Deciphering soil-plant-animal continuum in relation to trace elements in middle Gangetic plain region of India.

The soil-plant-animal continuum represents an evolving realm in biological research that's why this study was undertaken in the middle Gangetic plain region of India. Trace and ultra-trace elements were analyzed in 100 soil samples, 147 feed and fodder samples, as well as 69 blood and 127 hair samples with the help of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The levels of trace and ultra-trace elements in the soil were significantly higher than those in the feed, and similarly, the concentrations in the feed were notably higher than those in the blood of dairy cattle. Blood and hair samples from the cattle showed deficiencies in copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn), with reaching approximately 20% and 50%, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated significant (P < 0.05) associations between the trace and ultra-trace elements in plants and the corresponding elements found in cattle's hair, specifically for iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). Conversely, a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was observed between soil composition and cattle's blood, while a positive correlation was evident only in the case of silver content between plant and cattle's hair. Regression analyses revealed positive linear relationships between minerals in soils and plants, as well as between plants and cattle. However, the correlation coefficients were statistically insignificant. The regression equations established to predict mineral concentrations in cattle based on soil and plant mineral contents indicated a positive relationship for both trace and ultra-trace elements, suggesting the potential to measure the mineral status in dairy cattle through this approach.

A retrospective analysis of conception per embryo transfer in dairy cattle in South Korea.

The bovine embryo production industry has seen significant growth over the past two decades, particularly in the production of in vitro produced embryos. This growth, driven by advancements in cryopreservation, in vitro culture mediums, ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures, ultrasonography devices, and embryo transfer (ET) has been notable. Particularly, ET is crucial for disseminating high genetic merit and amplifying foreign breeds by importing frozen embryos. This retrospective study aimed to assess factors affecting conception per embryo transfer (CPET) in Holstein-Friesian cattle in South Korea from October 2008 to July 2022. We evaluated type of embryo breed, type of embryo production (fresh and frozen; in vitro and in vivo production), recipient conditions including estrus type, corpus luteum quality, parity (nulliparous heifers, primiparous, and multiparous cows), and the daily mean temperature-humidity index (THI) as an index for heat stress. Type of embryo breed and estrus had no significant impact on CPET. However, we observed higher CPET in recipients with good quality corpus luteum, nulliparous heifers, and surrogates receiving fresh in vitro and frozen in vivo embryos. Importantly, CPET was not adversely affected by mild heat stress conditions (up to daily mean THI 76), indicating that using frozen in vivo embryos produced by multiple ovulation embryo transfer and fresh in vitro embryos by OPU-ET can help alleviate the subfertility issues in dairy cattle caused by global warming in Korea.

Attention module incorporated transfer learning empowered deep learning-based models for classification of phenotypically similar tropical cattle breeds (Bos indicus).

Accurate breed identification in dairy cattle is essential for optimizing herd management and improving genetic standards. A smart method for correctly identifying phenotypically similar breeds can empower farmers to enhance herd productivity. A convolutional neural network (CNN) based model was developed for the identification of Sahiwal and Red Sindhi cows. To increase the classification accuracy, first, cows's pixels were segmented from the background using CNN model. Using this segmented image, a masked image was produced by retaining cows' pixels from the original image while eliminating the background. To improve the classification accuracy, models were trained on four different images of each cow: front view, side view, grayscale front view, and grayscale side view. The masked images of these views were fed to the multi-input CNN model which predicts the class of input images. The segmentation model achieved intersection-over-union (IoU) and F1-score values of 81.75% and 85.26%, respectively with an inference time of 296 ms. For the classification task, multiple variants of MobileNet and EfficientNet models were used as the backbone along with pre-trained weights. The MobileNet model achieved 80.0% accuracy for both breeds, while MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3 reached 82.0% accuracy. CNN models with EfficientNet as backbones outperformed MobileNet models, with accuracy ranging from 84.0% to 86.0%. The F1-scores for these models were found to be above 83.0%, indicating effective breed classification with fewer false positives and negatives. Thus, the present study demonstrates that deep learning models can be used effectively to identify phenotypically similar-looking cattle breeds. To accurately identify zebu breeds, this study will reduce the dependence of farmers on experts.

Effects of irradiation on the survival of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in beef.

