BACKGROUND: Cadmium is a heavy metal harmful to animals and humans. Exposure to it causes inflammation, apoptosis, or necrosis in numerous tissues, including the adrenal.OBJECTIVES: The present research investigates the effect of cadmium toxicity on the expression of genes involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Inflammation increases the rate of parenchymal cell death, and fibrosis will only fill the place of dead cells without being able to perform the function of the primary parenchyma.METHODS: In this research, cadmium chloride with a concentration of 20 mg/kg was added to the diet of ten mice in two groups of five. On the 30th day of the study, the adrenal glands were quickly sent to the laboratory. The expression of NF-kB/MAPK, hematoxylin, eosin tissue staining, and immunohistochemistry (CD163) were performed.RESULTS: The inflammation mentioned in others’ research can also be associated with the activation of the nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB) pathway. NF-κB gene products initiate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p38 pathways. Previous studies indicate that MAPK induces necrosis or apoptosis in tissues. In histopathology, dense and possibly pyknosis nuclei are more common in the cadmium group. The higher expression of the CD163 molecule in the cadmium group reveals the beginning of the fibrosis process after chronic inflammation.CONCLUSIONS: This report provides more basic data to investigate the mechanism of adrenal damage in cadmium poisoning. Cadmium causes the death of cells by affecting the inflammatory pathways. Additionally, the stimulation of the fibrosis process causes greater irreparable damage to the damaged tissue of the adrenal gland.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus with spores, whose biotype A is responsible for a variety of diseases, including intestinal inflammation, bloody diarrhea, and gas gangrene, and hemorrhagic bowel syndrome. Genetic variety can explain the bacteria’s phenotypic diversity, geographic distribution, host specificity, pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance, and virulence. A molecular method using the pattern of DNA bands classifies bacteria based on the size of fragments produced by enzymatic digestion of the genome.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to standardize the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method in identifying the genetic diversity of C. perfringens biotype A isolates.METHODS: The genomic DNA of the investigated strains was extracted, and the complete sequence of the alpha toxin gene locus was synthesized using specific primers designed by PCR technique. Enzymatic cleavage of the synthesized amplicons was performed with the Mse l restriction enzyme, and the resulting fragments were separated by electrophoresis and analyzed by ImageJ and NTSYSPC software.RESULTS: The findings showed that the alpha toxin gene locus sequence may change and is not conserved. In this research, 4 different patterns were identified based on enzymatic cleavage. Mutations in this locus can lead to diversity in C. perfringens biotype A and the creation of new strains.CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research showed that the alpha toxin gene locus could be considered a DNA molecular marker in C. perfringens, and the PCR-RFLP technique can be used as a tool for typing this bacterium and estimating the phylogenetic relationships through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have investigated the positive effect of chitosan and nano-chitosan loaded clinoptilolite on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal histomorphology in different fish species. However, there are no data evaluating the potential effect of the composites on the fish stomach.OBJECTIVES: In the current study, the effects of chitosan and nano-chitosan loaded clinoptilolite on histological features and pepsin activity in the rainbow trout stomach were considered.METHODS: Chitosan and nano-chitosan loaded clinoptilolite were synthesized, and then two hundred and forty fish (~27.75 g) fish were distributed in eight groups each in three replicates. Ten days after adaptation, the fish were fed with eight diets, including control diet (CTR), clinpotilolite (T1), chitosan composites (T2, T3, T4), and nano-chitosan composites (T5, T6, T7) for 70 days. Afterward, all fish in each tank were anesthetized in clove extract (50 μl/l), and tissue samples were obtained for pepsin activity (n= 5) and histological assay (n = 5).RESULTS: The groups administrated with nanochitosan composites showed the highest pepsin activity (P˂0.05). Additionally, histological examinations exhibited a higher epithelial height, increased mucosal density, and oxynticopeptic cells hypertrophy in fish fed composites compared to the CTR group (P˂0.05). Meanwhile, nanochitosan composite administration could cause higher reaction of secreted granules to periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining.CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated the potential application of chitosan and nano-chitosan loaded clinoptilolite composites for improvements in the histomorphology and pepsin activity of the rainbow trout stomach, resulting in higher growth performance.

