Hematological parameters were studied in 163 apparently healthy goats comprised of 3 indigenous breeds at Adami-Tulu Agricultural Research Centre (ATARC) and Sheno, Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), Ethiopia. Data were analyzed for the effect of breed, sex, age, and season. Hemoglobin (Hb) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for Arsi-Bale (AB) than Longeared Somali (LES) and Central Highland (CH) goats. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) for LES than the other two breeds. White blood cells (WBC) (P < 0.05), neutrophils (P < 0.0001) and basophils (P < 0.0001) were higher in CH than in the other two breeds. Conversely, lymphocytes were lowest (P < 0.0001) in CH goats compared to other breeds. Female goats had significantly (at least P < 0.05) higher red blood cells (RBC), PCV, WBC, lymphocytes and eosinophils than male goats. In contrast, males had higher (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and neutrophils than females. There was no significant age difference for the erythrocytic series but the age difference was highly significant (P < 0.0001) for the leukocytic series. WBC and lymphocytes decreased as age increased while the reverse was true for neutrophils and eosinophils. Seasonal variation was also considerable for both erythrocytic and leukocytic series. RBC, Hb, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the indigenous goat breeds were remarkably different compared to most other exotic goat breeds.

International audience

International audience

International audience

International audience

International audience

International audience

International audience

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a human assay for quantification of carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), assess the influence of age on plasma CTX-I concentration, investigate the relationship between plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations, and determine whether concentrations of plasma CTX-I or serum osteocalcin fluctuate in circadian manner in horses. HORSES: 75 clinically normal horses. PROCEDURE: Cross-reactivity between equine serum CTX-I and CTX-I antibodies in an automated electrochemiluminescent sandwich antibody assay (ECLIA) was evaluated via a specificity test (ie, dilution test) and recovery calculation. Serum osteocalcin concentration was measured with an equine-specific osteocalcin radioimmunoassay. To analyze diurnal variations in plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations, blood samples were obtained hourly during a 24-hour period. RESULTS: Results of the dilution test indicated good correlation (r > 0.99) between expected serum CTX-I concentrations and measured serum CTX-I concentrations. The calculated CTX-I recovery was 97.6% to 109.9%. Plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations were correlated. Plasma CTX-I concentration was inversely correlated with age of the horse. No significant circadian variations in plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the fully automated CTX-I ECLIA can be used for evaluation of plasma and serum samples from horses and may be a useful tool to monitor bone metabolism changes. Horses in this study did not have notable diurnal fluctuations in serum osteocalcin and plasma CTX-I concentrations.

The purpose of this in vitro study is to clarify some of the underlying mechanisms leading to the decreased migratory capacity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) during mastitis in dairy cows soon after calving. Surface expression of Mac-1 (CD11b, CR3) on PMN and of CD14 on monocytes was measured in early- (EL), peak- (PL), and midlactation (ML) by flow cytometric analysis. In addition, we evaluated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on CD11b surface expression in PMN at different stages of lactation in a whole blood model. During EL, while resting monocytes expressed diminished levels of CD14, the basal expression of CD11b on PMN was not significantly altered. The relative increase of CD11b on PMN after incubation with LPS or TNF-α did not significantly differ among EL, PL, or ML at any of the concentrations tested. The current findings do not support an important role for basal CD11b levels nor for a defective mobilization of CD11b by LPS and TNF-α in the reduced migratory capacity of PMN during EL.