BACKGROUND: Sarcocystis is a food-borne zoonotic protozoan whose final hosts are humans, dogs, cats, and other carnivores and intermediate hosts are birds and mammals, especially humans and herbivores. Humans become infected by eating raw and undercooked meat contaminated with bradyzoites or by consuming water or food contaminated with the sporocyst stage of the parasite. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma radiation and electron beam on the survival rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected beef and to determine the effective dose. METHODS: Three replicates of 100 g of infected meat were treated with different doses (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 kGy). As a control, 20 g of contaminated meat was stored separately at 4°C. The viability of the bradyzoites after digestion in pepsin solution was assessed, stained (trypan blue) and unstained, under a stereomicroscope. To assess survival of the bradyzoites, the irradiated meat samples were fed to 30 dogs. After 10 days, faecal samples were examined for sporocysts. RESULTS: The results showed that the highest and lowest mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected organs using electron beam at a dose of 2 kGy were 92.5% and 100%, respectively, and the lowest mortality rate at a dose of 0.5 kGy were 2.5% and 7.89%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of statistical analysis showed that the mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites was significant between different doses of gamma ray and electron beam, so that gamma rays were better compared to electron beam in destroying Sarcocystis bradyzoites.

Population genetic structure of Schistosoma bovis and S. curassoni collected from cattle in Mali.

Schistosomiasis is of medical and veterinary importance. Despite the critical situation of schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa, few molecular epidemiological studies have been carried out to determine the role of animals in its transmission. In Mali, it has been over three decades since the last molecular study of animal schistosomes was carried out. It is now urgent to identify circulating strains of the parasite because of potential interactions with other schistosome species, which could complicate disease control. The aim of our work was to study the composition and genetic structure of schistosome populations collected from cattle. The prevalence of schistosome was 23.9%, with the prevalences of Schistosoma bovis (Sb) and S. curassoni (Sc) estimated at 12.6% and 9.8%, respectively. No hybrid strains or S. haematobium were found. The parasites displayed distinct geographical distribution with Sb dominant in Bamako (78.8% and 98% in Central Bamako Slaughterhouse and Sabalibougou Slaughterhouses, respectively) and Sc dominant in Kayes (95.3%). Of the 476 parasites with a complete genetic profile, 60.4% were pure Sc, and were mainly from Kayes. We identified two clusters at the site level (Fst of 0.057 and 0.042 for Sb and Sc, respectively). Cluster 1 was predominantly composed of pure Sb parasites and cluster 2 was mainly composed of pure Sc parasites, from Bamako and Kayes, respectively. Our study shows that cattle schistosomiasis remains endemic in Mali with S. bovis and S. curassoni. A robust genetic structure between the different schistosome populations was identified, which included two clusters based on the geographical distribution of the parasites.

Title: Structure génétique des populations de Schistosoma bovis et S. curassoni collectées chez des bovins au Mali. Abstract: La schistosomiase revêt une grande importance médicale et vétérinaire. Malgré la situation critique de la schistosomiase en Afrique subsaharienne, peu d'études épidémiologiques moléculaires ont été réalisées pour déterminer le rôle des animaux dans sa transmission. Au Mali, cela fait plus de trois décennies que la dernière étude moléculaire des schistosomes animaux a été réalisée. Il est désormais urgent d'identifier les souches circulantes du parasite en raison des interactions potentielles avec d'autres espèces de schistosomes, ce qui pourrait compliquer la lutte contre la maladie. Le but de notre travail était d'étudier la composition et la structure génétique des populations de schistosomes collectées chez des bovins. La prévalence des schistosomes était de 23,9 %, celles de Schistosoma bovis (Sb) et de S. curassoni (Sc) étant respectivement estimées à 12,6 % et 9,8 %. Aucune souche hybride ni S. haematobium n'ont été trouvés. Les parasites présentaient une répartition géographique distincte avec Sb dominant à Bamako (respectivement 78,8 % et 98 % aux Abattoirs Centraux de Bamako et aux Abattoirs de Sabalibougou) et Sc dominant à Kayes (95,3 %). Sur les 476 parasites ayant un profil génétique complet, 60,4 % étaient des Sc purs, et provenaient principalement de Kayes. Nous avons identifié deux clusters au niveau du site (Fst de 0,057 et 0,042 pour Sb et Sc, respectivement). Le groupe 1 était principalement composé de parasites Sb purs et le groupe 2 était principalement composé de parasites Sc purs, provenant respectivement de Bamako et de Kayes. Notre étude montre que la schistosomiase bovine reste endémique au Mali, avec S. bovis and S. curassoni. Une structure génétique robuste entre les différentes populations de schistosomes a été identifiée, comprenant deux groupes basés sur la répartition géographique des parasites.

