Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter 2014

Colibacillosis، caused by different serotypes of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC)، is one of the important diseases in poultry industry. The isolate O78 is the most prevalent serotype of APEC in Iran. One of the APEC virulence factors، increased serum survival (iss) gene، is related to serum resistance. The usual form of colibacillosis in avian is extraintestinal، and serum resistance is applied one way by APEC to reach internal organs; hence، it appears that the control of colibacillosis in poultry regarding the deletion of iss and the construction of a serum sensitive APEC strain is beneficial. Additionally، the knowledge about APEC serum resistance could be extended using mutant strains. The present study was an attempt to generate an iss mutant strain from native APEC-O78 strain |c|1378 and to study the level of serum resistance of native APEC-O78 strain c1378 in comparison with its mutant (APEC-O78 strain c1378|D|iss). The lambda red recombinase system was utilized to delete iss gene in native APEC-O78 strain c1378. This strain was first transformed with the plasmid pkD46 to introduce the lambda red recombinase system and then the PCR product with sequence homology to the iss gene and a kanamycin resistance marker was transformed into the APEC-O78 strain c1378. Serum sensitivity of mutant and wild type strain was investigated by microtiter test. The generation of mutant was successful and the iss was replaced with kanamycin resistance cassette. Also، it was observed that the mutant was sensitive to serum. However، serum sensitivity of iss deleted mutant was not statistically different from its parents. Application of lambda red recombination could be a simple and useful technique for production of a precisely defined gene deletion. Also، there may be some genes that compensate the activity of iss gene.

Some heavy metals are dangerous to health and there is rising concern about the quality of foodstuffs in some parts of the world. Fish، particularly Tuna fish، can concentrate huge quantities of several metals from water and they even play a significant role in human nourishment. In this study، the concentrations of mercury and four trace metals in five brands of canned tuna samples purchased within the Tabriz city (Iran) were determined after digestion via the Association of Official Analytical Chemists techniques. A total of 40 samples were collected. Lead and cadmium levels were determined via graphite tube atomic absorption spectrophoto-metry، whereas nickel and tin levels were determined via flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry، and mercury levels were determined via hydride generation atomic absorption spectro-photometry. The ranges obtained for the elements were Pb (0. 01-0. 242)، Ca (0. 0-1. 05)، Ni (0. 113-0. 589)، Sn (0. 05-0. 9)، and Hg (0. 1-0. 205) mg/kg wet weight. The results showed that tuna fabricated and marketed in Tabriz (Iran) had safe level of heavy metals that were lower than the averages of EC/FAO/WHO levels for these toxic metals.

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever، and ruminants being considered as the main source for human infection. Although the main route of infection in human is inhalation of contaminated aerosols، oral transmission by contaminated raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products is also a possible route of infection. Raw milk or dairy products produced from unpasteurized milk may contain virulent C. burnetii. This study aimed to determine the contamination rate of milk and unpasteurized dairy products with C. burnetii. Touch-down PCR was used to examine the presence of C. burnetii on 147 dairy product samples collected from local traditional and commercial markets in Mashhad-Khorasan Razavi province- Iran. 2 of 28 (7. 14%) cheese samples، 2 of 26 (7. 69%) yoghurt samples، 8 of 23 (34. 78%) sheep milk samples، and 2 of 60 (3. 33%) cow milk samples were found to be positive for C. burnetii DNA. However، 10 goat milk samples were found to be negative. The results of this study indicate that the clinically healthy dairy livestock and their dairy products are important sources of C. burnetii infection.

