BACKGROUND: Cheese is recognized as a source of foodborne illness worldwide.OBJECTIVES: In this study, the growth inhibition of Aspergillus flavus inoculated on Iranian white cheese was investigated using cold atmospheric plasma and Zataria multiflora essential oil individually and in combination along with their effect on the sensory properties of cheese .METHODS: Slices of cheese cut in the presence and absence of 100 ppm of Zataria multiflora essential oil were exposed to cold atmospheric plasma for 2 and 5 minutes and stored in a refrigerator for 60 days. Afterwards, they were incubated in 5 time intervals (days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60) and each was evaluated over a period of 10 days at 25 °C.RESULTS: Based on the results, the plasma inhibitory effect had a pattern dependent on the plasma flow time and the increase in the flow time reduced the radial growth rate of mold. At all times of plasma flow, a significant inhibitory effect was observed on the mold growth compared to the control group (P<0.05). In terms of growth inhibition percentage, the lowest inhibition was detected in the presence of essential oil alone and the highest inhibitory property resulted from 5 minutes of plasma flow with essential oil. There was no difference between the sensory properties of plasma-treated cheese and the essential oil in combination with those of plasma-treated samples alone. The findings also showed that the addition of essential oil had no effect on the sensory properties of cheese.CONCLUSIONS: Gliding arc plasma has inhibitory effects on the growth of Aspergillus flavus mold in cheese without adverse sensory changes, but the conditions must be optimized for industrial applications.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that resistance to antibiotics is increasing, and because of their wide range of negative impacts on the environment and humans, also accumulative effects in fish meat and hazards for humans, there have been numerous studies conducted using medicinal plants as a healthier alternative to antibiotics.OBJECTIVES: This study examined the antibacterial effect of two native medicinal herbs (oregano and echinacea mixed essential oil) on Lactococcus garvieae compared with some commercial antibiotics used in fish farms.METHODS: The antibacterial activities against a fish bacterial pathogen (Lactococcus garvieae) were tested using the disk diffusion method, followed by the determination of minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations via sequential dilution of essential oil by Broth Micro Dilution method.RESULTS: The results showed antimicrobial activities of mentioned mixed essential oil with MIC ≥ 6.25 μL/mL and MBC ≥ 12.5 μL/mL. Also, the measurements of the diameter of inhibitory zones are consistent with the results of MIC and MBC, indicating the positive effect of this plant mix oil Lactococcus garvieae. However, the Lactococcus garvieae was more sensitive to Enrofloxacin (NFX 5), and Sulfamethoxazole &amp; Trimethoprim (SXT) (P<0.05), but the combination of Oregano and Echinacea essential oils performed better than Florfenicol (FF) despite the weaker effects against mentioned two antibiotics.CONCLUSIONS: The results approved the antibacterial activity of the mixed essential oil of oregano and Echinacea against Lactococcus garvieae on the laboratory scale. Using these compounds as a possible substitute for antibiotic compounds requires more clinical studies.

BACKGROUND: Storing semen at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius reduces its motility and quality.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of adding calcium compounds, including calcimaphor (CMP), calcium gluconate (CG), and calcium chloride (CaCl2), on the motility and progressive motility of rooster sperm kept at refrigerator temperature.METHODS: This research used five pieces of 45-week-old Lari breed roosters. The liquid diluent added different calcium compounds at 0.56, 0.056, and 0.0056 mM concentrations. After treatment, the diluted seminal samples were cooled at the storage temperature to avoid thermal doubt and then transferred to the refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius. Parametric factors that were more important such as the percentage of laterality and progressive mobility, were measured visually using the lens of a 40-light microscope, survival was checked using the eosin-nigrosin staining method, acrosome health percentage by formalin citrate method, cell membrane health with hypoosmotic test, lipid peroxidation level, fertility was evaluated using perivitelline membrane sperm reaction 72 hours after storing at 4 degrees Celsius.RESULTS: Based on the results, different calcium compounds in most concentrations could significantly affect the parameters of survival, mobility, and progressive mobility (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Most of the sperm-related parameters in the control group decreased after this period of storage in the refrigerator, but the addition of calcium gluconate (0.56, 0.056, and 0.0056), Calcimaphor (0.56, 0.056, and 0.0056) and calcium chloride (0.56, 0.056 and 0.0056) to the semen thinner maintained the quality indicators of rooster sperm.

