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The cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) gene, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown that polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene are linked to an increased risk of brucellosis in humans, but its association with brucellosis in goats remains unexplored. In this study, the tissue expression profile of CTLA4 in goats was investigated, and the correlation between InDel polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene and susceptibility to brucellosis in goats was examined. The findings reveal the widespread expression of CTLA4 in goat tissues, particularly in the spleen and testes. The tested goat populations presented genotypes insertion/insertion (II), insertion/deletion (ID), and deletion/deletion (DD) at both the P1 and P2 loci, and an association analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies at the P1 and P2 loci of the CTLA4 gene between the Brucella goat case and the control groups (p < 0.05). Specifically, compared with the II genotype, the P1 and P2 loci were significantly associated with an elevated risk of brucellosis development in goats under both the codominant (ID/II) and dominant (ID + DD/II) models (P1, p = 0.042, p = 0.016; P2, p = 0.011, p = 0.014). Additionally, haplotype analysis indicated that haplotypes IP1DP2, DP1IP2, and DP1DP2 were significantly associated with an increased risk of brucellosis in goats compared to the reference haplotype IP1IP2 (p = 0.029, p = 0.012, p = 0.034). Importantly, the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of peripheral blood monocytes and/or macrophages from goats with the II, ID, and DD genotypes resulted in increased CTLA4 expression levels in the II genotype, leading to a robust LPS-induced inflammatory response. Through bioinformatic analysis, the observed effect of the InDel locus on Brucella pathogenesis risk in goats could be attributed to the differential binding of the transcription factors nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). These findings offer potential insights for breeding strategies against brucellosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important economic traits for domestic animal husbandry, skeletal muscle is regulated by an intricate molecular network. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) involves various physiological processes and diseases, such as innate immunity and the development of lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, etc. However, its role in skeletal muscle growth requires further clarification. Here, we explored the functions of ADAR1 in the myogenic process of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). The ADAR1 transcripts were noticeably enriched in goat visceral tissues compared to skeletal muscle. Additionally, its levels in slow oxidative muscles like the psoas major and minor muscles were higher than in the fast oxidative glycolytic and fast glycolytic muscles. Among the two common isoforms from ADAR1, p110 is more abundant than p150. Moreover, overexpressing ADAR1 enhanced the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of MuSCs. The mRNA-seq performed on MuSCs' knockdown of ADAR1 obtained 146 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 87 upregulated and 59 downregulated. These DEGs were concentrated in muscle development and process pathways, such as the MAPK and cAMP signaling pathways. Furthermore, many DEGs as the key nodes defined by protein–protein interaction networks (PPI), including STAT3, MYH3/8, TGFβ2, and ACTN4, were closely related to the myogenic process. Finally, RNA immunoprecipitation combined with qPCR (RIP-qPCR) showed that ADAR1 binds to PAX7 and MyoD mRNA. This study indicates that ADAR1 promotes the myogenic development of goat MuSCs, which provides a useful scientific reference for further exploring the ADAR1-related regulatory networks underlying mammal skeletal muscle growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilseed by-products (Cynara cardunculus and Camelina sativa) (CCCS) are rich in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the health effects of consuming yogurt made from goat milk fed with CCCS industrial residues in adults. In this randomized, crossover clinical trial, 20 healthy adults (14F; 37.7 ± 14.2 years) consumed either yogurt made from goat milk fed with CCCS or regular goat yogurt (C) daily for 1 month in each phase. Anthropometric parameters and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each phase. CCCS yogurt consumption resulted in a significant fat mass reduction (−1.8% and −1.1 kg) and fat-free mass increase (+1.5% and +0.9 kg). Regarding blood parameters, a non-significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol was observed, particularly after the CCCS intervention. Moreover, creatinine levels exhibited an opposite trend (p = 0.023) after CCCS, decreasing in subjects aged ≤30 years (−0.03 mg/dL) and increasing in older subjects (+0.05 mg/dL). Regarding inflammatory parameters, a non-significant trend in increased IL-1ra levels was observed especially after CCCS yogurt consumption compared to the C yogurt (+56.9 vs. +19.1 pg/mL, respectively). The use of unconventional feed derived from oilseed by-products for dairy goat feeding may have potential possible beneficial effects on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Genomic selection (GS) is defined as a marker-assisted selection method that uses high-density molecular markers covering the entire genome combined with phenotypic data to estimate genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV). This paper reviews the principles, methods, and influencing factors of GS for breeding by using phenotypic information and genetic relationships simultaneously. It also covers the research progress of GS in meat, fiber, dairy, and reproductive traits in sheep and goats. Compared to other livestock, especially cattle, sheep and goat breeding is relatively small-scale and has lagged behind. GS combined with genomic information can help promote the breeding process and development in commercial farming of sheep and goats. We highlight the potential for phenotypic information and genetic relationships to work together to drive the breeding process, providing valuable insights for implementing GS in sheep and goat breeding. The advancement of sequencing technology and molecular breeding methods has provided technical support and assurance for accurate breeding. Genomic Selection (GS) utilizes genomic information to improve livestock breeding, and it is more accurate and more efficient than traditional selection methods. GS has been widely applied in domestic animal breeding, especially in cattle. However, there are still limited studies on the application and research of GS in sheep and goats. This paper outlines the principles, analysis methods, and influential factors of GS and elaborates on the research progress, challenges, and prospects of applying GS in sheep and goat breeding. Through the review of these aspects, this paper is expected to provide valuable references for the implementation of GS in the field of sheep and goat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ovary is a crucial reproductive organ in mammals, and its development directly influences an individual's sexual maturity and reproductive capacity. To comprehensively describe ovarian sexual maturation in goats, we integrated phenotypic, hormonal, metabolomic, and transcriptomic data from four specific time points: after birth (D1), at 2 months old (M2), at 4 months old (M4), and at 6 month old (M6). The study showed that during the early stage (D1–M2), ovarian growth was the most rapid, with weight and morphology increasing by 284% and 65%, respectively, and hormone levels rose significantly, with estradiol increasing by 57%. Metabolomic analysis identified 1231 metabolites, primarily lipids, lipid molecules, and organic acids, which can support hormone balance and follicle development by providing energy and participating in signaling transduction. Transcriptomic analysis identified 543 stage-specific differentially expressed genes, mainly enriched in steroid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and the PI3K/AKT pathway, which are key factors influencing ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis, hormone secretion, and metabolism. The integrated analysis revealed the key processes in the ovarian steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway and gene/metabolite networks associated with ovarian phenotypes and hormone levels, ultimately highlighting scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1), Cytochrome P450 Family 1 Subfamily A Member 1 (CYP11A1), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD), progesterone, estradiol, and L-phenylalanine as key regulators of ovarian morphological and functional changes at different developmental stages. This study is the first to reveal the metabolic changes and molecular regulatory mechanisms during ovarian sexual maturation in goats, providing valuable insights for understanding reproductive system development and optimizing reproductive performance and breeding efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle development is spotlighted in mammals since it closely relates to animal health and economic benefits to the breeding industry. Researchers have successfully unveiled many regulatory factors and mechanisms involving myogenesis. However, the effect of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, especially demethylase and its regulated genes, on muscle development remains to be further explored. Here, we found that the typical demethylase FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated protein) was highly enriched in goats' longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles. In addition, the level of m6A modification on transcripts was negatively regulated by FTO during the proliferation of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). Moreover, a deficiency of FTO in MuSCs significantly retarded their proliferation and promoted the expression of dystrophin-associated protein 1 (DAG1). m6A modifications of DAG1 mRNA were efficiently altered by FTO. Intriguingly, the results of DAG1 levels and its m6A enrichment from FB23-2 (FTO demethylase inhibitor)-treated cells were consistent with those of the FTO knockdown, indicating that the regulation of FTO on DAG1 depended on m6A modification. Further experiments showed that interfering FTO improved m6A modification at site DAG1-122, recognized by Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and consequently stabilized DAG1 transcripts. Our study suggests that FTO promotes the proliferation of MuSCs by regulating the expression of DAG1 through m6A modification. This will extend our knowledge of the m6A-related mechanism of skeletal muscle development in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goats are natural hosts of Mycobacterium (M.) bovis, and affected herds can be the cause of significant economic losses. Similarites in disease course and lesions of M. bovis infections in goats and M. tuberculosis in humans make goats good models for human tuberculosis. The aim of this investigation was to characterize M. bovis challenge models in goats. For this, goats were endobronchially inoculated with three doses of M. bovis or culture medium. Clinical signs, shedding, and immune responses were monitored until 146 days post inoculation (dpi). At necropsy, lesions were examined by computed tomography, histology, and bacteriological culture. Infected goats did not develop clinical signs. M. bovis was cultured from feces, but never from nasal swabs. IGRAs were positive from 28 dpi onwards, antibodies at 140 dpi, and SICCT at 146 dpi. The increase in CD25+, IFN-γ+, and IFN-γ-releasing T-cell subpopulations was time-related, but not dose-dependent. All infected goats developed paucibacillary granulomas in the lungs and regional lymph nodes. M. bovis was regularly cultured. Dose-dependent effects included the size of pulmonary lesions, caverns, intestinal lesions, and early generalization in the high-dose group. In summary, reproducible challenge models with dose-dependent differences in lesions were established, which may serve for testing vaccines for veterinary or medical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goats (Capra hircus) have always been a source of fiber for human use and hold an important place in international high-end textiles. Fiber diameter is the most concerning economic indicator for producers. Understanding the formation mechanism of fiber diameter and its related key proteins can help optimize and control the production of cashmere. Methods: Cashmere goats (n = 36) of the Alpas (n = 18) and Alxa (n = 18) breeds, with a similar age (2 years old) and live weight (25–26 kg), were selected from the Yiwei White Cashmere Goat Breeding Farm, Erdos, Inner Mongolia. Using phenotypic indicators, we evaluated the diameter of the cashmere fibers in Alxa and Alpas goats. We also used electron microscopy to examine the cashmere fiber's structure and label-free liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to determine the protein content of the two cashmere fibers. The proteins affecting fiber diameter were identified and analyzed by Western blot, Co-Immunoprecipitation, and bioinformatics analysis. Results: The average diameter of the Alxa breed was smaller (p < 0.05) than that of the