Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume:13 Issue: 2, Spring 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of latanoprost and pilocarpine on the intraocular pressure in experimentally glaucomatous rabbits. Ocular hypertension was induced in 11 conscious rabbits by the oral administration of tap water (70 mL/kg) via an orogastric tube. The study was conducted in three therapeutic groups to test the effects of latanoprost (group L), pilocarpine (group P) and a combination of the two drugs (group LP). After evaluating the first drug, a washout period of 1 week was allowed before the second drug was evaluated. The left eye of rabbits in group L received one drop of normal saline and one drop of 0.005% latanoprost, in group P one drop of normal saline and one drop of 2% pilocarpine and in group LP, one drop of 0.005% latanoprost and one drop of 2% pilocarpine. The right eyes of all rabbits received two drops of normal saline (as control eyes). The intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) were measured before and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min post-water loading. The results showed that eyes, which received pilocarpine had a significantly lower increase in IOP at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after drug administration compared to placebo eyes, whereas groups L and LP did not prevent an IOP increase. The PD decreased in groups P and LP throughout the study, whereas it did not change in group L. It was concluded that the topical administration of latanoprost alone or in combination with pilocarpine appeared to have no effect on IOP in acute ocular hypertensive rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal inbreeding on incidence of twinning, dystocia and stillbirth in Holstein cows of Iran. Calving records from March 2000 to April 2009 comprising of 365,021 calvings on 153,802 cows from 86 dairy herds were used. The mean level of inbreeding was 0.7%, less than 37% of all animals were inbred, and a small proportion (3.45%) of inbreed animals had inbreeding coefficients greater than 5%, with a maximum inbreeding coefficient of 38%. The overall average twinning and stillbirth rates were 2.7 and 3.78%, respectively. Dam parity and calving season significantly affected the incidence of twinning (P<0.01). The twinning rate at parities 1, 2, 3, 4 and ≥5 were 0.72, 3.4, 4.51, 4.70 and 5.23%, respectively (P<0.01). The incidence of stillbirth was significantly influenced by parity, calving season, calf sex and twinning (P<0.05). Dystocia scores of ≥3 were less common amongst older cows. Gender of the calf was significantly associated with dystocia, whereas the incidence of dystocia was higher in dams delivering male calves (P<0.01). First parity cows showed more difficult calving than higher parity cows (P<0.01). The results indicated that the degree of maternal inbreeding presently observed in Iranian Holstein herds does not seem to have a significant effect on the twinning, dystocia and stillbirth rates.

Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) has been widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases including pediatric colic. This study was designed to assess the antinociceptive effects of aqueous extract of F. vulgare on visceral pain and possible involvement of opioidergic, serotonergic, adrenergic and histaminergic systems. The results of this study showed that aqueous extract of F. vulgare (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, IP) induces antinociceptive effects (P<0.001) and that the pretreatment with chlorpheniramine and cimetidine significantly attenuate this effect (from 71.9% to 21.6%, P<0.001 and from 71.4% to 35.9%, P=0.003, respectively). Furthermore, chlorpheniramine and cimetidine significantly decreased onset of first abdominal writhing (latency) in comparison with extract (P<0.05), however naloxone, cyproheptadine and phentolamine had no effect on antinociception and the latency induced by F. vulgare. The ED50 value for antinociceptive effects of extract was 87.6 mg/kg. These results suggest that antinociceptive effects of F. vulgare are partially mediated by histamine H1 and H2 receptors.

To evaluate the concentrations of serum lipids and lipoproteins and their correlations together and with thyroid hormones in gray necked ostrich (Struthio camelus), the serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipids, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) and high density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol) and their correlations with tri iodothyronine and thyroxine hormones were measured in 50 clinically healthy gray necked ostriches (30 male and 20 female) which were divided into three age groups. The mean serum concentrations ± SE of cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipids, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol were 102.62 ± 30.23, 120.22 ± 54.25, 458.96 ± 106.37, 29.96 ± 6.737, 48.61 ± 23.11 and 24.04 ± 10.85 mgr/dL, respectively. Also, the mean serum concentrations ± SE of thyroxin and tri-iodothyronine hormones were 7.89 ± 1.52 μg/dL and 2.54 ± 1.31 ngr/mL, respectively. The mean serum concentration of the cholesterol, total lipids and 3 had a negative significant correlation and age (r = -0.340, P=0.016), (r = -0.335, P=0.017), (r = -0.28, P=0.047), and a marginally negative significant correlation was detected between HDL-cholesterol with age (r = -0.271, P=0.056). Serum thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine had no significant correlation with the lipids and lipoprotein concentrations (r = -0.115, P=0.083), (r = -0.187, P=0.070).