BACKGROUND: Bovine Herpes Virus-1 (BHV-1) belongs to the  Alpha herpesviral family. The virus is the cause of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Bovine Abortion. In the initial infection, the virus proliferates excessively. Moreover, shedding the virus leads to conditions in the latent phase of the disease. Infectious Bovine Vulvovaginit (IPV ) is the genital form of the disease that represents a genital infection and transmits via pustules and mucopurulent secretions. Exposure to the virus in genital mucosa leads to IPV infection through mating or artificial insemination and the diseases that can be transmitted to healthy livestock by frozen sperm during artificial insemination.OBJECTIVES: Viral contamination of the semen is one of the routes to spread the disease among dairy cattle. Therefore, we investigated the presence of the virus in domestic and frozen imported semen consumed in industrial dairy cattle farms.METHODS: In the present study, 140 frozen straws were collected. After melting each straw, 200 µl of obtained semen was used for DNA extraction, which was done directly on the semen samples and via a Genome Extraction Kit. Subsequently, to ensure the accuracy of the extraction, the PCR technique was done using PRM-1 gene primer. Tracking the viral genome was done using the PCR technique and known primers.RESULTS: In total, one out of 140 samples was found to be virally contaminated, and IBR contamination was confirmed by repeating all the steps and determining the gene sequence.CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to further investigate the possibility that contamination can be transmitted via frozen semen, given that even one out of 140 samples is contaminated, and the importance of the disease.

BACKGROUND: Over the recent years, Neospora caninum has been one of the most important causes of abortion in dairy cattle. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study in order to investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cattle in Semnan province and its effect on abortion. METHODS: 237 blood samples were obtained from various Semnan dairy farms and 104 bulk dairy samples from four milk collection centers in Semnan, Garmsar, Damghan, and Shahrood were tested for sera and milk utilizing ELISA (Svanova Biotech AB) test kits. RESULTS: The results revealed that 87.27 % of bovine serum was positive. The percentage of opacity density (OD) of positive sample (PP) ranged from 72.17 to 137.3 (114.21±24.65). In addition, the average rate of milk seroprevalence to the parasite was 95.23 % in Semnan province. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of Neospora caninum infection in blood and milk was high in Semnan, yet no significant relationships were observed with abortion (p < /em>>0.05).

BACKGROUND: Trypanosomosis is a blood parasitic disease with veterinary and cosmopolitan importance due to Trypanosoma evansi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) type A in camels, cattle, buffaloes, and equine and type B in camels. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study to discriminate Trypanosoma evansi type A and B infection in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province, south eastern Iran. METHODS: A total number of 369 blood samples were randomly taken from jugular vein of the examined one-humped camels from different parts of the region. Genomic DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify 205bp-fragment-length and 436bp-fragment-length of RoTat 1.2 VSG gene (T. evansi type A) and Minicircle gene (T. evansi type B), respectively. RESULTS: Molecular findings revealed that all the infected camels were affected by T. evansi type A. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the current study, we could conclude that the cause of infection in the examined camels of the region, like other parts of the world, was T. evansi type A.

BACKGROUND: Yersiniosis is known as one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases in fish, which causes high mortality and economic losses in cultured fish farms every year. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the changes in hematological indices and gut histopathology in Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus) exposed to Yersinia ruckeri. METHODS: 60 Caspian roach broodstock with an average weight of 63.4 ± 2.1 g were divided into three groups (with two replicates for each group), including one treatment, one positive control, and one negative control groups. The treatment group was intraperitoneally injected with Yersinia ruckeri bacterium at a dosage of 3.8 × 107 cell/fish. The positive group just received normal saline (0.9 % NaCl) via intraperitoneal injection. No injection was performed in the negative control group. RESULTS: Symptoms appeared on the fourth day after exposure and 20 % of the fish in the treatment group died 5 days after the challenge. Cumulative mortality reached 53 % on day 9 after the challenge.  According to hematological analysis, the challenge with Yersinia ruckeri led to a significant increase in white blood cell counts (WBC) compared to the control groups. Moreover, 10 days following exposure, the treatment group experienced hypochromic macrocytic anemia. Gut histopathology was characterized with necrosis and detachment of intestinal epithelial cell and inflammatory cells infiltration in the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the obtained results herein, Yersinia rackeri can cause acute disease in Caspian roach; therefore, preventing and controlling this disease is essential for these fish in infected regions.

