Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:9 Issue: 4, Autumn 2015

Glucocorticoids have several benefits in large animal medicine but apart from their benefits, there are several disadvantages attributed to the use of these drugs. Among the disadvantages, disturbance in protein metabolism is one of the side effects of glucocorticoids which has been investigated in human and laboratory animals. There are no information regarding the effects of glucocorticoids on protein metabolism in large animals. Hence, the present experimental study was performed to evaluate the protein metabolism following glucocorticoids administration in Holstein calves. Ten clinically healthy Holstein calves (6 to 8 months old) were assigned into 2 equal groups (n=5), containing Dexa and Iso. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) and isoflupredone(1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) were administered in Dexa and Iso groups, respectively, on two consecutive days. Blood samples were taken at days 0 (1st drug administration), 1 (2nd drug dministration), 2, 3, 5 and 7, from all studied animals. Sera were assayed for total protein, albumin, globulin, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin. Serum amyloid A and haptoglobinexperience significant increase after administration of both drugs. Isoflupredone induced the synthesis of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin more than dexamethasone (p<0.05). Serum concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin experienced significant decrease after infusion of dexamethasone and isoflupredone (p<0.05). Circulating levels of these proteins in Iso group were lower than Dexa one, significantly. Isoflupredone and dexamethasone can induce the protein catabolism. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, as oxidative stress biomarkers, increased following both drugs administrations due to their oxidation effects on proteins. Finally, the effects of isoflupredone on the metabolism of proteins are significantly higher than dexamethasone in Holstein calves.

Ovarian cysts are among the diseases which cause reproductive failure and economic losses in dairy herds. High yelding dairy cattles are suseptable to reproductive failure caused by ovarian cysts, as a result of their exposure to stressful coditions during lactation. This study aimed to monitor metabolic profile tests in dairy cows with ovarian cysts in comparison with cycling cows. Forty high-yelding Holstein dairy cows were enrolled for this study (20 cows with ovarian cysts and 20 cyclic cows). Seven weeks after parturation, 40 cows without retained placenta, including healthy ones were selected. Ovarian cysts were detected as follicular-like structures, >20 mm in diameter, persisting for at least 7 days, without corpus luteum and were monitored by ultrasound examination. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and delivered to the laboratory for measurement of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, beta-hydroxy butyric acid, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, cortisol, insulin and BUN. In this study, when serum calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium and glucose of cows with ovarian cysts were compared with cows that had normal ovarian status, there was no significant difference. BUN, beta-hydroxy butyrate, NEFA and cortisol of cows with ovarian follicular cysts as compared to the cows with normal ovaries, showed a significant increase. Serum insulin values decreased significantly in ovarian follicular cystic cows than in cyclic cows. Increasing blood cortisol and decreasing blood insulin may play a major role in the formation of ovarian cyst and any detectable change in NEFA, BHBA and BUN.

The knowledge of blood parameters is important for assessing the physiological status and health of animals. This study was conducted to determine the effect of heavy pregnancy on some serum indices of dromedary camels. Twenty clinically healthy female dromedary camels aged between 4-5 years were divided into two equal groups: I: pregnant camels in their last trimester; and II: non-pregnant age-matched controls. The concentration of glucose, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, total protein, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and the activity of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), was measured. The results of this study show that the concentrations of glucose, calcium and phosphorus remained unchanged in pregnant camels compared to non-pregnant ones. The concentrations of serum BUN and creatinine in pregnant camels were higher, and these aforementioned differences were significant (p=0. 02 and 0.003 respectively). GGT activity was lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant camels (p=0. 04). The increase in BUN and creatinine levels might be part of the homeorhetic mechanisms for adaptation of camels during heavy pregnancy. The high urea-recycling rate in camels may transfer urea to the gastrointestinal tract as a source of “non-protein nitrogen” instead of being excreted as urine. The reduction of GGT as at the time of heavy pregnancy, may be attributed to its conversion to glutathione, as an antioxidant.

