Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:9 Issue: 2, Spring 2015

Chlamydia abortus is a zoonotic bacterium that commonly causes abortions in ruminants. This microorganism is one of the most important infectious agents causing abortion and major economic losses in sheep and goats worldwide. The objective of this study was investigating the status of C. abortus infection among small ruminant flocks of some regions in Iran. A total of 1440 sera samples from sheep and goats were collected from 113 flocks of 7 provinces and tested with CHEKIT®-ELISA for antibodies against C.abortus. The study detected overall seroprevalence levels of 25.6% for the individual animals, and 81.4% flocks had at least one positive animal. Analysis of different sheep groups based on their age revealed that the highest numbers of infected animals were registered in the 2 years age group (p<0.05). These results indicate that the seroprevalence of C.abortus infection in sheep and goats is very high in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary that Iran’s veterinary organization set up appropriate surveillance and control programs to reduce economic losses of this disease.

Some species of grass cause poisoning and hepatogenous photosensitization in animals. Feeding trials were conducted in sheep and goats to evaluate the hepatotoxic effects of Setaria italica (S. italica). Twelve indigenous male sheep and goats were used in this study. The animals were kept outdoors against prevailing climatic conditions. They were fed with S. italica freely for 50 days. Some biochemical factors associated with liver function, such as total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (BC), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB), were measured on day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 of the experiment. On the 50th day, the animals were sacrificed and necropsied, then the gall bladder and livers were removed for pathological study. Blood samples on day 0 (prior to feeding with S. italica) were set as the control group. Three sheep and 3 goats showed signs of intoxication, including facial edema, mucus hyperemia, runny nose, lacrimation, and icterus. Post-mortem examination revealed varying degrees of generalized icterus, degeneration, necrosis and cell swelling of hepatocytes, formation of acidophilic bodies, and mild hyperplasia in biliary ducts. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and necropsy findings, support the potential of S. italica in the induction of hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitivity in sheep and goats.

The American foulbrood disease (AFB), caused by Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, is one of the main plagues affecting honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies, and it has a high negative impact on beekeepers worldwide. The aim of this research was to describe the evidence of Paenibacillus larvae larvae contamination of honey bee colonies, in the East Azerbaijan Province. In this study, samples from honey bee colonies of North West Iran were studied for their respective ability to detect the presence of bacterial contamination, using microbiological methods. For this purpose, 10 ml of the suspension from live bees, larva, honey, pollen and wax were incubated in modified MYPGP agar (Muller-Hinton broth-yeast extract-glucose-sodium pyruvate and PO4HK2) plates. Bacterial colonies were identified by colony, bacteria morphology and biochemical tests for Paenibacillus larvae larvae. The results of this study indicated a low level of contamination with Paenibacillus larvae larvae in the East Azerbaijan Province. In conclusion, the distribution of P.l.larvae spores in all samples of the East Azerbaijan Province, showed a clear pattern and may provide useful data for the control and prevention of American foulbrood.

There is a growing concern on the impact of the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli isolated from animals on public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of three classes of ESBL genes in E. coli isolates from sheep and broilers at a slaughter in Urmia region, Iran. A total of 111 E. coli isolates were obtained from sheep (n=55) and broilers (n=56) fecal samples and the presence of blaCTX-M, blaTEM and blaSHV genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In general, 32 of these isolates carried blaCTX-M, 16 blaTEM, and 17 blaCTX-M plus blaTEM. None of the isolates tested was positive for the blaSHV gene. Among the 55 isolates from sheep, 33 (60%) contained one or more ESBL encoding gene; 15 (27.2%), 10 (18.2%), and 8 (14.5%) isolates were positive for blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaCTX-M+blaTEM, respectively. Among the 56 isolates from broilers, 32 (57.1%) isolates carried at least one ESBL encoding gene; 17 (30.4%) and 6 (10.7%) isolates were positive for blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes, respectively, and the blaCTX-M+ blaTEM was identified in nine isolates (16.1%). This study demonstrated that sheep and broiler feces may be a reservoir of E. coli harboring ESBLs genes, with CTX-M being the predominant β-lactamase type. This may pose a public health risk, which requires future evaluation and control.

Meat products may be unacceptably tough because of the high connective tissue content of meats used in their manufacture. The aim of this study was using meat acid marination method on some physicochemical and sensory characteristics of beef burgers. Meat was marinated in three concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%) of lactic and citric acid solutions (1:4 w/v) at 4 °C for 15h and was used in formulation of beef burgers. According to control sample, the highest redness (a*) value was found in the lowest concentration of lactic acid while the lowest a* value was in the highest concentration of citric acid. Shear force value indicated that lactic acid had a tenderizing effect particularly at the lowest concentration and had a positive effect on overall acceptability. Electrophoresis of proteins showed that band intensity had decreased in 0.5% acid treatments, compared to the control sample. It seems that meat acid marination is an applicable technique to tenderize beef burgers with high percentage of meat.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are zoonotic bacteria which are frequently associated with human diarrhea. Sharing of the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes in Campylobacter is common and is considered species specific. In this study we focused on detecting the presence of cdt gene in C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from broilers, turkeys and quails of Iran. Cecal samples were randomly collected from 240 broiler chickens, 100 meat type turkeys and 100 quails after slaughtering. We used PCR as a method for detecting cdt genes. In broilers, 93% of 58 C. jejuni positive samples possessed cdt gene and in all cases the three different subunits of cdt genes were present. However, only 56% of 14 C. coli isolates in broilers had contained cdt genes, while one fourth having all three subunits present. In turkeys, around 65% of 34 C. jejuni positive samples had cdt gene present with 38% possessing all three subunits of cdt genes. But all 5 C. coli isolates had all three subunits cdt gene. In quails, 67% of 30 C. jejuni positive samples were identified by cdt gene, 20% of those possessed all three gene subunits. On the other hand, all 28 C. coli isolates of quails had cdt gene present while 36% of those held all three gene subunits. Our data is indicating the isolation, culture and cdt PCR amplification approaches in this study seemed to be efficient. However, the presence of different variation of Campylobacter cdt gene types in our sample isolates signifies the necessity of further functional gene studies to elucidate which gene type combinations result in encoding effective toxins.

