Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology
Volume:14 Issue: 2, Spring 2022

Babesiosis is an important tick-borne disease that affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals and occasionally humans in tropical and subtropical countries. So far, More than 100 different Babesia species have been identified in animals. Iran is one of the largest countries in the Middle East. The existence of two chains of mountains namely Zagros and Alborz has provided a number of climatic variations with different flora and fauna. These different climatic zones in Iran are potentially favorable for a large variety of tick vectors transmitting blood pathogen protozoa like Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in animals. In the last decade, many molecular studies have been performed to identify Babesia spp. and tick vectors in different parts of Iran.  This review article aims to provide useful information about the history, characters, geographical distribution, and prevalence of Babesia species and their related tick vectors in animals in Iran.

Salmonellosis is considered to be a zoonotic disease, the transmission of which through oral-fecal contact is unavoidable because pet care has been popular recently. On the other hand, excessive use of human antibiotics to treat animals resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella serotypes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of bacteria and antibiotic resistance to select the appropriate antibiotic for disease control. In this study, the presence of Salmonella serovars in the fecal samples of 256 pet dogs was investigated by enrichment and selective culture. Moreover, the existence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, as well as phenotypic antimicrobial resistance, were assessed. Of the total of 256 fecal samples, 21 samples (8.2%) of pet dogs were positive for Salmonella, including S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Infantis, and S. Senftenberg. Based on our findings, all serovars carried virulence genes invA, invF, sitC, fimA and S. Typhimurium resistant to ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (50%), oxytetracycline (75%), florfenicol (50%) and lincospectin (100%). While S. enteritidis, S. infantis, and S. senftenberg were sensitive to ampicillin, amikacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin. S. Infantis was also sensitive to all antibiotics. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pet dogs are potential sources of Salmonella strains that carry resistance and virulence genes. Thus, healthy pet dogs could play an important role in human salmonellosis.

Kisspeptin is a key component of reproduction that can directly affect food intake in mammals. There is evidence suggesting that melanocortin, GABA, corticotrophin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY), have a mediatory role in reward; however, how these substances interact with kisspeptin-induced by food intake in birds, remains to be identified. Accordingly, in this study,   a total of 10 experiments were carried out to investigate the interplay  between kisspeptin and these systems for the control of food intake in neonatal layer-type chickens. In the first experiment, chickens were intracerebroventricular (ICV) injected with saline and Metastin (Kisspeptin, 0.25, 50, and 1 nmol). In the second experiment, saline, Metastin (1 nmol), BIBP-3226 (NPY1 receptor antagonist, 1.25 nmol), and co-injection of Metastin + BIBP-3226 were injected. Experiments 3-10 were similar to experiment 1, except that chickens received BIIE 0246 (NPY2 receptor antagonist, 1.25 nmol), CGP71683A (NPY5 receptor antagonist, 50 μg), Picrotoxin (GABAA receptor antagonist, 1.25 nmol), CGP54626 (GABAB receptor antagonist, 21 µg), astressin-B (CRF1 / CRF2 receptor antagonist, 30 µg), Astressin2-B (CRF2 receptor antagonist, 30 µg), SHU9119 (MC3 / MC4 receptor antagonist, 0.5 nmol), and MCL0020 (MC3 / MC4 receptor antagonist, 0.5 nmol) instead of BIBP-3226. Food intake was subsequently assessed until 120 min after the injection. Based on the findings, Metastin (0.25, 50, and 1 nmol) significantly increased food intake in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). However, BIBP-3226 and Picrotoxin inhibited Metastin-induced hyperphagia in neonatal chickens (p < 0.05); Whereas, whereas BIIE 0246, CGP71683A, CGP54626, astressin-B, astressin2-B, SHU9119, and MCL0020 had no effect (p > 0.05). These results showed that the effect of kisspeptin on food intake might be mediated by NPY1 and GABAA receptors in layer-type chickens.

