SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH IRANIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
Year:2020 | Volume:16 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

To evaluate both thyroid hormones status in different ages and sexes of Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and the correlations between these hormones and some biochemical parameters, such as electrolytes, lipids, glucose, BUN, and creatinine, these parameters were measured in twenty-six adult camels. The camels in two sexes (male= 18 and female= 8), aged between 2 and 11 years old (2-4 years old= 8, 5-8 years old= 9, and 9-11 years old= 9) were chosen for this study. Significant differences were detected for the thyroid hormones between the two sexes and among the different age groups of camels. Also, there were significant correlations between these hormones and phosphorus, Fe, Na, K, Mg, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, urea, creatinine, and glucose. The cause of these findings and some contradictory findings regarding the relation between serum thyroid hormones, triglyceride and cholesterol are not clear and could be due to the effect of some factors such as breed, geography and diet on serum profiles of sampled groups. More research is needed to evaluate these parameters in Camelus bactrianus.

Aflatoxin is the most economically important mycotoxin in the world. The most toxic form of aflatoxin is aflatoxin B1. It is one of the few fungal toxins that is regulated by the US food and drug administration; moreover, compared with other mycotoxins, more is known about its biology and biosynthesis. In the present study, our aim was to detect the ability of aflatoxin B1 to be produced in different Aspergillus species that have been isolated from agro-ecological zones and processing plants in the North of Iran. The concentration of AFB1 in the samples was investigated by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, through using the ELISA method, the aflatoxin B1 production pattern was compared between fungal biomass and growth medium in toxicogenic isolates. The results showed that all of the studied Aspergillus species isolates tended to produce aflatoxin B1. Although there was a statistically significant difference in the mean of aflatoxin B1 in growth medium and cell extract in several species, in A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. sojae, A. terreus, A. ostianus, A. carbonarius, A. wentii, storing the toxin in fungal cell was more than that of releasing toxin in matrix culture medium. In the other isolates including A. niger, A. foetidus and A. ocraceus, export of toxin was more than that of cell storage. We concluded that toxicogenic isolates of Aspergillus spp can be found in all the studied geographic areas of Northern Iran. Although the behavior of species in releasing of aflatoxin into the growth environment was different, we hypothesized that it depends on different mechanisms that effect export toxin into the external environment.

In this research, excretory kidney of, Common carp, which is a very important Warm water fish species, has been studied under various environmental salinity changes. This research was conducted to find out how C. carpio can resist without changes in structure and damage of tissues, especially the cells involved in osmotic regulation of kidney against different salinity. For this purpose, 120 specimens of common carp were placed for 2 weeks in saline treatment with 4ppt, 8ppt, 12ppt and freshwater as a control treatment with three replications. For histomorphology studies, samples were taken at a maximum thickness of 0. 5 cm. After fixation in 10% formalin buffer, the routine procedure of tissue preparation was done and sections of 4-6 μ m thickness stained with Hematoxylin and eosin. In microscopic studies excretory kidney including nephrons and glomerulus were seen scattered throughout of this organ. Urinary tubules were seen as, proximal and distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts. In histometric studies, during the period of adaptation with different Salinities, the highest number and diameter of glomeruli were seen in 12ppt salinity and the lowest was seen in 8ppt and 4ppt. On the other hand, the highest number and diameter of collecting ducts were observed in the control treatment and the lowest was for 12ppt and 8ppt Salinities. Also, the maximum and minimum thickness of the muscle layer of collecting tubes belonged to salinity 4ppt and 8ppt. Therefore, according to the results, it can be concluded that the tolerance and adaptability of C. carpio are high to the salinity changes due to rapid changes in the tissue and physiological structure of the kidney for osmoregulation. So, the species has been able to adapt to the changes in its environmental salinity and to survive.

Avian tuberculosis is a chronic disease that generally affects the bird's gastrointestinal tract and it often results in bird death. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium is the most important cause of disease in birds. From October 2018 to October 2019, one hundred one suspected pigeons were selected based on clinical signs and poor physical condition. For ELISA system design, a blood sample was collected via pigeon wing vein and serum was collected. For the PCR method, pigeons were euthanized and post mortem were performed, and samples from liver and spleen and each organ with gross lesions were collected and stored in a freezer at-40 ° C. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium strain D4 antigen in Microbial Bank of Vaccine Research Institute was used in the design of the ELISA system. 16S rRNA, IS901 and IS1245 primers were used for molecular testing. The results showed that 39 out of 101 suspected pigeons were positive for the IS901 and IS1245 genomic sequences in PCR. But, only 13 cases out of 101 pigeons, were positive by the designed ELISA system. These 13 cases also were positive in the PCR test. Correlation between PCR and designed ELISA methods results was significant (0. 485). Clinical sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method were 100% and the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA method were 33. 33% and 100%, respectively. It was concluded that the rate of avian tuberculosis among pigeon flocks in Ahvaz is relatively high and prevention and control plans should be applied by pigeon keeper and veterinary organization. The sensitivity of PCR to detect avian tuberculosis is higher than the designed ELISA system and ELISA test could be used for primary screening pigeon flocks in the early stages of avian tuberculosis.

