Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Spring 2013

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are infrequent self-renewing cells among the type A spermatogonia within the seminiferous tubules and are the basis of spermatogenesis in mammalian testis. An adequate number of SSCs is a primary requirement for the study of their behavior، regulation، and further biomanipulation. In this paper، we studied the development of the primary co-cultures of type A spermatogonia and prepubertal bovine sertoli cells in the presence of Colony Stimulating Factor 1 (CSF1)، a potential contributor in the SSC niche. The effect of different concentrations of CSF1 (0، 10، 50 and 100 ng/mL) on the colonization activity of spermatogonial cells was assessed 4، 7 and 11 days after the beginning of the culture by counting the total number of colonies and measuring their area in each group of the present experiment. Immunofluorescent staining against OCT4 and vimentin led to the confirmation of the nature of both the SSCs and sertoli cells. Results showed that the total number of colonies from day 4 to 11 increased significantly in all groups، independent of CSF1 concentration. In addition، the total number and total area of colonies were higher (not significant) in 10 and 50 ng/mL CSF1 treatments than the control and 100 ng/mL CSF1 groups in all the three evaluations during the experiment. However، this difference was only significant (p<0. 05) between the total area of colonies in the control and 10 ng/mLCSF1 groups at day 4 of co-culture. It was concluded that CSF1 can be a suitable growth factor for improving SSCs colonization in vitro، particularly during the first days of culture where accompanying sertoli cells still have not proliferated sufficiently to support the propagating spermatogonial cells.

Vitamin A which is found in different tissues and organs plays a particular role in detecting clinical signs in various deficiency conditions. However، sometimes the marginal deficiency is present in a way that clinical signs are not visible but performance defects، such as infertility is seen. In this study، the normal baseline levels of vitamin Aand β-carotene in clinically healthy camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Yazd province were investigated. A total of 168 Iranian camels of both sexes were sampled from February 2009 to July 2010. Spectrophoto-metry was used for measuring the serum values. The mean±SE concentration of vitamin Aand β- carotene were 63. 9±4. 7 and 9±1. 1 μg/dL، respectively. Although، the β-carotene concentr-ation was significantly higher in summer، vitamin Awas not influenced by season. No significant difference in the serum levels of the measured parameters was observed in different ages and sexes. The results of this study، for the first time، indicate the concentration of vitamin A and β- carotene in the camels in Iran. This finding can be used as a reference guide for evaluation of the deficiency or excess of vitamin Aand β- carotene in camels in Iran. Furthermore، due to the lower levels of vitamin A and β-carotene in Iranian dromedaries during winter، supplementary feeding of vitamin A is recommended during this season.

The degree to which the amount of an ingested nutrient is absorbed and available to the body is called bioavailability. Relative effectiveness of herbal methionine (H-Met®) compared to DL-methionine (DL-Met) was investigated in this experiment. Exponential regression analysis was used to determine bioefficacy of H-Met® based on body weight gain، feed intake and feed conversion. DLMet and H-Met® were added to a basal diet in 3 and 4 levels، respectively، in starter، grower and finisher periods. Therefore، that met the nutrient and energy requirements of broiler chickens، with the exception of Met+Cys. In the 42-d trial، broilers growth increased significantly (p<0. 05)، relative to those broilers fed basal diet، regardless of Met sources. Carcass characteristics did not respond significantly to the supplemental Met. Regression analysis revealed that H-Met® was 52% (body weight gain)، 72% (feed intake) and 77% (feed conversion ratio) as efficacious as DL-Met. H-Met® can be administered as a new and a natural source of Met in poultry industry.

The plerocercoid stage of Pseudophyllidean cestoda infected a wide range of fresh water fish، particularly the members of the Cyprinidae family. The parasite species are the most common pathogens that have severe effects on fish. The aim of the present study is to determine the occurrence and distribution of the plerocercoid of Diphyllobothriidae in two freshwater fish from north and northwest of Iran. Finally، we discuss the role and dynamics of these species of fish in the transmission of infection. This study was carried out from September 2011 to September 2012on a total of 883 A. bipunctatus and 418 A. brama from north and northwest of Iran. The samples were analyzed to find the plerocercoid infection. From a total number of 883 A. bipunctatus and 418 A. brama fish samples، 558 fish (63. 19%) of the former and 67 fish (16. 02%) of the latter were infected. The rate of infection was significantly lower in winter (p<0. 01). Also، the weight of infected fish was significantly lower than noninfected ones (p<0. 01). Moreover، the infection in northwest of Iran was significantly higher than north of Iran (p<0. 01). The family of Diphyllobothriidae is an important cestode and the prevention programs to break the cycle of infection are essential. More suitable solutions to tackle the problem، further epidemiological studies on other fresh water sources of Iran are needed.

There is no comprehension data on anatomical indices of Nigerian goats. To show osteometric values of some cranial indices in Nigerian goats. Sixty (60) goat skulls that were found around Makurdi، Kwande، Katsina-ala and the neighbouring Adamawa state of Nigeria، were studied by investigating the 30 craniometric values. The measured distance from the facial tuberosity to the infraorbital foramen was 2. 33±0. 29 Cm and 1. 80±0. 14 Cm for females and males، respectively. In addition، the distance from the medial canthus to the supraorbital foramen was 27±0. 31 Cm for females and 2. 83±0. 24 Cm for males; from the lateral alveolar root to the mental foramen was 2. 05±0. 07 Cm for females and 5. 10±7. 28 Cm for males; and from the mandibular foramen to the ventral border of mandible was 5. 90±0. 14 Cm for females and 5. 48±0. 43 Cm for males. This breed of goat might be a different phenotype of the breeds that is available in Nigeria.

