The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a camelid native to South America, but the species has wide distribution outside its natural habitat and is found in various countries on other continents, Poland being one in Europe. Parasitic infections affect the productivity and health of alpacas. The aim of the study was to estimate the parasite loads in alpacas kept in Poland with the use of two direct centrifugal flotation methods.

Akabane virus (AKAV) has been detected in a variety of host species in China, but there are only limited records of its occurrence in goats. However, more attention needs to be paid to understanding the diversity of viruses in this species. The aim of the study was to explore the genotype characteristics and variation trend of AKAV and their relationship with virulence in Yunnan, China. Blood samples were collected from goats during routine surveillance of goat diseases in Yunnan province in 2019. The AKAV CX-01 strain was isolated using BHK-21 cells. To understand pathogenicity, the virus was intraperitoneally (IP) and intracerebrally (IC) inoculated into suckling mice and tissue samples were subsequently analysed histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Akabane virus CX-01 strain induced encephalitis and impairment of the central nervous system with fatal consequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ORF sequences of the small segments indicated that the AKAV isolate used was most closely related to the GD18134/2018 Chinese midge and bovine NM BS/1strains, while phylogenetic analysis based on the medium segments showed a close relationship between CX-01 and the Chinese GLXCH01 strain. The CX-01 isolate was related to AKAV genogroup Ia and probably originated from a recombination of different strains.

This study aimed to monitor oxidative stress parameters including total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level during the healing process in hair goats with metritis. This study was carried out on a total of 25 hair goats with metritis (n=10; Group 1) and healthy (n=15; Group 2). The beginning of the study was accepted as day 0. In both Group 1 and Group 2, blood samples were collected on days 0 (first measurement day), 14 (second measurement day) and 28 (third measurement day) of the study for TAS, TOS and TNF-α analyzes. In addition, oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated using TAS and TOS values.It was found that TAS level decreased in Group 1 compared to Group 2 at the first measurement day (p<0.05). However, TOS, OSI and TNF-α levels increased in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p<0.01). At the second measurement day, TOS and OSI values were higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p<0.05).In conclusion, the antioxidant system weakened, oxidative stress and TNF-α levels increased in animals with metritis compared to healthy animals. However, at the third measurement time, all parameters became similar between groups.