Journal of Veterinary Research
Year:2007 | Volume:62 | Issue:4|Papers Count:24

Artificial insemination (AI) is a selective method which has been used in commercial rabbitries and for research purposes. The results of pregnancy rates were observed here which were comparable with natural mating. This experiment is conducted to provide the potentials of AI in the breeding center and also to compare this technique with on going natural mating method. One hundred sexually matured Dutch does were randomly divided into two equal groups. Does from experimental group were inseminated with diluted fresh semen and single dose of 0.2 ml of GnRH analog (Receptal) to each/doe was immediately injected intramuscularly. Does of control group were naturally mated with mature Dutch bucks. The environmental conditions were same in the both groups. The results of study showed that the 62% of does in control group had developed pregnancy where as in AI group 60% were pregnant. This result indicates the conception rate is similar in both groups and differences are not statistically significant.

The purpose of this study was evaluation of magnesium sulfate effect in treatment of acute oleander intoxication in sheep. Eleven young native sheep randomly divided into 2 groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the treatment group and 5 served as controls. Sheep of both groups were dosed with a lethal dose of 110mg/kg body weight of dried oleander leaves. In sheep of treatment group, following development of ventricular arrhythmias, magnesium sulfate was slowly administered intravenously with dose rate of 100mg/kg body weight. Clinical signs of toxicosis were developed within 30 -40 minutes after dosing of the plant. Serial electrocardiography revealed various abnormalities and arrhythmias of cardiac rhythm in sheep of control group. Animals of control group died within 4.5 to 12 hours (median 8.5 hours) after receiving the toxic material. Administration of magnesium sulfate in sheep of treatment group suppressed ventricular arrhythmias to benign ones or normal sinus rhythm but its effect was transient and persisted for 3 to 3.5 hours. Second injection of magnesium had same effect but there was no considerable therapeutic effect after third injection of the drug. Sheep of treatment group died within 18 to 34 hours (median 24.5 hours) after receiving the oleander. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference in survival time between the control and the treatment groups (p<0.004). The results suggested that magnesium sulfate can be used as a complementary therapeutic agent for treatment of acute oleander toxicosis in farm animals.

Dirofilaria immitis is located in the heart and releases their microfilaria in peripheral circulation. In this study, the blood samples from 122 dogs were taken from cephalic or saphen veins. Samples were examined by the modified Knot method. Then in infected dogs, all microfilaria in each ml. of blood were calculated and adult worms were isolated from heart and their sex was determined. Blood microfilaria were observed in 18 samples (14.75%), microfilaria of Dirifilaria immitis in 15 samples (12.29%), microfilaria of Dipetalonema reconditum in two samples (1.64%) and mixed infection in one sample (0.82%). The relationship between infection and sex, age and geographical regions was not significant but the rate of infection in Noh Hesar and Ghias Abad was significantly higher than that of other rural regions. The average of microfilaria in each ml. of blood in infected dogs was 4470.6±1243.54 and average of isolated adult worms from heart was 3.13±0.29.Regarding the presence of infection in Garmsar and the probability infection in humans, the infection should be controlled by the removal of stray dogs and treatment of sheepdogs.

In the present study, protoscolices and hydatid fluid were prepared from livers or lungs of sheep with hydatid cyst in sterile conditions. The protein concentration of samples was then measured by Bradford method. 12 lambs 4 - 6 months of age of mixed sex were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 4 lambs. Each lamb in groups 1 and 2 was immunized subcutaneously in the neck with a 2 - ml dose of vaccine (1 mg of protoscolex and hydatid fluid proteins dissolved in 1 ml of PBS) and emulsified with an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) respectively. Control lambs were immunized with adjuvant in PBS. Lambs were boosted at day 28 with the same preparation except that FCA was replaced by Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA). Three weeks after the second immunization, each lamb received a challenge infection with 2000 protoscolices intraperitoneally and 10 adult E. granulosus. All lambs were euthanized after 7 months and examined for hydatid cysts. Results showed that, the number of cysts in immunized lambs with protoscolices were lower than in control group and also the number of cysts in immunized lambs with hydatid fluid antigen was significant (p<0.05). This result indicated that the protective immunity in lambs with protoscolices and hydatid fluid was 54.5% and 75.75% respectively.

