Veterinary Research Forum
Volume:13 Issue: 3, Summer 2022

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoon parasite which causes toxoplasmosis both in human and warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease and largely threats human and animal health consequently causing economic losses. Also, it affects the visceral organs in different severity degrees according to the strain of parasite and the host. In this study, experimental toxoplasmosis was performed via intra-peritoneal route in 12 gerbils by administrating 5.00 × 103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain. The gerbils were sacrificed 7 days after inoculation. All systemic organs were obtained via necropsy and examined by immunohistochemical and histopathological methods. Lesions infected with T. gondii mostly observed in the serosa of abdominal cavity organs including stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, and kidneys. The lesions were most severe in liver. The parasite showed an affinity for the hepatic tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study of acute T. gondii infection in gerbil evaluating macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. It is concluded that Mongolian gerbils can be used as experimental animals to investigate toxoplasmosis. Also, these animals are very suitable hosts to study liver pathology and pathobiology of T. gondii-related hepatitis.

The developmental morphology of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) of broiler chicken was evaluated in this study using gross anatomical, histological, reticulin histo-chemical, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The result showed that the short plica of the BF at embryonic day (ED) 14 was a mesenchymal tissue that contained cells, including mesenchymal cells and lymphoblasts. The organo-somatic index (OSI) of the BF peaked at ED 17, while the BF of ED 19 showed well delineated follicle-associated and inter-follicular epithelial (IFE) cells. Whereas, the IFE contained apical vacuoles which increased in size with age, the BF contained lymphoid follicles which were first observed at ED 17, and increased steadily in mean diameter from ED 19 to post-hatch day (PD) 28. The framework of the inter-follicular areas and the follicular capsules were composed of collagen type III fibres. Moreover, the cortico-medullary basement membranes were well established with peripheral and cortico-medullary basement capillaries becoming very consistent between PDs 5 and 7. The lymphoid follicle contained lymphocytes with mitotic figures, and plasma cells which showed extensive network of rough endoplasmic reticulum at PD 21, while macrophages contained increasing evidence of phagocytosis from PDs 35 to 56. In conclusion, the morphological features of the BF of broiler chicken in this study reveals that the key function of B-cell maturation within the BF may occur between the first 3 to 4 weeks after hatching, and thereafter, may primarily produce immunoglobulins until involution occurs.

Elevated blood glucose concentration due to food intake will trigger insulin secretion from the dorsal pancreas has been extensively studied. This increased intracellular insulin level can stimulate glucagon release from intra-islets. However, the interaction between glucagon and insulin under a fasting state is unknown. To explore the relationship, we partially removed the ventral and dorsal pancreas on wild-type adult rats. The glucose tolerance test was conducted to measure influence of the surgery on the integrity function of the pancreas. The fasting insulin/glucagon level before and after surgery were measured by the ELISA kit. The statistical analyses indicated that the ventral removal of the pancreas had higher fasting glucose than that of dorsal removal. And only the ventral removal group showed significantly increased basal insulin and basal glucagon levels. Our findings showed differential role of the ventral pancreas in response to a glucose-free stimulus and also provided the possible in vitro target for developing the anti-hyperglycemic drugs.

Vibrio species are significant pathogens affecting aquatic species. Around 12 species of Vibrio can cause a gastrointestinal illness (gastroenteritis) in humans resulting from eating contaminated food such as raw or undercooked shellfish. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics accelerates the development of resistance representing a severe challenge for controlling Vibrio outbreaks. In this study, the antibiotic resistance profile and the prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio species of apparently healthy and diseased fishes isolated from different types of fish in Kafr EL-Sheikh Governorate in Egypt during 2018 were determined. Samples obtained from fishes were inoculated onto a Vibrio-selective medium (TCBS) and phenotypically identified using the biochemical characteristics and representative cultures were checked by PCR to confirm the identified isolates. In the present study, V. alginolyticus (16.00%) was the predominant species followed by V. cholerae (7.33%) and V. parahaemolyticus (5.33%). The tested isolates were resistant to ampicillin (80.00%) and sensitive to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (100%). A total number of 15 Vibrio isolates (5 Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 5 V. alginolyticus, and 5 V. cholerae) were screened for five housekeeping genes and pathogenic virulence markers by PCR. Results showed that 100% of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates carried the tlh gene and 60.00% carried the tdh gene. In V. alginolyticus, 100% of the isolates carried the collagenase gene 0.00% carry the tdh gene; and 80.00% of V. cholerae isolates carried the ctx gene. The results showed that many isolates in this study had virulence characteristics that might correspond with the potential of infections and diseases.

Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) is an endangered fish species and also an important resource for the sturgeon aquaculture industry in Turkiye. Recently, a fatal and persistent bacterial disease occurred in the reared sturgeon kept in a trout farm in Turkiye. The disease outbreak has been with notable external signs including petechial hemorrhages and systemic anemia. This outbreak lasted for six weeks, and cumulative mortality reached around 35.00 - 40.00%. In this study, no parasitic and viral agents were observed in the sturgeons. Citrobacter gillenii was isolated from the diseased fish and identified by biochemical and molecular methods including API 20E and 20NE and 16S rRNA gene region sequencing, respectively. As a result, C. gillenii was identified for the first time in Russian sturgeon in Turkiye. The sequence was also deposited under the Genbank with MW057770 accession number. According to the result of disc diffusion method, bacteria were sensitive to enrofloxacin, streptomycin, amoxicillin and oxytetracycline and resistant to penicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, florfenicol and erythromycin. Also, ampC, sul1 and floR resistance genes were detected in the isolated bacteria. The results of this study provide important information for the diagnosis and treatment of this newly emerged disease of Russian sturgeon.

Histamine widely involves in local immune responses, physiological function in the gut, and acting as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Scientist also found the importance of histamine in the reproductive systems. The present study aimed to determine the existence of histamine receptor subtypes; H1R, H2R, H3R, and H4R on mouse oocytes through immunofluorescence (IF) staining and reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These further confirmed by the involvement of histamine receptor antagonists in in vitro fertilization (IVF). In IF staining, mouse oocytes were incubated with primary antibody against histamine receptor, followed by incubation with fluorescence conjugated secondary antibody. Then RT-PCR analysis was carried out for the undetected receptors during IF for confirmation. The RT-PCR used RNA extracted from mice COCs and cumulus free oocytes. In IVF, sperm was cultured in a group of treated histamine receptor antagonists oocytes. This investigation revealed the existance of H1R, H2R, and H3R on mouse oocytes in IF and RT-PCR analyses. The treatment of IVF with histamine receptor antagonists (H1R: pyrilamine; H2R: cimetidine; H3R: thioperamide) led to a significant reduction quantity of 2-cell embryos (4.61 ± 2.44%; 5.83 ± 4.65%; 3.83 ± 1.82%, respectively) as compared with the control group (22.50 ± 6.44%). Therefore, according to the results of this study, the presence of H1R, H2R, and H3R on mouse oocytes possibly will suggest the involvement of histamine in fertilization.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) widely exists in swine production systems causing porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD) which is associated with significant economic losses. Polygonum hydropiper L. was used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. This study was carried out to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of flavonoids from Polygonum hydropiper L. (FEA) in PCV2-induced porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/2 cell line). The production of oxygen species (ROS) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of FEA. The translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways were investigated to document the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In PCV2 induced 3D4/2 cells, FEA treatment significantly reduced the production of ROS, and sharply down-regulated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 in both secretion and mRNA expression level. The FEA also decreased the mRNA expression of Akt and NF-κB p65, reduced the transfer of p65 to nuclear, and inhibited the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The findings suggest that FEA exhibited an anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and could be used as a candidate in treatment of inflammation induced by PCV2 infection.

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a model of human lung cancer‎ and fatal viral disease that causes neoplasia in sheep respiratory cells. ‎In the current study, 986 lung samples was inspected in the slaughterhouse, and finally twenty OPA ‎ lung organs were clinically diagnosed and five healthy lung organs were assigned as the control sample. Three SSCP patterns were detected for the affected lungs animals in comparison with the healthy lungs. In addition, sequencing results indicated three different single point mutations in exon 4 of TP53 within infected lungs, whereas no mutations were observed in exon 9 of this gene. Real-time PCR results showed up-regulation of the TP53 gene in all the infected lung cells compared to healthy cells. There was significant correlation between the mutations in exon 4 and OPAand can be used as a useful tool in determining the mechanism of lung cancer.

