BACKGROUND: There is not enough information about theeffects of heat stress and photoperiod on different lobes structure.OBJECTIVES: The present study aims at determining thehistological changes and the rate of changes in each lobes of ratprostate, affected by photoperiod changes and heat stress.METHODS:To this end, 15 adult male wistar rats were divided tothree groups: 1. the control group in which the rats were kept in12L: 12D and 25°C temperature condition, 2. the heat stressgroup in which the rats were kept in 12L: 12D and 42+1 °Ctemperature condition for 4 to 5 hours per day, and 3. thephotoperiod group in which the rats were kept in 16L: 8D and25°C temperature condition. After 30 days, samples were takenfrom different lobes and sections with 5 to 6μ thickness weremade and stained by H&amp;E and PAS. RESULTS: The microscopicresults showed that histomorphometrical structure andhistochemical reactions of the different lobs of normal prostateof the rats are different. The proportion of parenchyma to stromadecreased by heat stress; however, it increased by photoperiod.The maximum changes were seen in ventral lobe. The epithelialthickness, lumen diameter, and number of secretory units alsoincreased by photoperiod (16L:8D), but it decreased by heatstress. The number of secretory cells were increased by heatstress because the cell size decreased; however, they decreasedby long photoperiod regime. The number of folded secretoryunits increased by photoperiod, while heat stress has an adverseeffect (p<0.001). The serum testosterone increased by longphotoperiod and decreased by heat stress (p<0.01).CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that long photoperiod hasimportant effects on increasing the rat prostate parenchyma andits activity.

BACKGROUND: Protozoa are common in poultry and otherbirds and can cause mild to severe disease. OBJECTIVES: Thisstudy was concerned with the prevalence of parasitic protozoa inwild waterfowl in Caspian sea lagoons in the North of Iran.METHODS:Atotal of 293 waterfowl belonging to various generaincluding Tadorna tadorna (common shelduck),Aythya fuligula(Tufted duck), Aythya ferina (Common puchard), Spatulaclypeata (Shoveler), Anser anser (greylag goose), CygnusCygnus (Whooper Swan), Anas strepera (Gadwall), AnasPenelope (Eurasian Widgeon), Anas crecca (common teal), andAnas platyrhynchos (mallard) were sampled and tested forintestinal, tracheal, and blood protozoa between winter 2010 andspring 2011. RESULTS: The results showed that 184 birds of 293(62.8%) harbored protozoan parasites. The highest prevalence ofprotozoan contamination belonged to Giardia spp (24.2%) andthe lowest belonged to Haemoproteus spp. (6.1%). Thricomunasgallinea, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. werefound in 7.2%, 8.2%, and 17% of waterfowl, respectively.Moreover, statistical analyses showed that the highest rate ofgiardiosis was in female Aythya fuligula (43.75%). However,tricomuniasis belonged to Anas crecca (30.5%). On the otherhand, female Cygnus cygnus had the highest rate ofcryptosporidiosis (44.7%), and more infection to Haemoproteusand Plasmodium spp. were observed in Anas platyrhynchos,concurrently. CONCLUSIONS: Migration of various species ofwaterfowl toward the northern parts of Iran has an importantimpact on parasitic diseases in birds and human in these regions.

BACKGROUND: The Ostrich is an interesting subject concerninganimal evolution and morphology studies. It has been speculatedthat ostrich eyes would have distinct tissue structures and this hasnot been previously studied in detail. OBJECTIVES: The aim of thepresent study was to investigate the histology of the outer layer ofthe ostrich. METHODS: Ten mature ostriches were chosen from anostrich breeding center in Jupar, Kerman, Iran. All of them were ina good shape and healthy condition. After slaughter, their headswere kept in 10 % formalin solution for 7 days and then the eyes wereremoved. Routine histological techniques were done and 6-μmthicksections were cut. Sections were stained with standardhematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) and Masson's trichrome and PAS.The sections were studied under a light microscope. RESULTS:Thecornea of ostrich had both dermal and sclera components and thetwo distinct parts were separated by a distinct zone; in addition, thesclera was divided into an episclera zone and a sclera proper zone.CONCLUSIONS: The outer layer of the episclera composed ofconnective fibers loosely attached to the sclera proper. The innerlayer of the sclera consisted of dense connective tissues with twocartilaginous parts continuing over the oraserrata that composeddense connective fibers and ossicles.

