Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:3 Issue: 2, Spring 2009

A study with a duration of 42 days was conducted to evaluate the influence of fish oil inclusion on performance parameters, serum lipid content, antibody responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and the composition of antigen and meat fatty acids in broilers. Two hundred and sixteen 1-day-old broiler chicks from a commercial hybrid (Cobb 500) were allocated randomly to four groups, which received feed supplemented with 1.5%, 3.0% and 6% fish oil or feed that was not supplemented (control group). The differences among the groups were significant with regards to their performance, so that a low level of fish oil (1.5%) led to higher feed intakes and an improvement in the efficiency of feeding in comparison to the control group (p<0.01). The results of the omega-3 fatty acid evaluation indicated significant differences among groups (p<0.01) and the birds in the 6% fish oil-fed group had the highest level of n-3 fatty acid in their meat. The n-6:n-3 ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids was lower in the fish oil-fed groups compared to the control group (p<0.01).Broilers that were fed with diets rich in omega-3 fatty acid had higher levels of anti-SRBC titers and lower levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides than those fed with the control diet (p< 0.05).

One of the main limitations of glucocorticoid therapy is its negative effects on bones. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of concurrent administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alendronate on bone changes induced by glucocorticoid treatment in rats. Thirty six male Wistar rats, who were 2.5 months of age, were divided equally into six groups and treated with normal saline (controls), 7 mg/kg methylprednisolone (MP), MP with 20 µg/kg alendronate, MP with alendronate and 80 mg/kg EPA, MP with alendronate and 160 mg/kg EPA, and MP with alendronate and 320 mg/kg EPA for a six-week period. At the end of the experiment, serum and urine samples were collected and the left tibia and femur were removed from each animal for histomorphometric studies. There were no significant differences with regards to the levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, osteocalcin, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (CTX), alkaline phosphatase, urinary calcium and creatinine, and the phosphorus:creatinine ratios among all groups. Epiphyseal and metaphyseal trabecular widths, and the area of epiphyseal bone and the entire femur in the MP group decreased significantly in comparison to the control group (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the cortical parameters of the tibial bone between these groups. The groups treated with alendronate and alendronate with 80 mg/kg EPA had increased epiphyseal trabecular widths compared to the MP group (p<0.001) that were statistically similar in both groups. The groups treated with alendronate with 80 mg/kg EPA and alendronate with 320 mg/kg EPA had increased metaphyseal trabecular widths compared to the MP group (p<0.001). The groups with alendronate treatment alone and alendronate with 80 mg/kg EPA had significantly increased bone areas and tissue areas compared to the MP group (p<0.001). In conclusion, concomitant administration of EPA and alendronate may improve the known beneficial effects of alendronate on changes in the bone due to MP administration in rats.

In the present study was performed to evaluate the follicular growth and hormonal changes after ovarian artery ligation in rats. Fifty six virgin 90-day–old female rats were used. The rats were chosen from 100 female rats by a vaginal smear, which showed that they were synchronized in estrous phase of the menstrual cycle. Animals were kept in seven cages (n=8 in each) at a temperature of 22 ± 2°C and 12/12 hr light/dark conditions. The rats were divided into a treatment and control groups. On days 8, 14, 21, 30 and 60, after ligation of the right ovarian artery by laparotomy, nine rats were sacrificed for each test group on mentioned days and both ovaries were collected from each rat. Histological studies were the carried out on the ovaries. The ovaries on the ligated side had a significantly lower rate of ovulations (p?0.01) than the ovaries in the control group on the intact side. The right-sided ovary had small pea–sized follicles, which indicated polycystic ovarian syndrome, but no polycystic follicles were observed on the intact side and in the control group ovaries. There were no corpora lutea or corpora albicantia within the ovary subjected to ovarian artery ligation, which indicated that there had not been any recent ovulation. Furthermore, there was a greater degree of atresia in the ligated ovary than the control group. However, no abnormalities were detected in the left ovaries of the experimental group. Blood sampling was performed directly from the heart for hormonal analyses on days 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 after ovarian artery ligation. In the experimental group, the serum analyses showed a significant (p<0.01) increase in the levels of estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH), while the levels of progesterone and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased by the time in serum of the test group. Glucose levels were measured and found to be increased, as is seen in polycystic ovarian syndrome, which suggested the presence of insulin resistance.

Conventional methods for the propagation and preservation of parasites in vivo or in vitro have limitations, which include the need for labor, the initial isolation and loss of strains, bacterial and fungal contamination, and changes in the original biological and metabolic characteristics of the organism. All of these disadvantages are reduced considerably by cryopreservation. In this study, we examined the effects of different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol on the survival rate of Trichomonasgallinae. Both of the two cryoprotectants examined at different concentrations showed a protective effect of T. gallinae. When DMSO was used as the cryoprotectant, a maximum survival rate (70%) was achieved at a concentration of 10% over a short-term duration of freezing (24 h). Glycerol at a concentration of 10% had the highest effect on cryoprotectivity after 70 days, while DMSO 20% showed the lowest cryopreservation for T. gallinae. In conclusion, DMSO and glycerol are appropriate protective materials for the cryopreservation of T. gallinae. The solutions of DMSO 10% and glycerol 10% could be the best choice of cryoprotectant for short-term (24 hours) and long-term (70 days) protection, respectively.

