فصلنامه آسیب شناسی درمانگاهی دامپزشکی
سال یازدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 42، تابستان 1396)

With the purpose of identifying Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) and Newcastle disease virus in acute death of ostriches, 40 tracheal samples from 22 ostrich farms with acute mortality were collected from all over the Isfahan province with the history recorded. After RNA and DNA extraction from tracheal tissue, the cDNA was prepared using reverse transcriptase kit. The extracted DNA was evaluated for amplification of 16srRNA gene of ORT using specific primers and cDNA was amplified by Newcastle disease specific primers based on M gene. The 16srRNA gene was amplified in positive control and a 784 bp fragment was reached but it was not amplified in any of the collected samples. Furthermore, in 24 of the 40 collected samples (60%) a 1097 bp fragment of the M gene of Newcastle disease virus was amplified. From a total of 22 evaluated flocks with acute mortality, 22 flocks (68.18%) were infected with Newcastle disease virus. By considering the results of this study, currently there is no infection with ORT in ostrich flocks of Isfahan province, but Newcastle disease virus has the main role in acute deaths in ostrich farms.

Parasitic infections are a threat to the wildlife by endangering the health of wild animals and serving as a source of transmission of infectious agents to livestock and humans. Despite the distribution of wild boars (Sus scrofa), wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) throughout the world, information on their parasitic infections is limited. Knowledge of the parasitic fauna of animals in protected areas may be used in protection of endangered species. The present study aimed to investigate the status of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in wild boar, wild goat and red deer in the Aynaloo protected area, Northwest of Kaleybar city, East Azerbaijan province. For this purpose, in spring 2015, 30 fecal samples of wild boar, 30 fecal samples of wild goat and 30 fecal samples of red deer were collected. The samples were processed using direct smear and Clayton lane floatation technique. Five species of helminths were detected from wild boar fecal samples consisting of Trichuris suis, Strongyloides suis, Physocephalus sexalatus, Ascaris suum and Metastrongylus apri. Among them,  one species (Strongyloides suis) was reported for the first time in Iran. Protozoa were not detected in the fecal samples of the wild boar. Wild goats were infected with Oesophagostomum columbianum, Muellerius capillaris and Eimeria spp. Respiratory larva and Eimeria spp. were detected from red deer samples.

Fungi are considered as normal inhabitants of the ocular surface of healthy animals, however under certain conditions such as eye trauma could cause disease. This study was conducted with the purpose of identifying  the fungal isolates of healthy eyes from Holstein cattle in Urmia district . Conjunctival swabs were taken from both eyes of 40 healthy Iranian Holstein cattle and cultured onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and malt extract agar. Plates were incubated at 25°C for 14 days. Effect of host age and sex on prevalence of isolates were analyzed by mann whitney and fisher’s exact tests using SAS software. Overall, 34 filamentous fungi were isolated from 24 (60%) cattle and 27 (33.75%) eyes. The isolated fungal genera in order of frequency were Aspergillus (44.12%), Curvularia (20.59%), Penicillium (14.7%), Pseudallescheria (14.7%), Fusarium (2.97%) and Scopulariopsis (2.97%). Isolation rate of fungi in older cattle (p=0.04) and male cattle (p=0.032) was significantly higher. This is the first report of ocular fungal flora in Iranian Holstein cattle.

The use of medicinal plants can be effective in increasing the growth of aquatic organisms and to promote a non-specific immune level to increase resistance to diseases in aquaculture. Zataria multiflora, a plant of the Lamiaceae family, is an example of such medicinal plants containing mainly thymol and carvacrol, with well-known antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different doses of thyme powder (Zataria multflora) on growth performance and serumic parameters of young common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Therefore, two hundred and forty fish, with initial weight of 20/27±5.13 g, were distributed among the treatments. Food was made with adding the powdered thyme in 4 formulations with 0 (control or Group 1), 50 (Group II), 100 (Group III) and eventually 150 ppm (Group IV) with a size of 4.3 mm. It was fed to the fish 3 to 4 times a day at a rate of 3-4% of their body weight, for 8 weeks. Specific growth rate and serumic parameters including total protein, albumin and globulin were measured and one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in the values of the variables studied in different treatments. Results showed that the average weight in group 3 (57/11±4/37) was significantly (p<0/05) increased compared to the control group (38/49±2/61) and other treatments. Specific growth rate followed this pattern and the average of group 3 (1/87±0/17) was significantly (p<0/05) greater than the control as the minimum value (1/08±0/14) and the other groups. There was a significant difference in the amounts of total protein (p=0/005) and globulin (p=0/017) between the 4 groups. Based on the results, powdered thyme is effective in improving growth and serumic parameters of common carp (C. carpio).