This study considered the therapeutic efficacy of three different Artemisia species extracts on capsaicin-induced dental pulp pain and pain-associated changes in feeding behaviors in adult male Wistar rats. The animals were alienated into five groups (n=6), comprising: sham, capsaicin, and capsaicin groups pre-treated with hydroalcoholic extracts of A. sieberi, A.persica, and A.biennis. Pulpitis was evoked by intradental administration of capsaicin (100 µg). The plant extracts (200 mg/kg/ i.p.) were administered 10 min before capsaicin. Pain scores were recorded for forty min. Afterward, feeding behavior was evaluated within 6 hours. All extracts could suppress capsaicin-related dental pulp pain. Furthermore, capsaicin decreased the number of visits to the food and water ports of the feeding behavior evaluation device that led to a reduced amount and duration of meals consumed. These harmful effects of capsaicin on meal duration, and frequency were attenuated by A.persica. Moreover, capsaicin inhibitory effect on food intake and water consumption was suppressed by all the extracts. Taken together, the present study showed that Artemisia species extracts are useful in supressing capsaicin-induced pulpal pain and pain-induced feeding abnormalities.

Bovine paratuberculosis or Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), which affects domestic and wild ruminants around the world. The clinical presentation of MAP infection is characterized by chronic diarrhea unresponsive to treatment. The objective of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine paratuberculosis in cattle herds of Tuta, Boyacá, Colombia. This descriptive cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was performed on 882 blood samples taken from cattle of different racial and age groups. Blood samples were processed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PARACHEK® 2 Kit, Prionics AG, Switzerland). The obtained data were analyzed by the statistical software Epi Info. In this study, a general seroprevalence of 3.1% was found, and seropositivity in females was 3.6%. The highest prevalence of antibodies against MAP was in individuals > 4 years (5%) and the Jersey breed (4.8%). Therefore, the age of over 4 years was identified as a risk factor associated with MAP. Moreover, a statistical association was found between management and biosafety variables, such as pen management (p = 0.012), feeding with concentrate (p = 0.012), and the presence of diarrhea on the farm (p = 0.048). It could be concluded that the disease is present in Tuta, however, considering factors, such as the chronicity of the disease and the diagnostic method used, it is expected that the number of infected animals is much higher than presented in this research.

Among the causes of lameness in horses, those of arthrogenic origin, especially synovitis, which can progress to advanced joint damages, such as osteoarthritis, are of importance in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the early diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcomes of acute synovitis, which occur frequently in English and Arabian horses during the racing season. A total of 167 joints of 126 horses (39 English and 87 Arabian Thoroughbred) aged 2-4 years diagnosed with acute synovitis were evaluated using clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examinations. The treatment protocol of horses consisted of cold hydrotherapy and light pressure bandage initially, followed by rest for 10 days and controlled walking only, a single dose of phenylbutazone, and intra-articular corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injection. Although functional improvement was observed in all the horses following this treatment, subsequent relapses occurred in 22 cases. Consequently, it is important to comply with this treatment program and plan the treatment of acute synovitis in the early period. Controlled gaits, rather than absolute immobility, increase the success of treatment, especially in horses at rest. In addition, it is important to ensure that the relevant joint is not overburdened after the rest period in order to avoid relapses.

Catamenial epilepsy may involve 10 to 70% of women with epilepsy in which, seizures are exacerbated by the menstrual cycle. Artemisinin is a herbal compound with widespread modern and traditional medical indications. Because of GABAergic interaction, this study was designed to study the antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin during the estrus cycle.  A total of 360 adult female mice were placed in 10 groups: control, solvent (ethanol 10ml/kg), Artemisinin (75&150 mg/kg), Bicuculline (2mg/kg), Bicuculline (2mg/kg) + Atremisinin (75&150 mg/kg), Saclofen (2mg/kg), Saclofen (2mg/kg) + Atremisinin (75&150 mg/kg), each with four subgroups (proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus) (n=9). One week after acclimatization, estrous synchronization and phase determination was achieved. Acute epilepsy was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of 80 mg/kg of Pentylentetrazole (PTZ), 30 minutes after i.p injection of Artemisinin and ethanol. Initiation time of myoclonic seizures (ITMS), initiation time of tonic-clonic seizures (ITTS), seizure duration (SD), and mortality rate (MR) were recorded for 30 minutes. Data were displayed as mean ± SD and evaluated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey–Kramer multiple comparison post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Artemisinin significantly decreased epilepsy incidence, duration, and mortality rate, in parallel to increasing ITMS and ITTS in a dose-dependent manner which were more prominent during the luteal phase. Co-administration of Biccucluline significantly inhibited antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin, while Saclofen did not have such an inhibitory interaction. It seems that increased neurosteroid metabolites and GABAA receptors, neural hyperpolarization following GABA interaction, and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties which decrease neuroinflammation and neural excitability can participate in the antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin.