BACKGROUND: There is paucity of information about Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale) infection in water buffaloes and there have not been any reports of clinical anaplasmosis in the buffaloes in Iran. OBJECTIVES: Molecular and hematologic survey on A. marginale infection in apparently healthy buffaloes referring to Ahvaz abattoir. METHODS: Samples of blood and spleen tissue were obtained from 103 healthy buffaloes referring to the slaughterhouse. Blood samples were subjected to microscopic examination and PCR assay while spleen specimens were only analyzed by PCR. In this study, a nested-PCR method was used to amplify a fragment of the groEL gene of the bacterium. RESULTS: According to PCR, 31.1% and 1.9% of examined blood and spleen samples were found positive for A. marginale, respectively. The buffaloes which were positive in spleen tissue PCR test were positive in blood PCR, as well. Microscopically, Anaplasma-like organisms were found in 15.5% of stained blood smears. There was a slight Kappa agreement between stained blood smears and PCR. No significant difference was found in hematologic values between the infected and non-infected buffaloes based on PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: Significant occurrence of infection with A. marginale in the studied buffaloes can indicate the probable role of buffalo as a reservoir of the disease agent and its transmission to the cattle.

BACKGROUND: Equine arteritis virus (EAV) causes respiratory disease, abortion and sometimes, neurological signs. Stallions which are permanently infected with the virus, are the constant carriers of the virus in their semen and transmit the virus to other horses through sexual contact. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate EAV infection in horses in four provinces of Iran and its relationship with age, sex, and race. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 149 horses with different sex, age and race with history or clinical signs associated with equine viral arteritis, including the manifestation of respiratory disease (fever, nasal secretion, coughing), nervous signs (ataxia, dysmetria, recumbency) and abortion. The commercial ELISA kit was used for viral antibody detection. RESULTS: From 149 sampled horses, 11 cases (7.4%) were found to be positive for EAV. Seropositive cases were recorded in Tehran (2.7%), Golestan (4.3%), Khuzestan (6.7%) and West Azerbaijan (23.8%) provinces. CONCLUSIONS: This survey confirmed the presence of EVAV in horses from four provinces of Iran with the sensitive (98.3%) and special (98.9%) test. Therefore, consideration should be given to the control and prevention programs for the spread of this virus.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, researchers are converted silver to nanometer dimensions and using nanotechnology to achieve suitable performance and preserve the poultry health and they are used silver nanoparticles are used for poultry nutrition as a nutritional supplement. On the other hand, at the molecular level no complete reports in poultry breeding have been provided. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate cytochrome P450 gene expression in broiler chickens fed with silver nanoparticles. METHODS: This experiment a completely randomized design with 450 single-day Cobb 500 broiler chicks was divided into five treatments and six replications (15 birds in each replicate). Chickens were fed with (1) control (basal diet), (2) basal diet containing 1% zeolite, (3) basal diet containing 1% of zeolite-coated with 0.5% silver nanoparticles, (4) Basal diet containing with 0.15% organic acids and (5) Basal diet containing 1% of zeolite-coated with 0.5% of silver nanoparticles and 0.15% organic acids in with or without heat stress condition. RESULTS: Results demonstrated the level of expression of cytochrome P450 in broilers fed zeolite (Z) in the 21st day of experiment, silver nanoparticles coated with zeolite in combination with organic acid (NSOA) in 42nd day without heat stress condition and silver nanoparticles coated with zeolite (NS) in day 42 with heat stress condition in intestine and liver had significant increase in expression in comparison with control (C) treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, result showed that zeolite and silver nanoparticles were identified as inorganic, chemical and exogenous substances in liver and intestine and up-regulated expression of pollution biomarkers genes. Whereas this effect is not identified in organic acid.

