BACKGROUND: The control of coccidiosis in poultry industryis dominated by prophylactic chemotherapy; however,drug resistance is a serious problem. Alternative control methodssuch as vaccination have been accepted as a practical method forcontrolling coccidiosis in chickens. Considering the immunologicalvariation of Eimeria strains, the efficacy of live coccidiosisvaccines may be compromised. OBJECTIVES:To evaluatethe efficacy of a commercial anticoccidial vaccine in poultry,vaccination was followed by experimental challenge with 3Eimeria field isolates. METHODS: The efficacy of Livacox® Qanticoccidial vaccine was evaluated on male broiler chicks,reared in battery cages. Different factors including weight gain,FCR, OPG (oocysts per gram of feces) and intestinal lesionscores were assessed. RESULTS: Vaccinated challenged groups(VC) gained less weight than the un-vaccinated un-challenged(UVUC) birds (p£0.05). Fourteen days post-challenge, theweight gain of VC groups challenged with isolate 2 differedsignificantly from its un-vaccinated challenged (UVC)counterpart; however, there were no significant differences inweight gain of groups challenged by isolates 1 and 3 with theirrespective UVC groups. Lesion score and FCR weresignificantly improved in VC groups comparing with theirassociated UVC groups (p£0.05). Lesion score and FCR weresignificantly improved in VC groups comparing with their UVCcounterparts (p|£|0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present studysuggests that the use of live anticoccidial vaccine has thepotential for improving live weight gains and FCR; nonetheless,immunity to local Eimeria species should be evaluatedseparately and in trial designs it should be more approximate tothe actual field condition.

BACKGROUND: Protozoa are common in poultry and otherbirds and can cause mild to severe disease. OBJECTIVES: Thisstudy was concerned with the prevalence of parasitic protozoa inwild waterfowl in Caspian sea lagoons in the North of Iran.METHODS:Atotal of 293 waterfowl belonging to various generaincluding Tadorna tadorna (common shelduck),Aythya fuligula(Tufted duck), Aythya ferina (Common puchard), Spatulaclypeata (Shoveler), Anser anser (greylag goose), CygnusCygnus (Whooper Swan), Anas strepera (Gadwall), AnasPenelope (Eurasian Widgeon), Anas crecca (common teal), andAnas platyrhynchos (mallard) were sampled and tested forintestinal, tracheal, and blood protozoa between winter 2010 andspring 2011. RESULTS: The results showed that 184 birds of 293(62.8%) harbored protozoan parasites. The highest prevalence ofprotozoan contamination belonged to Giardia spp (24.2%) andthe lowest belonged to Haemoproteus spp. (6.1%). Thricomunasgallinea, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. werefound in 7.2%, 8.2%, and 17% of waterfowl, respectively.Moreover, statistical analyses showed that the highest rate ofgiardiosis was in female Aythya fuligula (43.75%). However,tricomuniasis belonged to Anas crecca (30.5%). On the otherhand, female Cygnus cygnus had the highest rate ofcryptosporidiosis (44.7%), and more infection to Haemoproteusand Plasmodium spp. were observed in Anas platyrhynchos,concurrently. CONCLUSIONS: Migration of various species ofwaterfowl toward the northern parts of Iran has an importantimpact on parasitic diseases in birds and human in these regions.

A3-year-old goat weighing 40 kg was presented to the LargeAnimal Unit, University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti PutraMalaysia with complains of in appetence, lateral recumbency,and weakness. Physical examination findings were pyrexia,tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale mucous membrane. Harsh andcrackles lung sound was noticed upon auscultation. The case wastentatively diagnosed as pneumonic pasteurellosis, and the goatwas treated with broad spectrum antibiotic, non-steroidal antiinflammatorydrug (NSAID), and fluid therapy. The prognosisof this case was guarded and the goat died on day afterhospitalization and post mortem examination was carried out.Samples were taken from the lungs, heart, and pericardial fluidfor bacterial isolation and identification. The post mortemfindings were consolidations of the left and right craniolaterallung lobes, frothy exudates along the trachea, bronchi and the cutsurface of the lungs and presence of straw-colored pericardialfluid. The bacterial culture yielded Pasteurella multocidagrowth from all the samples. Based on the clinical signs, postmortem findings, and bacteriology result, this case was finallydiagnosed as pneumonic pasteurellosis.

