Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Autumn 2011

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is a Pestivirus of the Flaviviviridaefamily that infects cattle, and its widespread distribution can cause substantial economic losses worldwide. The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the prevalence of animals persistently infected (PI) with BVDV in industrial dairy cattle herds in suburb of Mashhad- Iran; and (2) to compare the occurrence of persistently infected (PI) animals in industrial dairy cattle herds where BVDV animals had been either removed from or retained in the herds. In total, 157 blood samples were taken from individual cows from 18 Holstein dairy cattle herds each containing 250-3000 cows in suburb of Mashhad. The blood samples were analyzed for the presence of BVDV using Pestivirus antigen-capture ELISA. Positive animals were retested after three weeks and animals those tested positive again weredefined as PI. We found that only 3/18 herds (16.7%) containedantigen-positive cows, and that only 5/157 animals tested (3.2%) wereantigen positive. All of the positive animals were confirmed as PI, andall of PI cows were less than 17 months old. The true prevalence ofantigen-positive cows was calculated to be 3.31%. A significantproportion (p<0.01) of PI animals exhibited severe weight loss (4/5;80%). and before this study, it was supposed to be sent toslaughterhouse by the farmers due to loss of weight. We conclude that the prevalence of PI cows in our study is consistent with previousreports. However, our study reveals that severe weight loss in young PIanimals requires their removal to minimize the numbers of BVDVinfectedanimals in the herd.

Avian intestinal spirochetosis (AIS) is a disease of birdscharacterized by a marked colonization of the cecum and/or rectumwith anaerobic intestinal bacteria of the genus Brachyspira. Thepurpose of the study was to determine the occurrence of Brachyspiraspp from avian sources in Iran and to characterize selected isolates bybiochemical and molecular methods. Out of 165 fecal samples obtained from commercial layer, broiler and broiler breeder chickens, turkeys and ostriches, 16 samples were positive in phase contrast microscopy examination and selective culture media. Biochemical scheme, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing of partial sequence of 16S rDNA, revealed that all of isolates were Brachyspira pilosicoli, a broad spectrum host member of this genus that infects both humans and animals. This is the first report on isolation andidentification of Brachyspira pilosicoli from birds in Iran.

The aim of the present study was to assess the immunogenicity of under 30kDa molecular weight proteins of hydatid cyst fluid and protoscoleces in dogs experimentaly Infected with Echinococcus granulosus. Isolation of under 30 kDa proteins performed using Millipore filter. Six dogs were used in three groups: 2 dogs with under 30 kDa proteins of hydatid cyst fluid (Group I); 2 dogs with proteins of protoscoleces (Group II); and, 2 dogs were used as control groups (Group III). Two weeks later approximately 8,000 protoscoleces, with the viability of 80%, were given to each dog. On day 35 post infection adult worms were recovered from the intestines and the rate of infection determined by counting the total worms. The recovered worms in Group I were 197; in Group II were 207; and, in Group III were 382. The minimum number of adult worms (197) belonged to the dogs exposed to under 30 kDa molecular weight proteins of hydatid cysts fluid. This demonstrated significantly higher immunogenicity effects(p<0.001).

In this study, immune responses against Streptococcus iniae infections in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were analyzed. Anti-streptococcal antibody (ASA) levels, respiratory burst activity (RBA), phagocytic activity (PA) and phagocytic index (P index) were measured in kidney macrophages. Fish were allocated to three experimental groups (n = 50 per group): survivors of natural S. iniae infections, non-exposed healthy fish immunized by immersion with formalin-killed S. iniae bacterin and a control group of non-exposed healthy fish. Blood sera and kidney samples were collected from each group (n = 10 fish) at days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 65 post-immunization (p.i.). Analysis of ASA levels, RBA, PA and P index in survivors of Streptococcus infections revealed optical density (OD) values of 0.082-0.091, 0.089-0.091, 53-55 and 1.8-1.9 respectively. In the immunized non-exposed group, the ASApeak antibody level occurred at day 15 (mean OD=0.122) and declined significantly by day 65 (p<0.05). Similarly, the mean PAand P index values of macrophages peaked at day 15 p.i. (71 and 3.2, respectively) and declined by day 65(p<0.05). Therefore, the acquired immune status of survivors of naturalS. iniae infection was not altered by immunization.

Role of the protein overexpression is very important in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and prognosis of neoplasia. Cases of overexpression of p53 and Ki67 proteins were investigated in 19 ocular squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) in dairy cows. Microscopically, insix cases the tumors were carcinoma in situ (noninvasive carcinoma, G0), and in the remaining 13 cases the tumors were invasive carcinoma. The distribution of invasive carcinoma was as follows: G1, 1 (7.6%); G2, 1 (7.6%); G3, 3 (23.0%); G4, 8 (61.8%). Of the 19 tumors, 18 were immunoreactive for p53 (++), and 14 showed Ki67 expression (++). A significant positive correlation was found between the percentage of p53 stained nuclei and the degree of differentiation. The Ki67 index showed a significant negative correlation with the histological pattern, where the greatest proliferation was found in the most poorly differentiated OSCC. As in human squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), p53 overexpression is frequent in bovine OSCC, providing support for a possible role of the protein in the pathogenesis of this neoplasm.

