BACKGROUND: Caspian miniature horse is an Iranian breed of the horse. Some anatomical studies such as topography of the heart have been conducted in recent years. Objectives: Regarding the importance of SA node in regulating the rhythmic contraction of heart, the present study was performed to demonstrate the position of the SA node and its arterial supply. Methods: 4 excised hearts of Caspian miniature horse were used for this study.  The coronary arteries in two horses were injected with a mixture of gelatin and choromopaque and the other two with colored rodopas. The gelatin injected specimens were used for contrast radiography and the rodopas injected specimens were macerated in HCl and the cast  studied for arterial branches. Terminal sulcus and location of SA node was macroscopically detected and separated for histological investigation. Results: Our study showed that the SA node is a small mass of transformed cardiac muscle. It is situated under the epicardium of the right ventricle between the cranial vena cava and the right auricle. The blood is supplied by a few branches separated from the right auricular branch of the proximal branch of left atrial artery. The latter itself is a branch of the left circumflex artery of the left coronary artery.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves approximately 1% of the population older than 50 years. Classically, PD is considered a motor system disease, and its diagnosis is based on the presence of a set of cardinal motoric signs (e.g. rigidity, bradykinesia, motor and postural reflex disturbance). ObjectiveS: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of lavender (Lavandula officinalis) on motor disorders of pseudo PD rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=7). PD signs were induced by intra-peritoneal (IP) injection of reserpine (5mg/kg) prior to administration of the lavender extract. Three goups of rats received different doses (200, 300, 400 mg/kg, P.O) of the lavender extract and sham group received distilled water at the same volume for six days and two times per day. At the seventh day, Catalepsy and  other signs of PD were measured in the bar test, rotarod and open field. Results: In this study, improvement in signs of Parkinson disease were not observed by applying lavender hydro-alcoholic extract and  motor disorders were not reduced in comparison with sham group. Conclusions: The lavender hydro-alcoholic extract does not have any effect on motor disorders of Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND: Benni of cyprinidae family is important for nutrition and economic and commercial species in the south of Iran and the Persian Gulf region. OBJECTVES: To investigate the importance of compatibility of fishes with different salinity in different areas and ability of osmoregulation  along with maintenance of homeostasis. METHODS: For this study, 144 healthy Barbus sharpeyi with an average weight of 350±2.36 grams and length 25±1.25 cm in five groups were studied. The first group as control was located in municipal dechlorinated water and the next four groups respectively were kept in salinity 4ppt, 8ppt, 12 ppt and 16ppt in the same condition. On days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 the second gill arch with maximum thickness of 0.5 cm from the left were prepared and  placed in  Bouin’s solution.Then the standard method of paraffin sections was done and tissue sections, 5-6 micrometer thick were prepared and stained with H&E methods. RESULT: Results showed the gradual transfer of fish to water with high salinity caused obvious changes in the number and distribution of chloride cells on different days. In particular, the changes in the size of these cells in two positions, filament and Lamella were evident. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the decrease of freshwater resources, from this research it can be concluded that the Barbus sharpeyi can resist  the salinity without tissue changing. These findings suggest that  Barbus sharpeyi is compatible with salinity and the concentration of 4ppt was optimum and concentrations of 8ppt and 12 ppt were tolerable.

BACKGROUND: Herbal immunostimulants have numerous potential benefits in comparison to vaccines and drugs like antibiotics in aquaculture. OBJECTIVES: In this study, effects of administration of Echinacea purpurea in oral and intra peritoneal routs on some hematological and immunological parameters of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were investigated. METHODS: A total of 240 healthy juvenile grass carp were randomly divided into four equal groups in triplicates. Group 1 received 400 mg/kg b.w. Echinacea in intra peritoneal injection. Group 2  received 0.5% Echinacea in their daily food. Group 3 and 4 were considered as injection control and oral control, respectively. Fish were bled on day 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 of study. Sera samples were assayed for immunological parameters: lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, complement activity and NBT reduction assay. Blood samples were also used for hematological parameters: (PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and Leukocyte differentiated count). RESULTS: Results showed that serum lysozyme and bactericidal activity as well as complement and NBT reduction activity were significantly higher in i.p. treatment than the control group (p<0.05), while in oral treatment bactericidal and NBT reduction activity increased significantly on days 30 and 40 (p<0.05). Hematological assay shows no significant differences in PCV, Hb and RBC values at each sampling period in oral and injection compared to controls (p>0.05) but WBC count and  rate of heterophils showed an increase in injection treatment group compared with the control (p<0.05). Mortality rate after challenged with A. hydrophila decreased in Echinacea treated treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that administration of E. purperea stimulates some nonspecific immune responses in grass carp and therefore it can be recommended as an herbal immunostimulant in fish.

