Journal of Veterinary Research
Year:2018 | Volume:72 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:13

BACKGROUND: Dicrocoeliosis is caused by the small liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum which lives in bile ducts and gall bladder of wild and domestic ruminant. Immunodiagnostic methods are useful for early diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate agglutination latex (LAT) and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests for diagnosis of Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in sheep. METHODS: Adult helminths were collected from infected livers of slaughtered sheep at Khoramabad abattoir. The excretory-secretory and somatic antigens were provided using homogenization and sonication techniques. To provide positive and negative sera, blood was taken from infected and non-infected sheep with Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Somatic and excretory-secretory antigens were added and blended to latex particles. All sera were added to latex and used for agglutination test. Sensitive RBC and somatic and ES antigens were added to IHA and blended to evaluate haemagglutination response. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of LAT using excretory secretory and somatic antigens were 84%, 97/6%, 96% and 97/6% respectively. While the sensitivity and specificity in IHA using excretory secretory and somatic antigens were respectively 60%, 92/9%, 92% and 66/7%. CONCLUSIONS: From the results of the present study, the LAT had the highest sensitivity and specificity, which recommends it being considered as a rapid diagnostic technique for sheep dicrocoeliosis.

BACKGROUND: Haemoproteus is a parasitic protozoa, of which over 120 species have been reported from wild aquatic birds, sparrows and other birds orders. So far, no study has been performed to determine the species of this protozoa in the north of Iran. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular and structural properties of Heamoproteus protozoa in the blood of infected pigeons in Mazandaran province. METHODS: In the present study molecular investigation of Haemoproteus infection was carried out in domestic pigeons of Mazandaran province. For this purpose, samples were obtained randomly from 150 pigeons in different regions of Mazandaran. At first, blood samples were stained with Gimsa stain and examined for presence of Haemoproteus gametocytes. Then, positive samples were used for PCR by Cytochrome b genes. RESULTS: Obtained results after morphological survey showed that 17 samples were positive indicating infection rate of 11. 33%. Molecular investigation and analysis of PCR products showed that all of the samples belonged to Haemoproteus columbae species. CONCLUSIONS: Being precisely familiar with this kind of protozoan and its species can prevent many mistakes and be helpful in differential diagnosis of different species. This study has revealed that the most common species of Haemoproteus in Mazanadran province is Haemoproteus columbae.

Linguatula serrata is a zoonotic parasite causing Halazoun syndrome in humans. Consumption of raw or semi-cooked infected edible offal induces the infection in human. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to investigate the outbreak and molecular characterization of Linguatula serrata in sheep and goat of Yazd slaughterhouse. METHODS: To determine the prevalence and severity of Linguatula serrata, mesenteric lymph nodes of 200 slaughtered sheep and 200 slaughtered goats in the Yazd industrial slaughterhouse were examined. DNA extraction was performed using commercial DNA extraction kit per the manufacturers’ protocol. In order to genetic evaluation, the partially 18srRNA gene as a target was amplified using the specific primer pair which was designed by Primer3 software. The PCR product was sent for sequencing and the sequence was BLAST. Data were then analyzed using SPSS version 16. 0 and by the Pearson correlation test and χ 2 at a significance level of 0. 01. RESULTS: In the present study, prevalence of the infection of slaughtered goats and sheep was 25. 5% and 22. 5%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the prevalence of this parasite in different ages and sexes groups (goats and sheep). The results of genetic evaluation showed no variation in this isolate in comparison with the ones in GenBank. Conclusions: This study was the first report of molecular identification of Linguatula serrate in Iran. Considering the high prevalence of infection in domestic animals and lack of knowledge and hygienic practice of the people about consumption of animal offal, infection of the people to Linguatula serrata is probable. Therefore, in this context, using appropriate and reliable diagnostic methods for detection of infection in abattoirs as well as educating people on the proper use of animal offal are effective steps to prevent this disease.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal nematodes cause digestive problems, anemia and weight loss in sheep and goat. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to introduce FAMACHA test and its usage for early detection of infected animals with gastrointestinal nematodes (especially Haemonchus contortus), to reduce thetreated sheep population with anthelmintic drug and selection of resistant animals. METHODS: In this study 120 Ghezel sheep breed lambs, aged 4 to 6 months were used. The lambs were chosen randomly from 6 different grazing flocks with 20 lambs in each of them. Sampling and FAMACHA test scoring was carried out in 2014. Blood samples were collected for calculating packed cell volume percentage and fecal sampling was collected for counting of egg per each gram of fecal, and body weight was investigated. The sampling was carried out 2 times in one week intervals. RESULTS: Results showed that the effects of FAMACHA, flocks and interaction between them on parasite eggs per gram of fecal was significant (p<0. 01). Also, the effect of FAMACHA on the percentage of packed cells volume was significant (p<0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the FAMACHA test score could be used as a synergetic and alternative method for early diagnosis of infestation to blood sucking nematodes and prevention of new cases of drug resistance and selection of resistant animals in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones have an important role in regulation of metabolism of protein and energy metabolism in animals, particularly in ruminents. OBJECTIVES: In this study the histopathology of thyroid glands and hormonal changes of T3 and T4 in water buffalo in Ahvaz, Iran was investigated. METHODS: The thyroid gland tissues and blood samples were collected from 89 slaughtered buffaloes (66 females, 23 males). Thyroid glands were selected and cut into small pieces for standard histological processing, then the samples were stained with (H & E) procedure and microscopically evaluated. Serum T3 and T4 concentration were measured by Elisa methods. The data were analyzed by the use of T-test. RESULTS: The results showed that) 31% (of thyroid glands have pathological lesions. The lesions respectively include: focal hyperplasia (31. 5 %), metaplasia (2. 2 %), and chronic thyroiditis (1. 1%). Also, the results showed that (30. 3%) of female and (52. 2 %) of male buffaloes have pathological lesions. We found that T4 concentration of normal buffaloes without thyroid gland lesions was significantly higher than the other buffaloes (p= 0. 02). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between T3, T4 concentrations in buffaloes with thyroid gland lesions (r = 0. 4, p<0. 05), while this correlation was weak between normal buffaloes (r = 0. 1, p>0. 05).

