Goat Milk Consumption Research Articles

Perception of Sheep and Goat Milk Consumption among Rural Dwellers in South-Western Nigeria

A total of 120 respondents were purposively selected to study the perception of sheep and goat milk consumption among rural dwellers in South-Western Nigeria. The study showed that most of the respondents (72.5%) are not aware of the consumption of such milk and as such only few (10, 8%) claimed that they have consumed it. Friends, relatives (14.2%) and health personnel (6.7%) were the sources of information on goat and sheep milk consumption to the respondents. Preference of other sources of milk, lack of awareness, traditional belief, odour of the milk and small quantity of the milk were the factors that discourage people from consuming the milk. Many of the respondents (57.7%) have positive perception of the milk. Among the socio-economic characteristics, age (r = 0.58417, 0.0001), educational qualification (X2 = 25.584, p < 0.05), marital status (X2 = 131.87, p < 05) and family size (r = 0.98751, p < 0.05) have significant relationships with the perception of the respondents about the milk.

Perubahan antropometri, kalsium darah, tekanan darah, dan kebugaran fisik akibat asupan susu kambing pada olahragawan

Changes in anthropometry, blood calcium, blood pressure, and physical fitness due to goat's milk intake in athletesBackground: The intake of healthy-balanced nutrition is needed by athletes. The complex nutritional content of goat milk such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral acts as sports nutrition during and after training. Objective: This study aims to analyze the effects of goat milk on physical fitness, anthropometrics, blood calcium, and blood pressure in athletes. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted using healthy human subjects. Subjects were runners (n=10 people) as the control group and gymnasts (n=19 people) as the treatment group, male, age 21-27 years, and healthy. Bodyweight (BW), Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI), blood calcium, Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and physical fitness were examined two times, before and after consuming goat milk. Intervention: fresh goat milk, 250 mg/day (after dinner), and given for 90 days. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test. Results: There was no difference between BW (p=0.07), BMI (p=0.08), and DBP (p=0.24), but instead there was a significant difference in SBP (p=0.00) before and after goat milk intervention in the experimental group. Blood calcium was significantly increased (p=0.00) in the intervention group, whereas reverse decreased significantly (p=0.02) in controls. A significant difference before and after therapy was found in speed (p=0.00), arm muscle endurance (p=0.01), an-aerobic endurance (p=0.00), agility (p=0.02), however, there was no significant difference between leg muscle power (p=0.13), flexibility (p=0.23), an endurance of abdominal muscles (p=0.26), VO2 max (p=1.15) in the intervention group. Conclusions: Regular consumption of goat milk can reduce SBP, increase blood calcium levels, and improve physical fitness (speed, arm muscle endurance, anaerobic endurance, and agility) in athletes. Goat milk is an essential role in sports nutrition for physical fitness and athlete's health.

Sensory evaluation and acceptability of goat milk in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun state

This study was conducted to assess the sensory characteristics and acceptability of goat milk in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. A total of seventy respondents were selected randomly. Milk collected from lactating West African Dwarf goats was pasteurized at a o temperature of 74 C for five minutes, cooled, packaged in small polythene and sealed withmachine and refrigerated. The milk was taken to various settlements in Odeda Local Government of Ogun state for sensory evaluation. Majority of the respondents were students 54.3% only a few 12.9% were traders with a high percentage between the ages of 21-30. Also, 67.1% and 70.0% of the respondents were Christian and Yorubas, respectively. Moreover, 65.7% of respondents were married, while 34.3% were unmarried. The married had a family size of ≤ 2. Majority of the respondents (88.8%) had tertiary education. The small number of respondents 37.1% involved in ruminant production had only 2 years ruminant farming experience and kept fewer than 5 goats. About 60 % of the respondent consumed milk on weekly basis while 6% consumed milk on daily. It was observed that 100% of the respondents preferred cow milk despite the fact that 78.6% of the respondents were aware of goat milk consumption. The taste, colour, odour and flavor of goat milk were rated as Very good by 55.7%, 37.1%, 41.4% and 41.4% of respondents respectively. Majority of the respondents had a favourable disposition towards the taste (75.5%), colour (62.9%), odour (80.0%) and flavour (61.4%) when compared with other milk products in the market. Thus, goat milkt could be taken as alternative to cow milk without any detrimental effect It then become imperative for this positive perception to be explored by the government and other relevant development agencies so as to increase food supply to alleviate protein deficiency and thereby improved the economy.

Tick-borne encephalitis outbreak following raw goat milk consumption in a new micro-location, Croatia, June 2019

In June 2019, the Croatian Institute of Public Health was informed of a cluster of patients with laboratory confirmed tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) from the Gorski Kotar region. Five of the six patients with TBE reported consuming raw (unpasteurized) goat milk in the two week period before symptom onset, and one reported a recent tick bite. To assess risk factors for infection, we selected six control individuals from among healthy family and community members, and conducted a case-control analysis. None of the cases or controls were vaccinated against TBE. Individuals with TBE (cases) had 25 (95 % CI 0.8-1410.2, p = 0.021) times higher odds of raw goat milk consumption compared to healthy controls. Milk samples from 12 goats from the implicated farm were tested for the TBE virus (TBEV) using RT-PCR. TBEV RNA was not detected in the milk, but serological testing of goats and other farm animals yielded evidence of exposure to the virus: Six goats from the flock had TBEV neutralizing antibodies. Our findings suggest that the vehicle for the outbreak was raw goat milk from a single farm. Following public health advice to cease consumption of raw dairy products, no further cases have been reported.

Tick-borne encephalitis due to consumption of raw goat milk, Gorski kotar, 2019

Virus krpeljnog meningoencefalitisa (KME) najčešći je uzročnik infekcija središnjeg živčanog sustava u endemskim područjima srednje Europe. Radi se o prirodno žarišnoj zoonozi, čiji rezervoar čine šumski glodavci, domaće i divlje životinje, a čovjek se zarazi prigodno, ubodom inficiranog krpelja. U posljednje je vrijeme sve više izvješća o epidemijama KME povezanih s konzumacijom svježeg mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda. Cilj je rada prikazati kliničke značajke i tijek bolesti kod oboljelih od KME u tijeku grupiranja u Primorsko- goranskoj županiji (lipanj 2019. godine), povezanog s konzumacijom nepasteriziranog kozjeg mlijeka iz istog izvora. Tri su bolesnika hospitalizirana s kliničkom slikom meningitisa, a kod dvoje se infekcija prezentirala kao febrilna bolest s mijalgijama i općom slabošću. Kod svih je bolesnika infekcija potvrđena serološkom obradom. Niti jedan bolesnik nije bio cijepljen protiv KME niti je imao podatak o ugrizu krpelja. Ovim radom želimo ukazati na zdravstvene opasnosti prehrambenih navika konzumiranja sirovog mlijeka koje u današnje vrijeme postaje sve popularnije, osobito među zagovornicima „zdrave hrane“.

TBE in Bulgaria

First cases of probable tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were reported in 1961 by Andonov et al. in eastern regions of Bulgaria.1 Possible TBE cases with the typical biphasic course, originating from consumption of raw goat milk, were described back in 1953 by Vaptzarov et al. in southern Bulgaria.2 Investigations in the 1960s were able to isolate 3 tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from Haemaphysalis punctata and 1 from Dermatocentor marginatus ticks from goats and sheep in the district of Plovdiv.3 The antigenic properties of these 4 virus strains were identical to the highly virulent strain “Hypr” of the European subtype of TBEV (TBEV-EU).3

Role of Fermented Goat Milk on Liver Gene and Protein Profiles Related to Iron Metabolism during Anemia Recovery