BACKGROUND: Ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis are important tick-borne diseases of sheep and goats which are distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess hematological status in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasma and Theileria spp. to clarify the pathogenic aspects of various species involved in ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis in Ahvaz region. METHODS: 109 sheep were sampled, and blood parasite infections were diagnosed by microscopic examination and PCR. The blood samples were also subjected to hematologic assessment. RESULTS: PCR analysis revealed A. ovis infection in 86.2% of sheep, while mixed infections with A. marginale were also detected in 53.2% of them. However, Anaplasma inclusion bodies were only observed in 32.1% of the tested animals. T. ovis were found in 88% of the inspected sheep by PCR, and 67.8% of them were detected microscopically, as well. Hematologic assessment showed that mean RBC, PCV, Hb, and MCHC were significantly lower, whereas MCV and RDW were higher in the animals with mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria, compared to the uninfected sheep and groups with single infection or without parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS: In brief, it seems that Anaplasma can be activated and induce its pathogenesis in the presence of other infective agents in the carrier or asympthomatic animals. It can also be concluded that mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria may induce a regenerative anemia which is most likely attributable to a combined effect of the two.

BACKGROUND: Normal bacterial flora of the conjunctiva, which inhibits growth of opportunistic organisms, has an important role in the prevention of ocular infections. If resident flora is inhibited by disease or long-term application of antibiotics, opportunistic pathogens overgrow, leading to disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ophthalmic chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin on bacterial conjunctival flora in healthy dogs. METHODS: A total of 16 animals were divided into 2 equal groups which received either chloramphenicol (CHL) (0.5%) or ciprofloxacin (CIP) (0.3%). In both groups, the right eye of each animal was treated with 2 drops of antibiotics every 8 and 6 hours, respectively, for 1 week and the left eye received artificial tear solution and served as control. Bacterial and fungal cultures were performed 8 hours before and after the treatment. Fisher’s Exact test and SPSS software were used for statistical analyses (p<0.05). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between control and test eyes and bacterial isolates in both groups. In CHL group, after treatment Staphylococcus spp (62.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%) from the right eyes and Staphylococcus spp (75%) and Bacillus spp (12.5%) from left eyes were isolated. In CIP group, after treatment the bacterial isolates of right eyes were Staphylococcus spp (87.5%), Aerococcus spp (37.5%), Viridans streptococcus (25%), Micrococcus spp (12.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%); Staphylococcus spp (75%), Micrococcus spp (25%), Bacillus spp (12.5 %) were isolated from left eyes of dogs after 1 week administration of artificial tear. CONCLUSIONS: Topically applied chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacinhad no significant changes in or detrimental effects on normal bacterial flora of treated dogs.

BACKGROUND: It is commonly acknowledged that the most safe and method of choice anesthesia in birds is inhalation anesthesia but in some clinical situations, such as tracheal resection, injectable anesthetic agents are the only choice of surgeons regardless of whether or not an anesthesia machine is available. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the quality of anesthesia and recovery time of isoflurane and propofol in domestic pigeons. METHODS: Twenty pigeons (Columba livia domesticus), weighing 302.5±37.95g (Mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to two groups of ten. One group was anesthetized by isoflurane (Iso-group), and the anesthesia lasted for 30 minutes. The other group received 14 mg/kg of propofol (1%) at constant rate (CRI) through basilica (wing) vein catheter to induce anesthesia (Pro-group). 1.33 mg/kg per min of propofol was infused to keep pigeons anesthetized for 30 minutes, using an injection pump. Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and percentage of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2%) were recorded in all three phases including before induction of anesthesia, during anesthesia at minutes 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30, and after recovery time in both groups. RESULTS: Anesthesia caused significant effects on respiratory rate, heart rate, and SpO2% (p≤0.05). Recovery times in both groups were significantly different (longer in propofol group). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that the pigeons anesthetized with isoflurane have a soft and fast anesthesia; however, the pigeons were anesthetized with propofol, had a rough induction thatwas not uniform for all pigeons. Isoflurane showed that it is safer than propofol to anesthetize pigeons.

Background: In vitro model studies are becoming increasingly popular for experimental research designs. They include isolation and expansion of cells of a particular tissue, such as the nervous tissue which contributes to understanding the underlying mechanisms in many pathologies. It enables  the scrutinization of intracellular signaling pathways responsible for cell death. OBJECTIVES: In the literature, there are different methods for the isolation and culture of rat embryonic cortical neurons. However, this study developed a feasible, rapid and easily performable method. METHODS: Isolation of neurons was performed without using enzymatic digestion. Primary cortical cultures neurite outgrowth and neuron numbers per field of common mediums were compared for neuronal cells isolation and expansion. In this study, three different culture mediums were considered: Medium I: Neurobasal medium, B-27 and L-glutamine; Medium II: DMEM, FBS and L-glutamine; and Medium III: DMEM/F-12, FBS and L-glutamine. RESULTS: High survival rate and number of neurons was obtained with the current method. The best neuronal growth was achieved by Medium I, while Medium II and III had moderate effect on the neurite outgrowth. CONCLUSIONS: Enzyme-free treatment was introduced and Medium I was used as an alternative method for optimal neuron isolation and expansion. The neuronal cultures are similar to nervous tissue in physiological aspects. Hence, Medium I is more similar to the in vivo condition compared to Mediums II and III.

