An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the inclusion potential of five levels of Calotropis persica seed powder (CSP) (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g/kg of the basal diet) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet, in a completely randomized design. To perform the test, 3600 fries (11.5 ± 3.64 g) were treated for 56 days. According to the results, the increase in milkweed seed powder up to 40 g/kg, resulted in a significant increase in specific growth rate and intestinal lactic acid bacteria count compared to the control (p < 0.05). The best results of survival rate, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic and gastrosomatic indices were achieved in the treatments receiving 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg CSP (p < 0.05). Antibacterial activity of skin mucus, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase showed the highest level in the 40 g/kg treatment (p < 0.05). Based on the results, the inclusion of 40 g/kg milkweed seed powder caused positive health effects and could be a suitable herbal feed additive in the rainbow trout diet.

Coenurosis (gid or sturdy) is a zoonotic disease that is caused by Taenia multiceps metacestode. It is common in small ruminants. The cysts in sheep are more cerebral, while are noncerebral in goats. Coenurosis decreases production, and results in the death of the affected animals and in the disposal of the organs or even carcasses in severe infection. The present study describes severe subcutaneous coenuri associated with contamination in other tissues including the skeletal muscles and visceral organs. A remarkable clinical observation was the aggregation of cysts in variable sizes in the subcutaneous tissue of whole body. Subcutaneous tissue is not a common site for cyst formation. Coenurosis was confirmed based on the morphological characteristics of the cysts including the clusters of protoscolices and rostellar hooks.

Mastitis is the main disease in dairy farms that causes serious losses. The early diagnosis and specific treatment can prevent the spread of the disease and the economic losses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the latex agglutination assay for detection of the main bacterial mastitis agents. The antiserum against Staphylococcus aureus, Trueperella pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli were prepared from immunized rabbits. The couplings of antibodies to latex particles were optimized and after that, the limit of detection (LOD) of latex agglutination test was evaluated for detection of the mentioned bacteria. The detection limit for the Streptococcus agalactiae, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and T. pyogenes were respectively 1.3×103, 2×107, 1.58×104 and 5.4×104 colony-forming unit per each milliliter of the bacterial suspensions. The prepared latex test has more sensitivity in the setting of phosphate buffered saline than in contaminated milk samples. This method can be used for the fast detection of the mentioned bacteria in bacterial cultures and milk samples. The latex agglutination test could be evaluated as a fast, cost benefit, and practical method in dairy farms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of lemon pumace powder (peel and pulp), as an inexpensive and valuable source of nutrient in diet of common carp. Fish (60 ± 5 g) were divided randomly into four groups of 30 each. Group 1 fish were fed with basic diet, serving as the control. Fish in group 2 and 3 and 4 were fed the basic diet supplemented with 1.5%, 3% and 5% lemon pumace powder, respectively. Results showed that growth performance including final weight, weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) significantly increased as compared to control. Malondialdehyde (MDA) values of muscle significantly increased as compared to control in all treatment groups and the decreeing effect of lemon pumace powder on malondialdehyde (MDA) values of kidney and liver was only significant in group 4, when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Protein carbonyl contents were significantly decreased in kidney and liver in group 3 and 4 as compared to control group and protein carbonyl of muscle significantly decreased as compared to control in all treatment groups. FRAP values of liver significantly increased only in group 3 as compared to control, and FRAP values of kidney and muscle significantly increased only in group 4 as compared to control (p < 0.05). These data suggest that supplementation of 5% lemon pumace powder to be more effective than its lower levels in strengthening the antioxidant system against oxidative stress.

The implantable drug products are developed mainly to sustain the drug release. This study was conducted to formulate and evaluate cross-linked films of chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) for the sustained delivery of enrofloxacin (ENR). Two types of formulations, single-layer (F1 and F2) and triple-layer (F3 and F4) films, were prepared. In vitro drug release, kinetic modelling, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, morphological and microbiological studies were performed. Drug release from F1 and F2 continued up to 5 hours but from F3 and F4, it was extended over 96 and 168 hours, respectively. The cumulative drug release for F1, F2, F3 and F4 were 72.6, 70.1, 90.5 and 82.4%, respectively. The inhibition zones of bacterial growth by using positive controls and single layer films were significantly greater than those of triple-layer films (p < 0.05), indicating sustained drug release pattern of the multi-layer films. These findings suggest that the triple-layer chitosan/β-GP films could be effective to deliver ENR for a long period.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro acaricidal effect of aqueous ozone against Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae) under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, aqueous ozone at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 ppm were prepared, and five replicate experiments were carried out using 400 µl of each concentration sprayed on every treatment batch of mites (plus a distilled water control). The mortality rate of mites in treatment and control groups were assessed 24 h post exposure. The mortality rate obtained by concentrations of 4, 5, and 10 ppm were significantly different from the control group (p < 0.05). The highest mortality rate (63.99%) was observed at concentration of 10 ppm. In this study, aqueous ozone showed a dose-dependent acaricidal potency against D. gallinae.

