IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH (IJVR)
Year:2013 | Volume:14 | Issue:1 (42)|Papers Count:15

The Indian riverine buffaloes are more susceptible to variations in the environment. These variations affect seminal plasma proteins, which in turn affect fertility. This study was conducted to evaluate variations in the Indian Bubalus bubalis seminal plasma protein profile using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) during winter and summer seasons, and its relation with sperm motility and viability. The nine ejaculates from three animals were from winter season while the other nine ejaculates from the same animals were from summer season. The semen samples collected from all bulls in both seasons have similar characteristics of mass activity and total concentration. However, sperm viability was significantly higher in winter season. The 2D-PAGE pattern displayed 42, 29 and 28 protein spots during winter season while 44, 29 and 29 spots during summer season for the first, second and third bull, respectively. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was performed to identify expressed protein spots in winter and summer seasons. During both seasons, four commonly expressed protein spots B6 (pI 8.5, Mr 122.54 kDa), B7 (pI 9.7, Mr 89.98 kDa), B9 (pI 9.3, Mr 19.72 kDa) and B10 (pI 9.7, Mr 16.80 kDa) were identified as glucose phosphate isomerase, epididymal secretory protein E1, peroxiredoxin 5 precursor and tubulin polymerization-promoting protein, respectively. These proteins are involved in either the mechanism of sperm maturation or structural formation. In addition, B37W (pI 6.0, Mr 32.88 kDa), B48W (pI 8.2, Mr 80.14 kDa), B59W (pI 5.6, Mr 90.37 kDa) and B61W (pI 5.8, Mr 15.34 kDa) were differentially expressed protein spots in winter season only. Spots B37W, B48W, B59W, B61W, B6, B7, B9 and B10 were identified as phosphoglycerate kinase LOC538592, androgen regulated protein, hypothetical protein LOC514663, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glucose phosphate isomerase, epididymal secretory protein E1, peroxiredoxin 5 precursor and tubulin polymerization-promoting protein family member. These proteins are known to have modulating properties on sperm motility and viability and also to provide high energy source to sperm. The better fertilizing ability of bull during winter season can be due to the differentially expressed proteins.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the light and electron microscopic structure of the tongue in White-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis). Six adult White-eared bulbul (3 males and 3 females) in Shahrekord district were used in the investigation. Samples of the apex, body and root of the tongue were prepared routinely for light and electron microscopic study. Results showed that the tongue is characterized by an elongated triangular format. At a point, approximately 2/3 the length of the lingual corpus there is a distinct depression, separating the caudal one-third of the lingual corpus from its rostral two-third. On the dorsal surface of the apex and body of the tongue, a median groove is found. A unique feature of the tongue in White-eared bulbul is the presence of many fine overlapping needle-shaped processes at both lateral sides of the anterior lingual apex. A single row of large conical papillae is observed symmetrically in the marginal region between the body and root of the tongue. The mucosa of the tongue is covered with a thick stratified squamous epithelium, which is cornified only on the ventral surface of the apex. The periodic acid schiff (PAS) positive lingual salivary glands can be classified as dorsolateral and mediodorsal salivary glands. The compound tubular dorsolateral glands extend from the apex of the tongue to both sides of the laryngeal cleft. The compound tubulo-alveolar mediodorsal glands are found in the lingual root. At electron microscopic level, many fine openings of these glands are scattered throughout the dorsal surface of the lingual root. Neither the morphology nor the dimensions of the tongue show sex-specific differences.

The effects of methanolic extract and leaf powder of Artemisia annua were studied on performance, cellular and humoral immunity in 240 Cobb broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. Control group did not receive any treatment. The chicks in the second and third groups were fed with feed which contained 2000 and 4000 ppm plant extract in diet and in the groups 4, 5 and 6 chicks received 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of dietary Artemisia annua leaf powder, respectively. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (performance) were measured. Skin response to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) injected intradermally on day 16 was measured 24 and 48 h after injection. The birds were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on days 8 and 22 of age and serum antibody levels produced in response to SRBC were measured on days 21, 28, 35 and 42. The weights of thymus and bursa of fabricius were also measured after slaughter. The results indicated that plant extract and leaf powder increased daily weight gain and reduced daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Plant extract and leaf powder increased cellular immunity on PHA-P injection after 24 and 48 h (P<0.05). Artemisia annua extract and leaf powder increased total anti-SRBC and IgG titer in experimental groups compared to control group (P<0.05). Thymus and bursa of fabricius weights were increased in treatment groups (P<0.05). It is concluded that Artemisia annua extract and leaf powder increases performance, cellular and humoral immunity of broilers.

