Due to the numerous reports concerning the Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in different regions of Iran, the isolation and genetic characterization of native isolates is very important. During 20132014, 168 samples were collected from whole blood, eye, nasal and oral swabs, and lymph nodes of sheep and goats with clinical signs in nine provinces with infected focal zones in Iran. Vero cell line and primary Lamb Kidney cells were inoculated with isolates and observed at least in 5 consecutive passages for cytopathic effects (CPE). The sheep samples from two provinces, created CPE in both kinds of cell cultures. Observation by electron microscopy and confirmation by RT-PCR was used to confirm PPR.

Evaluation of meat color by a computer vision system (CVS) is a promising implement to dominate the difficulties when the meat is directly evaluated. In this study, 60 Longissimus dorsi from different carcasses of sheep were provided and cut into samples in 5 mm thickness. Immediately under standard shooting conditions, photographing was carried out by CVS. At the same time, the color of meat was measured with Hunterlab colorimeter. The first photo was taken on samples on a freshly cut surface just arrived at the laboratory and the others on 3rd, 5th,7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th days after slaughtering. Then, seven trained sensory panels were asked to evaluate the color of the photos that were taken during 13 days and graded them in order of preference. In general sensory panel preferred samples with high lightness, a relatively high redness, and yellowness until 7 days after slaughtering.

Avian adenoviruses (AAV) are known as a very diverse group of pathogens causing a variety of clinical symptoms or being totally asymptomatic in poultry flocks. The aim of this study was the molecular detection of avian adenoviruses in broiler flocks suspected of the IBH and respiratory syndrome in the southwest of Iran. For this intent, the liver and lung samples with macroscopic lesions were collected from 30 different poultry flocks (poultry of slaughterhouse and flock mortalities). Subsequently, DNA was extracted from samples and examined using PCR. The L1 (Loop1) region of the hexon gene was amplified. PCR products were sequenced to reveal the identity of the avian adenoviruses. The data resulted from the nucleo tide sequencing were analyzed using programs and services provided by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The results showed that the pools of liver samples from a 25 days old flock were positive in the PCR test. Based on the sequence data, adenoviruses belonged to the D genotype of avian adenoviruses. In phylogenetic analysis, FADV isolates were closely related to the FADV-11 isolates of Iran, China, Canada and Australia with nucleotide homology up to 99%. This is the first study on molecular detection and analyzing the nucleotide sequence of hexon gene fragment of FADV in broiler farms in Southwest Iran.

Mycoplasma bovis is a highly contagious major mastitis pathogen with multiple clinical presentations in dairy cows. This kind of mastitis does not respond to available antibiotics and actually there is no effective therapy for this infection, thus the best way of prevention and control is to diagnose and cull the affected cows in the herd. The objective of this study was to detect Mycoplasma bovis in bulk tank milk samples by nested PCR in Mashhad, Iran. One hundred and four fresh bulk tank milk samples from 52 dairy herds were collected four weeks apart. Mycoplasma bovis was not detected from any of them by either direct PCR on milk or after enrichment in modified Hayflick’s broth. Two other mycoplasma species were detected after enrichment and one other mycoplasma species without enrichment by mycoplasma spp. primer. Sequencing of the PCR products from two positive samples confirmed the presence of mycoplasma that were Mycoplasma canadense and Mycoplasma yeatsii.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gender on the histological and histochemical structures of various anatomical regions of the interdigital sinus in the Iranian native sheep. Tissue samples from different anatomical regions of each sinus were obtained from 15 female and 15 male adult Bakhtiari sheep. The sections stained with H&E, Periodic acid- Schiff, Alcian blue, Verhoeff’s, Masson’s trichrome, and Gomori’s method. The sinus was covered by skin and fibrous capsule. The sinus contained descending part, flexure, ascending part, excretory duct and orifice. The sebaceous glands were simple branched acinar and the sweat glands were simple coiled tubular type. The secretory caps were observed in the secretory cells protruded into the lumen. The various histological and histochemical structures of the interdigital sinus showed no considerable differences among various anatomical regions of the right and left sinuses. Also, no significant sex-based differences were found. The surface epithelial cells of the apocrine glands and their secretion contained both neutral and acidic glycosaminoglycans. It is concluded that the general histological and histochemical structures of the interdigital sinus in Bakhtiari sheep were similar to those of other native sheep, but there were also some differences.

