BACKGROUND: The immunostimulating effect of Aloe vera in mammals has been documented, but few works were done on effect of A. vera on fish health and immune responses. OBJECTIVES: In this study the effect of oral administration of A. vera on growth indices, hematological parameters and immune responses of rainbow trout were investigated. METHODS: One thousand five hundred rainbow trout fingerling (20 ± 2 g, Mean ± SD) were divided into five groups, each in triplicate, in farm scale. Group 1 were adopted as control and fed with non-supplemented feed, groups 2 to 5 were fed with diet supplemented by 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.5% A. vera extract respectivly for 60 days. Growth indices (SGR, FCR, PWG, FER, PER and CF) calculated in day 30 and 60. Blood samples were taken in day 60 and hematological parameters including: PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCH, MCV, MCHC as well as immunological parameters including: Lysozyme and serum bactericidal activity, serum total protein and globulin were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Results showed that all calculated growth indices (except CF) and all mentioned immunological parameters were significantly increased in fish fed with 0.1% and 0.2% A. vera supplemented food (G3 and G4) compare to control group (P < 0.05). Hematological parameters, HB, RBC, WBC and PCV showed a significant enhancement in G3 and G4 compare to control (P<0.05), but MCV, MCH and MCHC showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that oral administration of 0.1% and 0. 2% A. vera crud extract in food (G3 and G4) can improved growth indices, stimulate non-specific immune responces and affect some hematological parameters positively in rainbow trout.

Backgrounds: Canine parvovirus (CPV) has been incriminated as a primary pathogen related to acute hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. Three major antigenic variants of CPV (CPV-2a/2b/2c) have so far been identified. Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the frequency of CPV-2 and its variants (CPV-2a/2b/2c) in a population of healthy and diarrheic dogs in the north west of Iran. Methods: A total of 35 stool samples from healthy (n=16) and diarrheic (n=19) dogs were screened for all variants (2a, 2b, and 2c) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primer pair 555for/555rev resulting in a PCR product of 583 bp in length. The resulting fragments were further digested by MboII endonuclease that selectively recognizes the restriction site “GAAGA” unique to CPV2c only. All undigested samples were subjected to PCR assays with primer pair Pab (which detects both CPV-2a and CPV-2b types) and primer pair Pb (which detect only CPV-2b type) primer pairs. The relationship of health status, breed, age, sex and vaccination status with PCR results were analyzed using statistical tests. Results: From a total of 35 samples, 10 samples were found to be positive by 555for/555rev primers that were further analyzed by MboII digestion of PCR products. One sample was characterized as CPV-2c and nine samples were categorized as CPV-2a or CPV-2b. All nine undigested samples resulted positive by PCR using Pab primers, out of which 7 resulted positive by PCR using Pb primer pairs, indicating that they are of CPV-2b variant. Conclusions: It seems that CPV-2b is prevalent variant circulating in the North West of Iran. Results also indicated that CPV-2a and CPV-2c are affecting dogs, suggests constant surveillance and monitoring of CPV variants.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids are the steroidal drugs which are very widely used in large animal medicine. These agents have advantages in large animals but they have been also associated with many potential adverse effects especially at high doses or prolonged use. OBJECTIVES: The present experimental study was designed to clarify the effects of dexamethasone (DEXA) and isoflupredone (ISO), as the most common glucocorticoids in large animal medicine, on bovine thyroid hormones. METHODS: Ten clinically healthy Holstein calves (6-8 months old) were assigned into 2 equal groups. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) and isoflupredone (1 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly in DEXA and ISO groups, respectively, for two consecutive days. Blood samples were taken at days 0 (before the 1st dose), 1 (before the 2nd dose), 2, 3, 5 and 7, from all studied animals and serum concentrations of T3, T4, fT3 and fT4 were determined in all specimens. RESULTS: Levels of T3 and T4 were decreased significantly after both drugs administrations. The concentrations of T3 and T4 in Iso group were significantly lower than DEXA one (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in serum fT3 and fT4 levels following drugs administrations. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological doses of dexamethasone and isoflupredone have suppressive actions on the circulating levels of thyroid hormones in Holstein calves possibly via inhibition of TSH production at hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid level.