Alpas breed (Alxa's cashmere vs. Alpas' cashmere). Proteomics technology enabled the highly confident detection of 171 proteins. A total of 68 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the two types of cashmere; 131 proteins were specifically expressed in Alpas goats, and 40 proteins were specifically expressed in Alxa goats. A key protein group that could cause variations in fiber diameter was found using the protein–protein interaction network. To ascertain the reason for the variation in fiber diameter, a structural study of the major protein groups was carried out. Conclusions: KRT10, KRT14, KRT17, and KRT82 are the main proteins impacting the diameter difference, and they have a substantial effect on the average fiber diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prime editor, an editing tool based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, allows for all 12 types of nucleotide exchanges and arbitrary indels in genomic sequences without the need for inducing DNA double-strand breaks. Despite its flexibility and precision, prime editing efficiency is still low and hindered by various factors such as target sites, editing types, and the length of the primer binding site. In this study, we developed a prime editing system by incorporating an RNA motif at the 3′ terminal of the pegRNA and integrating all twin prime editor factors into a single plasmid. These two strategies enhanced prime editing efficiency at target sites by up to 3.58-fold and 2.19-fold, respectively. Subsequently, enhanced prime editor was employed in goat cells and embryos to efficiently insert a 38 bp attB sequence into the Gt(ROSA)26Sor (Rosa26) and C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) loci. The enhanced prime editor can mediate 11.9% and 6.8% editing efficiency in parthenogenetic activation of embryos through embryo microinjection. In summary, our study introduces a modified prime editing system with improved editing and transfection efficiency, making it more suitable for inserting foreign sequences into primary cells and embryos. These results broaden the potential applications of prime editing technologies in the production of transgenic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Investigating the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) in vitro is crucial for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle development in goats. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a widely utilized technique for quantifying the expression levels of target genes. A significant challenge associated with this method is the identification of optimal reference genes for accurate normalization. In this study, we evaluated ten candidate reference genes for the standardization of gene expression. Our results indicated that RPL14 and RPS15A constituted the most stable reference gene combination during the proliferation and differentiation of goat MuSCs. The process of skeletal muscle development is intricate and involves the regulation of a diverse array of genes. Accurate gene expression profiles are crucial for studying muscle development, making it essential to choose the right reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In the present study, eight candidate reference genes were identified from our previous transcriptome sequencing analysis of caprine skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs), and two traditional reference genes (ACTB and GAPDH) were assessed. The quantitative levels of the candidate reference genes were determined through the RT-qPCR technique, while the stability of their expression was evaluated utilizing the GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder programs. Furthermore, the chosen reference genes were utilized for the normalization of the gene expression levels of PCNA and Myf5. It was determined that conventional reference genes, including ACTB and GAPDH, were not appropriate for normalizing target gene expression. Conversely, RPL14 and RPS15A, identified through RNA sequencing analysis, exhibited minimal variability and were identified as the optimal reference genes for normalizing gene expression during the proliferation and differentiation of goat MuSCs. Our research offers a validated panel of optimal reference genes for the detection of differentially expressed genes in goat muscle satellite cells using RT-qPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Paratuberculosis (PTB) is a chronic disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. This study was conducted in 12 diary caprine farms on the Canary Islands. The region counts with the fourth largest goat population in Spain and has "officially free" bovine tuberculosis status. Two sampling sessions were conducted, and 2774 serum samples were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the first session, a prevalence of 18.4% was obtained, varying from 2.5% up to 61.1%. In the second session, the effect of PTB vaccination was evaluated and both non-vaccinated (nV) and vaccinated (V) were included. Variable tendencies in antibody development were registered in farms with different initial seroprevalences. In farms in which up to 10% of the animals were positive, more adult goats had antibodies against PTB after vaccination. In farms with more than 10% of ELISA-positive animals, a heterogeneous response to vaccination was reported. We observed that in farms with higher initial prevalence, fewer goats that were V developed antibodies. Our work characterizes the caprine PTB situation on the Canary Islands and gives new insights on the effect of farm prevalence on the immune response to PTB vaccination, although further studies on a greater scale are needed. Paratuberculosis (PTB), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic disease with economic impact on ruminant farming worldwide. The Canary Islands count with the fourth largest goat population in Spain and are "officially free" of bovine tuberculosis. Twelve farms were included with 2774 serum samples tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of anti-MAP antibodies in two sessions. In the first session, an overall apparent prevalence of 18.4% (2.5% up to 61.1%) was obtained. Farms with prevalences (0–10%], (10–20%] and >20% were identified, with differences in seroconversion in the same prevalence group between farms and age ranges. Non-vaccinated (nV) and vaccinated (V) animals were included in the second sampling session. Higher levels of antibodies were detected in V animals older than 12 months, with considerable variations between age ranges and farms. Our results describe the current PTB status of the Canary Islands' goat farming. Furthermore, new insights on the effect of the farm prevalence on seroconversion in V animals are provided, although further studies are needed to evaluate the multiple factors affecting the immune response to anti-MAP vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), traditionally used for textile fiber, has gained interest as animal feed due to its nutritional properties. This study investigated the impact of supplementing goats' diets with hemp hay on the milk yield, composition, and fatty acid profile of 20 dairy goats. The milk yield was higher in the hemp group, though the milk composition remained unchanged. The fatty acid profile of the hemp group's milk showed lower levels of certain saturated fatty acids (C11:0, C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C17:0) and higher levels of C16:0 and C18:0. Additionally, the hemp group's milk had lower levels of some polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18:2 n6 and C20:4) but higher C20:5 n3 levels. Hemp hay may represent an advantageous alternative as feed supplementation in grazing goats' diet. Also, in terms of eco-sustainability and the efficiency of agricultural production, the hemp hay is a by-product of the supply chain, which may represent an additional benefit of its use in ruminant nutrition. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant used in the past as a source of textile fiber. Currently, hemp is receiving great interest as animal feed due to its chemical and nutritional properties. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of supplementing goats' diets with hemp hay on the milk yield, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty multiparous goats, immediately after kidding, were divided into two homogenous groups (C: control vs. H: hemp); the goats had free access to the pasture, and both groups received a supplement of 500 g/head/day of a barley and corn meal mixture (50/50). In addition, group H was given 250 g/head/day of hemp hay while group C received the same amount of alfalfa hay. The milk yield was measured daily, and milk samples were collected monthly 4 times to evaluate the milk composition and fatty acid profile. The milk yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the experimental group, while no differences were found in the milk chemical composition. Concerning the fatty acid profile, the milk from group H was characterized by significantly lower concentrations of C11:0, C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C17:0 and higher C16:0 and C18:0. Among the polyunsaturated FA, C18:2 n6 and C20:4 were significantly (p < 0.001) lower, and C20:5 n3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the milk from group H than that from group C. The n6/n3, LA/ALA and AA/EPA ratios were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the milk from group H, while the CLAs were unaffected by the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astroviruses are single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses capable of infecting humans as well as a wide range of mammalian and avian species, with a length of approximately 6.6–7.7 kb. In this study, 139 goat fecal samples collected from the Guangxi province were used for the RT-PCR detection, and two of these were positive for goat astrovirus, with a positivity rate of 1.44% (2/139). The complete genome sequence of an astrovirus strain and the partial genome sequence of a strain astrovirus, named GX WZ 2023 and GX HC 2023, were amplified and sequenced, and their sequence lengths were 6284 nt and 6213 nt, respectively. Among them, the capsid protein of goat astrovirus GX HC 2023 showed the highest amino acid identity of 95.9% with ovine astrovirus GX, which belonged to the MAstV-2 genotype. However, the closest relative of the GX WZ 2023 strain was found to be the caprine astrovirus Sichuan, with a nucleotide sequence identity of 76.8%. The ORF1ab nonstructural protein of this strain showed the highest amino acid identities of 89.2 and 95.8% with the ovine astrovirus S5.1 and caprine astrovirus G5.1 strains, respectively. However, its ORF2 capsid protein has 68.4% amino acid identity with the bovine astrovirus (BAstV) 16 2021 CHN strain and only 21.9–64% amino acid identity with all available strains of goat astrovirus. The GX WZ 2023 strain was recombined with the Chinese (BAstV 16 2021 CHN) and Japanese bovine strains (BAstV JPN 2015) in the ORF2 region. Therefore, the goat astrovirus GX WZ 2023 is proposed as a new member of the family goat astroviridae based on the species classification criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. These findings enhance our understanding of the prevalence and genetic evolution of goat astrovirus and provide a scientific basis for future studies of these viruses in other animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goat may represent a valid large animal model for human pathogens and new vaccines testing. Appropriate vaccine administration is a critical component of a successful immunization program. The wrong route of administration may reduce the efficacy of the vaccine, whereas the proper administration strategy can enhance it. Viral vectors have been employed successfully for goat and sheep immunization; however, no data concerning the vaginal route are available. A viral vector's ability to transduce the site of inoculation is of primary interest. In this study, a fast and reliable ex vivo assay for testing the transduction capability of an Ad5-based vector when intravaginally administered was developed. An Ad5 vector delivering an expression cassette with a bicistronic reporter gene, Ad5-CMV-turboGFP-IRES-Luc2, was constructed. We demonstrated Ad5-CMV-turboGFP-IRES-Luc2's ability to transduce caprine vaginal mucosa by ex vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) employing a simple CCD camera apparatus for chemiluminescence western immunoblotting. These data, though simple, provide valuable insights into developing a vaginal immunization strategy using a viral vector-based vaccine to protect against pathogens causing genital diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and a zoonotic transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) caused by the pathological prion protein (PrPSc) in two goats, the investigation of goat prions became of greater interest. Therefore, a broad collection of European goat TSE isolates, including atypical scrapie, CH1641 and goat BSE as reference prion strains were biochemically characterised and subsequently inoculated into seven rodent models for further analysis (already published results of this comprehensive study are reviewed here for comparative reasons). We report here the histopathological and immunohistochemical data of this goat TSE panel, obtained after the first passage in Tgshp IX (tg-shARQ) mice, which overexpress