Despite the crucial role of the liver as the central regulator of iron homeostasis, no studies have directly tested the modulation of liver gene and protein expression patterns during iron deficiency instauration and recovery with fermented milks. Fermented goat milk consumption improves the key proteins of intestinal iron metabolism during iron deficiency recovery, enhancing the digestive and metabolic utilization of iron. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fermented goat or cow milk consumption on liver iron homeostasis during iron-deficiency anemia recovery with normal or iron-overload diets. Analysis included iron status biomarkers, gene and protein expression in hepatocytes. In general, fermented goat milk consumption either with normal or high iron content up-regulated liver DMT1, FPN1 and FTL1 gene expression and DMT1 and FPN1 protein expression. However, HAMP mRNA expression was lower in all groups of animals fed fermented goat milk. Additionally, hepcidin protein expression decreased in control and anemic animals fed fermented goat milk with normal iron content. In conclusion, fermented goat milk potentiates the up-regulation of key genes coding for proteins involved in iron metabolism, such as DMT1, and FPN1, FTL1 and down-regulation of HAMP, playing a key role in enhanced iron repletion during anemia recovery, inducing a physiological adaptation of the liver key genes and proteins coordinated with the fluctuation of the cellular iron levels, favoring whole-body iron homeostasis.

Goat Milk Consumption Enhances Innate and Adaptive Immunities and Alleviates Allergen-Induced Airway Inflammation in Offspring Mice.

Goat milk (GM), as compared to cow milk (CM), is easier for humans to digest. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and can improve minor digestive disorders and prevent allergic diseases in infants. It is unclear whether GM consumed in pregnant mothers has any protective effects on allergic diseases in infants. In this experimental study with mice, we found GM feeding enhanced immunoglobulin production, antigen-specific (ovalbumin, OVA) immune responses, and phagocytosis activity. The GM-fed mice had an increasing proportion of CD3+ T lymphocytes in the spleen. Splenocytes isolated from these animals also showed significantly increased production of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10. More importantly, GM feeding during pregnancy and lactation periods can confer protective activity onto offspring by alleviating the airway inflammation of allergic asthma induced by mite allergens. There was a remarkably different composition of gut microbiota between offspring of pregnant mice fed with water or with milk (GM or CM). There was a greater proportion of beneficial bacterial species, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides eggerthii, and Parabacteroides goldsteinii in the gut microbiota of offspring from GM- or CM-fed pregnant mice compared to the offspring of water-fed pregnant mice. These results suggested that improving the nutrition of pregnant mice can promote immunological maturation and colonization of gut microbiota in offspring. This mother-to-child biological action may provide a protective effect on atopy development and alleviate allergen-induced airway inflammation in offspring.

Effect of fermented goat milk on body composition, basal metabolism, and food intake control in rats

Introduction: it is known that diet plays a key role in body composition and affects energy balance. However, scarce information is available in the scientific literature about the influence of food and specific nutrients such us dairy products, a basic food group and an important source of nutrients in the diet. Objective: the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of fermented dairy products (goat or cow milk) on body composition and appetite regulation in adult animals. Material and methods: twenty adult male Wistar albino rats were fed fermented goat or cow milk-based diets for 30 days. The evolution of body composition and plasma concentrations of adipokines (leptine and adiponectine), intermediary metabolism regulating hormones (ghrelin, insulin, thyroid stimulating hormone, triyodotironine, thyroxine), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were analyzed. Results: body weight and body fat percentage were lower (p < 0.001) in rats fed fermented goat milk versus those fed fermented cow milk, whereas lean mass percentage was higher (p < 0.01). Plasma thyroid hormone and insulin concentrations did not show significant differences between diets. The fermented goat milk-based diet decreased ghrelin and adiponectin levels (p < 0.001), and increased leptine and NEFA concentrations (p < 0.001). Conclusion: fermented goat milk consumption decreases adiposity and body weight in adult rats by increasing energy expenditure, lipolysis, and satiety sensation.

Front Cover: Goat Milk Consumption Ameliorates Abnormalities in Glucose Metabolism and Enhances Hepatic and Skeletal Muscle AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Rats Fed with High‐Fat Diets

Front Cover: Goat Milk Consumption Ameliorates Abnormalities in Glucose Metabolism and Enhances Hepatic and Skeletal Muscle AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Rats Fed with High‐Fat Diets

Goat Milk Consumption Ameliorates Abnormalities in Glucose Metabolism and Enhances Hepatic and Skeletal Muscle AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Rats Fed with High-Fat Diets.

