BACKGROUND: The application of natural compounds including green tea extract (GTE) in food preparation and pharmaceutical industries is limited. Nowadays, encapsulation in nanoliposomes could be used as a delivery system to protect compounds during processing and storage. Objectives: In this study, physicochemical characterization of green tea extract encapsulated in nanoliposomes and its prebiotic activities on two probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis were evaluated in media and ice cream. Methods: At first, GTE encapsulated in liposomes by thin film layer method and with sonication liposomes reached to nanoscale. For evaluation of the prebiotic activity of nanoliposomal GTE on probiotics, 1% of nanoliposomal GTE in the presence of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis was added to MRS broth and ice cream. Results: The mean diameter of nanoliposomes was about 44/7± 1/9 nm and had 0/203 ±0/014 polydispersity index. Entrapment eficiency of nanoliposomal GTE under the optimum conditions was 97%. Moreover, addition of 1% nanoliposomal GTE significantly increased the growth rate of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis in culture media (p<0.05). The lowest reduction of Lactobacillus casei count during storage period was recorded in ice cream containing 1% of nanoliposomal GTE, while the control group showed the reduction of 4/16 log in Lactobacillus casei count. Similarly, addition of 1% of nanoliposomal GTE was most effective on survival of Bifidobacterium lactis in ice cream, since the bacterial count lowered only 0/84 log during the storage compared to 4/4 log reduction in control group. Conclusions:  The considerable effect of nanoliposomal GTE on growth and survival rate probiotics in media and ice cream has been presented in this study and  the use of nanoliposome encapsulation can be proposed as a new method to increase stability of natural compounds, during different processes.

BACKGROUND: Goldfish (Carassius auratus), a carp fish of Cyprinidae family, is one of the most popular aquarium fishes in Iran and also in the world. Ornamental fish trade, especially Goldfish, is aged over a hundred years. If we believe that any aquatic species or country has its own specific and unknown fauna of pathogens, the risks of transmission of these pathogens by importing ornamental fishes (whether at national, provincial or municipal level) will become more obvious. However, few researches have been done about parasitic infections in ornamental fishes. Objectives: Identification and investigation of fish pathogens, especially parasites, prior to transportation to new place is considerably important in the preventing and restricting the transmission of these pathogens.                      Methods: In this study, skin and gills of 100 goldfish were examined by wet mount in order to investigate monogenean parasites. Results: Nine species of parasites from 3 families (Dactylogyridae, Gyrodactylidae and Ancylodiscoididae) were isolated and identified in fishes, including 4 species of Gyrodactylus (Gyrodactylus kobayashii, Gyrodactylus Gurleyi, Gyrodactylus longoacuminatus and Gyrodactylus sp.), 4 species of Dactylogyrus (Dactylogyrus vastator, Dactylogyrus formosus, Dactylogyrus baeri and Dactylogyrus sp.) and 1 species of Ancylodiscoides. Gyrodactylus kobayashii (10%) were the most common parasites found, followed by Dactylogyrus vastator (9%). ConclusionS: Although these fishes are quite resistant against such pathogens, transporting them to a new aquatic ecosystem could transfer these parasites and cause infestation of healthy fishes, which brings about financial losses and casualties.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses have a wide range of host tropism causing respiratory, enteric and central nervous system diseases in pigs, cats, dogs, rodents, cattle, avian species and human. Coronaviruses undergo genetic mutations and recombination at high rates which make them able to infect a wide range of host species from different geographical locations. According to the possible existence of gammacoronavirus in Iranian bird population including pigeons and lack of information about virus prevalence, isolation and molecular characterization of pigeon coronaviruses are needed. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to detect avian coronavirus in flocks of Tehran province.               METHODS: samples were randomly collected from 25 pigeon flocks of Tehran province (250 tracheal swabs and 250 cloacal swabs, 20 specimens from each flock) between 2014-2015. The viral RNA was extracted from swab samples and RT-PCR reaction was run using the QIAGEN one-step RT-PCR Kit with primers targeting nucleocapsid (N) gene and 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) of gammacoronavirus. RESULTS: Gammacoronavirus was detected in one out of 25 (4%) flocks. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study approve the presence of  gammacoronaviruses  in pigeon population and help to complete the map of  epidemiology of the virus in Iran. According to the low prevalence rate of coronavirus in pigeons, samples should be collected from pigeons showing respiratory or enteric signs of disease or from pigeons having contact with other birds or those which are housed near poultry farms.

