BACKGROUND: Stanozolol and Nandrolone decanoate are the most commonly used hormones in canine medi-cine. They are mainly administered to strengthen the muscle, gain weight, treatment of anemia and stimulate the appetite. One of the effects of hormones is to enhance the erythropoietin production and eventually an increase in the number of RBCs. OBJECTIVES: Prolonged usage of hormones may be relevant to the liver and renal disorders; therefore, the pre-sent survey was aimed to evaluate the effects of stanozolol and nandrolone decanoate on liver and kidney indices, erythropoietin and testosterone serum concentrations and hematocrit changes in healthy dogs. METHODS: Sixteen dogs were randomly categorized in two groups of A (stanozolol) and B (nandrolone decano-ate). Each group was divided into two subgroups (A1, A2 and B1, B2). The second testicle was removed on day 28 in the first subgroups (A1 and B1), and day 42 in the second subgroups (A2 and B2). The first testicle was removed at time zero. Stanozolol (50 mg per dog) was administered to all dogs of group A as IM once a week for six weeks. Group B was similar to group A with the difference that nandrolone decanoate was injected (1 mg/kg) instead of stanozolol. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 14, 28 and 42. RESULTS: Erythropoietin and testosterone concentrations were virtually increased in both groups A (p <0.05) and B (p <0.05). The effect of stanozolol on erythropoietin (subgroup A1) (11.35±1.31 ng/mL) was significantly higher than nandrolone decanoate (subgroup B1) (8.02±0.55 ng/mL) (p <0.05); nevertheless, the changes in testosterone levels, was not significant between groups A and B (p >0.05). The liver enzymes of ALP, ALT and AST were increased more significantly in group A than group B (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Erythropoietin and testosterone levels were virtually increased in both groups A and B; how-ever, stanozolol had more significant effect than nandrolone decanoate in increment of erythropoietin; nevertheless, it had more side effects on liver indices. It is suggested that nandrolone decanoate to be administered for the thera-peutic goals.

BACKGROUND: The decline in poultry meat quality can occur due to the oxidation of lipids and proteins during the storage period. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of using Alhagi maurorumin a broiler diet on the oxidation of the lipids and proteins of broiler breast fillets during frozen storage. METHODS: A total of 54 male 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into three groups of basal diet as the control group and basal diet supplemented with 10 and 20 g/kg of A. maurorum fed for 42 days. After slaugh-ter, breast fillets were kept at -18℃ for 9 months and peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content, and organoleptic assays were performed on samples every 3 months. RESULTS: The PV, TBARS, and carbonyl content of both treatment groups at all time points of frozen storage were significantly lower than that of the control group. Statistically, no difference was found between the samples of the two supplemented groups. Moreover, the sensory evaluation revealed no significant difference between the treatment and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, the incorporation of A. maurorum in broiler diets delayed lipid and protein oxidation in the breast meat.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered one of the most common bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections in human cases. However, the pathogenesis of this bacterium in companion birds is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to isolate P. aeruginosa from pet birds with respiratory illness manifestations referred to the clinic of the University of Tehran. Moreover, the antimicrobial susceptibility of the recovered P. aeruginosa isolates carrying MexAB-OprM efflux pump was evaluated. METHODS: Selective media and biochemical tests were used to isolate and identify P. aeruginosa isolates from 126 companion birds. The species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the 16S rRNA gene was applied to confirm P. aeruginosa. In addition, the sensitivity of isolates to 20 antimicrobial agents was assessed by an antimicrobial susceptibility test. Multiplex PCR was used to detect genes associated with MexAB-OprM efflux pump by specific primers in recovered P. aeruginosa isolates. RESULTS: All seven isolates identified as P. aeruginosa in culture by biochemical tests were confirmed utilizing species-specific PCR. The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated multidrug resistance (MDR) among the isolates with the highest resistance to neomycin, kanamycin, rifampicin, and vancomycin (100% of iso-lates) followed by colistin (57% of isolates). The mexA and oprM genes were detected in all isolates by multiplex PCR, while the mexB gene was not amplified in any of the seven isolates. CONCLUSIONS: We found P. aeruginosa isolates in sick birds and observed MDR in these isolates. Therefore, companion birds could be considered a potential public health concern, especially for owners and veterinary staff.