Diabetes endangers health and causes serious economic impediment. The aim of this study is to identify the effects of goat milk consumption on glucose metabolism of rats with high-fat (HF) diet. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats are divided into five groups and fed with different diets for 24 weeks: goat-milk-based HF diet (GHF group; goat milk powder+HF diet), cow-milk-based HF diet (CHF group; cow milk powder+HF diet), HF diet, HF diet plus acarbose (HF+A group; acarbose+HF diet), and chow diet (CD group). Fasting glucose in GHF-fed rats are lower than HF-fed rats on weeks 16 and 20. GHF-fed rats display improved insulin sensitivity in oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Compared with HF-fed rats, glycated hemoglobin and triglycerides in GHF-fed rats are lower and high-density lipoprotein level is higher. AMP-activated protein kinase activation (AMPK) in the liver and skeletal muscle is higher in GHF rats than HF rats. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase protein levels in the liver are lower and hexokinase 2 protein level in the skeletal muscle is higher in GHF rats compared with HF rats. Goat milk consumption can ameliorate abnormalities in glucose metabolism, and AMPK pathway in the liver and skeletal muscle plays an important role in the process.

Analysis of factor affecting goat milk consumptions in Binjai City

The study aims to determine the factors that influence the interest of the people of Binjai City to consume goat milk, as well as the relationship of age, education, employment status, income level, and level of preference for consumer perceptions. This research was conducted from June 2017 to July 2017 using a survey method to consumers of goat milk. The results of this study were 68.4% of the people in Binjai City had a good perception of consuming goat's milk, where the remaining 31.6% had an inappropriate perception in consuming goat's milk. Where the variables that affect the interest in public consumption are occupation [0.016] and preference level [0.001], while the education variable [0.053], income [0.845], and age [0.107] do not affect people's consumption interest in Binjai City. The conclusion of this study shows that occupational factors and the level of preference affect the perception of public consumption of goat's milk consumption in Binjai City.

Tüketicilerin keçi sütüne yönelik satın alma niyetlerinin belirlenmesi: Akdeniz Bölgesi örneği

Goat milk has increasing importance in daily food consumption of individuals. This study aims to determine the factors that have influence on goat milk consumption. The research was conducted based on a face to face consumer survey which was applied in the two cities of the south-east part of Turkey, Adana and Mersin. The sample size of the survey was determined as 518 consumers depend on convenience sampling in case of unlimited population size. In this regard, a multivariate probit model was designed to test the intentions for goat milk consumption and purchase. The result of the study shows that place of purchase, bottle type, odour, brand, cheese consumption and homeland are the related factors with goat milk consumption and purchase activities. These results could be useful for understanding consumer attitude towards goat milk and to identify commercial targets and production strategies in future.

Fermented Goat Milk Consumption Enhances Brain Molecular Functions during Iron Deficiency Anemia Recovery.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies worldwide. Iron plays critical roles in nervous system development and cognition. Despite the known detrimental consequences of IDA on cognition, available studies do not provide molecular mechanisms elucidating the role of iron in brain functions during iron deficiency and recovery with dairy components. In this study, 100 male Wistar rats were placed on a pre-experimental period of 40 days and randomly divided in two groups: a control group receiving a normal-Fe diet, (45 mg/kg), and an Fe-deficient group receiving a low-Fe diet (5 mg/kg). At day 40, 10 rats per group were sacrificed to anemia control, and 80 rats were divided into eight experimental groups fed with fermented goat or cow milk-based diets, with normal Fe content or Fe overload (450 mg/kg) for 30 days. IDA decreased most of the parameters related to brain molecular functions, namely dopamine, irisin, MAO-A, oxytocin, β-endorphin, and α-MSH, while it increased synaptophysin. These alterations result in an impairment of brain molecular functions. In general, during anemia recovery, fermented goat milk diet consumption increased dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, synaptophysin, and α-MSH, and decreased MAO-A and MAO-B, suggesting a potential neuroprotective effect in brain functions, which could enhance brain molecular functions.

Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected goats: Monitoring of specific IgG levels in serum and milk during lactation and parasitic DNA detection in milk

The zoonotic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii is one of the major abortive pathogens in small ruminants. Nevertheless, data on T. gondii infection in goats during lactation and on the presence of T. gondii in goat milk are lacking. A longitudinal study was planned in a T. gondii naturally infected dairy goat farm with the aim of (i) evaluating the variation of anti-T. gondii antibodies in blood and milk during the lactation; (ii) identifying the optimal phase during lactation for T. gondii monitoring; (iii) detecting the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk. From March to July 2017, 30 goats in a farm were fortnightly visited seven times and sampled for blood and, when in lactation, for milk. Individual data regarding age, reproductive disorders, and the day of lactation were recorded. For the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in blood and milk a commercial ELISA kit was used. Milk samples (n = 63) of selected nine seropositive animals were also molecularly analysed to amplify a sequence within the ITS1 region of T. gondii. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 63.3% (19/30); a high agreement was obtained between serum and milk results (Spearman's coefficient = 0.793 and Kendall's tau = 0.624), particularly between the 15th and the 60th day of lactation. In the statistical analysis, performed with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), the variable “phase of lactation” was strongly associated to ELISA values obtained in both serum and milk (p-value = 0.0001, F = 5.197, and p-value = 0.016, F = 2.755, respectively). Finally, molecular analyses revealed the presence of parasitic DNA in 20.6% (13/63) of milk samples, with a discontinuous parasite excretion; statistical analyses did not reveal any association among the parasite excretion and the considered variables. Milk could be considered as a valid alternative to blood for monitoring T. gondii infection in goat herds. Moreover, the detection of T. gondii DNA in milk enhanced the possibility for raw goat's milk consumption to be considered as a risk to public health.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and seroprevalence for brucellosis in pregnant women exposed to goats or raw goat products in southern Thailand: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPregnant women infected with brucellosis have been shown to have higher odds of having been exposed to goats and raw goat products and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, information on these associations in asymptomatic pregnant women is limited, particularly in the brucellosis-endemic areas. This study aimed to assess the association of a history of exposure to goats and/or raw goat products and the serological status of anti-Brucella abortus immunoglobulin G (IgG) with adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women, and explore factors associated with having exposure to goats and/or raw goat products.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women from July 2015 to July 2016 at Songkhla province in southern Thailand. All pregnant women who came for antenatal care (ANC) visits were approached. Blood samples from the women who agreed to participate were randomly tested for anti-Brucella abortus IgG. The women were then followed for adverse pregnancy outcomes.ResultsOf 666 pregnant women, the majority (74.4%) were aged 20–34 years and Muslim (89.2%), 30.6% indicated exposure to goats or raw goat products, and 17.3% had adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women rearing goats at home or having neighbors rearing goats were more likely to be exposed to goats or raw goat products by cutaneous contact. Of 465 women having a blood test, 3.7% had seropositive results for anti-Brucella abortus IgG. No association with adverse pregnancy outcomes was found in the women reporting any exposure to goat and raw goat products. Having the first ANC visit at the first trimester and history of preterm birth or low birth weight newborn were independent risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women who had positive serological results were more likely to have a history of drinking raw goat milk than those who had negative results significantly.ConclusionsAlthough no association between past exposure with goats and raw goat products and adverse pregnancy outcomes was found, women with past exposure showed positive anti-Brucella abortus IgG. Counseling on avoiding consumption of raw goat milk would be beneficial to prevent goat-related infection in pregnant women in this area.

Structure and Peculiarities of a Clinical Course of Tick-Borne Infections in Children of the Irkutsk Region

