The efficacy of intravenous application of the Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction (AMPLIMUNE) in the treatment of subclinical mastitis caused by S. Aureus.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the immunostimulant Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction (MCWF) on the treatment of S. aureus SCM by intravenous application. The study included 45 HF dairy cows in 2nd and 3rd month after parturition divided into three groups (n = 15 per group): the MC + group - cows with S. aureus SCM treated with MCWF; the MC- group - cows with S. aureus SCM, with no treatment; and the C group - the control group of healthy cow with no treatment. Samples were collected 0th (I sample), 7th (II), and 14th day (III) from the day of SCM diagnosis and on day 21st (IV). A greater influx of leukocytes was confirmed into milk after 7 days after MCWF treatment in MC + group, which was followed by increase of WBC and LYM in blood. These results support the hypothesis of effective action of MCWF, and in quarters with lower-grade infection, bacteriological cure was achieved. The MC- group had a statistically higher concentration of TBARS and CAT activity in milk, while MC + group had lower blood serum LDH activity, which indicates a positive effect of the MCWF application and a lower exposure of the tissue to lipide peroxidation and inflammation caused by S. aureus. The application of MCWF would give new possibilities in the prevention and therapy of mammary gland diseases without fear of the presence of residues and the emergence of bacterial resistance. In future studies, the effects of local and systemic application of MCWF in the treatment of S. aureus SCM should be compared.

Dietary Supplementation of Chestnut Tannins in Prepartum Dairy Cows Improves Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms Interacting with Thyroid Status.

Cows in the peripartal period undergo changes in thyroid hormones and are susceptible to lipomobilization and/or oxidative stress. The addition of chestnut tannins as polyphenolic compounds in the diet may improve feed efficiency and prevent oxidative stress-related health disorders in transition cows. However, the relationship between chestnut tannin supplementation and thyroid function, which plays an important role in metabolic regulation, has not been investigated in dairy cows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chestnut tannin supplementation during the close-up period on thyroid status and to evaluate the interaction between thyroid hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers in prepartum dairy cows. Forty multiparous Holstein cows were fed either a diet containing chestnut tannins (CNTs, n = 20, 1.96 g chestnut tannins/kg feed, dry matter) or a non-supplemented diet (CON, n = 20) during the last 25 ± 2 days of gestation. Blood samples were collected on the first day of study (before chestnut tannin supplementation) and d 5 before parturition to measure hormonal and oxidative stress indices. Serum concentrations of T3 (p = 0.04) and T4 (p = 0.05) were higher in CNT cows than in the CON group on day 5 before parturition. Thyroid status of CNT cows was associated with higher serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, p < 0.01), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, p = 0.03) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, p = 0.01), and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH, p = 0.05). Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower (p = 0.04) which was associated with lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p = 0.02), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, p = 0.01) activities in the CNT than in the CON group. Estradiol and progesterone did not differ between CNT and CON cows. Chestnut tannin supplementation improves antioxidant protection, prevents oxidation-reduction processes, reduces the degree of liver cell membrane damage, and protects thyroid tissue from damage, allowing higher T3 and T4 synthesis. Considering the importance of the thyroid hormone status before parturition, mechanisms of thyroid hormone regulation in CNT-supplemented dairy cows require more detailed investigations.

Relationship between biochemical parameters and paraoxonase 1 activity of boar seminal plasma and semen quality.

The aim of this study was to examine the biochemical components and the parameters of antioxidant protection in the seminal plasma (SP) of boars, as well as their relationship with semen quality parameters. Thirty-six boars were included in the study, whose ejaculates were divided into two groups: Group I (good quality semen, > 70% progressively motile sperm, < 20% spermatozoa with abnormal morphology, n = 16), and Group II (poor quality semen, < 70% progressively motile sperm, > 20% spermatozoa with abnormal morphology, n = 20). Significantly higher concentrations of ionized calcium (iCa), total cholesterol (TC), lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as well as significantly higher values ​​of antioxidant protection parameters: thiol groups (-SH), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) ) were found in the good quality semen, while higher phosphorus (P) concentrations and increased alkaline-phosphatase (ALP) activity were found in the semen of poor quality. A negative correlation of total and progressive sperm motility with P and ALP was found in all examined semen samples, while a positive correlation was found with PON1 and TAC. The percentage of fast sperm cells positively correlated with iCa, chlorine (Cl), lactate, LDH and TAC, while a negative correlation was found with P, magnesium (Mg) and the enzyme creatine-kinase (CK). The percentage of immobile sperm positively correlated with P and ALP, and negatively correlated with TC, CK, PON1 and TAC. Elevated values ​​of PON1 and TAC in SP and a positive correlation with sperm motility indicate the possible use of these parameters as sensitive biomarkers of boar semen quality. To the best of our knowledge there are no published data on association between PON1 activity and boar semen quality.

Analysis of the concentrations of some haematological parameters, C-reactive protein and anti-Müllerian hormone in bitches affected by pyometra.

The work was aimed to research into the vital signs, haematological and biochemical parameters, acute-phase protein concentrations (CRP, albumin), progesterone (PG) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in bitches with pyometra and their comparison with those in healthy bitches. In addition, the goal of this work was to assess if some of the tested parameters may be used as a biomarker in the diagnostics of pyometra and the monitoring of the postoperative recovery. Forty 3-6-year-old bitches of various breeds were included in the research and allotted to two groups: the control (C, n = 20) and the diseased - bitches diagnosed with pyometra (P, n = 20). Blood samples for the analyses were taken immediately before surgery (0 h), and 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after, excepting for AMH and PG concentrations, which were determined only at 0 h. Clinical examination detected significantly higher respiration rates in bitches with pyometra in comparison to healthy ones at all time points, higher heart rates before and 12 h after surgery, and higher body temperature before and 12 h, 48 h and 72 h post operation (p < .01). Significantly higher concentrations of CRP (p < .01) and lower concentrations of albumin were detected in bitches with pyometra in comparison to their healthy counterparts at all time points. Progesterone and AMH concentration analysis immediately before surgery detected significantly higher levels of the hormone in bitches with pyometra than in the control (p < .01). The inflammatory reaction of the endometrium resulted in a significant AMH concentration increase, whilst increased CRP concentrations and lower albumin concentrations throughout the research may be used as biomarkers of proinflammatory activities, that is of the acute-phase response.

Paraoxonase 1 in bovine milk and blood as marker of subclinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

The aim of this study was to determine serum lipid values and parameters of oxidative stress in blood and milk of cows with subclinical mastitis (SCM) caused by Staphylococcus aureus and to establish association between these parameters. The study was performed on total of 104 cows assigned into control group of healthy animals (n = 12) and two groups of cows with SCM, either SCM1 group (n = 37) with ˂ 1000 CFU/mL of S. aureus or SCM2 group (n = 55) with ≥1000 CFU/mL of causative agent in milk. Significantly lower serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) in SCM2 group and higher low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in both SCM groups were recorded. Significantly lower paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and higher lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) concentration in blood and milk were recorded in both groups of SCM cows vs control. In blood serum of cows from SCM2 group significantly higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but significantly lower total antioxidative capacity (TAC) were obtained. In milk serum of SCM cows were detected significantly higher concentrations of H2O2 and MDA, but significantly lower TAC vs control. There was a significant positive correlation between PON1 in serum with HDLC, but negative correlation with LDL-C and LOOH. In milk, PON1 negatively correlated with LOOH and somatic cell counts (SCC). Strong positive correlation was obtained between PON1 in blood and milk. Oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction induced by SCM significantly lowered PON1 activity in blood and milk of affected cows.