Fish farming is increasing globally, with an increase in bacterial infections known to cause morbidity and varying mortality, affecting the productivity and profitability of aquaculture. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotics susceptibility and multiple antibiotic resistance index of bacteria isolated from fish in some selected fish farms in Kaduna State to ten commonly used antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. In total, 84 bacteria were isolated from 75 Clarias gariepinus in this study, belonging to 12 genera. The antibiotic profile of the bacteria isolated displayed different sensitivity and resistance to the antibiotics used. The highest numbers of the Gram-positive (59.5%) and Gram-negative (69%) bacteria, respectively, were sensitive to ciprofloxacin compared to the other antibiotics. All the bacterial isolates displayed varying diversity of multidrug-resistant patterns. A total of 38 and 41 different resistance patterns for Gram-positive and Gram-negative respectively were observed. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index analysis reveals that 97.3% of the bacteria had a high MAR index value (> 0.2). In conclusion, there is a diversity of bacteria organisms within the fish farms that are pathogenic to both fish and humans. Therefore, there is a need to implement optimal preventive management measures and control the use of antibiotics.

Salmonellosis is considered to be a zoonotic disease, the transmission of which through oral-fecal contact is unavoidable because pet care has been popular recently. On the other hand, excessive use of human antibiotics to treat animals resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella serotypes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of bacteria and antibiotic resistance to select the appropriate antibiotic for disease control. In this study, the presence of Salmonella serovars in the fecal samples of 256 pet dogs was investigated by enrichment and selective culture. Moreover, the existence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, as well as phenotypic antimicrobial resistance, were assessed. Of the total of 256 fecal samples, 21 samples (8.2%) of pet dogs were positive for Salmonella, including S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Infantis, and S. Senftenberg. Based on our findings, all serovars carried virulence genes invA, invF, sitC, fimA and S. Typhimurium resistant to ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (50%), oxytetracycline (75%), florfenicol (50%) and lincospectin (100%). While S. enteritidis, S. infantis, and S. senftenberg were sensitive to ampicillin, amikacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin. S. Infantis was also sensitive to all antibiotics. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pet dogs are potential sources of Salmonella strains that carry resistance and virulence genes. Thus, healthy pet dogs could play an important role in human salmonellosis.

Lice are permanent, obligate ectoparasites for birds and mammals. Bovicola caprae causes hypersensitivity, irritation, dermatitis, anemia, lower weight gain, and lower productivity in goats. This study was conducted to investigate B. caprae by molecular methods based on the mitochondrial genome in the West and Northwest of Iran. A total of 1017 samples of chewing lice collected from ten cities in five provinces were identified using diagnostic keys. After DNA extraction and PCR, samples were sent for sequencing. Morphological results were consistent with molecular examinations. Nucleotide sequencing of samples isolated from different cities based on mitochondrial genome showed 100% intraspecific similarity. The sequences of B. caprae isolated in this study appeared in a branch next to the Canadian and Chinese samples in the phylogenetic tree with more than 90% similarity. The results of mitochondrial gene analysis in the present research showed that this fragment is useful for showing intraspecific similarity and species and genus differentiation of B. caprae.

Catamenial epilepsy may involve 10 to 70% of women with epilepsy in which, seizures are exacerbated by the menstrual cycle. Artemisinin is a herbal compound with widespread modern and traditional medical indications. Because of GABAergic interaction, this study was designed to study the antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin during the estrus cycle.  A total of 360 adult female mice were placed in 10 groups: control, solvent (ethanol 10ml/kg), Artemisinin (75&150 mg/kg), Bicuculline (2mg/kg), Bicuculline (2mg/kg) + Atremisinin (75&150 mg/kg), Saclofen (2mg/kg), Saclofen (2mg/kg) + Atremisinin (75&150 mg/kg), each with four subgroups (proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus) (n=9). One week after acclimatization, estrous synchronization and phase determination was achieved. Acute epilepsy was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of 80 mg/kg of Pentylentetrazole (PTZ), 30 minutes after i.p injection of Artemisinin and ethanol. Initiation time of myoclonic seizures (ITMS), initiation time of tonic-clonic seizures (ITTS), seizure duration (SD), and mortality rate (MR) were recorded for 30 minutes. Data were displayed as mean ± SD and evaluated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey–Kramer multiple comparison post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Artemisinin significantly decreased epilepsy incidence, duration, and mortality rate, in parallel to increasing ITMS and ITTS in a dose-dependent manner which were more prominent during the luteal phase. Co-administration of Biccucluline significantly inhibited antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin, while Saclofen did not have such an inhibitory interaction. It seems that increased neurosteroid metabolites and GABAA receptors, neural hyperpolarization following GABA interaction, and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties which decrease neuroinflammation and neural excitability can participate in the antiepileptic effects of Artemisinin.