BACKGROUND: The use of antibiotics as feed additive in animal feeds due to the appearance of residues in milk and meat and their effects on human health has restricted. Two of essential oils with high potential for use in ruminant diet are Mentha piperita (peppermint) and Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal) essential oil. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of essential oils of peppermint and pennyroyal on performance, ruminal microbial population and some blood parameters of sheep. METHODS: For this purpose, 9 Dallagh sheep were used in a change over design experiment at three 21-d periods (14 days as adaptation and 7 days for sample collection). Experimental treatments were 1) basal diet without additive (control), 2) basal diet + 110 mg/d Mentha piperita essential oil and 3) basal diet +110 mg/d Mentha pulegium essential oil. Sheep were kept in individual cages and had free access to food and water. Rumen fluid was collected before, 4 h and 8 h after morning feeding and a blood sample was obtained 3 h after morning feeding at last day of each period. RESULTS: Essential oils had no effect on performance, blood parameters, pH, ammonia, protozoa, and total viable bacterial count of rumen. Coliforms of rumen fluid significantly decreased at 4 h and increased 8 h after morning feeding following peppermint and pennyroyal supplementation, respectively (P<0.05). Acid lactic bacteria count was significantly higher at before and 4 h after morning feeding in pennyroyal treatment compared with other treatments. CONCLUSION: although essential oils of Mentha piperita and Mentha pulegium had some effects on rumen microbial population but had no significant effects on performance and blood metabolites of Dallagh sheep.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the efficacy of immunoregulatory materials, herbal remedies or probiotics, in different parts of immune system following vaccination with different tropism. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Echinacea purpurea and a probiotic (protexin) on systemic and mucosal immune response in turkey. METHODS: A total of 288 1-day-old male turkey poults were randomized into 6 groups as follow: Group T1: Turkeys received Echinacea purpurea at the rate of 1 ml /1 liter water and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine, Group T2: Turkeys received probiotic at the rate of 1 g /1 liter water and NDV vaccine, Group T3: Positive control that turkey received NDV vaccine without any additives. Group T4: Turkeys received Echinacea purpurea at the rate of 1 ml /1 liter water without NDV vaccine. Group T5: Turkeys received probiotic at the rate of 1 g /1 liter water without NDV vaccine, Group T6: Negative control group, neither vaccinated against NDV vaccine nor given additives. At age of 10 and 20 days, poults were vaccinated with Villegas_Glisson/University of Georgia (VG/GA) strain of Newcastle disease vaccine by eye dropper method. For systemic and mucosal antibody analyses, blood samples and tracheal lavages were collected at different ages. The titers of antibody against NDV were measured using ELISA and HI tests. RESULTS: Addition of Echinacea to the water increased the systemic IgG, IgA and HI compared to the positive control group. Protexin supplementation to the water of T2 turkeys increased serum IgG and both total and specific IgA compared to the T3 group turkeys. Generally, turkeys that were supplemented with probiotic had higher specific and total tracheal IgA antibody levels than the other vaccinated groups. Among vaccinated turkeys only T1 group showed significantly higher HI antibody titers on day 42. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that systemic and mucosal immunity of turkeys following vaccination against Newcastle disease (ND) could be improved by supplementation of Echinacea and probiotic. The effect of Echinacea purpurea on systemic immunity of turkeys seemed more pronounced than on mucosal immunity; further, the effect of probiotic on mucosal immunity was more obvious.

BACKGROUND: The tongue, which plays a very important role in food intake by vertebrates, exhibits significant morphological variations that appear to represent adaptation to the current environmental conditions of each respective habitat. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present investigation was to investigate lingual structure in adult budgerigar. METHODS: Tongues of 12 adult budgerigars were used in the investigations. Samples of the apex, body and root of the tongue were studied using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The tongue in budgerigar is about 5 mm in length. The deep concave rostral portion of the lingual apex is devoid of any glandular structure and is continuous with a semicircular caudal portion. The caudal portion of the lingual apex is divided into two symmetrical halves by a median longitudinal fissure. The rostral part of the lingual corpus is distinctly divided by fissures of varying depth into many irregular raised areas with different sizes. Several large caudally directed conical papillae are situated on the posterior end of the lingual corpus and along the thick border region between the lingual body and root. There are also some giant conical papillae on the laryngeal mound. According to their positions, the PAS-positive compound tubuloalveolar salivary glands can be classified as dorsal and dorsolateral salivary glands. The dorsal lingual salivary glands are situated beneath the dorsal lingual epithelium. They extended from the caudal end of the fissure on the caudal lingual apex to the front of the laryngeal cleft. The dorsolateral salivary glands on each side extend from the beginning of the body of the tongue to the level of the laryngeal cleft. The ventral side of the tongue is devoid of any glandular structure. Neither the morphology nor the dimensions of the tongue show sex-specific differences. CONCLUSIONS: lingual structure shows considerable differences in budgerigars in comparision to other birds studied so far.