BACKGROUND: Determining the clinical significance of cardiac murmurs is widely considered in equine practice. Pulmonary murmurs are commonly detected in athletic horses. Echocardiography plays a leading role in assessment of these murmurs. OBJECTIVES: Echocardiographic evaluation of horses with pulmonary regurgitation and determining the importance of pulmonary valve murmurs. METHODS: A total number of 450 athletic horses were examined with focus on cardiac and respiratory systems and 18 horses (8 horses with pulmonary murmur grades 3 and 4 and 10 normal horses) were included in echocardiographic examination. RESULTS: B-mode, M-mode, color flow Doppler and spectral Doppler were performed on two groups and the calculated indices were compared. No statistical difference was found between the values of the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant correlation was found between severity of murmurs grade and the severity of regurgitating jets. We found that with moderate grades of pulmonary regurgitation, no change in cardiac indices is present.

BACKGROUND: Normal bacterial flora of the conjunctiva, which inhibits growth of opportunistic organisms, has an important role in the prevention of ocular infections. If resident flora is inhibited by disease or long-term application of antibiotics, opportunistic pathogens overgrow, leading to disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ophthalmic chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin on bacterial conjunctival flora in healthy dogs. METHODS: A total of 16 animals were divided into 2 equal groups which received either chloramphenicol (CHL) (0.5%) or ciprofloxacin (CIP) (0.3%). In both groups, the right eye of each animal was treated with 2 drops of antibiotics every 8 and 6 hours, respectively, for 1 week and the left eye received artificial tear solution and served as control. Bacterial and fungal cultures were performed 8 hours before and after the treatment. Fisher’s Exact test and SPSS software were used for statistical analyses (p<0.05). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between control and test eyes and bacterial isolates in both groups. In CHL group, after treatment Staphylococcus spp (62.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%) from the right eyes and Staphylococcus spp (75%) and Bacillus spp (12.5%) from left eyes were isolated. In CIP group, after treatment the bacterial isolates of right eyes were Staphylococcus spp (87.5%), Aerococcus spp (37.5%), Viridans streptococcus (25%), Micrococcus spp (12.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%); Staphylococcus spp (75%), Micrococcus spp (25%), Bacillus spp (12.5 %) were isolated from left eyes of dogs after 1 week administration of artificial tear. CONCLUSIONS: Topically applied chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacinhad no significant changes in or detrimental effects on normal bacterial flora of treated dogs.

BACKGROUND: Giardia has the ability to infect many mammals including dogs, cats, deer, mice, ground squirrels, chinchillas, swine, rabbits, pocket mice, oxen, guinea pigs, and humans. Giardia lamblia (also Giardia duodenalis, G.intestinalis) isolates have been variably divided into two or three genotypes by different investigators, and each group can be divided into subgroups. OBJECTIVES: We have compared the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) sequences of these genotypes by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to determine G.lambia genotype in Iran for the first time. METHODS: In this study, 4 sets of primers were used in which 2 sets were designed by other investigator, and 2 sets were designed by the authors of the present study to confirm the results of the first two primers and also to differentiate the subgroups. RESULTS: Among Giardia isolates, 2/10 and1/19 of PCR-RFLP of rabbit and mouse respectively amplified with primer PM290. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that suggests that direct transmission from companion animals to human does occur. Zoonosis is controversial regarding Giardia; however, most researchers believe that its zoonotic potential merits adequate precaution when working with feces of animals that may be infected.

BACKGROUND: Hematological studies are valuable diagnostictechniques in the medical care of fish, reflecting the healthcondition and the effects of environmental factors on fish. OBJECTIVES:Due to the high value of sturgeon fish and necessityto recover the brood stock, this study was done to provide dataabout hematological parameters and reproduction normative ofwild brood stock beluga, Huso huso, from the southeast of theCaspian Sea. METHODS: Hematological parameters includingRBC, WBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC,and differential leukocyte count were determined. In this regard,7 male and 7 female wild broods were studied. Differencesin mentioned parameters between genders were evaluated.The correlations among parameters were also determined.RESULTS: According to the results, the male fish had significantlyhigher WBC and lymphocyte and lower neutrophil comparedto the females. Also, functional fecundity was 447000 ±157210 and weight of extracted oocytes was 35.4 ± 3.78 mg/cell. The oocytes’ long diameter was 4.17 ± 0.21mm and widthdiameter was 3.75 ± 0.19 mm. Egg fertilization rate was 46.7± 24.33%, and larvae weight was 25.48 ± 1.56 mg. CONCLUSIONS:Hematological parameters of juvenile and fingerlingreared beluga showed wide ranges, and there are differences inhematological parameters between reared and wild broodstockbelugas. These findings highlight the importance of hematologicalstudy in wild beluga sturgeon.

