Veterinary Research Forum
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Autumn 2010

In this study morphological characterization of leukocyte and erythrocyte were investigated in central Asian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) in Iran. 7 males and 7 females were used in this study. Erythrocyte and leukocyte morphology were described using Wright´s technique. The sizes of erythrocyte and their nuclei were measured using an ocular micrometer under objective lenses (100x). Results of this study were compared with previous work on the other reptile species. Because there were no significant differences between the erythrocyte size of female and male tortoise, the data from the females and males of individual species were pooled. The mean length of mature erythrocytes was 1.98 μm (± 0.16 SD, with a range 1.10 - 2.50 μm).The mean width of mature erythrocytes was 1.10 μm (± 0.14 SD, with a range of 0.80 - 1.90 μm).The mean length of nucleus was 0.71 μm (± 0.09 SD, with a range of 0.50 - 1.00 μm). The mean width of the nucleus was 0.52 μm (± 0.07 SD, with a range of 0.40 - 0.70μm). Five types of leukocytes were found in the tortoise blood namely basophiles, eosinophils, lymphocytes, heterophils and monocytes.

The present study investigated the effects of intra-dentate gyrus microinjection of naloxone (an opioid antagonist) and thioperamide (an antagonist of histamine H3 receptors) in the formalin test in rats. Subcutaneous injection of formalin (50 μl, 2.5 %) in the ventral surface of right hind paw produced a biphasic pattern (first phase: 0-5 min and second phase: 15 - 60 min) of licking/biting and shaking of the injected paw. Intra-dentate gyrus microinjections of thioperamide (2 and 4 μg) significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the pain responses. Microinjections of naloxone (1, 2 and 4 μg) alone into the dentate gyrus non-significantly increased the intensity of pain. Pretreatment with naloxone (4 μg) significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the antinociceptive effect of thioperamide (4 μg). The results indicated that at the level of the dentate gyrus, blockade of histamine H3 receptors with thioperamide produced an analgesic effect. This thioperamide-induced antinociception may be mediated through the endogenous opioid system.

Fifteen broiler chickens (COBB 400) of 42 days of age weighing 1.8 to 2.0 kg were equally divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 5 birds. Hepatopathy was induced by oral administration of paracetamol while nephropathy was induced by intravenous administration of uranyl nitrate. Kinetic study was investigated in healthy, hepatopathic and nephropathic birds following single oral administration of amoxicillin at 40 mg kg-1. Blood samples were collected at different time schedule. Plasma concentrations of amoxicillin in healthy, hepatopathic and nephropathic birds were 41.90 ± 5.59, 9.93 ± 0.76 and 38.75 ± 6.08 μg ml-1, respectively at 1 hr; 15.34 ± 1.99, 18.57 ± 1.66 and 67.40 ± 2.62 μg ml-1, respectively at 4 hr and 2.03 ± 0.28, 15.54 ± 0.82 and 30.63 ± 1.58 μg ml-1, respectively at 24 hr. Maximum plasma concentration was detected at 1 hr in healthy birds (41.90 ± 5.59 μg ml-1), at 8 hr in hepatopathic birds (23.51 ± 1.64 μg ml-1) and at 4 hr in nephropathic birds (67.40 ± 2.62 μg ml-1). The drug could not be detected in plasma beyond 24 hr in healthy, 72 hr in both hepatopathic and nephropathic birds. The concentration of amoxicillin was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in most of the samples of hepatopathic and nephropathic birds compared to healthy birds. Significant higher values (P < 0.01) of t1/2 K, AUC, and MRT and lower values of K and ClB in the hepatopathic and nephropathic birds in comparison to healthy birds were observed.

The protective effect of liquorice plant extract (LPE) on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in common carp was evaluated using fifty adult carps. The fish were cultured in a standard environment in terms of water flow rate, oxygen, pH, food and temperature. The fish were assigned into 5 groups (N = 10) as control, sham, and tests. The test groups were pre-treated for 3 h with various concentrations of LPE, 3 days before CCl4 exposure. The control and sham groups received normal saline before and after CCl4 exposure. To induce hepatotoxicity, animals in the sham and test groups were exposed against 100 μl L-1 CCl4 for 45 min. The fish in all groups 1 h after CCl4 exposure were anesthetized and the blood samples were collected. Immediately the liver specimens were dissected out and were stored in 10 % formalin for further pathological studies. Determination of serum level of ALP and SGOT revealed that acute form of CCl4 exposure elevated significantly (P < 0.05) the serum level of either tested hepatic marker enzymes. While 3 days pretreatment with LPE prevented from ALP and SGOT enhancement. The pathological evaluation revealed that the CCl4 exposure resulted in a minor pathologic manifestation such as slight congestion, which the LPE pretreated groups showed the remarkable improvement. The anti-oxidant capacity of LPE was assayed by FRAP and DPPH methods. Both provided techniques showed that LPE exerts an excellent anti-oxidant effect. This data suggest that LPE exerts protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Moreover, the hepatoprotective effect of LPE may attribute to its antioxidant capacity.