Background: Metabolic profiles have been used in efforts to predict pre parturient problems and fertility, to diagnose metabolic diseases, and to assess nutritional status in dairy cows. These profiles may help to confirm the diagnosis of sub clinical diseases, to be aware of possible causes of infertility in the herds, or to monitor improvement in herd animals. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated changes in the metabolic profile of high producing Holstein dairy cows from early lactation to close-up dry periods. The results of the current research can provide useful guidelines for management strategies during different physiological phases of high producing Holstein dairy cows. METHODS: Twenty-five multiparous high producing Holstein dairy cows were selected from a high producing industrial dairy farm. Cattle were divided into 5 equal groups of early, mid and late lactation and far-off and close-up dry cows. Blood samples were collected from all cows and sera were separated to evaluate glucose, insulin, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high, low and very low density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol). RESULTS: The highest levels of insulin were detected in mid lactation and close-up dry periods. The changing patterns of BHBA and NEFA were significant and the highest levels of these biomarkers were detected in the early lactation group. The decreasing pattern of BHBA and NEFA were seen from early lactation to far-off dry cows. Significant elevations were seen in these biomarkers from far-off to close-up dry cows. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that metabolic biomarkers change in high producing Holstein dairy cows, under different physiological states. These changes are induced commonly by negative energy balance, lactogenesis and fetal growth in each state.

Background: Coccidiosis is recognized as the parasitic disease that has the greatest economic impact on poultry production. Modern poultry production is largely dependent upon anticoccidials. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the efficacy of two chemical anticoccidials (Clopidol and Diclazuril) on oocyst shedding and their probable effects on growth performance and feed efficiency of broilers in experimental coccidiosis. Methods: One hundred and twenty Ross 308 one day old broilers were randomly assigned into 4 groups: CON+, infected with Eimeria mixed oocysts but not medicated; CON-, not infected and not medicated; CLO, infected and medicated with Clopidol; DIC, infected and medicated with Diclazuril. Chickens in all groups except negative control were inoculated by mixed sporulated oocysts of pathogenic Eimeria at the end of the 3rd week of age. Oocyst shedding was counted using a Mc Master counting chamber. Body weights, body weight gains, and feed conversion ratio were determined on weekly basis. Results: Obtained results showed that Diclazuril was more effective in reducing oocyst shedding than Clopidol. As expected, mean body weight in the positive control group was lower than other groups. But surprisingly, no significant difference was found between Diclazuril or Clopidol treated birds and positive control group, at the end of the experiment. In comparison of weight gain in different treatment groups except for the 4 and 5th week, no significant difference was found in different groups. In the last week of the experiment, difference in weight gain between groups was not significant. According to feed conversion ratio (FCR)  results, anticoccidial supplementation did not have any significant effect on improving FCR. ConclusionS: It is reported that some anticoccidials reduce feed consumption and feed conversion. It seems that neither of the present synthetic anticoccidials is completely satisfactory in controlling coccidiosis economic losses and new strategies are urgently required.

Background: Nutritional strategies targeting improvement of poultry performance and disease prevention are currently being developed and in this respect the dietary intake of spiced essential oils and pre-biotics in raising broilers is receiving attention. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the effects of diet containing ginger essential oils (GEO) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) on growth performance,  biochemical and hematological parameters, lymphoid organ weights and antibody response of broilers. METHODS: A total of 375 day old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments (five replicates per treatment). Dietary treatments included basal diet as control, GEO-supplemented diets with inclusion levels of 50 (GEO1), 100 (GEO2) or 200 (GEO3) mg/kg, and MOS supplemented diet with an inclusion level of 2 g/kg. RESULTS: The birds fed on MOS and GEO3 diets exhibited better feed conversion ratio and higher body weight gain from 1 to 42 day of age compared with control birds (p<0.05). Serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level in the MOS, GEO2 or GEO3 groups was lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). Serum cholesterol level was also lower in the GEO2 and MOS groups (p<0.05). Feeding on GEO3 and MOS diets significantly increased relative bursa weight and secondary antibody titer against infectious bursal disease (IBD) and infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccines as compared with control diet (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that higher level of GEO (200 g/kg) similar to MOS supplementation, improved feed efficiency and immune response. This could meet consumers’ demand for a safe feed additive.