the ovine prion protein. In addition to the clear-cut discrimination of all reference prion strains from the classical scrapie (CS) isolates, we were further able to determine three categories of CS strains. The investigation further indicates the occurrence of sub-strains that slightly resemble distant TSE strains, such as BSE or CH1641, reinforcing the theory that CS is not a single strain but a mixture of sub-strains, existing at varying extents in one isolate. This study further proved that Tgshp IX is a potent and reliable tool for the in-depth characterisation of prion strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 1 (NR4A1) acts as a transcription factor to participate in lots of physiological activities including cell proliferation and cell differentiation. In this study, we found that NR4A1 promoted goat intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation through the PI3K/AKT pathway. This study provides important information about NR4A1 in the intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation in goats and therefore identifies a target for goat meat quality improvement studies. As a transcription factor, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 1 (NR4A1) binds to downstream target genes to participate in cell proliferation and cell differentiation. We found that the NR4A1 reached the highest expression at 60 h after the differentiation of goat intramuscular preadipocytes. Overexpression of goat NR4A1 increased the number of intracellular lipid droplets and up-regulated the expression of adipocyte-differentiation-related marker genes including AP2, SREBP1, ACC, GPAM, and DGAT2, while the relative expression levels of Pref-1 and HSL were significantly decreased. On the contrary, after NR4A1 was knocked down by siRNA, the number of intracellular lipid droplets and the relative expression levels of LPL, CEBPα, CEBPβ, ACC, and DGAT2 were significantly decreased, and the relative expression levels of Pref-1 and HSL were significantly up-regulated. These results suggest that NR4A1 promotes the differentiation of goat intramuscular preadipocytes. Transcriptome sequencing was carried out after overexpression of goat NR4A1, and the KEGG enrichment analysis result showed that the most differentially expressed genes were related to adipocyte differentiation and were enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. LY249002, an inhibitor of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, was introduced and decreased the number of intracellular lipid droplets, and the relative expression levels of C/EBPα, SREBP1, AP2, C/EBPβ, GPAM, ACC, DGAT1, DGAT2, and ATGL were decreased accordingly. The above results indicate that overexpression of goat NR4A1 may promote the differentiation of intramuscular preadipocytes through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litter size is a crucial quantitative trait in animals, closely linked to follicular development. Circular RNA (circRNA), a type of single-stranded closed-loop endogenous RNA with stable expression, plays pivotal roles in various biological processes, yet its function in goat follicular development remains unclear. In this study, we collected large (follicle diameter > 3 mm) and small (1 mm < follicle diameter < 3 mm) follicles from black goats in the Chuanzhong region for circRNA sequencing, with the aim of elucidating the functional circRNAs that influence follicle development in goats. Differential analysis revealed that 17 circRNAs were upregulated in large follicles, and 28 circRNAs were upregulated in small follicles. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways related to reproduction, including cellular response to follicle-stimulating hormone stimulus, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the Notch signaling pathway. Based on the ceRNA mechanism, 45 differentially expressed circRNAs were found to target and bind a total of 418 miRNAs, and an intercalation network including miR-324-3p (circRNA2497, circRNA5650), miR-202-5p (circRNA3333, circRNA5501), and miR-493-3p (circRNA4995, circRNA5508) was constructed. In addition, conservation analysis revealed that 2,239 circRNAs were conserved between goats and humans. Prediction of translation potential revealed that 154 circRNAs may potentially utilize both N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) translation mechanisms. Furthermore, the differential expression and circularization cleavage sites of five circRNAs were validated through RT-qPCR and DNA sequencing. Our study constructed a circRNA map in goat follicle development, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing goat reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonella continues to pose a significant threat to public health, standing as the second leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the European Union. In instances of severe infection, the treatment of salmonellosis necessitates the use of antimicrobials, among other therapeutic interventions. The escalating resistance of Salmonella spp. to antibiotics in recent years, primarily attributed to inappropriate usage in livestock, has raised considerable concerns among health authorities. The findings indicate that the low prevalence of Salmonella spp. isolated from samples of cattle, sheep, and goats in slaughterhouses, coupled with their comparatively low-to-moderate resistance to key antibiotics used in the treatment of human salmonellosis, suggests that the consumption of beef, lamb, and goat meat does not pose a substantial threat to public health in relation to the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Salmonella spp. pose a global threat as a leading cause of foodborne illnesses, particularly prevalent in the European Union (EU), where it remains the second cause of foodborne outbreaks. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. has become a critical concern, complicating treatment strategies and escalating the risk of severe infections. The study focuses on large and small ruminants, identifying a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in slaughterhouses and revealing varied AMR rates across antimicrobial families throughout a meta-analysis. Also, comparison with AMR in human medicine was carried out by a systematic review. The results of the present meta-analysis displayed a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in large and small ruminants at slaughterhouses of 8.01% (8.31%, cattle; 7.04%, goats; 6.12%, sheep). According to the AMR of Salmonella spp., 20, 14, and 13 out of 62 antimicrobials studied were classified as low (<5%), high (>5% but <10%), and very high (>10%), respectively. Salmonella spp. did not display AMR against aztreonam, mezlocillin, ertapenem, meropenem, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, tilmicosin, linezolid, fosfomycin, furazolidone, quinupristin, trimethoprim and spectinomycin. In contrast, a prevalence of 100% of AMR has been described against ofloxacin, lincomycin, and cloxacillin. In the context of the main antibiotics used in the treatment of human salmonellosis, azithromycin was shown to have the highest resistance among Salmonella spp. isolates from humans. Regarding cephalosporins, which are also used for the treatment of salmonellosis in humans, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. resistance to this class of antibiotics was similar in both human and animal samples. Concerning quinolones, despite a heightened resistance profile in Salmonella spp. isolates from ruminant samples, there appears to be no discernible compromise to the efficacy of salmonellosis treatment in humans since lower prevalences of AMR in Salmonella spp. isolated from human specimens were observed. Although the resistance of Salmonella spp. indicates some degree of concern, most antibiotics are not used in veterinary medicine. Thus, the contribution of cattle, sheep and goats to the rise of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. and its potential impact on public health appears to be relatively insignificant, due to their low prevalence in carcasses and organs. Nevertheless, the observed low prevalence of Salmonella spp. in ruminants at slaughterhouse and the correspondingly low AMR rates of Salmonella spp. to key antibiotics employed in human medicine do not indicate that ruminant livestock poses a substantial public health risk concerning the transmission of AMR. Thus, the results observed in both the meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that AMR is not solely attributed to veterinary antibiotic use but is also influenced by factors such as animal health management (i.e., biosecurity measures, prophylactic schemes) and human medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The molecular mechanism underlying muscle development in goats is complex, and the key genes commanding the growth performance and meat quality of different breeds remain unclear. Herein, we present temporal transcriptome research on Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of two goat breeds from embryo to 12 months old, with extreme phenotypic differences in production and meat quality traits, using an Illumina system for the identification of key genes to improve production efficiency in goats. In this study, we measured the growth performance and intramuscular fat (IMF) content of the Longissimus dorsi (LD) of Fuqing goats (FQs) and Nubian goats (NBYs), which exhibit extreme phenotypic differences in terms of their production and meat quality traits. RNA-Seq analysis was performed, and transcriptome data were obtained from the LD tissue of 3-month fetuses (E3), 0-month lambs (0M), 3-month lambs (3M), and 12-month lambs (12M) to reveal the differences in the molecular mechanisms regulating the muscle development and IMF deposition between FQs and NBYs. The results showed that a higher body weight and average daily gain were observed in the NBYs at three developmental stages after birth, whereas a higher IMF content was registered in the FQs at 12M. Additionally, transcriptome profiles during the embryonic period and after birth were completely different for both FQs and NBYs. Moreover, DEGs (KIF23, CCDC69, CCNA2, MKI67, KIF11, RACGAP1, NUSAP1, SKP2, ZBTB18, NES, LOC102180034, CAPN6, TUBA1A, LOC102178700, and PEG10) significantly enriched in the cell cycle (ko04110) at E3 (FQs vs. NBYs), and DEGs (MRPS7, RPS8, RPL6, RPL4, RPS11, RPS10, RPL5, RPS6, RPL8, RPS13, RPS24, RPS15, RPL23) significantly enriched in ribosomes (ko03010) at 0M (FQs vs. NBYs) related to myogenic differentiation and fusion were identified. Meanwhile, the differences in glucose and lipid metabolism began at the E3 timepoint and continued to strengthen as growth proceeded in FQs vs. NBYs. DEGs (CD36, ADIROQR2, ACACA, ACACB, CPT1A, IGF1R, IRS2, LDH-A, PKM, HK2, PFKP, PCK1, GPI, FASN, FADS1, ELOVL6, HADHB, ACOK1, ACAA2, and ACSL4) at 3M (FQs vs. NBYs) and 12M (FQs vs. NBYs) significantly enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway (ko04152), insulin resistance (ko04931), the insulin signaling pathway (ko04910), fatty acid metabolism (ko01212), and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (ko00010) related to IMF deposition were identified. Further, the results from this study provide the basis for future studies on the mechanisms regulating muscle development and IMF deposition in different breeds of goats, and the candidate genes identified could be used in the selection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mammary bioreactors represent a promising method for the production of recombinant proteins. In this study, the human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1) sequence was knocked into the seventh exon of the goat β-casein (CSN2) gene under the control of the CSN2 promoter using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. A mixture of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and a homologous plasmid including the T2A-HNP1 sequences were microinjected into the embryos of donor goat and then transplanted into recipient goats through embryo transfer technology. This allowed the HNP1 gene to be expressed in the offspring, facilitating the production of antimicrobial peptide proteins through the goat's mammary glands. This experiment successfully produced genetically edited goats that secrete HNP1 with mammary-specific characteristics, providing a scientific basis for the further promotion of gene-editing technology and the development of new transgenic goat breeds with antimicrobial components in their milk. Mammary gland bioreactors are promising methods for recombinant protein production. Human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1) exhibits antibacterial and immune-modulating properties. This study aims to establish a method to generate goats secreting HNP1 using the mammary gland as bioreactors. HNP1 transgenic goats were generated by using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock-in (KI) the HNP1 sequence into exon 7 of the goat β-casein (CSN2) gene under the control of the CSN2 promoter. One-cell stage embryos were cytoplasmically injected with a mixture of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and a homologous plasmid including the T2A-HNP1 sequences, followed by transfer to recipient goats. A total of 22 live offspring goats were delivered, and 21 of these goats (95.45%) exhibited targeted edits at the CSN2 locus, and 2 female goats (9.09%) demonstrated successful HNP1 integration. Western blot and ELISA analyses confirmed