BACKGROUNDS: Heavy metal toxicity has confirmed to be a critical threat to animals’ health. It has been proved that heavy metals can cause immunosuppression. Although, it is said that damage of immune function plays a contributing role in the increasing incidence of infectious diseases. The increasing use of rural habitats by jackals make them suitable to monitor the impact of anthropogenic on health status of the animals. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether exposure to immunosuppressive heavy metals is associated with infectious disease in golden jackals (as representative of wild canids). So mercury and lead concentrations, frequency of CPV-2 infection and the relation between heavy metal concentrations and CPV-2 infection incidence were analyzed in golden jackals. METHODS: 30 Road-killed golden jackals were necropsied. Concentrations of Pb and Hg were measured by AAS in kidney and liver samples. VP2 gene of the CPV genomic DNA was applied to detect CPV-2 infection in fecal samples by PCR. RESULTS: Mean concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) of Hg and Pb were 0.15 ± 0.11 and 0.25 ± 0.18 in kidneys, and 2.8 ± 0.91 and 4.7 ± 1.03 in livers. CPV-2 detected in 8 (24%) samples. Mean concentrations of Hg and Pb, were meaningfully higher in the jackals that were CPV-2 infected compared to non- CPV-2 infected jackals. CONCLUTION: This pilot study has linked heavy metals bioaccumulation to viral infection. Further work is required to estimate the exact role of heavy metals in susceptibility of jackals to CPV-2 infection.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) is known as a cardiac biomarker in determining the myocardial damage of diseases which affect the heart muscle. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the serum cTnI concentration in Markhoz Breed goats suffering selenium (Se) deficiency and its correlation with electrocardiographic parameters, and activity of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes, as well as to determine the diagnostic value of troponin in that disease. METHODS: Blood samples of 94 goat kids of Markhoz breed with the age less than one month were taken, serum analyzed for the assessment of cTnI, CK and AST, 2 ml blood was used for determination of selenium concentration. Electrocardiography was recorded from all kids by using base-apex lead. Kids were divided into two groups based on serum selenium concentration. RESULTS: The concentration of cTnI was significantly higher in deficient kids compared with the control group. Results indicated significant negative correlation between cTnI and selenium concentration. There was no significant correlation between cTnI and AST, CK in deficient kids. Results show no significant difference in concentration of AST, and CK enzymes for two group of deficient kids and control group. The presence of arrhythmia is significantly higher in deficient kids than control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the measurement of serum cTnI concentration can be useful in diagnosis of kids suffering from Se deficiency. Also ECG can be used aiming at the diagnosis of arrhythmia in kids with Se deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Dairy cows undergo physiological changes during pregnancy and lactation and cardiovascular system may alter during these periods. OBJECTIVES: Understanding the physiological effects of production periods of dairy cows on heart electrical activities can aid to better monitoring the cardiovascular system in these animals. METHODS: Five multiparous Holstein dairy cows were studied from their early lactation to close-up dry periods. Electrocardiogram recordings and blood samplings were performed from each cow at their different productive states. Sera were separated and the concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated in all specimens. RESULTS: There were no significant changing patterns in P, Q, S and T amplitude from early lactation to close-up dry periods (P>0.05); However, the R amplitude was significantly increased from early to late lactation and then decreased to close-up dry period, subsequently (P<0.05). P wave had the longest and Q wave had the shortest durations during different productive states. There were no significant changing patterns in PR, QT and ST intervals from early lactation to close-up dry periods (P>0.05) but RR interval in dry periods was significantly longer than lactating ones. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased significantly from lactating cows to non-lactating ones (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The heart electrical activities of dairy cows at each production period were different from another one. The differences among serum electrolyte levels may affect the electrocardiographic findings at each production period which may alter the production and conduction of cardiac electrical impulses. Furthermore, the cardiac activities in different production periods could have a significant impact on the levels of circulating cardiac enzymes.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal foodborne intoxication is the most common cause of foodborne illnesses by Staphylococcus aureus strains and most are caused by the enterotoxins of S. aureus. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is the most frequently responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks. From a food safety and human health point of view, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may provide a promising strategy in the fight against S. aureus.OBJECTIVES: Increasing product shelf life, and enhancing the safety of food and human health using natural microflora are the aims of this study. METHODS: In this study we evaluate the inhibitory effects of three lactobacillus strains isolated from yoghurt, namely lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus fermentum and lactobacillus paracasei, on the growth and enterotoxin production of Staphylococcus aureus by co-incubating each strain with enterotoxigenic S. aureus at two temperatures: 25 and 35°C. Expression of the SEA gene of S. aureus was assessed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: All the strains decreased the bacterial count at both temperatures compared to the control. This effect was greater at 25°°C than at 35°C. The production of SEA, SEC and SEE was inhibited by all the isolates tested. Furthermore, expression of the sea gene was significantly suppressed in S. aureus co-cultured with the lactobacillus isolates and the greatest impact was on Lactobacillus acidophilus at 35 ° C. CONCLUSINS: This research highlights the potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional foods for use as natural preservatives in foodstuffs and suggests a new approach for biocontrol of Staphylococcus aureus.