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in Iran. Growth of Brucella is slow and blood cultures of these bacteria are time-consuming via classical methods. We try to evaluate BACTEC 9120 system capacity in order to detect of bacteremia due to Brucella spp and to confirm isolated bacteria by PCR. Blood culture sample of 102 suspected patients evaluated by BACTEC 9120 system. They were subcultured when the machine detected their growth; if not; blind subcultures were performed on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Forty-one of 102 suspected patients showed bactermia. Isolation rate of Brucella was 40.2%. All patients were detected by BACTEC 9120 system. All positive blood culture was detected via BACTEC 9120 and blind subcultures. No positive blood culture bottles were missed by the system. Our data obtained by using the BACTEC 9120 system indicates a more rapid detection of Brucella than conventional methods.

To compare PCR and bacterial culture methods for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, 100 milk samples from cattle with subclinical mastitis and 20 samples from healthy cattle were collected and tested. The samples were cultured on selective blood agar and bacteria were identified by standard methods. DNA extracted from samples was subjected to PCR reaction with species specific primers and PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Based on the PCR results the prevalence of subclinical mastitis due to S. aureus was 25%. In the bacteriological culture of single milk sampling, S. aureus was isolated from the same samples being positive in PCR. A correlation of 100% was found between PCR and single milk sampling culture method by Mc Nemar test. All of the CMT negative samples were also negative in culture and PCR methods. The results of this study indicate that the PCR reaction is sensitive and specific for diagnosis of S. aureus in subclinical mastitis and can detect this pathogen in milk samples at species level in few hours.

In a serological survey to investigate the prevalence of leptospiral infection in goats in Ahvaz, blood samples were taken from 172 female goats. They were initially screened at serum dilution of 1: 100 against six live antigens of leptospira interorgans serovar pomona, canicola, hardjo, ballum, icterohemorrhagiae, and grippotyphosa using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and samples were considered positive, if 50% or more of agglutination of leptospires in a dilution of 1:100 or greater was found. Sera with positive results were titrated against reacting antigens in serial twofold dilution from 1:100 to 1:1600. Antibodies against one or more serovars were detected in 18 (10.46%) sera at dilution³ 1: 100. Antibodies against more than one serovar were found in 5 (27.77%) positive sera. Antibodies were most frequent to serovar grippotyphosa (39.13%) followed by in descending, canicola (26.80%), pomona (21.72%), icterohemorrhagiae (8.69%) and hardjo (4.34%).

Thirty specific pathogen free (SPF) 20-day-old chicks were inoculated by the intratracheal (n=15) or oral (n=15) routes with serotype 793/B of IBV, isolated of Iran. Two groups of 15 SPF chicks which as controls received PBS, either by the intra-tracheal or oral route. All the chicks were observed and examined daily for clinical signs. Each day for 5 days three chicks from each infected and control group were post-mortemed and examined pathological changes in the trachea, lungs, kidneys and intestines. Sections of these tissues were prepared, stained and examined microscopically for histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. Grossly, a small amount of clear mucus and slight congestion were found only in the lumen of the trachea and the lungs of the group chicks which were infected with IBV. The kidneys were pale and slightly enlarge. Immunohistochemical examination revealed similar changes in the kidneys of both groups of chicks infected by the intra-tracheal and oral routes. Viral antigens were detected in the infected cells. The viral antigens were apparent prior to the development of lesions and were detected in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells by 3 days post infection with IBV. The results of this study clearly indicate that IBV (serotype 793/B), isolated in Iran by Momayes et al. (2001), is capable of causing lesions in different tissues most severely in the kidneys of experimentally infected chicks. On the other hand, the serotype has a greater affinity and positive tropism for the kidney than to other tissues.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of microbial phytase (phyzyme XP5000G) supplementation in broiler chicks' diets on the performance, serum total protein (TP), minerals (Ca, Mg and P) and the serum enzyme activities (AST, ALT, LDH). A reference diet adequate in calcium and non-phytate phosphorus (10.0 gkg-1 Ca and 5 gkg-1 nPP) and two deficient diets in Ca and nPP (8.5 gkg-1Ca and 3.5 gkg-1 nPP, and 7.5 gkg-1 Ca and 2.5 gkg-1 nPP) with or without phytase (0 and 100mgkg-1) were offered to broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age. Although the low-nPP diets had no significant effect on body weight gain (BWG) of chicks (p>0.05) They increased (p<0.01) feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to the low-nPP diet supplemented with enzyme. Phytase had a favorable effect, although non-significantly, on BWG of chicks fed very low level of nPP. Enzyme reduced the feed intake (p<0.05) and improved the FCR of Ca-nPP deficient chicks (p<0.01). The decrease in Ca-nPP content in the diet caused a significant increase in serum concentration of Ca (p< 0.05) and decrease in P concentration (p< 0.05). Low Ca-nPP diets had no influence on serum Mgconcentration. Dietary phytase reduced the Ca level and increased the P level (p<0.05) of ser um in chicks fed with Ca-nPP deficient diets. The activity of LDH increased (p<0.01) in response to low dietary Ca and nPP, deficient but there was no influence on serum ALT and AST activity and TP content (p>0.05). Phytase supplementation reduced serum ALT (p<0.05) and had no effect on AST (p>0.05). Serum LDH activity further increased (p<0.01) by phytase supplementation. These results demonstrated that the performance of the chicks received low levels of Ca and nPP with phytase was improved and the serum parameters were comparable to those chicks fed with normal Ca-nPP diet.