Development and Bayesian validation of a competitive inhibition ELISA for detection of antibodies against Brucella abortus in cattle.

Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella abortus, responsible for abortions in cows. It is endemic in low- and middle-income countries, where the brucellosis control and eradication programs are based on compulsory vaccination, detection of infected cattle through serologic assays, and culling of infected animals at slaughterhouses. The development of high sensitivity and specificity, and low-cost serologic assays guarantee their implementation in countries where the disease is endemic. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immune assay (ciELISA) to detect anti-B. abortus antibodies in sera from cattle. The developed ciELISA was validated using 2833 serum samples from dairy and beef cattle. From these, 1515 sera were from uninfected cows that belonged to free of brucellosis herds and 1318 were from infected cows that belonged positive to brucellosis herds. Sera were analyzed with the developed ciELISA, the buffer plate antigen (BPA) test, and the complement fixation test (CFT). The brucellosis status of the herds was officially established according to the country legislation and consistent for at least 5 years and was defined for each cow using the CFT as gold standard. The cutoff for the ciELISA was calculated using a ROC curve and its sensitivity and specificity were analyzed using the Bayesian Latent Class Model (BLCM) approach. The agreement among tests was calculated using the kappa (κ) value. In addition, 15 calves were vaccinated with 3 × 1010 viable cells of B. abortus Strain 19 vaccine, and the dynamics of antibodies were measured by CFT, buffered plate antigen (BPA) test, and the developed ciELISA. The obtained cutoff for ciELISA was ≥ 47 percentage of inhibition (% I), at the BLCM approach the sensitivity was 99.01 % (95 % CI: 97.55-100) and the specificity 98.74 % (95 % CI: 97.68-99.8). The κ between the ciELISA and BPA was κ = 0.88 and between the ciELISA and CFT κ = 0.95. Antibodies against B. abortus were detected in all the vaccinated calves 7 days after vaccination (AV) by the three assays, at day 135 AV all the calves were negative to CFT (15/15), 93.3 % (14/15) to ciELISA and 73.3 % (11/15) to BPA, and at day 190 AV all the calves were negative to the three assays. The developed ciELISA showed a very good performance, could detect the majority of vaccinated animals as negative after 135 days and could be used for the detection of anti-B. abortus antibodies in serum samples for the brucellosis control and eradication program.

Influence of proportion of Brahman genetics on productivity of Brahman-Angus cows at weaning.

This study evaluated the association between the proportion of Brahman genetics and productivity of Brahman-Angus cows at weaning using a 31-yr dataset containing 6,312 cows and 5,405 pregnancies. Cows were contemporaneously reared and enrolled in yearly breeding seasons under subtropical conditions of North-Central Florida. They were evenly distributed in six-breed groups (G) according to the proportion of Brahman genetics: G0% to 19%, G21% to 34%, G38% (Brangus), G41% to 59%, G63% to 78%, and G81% to 100%. The proportion of cows calving (84.9%) did not differ across the six-breed groups. However, cows in the G81% to 100% weaned fewer calves (90.8%) than cows in the G0% to 19% and G21% to 34% (95.7%, each). The weaning rate of cows in the G38% (94.3%), G41% to 59% (94.2%), and G63% to 78% (93.0%) was intermediate between these three breed groups. The preweaning calf mortality was greater for cows in the G81% to 100% (9.2%) than cows in the G0% to 19% and G21% to 34% (4.3%, each), but intermediate for cows in the G38% (5.7%), G41% to 59% (5.8%), and G63% to 78% (7.0%). Cows in the G81% to 100% also weaned lighter calves (220.6 kg) than cows in the G0% to 19% (245.2 kg), G21% to 34% (250.2 kg), G38% (247.9 kg), G41% to 59% (252.5 kg), and G63% to 78% (245.2 kg). Cows in the G0% to 19% weaned lighter calves than cows with 21% to 78% of Brahman genetics. The 205-d adjusted weaning weight evidenced the less productive results of cows in G0% to 19% and G81% to 100% compared with other genetic groups, as they calved at the fastest and slowest rate, respectively. Thus, the 205-d adjusted weaning weight eliminated this bias. Additionally, younger cows weaned lighter calves; and male calves were heavier at weaning than female calves. Both parity order of cow and calf sex altered the magnitude of the described association between breed group of cows and calf weaning weights. Overall, after adjusting for weaning rate and age of calves at weaning, the number of kilograms produced per cow submitted to reproduction was less for cows in the G0% to 19% (191.1 kg) and G81% to 100 (181.8 kg) compared with cows in the G21% to 34 (197.0 kg), G38 (195.9 kg), G41% to 59 (199.7), and G63% to 78 (196.2). Cows in the G81% to 100% were the least productive. Thus, a proportion of Brahman genetics between 21% and 78% ensured superior productivity of Brahman-Angus cows subjected to subtropical conditions.

