Emilia Bagnicka

Cathelicidins are small, cationic, antimicrobial peptides found in humans and other species, including farm animals (cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits and in some species of fish). These proteolytically activated peptides are part of the innate immune system of many vertebrates. These peptides show a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, enveloped viruses and fungi. Apart from exerting direct antimicrobial effects, cathelicidins can also trigger specific defense responses in the host. Their roles in various pathophysiological conditions have been studied in mice and humans, but there are limited information about their expression sites and activities in livestock. The aim of the present review is to summarize current information about these antimicrobial peptides in farm animals, highlighting peptide expression sites, activities, and future applications for human and veterinary medicine.

., concentrate according to their milk yield, with mineral and vitamin premix, chalk and NaCl. From June to September hay was substituted by fresh grass. The diets were balanced according to INRA feeding standards. Milk samples were taken from each goat on lactation day 60, 120 and 200 (lactation stage 1, 2 and 3, respectively). With the progress of lactation highly favourable changes took place in the most desirable monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids content of a total of fatty acids. The coefficients of the calculated Pearson’s correlation showed that the concentration of MUFA and PUFA (including conjugated linoleic acid – CLA) which are most desirable from the nutritive point of view, is negatively correlated with the daily milk yield. KEY WORDS: fatty acids /goats / milk / lactation

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of milk yield and stage of lactation on the activity of liver enzymes, cholesterol, and vitamin C concentration in blood of milking cows. The experiment was carried out on Polish Holstein-Friesian Black and White dairy cows with two different milk yield levels: M - medium (about 7000 kg per lactation) and H - high (about 10 000 kg per lactation). In blood serum, AST, ALT, GGT, CHOL, and vitamin C were estimated. The AST and ALT activities in the blood serum were lower in M group than in H group, however within M and H groups there were no differences in both aminotransferases activity between the 60th and the 200th day of lactation. Differences in GGT activity (P ≤ 0.01), CHOL (P ≤ 0.05), and vitamin C level (P ≤ 0.01) in blood serum were found between both stages of lactation. Negative correlations between vitamin C level with somatic cell count and milk yield traits were observed, that may indicate an increase in oxidative processes in high-yielding dairy cows. The achieved results may be used in diagnostics and/or evaluation of herds from the point of view of biochemical and pathophysiological processes.