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Chniter M, Dhaoui A, Houidheg A, Atigui M, Hammadi M. Socio-economic aspects and farming practices of goats in Southern Tunisia. Trop Anim Health Prod 2024; 56:220. [PMID: 39039394 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to describe socio-economic aspects, farming practices and production limitations of goats by surveying 53 farms holding 5507 head in the regions of Tataouine-Tunisia. It was revealed that goats represented a major source of income for most of the producers (66.1%). Approximately 35.8% of the farmers had not received formal education, with the majority (56.6%) having been engaged in goat breeding for over 10 years. Additionally, 50.9% of stockholders relied on technical knowledge for animal breeding. The investigated herds were mostly (97.4%) comprised of local goat breeds. The most common management system was semi-intensive (49.1%) based on grazing in communal rangelands and supplementation with agricultural by-products and concentrates. The fertility, fecundity and prolificacy rates were 91.3 ± 8.3, 109.8 ± 19.5 and 127.0 ± 15.4%, respectively. The main reasons for keeping goats were their major contribution to the income by the sale of male kids and the provision of milk for home consumption. Sale of male kids at an age of 7.7 months was practiced mostly via intermediaries (94.3%) and rarely directly to butchers and markets (5.7%). The total amount of milk produced on each farm was on average 15.1 l/day, and more than half of farmers (54.7%) consumed goat milk as part of their daily diet. The majority (71.7%) of respondents locally processed milk into Leben, Rayeb and cheese because the goat milk market faced constraints in the Tataouine regions, mainly in terms insufficient milk production and low consumer acceptability. Goats contribute to the income source in rural zones of southern Tunisia, where their breeding is mainly for the purpose of meat sale and the provision of milk for home consumption. The development of goat milk market can represent an added value to this sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Chniter
- Department of Animal Sciences, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia.
- Laboratoire d'Elevage et de la Faune Sauvage-LR16IRA04, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia.
| | - Amel Dhaoui
- Laboratoire d'Elevage et de la Faune Sauvage-LR16IRA04, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
| | - Achref Houidheg
- Department of Animal Sciences, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Moufida Atigui
- Laboratoire d'Elevage et de la Faune Sauvage-LR16IRA04, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Hammadi
- Laboratoire d'Elevage et de la Faune Sauvage-LR16IRA04, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
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Adeola AC, Bello SF, Abdussamad AM, Mark AI, Sanke OJ, Onoja AB, Nneji LM, Abdullahi N, Olaogun SC, Rogo LD, Mangbon GF, Pedro SL, Hiinan MP, Mukhtar MM, Ibrahim J, Saidu H, Dawuda PM, Bala RK, Abdullahi HL, Salako AE, Kdidi S, Yahyaoui MH, Yin TT. Scrapie-associated polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in Nigerian native goats. Gene X 2023; 855:147121. [PMID: 36535463 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.147121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie is a fatal prion protein disease stiffly associated with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) of the prion protein gene (PRNP). The prevalence of this deadly disease has been reported in small ruminants, including goats. The Nigerian goats are hardy, trypano-tolerant, and contribute to the protein intake of the increasing population. Although scrapie has been reported in Nigerian goats, there is no study on the polymorphism of the PRNP gene. Herein, we evaluated the genetic and allele distributions of PRNP polymorphism in 132 Nigerian goats and compared them with publicly available studies on scrapie-affected goats. We utilized Polyphen-2, PROVEAN and AMYCO programs to examine structural variations produced by the non-synonymous SNPs. Our study revealed 29 SNPs in Nigerian goats, of which 14 were non-synonymous, and 23 were novel. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) in the allele frequencies of PRNP codons 139, 146, 154 and 193 in Nigerian goats compared with scrapie-affected goats, except for Northern Italian goats at codon 154. Based on the prediction by Polyphen-2, R139S and N146S were 'benign', R154H was 'probably damaging', and T193I was 'possibly damaging'. In contrast, PROVEAN predicted 'neutral' for all non-synonymous SNPs, while AMYCO showed a similar amyloid propensity of PRNP for resistant haplotype and two haplotypes of Nigerian goats. Our study is the first to investigate the polymorphism of scrapie-related genes in Nigerian goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeniyi C Adeola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China; Centre for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
| | - Semiu F Bello
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Abdussamad M Abdussamad
- Centre for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Akanbi I Mark
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Secretariat, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Oscar J Sanke
- Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jalingo, Nigeria
| | - Anyebe B Onoja
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Lotanna M Nneji
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, United States
| | - Nasiru Abdullahi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Sunday C Olaogun
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Lawal D Rogo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Manasseh P Hiinan
- Small Ruminant Section, Solomon Kesinton Agro-Allied Limited Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Muhammad M Mukhtar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Jebi Ibrahim
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria
| | - Hayatu Saidu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Philip M Dawuda
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Lesotho, South Africa
| | - Rukayya K Bala
- Centre for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Hadiza L Abdullahi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Adebowale E Salako
