Journal of Alternative Veterinary Medicine
Volume:6 Issue: 18, Autumn 2023

The tendons and ligaments in palmar/plantar aspect of fetlock joints of the horse are important in weight bearing and stay apparatus. These structures are always subject to damage caused by diseases and injuries. Ultrasound is one of the most useful methods for diagnosing soft tissue injuries including tendons and ligaments in horses. The aim of this study was to measure and to compares the thickness of fetlock joint tendons and ligaments in both front and hind limbs of sound Dareh-Shori horses.

This study consisted of 10 healthy Dareh-Shori horses that mean age and height of them were 11.2±3.5 years and 151.6±10.2 cm, respectively. After clipping and washing, the area between 4cm above the proximal sesamoid bones and distal to the level of the proximal sesamoid bones was divided into 1 level in sagittal and 3 levels in transverse view. An ultrasonography was performed with a linear transducer 12 MHZ Frequency on both front and hind limbs in full weight bearing. The thickness of tendons and ligaments such as superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligament were measured both in sagittal and transverse views. Echogenicity and fibrillary pattern of tendons and ligaments were assessed in longitudinal images.

The greatest measured thickness of the digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament was related to the deep digital flexor tendon while the Minimum thickness was related to the suspensory ligament in the left front joints. The results obtained from the present study did not show any significant changes between the right and left side of front and hind limbs of sound Dareh-Shori horses.

This study provides a thorough, in-depth knowledge on the normal ultrasound measurements of the tendon and ligaments thickness in the fetlock joints. Therefore, these values can reliably be used for diagnosis of fetlock joint soft tissue injuries.

Bacterial infections are one of the important causes of casualties and financial losses in the poultry industry. Despite the key role of antibiotics in the treatment of these infectious diseases, a significant increase in antibiotic resistance is considered a threat to societies. Several studies have investigated the antibiotic resistance levels of the different pathogenic bacterial strains in poultry. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial causes of death in chicken farms in Kazeroun City and also to evaluate the drug sensitivity of these bacterial strains.

The samples were obtained from the clinically-affected broiler chickens from 118 industrial poultry farms around Kazeroun City during 2021-2022. The samples were cultured on MacConkey agar and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar culture media. Then, the antibiotic sensitivity of the samples that were positive for Escherichia coli was evaluated by different antibiotics (enrofloxacin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, tylosin, gentamicin, doxycycline, danofloxacin, difloxacin, sultrim, florfenicol, flumequine, fosbac, chlortetracycline, colistin, lincospectin, and neomycin).

Among the 118 samples, 106 samples were positive for gram-negative bacteria. 100 of the 106 gram-negative samples were positive for Escherichia coli. All the Escherichia coli-positive samples were resistant to neomycin, chlortetracycline, flumoquine, gentamicin, and tylosin. Also, 99% and 97% of the Escherichia coli-positive samples were resistant to lincospectin and difloxacin, respectively. The highest antibiotic sensitivity of the samples was found to fosbac (94%) and Colistin (90%).

Due to the increase in resistance against common antibiotics, alternative methods are needed to slower drug resistance development and also reduce their resulting mortality. Biosecurity and using acidifiers and probiotics are among the ways to reduce bacterial infections and their need for antibiotic consumption.

Lymphosarcoma is a common form of neoplasia in dogs and usually affects both kidneys. In the current retrospective study, ultrasonographic findings of lymphosarcoma in five German Shepherd dogs and the role of fine needle aspiration were evaluated.

Five German Shepherd dogs (three Females and two males) with renal failure symptoms underwent ultrasonographic examination. The levels of cytosolic Thymidine kinase (TK1) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured in all cases and were compared with those of five healthy German Shepherd dogs. In order to confirm the diagnosis, Renal Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) was applied and the results were reported and compared with previous studies.

In this study, pelvic dilatation was observed in all dogs. In four cases, corticomedullary junctions were not well-demarcated. Also, renal enlargement and deformity were reported in four and three cases respectively. Hypoechoic lesions were seen in three cases. Due to the severity of both clinical and ultrasonographic signs of four dogs, renal fine needle aspiration was performed and lymphosarcoma was confirmed at the initial examination. However, because of less severe manifestation of one case, FNA was not performed initially. With deterioration of clinicopathologic signs, however, this case was reexamined after 30 days and lymphosarcoma was confirmed through FNA.

The findings indicated that the ultrasonographic features of renal lymphosarcoma in German Shepherd dogs may be minimal in its preliminary stages, so it is advisable that further examination be performed at intervals shorter than 30 days. Furthermore, in order to confirm the suspicion, ultrasound-guided FNA is invaluable.

Wound healing is a intricate biological process involving diverse cellular and molecular events. This study aimed to explore the impact of hydroalcoholic extracts from licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) on wound healing in a rat model. The investigation encompassed a histopathological evaluation, focusing on parameters such as wound size, edematous cells, angiogenesis, fibrocyte and fibroblast cells, and collagen organization.

The study utilized hydroalcoholic extracts from licorice and Shepherd's Purse. Wistar rats model was employed for in-depth histopathological evaluation, assessing various aspects of wound healing. Parameters included wound size measurement, edema reduction, angiogenesis stimulation, and collagen organization enhancement. The methods employed were crucial for establishing the efficacy of the natural extracts in wound repair.

Results indicated that both licorice and Shepherd's Purse extracts demonstrated positive effects on the wound healing process. Licorice extract exhibited substantial improvements in wound closure, reduced edema, stimulated angiogenesis, and enhanced collagen organization. Shepherd's Purse extract also displayed promising effects, albeit to a slightly lesser extent compared to licorice. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of these natural extracts in wound healing.

The study provides valuable insights into the potential of licorice and Shepherd's Purse extracts as natural remedies for promoting wound repair. The observed improvements in wound closure, edema reduction, and collagen organization suggest these extracts could be beneficial in clinical settings. However, further investigations are necessary to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, this study contributes to our understanding of the potential therapeutic applications of licorice and Shepherd's Purse extracts in wound healing.

The effect of external heat stress on the oxidative stress genes in the liver and intestine of broiler chickens fed with silver nanoparticles coated on zeolite and organic acid was investigated.

450 one-day-old Cobb chicks were divided into 5 groups of 15, with 6 replicates of each group and kept for 42 days in the same rearing conditions. 1) Control (basal diet), 2) A base diet with 1% zeolite, 3) A basic diet supplemented with 0.5% nanosilver-coated clinoptilolite at 1%, 4) A base diet with 0.15% organic acid, and 5) A base diet with 1% zeolite covered in 0.5% nanosilver and 0.15% organic acid.  The heat stress (34±1˚C temperature for 6 hours per day) was provided from 35th to 42th days. To examine antioxidant enzymes gene expression on day 42, liver and intestinal samples were taken.

In treated groups, the relative expression of the liver SOD gene was not significantly different compared with control group (P>0.05), whereas in all treatment groups SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) expression had shown decrease in the intestine compare to control group (P<0.05). In group treated with zeolite coated with nanosilver and an organic acid, the relative expression of the catalase (CAT) gene showed decrease while it increased in group treated with a basal diet.

It was observed that the intestine has higher levels of antioxidant enzymes activity compared to the liver. Also, to increase the growth efficiency, it is preferred to use the combination of silver nanoparticles with organic acids.

Dictyocaulus filaria is a threadlike worm that lives in the airways of the lungs in sheep and goats and can lead to pneumonia. In November 2022, a report of emaciation, anorexia and, weakness with frequent coughs in a flock of 145 sheep (including 30 males and 115 females) located in the city of Miyaneh (East Azarbaijan province) was reported to the private sector veterinary clinic.

During the necropsy of two dead sheep, and by cutting the air ducts and lung tissue, a large number of milky white worms were observed in the bloody secretions of the pulmonary ducts, and the smaller ducts became inflamed due to cellular infiltration and the ducts were filled with bloody exudate. The isolated worms were placed in 70% alcohol and were examined morphologically in the laboratory using an optical microscope.

Dictyocaulus filaria worms were diagnosed. Male worms were 5.4-6.8 cm and females were 7.5-8.4 cm long. The uterus of the female worm was full of eggs containing larvae, approximately 95-110 ×52-65 μ. Infected sheep were treated orally with levamisole at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg.

The present article is the first report of contamination and loss of sheep due to Dictyocaulus filaria in the field in East Azarbaijan province, Iran. Regular and strategic antiparasitic therapy should be performed using broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs in small ruminants.