Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology
Volume:15 Issue: 3, Summer 2023

Exotic pet owners, ranging from small mammals to reptiles, comprise a considerable portion of veterinary clients. Parasitic infections are a threat both for the animal health and the health of the owner. This study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal parasite species commonly encountered in exotic animal veterinary practice. Exotic pets’ fecal samples were examined for fecal parasites macroscopically and microscopically by saline fecal smears, fecal floatation and specific staining. Chi-squared test to investigate the association between the presence and type of the parasites with host species and clinical symptoms (p < 0.05). Three hundred fecal samples, including 262 from small mammals, 37 from reptiles and 1 from primate were investigated for gastrointestinal endoparasites. The exotic pet species consisted of Lagomorpha (189/300; 63%), Rodentia (68/300; 22.66%), Reptilia (37/189; 12.33%), Eulipotyphla (4/300; 1.3%), a sugar glider and a marmoset. Thirty-nine samples were found to be infected with at least one gastrointestinal parasite (13%). Parasites observed in the feces of exotic pets included oocysts, strongyle-shaped eggs, oxyurid eggs (Passalurus ambiguous) and cestode eggs. A sample from a guinea pig was diagnosed to be infected with Cryptosporidium sp. There was no significant association between clinical symptoms and host species with parasite infection (p > 0.05). Considering the continuous species alteration, the unidentified sources of the pets in the market, and the potential of zoonotic infections periodical surveys on the common pet species and their parasitic infection are inevitable. Subclinical intestinal parasites in pet animals may alter the well-being of the companion animal if adjoined with poor management. Usually there is no need for anti-parasitic therapy in an animal without clinical signs, but regular diagnostic tests for parasites are advisable for effective veterinary practice.

In this study, the effects of monosaccharides, including glucose and fructose, and disaccharides, namely sucrose and trehalose, in eight Tris media on the motility patterns of small ruminants spermatozoa were investigated. Fresh and chilled semen samples from five Awassi rams and five Shami bucks were diluted in TBM and TEY containing 50 mM of the four different sugar types. The characteristics of spermatozoa motility were analyzed using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA). Fresh ram spermatozoa incubated in a TBM-fructose medium had the highest CASA values with no differences between the motility values generated from the fructose- and glucose-supplemented media. Trehalose reduced the values of velocity parameters, including VAP, VCL, and VSL for fresh ram sperm. Sucrose was the most influential sugar in raising the values of motility parameters MOT%, PMOT%, VAP, VCL, and VSL for fresh bucks spermatozoa, while trehalose generally had an important positive effect on chilled buck sperms. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were recorded for sperm trajectory parameters where the values of STR% and LIN% for the two ruminant species and the two spermatozoa types did not significantly differ between the eight media. It was concluded that during the first hours of in vitro incubation and based on the incubation temperature, the velocity parameters of small ruminant spermatozoa were the most affected CASA characteristics by monosaccharides and disaccharides supplementations in Tris semen media.

CLA is an economically and zoonotically important disease in the world. The lack of a therapeutic procedure limits the treatment mainly to surgical intervention. Therapeutic efficacies of the intra-abscess instillation of O3-oil and H2O2-gly in CLA in small ruminants were tested. One hundred eighty affected sheep and goats were allocated to five groups as follows: 1) NC (no intervention), 2) PC1 (injection of olive oil), 3) PC2 (injection of glycerin), 4) injection of O3-oil, 5) injection of H2O2-gly. Samples of abscess contents were collected for microbiological examination prior to injection. The VAs were measured on T0, then with two-week intervals on T1 and T2. On T0 and T2, VAs were as NC (2.9 ± 0.5; 3.5 ± 0.5), PC1 (3.4 ± 0.7; 6.6 ± 1), PC2 (3.1 ± 0.7; 3.3 ± 0.9), O3-oil (3.3 ± 0.4; 0.4 ± 0.4), and H2O2-gly (4.6 ± 0.4, 1.5 ± 0.4). Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in VAs, merely in treatment groups. CP was recovered in 48.3% of bacteriological samples. The results of this study suggested that O3-oil and H2O2-gly would be reliable therapeutic agents for treating and controlling CLA. Ozone showed apparently a higher  efficacy and caused more rapid shrinkage/recession of the abscesses, compared to hydrogen peroxide..

