BACKGROUND: A large part of our country's waste is organic matter, so researchers are studying fertilizer production from organic waste in various ways, including compost and vermicompost. On the other hand, glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia fetida (G-90) has been defined to show numerous biological activities, e.g., anticoagulation, fibrinolysis, and anti-oxidative, etc. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to determine phylogenetic relationship of the Iranian isolate of Eisenia fetida (E. fetida) with the other available taxa and to determine the G-90 protein complex for evaluation of its biological activities. METHODS: A piece of 1×1cm clitellum was separated and used for DNA extraction after homogenate preparation (by two different methods). The second internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA-ITS2) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA-COX1) from adult E. fetida were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, PCR products were sequenced and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. Further-more, The G-90 protein complex was extracted from adult worms and electrophoretic pattern of proteins was obtained by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). RESULTS: The electrophoretic pattern of glycolipoprotein G-90, a protein complex, showed 10 bands with molecular weights of 14-130 kDa. ITS2 and COX1 sequences were 516 bp and 277 bp long, respectively. The amplified DNA sequences from both ribosomal and mitochondrial sequences had 88%-99% and 99% similarity to relevant sequences in GenBank, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: mtDNA-COX1 showed no considerable sequence variations as compared to other isolates in Gen-Bank, while rDNA-ITS2 exhibited more variations, in comparison with other isolates, indicating more variations among some of these isolates. Our results revealed that rDNA-ITS2 of our E. fetida was in a separate subclade, showing the greatest similarity with EF534709.1 isolate (99%) provided in GenBank, followed by JX531618.1 (94%), and KU708469.1 (88%). Our COX1 sequence demonstrated the high similarity of 99% when compared with five isolates from GenBank (MH475674.1, MH475673.1, MH475672.1, MH475670.1, and MH475666.1). The G-90 glycolipoprotein showed different proteins that can be assessed for their potential biological activities in medicinal properties

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins are non-contractile intermediate filaments engaged in anchoring and structural functions forming a network to support cytoplasm. Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression in human breast carcinomas has proved to be a useful differentiation marker, but its expression in canine mammary gland tumors is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression in human breast carcinomas has proved to be a useful differentiation marker, but its expression in canine mammary gland tumors is poorly understood. METHODS: This research was based on the immunohistochemical study of CK7 in 17 cases of canine mammary gland neoplasms obtained from the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. Masson’s trichrome staining was performed to differentiate between collagen fibers and smooth muscle. RESULTS: CK7 protein was detected in both epithelial (1 benign mixed tumor, 1 fibroadenoma, 1 complex carcinoma, and 1 carcinoma mixed type) and myoepithelial (1 fibroadenoma, 1 benign mixed tumor, 3 complex carcinomas, 1 ductal carcinoma, and 1 carcinoma mixed type) cells. Fine and thick collagen fibers were observed in the sections stained by Masson’s trichrome. CONCLUSIONS: Despite using CK7 as a differentiation marker in human breast cancer, CK7 had a controversial ex-pression in the epithelial and myoepithelial cells in canine mammary gland neoplasms. Based on the results, CK7 could not be considered as an independent marker for the canine mammary glands epithelial cell detection and a prognostic factor in canine mammary gland neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis is a very common cause of lameness in athletic horses inducing long lameness and prolonged recovery. Multiple treatment protocols have been proposed for this injury none of which have been able to solve the problem completely. Therefore, an affordable, widely available, and non-invasive thera-peutic protocol is sought in the horse industry. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to compare the use of topical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with a combination of topical DMSO and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). METHODS: The subjects were divided into two groups of five polo ponies. The animals in the control group were treated by topical DMSO and controlled exercise, while the ponies in the experiment group received the same protocol plus PEMF on the injured tendon. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic factors evaluated in the current study were mostly similar between the two groups except for fiber alignment and echogenicity. The latter variables were shown to have a slightly better improvement in the test group indicating the minimal positive effects of PEMF. In clinical evaluation, both groups were almost identical sug-gesting no impacts for PEMF. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, applying PEMF using different protocols, such as more extended application at differ-ent frequencies is deemed necessary to elicit a favorable outcome of PEMF for the treatment of SDF tendonitis.

