In this review an attempt has been made to review the cardiotoxic effects of poisonous plants which are found in Iran. Among various plant species growing in different regions of Iran, a large number of plants contain chemical compounds which are toxic to animals and humans. Among those poisonous plants, cardiotoxic plants are important due to the acute nature of their toxicity and frequent lethal livestock and human intoxications. Cardiotoxic plants of Apocynaceae family, Nerium oleander, N. indicum and Thevetia peruviana contain cardiac glycosides including oleandrin, oleandroside and thevetin A-C. Plants of Taxaceae family, Taxus baccata and T. brevifolia contain taxine alkaloids, including taxine A and B. The toxic effects of cardiac glycosides are primarily attributed to inhibition of plasmalemmal Na+/ K+-ATPase which results into the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ and, depending to its severity, inotropic or arrhythmic effects are seen. Taxine B, the prominent alkaloid in Taxus spp. block sodium and calcium channels preferentially in cardiac myocytes, thus causing conduction abnormalities. Various cardiac arrhythmias in acute cases of poisoning with aforementioned plants result in acute heart failure and death. Post mortem findings are non-diagnostic and toxicological analysis of gastrointestinal tract content or body fluids is used for detection of cardiac glycosides and taxines.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 causes important economic losses in industrial poultry worldwide. Biosecurity and vaccination have not completely prevented the outbreak of avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 in poultry, and there are no appropriate medicines available. Onion is one of the plants used from the ancient times both as food and medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiviral effects of aqueous extract of red and yellow onion against avian influenza virus subtype H9N2. First, a study was performed to evaluate the toxic effects of the extracts on the embryonated chicken eggs. For antiviral evaluation, three mixtures were prepared: mixture of the virus and the red onion extract, mixture of the virus and the yellow onion extract, and mixture of the virus and PBS, as a control group. The mixtures were separately inoculated to the chorioallantoic sac of the embryonated eggs after 2, 8 and 24 hours incubation at room temperature. Mortality rate and hemagglutination assay titers were recorded. The results indicated that the red onion extract decreases mortality of the embryos and the yellow onion extract increases the life of the embryos, and both of the extracts decrease HA titers. In conclusion, it seems that both extracts especially aqueous extract of the red onion not only destroys the avian influenza virus subtype H9N2, but also they probably decrease the propagation of the virus in the embryonated chicken eggs.

The changes in serum fructosamine concentration of dairy Saanen goats during late pregnancy and early lactation and its relationship to serum glucose, total protein, and albumin concentrations was investigated. Eleven Saanen goats were selected for the study. Blood samples were collected by the jugular vein in 30, 15 and 7 days before the expected time of parturition (D-30, D-15, and D-7, respectively) and also 12 hours and 3, 7, 13, and 42 days post-partum (H+12, D+3, D+7, D+13, and D+42, respectively). The serum concentrations of fructosamine, glucose, albumin, and total protein were measured. The maximum concentration of fructosamine was at 12 hours post-partum and decreased thereafter. Serum concentration of glucose significantly increased from D-15 up to 12 hours post-partum and then decreased and stayed at the same level. The serum concentrations of albumin and total protein significantly increased during post-partum period. There were significant correlations between fructosamine and glucose concentrations at post-partum period and overall time of the study. Linear regression analysis between each sampling amount of glucose and three consecutive fructosamine concentrations revealed significant positive correlation between glucose of each sampling time with the fructosamine of first sampling time thereafter. According to the correlation between glucose and fructosamine amounts during the study, especially post-partum period in Saanen goat, fructosamine measurement could be used as a useful indicator of energy economy and probably stress in Sannen goat; but controversy between reports in ruminants needs further studies for better understanding of fructosamine as energy biomarker in ruminants.

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in many humans and animals has driven researches to identify and design novel antibacterial agents. In vitro inhibitory activity of (2E)-2-(4,5-dihydro-4-oxothiazol-2-yl)-2-(thiazolidin-2-ylidene) acetonitrile against many bacterial pathogens has been proven in both veterinary and human medicine. In this study, its in vivo toxic effects was studied in mice. The median lethal dose (LD50) value of 239.88 mg/kg was estimated using intraperitoneal injection in 8 groups of mice after 48 h treatment. Then, intraperitoneal injections of LD50 of oxothiazole solution into 4 other mice were done to evaluate histopathological changes in their liver and kidney tissues. The histopathological studies were identified as fatty change, hepatitis, necrosis and regeneration in liver, and fibrosis, necrosis, nephritis, hyaline cast and hyperaemia in kidney. In conclusion, the synthesized oxothiazole derivative causes renal and hepatic toxicity in mice at medium concentrations. The change of thiazole substituents and complexation may reduce its toxicity.