BACKGROUND Agricultural pesticides can cause environmental pollution and damage to aquatic organisms. Bensulfuron-methyl is a widely used herbicide in agricultural fields, especially rice fields. Despite the solubility of Bensulfuron-methyl in water and its entry into aquatic environments, limited research has been conducted on the toxicity of this herbicide in aquatic organisms.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of chronic toxicity of Bensulfuron-methyl in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).METHODS: The fish were divided into four groups. Group 1 was considered as a control, and groups 2, 3, and 4 were exposed to 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % of the 96 h lethal concentration 50 of Bensulfuron-methyl equal to 0, 0.162, 0.324 and 0.486 g/L.  After 21 days, blood samples, serum levels, and liver tissue of fishes were analyzed.RESULTS: The number of white blood cells increased in groups 2 and 3 (received 0.162 and 0.324 g/L Bensulfuron-methyl) compared to group 1, while a significant decrease was observed in group 4 (received 0.486 g/L Bensulfuron-methyl) compared to other groups. The number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin, and the percentage of hematocrit in groups 3 and 4 showed a significant decrease compared to other groups, and the values of mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were not significantly different in any groups. The amount of total serum protein in groups 3 and 4 decreased significantly compared to the control group. Serum glucose showed a significant increase in groups 3 and 4 compared to other groups. The values for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes showed an increasing trend with the increase of Bensulfuron-methyl concentration. The most liver tissue damage was observed in group 4, which included hyperemia, hepatocyte vacuolar degeneration, edematous cell infiltration, bile duct hyperplasia, and hepatic necrosis.CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the concentration of Bensulfuron-methyl can cause liver tissue damage and changes in hematological and serum biochemical markers in common carp.

BACKGROUND: Milk and dairy products are important sources of food-borne pathogens. Non-pasteurized dairy products are popular due to home production, beliefs about their higher nutritional value, high accessibility, and taste.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the consumption pattern of local dairy products in women in Qom, Iran, in 2022, and determine the affecting factors.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2022, 319 women in Qom were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Their demographic information (age, educational level, employment status, and income) and consumption of local dairy products were surveyed. In addition, a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with 32 items and 4 subscales (attitude towards nutrition, subjective norms, behavioral intention, and nutritional behavior) was completed. The data was analyzed in SPSS software using ANOVA, and Chi-square test.RESULTS: Overall, the consumption rate of local milk was 82.3 %; yogurt, 85.1 %; cheese, 57.3%; cream, 53.7 %; butter, 42.3 %; and curd, 33.9 %. Regarding the daily consumption rate, the highest consumption rate was related to milk (13.9 %) and yogurt (11.8 %), and the lowest consumption was related to curd (3.1%) and cream (5.1 %). The type of dairy consumed was significantly related to behavioral intention and nutritional attitude (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the type of consumed dairy in terms of the husband's occupation (P=0.001), but there was no significant difference in terms of educational level, marital status, employment status, and relationship with the villagers (P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of local dairy products consumption, especially milk and yogurt, is high in women living in Qom. Their behavioral intention to consume healthy dairy products is at good level, but they do not have proper nutritional attitude and nutritional behavior. Therefore, the risk of developing common zoonotic diseases, including brucellosis and crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is high in Qom.

BACKGROUND: Based on the historical and recently published documents, it has been demonstrated that Mirabilis jalapa as a herbal medicine may be used as remedies for various health problems included wound healing purposes.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi green leaf on healing open wounds induced by skin puncture in the back of rats.METHODS: Collecting and drying Laleh abbasi leaves, leaf extracting through Soxhlet procedure, analyzing the extract via gc / ms method, and preparing eucerin-based extract ointment were done according to recommended routine procedures. Herein, we recruited 40 male rats that were randomly divided into five groups of eight, namely the control, phenytoin treatment, eucerin, 5% eucerin extract, and 7.5% eucerin extract ointment treatment groups. Skin puncture and application of ointments on the induced wounds were carried out. Subsequently, tissue samples were taken on days 3, 7, 10, and 14, followed by which histological slides were prepared and stained with H&amp;E and Masson’s trichrome staining methods. In vitro mycological studies were conducted using opportunistic fungi, including Candida, Mucor, and Aspergillus species.RESULTS: Based on the macroscopic evaluations of the wound healing process and microscopic assessments of tissue samples stained with Harris H&amp;E and Masson’s trichrome methods, the groups treated with eucerin-based ointments containing ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaf had statistically significant positive wound healing responses compared to the other groups. However, the 7.5% ointment group showed statistically better responses compared to the 5% ointment group. The data obtained in the present preliminary experiment on rat model indicated that the extract could facilitate the wound healing process in terms of healing parameters, such as accelerating epithelium repair, creating a favorable inflammatory reaction, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, and collagen precipitation. The antifungal effects of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaves on Aspergillus fumigatos, fusarium, Candida albicans and Candida cruzei were demonstrated in vitro using saboro dextrose agar medium.CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this experimental study and the findings of other researchers, it can be concluded that ethanolic extract from Laleh abbasi leaves is of healing and antifungal properties.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is the cause of a common disease in dairy herds. Early diagnosis of paratuberculosis infection can improve Johne’s disease control programs.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity, and specificity to methods; blood serum ELISA and stool Nested-PCR for the detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in dairy cattle.METHODS: A commercial ELISA kit was used to perform the absorbed ELISA test, which was conducted after exposing serum samples to Mycobacterium phlei antigens to limit cross-reactions. Nested-PCR test was performed using nucleotide sequences related to specific MAP gene fragments, i.e. IS900.RESULTS: As a result of the ELISA antibodies kit, out of the total 2203 serum samples, 112 samples were positive (5.08 %) and 2091 samples were negative (94.92 %). The results of Nested-PCR tests of rectal feces showed that out of 59 cows with the positive results in serum ELISA, 47 (79.66 %) samples were positive and 12 (20.34 %) samples were negative. Moreover, out of 31 cattle with a negative result on the ELISA test, 15 (48.38%) and 16 cattle (51.62 %) had positive and negative results, respectively, on the nested PCR tests of the feces samples.CONCLUSIONS: Due to the low sensitivity of PCR compared to ELISA, the positive and negative predictive values, and the accuracy of ELISA test, as well as the high cost and time-consuming nature of PCR and the need for more and more complex facilities than ELISA, the authors concluded that ELISA is a more suitable method for screening and epidemiological studies than PCR.