Gastrointestinal motility disorders include increased or decreased movements. Other studies have shown that herbal components, for example, essential oils can modify the increase and decrease of gastrointestinal movements of ruminants. The 1, 8-cineole being obtained from the essential oil of many plants has several effects. The present study has investigated the effect of 1, 8-cineole on the contractility of bovine ileum smooth muscle. The experiment was performed on the circular smooth muscle of ileum samples taken from slaughtered cows in the organ bath. Seven cumulative concentrations of 1, 8-cineole from 1.00 to 1,000 µg mL-1 were added to tissue samples. The used solution was Tyrode’s solution aerated with a mixture of 95.00% oxygen and 5.00% carbon dioxide, and the temperature was set at 37.00 ˚C. The effects of 1, 8-cineole on baseline contractions and three induced contractions with barium chloride, potassium chloride, and carbachol were investigated. The effects of 1, 8-cineole, and verapamil (standard calcium channel blocker) on calcium channels were assessed. The results revealed that 1, 8-cineole significantly inhibited spontaneous contractions as well as all spasmogen-induced contractions. The 1, 8-cineole exerts its myorelaxant properties by inhibiting calcium channels in smooth muscle. It seems that 1, 8-cineole has a good potential for producing antispasmodics or gastrointestinal motility modulators in veterinary medicine.

The Objective of the present study was to evaluate paravertebral brachial plexus block in sheep. A group of 13 healthy sheep with 20.10 ± 2.20 kg weight and five months of age were used. In phase I, in five sheep, an insulated needle attached to a nerve stimulator was directed to the location of C6, C7, C8 and T1 nerves and a 1.50 mL of a solution containing 1:1 methylene blue 1.00% and lidocaine 1.00% was injected at each site. Then, the cervical and thoracic areas were dissected and assessed in the cadavers. In phase II, cervical paravertebral block with 2.00% lidocaine and subsequent assessments were done in eight live sheep. Cadaveric evaluations revealed dye spread in C6 to T1 nerves: 61.75 ± 5.50, 72.75 ± 9.18, 40.75 ± 2.99 and 18.75 ± 3.30 mm, respectively. In three sheep, dye distribution in the anterior mediastinum was observed. In phase II, the onsets of anesthesia were determined within 10 and 15 min for sensory and motor blocks, respectively. Anesthesia at axillary, musculocutaneous, radial and ulnar skin sites and motor block lasted for 67.50 ± 15.80, 63.70 ± 16.00, 55.00 ± 21.70, 56.70 ± 19.70 and 76.40 ± 24.30 min, respectively. In three sheep, no anesthesia was observed for radial and ulnar skin sites. In conclusion, paravertebral brachial plexus block in sheep provided an acceptable block for the upper parts of the elbow joint, however, it was not effective and reliable for more distal structures.

Toxoplasmosis, a foodborn disease, in human occurs commenly after the ingestion of tissue cysts via the raw and/or undercooked meat of different infected intermediate hosts such as sheep and cattle.The current study aimed to detect the genetic structure of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from various organs of sheep and cattle in the north of Iran. Convetional PCR was carried out by B1 and REP-529 genes of T. gondii. Nested and RFLP-PCR were performed for all positive samples using SAG2 and GRA6 genetic markers. Amplicons from second round of nested-PCR were sequenced and analyzed with NCBI database. Among of 179 examined samples, 38(21.20%) were positive. The highest of positive cases were found in kidney (28.60%). PCR-RFLP of SAG2 and GRA6 genes demonstrated the alleles of clonal type III in the all of isolates. Sequence analysis of the amplicons revealed the alleles of clonal type III and atypical isolates (Tg-67, Tg-100 and Tg-106). Phylogenetic analyses showed separate clade for the atypical isolates from others in the present study and the reference strains clades. In conclusion, the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from sheep and cattle showed high genetic diversity compared with standard type I, II and III genotypes. These results support the hypothesis of the existence of polymorphic and overlapping strains within livestock in Iran. It also suggested the necessity of increased genotyping and sampling efforts to accurately estimate T. gondii intra specific genetic diversity

The angiogenesis process is a pivotal cellular process involved in both developmental and pathological circumstances. In this study we investigated effect of Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), as an unusual phyto-lectin from the chitin-binding protein family, on the angiogenesis of chicken embryos. The UDA was extracted from plant rhizomes and purified by affinity chromatography column. The activity of this lectin was assayed by hemagglutination test on the human RBCs. Anti-angiogenic effect of UDA on the extra-embryonic layer of the chick egg was studied in the different concentrations. Our results showed that the minimum concentration of UDA for agglutination were 48.00 and 15.00 µg mL-1 in macro- and microscopic studies, respectively. Because the number and length of the vessels were dramatically decreased at 100 µg kg-1 of UDA, the lectin had an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis of the embryonic vasculature of the chick. We concluded that UDA might target the vascularization events through binding to GlcNAc-conjugates. More investigations are needed to clarify the angiogenesis-related therapeutic roles of this interesting biomolecule.

Brucellosis is considered as one of the important global zoonotic diseases that causes medical as well as economic problems especially in tropical countries. The illness has no specific pathognomonic signs; therefore, the rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease has a very important role in preventing the Brucella spillover and treatment. The purpose of this study was to design a new indirect ELISA test for detection of human brucellosis based on using recombinant Brucella abortus outer membrane protein 16.00 kDa (rOMP16) as an antigen. OMP16 gene of B. abortus was initially synthesized and cloned in pET-21d vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The expression was confirmed by the SDS-PAGE, western blotting and dot blotting. The purified protein was coated in ELISA plates and an indirect ELISA was performed on 70 human serum samples. The results were evaluated with a commercial IgG ELISA kit and Rose Bengal plate agglutination tests as reference tests. Diagnostic performance of designed OMP16 ELISA test in comparison with Rose Bengal plate test revealed 100% of sensitivity, 95.00% of specificity and good Fleiss kappa agreement, whereas, where it was compared to commercial ELISA kit, it revealed very good kappa agreement with 100% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity in cut-off value of 0.13. It was concluded that OMP 16.00 kDa could be acceptable alternative antigen for detecting Brucella IgG antibody with high accuracy.

Breast cancer (BC) is a significant cause of global mortality in women. This study was aimed to evaluate the immune-activation of malignant BC via the administration of attenuated Mycobacterium obuense. For this purpose, an in vivo model was developed with BALB/c mice. Mice were injected with 2.00 × 106 4T1 cells with breast tumor cell line. Forty-two mice were equally divided into control as well as low dose (0.20 mg 100 µL-1) and high dose (0.50 mg 100 µL-1) groups of M. obuense to investigate gene expression in the antitumor effects of M. obuense. In one group, paclitaxel was administrated as a choice drug in BC treatment. Antitumor manners were characterized by cytotoxicity against tumor target cells, size of the tumor and the expression of some BC metastatic genes together with pathology. The MTT assay demonstrated that different concentrations of both low and a high doses of bacteria did present no cytotoxicity effect on 4T1 cells. According to our findings, M. obuense significantly repressed tumor growth. M. obuense downregulated the expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COLIA1), cFos, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), claudin 3 (cldn3), and conversely, activated transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and Twist related protein-1 (Twist1). All these alternations induced a decrease in the migratory and invasive capabilities of BC. The result of pathology was indicative of tumor regression in the paclitaxel and HK- M. obuense -recipient group. Thus, it seems most likely that M. obuense might impinge upon cell growth and metastatic behavior of malignant cells exerting anti-tumor activity in BC.

Diagnosis of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) relies on the detection of antibodies against its viral causing agent, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Here, we designed a novel competitive ELISA (cELISA) using the most immunogenic part of BVDV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3), as a single ELISA recombinant antigen, along with a monoclonal antibody to detect antibodies against BVDV in sera of infected animals. Hence, 197 serum samples were tested by this cELISA and the results were compared to the results obtained from virus neutralization test (VNT) as the gold standard method for diagnosis of BVD. McNemar’s test indicated that there was no significant difference between the results of this newly designed cELISA and VNT. Meanwhile, kappa coefficients showed that there was a high correlation between these two assays. The relative sensitivity and specificity of cELISA with respect to VNT were 93.90% and 100%, respectively, suggesting that this newly designed cELISA could be a useful diagnostic tool for detection of BVDV infection. Moreover, as NS3 is highly conserved among Pestiviruses and the developed ELISA is a competitive one, it could potentially be applied to detect BVDV infection in other domestic and wildlife species.

To search endophytic bacteria diversity and evaluate their antibacterial activity, healthy medicinal plant of Scrophularia striata was chosen in this study. One hundred endophytic bacteria were isolated from surface-sterilized tissues (root, stem and leaf) of S. striata. Using sequence analysis targeting 16S rRNA gene, eight genera, including Agrococcus, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Chryseobacterium, Delftia, Kocuria, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas were identified. Antibacterial activity of endophytic bacteria was examined against some test bacteria, employing agar well diffusion method. Out of 31 endophytic bacterial isolates, 24(77.42%) isolates showed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, 17(54.84%) isolates exhibited maximum activity against Staphylococcus aureus, 14(45.16%) isolates against Escherichia coli and 5(16.13%) isolates showed positive activity against Proteus mirabilis.The results obtained in this study suggested that the medicinal plant, S. striatais is a potent source of endophytic bacteria with antibacterial activity and offers promise for discovery of more impressive biological compounds.

The effects of buprenorphine (BUP) on anxiety-like behavior and the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) in methamphetamine (METH)-treated rats were investigated in this study. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups including control (saline), METH (10.00 mg kg-1), BUP (10.00 mg kg-1), and BUP + METH groups and treated for five days. On the final day of treatment, gene expression levels and anxiety were evaluated using elevated plus-maze (EPM). According to the results, five days of METH injection reduced open arm exploration in the EPM. In contrast, the open arm entries and the time spent in the open arms were increased in the BUP + METH group compared to the METH group. The expression levels of Gfap and Nrf2 were lower in METH-treated rats compared to controls, whereas Gfap and Nrf2 expression levels were higher in the METH+BUP-treated rats compared to the METH-treated rats, however, it was similar to the controls. These findings suggested that co-administration of BUP+METH could decrease anxiety-like behavior through increasing the activity of the antioxidant protection system and might have therapeutic potential for preventing anxiety in METH users.

Heart murmurs and valvular regurgitation are common in horses and often have no effect on their performance. However, when structural changes occur in the heart size, they can affect performance adversely. This study aimed to examine the correlation between cardiac valves disease and poor performance in athletic horses. A total of 300 athletic Thoroughbred and mix-breed horses including 164 Mares and 136 Stallions, with a history of poor performance, were selected. Horses with cardiac murmurs were identified and further cardiac examination including precise auscultation, base-apex electrocardiogram for possible dysrhythmias at rest and after exercise, echocardiographic and hematological tests were conducted in two stages. The first was at admission time and the second examination was done four to six months later to evaluate the outcome of the possible disorders. Respiratory system and musculoskeletal diseases were diagnosed respectively in 93 and 149 out of 300 examined horses and 36 horses showed heart murmur without any other complications. Echocardiography was performed in horses with heart murmur and 25 of them showed regurgitation of the cardiac valve. During the first examination, 7 horses were diagnosed with regurgitation and changes in the size of cardiac chambers, whereas this number increased to 25 during the second examination. There was no significant relationship between degree of murmur and severity of regurgitant jet in horses. The valvular regurgitation can affect the performance when causing changes in the size of the cardiac chambers which can consequently jeopardize the athletic future of the horse.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mastitis and supra-mammary lymph nodes in lactating cows in terms of Pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler ultrasonographical measurements. A total of 102 head cows in lactation period were divided into three groups. The cows in which all mammary lobes were California mastitis test (CMT)-negative (n = 27) formed the 1st group; those with CMT-positive mammary lobe (n = 43) formed the 2nd group and the cows with clinical mastitis in at least one mammary lobe (n = 32) formed the 3rd group. In PW Doppler ultrasonography, end-diastolic velocity, systolic peak velocity and time-averaged maximum velocity were measured at the most prominent artery of the lymph node. A quantitative scaling was performed by determining the pulsatile index and resistance index scales based on blood flow parameters. There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups in terms of PW Doppler ultrasonographical measurements of supra-mammary lymph nodes. In conclusion, the use of PW Doppler ultrasonographic data of the supra-mammary lymph nodes will not provide useful information about the current condition of mastitis in cows.