BACKGROUND: Annexins (including annexin A1 and annexin A2) are important proteins which have some roles in organisms such as intracellular signal conduction, membrane cellular skeletal connection, cellular proliferation and differentiation, especially inhibitory function in inflammation processing. Pasteurella multocida is the most common bacterial pathogen and has high prevalence in pneumonia. Objectives: This study was aimed to determine experimentally annexin A1 and annexin A2 in the serum of calves affected by Pasteurella multocida pneumonia. Methods: In this research, 10 male calves (2 - 4 months) were allocated to two equal groups, one group as the case: 300 ml in dilution 2×109 CFU Pasteurella multocida bacteria and the other as control group: 300 ml normal saline inoculated by special lavage catheter through oral to trachea. Clinical scores were recorded based on available tables. In treatment group, about 18 to 24 hours after inoculation and synchronous with observation clinical signs changes, bronchoalveolar lavage for cytology and bacteriology examination were done of fluids results from washing. Blood sampling was taken from calves jugular vein in both groups then blood serums were examined by using ELISA kits. Results: The rates of annexin A1 and annexin A2  in blood serum of treatment group showed significant increase (using independent t test) compared to control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: It seems these annexins (annexin A1 and annexin A2) can be used as important biomarkers in blood serum to diagnose inflammation processes such as pneumonia.

AbstractAbstractBACKGROUND: The vegetables with high amount of Nitrate have a lot of detrimental effects on the human and animal health. The high amount of Nitrate results in some diseases such as Stomach cancer, Leukemia, cancer of the lymphatic nodes or NHL (Non-Hodgkin lymphoma), blue body syndrome, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal diseases in human. Since 80% of Nitrate enters the human body by vegetables the measurement of Nitrate and the investigation of affecting factors on its accumulation in vegetables are of crucial importance especially at areas with high consumption of vegetables. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study were monitoring the Nitrate amount in green cucumber and the most effective factors on it. METHODS: Overally, 210 samples were collected and analyzed from different farmlands of Jiroft city during one sowing season. The Nitrate content of the samples was measured by Salicylic acid and spectrophotometry method. RESULTS: The results showed that the average of Nitrate content in the collected samples is 112.12 mg/wet kg and 29 samples (13% out of 210 samples) have Nitrate concentration higher than standard level. Moreover, it was revealed that the factors such as type of planting, irrigation, soil, fertilizer, harvest season, age of sample, temperature, weather, sampling location in the farm, distance between bushes, weeds and farmer financial status have direct influence on the Nitrate content of the green cucumber in Jiroft area. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that different factors are affecting on the Nitrate accumulation in the cucumber and a healthy product with standard Nitrate content can be produced by considering the studied factors in this work.

BACKGROUND: Semen cryopreservation process with increased reactive oxygen species levels (ROS) plays a decisive role on the sperm cellular organelles (cell membrane, mitochondria and DNA). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of adding different levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) antioxidants before freezing on motility, total progressive motility, viability and positive response to hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) parameters after Bull semen was frozen. METHODS:  In this study, four bulls aged 4-5 years were used and 20 times the semen collection (5 ejaculates per bull) was performed. SOD (100 and 150 IU/ml) and GSH (5 and 7.5 mM) antioxidants were added to Tris - egg yolk extender. Diluted semen samples with or without additives were manually filled with straw and the free end of the straws were sealed by sealing machines; then, semen were frozen by semi-automatic freezing machine, using liquid nitrogen. After thawing the samples, the total and progressive motility, sperm viability and positive response to the HOST parameters were determined at zero and 2 h of incubation. RESULTS: Adding SOD and GSH antioxidant levels did not reveal significant differences between treatments in any of the semen parameters in the initial hour of incubation after thawing. Two hours incubation of post-thawed semen samples containing SOD (100 IU/ml) significantly improved total motility, viability and membrane integrity of the sperm (p<0.05). Also, in samples containing SOD (150 IU/ml), sperm membrane integrity was maintained (p<0.05). In the semen samples with antioxidant GSH (5 mM), total motility and membrane integrity of the sperm are considerably improved after thawing (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that using SOD and GSH antioxidants as freezing semen extender additives can  improve post-thawed bull semen quality.

AbstractBACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal nematodes causing digestive problems, anemia and weight loss in sheep and goat. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to introduce FAMACHA test and usage of it for early detection of infected animals with gastrointestinal nematodes (especially Haemonchus contortus) to reducing of treated sheep population with anthelmintic drug and selection of resistant animals. METHODS: In this study 120 Ghezel sheep breed lambs were used in age of 4 to 6 months. The lambs were chosen randomly from 6 different grazing flocks with 20 lambs in each of them. Sampling and FAMACHA test scoring was carried out in 2014. Blood samples was collected for calculating of packed cell volume percent and fecal sampling was collected for counting of egg per each grams of fecal and body weight was investigate. The sampling was carried out 2 times with a week apart. RESULTS: Results showed that the effects of FAMACHA, flocks and interaction between them on parasite eggs per gram of fecal was significant (p<0.01) and also the effect of FAMACHA on the percentage of packed cells volume was significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the FAMACHA test scoring could be used as a synergetic and alternative method to early diagnosis of infestation to blood sucking nematodes and prevention of new cases of drug resistant and selection of resistant animals in Iran.Key words: FAMACHA test, Haemonchus contorts parasite, Haemonchosis, sheep

Backgrounds, there are limited choice of analgesic agent in horse medicine, and mostly because of side effects usage of analgesics is contraindicated in horses. Objectives, introduction of compounds which have little side effects whith good analgesic affects. Methods, this study was undertakan in 6 healthy horses, in control group they received normal saline. In treatment group CRI of lidocaine and xylasine has been administered, and data was recorded at the beginning of infusion and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 minutes after starting the infusion at time 50 infusion was stopped and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after that data was recorded as well. Analgesic effect was evaluated by algometer. NIBP, Temperature, Heart rate, respiratory rate, sedation, intestinal sounds was evaluated at each time points. Results, 30 minutes after starting the infusion analgesic effect has started and there was significant difference between control and treatment group this effect last until the end of infusion and after the CRI this effect disappeared gradually. Conclusions, simultaneous infusion of xylasine and lidocanie has significant analgesic effect. But it needs more study in fields like laminitis cases to prove the efficacy of combination of xylazine and lidocaine.

Background: Candidiasis is a fungal infection that is often caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) and in a few cases caused by other Candida species. Infection of gastrointestinal tracts including mouth, esophagus and stomach, as well as enteritis and diarrhea are the most common form of the disease in cattle. Clinical findings: In January 2015 reduction in milk production and severe watery diarrhea were observed in a dairy farm located in Varamin city Tehran, Iran. So that 57.1% of cows with high milk production efficiency and 40% of cows with low milk production efficiency involved severe watery diarrhea. Laboratory tests: in clinical examination of affected animals vital signs such as number of breathing, heart rate, as well as the quality and number of ruminal movements were quite normal. No unusual sings were seen in CBC pattern of affected animals. In stool samples of affected animals no viruses or bacteria were detected while specimens were positive for yeast contamination RapID commercial kits used to identify the genus and species of yeast and C. famata was diagnosed as the cause of diarrhea. Final evaluation: Reports of diarrhea caused by fungal pathogens in animals is very low and Candida species, especially C. albicans and C. glabrata are known as the main causes of fungal diarrhea in animals .This study is the first repot about occurrence of C. famata diarrhea in adult cattle. So that C.famata could be considered as one of the potential causes of diarrhea in cattle.