BACKGROUND: The application of medicinal herbs with high anti-oxidant properties could reduce the detrimental effects of oxidative stress and free radicals under heat stress and improve the performance of broilers. OBJECTIVES: The effects of rosemary powder and extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broilers were evaluated under heat stress. METHODS: To study the effect of experimental treatments including control, different levels of rosemary powder (5, 10 and 15 g/kg), rosemary extract (3. 5, 7 and 10. 5 g/kg) and Vit-Asp (1 g/L) on growth performance (feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio), carcass characteristics and blood parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride, hematocrit, glucose and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio), 160 one-day old chicks (Ross male-308) were used, applying a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments, 4 replicates and 5 chicks per replicate during a 42-day period. Heat stress schedule was 32± 2 º C as cyclic from 10. 00 AM to 6. 00 PM. RESULTS: Rosemary had significant effects on feed intake and final live weight of chicks (p<0. 05) but not on feed conversion ratio (p>0. 05). Significant effects from rosemary on glucose and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were found (p<0. 05). The effects of rosemary on carcass characteristics, cholesterol, triglyceride and hematocrit were not significant (p>0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: In general, inclusion of rosemary in broilers diet under heat stress improved the performance because of anti-oxidant effects.

BACKGROUND: Unhygienic poultry feedstuffs can lead to nutrient losses and have detrimental effect on poultry production and public health. OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the fungal contamination of poultry feed and its ingredients in broiler farms in Torbat Heydarieh, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. METHODS: A total of 240 poultry feed samples comprising three different feeds were collected and examined using dilution plating technique. Preparations of all samples from successive dilutions were prepared, and then 0. 1 ml of each dilution was cultured on the surface of Potato Dextrose Agar supplemented with Chloramphenicol and incubated at 27 ° C for 7 days. Fungal colony counting was performed based on CFU/gr. The fungi were identified by gross and microscopic features. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS software version 21. RESULTS: In examined samples, fungal contamination was detected in 205 samples (85/14 %) out of 240 samples. The corn (32/5%) was the most contaminated feed, followed by soybean (29/16%) and finished feed (23/75%). The predominant fungi isolated were Fusarium spp. (41/3 %), Penicillium spp. (37/9%), Cladosporium spp. (21. 3 %), Paecilomyces spp. (17. 1%), Aspergillus fumigatus (13/3 %), Aspergillus niger (12. 9%) and Yeast spp. (12. 9 %). Frequency of toxin-forming fungi was significantly higher than the non-toxin-forming fungi (p<0/001). The mean total count of fungi was estimated 2/9 × 105 CFU/gr. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this research showed the high prevalence of fungal contamination as well as high frequency of toxin-forming fungi. Therefore, the feed raw materials are important vehicles for introduction of fungal organisms into poultry feed and fungal growth reduces the nutritional value of feeds. A program should be considered in order to control, limit and delete the fungi from feeds.