Traditionally, morphological features of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus from closely-related ticks have been considered for their identification and differentiation. However, it is difficult and requires expertise in order to accurately identify and differentiate engorged female ticks and some developmental stages such as larva and nymph from other similar ticks. Hence, molecular markers may be a suitable alternative. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) fragments of Rh. (Bo.) annulatus were sequenced to assess the use of molecular techniques for identifications and phylogenetic studies of these ticks. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was performed based on the analyses of COI and ITS2 sequences of ticks collected from two different regions in Iran (Golestan and Mazandaran). The length of COI and ITS2 sequences were 1539 and 1158bp, respectively. The nucleotide similarity of COI gene was 91.3% between the ticks examined from the two different regions. The deduced amino acid sequences from COI showed 98.6% similarity between the ticks studied and showed 98.2 and 99.6% similarity with the only complete sequence of Rh. (Bo.) annulatus (AGH19677) registered in GenBank. The obtained complete nucleotide sequences of ITS2 from Rh. (Bo.) annulatus from Golestan and Mazandaran revealed 99.9% similarity, while the other ticks registered in GenBank 95 to 99% similarity (KC503267, AF271270, AF271272, JQ412126). It seems that COI and ITS2 sequences could provide suitable genetic markers for discrimination and genetic characterization of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus.

Old laying hens are more prone to dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies as they absorb Ca and P less efficiently than younger hens. In a 2×2 factorial design, the influence of diets with two levels of available phosphorus (AP) and phytase enzyme on the laying performance, egg quality and tibia bone characteristics of laying hens at their late 2nd production phase was studied. The experiment used four treatments of 20 Hy-Line W36 hens of 140 weeks old. Treatments 1 and 2 received a 3.5 g kg-1 AP diet while Treatments 3 and 4 received a 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet for 12 weeks. Treatments 2 and 4 received 250 FTU kg-1 phytase in their diet. Laying performance, egg weight, shell weight and shell thickness were measured. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were weighed and blood samples were collected for serum Ca and P measurements. Ten birds from each treatment were sacrificed and both tibiae were excised, defatted, weighed and ashed for Ca and P contents, cortical thickness and bone breaking strength measurements. Hens fed with 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet without enzyme had the lowest body weight gain, serum P, tibia cortical thickness and tibia breaking strength among the treatments (p<0.05). Phytase enhanced body weight gain, egg shell thickness, serum P, tibia weight/body weight and tibia ash/body weight ratios, tibia cortical thickness and breaking strength, particularly in birds receiving 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet (p<0.05). Phytase may improve bone quality and strength of hens in the late 2nd laying period.

Wound infection has become a major medical problem in recent years. This is usually caused by Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus. Since antimicrobial resistance to current drugs has critically been developed in these causative microorganisms, substitution medicine has become one of the main interests within researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing activity of Origanum vulgare against surgical wounds infected by S. aureus. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Excisions were created surgically on the animals’ skin and then infected with S. aureus. Group 1 was treated with an extract of O. vulgare while Group 2 was untreated. Wound biopsy specimens were collected on Days 5, 10 and 16 and analyzed. Results showed that the hydroxyproline content in the treatment group was significantly higher in various post wounding days. The mean of hexosamine in the treated group was higher than in the control group. Protein content increased gradually in Day 10. Results of histopathological studies showed moderate to intense granulation tissue formation and neovascularization in the treated group on Day 10. Furthermore, the histopathological studies showed that intense matrix formation and collagen fiber deposition occurred in treatment group on Day 16 post wound, while intense granulation tissue formation was the prominent feature in control group. The present study has demonstrated that the ethanol extract of O. vulgare contains properties that accelerate wound healing activities compared to control group.

Polydactyly is the congenital presence of one or more extra digits. The extra digit often does not contain a full complement of bones. Unilateral syndactyly and polydactyl mixed-breed dog was used as a case study. A three-month old unvaccinated intact female mixed breed dog weighing 8 kg, presented with a deformity of the left forepaw was used for this study. The deformity had been present since birth according to the owner. During physical examination the dog was given a lameness score of 0/5 for the affected limb. A complete blood count, and serum biochemistry did not reveal any abnormalities. Radiographs of both distal forelimbs were obtained. These showed Fused 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, a rudimentary metacarpi and a hypoplastic digit located on the axial side of the distal end of the left forelimb. As a result of the lameness score of 0/5 and the owner’s lack of interest, a decision was made to monitor the condition and consider surgery once the dog had grown larger. It seems this is the first case of polydactyly associated with syndactyly and the rudimentary metacarpal bone.