the presence of HNP1 protein at high levels in the milk of these HNP1-positive goats, with mean concentrations of 22.10 µg/mL and 0.0092 µg/mL during the initial 60 days of lactation. Furthermore, milk from these transgenic goats exhibited notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating the functionality of the expressed HNP1 protein. In conclusion, we established an efficient method for developing new transgenic goat lines as a mammary gland bioreactor, and the bioactive HNP1 protein secreted by the transgenic goat has the potential to combat microbial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the nucleotide variation sites (SNPs) and expression differences of the fatty acid synthase gene (FASN) in Guizhou white goats, the relationship between the variation and body size traits was investigated. In this study, DNA was extracted from the blood of 100 samples of white goats from different regions in Guizhou province, China, and the variation sites were screened using pooled sequencing by mixing DNA samples, and 242 blood samples with body size traits were used for association analysis. The allele frequency, genotype frequency, homozygosity, heterozygosity and effective gene number were calculated by using PopGene 32.0 software, the population polymorphism information content was calculated by using PIC software (Version 0.6), and the state of genetic balance of the genes was analyzed by using the chi-square test. The mRNA of FASN gene expression levels in male and female goats were investigated by using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The general linear mixed model of MINTAB software (Version 16.0) was used to analyze the association between FASN gene nucleotide mutation sites and body size traits. The results showed that there was one nucleotide mutation site g.141 C/T in the target fragment of FASN gene amplification, and revealed two alleles, C and T, and three genotypes CC, CT and TT. The genotype frequencies for CC, CT and TT were 0.4308, 0.4205 and 0.1487, respectively. The allele frequencies for C and T were 0.6410 and 0.3590, respectively. The genetic homozygosity (Ho) was higher than the heterozygosity (He). The χ2 test showed that the mutation site was in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium state (p > 0.05). The RT-qPCR results showed that the FASN gene had different expression levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle of male and female goats, and its expression was significantly higher in male goats than in female goats. The association analysis results showed that the mutation of the FASN gene had different effects on body size traits of male and female goats, and the presence of the populations of the T allele and the TT genotype recorded higher body size traits (body weight, heart girth and wither height) in female populations. Therefore, the site of the FASN gene can be used as a candidate marker for the early selection of growth traits in Guizhou white goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explores the challenges faced by small farmers in Jordan's dry areas when raising sheep and goats, focusing on limited fodder and water, to find solutions to help farmers maintain healthy and sustainable herds. Despite the obstacles, sheep and goat farming could thrive with factors like breeder experience and economic stability. Crop cultivation and proper winter care are vital to reducing costs and preventing animal mortality. Effective management and support offer opportunities for rearing enhancement. The conclusions provide crucial guidance for supporting small-scale farmers, presenting actionable strategies to address resource limitations. Implementing these recommendations could empower farmers, improve practices, and contribute to economic stability. This study is valuable for policymakers and agricultural organizations promoting sustainable rural development and livelihood enhancement in drylands. This study examines the sustainability of livestock farming in Jordan's arid regions, focusing on smallholder Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farming. It assesses breeders, economic factors, herd productivity, and sustainability, evaluating the vitality of these breeds by examining reproductive success through birth and survival rates. In 2021–2022, a total of 53 traditional Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farms in Northern Jordan's Mafraq Governorate were surveyed using a comprehensive questionnaire to gather data on breeders' information, farm economics, and herd indicators. Dry seasons in arid lands are tough on sheep and goats, with limited fodder and water availability harming their health and reproductive capacity. While wet seasons bring relief, they can also introduce diseases. Special care for these animals throughout the year is crucial to maintain healthy herds in arid regions. Linear models were employed to analyze sample data, with variance and correlation tests used to explore relationships among variables. Additionally, chi-squared analysis was utilized to assess the impact of male replacement plans on these herds. The main outcomes of this study reveal that breeder indicators pose challenges to the sustainability and growth of Awassi sheep and Baladi goat farming. Conversely, economic indicators suggest a blend of financial stability alongside obstacles related to profitability and resource ownership. Breeder age emerges as a significant factor in livestock herd management, influenced by elements such as experience, resource availability, and adherence to traditional practices. Experience notably influences breeders' decisions regarding male insemination replacements, likely due to acquired skills. Crop cultivation is shown to reduce fodder costs, thereby enhancing profitability for each young animal sold and consequently increasing the breeders' returns. Winter conditions elevate animal mortality rates due to cold stress, while other animals within herds contribute to increased kid mortality by facilitating disease transmission. Breeder experience significantly impacts lamb survival, underscoring its importance in ensuring proper care. Increasing ewe proportions within herds enhances lamb production and lowers lamb mortality rates. Effective ram management and yearling lamb sales further contribute to herd health and productivity. A higher proportion of goats within a herd positively correlates with the number of young yearlings sold but inversely affects breeding males and overall kid numbers, indicating a delicate balance that influences herd productivity and mortality rates. Sheep (92.5%) and goat herds (90.6%) demonstrate reproductive success, indicative of superior long-term vitality. While sheep excel in birth rates, survival, and sales, they exhibit lower ewe and lambing percentages. Goat farming demonstrates high birth rates, sales, and overall success but requires particular attention to ensuring kid survival, especially during the winter months. Improving the characteristics of the Awassi sheep and Baladi goat flocks is crucial for ensuring sustainability, achievable through proper care practices in dry lands. In conclusion, despite the challenges, there are promising opportunities to enhance sheep and goat farming in Jordan. Effective management, informed by the breeders' experience and economics, is crucial. Empowering small-scale herders and implementing targeted interventions, like winter mortality solutions and selective breeding, is vital for sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma is an infectious, chronic tumor disease of goats and sheep. Tumor cell lines are very important tools in tumor research. This manuscript describes the isolation, culture, and characterization of a new enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma cell line from goats. This is the first report about an enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma cell line. ENA-1 cells are stable in passaging, have strong proliferative potential and tumorigenicity in nude mice, express primitive tumor phenotypes, and carry enzootic nasal tumor virus. Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA) is a contagious tumor disease of goats and sheep, which is caused by enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV). To better understand the pathogenesis of ENA, this study aimed to establish a goat ENA cell line (ENA-1). The cells have been characterized with regard to morphology, growth rate, ultrastructural features, chromosome number, expression of CK7 and CK18, tumorigenicity, species, and mycoplasma contamination. ENA-1 had an epithelioid cell morphology with an unstable chromosome number under a light microscope. Under an electron microscope, the cell nuclear heterogeneity was not obvious, and there were more intermediate filaments and a small number of immature retrovirus-like particles in the cytoplasm. ENA-1 had strong proliferative potential, and the cell multiplication time was about 36 h, which could make BALB/c nude mice develop tumors. CK7 and CK18 were expressed in the cytoplasm of primary goat tumors, in transplanted tumors from nude mice, and un ENA-1 cells with the same intensity. PCR revealed that ENA-1 continuously carried ENTV-2 up to the 17th generation with no germline contamination or mycoplasma contamination. In conclusion, using a serum-containing culture system, ENA-1 cells were successfully isolated, cultured, and purified from goat tumor tissues. The isolated ENA-1 cells retained robust proliferation potential and maintained their phenotype, indicating the potential application of the ENA-1 cell line as an in vitro model of ENA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reproduction of goats is a highly complex and dynamic process of life regulation, which is synergistically regulated by various aspects such as central nervous system regulation, reproductive system development, oocyte maturation, and fertilized egg development. In goats, there is still an urgent need to explore marker genes related to reproductive performance. This study identified the RPL4 gene as a key marker gene related to reproductive capacity in goat oocytes through various bioinformatics analysis methods including WGCNA, PPI network analysis, and differential gene expression analysis. The results reveal that the RPL4 gene in oocytes has the potential to serve as a biological marker for determining the reproductive rate of goats, deepening our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of goat reproductive performance. Reproduction in goats is a highly complex and dynamic process of life regulation, involving coordinated regulation from various aspects such as central nervous system regulation, reproductive system development, oocyte maturation, and fertilized egg development. In recent years, researchers have identified numerous genes associated with goat reproductive performance through high-throughput sequencing, single-cell sequencing, gene knockout, and other techniques. However, there is still an urgent need to explore marker genes related to goat reproductive performance. In this study, a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset of oocytes (GSE136005) was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to identify modules highly correlated with goat litter size. Through gene function enrichment analysis, it was found that genes within the modules were mainly enriched in adhesive junctions, cell cycle, and other signaling pathways. Additionally, the top 30 hub genes with the highest connectivity in WGCNA were identified. Subsequently, using Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, the top 30 genes with the highest connectivity within the modules were identified. The intersection of hub genes, key genes in the PPI network, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) led to the identification of the RPL4 gene as a key marker gene associated with reproductive capacity in goat oocytes. Overall, our study reveals that the RPL4 gene in oocytes holds promise as a biological marker for assessing goat litter size, deepening our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying goat reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Y-27632, as a pyrimidine derivative, is commonly used for low-temperature preservation of cell cytoskeleton. However, the Y-27632 small molecule has not yet been used in research on low-temperature preservation of goat semen. This study aims to address the issue of low temperature-induced loss of sperm motility in goats by using Y-27632, and explore the regulation of Y-27632 on goat sperm metabolism. We evaluate the protective effect of Y-27632 on the quality of low temperature-preserved goat semen by detecting goat sperm motility, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial activity, cholesterol levels, and metabolomics analysis. This study indicates that Y-27632 improves the preservation quality of goat sperm by protecting the sperm plasma membrane, enhancing sperm antioxidant capacity, and increasing D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism levels. The protective effect of Y-27632 on semen has also been confirmed through artificial insemination. The results of this study provide some new insights into the application of Y-27632 in low-temperature preservation of goat semen, and promote the application of Y-27632 in low-temperature preservation of semen. Y-27632, as a cytoskeleton protector, is commonly used for low-temperature preservation of cells. Goat sperm are prone