Headache as presenting symptom of neurosarcoidosis

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Occipital neurostimulation in primary headaches: update

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MTNR1A gene polymorphisms and reproductive recovery after seasonal anoestrus in different Mediterranean sheep breeds

The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the effect of MTNR1A gene polymorphisms on reproductive performance in ewes of one Italian and two Slovenian dairy sheep breeds (Sarda, Istrian Premenka and Boska, respectively) which were located at different latitudes, and 2) to highlight if the different season of the male placement with females that was utilized in the different breeding systems in Sardinia (Italy) and Slovenia resulted in different effects of these polymorphisms on reproductive functions. Reproductively mature ewes (n = 100) from each breed were utilized to conduct the study. To evaluate the reproductive efficiency, lambing dates and number of lambs born were recorded per ewe; additionally, the duration in days from ram placement with ewes to lambing (DRPEL), litter size and the fertility rate were determined based on lambing dates. In each breed, there were eight nucleotide variations within the MTNR1A gene exon II, two of which (g.17355358 and g.17355171), respectively, resulted in a valine to isoleucine, and alanine to aspartic acid substitution, in amino acid sequence. The SNPs at position g.17355452 and g.17355458 were determined to have effects on reproductive performance. Genotypes C/C and C/T at g.17355452 in Bovska and Sarda and genotype A/A at g.17355458 in Istrian Pramenka were associated with a greater fertility and a lesser duration in days from ram placement with ewes to lambing. These findings confirmed that the nucleotide sequences of the MTNR1A gene could affect reproductive functions of Mediterranean sheep

Antioxidant enzyme activity of rabbits fed dietary bovine colostrum supplementation

Bovine colostrum (BC) has a high nutritional value due to its content of macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds which confer it anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The use of BC is not confined on humans, but its supplementation as a nutraceutical for both production and companion animals of all ages has been documented. Although the antioxidant properties of BC are currently known in various animal species, to the best of our knowledge studies on BC effect related to antioxidant status in rabbits have not been performed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with two different concentrations (2.5% and 5.0%) of BC on antioxidant status and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in liver and Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of rabbits. New Zealand White rabbits (n = 39) were divided into three groups (n = 13) and fed until slaughter (91 days of age) with a commercial diet (CON group), CON supplemented with 2.5% (BC-2.5 group) and 5% of BC (BC-5 group). Blood was collected at slaughter from 10 animals/group (n = 30) to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD); liver and LD muscle were collected from 10 animals/group (n = 60) for RNA extraction and subsequent antioxidant enzymes gene expression analysis through Real Time PCR. Despite the increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values found in complete feed (CON: 113.00 ± 3.8; BC-2.5: 136.3 ± 4.5; BC-5: 150.70 ± 5.8 umol TE/g), no significant differences in plasma CAT, GPx and SOD concentrations were found. Similarly, there were no changes in gene expression of CAT, GPx and SOD in tissues of rabbits after BC supplementation compared to CON (p > 0.05). A significant tissue-related effect has been observed in mRNA level of SOD and GPx, which were significantly higher in LD (p = 0.022) and liver (p = 0.001), respectively. We speculated that the lack of alteration in the investigated parameters may reflect the total phenol content (TPC) found in the three experimental diets, which was equal between groups (3.85 ± 0.15, 4.09 ± 0.27 and 3.84 ± 0.08 mg GAE/mg in CON, BC-2.5 and BC-5 groups respectively). Due to limited literature on the topic, further research is needed to evaluate the potential practical application of BC in rabbit rearing

Melatonin treatment in rams and their replacement with novel treated rams advance first lambing and increase fertility in sarda ewe lambs

This study aims to find reliable strategies for advancing first mating and shortening the period from weaning to first lambing in ewe lambs. Sarda ewe lambs (n = 400) were selected from two farms and allocated into four separated groups of 100, all of which were exposed to fertile, adult rams over the course of a 50‐day breeding period. The first treatment group (RMR) was exposed to four melatonin‐treated rams which were replaced every ten days, whilst the second treatment group (RM) was exposed to four melatonin‐treated rams which were not replaced. Alternatively, the first control group (RCR) was exposed to four untreated rams which were replaced every ten days, whilst the second control group (RC) was exposed to four untreated rams which were not replaced. In each group, lambing dates, fertility rate, litter size, and distance in days from ram introduction to lambing (DRIL) were recorded. The highest fertility rate was recorded in the RMR group (p ≤ 0.05). Shorter DRIL (p ≤ 0.01) and higher lambing concentrations were recorded in the RM and RMR groups as compared to the controls. The findings indicate that melatonin treatment of rams and their replacement at 10‐day intervals results in earlier onset of first mating, increased fertility rate in ewe lambs, and a higher number of ewes that lambs in a shorter time frame