Background: Old laying hens are more prone to dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies as  they absorb Ca and P less efficiently than younger hens. OBJECTIVES: In a 2×2 factorial design, the influence of diets with two levels of available phosphorus (AP) and phytase enzyme on the laying performance, egg quality and tibia bone characteristics of laying hens at their late 2nd production phase was studied. METHODS: The experiment used four treatments of 20 Hy-Line W36 hens of 140 weeks old. Treatments 1 and 2 received a 3.5 g kg-1 AP diet while Treatments 3 and 4 received a 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet for 12 weeks. Treatments 2 and 4 received 250 FTU kg-1 phytase in their diet. Laying performance, egg weight, shell weight and shell thickness were measured. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were weighed and blood samples were collected for serum Ca and P measurements. Ten birds from each treatment were sacrificed and both tibiae were excised, defatted, weighed and ashed for Ca and P contents, cortical thickness and bone breaking strength measurements. RESULTS: Hens fed with 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet without enzyme had the lowest body weight gain, serum P, tibia cortical thickness and tibia breaking strength among the treatments (p<0.05). Phytase enhanced body weight gain, egg shell thickness, serum P, tibia weight/body weight and tibia ash/body weight ratios, tibia cortical thickness and breaking strength, particularly in  birds receiving 2.5 g kg-1 AP diet (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Phytase may improve bone quality and strength of hens  in the late 2nd laying period.

Background: Wound infection has become a major medical problem in recent years. This is usually caused by Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus. Since antimicrobial resistance to current drugs has critically been developed in these causative microorganisms, substitution medicine has become one of the main interests within  researchers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing activity of Origanum vulgare against surgical wounds infected by S. aureus. METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Excisions were created surgically on the animals’ skin and then infected with S. aureus. Group 1 was treated with an extract of O. vulgare while Group 2 was untreated. Wound biopsy specimens were collected on Days 5, 10 and 16 and analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that the hydroxyproline content in the treatment group was significantly higher in various post wounding days. The mean of hexosamine in the treated group was higher than in the control group. Protein content increased gradually in Day 10. Results of histopathological studies showed moderate to intense granulation tissue formation and neovascularization in the treated group on Day 10. Furthermore, the histopathological studies showed that intense matrix formation and collagen fiber deposition occurred in treatment group on Day 16 post wound, while intense granulation tissue formation was the prominent feature in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has demonstrated that the ethanol extract of O. vulgare contains properties that accelerate wound healing activities compared to control group.

Background: Metabolic profiles have been used in efforts to predict pre parturient problems and fertility, to diagnose metabolic diseases, and to assess nutritional status in dairy cows. These profiles may help to confirm the diagnosis of sub clinical diseases, to be aware of possible causes of infertility in the herds, or to monitor improvement in herd animals. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated changes in the metabolic profile of high producing Holstein dairy cows from early lactation to close-up dry periods. The results of the current research can provide useful guidelines for management strategies during different physiological phases of high producing Holstein dairy cows. METHODS: Twenty-five multiparous high producing Holstein dairy cows were selected from a high producing industrial dairy farm. Cattle were divided into 5 equal groups of early, mid and late lactation and far-off and close-up dry cows. Blood samples were collected from all cows and sera were separated to evaluate glucose, insulin, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high, low and very low density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol). RESULTS: The highest levels of insulin were detected in mid lactation and close-up dry periods. The changing patterns of BHBA and NEFA were significant and the highest levels of these biomarkers were detected in the early lactation group. The decreasing pattern of BHBA and NEFA were seen from early lactation to far-off dry cows. Significant elevations were seen in these biomarkers from far-off to close-up dry cows. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that metabolic biomarkers change in high producing Holstein dairy cows, under different physiological states. These changes are induced commonly by negative energy balance, lactogenesis and fetal growth in each state.