Unraveling spatial heterogeneity of soil legacy phosphorus in subtropical grasslands.

Humans have profoundly altered phosphorus (P) cycling across scales. Agriculturally driven changes (e.g., excessive P-fertilization and manure addition), in particular, have resulted in pronounced P accumulations in soils, often known as "soil legacy P." These legacy P reserves serve as persistent and long-term nonpoint sources, inducing downstream eutrophication and ecosystem services degradation. While there is considerable scientific and policy interest in legacy P, its fine-scale spatial heterogeneity, underlying drivers, and scales of variance remain unclear. Here we present an extensive field sampling (150-m interval grid) and analysis of 1438 surface soils (0-15 cm) in 2020 for two typical subtropical grassland types managed for livestock production: Intensively managed (IM) and Semi-natural (SN) pastures. We ask the following questions: (1) What is the spatial variability, and are there hotspots of soil legacy P? (2) Does soil legacy P vary primarily within pastures, among pastures, or between pasture types? (3) How does soil legacy P relate to pasture management intensity, soil and geographic characteristics? and (4) What is the relationship between soil legacy P and aboveground plant tissue P concentration? Our results showed that three measurements of soil legacy P (total P, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 extractable P representing labile P pools) varied substantially across the landscape. Spatial autoregressive models revealed that soil organic matter, pH, available Fe and Al, elevation, and pasture management intensity were crucial predictors for spatial patterns of soil P, although models were more reliable for predicting total P (68.9%) than labile P. Our analysis further demonstrated that total variance in soil legacy P was greater in IM than SN pastures, and intensified pasture management rescaled spatial patterns of soil legacy P. In particular, after controlling for sample size, soil P was extremely variable at small scales, with variance diminished as spatial scale increased. Our results suggest that broad pasture- or farm-level best management practices may be limited and less efficient, especially for more IM pastures. Rather, management to curtail soil legacy P and mitigate P loading and losses should be implemented at fine scales designed to target spatially distinct P hotspots across the landscape.

Economic losses due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Ethiopian cattle.

Ethiopia's cattle population is among the largest in Africa and is burdened by frequent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. FMD is caused by several distinct and highly contagious viral strains that can result in acute disease in cattle, causing losses in productivity and impeding international trade. This economic simulation study considered four main sources of losses due to FMD in cattle: reduced milk yield, draft power yield, fertility, and increased mortality. Economic losses were estimated per case across age-sex strata in 89 Ethiopian administrative zones for the years 2010-2021 using a wide range of data to estimate distributions for 30 input variables in a series of Monte Carlo simulations. It was estimated that an average case of FMD in Ethiopian cattle results in losses (mean values reported followed 95 % confidence intervals in brackets) of US dollars (USD) 11 (USD 7-USD 16) per case. Losses resulting from an average outbreak were estimated to be USD 2300 (USD 1400-USD 3300), while national annual losses were estimated to be USD 0.9 Mil. (USD 0.2 Mil.-USD 2.3 Mil.). Per cow-year, based on a national cow population of approximately 39 Mil. head, these estimated annual losses are equivalent to losses of only USD 0.02 (USD 0.01-USD 0.06). Nationally, these losses were significantly less than previously estimated in the literature, with currently estimated losses more accurately reflecting the economic burden of FMD in Ethiopian cattle over the past decade. The relatively small estimated losses suggest that control efforts based on widespread vaccination in countries with primarily extensive cattle production systems, such as Ethiopia, are unlikely to be economically sound. Sensitivity analyses suggested losses would be far greater in intensive systems, and that certainty surrounding incidence rates is paramount to the formulation of economically sound animal healthpolicy in regions with endemic FMD.