Detection of polymorphisms in the mtnr1a gene and their association with reproductive performance in awassi ewes

The economy in Mediterranean areas is tightly linked to the evolution of the sheep-farming system; therefore, improvement in ewe’s reproductive performance is essential in the developing countries of this area. MTNR1A is the gene coding for Melatonin receptor 1 (MT1), and it is considered to be involved in the reproductive activity in sheep. The aims of this study were: (1) identifying the polymorphisms from the entire MTNR1A coding region and promoter in Lebanese Awassi sheep flocks, and (2) investigating the association between the found polymorphisms and the reproductive performance, assessed as lambing rate, litter size, and days to lambing (DTL). The study was conducted in two districts of Lebanon, where 165 lactating ewes, aged 5.2 ± 1.5 years, with body condition score (BCS) 3.3 ± 0.4, were chosen and exposed to adult and fertile rams. From 150 to 220 days after ram introduction, lambing dates and litter sizes were registered. This study provided the entire coding region of the MTNR1A receptor gene in the Awassi sheep breed. Thirty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, five of which were missense mutations. The H2, H3, and H4 haplotypes were associated with lower DTL (p < 0.05), as well as the SNPs rs430181568 and rs40738822721, named from now on SNP20 and SNP21, respectively. These SNPs were totally linked and can be considered as a single marker. The ewes carrying the C allele at both these polymorphic sites advanced their reproductive recovery (p < 0.05). These results are essential for improving reproductive management and obtaining advanced lambing in Awassi ewes

New polymorphisms at MTNR1A gene and their association with reproductive resumption in sarda breed sheep

The aim of this study was to characterize the MTNR1A locus in Sarda sheep breed, in order to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with reproductive resumption. The reproductive performance of 200 lactating ewes, aged 3–5 years, with body condition score (BCS) 2.5–4.0, at least at their third lambing were monitored for two consecutive years. In both year the enrolled ewes were exposed for 100 days to 10 adult, fertile rams. Mating, pregnancy and lambing for each ewe were recorded in order to evaluate differences in reproductive performance according to the analysed genotypes. From individual blood samples, DNA was extracted to amplify and to sequence promotor, the coding region, a part of intron and of 3′ Untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the MTNR1A gene. A total number of 29 SNPs were found (named SNP1 to SNP29), five of which caused also amino acid changes. The polymorphic sites found at positions g.17355452C > T (SNP16, rs430181568) and g.17355358C > T (SNP17, rs407388227) were linked (D’ = 1 and r2 = 1) and showed a significant association to DRIL trait (distance in days from ram introduction to lambing). In both years, the ewes carrying C/C genotype in both these polymorphic sites showed the lowest DRIL compared to the other genotypes (P < 0.05). The ewes carrying C/C and T/C genotype exhibited the lambing peak at 170 days, and approximately 60% of the total lambing at 180 days from the ram introduction. Instead, ewes carrying T/T genotype showed the lambing peak around 200 days after ram introduction. Six haplotypes have been identified and the most frequent haplotype was also associated with lower DRIL (P < 0.05). Litter size displayed no statistical significance either among genotypes or among haplotypes. This study provided the major part of the MTNR1A gene in Sarda sheep breed and evidenced that SNP17 is associated with a shorter DRIL. The obtained results underlined the role of this polymorphism in improving reproductive efficiency in Sarda sheep and provides a suitable information for improving genetic selection

Milk cathelicidin and somatic cell counts in dairy goats along the course of lactation