To evaluate the virulance of 11 isolates of native entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agent of Boophilus annulatus, in this study, 4 three months old calves were used for tick rearing. Different developmental stages of the ticks, Boophilus annulatus were inoculated by 107 conidia/ml dilution of the fungal isolates in the presence of control groups. The mortality, egg hatchability and reproductive efficiency were determined in different treatments and control groups and the results were analized statisticaly. Metarhizium anisopliae strains DEMI001 and IRAN437C, Beauveria bassiana strain IRAN403C, and Lecanicillium psalliotae strain IRAN468C were the most virulent strains in comparison with their relative strains and caused 80 -100%, 20 - 80%, 0 - 40% and 0- 40% mortality for engorged females respectively. All 11 tested fungi reduced egg laying capability of the ticks several days before their death. The obtained data showed that the entomopathogenic fungi can affect all developmental stages of Boophilus annulatus, but their efficiency varies considerably according to the fungal species and strains. It is demonstrated for the first time the pathogenic effect of Lecanicillium psalliotae against Boophilus annulatus.

The effects of some Iranian herbal essences have been evaluated on the function of immune system using experimental animals. Rabbits received Zataria multiflora, Geranium pelargonium, Myrth, Lemon essences and normal saline (control group), 6 times with 6 days of interval. Five days after the last injection of the essences, Candida albicans antigens were injected into all the animals. Phagocytosis and killing assays and lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) were carried out on blood samples. The cellular immunity was significantly stimulated against C. albicans antigens and Con-canavalin A (Con-A) mitogen in animals that injected subcutaneously with Z. multiflora and G. pelargonium in comparison with the control group, whereas Myrth essence had no considerable effect and Lemon essence suppressed the cellular responses. Zataria multiflora, Myrth and Lemon essences stimulated innate immunity when injected subcutaneously, whereas G. pelargonium essence had no significant effect. Humoral responses to Candida antigens were significantly decreased in animals injected with Lemon essence as compared to other essences (p<0.05).

In this study the role of the glutamatergic system on feed intake in 24-hour-feed-deprived broiler cockerels was investigated. ICV injection of 0, 0.675, 1.25, and 2.5 nmol of glutamate reduced feed intake dose-dependently, and increased the latency time to start feeding.Pretreatment with 2.5 nmol HQCA, an ionotropic glutamate antagonist resulted in both an increase in feed intake and a decrease in latency of birds to start feeding. Pretreatment with 2nmol of MSPG, a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, severely reduced feed intake and increased the latency to start feeding. These findings suggest, for the first time, that glutamate, acting as a neurotransmitter, is involved in feed intake regulation in broiler cockerels. This effect is probably mediated by both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. It appears that both postsynaptic and presynaptic glutamate receptors are involved.

