Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Year:2009 | Volume:3 | Issue:1|Papers Count:14

To investigate the status of conventional laboratory mice colonies for zoonotic bacteria, three mice colonies, NIH, NMRI and Balb/c strains of Razi institute were studied for five zoonotic bacteria including Pasteurella pneumotropica, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Streptobacillus moniliformis, Streptococcus Pneumonia. Study populations were 74 mice of premature, mature and post mature ages. Same numbers of male and female animals were allocated in a random fashion from each 3 strains of mice. Two hundred and ninety six specimens of nasopharynx (n=156)),cecum (n=70) and liver (n=70) were taken from 74 animals and cultured for bacteriological tests. Results showed that none of tested specimens, infected by mentioned zoonotic bacteria, however in 78% (231/296) of mice, commonly nonpathogenic bacteria, mainly Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp, Streptococcus other than Streptobacillus moniliformis, and Entrobacter aerogenes were observed. The results of study recommend use of these animals have no human risk or research interferences for mentioned zoonotic bacteria. However like other conventional laboratory animals, precaution and personnel's safeties must be considered while using in researches where the existing bacteria may interfere the results.

In order to investigate the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in traditional dairy farms, a serological study was conducted in Gilan province. For this study,, a total of 205 serum samples were randomly collected from nine districts of this province. All serum samples were serologically tested by the standard MAT using live antigens representing the following Leptospira interrogans serovars: Gripptyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Hardjo, Canicola, Ballum and Pomona. The lowest dilution that each serum was considered positive was 1:100. The results of this study showed that 53 (25.8%) animals had a positive reaction against one or more serovars. The most prevalent Leptospira serovar was Canicola representing representing 24 (11.7%) samples, and the least prevalent Leptospira serovars were Icterohaemorrhagiae representing 1 (0.5%) sample and Hardjo, 2 (1%) samples. The most prevalent reciprocal titer was 100 and the highest titer was 400. The results of this study may support that cows may have a role in maintaining Canicola serovar. As mostany of the visited herds had at least one unvaccinated dog for guarding the herds, it has beenis concluded that the high prevalence of Canicola serogroup can be associated with close contact between dogs and cows. In addition, infected cows are a potential zoonotic risk to farmers, milkers, abattoir workers and meat inspectors, which previously has not been seriously considered.

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Haemaphysalis punctata larval ticks were shown to be susceptible to different strains of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae under laboratory conditions. To determine the susceptibility of H. anatolicum anatolicum and H. punctata to M. anisopliae, two suspensions of conidia were used (103 and 104 spores/ml). The treatments were conducted by immersing larval stage (at least 20 larvae/Petri dish) of H.anatolicum anatolicum and H.punctata in the spore suspension for 30 sec, followed by transferring to Petri dish containing moist filter paper. Control larval ticks were only immersed in 0.05% aqueous Tween 80. All treated and untreated ticks were observed by day interval up to day 18 to detect dead ticks and signs of mycosis. Comparative results of bioassays using three different fungal strains showed that all strains of M. anisopliae were highly pathogenic against two tick species used. The higher mortality rate was seen with strain of 689 when used in H. punctata and 685 in H. anatolicum anatolicum in comparison with the other strains(p<0.05). The present study suggests that Metarhizium anisopliae has great potential for the control of H. punctata and H. anatolicum anatolicum.

Growth behavior of Clostridium botulinum type E beluga was studied in Acipenser persicus granular caviar treated with 5% NaCl, 5%NaCl plus 0.3% boric acid and 0.4%borax and 5%NaCl plus 0.15% methyl paraben incubated at temperatures -2, 5 and 15°C for 224 days. The initial number of inoculated bacterial spore was 5.1×104 cfu/g caviar in each treated sample. The number of bacterial spores in samples treated with 5% NaCl changed to 3.59 × 104, 1.02×105 and 9.9×105 cfu/g at -2°C, 5°C and 15°C, respectively, while those samples treated with 5% NaCl plus 0.3% boric acid and 0.4%borax changed to 1.56×104, 3.65×104 and 9.22×104 cfu/g, respectively. Also, number of bacterial spores in samples treated with 5% NaCl plus 0.15% methyl paraben changed to 1×104, 2.86×104 and 3.56×104 cfu/g at the above storage temperatures, respectively. Fourteen days post-inoculation, toxin production was positive in samples treated with 5% NaCl incubated at 5°C and 15°C, while those samples treated with 5%NaCl plus 0.3% boric acid and 0.4% borax were positive for toxin production only at 15°C. Toxin production was negative in samples treated with 5%NaCl plus 0.15% methyl paraben incubated at all three above mentioned temperatures. These data showed that 5% NaCl plus methyl paraben had more inhibitory effect than boric, borax and NaCl. Also, such inhibitory effects can be increased at lower storage temperature of -2°C. Therefore, due to restricted usage of boric acid and borax in granular caviar, use of methyl paraben can be recommended as a safe preservative with a strong antimicrobial effect at caviar pH.

