BACKGROUND: Canine low-dose sepsis model provides a reliable setting to study innovative drugs. Li- popolysaccharides (LPS), a major constituent of bacterial outer membrane, have been demonstrated to play a critical role in the initiation of pathogenesis. Lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis has been extensively studied in laboratory animals; but its importance has mainly remained unknown in dogs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present survey was to examine the effectiveness of quercetin, along with hydrocortisone on clinical and hematological alterations, and organ failure (liver and heart) in low-dose lipo- polysaccharide-induced canine sepsis model. METHODS: For this purpose, fifteen clinically healthy mixed dogs were randomly divided into three equal groups. Lipopolysaccharide (0.1 μg/kg, IV) was injected to dogs in group A (control). Group B was similar to group A, but quercetin bolus (2 mg/kg, IV, once) was injected 40 minutes after LPS injection. Group C was similar to group B; however, hydrocortisone bolus (2 mg/kg, IV, once) was administered instead of quercetin. Serum levels of glucose, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase isoenzyme muscle/brain (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) concentration were measured by commercial kits. RESULTS: In control group, red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (HCT) significant-  ly decreased and serum activities of AST, ALP, LDH, CK-MB, and plasma cTn-I significantly increased (P<0.05). RBCs, Hb, and HCT significantly increased in quercetin group, compared with hydrocortisone and control groups (P<0.05). Quercetin group significantly decreased LDH, CK-MB, and cTn-I compared with hydrocortisone and control groups (P<0.05). Quercetin significantly decreased AST in comparison to control group and ALP in comparison to hydrocortisone group, also (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that quercetin protects RBCs in the early stages of sepsis and de- creases organs dysfunction (heart and liver), therefore it has a positive influence on sepsis and may be more effective than routine corticosteroid (hydrocortisone) therapy.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a highly versatile pathogen of a large number of domestic ani- mals, including avian species. There is limited information about S. aureus isolated from companion and wild birds in Iran. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine drug resistance and random-amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) pattern of S. aureus isolated from birds referred to the pet birds’ clinic of University of Tehran. METHODS: During the study period, 53 isolates of S. aureus were recovered from companion birds of var- ious species using standard bacteriologic procedures and the respective drug resistance patterns were deter- mined for a panel of 30 antimicrobial agents by agar disk-diffusion method. RAPD-PCR was performed with two different 10-bp oligonucleotide primers in a duplex-PCR procedure. RESULTS: The findings of this study demonstrated that S. aureus resistance to oxacillin, clindamycin and methicillin were 58, 53 and 53%, respectively. The multi-drug resistance (MDR) was found among all isolates. The MDR pattern was variable and ranged from 0 to 17 drugs. In total, all 53 isolates generated 43 different resistance patterns. In RAPD-PCR, five different patterns of A, B, C, D and E were found. Among 53 isolates, 20, 62, 3, 9 and 3% belonged to RAPD patterns of A, B, C, D and E, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the widespread antimicrobial resistance among S. aureus isolated from pet birds; in particular, the presence of MRSA isolates. The value of RAPD-PCR for epidemiologic monitoring of S. aureus in pet birds also was noticed.

BACKGROUND: In ovo injection of nutrients as an early feeding method in birds directly supplies the nu- trients to the developing embryo. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection of nicotonic acid, panto- thenic acid and folic acid on the performance and immune system of broilers. METHODS: 450 Ross 308 fertile eggs were divided into 5 groups and placed in a hatchery machine. Five experimental groups included in ovo injection of 0.121 mg of nicotonic acid, 0.052 mg of pantothenic acid, 0.007 mg of folic acid on the 14th day of incubation period, positive control or injection control (physiological serum injection) and negative control (non injecting control). RESULTS: At the age of 18 days of the rearing period, injection of pantothenic acid and nicotinic acid in- creased the antibody titre against Newcastle Virus and folic acid and pantothenic acid reduced the SRBC titer. At 35 days of age, nicotinic acid and folic acid had lower SRBC titer than the negative control group. The highest lymphocyte to heterophilia ratio was observed in the pantothenic acid group and the lowest levels were seen in the folic acid group. In ovo injection of nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid caused weight loss in chicks during the first and second weeks of rearing period compared to positive and negative controls groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated a positive effect of in ovo injection of pantothenic acid and nichotinic acid on some immune parameters of broiler chicks. In despite of the negative effect of in ovo injection of nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid on growth rate of chicks during the first and second week of age, there was a compensatory growth for the nicotinic acid group such that this treatment positively influenced the final weight of the broilers.

