Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:8 Issue: 4, Autumn 2014

The knowledge in blood constituents is important for assessing the physiological status and the health of animals. Only a limited number of two-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus) were reared in Ardabil province, northwest of Iran. The present study was carried out to find out whether the sex and pregnancy affect thyroid hormones, lipid and lipoprotein profile, and selected biochemical factors in healthy Iranian Bactrian camels. The evaluated herd contained twenty clinical healthy Bactrian camels, aged between four and thirteen years. Six of them were non-pregnant, five in the late period of pregnancy, and nine were male camels. Blood samples (10 mL) were collected from the jugular vein of camels in spring 2013 during two consecutive days. All samples were centrifuged at 3000× rpm for 15 min and sera were refrigerated at -21°C until analysis. Thyroid function tests were carried out by measuring serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total thyroxin (fT4), (T4), and free and total triiodothyronine (fT3), (T3) by commercially available radio immunoassay kits. The biochemical parameters were measured using a standard autoanalyser (Hitachi717, Boehringer. Mannheim, Germany). The levels of fT4, HDL-Cholesterol, ALP, and glucose in the sera of pregnant camels were significantly lower than the male and nonpregnant camels. The serum levels of other parameters were not significantly different among the groups. The present study revealed that heavy pregnancy has a profound effect on certain serum biochemical parameters in Bactrian camels.

There is not enough information about the effects of heat stress and photoperiod on different lobes structure. The present study aims at determining the histological changes and the rate of changes in each lobes of rat prostate, affected by photoperiod changes and heat stress.To this end, 15 adult male wistar rats were divided to three groups: 1. the control group in which the rats were kept in 12L: 12D and 25°C temperature condition, 2. the heat stress group in which the rats were kept in 12L: 12D and 42+1 °Ctemperature condition for 4 to 5 hours per day, and 3. the photoperiod group in which the rats were kept in 16L: 8D and 25°C temperature condition. After 30 days, samples were taken from different lobes and sections with 5 to 6μ thickness were made and stained by H&E and PAS. The microscopic results showed that histomorphometrical structure and histochemical reactions of the different lobs of normal prostate of the rats are different. The proportion of parenchyma to stroma decreased by heat stress; however, it increased by photoperiod. The maximum changes were seen in ventral lobe. The epithelial thickness, lumen diameter, and number of secretory units also increased by photoperiod (16L:8D), but it decreased by heat stress. The number of secretory cells were increased by heat stress because the cell size decreased; however, they decreasedby long photoperiod regime. The number of folded secretory units increased by photoperiod, while heat stress has an adverse effect (p<0.001). The serum testosterone increased by long photoperiod and decreased by heat stress (p<0.01). This study shows that long photoperiod has important effects on increasing the rat prostate parenchyma and its activity.

The control of coccidiosis in poultry industry is dominated by prophylactic chemotherapy; however, drug resistance is a serious problem. Alternative control methods such as vaccination have been accepted as a practical method forcontrolling coccidiosis in chickens. Considering the immunological variation of Eimeria strains, the efficacy of live coccidiosis vaccines may be compromised. To evaluate the efficacy of a commercial anticoccidial vaccine in poultry, vaccination was followed by experimental challenge with 3 Eimeria field isolates. The efficacy of Livacox® Q anticoccidial vaccine was evaluated on male broiler chicks, reared in battery cages. Different factors including weight gain,FCR, OPG (oocysts per gram of feces) and intestinal lesion scores were assessed. Vaccinated challenged groups (VC) gained less weight than the un-vaccinated un-challenged (UVUC) birds (p£0.05). Fourteen days post-challenge, theweight gain of VC groups challenged with isolate 2 differed significantly from its un-vaccinated challenged (UVC) counterpart; however, there were no significant differences in weight gain of groups challenged by isolates 1 and 3 with their respective UVC groups. Lesion score and FCR were significantly improved in VC groups comparing with theirassociated UVC groups (‌p<0/05‌). Lesion score and FCR were significantly improved in VC groups comparing with their UVC counterparts (‌p<0/05). The present study suggests that the use of live anticoccidial vaccine has the potential for improving live weight gains and FCR; nonetheless,immunity to local Eimeria species should be evaluated separately and in trial designs it should be more approximate to the actual field condition.

