Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Summer 2014

Cystitis and pyelonephnitis in ruminants most often result from ascending urinary tract infection (UTI). Investigating the prevalence of urine infection and its relationship with histopathological findings of bladder and kidney. This study was carried out on 353 slaughtered buffalos (143 female and 210 male) at Ahvaz abattoir, southwest of Iran. After slaughter, urinary samples were taken directly from bladder by sterile syringe. The bladder and kidney were inspected and samples from them were taken for histophatological study. All of the urine samples were incubated for isolation of bacteria on blood agar and MacConkey. Biochemical characterizations of the isolates were performed according to Bergey's manual of systemic bacteriology. Histopathological samples were taken from representative parts of each bladder and kidney and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Out of the 353 urine samples, 19 (5.38%) were positive. The percentages of infected cattle in female and male were 6.3% and 4.8%, respectively. These bacteria were isolated: E.coli (21%), Staphylococcus spp. (31.6%), Streptococcus spp. (15.8%), Proteus spp. (15.8%), Klebciella spp. (5.3%), Yercinia spp. (5.3%), and Actinimyces and Pasteurelle spp.(5.3%). In histopathological examination, 51(14.4%) and 5 (1.4%) of the buffalos had chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, respectively. Bacteria were isolated only in 3 cases of chronic cystitis and 2 cases of pyelonephritis. Statistical analysis showed there was no relationship between isolation of bacteria from urine with cystitis and pyelonephritis. Some cases of chronic cystitis are not able to isolate of bacteria from urine and for causing pyelonephritis they need predisposing factors which caused urine retention.

Canine Distemper (CD) is a lethal systemic disease affecting a wide variety of terrestrial carnivores. This study was performed to survey epidemiological and molecular characteristics of the canine distemper virus(CDV) strains circulating in Iran. In this study, 19 CDV-suspected unvaccinated dogs from Northeast and center of Iran were analyzed for presence of CDV nucleoprotein (NP) gene using Nested-PCR during 2008- 2011. Different biological samples of 14 dogs were positive. The phylogenetic analysis based on partial NP gene sequences indicated the presence of two major clusters that are clearly different from vaccine strains in Iran. One cluster belongs to the European group and the other one to the Arctic group. CONCLUTIONS: Due to a lack of phylogenetic analysis on CDV in countries bordering Iran, except Turkey, the ancestor of Iranian sequences specially Iranian Arctic sequences could not be definitely identified. This study is the first report on phylogenetic analysis of CDV from domestic dogs in Iran.

Herbal methionine can be compared relative to Dl-methionine with evaluation of bioavailability of this source of methionine. An experiment was carried out to determine the relative bioefficacy of herbal methionine (H-Met)® relative to DL-methionine (DL-Met) on performance criteria and immunocompetence of Met sources in male broilers. Atotal of 160 male broilers were fed a Met-deficient basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with three or four concentrations of each Met sources. Multiexponential and multilinear regressions were used to determined bioavailability of herbal methionine (HMet) ®relative to DL-Met on performance and immunocompetence of broilers. Body weight gain and feed intake of the broilers fed H-Met or DL Met improved in the experiment, regardless of Met sources, relative to those broilers that were fed the basal diet. Immunocompetence of broilers were not significant at 28 day of age (p>0.05), whereas the broilers were significantly affected by the additional levels of Met sources at 42 day of age. The bioefficacy estimates for H-Met® relative to DL-Met on a product basis were 55% for weight gain, 71% for feed intake, 78% for feed conversion ratio, 70% for dilution 1-choloro 2- 3-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), 67% for sheep red blood cell (SRBC), and 68% for phytohemagglutinine (PHA-P). The relative effectiveness of H-Met® compared to that of DL-Met is 68% on average across performance criteria and all immune criteria tested. H-Met®can be supplemented as a new and natural source of Met for the poultry industry.