to damage to the cytoskeleton under low-temperature conditions, leading to a loss of sperm vitality. However, the Y-27632 small molecule has not yet been used in research on low-temperature preservation of goat semen. This study aims to address the issue of low temperature-induced loss of sperm motility in goats by using Y-27632, and explore the regulation of Y-27632 on goat sperm metabolism. At a low temperature of 4 °C, different concentrations of Y-27632 were added to the sperm diluent. The regulation of Y-27632 on the quality of low temperature-preserved goat semen was evaluated by detecting goat sperm motility, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial activity, cholesterol levels, and metabolomics analysis. The results indicated that 20 µM Y-27632 significantly increased plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05) and sperm motility (p < 0.05), increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.01), increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05), decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.01), and significantly increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The levels of ATP, Ca2+, and TC in sperm increased (p < 0.01). Twenty metabolites with significant differences were identified, with six metabolic pathways having a significant impact, among which the D-glutamic acid and D-glutamine metabolic pathways had the most significant impact. The artificial insemination effect of goat semen treated with 20 μM Y-27632 was not significantly different from that of fresh semen. This study indicates that Y-27632 improves the quality of low-temperature preservation of sperm by protecting the sperm plasma membrane, enhancing sperm antioxidant capacity, regulating D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and promoting the application of low-temperature preservation of semen in artificial insemination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milk flavor can be attributed to the presence of numerous flavor molecules and precursors. In this study, we employed widely targeted metabolomic analysis techniques to analyze the metabolic profiles of various milk samples obtained from goats, sheep, dairy cows, and buffaloes. A total of 631 metabolites were identified in the milk samples, which were further categorized into 16 distinct classes. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that the metabolite profiles of samples from the same species exhibit clustering, while separated patterns of metabolite profiles are observed across goat, sheep, cow, and buffalo species. The differential metabolites between the groups of each species were screened based on fold change and variable importance in projection (VIP) values. Five core differential metabolites were subsequently identified, including 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropanoic acid, inosine 5′-triphosphate, methylcysteine, N-cinnamylglycine, and small peptide (L-tyrosine–L-aspartate). Through multiple comparisons, we also screened biomarkers of each type of milk. Our metabolomic data showed significant inter-species differences in the composition and concentration of some compounds, such as organic acids, amino acids, sugars, nucleotides, and their derivatives, which may affect the overall flavor properties of the milk sample. These findings provided insights into the molecular basis underlying inter-species variations in milk flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability credentialling is the communication of environmental, social, economic, or animal-welfare-related information about a producer or product. Demand for sustainability credentials has been increasing and the aim of this study was to describe the main drivers for this kind of information in Australian red meat value chains that reach consumers across Australia and internationally, mainly in Asia, the USA, and the Middle East. The mixed methods approach included consultation with red meat processors. Desk-based research explored drivers from outside the value chain identified in the consultation. Little evidence was found that consumers are a driver of sustainability credentialling. The main drivers were in the global financial system, expressed in coordinated climate action policies by financial service providers and emerging government climate-related financial legislation. The inclusion of Scope 3 emissions extends coverage to most value chain participants. Net zero transitioning presents many risks to red meat value chains, potentially involving costly interventions and greater difficulty accessing financial services, with direct implications for production costs and asset values. Urgent action is recommended to achieve the formal recognition and use of climate metrics that differentiate the management strategies that are applicable to short-lived biogenic methane compared to CO2 to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is the most consumed liquid food in the world due to its high nutritional value and relatively low cost, characteristics that make it vulnerable to adulteration. One of the most common types of milk adulteration involves the undeclared addition of cow's milk to milk from other mammalian species, such as goats, sheep, buffalo or donkeys. The incidence of such adulteration not only causes a crisis in terms of commercial market and consumer uncertainty but also poses a risk to public health, as allergies can be triggered by proteins in undeclared cow's milk. In this study, a specific qualitative touchdown (TD) PCR method was developed to detect the undeclared addition of cow's milk in goat and sheep milk based on the discrimination of the peak areas of the melting curves after the modification of bovine-specific primers. The developed methodology has high specificity for the DNA templates of other species, such as buffalos and donkeys, and is able to identify the presence of cow's milk down to 1%. Repeatability was tested at low bovine concentrations of 5% and 1% and resulted in %RSD values of 1.53–2.04 for the goat–cow assay and 2.49–7.16 for the sheep–cow assay, respectively. The application of this method to commercial goat milk samples indicated a high percentage of noncompliance in terms of labeling (50%), while a comparison of the results to rapid immunochromatographic and ELISA kits validated the excellent sensitivity and applicability of the proposed PCR methodology that was able to trace more adulterated samples. The developed assays offer the advantage of multiple detection in a single run, resulting in a cost- and time-efficient method. Future studies will focus on the applicability of these assays in dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The production of small ruminant autochthonous breeds in the Centre region of Portugal is practiced under grazing, exposing animals to parasitic infections. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm parasitic infection and identify risk factors to define appropriate control measures. Fecal samples of 203 goats and 208 sheep from 30 herds, located in three districts in the Centre region of Portugal, were collected and analyzed. The overall prevalence of lungworm infection was 57.7%, significantly higher in goats (95.6%) than in sheep (20.7%). The risk of lungworm infection was 29.7, 7.4, or 8.7 times higher for sheep dewormed with albendazole, mebendazole plus closantel, or ivermectin plus clorsulon, respectively, than for those dewormed with eprinomectin. Additionally, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites was investigated in 307 fecal samples and an overall prevalence of infection of 86.3% was observed, also significantly higher in goats (93.2%) than in sheep (79.9%). Considering the high prevalence and the burden of lungworm parasitic infection, it is urgent to determine its economic impact and the repercussions in animal health in the Centre region of Portugal to establish appropriate therapeutic guidelines. The production of small ruminant autochthonous breeds in the Centre region of Portugal is practiced in a semi-extensive husbandry system, exposing animals to parasitic infections. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and identify risk factors. Fecal samples of 203 goats and 208 sheep from 30 herds were collected per rectum and subjected to the modified Baermann test. The overall prevalence of infection was 57.7%, significantly higher in goats (95.6%) than in sheep (20.7%) (p < 0.001). According to the binary logistic regression model, sheep dewormed with albendazole, mebendazole plus closantel, or ivermectin plus clorsulon presented a risk of Protostrongylidae infection 29.702, 7.426, or 8.720 times higher, respectively, than those dewormed with eprinomectin. Additionally, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites was investigated in 307 fecal samples using Mini-FLOTAC®. The overall prevalence of infection was 86.3%, also significantly higher in goats (93.2%) than in sheep (79.9%) (p < 0.001). Strongyle-type eggs were the most frequently identified, both in sheep (69.8%) and goats (87.8%), followed by Eimeria oocysts (40.3% in sheep and 68.9% in goats). Considering the high prevalence and the burden of lungworm parasitic infection, it is urgent to determine its economic impact and the repercussions in animal health in the Centre region of Portugal to establish appropriate therapeutic guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk holds a high nutritional value and is associated with diverse health benefits. The understanding of its composition of (poly)phenolic metabolites is limited, which necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the subject. This study aimed at analyzing the (poly)phenolic profile of commercial milk samples from cows and goats and investigating their sterilization treatments, fat content, and lactose content. Fingerprinting of phenolic metabolites was achieved by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). Two hundred and three potential microbial and phase II metabolites of the main dietary (poly)phenols were targeted. Twenty-five metabolites were identified, revealing a diverse array of phenolic metabolites in milk, including isoflavones and their microbial catabolites equol and O-desmethylangolensin, phenyl-γ-valerolactones (flavan-3-ol microbial catabolites), enterolignans, urolithins (ellagitannin microbial catabolites), benzene diols, and hippuric acid derivates. Goat's milk contained higher concentrations of these metabolites than cow's milk, while the sterilization process and milk composition (fat and lactose content) had minimal impact on the metabolite profiles. Thus, the consumption of goat's milk might serve as a potential means to supplement bioactive phenolic metabolites, especially in individuals with limited production capacity. However, further research is needed to elucidate the potential health effects of milk-derived phenolics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oocyte competence of prepubertal females is lower compared to that of adults, mainly because they originate from small follicles. In adult females, the germinal vesicle (GV) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been associated with oocyte competence. This study aimed to analyze GV chromatin configuration and EGFR expression in prepubertal goat and sheep oocytes obtained from small (<3 mm) and large (≥3 mm) follicles and compare them with those from adults. GV chromatin was classified from diffuse to condensed as GV1, GVn, and GVc for goats and NSN, SN, and SNE for sheep. EGFR was quantified in cumulus cells (CCs) by Western blotting and in oocytes by immunofluorescence. Oocytes from prepubertal large follicles and adults exhibited highly condensed chromatin in goats (71% and 69% in GVc, respectively) and sheep (59% and 75% in SNE, respectively). In both species, EGFR expression in CCs and oocytes was higher in prepubertal large follicles than in small ones. In adult females, EGFR expression in oocytes was higher than in prepubertal large follicles. In conclusion, GV configuration and EGFR expression in CCs and oocytes were higher in the large than small follicles of prepubertal females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an evaluation of seventeen newly produced recombinant trivalent chimeric proteins (containing the same immunodominant fragment of SAG1 and SAG2 of Toxoplasma gondii antigens, and an additional immunodominant fragment of one of the parasite antigens, such as AMA1, GRA1, GRA2, GRA5, GRA6, GRA7, GRA9, LDH2, MAG1, MIC1, MIC3, P35, and ROP1) as a potential alternative to the whole-cell tachyzoite lysate (TLA) used in the detection of infection in small ruminants. These recombinant proteins, obtained by genetic engineering and molecular biology methods, were tested for their reactivity with specific anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies contained in serum samples of small ruminants (192 samples of sheep serum and 95 samples of goat serum) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The reactivity of six recombinant trivalent chimeric proteins (SAG1-SAG2-GRA5, SAG1-SAG2-GRA9, SAG1-SAG2-MIC1, SAG1-SAG2-MIC3, SAG1-SAG2-P35, and SAG1-SAG2-ROP1) with IgG antibodies generated during T. gondii invasion was comparable to the sensitivity of TLA-based IgG ELISA (100%). The obtained results show a strong correlation with the results obtained for TLA. This suggests that these protein preparations may be a potential alternative to TLA used in commercial tests and could be used to develop a cheaper test for the detection of parasite infection in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pre-weaning mortality (PWM) is a major source of economic loss and welfare concern for goat producers. PWM is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors, and it varies across goat breeds and production systems. Despite its importance, there is limited research on risk factors and genetic analysis of PWM in goats. In this study, we aimed to identify fixed risk factors associated with PWM and estimate genetic parameters for PWM traits in a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats. This study found that PWM is influenced by several factors, including birth weight, season, litter size, sex, dam age, breed, and heterosis. Furthermore, PWM has low to moderate heritability, and there are strong genetic correlations among different PWM traits defined at different pre-weaning stages. These findings provide valuable insights for goat producers to optimize their herd management and breeding programs to reduce PWM. The objectives of this study were to evaluate fixed risk factors associated with PWM and to estimate genetic parameters for PWM. A total of 927 birth records from a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats born between 2016 and 2023 at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC) were used for this study. Four binary traits were studied: D0–3 (death within 3 days after birth), D4–60 (death between 4 and 60 days), D61–90 (death between 61 and 90 days), and D0–90 (death within 90 days). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with PWM traits. Bayesian threshold models and Gibbs sampling were used to estimate the genetic parameters. Birth weight, season, litter size, sex, dam age, breed, and heterosis were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the PWM traits. Heritability estimates were 0.263, 0.124, 0.080, and 0.207, for D0–3, D4–60, D61–90, and D0–90, respectively. The genetic correlations between the studied traits ranged from 0.892 (D0–3 and D0–90) to 0.999 (D0–3 and D61–90). These results suggest that PWM in goats is influenced by both non-genetic and genetic factors and can be reduced by management, genetic selection, and crossbreeding approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Optimal reproductive performance on goat farms is an important trait in terms of production and economics. From a genetic perspective, understanding molecular mechanisms through the use of RNA-seq technology can help us better understand goat herds. In this study, a whole-transcriptome sequencing approach was used to identify lncRNA, circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression in the ovaries of Chongming white goats in terms of high and low fecundity during the estrus phase. These results were helpful in terms of further studying the molecular mechanisms of goat reproduction. Reproductive performance is one of the most important economic traits in the goat industry. Increasing the number of goats is an effective measure to improve production efficiency and reduce production costs. Ovaries are important reproductive organs in female mammals that directly affect the estrous cycle and reproductive abilities. Understanding the complex transcription network of non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs) and messenger RNA (mRNA) could lead to significant insights into the ovarian regulation of the reproductive processes of animals. However, the whole-transcriptome analysis of the non-coding RNAs and mRNA of the ovaries in Chongming white goats between high-fecundity (HP) and low-fecundity (LP) groups is limited. In this study, a whole-transcriptome sequencing approach was used to identify lncRNA, circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression in the ovaries of Chongming white goats during the estrus phase using RNA-Seq technology. More than 20,000 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 10,000 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 3500 circular RNAs (circRNAs), and 1000 micro RNAs (miRNAs) were identified. A total of 1024 differential transcripts (724 mRNAs, 112 lncRNAs, 178 circRNAs, and 10 miRNAs) existing between the HP and the LP groups were revealed through a bioinformatics analysis. They were enriched in the prolactin signaling pathway, the Jak–STAT signaling pathway, and the GnRH signaling pathway, as well as various metabolic pathways. Differentially expressed mRNAs (such as LYPD6, VEGFA, NOS3, TNXB, and EPHA2) and miRNAs (such as miR-10a-5p) play key roles in the regulation of goat ovaries during the estrus phase. The enrichment of pathways related to reproduction, such as the Hippo, Hedgehog, PI3K–AKT, and MAPK signaling pathways, suggests that they might be involved in the prolificacy of goat ovaries. Overall, we identified several gene modules associated with goat fecundity and provided a basis for a molecular mechanism in the ovaries of Chongming white goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leizhou goats are famous for their delicious meat but have inferior growth performance. There is little information on rumen-protected fat (RPF) from the Leizhou goat. Hence, we observed the effects of RPF on growth, fecal short-chain fatty acids, and bacteria community with respect to Leizhou goats. Twelve goats (13.34 ± 0.024 kg) were selected and assigned randomly to one of two treatments: (1) a control diet (CON) and (2) 2.4% RPF with a control diet (RPF). The final body weight and average daily gain (ADG) were greater (p < 0.05), and the dry matter intake (DMI): ADG was lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. There were no differences in DMI between the CON and RPF groups. The concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids, acetate, propionate, and butyrate were lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. The relative abundances of Ruminococcus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Treponema, norank_f__norank_o__RF39, Eubacterium_siraeum_group, and Ruminococcus_torques_group were lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. The relative abundances of Bacteroides, norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, norank_f__Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, norank_f__Oscillospirale-UCG-010, Oscillospiraceae_UCG-002, and Family_XIII_AD3011_group were greater (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. It was concluded that RPF could improve the goats' growth performance by regulating their fecal bacteria communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infects many hosts, including humans and animals, in which it causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In China, it has been found in domestic animals such as pigs, cattle, deer, and minks; however, MRV prevalence in small ruminants is still unknown, and a rapid, specific, quantification assay for clinical detection of animal samples is urgently needed. In this study, we established a TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection targeting the conserved L1 gene. The method was optimized, and the specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability were used to assess quality. We used this method for MRV detection in goat and sheep samples. The overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), and the test showed a significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. MRV clearly showed seasonal prevalence, with a high positive rate of infections in goats and sheep from September to April. Small ruminants under two months of age were susceptible to MRV infection. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of MRV infection and provides the first evidence of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts in this country. Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infections are ubiquitous in multiple mammalian species including humans, and mainly causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection based on the primers and probe designed within the conserved L1 gene. The qRT-PCR assay was evaluated for its sensitivity, specificity, efficiency and reproducibility. It was found that the detection sensitivity was equivalent to 10 DNA copies/μL, and the standard curves had a linear correlation of R2 = 0.998 with an amplification efficiency of 99.6%. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV%) were in the range of 0.29% to 2.16% and 1.60% to 3.60%, respectively. The primer sets specifically amplified their respective MRV segments and had the highest detection sensitivities of 100.25 TCID50/mL with amplification efficiencies of 99.5% (R2 = 0.999). qRT-PCR was used for MRV detection from samples of sheep, goats, and calves from four regions in China, and the overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), whereas 17/429 (4.0%) were detected by RT-PCR and 14/429 (3.3%) by virus isolation. The qRT-PCR assay showed significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. Results from an epidemiological survey indicated that the positive rate of MRV in rectal swabs from sheep and goats tested in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang were 9/80 (11.3%), 12/93 (12.9%) and 14/128 (10.9%), respectively. In goats and sheep, MRV prevalence was obviously associated with season and age, with a high positive rate of more than 8% during September to April and approximately 13% in small ruminant animals under two months of age. This is the first instance of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, thus broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts. Consequently, primer optimization for qRT-PCR should not only prioritize amplification efficiency and specificity, but also sensitivity. This assay will contribute to more accurate and rapid MRV monitoring by epidemiological investigation, viral load, and vaccination efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the increasing occurrence of anthelmintic-resistant strains of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants, various alternative control strategies have been investigated, such as those based on the induction of protective immune responses by immunisation with parasite antigens. In this study, the protective activity of somatic antigens from adult worms of Teladorsagia circumcincta purified by affinity chromatography on thiol-sepharose was analysed in goats. After challenge, the enriched products induced a slight reduction in the cumulative faecal egg counts (21%) and in the number of worms (23.3%), with a greater effect on female worms, which also showed a reduction in parameters related to their fertility. These parasitological findings were associated with a Th2 immune response, with a prominent local humoral response and an eosinophilic infiltrate in the gastric mucosa (negatively associated with the fertility of female worms and the number of worms, respectively), as well as an infiltration of MCHII+, CD4+, IgG+ and IgA+ cells. However, several analyses showed an increase in CD8+ cells in the mucosa, as well as IL-2 expression in the gastric lymph nodes, which may have been associated with inhibition of protective responses or with the development of mixed Th1/Th2 responses, a finding that should be analysed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was the presentation of quantitative characteristics regarding the scientific content and bibliometric details of the relevant publications. In total, 156 papers were considered. Most papers presented original studies (n = 135), and fewer were reviews (n = 21). Most original articles (n = 101) referred to work involving cattle. Most original articles described work related to the diagnosis (n = 72) or pathogenesis (n = 62) of mastitis. Most original articles included field work (n = 75), whilst fewer included experimental (n = 31) or laboratory (n = 30) work. The tissue assessed most frequently in the studies was milk (n = 59). Milk was assessed more frequently in studies on the diagnosis (61.1% of relevant studies) or pathogenesis (30.6%) of the infection, but mammary tissue was assessed more frequently in studies on the treatment (31.0%). In total, 47 pathogens were included in the studies described; most were Gram-positive bacteria (n = 34). The three bacteria most frequently included in the studies were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 55 articles), Escherichia coli (n = 31) and Streptococcus uberis (n = 19). The proteomics technology employed more often in the respective studies was liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), either on its own (n = 56) or in combination with other technologies (n = 40). The median year of publication of articles involving bioinformatics or LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics was the most recent: 2022. The 156 papers were published in 78 different journals, most frequently in the Journal of Proteomics (n = 16 papers) and the Journal of Dairy Science (n = 12). The median number of cited references in the papers was 48. In the papers, there were 1143 co-authors (mean: 7.3 ± 0.3 co-authors per paper, median: 7, min.–max.: 1–19) and 742 individual authors. Among them, 15 authors had published at least seven papers (max.: 10). Further, there were 218 individual authors who were the first or last authors in the papers. Most papers were submitted for open access (n = 79). The median number of citations received by the 156 papers was 12 (min.