Background: Green iguana (Iguana iguana) is one of the newly imported exotic pets which has been observed with increasing regularity in veterinary clinics in Iran. Despite their popularity, information about their diseases is scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the pathogenic agents in green iguanas with skin disorders. METHODS: The animals were brought to Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran, Iran, with chronic pruritic dermatitis, scabs, loss of spines and deep ulcerative dermatitis located over the body. During physical exam, deposits of dry seborrhea were taken and processed for diagnosis. The clinical specimens were cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and cycloheximide and mycosel agar. RESULTS: Microscopic examination revealed fungal elements as Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and psoroptid mites as Geckobiella donnae. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first report of the presence of fungal and parasitic agents as the etiological agents of dermatological disorders in green iguanas.

Background: Heart valve diseases are considered a common disease in human and animals, and valve replacement is an option for treatment of valvular diseases. Objectives: In this study efficacy of a tissue engineered valve in thoracic aorta was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography. Methods: This study was undertaken on 6 male sheep. Echocardiography was performed on all sheep 24 hours before surgery and repeated  24 hours (D1), 2 weeks (W2) and 4 weeks (W4) after surgery. Right parasternal long axis view of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was used to assess hemodynamic across new valve. Results: Velocity time integral (VTI) significantly decreased from 18.98±2.88 before surgery to 12.55±2.48 one day after surgery (D1) (p<0.05). Mean Velocity (Vmean) decreased significantly from 52.56±12.01 to 39.72±12.30 at D1 (p<0.05). But maximum velocity (Vmax) was constant during study. There was not any statistical difference between mean Pressure gradient (Pgmean) or maximum pressure gradient (Pgmax) in comparison with pre-surgery and D1, W2 and W4. At D1, W2 and W4, time to peak (TTP) differed significantly from previous time. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that this tissue engineered aortic valve (TEAV) could change some hemodynamic parameters, but heart could compensate some of them. Valve movement remained normal but the major complication was aneurism which seems to be the result of poor scaffold.

Background:Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growthsecretagogue receptor is predominantly produced in the stomach and anexpression of ghrelin has recently been identified in placenta and ovary. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, we decited to measure ovarian ghrelin as quantitative andevaluate the correlation between ghrelin and estrogen during second half ofovine pregnancy. METHODS: The ovarian samples were collected from 40pregnant sheep in 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 months of pregnancy in a local abattoir.Follicles and active corpora lutea (CL) were dissected from surroundingtissues, separately. The samples were homogenized with phosphate buffer (0.1 M,pH=7.4) on liquid nitrogen to provide fluid samples. Ghrelin and estrogenconcentrations were measured by ELISA method and expressed as milligram (mg)and picogram (pg) per mg of tissue protein, respectively. RESULTS:There was a linear correlation between ghrelin and estrogen in ovarian follicles(r=0.97 and p=0.004), but not in CL. Follicular ghrelin significantly increasedin 4, 4.5 and 5 months (p<0.001) but CL ghrelin significantly decreased inthe 4.5 month of ovine pregnancy (p<0.01). Estrogen concentration was alsosignificantly higher in 4-5 months of pregnancy in ovarian follicles(p<0.001) but potent CL indicated higher estrogen level only in the 5thmonth of pregnancy (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:These results emphasize the role of ghrelin inthe reproductive system and open a new window to future studies

Background: The Endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 (EPSA1) is the key transcriptional regulator of hypoxic response and Vascular Permeability Factor (VPF) is an important growth factor for vascular development and angiogenesis. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the levels of the EPSA1 coding gene and VPF transcripts were evaluated during Larval development of Beluga, Huso huso. METHODS: Samples at 12 developmental time-points including 1, 2, 4 days before hatch (eyed eggs), fresh hatched larvae (0), and larvae 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 50 days post-hatching were collected and  stored in a −80 °C freezer until RNA extraction. Changes in EPSA1 and VPF mRNA expression were studied and differences in normalized mRNA expression levels among the different developmental stages of H. huso were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The transcripts of EPSA1 and VPF were detected in all developmental time-points of H. huso from embryos to fingerling fish. Our results revealed that the mRNA expression of EPSA1 and VPF was low during embryonic development and then upregulated significantly at the time of hatch and early larval time-points, whereas in the late larval development stages they started to decline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is an association between the EPSA1 and VPF mRNA expression during larval development of H. huso. The up regulation of EPSA1 and VPF transcripts at the time of hatch and during yolk sac fry development of H. huso is likely tied to the role of them in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis.

