BACKGROUND: The extensive consumption of milk anddairy products makes these foodstuffs targets for potentialadulteration with financial gains for unscrupulous producers.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was using PCR assay todetect cow milk in labeled sheep milk, sheep yoghurt, andLighvan cheese (a traditional ripened cheese produced fromsheep's milk). METHODS: The assay utilized primers targetingthe mitochondrial 12s and 16s rRNA gene. In this study, 35samples of sheep milk, 35 samples of sheep yoghurt, and 35samples of Lighvan cheese were purchased from differentsupermarkets in Mashhad city with different batch numbers.RESULTS: The results showed only 21 out of 105 (20%) samplescontained pure sheep milk. Undeclared presence of cow and goatmilk was detected in 33(31.5%) and 68(65%) of the 105 samples,respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It seems the PCR based analyticalmethod is an applicable technique to monitor adulteration indairy products.

BACKGROUND: Closantel is a broad-spectrum antiparasiticagent and is widely used for the control of Fasciola spp. andHaemonchus spp. infestations in sheep and cattle. OBJECTIVES:The present study was carried out to evaluate the bioequivalenceof a domestic closantel formulation, Fascinil® (DamloranPharmaceutical Co., Iran), in comparison with Flukiver®(Janssen pharmaceutical Co., Belgium) in sheep. METHODS: Ina parallel design, twenty-eight male sheep, 4- 5 months of age,were randomly divided into two groups. First group received asingle dose of Fascinil® oral suspension as a test product at 10mg/kg BW, and the second group received Flukiver® as areference product with the same dose. Blood samples were takenon 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 48, and 72 hours after drugadministration, and the plasma concentrations of closantel weredetermined using a high performance liquid chromatographic(HPLC) method. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed; inaddition, the areas under the plasma concentration-time curvesat 0-72h (AUC0-72), maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax),and times to reach Cmax (Tmax) of the closantel in test andreference groups were compared. RESULTS: There were nosignificant differences in the AUC0-72 (2913.00±648.18,2957.88± 623.41 μg.h/mL), Cmax (62.22±7.74, 71.71±13.03μg/mL), and Tmax (23.38±4.27, 23.23±4.28h) between Fascinil®and Flukiver®, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals fortest: reference ratios of these pharmacokinetic (PK) parameterswere within bioequivalence acceptable range (80-120%).CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the test product (Fascinil®)and Flukiver® are bioequivalent, and they can be used asinterchangeable anthelmintic drugs.

BACKGROUND: Growth promoters are chemical and biologicalsubstances that are added to livestock food with the aimto improve the growth of chickens in fattening and the utilizationof food, and in this way achieve better production and financialresults. OBJECTIVES:An experiment was conducted to evaluatethe effects of enzyme complex, probiotic, and their combinationon performance of broilers fed a basal wheat-barley-soybeanmeal diet from 1 to 47 d of age. METHODS:Atotal of 480-dayoldmale broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to6 treatments, with 4 replicate cages per treatment and 20 birds percage. The experiment consisted of a 3×2 factorial arrangementof the treatments, with 3 concentrations of enzyme complex (0,half of the commercial suggested level or commercial suggestedlevel) and 2 concentrations of probiotic (0 and suggested level).RESULTS: Results showed that the suggested level of enzymecomplex could improve body weight and feed conversion ratio(p<0.05), but addition of probiotic only decreased the feedconversion ratio (p<0.05). There was no interaction betweenenzyme complex and probiotic on performance (p>0.05).Probiotic supplementation did not improve the efficacy ofenzyme complex at any levels. The examination of length andrelative weight of different regions of intestine showed that onlyenzyme complex could decrease the relative weight of duodenumand length of jejunum; however, there was no interactionbetween treatments for these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Thisresearch did not demonstrate any interaction effect betweenenzyme complex and probiotic on broilers performance fedwheat-barley-soybean meal diet.