Sayyed Esmail Josjani (Gorgani) was one of the greatest scientists and physicians of Iran died in 1136 in merve. He promted writing medical book in Persian by authoring the valuable book of zakhireh kharazmshahi and Al Aghraz al tibia. Of course writing medical books in Persian was common before Avicennas time (980 - 1037). Zakhireh and Aghraz are like big and medium medical encyclopedia and even since the creation of the present Persian script. These books are the last and most important medical books in Persian. Like any other ancient book, some parts of these books are abolished but some other parts are valuable. However these books are remained to be unique as Persian medical books in the course of time. I have edited and corrected al - Aghraz al tibia (Medical goals) from several old manuscripts. There are seveval manuscripts of al - Aghraz (which is about 250000 words). To edit and correct this book, I have used five old important manuscripts of Aghraz and one manuscripts of zakhireh kharazmihahi. I have published this book in 2 volumes in 2005 - 2006. At the end of the second volume, I compiled a medical dictionary named Dictionary of Aghraz. The references of this work are variousdocuments including manuscripts of published, old and new medical sources in persain or Arabic languages and some English or French documents.

Although an early and influential review led to the often-cited conclusion that color vision is rare among mammals, more recent findings suggest that it is actually widespread. According to Jacobs, all non-nocturnal mammalian species that have been adequately examined show some color vision capacity, although the degree varies enormously. Data on the presence and characteristics of color vision in the horse, however, remain sparse and none in the case of ponies. Eight Caspian ponies were presented with a series of two-choice color vs. grey discrimination problems. One mare pony was eliminated due to traumatic injury to the eye. Experiments were performed in a box of 3 × 3 meter containing a wall with two translucent panels that were illuminated from behind by light projected through color or grey filters to provide the discriminative stimuli. Ponies were first adopted to the stall (box) with two panels in it and then learned to push one of the panels in order to receive the food rewards behind the positive stimuli in an achromatic light-dark discrimination task. The ponies were then tested on their ability to discriminate between grey and four individual colors: red; 617 nm., yellow; 581 nm., green; 538 nm. and blue; 470 nm. The criterion for learning was set at 85% correct response, and final testing for all color vs. grey discrimination involved grey of varying intensities, making brightness an irrelevant cue. The ponies were tested with all four colors vs. grey discriminations.Except two ponies, the rest were successfully reached the criterion for learning blue color vs. grey discrimination. Only two ponies reached the criterion for learning green color vs. grey discrimination. Only tow ponies reached the criterion for discriminating red and yellow vs. grey. So the answer to the question "do the ponies see color" is yes, they can discriminate between the four selected color vs. grey.

Liquorice root extract (LE) has been used from long ago as an effective medication, especially in gastric ulcer. In this study, the healing potential of aqueous LE on dermal wounds was evaluated. The study was carried out on 45 male Spragne-Dawly rats. Two uniform 7mmdiameter skin defects were created on the back of each animal by 7mm skin punch (total of 90 wounds). LE was applied once daily on half of the wounds for 7 days, after which the animals were sacrificed for histopathological, biochemical (hydroxyproline content) and biomechanical studies. The ultimate surface area of the wounds was also measured. LE caused a significant increase in the number of fibroblasts and capillary buds, collagen contents and tensile strength of the wounds. The wound surface area in the treatment group was also significantly less than the control group. It can be concluded that LE is an effective herbal remedy in wound healing.

Babesiosis is the only intraerythrocytic parasitic disease that affects horses. Signs include fever, depression, anorexia, weakness, ataxia, lacrimation, mucoid nasal discharge, icterus and hemoglobinuria. Death may occur within 48 hours or chronic cases may persist for months. In May 2001, a three year old cross-bred mare was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital of Kerman university, with anorexia and depression for five days and jaundice in conjunctiva. Hematological examination revealed a PCV of 40. In the blood smear, Babesiaequiwas observed and typified. Treatment was performed by Imizol (4mg/kg, im) for three days. The animal got better and vital signs were normal after completion of the treatment. The mucous membrane was completely normal and the appetite was normal as well.