–max.: 0–339), and the median yearly number of citations was 2.0 (min.–max.: 0.0–29.5). The h-index of the papers was 33, and the m-index was 2. The increased number of cited references in papers and international collaboration in the respective study were the variables associated with most citations to published papers. This is the first ever scientometrics evaluation of proteomics studies, the results of which highlighted the characteristics of published papers on mastitis and proteomics. The use of proteomics in mastitis research has focused on the elucidation of pathogenesis and diagnosis of the infection; LC-MS/MS has been established as the most frequently used proteomics technology, although the use of bioinformatics has also emerged recently as a useful tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive technology that is of interest both for diagnosing mastitis and describing possible interactions between milking machine liners and teat tissue in cows. Very little was known about these applications in dairy goats, although this species is increasingly affected by mastitis, which is not only of infectious origin. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the thermal responses of teats to the milking machine in goats with different levels of udder inflammation. IRT fails to detect mastitis early in goats and cannot be used for prophylactic purposes in goats. IRT measurements were influenced by milking, and the results differed between unbalanced glands and different teat shapes, indicating differences in the interaction of the machine with the teat tissue. The IRT, therefore, appears to be a good instrument for measuring the effects of the milking machine. In the future, it could help to better adapt the machine equipment and settings to the animals and improve the efficiency and well-being of the animals. There is a need to develop tools for mastitis management in goats and to measure the effects of milking machines on teats. Infrared thermography (IRT), as shown in cows, was a good candidate for early mastitis detection and focusing on milking equipment and settings implicated in potential problems. The aim of this study was to test IRT to detect udder inflammation and the effects of mechanical milking on teats in relation to inflammation status, udder balance, and teat shape in Alpine goats. IRT spectra were compared before and after milking in 551 goats from three commercial herds compared to their individual SCC (somatic cell count). We found no regression or trend between logSCC and IRT measurement or response to milking, even in highly inflamed goat udders. The effect of milking was significant (p < 0.05) with global temperature reduction after milking, but differences were seen between teat parts and unbalanced half udders. The highest reduction in skin temperature was observed at the teat orifice (−1.06 ± 0.05) and the lowest at the teat barrel (−0.37 ± 0.05). The teats with long barrels showed more IRT reactions, which clearly indicates poor adaptation to the liners used. In conclusion, the IRT was not able to detect mastitis, but it is a good tool to diagnose the effects of the milking machine in order to adapt milking equipment and settings to the goats and improve their welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nutritional interventions in ruminant livestock management is an essential step to achieving high quality meat and milk products for diversified and competitive global markets. The alterations of fat content, fatty acid profile, and the associated sensory properties of meat and milk have attracted much attention; they are accomplished with the managing of feeding systems and nutrition of ruminant diets. The literature has detailed various feed types and ingredients that facilitate the sustainable use of abundant, novel by-products, secondary products, non-conventional feedstuffs, or minimally processed biological materials within ruminant farming systems. Relevant to major feed ingredients is the knowledge of their macro- and micronutrients, as well as their bioactivity and functionality in meat and milk products. This review examines these and provides an overview of various concentrate feeds and forages that are fed to ruminants, and how they relate to the fat content and fatty acid profile of their meat and milk products. These insights will be valuable to those seeking to understand and adopt nutritional measures for the enhancement of domesticate ruminant meat and milk products. The meat and milk products from domesticated ruminants are important foods within a balanced diet, offering a rich source of energy, protein, fats, minerals, and vitamins. The sensorial properties of meat and milk are mainly linked to their fat content and fatty acid composition, which are influenced by the feeding background or nutrient composition of diets. While several studies have investigated the nutritional effects on the fat content and fatty acid profile of ruminant meat and milk, as well as their relationship with sensorial properties, a comprehensive overview of these effects is lacking. This paper summarises current literature and discusses changes to fatty acid composition (including ω-3 concentrations), fattiness, and associated quality traits of sheep, goat, beef cattle, alpaca, and llama meat that can be achieved by using different forages or feeds in a total mixed ration. Additionally, it presents the shelf life and nutritional value of meat, milk, and cheeses from the milk of dairy cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep as influenced by a ruminant diet. Further advancement in these areas will promote the sustainability of ruminant production and its associated feeding systems in achieving premium quality animal-derived foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Caprine arthritis encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV). This virus can impair the quality of goat's milk, lamb, and other goat products. Most goats are latently infected with this virus and become long-term carriers, so the development of a rapid and accurate diagnostic method is necessary. Therefore, we constructed a TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay and used it to detect CAEV in sheep in eastern China. We found that the prevalence of CAEV infection in sheep in eastern China was 0.77%. This method yields positive results when testing positive references and negative results when testing negative controls or other viruses. The consistency of these results was confirmed through repeating the experiment multiple times. It demonstrated excellent sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility and holds great promise for its potential application in clinical and field samples in the future. Caprine arthritis encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus that infects goats, sheep, and other small ruminants. An outbreak of CAEV could be extremely harmful to the goat farming industry and could cause severe economic losses. We designed specific primers and probes for the gag gene and established a TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. This method's correlation coefficient (R2) was >0.999, and the sensitivity of the assay to the plasmid-carried partial gag gene was approximately 10 copies/µL, 1000 times higher than that of conventional PCR. No specific fluorescence was detected for other sheep viruses. Using this method, we tested 776 asymptomatic sheep blood samples and 4 neurodegenerative sheep brain samples from six farms in eastern China, and the positivity rate was 0.77% (6/780). The gag gene was partially sequenced in the three positive samples and compared with the sequences from other representative strains in GenBank. The results revealed that all three strains belonged to the B1 subtype and were most closely related to the strains from Shanxi and Gansu, previously isolated in China, with their homology ranging from 97.7% to 98.9%. These results suggest that the designed RT-qPCR assay can be used to detect subclinical CAEV in sheep and that the virus is still present in eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the impact that diets supplemented with grape seed cake rich in polyphenols had on lactating goats. The study investigated the quantity and quality of goat milk, the metabolic profile of blood, and the antioxidative status. The study involved 24 French Alpine dairy goats throughout their lactation period. The goats were, on average, 5 years old (±three months) and in the fourth lactation. The experiment lasted for 58 days. The control group (CON) had a diet without grape seed cake (GSC). The experimental groups were given a diet containing 5% and 10% GSC on a dry matter basis (GSC5 and GSC10, respectively). A slightly higher milk production, as well as protein and fat milk content, were found in GSC5 and GSC10, but the differences were not significant. Goat milk in the GSC10 group exhibited significantly higher activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase, as well as decreased concentrations of GUK and SCC. The feeding treatments did not affect significant differences in hematological and biochemical indicators, except for the BHB content, which can be associated with a higher energy value of feed containing GSC. There was an observed elevation in the activity of SOD within the blood of GSC5, and GSC10 was measured as well. The determined changes justify the supplementation of GSC rich in polyphenols to goat feed, especially in the amount of 10%, as it can reduce stress caused by lactation, which is known as a very stressful production period for animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Carpatina goat breed from Romania is very well adapted to a range of contrasting and very different environments compared to highly specialized breeds. This adaptability makes them an important source of genetic variability for future breeding programs. To improve breeding strategies, it is necessary to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Carpatina breed. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate genetic diversity and inbreeding of old native Carpatina goat populations from different geographical areas in Romania using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 67 individuals. Diversity, measured by average expected heterozygosity (HE), was 0.418, and average observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.420. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) estimation showed that the average r2 value was 0.32. The effective population size (Ne) estimate 13 generations ago ranged between 98 and 185. These results based on SNP data are very useful for the application of proper management and for designing goat breeding programs. Animal husbandry is one of man's oldest occupations. It began with the domestication of animals and developed continuously, in parallel with the evolution of human society. The selection and improvement of goats in Romania was not a clearly defined objective until around 1980. In recent years, with the increasing economic value given to goats, breeding programs are becoming established. In Romania, a few goat genetic studies using microsatellites and mtDNA have been carried out; however, a systematic characterization of the country's goat genomic resources remains missing. In this study, we analyzed the genetic variability of Carpatina goats from four distinct geographical areas (northern, north-eastern, eastern and southern Romania), using the Illumina OvineSNP60 (RefSeq ARS1) high-density chip for 67 goats. Heterozygosity values, inbreeding coefficients and effective population size across all autosomes were calculated for those populations that inhabit high- and low-altitude and high- and low-temperature environments. Diversity, as measured by expected heterozygosity (HE), ranged from 0.413 in the group from a low-temperature environment to 0.420 in the group from a high-temperature environment. Within studied groups, the HT (high temperature) goats were the only group with a positive but low average inbreeding coefficient value, which was 0.009. After quality control (QC) analysis, 46,965 SNPs remained for analysis (MAF < 0.01). LD was calculated for each chromosome separately. The Ne has been declining since the time of domestication, having recently reached 123, 125, 185 and 92 for the HA (high altitude), LA (low altitude), HT (high temperature) and LT (low temperature) group, respectively. Our study revealed a low impact of inbreeding in the Carpatina population, and the Ne trend also indicated a steep decline in the last hundred years. These results will contribute to the genetic improvement of the Carpatina breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the interrelationships between the composition, coagulation, and colour of sheep, goat, and cow milk to identify their similarities and differences and to assess whether the relationships between the variables are common to all species or whether they emerge from species-specific relationships. For this purpose, 2400 individual milk samples were analysed. The differences and similarities between the species were determined using discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. The results show a clear differentiation between species. Sheep milk stands out for its cheesemaking capacity and shows similarities with goat milk in composition and coagulation. Nonetheless, colorimetry highlights a greater similarity between sheep and cow milk. Composition and colorimetry were more discriminating than