Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Summer and Autumn 2015

The fowl blood sucking tick "Argas persicus" is of great medical and veterinary importance in tropical and subtropical regions because of its role as the vector of certain parasitic bacterial and viral pathogens. In this study, the pathological changes of its bite on the poultry skin have been investigated. Twenty two (12 infested with adults and 10 infested with nymphs) Ross broilers (308) were infested with the tick on the skin of hock joints. Other side healthy legs were used as control. Samples were collected after 6, 24, 48 and 96 hours and 1 or 2 weeks. The skin samples were fixed at 10% buffered formalin and histological sections were prepared using routine Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method. The results showed subcutaneous oedema, massive infiltration of lymphocytes, extensive hemorrhage, feather follicle oedema. Necrosis and epidermal hyperplasia are the prominent lesions in this study. It is concluded that the chicken infestation with Argas persicus caused cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. Therefore, it can be considered as a cause of economic loss.

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food borne pathogen with a high case fatality rate. Among 13 different serotypes of this bacterium, 4 serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, and 4b) were considered as the main cause of listeriosis outbreaks. The aim of this study is to identify the major serotypes and virulence genes in Listeria monocytegenes isolated from chicken carcasses which were collected from different supermarkets and butcheries in Mashhad. Among the 80 isolated Listeria spp., most of them were identified as L. monocytogenes (36 out of 80). Most of the L. monocytogenes isolates belonged to serogroup llb (52.77%) which contains 1/2b and 3b serotypes. The second and third major serogroups were IVa (27.77%) and IIa (16.66%). Serogroup IVb (2.77%) which contains 4b serotype was the fourth major isolate. In order to differentiate serotype 1/2a and 3a from 1/2c, amplification of flaA gene was used. L. monocytogenesis isolates were also examined for the presence of inlC, inlJ and hlyA virulence genes. 26 out of 36 isolates were positive for inlC, and inlJ, whereas hlyA gene was detected in 32 isolates. Chicken carcasses may act as a source of infectious listeriosis for humans living in this area.

Benign tumors in liver are rare and appear not to have been previously reported in camel (Camelus dromedarius). This study describes histopathologic characteristics of lipoma, cavernous hemangioma and leiomyoma in the liver of dromedary camels. Seventy livers of dromedary camels which were slaughtered for human consumption were collected from July to November 2011 from the north east of Iran and they had macroscopic lesions and all of them were studied histopathologically. Microscopic examination revealed different metaplastic and neoplastic lesions in the liver of the camels. Lipoma (with multiple large vacuolated cells), cavernous hemangioma (with large lakes filled with oval erythrocytes) and leiomyoma (with homogenous intense eosinophilic spindle cells) were diagnosed as benign tumors. The relatively high occurrence of these mesenchymal neoplastic lesions may be due to some metabolic imbalances and some toxicosis in dromedary camels which live in the deserts. Also, metaplastic changes are the causes of lipoma. According to the literature, this is the first report of hepatic cavernous hemangioma and leiomyoma in camels (Camelus dromedarius).

The principle aims of this study were to evaluate clinical, hematological, microbiological and macro and micro pathological effects of tulathromycin on small ruminants infectious pneumonia (IP) and to determine the side effects of the drug in the injected site. For this purpose, all ruminants (10 sheep and 9 goats) with signs of IP were assembled in the Khorasan-E-Razavi Province Veterinary Organization research centre. Also, all of these animals were free of internal parasite infestations and free of hydrated cysts in the lung tissue. Before tularthromycin injection, samples were taken as nasopharyngeal swabs for culturing Pasteurella spp. and Mycoplasma spp. and performing the Cell Blood Count (CBC) for blood. Each animal was injected at the dose of 2.5 mg/Kg subcutaneously. In 24-, 48- and 72-hours after injection, body temperature (BT), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), ruminal contraction rate (RCR), lung sounds (LS) and nasal discharges (ND) were recorded between 9-12 pm. Meanwhile on day 1 and day 3, the blood sampling was repeated and on day 3 nasopharyngeal swabs were repeated. Furthermore, 9 sheep and goats were killed on day 9 and the remainders were killed on the day 15 following injection and post-mortem inspections were conducted on lungs. From cases with lung lesions, a sample was taken for histopathological examination. The data showed that: A) The mean difference of BT, RR and HR of 0-, 24-, 48-, and 72-hrs after Tulathromycin injection was significantly different (p

Viral infections are the cause of great economic losses in the poultry industry. Development of appropriate reagents and serological diagnostic kits will help to control these infections. The aim of this study is to prepare a peroxidase labeled anti-chicken IgG using a MAb (5B8) against chicken IgG, for detection of chicken antibodies in ELISA. Hybridoma cells producing the MAb 5B8 were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium and the MAb was purified from the cells supernatant using a sepharose matrix column, sensitized with chicken IgG. The purified MAb was labeled with Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by periodate treatment. The peroxidase labeled MAb was compared with a commercial polyclonal product for detection of chicken antibodies against avian influenza virus nucleoprotein in ELISA. Therefore, type A recombinant nucleoprotein influenza virus was used as the antigen and chicken sera prepared from healthy and influenza virus infected chickens were used as primary antibodies. The results showed that there is a strong and direct correlation (r =0.972) between the optical densities of a commercial anti-chicken IgG and the prepared conjugate. In conclusion, the conjugated MAb is appropriate for the development of serological diagnostic tests for poultry infections.

