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:Mastitis is the most economically importantdisease in dairy industry worldwide. Bulk tank milk (BTM)analysis has been suggested for monitoring the udder healthstatus at herd level. OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional study wasconducted to evaluate udder health status in 15 Holstein dairyfarms located in Qom province. METHODS: Bulk tank somaticcell count (BTMSCC) was analyzed using opto-fluoroelectroniccounter. Standard plate count, preliminary incubationcount, laboratory pasteurized count, and the number ofenvironmental streptococci, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S.uberis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, coagulase negative streptococci,S. aureus and C. bovis were determined using specific culturemedia. Moreover, clinical and subclinical mastitis were diagnosedusing physical examination and California mastitis test,respectively. RESULTS: Most herds had moderate to highBTMSCC and high bacterial counts. The prevalence of clinicaland subclinical mastitis was 1.3% and 24.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated inefficient stallmanagement, udder hygiene, and milking practices in the herdsinvestigated.

BACKGROUND: Methionine has been suggested as the firstlimitingamino acid for milk production in ruminants. It is importanthow to increase milk protein yield and milk fat in dairy ruminants.OBJECTIVES: This study was set to investigate the effect of rumenprotected methionine (RPMet) on milk composition of lactatingCashmere Rayeni goats. METHODS: 40 healthy singletonCashmere Rayeni goats about 3 to 4 years of age, at the first day oflactation, were randomly divided into 2 equal control andexperimental groups. The experimental group was supplementedwith 5 gr/day RPMet for 60 days. Milk samples of 2 groups weretaken on 30th and 60th days of the study. Milk protein, milk fat, milklactose, and milk Solids-not-Fat (SNF) were determined usingautomatic analyzer. The results were statistically evaluated withSPSS. RESULTS: The supplementation with RPMet did not effectall of the above mentioned parameters during the 60 days of theexperiment (p>0.05), except for the milk fat percentage of theexperimental group which showed significant increase after 60days (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results about milk protein,milk lactose, and SNF were in agreement with previous studies thathad not shown significant differences. Results about milk fat on the30th day were in agreement with the results of several authors whoreported that RPMet did not affect milk fat percentage or yield;however, in the present study milk fat increased significantly on the60th day (p<0.05). To the best of the authors' knowledge, no studyabout the effects of RPMet on milk composition of CashmereRayeni goat has been done.

BACKGROUND: Ticks are the most important vectors whichtransmit several arthropod-borne diseases such as theileriosis,babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. OBJECTIVES: An epidemiologicalstudy was conducted in Semnan area to determine thecurrent situation of tick infestation in sheep and assess theefficacy of usage of CIS-cypermethrin against tick infestationunder field condition. METHODES: Sampling was done monthlyon 5% of a sheep herd in a population of 1000 sheep for one year.Ticks were collected, counted, and diagnosed. RESULTS: Ticksspecies affecting sheep were Hyalomma marginatummarginatumin winter quarters and in summer pasture; Dermacentormarginatus and D. raskemensis were the prominent ticks. In themiddle of autumn and during the winter, no ticks were detectedfrom the animals. The preferred sites of tick attachment toinfested animals were perineal region and ears in winter quarters;however, in the summer pastures, the ticks were found only underthe neck area and on the sternum. There was a significantdifference between the numbers of male ticks on ewe and lamb;however, these phenomena were not recorded for female ticks.In this regard, CIS-cypermethrin deeping treatment reduced therate of infestion (almost 100%) after one day of treatment.Nonetheless, in the next sampling after 4 weeks, the rate ofinfestation increased again and reached 50%. CONCLUSIONS:Inorder to control the tick infestation, it is recommended thatspraying be done monthly on the infected areas.

BACKGROUND: Freezing is a common way and one of the best methods of seafood preservation for long periods of time; however, the freeze thawing process may influence the quality of food. OBJECTIVES: Oxidation and denaturation of proteins, sublimation and recrystallization of ice crystals can cause changes in the quality of the frozen products. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of three different thawing methods including microwave, refrigerator, and water thawing on the quality of pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum). METHODS: For this purpose, the pink shrimps were hunted from Persian Gulf. Then, 200 g of peeled undeveined shrimps were frozen in vacuum-packed polyethylene bags at -40°C. The samples were transferred to Kerman Veterinary School and were kept at -18°C freezer. After four days, the shrimp were defrosted by three mentioned methods. Three cycles of freezing and defrosting with four days intervals were performed. Percentage of thawing loss (%TL), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), total volatile base (TVB), and salt-soluble protein (SSP) were detected at each freeze-thaw cycle. RESULTS: An increase in the freeze-thaw cycles increased TBA and TVB value slightly and significantly decreased the SPP value (p<0.05). Microwave thawing method gave the samples with the highest thawing loss in comparison to the other methods in each freeze-thaw cycle (p<0.05). A significant increase was seen in TBA value in water and microwave thawing methods in comparison to refrigerator thawing method (p<0.05). Refrigerator thawing method had higher SSP value in comparison to the other thawing methods (p<0.05). Likewise, there was no significant difference between three mentioned methods in TVB value (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results showed that refrigerator thawing method had lower effect in decreasing chemical quality of the pink shrimp than two other methods, and multiple freeze-thawing processes caused some deleterious effects on the quality of the frozen shrimps.

BACKGROUND: The early stage of Copper poisoning is difficult to be clinically diagnosed in sheep and has not been documented clearly yet. OBJECTIVES: To assess biomarkers in predicting early Copper poisoning in sheep, blood samples were collected from several groups of animals from a naturally Copper poisoning occurrence in an industrial region. METHODS: Animals were divided into four experimental groups; Group A: far from polluted region (Control group), Group B: inside polluted region, apparently healthy and without any clinically jaundice manifestation, Group C: slightly with jaundice signs and hemolytic crisis phase, and Group D: with clear jaundice signs. After collecting blood samples from each group, the serum was analyzed for evaluation of liver enzymes and oxidative stress parameters in different stages of Copper poisoning. In each blood sample, CPK, GGT, AST, ALT, total thiol (T-SH) group, and total proteins were determined. The Copper concentration in the serum, liver, and kidney of the dead animals in group D were also determined. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the blood parameters in group C illustrated by elevated level of serum AST, CPK, and GGT activities and total thiol (as biomarker of oxidative stress) when compared to control groups. In group D, these enzymes, in addition to T-SH, and the total protein were significantly (p≤ 0.05) different from those of the control and the other groups. Measurement of Copper in serum, liver, and kidney of group D (at the end stage of hemolytic phase) confirmed Copper poisoning in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the present study, the measurement of the liver enzyme activities and total thiol just closed to critical hemolytic phase could be reliable biomarkers for predicting Copper poisoning in sheep.

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: Campylobacteriosis is one of the most commonbacterial intestinal disorders of humans in many countries.A wide range of domestic and wild bird species have been identifiedas natural reservoirs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this studywas to determine the Campylobacter spp from pet birds andscreen the determined Campylobacters for presence of virulencecytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes. METHODS: A totalof 660 fecal samples from 32 different species of pet birds weretaken and examined for detection of Campylobacter spp. andwere investigated for presence of cdt genes. All the sampleswere collected from clinically healthy birds that were kept incage, zoological parks, and/ or in zoo of Tehran, the capital ofIran. RESULTS: In total, 20 thermophilic Campylobacter weredetected from 8 different avian species. From 20 confirmedCampylobacter spp., 16 samples (80%) were C. jejuni positiveand 4 (20%) were C. coli in species-specific PCR test. Furthermore,out of 20 detected Campylobacter, 13 (65%) harboredthe various subunits of cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes, and 7 (35%)were negative for all tested cdt genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findingsindicate that the carriage rate of Campylobacter in differentspecies of cage and/or in zoo birds is high and confirm thatcdt genes may frequently be present in campylobacter spp.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about blood supply of the carpal joint in one- humped camel, while there is extensive data about cow and equine species. In order to perform surgeries and diagnostic techniques in carpal region, information about the elements of the joint such as its arteries is necessary. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at describing the origins, arrangements, and branches of the arterial supply of the carpal joint of the adult one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). METHODS: Twelve left forelimbs of camelus Dromedrus without any lameness history were divided into 3 equal groups randomly. The brachial artery, before the elbow joint, was injected with warm water containing red gelatin, red latex solution, and rodopas resin solution separately; then, the arterial supply of the carpal joint was studied. RESULTS: The results showed that the radial, median, and caudal interosseous arteries and their branches supplied the carpal joint. (Supplied the carpal joint) CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that radial artery and its branches such as dorsal and palmar carpal branches were the most important arteries that supply the carpal joint. Median and caudal interosseous arteries support supplying this joint too but the arterial branches supplying the carpal joint in the Bactrian camel are from the radial artery and dorsal interosseous antebrachium branches. In the cow, the common interosseous, median, collateral ulnar and radial arteries give off branches to supply the carpal joint while common interosseous, median,transverse cubital and radial arteries give off branches to supply the this joint in the horse

Background: Some species of grass cause poisoning and hepatogenous photosensitization in animals. OBJECTIVES: Feeding trials were conducted in sheep and goats to evaluate the hepatotoxic effects of Setaria italica (S. italica). METHODS: Twelve indigenous male sheep and goats were used in this study. The animals were kept outdoors against prevailing climatic conditions. They were fed with S. italica freely for 50 days. Some biochemical factors associated with liver function, such as total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (BC), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma  glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB), were measured on day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 of the experiment. On the 50th day, the animals were sacrificed and necropsied,  then the gall bladder and livers were removed for pathological study. Blood samples on day 0 (prior to feeding with S. italica) were set as the control group.                 RESULTS: Three sheep and 3 goats showed signs of intoxication, including facial edema, mucus hyperemia, runny nose, lacrimation, and icterus. Post-mortem examination revealed varying degrees of generalized icterus, degeneration, necrosis and cell swelling of hepatocytes, formation of acidophilic bodies, and mild hyperplasia in biliary ducts. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and necropsy findings, support the potential of S. italica in the induction of hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitivity in sheep and goats.