SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH IRANIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
Year:2012 | Volume:8 | Issue:3 (36)|Papers Count:12

This research was conducted to study the Salmonella infection in Iranian poultry flocks and the related industry such as hatcheries and abattoirs. In this study, 150 breeder, layer, and broiler flocks, hatcheries, and abattoirs were sampled. All samples were dispatched to the laboratory and cultured for Salmonella isolation using standard procedures. In total, 23390 samples were collected and pooled to obtain 3202 samples that were cultured. All bacterial isolates that were identified as Salmonella by bacteriological cultures were tested for serogroup and serotype determination using Salmonella antisera available in the laboratory. In total, 123 (3.84%) Salmonella isolates were obtained from 3202 cultured pooled-samples. The most frequent Salmonella isolation occurred among samples from embryo mortalities and broilers, and the least isolation frequency was from breeder and layer flocks. Serology results showed that from 123 Salmonella isolates, 70 isolates (56.9%) belonged to serogroup D, 43 isolates (35%) belonged to serogroup C, 3 isolates (2.4%) belonged to serogroup B, and 7 isolates (5.7%) belonged to serogroups other than A-S. From 70 Salmonella serogroup D isolates, 69 were Salmonella Enteritidis. This study has provided enormous data regarding the Salmonella, in particular S. Enteritidis, infection in Iranian poultry flocks which are of utmost importance for both poultry industry and public health.

The aim of this study was to compare the validation of a Domestic Indirect-ELISA with a Commercial Indirect-ELISA in order to find the optimum cut off value for detection of antibodies to Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV). BLV proteins harvested easily as described by OIE and used in DI-ELISA. A domestic ELISA was adapted by checker board methods. 460 sera from different herds were applied in the commercial ELISA as a reference test and then compared with the domestic ELISA. All the negative control sera except one (E05 serum) were chosen by commercial ELISA. Statistical analysis of negative sera showed that consideration of a cut off value, from 0.26 to 0.30 will provide acceptable relative specifity, relative sensitivity and can reducing the risk of false positive results for Domestic Indirect ELISA. The best relative sensitivity (86%) and specifity (88%) was yielded in 0.27 optical density (OD).As calculated, frequency of seropositive animals was 8% and 10% by domestic and commercial ELISA respectively.

The application of nisin, as one of the most common natural antimicrobial compound, and packaging techniques are effective to extend the shelf-life, preserve the safety and organoleptic characteristics of meat products. In the present study, effect of nisin (30 ppm) on chemical, microbial and sensory properties of emulsion type sausage stored under vacuum packages were investigated. The samples stored for 42 days at 3±10C. One sample from each experiment group was then used every 7 days of storage. Microbial count, pH, CIE L*, a* and b* color parameter, lipid oxidation, production of nitrosomyoglobin and sensory properties were assessed throughout the storage period. The data showed that nisin was able to reduce the growth of mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria. But it had not significant effect on pH, color, oxidative reactions, production of nitrosomyoglobin and sensory properties. Therefore, the nisin can lead to better quality preservation of the emulsion type sausages and in extending their shelf life.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of small intestine structure was performed during early postnatal development in female Wistar rats. For this purpose, tissue samples were taken from three segments; duodenum, jejunum and ileum of rats small intestine on birth day and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 60 and 90 days of age and fixed in formal saline10%. For microscopic studies, following routine tissue processing, 5-6mm sections were made and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The results showed that pronounced histological and histometrical changes occur during physiological growth. Mean number of villi were decreased, but their mean of height increased during maturation in all segments of small intestine. The mean height of villi were greatest in duodenum and decreased in jejunum and ileum, respectively (p<0.05). Number and depth of crypts increased in all segments of small intestine with the age. The thickness of tunica mascularis was increased with age significantly (p<0.05). It was most prominent in duodenum in compare to jejunum and ileum. Primary and secondary lymphoid follicles of the Peyer’s patches in jejunum and ileum were seen clearly at 21 and 28 days old rat, respectively.

Using of ultrasonography is necessary to inspect and diagnose the disorder of internal structure of the eye in many ocular diseases. As there has been no collated study undertaken on the natural measurements of Lori-Bakhtiari sheep’s eye, obtaining these measurements could be a benchmark to diagnose some of the diseases and eye problems of this breed. In order to undertake this study, the left and right eyes of twenty Lori-Bakhtiari sheep were evaluated by using ultrasonographic B-mode real time technique and normal ultrasonographic images of the eyes have been taken. After description of the images, measurements of the lens thickness, depth of anterior chamber, depth of vitreous and length of anterior- posterior axis of the eye were measured on the recorded images. The average and standard deviation of the measurements are recorded 0.79±0.96cm, 0.23±0.18cm, 1.09±0.12cm, 2.16±0.25cm respectively. There have been no significant between left and right eyes and between male and female sheep’s eyes (P³0.05). The result of this study can be used as normal value measurements in ultrasonographic evaluation of Lori–Bakhtiari sheep’s eye.

In poultry, liver is the main organ in synthesis of lipids and their secretion into plasma. Secretion of lipids from liver and their storage in muscles is important in human nutrition. There are controversial reports about garlic effects on TC (total cholesterol) content of serum and liver in poultry. In this study the effect of diets containing various percents of garlic powder on TC content of serum, liver and muscles has been investigated. For this purpose, four groups (36 pieces each) of three- week male chickens were fed by diets containing 0, 1, 2 and 4 percent of garlic powder. At the end of 5th and 7th weeks 15 pieces of each group were bled and then scarifised. The liver, pectoral and femoral muscles TC content were extracted and measured by specterphotometric method. Results showed that all diets containing 1%, 2%, 4% garlic had no effect on TC of Serum, muscle and liver at the end of 5th week, while at the end of 7th week, 2% and 4% diets, in liver and 4% diet in serum and muscles, significantly decreased TC in comparison with control (P<0.05) respectively. It was concluded that, simultaneous reduction in serum, liver and muscle TC content, may be due to inhibition of hepatic TC synthesis and or secretion as a dose dependent manner.

In this research, production and reproduction performance data of 526 buffalo herds of Khuzestan, collected by the deputy of improving livestock production of Agriculture Organization of Khuzestan from 1992 to 2009, were studied. The GLM method of SAS software was used to study the effect of none genetic factors on considered traits. Variance components and hertabilities were also estimated by restricted maximum likelihood using DFREML software package. The average and standard error were estimated as 1939.76±6.5 kg for milk yield, 120.27±0.48 kg for fat yield, 6.1±0.01 % for fat percentage, 83.94±0.40 kg for protein yield, 3.9±0.004 % for protein percentage, 200.34±0.44 days for lactation length, 4.68±0.02 kg for milk yield per day of calving interval and 9.58±0.04 kg for milk yield per day of lactation length, respectively. The average and standard error of reproductive traits were estimated as 240.27±1.89 days for dry period, 156±2.05 days for the number of open days, 465.21±2.05 days for calving interval and 3.68±0.02 years for age at first calving, respectively. The effect of herd, calving year and parity were significant for all traits. However, calving season had not significant effect on protein percentage, calving interval and the number of open days. The estimated heritability coefficient was zero for all studied traits, except age at first calving with heritability of 0.21. Some factors such as inappropriate feeding and breeding management in these buffalo herds and particularly errors in milk recording, pedigree registering and relationships were some of main reasons for this estimating.

