BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoon with worldwide distribution that infects human and a wide spectrum of warm- blooded animals. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to survey the prevalence of T.gondii antibody in slaughtered livestock in slaughterhouse with modified agglutination test in Sanandaj in 2015. Methods: Totally 343 serum samples were collected from 130 cows, 111 sheep and 102 goats from May to July 2015 in Sanandaj slaughterhouse. Sera were examined with modified agglutination test (MAT) for T.gondii antibody and 1.40 titer antibody and above was considered as positive. Results: Antibodies of T.gondii were found in sera of 51 out of 343 (15.45%) samples. From 51 seropositive sera, 13 cows (23.84), 13 goats (12.74%) and 9 sheep (8.1%) were infected. The differences among species were statistically significant (P≥.002). Conclusions: Results indicate that T. gondii in sheep, goats and especially cows is prevalent, so consumption of undercooked meats should be avoided, also the prevention methods of infection should be taught to the people and due to the possibility of limitations in the results of serological tests, repetition of the study using molecular techniques is recommended

BACKGROUND: Probiotics and prebiotics are the most important bioactive compounds for aquatic health. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effects of prebiotic (immunowall) and probiotic (primalac) were assessed on growth performance, survival, body composition, and blood biochemical parameters in the Caspian Sea common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. METHODS: Juveniles (n = 100 per tank, 21 tanks) were distributed in four inclusion levels (each in three treatments) of 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15% of immunowall and primalac inclusions for a period of 56 days. Growth, body composition, and hematological parameters have been evaluated in different inclusion levels at the end of culture period. RESULTS: The increment of body weight, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio in fish fed with diets containing 0.15% prebiotic and 0.1% probiotic improved considerably compared to other treatments. The survival rate of the juveniles was not significant between treatments, and the group fed with the pre- and probiotics revealed higher survivals. Protein content in the group fed with the pre- and probiotic showed significantly higher contents compared to the control group, and lipid content showed increasing trend in different inclusions. The red blood cells contents showed no differences between treatments; but the white blood cells contents revealed higher performances in the fish-fed probiotics compared to prebiotic and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results recommend the addition of 0.1 % immunowall and 0.15 % primalac in the diets of the juveniles in terms of growth, feeding, and hematological indicators in the Caspian carp.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria for human that is easily transferred during slaughtering, processing, packaging, storage and handling of meat and meat products as a result of poor hygienic principles, and causes staphylococcal food poisoning. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the contamination of raw and cooked ground beef in retail shops of Mazandaran to S. aureus and also detection of enterotoxin-producing genes in the isolates. Methods: One-hundred fifty ground beef samples (95 raw and 65 cooked) were collected randomly from retail shops, 21 May-21 July 2017. S. aureus was counted via culturing on Baird Parker Agar medium. Detection of enterotoxins A-E and G, H, I and J producing genes was conducted applying real-time PCR technique. Results: 68% of samples showed S. aureus contamination. The average count in raw and cooked ground beef samples was 3.1×105 cfu/g and 5.7×103 cfu/g, respectively. From 92 S. aureus isolates, 23 isolates (25%) were carrying enterotoxin coding genes; amongst them 15 isolates (65.2%) were carrying just a single gene and the rest more than one gene. Two isolates carrying SEA+ SEC, two isolates SEA+SEE, one isolate SEA+SEG, one isolate SEC+SEI, one isolate SEA+SEC+SEG and one isolate SEE+SEG. Conclusions: These results show that enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains are present on considerable numbers in retail ground meat in Mazandaran.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have more functional effects on shrimp immunological                         parameters but there is less information on comparative effects of Commercial and Indigenous probiotics on post-larvae and larval stage of shrimp life. OBJECTIVES: This 60 day study was conducted to determine the effect of probiotic bacterium commercial and allochthonous (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) on some of immune parameters and serum enzymes in the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). METHODS: Three experimental diets were supplemented with similar concentration of 1.5×106 Cfu/g by bacteria, commercial and allochthonous supplementation. Control  (without probiotic supplementation), D1 (commercial probiotic), D2 (commercial+allochthonous probiotic) and D3 (allochthonous probiotic) were used for the experiment. At the end of