Assessment of urinary volatile compounds and proteins in the female goat Capra hircus: A pilot study to reveal potential indicators of oestrus.

Urine samples of female goats in pro-oestrus, oestrus and post-oestrus phases were analysed for finding oestrus-specific volatile compounds using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and proteins using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Fourteen urinary volatile were identified covering all three phases among which four compounds, 1-Tetradecanol, n-Pentadecanol, 3-Methylene tridecane and 2-Ethyl-1-dodecene, were unique to oestrus. Also, oestrus urine contained a 25 kDa protein, which was totally absent in pro-oestrus urine, and less-expressed in post-oestrus urine. This protein revealed to be complement C3 fragment. This pilot study, for the first time, reveals the difference in urinary volatile compounds and proteins in the female goat during the different phases of oestrous cycle. The four unique volatile compounds and a 25 kDa protein that appeared as oestrus-specific in this study warrant further investigation to consider them as urinary biomarkers of oestrus in goats.

p-cresol and oleic acid as reliable biomarkers of estrus: evidence from synchronized Murrah buffaloes.

Successful reproductive management in buffaloes depends on effective estrus detection. Urinary pheromones identified from natural estrous cycle have been reported to decipher estrus phase. However, its presence has not been analyzed in the urine after synchronization. Thus, our present investigation was to investigate the influence of synchronized estrus urine in bulls and to examine the presence of estrus-specific compounds ascertained in natural estrus in synchronized buffaloes. Mid-stream urine was collected from six synchronized buffaloes during various phases of estrous cycle and volatiles were examined using GC-MS. Sexual provocation in bulls was established by displaying persistent flehmen and frequent mounting towards estrus urine from synchronized animals. Totally forty-two volatile compounds were identified from three phases of estrous cycle, more specifically 4-methyl phenol (p-cresol) and 9-octadecenoic acid (oleic acid) in estrus urine of synchronized animal as similar to natural estrus. Hence, these chemical cues in buffalo urine might be employed as potential marker candidates for the development of an estrus detection aid.

Sarcoptic mange infestation in rabbits in an organized farm at Tamil Nadu.

Sarcoptes scabiei are burrowing mites which causes major constraints in rabbit production. Eighty-eight rabbits were examined for mange infestation at University Research Farm, Tamil Nadu. Overall incidence of mange infestation in rabbit was 23.6 %. On microscopical examination, the mite was identified as Sacoptes scabiei var cuniculi. Among the breeds, Soviet Chinchilla were found to be infested more (57.14 %) followed by New Zealand White (28.57 %) and White Giant (28.57 %). Among the age groups, adults (33.33 %) were heavily infested than the grower (21.88 %) whereas, suckling had no infestation of mange. Among the sex, males (21.95 %) were heavily infested than the females (14.89 %). Lesions were mostly found on the edges of ear, nose, face and legs and characterized by loss of hair, thickening of the skin, irregular dried dirty encrusted scabs with erythema and disfigurement of face and ear.