Mastitis is the most economically important disease in dairy industry worldwide. Bulk tank milk (BTM) analysis has been suggested for monitoring the udder health status at herd level. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate udder health status in 15 Holstein dairy farms located in Qom province. Bulk tank somaticcell count (BTMSCC) was analyzed using opto-fluoroelectronic counter. Standard plate count, preliminary incubation count, laboratory pasteurized count, and the number ofenvironmental streptococci, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. uberis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, coagulase negative streptococci, S. aureus and C. bovis were determined using specific culture media. Moreover, clinical and subclinical mastitis were diagnosedusing physical examination and California mastitis test, respectively. Most herds had moderate to high BTMSCC and high bacterial counts. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis was 1.3% and 24.7%, respectively. The present study indicated inefficient stall management, udder hygiene, and milking practices in the herds investigated.

Protozoa are common in poultry and other birds and can cause mild to severe disease. This study was concerned with the prevalence of parasitic protozoa in wild waterfowl in Caspian sea lagoons in the North of Iran.Atotal of 293 waterfowl belonging to various genera including Tadorna tadorna (common shelduck),Aythya fuligula (Tufted duck), Aythya ferina (Common puchard), Spatula clypeata (Shoveler), Anser anser (greylag goose), CygnusCygnus (Whooper Swan), Anas strepera (Gadwall), Anas Penelope (Eurasian Widgeon), Anas crecca (common teal), and Anas platyrhynchos (mallard) were sampled and tested for intestinal, tracheal, and blood protozoa between winter 2010 and spring 2011. The results showed that 184 birds of 293 (62.8%) harbored protozoan parasites. The highest prevalence of protozoan contamination belonged to Giardia spp (24.2%) and the lowest belonged to Haemoproteus spp. (6.1%). Thricomunas gallinea, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. were found in 7.2%, 8.2%, and 17% of waterfowl, respectively. Moreover, statistical analyses showed that the highest rate of giardiosis was in female Aythya fuligula (43.75%). However,tricomuniasis belonged to Anas crecca (30.5%). On the other hand, female Cygnus cygnus had the highest rate of cryptosporidiosis (44.7%), and more infection to Haemoproteus and Plasmodium spp. were observed in Anas platyrhynchos, concurrently. Migration of various species of waterfowl toward the northern parts of Iran has an important impact on parasitic diseases in birds and human in these regions.

Methionine has been suggested as the firstlimiting amino acid for milk production in ruminants. It is important how to increase milk protein yield and milk fat in dairy ruminants. This study was set to investigate the effect of rumen protected methionine (RPMet) on milk composition of lactating Cashmere Rayeni goats. 40 healthy singleton Cashmere Rayeni goats about 3 to 4 years of age, at the first day oflactation, were randomly divided into 2 equal control and experimental groups. The experimental group was supplemented with 5 gr/day RPMet for 60 days. Milk samples of 2 groups were taken on 30th and 60th days of the study. Milk protein, milk fat, milklactose, and milk Solids-not-Fat (SNF) were determined using automatic analyzer. The results were statistically evaluated with SPSS. The supplementation with RPMet did not effect all of the above mentioned parameters during the 60 days of the experiment (p>0.05), except for the milk fat percentage of the experimental group which showed significant increase after 60days (p<0.05). Our results about milk protein, milk lactose, and SNF were in agreement with previous studies that had not shown significant differences. Results about milk fat on the 30th day were in agreement with the results of several authors who reported that RPMet did not affect milk fat percentage or yield; however, in the present study milk fat increased significantly on the 60th day (p<0.05). To the best of the author's knowledge, no study about the effects of RPMet on milk composition of Cashmere Rayeni goat has been done.