BACKGROUND: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most important pathogens. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cytopathic (CP) and non-cytopathic (NCP) biotypes of BVDV on vital status, membrane integrity, and motility of sperm cells in Holstein dairy bulls in vitro. METHODS: BVDV-free frozen semen samples were counted after thawing and centrifuged to separate live sperms. A sample containing 105 spermatozoa/mL was prepared. CP and NCP BVDV with 3 different doses of 105 (high dose), 104 (medium dose), and 103 (low dose) tissue culture infectious dose (TCID) 50/mL were challenged to sperm cells. After 2 hours of incubation at 38.5°C, eosin-nigrosine staining and hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test were performed to assess the sperm viability and plasma membrane integrity. Computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) was used to evaluate the sperm motility parameters. The obtained data were analyzed using GLM method in SAS software. RESULTS: The percentage of live spermatozoa in the control group was 72±3.60%. However, it decreased significantly with the increase of virus concentration in both groups (p ≤0.05). Sperm integrity in the control group showed that the quality of semen was 65± 3.21. But the effect of virus biotypes resulted in a significant decrease in both high (105) and low (103) concentrations (p ≤0.05). BVDV biotypes are able to reduce different sperm movements as their concentration-increases. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that CP and NCP biotypes of BVDV had a significant effect (p ≤0.05) on survival, plasma membrane integrity, and motility of sperm cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic disorders, and their consequences, are among the most important hygienic problems of mod-ern life. OBJECTIVES: Due to the increased global interest in natural remedies and their importance in the treatment of diseases, Ferulago angulata, as one of the oldest known medicinal plants of folk medicine, was evaluated its hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. METHODS: A total of 147 adult male rats were randomly divided into seven groups, each with three replicates (n=7): control group, untreated hyperlipidemia group, three treated hyperlipidemia groups, treated with 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of the F. angulata hydroalcoholic extract (FAHE), two hyperlipidemia groups treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), and metfor-min (500 mg/kg). After 21 days, serum glucose and total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and the ratios of LDL/HDL and TC/LDL, were measured. RESULTS: In all hyperlipidemia groups treated with different doses of FAHE, glucose, TG, TC, LDL-C, and LDL/HDL ratios were significantly reduced, while significant increases in HDL-C and cholesterol/LDL ratios were observed com-pared to the untreated hyperlipidemia group; however, a significant reduction of VLDL was only observed at the dose of 500 mg/kg FAHE. Hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of FAHE at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses were comparable to atorvastatin and metformin. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of FAHE, which may be due to the high phenolic, flavonoids, and trace element contents, providing powerful antioxidant potential and affecting the en-zymatic pathways of lipid and glucose synthesis and metabolism

BACKGROUND: The probiotics must be alive in sufficient numbers and one of the main stress factors that probiotic strains should tolerate is food preservatives, like herbal essential oils (EOs). To provide a balance between sensory accept-ability and antimicrobial efficacy, the use of sub-lethal concentrations of EOs in combination with other preservation methods has been proposed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sub-lethal level of Ziziphora clinopodioides essential oil (ZEO) stress on viability of microencapsulated Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and examine physicochemical and sensory properties of probiotic yoghurt during 28 days of storage. Moreover, the survival of probi-otics was evaluated in gastrointestinal conditions. METHODS: The sub-lethal and lethal levels of ZEO were determined for Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Both probiotics (109 CFU/mL) were exposed to sub-lethal dose of ZEO on MRS broth for about 2 h and then microencapsulated with alginate-chitosan. First, viability of encapsulated probiotics was estimated in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. After preparation of yoghurt, enumeration of free and encapsulated probiotics in yoghurt was done. Finally, physicochemical and sensory properties of probiotic yoghurt were measured. RESULTS: According to the GC-MS, Thymol (41.70%), alpha-terpineol (7.31%) and carvacrol (5.39%) were the most commonly detected components in the ZEO. The lethal doses of ZEO for L. acidophilus and B. bifidum probiotic bacteria were 1750 and 1500 ppm, respectively. Encapsulation and exposure of probiotics to sub-lethal dose of ZEO increased significantly the survival of probiotics in both gastrointestinal conditions and during 28 days of yoghurt storage (p <0.05). Furthermore, encapsulation and exposure of probiotics to sub-lethal dose of ZEO did not significantly change the pH of yoghurt samples (p >0.05). On the other hand, syneresis was not significantly different in all samples (p >0.05). The group exposed to ZEO obtained the lowest score for flavor. However, significant differences were observed between the exposed and other groups in the term of flavor, texture and overall acceptability (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to sublethal concentration of ZEO could be used as a prebiotic in probiotic yoghurt contain-ing probiotics so as to improve the survival and viability of microcapsulated probiotics and enhance some of the physico-chemical and sensory properties.

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.