Would you bet on the vet? Influences on dairy farmers' vaccination choices, with a spotlight on the Veterinarian impact.

Ensuring effective vaccination is crucial for epidemic control, particularly in voluntary vaccination scenarios. Though highly important for planning voluntary vaccination programs, we lack insights into the effectiveness of veterinarian communication and the impact of disease-specific traits on farmer vaccination intentions. To fill this void, our study compared five diseases affecting Israeli dairy cattle (Botulism, Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF), Brucellosis, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), and Rabies). Using questionnaires grounded in the theory of planned behavior, we surveyed 340 Israeli dairy farmers to understand their vaccination intentions for each disease.Simultaneously, veterinarians overseeing these farms provided insights into their opinions and perceived influence on vaccination decisions. Results revealed varying levels of farmer vaccination intention, with Botulism showing the highest and BEF the lowest. Social pressure significantly influenced farmers' vaccination intentions, with distinct patterns across diseases. Veterinarian opinions had the highest influence only for LSD, while other factors played crucial roles in different diseases. Intriguingly, there was no correlation between veterinarians' recommendations and farmers' perceptions of these recommendations. In conclusion, the optimization of voluntary vaccination programs necessitates tailoring interventions to the unique characteristics of each disease. Additionally, improving communication between veterinarians and farmers is essential, with an emphasis on effective risk communication training.

Metagenomic analysis reveals a dynamic rumen microbiome with diversified adaptive functions in response to dietary protein restriction and re-alimentation.

Understanding the dynamics of the rumen microbiome is crucial for optimizing ruminal fermentation to improve feed efficiency and addressing concerns regarding antibiotic resistance in the livestock production industry. This study aimed to investigate the adaptive effects of microbiome and the properties of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in response to dietary protein shifts. Twelve Charolais bulls were randomly divided into two groups based on initial body weight: 1) Treatment (REC), where the animals received a 7 % CP diet in a 4-week restriction period, followed by a 13 % CP diet in a 2-week re-alimentation period; 2) Control (CON), where the animals were fed the 13 % CP diet both in the restriction period and the re-alimentation period. Protein restriction decreased the concentrations of acetate, propionate, isovalerate, glutamine, glutamate, and isoleucine (P < 0.05), while protein re-alimentation increased the concentrations of arginine, methionine sulfoxide, lysine, and glutamate (P < 0.05). Protein restriction decreased the relative abundances of Bacteroidota but increased Proteobacteria, with no difference observed after re-alimentation. Protein restriction decreased relative abundances of the genera Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Bifidobacterium. Following protein recovery, Escherichia was enriched in CON, while Pusillibacter was enriched in REC, indicating that distinct microbial adaptations to protein shifts. Protein restriction increased GH97 while reducing GH94 and GT35 compared to CON. Protein restriction decreased abundances of KO genes involved in VFA production pathways, while they were recovered in the re-alimentation period. Protein restriction reduced tet(W/32/O) abundances but increased those of tet(X), nimJ, and rpoB2. Following protein re-alimentation, there was a decrease in ErmQ and tet(W/N/W), and an increase in Mef(En2) compared to CON, highlighting the impact of dietary protein on the distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Overall, comprehensive metagenomic analysis reveals the dynamic adaptability of the microbiome in response to dietary shifts, indicating its capacity to modulate carbohydrate metabolism and ARGs in response to protein availability.

Influence of bovine pestivirus heterogeneity on serological responses to 10 different commercial vaccine formulation.