Skin lesions of filarial worms are usually common in livestock. In camels, the most reported species is Onchocerca fasciata, which involves subcutaneous connective tissue and the nuchal ligament. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and pathology of camel onchocerciasis in Iran’s central desert. Carcasses of 144 dromedary camels of both sexes and different ages, slaughtered at the slaughterhouse of three provinces in the central arid parts of Iran, were examined for O. fasciata infection. In addition, the blood smears of tested animals were searched microscopically for the presence of microfilariae. The results of this study show that seventeen (11.8%) of the tested animals harbored one or multiple nodules containing the worm. Nodular lesions were mainly on the two sides of neck and abdomen. Histopathologically, multifocal granulomatous inflammatory reactions were observed to be associated with the parasites in the affected areas. Transverse and longitudinal sections of the worms were observed within the granulomas. The granulomas were composed of thick fibrous walls, the cellular infiltrate of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells and eosinophils, associated with different degrees of coagulation necrosis and calcification around the parasites. No positive case was found in blood films. In this study, it was found that onchocerciasis is one of the relatively common skin lesions of camels in Iran. However, parasitemia is not common in the central partsof the country. Histopathologic changes in tissues are quite similar to granulomatous inflammations seen in other cutaneous infections.

It has been shown that zinc has an effect on physiological responses in animals and birds. On the other hand, dietary phytase in poultry results in increased availability of zinc. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) and Escherichia coli-derived 6-phytase supplemented diets on the plasma metabolites and enzyme activities of broiler breeder hens from 60 to 72 weeks of age. A total of 128 breeder hens were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments, with four replicates of four hens each. Blood concentration of Zn, Ca, P, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL), and plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. Results showed that supplementary ZnO increased plasma Zn, Ca, P, HDL, and total protein (p<0.01) concentrations, as well as enzyme activities of LDH, ALT and AST (p<0.01). Also, a ZnO-supplemented diet resulted in a decrease in plasma cholesterol and TG (p<0.01) levels. Adding phytase to the diet increased plasma (P) and HDL contents (p<0.01). The interactive effect of phytase × ZnO × period on the plasma levels of Zn, P, total protein, HDL, total cholesterol, and the enzymatic activity of LDH, ALT and ALP was significant. It is concluded that supplementary ZnO and phytase may improve metabolism and enzymatic activity of aged broiler breeder hens.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), which is the causative agent of colibacillosis, harbors several putative virulence genes. An important trait of APEC for both poultry and public health is antibiotic resistance. In the present study, some potential virulence genes of APECs isolated from Northeast of Iran and their resistance to the quinolones antibiotics were studied. The conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the presence of four virulence genes, including iss, cvi, iuc, and tsh, in 52 isolates of E. coli from avian colibacillosis and 11 isolates from feces of apparently healthy chicken. Disk diffusion method was used to also determine the resistance of all the isolates against nalidixic acid, norofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin. The presence of iss and tsh virulence genes in isolates from diseased chickens was significantly higher than isolates from healthy chickens. There was no significant difference between APEC and fecal E. coli when it comes to quinolone resistance. However, cvi and iuc genes were significantly higher in susceptible isolates of E. coli from healthy chickens. iss and tsh genes are more prevalent in APEC isolates than in fecal isolates. There is no association between lack of virulence and resistance to quinolones in E. coli isolates from diseased chickens.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is the main cytosolic binding site for long chain fatty acids in hepatocytes. FABPs enhance the uptake of fatty acids into the cell by increasing their concentration due to decreasing concentration of unbound fatty acids inside the cell. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio and feed restriction on L-FABP mRNA expression. A total of 720, 10-day old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed diets with unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (U/S) of 2, 3.5, 5, or 6.5 as ad libitum or skip-a-day feeding schedule (during 18–28 days of age). Relative expression of L-FABP mRNA in hepatocytes of broilers was determined using quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results show that feed restriction induced the expression of L-FABP gene in the liver of broilers. Moreover, L-FABP gene expression was increased by dietary U/S ratio of 6.5. There was no interaction between dietary U/S and feed restriction on the L-FABP gene expression. Results indicate that birds have a mechanism for regulation of fatty acid transfer under different nutritional conditions.

