BACKGROUND: The immunity and health of newborn calf are related to immunoglobulins uptake from colostrum where treatment of colostrum may improve the uptake. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of controlled heat-treating of colostrum and antibiotic addition on immunoglobulins absorption, performance and health parameters of calf. Methods: The colostrum pool was prepared from multiparous dams and was frozen after the treatments. Colostrum was fed immediately after the birth three times a day for 2 days. Twelve newborn Holstein calves were divided into three treatment groups including 1) raw colostrum (control), 2) heat-treated colostrum, and 3) colostrum with oxytetracyclin in a completely randomized design. Blood samples were obtained in days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 via jugular vein. Health score and fecal point were determined daily. Results: Results showed that heat-treating of colostrum increased immunoglobulins uptake and their apparent efficiency of absorption (p<0.01), where a 24% increase in blood immunoglobulins concentrations and a 15% in their apparent efficiency of absorption were observed by heating the colostrum compared with control group and a lower increase was observed compared with antibiotic group. No significant differences were observed in weight gain, weaning time and weight as well as the amount and time of beginning starter intake among groups. Feed conversion ratio did not affected by the treatments. There were no significant differences in blood cells counts among groups. Calves fecal point was not affected by the treatments but health score was increased by using heat-treated colostrum where scour incidence was reduced (p<0.05). Conclusions: Results of the study showed that controlled heat-treating of colostrum is an effective and practical method to improve immunoglobulins absorption and reduce scour incidence in calf.

BACKGROUND: Outbreak and spread of bacterial infections resulted in increasing use of antibiotics which subsequently leaded to bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of organic acids (Selko-pH®), Probiotic (PrimaLac®) and Echinacea purpurea (EP) alcoholic extract on the immune system of the broiler chickens, a completely randomized design experiment was conducted over 120 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) with 4 treatment groups that each treatment consisted of 3 replications with 10 birds in each pen. Methods: Groups were designed as follow: group one received organic acid constantly in drinking water (1:1000 v/v) until 14th day and then received 8 hours in a day consecutively (OA); group two received Probiotic (PrimaLac®) water soluble (by 14th day) and mix in the feed (until the end of the rearing period) (PM); group three received EP alcoholic extract in drinking water (1:1000 v/v) like organic acid group and group four were considered as control (received no feed additives). Results: All groups except the control increased the relative weight of the spleen and Bursa of Fabricius as lymphoid tissues; however, this increase was statistically significant only in the case of EP group (p≤0.001). Data of antibodies test against sheep red blood cells and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio also showed that all groups except the treatment of organic acid had significant differences in terms of specific and cellular immune responses (p<0.01). The data of total count of bacteria and also Lactobacilli bacteria in cecal’s content obviously showed that the number of Lactobacilli bacteria significantly increased in PM and OA treatments (p≤0.05). ConclusionS: Feed additives used in these experiments have the ability to improve the immune system.

BACKGROUND: The main part of ovary is consisted of follicles which certain drugs may cause change in them. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Methylphenidate on ovarian follicle of mice, treated by Ritalin before puberty. METHODS: 40 immature female mice at 3 weeks of age were divided into 4 groups, consisting of one control and 3 experimental groups. The experimental groups were gavaged by 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg methylphenidate respectively and the control group received only distilled water with the same method for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the mice were weighed and then the serum levels of FSH and LH were assessed and structural changes of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea were studied. RESULTS: The mean difference of body weight in experimental groups compared with the control group which showed a significant reduction (p<0.05). In experimental groups compared with the control group, a significant reduction in pre enteral, enteral follicles, corpora lutea and a significant increase in atretic follicles were observed (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ritalin intake for a long period may increase the number of atretic follicles and decrease corpora lutea, so subsequently results in reduction of the growth of follicles and oocytes as well as inducing the atypical appearance of the cells in the luteinized cells.

