Estrus synchronization is commonly employed to enhance reproductive efficiency and enable fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in goats. This study assessed estrus performance and reproductive outcomes in Etawah Crossbreed (PE) goats subjected to various synchronization protocols. Fifty multiparous does were randomly allocated to five groups (n = 10): P1, PGF₂α + eCG; P2, double PGF₂α; P3, progesterone sponge; P4, progesterone sponge + eCG; and P5, Ovsynch. Estrus was monitored for four days post-treatment. FTAI was conducted with frozen Boer buck semen at 48 hours after treatment completion and repeated 12 hours later. Pregnancy was determined by transabdominal ultrasonography 40–60 days post-insemination. Parameters evaluated included estrus response, onset and intensity, non-return rate (NRR), pregnancy, kidding, fecundity, and prolificacy. Estrus response ranged from 90% to 100% with no significant differences among treatments (P > 0.05). The progesterone sponge protocol (P3) resulted in the earliest estrus onset (20.00 ± 5.31 h; P < 0.05), while estrus intensity remained comparable across groups. NRR ranged from 50% to 70%, with the highest rates observed in P1 and P2 (70%). Pregnancy and kidding rates varied from 30% to 70%, with P1 and P2 achieving the highest outcomes. Overall, PGF₂α + eCG and double PGF₂α protocols yielded the most favorable reproductive results, whereas the progesterone sponge protocol induced the earliest estrus. These results indicate that hormonal synchronization is an effective approach for enhancing FTAI efficiency in PE goats.
This study investigated the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in broilers, their antibiogram pattern, detection of multidrug-resistance (MDR) genes and the antibacterial activity of a bacteriophage cocktail against MDR isolates. 300 samples (liver, intestine, and cloacal swabs) were collected from broilers. Salmonella isolates were confirmed by bacteriological methods. Antibiograms were performed using ten antibiotics. Molecular detection of resistance genes (blaTEM, mcr-1, aadA1, and mphA) was conducted on eight isolates. Two lytic bacteriophages (ϕST and ϕSE) were recovered from poultry farm sewage and characterized by growth inhibition tests and electron microscopy.The overall prevalence of Salmonella was 28% (84/300). Seven serotypes were identified, with S. Pullorum (30.9%) and S. Typhimurium (23.8%) being the most predominant. Disk diffusion revealed 100% resistance to amoxicillin in S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, followed by gentamicin and doxycycline. All targeted resistance genes were detected in the eight isolates. Both phages demonstrated strong, dose-dependent growth inhibition, with optimal activity at a multiplicity of infection of 10. The phage cocktail showed superior and sustained antibacterial activity compared to individual applications. Transmission electron microscopy classified ϕST as Siphoviridae (103 nm head, 129 nm tail) and ϕSE as Podoviridae (96.5 nm head, 85.4 nm tail).This study is the first to isolate and characterize this specific phage cocktail (ϕST and ϕSE) in Egypt, demonstrating synergistic activity against MDR Salmonella from broilers. The findings highlight the alarming prevalence of MDR Salmonella carrying multiple resistance genes and suggest that phage therapy represents a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for controlling salmonellosis in poultry.
The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to study the available evidence and identify knowledge gaps in studies that investigated ruminal acidosis in ruminants in Iraq. The study was conducted according to the updated guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses that are known as PRISMA 2020 statement. The scientific search engines included the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals Database (IASJ) and Google Scholar. The search strings used to track peer-reviewed publications for local studies was (“ruminal acidosis” AND Iraq). The pooled ruminal pH means in animals with/without ruminal acidosis (or induced acidosis) and the mean difference were measured using the random-effects model. A total of 195 records were retrieved from the search engines, in addition to one PhD dissertation obtained from personal contact. The identified studies included 4 interventional and 4 observational studies conducted between 1982 and 2021 across 5 Iraqi governorates, with a total of 220 cows, 18 sheep, 20 goats, and 45 buffaloes. The pooled ruminal pH means for animals with and without ruminal acidosis were 5.17 (95% CI = 4.55, 5.80) and 7.02 (95% CI = 6.69, 7.34), respectively. The weighted mean difference between ruminal pH in animals with acidosis compared to those without ruminal acidosis was -1.90 (95% CI = -2.73, -1.08). In conclusion, induced and field-occurring ruminal acidosis under Iraqi management and feeding practices are considered subacute and can trigger several ruminal- and systemic-associated pathophysiological changes consistent across all study designs and ruminant species.
The uncontrolled use of antibiotics in broiler farms has emergence MDR bacteria. E. coli is one of the most common Enterobacteriaceae implicated in various infections in broilers and is also a major bacterium with multidrug resistance (MDR). Accordingly, the aim of this study was to detect MDR E. coli in diseased broiler chickens. A total of 80 chickens representing different broiler farms in Mosul city were included in this study. Standard bacterial isolation and molecular identification were performed to identify E. coli. Antibiotic sensitivity tests (AST) was performed targeting 9 antibiotic classes to cover the most commonly used antibiotics. The study found that the isolation rate of E. coli was 45% (36/80). Complete resistance was reported for tetracycline and cefotaxime at 100% (36/36). In contrast, lower resistance was reported for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, at 38.9% (14/36), with P < 0.05. MDR E. coli accounted for 77.8% (28/36) of the isolates. Furthermore, 71.4% (20/28) of the MDR E. coli showed resistance to more than 3 antibiotic classes, with 0.4 MDRI. It was concluded that MDR E. coli was predominant in broiler chickens, suggesting a potential risk for human’s health. Strict control measures for antibiotics used in broiler production should be considered to avoid further complications and the spread of MDR E. coli to humans and the environment.
Prolactin (PRL) is a candidate gene for milk-production traits, but genotype effects may differ among cattle populations. This study evaluated PRL-RsaI polymorphism and its association with milk productivity in 600 cows from the Rostov Region, Russian Federation (300 Holstein and 300 Ayrshire). A 156-bp fragment of exon 3 was genotyped by PCR-RFLP with RsaI. In Holsteins, allele frequencies were A = 0.10 and B = 0.90 and genotype frequencies were AA = 0.10, AB = 0.00, and BB = 0.90, in Ayrshires, allele frequencies were A = 0.90 and B = 0.10 and genotype frequencies were AA = 0.90, AB = 0.00, and BB = 0.10. Both samples showed a pronounced departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium because no heterozygotes were observed, although 54 AB animals per breed would be expected from the observed allele frequencies. Accordingly, genotype-productivity comparisons were restricted to the two observed homozygous groups and should be interpreted cautiously. In Holsteins, PRLBB cows had higher 305-day milk yield than PRLAA cows (10109.1 vs 9845.5 kg; +263.6 kg, 2.68%, P < 0.05) and higher milk-fat yield (376.1 vs 363.3 kg, P < 0.05). No significant genotype-associated differences in the analyzed milk traits were detected in Ayrshires (P > 0.05). The Holstein association should therefore be regarded as preliminary and breed-specific. Independent confirmation of genotype calls by a high-resolution or sequence-based method, followed by replication in additional samples with adjustment for major environmental and pedigree effects, is required before PRL-RsaI can be considered for marker-assisted selection.
