الفهرس 
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Rumen ciliates still have mysterious secrets and impacts in ruminants. This study evaluated the influence of seasons, breeds and rumen ciliates transfaunation on physical examination, rumen fermentation pattern, serum and milk profiles in apparently healthy, defaunated and experimentally acidotic lactating dairy goats. Fifty-seven apparently healthy female lactating dairy goats aged 3.5±0.24 years old and weighted 32.45±1.19 kg, were used in this study. Forty-nine of them belonging to private farm in El-Beharah governorate, Egypt, were used in survey study and classified according to breeds into 17 Shami, 14 Mixed Boar and 18 Baladi, and according to seasons, they were classified into 12 Autumn, 13 Winter, 12 Spring and 12 Summer, while the other 8 were classified into two groups each one contained 4 goats; Pure culture (PC) and Mixed culture (MC) in transfaunation experiment. Then, 6 of the 8 were used in experimental induction of rumen acidosis and classified according to treatment into two groups each one contained 3 goats; Conventional treatment (CT) and Mixed culture (MC). All of goats were exposed to detailed case history and comprehensive physical examination. Rumen fluid, serum and milk samples were collected from all goats before morning meal at the middle of each season in survey study, weekly for three consecutive weeks in transfaunation experiment and daily for three successive days in acidosis experiment. Regarding transfaunation experiment, PC group was transfaunated with 6 ml of pure culture of Holotricha counted 1.90 ± 0.49 X 104 per ml, while MC group was transfaunated with 6 ml of mixed culture of 81.85 % Holotricha and 18.15 % Ophryoscolex with total count of 1.94 ± 0.51 X 104 per ml once weekly for three consecutive weeks, after defaunation of both groups using 30 ml of 8 % SLS for two consecutive days. Regarding acidosis experiment, CT group administered a traditional treatment, while MC group administered same treatment plus 25 ml of ciliate culture containing 1.00 ± 0.14 X 104 protozoa per ml; 90.09 ± 2.13 % of them were Holotricha and 9.91 ± 2.13 % were Ophryoscolex/ head /day for three consecutive days after experimental induction of acute rumen acidosis using sucrose at the rate of 18 g/kg. Results of survey study revealed that rumen pH increased significantly (p<0.05) in Winter than Autumn and Summer. Shami in Winter showed significant increase in rumen pH than Baladi in Winter and Mixed Boar in Summer. Total protozoa count (TPC) increased significantly in Winter than Spring. Entodinium % increased significantly in Summer than Spring. Epidinium % increased significantly in Spring than Summer. Rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) decreased significantly in Summer than other seasons, while Mixed Boar in Autumn increased significantly than Shami and Baladi in Summer. Results of rumen calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg) and rumen enzyme activities; gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed significant variations within seasons and breeds. Serum Ca recorded highly significant variability among seasons and breeds. Serum inorganic P showed significant decline in Summer, while Baladi decreased significantly than Shami. Albumin in Mixed Boar significantly increased in Summer than Autumn. Milk fat % increased significantly in Mixed boar in Autumn than Shami in Spring, Baladi in Autumn and Summer. Milk lactose % increased significantly in Baladi than Shami and Mixed Boar. Milk protein % increased significantly in Baladi than Mixed Boar. Results of seasonal and breed correlation between rumen fermentation parameters and milk fat % revealed that Baladi exhibited a highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation between milk fat % and Holotricha, while highly significant negative (p<0.01) correlation was reported between TPC and milk fat %. Overall correlation showed a highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation between milk fat % and Ophryoscolex. Regarding transfaunation experiment, feed intake and body weight gain of defaunated goats were significantly restored by refaunation with mixed culture of rumen ciliates after 21 days. Use of Holotricha pure culture or in mixture with Ophryoscolex weekly for three consecutive weeks partially restored rumen fermentation characteristics and biochemical constituents after being dramatically affected because of defaunation. TPC and rumen ciliate populations were greatly enhanced after refaunation of pure and mixed cultures of rumen ciliates weekly for 2 and 3 consecutive weeks, respectively. Transfaunation of pure and mixed cultures of rumen ciliates had no effect on physical examination with minimal non-significant improvement of calcium, inorganic phosphorous, total protein and globulin in serum of defaunated goats. Regarding acidosis experiment, Holotricha and Ophryoscolex % increased significantly (p<0.05) in MC group than CT group. Rumen Mg, ALT and AST activities decreased significantly (p<0.05) in MC group than CT group. Serum inorganic P, total protein and globulin levels decreased significantly (p<0.05) in MC group than CT group. It could be concluded that recorded findings surveying rumen, serum and milk profiles are extremely useful for goat breeders, producers and manufacturers of goat milk products to improve breed selection and crossbreeding programs. Holotricha and Ophryoscolex possess a highly significant positive relationship with milk fat % in Baladi dairy goats. Feed intake and body weight gain of goats can be improved by refaunation with mixed culture of 82 % Holotricha and 18 % Ophryoscolex weekly for three consecutive weeks. Transfaunation of pure culture of Holotricha or in a mixture with Ophryoscolex weekly for three consecutive weeks cannot improve significantly decreased milk fat % of defaunated goats. Inclusion of Holotricha and Ophryoscolex rumen ciliate cultures in treatment schedule of rumen acidosis for three days has no effect on serum and milk profiles, however, this inclusion may improve rumen physical properties, ciliate composition and fermentation characteristics and accelerate recovery decreasing cost and period of treatment. It is recommended to apply further investigations on transfaunation without prior defaunation using Holotricha, Ophryoscolex and other pure and mixed cultures of rumen ciliates for therapeutic and productive purposes in fattening and dairy ruminants trying to improve meat and milk quality. Key words: Transfaunation, Refaunation, Rumen Ciliates, Rumen Fermentation Pattern, Serum, Milk Profile, Dairy Goats, Rumen Enzymes, Rumen Acidosis, Seasons, Goat Breeds.