BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated negative association of anogenital distance (AGD) with fertility in dairy cows; however, the mechanism of inverse relationship is not completely understood. In this regard, post-partum uterine infections and their corresponding risk factors could diminish fertility of cows, yet there has been no research exploring the relationship between AGD and postpartum disorders. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AGD and postpartum reproduc-tive performance in dairy cows. METHODS: AGD of Holstein dairy cows of a commercial dairy herd (n = 290) was measured in millimeter at the first postpartum examination (days 28 to 32 postpartum). The cows were classified into three categories based on the AGD length, including short (20% of cows with lowest values), intermediate (60% of cows with moderate values) and long (20% of cows with highest values) AGDs. Additionally, data of postpartum reproductive variables were retrieved form the herd database. Data was analyzed using SAS software version 9.4. RESULTS: The rate of dystocia, twinning, retention of fetal membranes, puerperal metritis and clinical endome-tritis, calf birth weight, and days to first service did not differ among the various AGD categories (P>0.05). However, proportion of male offspring was lower in the short AGD cows than intermediate and long AGD cows (P<0.05). Furthermore, the first service conception rate was greater in the intermediate anogenital distance group than short and long anogenital distance groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study showed suboptimal first postpartum conception rate in the cows with minimal and maximal length of anogenital distance and indicated that this inferior fertility was not mediated through alteration in the rate of postpartum reproductive disorders

BACKGROUND: Kefir is a fermented milk product containing some anticarcinogenic organic compounds with nutritional benefits, which made it one of the natural dairy beverages extensively consumed. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of two selective probiotics on the values of acidic criteria and probiotic survival in the kefir produced in this study. METHODS: In the first step, the cow milk, preheated at 90oC for 5 min, was inoculated with the commercial starter and divided into two groups. They were complemented with L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. paracasei 431 and incu-bated at 30oC for 6 h. They were then preserved at refrigerated temperature up to 14 days and then sampling was carried out to evaluate the changes of values of organic acids (lactic acid and acetic acid), pH, titratable acidity and survival of probiotic complemented bacteria on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days. RESULTS: The pH values of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. paracasei 431 were 4.34 and 4.36 at the beginning of the cold storage and reached 4.27 and 4.31 at day 14. The acidity of L. acidophilus LA-5-complemented kefir on the 1st day was 0.80 gr/100 gr higher than L. paracasei 431-complemented kefir which showed 0.72 gr/100 gr. Lactic acid was ranging from 1.57 to 2.40 gr/100 mL or 2.17 to 2.42 gr/100 mL (from the 1st to the 14th day) in the kefirs complemented with L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. paracasei 431, respectively. In the kefirs complemented with L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. paracasei 431, the acetic acid was stable (from 0.11 to 0.13 gr/100 mL) during 14 days but increased in the later (from 0.11 to 0.23 gr/100 mL) .The survival of both bacteria was higher than 7 logs CFU/gr in the kefir. CONCLUSIONS: Adding L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. paracacei 431 can moderate the acidity of the kefir and extend the survival of complementary probiotics at a standard level during two weeks of cold preservation.

BACKGROUND: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian pathogen that infects various birds worldwide. Recurrent outbreaks of ND consistently occurring in Iran cause substantial economic losses each year. The Northeast region of Iran has an extensive commercial poultry industry and is also a big exporter of poultry products to other countries. Therefore, consistent and dynamic surveillance of the NDV's prevalence in this geographic region is essential in controlling the disease. OBJECTIVES: The virulence of the virus is determined based on the sequence of Fusion (F) protein. However, though the Phosphoprotein (P) and Matrix (M) proteins of NDV are also involved in the evolution and pathogenicity of the virus, molecular evaluation of their genomic loci in the NDVs prevalent in Iran is limited. Here, we present data for the sequences of full-length P and M genes belonging to an NDV that caused the ND outbreak of 2011 in the Northeast of Iran. METHODS: The genomic sequences encoding full-length P and M proteins as well as that of F protein were amplified using PCR and sequenced by the Sanger sequencing. The obtained sequences, plus their translated proteins, were evalu-ated using various bioinformatics approaches, such as homology and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analyses based on P, M, and F genes clustered our isolate together with VII.I.I GenBank se-quences from Iranian sources reported from 2011 to 2019, as well as with those reported from China. But our isolate showed less homology to vaccine strains commonly used in Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that, in addition to the newly evolving sub-genotypes, VII.1.1 variants are still circulating in the region. The weak homology in determinant regions between this strain and those used for vaccine pro-duction must be considered in vaccination programs. Further, the persistent presence of NDV genotypes already prevalent in the Far East in Iran highlights the importance of biosecurity management and dynamic surveillance in controlling ND.