In poultry, the liver is the main organ for the synthesis of triglycerides (TG) and their secretion into the plasma. Secretion of TGs from the liver and their storage in adipose tissue of the abdominal cavity reduces the meat yield. There are controversial reports about the effects of garlic on the levels of TG in the serum and liver of poultry. In this study, different diets that contained various levels of garlic powder were assessed with regards to their effects on the levels of TG in serum and the liver, and on the abdominal fat pad. For this purpose,144 3male Ross broilers who were three weeks old were assigned into four groups of 36 birds each, and fed on diets that were supplemented with 1, 2 or 4% of garlic powder, or with a diet that was not supplemented with garlic (the control group). At the end of the fifth and seventh weeks of the study, 15 chicks of each group were bled and then sacrificed. The livers and abdominal fat pad were removed. Liver and serum TG were extracted and measured by spectrophotometry. The TG levels of serum and the abdominal fat pad were not affected by diet by the end of the fifth week, but diets that contained 2% and 4% garlic powder had a significantly decreased hepatic TG level in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). At the end of the seventh week, a significant decrease in serum and hepatic TG levels was found in the birds that were fed a diet that contained 2% and 4% garlic powder, respectively (p<0.05). Also, the diet with 4% garlic powder significantly decreased the weight of the abdominal fat pad in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). It is concluded that garlic powder has the potential to decrease the levels of TG in the serum and liver in broilers in a dose–dependent manner.

This report describes the detailed procedures for Western blot analysis using fluorescent antibodies. After electrophoresis and subsequent electroblotting, the fluorescent-labeled antibodies were visible upon ultraviolet illumination of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and could then be photographed to give an accurate record of the blots. Fluorescent labeling allows for photographic records of the blot without the need for subsequent staining steps. In an effort to evaluate this method in the study of immunogenic antigens, this study describes a study on BLV (Bovine Leukemia Virus) tumor antigens. The fluorescent labeling of antibodies for detection by immunoblotting was found to be a very sensitive and reliable alternative to the conventional methods of Western blots.

Aphaniusisfahanensis is a new endemic killifish species that has been described in the Zayandeh River of the Isfahan basin in Iran. During a study on the biology of nine fish from this species, the parasite Diplostomumspathaceum was observed in the aqueous humor of the eye of a single individual. It was visible as a white mass with a diameter of 0.38 mm. This is the first report on the infection of A. isfahanensis with D. spathaceummetacercaria. They are pathogenic to fish and cause opacities in the optical lens (worm star) and blindness. Since A. isfahanensis is an endemic species, this discovery may be useful information to inform strategy with regards to the conservation of this fish.

Dirofilariaimmitis, which is otherwise known as heartworm, is an important parasite in dogs and other carnivores. It lives in the right ventricle of the heart, the pulmonary artery and the posterior vena cava, and its microfilaria can be found in the peripheral circulation. This is the first report of Dirofilariaimmitis infection in stray dogs in Khuzestan, a province in South-Western Iran. Blood samples from 119 stray dogs were collected randomly from different districts of Khuzestan. The samples were examined by the modified Knott's method. Blood microfilaria of Dirofilariaimmitis were observed in 15 samples (12.61%). The most severe infections were seen in 7-yr-old male dogs and also those in the Dezfool district. However, statistical analysis by the Chi-square method did not show a significant relationship between the rate of infection and other factors, which included age, sex and geographical distribution. As this parasite can infect humans, the infection of dogs with D. immitis in Khuzestan should be controlled by the removal of the dogs and the vectors of D. immitis are insects including flies.

Adult female crabs (Potamonpersicum; n=65) were collected from the Jajrood River in the east of Tehran, Iran. Both eyestalks were removed in crabs that weighed 27.6 ± 2.1 g. Changes in the levels of glucose and protein titers in the hemolymph, the number of hemocytes, gonadal and hepatic indices, body weight and carapace length were determined. The level of glucose in the hemolymph was significantly decreased at the end of the first week following eyestalk ablation and significantly increased by the end of the second and third weeks following eyestalk removal compared to the control groups with intact eyestalk (p < 0.05). A significant increase was observed in the total protein level of the hemolymph of destalked crabs at the end of the third week compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). The fractions of total protein showed significant changes at the end of the third week compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The mean total hemocytes count (THC) in the hemolymph was significantly increased in ablated crabs at the end of the second and third weeks compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The gonadal and hepatic indices of the ablated crabs were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, at the end of the second week compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). The mean body weight of the ablated crabs was increased significantly at the end of the second and fourth weeks compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant change was observed in the mean carapace length of the ablated crabs at the end of the second week, but it had increased significantly by the end of the fourth week compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The ablated crabs moulted four weeks after the removal of their eyestalks, but no precocious moulting was observed in the control group.