IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH (IJVR)
Year:2006 | Volume:7 | Issue:1 (14)|Papers Count:15

The aim of this survey was to evaluate the frequency of pregnant ewes slaughtered in Khorram Abad abattoir and estimation of their gestational age. Over a period of five months in fall and winter, a total number of 3046 uterine tracts were collected. Pregnancy was detected in 56.50% of ewes, 52.36% and 4.13% of which carried singleton and twins, respectively. The highest frequency of pregnancy was detected in January (65.63%) and the lowest frequency was detected in March (35.02%). Among a total number of 1721 pregnant ewes, the most frequency of gestational age (34.68%) was recorded to be between 2 and 3 months of gestation, while 5.05% was detected to be above 121 days. Overall, the number of pregnant ewes with a gestational age over two months was considerable (59.83%). It was concluded that reproductive waste resulting from slaughtering of pregnant animals is important in ewes in Khorram Abad and could be prevented by an improved antemortem examination

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease, which can induce hepatic lesions. Photosensitization (PS) maybe is the result of accumulation of photodynamic agents in unpigmented area of the skin exposed to sunlight which occurred due to hepatic lesions. An outbreak of leptospirosis was occurred in a dairy cattle herd complex with 760 dairy milking cows in March (1990). Totally, 412 cows (54.21%) showed clinical signs including fever, systemic mastitis, haemoglobinuria, jaundice, lameness, abortion and stillbirth. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used for diagnosis of leptospirosis. The herd was infected with Leptospira interrogans grippotyphosa, L. interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans pomona, L. interrogans canicola and L. interrogans hardjo. Only one (0.13%) cow showed PS in the unpigmented skin dorsum. MAT showed that she was infected with L. interrogans pomona, L. interrogans hardjo and L. interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae with titre of 1 : 3200 of antibody. In spite of the high incidence of leptospirosis, the frequency of PS was too low.  

Round heart disease is a disease of unknown etiology in turkey. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different amounts of sodium chloride in inducing cardiomyopathy in turkey poults. There are some reports that hypoxia and furazolidone can induce cardiomyopathy in turkey. Two hundred 2-day-old turkey poults were wing-banded and placed randomly into 6 groups and 24 replicates (4 replicates for each group). The 6 groups received commercial turkey starter diet contain 0.12, 0.17, 0.22, 0.27, 0.32 and 0.37% of sodium, respectively. They had access to food and water ad libitum. Suffering and dead birds were weighed and examined for post-mortem study. Live body weight of turkey poults measured individually on days 1, 2, 5 and 19. To study the hearts for presence of cardiomyopathy, on the day 19, all the poults were weighed and killed by cervical dislocation. The pieces of the hearts were placed into numbered tubes, flash frozen by liquid nitrogen and stored at -70ºC for myoglobin and hemoglobin microassay. The assay was based on spectrophotometry and separated myoglobin and hemoglobin by ammonium sulphate extraction. For determination of cardiomyopathy the ratio of the inner cavity of left ventricle to the total diameter of the left ventricle (IClv/TDlv) was calculated. Myopathic ratio for groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were 0.1, 0.29, 0.3, 0.34, 0.35 and 0.36, respectively. Turkey poults which received excessive salts drank more water which produced volume overload, more cardial muscle activity, needed more oxygen and were more likely to develop myopathy. Cardiac muscle myoglobin and hemoglobin microassay showed that there was no significant relationship between the amount of myoglobin and hemoglobin with the amount of diet sodium.