trial, to evaluate immune parameters, Shrimp hemolymph was collected by syringe into the ventral sinus of L. vannamei, transferred to a tube and allowed to anticoagulant. To investigate serum enzymes level, body shrimp were homogenized and extracts were analyzed biochemically. RESULTS: Total haemocyte count (THC), large granular cells (LGC), semi granular cells (SGC) and hyaline cells (HC) treated with commercial probiotics increased in comparison with control and significant difference was observed (P<0.05). Enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were significantly decreased in the experimental groups compared with control (P<0.05). However, post-larvae enzyme alkaline phosphatase was not found to be significantly affected by probiotic supplementation (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic Bacillus influenced the increase of the immune parameters haemolyph and decreased serum enzymes level and it is appropriate for supplementation in the diet of whiteleg shrimp post-larvae.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar pattern of the lung field is usually caused by several lung involvements such as edema, hemorrhage and pneumonia, but differentiation using radiography is usually impossible. Objectives: Evaluation of HU and lung pattern of pneumonia in dogs using CT-scan technique and confirmation by CT assisted FNA as a safe diagnostic procedure. Methods: In this study, 10 dogs with respiratory distress suspected for pneumonia were selected and radiography and CBC were used for evaluation of lung pattern and cytology. Before and after contrast medium injection, CT-scans of the lung field were achieved. Finally, in transverse CT sections, FNA of involved lung lobes was taken for cytologic evaluation. After the confirmation of pneumonia, CT scans were reevaluated with more attention and pulmonary pattern was described and HU of involved regions was measured. Results: In all of the patients, ventral region of the lungs, especially cranial and middle lung lobes were involved and the involvement of the left lungs was prominent. The mean HU of the unhealthy lung parenchyma before contrast medium study was between 31 and 39, and after contrast study was between 46 and 70. It means the HU has been significantly increased. Also, the contrast of the involved lung regions was increased which helped to differentiate the unhealthy lung tissue from the adjacent soft tissues. Hematology tests in all of the patients were representative of infection. Conclusions: Both CT-scan and CT assisted FNA from the lung are beneficial and practical methods for the diagnosis of pulmonary disorders such as pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Population growth and the need for food, especially proteins, have increased the interest in using inexpensive and available supplements to increase protein production. ObjectiveS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Qom region zeolite as a supplement to the histological and histochemical structure of broiler chicken intestine and to compare it with commercial zeolite. Methods: In this experimental study a total of 200 broiler chicks were purchased from Qom poultry and randomly divided into five groups including the control group; the experimental group of Qom zeolite which was subsequently subdivided into three different doses including (Z1 = 0.5 %, Z2 = 1%, Z3 =1,5%); and finally the anzymite group which received the commercial zeolite. 42 days later, 10 samples were selected from each group and after tissue preparation, the slides were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS period, and toluidine blue; then microscopic assays were applied using the Image-j 1.49f software. Data analysis was done with SPSS 20 and One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. PResults: The height of the epithelial cells decreased in the anzymite group but the number of mucosal glands and goblet cells increased significantly (P<0.05). Except for Z1 group in other Qom zeolite treatment groups (Z2 and Z3), the number of goblet cells increased significantly (P<0.05). Therefore, the effect of zeolite higher than 1.5% may be comparable with anzymite. Conclusions: Our results showed that zeolite does not have any effect on increasing the absorption rate of the small intestine, but could stimulate the function of goblet cells and intestinal glands, so Qom zeolite with higher percentage could have the same effect as anzymite

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Campylobacter associated food-poisoning has gradually increased and it is considered to be the major cause of widespread infectious disease of the recent century. Although the poultry are the most important reservoirs and source of transmission of Campylobacter to human, urban wild birds like the ducks with faecal contamination of environment cannot be excluded from being the contributing source of Campylobacter spp. for human and animals. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the faecal contamination of C.jujuni and C.coli in urban ducks in the North of Iran. Methods:From March to April 2016, a total of 75 stool samples were collected from urban ducks in Sari, Amol, Ghaem Shahr and Babol, Mazandaran province, Iran to evaluate the presence of Campylobacter spp. using triplex PCR. 16srRNA, mapA and ceuE genes were targeted for Campylobacter spp., C.jujuni and C.coli respectively. Results: 13 of 75 samples (17.33%) were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. Faeco prevalence of C.jujuni and C.coli was 84.6% and 15.4% .The prevalence of C.jujuni was significantly more (p< 0-0.5). Conclusions: The results of this study have shown prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in urban ducks in the North of Iran is relatively high and may be considered a potential risk factor for human Campylobacteriosis in Iran, especially in children