The acute phase response is beneficial to the animal in restoring homeostasis, and measuring the circulating acute phase proteins, cytokines, and enzymes can be used to evaluate the innate immune system's responses to invader agents such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Measurement of these parameters has shown to be useful as diagnostic and prognostic markers in animal endotoxemia.

The aim of the present experimental study was expression of the acute phase response following the induction of endotoxemia by Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 in sheep and the relationships among the acute phase response parameters during endotoxemia and their changing patterns.

Five clinically healthy 1-year-old Iranian fattailed ewes (25±1.5 kg, bodyweight) were randomly selected and lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 was infused at 20 μg/kg intravenously to each animal. Fluid therapy was performed in all ewes over 120 minutes after lipopolysaccharide injection and continued for 180 minutes. Blood samples were collected from all ewes prior and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection and sera were separated. Serum concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were assayed.

The rapid and significant elevation of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were seen after endotoxemia induction. Serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased after intravenous lipopolysaccharide infusion. The results of the present experimental study showed that haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma at all hours studied after endotoxemia induction were positively correlated together. These parameters were negatively correlated with superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase at all hours after lipopolysaccharide infusion.

The results of the present experiment can provide evidence for associations among acute phase proteins, cytokines, and enzymes and their changes during endotoxemia in sheep.

Among all common techniques in sitedirected mutagenesis, λ Red recombinase system has been widely used to knock out chromosomal genes in bacteria. In this method, there is always the risk of DNA Linear digestion by host's restriction enzymes that leads to the low frequency of recombination. To overcome this, we constructed a recombinant vector to disrupt phoP gene in Salmonella typhimurium. The SOEing PCR method and restriction enzymes were used to construct the vector. The resulting plasmid, pTAAZ92, contains a Kanamycin cassette with two long homologous arms flanking of the phoP gene. After electrotransformation of the pTAAZ92 into the Salmonella typhimurium, the phoP gene is replaced by the Kanamycin cassette through homologous recombination. According to the high homology of the phoP gene in many of Salmonella species the pTAAZ92 can be used to disrupt the phoP gene in most of these species.

Urinary oxalate and citrate are the key factors in caox urolithiasis of cats and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase is a good test for assessment of kidney damage. Favorable effects of Cynodon dactylon on calcium oxalate stone formation have recently been proved in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the alteration of urinary oxalate, citrate, and GGT after administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon to experimental hyperoxaluric cats. No scientific study has been done so far to demonstrate the beneficial effect of this plant in cats. 13 mature male cats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group Areceived standard diet and drinking water while, group B and C also received ethylene glycol at sub-toxic dose (130 mg/kg) daily for 30 days. Group C received hydroalcoholic extract of C.dactylon (400 mg/kg) from day 0 to 30, as well. Urine samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30 and were analyzed for oxalate, citrate, and GGT levels. Urine oxalate level in group B was significantly higher than group C on days 15 and 30. Urinary citrate excretion was significantly higher in group C compared to the other groups on day 15; however, it decreased during the entire experiment in groups B and C. Urinary Gamma Glutamyl Transferase level was increased in hyperoxaluric cats and decreased in the treated group during the experiment. Based on our results, C.dactylon extract could reduce the hyperoxaluria and has beneficial effects on preventing the renal damage in cats. Such findings provide a scientific explanation for applying C.dactylon in prevention and possible treatment of CaOx kidney stones in cats and humans.

The effect of heat stress on physiological parameters has been well documented. However, there are reports of a genetic based heat tolerance in some sheep breeds. The aim of the present study was to monitor the physiological responses of an Iranian fat-tailed breed against heat stress and an acute stress insult. Atotal number of 15 fall-born ram lambs were selected and subjected to direct summer solar radiation throughout the day (May 2009 to February 2010). Ten lambs were semi-castrated in October to see the physiologic response of animals to an acute stress. The general parameter as well as blood chemistry and cortisol were analyzed during the study. The results showed that all physiologic parameters had significant changes; however, their values were in normal range. The fact that the animals in the present study experienced their first exposure of heat stress and a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration in semicastrated lambs in October, compared to the respected values in the hottest months of the experiment, may indicate a genetic based adaptability of the breed in Iran. The present study shows the dynamic changes of general and biochemical parameters in response to chronic heat stress and an acute stress that raises a possible tolerance of the breed against heat stress.