Numerous species of insects have been recorded from various types of manure in commercially reared birds from different parts of the world. This study was carried out to determine parasitic beetle populations in commercial rearing house litter from different regions of the West Azerbaijan province in Iran. Atotal of 60 samples of litter were collected from June 2008 to November 2009 from 20 poultry farms. The samples were examined parasitologically to detect and identify species of beetles (Coleoptera). Collected beetles belonged to three different species, of which Alphitobius diaperinus was the dominant species, with larvae and adults collected from 27 of the litter samples (45.0%). Dermestes maculatus larvae were found in 10 of the samples (16.6%), while Carcinops pumilio was collected from two samples (3.3%). Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between the prevalence of A. diaperinus, D. maculatus and C. pumilio found in broiler houses and breeder houses. Although different beetle species, especially A. diaperinus, are vectors and reservoirs for various poultry pathogens, no standard field control strategies for beetles have been developed so far. Further studies are required about their prevalence and insecticide resistance profile in other parts of the country.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a common household plant grows in many parts of the world, including Iran. Rosemary leaves are used in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, analgesic, diuretic and ntiepileptic agent. The objective of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive mechanisms of rosemary extract using a writhing test as a model of visceral pain. Possible antinociceptive mechanisms were explored by testing the effects of naloxone (nonselective opioid antagonist), cyproheptadine (nonselective serotonin antagonist), Chicago sky blue 6B (inhibitor of glutamate uptake) and bicuculline (GABAA antagonist) on rosemary extract-induced antinociception. Results showed that rosemary extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) induces antinociceptive effects in a dose-dependent manner (p<. 001). Pre-treatment with naloxone and bicuculline significantly reduced this effect (from 61.04% to 27.56%, and from 60.31% to 42.09%, respectively; p<0.05). Naloxone and bicuculline brought forward the onset of first abdominal writhing in comparison with extract (p<. 001). The analgesic effect and latency induced by the extract significantly increased with Chicago sky blue 6B pre-treatment (p<0.05), while cyproheptadine had no effect. These results indicate that the antinociceptive effect of Rosmarinus officinalis may be mediated by opioidergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic mechanisms

Low nutritive value and suitability of barley as a feedstuff for broilers is mainly due to its non-starch polysaccharides. An experiment was carried out to evaluate if diets high in barley alter the mechanisms responsible for the absorption of nutrients across the intestinal epithelium of broilers, using D-xylose absorption test. Thirty, 14-d old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) with similar body weights (430g ± 10) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 birds, each bird as one replicate. Each group was offered a diet based on maize, high quality wheat or barley as the main source of carbohydrate, for 14 days. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were weighed individually and Dxylose absorption test was performed. Following the test, all birds were sacrificed and the relative size and weight of digestive tract were measured. Those birds fed on barley diet had lower weight gain when compared with maize or wheat fed birds (p<0.05). There was no difference in relative weight and size of digestive parts (p>0.05). No difference was also observed in absorption capacity of small intestine for D-xylose between the experimental groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that the differences observed in weight gain among the experimental groups was not related to the absorption capacity of intestine as this parameter was not changed. It appears that, in short term, barley antinutrients show their negative effect on growth performance of the birds by other means.

A water snake (Natrix natrix) was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. It had two subcutaneous masses. Radiographic and ultrasonographic images revealed the presence of two subcutaneous abscesses. The abscesses were removed surgically and specimens were examined by conventional microbial culture and multiplex PCR. Inv-A universal primers were selected for detection of Salmonella at genus level. In order to identify Salmonella tphimurium, specific primers of Rfbj, Fljb and Flic related on genes sequences of O4, H1:i and H2:1,2, respectively, were used. In the positive control for expected size, PCR products were amplified from the fliC, inv-A, fljB and rfbJ genes. According to the results, this study showed antigens can be useful for detecting and identifying Salmonella typhimurium and can be achieved by using specific primers of O4, H1:i and H2:1,2 antigen, because only S. typhimurium has this antigenic structure out of about 2668 Salmonella serovars

This survey was aimed at detecting histological and histometrical changes of Common Carp ovaries in Khouzestan Province climate conditions. The goal was to determine the ovarian status in the breeding period of the reproductive cycle. Ovaries of 49 Common Carp brooders were collected from April to October, 2010. The samples were taken from the anterior, median and posterior portions. 5-6µ sections were made by the paraffin embedding method and stained by H&E and PAS. The results showed that the breeding season in Common Carp in this area takes at least 7 months and spawning continues from April to October. It seems that the previtellogenesis and vitellogenesis stages are short in the Khouzestan climate conditions and this species rapidly enters into the maturation phase. It seems that Common Carp have the ability to spawn three times during an annual cycle in the Khouzestan climate conditions. Histological and histometrical results showed that in the three stages, from anterior to posterior, the mean percentage of vitellogenic follicles increased significantly (p<0.001). The minimum diameters of follicles were observed in the chromatin nucleolus and the maximum diameters were observed in the secondary vitellogenic follicles. Zona pellucida appeared in the cortical alveolus follicles and reached to a maximum thickness in the secondary vitellogenic follicles. The diameter of the nucleus increased gradually and it reached to a maximum diameter in the primary vitellogenic follicles. There was a significant difference in parenchyma percentages between the three stages of the reproductive cycle from the previtellogenesis stage to the vitellogenesis stage, and then the maturation stage. This ratio increased significantly (p<0.05).