The purpose of the present survey was to determine the seroprevalence rate of FeLV in cats in Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran, as well as, risk factors such as age, gender, breed, life style and clinical findings were evaluated. Blood samples were collected from 60 companion and 124 stray cats and antibody titers were measured against FeLV with ELISA kits. The seroprevalence was obtained 79.89% (95% CI: 74.1-85.68 percent). Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between age groups and infection (p < 0.01). Infection rate in cats with age below 2 years was significantly less than cats between 3-4 years (p < 0.05) and above 4 years old (p < 0.01). Also the seroprevalence was significantly higher in domestic short hair breed than Persian (p < 0.01). The seroprevalence was higher in stray cats than companion, nevertheless, the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the seroprevalence was very high in cat’s population of Ahvaz district and there was a significant difference between clinical findings and serological results.

A non–enterotoxin (CPE)–producing Clostridium perfringens type A, associated with enteritis in a mynah (Acridotheres tristis), a grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and a turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) was characterized from cases with clinical symptoms from September 2010 until October 2012. Affected birds exhibited anorexia and diarrhea. Gross and histological findings were indicative of acute necrotic enteritis. Clostridium perfringens was isolated in bacterial cultures. Multiplex PCR for toxin profiling of the isolates revealed that the all three isolates were Clostridium perfringens type A, positive for cpb2 and cpa.

Neoplasms in fishes are generally less aggressive than neoplasms in mammals and are most commonly discrete and focal. Although tumors were originated from connective tissue are frequently seen in the fishes, but dermal fibrosarcoma is rarely found in fish. A moribund four years old Goldfish (Carassius auratus), was referred veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz with an exophytic non-ulcerated mass near the caudal peduncle. Microscopic examination of the mass revealed proliferated spindle cells and the interlacing, loose and eosinophilic bundles. For differential diagnosis, Masson’s trichrome staining was performed and the fibers stained blue. According to histopathological and histochemical results, tumor identified as fibrosarcoma. It is the first report of histopathological features of cutaneous fibrosarcomas in a Goldfish in Iran.

The purpose of this study was evolution of pancreas in ostrich. The study was done on 24 incubated eggs of ostrich embryo on 10, 13, 16, 22, 26, 30 and 36 days of prehatching and 1 day of post hatching life. The histological stains such as haematoxylin eosin (H&E), gomori and Toluidine blue were used for this study. On 13th day of incubation the primary pancreas was developed near the liver and duodenum and it was composed of one part. The pancreas was consisted of undifferentiated epithelial cells, connective tissue, non -organized ducts and blood vessels. On 16th day the pancreas was composed of dorsal and ventral lobe with the similar structure to 13th day. On the 22th day, the zymogen granules were evident in developing exocrine part. By aging the level of connective tissue and ducts were decreased and the acinar cells were increased. On 1th day after hatching the hepatocytes vacuolated severely and pancreatic islets were appeared.

A 63-day experiment was carried out under controlled conditions to compare the effects of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) at four levels (5, 10, 20 and 30 g/kg) on growth performance, nutritional efficiency indices, haemato-immunological parameters, stress resistance, digestive enzymes and cultivable autochthonous intestinal microbiota of juvenile (68.52 ± 1.52 g) Khaju fish Schizothorax zarudnyi. Fish fed the diet containing 20 g/ kg FOS had significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight. Dietary FOS supplementation (5-20 g/kg) showed significant effects on SGR compared with control treatment. Hb, Haematocrit, MCV, MCH and lymphocytes in fish fed with the diet containing 20-30 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than those in fish fed with control treatment. After 63-day feed ing period and also, 5-min air exposure challenge test, the activities of IG, LYZ and ACP in serum of fish fed with the diet containing 10-30 g/kg FOS showed a significantly higher trend than other treatments. The ratio of lactobacillus count to total autochthonous intestinal microbiota in fish fed with 10-30 g/kg FOS was significantly higher than that in other treatment groups. Furthermore, dietary FOS supplementation significantly increased survival rate of juvenile Khaju fish. Polynomial regression of SGR, FCR, PPV and PER suggested that the optimum dietary FOS level could be higher than 18.2 and < 23.8 g/kg in fish reared in culture conditions. These results indicate the beneficial effects of FOS, and emphasizes the need for further research to analyze the use of prebiotics on growth performance of fish.