John’s disease or paratuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and has been described in numerous ruminate species .In cattle, intractable diarrhea, emaciation, and hypoproteinemia in animals older than 19 months characterize the disease.The objectives of this study was to survey the prevalence rate of the John’s disease in Markazi province and evaluation of the ELISA for detection of anti- Mycobacterium paratuberculosis antibodies and its possible adoption as a diagnostic method in field conditions . This study performed during the years of 2008 to 2009 and 1724 mature cattle older than 2 years age from 12 herds in Markazi province were enrolled in this study. Serologic testing was done for determine prevalence with a commercially (ID. Vet, France) available absorbed ELISA kit for antibodies against Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. In this study 274 cows in herds (15.5 %) were found to have positive sera. Minimum and maximum of contamination rate in herds were 4% and 58.6% respectively. Blood and histological samples were taken from 87 cows suspected to paratuberculosis in slaughter house. Sensitivity and specificity of absorbed ELISA for detection of John’s disease in comparison with histophathology was 47.36% and 100% respectively. In conclusion, according to representing an easy-performing and low cost method, ELISA has shown to be satisfactory for diagnostic as screening test.

Determination of biochemical parameters in healthy fish has the particular importance in prevention of some nutritional and metabolic fish diseases. Blood samples were taken from caudal vein of 104 mature fishes (53 male and 51 female) in cold (n=64) and warm (n=40) seasons. Biochemical parameters of serum (glucose, urea, uric acid, BUN, cholesterol and triglyceride) were measured using the conventional methods. The mean serum uric acid was significantly higher in cold than the warm season (p<0.05). The mean serum cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly higher in warm than cold season (p<0.05). Significant differences were observed in serum glucose and triglyceride of females than males (p<0.05). The interaction of season and sex on serum triglyceride and glucose were not significantly different (p>0.05). The sexual characteristics and biological activity of females and environmental temperature may contribute in these biochemical profiles.

Normal values for serum parameters are of great importance in clinical evaluation and diagnosis of diseases in different species, including aquatic animals. In order to determine the normal values for some serum enzymes in Caspian roach, blood samples were collected from peduncles of 25 male and 25 female fish, captured from Tajan river. Following separation of the serum, the values for ALT, AST, ALP, CPK and LDH were determined. In addition to measuring the normal values for the whole population, the values in the male and the female were statistically compared. Possible correlations between different studied parameters in the whole population, as well as within each sex, were also studied. Accordingly, the normal values for the whole population were: AST: 455.00±375-561.3, ALT:20.00±15.5±34.5, ALP: 101.5±79-150.5, CPK: 241.5±39.5-655.00, LDH: 2163±1701-2727 IU/L. The serum values for ALT, AST and ALP were significantly higher in the male. A significant negative correlation existed between CPK and LDH in both sexes. In the whole population, the values for ALT had significant correlations with those of AST and ALP. The values for ALP and AST were also significantly correlated. The current results provide valuable information regarding the normal values for some serum enzymes in Caspian roach.

Rabbit coenurosis is caused by the larval stage of Taenia serialis, a tapeworm of the dog and other carnivores. This larval stage or Coenurus serialis is found chiefly in the subcutaneous tissue of rabbits. Coenurus contains multiple protoscoleces, which distinguishes it from a cysticercus, which contains a single protoscolex. This article is the first reported case of Coenurus serialis in a wild rabbit from Shahrekord suburbs, Iran that describes its macroscopic and microscopic features and associated lesions. Grossly, a 4-cm-diameter, fluidfilled cyst with white clusters of protoscolices was observed in the hip area muscles. There were 147 protoscolices attached to the internal layer of the cyst. Histopathological examination of the affected muscles revealed sections of multiple protoscolices, hooklets and  numerous calcareous corpuscles. The muscular tissue surrounding the cyst was compressed and atrophied. Proliferation of connective tissue, inflammatory cells mostly lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages were present in these regions. The cyst was identified as coenurus of Taenia serialis based on morphological appearances, intermediated host and affected muscles. Due to the presence of coenurus forming Taenia species in Iran and its potential ability as a zoonotic disease and in creating of economic losses in animal husbandry, further attention to control of coenurosis is recommended and emphasized.