Background: Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria necatrix has the most economic impact onpoultry production. Micronemal proteins in Eimeria necatrix are thoughtto be critical ligands determining host cell specificity at the time ofinvasion.               OBJECTIVES: Isolation and purification of Eimeria necatrix oocysts from  Khuzestan province of Iran was performed. AcDNA encoding microneme 5 (EnMIC5) protein was cloned and expressed asrecombinant protein before the evaluation of its immunogenicity by Westernblotting. METHODS: A primer pair was designed based on the publishednucleotide sequence of Eimeria necatrix LZ strain micronem5 gene. APartial cDNA sequence fragment of 758 bp coding for microneme 5 protein(EnMIC5) was amplified by semi- Nested RT-PCR. PCR products were cloned andexpressed in a Maltose Binding protein (MBP) containing expression vector(pMAL-c2x) in Escherichia coli. The cDNA which is encoded for 252 aminoacids shows high degree of conservation. It contains the adhesive plasmapre-kallikrein and seven hydrophilic motifs. RESULTS: The results of SDS-PAGErevealed that the recombinant protein with a molecular weight of 70 kDa wasover-expressed after induction with IPTG. Western blotting results revealedthat the expressed recombinant protein was reacted with sera of the chicksinfected with Eimeria necatrix. It was suggested that this proteinshould have a good immunogenicity and can be used for further studies. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the high degree of sequence homology indicates that thisprotein is immunogenic and  might be aninteresting vaccine target, and deserves further investigation

Background: Clostridium perfringens is known as the most widely distributed pathogenic microorganism in nature. It is an extremely important pathogen of human and domestic animals. In a commonly used classification scheme, C. perfringens is divided into five toxinotypes (A to E) based on the production of four major toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon, and iota). Enterotoxin is not usually used for C. perfringens typing but it is a fatal toxin with necrotic activity. Based on our knowledge there is no published scientific report regarding identification of enterotoxin positive C. perfringens isolates from animals in Iran. OBJECTIVES: To study the presence and frequency of enterotoxin gene among C. perfringence isolates with different types. METHODS: A specific single PCR assay was developed and used for detection of cpe gene to identify the entrerotoxin  harboring isolates among different types of C. perfringens isolated from animal enteric diseases in Iran. RESULTS: It was found that cpe gene presents among C.perfringens isolates types A, B, C  and D with  63.6% (7/11), 25%  ( 5/20),  21.4% (3/14), 53.3% (8/15),  respectively. Totally 23 of 60 ( 38.3%) isolates screened by PCR were cpe-positive. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of cpe- positive isolates of C.perfringens causing enterototoxemia  in animals in Iran. Further studies to investigate the synergistic effect of CPE toxin in pathogenesis of enteric diseases in animals is suggested.

Background: Feeding behavior is regulated by a complex network which interacts via diverse signals from central and peripheral tissues. It is known dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems have crucial role on food intake regulation but scarce reports exist on their interaction in appetite regulation in broilers. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to examine the role of glutamatergic system on dopamine-induced hypophagia in neonatal meat-type chicken. METHODS: In experiment 1, chicks received ICV injection of control solution, dopamine (40 nmol), MK-801 (NMDA glutamate receptors antagonist, 15 nmol) and co-injection of dopamine + MK-801. In experiment 2, birds were ICV injected with saline, dopamine (40 nmol), CNQX (AMPA glutamate receptors antagonist, 390 nmol) and co-injection of dopamine + CNQX. In experiment 3, chicks received ICV injection of control solution, dopamine (40 nmol), AIDA (mGLUR1 glutamate receptors antagonist, 2 nmol), dopamine + AIDA. Experiments 4 and 5 were similar to experiment 3, except birds were injected with LY341495 (mGLUR2 glutamate receptors antagonist, 150 nmol) and UBP1112 (mGLUR3 glutamate receptors antagonist, 2 nmol) instead of AIDA. Then the cumulative food intake was measured until 120 min post injection. RESULTS: According to the results, ICV injection of dopamine significantly decreased food intake (p<0.001). Co-injection of dopamine and MK-801 decreased dopamine induced hypophagia (p<0.001). Moreover, the food intake of chicks was significantly increased by co-injection of AIDA and dopamine (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest dopamine-induced hypophagia is mediated via NMDA and mGlu1 receptors in chicken.

