Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Summer and Autumn 2014

Pomegranate is an ancient edible fruit with various pharmaceutical bioactivities such as antioxidant, lipid regulation and anti-inflammation. In this study the effectiveness of pomegranate pith and carpellary membrane (PPCM) extract in treatment of experimental lead intoxication was assessed in rats. Female Wistar rats were exposed to 1000ppm lead acetate in drinking water for 35 days and treated thereafter with PPCM extiract (100 and 200mg/kg, orally) twice a day for 35 days. The concentration of lead in blood, kidney, liver, bone and brain were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Treatment with PPCM extract reduced lead retention in blood and tissues. With the highest dose of PPCM extract, the greatest rate of reduction of lead concentrations were observed in brain (61%), blood (53%), and bone (34.5%). No significant changes were observed in copper, zinc and iron concentration of serum and liver, in neither doses of PPCM extract. In conclusion it was demonestrated that PPCM and carpellary membrane had therapeutic effect in the treatment of lead intoxication without any side effects on essential elements in blood and tissues of rats.

Identification of exogenous factors affecting spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) proliferation in vitro, provides worthy ways to study the basic biology of the cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a GnRH analogue (alareline acetate) on SSCs colonization in short-term co-culture with sertoli cells. Five, three-month old Holstein male calves were used to isolate spermatogonial and sertoli cells. Testicular germ cell collection was made by enzymatic digestion methods. The cells were co-cultured in a 15 day period and in vitro effects of various doses (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 µg/ml) of GnRHa on SSCs colonization were assessed. Effects of GnRHa on SSCs proliferation were dose dependent. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that 1 µg/ml GnRHa was the optimum dose for SSCs colonization in comparison with control group. The highest treatment dose (4 µg/ml GnRHa), negatively affected SSCs colonization in comparison with control group.

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever in human. This study is aimed to determine the contamination rate of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples. In this study, a total number of 100 bulk milk samples collected from dairy farms in northeast of Iran and were examined for C. burnetii using touchdown PCR assay. The primers were designed to amplify a 687-bp fragment of the IS1111 gene of C. burnetii. Five samples (5%) of bovine milk were found positive for C. burnetii. Sequence analysis of PCR products revealed 100% identity with published sequences of C. burnetii in genBank. Results of this study indicate that bovine milk is an important source of C. burnetii infection in Iran.

Argas reflexus is considered obligate blood feeder that may cause skin redness and local swelling. For histopathological evaluation of biting site, pigeons were used as natural host species in this study. Adult ticks were collected from Urmia, North-west of Iran and kept in a desiccator before their use in the experiment. Sixteen Pigeons were infested experimentally and were divided into 4 groups, euthanized after 30 min, 4, 24 and 48h for evaluation of histopathological changes in biting sites. Early histopathologic lesions due to time of infestation included edema, hemorrhagic foci, vascular congestion, necrosis and mild to severe inflammatory reaction in dermis. In late lesions, presence of micro abscess foci in dermis was prominent. This study well documented the different pathological changes of skin of pigeons with Argas reflexus. However, further study should be performed to evaluate allergic immune responses and pathological changes in other animal species including human.

Considering that the involvement of oxidative stress has been implicated in the toxicity of organophosphate insecticides, the objective of the present study was to investigate antioxidants and oxidative stress markers in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats treated with chronic doses of diazinon. In addition, the effect of Tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a food-additive antioxidant, on attenuation of diazinon-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. 28 rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: diazinon (10 mg/kg BW, once a day; n=7), TBHQ (0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day; n=7), TBHQ + diazinon (diazinon; 10 mg/kg BW, once a day + TBHQ; 0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day; n=7) and control (corn oil, as vehicle of diazinon and TBHQ, n=7). TBHQ, diazinon and corn oil were given to rats orally via gavage for 7 weeks. Total thiol groups, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver and kidney tissues were investigated at the end of 7th week. Treatment with diazinon significantly increased MDA level, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the kidney (p

Although there are many evidences regard to the relationship between serum thyroid hormones, cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoproteins in different animals, but there are limited references in dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between thyroid hormones and concentrations of serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles, and also to detect relationship between the measured parameters in different season, sex and age groups of dogs in Ahvaz district, Southwest of Iran, on 2011. Blood samples were taken from the cephalic vein of 60 clinically healthy and nonpregnant native dogs in two seasons (summer and winter) and in two age groups (<3 years and >3 years). Sampling was done only once from each animal (30 dogs in every season). The serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride (T.G), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (LDL-cholesterol), high density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol and their correlations with thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones were measured in the studied dogs. The mean serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol (mmol/L), T4 and T3 (µmol/L) were measured in the present survey. The above parameters were also obtained in two summer and winter seasons. Season had a significant effect on T.G, HDL, LDL and VLDL levels in the studied dogs (p<0.05). The concentrations of serum T3 and T4 were lower in summer compared with winter season, without significant difference (p>0.05). No significant differences were detected for the measured cholesterol, T3 and T4 parameters in different age, sex and season groups (p>0.05). To the best of our knowledge, there was no previous research regarding the correlation of the thyroid hormones with the serum lipids and lipoproteins in dogs in Iran. Our results showed that thyroid hormones affect T.G, HDL, LDL and VLDL levels and observed seasonal change in serum may be partly due to changes in thyroid hormones.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inflammatory pulpal pain on spatial learning and memory in male Wistar rats. Fifty-six adult rats were divided into eight groups as follows (n=7 per group): control, sham-operated group that received normal saline, sham vehicle group that received vehicle of capsaicin, three capsaicin treated groups that received intradental injection of 10, 25 and 100 μg capsaicin, respectively, formalin treated group that received 10 μl formalin 2.5% and ibuprofen treated group that received ibuprofen 20 min before capsaicin (100 μg) injection. After preparing cavities via cutting 2 mm of the distal extremities of the mandibular incisors, the polyethylene crowns were placed on the teeth. Based on the study group, different algesics were administrated under the crowns. After recording the pain scores, spatial learning and memory was assessed using Morris water maze test. Capsaicin 25, 100 μg and formalin 2.5% applications induced significantly more painful stimulation compared with control groups (p< 0.001). Capsaicin 25, 100 μg and also formalin-treated groups significantly showed increased escape latency and traveled distance (p

A 2-year-old male Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) was referred with history of abdominal hernia surgery, depression, cachexia, lethargy and swelling of foot joints. Hematological and biochemical findings consisted of leukocytosis, heterophilia, monocytosis, elevation of liver enzymes activity, hyperproteinemia and hyperglobulinemia. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed from foot joints, aseptically. Mycological and bacteriological evaluations were shown Candida albicans infection. In spite of local and systemic treatments, signs were deteriorated and the animal was euthanized and then necropsy was done. Pathological findings revealed systemic candidiasis and fungal osteoarthritis.