Among various animal species, fetal sex determination and the use of methods to make earlier diagnosis of fetus sex possible are of great interest. There are several assumptions to predict the sex ratio of offspring from a given parent, including the relationship between maternal body condition and some factors in the environment. The present study conducted on 25 Arab mares in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, in the southeast of Iran, to investigate the relationship between maternal body condition score (BCS), vaginal pH, blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and urea levels in mares and offspring sex ratio, one month before mating and at mating time, and also the abovementioned parameters’ changes during these periods. The results showed that the maternal BCS had no significant effect on predicting offspring sex one month before mating, while its effect on offspring sex was significant at mating time. As was expected, with one-unit increase in maternal BCS one month before mating, the proportion of males to females offspring increased by 4. 81 times. The U-Mann-Whitney statistical test showed that the mean score of body condition in mares, who had a colt, was significantly better (higher) than in mares with fillies at each time point of the study. However, no significant relationship was found regarding changes in body condition score and offspring gender. It was also found that other variables had no significant effect on offspring sex at any time of evaluation. In general, it can be claimed that BCS assessment can play an effective role in predicting offspring sex ratio.

To perform this study, three species of fish, macroscopic scaled fish as Otolithes ruber, microscopic scaled fish as Huso huso and free scaled fish as Pangasius hypophthalmus were prepared and sampling of different parts of the dorsal, ventral and lateral surface was carried out. Routine procedures of tissues preparation were followed and paraffin blocks were cut at 4-6 micron, stained with H&E and studied under a light microscope. Results by (H&E) staining showed that epidermis formed non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with mucous goblets like cells, taste bud and club cells. Mucous cells were along with the superficial cells layers and their distributions varied. In histomorphometry studies, the highest number of mucous cells were seen in dorsal regions, and the lowest were seen in the ventral region. The goblet cells were mostly secreted in the middle layers and they were drawn to the surface layer of skin. The club cells, with a large nucleus, mostly founded in deep and intermediate layers. These cells were not seen in the lateral surfaces of all three species. Taste buds was seen on ventral surface and in catfish the number of them was high. According to histometric results, except for goblet cells, in all other studied cases, there were significant differences in all three species in dorsal, ventral and lateral surface

Zinc is one of the most important nutrients in determining the appearance of the coat in dogs. Zinc deficiency occurs, most commonly as zinc responsive dermatosis, but zinc toxicity rarely occurs. The present study was conducted to detect the level of serum zinc concentration in urban and rural dogs of Ahvaz district, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A total of 250 serum samples of urban and rural dogs (clinically healthy) with different ages were randomly obtained. The classification was made by age, sex, breed and location. The dogs were divided into three groups based on age (≤ 1 year, 1-3 years and ≥ 3 years). The mean and standard deviation of zinc concentration was 1. 21± 0. 04 mg/l in the studied dog's population. The frequency distribution of zinc showed that serum concentrations were 1. 36± 0. 06 and 1. 05± 0. 05 mg/l in urban and rural dogs respectively. The mean and standard deviation of zinc was in the normal range in all samples (1. 21± 0. 04; 95% CI: 0. 87-1. 42). Serum zinc concentration was significantly higher in urban than rural dogs. Zinc concentration didn’ t show a significant difference for different ages (1. 16± 0. 09 less than one year, 1. 15± 0. 06 between 1-3 years and 1. 27± 0. 07 above 3 years), gender (1. 41± 0. 10 in males and 1. 33± 0. 08 for females in urban dogs and 1. 06± 0. 07 in males and 1. 03± 0. 08 for females in rural dogs), and breed (the most level in Boxer breed= 1. 42± 0. 60 and the least level in Bulldog breed= 0. 87± 0. 18) (p>0. 05). The present survey showed that the serum zinc concentration was significantly higher in the urban than rural dogs which are probably due to the better diet.

The critical role of tendons in body mechanics and injury and degeneration of this tissue can highly be debilitating, resulting in substantial pain, disability and costs. Capparis spinossa is one of the most common aromatic plants growing in Iran. The major objective of the study was to assess Achilles tendon healing in a rabbit model by local injection of ethanolic extract of C. spinossa. Nine adult white New Zealand male rabbits were anesthetized and partial thickness tenotomies were created on both hindlimbs. The C. spinossa extract and normal saline were respectively injected daily to the treatment and control groups for three days post-operatively. Histological analysis on days 7, 14 and 28 post-rupture demonstrated higher regenerating activity and capacity in treated groups than the control group. This was illustrated by fewer inflammatory cells, a larger number of blood vessels, further fibroblasts and increased structural organization with further longitudinally oriented collagen fibers in the treated group. In summary, these results suggest that use of C. spinossa extract can promote the healing process of damaged Achilles tendons in rabbits.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and degenerative condition of the articular cartilage and other joints’ structures. It is essential to diagnose this condition as early as possible. The present study was conducted to measure the Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α ) levels in synovial fluid and serum samples of dogs with experimental cruciate ligament rupture as a model of OA. In the present study, four adult (~ 20 months), large (weighing ~ 18 kg), mixed breed, male clinically healthy dogs were selected to investigate the effect of experimental OA, on OPG and TNF-α as a way of early detection of OA. OPG and TNF-α were measured in synovial fluid and serum on days 0, 14, 28, 90 and 180 after the surgical transaction of the cranial cruciate ligament in one stifle joint. Statistical analysis of the results showed that there was a significant increase in the concentrations of TNF-α in both synovial fluid and serum. Serum level of OPG showed a reduction before and two weeks after surgery and remained steady for the rest of the study period. Synovial fluid levels of OPG had no wide fluctuation throughout the study. OPG had constant levels at the beginning of experiment and increased at final stage. In conclusion, TNF-α could be used in both synovial fluid and serum as a way of early detection of OA.