The accessory hepatic lobe is an extremely rare anomaly reported in humans and animals. A large domed solid mass and two smaller masses were noticed during thorax dissection in a six-year-old mixed breed male dog with no previous history of the disease, which was fixed to be used in the anatomy hall. The masses were placed adjacent to the diaphragm, between the lung's right and left caudal lobs. The masses with a common thick vascular pedicle had pierced the diaphragm and run to the falciform ligament of the liver. Histological findings showed liver tissue and hepatocytes were arranged radially around the central vein. There were sinusoids between the hepatocyte plates, dilated as telangiectasia in some areas. The study of the pedicle revealed a normal elastic artery, normal vein, and normal biliary duct crossed to the falciform ligament in the abdomen. The macroscopic and microscopic findings revealed type I intrathoracic ectopic liver.

Due to the threat of vaccination problems and antibiotic resistance, more appropriate approaches are desired to breed disease resistance animals that are now practiced in cattle, sheep, chicken, and fish farming. Over the recent century, breeding programs based on the productive characteristics have increased animals' overall growth rate and produc-tivity. Despite the benefits, livestock breeding with this method has caused many physiological disorders as well as a reduction in overall immunocompetence. This issue highlights the importance of genetic considerations during the process of breeding. One of the most crucial gene clusters identified in animals is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which plays a crucial role in the immune system to distinguishing self from non-self. Recent studies have demonstrated that some MHC regions are highly polymorphic. Also, a significant association between different MHC alleles and susceptibility/ resistance to various diseases has been found. This review summarizes the recent research on MHC polymorphism and its association with immune responses in domestic animals

BACKGROUND: Pain is an unpleasant experience that serves as a survival mechanism and is mediated via the central and peripheral nervous systems. Manna of hedysarum, also called Persian Manna or Taranjebin, is known to have medical properties in Persian traditional medicine. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the current paper is to determine the possible antinociceptive effect of Manna of hedysarum as well as the neurotransmitter systems involved, in mice. METHODS: The first experiment was designed to reveal the effective dose of Manna of hedysarum. Adult male albino mice were injected with Manna of Hedysarum (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) Ethanolic Extract (MHEE) or morphine (5 mg/kg). In experiment 2, MHEE (400 mg/kg), naloxone (2 mg/kg), and MHEE (400 mg/kg) plus naloxone (2 mg/kg) were injected. Experiments 3-5 were similar to experiment 2, except that naloxone was replaced with L-NG-Nitro Arginine Methyl Ester (10 mg/kg), cimetidine (12.5 mg/kg), and cyproheptadine (4 mg/kg). Then the formalin test was performed, and the paw licking time was measured. RESULTS: Based on the findings, MHEE reduced the pain response in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The co-injections of MHEE with mentioned antagonists significantly decreased the antinociceptive effect of MHEE on the licking and biting time of the injected paw (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MHEE has an antinociceptive effect in mice and possibly acts on opioidergic, nitrergic, histaminergic and serotonergic systems

BACKGROUND: Intensive aquaculture, which is always associated with high concentrations of nitrogen pollu-tants, can lead to increased economic damage and energy loss, and increased fish mortality. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the histomorphometry of the skin and stress indices of the Nile tilapia on exposure to different concentrations of ammonia. METHODS: In this study, Nile tilapia fingerlings were prepared and kept in the tub for adaptation, oxygenation, and feeding. A Range Finding test was performed on the fishes to find the ammonia killing range. Then, an acute toxicity test was performed on tilapia fish for 96 hours. For sub-lethal toxicity studies, 120 Nile tilapia fry were divided into 4 groups, including three groups based on different percentages of LC50 96 h (10, 20, and 30% LC50 96h) and a control group. The groups were exposed to ammonia for 14 days in an environment with constant tem-perature and pH control. Finally, histological examination and stress indices were performed on fish. RESULTS: The results showed that a higher concentration of ammonia resulted in tissue damage, including dis-coloration and skin blackening, and behavioral changes, including swallowing air from the water surface, decreased appetite and decreased mobility which finally resulted in death in these animals (P≤0.05). The highest and lowest glucose levels were reported for the control group and 2.7 mg/L. In addition, stress indices were significantly in-creased in experimental groups (P≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained from this study showed that increasing the amount of ammonia can lead to irreversible tissue damage to the structure of the skin and other tissues. In addition, the increase in oxidative stress in the Nile tilapia was due to the increase in ammonia, which led to lesions in these fish