The effects of feeding diets containing Salbutamol (0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 mg/kg diet) from 21 to 49 days of age on growth performance and carcass characteristics in 180 male and 180 female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were studied using a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design. Gender had significant effect on weight gain (P<0.05). Salbutamol in the diets increased weight gains but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Salbutamol increased (P<0.05) weight gains in both sexes, but the magnitude of increasing was greater in females. Weight gain in males and females receiving the diet containing 7 mg Salbutamol/kg increased by 13 and 10 g, respectively compared to the control groups. Food intake was affected by Salbutamol and was higher (P<0.01) in female than male quails. Diets containing Salbutamol increased food intake in male and decreased in female quails (P<0.01) compared with the control groups. Food intake was lowest in females fed 7 mg Salbutamol/kg diet. The food conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (better) (P<0.05) in females than in males. FCR were improved (P>0.05) by Salbutamol administration. Gender affected leg weight (P<0.05), breast weight, relative weight of leg and liver weight (P<0.01). The breast weight, leg weight and liver weight were significantly higher in females than males but relative weight of leg was significantly lower (P<0.01) in females. The breast weight, relative weight of breast and relative weight of leg were significantly affected by Salbutamol. Gender, Salbutamol and their interactions did not affect the chemical composition of breast muscle. The results of the experiment demonstrated that, Salbutamol had beneficial effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics and it seems that feeding 7 mg Salbutamol/kg diet was more effective in female than male Japanese quails.

Leptospirosis is an important infectious disease of animals and humans caused by the pathogenic leptospires which are classified into one species of Leptospira interrogans containing over 212 serovars. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Leptospira-induced abortions in Tabriz (north-west of Iran) dairy herds and to determine the pathogenic Leptospira serovars responsible. From May 2008 through August 2010, 16 (21.05%) of 76 submissions (fetuses and placentas) to the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Tabriz were diagnosed as positive to L. interrogans serovars by PCR. In contrast, only 9 (11.85%) of 76 dam’s sera were diagnosed as positive to leptospirosis by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Two out of 9 animals were seropositive to serovar pomona, one animal to serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, two animals to canicula, three animals to both pomona and grippotyphosa, and one animal to the both canicula and grippotyphos. Moreover, the prevalence of Leptospira induced abortions was high in the aged cows and advanced pregnancies (7-9 months). However statistical difference was not observed among these groups or different periods of pregnancy. In conclusion, serovar pomona induced abortions were determined to be more common leptospiral abortions in cattle in Tabriz and combination of PCR protocol with the MAT test would be more effective than the single test for etiological diagnosis of bovine abortions.

Salmonellosis as an important zoonotic disease that causes food born poisoning in human through animal products and is considered as a worldwide public health hazard. Widespread studies have been conducted on different aspects of incidence, treatment and control of salmonelosis all over the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of widespread Salmonella serovars, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis, isolated from an outbreak of salmonelosis in cattle herds and sheep flocks around Tehran, in summer 2009, using molecular (PCR and multiplex PCR) and conventional (bacterial culture, serology and antibiogram) tests. Tissue and faecal samples were collected from 8 calves, 5 lambs and 2 aborted cattle embryos. All involved cases were animals less than 2-month-old and the presence of Salmonella serovars were confirmed in all isolates. The infection of S. enteritidis was much more prevalent in comparison to the S. typhimurium, which was statistically meaningfull (P<0.05). Virulence gene (spv gene) of S. enteritidis was shown on 250 bp fragments in most of the organ isolates. Specifically the virulence gene was shown in all isolates of aborted fetus tissue cultures, through the molecular survey. In two calves, both S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis were detected and S. typhimurium was isolated from liver in both cases. All isolates were sensitive to streptomycin, lincospectin, enrofloxacine and trimetoprim and were resistant to doxycycline and erythromycin.

A study was conducted in the northeastern areas of Punjab province (Pakistan) to analyse the monthly and seasonal pattern of fasciolosis in buffaloes and its relation to some climatic factors (temperature, humidity, rainfall and pan-evaporation) was also worked out. The faecal samples of buffaloes were collected from April 2003 to March 2005 on a monthly basis from randomly selected areas and analysed for the presence of Fasciola egg. From 7200 samples, 1058 (14.69%) were found positive. Seasonal data showed the highest prevalence and egg count (EPG) in autumn and the lowest in spring. Monthly results showed the highest prevalence in September (32.33%) and the lowest in May (4.83%), while mean EPG was highest in October (567 ± 95.5) and the lowest in June (3.2 ± 0.48). Statistically, significant difference (P<0.05) was noted within seasonal and monthly prevalences. Impact of humidity was found significant (P<0.05) on disease as compared to other climatic factors.

