SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH IRANIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
Year:2011 | Volume:6 | Issue:4 (29)|Papers Count:17

The underlying reasons and treatment of sub-optimum performance (SOP) were assessed in a dairy herd. The need for intensive investigations, problems encountered with the use of published reference values, and the probability of delayed herd response to treatment are addressed. The study was done in a farm holding 55 milking and dry cows, with a history of sub-optimum milk production and reproduction. A series of blood and serum experiments were done on all cows and the results were compared with the midpoints of the corresponding reference values, using one sample t test. RBC and WBC were normal. Hemoglobin and PCV were within the reference intervals, close to the lower limit. Glucose was almost at the lowest limit of the reference interval, while triglycerides and cholesterol, respectively, were lower and higher than the limits. Hypoalbuminemia, hyper alpha- and gamma-globulinemia as well as normal levels of total serum proteins and beta-globulins were the other findings. According to the initial results, farm history and environmental assays, nutritional insufficiencies and sub-clinical infections were suspected as the underlying reasons of sub-optimum performance. The treatment procedure was designed based on the treatment of nutritional insufficiencies with the expectation of the self-cure of sub-clinical infections. The same experiments were done on the same cows on days 90 and 210 of the study. The changes were studied by the proc-mixed procedure and Tukey's multiple range test of SAS statistical software. RBC decreased (P<0.05) but WBC did not change (P>0.05) during the study. Hemoglobin and PCV increased (P<0.05). Serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and albumin increased (P<0.05). Hyper alpha- and gamma-globulinemia were corrected and total protein and beta globulins decreased (P<0.05). These changes did not affect the daily milk average of the herd during the 7 months of the study as it remained almost constant. For investigating SOP, in the absence of local reference values, relying on published reference values may not help diagnosis. Treatment of SOP may not be reflected on herd production level in short terms and the results should be interpreted by care using a sort of herd records.

Grass carp is one of the most important fish in Iran and the excretory portion of its kidney was histologically studied in present research. The kidneys of 11 live normal Grass carps (Ctenopharyngodon idella) with average weight of 818.18±183.4gr and standard length 39.81±2.63 cm, were removed by autopsy. The sections were made by paraffin embedding method and stained by H& E. The kidneys were dark-red in color and situated in ventral region of the vertebral column of Grass carp and the kidneys were divided to head, body and tail parts and light microscopic studies showed that the kidneys in Grass carp included excretory, haematopoetic and lymphoid tissue portions the same as other species of fish. Excretory portion of kidney parenchyma consisted of renal corpuscle and urinary tubules. Renal corpuscles were composed of glomerulus and bowman, s capsule. The renal corpuscles of kidney were large similar to that of freshwater stenohaline fish. The number of renal corpuscles in body portion (7.62±42) was nearly two times more than head portion (3.85±1.9). Microscopic study of urinary tubules showed the presence of neck segment which is consisted of a single layer of cuboidal to low columnar epithelial cells with weak basophilic cytoplasm and round or oval nuclei in the basal region of the cells. The first proximal segment was lined by tall columnar epithelial cells with basal nuclei and slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm. Apical microvilli (brush border) protruded deeply into the lumen. The apical cytoplasm of these cells was lighter than basal cytoplasm. The second proximal segment had a taller columnar epithelium with more centrally located nuclei and a less developed brush border. The cytoplasm of these cells was stained intensely eosinophilic. Intermediate segment was well developed in the Grass carp (instead of some other species) and had a narrow lumen that surrounded by cuboidal to short columnar epithelial cells with inconspicuous brush border. Staining was still strongly eosinophilic. The distal segment was lined with low, relatively clear columnar epithelial cells which had oval nuclei in basal portion. Columnar epithelium was lightly eosinophilic. Collecting tubules were identified with layers of smooth muscle and connective tissue. After collecting tubules, small and then large urinary ducts were seen with layers of smooth muscle and connective tissues.

