Clinical and Correlated Responses among Steroid Hormones and Oxidant/Antioxidant Biomarkers in Pregnant, Non-Pregnant and Lactating CIDR-Pre-Synchronized Dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius).

Overproduction of free radicals is controlled by antioxidant defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are achieved by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT). The current study aimed to assess the changes in steroid hormones, oxidant/antioxidants biomarkers, lipid profiles/liver functions indices, renal function biomarkers and minerals metabolism in non-pregnant, lactating or pregnant one-humped she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) pre-synchronized with controlled internal drug releasing. The study also focused on the correlational relationships between steroid hormones and the oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers, lipid profiles and liver functions indices, renal functions and mineral metabolism in these she-camels. The study was conducted on apparently healthy dromedary she-camels (n = 60) during breeding season. A sexually active camel-bull was introduced to she-camels pre-synchronized with CIDR. Fifty to sixty days after natural mating, she-camels were examined for pregnancy. She-camels were divided into three main groups according to both pregnancy and lactation as following: pregnant (PREG, n = 38) which was kept as control one, non-pregnant and lactating (LACT, n = 8), and non-pregnant and non-lactating she-camels (NPREG, n= 14). Steroid hormones, i.e., progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and cortisol, oxidant indictors, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), CAT and reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid profiles indices, renal functions and related minerals were assessed. The present study confirmed the efficacy of using CIDR for synchronization in she-camels. Significant elevations in serum steroids hormones in PREG compare with LACT and NPREG. The highest concentrations of MDA as lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress indictors and lowest levels of antioxidant biomarkers except for SOD, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, were reported in PREG compared with LACT and NPREG. PREG showed the highest liver enzymes activities and lowest total protein values. Remarkable increases in serum concentrations of renal function parameters and phosphorous (P) were observed in PREG when compared with the other two groups. The investigated she-camels revealed significant correlation between steroid hormones and the oxidant biomarkers, antioxidant biomarkers, liver functions, renal functions and minerals metabolism parameters. P4 showed positive correlations with antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, whereas negative correlations were reported between P4 and renal functions biomarkers, i.e., blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and creatinine kinase (CK), and minerals metabolism parameters, i.e., P and magnesium (Mg), in CIDR pre-synchronized she-camels. In contrast, E2 and cortisol showed negative correlations with antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, lipid profiles/liver functions indices, i.e., AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), CK and Mg, however, positive correlations were demonstrated between E2 and cortisol, and MDA, Cr and P in investigated she-camels. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the efficacy of using CIDR for synchronization in she-camels. The highest MDA levels as indictors for oxidative stress and the lowest antioxidant levels, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, except for SOD in pregnant she-camels, were attributable to physiological oxidative stress as excellent compensatory responses observed in the PREG group to face such a physiologic stage. Moreover, lower P levels in non-pregnant she-camels would be contributed to failure of conception or early embryonic death. The investigated she-camels revealed significant correlations between steroid hormones and the oxidant indicators, antioxidant biomarkers, lipid profile indices and renal functions biomarkers that provided better understanding for physiological stress during pregnancy in camels.

Differential diagnosis of bovine intestinal diseases and their sequelae regarding ultrasonography and other diagnostic tools.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intestinal disorders represented a large proportion of abdominal emergencies in bovine practice, and their definite diagnosis was a big challenge. The study described different intestinal disorders in cattle either in the small intestine (SI) or large intestine with their sequelae and peritonitis between SI loops. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved healthy (n=20) and diseased (n=40) cattle with intestinal disorders. All animals were undergoing clinical examination, laboratory analyses, and ultrasonographic examination. RESULTS: Diseased cattle had monocytic leukocytosis as well as hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The SI ileus of either proximal (n=12) or distal (n=15), intussusception (n=3), cecal, and/or colonal dilatation (n=10) were diagnosed by ultrasound and other diagnostic tools. Duodenum intussusception was imaged in cross-section as bull's eyes lesions. Animals with SI obstructions showed complete cessation (ileus with complete obstruction) or partial reduction of the peristaltic SI movement (ileus with partial obstruction), dilated duodenum (6.5-9.9 cm), and dilated jejunum and/or ileum (4.4-6.8 cm). Ultrasonography diagnosed SI ileus, due to either intestinal obstruction or peritonitis, and detected the ileus site, either proximal or distal. Cecal/colonal dilatation was detected using ultrasonography in which SI was not imaged and the peristaltic movements were completely reduced. The recorded intestinal disorders were associated with other disorders (e.g., liver cirrhosis or peritonitis). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography played an important role in the differential diagnosis of intestinal disorders in cattle. Peritonitis between SI loops and cecal and/or colonal dilatation was also diagnosed.

Role of insulin, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal functions monitors in evaluation of the therapeutic regimen in ketotic dairy cattle using combination therapy with referring to milk yield rates.

Background: Ketosis is one of the most critical metabolic disorders that occur in dairy cows after parturition due to negative energy balance around calving. Aim: The study evaluated a specific therapeutic regimen of ketosis in Holstein dairy cattle by using the combination therapy including hormones, corticosteroids, propylene glycol, and vitamin B12 as well as the use of milk yield rates, insulin, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal functions monitors as diagnostic biomarkers for the recovery of ketotic cows either pre-therapy (0 days) or post-therapy (7 and 14 days). Methods: This study was conducted on ketotic cattle (n = 20) belonged to different dairy farms in Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. The diseased cows were undergoing clinical and biochemical investigations for the estimation of serum insulin. Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (RQUICKI) and abomasal functions monitor mainly serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen, and chloride. Results: The milk production rates, cost: benefit analysis ratio, and benefit of the dairy farm in ketotic animals were significantly increased post-treatment. An improvement of insulin sensitivity was stated as serum insulin, and RQUICKI were remarkably increased in post-therapeutic ketotic cows. Monitors of the abomasal function revealed abomasal functions improvement through the significant elevation of blood gastrin and a substantial reduction in serum pepsinogen due to treatment. Conclusion: The study revealed high efficacy of the applied therapeutic strategy regime. It led to a high recovery rate and a very low relapse rate for ketosis. An improvement in milk yield rates, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal function monitors was reported. Hypoinsulinaemia was still reported, however, serum insulin was improved.