Background: Oxidative stress is one of the leading factors responsible for poor postthaw semen quality because of overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) over neutralizing antioxidants present in semen. Mainly two ROS generation sites are present in spermatozoa, that is, mitochondria and plasma membrane. Therefore, the idea of targeting these specific sites for minimization of ROS production with the compounds having known mechanism of actions was built up as a core for this research.Objective: Present study was done to investigate the effects of Mito TEMPO and acetovanillone individually and in combination on freezability of buffalo spermatozoa. Materials and Methods:For the experiment, semen extender was supplemented with Mito TEMPO (50 μM), acetovanillone (50 μM), and a combination of Mito TEMPO + acetovanillone (50 μM+ 50 μM), designated as Group II, Group III, and Group IV, respectively. Control group without any supplementation was designated as Group I. A total of 24 ejaculates with individual progressive motility (IPM) of ≥70% were selected for the study. After final dilution, filling-sealing of straws, equilibration, and freezing were done as per the standard procedure. Semen samples were evaluated for IPM, plasma membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and cholesterol to phospholipids (C/P) ratio at both fresh and post-thaw stages. Evaluation of ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), capacitation status (CTC assay), and in vitro fertility potential were conducted only on frozen-thawed samples.Results: The addition of Mito TEMPO (50 μM) and acetovanillone (50 μM) individually and in combination significantly (p < 0.05) improved post-thaw semen quality in terms of IPM, plasma membrane integrity, TAC, cholesterol content, C/P ratio, MMP, Chlortetracycline (CTC)-Full (F) pattern, and zona binding ability of buffalo spermatozoa, while significantly (p < 0.05) reduced ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and capacitation like changes as compared to the control group.Discussion: As Mito TEMPO acts as an SOD mimetic and also detoxifies ferrous iron at the mitochondria level, it aids in neutralization of excessive ROS production and minimizes oxidative stress-related damages that enhances the antioxidant potential of

The body weight and testicular and epididymal parameters of Afar, Long-eared Somali (LES), and Woyto-Guji (WG) breeds of goat were investigated. A total of 405 randomly selected bucks of Afar (n = 135), Long-eared Somali (n = 135), and Woyto-Guji (n = 135) were included in this study. The overall mean scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV), testicular length (TL), testicular weight (TW), body weight (BW), epididymal weight (EW), body condition score, and testicular diameter (TD) measurements in all bucks were 20.8 ± 1.94 cm, 68.1 ± 6.18, 4.96 ± 0.79 cm, 70.0 ± 5.66 g, 22.1 ± 2.98 Kg, 9.09 ± 1.88 g, 2.55 ± 0.68, and 4.28 ± 0.45 cm, respectively. Significant (p < 0.05) breed differences in SC, TD, TL, TW, BW, EW, and TV were recorded. Long-eared Somali (LES) breed was heaviest and Afar breed was the lightest and Woyto-Guji (WG) had the average BW. In all breeds, the parameters were positively correlated. In Afar breed, the TW had a significant correlation with BW (r = 0.90) and SC (r = 0.65). In LES BW was highly correlated with TD (r = 0.96) and TL (r = 0.96). In WG, TW was significantly correlated with TD (r = 0.94), EW (r = 0.90), TL (r = 0.89), and BW (r = 0.82). In multiple regression analysis the linear combinations of BCS, SC, and BW significantly predicted TW, TL, TV, TD, and EW in all breeds. In conclusion, Long-eared Somali breed displayed greater BW and scrotal and testicular traits.

Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and identify Pasteurella spp. associated with pneumonic lungs showing respiratory signs of goats in Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A total of 2400 goats that were slaughtered at the Hashim's Ethiopian Livestock and Meat Export abattoir, Ethiopia were randomly selected for this cross-sectional study during the period of October 2013 to July 2014. Detail ante-mortem, and post-mortem (PM) lesions were inspected, and the suspected samples were collected aseptically from the lungs. Among 2400 goats, 31(1.29%) goats were not slaughtered because these goats showed severe clinical signs. Thus, 2369 goats were slaughtered finally. The collected samples were subjected for isolation and identification of bacterial species following conventional methods such as culture and biochemical examinations. Results: Out of 2400 goats examined, 960(40%) animals showed different abnormal respiratory signs. Based on PM findings, 16.21% (n=384/2369) lungs were found as pneumonic, of which 78.38% (n=301/384) were found to be associated with Pasteurella organism. The overall prevalence of Pasteurella organism (Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida) was 12.71% (n=301/2369). In this study, youngers and goats with medium body condition score (BCS) had greater probability (P<0.05) to be infected by the bacteria though there was no difference in exposure to the organism among goats from Arsi, Bale and Hararghe. On the other hand, out of 301 positive cases, 274(91.03%) were caused by M. haemolytica, and 27(8.97%) were caused by P. multocida isolates. Conclusion: Pasteurella organism especially M. hemolytica is one of the most common causes of pneumonic pasteurellosis in caprine at the study area. So, chemoprophylaxis needs to be given to small ruminants prior to transportation or other stress conditions.

BACKGROUND: Semen cryopreservation results in deleterious effects on spermatozoa, including lipid peroxidation and a reduction in the total antioxidant components of seminal plasma. The ultimate outcome of these changes is a reduction in post-thaw semen quality. A mitochondrial derived peptide, humanin, a potent cytoprotective and antioxidant agent was used in the present study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a mitochondrial-derived peptide, humanin to improve the post-thaw quality of buffalo spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 ejaculates from three Murrah buffalo bulls (n=6 each) were collected. Each ejaculate was divided into four aliquots. The first aliquot was diluted with standard EYTG dilutor (Group I, control), whereas the other three aliquots were diluted with EYTG supplemented with 2 μM (Group II), 5 μM (Group III) and 10 μM humanin (Group IV), respectively. Semen was evaluated for physico-morphological and functional attributes such as progressive motility, viability, abnormality, acrosome integrity, plasmamembrane integrity of fresh samples, pre-freeze and post-thaw stages. Oxidative stress parameters [lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] were also measured at the pre-freeze and post-thaw stages. RESULTS: Humanin s upplementation resulted in significantly higher (p≤0.05) post- thaw motility in all treatment groups and, higher (p≤0.05) viability in Groups III and IV in comparison to the control at the post-thaw stage. Spermatozoa with intact acrosome and plasma membran e were higher (p≤0.05) in Groups III and IV as compared to Group s I and II. The LPO levels at the post- thaw stage were found to be lower (p≤0.05) in all treatment groups versus the control group, whereas, higher (p≤0.05) TAC value s were recorded in Groups III and IV in comparison to the control and Group II. CONCLUSION: Humanin supplementation in the extender improved the freezabilty of buffalo spermatozoa.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of different types of gross testicular disorders in bulls, and to evaluate the associations with sampling year, age, and body condition. Materials and methods:In this study, a total of 398 apparently healthy bulls were randomly selected that were brought from different parts of eastern Ethiopia to the Haramaya University abattoir for slaughtering during the period from June 2014 to September 2016. Ante-and post-mortem examinations of the bulls were employed. Visual inspection, palpation, serial and systematic dissections into the parenchyma of the testes and scrotum were performed to determine the presence and the extent of gross pathological changes. Results: Out of 398 bulls, 209(52.5%) were affected by one or more gross testicular abnormalities of unidentified causes. Bilateral testicular hypoplasia was the most prevalent (9.8%; n=39/398) testicular abnormality, followed by unilateral testicular hypoplasia (9%; n=36/398), testicular hematoma (9%; n=36/398), orchitis (8.3%; n=33/398), testicular degeneration (6.5%; n=26/398), scrotal wound (6.3%; n=25/398) and epididymitis (2.5%; n=10/398). Unilateral cryptorchidism was the least prevalent (1%; n=4/398). Age and body condition did not affect the prevalence of any abnormality (P>0.05) except in scrotal wound which was significantly varied among body condition categories (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study reveals that the incidence of gross testicular abnormalities was 52.5% in bulls. Thus, attention should be given to reproductive management of bulls in Ethiopia.