BACKGROUND: Beluga (Huso huso) is one type of sturgeon and currently is cultured artificially in Iran for different purposes. The cardiovascular system is one of the important systems of the body, and heart is the most important organ in this system. So far, few studies have been done on the heart of sturgeons. OBJECTIVES: This study was done to determine the exact structure of different parts of the heart septum of beluga using echocardiographic and histologic techniques. METHODS: Six immature male belugas (2. 5 years old) were investigated in this study. For echocardiography, probe was placed on the ventral surface of body, between pectoral fins. At first, macroscopic morphology studies of different parts of heart were done at the topographic place of them. For histological studies, usual methods of fixation and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) coloring were used. Prepared slides were studied by light microscope. RESULTS: All parts of the heart including the sinus venosus, atrium, ventricle, conus arteriosus and pericardium were clearly visible in different probe moves. The pericardium that surrounds heart`s structures had an homogenous echo pattern. Sinus venosus had a very thin septum without any expansion and contraction. Atrium had a completed muscular septum with expansion and contraction. Ventricle muscular septum had two layers: an external compact layer and an internal spongy layer. Conus arteriosus was composed of obvious muscular septum and connective tissue. Histological studies showed three layers in beluga heart including epicardium, myocardium and endocardium. Overall, the histological findings matched the results of echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first investigation on echocardiographic feature of different parts of beluga heart. These results were coordinated with histological findings. Normal information and findings of this study can be used for investigation of various anatomic or pathologic changes in beluga heart in different research projects.

BACKGROUND: The study of animal development by a dynamic perspective on gross anatomy often provides amplified pattern to reveal the more complex anatomy of the adult. This is especially helpful in understanding a system whose components drastically change their relation positions during developmental growth, such as urogenital organs. OJECTIVES: The aim of present study was to study morphologic and morphometric development of sheep kidneys during fetal period. METHODS: Sixty fetal kidneys obtained from 30 sheep fetuses were divided into three groups (70-100, 100-120, 120-145 days) according to body length. Topography, dimensions, and weight of kidneys were evaluated. RESULTS: The kidneys were located totally in the lumbar region of the sides of the median plane. The position of kidneys relative to the transvers process of lumbar vertebrae was different in the age groups. The fetal kidney was not located at the same level of adult position even at the end of fetal period. The right kidney was consistently slightly cranial to left kidney. The left kidney was in contact with dorsal sac of rumen in all age groups. The right kidney was covered by ventral surface and a small part of the lateral surface of right lobe of liver, but with advancing age, the contact of right kidney with caudate process of liver showed tangible reduction and such a contact was eventually limited to the cranial pole of kidney. Means of dimensions and weight of kidneys increased with gestational age during fetal period. There were no sex and laterality differences in any parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Topography of fetal sheep kidneys relative to the lumbar vertebrate and their contact area of the kidneys with right lobe and caudate process of liver differed extremely from that of adult sheep kidney. It seems that the emergence of positional asymmetry of kidneys and changing contact area of right kidney exhibited an intimate relationship with the cranial shift and grow rate of right lobe and caudate process of liver during fetal development. The morphometric results of fetal sheep kidneys were in agreement with the morphometric findings of humans and bovine kidneys.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. Despite discovery of effective antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), more than 30% of patients are still resistant to AEDs. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the effect of acute administration of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in mice resistant to antiepileptic drugs in 6Hz model of epilepsy. METHODS: At first intracerebroventricular (i. c. v) injection and oral consumption of DHA alone and intrapritoneal (i. p. ) injection of drugs in separate groups were evaluated. In test groups LTG 25 mg/kg or PHT 25mg/kg were injected i. p. 105 min after injection of PHT, 45 min after injection of LTG, DHA (1mM) was injected i. c. v. In control groups drugs solvent or DHA solvent was injected DHA. 15 min after injection of DHA or DHA solvent, in all groups 6 Hz stimulation was exerted and occurrence of limbic seizures was registered. In oral test groups PHT 25 mg/kg or LTG 25 mg/kg was injected i. p. 60 min after injection of PHT and simultaneous injection of LTG, DHA (0. 1 ml) was gavaged. 60 minutes after injection of DHA 6 Hz stimulation was exerted. RESULTS: Acute administration of DHA alone via i. c. v injection or oral gavage had no protective effect on inhibiting seizures. Administration of DHA with LTG or PHT also could not inhibit drug resistance. 6-Hz seizures when administered chronically. However, chronically administered DHA inhibited limbic seizures resistant to LTG and PHT. CONCLUSIONS: Acute administration of DHA could not inhibit resistance to LTG and phenytoin in 6-Hz model of epilepsy. Also, consumption of single dose of DHA with anticonvulsant drugs does not have any effect on prevention of drug resistance in epileptic patients.