Apart from skin, gills are the first place of direct exposure of fish to toxins or pollutants therefore study of changes in gill structure is a suitable indicator of toxins or pollutants under stressful conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate pathological alterations of gill tissue in common carp during exposure to different nanoparticles. For this study, 210 fry common carp with a total length of 7.36±0.30 cm and goldfish with a total length of 6.50±0.43 cm in 6 treatments with 3 replicates in each treatment were placed in 60 liter aquariums in groups of 11 individuals. Gill tissue samples of common carp and goldfish were taken 7 days after exposure to 50% lethal concentration of nano-zinc oxide, nano copper oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Histological changes were evident in samples exposed to nano-zinc oxide, nano copper oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles while no detectable changes were observed in control gill. The symptoms observed in both fish consisted of gill hyperplasia, adhesion of secondary lamellae, increased levels of mucus and hyperemia. The most common complication observed was gill hyperplasia and an increase in the amount of mucus. The results of this study indicate that 50% lethal concentration of nanoparticles of titanium, copper and zinc can cause tissue damage and destruction. Also, sub-lethal toxicity of nano-zinc oxide is higher than nano copper oxide and nano titanium dioxide and causes much wider effects on gill tissue of common carp and goldfish.

Acetaminophen overdose causes kidney injury. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica against acetaminophen -induced damage in rat kidney. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 8 animals each. Groups I (control) and II received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline (10 ml/kg) and ethanolic extract of broccoli (200 mg/kg) every other day for 14 days. Group Ш received a single intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen (750 mg/kg). Group IV received ethanolic extract of broccoli similar to group Ш after administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen (750 mg/kg). At the end of experiment, serum levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine were assessed. Moreover, histopathological observations were also conducted to assess the degree of renal tissue injury. Product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were assayed in kidney homogenates. In acetaminophen-treated rats, ethanolic extract of broccoli significantly decreased serum urea, uric acid and creatinine and renal tissue peroxidation levels and elevated the values of anti-oxidants. Histopathologically, ethanolic extract of broccoli ameliorated acetaminophen-induced kidney injury. The results of this study indicated that ethanolic extract of broccoli exerts a protective effect against acetaminophen induced renotoxicity in rats which might be related to its anti-oxidant potential.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the ability of inhibition of aflatoxin B1 by various sources of selenium and to compare the effect of nano selenium and sodium selenite on humoral immunity of quails. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design (CRD) using six treatments and four replicates of ten quail chicks per replicate. Two hundred forty quails were divided in six groups vis. control: without aflatoxin B1 and without selenium. Group2: 1ppm aflatoxin B1 and without selenium. Group3: 1 ppm aflatoxin B1 and 0.3 ppm nano selenium. Group4: 1 ppm aflatoxin B1 and 0.3 ppm sodium selenite. Group5: 1 ppm aflatoxin B1 and 0.6 ppm nano selenium. Group6: 1ppm aflatoxin B1 and 0.6 ppm sodium selenite. To evaluate the humoral immunity response 0.2 ml of sheep red blood cell (SRBC) solution was injected into breast muscle of quails at day 35 and blood sampling was conducted after a week. Newcastle vaccine was injected at day 28 and the antibody titer was determined after two weeks. The highest level of titer of antibody against the SRBC solution was related to the group which received 0.06 ppm nano selenium (p<0.01). These results indicated that nano selenium in comparison with selenium selenite can improve humoral immunity and blood biochemical parameters.

The healing of burn wounds has always attracted attention due to disruption of the healing process which leads to prolonged recovery period. Therefore, the quest for finding clinically effective wound-healing agents is important in the medical management of burn wounds. This study was conducted to investigate the morphometric and histopathologic effects of laser therapy on healing of third degree burns in rats. For this purpose, 64 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups consisting of Group 1: low level laser therapy (11.7 energy/cm2), Group 2: high level laser therapy (17.5 energy/cm2), Group 3: treatment with nitrofurazone ointment and Group 4: control. Burn wounds were created in all treatment groups by placing a 22 mm cylinder connected to a kettle containing 5 liters of hot water on the skin for 3 seconds. Histopathologic examination confirmed the creation of third degree burn wounds. Gallium-Arsenide laser was used in the study. Histopathologic examination was performed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Morphometric evaluations indicated significantly increased wound contraction in laser treated animals particularly in group 1 compared to control group. Also in both laser treated groups, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased angiogenesis and presence of fibroblasts along with increase in the thickness of epithelium was observed. The results showed significantly improved wound healing in laser treated groups in comparison to nitrofurazone treated and control groups on all evaluation times indicating the wound healing effects of laser therapy on third degree cutaneous burns of rats. Conflict of interest: None declared.