BACKGROUND: Pigeons can be carriers for some human and animal pathogens, one of the most important of which is Escherichia coli. OBJECTIVES: This bacterium is responsible for outbreaks of many human diseases. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli in cloacal area of pigeons in Tehran city (Iran), and determine  the prevalence of some virulence genes and also antibiotics resistance pattern of isolates. METHODS: Altogether 117 samples of pigeon feces were collected from cloacal swab. The identification of bacteria was done by culture on differential culture media. Then antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. Isolates were tested for the presence of virulence genes stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Escherichia coli were detected in 82.9% of 277 samples from pigeons. Sulfamethoxazole was the least effective drug (85.6% resistance), followed by tetracycline (83.5%). No resistance was detected to co-amoxiclav. The prevalence of stx1, stx2 and eaeA is 3.09%, 6.18% and 2.06% respectively and hlyA was not found in any of isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of stx1 and stx2 distribution in animals and birds is not well understood as yet. Due to the close relationship of humans with birds like pigeons and presence of STEC strains in apparently healthy birds, necessitates  considering  precise regulations to restrict and prevent the prevalence of this life- threatening virus in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Ostertagia  species are the main domestic ruminants abomasum worms, which cause parasitic gastritis. Parasitic gastritis is associated with disruption of the endocrine structure of abomasum, and influence the function and pH of abomasums. This can lead to weight loss, reduced milk and wool production with potentially mal-digestion of proteins. These cause the economic loss to animal husbandry industry. So, the national research priority in veterinary parasitology is identification of different native species of Ostertagia in Iran. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study is identification and differentiation of Ostertagia species based on the molecular characterization. METHODS: During carcasses inspection at different abattoirs in Rey, Tehran, Mashhad and Bandar Abbas, 180 adult male worms of Ostertagia species from sheep and goat were collected. Morphological analysis was performed based on the morphometric characteristics of spicules. The ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 ribosomal DNA was ampilified from individual worms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then purified PCR product were sequenced and analyzed by Blast tool. RESULTS: 946 bp PCR products for all sequenced samples were compared with the released sequences of Ostertagia isolates available from GenBank and showed 2-3% differences and 97-98% similarity. CONCLUSIONS: The three species included in the present study are different in terms of molecular property (with 2-3% difference) and it is necessary to determine transmittance pattern and host affinity rules from each one to be used by program managers and evaluators for Prevention and Control programs.

BACKGROUND: Biological control of parasites by using entomopathogen fungi is the one of the recommended ways to control them instead of using the chemical agents. Entomopathogen fungi are not pathogenic for animals and plants, while ticks are one of the most important parasites of animals that can transmit very important microbial pathogens. Ixodes ricinus is a hard tick that infests animals and human. OBJECTIVES: This study demonstrated enzyme assay of entomopathogen fungi hosted on Ixodes ricinus.  METHODS: Enzymatic activities of chitinase, lipase and protease of fungal structures on the killed tick bodies have been assayed by standard sphectrophotometric methods.  RESULTS: Chitinase, lipase and protease activities showed significant differences among different fungal strains (p<0.05). This research, which was done for first time in Iran demonstrated the effect of some enzymes which affect on acaricidal  properties of native strain of entomopathogenic fungi  in Iran. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the relationship between enzyme level of fungal strains and  the possibility of selecting more effective strains of entomopathogenic fungi

The effect of Antioxidant organic sulfur compounds on performance, prooxidant–antioxidant balance (PAB) of the Eimeria-infected broiler chickensBACKGROUND: Use of Garlic Powder (GP) and Total Sulfur Amino acid (TSAA) can improve redox status of broiler chickens fed with and infected by Eimeria and recover the negative effects of coccidiosis. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of GP and TSAA on feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and prooxidant–antioxidant balance (PAB) of the chickens challenged with Eimeria oocysts species mix. METHODS: A 2×2×2 split-plot-factorial arrangement of treatments was used. 400 day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were equally assigned to two plots (4 treatments each). Two hundred of the chickens were challenged with Eimeria oocysts species mix by oral inoculation at day 34 (infected plot) and the others were left as unchallenged (uninfected plot). In each plot, broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four treatments and fed one of following diets: basal diet, basal diet plus 0.5% GP, basal diet plus 50% more TSAA based on Ross 2009 recommendations, basal diet plus 0.5 % GP and 50% more TSAA based on Ross 2009 recommendations. RESULTS: The results showed that after inoculation birds with 7.5×102 Eimeria oocysts species mix significantly (p<0.05) reduced the FI to 20% and increased FCR to 14% and also increased serum PAB (p<0.05), especially for infected broilers that were fed with basal diet, however, supplementation of GP and TSAA were better for broiler chickens in infected plot than uninfected plot. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that addition of GP and TSAA to diet may recover the negative effects of coccidiosis  and  improve the performance and redox of broiler chickens infected by Eimeria.