Bovine Pestivirus typically involves one or more organ systems, with clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe fatal systemic illness that lead to significant reproductive, productive, and economic losses. Vaccines face the challenge of addressing the significant variability of pestiviruses, which affects the interaction between viral antigens and the immune system's ability to provide protection. This study aimed to evaluate the serological responses against bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (Pestivirus A) and Pestivirus B induced by 10 commercial vaccines, including one recombinant (vaccine E), two modified live (MLV multivalent, vaccine I, and MLV monovalent, vaccine J), and seven killed vaccines (KLV, vaccines A to H). Additionally, we evaluated the cross-reactivity between Pestivirus A and B from vaccines and HoBi-like pestivirus (Pestivirus H). In Phase 1, guinea pigs were used to screen for non-MLVs. They were divided into nine groups (n=6 each) and received two doses (⅕ of bovine dose) of eight different non-MLV on Days 0 and 21. Serum samples were collected on Days 0 and 30 for serological analyse. In Phase 2, Holstein × Gir heifers (n= 45) were divided into five groups, comprising 6-9 animals. They were vaccinated either once with MLVs or twice with the top non-MLVs screened in Phase 1. Serum samples were harvested on d0 (vaccination day) and d60 (60 days after the first dose) for MLV and non-MLV. Specific antibody titers were assessed virus neutralization (VN) and transformed in log2 for statistical analysis using PROC-MIXED. Significant effects were observed for vaccine groups, time points, and their interactions concerning neutralizing antibodies against Pestivirus A and B in both Guinea pigs and heifers. The Phase 1 study revealed serological responses against Pestivirus A exclusively in non-MLV D (85.33±13.49) and E (72.00±19.26). In the bovine study, the KLD vaccine D (72.00±15.10), recombinant vaccine E (90.66±25.85), and MLV I (170.66±28.22) resulted in an average of neutralizing antibodies against Pestivirus A that exceeded the protective threshold (≥ 60). However,individual analysis of heifers showed a higher frequency of animals presenting titers of Pestivirus A Ab surpassing 32 following vaccination with MLV I and J. None of the vaccine formulations in either study elicited a protective immune response against Pestivirus B or demonstrated cross-reactivity against Pestivirus H.

Quality Properties and Flavor-Related Components of Beef Longissimus Lumborum Muscle from Four Korean Native Cattle Breeds.

This study was carried out to assess the quality properties, components associated with taste and aroma of beef as a function of breed. For this purpose, steers from four Korean native cattle breeds: Hanwoo (n=10), Chikso (n=10), black Hanwoo (n=12, BHW) and Jeju black cattle (n=12, JBC) were used. The steers all were raised under identical conditions and finished at a similar age of around 30-months old. Following 24 h of slaughter, all longissimus lumborum muscles were collected and used for analysis of meat quality, fatty acids, and flavor-related components (metabolic compounds, free amino acids, and aroma volatiles). The Hanwoo presented a significantly higher intramuscular fat content (IMF, 22.85%) than the BHW (11.78%), Chikso (9.25%), and JBC (9.14%; p<0.05). The meat of Hanwoo breed showed lighter and redder color, and lower shear force value (p<0.05). The JBC presented a "healthier" fatty acid profiles as it had a higher total unsaturated fatty acids content (p<0.05). With regard to flavor-related components, Hanwoo also had higher total contents of free amino acids and metabolites associated with umami and sweet tastes, and fat-derived volatile compounds (aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones) associated with fatty aroma. It may be concluded that there was a considerable difference in the meat quality properties among breeds. The variations of IMF content and flavor-related components may be the main factors contributing to the typical flavors of beef among the four Korean native cattle breeds.

Effects of diets for three growing stages by rumen inocula donors on in vitro rumen fermentation and microbiome.

Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle (Jeju Black) are native breeds of Korean cattle. Jeju Black cattle are recognized as natural monuments and are known to exhibit slower growth rates compared to Hanwoo. While several studies have analyzed the genetic characteristics of these cattle, there has been limited research on the differences in their microbiome. In this study, rumen fluid was obtained from three Hanwoo steers and three Jeju Black steers, and three different diets (total mixed rations [TMRs] for growing, early fattening, and late fattening periods) were used as substrates for in vitro fermentation. The in vitro incubation was conducted for 3 h and 24 h following a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. After both incubation periods, fermentation characteristics were analyzed, and ruminal microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, employing both QIIME2 and PICRUSt2. The results revealed significant differences in the ruminal microbiota due to the inoculum effect. At the phylum level, Patescibacteria and Synergistota were found to be enriched in the Jeju Black inoculum-treated group. Additionally, using different inocula also affected the relative abundance of major taxa, including Ruminococcus, Pseudoramibacter, Ruminococcaceae CAG-352, and the [Eubacterium] ruminantium group. These microbial differences induced by the inoculum may have originated from varying levels of domestication between the two subspecies of donor animals, which mainly influenced the fermentation and microbiome features in the early incubation stages, although this was only partially offset afterward. Furthermore, predicted commission numbers of microbial enzymes, some of which are involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, fatty acids, and alpha amylase, differed based on the inoculum effect. However, these differences may account for only a small proportion of the overall metabolic pathway. Conversely, diets were found to affect protein biosynthesis and its related metabolism, which showed differential abundance in the growing diet and were potentially linked to the growth-promoting effects in beef cattle during the growing period. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that using different inocula significantly affected in vitro fermentation characteristics and microbiome features, mainly in the early stages of incubation, with some effects persisting up to 24 h of incubation.