To study the seasonal variation in the characteristics of the Azarbaijani buffalo semen, three 2-4-year-old bulls of Azarbaijani water buffaloes, kept in the Buffalo Breeding Center, in Urmia, northwest of Iran, were selected. Semen samples were collected once a week for a period of one year using artificial vagina and a buffalo cow as a dummy. Semen volume, colour, pH and motility and spermatozoa motility, viability, morphology and concentration were examined. During one calendar year, 129 semen samples were examined. The mean values were plotted and a curve was drawn for the annual variations in each parameter. The comparison of the mean values in each sampling and in different seasons and the correlation between these variations and ecological factors, such as temperature, rainfall and day length were also studied. Semen was characterized by a mean (±SEM) ejaculation volume of 4 ± 0.14 ml, semen colour density score of 3.75 ± 0.07, pH of 6.97 ± 0.03 and motility score of 2.89 ± 0.05. The sperm motility of 75.85% ± 1.59% and sperm viability of 73.2% ± 1.56% were observed; 11.55% ± 0.42% of spermatozoa had abnoraml morphology. The mean (±SEM) sperm concentration was 1239.9 ± 34.11×106 cells/ml. All of the studied parameters showed fluctuations throughout the year but these variations were statistically significant only in some occasions and were mostly correlated with length of the day. Semen of better quality was collected in summer and autumn.

Surgical wound infections are usually encountered due to the endogenous rather than the exogenous infective sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a distant inoculated infective source on the contamination of surgical wounds. Thirty White New Zealand rabbits divided randomly into three control and three treatment equal groups. In treatment groups 24 hrs before surgical intervention Staphylococcus aureus was injected subcutaneously in right thigh. In model animals, skin and muscles were incised 1 cm to the right of the vertebral column and sutured, immediately. The relative frequency of staphylococcal contamination of tissue specimens at 24 and 48 hrs after surgery in treatment groups were 20% and 60%, respectively. Statistical analysis did not show any significant differences in the rate of contamination between control and treatment groups at aforementioned times (P>0.05). However, comparison at 72 hrs after surgery, showed that the rate of contamination in treatment group is significantly more than control ones (P = 0.004). The presence of S. aureus in wounds of treatment animals at 72 hrs after surgery, suggested that microorganisms lodged in any part of body other than wound region could contaminate it, which could be important in wound healing.  

The present work was carried out to investigate first, the ecology of the Sepedon flies as well as species of Lymnea snails and secondly, the biological effects of Sepedon fly larvae living on Lymnea. In this regard, the life cycle, death rate and compatibility of Lymnea species, as well as the life cycle of Sepedon flies in breeding cage and the activity of the new larvae in the same ecological condition were investigated. The results showed that Lymnea truncatula needs more sophisticated ecological and feeding conditions than other species of the snails. Lymnea stagnalis was found sensitive to temperature variation and this may lead to gradual or sudden death. Lymnea pregra and Lymnea palustris could well adapt with laboratory conditions. The killing effect (P<0.001) of the third-stage larvae on snails (3 to 4 weeks) was more than the effect of first- and second-stages larvae. This effect was more in a container with 2 cm water depth than a container with 5 cm depth.

Forty neonate calves were used in this study. The animals were divided into two treatment (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. In the treatment group, oral iron as ferrous sulphate was supplemented to each calf at the dose of 150 mg/day for 28 days, from the birthday. Blood sampling was taken from jugular vein immediately after birth and on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after birth. Significant differences in haematocrit (PCV) levels were found between two groups on days 14, 21 and 28 (P<0.05). Total gain, mean daily gain and weight gain during 4th week of life was significantly higher in the treatment group than control group (P 0.05). Chi-square test proved no significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of diseases.

Marek’s disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease of chickens characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of various organs. The present study was an attempt to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to optimize a rapid and reliable assay for detection of MDV genome. Detection of serotype 1 of MDV (MDV-1) was confirmed by presence of a 200 bp DNA fragment as a PCR product. Differentiation of MDV-1 and herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) was also conducted using specific primers from the glycoprotein A (gA) gene and a 388 bp DNA fragment was amplified from HVT genome. The specificity of the test was confirmed by sequencing of PCR products. Results indicate that MDV-1 can be diagnosed in clinical samples and inoculated cell cultures which is used for virus isolation. In addition, differentiation between MDV-1 and HVT viruses was confirmed based on the size of PCR products. The test proved to be rapid and reliable and can be performed as a robust diagnostic test in veterinary diagnostic laboratories

