Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:14 Issue: 2, Spring 2020

In dogs, Achilles tendon rupture is an important clinical issue. Treatment of the ruptured tendon remains a controversial problem. However, surgical intervention, by the using of different biological scaffolds, has been recognized as the most effective approach for the repair of such cases.

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of platelets-plasma rich protein (PRP) and autogenous peritoneal scaffold to improve the healing process of ruptured Achilles tendon in dogs.

Eighteen healthy dogs of the local breed were randomly allocated into three equal groups. Achilles tendon of the hind limbs were prepared aseptically and transected transversely. In the control group, the tendon was reconstructed with the traditional suture using modified Kessler techniques. In the peritoneal scaffold group, a combination of traditional suture and the autogenous peritoneal scaffold was used to augment the defected tendon. In the peritoneal scaffold with the PRP group, the induced rupture was treated as similar to the peritoneal scaffold group and supported by a topical application of PRP. In addition to the gross observation, the healing process was evaluated with histopathological and sonographic investigations at 15, 30, and 60 days post-operative.

By comparison with control, the utilizing of autologous peritoneum scaffold augmented with PRP revealed a valuable impact on Achilles tendon healing. This impact was manifested by improved fibroblastic proliferation, reduced adhesion, and improved mechanical function of the tendon. Also, the sonographic examination of the fibrosis site demonstrated the presence of hyperechoic spots.

We concluded that utilizing both the peritoneal scaffold augmented and PRP along with the traditional suture revealed remarkable optimistic effects on healing of the ruptured Achilles tendon in dogs.

Hip Dysplasia is a frequent orthopedic disease that is characterized by early joint sublux- ation. The DARthroplasty technique is a two-part process that involves applying bone graft to increase the femoral head coverage with a low morbidity rate and the long term is known results.

This study was aimed to investigate the radiographic and clinical changes after transplanting the rib allograft impregnated with PRP and MSCs in the treatment of hip dysplasia in a dog. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of modified DARthroplasty.

12 dogs were selected, all of them operated by the modified induced hip dysplasia. Afterward, an approximately 25 mm segment rib was harvested and transplanted at slot approximately 7 mm broad and 12.5 mm high, close craniodorsally to the joint capsule origin, and secured with a 2 mm cortical bone screw in each recipient dog. PRP and MSCs were injected into the gap around allograft. Subsequently, they were divided into 3 subgroups of 4 dogs in each group, control, PRP, and MSCs. 6 months after the surgery, all dogs were subjected to clinical and radiographic evaluations.

Clinically, all dogs showed no sign of orthopedic disorder which was determined by Ortolani sign, and no muscle atrophy and pain were elicited in the hip joint. One dog showed a slight lameness degree about two weeks and one case had seroma but was immediately treated by aspiration and pressure bandage. Upon ra- diographic examination, no dislocation of the rib allograft could be detected. Bone proliferation was observed. Dogs in all groups showed NA and PC increase with MSCs (5.25 ± 0.3 and 22.5 ± 0.81), PRP group (6.5 ± 0.43 and 20.5 ± 0.12) and control group (6.5 ± 0.35 and 19 ± 1.23) at six months postoperatively.

This study showed that rib bone allograft with PRP and MSCs can be quite effective on joint congruency and stability in symptomatic dogs due to hip dysplasia.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is one of the most principal contagious diseases with a significant role in multifactorial respiratory diseases in the poultry industry.

This study aims to evaluate and detect NDVs in multicausal respiratory diseases.

A total of 180 tracheal swabs were collected from 20 commercial broiler flocks during 2014- 2015. Three tracheal swabs from each flock were pooled. Sixty samples were amplified in PCR by specified primers for fusion gene that flanked cleavage site. Twelve samples were purified and sequenced by a two-way direction method. Based on the amino acids and nucleotide similarities in the part of the F gene, the phyloge- netic analysis of the fusion genes was generated.

Based on PCR detection, 26 of 60 (43%) samples and 12 of 20 (60 %) flocks were positive for NDV. Sequence analysis of 12 positive samples revealed that 5 viruses (41.66 %) belonged to the velogenic strains (genotype II, subgenotype VIId) and 7 viruses (58.33 %) were included in the lentogenic pathotypes. Based on the nucleotide similarities, it is concluded that some of the lentogenic pathotypes have 100% close- ness to B1 and Lasota strains. Likewise, the 5 virulent ND virus strains of this study show 100% homogeneity to some previously identified velogenic isolates.