Ticks are obligatory blood sucking arthropods that can transmit important pathogens. The distribution and diversity of ticks fauna were last studied in the north of Iran in 2007. Mazandaran province has a humid climate, which is favourable to animal husbandry such as sheep breeding. Due to humid climate, the likelihood of exposure to tick infestation is increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the ticks founa of sheep and goats that grazed on the outskirts of mazandaran in 2012. During the first 7 months of 2012, a total of 1190 tick specimens were collected from the whole body of sheep and goats from 23 different points of Mazandaran province. Adult male ticks were identified under a stereomicroscope, according to the identification keys. The identified tick specimens belonged to six Genus and 11 species, including Rhipicephalus turanicus (47%), Rhipicephalus bursa (24.6%), Haemaphysalispunctata (17.16%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (4%), Haemaphysalis concina (3%), Haemaphysalis parva (1%), Hyalomma marginatum (1%), Hyalomma anatolicum (0.6%), Dermacentor marginatus (0.6%), Ixodes ricinus (0.5%), and Boophilus (Rhipicephalus) annulatus (0.3%). Rh. turanicus was the most abundant tick. Due to climate change, regular monitoring of distribution patterns of ticks is an important concern to control the ticks and tick-borne diseases.

The Ostrich is an interesting subject concerning animal evolution and morphology studies. It has been speculated that ostrich eyes would have distinct tissue structures and this has not been previously studied in detail. The aim of the present study was to investigate the histology of the outer layer of the ostrich. Ten mature ostriches were chosen from an ostrich breeding center in Jupar, Kerman, Iran. All of them were in a good shape and healthy condition. After slaughter, their heads were kept in 10 % formalin solution for 7 days and then the eyes were removed. Routine histological techniques were done and 6-μmthick sections were cut. Sections were stained with standard hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome and PAS. The sections were studied under a light microscope. Thecornea of ostrich had both dermal and sclera components and the two distinct parts were separated by a distinct zone; in addition, the sclera was divided into an episclera zone and a sclera proper zone. The outer layer of the episclera composed of connective fibers loosely attached to the sclera proper. The inner layer of the sclera consisted of dense connective tissues with two cartilaginous parts continuing over the oraserrata that composed dense connective fibers and ossicles.

Ticks are the most important vectors which transmit several arthropod-borne diseases such as theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. An epidemiological study was conducted in Semnan area to determine the current situation of tick infestation in sheep and assess the efficacy of usage of CIS-cypermethrin against tick infestation under field condition. METHODES: Sampling was done monthly on 5% of a sheep herd in a population of 1000 sheep for one year. Ticks were collected, counted, and diagnosed. Ticks species affecting sheep were Hyalomma marginatummarginatumin winter quarters and in summer pasture; Dermacentor marginatus and D. raskemensis were the prominent ticks. In the middle of autumn and during the winter, no ticks were detected from the animals. The preferred sites of tick attachment to infested animals were perineal region and ears in winter quarters; however, in the summer pastures, the ticks were found only under the neck area and on the sternum. There was a significantdifference between the numbers of male ticks on ewe and lamb; however, these phenomena were not recorded for female ticks. In this regard, CIS-cypermethrin deeping treatment reduced the rate of infestion (almost 100%) after one day of treatment.Nonetheless, in the next sampling after 4 weeks, the rate of infestation increased again and reached 50%. In order to control the tick infestation, it is recommended that spraying be done monthly on the infected areas.

A3-year-old goat weighing 40 kg was presented to the Large Animal Unit, University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia with complains of in appetence, lateral recumbency, and weakness. Physical examination findings were pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale mucous membrane. Harsh and crackles lung sound was noticed upon auscultation. The case was tentatively diagnosed as pneumonic pasteurellosis, and the goat was treated with broad spectrum antibiotic, non-steroidal antiinflammatorydrug (NSAID), and fluid therapy. The prognosis of this case was guarded and the goat died on day after hospitalization and post mortem examination was carried out. Samples were taken from the lungs, heart, and pericardial fluid for bacterial isolation and identification. The post mortem findings were consolidations of the left and right craniolateral lung lobes, frothy exudates along the trachea, bronchi and the cut surface of the lungs and presence of straw-colored pericardial fluid. The bacterial culture yielded Pasteurella multocida growth from all the samples. Based on the clinical signs, post mortem findings, and bacteriology result, this case was finally diagnosed as pneumonic pasteurellosis.