Nowadays, with the development of new technologies, improved and progressed methods have been taken to diagnose, treat and prevent cancers. Pathologic study and some molecular methods have been helpful in diagnosing and predicting cancer but these methods are not enough in many cases. Omics technology investigates many parts of cells such as genes, proteins, transcripts, and metabolites simultaneously. This procedure provides a more real and general feature of cellular processes, especially in cancer cells.    In human, Omics technology is widely used to diagnose and treat various cancers and predict  prognosis of tumors and survival of patients. In parallel to the studies of cancers in human, similar investigations were conducted in the canine cancers. Regarding the importance of Omics method in oncology, we described various Omics techniques including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteoimcs. In addition, corresponding studies carried out in different canine cancers were summarized in the next step.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals as well as human worldwide. Human is infected with Toxoplasma parasites by eating half-cooked meat of livestock or oocyte. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of Toxoplasma in aborted fetuses of sheep using the serological method in North Khorasan province. METHODS: In this study, from 2015 to 2017, 133 samples of the thoracic fluid in aborted fetuses of sheep from different cities of North Khorasan Province were collected and sent to the central laboratory of Bojnourd. For each sample, a questionnaire was prepared for gathering information such as age and city, and then, the antibody level was determined in each sample by ELISA method. RESULTS: In this study, the age of 133 aborted fetuses of sheep was more than 120 days. Also, of the 133 aborted fetuses of sheep, 14 samples (10.53%) were infected with Toxoplasma parasites. The highest and lowest rate of Toxoplasma infection was observed in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Also, the most infection was found in Shirvan and Faroj cities. Results of chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference between year and abortion in sheep due to infection with Toxoplasma parasite (P<0.05). There was not significant difference between the frequency of this parasite infection and aborted fetuses in different areas (P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that Toxoplasma gondii infection is one of the causes of abortion of sheep in North Khorasan province, and sheep is one of important sources of meat and dairy products in this area, Therefore, observance of public health tips and the complete cooking of meat and boiling milk is emphasized.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic helminthic diseases are one of the most common diseases of humans and animals that threaten the health of human societies. Nowadays, different methods are used for recovery of eggs parasites from soil samples. Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of mistakes caused by the artifacts (waste and disposable materials for diagnostic purposes), it is necessary to design and use a special device to collect more accurately the eggs of helminthic parasites. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to design and use a rapid method for collecting different Toxocara spp. eggs in order to determine the prevalence of soil contamination. METHODS: In this study, for recovery of Toxocara parasite eggs from collected soil samples, a sieve screen was used with plastic body (polyvinyl chloride compressed plastics) in a cylindrical shape with a mesh of 150 µm (can be changed), as well as the cap and holder,for the use of modified sucrose flotation method to isolate and identify Toxocara species eggs. RESULTS: In the current study, single cell, multicellular, and infective Toxocara eggs were recovered from collected soil samples. The results of prevalence of Toxocara eggs in collected soil specimens showed that 38.5% (CI: 95%, 32.03-45.40%) were recovered using vertical sieve screening and using the traditional technique and flotation method 21.5% (CI: 95%, 16.37-27.70%) were recovered, which showed a significant difference between the two groups (P˂0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the conventional and standard sucrose flotation method, using the sieve screen in addition to recovery of Toxocara parasite, it can be used in epidemiological studies to investigate the presence of eggs of nematode parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichocephalus, as well as other eggs of zoonotic helminths in soil samples, and the percentage of true egg parasites in the soil samples in epidemiological studies.