BACKGROUND: Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi, especially Aspergillus spp, on grains and animal feeds. The most important mycotoxins are aflatoxins, including aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in the feed ingredients of livestock and poultry and to evaluate the effect of the season and spatial variation on aflatoxin contamination. METHODS: Ninety-three feedstock samples were collected from three major factories in Kermanshah province, Iran, during four seasons. The samples were analyzed by HPLC, and values for aflatoxins were determined. The sum of the aflatoxins was determined as the total for each sample. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 23 using general linear model (GLM) based on complete block design (samples and seasons). RESULTS: Six out of 93 samples were positive for aflatoxin B1. Positive samples were mainly related to cold seasons. Moreover, no significant difference was found between the positive samples in terms of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, and total). CONCLUSIONS: The aflatoxin B1 levels in animal feed were found higher during rainy seasons compared to the summer season. The aflatoxin B1, carried over from feed to livestock and poultry products in different seasons, may cause high contamination in livestock and poultry products at levels over the tolerance limit. Therefore, continuous surveillance of aflatoxins is required in animal feeds to reduce animal and consequently human exposure

BACKGROUND: The frequency and characteristics of fractures may vary according to the environment. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the fractures of the appendicular and axial skeletons in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and hares (Lepus sp.) presented at a veterinary teaching hospital. METHODS: Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively analyzed over eight years. RESULTS: Twenty-six pet rabbits and five free-ranging hares were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one of them had fractures in the appendicular skeleton, nine in the axial skeleton, and one in both. The fractures were related to traumatic events, such as being hit by a vehicle (22.58%), falling (12.9%), being attacked by another animal (12.9%), and having a paw stuck in a hole (3.22%); 48.38% had an unknown cause. Long bone fractures were found in the humerus (n=2), radius/ulna (n=1), femur (n=5), and tibia (n=12). Fractures involving the distal aspects of the limbs included the tarsus (n=1) and metatarsus (n=2) bones. Except for one rabbit, all of the others had unilateral fractures. Fourteen presented closed fractures, and nine were open fractures. All these fractures were complete, 56.52%% simple, and 43.47% multifragmental. The procedures used included osteosynthesis (42.85%), external coaptation (28.57%), amputation (14.28%), euthanasia (4.76%), and two animals died (9.52%). The fractures of the axial skeleton included the vertebral column (n=6), mandible (n=3), and pelvis (n=2). Five fractures were treated conservatively, and the rabbits were euthanized in four cases. CONCLUSIONS: The fractures resulted from a traumatic episode, which had an unknown origin in most of the cases, involving mainly the appendicular skeleton, being the tibia the bone most affected.

BACKGROUND: Chronic diarrhea is one of the costly pathologic conditions affecting dairy animals owing to its significant impact on economic returns. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinico-fecal alterations associated with underlying disease entities or etiologies in adult dairy cattle and buffaloes with chronic diarrhea. METHODS: Hundred and two adult dairy cattle/buffaloes with a history of diarrhea (≥3- weeks duration) without any other complications were selected for the study. Quantification of parameters viz; frequency of feces, fecal consistency, abnormalities in feces, and secondary clinical signs such as changes in appetite or weight loss was estimated to assess the clinical severity associated with the chronic diarrheic condition. Etiologies identified were confirmed based on diagnostic techniques and laboratory tests (Fecal microscopy, culture using selective media, PCR, and copper estimation using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). RESULTS: Different etiologies identified indicate significant variation (P<0.05), with Balantidium coli infection diagnosed in 38 of 102 adult dairy animals (37.6%) with chronic diarrhea. The nature of diarrhea was established in dietary origin in 9.9% of animals. Salmonellosis infection was diagnosed in seven animals. Amphistomiasis was established in 7 (6.6 %) adult dairy animals. Johne's disease was diagnosed in 4 animals (3.9%). Chronic diarrhea due to copper deficiency was detected in 6.9 percent of animals. Relation between the fecal odor, fecal consistency, and fecal abnormality showed variation with respect to etiologies. However, out of these parameters, body condition score (BCS) had a significant effect concerning the etiology (P<0.05) shown by the P-value on a log of odd scale. Body condition scores differ significantly (P<0.05) among the etiological groups, with variations in scores ranging between 2 and 3.5 in affected animals. All the animals affected with clinical Johne's disease had the lowest body condition score of 2-2.5. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study highlight the need for a detailed and elaborative diagnostic workup to identify the underlying causes of the chronic diarrheic condition in bovines to stamp out the possibility of severe economic losses associated with the condition.