All-trans retinol is a biological antioxidant scavenging the ROS in the cell culture. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of all-trans retinol in fertilization and culture medium on mouse embryo's developmental competence. This study was designed into two experiments. In the first experiment, in vitro mature oocytes were co-cultured with sperm in fertilization medium containing different concentrations of all-trans retinol (0, 1, 5, and 10 μM). After fertilization, zygotes in each group were separately cultured in CZB culture medium for 5 days to the blastocyst stage. In the second experiment, in vitro produced zygotes were cultured in CZB culture medium containing different concentrations of all-trans retinol (0, 1, 5, and 10 μM) for 5 days to the blastocyst stage. In the first experiment, the blastocyst formation rate significantly increased by 5 μM in all-trans retinol, which was more than those of the other groups. Also, percentage of grade one embryos was significantly higher in the presence of 5 μM all-trans retinol than those in the presence of 0 and 1 μM all-trans retinol. In the second experiment, different concentrations of all-trans retinol could not alter blastocyst formation rate; however, the percentage of grade one embryo was higher in the presence of 10 μM all-trans retinolthan that of the control group. These results showed that supplementation of fertilization medium with 5 μM alltrans retinol could improve mouse embryo's development and morphology. On the other hand, supplementation of embryo culture medium can improve mouse embryo morphology without any effect on embryo developmental competence.

Avian intestinal spirochetosis (AIS) is caused by spiral-shaped Gram-negative Brachyspira spp. in poultry. It is known as a cause of diarrhea, low egg production, and increased occurrence of dirty eggs in layer hens. In this study, the presence of some Brachyspira spp. was investigated in laying hens. A total of 100 cloacal swab samples were individually collected from 20 laying hen flocks showing fecal egg staining in northeast of Iran. Using culture and morphologic examination, 41 samples (41%) from 20 flocks were positive; however, by using genus-specific PCR, only 37 (37%) samples were confirmed as Brachyspira spp. Using speciesspecific primers, single colonization was identified in 18 samples associated with B. pilosicoli (48.6%), while single colonization with B. intermedia was found in only two samples (5.4%). Simultaneous colonization by B. intermedia and B. murdochii was detected in 3 samples (8.1%). B. pilosicoli was the most prevalent species in concurrent colonization in 11 cases (29.7%). Finally, cocolonization by B. intermedia and B. innocens was identified in 3 samples (8.1%). The results of this study showed the colonization of different species of Brachyspira with dominance of B. pilosicoli in layer hens.

The herd consisted of 25 captive Esfahan mouflons and their offspring. The mouflons were wild and originated from their natural habitat in Esfahan province. They had been kept in small enclosures with rough concrete floors. The diet consisted of alfalfa hay, corn silage, and a commercial concentrate. The mouflons showed severe claw overgrowth and detectable subclinical form of laminitis such as sole hemorrhage and yellow wax discoloration. Both prevalences were unexpectedly high (73.9%). The majority of foot lesion samples included in this study were taken from mouflons examined in the course of veterinary practice over a period of 4 months in a farm for clinical and histopathological purposes. Pseudocarcinomatous epidermal hyperplasia which are characterized by extreme proliferation of epithelial cells with large amounts of whorl-like structures that show no specific pattern, like dyskeratosis or central keratinization. Our findings were supportive of researchers who have suggested that subclinical laminitis is a multifactorial disease that involves a complex interaction between nutrition and management. Feeding management, proper design of facilities and routine trimming seems to prevent subclinical laminitis is predisposed for more serious lesions in Esfahan mouflons.