Milk proteins as mastitis markers in dairy ruminants - a systematic review

Mastitis is one of the most impacting diseases in dairy farming, and its sensitive and specific detection is therefore of the greatest importance. The clinical evaluation of udder and mammary secretions is typically combined with the milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and often accompanied by its bacteriological culture to identify the causative microorganism. In a constant search for improvement, several non-enzymatic milk proteins, including milk amyloid A (M-SAA), haptoglobin (HP), cathelicidin (CATH), and lactoferrin (LF), have been investigated as alternative biomarkers of mastitis for their relationship with mammary gland inflammation, and immunoassay techniques have been developed for detection with varying degrees of success. To provide a general overview of their implementation in the different dairy species, we carried out a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. Our review question falls within the type “Diagnostic test accuracy questions” and aims at answering the diagnostic question: “Which are the diagnostic performances of mastitis protein biomarkers investigated by immunoassays in ruminant milk?”. Based on 13 keywords combined into 42 searches, 523 manuscripts were extracted from three scientific databases. Of these, 33 passed the duplicate removal, title, abstract, and full-text screening for conformity to the review question and document type: 78.8% investigated cows, 12.1% sheep, 9.1% goats, and 6.1% buffaloes (some included more than one dairy species). The most frequently mentioned protein was M-SAA (48.5%), followed by HP (27.3%), CATH (24.2%) and LF (21.2%). However, the large amount of heterogeneity among studies in terms of animal selection criteria (45.5%), index test (87.9%), and standard reference test (27.3%) resulted in a collection of data not amenable to meta-analysis, a common finding illustrating how important it is for case definitions and other criteria to be standardized between studies. Therefore, results are presented according to the SWiM (Synthesis Without Meta-analysis) guidelines. We summarize the main findings reported in the 33 selected articles for the different markers and report their results in form of comparative tables including sample selection criteria, marker values, and diagnostic performances, where available. Finally, we report the study limitations and bias assessment findings.

Comparative study on plasma fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin concentrations during pregnancy and postpartum period in Bulgarian native goats

The goal of this study was to determine the plasma concentrations of the acute phase proteins fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin during the pregnancy and postpartum period in goats. The experiment was carried out with six clinically healthy Bulgarian native goats, aged 4-6 years, weighing 49-56 kg, reared at the Biobase of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Stara Zagora. Blood samples for assay of plasma concentrations of the studied acute-phase proteins during pregnancy were collected over 7-day intervals, from the 14th to the 147th day of pregnancy. During the postpartum period, samples were obtained at 3-day intervals between the 1st and 15th postpartum day, as well as once on the 20th and 30th day after the parturition. The results indicated that throughout the first trimester of the pregnancy, the highest average plasma fibrinogen values were established on the 14th day, while significantly lower values (P<0.05) were measured on the 21st day. At this period, the values of plasma ceruloplasmin were the lowest on the 28th day and significantly higher (P<0.01) at the end of the first pregnancy trimester. During the second trimester of the pregnancy there was a clear tendency towards a decrease in the levels of the examined acute phase proteins. At the last pregnancy trimester, an increase in the levels of both acute phase proteins was observed. During the postpartum period there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the levels of ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen on the 20th day, compared to the first postpartum day. The established average values of the examined acute phase proteins could be used for comparison purposes in cases of pathological conditions during the pregnancy and post partum period of goats.

Effect of Different Finishing Strategies and Steer Temperament on Animal Welfare and Instrumental Meat Tenderness

Simple Summary

Animal welfare is one of the most important quality attributes for meat consumers and a potential tool for differentiation in farms where husbandry is based on extensive rearing systems and high animal welfare standards. However, there is not enough contextualized scientific information in relation to these systems and some others that are emerging, with a higher level of intensification. In this experiment, we compared animal welfare between different fattening systems, through the combination of several indicators regarding physiology, behavior, health, productivity, and meat tenderness. Animal temperament, as well as its impact on welfare and meat quality, was also considered. From our results, we concluded that finishing strategies based on pastures that ensure an adequate level of nutrition and health would be more appropriate for fattening animals, from both the animal welfare and the meat quality perspectives. Intensification up to certain levels (pasture plus supplement), without deprivation of certain behaviors and with constant monitoring of health, should provide productive benefits without compromising animal welfare. In confined systems with 9 m² per animal, the challenge is greater in relation to animal welfare because of restrictions of important behaviors and greater risks of dietary diseases. It is considered that, if some conditions of the confined system are improved, such as the space available per animal and the strict prevention and constant monitoring of diet disorders, it could be a valid alternative for fattening cattle. Temperament could be improved through good handling, with positive impacts on welfare, productivity, and meat tenderness.

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different fattening systems from pasture to concentrate and temperament on animal welfare (AW) and meat quality (MQ). Eighty-four Hereford steers were randomly assigned to the following groups: T1, pasture (4% of animal live weight: LW); T2, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (0.6% LW); T3, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (1.2% LW); T4, an ad libitum concentrate treatment. Temperament was assessed by three individual tests: crush score, flight time, and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). The flight zone was also registered for each treatment. AW was assessed through the integration of indicators of productivity, physiology, and behavior, as well as by monitoring the health status within each treatment. Shear force was registered for MQ. Differences in average daily gain were due to the different energetic composition of the diets (T4 > T3 > T2 > T1) and were not attributable to animal welfare problems. Animals from T4 had the higher average daily gain (ADG) but welfare was negatively affected, being evident through physiological indicators, the restriction or deprivation of relevant behaviors, diet-related diseases, and mortality. T1, T2, and T3 did not appear to compromise animal welfare. However, strict preventive measures and monitoring should be taken during the habituation process and when using any new diet that includes concentrate, because of possible dietary diseases. Shear force values were lower in T1. None of the animals in our experiment were excitable or aggressive, but there was a positive response to handling in all treatments. In addition, regardless of diet, calmer animals had higher average daily gain and lower shear force values; thus, temperament appears to have a significant influence on productivity and meat quality.