BACKGROUND: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) majorly infects the poultry, and despite high rates of vaccination, it is still circulating in different geographical regions. Due to the high mortality rate, the economic loss of Newcastle disease (ND) is enormous. OBJECTIVES: The molecular characterization of NDV isolates from chicken farms in Northern Iran, during 2017-2018, was the main goal of this study. METHODS: We isolated and characterized five NDVs from commercial broiler and backyard chicken farms during severe disease outbreak. The partial coding sequence of fusion (F) genes of isolates was determined and compared with those of other published NDVs. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the isolates were grouped into sub-genotype VII.1.1 (formerly known as VIIl). All isolates carried multi‐basic amino acid residues at the cleavage site of fusion protein, typical of virulent strains. Studied NDV isolates had high homology with the prevalent genotype NDV strains that currently circulate in China and Republic of Korea (96.94%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that NDV sub-genotype VII.1.1 (VIIl), circulating among chicken farms, may be a dominant sub-genotype. Considering the genetic variation between the used vaccine strains (B1, LaSota, and Clone 30, all belonging to genotype II) and circulating NDVs, it is recommended that a contemporary homologous virus should be developed as the vaccine strain to avert the outbreaks of genotype VII viruses.

BACKGROUND: Fracture healing is one of the important issues in medicine and veterinary. Therefore, finding new tech-niques with fewer side effects and faster healing is taken into consideration. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the composites of micro ostrich eggshell (μ-OES) and hydroxyapatite (HA) composite on the healing of bone defect in rat calvarium. METHODS: Defects of 7 mm were made by a trephine in the calvaria of 45 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into three groups and the defects in each group were filled with micro-composites that contained ostrich eggshell or HA or were left empty. The animals were euthanized at three different time points of 14, 28, and 42 days post-operation. Histological and serological assessments, such as measuring alkaline phosphatase were carried out at the same time points. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the granulation tissue formation of the treatment and control groups 14 days post-operation (p ≤0.05). The difference between μ-OES and HA treatment groups was not statistically significant (p >0.05). On days 28 and 42, there were no significant differences between the groups. However, in the center of the defect, the mean of healing in the μOES group was higher than the two other groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results of this study indicated the potential efficacy of μOES as a bone substitute in a rat calvarial defect model

BACKGROUND: Avian Metapneumovirus (AMPV) causes mild to acute contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract in turkey and chicken with different mortality rate. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to molecular detection and subtyping of AMPV infection in broiler flocks using RT-PCR method in Semnan province on samples from 2016 to2020. METHODS: Sampling was carried out from the upper part of the trachea, choana, and sinuses of broiler chickens from the 85 broiler flocks. All flocks were more than 3 weeks of age. In total 10 swabs were taken from each flock, while each 5 were pooled as one sample (total two samples per flock). The samples were transferred to the laboratory for RNA extraction and RT-PCR amplification. RESULTS: Out of 85 tested broiler flocks, 30 (35.3%) were positive for AMPV using the Nd/Nx primer set. In addition, 28 positive samples were found to be of subtype B using the Ga/G12 primer set and 2 remaining positive samples were non-subtype B, probably A, C or D subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Since AMPV vaccination was not performed in Semnan province, it can be concluded that some cases were infected with the natural viruses. Therefore, vaccination could be effective in controlling AMPV-induced respiratory distress.

BACKGROUND: Frequent drug dosing and animal handling are usually required in conventional antimicrobial therapy but sustained release formulations can improve compliance. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of a novel sustained release enroflox-acin (ENR) hydrogel in comparison to a conventional ENR formulation in rabbit animal model. METHODS: A total of 20 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and received a single dose of ENR or blank by subcutaneous (SC) injection as following: Group 1 (n=8) received ENR (10 mg/kg) using a conventional product (Enrovet®); Group 2 (n=8) received ENR (33.3 mg/kg) using a hydrogel formulation; and Group 3 or control group (n=4) received equal volumes of a blank hydrogel formulation. Blood samples were collected at different time points post-dosing. ENR concen-trations in plasma were estimated by high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method and PK parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental analysis. RESULTS: The ENR hydrogel released the drug in a sustained manner with mean residence time (MRT) of 78.4 ± 15.3 h, which was significantly more than that of the conventional formulation (7.39 ± 2.37 h, p <0.05). However, maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) for ENR hydrogel (1.41 ± 0.76 μg/mL) was significantly less than that of the conventional product (2.86 ± 0.79 μg/mL). The relative bioavailability (Frel) was not significantly different between the two formula-tions. CONCLUSIONS: The hydrogel formulation significantly increased the MRT of ENR. Hence, it could be a promising delivery system to prolong the pharmacological activity of ENR in animals and enhance compliance.

< p>BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens, as a bacterial agent causing foodborne illnesses, is of great importance in thefood industry. On the other hand, the increasing concern of antibiotic resistance is forcing humans to find an alternative toantibiotics.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extracts of grape pomace, pistachio peel,and pomegranate pomace against Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in the presence or absence of resistant starch(RS) as a prebiotic.METHODS:The RS (Fibersol-2) was purchased, and the extracts of grape pomace, pistachio peel, and pomegranate pomacewere prepared. The total phenolic content and tannin of extracts were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and standard tannic acidmethod, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the extract with or without RS was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against C. perfringens.RESULTS:Our findings showed that 100 ppm of pistachio peel extract could act as an inhibition factor against the growthof C. perfringens. The RS alone was not able to prevent C. perfringens growth. In contrast, 400 ppm dilution of RS+grapepomace extract could restrain C. perfringens growth. In contrast, the pomegranate pomace extract with and without RScould not inhibit its growth. On the other hand, the RS±pistachio peel extract could not prevent C. perfringens growth, incomparison with other treatments.CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that grape pomace extract, both with and without RS, effectively prevented C.perfringens growth.

