Journal of Veterinary Research
Year:2007 | Volume:62 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

To give a standard in the Iranian Chall ewes, 24 of them were synchronized by two injections of PGF2α (12.5 mg/ewe Lutalize, Upjohn) 8 day apart. Forty-eight h after the 2nd injection, 16 ewes showed signs of estrous and were randomly divided into 2 groups and each was introduced a fertile ram for 24 h (ram introducing day was counted as day 0). Embryonic vesicle (E.V.), biparietal diameter (B.P.D.) and crown ramp length (C.R.L.) were measured. Early pregnancy diagnosis was performed by transrectal (with or without abdominal pressure) ultrasonography in standing position. Ultrasonography was performed until day 144. Embryonic vesicle was 0.55 cm in diameter on the day 18. It was 0.79, 0.95, 1.41, 1.91, 2.42, 2.98 and 3.42 cm in days 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 33 and 37 of pregnancy, respectively. The first assessment of BPD was in day 37, which was 1.04 cm. It was 1.19, 1.87, 4.12 and 6.27 for days 40, 61, 98 and 144 of pregnancy, respectively. CRL was 2.25, 2.78, 3.19, 4.33, 5.39, 6.94 and 8.03 in days 33, 37, 40, 44, 47, 54 and 58 of pregnancy. These data are the first report giving a standard measurement in Chall gestational age assessment.

This study was conducted to compare systemic versus intramammary administration of antibiotics in eliminating intramammary infection (IMI) of Staph. aureus in Holstein heifers. Heifers approaching parturition were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 30. Group 1 to 3 received Nafpenzal- DC (DC), Tylosin (TY), Enrofloxacin(EN), respectively and group 4 received no treatment (control). Postpartum cure rates were 93, 83, 70 and 47% in heifers of Group 1 to 4, respectively (p<0.05). The cure rates in heifers that belonged to DC and TY groups were higher than that in control group (p<0.01).There was no significant difference between the cure rates of TY and DC groups and between EN and TY groups. Cure rate in DC group was greater than that in EN group (p<0.05). In conclusion, prepartum systemic treatment by Tylosin, which is easier to apply and prevents injuries for both heifer and milker, might replace DC treatment for controlling staphylococcal mastitis in dairy heifers.

Radiography of a 2-year-old canary (Serinus canaria) presented to the bird clinic with head alopecia, anorexia, emaciation and dropped lower beak revealed lower beak fracture and skull bone osteomyelitis. Despite providing the supportive care management, the bird died. Histopathological sections confirmed radiographic findings and bacteriological examinations resulted in the profuse pure growth of Pseudomonas aeroginosa. This is the first report of the bone infection associated with P. aeroginosa leading to baldness in canaries.

The diagnosis of piroplasms is achieved by staining methods such as Giemsa, feulgen or Methylgreen- puronin on blood smear or tick salivary gland. These methods are not specific and could be accompanied with some complications, especially in the carrier animals. In contrast to these methods, polymerase chain reaction is more sensitive and specific. Different sources of blood samples, such as EDTA-blood, ethanol blood fixed, Giemsa stained blood smear or from native were used for DNA extraction. Phenol/chloroform extraction method, TriPure method and rapid DNA-Isolation method (Kit) were applied to compare DNA-isolation. Protozoan DNA could be amplified using extracted DNA from EDTA- blood with all three methods. DNA extracted from blood fixed in ethanol could be successfully analyzed using Phenol/chloroform extraction method and rapid DNA extraction method (kit). But in the case of extracted DNA from native or stained blood smear, protozoan DNA could be demonstrated only when the DNA was extracted using rapid DNA-extraction method (kit). The results showed that the amount of blood for the PCR analysis revealed that less than 10 ml blood could be sufficient to detect protozoan parasites in the infected animals. These results suggest that it is possible to analyze and control the already stained and registered blood smear from infected animals. Furthermore, the results facilitated possibility to develop simpler method for the collection of samples than the conventional methods.

The effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation on the healing of tendon in rabbit was evaluated using 10 young clinically normal, healthy New-Zealand white male rabbits, aged 6 months and weighing 3. 6 ±0. 8 Kg. All the rabbits were anaesthetized by using combinations of xylazine, ketamine, acepro mazine and diazepam. Splitting of 2cm full thickness of right Achilles tendon was conducted in all rabbits with scalpel (10 times), followed by their division into two groups of 5 rabbits each. In group I, the tendon was allowed to heal without the application of any treatment, but in group II, TES threapeutic regimens were begun on 3rd day after splitting at a 1W/cm2 for 24 minutes with 70 Hz frequency and 1. 1 mA intensity daily for 15 days. The full surface of electrodes covered with pad soaked in water properly, which were placed in closed contact with skin in proximal part of splitted tendon (2 positive electrodes) and distal part(2 negative electrodes),were subsequentely fixed with adhesive tape. After 30 days, biopsy was collected from injured part for histomorphological evaluation. The staining procedure employed was Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. Results: The union was observed to be comparatively much better in group II (treated one) presenting the least inflammatory reaction, parallel and advanced stage of collagen formation with minimum cellularity when compared to the control one. Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TES) for two weeks had positive and stimulatory effect on tendon healing, with the least inflammatory cells being regular and parallel bundle of collagen fiber formation in the treated group. TES as a physical method of therapy proved quite effective in tendon healing and faster remodelling of tendon fibers.