Evaluation of genomic prediction considering non-additive genetic effects on fatty acid traits of Japanese Black cattle.

Genomic prediction was conducted using 2494 Japanese Black cattle from Hiroshima Prefecture and both single-nucleotide polymorphism information and phenotype data on monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and oleic acid (C18:1) analyzed with gas chromatography. We compared the prediction accuracy for four models (A, additive genetic effects; AD, as for A with dominance genetic effects; ADR, as for AD with the runs of homozygosity (ROH) effects calculated by ROH-based relationship matrix; and ADF, as for AD with the ROH-based inbreeding coefficient of the linear regression). Bayesian methods were used to estimate variance components. The narrow-sense heritability estimates for MUFA and C18:1 were 0.52-0.53 and 0.57, respectively; the corresponding proportions of dominance genetic variance were 0.04-0.07 and 0.04-0.05, and the proportion of ROH variance was 0.02. The deviance information criterion values showed slight differences among the models, and the models provided similar prediction accuracy.

Prevalence, antibiogram and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes from ruminants and humans in New Valley and Beheira Governorates, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Listeriosis is a global health threat to both animals and humans, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to isolate Listeria monocytogenes from faeces; environmental samples; and cow, sheep and goat milk, as well as human stool, to study its molecular characteristics and antibiotic sensitivity in the New Valley and Beheira Governorates, Egypt. The isolation and identification of L. monocytogenes were carried out using traditional culture and biochemical methods, followed by antibiography, genus confirmation of some isolates and detection and sequencing of InlB genes via PCR. RESULTS: Out of 2097 examined samples, the prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 13.4% in animals; the prevalence was 9.2%, 2.4%, 25.4%, 4%, 42.4%, and 6.4% in cattle faeces, cattle milk, sheep faeces, sheep milk, goat faeces, and goat milk, respectively. However, the prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 8.3% in human samples. Both animal and human isolates showed 100% resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and the isolates showed the highest sensitivity to flumequine (100%), amikacin (99.2%), gentamicin (97.6%), and levofloxacin (94.6%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 86.9% of the tested isolates. The 16 S rRNA and inlB genes were detected in 100% of the randomly selected L. monocytogenes isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of three isolates based on the inlB gene showed 100% identity between faecal, milk and human stool isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Faeces and milk are major sources of listeriosis, and the high degree of genetic similarity between animal and human isolates suggests the possibility of zoonotic circulation. The high prevalence of MDR L. monocytogenes in both animal and human samples could negatively impact the success of prevention and treatments for animal and human diseases, thereby imposing serious risks to public health.

Gut colonization by extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in dairy herd in Brazil: successful dissemination of a One Health clone.

The overuse of antimicrobials in livestock has contributed to the emergence and selection of clinically relevant multidrug-resistant bacteria. In Brazil, there is no conclusive information on the occurrence of Escherichia coli producing extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESßL) in cattle breeding, which is an important sector of agribusiness in this country. Herein, we investigated the presence of ESßL-positive E. coli strains in dairy cattle from a commercial farm with routine practice of therapeutic cephalosporins. Ninety-five rectal swab samples were collected from healthy dairy calves and cows under treatment with ceftiofur. Samples were screened for the presence of ESßL producers, and positive isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF, with subsequent screening for genes encoding ESßL variants by PCR and sequencing. The presence of ESßL (CTX-M-15)-producing E. coli was confirmed in calves, and lactating and dry cows. Most ESßL strains with genetic homologies ≥ 90% were grouped into two major PFGE clusters, confirming the suscessful expansion of clonally related lineages in animals from different lactating cycles, on the same property. Four representatives CTX-M-15-positive E. coli strains had their genomes sequenced, belonging to the clonal complex (CC) 23 and sequence type (ST) 90. A phylogeographical landscape of ST90 was performed revealing a global One Health linkage. Our results highlight the intestinal microbiota of dairy cattle as a hotspot for the spread of critical priority ESßL-producing E. coli and demonstrate that ST90 is an international clone genomically adapted to human and animal hosts, which deserve additional investigation to determine its zoonotic potential and impact in food chain.

