IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH (IJVR)
Year:2012 | Volume:13 | Issue:4 (41)|Papers Count:16

To establish the behavioral indicator of reproductive success of female captive Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus), the focal sampling was used to record the individual behaviors at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF), Gansu province, China. Conducted between June 2008 and January 2009, 31 adult females were observed, of which 26 had successfully bred in the previous year, and five of which were barren. The frequencies of 12 behaviors were recorded and compared to explore variation in reproductive success and general behavior patterns. The results showed that there were differences in behavioral frequencies between females barren and fawned in the previous year. Compared to successful individuals, barren females expressed environment sniffing more frequently during non-mating season, but less frequently during mating season (P<0.05). Females which had previously fawned expressed ano-genital sniffing less frequently than barren females in non-mating season (P<0.05). Furthermore, both female groups elicited the male specific tail-pasting behavior, although the demonstration levels were not different significantly between both. The above behavioral differences have implications for musk deer farming practices, whereby females should be grouped and separated by their previous reproduction history, to maximize future reproductive success.

Nowadays, uncontrolled and frequent use of antibiotics may cause emergence of microbial resistance among pathogenic agents. Therefore, the use of new synthetic and natural antimicrobial compounds is inevitable. One source of natural compounds in this respect comes from plants. The purpose of this study was to examine the antibacterial effects of peel extracts from sour and sweet pomegranate. Methanolic extracts of sour and sweet pomegranate peels and aqueous solutions of tetracycline and chloramphenicol were prepared. Antibiogram tests using disk diffusion technique and serial dilution method were performed against ten pathogenic bacteria isolated from animals, and relative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were also determined for the above compounds. The greatest zone of inhibition induced by the action of pomegranate peel extracts was obtained for Staphylococcus aureus (about 25 mm) and the smallest zone of inhibition was obtained for Pasteurella multocida (about 9 mm). In addition, the lowest MIC and MBC values of pomegranate peel extract were obtained for Staphylococcus aureus (7.8 and 62.5 mg/ml, respectively). Results of serial dilution tests indicate that bactericidal effect of sour pomegranate peel extract was more than that for sweet pomegranate peel extract; and sweet pomegranate peel extract exerts a bacteriostatic action against bacteria. The antibacterial effect was greater against Gram-positive bacteria compared to that for the Gram-negative bacteria. Effects of these extracts were considerably lower than those for tetracycline and chloramphenicol. In conclusion, methanolic extracts of pomegranate peels exhibit relatively good bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of probiotic (Bacillus latrospores and Bacillus licheniformis) on growth and survival of Silver carp larvae (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) were used as live prey vehicle for probiotic transport. They were cultured in sea water with 15 ppt salinity and Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae was used as feed. Five treatments were prepared with three replicates (four experimental treatments and one control). Silver carp larvae were obtained from a local fish farm (Golestan, Iran). Rotifers were filtered from intensive cultivation tanks with 200 rotifer/ml density and then transferred to conical glasses for the enrichment process, and were kept under enrichment conditions for 24 h. Two forms of enrichment were carried out: rotifer biocapsulation and rearing water enrichment. T1 and T2 were fed with biocapsulated rotifers and T3 and T4 were fed non-biocapsulated rotifers. Instead of biocapsulation, the same density of bacteria was injected directly into the rearing water of T3 and T4. T3 (4.4 ± 1.2 mg) and T4 (5.05 ± 1.95 mg) treatments of probiotic injected water had significantly higher growth rates than T1 (2.21 ± 0.94 mg) and T2 (3.9 ± 0.36 mg), (P<0.05). T1 (3.9 ± 1.03 mg) and T2 (3.3 ± 0.36 mg) had higher growth rates than the control (2.21 ± 0.94 mg) and were also significantly different from each other (P<0.05).

