In bovine tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis, cattle are known as the main host, and sheep are relatively resistant. Sheep become infected only when there is very close contact between cattle and sheep or when the mycobacterium is abundant in the environment. In the present study, a case of generalized tuberculosis was reported in the sheep of the Sanandaj slaughterhouse.The examined animal carcass was transferred from the slaughterhouse to the University of Kurdistan microbiology laboratory and was dissected under complete health safety conditions. In the carcass examination, necropsy lesions (generalized tubercular granulomas) were visible in different organs and mediastinal lymph nodes, bronchioles, mesentery, and liver portal system. These lesions were seen in the lymph nodes of different body parts, including the lung, liver, digestive system, reproductive system, bladder, and different muscles, including the peritoneal muscle, diaphragm muscle, and abdominal muscles.Diagnostic tests included clinical observations, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Mycobacterium bacteria, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular technique. In Ziehl-Neelsen staining, Mycobacterium acid-fast bacilli were seen in red color on the pale blue background of the slide. Also, the product of 499 base pairs was amplified in the specific PCR reaction, which confirmed Mycobacterium bovis.The present report shows that Mycobacterium bovis strains present in the region can be transmitted to sheep and cause disease with severe clinical symptoms. This report is critical, particularly for mixed cattle and sheep farming. Since cattle and sheep are kept together in many breeding farms in Kurdistan province, special attention was paid to the possibility of transmission of bovine tuberculosis to sheep and humans.

BACKGROUND: Peste des petitis (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease with high incidence and mortality rate, which is endemic in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Africa. This disease has been causing economic losses in sheep and goat flocks in these areas. Studies have shown that environmental and host risk factors can influence the severity of PPR infection. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study to investigate the prevalence of PPR in small ruminants population of Garmsar city and its suburbs. Furthermore, the effect of host factors, including animal species, gender, and age, and environmental factors, such as sampling season, geographical area, and sampling location, were evaluated. METHODS: Blood samples of 180 sheep and goats were taken in spring, summer, and autumn and after centrifugation, serum samples were isolated. We measured antibody response using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). RESULTS: The apparent and true prevalence of contamination in small ruminants of Garmsar and its suburbs ware 24.44 % and 23.91 %, respectively. The results revealed non significant relationships between animal species (p < /em>= 0.08), gender (p < /em>= 0.14), and age (p < /em>= 0.98) with PPR serum prevalence. Meanwhile, there was a significant relationship between season (p < /em>= 0.03), geographical area (p < /em>= 0.0004), and sampling location (p < /em>= 0.0001). In addition, the odds ratio of PPRV infection in autumn was 2.62 (95% CI: 0.06 – 6.02; p < /em>< 0.05) times more than that of other season and in the south-eastern of Garmsar, it was 6.71 (95% CI: 3.01-17.60; p < /em>< 0.05) times more than that of other geographical regions. The odds ratio of PPRV infection in the Mahmood Abad village was 63.63 (95 % CI: 12.14 – 132.93; p < /em>< 0.05) times higher than that of other villages. CONCLUSIONS: According to the obtained findings, PPR was proven to be an endemic disease in Garmsar and its suburbs and the environmental risk factors have a greater impact on the seroprevalence of disease than host risk factors. Therefore, in order to control the disease in endemic areas, further attention should be paid to environmental risk factors and minimizing the risk of epidemics through vaccination at sensitive timescales and areas before high-risk environment changes.

BACKGROUND: During the last two decades, anthelmintic drugs have been increasingly applied against gastrointestinal parasites of sheep in Iran. OBJECTIVES: For this purpose, drug resistance to albendazole (Alb) and fenbendazole (Feb) in gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep of Saqez multiplicity was assessed. METHODS: In in-vivo experiment, a total number of 90 sheep in three groups (30 sheep/group) with EPG≤150 were examined for nematode resistance to Alb and Feb. They were treated with Alb and Feb or untreated (as a control group). RESULTS: There was significant difference between Alb and Feb treated groups and control group. The EPG in Alb, Feb and control groups was 59.8±1.93, 18.8±1.258 and 204.07±4.81, respectively. There was drug resistance against Alb in compassion with control group (R=71%). There was suspicion drug resistance for Feb in comparison with control group (R=90.66%). CONCLUSIONS: From the results of the present study, it was concluded that there was absolute and suspected drug resistance against Alb and Feb in sheep of Saqez municipality, Iran, respectively.