In this study morphological characterization of leukocyte and erythrocyte were investigated in central Asian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) in Iran. 7 males and 7 females were used in this study. Erythrocyte and leukocyte morphology were described using Wright´s technique. The sizes of erythrocyte and their nuclei were measured using an ocular micrometer under objective lenses (100x). Results of this study were compared with previous work on the other reptile species. Because there were no significant differences between the erythrocyte size of female and male tortoise, the data from the females and males of individual species were pooled. The mean length of mature erythrocytes was 1.98 μm (± 0.16 SD, with a range 1.10 - 2.50 μm).The mean width of mature erythrocytes was 1.10 μm (± 0.14 SD, with a range of 0.80 - 1.90 μm).The mean length of nucleus was 0.71 μm (± 0.09 SD, with a range of 0.50 - 1.00 μm). The mean width of the nucleus was 0.52 μm (± 0.07 SD, with a range of 0.40 - 0.70μm). Five types of leukocytes were found in the tortoise blood namely basophiles, eosinophils, lymphocytes, heterophils and monocytes.

Fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis are endemic parasitic diseases in Middle East especially Iran, which making significant economic problems. This retrospective survey has been done to evaluate contamination rate of slaughtered animals with fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis at Meisam abattoir, in Tehran, Iran. In this survey, prevalence rate of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in slaughtered animals in a three-year period (2005-2008) has been analyzed. The prevalence rates of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in cattle were 2.20 % and 2.5 %, and the rates in sheep were 2.01 % and 5.83 %, respectively. The average annual direct economic loss incurred as a result of condemnation of ovine and bovine infected livers due to fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis were estimated as high as 227,907 USD. The results of current survey revealed the rate of dicrocoeliosis is higher than fasciolosis. Our work proved that the highest frequency rate of the fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in cattle was in summer and spring, respectively. Whereas winter and autumn had the highest prevalence rate of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in sheep.

The present study was conducted to detect prevalence and risk factors for retrovirus infection of infected cats in a cat population in Iran, by evaluation of 238 client-owned cats of different ages that were tested for the presence of FIV antibodies. The cats were selected from those referring to Veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University, southwestern Iran from December 2007 to June 2010. Classification was made by age, sex, breed, region and season. The studied cats were divided into two age groups (≤ 3 years and >3 years) and based on clinical signs into two groups. Prevalence of FIV antibodies in these cats was 10.5 % by immunochromatography assay, indicating that this virus is present in the environment. The infection had more prevalence in cats above 3 years (13.9 %) compared with cats less than 3 years (4.6 %). Statistical analysis showed significant difference between different age groups. Mean age of FIV-infected and FIV-negative cats were 4.93 ± 0.43 years (range 1.75 – 10 years) and 4.15 ± 0.20 years (range 0.4 – 15 years), respectively. Prevalence of infection was 12.6% in males and 8.1 % in females; nevertheless the infection was not significant between different sexes (P > 0.05). Six out of 36 cases (16.7 %) which had clinical signs and 19 out of 202 cases (9.4 %) which did not have clinical signs were seropositive, without significant difference between two groups (95 % CI for OR = 1.92). Risk factors for FIV infection were older age (95 % CI for OR = 3.35), access to outdoor (95 % CI for OR = 140.9) and aggressive behavior (95 % CI for OR = 82.71).

Extract of Echinops persicus is traditionally used for a long time in Iran for treatment of cough and constipation. This extract is produced by activity of bug (Situphilus spp.) on the plant. We documented its anti-tussive effect in rats in our previous study.The aim of this study was to assess the anti-ulcer effect of Echinops persicus in an animal model. In this study we evaluated anti-ulcer effect of Echinops persicus by Shay's method in rats. In 3 groups of rats, pylorus was ligatured under anesthesia. The rats were euthanized after 19 hours later and number and level of ulcer in stomach was measured. In group 2 the extract was orally administered 45 minutes before pyloric ligature, and in group 3, it was administered intraperitoneally 20 minutes before pyloric ligature. The number of ulcers in stomach was significantly low in group 2 (P = 0.01) and 3 (P = 0.037) in comparison with group 1. The level of ulcer was significantly decreased in group 2 (P = 0.047) with comparison to group 1. We conclude that, Echinops extract can exhibit potentially cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activity.