Influenza outbreak has become a great lifethreatening disease in the world. Nasal vaccines can induce systemic IgG and mucosal IgA antibody responses، which establish two layers of immune defense against the infectious pathogens like influenza. Mucosal vaccines must overcome several limitations، including the mucociliary clearance and inefficient uptake of soluble antigens. Therefore، nasal vaccines require potent adjuvants and delivery systems. In this study we evaluated the effect of N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) as a potent vehicle for DNA encoding M2e/HSP70c in order for intranasal administration in mice. Ectodomain of the conserved influenza matrix protein 2 (M2e)، which has been found to induce heterosubtypic immunity، was fused to HSP70359-610 or C-terminus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP70 (HSP70c) in pcDNA3. 1 vector (pcDNA/M2e-HSP70c) and then encapsulated into a derivative of chitosan، N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC). After encapsulation of the plasmid، physical properties of the particles were investigated using Zetasizer® 3000 the particles were then administered through the intranasal delivery in BALB/c mice. It was found that the particles had a size ranging between 90-120nm and positive surface charge. The intranasal immunization with M2e- HSP70c+TMC in BALB/c mice significantly induced higher M2e specific IgG than those induced in control groups (pcDNA/M2e-HSP70c without TMC، pcDNA/M2e، bearing M2e alone، and PBS). The present study showed that the encapsulation of M2e/ HSP70c into N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) could strongly induce the humoral immune response against the M2e-HSP70c plasmid without lowering the adjuvant efficacy of HSP70c.

Hepatic steatosis due to estrogen therapy increases the activity of inflammatory markers، particularly the activity of TNFα which in turn induces more lipogenesis. Omega-3 fatty acids are among the negative regulators of hepatic lipogenesis. In this research، the preventive effect of omega-3 fatty acids on estrogen-induced steatosis in rats was evaluated. 2 mg/kg. BW/SC of 17α-ethiny-lestrasdiol were injected into 25 female wistar rats in 5 equal groups (excluding the control group) over 10 consecutive days. Simultaneously، 3 of estradiol-treated groups were orally given 250، 500، and 1000 mg/kg. BW omega-3 fatty acids، respectively. At the end of the experiment، plasma ALT، AST، and TNFα level were determined. Histopathological changes in the liver were also identified by the evaluation of samples stained with H&E and Oil Red O. The histological findings revealed hepatic microvesicular steatosis and fat deposit in ethinylestradiol and، to a lesser extent، in the 250 mg/kg BW omega-3 fatty acids groups. The plasma levels of AST، ALT، and TNFα significantly increased in the ethinylestradiol group compared to the control (p<0. 05) and 1000 mg/kg. B. W omega- 3 group. Omega-3 fatty acids reduced these parameters in comparison to the estradiol group (p<0. 05). It was concluded that 1000mg/kg. BW of omega-3 protects the liver against steatotic injuries.

Avian reoviruses (ARVs) are members of the Orthoreovirus genus; one of the 12 genera of the Reoviridae family. The ARVs are the cause of some important diseases in poultry such as reovirus-induced arthritis، tenosynovitis، chronic respiratory disease، and mal-absorption syndrome. In this study، the presence of ARVs in the Iranian breeder flocks was investigated through reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of 800 fecal swab samples were initially collected from breeder flocks (older than 45 weeks of age). They were then sent to the laboratory in containers with PBS، and after that they were pooled and finally to 120 samples were obtained. The total RNA extracted from the pooled fecal samples were used to amplify the selected parts of the S1 (1023 bp) and S4 (437 bp) genes from the ARV field isolates using RT-PCR. The positive RT-PCR amplified products were further analyzed by RFLP using five restriction enzymes. Based on the findings، 5 samples were positive with the S1 primer and 6 samples were with the S4 one. The patterns observed after the digestion of PCR products revealed that the isolates of this study were identical to both the S1133 vaccine and standard strains. The findings suggested that the RT-PCR/RFLP analysis might be considered as a simple and rapid approach for the differentiation of ARVisolates. This study was the first molecular detection of the ARVs presence in the Iranian breeder flocks using the RTPCR amplification of the S1 and S4 genes and RFLP analysis.

A5. 2 year-old Holstein cow was presented with lameness and abnormal weight bearing in a slaughterhouse. Widening of the periople and swelling of the heel area in the lateral claw was more permanent than the medial claw. Vertical fissure (VF) involving the coronary band to the middle of the dorsal wall of the medial hind claw was observed. It was also extended to the bearing surface in the inner surface of the claw wall. White line disease 2 (WLD2) was seen in the length of VF on the bearing surface. The horn of the bulb apex of the lateral hind claw was hypertrophic. There was a groove in the footpad between the apex and base of the bulb too. Grosspathologically، the digital bones showed a wide range of bone changes such as new bone formation، pedal osteolysis and bony ankylosis. The hind leg was amputated at the tarsus immediately after slaughter. The lower limbs of lame cows were examined and the type and distribution of digital lesions were tabulated. An x-ray machine was used in this study to take radiographic images. The radiographic images taken from the involved digits of the affected case depicted a quite wide range of radiographic signs. After the first review of the X-ray film، samples were selected for further procedures through putrefaction. Laminitis may have affected this case at some previous time. Routine trimming seems to have prevented the premature culling in the cows with claw lesion.