A captive adult common mynah (Acridotheres tristis) died shortly after a course of seizure and opisthotonous with an illness characterized by severe lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, polyurate, and urate discoloration. Abdominal distention and hepatomegly, visible over the abdominal skin, were noticed clinically. At necropsy, severe enlargement of liver with general discoloration was obvious. Histopathological findings included schizonts and gametes in the intestine, especially in the duodenum. Cytology from impression smears revealed intracyto-plasmic Atoxoplasma-like zoites in the inflammatory cells especially macrophages within the liver and in the contact smears prepared from the liver, lung, and spleen. Based on postmortem findings of the organisms in blood mononuclear cells and in impression smears of liver and Giemsa stained impression smears of liver, the spleen and lung atoxoplasmosis caused by Isoapora sp. was specified as the cause of death. According to the literature, visceral coccidiosis (atoxo-plasmosis), described here, could be considered as one of the severe causes of mortality among captive birds.

BACKGROUND: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the causativeagent of the Newcastle disease (ND), a highly contagiousdisease in birds that causes significant economic losses to thepoultry industry worldwide. ND is endemic in Iran and outbreaksare reported regularly in commercial poultry flocks and differentspecies of birds. OBJECTIVES:The current study was carried outto characterize NDV based on phosphorprotein (P) gene fromrecent outbreaks in Iran, 2010-2012. METHODS: The P genefragment of NDV isolates of five chickens, 1 ostrich, and 1Pigeon paramyxovirus-1 was obtained by RT-PCR and sequenced.RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis of sequences revealed thatchicken and ostrich NDV isolates were closely related andplaced in the genotype VII and Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1 waslocated in the genotype V. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first reportof Phosphoprotein gene sequences of NDV strains isolated inIran. This study will help us to understand the epidemiology andmolecular characteristics of Newcastle disease virus in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular system is a very importantorgan that plays a vital role in tissue function. In farm animals,the growth and high milk production depends on function ofcardiovascular system. OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular health inhigh and low-yielding dairy cows was investigated. METHODS:Fifty 4-year-old high- yielding Holstein dairy cows and fifty 4-year-old low- yielding Holstein dairy cows were used in thisstudy. Electrocardiogram was recorded by a base- apex lead, andblood samples were collected from the jugular vein for themeasurement of cardiac biomarkers (CK (Creatine Kinase), CKMB(Creatine Kinase-Myocardial Band), LDH (LactateDehydrogenase), and AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) andtroponin I). RESULTS: Cardiac dysrhythmias were detected morein low- yielding Holstein dairy cows (62%) compared to highyieldingHolstein dairy cows (46%). The cardiac dysrhythmiasthat were observed in low- yielding Holstein dairy cows includedsinus arrhythmia (34.7%), wandering pacemaker (22.45%),sinus bradycardia (18.37%), sinus tachycardia (10.20%), atrialpremature beat (2.04%), sinoatrial block (2.04%), atrialfibrillation (8.16%), and atrial tachycardia (2.04%). The cardiacdysrhythmias were observed in high- yielding Holstein dairycows, including sinus arrhythmia (86.95%) and wandering pacemaker (13.05%). Also, notched P wave was observed in highandlow- yielding Holstein dairy cows, 30% and 14%respectively. The amount of cardiac biomarkers in the lowyielding cows was significantly higher than that of the highyielding cows. Further more, there was not any detectablesignificant difference of serum concentration of total CK betweenthe high and low- yielding Holstein cows. CONCLUSIONS:Despite significant differences in cardiac biomarkers and basedon the normal range of cardiac biomarkers in both groups, theincrease in cardiac dysrhythmias in low- yielding Holstein dairycows may be metabolic and electrolyte disorders.