Retina is a part of the central nervous system derived from the neuroectoderm and made up of 5 layers. In this study, the changes in the thickness of the retinal layers as a consequence of diabetes and effect of Aloe Vera gel extract in male rats were assessed. Thirty Sprague Dawley adult male rats (175 ± 25 g) in two age groups (4 and 8 weeks) were divided into 6 groups of 5 as control, diabetic and diabetic receiving 400 mg/kg Aloe Vera extract. Diabetes was induced by IP injection of 50 mg/kg of STZ (streptozotocin). The animals were weighed and their blood sugar was measured by glucometer before STZ administration and 24 h thereafter. Animals were anesthetized with sodium thiopental (40 mg/kg) via IP injection. After removal of eyes on both sides, retina was dissected out precisely and fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde, post fixed in osmium tetroxid 1%, dehydrated and then embedded in TAAB resin. Thin sections (1 mm) were stained with toluidine blue stain and viewed under light microscope. Ten slides were prepared from each animal. The results revealed reduction of the blood glucose levels and body weight in treated rats in comparison to diabetic groups. The thickness of neural retina and its layers were different as well. In the group treated with Aloe Vera the thickness of retina and its layers retained their normal histologic structures.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculation of homo-fermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of low dry matter corn silage (LDMCS). Corn forage was harvested at milk stage (22.8 ± 0.9% DM), chopped at theoretical length of cut (TLC) 2.5 cm, and stored in eighteen 3.8 L mini silos for each treatment. The following treatments were used, 1) control (uninoculated), 2) ecosyl (treated with ecosylTM corn silage inoculants containing Lactobacillus plantarum), and 3) biotal (treated with biotalTM corn silage inoculants containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Propionibacter freudenreichii). Triplicate silos for each treatment were opened and sampled for chemical analyses after 3, 6, 12, 16, 21 and 90 days of ensiling. Neither ecosyl nor biotal improved fermentation characteristics of LDMCS compared to the control silage. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents and lactic acid (LA) concentration were not affected significantly by inoculants (P>0.05). Acetic acid concentration of control silages was higher; however, ethanol concentration was lower than the other silages. Biotal treated silages had the highest ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentrations compared to the control (P<0.05). In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of control silage was higher than treated silages (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that homo-fermentative LAB inoculants used in this experiment did not improve the fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of LDMCS.

The present study evaluated the effects of diets enriched in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6) on reproductive indices, metabolic hormones and metabolites prior to ram introduction in oestrus synchronized ewes. Zel ewes (n=188) were assigned to 4 groups. Ewes in the control group (CON) did not receive fat. Ewes in the 3 other groups received 3% oil/DM/day of palmolein oil (PLM), safflower seed (SAF), or flaxseed (FLX). Fat supplementation was carried out for 31 days (day 0 = initiation of fat supplementation). Oestrus was synchronized using CIDR for 14 days starting from day 16 of fat supplementation. Rams were introduced 24 h after CIDR removal. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 30, and 39. There was no difference in oestrus expression and mating parameters among groups. There was no difference in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) between day 0 and day 30 among groups. However, changes in cholesterol and LDL concentrations during the same occasions were greater in PLM, SAF, and FLX groups than in CON (P<0.05). There was no difference in reproductive indices, including: fertility rates, prolificacy and sex ratio of lambs among groups. In conclusion, diets enriched in n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid prior to mating did not affect reproductive performance, insulin, IGF-1 and progesterone in Zel sheep.

The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative radiographic method for assessment of experimental osteoporosis in Leghorn breed laying hens. Three groups of 24 Leghorn pullets were reared in cage and fed a ration containing different calcium levels, including 3.55, 2.075 and 0.6 percent (for groups 1-3, respectively). The hens were fed this diet from 17 weeks of age to the end of the experiment. At 20, 28 and 36 weeks of age, 8 hens from each group were selected randomly. Radiographs were obtained from the tibiotarsus and the humerus of each hen. Radiographs were digitized using a camera and assessed by “Image J” software. Bone radiopacities and bone cortex/diameter (C/D) ratios were measured. The hens were sacrificed and the bone ash and calcium contents were measured. Bone densities of the birds in different groups were significantly different at just 36 weeks of age; they were greater in the tibiotarsus bone of the control group than in the tibiotarsus bone of median (P=0.02) and with the low calcium (P=0.007) groups. Humerus densities were also greater in control group compared with that of median (P=0.04) and with low calcium (P=0.0004) diet group. Cortex/diameter index of the tibiotarsus bone was different in all three stages between control and the two other groups, while there were no significant differences between the humeri C/D indices and the three groups in the first stage. Humeri C/D indices of the second and third stages had significant differences between control and the two other groups (P £0.05). This study showed that radiographic evaluation of bone density is valuable just in progressed osteoporosis, while C/D index can be used for diagnosis of osteoprotic bones in earlier stages.