Avian influenza caused by H9N2 viruses is an important disease of industrial chickens in Iran and many other parts of Asia. To understand the genetic features and phylogenetic relationship of H9N2 viruses present in Ahwaz, the nucleotide sequence of nucleoprotein gene (NP) was determined from an avian influenza virus (A/Chicken/Iran/Ahwaz-1/06) isolated from a broiler flock in Ahwaz suburb. Therefore, the coding region of the gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced after cloning in to pMal-C2 vector. Nucleotide sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies were performed by comparing NP gene of this isolate with twenty four counterpart sequences retrieved from the GenBank. Based on the NP gene sequence, Ahwaz isolate had the highest percentage of homology (94.3%) with the representative virus of G1 sublineage and placed in a distinct branch of the sublineage, together with the recent isolates of Pakistan. In contrast, homology of the isolate A/Chicken/Iran/Ahwaz-1/06 with a 1999 Iranian isolate (A/Chicken/Iran/11T/99) was 86.4% and these two viruses assigned in two separate genetic sublineages. According to present study, it can be concluded that H9N2 viruses have been evolved genetically since entering to Iran or other possibility is different sublineages of the virus have entered to the country so far.

The aim of this study was to determine histomorphometric structure of sheep fetal testis during early, mid and late gestation stage. Foeti were divided into 3 age groups according to measured crown-rump length (CRL). The observations showed that in the first group (20-50 mm CRL), sertoli cells and gonocytes were distinctly recognizable in the wall of the sex cords and leydig cells were found clearly in gonadal interstitium. In the second group (140-260 mm CRL), the tunica albuginea (TA) was developed into an outer fibrous and an inner vascular layer and the histological organization of rete testis was visible. In the third group (380-420 mm CRL), the testicular shape, size, and structure were more differentiated and the sex cords were obviously separated from each other. Micrometric findings showed that diameter of the TA and sexual diameter, and the number of leydig cells and sertoli cells increased with the growing significantly of age (P<0.05). The number of gonocytes and sex cords in each microscopic field increased comparing the first and second groups but decreased significantly in the third group (P<0.05). The biometric values between right and left testes were not statistically different (P>0.05).

In this study effects of two slaughtering procedures that were asphyxia and percussion on physiological blood factors and physicochemical muscle attributes, determined in order to evaluate imposed stress and meat quality in common carp. Results showed crowding and two different slaughtering methods significantly affected on plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, calcium and magnesium (P<0.05). Asphyxia decreased chloride but did not affect total protein plasma levels (P> 0.05). pH in percussion groups was higher than asphyxia groups immediately after death. Percussion fish had the highest and asphyxia groups had the lowest level of water holding capacity than other groups. Crowding and asphyxia killing method significantly increased drip loss as compared to uncrowding and percussion killing methods (P<0.05). Fishs in asphyxia group exhibited a faster onset of rigor mortis than other groups. Although two slaughtering procedures did not affect on fillet color (P>0.05), however colorimetric results showed significant differences in the skin color parameters among different groups during post mortem time (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results revealed that over crowding and asphyxia slaughtering procedures impose maximum stress to fish and reduce meat quality and on the hand, uncrowding and percussion had no imposed stress fish and their meat quality was better than other groups.

In the present study, 73.1 and 50 percentages of bovine (n=104) and buffalo (n=60) cultured oocytes were matured, respectively (P<0.05). In the second trial, using frozen sperm, 68.2 and 19.35 percentages of the bovine (n=93) oocytes were fertilized and developed to cleavage and blastocyct, respectively. Using fresh isolated buffalo epidydimal sperms, 16 % of buffalo oocytes (n=50) were fertilized and developed to cleavage. There was no blastocyst in buffalo IVF trial. The results have shown a significant higher competence of bovine oocytes. Because of different sources of sperm, the results of IVF between bovine and buffalo may not be compared.

The influence of stocking density (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kgm-2 ) was investigated on water quality and growth factors of Beluga (Huso huso) juveniles in fiberglass tanks for a period of 8 weeks. The mean weight of fish at the start of trial was 93.13 ± 1.04 g. After 8 weeks of rearing, the mean weight reached 362.4 ± 6.9, 319.7 ± 2.1, 267 ± 9.2, 242.1 ± 6.2 and 211.1 ± 4.1g in stocking densities between 1-8 kgm-2, respectively. The results of this study showed that growth parameters, including final weight, specific growth rate, had a statistically significant differences among treatments (P< 0.05). Water quality parameters nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), ammonia (NH3) and dissolved oxygen (DO) showed statistically significant differences among treatments (P<0.05). High regression was observed in growth parameters with nitrogen compounds. Other water quality parameters including temperature (T), pH showed no significant effect on stocking density (P>0.05). These results showed that rearing density has major effects on the growth indices of Beluga and water quality whereas loss of water quality leads to reduced feeding performance and growth of fish.

Turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) is a contagious disease in turkey and chicken caused by Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) which leads to respiratory disease and decreasing flock performance in the infected flocks. This study was carried out to examine the seroprevalence of avian metapneumovirus infection in large scale within commercial broiler turkey flocks. A total of 420 serum samples were collected from 21 meat-type turkey flocks of 12 provinces in Iran randomly and examined serologically by ELISA test (ADV, IDEXX Co. kit, USA). Results showed that 100% of flocks and sera were positive to aMPV infection. There was a positive correlation between antibody titers to TRT and the presence of respiratory signs, Food Conversion Rate and Mortality rate (P<0.05). However, a negative correlation between antibody titers to TRT and weight gain were seen (P<0.05). This study indicates that the seroprevalence of TRT is high in the Iranian meat-type turkey flocks.

In this study, effects of GnRH treatment on the pattern of the estradiol and progesterone (P4) concentrations were studied during estrous cycle of Holstein cattle. Ten dairy cows were synchronized with two PGF2a injection which given 11 days apart. Cows were assigned randomly in control and GnRH groups. GnRH administered on day 6 of the estrous cycle in GnRH group. Haparinized blood samples were collected once daily from the caudal vein through the estrous cycle. Hormones were measured using Radioimmunoassay (Human Kit). Mixed procedure of SAS was used for data analyzing. Results showed that progesterone concentrations were not significantly different between two groups during estrous cycle. Progesterone concentration was less than 1 ng/ml between days 1-4 ± 2, then increased to maximum concentration on days 12 ± 3 of the estrous cycle. Thereafter, it decreased in day 15 until day 19, however it was still higher than 1 ng/ml. After day 19 of the estrous cycle, P4 concentration decreased to less than 1 ng/ml. Estradiol concentrations were not also significantly different between two groups during estrous cycle. In both groups Estradiol concentrations had the variations from 1.5±0.8 to 6.0±2.1 without any significant differences from days 1 to days 15±2. Thereafter, it increased from day 17 till end of estrous cycle and reached the maximum level on days 22±2 of the estrous cycle. The pattern of estradiol and progesterone concentrations was not significantly different between control and GnRH treatment animals during estrous cycle.

This study was conducted to evaluate the morphological and morphometrical pattern of uterus and uterine ligaments in immature and adult Azarbayjanii river buffalos. To follow- up the current study, 12 nonpregnant and apparently healthy samples were prepared from the slaughterhouse (6 samples for each immature and adult buffalos). In this study, mean length and thickness of uterine ligaments, diameter and length of uterine body and uterine horns from internal and external bifurcation to the tip, and mean thickness of uterine wall, were measured. Morphometrical studies of caruncles were accomplished by measurement of length, width and height of these organs in uterus body, and also at the first, middle and tip regions of the uterine horns. Almost in all cases, differences between two age groups were significant (P<0.05). The results of this study revealed that middle uterine artery is the major source of blood supply to the uterus.

Due to attention of the increasing usage of drugs against Fasciola sp. in Iran and irregular consumption of some of pharmaceutical anti-helminth compounds, present study carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of triclabendazole and albendazole (made in Iran) against infection with Fasciola sp. and the existence of drug resistant in sheep.Fecal samples from 22 herds with natural infections were collected directly from the rectum of sheep in different regions of Gilan province. The samples were subjected to coproscopical examination using floatation method and then were determined egg per gram (EPG) of feces. Six herds were totally selected for test. Four herds administrated with 10 mg/kg and 2 herds 7.5 mg/kg body weight of triclabendazole and albendazole, respectively. Five sheeps from the each herd were feed with placebo as control.Fecal examination of samples were done separately in days of 8, 18 and 28 post treatments. In order to exact evaluation of drugs, necropsy were done in six sheeps one month after treatment. The EPG counts in the triclabendazole group were 0 in 8 days after treatment and this process continued until the end of treatment period. The mean of Fasciola sp. eggs count in albendazole group were 5, 5.8 and 9.5 in 8, 18 and 28 post treatment, respectively. The results of necropsy in 6 sheeps from triclabendazole group confirmed the results of stool examination concerning 100% effectiveness of this drug on Fasciola. sp. But the results of necropsy in 6 sheeps of albendazole group showed infection with Fasciola sp. in 4 sheep. Based on this study, triclabendazole is an absolutely effective drug against Fasciola, sp. while albendazole was less effective against this parasite and some gastrointestinal nematodes. This may be due to drug resistance or effective dose of drug which further studies proposed.