BACKGROUND: Disruption of testicular function and arrest ofspermatogenesis are the consequence of cryptorchidism inresponse to elevated temperature. OBJECTIVES:This investigationwas set to clarify the possible ghrelin efficacy in altering somesperm quality parameters upon experimentally-induced cryptorchidism.METHODS: Thirty male adult rats were scheduled for thestudy and were divided into three groups: group 1 was served ascontrol-saline (CS), group 2 was designed as cryptorchidism-saline(CrS), and group 3 was defined as cryptorchidism-ghrelin (CrG).After surgically inducing cryptorchidism in groups 2 and 3, theresearchers gave 10 nmol of ghrelin to CrG rats for 7 consecutivedays. Five animals in each group were equally killed on days 3 and7 after operation and their testes were taken for sperm evaluation.RESULTS: Testicular weight, sperm forward progressive motility(FPM), functional membrane integrity (assessed by HOS-test), andsperm concentration displayed slight changes after heating on day3. However, abdominal position of the testes for 7 days caused asignificant reduction in the percentages of HOS-positive cells(p<0.0001), FPM (p<0.0001), and sperm concentration (p<0.01).Although a 30% decrease occurred in the testicular weight at thispoint, however, this reduction was not statistically significant.Interestingly, HOS-test and FPM percentages were significantlyhigher in the ghrelin-exposed animals compared to the CrS groupon day 7 (p<0.05). However, ghrelin treatment had not considerableinfluence on sperm parameters by day 3. Moreover, spermconcentration and testicular weight did not exhibit any changeseither on day 3 or at day 7 upon ghrelin injection (p>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Indeed, this function of ghrelin could be attributedto its antioxidant properties and it may be implicated as a potentialagent in attenuation of impaired spermatogenesis after cryptorchidism.

BACKGROUND: Tetracyclines (TCs) are broad-spectrumantibiotics that are widely used in veterinary medicine. Thepresence of TCs residues in milk is a public health concern allover the world. OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to determine TCsresiduals in pasteurized milk marketed by some dairy companiesin Tehran from April 2011 to March 2012. METHODS: 432pasteurized milk samples were purchased from supermarketssupplying the milk products of 12 major dairy companies inTehran (3 samples from each company every month), and theywere stored at -20 0C until analysis. Oxytetracycline (OTC) andTetracycline (TC) residues in each sample were extracted by aliquid - liquid phase procedure and quantitated using a highperformance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Chromatographicconditions included a mobile phase as oxalic acidbuffer- acetonitril (80: 20) with a flow rate of 1mL/min and UVdetectionat 355 nm. RESULTS: TCs residuals in most milksamples were lower than 100 ppb, maximum residue level(MRL); however, in seven samples (1.62%) the total residues ofOTC and TC were more than MRL. In the latter milk samples, themedian total TCs residue was 625 ppb, ranging between 274 and1270 ppb. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the presence of TCresidues above the MRL level in a limited number of milksamples, it is concluded that more studies and supervision ofhealth authorities are needed in this field.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence of resistance against antibioticsand inadequate efficacy of some vaccines necessitates studies ofnatural immunostimulators in aquaculture. Shrimps shell derivedfrom Chitosan can be used as immune stimulators in fish.OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effects of oral administration ofchitosan, derived from shrimp shell, on some immune responsesand disease resistance in Cyprinus carpio were studied. METHODS:Three hundred healthy fish weighing 42.4+8.1 g were divided into4 equal groups: the first group (G10) was fed with foodsupplemented with 10 mg kg-1 chitosan, the second (G5) and thirdgroups (G2.5) were fed with food supplemented with 5 mg kg-1 and2.5 mg kg-1, respectively. The control group was fed with basal feed(without chitosan). All groups were treated for 60 days. Bloodsamples were taken on 0, 20, 40, and 60 days post- experiment; Inaddition, some immunological indices, including serum lysozymeactivity, serum bactericidal activity, Nitro Blue Tetrazolium (NBT)reduction activity, serum proteins, white blood cell count (WBC),and differentiated count were measured. At the end of the treatment,fish were challenged with live Aeromonas hydrophila and mortalityrate was recorded for 14 days. RESULTS: Oral administration ofchitosan (0.5 and 1%) significantly enhanced NBT reductionactivity and resistance to A. hydrophila infection (p=0.012). Serumlysozyme and bactericidal activity, serum total protein andglobulin, WBC and leukocytes ratio showed no significant changeamong the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicatesthat oral administration of shrimp shell chitosan may have a positiveeffect on some immune parameters and resistance against bacterialinfection in Cyprinus carpio.

Perosomus elumbis is an occasional congenital anomaly ofcattle, swine, sheep, and dogs with unknown etiology. Thiscongenital abnormality occurs in both sexes. A dead Holsteincalf characterized by musculoskeletal and external genitaliaabnormalities was referred to the large animal hospital ofUniversity of Tehran. Radiographic evaluation and subsequentdissection revealed that the vertebral column was truncated at thelevel of first lumbar vertebra (L1). Moreover, L2-L5, sacrum andcoccygeal vertebrae were absent. The dorsum of the lumbosacralregion contained only soft tissues. Urogenital tract wasincomplete, and it contained agenesis of the ovaries, uterinetubes, cervix, and vulva concurrent with unilateral umbilicalartery agenesis. Small and large intestine contained blind-endedsacs. No testes, scrotum, and penis were found. The intact ureterwas attached to a thin-walled fluid fill sac. The laboratory findingshowed that the pH of the fluid was 6 and contained hemoglobin,white blood cells, bacteria, a few red blood cells, oxalatecrystalline, and epithelial cells. It was concluded that thecollected fluid was urine. This is the first report of perosomuselumbis in a Holstein calf having a lot of visceral abnormalitiesin Iran.