BACKGROUND: Ticks are important ectoparasites in ruminants which cause economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to determine geographic distribution, frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in domestic ruminants in Ilam province, Iran. METHODS: A total of 445 domestic ruminants (139 cattle, 162 sheep, 144 goats) from 120 flocks of 30 villages in north and south parts of Ilam province were randomly selected and examined in summer 2015. The ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. RESULTS: Of all examined ruminants, 44.6% cattle, 51.23% sheep, and 52.08% goats were infested with a total number of 1209 unfed ixodid ticks. The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in 2-3 year-old female cattle (15.55%), 1-2 year-old female sheep (19.75%) and less than 1 year-old female goats (17.36%) in the region. The highest prevalence was found in 2-3 year-old female cattle (37.1%), 1-2 year-old ewes (38.55%) and less than 1 year-old kids (33.33%). There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested sheep and cattle. Of 1209 collected ixodid ticks, tick indices (tick number per animal) were 6.1, 5.9 and 4.5 in cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. The highest infestation in cattle (17 flocks, 14.1%), sheep (13 flocks, 10.8%) and goats (14 flocks, 11.6%) was respectively found in north, south and southern parts of the region. The highest tick aggregation was found for ears in cattle (31.13%), sheep (34.41%) and goats (28.9%). Of all examined ticks (1209), two genera including Hyalomma (37.62%) and Rhipicephalus (62.38%) with seven, seven, and six species in cattle, sheep, and goats were respectively identified. The predominant infesting ticks were R. sanguineus (22.16% in cattle) from north (11.31%) and H. anatolicum anatulicum (21.8% in sheep and 24.77% in goats) from south (15.49% and 13.42%) part of the province. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that species diversity and frequency of ixodid ticks were prevalent in domestic ruminants of different parts of Ilam province.

Peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis due to salmonella enterica in a Kermani ewe Summary : CASE HISTIRY : A Kermani ewe was examined because of inappetance and illthrifness. CLINICAL PRESENTATION : Clinical examination showed normal heart rate , tachy pnea, muffled heart sounds , stiff neck , dullness , dehydration , rumen atony and paled mucosal membrane . DIAGNOSITIC TESTING : Post mortem examination revealed pericarditis, peritonitis, intestinal adhesion, mesenteric thickness as well as meningeal thicknesses. Salmonella enterica was isolated in bacterial culture from affected tissues . ASSESSMENTS : Although there are some previous reports regarding the association between salmonella infection and peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis in domestic animals, to the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report about the concurrent peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis due to salmonella in ruminant . Key words : Peritonitis , Pericarditis , Meningitis , Salmonella , Sheep . . . . . .

BACKGROUND: Rumen health in ruminants has a great importance because its function has a great deal with milk, meat and fetus production. Many factors can affect the rumen health and destruct its function and performance. OBJECTIVES: this research investigates histopathology lesions resulted from ruminants in the sheep. METHODS: for this purpose, macroscopic examination in 1562 rumens of the slaughtered sheep Sanandaj was done. Among these, 23 rumens has lesions placed in drums of formalin 10% for macroscopic evaluations by means of Hematoxylin and Eosin coloring were referred into the pathobiology lab. RESULTS: in Macroscopic observations, swelling (65.22%), swelling and focal congestion (30.43%) and looming papillary (4.35%) were detected. The highest microscopic signs in the rumen lesions included: sub mucosal edema (32.69%), ruminate eosinophilic (23.07%), parakeratosis (13.46%), granulomatous ruminate (7.69%), watery degeneration and acute purulent ruminate (5.76%). CONCLUSIONS: pathologic lesions of rumen can be due to hyperplasia change in the result of mechanical agitation, stress, parasitic diseases, and mature woody forage.

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic and very common disease in sheep and goats, which can lead to severe economic losses in the livestock industry.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of CLA in sheep in Kurdistan province of Iran using phenotypic and molecular methods, and assess the antibiotic resistance of isolated Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.METHODS: In this study, from September to March 2022, 270 samples of skin abscesses were collected from sheep in livestock farms of Kurdistan province. Immediately, using the cold chain system, the samples were transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Identification of isolates was done using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was examined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.RESULTS: Based on biochemical tests, out of 270 samples, 82 suspected to have Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Out 82 samples, the presence of bacteria was confirmed in 76 samples by the PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that the isolates had high sensitivity to doxycycline and ceftriaxone and high resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin.CONCLUSIONS: The CLA has a high prevalence in sheep in Kurdistan province. According to high resistance rate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis to streptomycin and kanamycin, it recommended to avoid treatment of CLA cases with these antibiotics.