The Akhal-Teke is an ancient horse originat-ing from Asia where it was used by nomadic tribes and used as a warhorse. Lameness examinations require proper interpretation of clinical and radiographic findings. Therefore، understanding of normal radiographic findings of the foot is necessary. Although the radiographic appearance of the normal foot must be understood to recognize abnormalities، there are no studies examining the normal hoof and digital soft tissues in Akhal-Teke horses. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine a normal radiographic appearance and morpho-metry of the distal phalanx and its related soft tissue in mature Akhal-Teke racehorses without any clinical signs of lameness and foot problems. Radiography of the distal phalanx and associated soft-tissue structures of the front feet of 10 healthy pure Akhal-Teke horses were performed to determine normal radiographic appearance and morphometry. Lateromedial radiographic views of each front distal phalanx were used to measure important distances، angles and ratios of the hoof wall. All the measurements from lateromedial radiographs were multiplied by the magnification correction factor to gain the actual distances. Mean ± SD thickness of the soft tissues dorsal to the middle aspect of distal phalanx was 18. 3 ± 1. 22 mm. There was not any significant difference between left and right digits for any radiographic determination. This study introduced S-Founder and CF-Founder as important criteria in evaluating laminitis and sinking of P3.

BIV is a well-known bovine immunosup-pressive cause، but its pathogenesis has not been well characterized. It seems that it is possible that cofactors such as co- infection with other bovine viral pathogens may play a role in enhancing the pathogenesis of BIV infection; BVDV also has immunosuppressive effects. The aim of this study was determination of possible correlation between BIV and BVDV infections. Blood samples were randomly collected from a total of 1800 cattle in dairy industrial farms in Isfahan and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari provinces of Iran. First BIV or BVDV positive sera were screened by ELISA، and then samples were analyzed to detect BIV proviral DNA or BVDV RNA، using PCR. Out of 1800 blood samples، 19 (1. 06%) samples were BVDV positive، while BIV positive samples were 10 (0. 55%). Nine (0. 5%) samples contained both BIV and BVDV genomes and were positive in ELISA، while one of the samples (0. 05%) was only BIV positive. In this study، there was a statistically significant relationship between BIV status and BVDV infection using Chi square and Pearson''s correlation coefficient test (p=0، r=0. 65).

Babesiosis is an important tickborne disease in the sheep of Iran. A molecular study was carried out in North Khorasan province، Iran in 2010-2011، designed to identify Babesia spp. infection of both sheep and ticks. Ninety sheep from different flocks were clinically examined and blood samples were collected with ixodid ticks. The collected ticks were separated into 82 tick pools and the salivary glands were dissected out in 0. 85% (w/v) saline under a stereomicroscope. The blood and the salivary glands were examined using semi-nested PCR. Piroplasm infection was detected in 37 blood smears using microcopic examination while 80 blood samples were piroplasm positive in the first round of semi-nested PCR and Babesia ovis was only detected in 6 (6. 6%) of positive samples in the second round of semi-nested PCR. Of the 434 ticks that were collected، the most prevalent species was Rhipicephalus turanicus (69. 3%) followed by Hyalomma marginatum turanicum (18. 4%)، Dermacentor marginatus (6. 4%) and Rhipicephalus bursa (5. 7%). One pool of H. m. turanicum salivary glands and one pool of R. turanicus were infected with B. ovis. Based on these results، it is concluded that B. ovis has a low prevalence among the sheep of North Khorasan province and H. m. turanicum and R. turanicus may be the vectors of B. ovis in this area.

Tramadol is a synthetic، centrally acting opioid analgesic that has the best analgesic efficacy without excessive sedation and significant side effects in the postoperative pain relief in dogs. In this study، hematological and biochemical changes due to short usage of tramadol were assessed in clinically healthy dogs. For this purpose، eighteen male mongrel dogs aged 14 to 22 months were used in three equal groups. In the first and second groups respectively (2 and 5 mg/kg) intramuscular tramadol and in control group distillate water was given once a day for five consecutive days. Complete cell blood count (CBC) and biochemical evaluation were done to measure aspartate amino-transferase (AST)، alanine aminotransferase (ALT)، lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)، creatinin (Cr)، and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels، before the intervention (day 0) and on days 6 and 13، post-treatment. Thirteen days post treatment، Red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) count and ALT، AST، ALP، Cr، BUN and packed cell volume (PCV) level was measured as 6. 75±0. 03، 3. 86±0. 13، 40. 00±7. 98، 43. 67±8. 62، 57. 00±17. 03، 0. 90±0. 27، 25. 00±5. 48 and 40. 13±2. 88 respect-ively which showed that short-term injection of even high doses of tramadol creates no significant change on hematological، liver، and kidney parameters in dogs. The present study suggests that tramadol could be a safe postoperative analgesic for control of acute pain in dogs referred for routine surgical procedures.