White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is one of the most sensitive agricultural crops after harvesting and its antioxidant properties tend to decrease during post-harvest storage with the passage of time. The possible role of exogenous application of malic acid as dipping treatment on bioactive components and antioxidant properties of sliced white button mushroom during storage was investigated. The mushrooms were soaked in chilled malic acid solution at desired concentrations (1%, 3% and 5%) for 10 minutes or were dipped in chilled distilled water as control and were refrigerated (4°C) for 15 days. On each designated day (every 5 days) mushroom samples were taken out for further analysis. Total phenolic, chelating ability, and DPPH assay, as well as assay of reducing power, were evaluated as markers of bioactive components and antioxidant properties of sliced button mushroom. Malic acid treatment effectively maintained higher levels of bioactive components and antioxidant properties (as depicted by higher retention of phenolic and lower EC50 values for DPPH and reducing power) as compared to control during the whole storage period. On the other hand, chelating ability of mushrooms was not influenced by the malic acid treatment and a weak correlation was found between malic acid treatment and chelating ability retention. Our results suggest that dipping in 3% malic acid solution prior to storage can serve the purpose of maintenance of bioactive components and antioxidant properties of sliced button mushroom during storage.

Phenol is an estrogenic and toxic compound and people are widely exposed to it, in different ways. The aim of this study was to determine the negative effects of phenol on the fertility of male mice, by investigating sperm parameters including viability, motility, fertility rates and daily sperm production (DSP). A total of 106 adult NIH mice were divided into four groups, one control and three experimental groups (n=13). The treatment groups were given daily dose of phenol for 35 days through gavage method (30, 75 and 100 mg/kg) while the control group received only normal saline. At day 36, six mice were sacrificed from each group. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), viability, motility and daily sperm production were determined carefully. The remaining 7 mice from each group were used to mate with 2 female mice. On GD10, the female mice were sacrificed and the fertility was verified. Daily sperm production in treatment groups decreased significantly compared to the control group (p≤0.05). Body weight, sperm motility, viability and fertility percentage were significantly decreased in 75 and 100 mg/kg groups in comparison with the control group (p≤0.05). While the testes showed no significant changes in weight in any groups. Gonadosomatic index in the treatment groups compared to the control group, was significantly decreased (p≤0.05). Pure phenol could reduce fertility rate through decreasing motility, daily sperm production and sperm viability.

Dermatophilosis is a bacterial skin infection and wet conditions like, raining and dipping predispose sheep to it. A great economic loss can be caused by this disease because of its effect on the quality of wool. In Iran (near Saveh), there was an outbreak of the disease in a herd and the clinical manifestation was different from that of typical dermatophilosis. Diffuse wide alopecic area accompanied by large amount of purulent discharges were seen. The main lesions were located at the thoracic area. Secondary infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bacteremia caused by staphylococcus was diagnosed and is considered to be the cause of 0.16% mortality.For diagnosis blood samples were obtained for CBC, and bacteriological culture and direct smear were taken from skin lesions. Biopsy was also prepared from skin lesions for histopathologic study and bacteriologic culture. Direct microscopic examination was made on Giemsa-stained smear prepared from crusts and their underlying tissue. Gram stained smear was also prepared from underlying crusts of skin. After bacteriological and histopathological evaluation, Dermatophilus was determined. A typical railroad track of Gram positive bacteria was seen in Gram and Giemsa stained smear. Filamentous bacteria in the epidermis were seen in histopathological samples. Infection was controlled by treating herd intramuscularly with 70,000 mg/kg BW procaine penicillin G, twice daily for 5 consecutive days.