The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of body measurements in Turkish Arabian foals. Records of wither height, front cannon circumference, heart girth, and body length were used for body measurements at birth, 6 months of age, 1-year-old and 2-year-old. Heritability of body measurements of Turkish Arabian foals was estimated by using records of foals sired by stallions which had at least 5 foals. Body measurement records at birth of 1597 foals sired by 40 stallions were used in heritability calculation of withers height, front cannon circumference, and heart girth. Heritability of all body measurements was estimated by paternal half-sib method. Estimated heritability ranged from 0.05 (heart girth) to 0.58 (wither height). Heritability estimates can be used to improve body measurements of Turkish Arabian horses. These results indicate that mass selection method based on the individual phenotype of the horses at different ages can provide genetic improvement in the herd. Phenotypic correlations between body measurements at consecutive age periods were all positive, ranging from 0.22 to 0.63. Thus, early body measurements of the Turkish Arabian foals can be used for prediction of the size of the adult horse.

The aim of the study was to investigate the improving effect of Garcinia cambogia extract on performance metrics, and serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in rats fed with atherogenic diet. Thirty, one-year-old, female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of ten animals each. Control group was fed with basal diet (2% liquid vegetable oil, 0% cholesterol), while the diets of groups 2 and 3 contained vegetable oil (2% liquid- and 5% hydrogenated-vegetable oil) and cholesterol (3%). 4.5% Garcinia cambogia was added to the diet of group 3 from day 45. Performance metrics were significantly lower in group 3 than the other groups. Serum NEFA levels were significantly higher in group 3 than the control group on day 45, and in group 3 compared with the other groups on day 75. Serum CRP levels were not significantly different among all groups in all days. In conclusion, the reduced performance metrics indicate that supplementation with Garcinia cambogia extract is a novel therapeutic tool for weight management. Also, this study indicates that large doses of Garcinia cambogia can lead to a substantial increase in serum NEFA concentrations which may be due to the increased fat degradation.

Sheep (ovine) pulmonary adenocarcinoma (SPA), also known as ovine pulmonary adneomatosis (OPA), jaagsiekte and ovine pulmonary carcinoma (OPC) is a contagious lung tumor in sheep and, more rarely, in goats. This study was carried out in Khuzestan, in the southwest of Iran for a period of six months. A total number of 3985 native breed goats were clinically inspected and postmortem examination was recorded at the abattoir in Ahvaz. In necropsy 4 of these goats showed gross pulmonary lesions characteristic of classical pulmonary adenomatosis. The lungs were usually heavy and appeared “waterlogged”, but affected areas of the lungs were solid and light grey in color, and tissue looked slightly translucent. The cut surface showed numerous small, slightly-elevated white-grey nodules in each section. The affected alveoli in these areas were lined by proliferating cuboidal cells forming irregular folds and papillary projections. The bronchi and the bronchioles exhibited moderate epithelial hyperplasia and metaplasia. The bronchial associated lymphoid tissue and the smooth muscles of terminal and respiratory bronchioles were hyperplastic. The affected areas were essentially the same and also nearly similar to previous reports.

The respiratory tract contains numerous peptides secreted from special pulmonary epithelial cells which are called endocrine cells. The function of neuroendocrine cells is modulated by amines. Serotonin has strong vasomotor and bronchomotor effects in the airway mucosa. The objective of this study was to determine presence and distribution of serotonin-positive endocrine cells in respiratory tract of goat and bovine via PAP (peroxidase anti-peroxidase) technique. As a result, while serotonin-immunoreactive cells were found in glands of larynx and bronchial epithelium in bovine, no positive cells were detected in goat. The present study suggests that the distribution of serotonin-immunoreactive cells may show differences between both respiratory tract regions and mammalian species.

This report is related to a female 7-year-old crossbreed sheep whose right eye had been protruded and swelling of upper eyelid was observed. Routine enucleating was performed. Histopathological evaluation of eyelid revealed coincidence of two kinds of neoplasms. The first part was composed of multiple lobules of sebocytes, which were detected as meibomian adenoma. The second section included infiltrating islands of neoplastic squamous epithelium extending through the basal lamina of the epithelium with keratin pearls and was noted as grade I squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical study of cytokeratin showed positive reaction in both kinds of neoplastic cells. This is a rare case of meibomian adenoma in sheep with squamous cell carcinoma coincidence.