BACKGROUND: The liver and heart are two main damaged organs in ascites syndrome in fast -growing broilers. Using silymarin with a protective effect on the liver and heart may be a beneficial strategy to decrease ascites-induced mortality. OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed the cardiohepatic effects of silymarin in broilers fed on mash and pellet diets by assessing electrocardiographic (ECG) indices and some serum biochemical parameters. METHODS: A total of 120 Arbor Acres chicks were allocated to 6 groups and treated as follows: basal mash diet (CM); basal pellet diet (CP); silymarin at 500 ppm of mash (M500) and pellet diets (P500); and silymarin at 2500 ppm of mash (M2500) and pellet diets (P2500). RESULTS: CP had higher serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) enzymes compared to CM (p <0.05). P2500 had a higher total protein and lower aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and CK-MB compared to CP (p <0.05). T-duration, ST-segment, and R-R intervals were longer in CP compared to CM and were shorter in P2500 than in CP and P500 (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The pellet diet led to changes in some biochemical and ECG indices in broilers, and silymarin at the 2500 ppm dose can be used as a hepatoprotective and cardioprotective compound to modulate cardiohepatic failure in susceptible broilers.

Moving towards globalization, food packaging requires longer storage time, quality control, and hygienic measures based on international standards. Nanotechnology can meet all these needs and implement the essential factors for packaging, storage, protection, marketing, distribution, and communications. Polymer nanotechnology can provide new food packag-ing materials with suitable mechanical, inhibitory, and antimicrobial properties along with nanosensors to track and control food conditions during transportation and storage. In this survey, the latest innovations and applications of nanomaterials in food packaging using improved, active, and smart nanotechnology are reviewed. Moreover, the current business situation, understanding of the health concept in these technologies, as well as the limitations of recently advanced polymer nano-materials that can effectively change the food packaging industry are discussed

BACKGROUND: Early resumption of ovarian activity after parturition could positively influence the fertility of dairy cows. Ovulation of the first postpartum follicular wave and formation of corpus luteum that secretes progesterone can sub-stantially benefit the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in cows. In this regard, the presence of a dominant follicle in the ovary before day 10 postpartum could enhance ovulation rate in the first postpartum follicular wave. Pregnant mare serum gon-adotropin (PMSG) is one of the hormones with the potential to improve the growth of follicles. OBJECTIVES: Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PMSG injection six days after parturition on reproductive parameters in dairy cows. METHODS: The subjects were randomly assigned to the two groups of control (N=74) and treatment (N=79). Cows in the control group received no treatment, while animals in the treatment group received 500 IU PMSG on day six postpartum. In both experimental groups, cows were subjected to Presynch-Ovsynch protocol 30-35 days postpartum. The subjects that experienced estrus during the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol were inseminated. On the other hand, the cows that were not in estrus during this period were subjected to fixed-time insemination at the end of the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol. Pregnancy was diagnosed 45 days after artificial insemination using the rectal examination. RESULTS: In the control group, 66.22% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 33.78% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. In the intervention group, 68.35% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 31.65% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. The first-service conception rate (FSCR) was 27.03% and 48.1% in the control and treatment groups, respectively (p =0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the injection of 500 IU PMSG six days after parturition could enhance FSCR in dairy cows.

BACKGROUND: Persian fallow deer (PFD), Dama dama mesopotamica, is one of the rarest members of the Cervidae family currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. OBJECTIVES: Morphological variations in the skulls of male and female PFDs were evaluated in this investigation. METHODS: In cooperation with the Department of Environment, skulls and mandibles were obtained from five male and four female animals. After the usual practices of bone cleaning, the specimens were evaluated for morphological differences. Next, 29 parameters were measured on the skulls and mandibles by a digital Vernier caliper for morphometric studies. In addition, ten, six, and nine landmark points were defined on the left lateral photos of mandibles, dorsal, and left lateral photos of skulls, respectively. The points were digitized on two-dimensional images using the TpsDig2 software. The shape differ-ences between the two genders were analyzed using discriminate function analysis in the MorphoJ software. RESULTS: The interfrontal ridge was more prominent in male PFDs than in female animals. Moreover, there were some significant differences in the measured parameters, mostly in the mandible. The geometric morphometric evaluations showed no significant differences between the two genders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present investigation revealed some morphological differences between the skulls of male and female PFDs

Three adult crossbred Thoroughbred horses died in June 2018 at a ranch near Hamedan, Iran. Rigor mortis was evident with no signs of post-mortem bloating in the carcasses. The neck muscles appeared excessively cyanotic in necropsy. In addition, widespread petechiae were observed on the inner surface of the thoracic intercostal muscles. Dropsy was visible in the inner surface of the abdominal wall and peritoneum. The stomach content was watery and dark gray. Furthermore, gastric mucosa was also gray. The livers had a dark appearance and the adjacent duodenum was gaseous and blackened. The kidneys showed autolysis with areas of medullary hyperemia. In addition to decomposition, a specific odor similar to the garlic aroma or natural gas could be smelled from the carcasses. Tissues and contents of various organs, as well as food and water samples, were collected for diagnostic tests. Preliminary toxicological studies showed detectable amounts of phosphide in the samples collected from gastric contents of the animals, and complementary tests confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide in the concentrate feed.