BACKGROUND: Recently chitosan nanoparticles have been applied as an immunostimulant and adjuvant in biomedical fields. OBJECTIVES: In this study the adjuvant effects of nanochitosan, derived from shrimp shell's chithin, on immunogenicity of Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine in common carp were evaluated. METHODS: Totally 300 juvenile common carp (51±5.6 g, Mean ±SD) were randomly divided into four groups each contained three subgroups with 25 fishes. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were immunized intraperitoneally with A. hydrophila vaccine. No adjuvant used in group 1, but nanochitosan and freund adjuvant were used with vaccine in groups 2 and 3 respectively. Group 4 (Control) injected with normal saline instead of vaccine. Fish were immunised at days zero and 14 and fishes were reared in the same situation for 6 weeks. Serum samples were taken every other weeks and immunological parameters including WBC, serum lysozyme and bactericidal activity, serum complement activity, NBT reduction activity, total protein and globulin levels and anti A.hydrophila antibody titer were compared among the groups. At the end of experiment all groups were challenged with LD50 concentration of A. hydrophila and mortality recorded for ten days. RESULTS: WBC, serum lysozyme and complement activity, NBT activity, globulin level and anti A.hydrophila antibody titer were increased in nanochitosan and freund groups compare to control group (P<0.05). Serum bactericidal activity and serum albumin level showed no significant change among the groups (P>0.05). Challenge mortality decreased in immunised groups compare to control. CONCLUSIONS: Nonochitosan posses proper adjuvant effects which is comparable with freund adjuvant and can be a good candidate as an alternative to current adjuvant in fish vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Many drugs such as atorvastatin are known effective in reduction of serum lipids in dogs, but with a literature review, we did not find report on the field of the effect of chitosan on serum lipid in dogs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present survey was comparative evaluation of the effects of chitosan and atorvastatin on serum lipid profile changes and the influence of time on treatment process in dogs. METHODS: For the management of cholesterol powder induced hyperlipidemia, twenty healthy dogs were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group A (control) included of five dogs that were fed with cholesterol powder (4 gr/kg for 10 days). Group B was similar to group A, but in addition, atorvastatin (5 mg/kg) was administered for 45 days after induced hyperlipidemia. Group C was similar to group B, but chitosan (3 gr/dog) was administered instead of atorvastatin. Group D was a combination of groups B and C, which the combination of atorvastatin and chitosan were fed to dogs with the same dose of previous groups. Blood samples were collected four times on days 0, 10, 40 and 55 after challenge, then serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C levels were measured using standard commercial kits. RESULTS: Groups of atorvastatin and chitosan (B and C) and group D were more effective in lowering serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C and increase of HDL-C, compared with group A (p<0.05). The greatest decrease was related to group D for triglyceride (105.60±17.49), total cholesterol (119.80±11.39) and LDL-C (36.40±7.57). The greatest increase was seen in group D for HDL-C (36.40±7.57) also. In comparison between two drugs and their effects on lipid profiles, atorvastatin showed a significant difference than chitosan (p<0.05). A combination of two drugs, was more effective compared with single administration of the drugs (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present survey showed that although both drugs have hypolipidemic activity in dogs, but the effect of chitosan was lower than atorvastatin, so it is not recommended to use chitosan only. Further experimentation needs to elucidate the possible mechanism of the drugs.

Peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis due to salmonella enterica in a Kermani ewe Summary : CASE HISTIRY : A Kermani ewe was examined because of inappetance and illthrifness. CLINICAL PRESENTATION : Clinical examination showed normal heart rate , tachy pnea, muffled heart sounds , stiff neck , dullness , dehydration , rumen atony and paled mucosal membrane . DIAGNOSITIC TESTING : Post mortem examination revealed pericarditis, peritonitis, intestinal adhesion, mesenteric thickness as well as meningeal thicknesses. Salmonella enterica was isolated in bacterial culture from affected tissues . ASSESSMENTS : Although there are some previous reports regarding the association between salmonella infection and peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis in domestic animals, to the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report about the concurrent peritonitis, pericarditis and meningitis due to salmonella in ruminant . Key words : Peritonitis , Pericarditis , Meningitis , Salmonella , Sheep . . . . . .