BACKGROUND: Infection by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in turkeys may  lead to immunosuppression effects and therefore turkeys could not resist against pathogenic or less pathogenic agents. OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to examine the effects of IBDV on response of turkey’s poults to avian influenza virus (AIV).METHODS: A total of 100 day-old poults were divided randomly into 4 equal groups. Groups 1 and 2 were infected with 104CID50 of IBDV by oral route at 1 day of age; groups 1 and 3 were infected with 106 EID50 of AIV (H9N2) by the oculo-nasal route at day 30. Poults of  group 4 were kept  as uninfected control group. All groups were vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine. Blood  samples  via wing web were collected at days 0, 30, 37, 44, 51  and 58 and anti- NDV and anti-AIV serum titers were measured by HI test. At days 33 and 41 three poults of each group were euthanized and their splenic lymphocytes proliferation repose to phytohaemagglutinin was assessed. RESULTS: Influenza clinical signs were prolonged and more intensive in group 1 than group 3. The mean HI titers to NDV were significantly lower in group 1 than group 3, in all sampling times, but anti-AIV titers were significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 3  from days 14 AIV (H9N2) post infection. The lymphocyte proliferation assay with PHA did not show any differences between groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: IBDV suppresses immune response in turkey and causes prolonged and more intensive clinical signs after challenge with AIV.

BACKGROUND: The Eustachian tube is an osteocartilaginous channel connecting the tympanic cavity with the nasopharynx. There is no anatomical and histological research performed on this organ in buffalo. OBJECTIVES: Anatomical and histological study of Eustachian tube in buffalo will be useful for basic knowledge of this organ. METHODS: For this study 8 adult male and female buffalo's head were provided from slaughter house and their Eustachian tube were studied anatomically, then tissue samples were obtained and paraffin sections were prepared for using of staining methods such as H&amp;E (for general study), Verhoff (for elastic fibers), PAS (for carbohydrates) and Masson's Trichrome Stainning Kit (for collagen fibers). RESULTS: Anatomical results showed Eustachian tube was white and funnel- like tube, no curve and structurally supported by cartilage and in both sexes they had the same structure. Histological and Histochemical results showed the epithelium of Eustachian tube in buffalo is pseudostratified ciliated columnar and in some regions of the Eustachian tube epithelium was stratified squamous. In the first portion of Eustachian tube cartilage was elastic and then eustachian tube cartilage was hyaline. The glands of Eustachian tube in buffalo were mucous and non folicular tubal tonsil could be found around the pharyngeal opening with obviously lymphoid tissue. CONCLUSIONS:. The results of this research can be used as the basic anatomical and Histological knowledge in buffalo..

Background: Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus and are an important factor in oxidative damage to the kidney and liver. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of turmeric extract and/or sodium bentonite against renal and hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin B1. METHODS: In this experiment that lasted for four weeks 64 male Wistar rats randomly assigned to eight groups containing: control, aflatoxin (AF), turmeric extract (TE), sodium bentonit (SB), TE+SE, AF+TE, AF+SB, AF+(TE+SB). At the end of experiment blood samples were taken from heart and some biochemical analysis has been performed. RESULTS: In the AF group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and creatinine (P<0.05) significantly increased and uric acid numerically increased (P=0.056) compare to control group. Treatment of AF contaminated group with TE or SB alone remarkably decreased the levels of ALT, ALP, creatinine and uric acid. TE and SB in normal rats had no significant effect on the levels of liver enzyme compare to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present research, it seems that TE and SB alone decrease the harmful effects of Aflatoxin B1 and the combination of them has a potentiating effect.Key words: Aflatoxin B1, Turmeric Extract, Sodium Bentonite, blood parameters, rats