Uterotubal junction of the bovine (Bos taurus) versus the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius): Histology and histomorphometry.

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the uterotubal junction in two distinct mammalian species, the bovine (Bos taurus) and the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius), focusing on histological and histomorphometric parameters. Uterotubal junction (UTJ) was dissected from 8 cows and 12 camels with dominant follicles, and processed for H&E staining for histology, and histomorphometry examination. The results showed that the camel uterotubal junction papillae (UTJP) existed only in camels and was completely absent in cattle. Histologically, the cow UTJ appears with a star-shaped lumen, and the mucosa is lined by a simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Superficial (SG) and deep glands (DG) were abundant in the submucosa. Camel UTJP is a conical structure, it has a pale yellowish colour, 0.5 ± 0.2 cm height, and 0.3 ± 0.1 cm width, and it has a distinct sphincter at the tip towards the uterine lumen. In the camel UTJP, the lumen is wider, and the mucosa showed large multiple folds lined with ciliated and non-ciliated cells in a pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The submucosa showed no mucosal glands. Lumen area, lumen epithelial height, luminal epithelial density, the thickness of the muscular layer, number of folds, fold height, epithelial height, fold area and epithelial perimeter were higher in camel UTJP (p < .001) than cow UTJ, while the total endosalpinx area and glandular epithelial density were lower in camel UTJP (p < .001) than in cow UTJ. In conclusion, this study elucidates potential variations in the uterotubal junction between bovines and dromedary camels, providing valuable insights into their reproductive adaptations. The epithelial lining, absence of glands and the thick layer of tunica muscularis might indicate that camel UTJP could play a mechanical role in selecting spermatozoa and assisting the hatching of blastocysts during their passage into the uterus.

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) does not transmit Babesia bovis, a causative agent of cattle fever.

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was first reported in the United States in 2017 and has since been detected in at least 17 states. This tick infests cattle and can produce large populations quickly due to its parthenogenetic nature, leading to significant livestock mortalities and economic losses. While H. longicornis has not been detected in Texas, species distribution models have identified southern Texas as a possible hospitable region for this tick. Southern Texas is currently home to the southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), which can transmit the causative agent of cattle fever (Babesia bovis). With the potential for H. longicornis and B. bovis to overlap in southern Texas and their potential to negatively impact the national and global livestock industry, it is imperative to identify the role H. longicornis may play in the cattle fever disease system. A controlled acquisition and transmission experiment tested whether H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis, with the R. microplus-B. bovis system used as a positive control. Transstadial (nymphs to adults) and transovarial (adults to larvae) transmission and subsequent transstadial maintenance (nymphs and adults) routes were tested in this study. Acquisition-fed, splenectomized animals were used to increase the probability of tick infection. Acquisition nymphs were macerated whole and acquisition adults were dissected to remove midguts and ovaries at five time points (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 days post-repletion), with 40 ticks processed per time point and life stage. The greatest percentage of nymphs with detectable B. bovis DNA occurred six days post-repletion (20.0 %). For adults, the percentage of positive midguts and ovaries increased as days post-repletion progressed, with day 12 having the highest percentage of positive samples (67.5 % and 60.0 %, respectively). When egg batches were tested in triplicate, all H. longicornis egg batches were negative for B. bovis, while all R. microplus egg batches were positive for B. bovis. During the transmission phase, the subsequent life stages for transstadial (adults) and transovarial transmission/transstadial maintenance (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were fed on naïve, splenectomized calves. All life stages of H. longicornis ticks tested during transmission were negative for B. bovis. Furthermore, the transmission fed animals were also negative for B. bovis and did not show signs of bovine babesiosis during the 45-day post tick transmission period. Given the lack of successful transstadial or transovarial transmission, it is unlikely that H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis.

The Benefit of a National Genomic Testing Scheme.

Although a significant cost, genotyping an entire population offers many benefits, many of which can reduce the workload and effort in decision-making on farm. As well as providing more accurate predictions of the genetic merit of individuals (and by extension their expected performance), national genotyping strategies enable complete traceability from the cradle to the grave as well as parentage discovery. The information available per animal aids more informed breeding and management decisions, including mating advice, and determining the optimal role and eventual fate of each animal.