BACKGROUNDS: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite, which is widely prevalent in sheep throughout the world. Parasite infection can occur pre- or post-natally. Congenital ovine toxoplasmosis occurs following a primary infection in a pregnant ewe and leads to abortion and stillbirth of the fetus causing important economical losses to sheep industry. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to evaluate the presence of T. gondii DNA in brain samples from fetuses of slaughtered ewes in Khorramabad, west of Iran. METHODS: In total, 60 brain samples of ovine fetuses were collected. Examined fetuses were categorized in three age groups (4 months). Fifty grams of each sample was homogenized by mortar and pestle. DNA extraction was performed using a DNA isolation kit (MBST, Iran). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which targets the repeated element (RE) of the organism was used for tissue samples. Brain samples were considered T. gondii-positive if the expected band size (529 bp) appeared. RESULTS: T. gondii was detected in 4 out of 60 (6·7%) examined fetuses. No case was recorded in the age group

BACKGROUND: Reducing the detrimental effects of freeradicals, in biological and food systems by antioxidants is important, thusproviding antioxidants is necessary in community health and food safety. OBJECTIVES:The aim of the present study was to determine antioxidant and antiradicalactivity of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Grape leaves in vitro. METHODS:Grape leaves were extracted using the solvents: distilled water, ethanol andmethanol and the antioxidant activities were measured by DPPH,β-carotene-linoleic acid, total phenolic compounds and total flavonoidcompounds  assays. RESULTS: IC50for DPPH radical-scavenging activity in water, ethanol and methanolextracts  were (71.90±0.714,  37.38±0.318 and 46.66±0.481µg/ml) and alsothe percentage of inhibition free radicals in β-carotene-linoleic acid were (86.51±1.84, 97.08±1.30 and 88.20±1.27).These  parameters for  BHT in DPPH test  and  β-carotene linoleic acid  test are 13.58±0.000 µg/ml  and  94.56±0.62 %. Total phenolic compounds andflavonoid compounds were calculated (158.02±1.39, 201.60±1.55 and 180.19±2.26mg/g) and (37/16±1.64, 54.74±0.83 and 46.07±0.18 mg/g ). According to theresults in this study, the highest radical scavenging effect was observed inethanol, then methanol extract and water extract had the lowest activity. CONCLUSIONS:It seems the ethanolic extract could be considered as a cheap, easilyaccessible and potential source of natural antioxidants for food andpharmaceutical purposes

BACKGROUND: In aquaculture the fast growth, high feed efficiency and increased resistance against pathogens are favorable. One of the suitable approaches for improving the growth indices and resistance against pathogens is the application of probiotic bacteria. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nano/microencapsulated Lactobasillus bulgaricus by nano alginate/chitosan on the growth rate and feeding efficiency of great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles. METHODS: This experiment was conducted in a completely random design in four groups and group (5) with triplicate. 375 fish weighing (27.28±2.86 gr mean±SD), were randomly divided in to five equal groups in triplicates. The test groups were as follows: fish in T1 were fed with alginate/chitosan without bacterium, fish in T2 were fed with encapsulated bacteria with emulsification method, fish in T3 were fed with encapsulated bacteria with Ionicgelation method, fish in T4 were fed with only bacteria and control group. The fish were fed  3% of body weight per day. RESULTS: The results showed  the highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was measured in T3 (1.64±0.11) and the lowest was observed in T4 (1.14±0.06).The highest values of SGR, PER, FER in T4 were seen among  the  treatments at days 30 and 60.                                                                                                                                             CONCLUSIONS: According the result, nanoalginat/Chithosan used for encapsulation of probiotics can be lead to decrease in growth performance compared to the other treatments.