A total of 66 albino Wistar rats were subjected to the following treatments in 11 groups: Group 1 (negative control); Group 2 and 3: received Cadmium Chloride (CdCl2) 400 μ g/rat intratracheally (IT) and sampled after 5 and 10 days, respectively; Group 4 and 5: received bromelain 20 mg/kg orally (PO) from 14 days before until 5 and 10 days after CdCl2 instillation, respectively; Group 6 and 7: received bromelain 40 mg/kg from 14 days before until 5 and 10 days after CdCl2 instillation, respectively; Group 8: received bromelain 40 mg/kg for 24 days; Group 9 and 10: received Celecoxib 25 mg/kg PO from one day before until 5 and 10 days after CdCl2 instillation, respectively; Group 11: received Celecoxib for 11 days. Serum protein analysis revealed that intratracheal Cadmium administration resulted in an insignificant rise in all globulin fractions on day 5 and 10 post-injection. Low dose bromelain treatment for 24 days in CdCl2 exposed rats showed a significant decrease in serum total protein and all globulin fractions. However, CdCl2 plus high dose bromelain treatment for 24 days, significantly increased all the mentioned analytes. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid γ-globulin concentration was decreased in all cadmium and/or bromelain treated groups. However, these changes were not significant compared to the control group. Serum LDH activity was significantly increased 5 days after cadmium intoxication while bromelain or celecoxib coadministration resulted in an insignificant decrease in enzyme activity level. In the histopathologic examination, severe interstitial pneumonia and fibrinous bronchopneumonia were observed in cadmium exposed rats and low dose bromelain administration for 24 days resulted in the reduction of these complications in lung tissue. In brief, bromelain administration can be considered as a supportive or alternative treatment to alleviate CdCl2 induced systemic and bronchoalveolar inflammatory changes, especially when administered in the lower dose.

Mesobuthus eupeus is an indigenous scorpion species in Southwest Iran which is responsible for the majority of scorpion sting cases in Khuzestan province. To conduct this research a total of 75 Wistar male rats were divided into 5 equal groups randomly. Group 1 (control); Group 2: M. eupeus venom was administered with a dose of 1 mg/kg IP. Group 3: Venom + 0. 5 ml of polyvalent antivenom intramuscularly, 30 minutes after envenomation. Group 4: Venom + 5 mg/kg of carvedilol 30 minutes after envenomation IP. Group 5: Venom + 0. 5 ml of polyvalent antivenom + 5 mg/kg of carvedilol 30 minutes after envenomation IP. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture at 8, 24, and 48 hours after saline/venom injection from anesthetized rats. Heparinized plasma was isolated to measure cardio-related biochemical parameters, including the activity of CPK, LDH, and AST and troponin-I levels were measured by routine methods. The results showed that the activity of the enzymes of CPKMB, LDH, AST, and also troponin-I as a specific index of heart damage elevated at different times following venom injection compared with the control group. Even though the administration of anti-venom following venom injection at different times significantly reduced the activity of these enzymes and also troponin-I levels, but the level of these indicators was still higher than the control group. Carvedilol administration had no significant effect on reducing the activity of the above-mentioned factors. Meanwhile, the combined administration of carvedilol and anti-venom following venom injection had similar results with the antivenom group. This result may relate to the dose and its frequency of carvedilol use.

This report describes a huge gastric trichobezoar in a 12-year old male captive African lion (Panthera leo) leading to gastric perforation, fatal peritonitis and death. At necropsy, the stomach seemed firm, highly distended and filled with a giant mass weighted 3800 grams. A big perforation was identified in the antrum which caused severe pyoperitoneum, septic shock and death. Restricted physical activity at nights, whole carcasses feeding, lack of fiber supplement or laxatives and repetitious diet were the major risk factors for trichobezoar formation in this case. Trichobezoar should be considered as a common gastrointestinal disease in captive wild cats, so nutritional and medical preventive regimen is highly recommended for lions in zoos. Determining the common causes of morbidity and mortality of wild felines housed in zoological collections will provide insights that contribute to their improved care, health, and medical management in captivity and ultimately affect the sustainability of these species in the wild.