This experimental study was carried out to induce a co-infection of H9 AIV and IBV with inoculums prepared from tracheal scrubbed epithelium tissues in natural co-infected birds to rule out the effect of field undesired environmental conditions and also other infectious causative agents. Eighty 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into four equal groups. At 21 days of age, three test groups were inoculated intranasally with prepared inoculums containing IBV and H9 AIV alone and a co-infected group. The fourth group remained uninfected as a control group. The results showed that experimental co-infection of AIV and IBV increased the severity of clinical signs, mortality rate and gross lesions. The HI titer against AIV infection in the co-infected group was significantly higher than the HI titer of other groups, which may indicate that IBV could promote the propagation of H9N2 AIV or stimulate the immune response.

Effects of mating sex ratios on production performance in Indian peafowl were investigated at Punjab Wildlife Research Institute, Gatwala Faisalabad. Research was conducted from May through August 2007 to explore the most productive mating sex ratio. The sex ratios have a significant effect on egg production. Maximum mean eggs (1.63) were produced by the sex ratio 1:2 while maximum egg fertility (79.63%) and hatchability (61.59%) was noted in the sex ratio 1:3. Sex ratios had a significant effect on egg weight. Sex ratios have shown no effect (except number of mountings) on courtship behavior of peafowl. Statistically less feed was consumed by sex ratio 1:3 and better feed conversion was shown by sex ratio 1:1

In this study, the effects of various concentrations of NaCl and KCl and partial replacement of NaCl with KCl on the growth characteristics of L. monocytogenes were evaluated. It was found that L. monocytogenes can grow in the presence of 1-9% NaCl and 1-11% KCl. The higher the concentration of salt used, the longer the lag phase induced. In addition, it was observed that L. monocytogenes tolerate KCl better than NaCl when using the same percents in broth. In an attempt to partially replace NaCl with KCl, it was found that the level of substitution of NaCl with KCl can be at least 25% without risking the microbiological safety, with respect to L. monocytogenes of the product, but not as high as 50%.

This study was carried out to examine aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) removal ability of four strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Three indigenous (Lactobacillus rhamnosus TMU094, Lactobacillus fermentum TMU121 and Pedioccus pentosaceus TMU457) and a non-indigenous (Labacillus rhamnosus PTCC1637) isolates were studied. The strains were incubated with (AFB1) at different time. The toxin residual in the supernatant was determined. Reduction of the toxin quantity was observed by all species. Binding of aflatoxin by the studied LAB varied from 19.41 to 75.06%. Aflatoxin-binding activity showed time dependent trend taking into consideration of different incubation periods. Lactobacillus rhamnosus TMU094 bound 25.64 to 75.06%, L. fermentum bound 38.63 to 72.15%, P. pentosaceus bound 24.86 to 63.21% and L. rhamnosus PTCC1637 bound 19.41 to 35% of AFB1 during the studied course of incubation times. These results showed that indigenous strains of LAB are able to bind AFB1 effectively.

This case report describes the anesthetic management and ventilation technique in the surgical treatment of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in a dog. A 5-month-old 8-kg female terrier with a history of car accident was presented for femoral fracture repair. Before anesthetic induction, marked tachypnea and dyspnea were noted. Diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed based upon radiographic and ultrasonographic findings. Exploratory laparotomy revealed diaphragmatic rupture and herniation of spleen, omentum, parts of liver lobes and stomach into the thoracic cavity. The importance of thorough physical examination and patient assessment, anesthetic management and monitoring, provision of adequate ventilation and oxygenation during surgery using standard ventilation equipment are discussed.

Chromosomal appearance of 12 Holstein bulls selected for artificial inseminations were examined by sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). For differential staining of sister chromatids bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was inoculated in lymphocyte cultures. The mean, maximum and minimum number of SCE per cell were determined 6.8 ± 1.14, 8.3 ± 1.1 and 5.7 ± 1.5, respectively. SCE frequencies of all animals were in the normal level. Also, evaluation of different breeding condition and age range did not show any significant statistical (P>0.05) effect on SCEs rates.