Background: Equine wounds, particularly those involving the distal portion of the limbs, often undergo prolonged complex healing and may enter a non-healing state with obvious financial and welfare implications. Poor blood supply and lower levels of oxygen to the lower limbs lead to imbalance of growth factors related to wound healing. Decellular amniotic membrane has been widely used in soft tissue engineering especially skin regeneration due to its biological and mechanical properties. It is used as a scaffold for treatment of partial full thickness wound dressing. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the effects adipose derived mesenchymal cells (ADMSCs) cultured on decellularized amniotic membrane (DAM) in wound healing of distal part of equine limb. METHODS: Stem cells were isolated from adipose tissue in the base of the tail and then cultured and seeded on bovine decellular amniotic membrane. Full thickness excision wounds (2x3 cm) were created on the mid-lateral of all metatarsus of each horse aseptically. The wounds were classified into four groups: the first one covered by DAM seeded by ADMSCs, the second one dressed with only DAM, the third one treated with1% silver sulfadiazine, and the last one as control with no treatment. Digital photographs of wounds were obtained at each bandage change while biopsy samples were obtained for histopathology at days 5, 15 and 30 after treatment. RESULTS:Wounds treated with DAM/ADMSCs significantly demonstrated promotion of wound healing in geometric analysis of total wound area, epithelialization and wound contraction compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Microscopically, re-epithelization of wounds covered by DAM/ADMSCs and DAM at day 5 was significantly more than Control group (P<0.05). Fibroplasia in wounds treated with DAM/ADMSCs and DAM was higher than the group that received sulfadiazine (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate positive effects of using DAM to improve the quality and speed of wound healing. Use of DAM as a scaffold for ADMSCs shows better results.

Background: Avian rotaviruses are one of the important agents of enteritis in birds and have a worldwide distribution. These viruses have an important role in runting and stunting syndrome in chickens. Objectives: The aim of this study was detection and molecular characterization of avian rotaviruses in broiler farms in Guilan province. Methods: In this study, 100 samples were collected on different farms from the intestines of healthy and diseased broiler chickens and tested by RT-PCR targeting of the NSP4 gene. Sequencing of NSP4 gene has been used for characterization of detected viruses. ResultS: Avian rotaviruses were detected in 46% of samples by RT-PCR. Partial sequencing of seven NSP4 genes and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the viruses belonged to group A avian rotaviruses and were 97.52% to 100% homologous. Sequence identity between viruses with previous chicken rotavirus sequences was 31.68% to 99.5%. In comparison with turkey rotavirus Ty-1 and pigeon rotavirus, the homology was 76.98% to 78.22% and 74.75% to 76.98%, respectively. Evident differences were detected between the rotaviruses studied and human and pig rotaviruses with homologies of 31.19% to 38.86% for pig and 47.77% to 48.02% for human viruses. Conclusions: This study was the first molecular characterization of avian rotaviruses in Iran. Results of this study showed that the group A avian rotaviruses are one of the considerable enteric pathogens in broiler chickens of Guilan province. Further study on the whole genome structure could elucidate the evolutionary process of avian rotaviruses circulating in Iran.

Background: Fasciola hepatica is a genus of the trematodes which mainly affects the liver of sheep and these livestock are accidentally infected by eating plants or drinking water contaminated with the metacercariae of this parasite. These parasites can cause considerable economic damage by destroying the liver and bile ducts. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ultrasonographic diagnosis in chronic hepatic fasciolysis of sheep and to provide ultrasonography views of fasciolosis in sheep’s liver. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 256 sheep of the Makoei breed, including 130 male (50.8%) and 126 female (49.2%) with diagnosis of chronic fasciolosis confirmed by the appearance of fluke eggs in feces and using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were referred to the Department of Radiology and Ultrasonography, Doppler ultrasound was performed. Average age of sheep was 2.1 years (minimum age 7 months and maximum age 6 years). Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 11.5) and the statistical test was chi-square test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In the results, 55.6% of sheep had ascites in the abdominal cavity and in 5.7% and 11.3%, bile ducts and gallbladder were affected, respectively, and in 4.8% of sheep both the liver and the bile ducts were involved. In 22.6% of sheep, there was no abnormal finding in ultrasound. The most common site of injury was in the posterior part of the right lobe of liver. There was no significant difference between the place of involvement in the liver, age and sex of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, ultrasonography can play an important role in the diagnosis and follow up of sheep’s chronic fasciolosis treatment.

