BACKGROUND: Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoa,which causes abortion in cattle worldwide. OBJECTIVES:The present study was designed to estimate the rate oftransplacental transmission of N.caninum to aborted fetuses inseropositive dams in dairy farms in Mashhad area, Iran.METHODS: Two hundred blood samples of dam with abortedbovine fetuses were collected from dairy farms from 2008 to2010. First , the maternal sera in each aborted case were tested byusing ELISA method, and then the brain samples of abortedfetuses were examined for detecting DNA of N. caninum, usingthe PCR method. RESULTS: In this study, 38 (19%) of dams' serashowed seropositive reaction against N.caninum infection, andalso 23 (10.5%) aborted brain fetuses showed positive reactionby PCR. A significant association was observed betweenN.caninum-serapositie dams and infected aborted fetuses(p<0.0001). In the present study, 20 (86%) infected fetuses wereaborted from seropositive, and 3 (13%) of the fetuses wereaborted from seronegative dams. CONCLUSIONS: Based on theresults of molecular and serology examination, the rate oftransplacental transmission of N. caninum infection in dairycattle were calculated as 52%.

BACKGROUND: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a significant viral disease of cattle sometimes found in Iran. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was the molecular detection of LSD virus (LSDV) and the determination of their relationship with other Iranian isolates. Moreover, the origin and spread of these viruses were evaluated. METHODS: The lymph node samples taken from clinically affected cattle from the Kurdistan province of Iran were tested for LSDV using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The partial P32 gene of LSDV was detected by PCR, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. The LSDVs detected in the present study were 42.98%-100% similar to other LSDVs of Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Iranian LSDV isolates in this research had the highest similarity to the isolates found in the Indian regions. However, they showed the lowest nucleotide identity with the countries located in the west and southwest of Iran, namely Turkey and Saudi Arabia LSDVs. It could be concluded that these viruses have entered Iran from the eastern borders. It seems that the monitoring of the country borders should be taken into consideration. Further studies should be carried out on LSDV pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology.

Background: Mycoplasma is one of the most important pathogens of respiratory system in poultry. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify Mycoplasma spp. isolated from pigeons. METHODS: Sixteen pooled samples were provided and cultured on PPLO medium and finally the DNA was extracted from the resulting single colonies. RESULTS: Through 16S rRNA gene amplification Mycoplasma genus has been detected. Overall, 31% (5 out of 16) of pooled samples were positive which were identified as Mycoplasma cloumborale and Mycoplasma gallinaceum. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of large numbers of pigeons for known poultry pathogenic mycoplasmas will be required to establish the role of pigeons in the spread and maintenance of these organisms in the environment.

BACKGROUND: The parasitic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii is widely prevalent in humans and warm-blooded animals. Humans are usually infected with T. gondii by ingesting oocysts shed by cats or by ingesting viable tissue cysts present in raw or undercooked meat. OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study was conducted to assess the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii infection in tissue samples of ewes slaughtered in Khorramabad, west of Iran. METHODS: We examined the brain tissue, diaphragm, tongue and masseter muscles of 30 ewes. A nested-PCR which targets the 25–50 copies of B1 sequence has been used for tissue samples. RESULTS: The parasite was identified in 21 brain samples (70%) and 8 muscle samples (26.6%). Twenty-three sheep (76.6%) were infected with T. gondii. CONCLUSION: T. gondii is might be considered as one of the major causes of ovine abortion in this region. According to the result, edible parts of sheep may play a greater role as a source of infection for individuals living in this area.

BACKGROUND:Avian intestinal spirochetosis (AIS) is causedby spiral-shaped Gram-negative Brachyspira spp. in poultry. It isknown as a cause of diarrhea, low egg production, and increasedoccurrence of dirty eggs in layer hens. OBJECTIVES: In this study,the presence of some Brachyspira spp. was investigated in layinghens. METHODS: A total of 100 cloacal swab samples wereindividually collected from 20 laying hen flocks showing fecal eggstaining in northeast of Iran. RESULTS: Using culture andmorphologic examination, 41 samples (41%) from 20 flocks werepositive; however, by using genus-specific PCR, only 37 (37%)samples were confirmed as Brachyspira spp. Using speciesspecificprimers, single colonization was identified in 18 samplesassociated with B. pilosicoli (48.6%), while single colonizationwith B. intermedia was found in only two samples (5.4%).Simultaneous colonization by B. intermedia and B. murdochii wasdetected in 3 samples (8.1%). B. pilosicoli was the most prevalentspecies in concurrent colonization in 11 cases (29.7%). Finally, cocolonizationby B. intermedia and B. innocens was identified in 3samples (8.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showedthe colonization of different species of Brachyspira withdominance of B. pilosicoli in layer hens.