BACKGROUND: Blue Open Reading (bor) and increased serum survival (iss) genes, with intense structural and possible functional similarities, engage in the serum resistance of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 (APEC-O78). OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between the transcriptional level of bor and iss of APEC-O78 inoculated in serum. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted 24, 28, and 32 hrs after the inoculation of an APEC-O78 isolate, χ1378, to chicken serum. The fluorescence intensities related to the bands of gel electrophoresis of bor and iss were computed after cDNA synthesis and reverse transcription -PCR reaction assay. Using Pearson’s partial correlation tests, the relationship between the transcriptional levels of bor and iss, and the influence of the selected time points on the possible relationship were respectively measured at P<0.05 for statistical significance. RESULTS: A correlation was observed between the transcription levels of bor and iss (P=.012), which was not influenced by the selected time points (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: The bor must be carefully weighed in the transcriptional analysis including iss and vice versa. The number of transcripts/alleles, upstream sequence, regulation process at the pre-transcriptional phase, and the location of bor and iss in χ1378, and taking samples from different time intervals may explain our result. Our find-ings emphasizes the multifactorial and complex mechanism of APEC-O78 serum resistance, and can lay the foundation for further studies on the transcription of bor and iss, particularly in the specific strain and the three time points.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM), as a metabolic disease, has a high rate of mortality all over the world. In recent years, there is accumulating evidence that show this complex multifactorial disease has various effects on reproductive system. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of parsley (Petroselinum cris-pum) leaves on spermatogenesis and pituitary-gonadal axis in male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: In the present study, 60 male rats were divided into 5 groups of 12 animals in each: control, DM control and 3 experimental groups (treated with doses 1, 2, and 4 gr/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of parsley leaves gavage for 28 days). DM was induced 48 h after intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg). At the end of the treatment, rats were bled from the heart and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels were measured. The testes of rats were isolated and weighed. Assessment of the sperm motility and evaluation of the seminiferous cells were performed using light microscopy. RESULTS: Comparison of LH, FSH and testosterone in rats treated with doses 1 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of the plant revealed a significant increase as compared to the diabetic control group (P≤0.05). In addition, the results of histopathological evaluation elucidated a significant increase in the sperm cells number, and motility, testis weight, and total sperm count. It also improved condition of the seminiferous cells in the experimental group (1 mg/kg) compared to the diabetic control group (P≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that parsley (P. crispum) hydroalcoholic extract can be effective in decreasing repro-ductive disorders in DM patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorders with a severe impact on the quality of life. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of the hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngos on blood glucose, blood cells, and pancreatic tissue. METHODS: Thirty-five male rats were prepared. After diabetes induction by streptozotocin, they were randomly divided into 5 groups, including; non-diabetic control, diabetic control, diabetic treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngos at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally, and metformin at a dose of 500 mg/kg. At the end of the study, glucose level was measured, and blood cells and pancreatic tissue were examined. RESULTS: Hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngos caused a significant reduction in blood glucose. Given the adverse effects of diabetes on the number of WBC, Eryngos extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg had a protective effect on the number of WBC. It decreased their number significantly compared with the diabetic control group. This effect was the same for both diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Histopathological results also indicated that Eryngos extract significantly increased the number of islets of Langerhans and beta cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngos may be effective in the treatment of diabetes. Moreover, based on the biochemical and histological results, it can be concluded that the hypoglycemic effect of the extract is probably due to the restoration and repair of the islets of Langerhans