BACKGROUND: Different breeds of horses have distinct andspecific metabolic profiles which reflect the health status of horses. OBJECTIVES:The present study was performed to determine the circulating metabolicbiomarkers and their correlations in Darehshori horses. METHODS: Bloodsamples were taken from 56 Darehshori horses (5 to 7 years old). They weredivided into 2 groups containing 26 non-pregnant and non-lactating mares and 30stallions. Sera were separated and assayed for glucose, insulin,beta-hydroxybutiric acid, non-esterified fatty acid, cholesterol, triglycerideand high, low and very low density lipoproteins. RESULTS: Serum concentrationof beta-hydroxybutiric acid in stallions was significantly higher than inmares. The remaining metabolic biomarkers showed no significant differencesbetween the two studied groups. There were negative and non- significantcorrelations between insulin and glucose in both sexes. Insulin was negativelycorrelated with cholesterol, triglyceride and high, low and very low densitylipoproteins in studied groups. The negative relationships were seen amongglucose and cholesterol, triglyceride and high, low and very low densitylipoproteins in mares and stallions. In both groups, non-esterified fatty acidand beta-hydroxybutiric acid were negatively correlated with serum lipidprofile. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provided ageneral pattern for normal values of metabolic profile biomarkers innon-pregnant mares and stallions of Darehshori horses. These values also helpveterinarians to diagnose metabolic abnormalities of this breed. However,season, age, management, nutritional and different physiological states mayalter the values of these biomarkers and in interpreting the changes, theseconditions should be considered

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza virus H9N2 subtype and Ornithobacteriumrhinotracheale (ORT) causes histopathological lesions in birds. Yet, thereis not any study on tissue lesions caused by these pathogens co-infection inspecific pathogen free (SPF) chicks. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this studywas to evaluate the type, severity and extent of histopathological lesionsinduced by co-infection of H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus and Ornithobacteriumrhinotracheale in SPF chickens. METHODS: Sixty, one-day-old SPFchicks were divided randomly into three groups of twenty. At 21 days, thechicks in the first group were infected with H9N2 subtype AI virus and thesecond group was inoculated with H9N2 subtype AI virus and ORT simultaneously.The third group was inoculated with PBS as control. Then, three birds from eachgroup were randomly selected and euthanized and autopsied at 2  till 16 days post-inoculation (DPI). Thetissue samples were collected from trachea, lungs, liver, spleen, thymus, kidneys,cecal tonsil and bursa of fabricius. They were cut into 5 to 6 μm thicknesssections using paraffin embedding method and were stained by Hematoxylin andEosin (H&amp;E). RESULTS: The severity of histopathological lesions inthe second group was higher than first group. Tissue changes were not observedin control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed thatinfected chickens with H9N2 subtype AI virus and ORT simultaneously causeexacerbated histopathological lesions compared to H9N2 subtype of AI virus

BACKGROUND: Cryptorchidism is a congenital anomaly in which one (unilateral cryptorchidism) or both (bilateral cryptorchidism) testes fail to descend into the scrotum.                  OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical and histological structure of the inguinal testis in the adult donkey. METHODS: In this study, after examination of the 59 donkeys, three of them with unilateral cryptorchidism in inguinal region were identified. These animals were euthanized, and their testicles were removed and evaluated biometrically. Then, the samples were fixated in 10% formalin solution and after sectioning, were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and PAS, and examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: The results showed that the inguinal testes were stiff, epididymis was not determined and their size and weight were less than scrotal testes. The difference between the weight of cryptorchid and healthy testicles was statistically significant (p<0.05). Seminiferous tubules had lost their natural shape and inner cavity tubes did not have germ cells, and only a limited number of Sertoli cells could be seen. Remaining seminiferous tubules were only visible in the mediastinum. The cortical and subcapsular regions were without tubes and were occupied by loose connective tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that the inguinal testes in adult donkeys lost their natural structure and more connective tissues and blood vessels are substituted.

BACKGROUND: Rumen health in ruminants has a great importance because its function has a great deal with milk, meat and fetus production. Many factors can affect the rumen health and destruct its function and performance. OBJECTIVES: this research investigates histopathology lesions resulted from ruminants in the sheep. METHODS: for this purpose, macroscopic examination in 1562 rumens of the slaughtered sheep Sanandaj was done. Among these, 23 rumens has lesions placed in drums of formalin 10% for macroscopic evaluations by means of Hematoxylin and Eosin coloring were referred into the pathobiology lab. RESULTS: in Macroscopic observations, swelling (65.22%), swelling and focal congestion (30.43%) and looming papillary (4.35%) were detected. The highest microscopic signs in the rumen lesions included: sub mucosal edema (32.69%), ruminate eosinophilic (23.07%), parakeratosis (13.46%), granulomatous ruminate (7.69%), watery degeneration and acute purulent ruminate (5.76%). CONCLUSIONS: pathologic lesions of rumen can be due to hyperplasia change in the result of mechanical agitation, stress, parasitic diseases, and mature woody forage.