Abstract: Background: Hemiscorpius lepturus is a medically important scorpion found along the Iranian borders, especially near to Khuzestan Province in the south-west of Iran. This is the only non-buthid scorpion which is potentially lethal in southern Iran and is responsible for severe dermonecrotic scorpionism. OBJECTIVES: In this study, DNA fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) gene of H. Lepturus for the molecular phylogenetic analysis was amplified. METHODS: We amplified  a 624 bp gene fragment of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COXI) from H. lepturus collected from Khuzestan, Ahvaz by PCR. After sequencing of the PCR products, the phylogenetic analysis was performed using the neighbor-joining method with 1000 replicates of bootstrapping using the MEGA7 software. RESULTS: The results of phylogenetic analysis revealed four distinct clusters (A1, A2, B and C) belonging to the family of Hemiscorpionidae that were grouped together with bootstrap score between 77-96%. The gene fragment of Hl-Kh formed a cluster relative to the only scorpion of H. Lepturus (Hl) from Izeh, Iran with a good bootstrap score of 96. These two samples isolated from the Khuzestan province of Iran are closely related, as they clustered together as Cluster B. The genetic distances of Hl-Kh among the cluster A1, A2 and C ranged from 16 to19% and the lowest interspecific distance was in cluster B between Hl-Kh and Hl (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Hl-Kh isolated from the Khuzestan province of Iran are closely related to Hl, as they showed the greatest interspecific variation observed in Hemisccorpius genus in this study. Although the sample size in Cluster B is not large enough to draw a final conclusion, the percentage of sequence divergence was high enough for interspecific comparisons to provide separation of species.

Background: Up until now, the effect of thyroid hormones on the male reproductive organ, after puberty, is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the morpho-histometrical effects of thyroid hormone deficiency on the adult-male rat reproductive organs were investigated. MATHODS: Thirty adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10): control, hypothyroid, and hypothyroid which receives Levothyroxine. After 4-months we examined the number of spermatogonia cells, primary spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells, as well as the seminiferous tubules epithelium thickness, area of seminiferous tubules, and the diameter and thickness of testis artery walls. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the hypothyroid and control rats in terms of the area of seminiferous tubules, the number of spermatogonia cells, primary spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells. Moreover, the epithelium thickness of seminiferous tubules and the diameter and thickness of artery walls were significantly decreased in hypothyroid group compared with the control rats. CONCLUSIONS: These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that hypothyroidism can affect the male fertility and declare that it may influence male reproduction by reducing the testis blood flow.

Background: The safety evaluations of sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide-Nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) were done by dermal exposure, acute dermal and eye irritation/corrosion, and skin sensitization according to the guideline for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was the evaluation of safety and toxicity of TiO2-NPs following acute sunscreen exposure. METHODS: TiO2 and TiO2-NPs (20-40 nm and 98% purity) were purchased in the anatase crystal phase, and five types of concentration for sunscreens were made which were carried out in five different treatment groups in mice and rabbits. RESULTS: In acute eye irritation using rabbits, the only irritation effect was observed in the conjunctivae area within one hour after administration both in TiO2-NPs group and TiO2-Ps. In acute dermal irritation using rabbits did not show a significant difference among groups in different concentrations and durations. Similarly, in a skin sensitization test using mice, contact hypersensitivity (CHS) did not show a significant difference (P<0.05) among groups in 15% concentration of TiO2 in the different durations after application. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding demonstrates that TiO2-NPs and TiO2-Ps in sunscreens are relatively safe and did not induce statistically significant eye and dermal irritation and skin hypersensitivity

Background: To prevent the recurrence of hydatid cysts after surgery, it is essential to use effective scolicidal agents. Most of these agents are not safe due to their undesired side effects. Recently, studies have been conducted to find natural scolicidal agents with more efficacies and low side effects. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the in vitro scolicidal effect of ethanolic extract of ginger (Z.officinale) on protoscolices of hydatid cyst was investigated. METHODS: A certain number of protoscolices (about 500) were treated with various concentrations of ginger ethanolic extract (40, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/ml) and the effect of each concentration was evaluated for specified time periods (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes). Each concentration/time was performed in triplicate and the viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. RESULTS: The mortality rate with ethanolic extract of Z.officinale after 60 minutes was as follows:  68%, 92.3%, 93% and 100% at 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/ml, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the three concentrations of 200, 150 and 100 mg/ml (P>0.05). However, at the concentrations of 200 mg/ml after 30 minutes of incubation, 100% protoscolices were dead. Based on Tukey’s test, a significant difference in the percentage of live protoscolices was found between the different concentrations of ginger extract with the exception of between 150 and 100 mg/ml concentrations (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale had a high scolicidal activity in vitro, and it has the potential to be used as a scolicidal agent in the surgical treatment of hydatid cysts.