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Samia Kdidi
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Institut des Régions Arides, Université de Gabes, Route El Djorf, Km 22.5, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Habib Yahyaoui
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Institut des Régions Arides, Université de Gabes, Route El Djorf, Km 22.5, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
| | - Ting-Ting Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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Gurau MR, Negru E, Ionescu T, Udriste AA, Cornea CP, Baraitareanu S. Genetic Polymorphism at 15 Codons of the Prion Protein Gene in 156 Goats from Romania. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081316. [PMID: 35893054 PMCID: PMC9394368 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The variability of prion protein gene (PRNP) codons and the frequency of alleles (K222, D146, and S146) that appear to confer genetic resistance to classical scrapie are still unknown in several goat populations/breeds prevalent in Romania. This work aims to assess the genetic polymorphism at 15 PRNP codons in Romanian goat populations to inform the development of goat breeding programs for scrapie resistance. Methods: Whole blood and hair follicles from Carpathian (50), French Alpine (53), and Banat’s White (53) breed goats were sampled to extract genomic DNA for genetic analyses and Sanger sequencing. In the targeted goat groups, one classical scrapie-positive Banat’s White goat was included. Results: The codons without polymorphisms were G37G, W102W, N146N, R151R, S173S, and I218I. The following non-synonymous polymorphisms of PRNP were recorded: P110P, P110S, P110T, T110T, G127G, G127S, I142I, I142M, T142I, H143H, P143P, R143R, R154R, H154R, P168P, Q168Q, Q211Q, Q211R, Q222Q, H222Q, K222K, S240S, P240P, P240S, and S240P. Conclusions: PRNP polymorphism was recorded in 60% (9/15) of codons. The scrapie-positive Banat’s White goat had G37G, W102W, T110T, G127G, I142I, H143H, N146N, R151R, R154R, P168P, S173S, R211R, I218I, Q222Q, and S240S. The K222 allele had a frequency of 6% (3/50) in Carpathian, 9.43% (5/53) in Banat’s White, and 15.09% (8/53) in French Alpine. Therefore, the polymorphisms detected in this sample of Romanian goat breeds are too rare to design a breeding program at the current time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rodica Gurau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, District 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.G.); (E.N.); (T.I.)
| | - Elena Negru
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, District 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.G.); (E.N.); (T.I.)
| | - Teodor Ionescu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, District 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.G.); (E.N.); (T.I.)
| | - Anca Amalia Udriste
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology, Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd, District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Călina Petruța Cornea
- Faculty of Biotechnologies, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd, District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Stelian Baraitareanu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, District 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.G.); (E.N.); (T.I.)
- Correspondence:
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Gelasakis AI, Boukouvala E, Babetsa M, Katharopoulos E, Palaska V, Papakostaki D, Giadinis ND, Loukovitis D, Langeveld JPM, Ekateriniadou LV. Polymorphisms of Codons 110, 146, 211 and 222 at the Goat PRNP Locus and Their Association with Scrapie in Greece. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082340. [PMID: 34438796 PMCID: PMC8388637 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie is considered an endemic disease in both sheep and goats in Greece. However, contrary to sheep, in goats more than one prion protein (PrP) polymorphism has been recognized as a candidate for resistance breeding against the disease. For an impression, candidates which are circulating, (i) brain samples (n = 525) from scrapie-affected (n = 282) and non-affected (n = 243) animals within the national surveillance program, and (ii) individual blood samples (n = 1708) from affected (n = 241) and non-affected (n = 1467) herds, in a large part of mainland Greece and its islands, were collected and assayed. A dedicated Taqman method was used to test for amino acid polymorphisms 110T/P, 146N/S/D, 211R/Q, and 222Q/K. Highly prevalent genotypes were 110TT, 146NN, 211RR, and 222QQ. The frequencies of polymorphisms in blood and negative brain samples for codons 110P, 211Q, and 222K were 4.0%, 3.0%, and 1.9%, respectively, while 146D (0.7%) was present only on Karpathos island. Codon 110P was exclusively found in scrapie-negative brains, and homozygous 110P/P in two scrapie-negative goats. It is concluded that breeding programs in Karpathos could focus on codon 146D, while in other regions carriers of the 110P and 222K allele should be sought. Case-control and challenge studies are now necessary to elucidate the most efficient breeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios I. Gelasakis
- Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evridiki Boukouvala
- Veterinary Research Institute, ELGO-DIMITRA, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.B.); (M.B.); (E.K.)
| | - Maria Babetsa
- Veterinary Research Institute, ELGO-DIMITRA, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.B.); (M.B.); (E.K.)
| | | | - Vayia Palaska
- National Reference Laboratory for TSEs, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, 41110 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Dimitra Papakostaki
- Veterinary Center of Thessaloniki, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Nektarios D. Giadinis
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | | | - Jan P. M. Langeveld
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands;
| | - Loukia V. Ekateriniadou
- Veterinary Research Institute, ELGO-DIMITRA, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.B.); (M.B.); (E.K.)
- Correspondence:
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