BACEKGROUND: Toxoplasmosisis one of the most important zoonotic diseases in Iran and the world. OBJCTIVES: Due to the high consumption of lamb meat and the high frequency of Toxoplasma infection in sheep in Iran, the aim of study was to determine frequency of Toxoplasma infection in the slaughtered sheep of Mashhad area. METHODS: In order to do this study, from summer 2015 to spring 2016, 25 blood and 25 heart muscle samples were seasonally collected from Torghabae slaughterhouse in Mashhad area. The samples were transferred to parasitology laboratory. First, the blood samples were centrifuged and the serum samples were isolated, then a portion of the heart muscles sample was taken for PCR examination. The sera and muscles samples were kept at -20 ºC in freezer until examination time. The sera samples were examined to detect antibody against T.gondii by ELISA method. DNA of heart muscle was extracted by commercial extraction kit and was examined to detect Toxoplasma DNA by nested –PCR. RESULTS: In the present study, of 100 sampled sheep, only 1 (1%) of the serum samples was seropositive, while 22 (22%) of the DNA samples were PCR positive. In this study, the highest frequency of Toxoplsma PCR-Positive was seen in spring and the lowest in summer in sheep. Also, the result of this study showed that the agreement between the molecular and EISA method was “fair”. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the high frequency of Toxoplasma infection in heart muscle of sheep, it seems that the risk of transmission of Toxoplasma infection from sheep meat is high.

Background: ARDS is a lung disorder that causes death in human and livestock and new therapeutic approaches such as stem cell therapy are essential because of lack of specific drug therapies for it. Objectives: Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of intrapulmonary transplantation of BM-MSCs to improvement of clinical signs in experimental model of ARDS created by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)E.Coli strains-O55:B5 in sheep is the aim of this study. Methods: In this study, 10 male sheep 3-4 months old Shall were used after random placement into two groups, treatment and control. Of sheep in the treatment group after anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine collected bone marrow samples and in the clean room BM-MSCs isolated, amplified and were identified with the evaluation of surface markers. Then experimental model of ARDS was induced by endotracheal injection of LPS to dose 400μg/kg. Clinical signs and radiograph images performed before and 24 hours after injection of LPS. After confirming inflammation, the sheep were anesthetized and on sternal position 50×106 cells of BM-MSCs third passage were transferred in treatment group as autograft by the catheter lavage in the bifurcation of the trachea and PBS in control group. Then clinical signs were recorded at hours of 3,6and 12 and on days 1,2,3 and 7 in both groups and finally, were analyzed based on the scored system. Results: The data showed transplantation of BM-MSCs caused significant improvement in clinical signs including heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, respiratory sounds, cough, mucosal status, nasal secretions, appetite and physical condition compared with control group. A significant decrease in respiratory rate and body temperature from 12 hours and in heart rate from 24 hours to next be began. Also, changes in breath sounds on the first day after transplantation, physical condition, mucous membranes and appetite on the third day, the occurrence of cough and abnormal discharge from the nose on the seventh day had returned to pre-inflammation (-24 time) and the median of score was zero for them. Conclusions: This study showed that transplantation of BM-MSCs can cause improves and the reduction in the severity of the clinical signs of ARDS, significantly.

Abstract Background: Very clinical cases of mineral deficiency, specially associated with copper in sheep of Khuzestan province have been annually seen; whereas the studies on soil and forage related mineral and effects of them on zonal domestic animals are rare. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the copper, sulfur, iron, molybdenum and zinc of soil and pastures forages status in order to see the probable correlation of these elements with copper and zinc serum of sheep in Susngerd town of Khuzestan province. Methods: 5 soil and forage samples and 50 blood samples from sheep that were grazing in the area were taken. All the samples were sent to the institute of radiation at atomic energy organization of Iran for the elements measurement. The soil samples were alkaline digested and read by ICP-OES apparatuses. After acidic digesting, forage samples were read by ICP-MS apparatuses. Serum levels of copper and zinc were also measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The averages iron and sulfur content of soil were higher than international standard and critical levels, while the averages copper and molybdenum were within normal range. The mean of soil zinc in comparison to the crisis amounts was in the lower level (p= .05). Comparing the mean values of forage elements with their critical levels showed that sulfur and iron were higher than standard levels. The results revealed that the serum copper and zinc were lower than normal and sheep under this investigation were mostly in a borderline deficiency status. Conclusions: It seem that high levels of sulfur and iron in pastoral forages reduces intestinal absorption and bioavailability of copper and zinc in sheep grazing in the under study areas.