Chondrosarcoma is an uncommon malignant neoplasm in which the neoplastic cells produce chondroid and varying amounts of matrix. This tumor is the second most common primary skeletal tumor in animals. In our case, radio-logical and histopathological findings supported the final diagnosis of chondrosarcoma in a six-year-old male cat weighing 6.3 kg with a large and solitary mass in the right humerus. The shoulder joint had a limited range of motion. Radiographs were obtained from the raised growth. The mass was surgically excised for histopathological evaluation. Microscopically, the mass was composed of bundles and nests of neoplastic mesenchymal cells. Histo-pathologically, multiple-sized lacunae within a homogenous cartilage matrix were observed. There was marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. Neoplastic chondrocytes and oval cells with 1 to 3 nucleoli were seen. Based on the macroscopic, radiological, and cartilaginous differentiation of tumor cells and matrix, the mass was diagnosed as well-differentiated chondrosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) is a major cause of economic loss in horse industry and is well recognized as a cause of abortion, respiratory disease, neurologic disorders and death of neonatal foals.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of EHV-1 in horses with clinical signs and/or history associated with this virus from four provinces of Iran (Golestan, Tehran, Khuzestan, West Azer- baijan) that have considerable horse population, followed by phylogenetic study of positive cases and compare them with herpes viruses in other parts of the world.METHODS: Blood samples and nasal swabs were taken from 150 horses from four aforementioned provinc- es. DNA of samples was extracted and used for detection in real-time PCR TaqMan assay. Finally, phyloge- netic trees were designed based on neighbor joining method.RESULTS: Out of 150 sampled horses, a total of 14 (9.33%) were found to be positive for EHV-1. The results indicated that positive cases of EHV-1 from this study were clustered to herpes virus cases in other parts of the world with a noticeable similarity.CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the presence of EHV-1 in these provinces of Iran, thus consideration should be given to preventive and control programs to prevent dissemination and outbreak of this virus.

BACKGROUND: Gastric ulcer is one of the most common diseases in racehorses. Colic, weight loss and poor performance are some of the clinical signs. The second and third larval stages of the bot fly Gasterophilus spp live in the stomach of the horse. This parasite is often found in large numbers of horses in all of the countries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was assessment of gastric ulcer in the rural horse and relation with Gasterophilus spp. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study twenty rural horses were randomly selected for endoscopic finding for gastric ulcer. Gender, age, keeping situation, type of feed, history of colic, hair coat condition, deworming plan and presence of GasterophilussSpp. were recorded in a sheet. The horses were kept fasted for 12 hours before endoscopic examination by a VET3M OLYMPUS (Japan). Sedation was done by injection of Detomidine (Detomo Vet ® ceva-Spain) 0.1ml/100kg to look for presence of gastric ulcers with grading and Gasterophilus spp. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with 95% confidence interval and P RESULTS: Out of 20 horses, 13(65%) horses were mares and 7(35%) were males and Mean±2SE of age was 8.9±4. Endoscopic observation showed 9 (45%) of the horses suffered from gastric ulcer. All of the ulcers were in non-glandular part and near the margo plicatus. Overall, 4 (20%) head of the horses had Gasterophilus spp. and all of them were present in the horse with no deworming plan. Based on the results, there was no associ- ation between presence of Gasterophilus with occurrence of Gastric ulcer (P>0.05). Further study with high sample size is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: There was high frequency of gastric ulcer in non-glandular portion of stomach in rural horse and there was not any association between presence of Gasterophilus and gastric ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive studies in blood values t have been somewhat reported in wildlife animals but this study is the first one in Iranian red sheep. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to reveal alterations of some biochemical and hematological parameters in Iranian red sheep (Ovis. Orientalis gmelini) in the Zanjan province (Sorkhabad protected  area), Iran. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 52 clinically and para-clinically healthy Iranian red sheep with different age (under 2 years, 31 sheep and over 2 years, 21 sheep) and sex (37 male and 15 female). Thereafter, some hematological parameters such as RBC, PCV, Hb, MCH, MCV, MCHC, WBC, Differen- tial leukocyte count along with biochemical parameters (T3, T4, glucose, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, creatinine, urea, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, CK) were analyzed. RESULTS: The results indicated significant alterations (p<0.01) of T3, T4, phosphorous, magnesium, GGT and ALP in both sex and age groups, significant alterations in glucose and creatinine only in sex group and significant changes based on age in cholesterol, HDL and LDL. No significant changes were observed in the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In Iranian red sheep, some parameters of serum biochemistry indicate significant chang- es based on gender and age that should be considered in laboratory tests of animal health. Meanwhile, fur- ther research should be performed in this regard.