Background: There is no consistent data on the mechanical properties of sheep intestine. OBJECTIVES: We performed a series of biaxial strain measurement experiments and extracted the constitutive model to describe the mechanical characteristics of the sheep intestinal tissue. METHODS: Eleven specimens were obtained freshly from sacrificed  sheep and the planar biaxial tests were performed on the tissue specimens by applying simultaneous loads along the circumfer-ential and longitudinal directions. Then the measured data were fitted into the anisotropic four-parameter Fung-type model and also to the modified Mooney-Rivlin model. RESULTS: The specimens showed some degree of anisotropy; the stiffer direction is not gener-ally predictable. Some of the specimens were stiffer in the circumferential direction, and the others in the longitudinal direction. However, the average results state the circumferential di-rection as the stiffer orientation. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that sheep intestine be-haves normally as a nonlinear anisotropic tissue which is well-characterized by the modified Mooney-Rivlin model.

\The Brown bear (Ursusarctos) is a species at risk of extinction. It is considered the largestcarnivore and lives in northern Iran. Several studies on the structure of skullhave been  accomplished in differentanimals. The aim of this study was the inscription of gross anatomicalcharacteristics of skulls of three Iranian adult male brown bears that weretransferred  to the Anatomical Departmentof the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Semnan University. After processing,that included cleaning, degreasing and bleaching, skulls were studied from thedorsal or frontal, ventral, lateral, rostral, caudal and medial views. Thefacial part of the brown bear’s skull from dorsal view was small and thecranium was seen quadrilateral and larger than the dogs. The facial part oflacrimal bone and also the optic groove of presphenoid were absent. There wasnot articulation between maxillary and nasal bones. The interincisive canal waspresent and situated inter palatine processes of incisive bones. The orbitalcavity was small in brown bear. Lacrimal canal was formed by lacrimal andmaxillary bones. The interparietal bone and external sagittal crest in brownbear were seen as being shorter than the dogs. Tympanic bulla was very smalland jugular foramen rounded. The external acoustic meatus was formed bysquamous and tympanic part of temporal bone. In conclusion, the brown bear’sskull has different important macroscopic characteristics compared to othercarnivores

Background: The H9N2 subtype of influenza A viruses is considered to be widespread in poultry industry. Adamantane is a group of antiviral agents which is effective both in prevention and treatment of influenza A virus infections. These drugs inhibit M2 protein ion channel which has role on viral replication. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study is to evaluate M gene of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of H9N2 subtype in order to find adamantane drug resistance mutations. METHODS: Over 100 suspected samples were collected from different geographical regions of Iran during 2012-2013. Samples were injected via allantoic sac of 9-11 day-old chicken embryos. A total of 11 out of 100 were AIV. The H9N2 subtype was confirmed by specific RT-PCR. The RT-PCR was conducted for full length M gene. PCR amplified products were purified and then conducted for commercial direct sequencing. Finally, sequences were checked for possible sites of adamantane resistance mutations. RESULTS: Overall, 8 out of 11 viruses harbored the adamantane resistance-associated mutations. Of which, four viruses were isolated in 2013 and four viruses in 2012. Two different resistance-associated mutations were observed during different years. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provided clear evidence concerning resistance AIVs of H9N2 subtype that were circulating in Iranian poultry sector. This concern is always present as M segment might be introduced into human influenza viruses by reassortment phenomenon.