Various neurochemical pathways are participating in the regulation of food intake in mammals and birds. Both oxytocin (OT) and nitric oxide (NO) are known as hypophagic agents in birds.  This study consisted of 6 experiments and each experiment had 4 groups (ngroup=11, 5-day-old chickens). In all experiments, 3-hour food-deprived (FD3) birds received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections either control diluent or drug solution. Then the birds had ad libitum access to the food and fresh water and then cumulative food intake (gr) was measured based on the percentage of the body weight (%BW). In experiments 1 to 3, ICV injections of L-arginine (precursor of NO, 200, 400, and 800 nmol), L-NAME (NOS inhibitor, 100, 200, and 400 nmol) and OT (2.5, 5, and 10 µg) were performed respectively. In experiment 4, each group received any ICV injections of L-NAME (100 nmol), OT (10 µg) or a co-injection of L-NAME (100 nmol) and OT (10 µg). In experiment 5, L-arginine (ICV, 200 nmol), OT (10 µg), or L-arginine (200 nmol) and OT (10 µg) were injected to the groups. Experiment 6 was similar to the experiment 5, although the dose of OT was 2.5 µg in all the treatment groups. Results showed that the ICV injection of L-NAME (100 nmol) significantly attenuated hypophagic effect induced by OT (10 µg) (p < 0.05). Findings suggested that NO might mediate the hypophagic effect of OT in FD3 neonatal layer-type chickens.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of dichloromethane extract of Melia azedarach ripe fruit on larvae and adult females of Hyalomma excavatum at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%, using the larval immersion test (LIT) and adult immersion test (AIT). The results showed that in LIT, the percentage mortality of larvae was significantly higher at concentrations 1, 2, and 4% than the control group after 24 h. While the mortality rates varied from 8.66% to 72.66% after 24 h post-treatment, complete mortality of the examined larvae was achieved at concentration of 4% after 48 h post-exposure whereas, it was13.33% in the negative control group. In AIT, the percentage inhibition of oviposition in the treatment groups was significantly greater than the control group (P < 0.01). The maximum inhibition of oviposition was 17.72%, which was achieved at a concentration of 4% and it was 0% in the control group. The difference between reproductive index in treatment and control groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.01). This study showed that the ripe fruit extract of M. azedarach was toxic to H. excavatum under laboratory conditions.

Infectious bronchitis (IB), caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), is one of the most important respiratory diseases in poultry. The implementation of preventive measures, including vaccination and biosecurity, is necessary for controlling the disease. To maintain biosecurity, it is important to identify the entry route of new viruses into a region and characterizing markers such as unique mutations that make viruses traceable. During a genotyping study for IBV infected commercial chicken flocks in Khorasan Razavi province, 11 viruses from 11 broiler and layer chicken flocks were detected in different cities by PCR. Sequencing of the S1 partial gene followed by phylogenetic analysis showed that eight viruses can be classified in GI-23 lineage (Is-Variant2), two viruses are classified in GI-1 lineage (Mass), and one virus is classified in GI-12 lineage (793B). Although detected viruses of GI-23 lineage are originated from Iran, seven viruses have synonymous (T954C and G1056A) and non-synonymous (C797T) mutations that have not been previously reported. It was found that the new genetic changes in Iranian IBVs of GI-23 lineage occurred in two different regions in Khorasan Razavi. In conclusion, this study indicates that the high prevalence of GI-23 lineage viruses in Iran may enhance the chance of virus mutations and the emergence of new viral strains, so effective vaccination and biosecurity measures are required to control the virus spread.

Altered cytokine profile and weakened immunity along with clinical or subclinical ketosis (SCK) are among the remarkable challenges around parturition. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare some inflammatory cytokines and immunologic factors between two groups of healthy and SCK cows. Serum specimens were collected from 30 clinically healthy dairy cows on the early dry period (EDP), one week before expected calving (-1w), and one week postpartum (+1W). The animals were divided into the two groups of healthy (N = 20) and SCK (N = 10) based on serum β-hydroxybutyrate cut-off of 1.2 mmol/L on +1W. The concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and haptoglobin (Hp) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were statistically analyzed by mixed analysis of variance and independent samples t-test using the SPSS software. The findings demonstrated that the overall levels of IL-4 (p = 0.033), IL-10 (p = 0.049), TNF-α (p = 0.028), and Hp (p = 0.018) were significantly higher in the SCK group than the control group. Furthermore, the interaction of time × SCK had a significant influence on IL-4 (p = 0.028) and Hp (p = 0.022) levels. It was revealed that IL-4 (p = 0.008), IL-10 (p = 0.009), TNF-α (p = 0.01), and Hp (p = 0.002) were all significantly higher in the SCK group than the control group on +1W. In conclusion, SCK in dairy cattle might have a relationship with immunologic and inflammatory changes around calving.

Ticks are vectors for several important zoonoses including different species of Anaplasma. The present study aims to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp. in hard ticks collected from livestock of South-Khorasan province, Iran. A total of 684 livestock were sampled and 269 ticks were collected. Two genera and 6 species of ticks were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma detritium, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma spp. Eleven Hyalomma nymphs and 3 Rhipicephalus nymphs were also identified. 100 Out of 269 ticks were chosen for molecular detection. DNA was extracted followed by PCR technique to detect Anaplasma spp. The presence of Anaplasma spp. was confirmed in 20 out of 100 tested samples (20%). All positive samples collected from Birjand county were Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Results of the present study showed a relatively high infection rate of Anaplasma in hard ticks in South-Khorasan Province.

This study was conducted to investigate the pathogenesis process of E. ahsata and its morphological, pathological, and distribution of lesions in the involved tissues during 42 days of infection. Twelve lambs were randomly divided into two groups including the control and the infected groups after confirmation of their health. The animals in the experiment group were orally infected with 1× 105 sporulated oocysts. From 7 days after inoculation (DAI), the feces were sampled and oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) were individually examined for each lamb. . At 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 DAI, one lamb from each group was necropsied and the abomasum, small and large intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleens, and livers were grossly investigated. From 21 to 42 DAI, mild to severe clinical lesions such as congestion and edema were seen on the mucosal surface of the small intestine associated with white and small foci about 1-2 mm, especially jejunum and ileum. From 7 DAI to the end of the study various stages of the parasite life cycle, infiltration of inflammatory cells, epithelial hyperplasia of villi, and destruction of villi epithelium were seen.  The results showed that E. ahsata was pathogenic in lambs and the macro and microscopic lesions were mostly seen in the jejunum.