Mosquitoes are involved in the transmission of a wide range of diseases and among them, Culiseta longiareolata, acts as a vector of avian malaria, tularemia and several arboviruses like West Nile fever. The current study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of C. longiareolata against deltamethrin 0.05% (pyrethroids), fenitrothion 1.00% (organophosphate) and bendiocarb 0.10% (carbamate). Mosquitoes were collected from different parts of Urmia county, the capital of West Azerbaijan. In the current study, 443 empty 3 - 5 days old adult female C. longiareolata were used for susceptibility tests. The susceptibility status of C. longiareolata was determined using WHO’s recommended procedure. The results - indicated higher mortality rates of Culiseta longiareolata against studied insecticides. Culiseta longiareolata, was resistant to all studied insecticides (deltamethrin, mortality rate: 62.50%, fenitrothion, mortality rate: 35.96% and bendiocarb, mortality rate: 20.16%). The current study represents the first report of susceptibility status of C. longiareolata to fenitrothion and bendicarb in Iran. Considering the climatic diversity and geographical conditions of northwestern Iran, reports of resistance of other mosquitoes’ of this region, the susceptibility status of medically and veterinary important mosquitoes should be given serious attention.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 is widely circulating around the globe affecting many species of animal including mammals and birds as well as human beings. The virus has pandemic potential due to segmented nature of the viral genome. Ultra-structural features of apoptosis in field and experimental infection of H9N2 avian influenza virus were studied. Freshly dead birds from affected broiler farms and experimentally infected broiler chickens with H9N2 subtypes were subjected to routine necropsy. Post-mortem findings in different organs were recorded. Appropriate specimens from the trachea were taken for electron microscopy studies. In electron microscopy study, frequent apoptotic bodies were observed in the epithelial cells of trachea. Increase of antibody titer to H9N2 virus following challenge with the virus in experimental group indicates that the infectious cycle has been initiated in the affected birds.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging single-stranded RNA virus being classified under Simbu serogroup of Bunyaviridae family. This study aimed to detect antibodies against SBV in cattle for the first time in three eastern provinces of Iran. Blood samples were randomly collected from jugular veins of 270 cattle, from 19 farms in Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. Separated sera were analyzed to find SBV antibody using ID vet® SBV indirect multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test kit. From a total of 273 serum samples analyzed for SBV presence, 12.45% (n = 34) were positive for SBV antibody. Risk factors including breed, age and geographic area showed a statistically significant relationship with the virus prevalence. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of SBV is not high; but it is considerable in the studied parts of Iran. This is the first study regarding SBV seroprevalence in cattle population of eastern Iran and further studies about the virus epidemiology are recommended.

Kobuviruses are viral pathogens with broad host range presented in human gastroenteritis cases; but, the pathogenesis of these viruses in companion animals is not well described. In the present study, the presence of canine (CaKVs) and feline kobuviruses (FeKVs) was detected in the 100 fecal samples of diarrhoeic and healthy companion dogs and cats by polymerase chain reaction in Tehran, Iran. The prevalence of infection was estimated as 8.00% and 4.00% in dogs and cats, respectively. All positive samples were belonged to non-diarrhoeic animals except for a feline sample being co-infected with panleukopenia. Sequence analysis showed multiple point mutations in canine and feline Iranian strains and new feline strain was detected in the present study. This is the first detection of CaKVs and FeKVs in Iran; but, the exact role of these enteric viral pathogens and their zoonotic risks are better to be clarified in all endemic regions.

A 12-year-old spayed female Yorkshire terrier presented with anorexia, and an intra-abdominal mass was examined at the Animal Medical Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed that the mass originated from the spleen. Total splenectomy was performed the following day, where evidence of past rupture of the splenic mass and a small amount of purulent ascites were found. No gastrointestinal perforation or abscess formation in other tissues was noted during the surgery. Intra-operative cytological examination of the ascites revealed a large number of degenerated neutrophils and macrophages phagocytosing cocci. The splenic mass was histopathologically diagnosed as a splenic abscess, concurrent with a splenic hemangiosarcoma. Bacterial culture examination of the ascites identified Staphylococcus schleiferi. Although surgical management had been successful, the dog eventually developed clinical signs suggestive of intra-abdominal hemorrhage attributable to hemangiosarcoma approximately five months after surgery. This clinical report describes that splenic hemangiosarcoma might have created a milieu favorable for the development of splenic abscess.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that is traditionally classified in three varieties: Hc var. capsulatum, Hc var. duboisii, and Hc var. farciminosum (HCF). Cytology, hematology, pathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses were applied on samples collected from the blood and the eye of a horse with pustular lesions and ocular discharge. Physical examination and cytopathological tests showed H. capsulatum infection. Additionally, the results of two PCR tests confirmed H. capsulatum infection. The phylogenetic tree of the internal transcribed spacer sequence of Iranian H. capsulatum showed homology with the HCF variety. For the first time, H. capsulatum infection in the eye of a horse from Iran was detected and phylogenetically analyzed. This study revealed that H. capsulatum could establish infection in Iranian animals in addition to people, and indicated the role of soil enriched with bird dropping in the preparation of a favorable environment for H. capsulatum propagation. Further investigations are required to clarify the natural history and risk factors associated with histoplasmosis in Iran.