BACKGROUND: K99 pilus antigen is one of the major adherence factors found on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) of neonatal calves. It causes severe diarrhea in newborn calves via the production of heat-stable enterotoxin (STa).With increasing concern over the spread of antimicrobial resistance, the development of alternative to conventional antibiotics such as colicin is urgently needed. Colicin is an antimicrobial peptide produced by one strain of E. coli to suppress the growth of other strains of E.coli. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the control of E.coli k99 and the efficacy of colicinogenic E.coli (CEC) in adult mice. Methods: The mice, used antibiotic were divided into four groups. The first group did not receive any inoculation. The second group was fed just with 0.5 ml colicin solution. The third group was fed just with 0.5 ml E.coli k99 suspension. The fourth group was first fed by 0.5 ml E.coli k99 suspension immediately after oral administration of CEC suspension. Fecal samples of mice in four groups were taken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days after inoculation and colony forming units (CFUs) were monitored per gram feces. ResultS: The results showed that CEC has inhibitory effect against E.coli k99. There were observed significant differences between the amounts of E.coli k99 recovered from the feces of mice in fourth group with the amount of E.coli k99 recovered from the feces of mice in third group. Conclusions: The data presented here support this claim that CEC plays a significant role against E.coli k99. Furthermore, the study suggested colicin warrants further evaluation as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics for use to control of E.coli k99.

BACKGROUND: Sheep are a form of investment and a quickly liquidatable resource, particularly in traditional and low income production systems. Tropical and long warm-season regions always affect sheep production negatively. Methods: In this experiment 15 female and 7 male sheep were chosen and their body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate measurements and blood sample for biochemical parameters analysis were taken during May 5 to September 5. Results: Heart rate and respiration rate in male sheep were a little higher compared with female sheep but there was no significant difference between them respiration (56 vs. 55) and beat (120 vs. 118 per min). Rectal temperature wasn’t significant between two sexes (40.6-40.09 C˚). Also skin temperature wasn’t significantly different between two sexes (36.02- 36.08 C˚). The only difference was related to month effect (p<0.05). Sex and month hadn’t significant different effects on blood urea, creatinine, glucose and potassium concentration. Blood urea concentration of female sheep was not significantly higher than male’s (p>0.05). Blood Sodium concentration was significantly different between two sexes so that male sheep had the highest minimum average (p<0.05). There was no significant increase in blood Potassium concentration of female sheep compared to male sheep (p>0.05). ConclusionS: These results indicated that sheep of this region had been well adapted to summer heat stress and they showed usual changes of blood metabolites in response to heat stress.

BACKGROUND: High grain diets in ruminants increases the risk of digestives disorders such as acidosis which may lead to high economic loss. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of an unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid and monensin on gene expression of enzymes involved metabolic pathway of cell proliferation and rumen epithelial intracellular pH regulation. METHODS: Twenty two male Afshari lambs with live body weight of 45 ± 8 kg and six month age were used in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments replicates for 77days including 21 days adaptation period. Experimental diets were consisted of a basal high concentrate diet (16% CP and 2.75 Mcal/kg ME) and 1) no additive (control, C= 8 lambs), 2) 30 mg monensin/day/head during the whole experimental period (T1= 8 lambs), and 3) (polyunsaturated fatty acidduring the whole experimental period (T2 = 6 lambs). Lambs were killed after 77 days on the treatment diets. RESULTS: Compared with the C treatment, relative abundance of mRNA of monocarboxylate transporter isoforms MCT1, MCT4 and the ketogenic enzyme 3-hydroxy-3 methyl-glutaryl CoA-synthase (HMGCS2) were higher for the T1 treatment. The expression of cholesterolgenic enzyme HMGCS1 was down-regulated for the T1 treatment and that of HMGCS1 was up- regulated for the T2 treatment. The expression of MCT1 and MCT4 were down-regulated for the T2 treatment. Monensin had an additional impact on the mRNA abundance of epithelial SCFA- and acid-base transporters with concurrent changes in rumen epithelial thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that adding monensin and oil as nutritional means to reduce acidosis cause changes in mRNA expression of VFA transferring proteins and limiting enzyme in the synthesis of cholesterol and Ketone bodies in the rumen epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblasts are one of the important cells in wound healing. These cells create a proper bed for keratinocytes migration and wound contraction.Wound healing in distal limb of horses has complications, such as formation of exuberant granulation tissue (EGT). The main factor in this problem is overgrowing of fibroblasts. ObjectiveS: The purpose of the present study was to compare fibroblast growth curve in isolated skin from horses’ neck and distal limb. Methods: 5 horses with normal hematological and clinical signs were selected. Two samples of full thickness of skin were taken from the neck and lateral metacarpal region of each horse asseptically. Then the samples were washed with PBS minced and placed in ventilated flask 25 cm2. After attaching samples to flask, 5 ml culture medium(RPMI-1640 with 10% FBS) were added and the flask was placed in an incubator at 37°c in 5% CO2. After leaving a sufficient number of cells from tissues adhered to the bottom of the flask, the cells were passaged to a new ventilated flask. After growth and proliferation of cells, they were passaged again and a suspension of cells in culture medium (10000 cells/ml) was maked. To each cell of a 24-well plate, one ml of this suspension was added. After 48 hour, cells of 3 well were detached with tripsin daily, counted and viability determinted within 8 days. Results: There was no significant difference between viable cells number but there was significant difference in viability percent of cells in neck and distal limb. The mean of population doubling time (PDT) for fibroblasts of neck is 31.73 hours and for fibroblasts of distal limb is 26.4 hours. This difference was not significant. ConclusionS: With regard to different viability percentage, it seems that the appoptosis in fibroblasts of neck skin is more regular than distal limb skin.