BACKGROUND: The importance of digestive accessory glands and spleen in human, domestic animals and birds has been studied for many years. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the structural features of these organs in see-see. METHODS: Regarding the present study, 14 male and female see-see were randomly selected, from which, tissue samples of three males and three females were obtained. After preparation in the usual way, the samples were stained using hematoxylin and eosin methods. RESULTS: Liver involves two lobes, including right and left ones. Posterior border of the left lobe has a short cut which results in division of the left one into two sections. Gallbladder is extended in visceral level of the right lobe, from middle to posterior edge of it. Due to the lack of full penetration of capsule blades into the liver's parenchyma, lobulated tissues are unknown. Epithelium of the gallbladder is of simple cylindrical type; however, some areas there have very few goblet cells. See-see's spleen is red-brownish, pear-shaped, and is located in the posterior part of visceral level of the liver's left lobe. Spleen is embedded by muscle connective capsule. There are no splits of spleen capsule into parenchyma of the gland. Pancreas is an elongated organ in the situation between two arms of duodenum which is divided into three lobes including dorsal, ventral and splenic. Very delicate and short blades of the capsule are penetrated into the gland and it is divided to lobules. The endocrine part of pancreas consists of alpha and beta islets of Langerhans in large and small sizes. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the structure and tissues of the liver, spleen and pancreas, despite the slight differences in morphological aspects, are similar to other birds.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide spread, which is very important from two aspects, health concerns in human societies and economic losses due to abortion, stillbirth, birth of weak calves,  Milk-drop syndrome and mastitis and death. The prevalence of an infection at the herd or animal level is a key issue that determines whether the infection should be considered important and which measures and policies should be made and applied. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this search is a meta-analysis study of  the prevalence of leptospirosis and serovars of leptospira interrogans in Iran. METHODS: The search was carried out by relevant literature search from 1997 to 2017 and by keywords: Iran, leptospira, cattle, sheep, goats, buffaloes, camel, and their combination in data banks of Magiran, SID, Iranmedex, PubMed and Google scholar. In this study, 39 articles were finally accepted. For statistical analysis, prevalence rates were entered in the Comprehensive Meta Analysis (CMA) software. RESULTS: The prevalence of leptospirosis in apparently healthy ruminants was 21.5% (95% CI: 17.8-25.8) and Grippotyphosa, Pomona and Canicola were the most prevalent. CONCLUSIONS: According to the high prevalence of pomona in our results, using this serovar in produced vaccines inside the country, applying preventive methods to control infection in herd dogs and gaining a share of the health system budget can have a good effect on for leptospira control program.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of Cryptosporidium species based on morphological characteristics is very limited and has no taxonomic value alone, and therefore the use of molecular methods removes these limitations to some extent. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the predominant Cryptosporidium genotypes in calves with diarrhea. METHODS: Study were conducted in calves aged less than 3 months for a period of 2 years. During the study period, 160 dung samples were collected from neonatal calves and examined first microscopically and then by molecular techniques. Stools were analyzed for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts by Sheather's Sugar Flotation Solution followed by Ziel-Neelsen staining method. DNA of parasite was extracted and multiplex nested-PCR protocol basis on the 18srRNA were done to identify three cattle-adapted species (C. andersoni, C. bovis and C. ryanae) plus the zoonotic species C. parvum. RESULTS: 110 fecal samples were collected from livestock in Alborz province and 50 fecal samples were collected from livestock in Shahroud city. Of the 160 animals examined, 90 were female and 70 were male. In total, out of 160 animals examined, 85 cases (53.12%) had diarrhea, of which 55 cases (34.37%) were positive using Ziel-Neelsen staining. Since all positive cases were related to diarrhea samples and related to calves under one month old, a significant relationship was observed between diarrhea status and the presence of this parasite (p < /em><0.05). In terms of seasonal distribution, no difference was observed in the rate of diarrhea and positive parasitic cases. The presence of 305 bp band in all Ziel-Neelsen positive samples confirmed the presence of C. parvum in all samples. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal calves are more likely to be infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, as confirmed by the present study.