BACKGROUND:Cystitis and pyelonephnitis in ruminants mostoften result from ascending urinary tract infection (UTI).OBJECTIVES: Investigating the prevalence of urine infection andits relationship with histopathological findings of bladder andkidney. METHODS: This study was carried out on 353 slaughteredbuffalos (143 female and 210 male) at Ahvaz abattoir, southwest ofIran. After slaughter, urinary samples were taken directly frombladder by sterile syringe. The bladder and kidney were inspectedand samples from them were taken for histophatological study. Allof the urine samples were incubated for isolation of bacteria onblood agar and MacConkey. Biochemical characterizations of theisolates were performed according to Bergey's manual of systemicbacteriology. Histopathological samples were taken fromrepresentative parts of each bladder and kidney and were stainedwith haematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: Out of the 353 urinesamples, 19 (5.38%) were positive. The percentages of infectedcattle in female and male were 6.3% and 4.8%, respectively. Thesebacteria were isolated: E.coli (21%), Staphylococcus spp. (31.6%),Streptococcus spp. (15.8%), Proteus spp. (15.8%), Klebciella spp.(5.3%), Yercinia spp. (5.3%), and Actinimyces and Pasteurelle spp.(5.3%). In histopathological examination, 51(14.4%) and 5 (1.4%)of the buffalos had chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, respectively.Bacteria were isolated only in 3 cases of chronic cystitis and 2 casesof pyelonephritis. Statistical analysis showed there was norelationship between isolation of bacteria from urine with cystitisand pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS:Some cases of chronic cystitisare not able to isolate of bacteria from urine and for causingpyelonephritis they need predisposing factors which caused urineretention.

BACKGROUND:Herbal methionine can be compared relative toDl-methionine with evaluation of bioavailability of this source ofmethionine. OBJECTIVES: An experiment was carried out todetermine the relative bioefficacy of herbal methionine (H-Met)®relative to DL-methionine (DL-Met) on performance criteria andimmunocompetence of Met sources in male broilers. Atotal of 160male broilers were fed a Met-deficient basal diet or the basal dietsupplemented with three or four concentrations of each Metsources. METHODS: Multiexponential and multilinear regressionswere used to determined bioavailability of herbal methionine (HMet)®relative to DL-Met on performance and immunocompetenceof broilers. RESULTS: Body weight gain and feed intake of thebroilers fed H-Met or DL Met improved in the experiment,regardless of Met sources, relative to those broilers that were fed thebasal diet. Immunocompetence of broilers were not significant at 28day of age (p>0.05), whereas the broilers were significantlyaffected by the additional levels of Met sources at 42 day of age.CONCLUSIONS: The bioefficacy estimates for H-Met® relative toDL-Met on a product basis were 55% for weight gain, 71% for feedintake, 78% for feed conversion ratio, 70% for dilution 1-choloro 2-3-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), 67% for sheep red blood cell (SRBC),and 68% for phytohemagglutinine (PHA-P). The relativeeffectiveness of H-Met® compared to that of DL-Met is 68% onaverage across performance criteria and all immune criteria tested.H-Met®can be supplemented as a new and natural source of Met forthe poultry industry.

BACKGROUND: The effect of heat stress on physiologicalparameters has been well documented. However, there arereports of a genetic based heat tolerance in some sheep breeds.OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to monitor thephysiological responses of an Iranian fat-tailed breed againstheat stress and an acute stress insult. METHODS:Atotal numberof 15 fall-born ram lambs were selected and subjected to directsummer solar radiation throughout the day (May 2009 toFebruary 2010). Ten lambs were semi-castrated in October to seethe physiologic response of animals to an acute stress. Thegeneral parameter as well as blood chemistry and cortisol wereanalyzed during the study. RESULTS: The results showed that allphysiologic parameters had significant changes; however, theirvalues were in normal range. The fact that the animals in thepresent study experienced their first exposure of heat stress anda significant increase in serum cortisol concentration in semicastratedlambs in October, compared to the respected values inthe hottest months of the experiment, may indicate a geneticbased adaptability of the breed in Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Thepresent study shows the dynamic changes of general andbiochemical parameters in response to chronic heat stress and anacute stress that raises a possible tolerance of the breed againstheat stress.