The mucus layer plays an important role as an intermediate for the protection of the gut against acidic chyme، digestive enzymes، and pathogens; in addition، it acts as a lubricant and facilitator of nutrient transportation. Phytogenic compounds seem to promote intestinal mucus production. The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of low and high levels of energy and amino acids in combination with turmeric، thyme، and cinnamon on chicken performance and expression of mucin 2 gene. The eight experimental groups consisted of diluted and condensed diet with and without the addition of 5g/kg of each turmeric، thyme، and cinnamon to the diet. Chicken performance was recorded. Expression analysis of the mucin 2 gene was carried out by quantitative RT-PCR. Body weight gain، feed intake، FCR، and mortality rate were not affected by diets (p>0. 05). A significant (p<0. 05) reduction of the mucin 2 gene expression was observed in chickens fed by condensed diet; however، the expression increased by supplementation of turmeric، thyme، and cinnamon. These results، in addition to the function of herbs in increasing the activity of some enzymes which is possibly related to the mucin biological pathways، showed that the application of turmeric، thyme، and cinnamon could be useful in poultry diets. It appears that supplementation of turmeric، thyme، and cinnamon could increase mucin 2 gene expression in the small intestine، and this can improve intestinal digestive function and defense.

Analyzing the synovial fluid is one of the common methods to diagnose the articular problems to detect the stage and express the prognosis. Such gross، cytological، and biochemical analysis of synovial fluids can aid in the diagnosis of various joint diseases. Normal values for synovial fluid in the camels have been described previously; however، there are no reports regarding concentr-ation of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in camelids synovial fluid. Hence، the present study tried to compare the synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins in clinically healthy and arthritic tarsal joints of dromedary camels. 46 male dromedary camels، 5 to 10 years old، were used in this study. 33 camels did not have any clinical articular abnormalities while 13 camels had gross articular problems such as lameness and swollen tarsal joints. Collecting the synovial fluids was extracted from the healthy and arthritic tarsal joints immediately after slaughter. Then، the concentration of haptoglobin، serum amyloid A، tumor necrosis factor-alpha، and interferon-gamma were measured in samples. Concentration of all measured parameters in arthritic joints were significantly higher than clinically healthy joints (p<0. 05). The synovial fluid concentration of serum amyloid A، haptoglobin، tumor necrosis factor-alpha، and interferon-gamma were 5. 379، 4. 285، 25. 503، and 1. 904 times higher in arthritic joints than normal joints، respectively. The articular inflammatory processes can increase the synovial fluid concentration of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines. Information about the normal values of these parameters and their changing patterns may help camel rearing systems during arthrititis by assessing the health status of joints in the camels; in addition، the information about normal values can be diagnostically valuable when considering diseased animals.

A captive adult common mynah (Acridoteres tristis) died shortly after a course of seizure and opisthotonous with an illness characterized by severe lethargy، depression، loss of appetite، polyurate، and urate discoloration. Abdominal distention and hepatomegly، visible over the abdominal skin، were noticed clinically. At necropsy، severe enlargement of liver with general discoloration was obvious. Histopathological findings included schizonts and gametes in the intestine، especially in the duodenum. Cytology from impression smears revealed intracyto-plasmic atoxoplasma-like zoites in the inflammatory cells especially macrophages within the liver and in the contact smears prepared from the liver، lung، and spleen. Based on postmortem findings of the organisms in blood mononuclear cells and in impression smears of liver and Giemsa stained impression smears of liver، the spleen and lung atoxoplasmosis caused by Isoapora sp. was specified as the cause of death. According to the literature، visceral coccidiosis (atoxo-plasmosis)، described here، could be considered as one of the severe causes of mortality among captive birds.