Reproductive abnormalities cause major losses of sheep production. Abattoir materials were used to determine the extent of reproductive wastage. Reproductive tracts were collected from 524 ewes slaughtered at Urmia slaughter-house in Urmia, northwest of Iran, during a period of 12 months. Overall, 30.10% of the ewes examined were pregnant. A total of 149 (28.44%) tracts developed acquired reproductive tract abnormalities. Based on the observation of the tracts, abnormalities of the ovaries, ovarian bursa and uterine tubes and uterine lesions accounted for 11.41%, 21.48% and 67.11% of the lesions, respectively. The most common ovarian lesion was ovario-bursal adhesions (47.06%). Uterine tube obstruction was the most common uterine tube abnormality (8.07%). Pyometra (8.07%), uterine hemorrhage (6.73%) and endometritis (4.04%) were the most common abnormalities observed in the uterus. Two tracts (0.9%) contained macerated fetal remnants. A large number of tracts (16%) had melanin pigment in the uterine wall. It is concluded that, firstly, the large number of pregnant ewes slaughtered highlights significant economic losses. Secondly, lesions such as hydrosalpinx, pyometra and metritis were likely to affect female sheep reproduction. The acquired abnormalities were therefore more significant in terms of individual animal infertility than as a major cause of infertility in flocks.  

This research was carried out to define the morphological features of Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) in duck and to investigate whether the MD resides in a constant position along the intestinal tract. For this purpose, a total of 30 adult healthy ducks of both sexes, 50-52 weeks of age were used. After dissecting, some morphological factors such as: total intestine length as well as the lengths of the intestine from the gizzard to MD (GMD), from gizzard to cloaca (GC) and from MD to the caecal opening (MDC) were measured. The weight, thickness and length of MD were then recorded. By using t-test and analysing factors between two sexes we concluded that, the location of MD in total specimens was 91.52 ± 8.09 cm far away from the gizzard. There was no significant difference between morphological factors of MD (weight, thickness and length) in both sexes (P>0.05). There was significant difference (P<0.05) between GMD, GC in both sexes. In histological studies of MD, aggregated lymphatic follicles and thin muscularis mucosa were observed in tunica mucosa.  

 In order to investigate the prevalence and detection of etiological agents of pyelonephritis in Shahrekord abattoir, 404 kidneys of slaughtered cattle (207 female and 197 male) were inspected. Kidney samples, which had gross changes were obtained for histological examination. Urine and renal tissue samples were also collected aseptically for microbiological examination. In histological examination pyelonephritis were observed in 3 cases (0.74%), one of which occurred in a 7-year-old cow and the others in bulls less than 2-year-old. In microbiological examination E. coli was isolated from urine and renal tissues in 2 cases and Staphylococcus aureus isolated only from renal tissue in the other case

The purpose of this investigation was to study and compare the electrophoretic patterns of optic lens proteins of different species of domestic animals at pre- and post-natal ages. Optic lenses were removed from the embryo or adult sheep, cattle, goat, camel and chicken at the slaughter-house then homogenized and subjected to sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In all animals, except chicken, majority of proteins had molecular weights of less than 33 kDa and their concentrations were not affected by the age of animals at pre- or post-natal stages. A 9 kDa protein which was present in adult sheep optic lens was absent in sheep fetal lenses at different age groups. Prominent differences were observed in camel and chicken. In camel, proteins with molecular weights of 30 and 38 kDa were present, the concentration of which was much lower in other animals. A protein of 57 kDa which constituted the major protein of chicken optic lens was absent in other species of animals. The concentration of proteins in the range of 25-30 kDa increased with the age of chicken embryos. These proteins were remarkably different from those of adult chicken lens proteins except the 57 kDa protein which was also the predominant protein in the embryo. The 38 kDa protein disappeared and a 20 kDa protein appeared in the chicken embryo lens as compared with adult chicken lens. These data indicate extensive differences in the lens proteins of animals and suggest different physiological functions of lens proteins in different animals at different stages of development.