coagulation, and the variables that differed the most were fat, protein, curd yield, lightness, and red–green balance. Using canonical correlation, the interrelationships between the different sets of variables were explored, revealing patterns of common variation and species-specific relationships. Colorimetric variables were closely related to milk solids in all species, while in sheep milk, an inverse relationship with lactose was also identified. Furthermore, a strong relationship was revealed for all species between colour and curd yield. This could be modelled and applied to estimate the technological value of milk, proving colorimetry as a useful tool for the dairy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating the genetic lineages of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) currently circulating in Burkina Faso. As part of PPR surveillance in 2021 and 2022, suspected outbreaks in different regions were investigated. A risk map was produced to determine high-risk areas for PPR transmission. Based on alerts, samples were obtained from three regions and all sampled localities were confirmed to fall within PPR high risk areas. We collected swab samples from the eyes, mouth, and nose of sick goats. Some tissue samples were also collected from dead animals suspected to be infected by PPRV. In total, samples from 28 goats were analysed. Virus confirmation was performed with RT-PCR amplification targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene. Partial N gene sequencing (350 bp) was carried out using the RT-PCR products of positives samples to characterise the circulating lineages. Eleven sequences, including ten new sequences, have been obtained. Our study identified the presence of the PPRV lineage IV in the three studied regions in Burkina Faso with a genetic heterogeneity recorded for the sequences analysed. Previously published data and results of this study suggest that PPRV lineage IV seems to be replacing lineage II in Burkina Faso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, an antimicrobial effect on Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), the main etiological agent of contagious agalactia (CA), was reported in vitro with strains of Enterococcus spp. from ovine and caprine milk. The aim of this work was to evaluate the interaction of Ma with the same Enterococcus spp. isolated from other anatomical locations (vagina) and other bacterial populations present in milk, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). The vaginal Enterococcus strains and the raw milk CNS were isolated from sheep and goats. Experimental in vitro conditions were prepared to assess the growth of Ma with and without the presence of these strains. The selected vaginal strains were identified as Enterococcus (E.) hirae and E. mundtii, and the strains of CNS were identified as Staphylococcus petrasii. Different interactions of Ma with ovine and caprine wild vaginal strains of Enterococcus and dairy strains of CNS are described for the first time: Ma can grow exponentially during 15 h with the selected strains, although with certain strains, its optimal growth can be negatively affected (p < 0.05). The colonization and/or excretion of Ma could, therefore, be influenced by certain endogenous bacterial strains. Our results increase the knowledge about possible bacterial ecology dynamics surrounding CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study elucidated the specific alterations in rumen microbiota associated with subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) triggered by a high-concentrate diet. It demonstrated that SARA can lead to a decrease in microbial richness and diversity in the rumen of goats. SARA could potentially hinder the growth of rumen bacterial communities. Within the context of SARA, the antioxidant capacity of goats diminishes, while inflammatory cytokines increase, potentially raising the risk of health issues in growing goats. Understanding this is crucial for predicting changes in goat microbiota and improving the efficiency and well-being of ruminants through nutritional approaches such as dietary interventions. This study aims to explore the antioxidant, immune, and enzyme metabolism aspects in goats experiencing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Furthermore, we seek to elucidate the relationship between the symbiotic microbiota of goats and their metabolic function. Sixteen goats were equally divided into two groups and fed a normal-concentrate diet (NC, 55% concentrate) or a high-concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate) for five weeks. We found that the HC diet reduced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.022) and increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (p = 0.015), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (p = 0.008) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.002) concentration of goats. Simultaneously, the HC diet significantly increased the concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and amylase (AMY) in the blood and rumen fluid of goats (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis in the rumen of goats revealed that the HC diet decreased bacterial richness and diversity, as evidenced by the changed observed species, Chao 1, PD whole tree and Shannon when compared to the NC diet (p < 0.01). The proportion of Proteobacteria increased while that of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres significantly decreased with the HC diet (p < 0.05). The Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 in rumen was notably decreased when a diet was switched from 55% concentrate diet to 90% concentrate diet (p < 0.05). Additionally, microbial functional potentials deduced that the HC diet significantly increased the abundance of the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) (ko00020) associated with carbohydrate metabolism (p = 0.028). Furthermore, the HC diet significantly increased the glutathione metabolism (ko00480) associated with the metabolism of other amino acids (p = 0.008). Our findings suggested that SARA reduced the total antioxidant capacity and increased levels of inflammatory factors in goats, as well as decreased rumen bacterial species and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Globally, small ruminants are important animals since they provide food, income, and livelihoods for millions of people, contributing to biodiversity conservation and offering a range of products with cultural, economic, and environmental significance. Central nervous system (CNS) diseases in sheep and goats encompass a range of conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord. The diseases afflicting these animals can have significant economic and health implications. The diagnosis and management of CNS diseases affecting small ruminants often require the involvement of veterinary care. The timely identification and treatment of these conditions are essential to minimizing the impact on the affected animals and preventing the spread of contagious diseases to herds or flocks. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid can be an important tool in the diagnosis of CNS diseases in small ruminants, and knowledge about the results of CSF analysis in relation to CNS diseases is of importance and can contribute to improving the health statuses of these animals and humans. The present study investigated the cytological pattern of cerebrospinal fluid in sheep and goats with CNS diseases. Infectious diseases of bacterial origin were determined to be the most common underlying causes for CSF alterations in sheep and goats, followed by parasitic disorders. Alterations in the cellular components of cerebrospinal fluid in small ruminants with CNS disease were mainly due to an increase in monocytic and lymphocytic cells with variable quantitative expression, whereas neutrophilic pleocytosis and cytoalbuminologic dissociation were rare findings. Background: Small ruminants often suffer from central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis can be used as a diagnostic tool in this regard. In small animals and cattle, specific CSF patterns have been defined for specific disease categories. No data exist regarding CSF results obtained from small ruminants and their association with certain CNS diseases. Objectives: The objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate CSF findings obtained from sheep and goats and to identify possible CSF patterns associated with disease categories. Methods: CSF samples and medical records from 44 sheep and 27 goats were included in this study. All animals were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Zurich of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Zurich of the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich between 2003 and 2016 and had either a confirmed CNS diagnosis or showed CSF changes without a specific CNS diagnosis. Results: Mixed mononuclear pleocytosis was the most common CSF pattern in sheep (25%), followed by monocytic pleocytosis (21%). Lymphocytic pleocytosis was most frequently found in goats (37%). In 75% of sheep and 56% of goats, infectious CNS diseases were diagnosed, with listeriosis being the most common infectious disease in both species, followed by parasitic disorders (nematodiasis and coenurosis). Conclusions: The cytologic CSF patterns in small ruminants are mainly based on the increased presence of monocytic and lymphocytic cells with variable quantitative expression, whereas neutrophilic pleocytosis and cytoalbuminologic dissociation were rare findings. Infectious diseases of bacterial origin were the most common underlying causes for CSF alterations in sheep and goats, followed by parasitic disorders. The pleocytosis type is not helpful for differentiating disease types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEA) is present worldwide as a serious contaminant of food and feed and causes male reproductive toxicity. The implication of paraptosis, which is a nonclassical paradigm of cell death, is unclear in ZEA-induced male reproductive disorders. In this study, the toxic effects of ZEA on the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and the related mechanisms of paraptosis were detected in goats. ZEA exposure, in vivo, caused a significant decrease in spermatozoon quality, the destruction of seminiferous tubules, and damage to the BTB integrity. Furthermore, ZEA exposure to Sertoli cells (SCs) in vitro showed similar dysfunction in structure and barrier function. Importantly, the formation of massive cytoplasmic vacuoles in ZEA-treated SCs corresponded to the highly swollen and dilative endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and paraptosis inhibition significantly alleviated ZEA-induced SC death and vacuolization, which indicated the important contribution of paraptosis in ZEA-induced BTB damage. Meanwhile, the expression of ER stress marker proteins was increased after ZEA treatment but decreased under the inhibition of paraptosis. The vacuole formation and SC death, induced by ZEA, were remarkably blocked by ER stress inhibition. In conclusion, these results facilitate the exploration of the mechanisms of the SC paraptosis involved in ZEA-induced BTB damage in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Animal reproduction performance is crucial in husbandry. Immunocastrated animals serve as an ideal animal model for studying testicular function. During androgen suppression, the testis undergoes dramatic developmental and structural changes, including the inhibition of hormone secretion and spermatogenesis. Methods: To characterize this process, we investigated the effects of castration using a recombinant B2L and KISS1 DNA vaccine, and then identified functional genes in the testes of Yiling goats using RNA-seq and WGS. The experimental animals were divided into three groups: the PVAX-asd group (control), PBK-asd-immunized group, and surgically castrated group. Results: The results demonstrated that the administration of the recombinant PBK-asd vaccine in goats elicited a significant antibody response, and reduced serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), resulting in smaller scrotal circumferences and decreased sexual desire compared to the control group. In addition, RNA transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of the testes revealed that the biological processes after immunocastration mainly focused on the regulation of cell matrix adhesion, histone acetylation, negative regulation of developmental processes, apoptosis, and activation of the complement system and the thrombin cascade reaction system. Then, we integrated the whole-genome sequencing and testis transcriptome, and identified several candidate genes (FGF9, FST, KIT, TH, TCP1, PLEKHA1, TMEM119, ESR1, TIPARP, LEP) that influence steroidogenesis secretion and spermatogenesis. Conclusions: Multiple pathways and polygenic co-expression participate in the response to castration vaccines, altering hormone secretion and spermatogenesis. Taken together, our atlas of the immunocastration goat testis provides multiple insights into the developmental changes and key factors accompanying androgen suppression, and thus may contribute to understanding the genetic mechanism of testis function. Joint analysis of whole genome sequencing and RNA-seq enables reliable screening of candidate genes, benefiting future genome-assisted breeding of goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]