BACKGROUND: Trueperella pyogenes is one of the most important pathogens of cattle cutaneous abscess which causes considerable economic damage in livestock industry. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to isolate and identify T. pyogenes as an opportunistic pathogen and determine its antibiotic resistance. METHODS: 134 samples were collected from 15 cattle farms in Tehran province. The pathogenic bacteria were isolated and were initally identified by their colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. In addition, routine biochemical techniques and molecular tests used for detection of T. pyogenes strains. Susceptibility of T. pyogenes strains to antibiotics was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. RESULTS: The bacterial species isolated from 314 cutaneous abscesses studied were 10 genera of pathogen bacteria. T. pyogenes was the pioneer pathogen among other these. According to biochemical and CAMP test, nine biotypes of T. pyogenes were detected. All T. pyogenes isolates (9 biotypes) were positive for the PCR test. The highest percentage of T. pyogenes isolates was susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin G and amoxicillin and high resistance rates were observed for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin and tetracycline. CONCLUSIONS: Although T. poygenes is considered as an opportunistic bacterium, it could turn into a primary and secondary pathogen and consequently cause several complications. Identifying causative agents of abscess using molecular methods, performing antibiotic susceptibility assays and choosing appropriate drug are useful the treatment of such pathogens.

Candidiasis is a fungal infection that is often caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) and in a few cases it is caused by other Candida species. Infection of gastrointestinal tracts including mouth, esophagus and stomach, as well as enteritis and diarrhea are the most common form of the disease in cattle. Clinical findings: In January 2015 reduction in milk production and severe watery diarrhea were observed in a dairy farm located in Varamin city Tehran, Iran. So that 57. 1% of cows with high milk production efficiency and 40% of cows with low milk production efficiency were suffering severe watery diarrhea. Laboratory tests: In clinical examination of affected animals vital signs such as number of breaths, heart rate, as well as the quality and number of ruminal movements were quite normal. No unusual signs were seen in CBC pattern of affected animals. In stool samples of affected animals no viruses or bacteria were detected while specimens were positive for yeast contamination. RapID commercial kits were used to identify the genus and species of yeast and C. famata was diagnosed as the cause of diarrhea. Final evaluation: Reports of diarrhea caused by fungal pathogens in animals is very low and Candida species, especially C. albicans and C. glabrata are known as the main causes of fungal diarrhea in animals. This study is the first report about occurrence of C. famata diarrhea in adult cattle. So that C. famata could be considered as one of the potential causes of diarrhea in cattle.

BACKGROUND: The use of feed withdrawal method for molt induction can cause physiological stress and negatively affect the immunological response of hens. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to survey of hormonal changes and immunological response in hens fed alfalfa molt diet during the molt period. METHODS: In this experiment 108 Hy-line (W36) laying hens aged 74 weeks in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replicates were used. The treatments used for 12 days molt period included: 1-control group fed with layer ration (FF), 2-feed withdrawal group (FW), 3-group fed with 90% alfalfa and 10% layer ration (A90). Performance of birds was monitored for 12 weeks after the end of the molting period. RESULTS: Total circulating leukocytes were generally lower in FW hens group compared with the other groups during the initial stage of molt (p<0. 05). On day 3 and 6 of molt, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was increased in molted hens and FW hens had higher levels than other groups. On day 3 of molt, plasma corticosterone was generally increased in molted hens and FW hens had a higher level than A90 hens (p<0. 05). Plasma T3 was significantly decreased in molted hens than nonmolted hens during the molt period (p<0. 05). Plasma T4 was significantly increased in molted hens than nonmolted hens during the molt period (p<0. 05). On day 6 and 9 of molt, concentrations of T4 were higher in FW hens than in the A90 hens (p<0. 05). Date of reentry and days return to 50% and 80% egg production were significantly lower in A90 groups than in the FW groups (p<0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that, A90 diet can limit physiological stress and improve the performance of immunological response that accompanies feed withdrawal method during an induced molt.