A high percentage of ND viruses were detected in broiler flocks with respiratory com- plexes. Among these detected viruses, it is concluded that the lentogenic isolates and vaccinal strains can be effective in exacerbating respiratory problems.

To achieve delivery of a drug to tumors, folic acid (FA) was used as a targeting ligand to change nanocarriers. Since the folate receptor has more expression in several tumor types such as breast cancer.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Doxorubicine-G2-FA (Dox- G2-FA) with in vitro assays. The abbreviation of G2 represents the second generation of dendrimer synthesis.

For this purpose, Dox-G2-FA was synthesized and mass spectroscopy was used to confirm the synthesized component. Also, MTT assay, flow cytometry, and gene expression assay by real-time PCR were used to evaluate cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis.

In this study, the effect of Dox and Dox-G2-FA on the expression of Bax, Bcl2 genes showed that there was a significant decrease in the expression of the Bcl2 gene in the Dox-G2-FA group compared to Dox and control groups(   P<0.05). Also, the results of flow-cytometry showed that apoptosis in the presence of Dox-G2-FA was greater than in the Dox group (   P<0.05).

Therefore, it seems that the effect of Dox-G2-FA on apoptosis is better than the effect of Dox usage alone.

Due to the large proportion of iodine present in milk and dairy products, they have been one of the important sources of nutritional iodine in several countries. Information about variation in milk iodine concentration in Iran is limited.

The present study was conducted to determine the iodine concentration in Iranian milk and dairy milk products.

In the first step, 10 commercial dairy farms (five located in tropical and other located in cold region) were included in the study. In the second step, the iodine concentration of six samples of different milk products from the retail market was determined by Sandell-Kolthoff (acid-digestion) reaction.

The average iodine concentration of milk samples from cold region was significantly lower (50.7 ± 24.3 %) than the iodine concentration of milk samples from the tropical region (P<0.05). Sterilized milk (282.0 ± 111.0 µg/l) had higher and raw milk (224.3 ± 116.9 µg/l) had lower iodine concentration  (P<0.05). There was no effect of milk fat class (whole and semi-skimmed) on milk iodine concentration (P>0.05).

Based on Iranian dairy product intake, raw, pasteurized and sterilized milk provides on average, 74.6, 84.6, 96.0 µg of iodine, approximately 29.8, 33.8, 37.6 % of the adult recommended dietary allowance for this nutrient, respectively.

Raw and roasted nuts are one of the most popular snacks consumed in Iran but mishandling and poor storage conditions and practices may lead to promote the growth of microorganisms and foodborne intoxications and infections.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbial quality of raw and roasted (salted and unsalt- ed) nuts, distributed in commercial markets in Mazandaran province, Iran.

The moisture content, total colony counts, total coliform, fecal coliform, Staphylococcusaureus, and fungal contamination were evaluated according to procedures of Iran national standards.

The moisture content of raw and roasted hazelnut, pistachio, almond, and cashew nut samples were above the standard limits. The moisture content of the raw peanuts was within the standard approved limit (maximum 9%). But the moisture content of the roasted peanut was higher than the permissible limit of 5%. For yeasts and moulds, except for all almond samples and 56% of cashew nut samples, all products tended to be loaded with unsatisfactory limits. The total viable count was within the standard limits in hazelnut, almond, and cashew nut samples (less than 4log cfu/gr). Satisfactory limits of coliforms (lower than 1log cfu/gr) were observed in all almond samples, 91.6% of hazelnut, and 16.7% of pistachio samples. No fecal coliforms were detected in samples. S.aureus contamination was observed in 6.5% of hazelnut, 8% of almond, 25% of cashew nut, and 33% of peanut samples.

According to the findings, almond and hazelnut showed the least, and pistachio and peanut samples showed the highest microbial contamination.

Many additives have been recommended to calf feed but the effects of each supplement have been under investigation especially during weaning stress.

The effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic (Protexin) and chromium-methionine che- late (Cr-Met) on triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), total protein, albumin, zinc, and growth body-weight gain in dairy calves during weaning period was investigated.

