk is suitable as an alternative to cow milk in milk based formulas for infant nutrition.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Erythrocyte antigens in Norwegian goats: serological and genetic studies.

Goat alloantisera and bovine blood typing reagents were used to characterize eight erythrocyte antigen specificities in Norwegian goats by cluster analysis, absorption and family studies. Most of the goat sera were produced by injecting dams once or twice with blood cells or blood from their own kids. The characterized specificities were designated N1-N8. The two specificities N5 and N8 were recognized both by goat alloantisera and by reagents against the bovine factors E'1 and E'2 (N5) and I (N8), which are allelic factors in the bovine B-system. In goat families, the two specificities also behaved as alleles. Consequently, the locus or gene system coding for these specificities was called the B-system of goats. The six other erythrocyte antigens were provisionally assigned to six separate loci. In addition, a bovine anti-sheep R factor reagent reacted with cells from 3.3% of the goats tested, whereas a monoclonal antibody against the Forssman antigen reacted with all the goats tested.

Absorption↗