In this review an attempt has been made to review the cardiotoxic effects of poisonous plants which are found in Iran. Among various plant species growing in different regions of Iran, a large number of plants contain chemical compounds which are toxic to animals and humans. Among those poisonous plants, cardiotoxic plants are important due to the acute nature of their toxicity and frequent lethal livestock and human intoxications. Cardiotoxic plants of Apocynaceae family, Nerium oleander, N. indicum and Thevetia peruviana contain cardiac glycosides including oleandrin, oleandroside and thevetin A-C. Plants of Taxaceae family, Taxus baccata and T. brevifolia contain taxine alkaloids, including taxine A and B. The toxic effects of cardiac glycosides are primarily attributed to inhibition of plasmalemmal Na+/ K+-ATPase which results into the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ and, depending to its severity, inotropic or arrhythmic effects are seen. Taxine B, the prominent alkaloid in Taxus spp. block sodium and calcium channels preferentially in cardiac myocytes, thus causing conduction abnormalities. Various cardiac arrhythmias in acute cases of poisoning with aforementioned plants result in acute heart failure and death. Post mortem findings are non-diagnostic and toxicological analysis of gastrointestinal tract content or body fluids is used for detection of cardiac glycosides and taxines.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 causes important economic losses in industrial poultry worldwide. Biosecurity and vaccination have not completely prevented the outbreak of avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 in poultry, and there are no appropriate medicines available. Onion is one of the plants used from the ancient times both as food and medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiviral effects of aqueous extract of red and yellow onion against avian influenza virus subtype H9N2. First, a study was performed to evaluate the toxic effects of the extracts on the embryonated chicken eggs. For antiviral evaluation, three mixtures were prepared: mixture of the virus and the red onion extract, mixture of the virus and the yellow onion extract, and mixture of the virus and PBS, as a control group. The mixtures were separately inoculated to the chorioallantoic sac of the embryonated eggs after 2, 8 and 24 hours incubation at room temperature. Mortality rate and hemagglutination assay titers were recorded. The results indicated that the red onion extract decreases mortality of the embryos and the yellow onion extract increases the life of the embryos, and both of the extracts decrease HA titers. In conclusion, it seems that both extracts especially aqueous extract of the red onion not only destroys the avian influenza virus subtype H9N2, but also they probably decrease the propagation of the virus in the embryonated chicken eggs.

The changes in serum fructosamine concentration of dairy Saanen goats during late pregnancy and early lactation and its relationship to serum glucose, total protein, and albumin concentrations was investigated. Eleven Saanen goats were selected for the study. Blood samples were collected by the jugular vein in 30, 15 and 7 days before the expected time of parturition (D-30, D-15, and D-7, respectively) and also 12 hours and 3, 7, 13, and 42 days post-partum (H+12, D+3, D+7, D+13, and D+42, respectively). The serum concentrations of fructosamine, glucose, albumin, and total protein were measured. The maximum concentration of fructosamine was at 12 hours post-partum and decreased thereafter. Serum concentration of glucose significantly increased from D-15 up to 12 hours post-partum and then decreased and stayed at the same level. The serum concentrations of albumin and total protein significantly increased during post-partum period. There were significant correlations between fructosamine and glucose concentrations at post-partum period and overall time of the study. Linear regression analysis between each sampling amount of glucose and three consecutive fructosamine concentrations revealed significant positive correlation between glucose of each sampling time with the fructosamine of first sampling time thereafter. According to the correlation between glucose and fructosamine amounts during the study, especially post-partum period in Saanen goat, fructosamine measurement could be used as a useful indicator of energy economy and probably stress in Sannen goat; but controversy between reports in ruminants needs further studies for better understanding of fructosamine as energy biomarker in ruminants.

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in many humans and animals has driven researches to identify and design novel antibacterial agents. In vitro inhibitory activity of (2E)-2-(4,5-dihydro-4-oxothiazol-2-yl)-2-(thiazolidin-2-ylidene) acetonitrile against many bacterial pathogens has been proven in both veterinary and human medicine. In this study, its in vivo toxic effects was studied in mice. The median lethal dose (LD50) value of 239.88 mg/kg was estimated using intraperitoneal injection in 8 groups of mice after 48 h treatment. Then, intraperitoneal injections of LD50 of oxothiazole solution into 4 other mice were done to evaluate histopathological changes in their liver and kidney tissues. The histopathological studies were identified as fatty change, hepatitis, necrosis and regeneration in liver, and fibrosis, necrosis, nephritis, hyaline cast and hyperaemia in kidney. In conclusion, the synthesized oxothiazole derivative causes renal and hepatic toxicity in mice at medium concentrations. The change of thiazole substituents and complexation may reduce its toxicity.