Cobalt (Co) deficiency occurs in many parts of world especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Primary Co deficiency occurs only in places where the soil is deficient in Co. The type of soil and the presence of other substances like manganese and lime influence the absorption of Co (secondary Co deficiency). To determine the Co status in Shahrekord district, Iran, several important farms were selected and the Co concentration of 80 different soils (before cultivation) under cultivation of alfalfa, clover, barley and wheat and their cultivated plants (after full vegetative growing) were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, blood samples were taken from 100 sheep fed the grown plants on those areas. The mean ± SD Co concentration in the soil of alfalfa, clover, barley and wheat farms were 0.14 ± 0.04, 0.16 ± 0.06, 0.10 ± 0.03 and 0.11 ± 0.05 mg/kg, respectively and the corresponding concentrations in plants were 1.32 ± 1.01, 2.2 ± 0.08, 1.2 ± 0.76 and 1.37 ± 0.88 mg/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. The mean ± SD Co concentration in sheep serum was 1.45 ± 0.41 µg/dl at various physiological conditions. Results indicated that in all studied areas, Co concentration in soil was lower than the normal range and primary Co deficiency was noticeable. On the other hand, Co concentration in different plants and ration was higher than animal demands, but serum Co was at marginal level and probably interfered with animal health. This study showed that the soils of lands under cultivation of clover and alfalfa and its related plants contained more Co than that of determined for barley (P<0.05). Furthermore, clover soil had higher amount of Co than wheat soil (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the amount of lead in soil of lands under cultivation of alfalfa and the concentration of Co in plants. Such a negative correlation was also detected between the amount of molybdenum and lead in soil and the concentration of Co in plants (P<0.05). Presence of some interfering factors in ration such as nitrogen (1.24 ± 0.3%), phosphorus (0.47 ± 0.18%), lead (2.87 ± 1.58 mg/kg DM) and molybdenum (0.1 ± 0.14 mg/kg DM) were negatively affected the uptake of Co and decreased serum Co concentration via secondary Co deficiency.

This study was conducted to find out the best outside points of skull to reach different areas of brain that are essential for neuroendocrinological studies. In this research 30 heads of Iranian native male goats aged between 2-3-year-old were collected from Shahrekord abattoir. After collecting whole heads, they were fixed in 10% formalin and then many holes were made on the dorsal surface of skull followed by median and transverse sectioning of the heads. Morphological characteristics of brain and distances from the bones of skull to different structures of brain were measured using caliper device and needle and the best points were determined. By this method the best points to reach the hypophysis and lateral ventricle with 90° angle are in distances of 45.2 ± 2.23 mm and 20.92 ± 1.02 mm at bregma point.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of glass capillary micropipette (GCM) as a vessel for vitrification of bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained from slaughter-house and washed 5 to 6 times in the washing medium (TCM-199 + 20% FBS) and randomly assigned to treatment and control group. In the first step of vitrification, COCs were exposed to first vitrification solution (VS1) (10% ethylene glycol (EG), 10% DMSO in holding medium (TCM-199 + 10% FBS: HM)) for 1 min at room temperature and then placed in VS2 solution (20% EG, 20% DMSO in HM) for 25 sec and immediately were loaded into the GCM vessel. The filled portion of GCM vessels were placed in liquid nitrogen (LN2) for 3 to 5 sec and then completely immersed and stored there. The oocytes were thawed by immersing the capillary end of the straw in 1 ml of 0.25 M sucrose in HM and gently expelling the contents. After 1 min the oocytes were transferred into 100 μl of 0.15 M sucrose in HM for another 5 min and then washed with HM twice. For examining the in vitro developmental potential of vitrified-warmed oocytes, the oocytes were placed in 50 μl droplet of maturation medium (TCM-199 + 10% FBS + 10 IU/ml PMSG + 5 IU/ml HCG) covered with paraffin oil in a CO2 incubator at 38.5ºC for 24 hrs. A high proportion of morphologically normal oocytes (90%) was recovered after vitrification-warming. The percentage of live oocytes after 24 hrs when tested with trypan blue in GCM group was 85.18%, significantly did not differ from control group (90%). The proportion of oocytes which were found to have undergone nuclear maturation did not show statistical difference between the control and GCM group (61.29% vs 40%, respectively). The results of present study demonstrated that vitrification of immature bovine oocytes in the GCM vessels and EG + DMSO solution have high survival rate.