At present there are few studies generalizing the clinical picture of infections, transmitted by Ixodid ticks, in children population. Tick-borne viral encephalitis is still one of the important natural focal infections and accounts for up to 27 % among other tick-borne infections. The aim of the study was to determine the structure and features of the clinical course of tick infections in children of the Irkutsk region. Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 58 cases over three-year period from 2015 to 2017 of children aged 1 to 18 years diagnosed with tick-borne viral encephalitis (TVE), ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (ITB), tick-borne rickettsiosis (TR) according to the data of Irkutsk Regional Infectious Clinical Hospital. Results and discussion. Among tick-borne infections, TVE was found in 43 % of cases, ITB – in 27.5 %, TR – in 29.5 %, there was one case of mixed infection: TVE + tick-borne typhus in North Asia. In TVE, feverish form was found in 40 % of cases, meningeal form – in 36 %, meningoencephalitic form – in 20 %, polyradiculonevritic form – in 4 %. Medium severity was observed in 56 % of cases, severe – in 28 %. In ITB, non-erythematous form was revealed in 62.5 % of cases, erythematous – in 12.5 %. Clinical and epidemiological TR was registered in 18 % of cases. In patients with TVE recovery was observed in 84 %, however, there were 4 % of neurological complications. With the diagnosis of ITB and TR, almost all children were discharged in a satisfactory condition. No deaths were reported within 3 years. According to the medical history: only 1 child was vaccinated against TVE, 2 children underwent seroprevention; ticks, who bit 4 patients, were studied. Medical history showed that 57 % of children had tick bites, and 7 % of cases associated the disease with consumption of non-boiled goat or cow milk. Residents of Irkutsk, Angarsk and Shelekhov comprised 47 %, residents of the Irkutsk region – 53 %. The most common localization of bites is the head and neck. Conclusion. There is a low public commitment to the vaccine prevention of tick-borne infections. Therefore, it is necessary to promote both specific and non-specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis among children of the Irkutsk region.

Milk MicroRNAs in Health and Disease.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs responsible for regulating 40% to 60% of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. The discovery of circulating microRNAs in several biological fluids opened the path for their study as biomarkers and long-range cell-to-cell communication mediators. Their transfer between individuals in the case of blood transfusion, for example, and their high enrichment in milk have sparked the interest for microRNA transfer through diet, especially from mothers to infants during breastfeeding. The extension of such paradigm led to the study of milk microRNAs in the case of cow or goat milk consumption in adults. Here we provide a comprehensive critical review of the key findings surrounding milk microRNAs in human, cow, and goat milk among other species. We discuss the data on their biological properties, their use as disease biomarkers, their transfer between individuals or species, and their putative or verified functions in health and disease of infants and adult consumers. This work is based on all the literature available and integrates all the results, theories, debates, and validation studies available so far on milk microRNAs and related areas of investigations. We critically discuss the limitations and outline future aspects and avenues to explore in this rapidly growing field of research that could impact public health through infant milk formulations or new therapies. We hope that this comprehensive review of the literature will provide insight for all teams investigating milk RNAs' biological activities and help ensure the quality of future reports.

Protective effects of fermented goat milk on genomic stability, oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling in testis during anaemia recovery

Oxidative stress is a harmful factor for male reproductive function, and a major cause of infertility. On the other hand, fermented goat milk has positive effects on anemia recovery and mineral metabolism. This study evaluated the effect of feeding rats with fermented milks during anaemia recovery on molecular mechanisms linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling in rats reproductive system. Forty male Wistar rats were placed on a pre-experimental period of 40 days (control group, receiving normal-Fe diet and Fe-deficient group, receiving low-Fe diet). Lately, rats were fed with fermented goat or cow milk-based diets during 30 days. After feeding the fermented milks, Total antioxidant status (TAS) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 15-F2t-isoprostanes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) decreased in testis. DNA oxidative damage in testis germ cells was lower with fermented goat milk. Fermented goat milk reduced IL-6 and TNF-α in control animals, increasing INF-γ in control and anaemic rats. NRF2 and PGC-1α protein levels increased in testis after fermented goat milk consumption in control and anaemic rats. Fermented goat milk also increased TAS and decreased oxidative damage, protecting the main testis cell bioconstituents (lipids, proteins, DNA, prostaglandins) from oxidative damage and reduced inflammatory activity, preventing injuries to testis germinal epithelium. Fermented goat milk enhanced lipolysis, fatty acids degradation and immune response, attenuating inflammatory signalling, representing a positive growth advantage for testicular cells.

TBE in Bulgaria

First cases of probable tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were reported in 1961 by Andonov et al. in eastern regions of Bulgaria.1 Possible TBE cases with the typical biphasic course, originating from consumption of raw goat milk, were described back in 1953 by Vaptzarov et al. in southern Bulgaria.