The effect of long-term onion consumption on red blood cell antioxidant enzymes [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)], were measured. The relationship of these enzymes with PCV and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations was also determined. Twelve adult female goats were used for the experiment and randomly assigned to three groups. Animals of group 1 and 2 received diets containing 30% and 60% spring onions (DM basis) for 60 days, respectively. Goats of group 3 served as control and were fed whole alfalfa hay. Blood samples were obtained before feeding onion and every 10 days up to 80 days. In the onion groups, PCV amounts decreased from day 10 and reached the lowest value at day 40. Although onion consumption reduced PCV, the measures were within the normal range for goats. G6PD activity decreased from day 10 and the lowest value was detected at day 40. After day 40, a slow and gradual return toward the baseline values was seen. In the onion groups, SOD showed a negative correlation with PCV and Hb (P<0.01). On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between G6PD and Hb (P<0.01). It seems that up to 60% of onions in diet can be consumed by goats without noticeable clinical anaemia. Moreover, it seems that SOD has a compensatory role in protection of erythrocytes against oxidative stress induced by onion consumption in goats.

A specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was applied for identification of bovine (Bos taurus), ovine (Ovis aries) and caprine (Capra hircus) pure and binary mixtures of raw and heat-processed meats. These meats are used in food industry products and/or for direct consumption of consumers. The mitochondrial DNA was amplified as a template in a PCR reaction by use of specific primers related to each species. Specific primers with mitochondrial origin amplified amplicons with the length of 300, 172 and 122 bp in target regions in cattle, sheep and goat, respectively. For determination of the primer sensitivity a set of binary meat mixtures with 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100% based on weight ratio was tested. The detection limit was found to be 0.1% for all samples. In heat-processing program boiled water for 20 min, 121oC for 20 and 30 min and 127oC for 20 min by autoclaving was used, similar to the conditions that are used in pasteurization, sterilization and also meat processing in industrial factories. The performance of the method was not affected by prolonged heat treatments. The results obtained in the present study confirmed the efficiency of species specific primers for targeting of mitochondrial genome in order to detect bovine, ovine and caprine pure and binary mixtures of raw and heat processed meats with high sensitivity and accuracy.

To evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicopathological measurement in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in sheep, acute MI was induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). For this purpose, twenty four healthy sheep were divided into the sham-operated or control group (group I, thoracotomy without MI) and the experimental group (group II, with MI) (n=12 in each), then all animals were subjected to the echocardiographic and clinicopathological analysis 2 days post-MI. Echocardiography revealed significant differences in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD), LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV fractional shortening (LVFS) between groups (P<0.05). In biochemical analysis, the mean values of troponin (Trop), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased in the MI group compared with the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, alterations in echocardiographic and early clinopathological mean values were observed in an ovine model of the experimental acute MI, which could aid researchers in interpreting their results when using this model for MI studies.

Turkmen horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world, but there is no information on Doppler echocardiographic parameters in this horse. In the present study, pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler echocardiography was performed on 42 clinically normal 3- to 15-year-old racing Turkmen horses. No cardiac disease was detected with two-dimensional (2-D) real-time, M-mode, and colour flow mapping. Doppler echocardiographic parameters and indices of tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic flows were measured in this study. Tricuspid inflow velocities during rapid filling (E) and atrial contractions (A) were significantly higher than mitral inflow (P<0.05). The Doppler waveforms, obtained from the aortic outflow, showed a significantly longer pre-ejection period (PEP) and shorter ejection time (ET) than the pulmonary artery waveforms (P=0.001 and P=0.028, respectively). The time taken from the onset of the QRS complex to the onset of the A wave for tricuspid flow, pulmonary PEP, and pulmonary PEP/ET, had a significant positive correlation with age. These values can be used as standard and reference values for evaluation of cardiovascular disorders in Turkmen horse.

Ovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease, widespread in tropical and subtropical areas. In the present study, a PCR-RFLP method based on major surface protein 4 (MSP4) gene, was utilized for the detection of Anaplasma infection in 119 sheep blood samples collected from different parts of Ahvaz in the southwest of Iran. PCR identified Anaplasma infections in 87.4% (104/119) of the samples in contrast to the routine blood smear examination, which revealed inclusion bodies in only 33.6% (40/119) of samples. RFLP assessment revealed that all PCR positive samples were A. ovis, while for the first time in Iran, a mixed infection with A. marginale was seen in 50% (52/104) of Anaplasma infected samples. These results suggest higher sensitivity of PCR method over the conventional microscopic technique for diagnosis of anaplasmosis, particularly in carrier animals. It also revealed that ovine anaplasmosis caused by A. ovis and A. marginale is present and highly prevalent in Ahvaz and appears to be the first report from this region.

Overall, 531 dairy cows were inseminated with the aim to study their reproductive performance following administration of GnRH analogue on different days of estrous cycle with different doses. These cows were divided into six treatment and one control group. Depending upon different treatment groups, Buserelin acetate was injected at a dose of 10.5 mg or 21.0 mg on different days (0, 5 or 12) of estrous cycle in these cows. Control cows were inseminated without any treatment. Buserelin acetate improved conception in cows if administered either on day 0 along with AI or on Day 5 or 12 post insemination. The highest CR was recorded when 10.5 mg GnRH analogue was administered on day 12 post AI. The doses of 10.5 mg or 21.0 mg were equally effective when instituted on day 12 post AI.

This study was aimed to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats infected with Rh strain of T. gondii by using an immunoblotting method. For this, cats were experimentally infected using tachyzoites harvested from Vero cell cultures. Tachyzoites were then lysed and transferred to polyacrylamide gels followed by blotting to PVDF membranes. An immunoblotting was performed using these membranes to detect IgG antibodies. Protein bands were detected in regions related to the presence of T. gondii surface antigens, dense granular or rhoptry proteins. No positive bands were detected in serum samples of kittens that received only Vero cell lysates (controls). Positive or negative results were in concordance to the results of IFAT. The results of this study revealed that whole tachyzoite antigen based immunoblotting is an appropriate diagnostic test for serological detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in recently infected kittens with this Apicomplexan parasite.

Acanthopagrus latus is one of the major commercially exploited species in the Persian Gulf. In recent years, it has gained importance as a candidate for aquaculture. Haematological parameters of wild-caught specimens were studied during the pre-spawning period to determine if they are influenced by the sex of fish. Blood samples were collected from 55 Fish (30 female and 25 male) captured from the Musa Creek in the north-west Persian Gulf. RBC counts were higher in male than in female fish (P<0.05) and other parameters such as WBC, Hct, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC and leukocyte differential count did not show a significant difference between male and female fish.

No domestic availability to breeder turkey stocks and turkey hatching eggs prompted the present experiment that aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a conventional artificial insemination (AI) procedure in British United Turkey (BUT) for the first time in Iran. Broiler turkeys were restrictedly fed, grown for 46 weeks, and used for the current study (10 turkey toms and 24 turkey hens in total). After a 3 week period of habituating the toms to abdominal massage, the pooled semen was used for insemination after the dilution in sterilized and homogenized low-fat milk (at the ratio of 1 to 6). The hens were inseminated (14:00 h) and hatching eggs were collected (n=148). All the eggs were broken open to assess the fertility rate. Although being lower than the conventional average fertility rate noticed for breeder turkeys in the production manuals (91%), a fertility rate of 61.5% was obtained. The present report provided a preliminary data on the feasibility of the conventional procedure used in chickens to artificially inseminate the turkey, using low-fat milk as a simple available extender. The present findings might also be promising to the future establishment of turkey breeder enterprise in Iran.

This study was aimed to determine abundance and body distribution of PRM in laying hens of Arak. A total of 1400 laying hens were randomly examined from January to June 2008. Of those, 26 (92.86%) layer farms were found to be infested with Dermanyssus gallinae (39.3%). There was significant association between prevalence and climatic conditions of the region. The most common predilection site of PRM was significantly cloak (52.7%) and the highest mixed infestation rate was 10.9% for wing-breast and cloak-breast of examined poultries. It was concluded that PRM infestation was low and predilection sites of infestation may affect egg laying capacity.