The herein research was carried out in order to identified the presence of bacteria inside prepuce cavity of male caprine in both mature and pubertal age with focusing on Klebsilla and E coli species. Eighty prepuce swabs (fifty form mature and thirty from pubertal age) before slaughtering and cultured on blood agar and nutrient agar, bacterial isolation were identified with biochemical teats and finally by PCR. The present study found a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the prepuce swabs from caprine mature age (64%) and pubertal age (40%). Six various microorganisms were detected in prepuce samples in mature age, while four types were isolated from pubertal age. Positive isolation swabs detected the presence of Staphylococcus aurues, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus faecalis in both ages. Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumonia was isolated from mature age only. Significant isolation (p < 0.01) was appear of Escherichia coli among all different bacterial types. This research deduce that there was that the presence of bacteria inside prepuce of male genital system in both mature and pubertal age and their where a balance between genital immunity and localization of these bacteria and any stress factor may be lead to infection with such microbes, more over the mature male had more bacterial types due to the male matting behavior, finally the E. coli normally found in prepuce cavity as a normal flora of both ages and the Klebsilla species also found in mature age as a non-specific bacterial types.

Sex has been reported to influence  the clinical chemistry of several species of fish. Whether sex impacts serum biochemistry composition and electrolyte profile of Heterobranchus longifilis is not well captured in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sex on the clinical chemistry composition and electrolyte profile of hybrid catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis. Blood samples were collected and biochemically analyzed. The analytes analyzed included alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, serum protein, albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and urea. Uric acid, bicarbonate, Chloride, Sodium, and Potassium from 40 healthy Heterobranchus longifilis (20 males and 20 females). The males and females were not reproductively active at the time of sampling (None of the females had eggs). Most clinical chemistry analytes and electrolyte profiles of Heterobranchus longifilis showed differences between male and female values even though only a few (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, triglyceride, and uric acid) were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Based on the findings in this study, we suggest that sexual differences affect the clinical chemistry and electrolyte profile of Heterobranchus longifilis. Hence, sexual differences should be taken into consideration during sampling in both natural and experimental studies in Heterobranchus longifilis.

In recent years, C. abortus, the etiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion, has been associated with many cases of lamb loss in sheep and goat farms in Iran. However, there is a lack of epidemiological data regarding Chlamydia-related abortion in this region. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of C. abortus and the associated risk factors in the small ruminants of Kerman Province, southeast Iran. For this purpose, we collected 134 vaginal swab samples from 70 sheep and 64 goats that had experienced abortion. Following DNA extraction from samples, we amplified the POMP90-3 gene of C. abortus using PCR to confirm C. abortus presence, and then one positive sample was selected for sequencing. The results indicated an overall C. abortus prevalence rate of 21.6%, with 20.3% prevalence in goats and 22.8% in sheep. We observed a higher incidence rate in animals with a higher number of parturition; however, no significant corelation was observed between the prevalence rate of C. abortus and species.  In addition, sampling location was considered a risk factor associated with C. abortus infection. This study highlighted C. abortus as a threat to small ruminants' reproduction in Kerman Province, which deserves constant monitoring and multi-faceted preventive strategies.

This research aimed to find a suitable formulation for rations containing Black soldier fly larvae powder to support the optimal kampung hen production performance. Four to five-month-old Kampung hens were given feed with different amounts of black soldier fly larvae powder (n = 4 hens/treatment) to adjust protein and energy levels: R0 (commercial feed only, 17.53% protein, 3067 kcal/kg), R1 (14% protein, 2600 kcal/kg energy), R2 (14% protein, 2800 kcal/kg energy), R3 (16% protein, 2600 kcal/kg energy), R4 (16% protein, 2800 kcal/kg energy), R5 (18% protein, 2600 kcal/kg energy), R6 (18% protein, 2800 kcal/kg energy), R7 (20% protein, 2600 kcal/kg energy), R8 (20% protein, 2800 kcal/kg energy), R9 (22% protein, 2600 kcal/kg energy), and R10 (22% protein, 2800 kcal/kg energy). We measured several performance parameters, including body weight, feed consumption, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, visceral index, intraperitoneal fat index, and tissue protein content. Results show that treatment R6 produced significantly better overall performance (p <  0.05) than all other treatments except R5. Feed containing black soldier fly larvae powder with 18% protein content and 2800 kcal/kg energy is an inexpensive and readily available way to support the maximum growth of Kampung hens.

In 2022, the trematode Plagiorchis noblei was isolated from a Horned owl (Asio otus) in Shahrekord city. This trematode was isolated from the small intestine of the Horned owl. The trematode was fixed on a microscope slide and stained with Carmine acid. Then the sample was examined with a stereomicroscope and identified with the available diagnostic keys. Studies showed that this trematode belongs to the species Plagiorchis noblei. This parasite belongs to the Plagiorchiidae family, but so far this parasite has not been observed in owls in Shahrekord city. This parasite belongs to the Digenea order, which causes lung, digestive, liver and blood diseases in birds and other vertebrates.