A2-year-old cachectic cross-breed gelding was admitted toVeterinary Teaching Hospital of University of Tehran followingthe onset of a marked respiratory distress, coughing and ventraledema. Clinical examinations indicated harsh respiratory andexpiratory sounds as well as jugular vein distention. Therespiratory and heart rates were 35/min and 60 bpm, respectively.Agrade III/IV pansystolic murmur with the PMI on the tricuspidvalve, which could be heard on the left side, was detected. Sinustachycardia was revealed by electrocardiography. Rupture of thechorda tendineae of the tricuspid valve, pulmonary arteryregurgitation, pulmonary artery hypertension, tricuspid valveregurgitation, pulmonary artery, and right ventricular dilationwere also found in echocardiography. These findings wereconfirmed at post mortem examinations. On the basis of thefindings, chorda tendineae rapture of the tricuspid valve andright side heart failure due to primary pulmonary hypertensionwere diagnosed.

BACKGROUND: Linguatula serrata, a tongue worm, is anaberrant cosmopolitan parasite, which inhabits the caninerespiratory system (final host). The discharged eggs infect manyplant feeder, including ruminants and human being, that producevisceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis which is known asMarrara syndrome in man. OBJECTIVES:In the current study, theprevalence rate of infection with L. serrata nymphs inmesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs) of slaughteredgoats was investigated by cutting in MLNs and observing themin Isfahan Province, Iran. METHODS: The MLNs of 620slaughtered goats, including 197 females and 423 males, after thepreparation of the lymph nodes, were examined for L. serratanymphs by cutting them longitudinally and testing them by usinga dissecting microscope for L. serrata nymphs. Then, in thesuspected cases, the samples were digested by pepsin andhydrochloric acid and were examined for presence of L. serratanymphs. Goats were categorized into four age groups, including< 1.5 year, 1.5 to 2.5 years, 2.5 to 3.5 years, and > 3.5 years.RESULTS:The results showed that 54.35% of the examined goatswere infected with L. serrata. Sex had no significant effect on theprevalence rate of this parasite in goats. CONCLUSIONS: Ahighprevalence rate of infection in goats suggests a possible similarhigh rate of infection in other animals and man in the investigatedarea, which emphasizes undertaking strict control measures toreduce the risk of zoonotic outbreaks.

BACKGROUND:Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), also known ascalf scours, is caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites.Coronavirus is one of the important causes of NCD syndrome.Electron microcopy has been used for demonstration of virusesin fecal samples of diarrheic calves since 1969. OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence ofcoronavirus in fecal samples of neonatal calf diarrhea usingelectron microcopy examination of fecal samples. METHODS:For the purpose of this study, a total of 100 cases (under 2 monthsof age) of diarrheic calves from 25 commercial farms in fourdistricts of East Azerbaijan province of Iran were used. FreshFecal samples using sterile swab were collected from every calfwith clinical diarrhea. All samples were transferred into a sterilecontainer and then were sent to the laboratory to be kept in -20oCfreezer until examination. Electron microscopic examinationwas applied to all fecal samples. Chi-square test was used toanalyze the data. RESULTS:According to the results of this study,coronavirus was present in 15% of cases and a significantdifference was found between the prevalence rate and theseasons (p<0.05). The highest prevalence was recorded in winter(28%) and the least prevalence was seen in summer (4%). Therewas not any significant difference in both age groups anddifferent districts according to the prevalence rate of infection.CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal calf diarrhea is a multi-etiologicalsyndrome. Among the viral diarrhea, bovine coronavirus is oneof the major causes of this syndrome. For detection ofcoronavirus in feces, electron microscope examination is a goldstandard diagnostic technique. It seems that coronavirus can beconsidered as one of the important etiologies of neonatal calfdiarrhea in east Azerbaijan of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic metaboliteproduced by Aspergillus species that contaminates a wide range ofagricultural products. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed todevelop a rapid and highly sensitive immunoassay method inmicroarray format for quantitative detection of AFB1 to evaluatethe potential of microarray platform for high-throughput screening,which can be beneficial in food and feed industry. METHODS:Following successful optimization, using an indirect competitiveimmunoassay in dot blot format, AFB1-bovine serum albumin(AFB1-BSA) conjugate was contact-printed onto 16 isolated subarrayson multi-pad nitrocellulose coated slides; subsequently usedin competitive binding assays. RESULTS: Using the aforementionedassay, AFB1 was determined from 15 pg/g to 3.04 ng/g workingrange with detection limit (LOD) of 1 pg/g. To evaluate assayperformance in real food matrices, the authors spiked wheatsamples with different concentration of AFB1. After extraction,working ranges of 0.11-4.15 ng/g with detection limit of 30pg/g wasdetermined. Good recoveries (94±9%) were obtained, demonstratingaccurate detection of AFB1 concentrations in wheat samples.Assay procedure completed in 3 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The resultsindicated that the proposed developed assay in microarray formatcould be used for rapid and sensitive detection of AFB1in wheatsamples.