In this study, effects of curcumin (active substance of turmeric), morphine (an opioid receptor agonist) and naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist) in separate and combined treatments have been investigated on the paw edema induced by formalin in rats. Subcutaneous injection of formalin (50ml, 2.5%) in the ventral surface of the hind paw induced a considerable edema in the paw that lasted up to 24h after formalin injection. Chronic oral administration of curcumin (30 and 60mg/kg, 15 days) and subcutaneous injection of morphine (1mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) decreased the paw edema induced by formalin. Naloxone (1mg/kg) used alone was without effect, whereas pretreatment with naloxone (1mg/kg) before morphine (1mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) prevented the suppressive effect of morphine on the paw edema. The reducing effect of curcumin on the paw edema was potentiated by morphine, whereas naloxone did not change the anti-edematous effect of curcumin. Curcumin (30mg/kg, 15 days) in the presence of naloxone (1mg/kg) plus morphine (1mg/kg) treatment, produced an antiedematous effect, which resembled the one following administration of curcumin (30 mg/kg, 15 days) alone. Present findings indicate that curcumin may produce an anti-edematous effect. The endogenous opioid system may involve in modulation of local edema. In addition, morphine may potentiate the anti-edematous effect of curcumin.

This study was designed to evaluate serum and milk haptoglobin (Hp) as inflammatory indicators for the diagnosis of diseases in cattle in Fars province of Iran. Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein of 20 clinically healthy cattle and 100 cows with various inflammatory diseases. There were significant differences in serum and milk Hp between clinically healthy cattle and diseased cows (p<0.05). The results of the present study reveal that serum and milk Hp are sensitive factors for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in cattle.

Chicken egg yolk antibodies (IgY) against camel immunoglobulins were generated and their specificity was shown by double immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and Western blotting. Anti camel antibodies specifically react to camel antibodies in immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis were demonstrated. Western blotting revealed that IgY antibodies recognize the heavy chain in a number of mammalian species. Anti-camel antibodies bound camel IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 subclasses like the subclasses of sheep, but no reactivity to all subclasses chains in cattle and horse antibodies were observed. Polyclonal anti-camel IgY was specifically light chain reactive. Overall, the potential of using egg yolk immunoglobulins as a convenient source of anti antibodies to camel immunoglobulins was demonstrated.

Poultry meat has been identified as one of the principal foodborne sources of Salmonella. In this preliminary study the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and its typhimurium serovar contamination of broiler carcasses, were determined. Using the rinse test method, numbers of 60 samples, representing 20 broiler flocks, were collected from poultry carcasses after the chilling stage in the processing line at a commercial broiler slaughtering facility in Mashhad, Iran. The presence of Salmonella spp and Salmonella typhimurium in collected samples were assessed by performing the pre-enrichment and enrichment culture, followed by multiplex- PCR assay. The primers were selected from the invA and fliC genes, specific for the detection of Salmonella spp. and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively. In this study 8.3% and 1.6% of poultry carcasses were found to be contaminated with Salmonella spp and Salmonella typhimurium respectively. In order to provide a more accurate profile of the prevalence of Salmonella spp and Salmonella typhimurium in broiler carcasses, it is pertinent to use multiplex -PCR method that could be considered as an appropriate alternative to conventional culture method.

Breast cancer has become common in developing and developed countries. Alarming increase in this disease as a leading cause of death in women is a concern of all. Despite the significant improvements in the management of breast cancer, the survival rate is not more than 20% - 25%. For this study, MDA-MB231 cell line was used and the effect of ICD-85 (biologically active peptides from venomous animals) was assayed by measuring the activity of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) released into the culture medium after membrane legions. Morphological changes of cells were checked in control and cells incubated with ICD-85 as chemo preventive agent. Results showing in test groups - incubation with 10μg/ml dose of ICD-85 had decreased cytoplasmic branch. Some cells were ruptured and lost the continuity of their surrounding membranes, and number of cells was decreased. On the other hand, when ICD-85 was used as an anticancer treatment of mice with breast cancer, it was shown that ICD-85 can prevent the growth of breast tumor, increase the life duration of experimental mice and inhibit angiogenesis in breast tumor as compared with control group. It seems that ICD-85 acts at the membrane level and can prevent the cell growth as well as producing apoptosis (cell suicide) for breast cancer cells.

This case report describes several electrocardiographic findings in an 8-years old female Pomeranian dog that was referred with a history of digoxin overdose. Electrocardiographic abnormalities detected in this case could be classified as primary electrocardiographic disturbances, reflecting cardiac chamber enlargement and secondary ECG changes, attributed to digoxin toxicity. ECG manifestations of digoxin toxicity such as first and second degree AV blocks completely disappeared following digoxin withdrawal. Therefore, veterinarians should be aware of the possibility of digoxin toxicity due to its narrow therapeutic margins. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of small animal practitioners about adverse cardiotoxic effects of cardiac glycosides. It also highlights the significance of electrocardiographic monitoring for diagnosis and management of digoxin induced cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in small animal patients.