The aim of the present study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic features of mammary gland and teat parameters in lactating camels. For this study, udders of the ten camels obtained from the local slaughterhouse. B-mode ultrasonographic examination of the udders in the water-bath by 6.5-8.5 MHz linear array transducer was performed. Normal sonographic findings were described and teat canal length, teat end width, teat wall thickness, teat cistern width and middle cistern wall thickness were also measured. Results were analyzed by Paired sample t-test. In the lactating camels, the streak canal, teat sinus, gland sinus and lactiferous ducts were imaged easily. The teat wall could be divided into 3 layers, including a hyperechoic outer layer, a hypoechoic thicker middle layer and a less hyperechoic inner layer. The intercisternal wall of each teat could be divided into 3 layers: two thin hyperechoic outer layers and a thicker hypoechoic middle layer. The B-mode ultrasonography technique as described in this study seems to be reliable for determining the anatomic features of the udder and measuring of the teat parameters of the camel.

Beak lesions were observed in 50-weeks-old broiler breeder roosters reared under a separate sex mash diet feeding, with low in protein and energy for roosters. All roosters kept with hens showed deformities in the upper and lower beak but the lesions were not found in roosters kept separately. Hens’ feed troughs had been covered with galvanized wire grids to exclude the males eating from hens’ troughs. There was approximately 5% mortality among roosters with the beak lesions. A marked reduction (23%) on hatchability was observed, but no change in egg production occurred. The beak lesions were the major cause of male’s culling in the flock. Histopathological examination of the lesions revealed that the epidermis, keratin layer and underlying connective tissue of the beaks were severely affected by necrosis. Bacteriological cultures yielded, mainly, growth of hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus, and hematological tests showed a mild increase in the number of the white blood cells. The case reported here appeared to be a management-related problem. These findings have implications for poultry industry.

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of selected virulence genes in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). We examined 12 APEC isolates which belonged to the most common serotypes in Iran. All 12 isolates were tested for the presence of stx1, stx2, eae, espB and hly genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction in two protocols. In the first protocol the isolates were tested with EC and with hly primers, and in the second protocol the isolates were examined with eae, stx1, stx2 and espB primers. Seventy five percent (9) of the isolates carried only stx2 gene sequence and just one isolate had both stx1 and stx2 genes. Furthermore, 2 isolates (16.66 %) possessed eae sequence and 3 isolates carried espB (25%). The hly gene was not detected in any of the isolates. The findings of this study indicated that the Stx2 may be widespread among APEC in Iran.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) has recently been used in resolving experimentally severed superficial flexor tendon which leads to acute tendonitis. However, mechanism by which (TES) promote tendon repair is not fully understood. In this study 4 right superficial flexor tendon of hind limb of horses were subjected to daily therapeutic regimen of TES for 10 minutes for 15 days using 100 Hz frequency and 80 s intensity (2.8 ±0.6 mA) after being severed in full length thickness in total length of 10 cm in the mid- tendon area and similarly in another 4 right tendon in control horses no treatment was applied. Tendons were subjected to ultrasonographical, histological and, tensile strength evaluation which has been reported separately for publication and hydroxyproline content for 60 days after treatment. There were remarkable differences between hyroxyproline contents of severed tendon with those of normal ones in control group, whereas there were not significant differences in treated tendons with those of normal ones in the same horses. This study suggests that using hydroxyproline content as a direct marker of the effect of TES on collagen content in injured tendon.

Lysozyme activity of grass carp (Ctenopharingodon idella) weighing 850 g were assessed following exposing fish to various concentrations of diazinon at 1, 2 and 4mg/L provided as a bath for 12 hours at 20–2”C. Compared with the control fish there was no significant difference in levels of lysozyme in tissues of spleen and kidney of experimental fish after one day post-exposing to the toxicant (p>0.05), whilst lysozyme contents in sera of experimental fish were significantly lower than control fish (p<0.05). After 7 day-post-exposing fish to toxicant, the lysozyme contents in both spleen and kidney of fish exposed to 2 and 4 mg/L of toxicant were significantly higher than control fish (p<0.05). Also, compared with control group, no significant difference was observed in lysozyme content in sera and tissues of kidney and spleen of experimental fish 15, 30 and 45 days post-exposure (p>0.05). These results show that diazinon at sublethal concentrations stimulate some non-specific immune defence mechanisms of grass carp through enhancing of lysozyme content in heamatopoeitic tissues and blood serum.

A Thoroughbred horse with clinical signs of inappetence, loss of body weight, poor performance and scrotal sac infection following castration was examined. Because of irregularity in heart rhythm, ECG was recorded and on the base of normal rhythm criteria, atrial fibrillation was diagnosed. This is believed to be the first reported case of atrial fibrillation in horses in Iran.