The possible relationships between trace elements, oxidative stress and subclinical ketosis during the transition period were evaluated in dairy cows. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture at four times of the transition period: 3 weeks and 1 week before and 1 week and 3 weeks after calving. The highest concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) were observed on the week 1 after calving. In contrast, the serum values of copper, zinc, albumin, uric acid and TIBC decreased after calving. After calving, zinc concentration showed a significant negative correlation with MDA concentration (p

Poultry nutrition or inappropriate treatments by antibiotics can lead to production of eggs with antibiotic residues. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of drug residues in eggs presented in Kermanshah, Iran. For this purpose, 120 eggs with the average weight of 60 grams were collected randomly from the supermarkets in Kermanshah and later were tested for antibiotic residues using the Four- Plate Test (FPT) method. The results showed that 3.3% of the tested eggs had antibiotic residues. The main residues in egg yolk was due to tetracycline. Aminoglycosides were also detected as minor contaminants. Accordingly, antibiotic residues in eggs presented in Kermanshah are a threat for human consumption and therefore strong supervision of the authorities is essential.

Probiotics have shown beneficial effects on growth parameters of various food animals. In this research, the growth promoting effects of a multi-strain probiotic was investigated on common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Accordingly, 200 fish (6-7g) were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups. The first group received placebo and was served as the negative control. The second group received the prebiotic Fermacto at 3g/kg diet and was considered as the positive control. The remaining 2 groups received a multi-strain probiotic (PTX) at 75 and 150mg/kg feed, respectively. The body weights and lengths of all fish were measured at the end of the experiment (day 45). The amounts of protein, fat, ash and dry matter of fish meat were analyzed in all experimental groups (n= 6 each). The probiotic, at 75mg/kg feed, significantly increased the body weights and lengths, as well as the condition factor. Consistently, the feed conversion rate was lower in PTX treated groups. The percentage of meat fat was significantly lower in groups receiving either the probiotic at 150mg/kg feed, or Fermacto, compared to the control. The fish receiving PTX at 150mg/kg feed showed significantly higher amounts of meat protein. The levels of meat ash and meat dry matter were not statistically different compared to the control group. The present study suggests that PTX, at 75mg/kg feed, is effective in improving the growth and feed conversion rates of common carps

Worldwide including Iran, Fasciola species are the causes of human and animal fasciolosis which have comparatively identical morphologies. The present study is aimed to identify different Fasciola forms by using morphologic and morphometric variations from domestic ruminants of northwestern Iran. A total of 130, 67 and 140 livers of cattle, water buffaloes and sheep respectively were collected from Urmia slaughterhouse. The adult helminths were removed and stained using Acetocarmine staining. The Fasciola eggs were directly extracted from the uterus of adult helminths. The overall frequency of infection was 28.19%. The highest infection rate was found in water buffalos (34%). The highest number of helminth per each animal was recorded for cattle (9.23%). The predominant infecting fasciolid in the examined ruminants was F. gigantica (51.89%) from water buffaloes origin. There was a significant difference among the width (W), the length (L), and the distance between ventral sucker to the posterior end of the body (DBVE) of all Fasciola forms from the examined animals. The L of different Fasciola forms had a significant difference for F. gigantica and intermediate form of Fasciola from cattle and water buffaloes origins. The W and the proportion of the body length to the width (SI) of eggs from all Fasciola forms had no significant difference. The Ls of eggs of F. hepatica and F. gigantica were significantly different. The results of this study elucidated three forms of Fasciola co-existing in the ruminants of the region. Additionally, the morphology and morphometry of adult and eggs of Fasciola species within a range of hosts may be taxonomically informative and one of the character sets for discrimination of fasciolid forms.

Electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and cardiac rhythms have been evaluated and published in different breeds of beef and dairy cattle but there is limited information regarding these parameters in healthy sheep. This study is aimed to investigate the ECG parameters in Balouchi sheep. The ECG parameters including the amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves, duration of P, QRS and T waves and P-R, Q-T and R-R intervals were evaluated in 44 male and female clinically healthy Balouchi sheep in standard and augmented limb leads (I, II, III, AVR, AVL, and AVF) and base-apex lead. The mean heart rate was 89.6 beats/minute which had a significant correlation with age (r=-0.269, p=0.014). Different configurations of P-wave, QRS complex and T wave were observed in different ECG leads. It was found that age and gender affects some ECG parameters. In some leads, rams had significantly higher amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves and longer duration of PRR interval than ewes. Also in some leads, the amplitudes of P, R and S waves were significantly higher and the duration of QRS complex was shorter in sheep less than one year old than sheep with age three years or older. The most common cardiac dysrhythmia observed on the ECG traces was Sinus arrhythmia. Sheep with this dysrhythmia had a significantly lower heart rate (p