BACKGROUND: Horses are economically and emotionally valuable animals in various activities, especially sports. Thus, paying attention to their limb's health and conformation is vital. One of the most common diseases in the limbs of horses is laminitis. Horses with this condition suffer from lameness because it affects laminar tissue. In addition to clinical signs, radiographic criteria are essential for identifying this disease.OBJECTIVES: It is predicted that examining the effectiveness of quantitative radiographic criteria of the hoof can be helpful in the diagnosis of laminitis. Therefore, in this study, five quantitatively effective factors were investigated before and after hoof trimming to determine the changes in the radiographic diagnosis of laminitis.METHODS: A total of 11 clinically healthy horses were used in the current study. Using Marco DICOM Viewer software, lateral and dorsopalmar radiographs from the hoofs of both forelimbs were evaluated for the diagnosis of laminitis using effective quantitative criteria. Using SPSS version 24, paired T-tests were used to analyze quantitative data. P≤0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS: According to the results of this study, there were no significant differences between the right and left forelimbs after hoof trimming. On the other hand, significant differences were observed in the four following criteria: dorsal thickness between the dorsal surface of the third phalanx and the dorsal surface of the hoof, the angle between the dorsal surface of the third phalanx and the dorsal surface of the hoof, sole thickness, and the ratio of the third phalanx dorsal surface thickness to its maximum length in each forelimb before and after hoof trimming.CONCLUSIONS: During the radiographic examination, the hoof should be positioned in a standard way to diagnose laminitis accurately. However, if the hoof is not trimmed or not trimmed properly, it can interfere with laminitis diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Excretory urography is a method of imaging the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder which uses contrast medium containing the iodine compounds.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical structures of urinary tract in the nephrogram, pilogram, and cystogram phases, and determine the exact standard for the size of kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder in guinea pigs to be used to interpret the results, and clinical decisions.METHODS: This study was carried out on 10 guinea pigs with a mean age of 12±1.33 months and average weight of 1.12±0.18 kg. Before to the administration of contrast medium, each guinea pig was fast and Dimethicone 20 mg/kg was given orally. At the time of administration of contrast agent, each animal was sedated by using Ketamine 30 mg/kg and diazepam 5 mg/kg cocktail, and then 1500 mgI/kg of meglumine compound 60 % was injected subcutaneously over the shoulder area. Ventrodorsales and lateral abdominal X-rays were taken, thereafter every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes to complete the pylogram phase. In lateral radiographs of each guinea pig, the length of the body of the second lumbar vertebra was measured to be used as an indicator in determining the standard size of the kidneys.RESULTS: Based on the results of this study, the average length, width, and thickness of the right kidney compared to the length of the second lumbar vertebra were 2.19, 1.64, and 1.33 cm, and in the left kidney of 2.09, 1.53, and 1.41 cm and this average in right and left ureter was 6.41 and 6.22 cm, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The exact standards can be used in the interpretation of results, and clinical decisions to determine the normal and abnormal size of kidneys, ureters and bladder in the guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: The use of plant compounds and their derivatives, such as extracts and essential oils, for combating infectious agents has attracted a great deal of scientific attention. One of the active antimicrobial compounds with plant origin is carvacrol.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of carvacrol alone and in combination with the antibiotic cefixime against Escherichia coli O157:H7.METHODS: The antibacterial properties of carvacrol and cefexime were evaluated by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and disk diffusion method. The checkerboard assay was used to evaluate the interaction between the carvacrol and cefexime and to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration.RESULTS: The results showed that the MIC and MBC of carvacrol and cefexime against E.coli O157:H7 were 250, 250 μg/ml (MIC, MBC) and 128, 128 μg/ml (MIC, MBC), respectively. In the checkerboard test, carvacrol was found to have a synergistic interaction with antibiotic cefixime against E. coli O157:H7 (FIC index=0.5).CONCLUSIONS: Due to the significant antibacterial activity of carvacrol, the present study introduced this agent as a new antibacterial drug with a natural origin. In addition, since carvacrol significantly increased the antibacterial potential of cefixime (synergistic properties), it could be considered as an effective compound for increasing the antibacterial power of cefixime antibiotic.