BACKGROUND: Backyard poultry are at risk of exposure to various viral contagious diseases such as Newcastle (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI). These diseases, in addition to the backyard poultry infection have an influence on villagers’ livelihoods. Also, backyard poultry plays an important role in circulation and survival of these viruses in environment and are considered as a risk factor for the poultry industry. OBJECTIVES: Studying the prevalence level of ND and Influenza H9N2 diseases in backyard chickens in Iran, in 2014-2015. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for two years (2014-2015) in backyard chickens with mortalities suspected of infection with ND or AI H9N2 viruses. Each mortality report was considered as one outbreak. For detection of possible ND or influenza virus infection tracheal and lung tissue samples were investigated by RT-PCR reaction test. Results were analyzed statistically by SPSS software. RESULTS: Overall, 121 outbreaks of Newcastle or influenza (H9N2) disease with 25.936 cases of death from 17 provinces were reported in two years. of  these, 54 outbreaks (44/6 %) were caused by H9N2 influenza virus, 58 (47/9 %) by velogenic ND virus and 9 (7/4 %) outbreaks were caused by influenza and Newcastle concurrent infection. Hotspot ratio in 2015 was significantly higher than in 2014. In comparison with Newcastle disease alone or concurrent ND and influenza outbreaks, the highest mean mortality rate was observed in H9N2 outbreaks. Outbreaks were reported in all seasons but the rate of occurrence in the months of June and July was significantly higher than the rest of the year. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results ND and H9N2 influenza virus infections are widely distributed in backyard chickens of villages in Iran. So, for implementation of control strategies, education of villagers, vaccination and annual surveillance of backyard poultry seem necessary.

BACKGROUND: Plasma lipoprotein profile is one of the effective mechanisms in testicular tissue development and spermatogenesis process in roosters. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of l-carnitine during pre-pubertal period on testicular histology, spermatogenesis indexes and plasma lipoproteins of immature cockerels METHODS: A total of twelve Ross broiler breeder males (12 weeks) for 22 weeks in a completely randomized design with two treatments (0, and 250 mg/kg of L-carnitine in the diet) and six replications were used. Feeding program, and photoperiod regimen was performed based on ROSS 308 management handbook. To achieve the objectives of the study, at the age of 34 weeks, four birds were randomly selected from each treatment and after collecting blood samples from the veins under the wings, the birds were slaughtered. Finally, plasma cholesterol, LDL and HDL concentrations using a commercial kit and testicular parameters (number of seminiferous tubules, number of Sertoli cells, height of epithelium seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules diameter, spermatogenesis index, and tubular differentiation index) after preparation of 5-μm paraffin sections, were analyzed by SAS software. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of seminiferous tubules, and the number of Sertoli cells were significantly affected by l-carnitine (p < /em><0.05). L-carnitine supplementation in the diet of immature cockerels before sexual maturity significantly increased the spermatogenesis index (p < /em><0.003) and tubular differentiation index (p < /em><0.02). HDL levels were significantly affected by l-carnitine supplementation (p < /em><0.007). There was a significant tendency in LDL concentration (p < /em>=0.09) and LDL/HDL ratio (p < /em>=0.059) between treatments, but no significant differences were observed in cholesterol concentration between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, feeding immature cockerels before sexual maturity with 250 mg l-carnitine improves testicular tissue development and spermatogenesis process.

BACKGROUND: Due to the numerous biological effects of nanoparticles, nanotechnology can play a major role in future research areas in the poultry industry. OBJECTIVES: The SNP have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that are increasingly used in poultry farms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SNP on carcass and laying performance, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of eggs, fertility and hatchability in Japanese quail. METHODS: 96 quails including 24 male quails and 72 female quails were assigned to 4 experimental groups with 6 replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental groups consisted of 0 (control), 4, 8, and 12 ppm SNP, which were given to the birds in drinking water. Quantitative and qualitative parameters of eggs and determining the percentage of fertility and hatching were performed on a weekly basis. Also, at the end of the experiment, body weight and relative weight of internal organs were measured. RESULTS: The relative weight of liver and kidney organs increased in the SNP-receiving groups as compared to control (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in egg weight in SNP- receiving groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The effect of experimental groups on relative yolk weight was not significant. Albumin weight and yolk to albumin ratio increased in two groups of control and 8 ppm SNP, respectively (p < 0.05). Egg thickness and shape index decreased in groups 4, 8, and 12 ppm SNP as compared to control (p < 0.05). However, the effect of different experimental groups on quantitative and qualitative parameters of eggs including eggshell weight, eggshell membrane, and egg volume was not statistically significant. The SNP-receiving groups caused a dramatic increase in fertility rate as compared to control (p < 0.05); furthermore, the increase in hatchability rate in SNP groups was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the use of 4 and 8 ppm SNP can improve the laying performance, fertility and hatchability rates in Japanese quail.