BACKGROUND: Urinary oxalate and citrate are the keyfactors in caox urolithiasis of cats and Gamma GlutamylTransferase is a good test for assessment of kidney damage.Favorable effects of Cynodon dactylon on calcium oxalate stoneformation have recently been proved in rats. OBJECTIVES: Thepresent study was designed to investigate the alteration ofurinary oxalate, citrate, and GGT after administration of thehydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon to experimentalhyperoxaluric cats. No scientific study has been done so far todemonstrate the beneficial effect of this plant in cats. METHODS:13 mature male cats were randomly divided into 3 groups: groupAreceived standard diet and drinking water while, group B andC also received ethylene glycol at sub-toxic dose (130 mg/kg)daily for 30 days. Group C received hydroalcoholic extract ofC.dactylon (400 mg/kg) from day 0 to 30, as well. Urine sampleswere collected on days 0, 15, and 30 and were analyzed foroxalate, citrate, and GGT levels. RESULTS: Urine oxalate levelin group B was significantly higher than group C on days 15 and30. Urinary citrate excretion was significantly higher in group Ccompared to the other groups on day 15; however, it decreasedduring the entire experiment in groups B and C. Urinary GammaGlutamyl Transferase level was increased in hyperoxaluric catsand decreased in the treated group during the experiment.CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, C.dactylon extract couldreduce the hyperoxaluria and has beneficial effects onpreventing the renal damage in cats. Such findings provide ascientific explanation for applying C.dactylon in prevention andpossible treatment of CaOx kidney stones in cats and humans.

BACKGROUND:Avian intestinal spirochetosis (AIS) is causedby spiral-shaped Gram-negative Brachyspira spp. in poultry. It isknown as a cause of diarrhea, low egg production, and increasedoccurrence of dirty eggs in layer hens. OBJECTIVES: In this study,the presence of some Brachyspira spp. was investigated in layinghens. METHODS: A total of 100 cloacal swab samples wereindividually collected from 20 laying hen flocks showing fecal eggstaining in northeast of Iran. RESULTS: Using culture andmorphologic examination, 41 samples (41%) from 20 flocks werepositive; however, by using genus-specific PCR, only 37 (37%)samples were confirmed as Brachyspira spp. Using speciesspecificprimers, single colonization was identified in 18 samplesassociated with B. pilosicoli (48.6%), while single colonizationwith B. intermedia was found in only two samples (5.4%).Simultaneous colonization by B. intermedia and B. murdochii wasdetected in 3 samples (8.1%). B. pilosicoli was the most prevalentspecies in concurrent colonization in 11 cases (29.7%). Finally, cocolonizationby B. intermedia and B. innocens was identified in 3samples (8.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showedthe colonization of different species of Brachyspira withdominance of B. pilosicoli in layer hens.

BACKGROUND: Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoa,which causes abortion in cattle worldwide. OBJECTIVES:The present study was designed to estimate the rate oftransplacental transmission of N.caninum to aborted fetuses inseropositive dams in dairy farms in Mashhad area, Iran.METHODS: Two hundred blood samples of dam with abortedbovine fetuses were collected from dairy farms from 2008 to2010. First , the maternal sera in each aborted case were tested byusing ELISA method, and then the brain samples of abortedfetuses were examined for detecting DNA of N. caninum, usingthe PCR method. RESULTS: In this study, 38 (19%) of dams' serashowed seropositive reaction against N.caninum infection, andalso 23 (10.5%) aborted brain fetuses showed positive reactionby PCR. A significant association was observed betweenN.caninum-serapositie dams and infected aborted fetuses(p<0.0001). In the present study, 20 (86%) infected fetuses wereaborted from seropositive, and 3 (13%) of the fetuses wereaborted from seronegative dams. CONCLUSIONS: Based on theresults of molecular and serology examination, the rate oftransplacental transmission of N. caninum infection in dairycattle were calculated as 52%.