This study sought to assess the levels of cardiac troponin I, as a resuscitation end point, along with oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) during resuscitation of dogs with experimental hemorrhagic shock using lactated Ringer’s solution or 6% hydroxyethyl starch. After induction of anesthesia (control measurements), hemorrhagic shock was induced by rapid removal of blood to achieve a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 40 to 50 mmHg within 30 minutes and then maintained in hypovolemic situation for additional 30 minutes (second and third stages of measurements). Afterward, the dogs were randomly assigned to two groups which received 20 ml/kg lactated Ringer’s solution or 5 ml/kg Hydroxyethyl starch, in four consecutive 15 minutes intervals (forth stage of measurements). One hour after the last resuscitation step, final measurements were performed. Hemorrhagic shock caused marked elevation in the levels of cTnI and reduction in DO2 and VO2 (p < 0.05). Following resuscitation, a significant reduction was observed in the levels of cTnI and VO2 but a significant elevation was seen in DO2 levels (p < 0.05), without significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). The results of this study proved that cTnI can be evaluated for better monitoring during fluid therapy in hemorrhagic shock, as a novel resuscitation end point.

This study performed to determine hematological parameters in Saanen goats’ kids from birth until 3 months of age. The whole blood specimens were collected from 20 clinically healthy goat kids (15 females and 5 males). The blood specimens were obtained at 24-48h after birth and 10 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 56 ± 2 and 84 ± 2 days. Hematological variables were determined based on reference laboratory methods. Results showed significant age related changes for most factors (p < 0.05) except for MCHC and the number of monocytes, eosinophils, and band neutrophils. There were significant differences with first sampling time for all parameters (p < 0.01) except for the number of monocytes, eosinophils and band neutrophils. The results of the present study ould be used as reference values for proper interpretation of laboratory results.

In this review an attempt has been made to review the cardiotoxic effects of poisonous plants which are found in Iran. Among various plant species growing in different regions of Iran, a large number of plants contain chemical compounds which are toxic to animals and humans. Among those poisonous plants, cardiotoxic plants are important due to the acute nature of their toxicity and frequent lethal livestock and human intoxications. Cardiotoxic plants of Apocynaceae family, Nerium oleander, N. indicum and Thevetia peruviana contain cardiac glycosides including oleandrin, oleandroside and thevetin A-C. Plants of Taxaceae family, Taxus baccata and T. brevifolia contain taxine alkaloids, including taxine A and B. The toxic effects of cardiac glycosides are primarily attributed to inhibition of plasmalemmal Na+/ K+-ATPase which results into the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ and, depending to its severity, inotropic or arrhythmic effects are seen. Taxine B, the prominent alkaloid in Taxus spp. block sodium and calcium channels preferentially in cardiac myocytes, thus causing conduction abnormalities. Various cardiac arrhythmias in acute cases of poisoning with aforementioned plants result in acute heart failure and death. Post mortem findings are non-diagnostic and toxicological analysis of gastrointestinal tract content or body fluids is used for detection of cardiac glycosides and taxines.

Campylobacter is one of the main bacterial causes of ewe abortion throughout the world. Campylobacter infections are now considered as zoonoses. The objective of this study was an investigation of Campylobacter fetus prevalence among aborted ovine fetuses in the Sistan region (north of Sistan and Baluchestan province). In the present study, spleen and abomasum content samples were obtained from 78 aborted lambs of Baluchi sheep. The samples were examined for campylobacter contamination using PCR method. The overall prevalence of campylobacter infection was 7.7%. The prevalence of infection in fetuses aged three months and under were significantly higher than that in fetuses older than three months. The result of this study showed that C. fetus should be considered as one of the infectious causes of abortion among sheep flocks in Sistan region.

This study performed to determine hematological parameters in Saanen goats’ kids from birth until 3 months of age. The whole blood specimens were collected from 20 clinically healthy goat kids (15 females and 5 males). The blood specimens were obtained at 24-48h after birth and 10 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 56 ± 2 and 84 ± 2 days. Hematological variables were determined based on reference laboratory methods. Results showed significant age related changes for most factors (p < 0.05) except for MCHC and the number of monocytes, eosinophils, and band neutrophils. There were significant differences with first sampling time for all parameters (p < 0.01) except for the number of monocytes, eosinophils and band neutrophils. The results of the present study ould be used as reference values for proper interpretation of laboratory results.

Experiment was conducted to determine effect of Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil on stored spermatozoa. Semen collection was performed by using 15 mature roosters twice a week at four times. In each session, ejaculates were pooled and split into seven parts. The amounts of 0 (EO0), 50 (EO50), 100 (EO100), 200 (EO200), 400 (EO400), 600 (EO600) and 1000 (EO1000) ng/ml Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil were added to each part. Samples were chilled to 4°C and maintained for 72 h. Sperm assessment was performed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated after 48 h. Results showed that there was no interaction between Zataria multiflora essential oil and incubation time on membrane integrity, sperm motility and viability (p > 0.05). The highest sperm progressive motility (80.43%), viability (86.31%) and functional membrane integrity (85.81%) was observed in EO200 (p < 0.05). The lowest sperm motility (61.31%) and viability (73.31%) was observed in EO1000 (p < 0.05). The concentrations of malondialdehyde was lowest in EO200 (0.17 nM/ml, p < 0.05). Therefore, addition of 200 ng/ml Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil to semen improved longevity of rooster spermatozoa at 4°C.