Determination of some oxidative stress parameters in Saanen goats diagnosed with caprine arthritis-encephalitis

The present study aimed to evaluate changes in oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system in Saanen goats infected with Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus. The animal material consisted of 30 Saanen goats confirmed as Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus -positive by polymerase chain reaction during routine health screenings and exhibiting various clinical manifestations of the disease (chronic arthritis, mastitis, and neurological signs), together with 10 clinically healthy Saanen goats serving as controls. Blood samples from both groups were analyzed for the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde and the antioxidant parameters glutathione, catalase, native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide; the disulfide/ native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol ratios were additionally calculated to assess dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus infected goats than in controls (P < 0.05). Among the antioxidant parameters, glutathione, native thiol, and total thiol levels were significantly decreased in infected animals, while disulfide levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The infected group had lower catalase levels, but this was not statistically significant, and the thiol/disulfide ratios were not significantly different between the groups. These results suggest that Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus infection induces severe oxidative stress and suppresses antioxidant defense in Saanen goats. In conclusion, oxidative stress parameters undergo significant alterations in the pathogenesis of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus infection and may serve as useful tools for disease monitoring and prognostic evaluation.