This research communication reports the evaluation of cathelicidin in dairy goat milk for its relationship with the somatic cell count (SCC) and microbial culture results. Considering the limited performances of SCC for mastitis monitoring in goats, there is interest in evaluating alternative diagnostic tools. Cathelicidin is an antimicrobial protein involved in innate immunity of the mammary gland. In this work, half-udder milk was sampled bimonthly from a herd of 37 Alpine goats along an entire lactation and tested with the cathelicidin ELISA together with SCC and bacterial culture. Cathelicidin and SCC showed a strong correlation (r = 0.72; n = 360 milk samples). This was highest in mid-lactation (r = 0.83) and lowest in late lactation (r = 0.61), and was higher in primiparous (0.80, n = 130) than in multiparous goats (0.71, n = 230). Both markers increased with stage of lactation, but cathelicidin increased significantly less than SCC. Inaddition, peak level in late lactation was lower for cathelicidin (5.05-fold increase) than for SCC (7.64-fold increase). Twenty-one (5.8%) samples were positive to bacteriological culture, 20 for coagulase-negative staphylococci and one for Streptococcus spp.; 18 of them were positive to the cathelicidin ELISA (85.71% sensitivity). Sensitivity of SCC >500 000 and of SCC >1 000 000 cells/ml was lower (71.43 and 23.81%, respectively). Therefore, the high correlation of cathelicidin with SCC during the entire lactation, along with its lower increase in late lactation and good sensitivity indetecting intramammary infection (IMI), indicate a potential for monitoring subclinical mastitis in dairy goats. However, based on this preliminary assessment, specificity should be improved (40.41% for cathelicidin vs. 54.57 and 67.85% for SCC >500 000 and >1 000 000 cells/ml, respectively). Therefore, the application of cathelicidin for detecting goat IMI will require further investigation and optimization, especially concerning the definition of diagnostic thresholds

Prevalence of Anisakis Larvae in Different Fish Species in Southern Albania: Five-Year Monitoring (2016-2020)

Anisakidae are nematodes that commonly parasitize in the coelomic cavity and viscera of several fish species. They can be found in flesh, which is why they have an important economic and public health impact. The aim of the current work was to assess the presence and prevalence of Anisakis larvae in fish species caught in the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula in Vlora Bay (Albania). A total of 856 of wild teleosts and 219 specimens of farmed fish were collected over a 5-year period (from 2016 to 2020). The results showed that out of a total of 1075 analyzed samples, 361 (33.58%) were parasitized with L3 larvae. In particular, only Solea vulgaris returned negative results, while Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchus labrax, and Sardinella aurita showed the lowest prevalence (4.55%, 9.17%, and 10.53%, respectively) and mean abundance (0.84, 1.19, and 0.92, respectively). Conversely, Scomber japonicus and Scomber scombrus showed the highest prevalence (74.07% and 68.00%, respectively) and mean abundance (188.24 and 249.82, respectively). The data suggest that the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula (southern Albania) may be a high-risk area for zoonotic diseases, and the consumption of raw or undercooked fish caught in the Vlora district could result in the acquisition of human anisakiasis. For these reasons, it is necessary to improve the surveillance plan

What are we losing? Are the personality traits of Italian autochthonous cows different from those of cosmopolitan breeds?

Objective: This study assessed personality traits in five cattle breeds (Bos taurus), two cosmopolitan (Holstein Friesian and Brown Swiss) and three endangered Italian autochthonous (Varzese, Rendena, and Modenese). Our aim was to provide an evaluation of the personality dimensions obtained by our questionnaire in order to compare some Italian autochthonous breeds with the cosmopolitan one. Our choice fell upon the comparison of the Varzese, the Modenese, the Rendena, the Brown Swiss, and the Holstein Friesian because the genetic selection at the base of the typical attitudes has induced different characteristics, and as a consequence, detectable differences in personality can be expected between the populations. Materials and methods: A personality questionnaire was completed by milkers/owners for each subject involved in this study. The milking staff involved in the study have been working with cows for over 20 years; they have experience with numerous breeds, and therefore, can be considered expert evaluators since they certainly have an appreciation of the full range of cow behavior. Results: The milkers\u2019 assessments analysis found breed differences in dairy cattle, showing that certain personality traits are more marked in certain breeds in terms of curiosity, friendliness to milkers, and responses to unknown people. Conclusion: This pilot survey shows the usefulness of questionnaires in cattle personality studies, highlighting some peculiarity of the endangered breeds