BACKGROUND: SDFT, DDFT and suspensory ligament are the most important tendons and ligament of the palmar aspect of the metacarpus that contribute to stability mechanism. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the tendons and ligaments of the palmar surface of metacarpus in Anatoly donkey and compare them with those in horse. METHODS: 14 healthy Anatoly donkeys without lameness were selected to detect the tendons, ligaments and their accessories on the palmar surface of metacarpus in both left and right forelimbs after euthanasia. 4 horses were also selected and their tendons and ligaments in palmar surface of metacarpus were compared with those in Anatoly donkeys.  RESULTS: DDFT and suspensory ligament in this region were similar in Anatoly donkeys and horses but SDFT in Anatoly donkeys had an accessory ligament in the palmar surface of the metacarpus that was originated from the deep fascia of carp after the carpal joint and was joined to the SDFT. CONCLUSIONS: This second accessory ligament of SDFT has not been observed in the studied horses and has never been reported in the related references. The results of this study can be used in to diagnose and treat lameness in Anatoly donkeys by radiologists and surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Fish are constantly exposed to various pathogens and parasites in particular. Gyrodactylus from Platyhelminthes is an important monogenean ectoparasite that can cause disease and economical losses to cultured, wild, salt and fresh water and ornamental fish. Gyrodactylus appears to be one of the most prevalent parasites of ornamental fish especially in Cyprinids. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify morphometric and molecular characteristics of Gyrodactylus parasite on Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758). Methods: Gyrocactylus parasites were isolated from skin, fins and gills of the fish with wet mount slide and were examined under light microscopy. The morphometrical characterization of Gyrodactylus specimens was performed using the measurements and drawings of opisthaptoral hard parts of the parasites. The molecular species description was based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of partial sequence of 5.8S region of ribosomal RNA (5´CGATCATCGGTCTCTCGAAC3´) and partial sequence of internal transcribed spacer2 (ITS2) of ribosomal RNA (5´TTAAGGAAGAACCACTAGAG3´). ResultS: Gyrodactylus species morphology identification was performed using Yamaguti (1961) identification key. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were compared with GenBank sequences. Conclusions: Based on morphometric analysis and sequencing, the Gyrodactylus specimens were described as Gyrodactylus kobayashi. Combination of molecular techniques with morphological analysis seems to be the best approach to identification of Gyrodactylus spices.

BACKGROUND: Sarcocystis infection is one of the most common zoonotic protozoon diseases caused by different Sarcocystis spp. Objectives: Due to the importance of this infection in public health, the infection rate of macroscopic and microscopic cysts in sheep and cattle of abattoir of Shahriar, was investigated. Methods: 138 slaughtered sheep and cattle were selected randomly and their esophagus, diaphragm, heart, tongue, masseter and intercostal muscles were separated. In order to find cysts, the samples were examined by two methods: direct observation for macroscopic cysts and finding microscopics cysts by smear dab, Giemsa staining and microscopic investigation for bradyzoites of parasite. Results: In slaughtered samples, there was no macroscopic cyst but microscopic cysts were positive in 93.48% of cattle and 86.95% of sheep by impression smear method. The results showed the significant difference between different muscles and microscopic cysts (p<0.05) .Heart and esophagus were the most infected and tongue was the least infected part. Infections in males were more than females in both sheep and cattle. There was no significant different in various ages of cattle, however, infection in sheep less than one year old, were higher than the other ages. ConclusionS: Due to the heavy Sarcocystis infection in meat of cattle and sheep and the importance of this parasite in public health, it is suggested to avoid eating raw and undercooked meat and conduct preventive measures such as closer inspection of carcasses and local or total removal of slaughtered in abattoir.