BACKGROUND: Health and welfare of dogs can be adversely affected by ectoparasite infestations and these infestations pose severe risks to human health due to close contact between dog and human. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to detemine the frequency of ectoparasite infestation in referred dogs to veterinary hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. METHODS: From April 2017 to April 2018, a total of 460 dogs were examined for ectoparasites. Age, gender, season, breed, keeping place, hair length, hair colour, pruritus, alopecia and distribution of parasites on different parts of the body of each examined dog were recorded in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of 460 dogs examined, 99 (21.52%) were found to be infested with ectoparasites. Forty-eight  (10.43%) dogs were infested with Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans. Rhipicephalus turanicus, Sarcoptes scabiei, Hippobosca longipennis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were found on 14 (3.04%), 10 (2.17%), 10 (2.17%) and 9 (1.95%) dogs, respectively. Infestation with Wohlfahrtia magnifica, Demodex canis, Otodectes cynotis, Haemaphysalis erinacei and Linognathus setosus were observed in 9 (1.95%), 3 (0.65%), 2 (0.43%), 1 (0.21%) and 1 (0.21%) examined dogs, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between ectoparasite infestation and sex, keeping place and pruritus (p < /em><0.05). No statistical relationship was found between ectoparasite infestation and age, hair colour, hair length, season and alopecia (p < /em>>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study conducted on dog ectoparasite infestation in Mashhad district, Northeast Iran. Fleas were the most common ectoparasites and although ectoparasite infestation rate was relatively low, high species diversity was observed. Some of these ectoparasites have zoonotic importance.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the tendency to use food packaging with antimicrobial activity of natural origin has increased. The use of edible and biodegradable films has been considered as an appropriate alternative to non-degradable plastic coatings. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effect of coating with wheat starch and Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium essential oil was investigated on microbial and physicochemical characteristics of rainbow trout fillet in cold conditions. METHODS: For this purpose, different treatments under the influence of starch, starch and Pennyroyal essential oil (1%), starch and Pennyroyal essential oil (2%) were prepared and physicochemical and microbial changes were evaluated at specified intervals (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days). RESULTS: In the microbial test, the count of total bacterial and other bacteria by starch and starch + 1% and 2%, the essential oil was decreased in different days, also the difference between the control group and other treatments was significant (p < /em>≥0.05). The highest effect of pH reduction belonged to starch + 1% and 2% essential oil in different studied days. The level of pH was not different among different treatments on day 0 of storage. However, there was a significant difference between the control group and treatments on the fourth, eighth, twelfth, and sixteenth days of storage (p < /em>≥0.05). The results of the oxidative test showed that on the 16th day of storage, the lowest level of TBA was related to the treatment with starch + 2% essential oil and the highest value was related to the control group. In fact, the application of the coating layer delayed the oxidation process. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the composition of edible starch and pennyroyal essential oil on the increased shelf-life of Rainbow trout fillet.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial agents can alter physiological status and immunity system of the host, and use of hematological indices are the appropriate marker for monitoring them. OBJECTIVES: The present study intended assessment of changed hematological indices of rainbow trout challenged with streptococcosis/lactococcosis agents following oral administration of florfenicol. METHODS: The purchased fish (55±7.5 g) were examined through a randomized blocks design in the replicated 6 treatments consisting of without/with the infectious challenge of each pathogen separately and without/with medicated feeding in 15 mg/kg-1 BW for 10 consecutive days. Doses of Streptococcus iniae (2.87×107 CFU/ml) and Lactococcus garvieae (6.8×105 CFU/ml) equal to 30% of LD50 values were applied in the main experiment. At the end of trial, blood was sampled via caudal vein. Measurement of hematocrit and hemoglobin has been accomplished according to standard methods, and the number of blood cells was counted by hematocytometer. RESULTS: Findings pointed out PVC%, Hb value and RBCs count of groups that received the drug were reduced significantly than control (p < /em><0.05). 10-day administration of flornfeicol in the mentioned dosage could cut down lymphocytes statistically (p < /em><0.05). On the other hand, monocytes, neutrophils, and other blood cells were enhanced following administration of therapeutical dosage (p < /em><0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that oral consumption of florfenicol could improve innate immunity, especially through enhancement of hematocytes. However, due to reduced frequency of blood lymphocytes, and as the problem of anemia in fish following drug consumption is still observed, it is recommended that in case of reduction of losses and improvement of clinical symptoms, the lowest FDA-suggested levels of the antibiotic for treatment should be used.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases widely occur through bacteria such as Salmonella spp. in different hosts such as domestic animals and human. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to isolate Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria from poultry feces and in vitro assessment of antimicrobial effects of 9 species of Zagros native medicinal plants. METHODS: Ethanol extracts of jooshir, shallots, Iranian eremurus, artichokes, sheng, amaranth, sorrel, oregano and harmel were extracted through rotary vacuum system. Furthermore, 12 strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from poultry feces in Sistan region. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of plant extracts were determined through micro dilution method. Sensitivity of different strains to antibiotics was tested through standard Kirby-Bauer diffusion disk methods. RESULTS: Salmonella Typhimurium strains are resistant to Penicillin (100%), Ampicillin (100%), Tetracycline (16.6%), Amikacin (8.3%) and Oxacillin (75.0%). Results of the antimicrobial assay have shown that extracts of amaranth, jooshir and artichokes had the highest MIC against Salmonella Typhimurium. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study showed that according to the antibiotic resistance of Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from poultry, antibiotic treatment, in particular with penicillin, ampicillin and oxacillin with the bacterium resistance of 75 to 100% would not be effective. In contrast, using plant ethanol extracts especially jooshir, amaranth and artichokes could be recommended as an alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments.