BACKGROUND: Dental disease, trauma and maxillofacial surgeries can cause alveolar bone defects. Among different kinds of treatment, autogenous bone grafts is accepted as a golden standard. On the other hand, because of limitation of treatment with autogenous bone grafts, osteogenic cells derived from stem cells are suggested. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the mean density of the repaired bone in maxillary alveolar cleft of dog by tissue engineering and autogenous bone grafting techniques using digital radiography. METHODS: two, 15*15mm, defects were made in the maxillary alveoli of 4 dogs. A stent was placed in the defect to prevent the effects of soft tissue. After 60 days, the defects were filled with tibial auto graft in one side and mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the neck adipose tissue in the other side. The density of the regenerated bone was evaluated 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after graft implantation by direct digital radiography, Digora windows software (70 KVP, 10 mA and 0.40 seconds). RESULTS: The findings of one-way ANOVA test showed no significant difference between tissue engineering and autogenous bone grafting methods (P-value = 0.94). Visually, the repaired bone pattern was homogenized in autogenous bone graft method but it was cotton-wool in tissue engineering bone graft method. CONCLUSIONS: digital radiography soft ware provides the possibility of quantification of bone repair by densitometry. When autogenous bone graft is not available, tissue engineering bone graft can be considered an acceptable alternative to repair the bone defects.

Background: Blastocystis is the most common anaerobic protozoa living in the large intestine of a broad spectrum of vertebrates. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the Blastocystis infection rate in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods: A total of 80 stool samples were collected from IBD-proved patients. All stool samples were cultivated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium and checked by light microscopy for detection of Blastocystis. The Correlation between demographic data of IBD patients and Blastocystis was calculated using SPSS 23. Results: The enrolled patients comprised of 52 (65%) men and 28 (35%) women. The study showed Blastocystis in 16/80 (20%) of the samples by microscopic examination and culture method. The parasite was seen among 12 (23.08%) and 4 (14.29%) men and women, respectively. No statistically significant correlation was found between infection with the parasite and animal contact.  Fisher’s exact test represented that there was no correlation between gender and the presence of Blastocystis (p value= 0.397). Fisher’s exact test denoted that there was no statistical correlation between age and the presence of the parasite (p value= 0.130). Conclusions: In this study, Blastocystis was found in 20% of enrolled patients who suffered from IBD. This infection rate was significantly higher than the studies have previously described Blastocystis in this group of patients.

Abstract  Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been recognized as a matter of antibiotic resistance that is largely developed amongst common foodborne pathogens. MRSA is being considered as an important worldwide health threat and causes considerable concern to clinicians, food products manufacturers, governments and also consumers. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to detect MRSA isolated from 360 samples of pastry cream products sold in the local markets in Amol, June 2016- May 2017, by plate count method and molecular technique. METHODS: The conventional plate counting method was conducted through inoculating appropriate dilutions of samples onto the Baired Parker Agar plates. MRSA isolates were detected by PCR method using mecA primers set. The resistance of isolated MRSA strains against some antibiotics was determined. RESULTS: Out of 360  pastry cream samples tested, 41.6% (150 samples) were contaminated by S. aureus with an average count of 4.94 log CFU/g in summer; 4.72 log CFU/g in autumn, 2.74 log CFU/g in winter and 3.62 log CFU/g in spring. Eleven samples out of 360 tested (3.05%) showed positive results for the mecA gene. No MRSA isolate was identified amongst winter samples. 56% of isolated strains showed sensitivity to oxacillin, 7% of isolates were sensitive to penicillin, 23 to ampicillin, 82% to gentamicin and 33% to tetracycline. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, monitoring and improving the hygienic conditions of food production chain and educating food handlers and staff involved in food preparation is recommended in order to prevent MRSA prevalence.

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically important disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. In recent years, a series of outbreaks of FMD have occurred in many countries. Recombinant protein synthesis incorporating protective B- and T-cell epitopes are candidates for new safer and more effective (FMD) vaccines that have potential to provide protective immunity against diverse FMDV strains and to protect against future epidemics. Objectives: The aim of this study was to produce Recombinant Hepta-epitope peptide for detecting FMD O, A , Asia1 serotypes ,which can be used as a tool for diagnostic kits. Methods: In the present study, we designed and produced a Recombinant Hepta-epitopic peptide from FMDV epitopes of the viral proteins VP1, VP2, VP3, 3C (seven epitopic regions, amino acid residues VP1 140-160, Vp1 200-213, VP2 68-75 ,VP2 179-198 ,VP3129-148 ,VP3 190-199 , 3C121-135). Results: It was shown that the mentioned recombinant peptide could recognize the serum collected from cattle infected with FMD serotype A and O. Conclusion: Therefore we believe that this recombinant Hepta-epitopic peptide can be used for diagnostic serological assays. Furthermore this Recombinant peptide may be a potential candidate as an alternative vaccine against FMDV epidemic variants.

The study of myology is relevant for both functional understanding and distinguishing different species. The pine marten (Martes martes) is a small carnivore found in Europe and Western Asia and belongs to the Mustelidae family. For the purpose of this study, fresh a carcass which was found in the hunters' trap, was brought to the anatomy hall of veterinary faculty, for anatomical studies. After the routine preparation of the specimen, extrinsic muscles of forelimbs and intrinsic muscles situated on the shoulder and brachium regions were studied by gross dissection. Here we aim to describe the morphology of extrinsic as well as shoulder and brachium muscles of pine marten forelimb and compare them to the other carnivores. Overall, our findings indicated that forelimb muscles, in pine marten is highly conservative. However, some significant differences in origin, insertion and the number of sections were observed in some muscles. These results will be useful for comparative myological studies of Mustelidae family and other carnivores. Meanwhile, further studies with more samples are need to present a clear information for Mustelidae family.

Background: Growth plate is responsible for bone elongation and its injury could result in severe orthopedic problems. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to investigate the radiographic changes after transplanting the fresh autogenous ear cartilage impregnated with PRP and MSc in treatment of growth plate injury in lamb. METHODS: Cranial half (½) in length in full depth of the right hind limb growth plate was resected with bone oscillator and  was transplanted  with  autogenous fresh  harvested  ear cartilage  at the time of surgery  in  all of the 15  male lambs. Subsequently they were divided into 3 subgroups of 5 lambs in each group, control, PRP and MSCs. Radiographs were obtained from operated limbs at surgery time and 60 post-operative. RESULTS: Clinically, all lambs showed same lameness degree and mostly apparent after cast removal but gradually improved in the treated group which showed normal weight bearing after one month. Early physeal closure was seen in growth plate injured site only in control group without limb shortening or angular deformity. Lambs with MSCs showed mild bone bridge formation (1.4b ± 0.4b) as compared with   PRP group (1.8 ± 0.37ab) and control group (2.8 ± 0.2 a) (P<0.05).On 60 days postoperatively control group showed significant mineralization (by 2.8±0.2a) while less mineralization was detected in MSCs and PRP groups  (by 1.4± 0.4b and 2.4± o.4 ab). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that MSCs &amp; PRP can quite effective in preventing bone bridge formation and mineralization besides convergence of the transplanted tissue into growth plate cartilage. Keywords:

Background: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is one of the best characterized genetic regions controlling immune responses against vaccines. Identifying the association between MHC haplotypes and improved immune responses would be useful in genetic breeding strategies in animals. OBJECTIVES: MHC class II B genetic diversity and its association with humoral immune responses against Newcastle vaccine (NDV) were evaluated in commercial turkey poults (meleagris gallopavo). METHODS: A total of 92 turkey poults were vaccinated with live VG/GA strain of Newcastle disease vaccine at age of 10 and 20 days. Serum NDV specific IgY was assessed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and MHC II B polymorphism was determined using high resolution melting curve (HRM) technique and DNA sequencing method. Effects of alleles on humoral immune responses were evaluated by multivariate regression analysis and GLM procedures. RESULTS: A total of 8 HRM profiles and 10 alleles were identified in this population. B1-1*3, B1-1*4 and B1-1*5 alleles were significantly associated with lower antibody responses against vaccine in commercial turkey poults. CONCLUSIONS: Three alleles reported in this study were associated with reduced immune responses against NDV vaccine in turkey population. Due to such negative associations, molecular breeding programs based on specific genetic markers should be implemented with great caution.

A carcass of a Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) that was inadvertently killed in a car accident in Golestan National Park, North-Iran, was referred to the laboratory of the Department of Environment in Golestan Province. The carcass was infested with hard ticks. Five ticks were collected and identified as Ixodes ricinus (one female) and Rhipicephalus turanicus (four males).  These hard ticks are major vectors of some important microorganisms of veterinary and medical significance. This is the first detection of I. ricinus and R. turanicus in the Persian leopard.

BACKGROUND: Avian infectious bronchitis is considered as an important viral disease worldwide. Genotyping based on the S1 subunit of spike protein gene of the causative agent, avian infectious bronchitis virus, can be used to classify IBV isolates. Objective: This survey was carried out to characterize the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) genotypes circulating in Iran and determine their prevalence rate. METHODS: In this survey, 100 samples of trachea were collected from broiler chickens suspected to IBV during 2015 to 2016. Nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) followed by S1 gene sequencing was applied to genotype the detected isolates. RESULTS: In this survey, forty five isolates were detected and classified in four distinct genotypes, variant 2 [IS/1494/06], 4/91, QX and Massachusetts, based on phylogenetic analysis. The prevalence rates of the variant 2 [IS/1494/06], 4/91, QX and Massachusetts were 66.67%, 24.45%, 4.44% and 4.44%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the epidemiology of IBV genotypes in Iran and provides an insight into the evolution of these strains. Moreover, it is clarified that IBV genotypes prevalence are constantly changing in a region.

Background: Leptin, the product of the obesity (ob) gene, acts as a signaling adipokine for modulating food intake, energy metabolism and reproductive functions in mammals. Leptin’s effects on the reproductive system at various levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis have been established. Moreover, the direct and local effect of leptin on bovine oocyte maturation and corpus luteum function has been determined. Objectives: Due to species differences, this study was designed to investigate expression of leptin mRNA as well as its long isoform receptor (Ob-Rb) mRNA in sheep corpus luteum. Methods: Ovaries of sheep containing mature corpus luteum were collected in the reproductive season from abattoirs. Total RNA of corpus luteum was extracted, cDNA synthesis was carried out subsequently and PCR reaction was performed using primers which were designed specifically for each gene. Beta-actin was used as housekeeping gene to verify reactions, and adipose tissue was selected as positive sample for expression of leptin and leptin receptor. Results: Gel electrophoresis of PCR products showed the amplification of 162 and 121-bp amplicons in all samples for leptin and leptin receptor respectively. Moreover, sequencing the amplified fragments and blasting them confirmed the accuracy of results. Conclusion: Our findings confirm the expression of leptin and its functional receptor transcripts in ovine corpus luteum. More studies for determining leptin effects on corpus luteum are guaranteed.