A total of 28 dairy Holstein calves were randomly allocated to one of the four experimental treatments (n=7). The study commenced 21 days before weaning (average 70 days).The recommended dosage for both chromium-methionine chelate (Cr-Met) and probiotic (Protexin) is 2 gr/calf daily. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein, 21 days before weaning and 3, 7 and 21 days after weaning. Serum consen- trations of T3, T4, total protein, albumin, and zinc were measured. Bodyweight (BW) was measured 7 days before, at weaning and 7 days after weaning.

No effect of different diets nor interaction was found for body weight gain, total protein, and al- bumin. No effect of different diets was observed for T4 although the interaction was observed between groups and time. An effect of different diets and time was found for T3 and the mean T3 concentration was lowest in group Protexin + Cr-Met. The mean Zinc concentration was at its highest level 21 days after weaning, while different diets did not affect the Zinc concentrations.

There is no benefit associated with the separate or combined feeding of Protexin and Cr- Met on calves’ growth performance according to weight gain, total protein, and thyroid hormones.

A limited number of studies have investigated the inclusion of amino acids in calf starter.

This study was aimed to evaluate different levels of crude protein in starter and supplement- ing some protected amino acids on efficiency, health status and blood metabolites of dairy calves and to com- pare it with unprotected amino acids.

Forty-eight 3-day-old Holstein calves were randomly allocated to four treatments in a complete- ly randomized design. Dietary treatments were (1) 18% Crude Protein starter without Amino Acid, (2) 18% Crude Protein with 0.0340% protected lysine and 0.016% protected methionine, (3) 18% Crude Protein starter with 0.215% un-protected lysine and 0.012% un-protected methionine, (4) 22% Crude Protein without Amino Acid. All calves received the same amount of whole milk, weaned on day 56; the study was finished on day 70.

Calves in treatment 4 had the greatest starter intake, weaning weight and final weight (P<0.05) but their feed efficiency was not different among treatments. There were no significant differences in Immu- noglobulin G, total protein and Lysine and Methionine concentration in blood (P>0.05). Health score (eye, ear, nose and respiratory score), was not different among treatments but the fecal score revealed a significant difference (P<0.05). Starter diet with 22% Crude Protein resulted in higher serum urea concentration (P< 0.05)

Results of the present study indicate that, the performance of calves received protected or un-protected amino acid in starter was not different. Also, higher Crude Protein levels in diet did not lead to a better gain to feed ratio.

Phenobarbital is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders in dogs and cats. Hepatotoxicity following phenobarbital administration is dose-dependent.

The present study aimed to evaluate the protective action of silymarin on phenobarbital-in- duced hepatotoxicity in cats.

For this purpose, twenty-four healthy adult cats were randomly allotted to four equal groups. Cats in group A were given phenobarbital with dosage 16 mg/kg orally for 28 days; group B received silymarin (30 mg/kg/day for twenty-eight days) orally concurrent with phenobarbital; groups C and D were treated like group B, but silymarin was administered 3 and 48 h after administration of phenobarbital, respectively, and continued up to twenty-eight days. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino- transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were measured before administration of phenobarbital and after 24 h, 72 h and 28 days.

Phenobarbital elevated significantly serum concentrations of liver enzymes (in all cases), and total and direct bilirubin in two cats of group A, after 24 h (P <0.001). In groups, B and C, levels of serum enzyme activities and total and direct bilirubin remained within the normal range up to 28 days (P>0.05), while in group D, levels of serum enzyme activities (in 4 cases) were higher than the normal values (P<0.001).

The results showed that silymarin can protect liver tissue against oxidative stress in cats with phenobarbital intoxication especially in the first 3 h post-exposure.

Dermatofibroma is a common skin benign cutaneous tumor with many variants based on alterations in the morphology and composition of its diverse elements. The cause of dermatofibroma is unknown, it was his- torically attributed to being a reactive response to some traumatic lesion to the skin which is associated with itching and pain. This tumor usually appears on the limbs, especially the end extremities, in young adults. In the present study, a middle-aged Persian leopard was accidentally killed because of a car incident in the Golestan National Park, Iran. Following necropsy, skin mass on the right toe was observed and after sam- pling was transferred to the laboratory. After routine histopathological and immunohistochemical processes, Dermatofibroma was diagnosed microscopically with non-capsulated, circumscribed, hypocellular dermal nodule in a spiral pattern. According to the results of this study immunohistochemical staining revealed positivity for CD34. There is limited information about the Dermatofibroma in leopards. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Dermatofibroma in the Persian leopard.