Safe and effective sedation methods are as much important for small pet birds as for the other animals not only for surgical procedures but also for safe handling and diagnostic and clinical procedures such as radiography, wound dressing, blood collection, endoscopy and fracture repair procedures. The aim of this study is comparison of sedation efficacy in intranasal administration of xylazine, diazepam and midazolam in Pigeons. Fifteen healthy adult domesticated Pigeons of both sexes, weighing 289±61.8 gram were used in this study. Xylazine (29.4±1.9 mg/kg), diazepam (6.4±0.9 mg/kg) and midazolam (6.5±1.0 mg/kg) was administered intranasaly using a micropipette. The onset time, dorsal recumbency duration time and duration of sedation time were measured and recorded. This study showed that intranasal (IN) drug administration could provide fast and reliable sedation in Pigeons and IN midazolam or diazepam can provide adequate sedation for diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures.

Cardiac conduction system enables the heart to pulsate continuously by producing electric impulse and conducting it. As the anatomical information about cardiac conduction system in human being and other mammals needed in various fields of sciences, such as anatomy, histology, physiology, pathology and cardiology, the present review article intends to provide this basic information about an important part of this system; the atrioventricular node. The histological structure and blood supply of the node and also the internodal pathways which conduct impulse from the sinus node to the AV node will be discussed.

Quinazolinones are heterocyclic and water insoluble compounds with various pharmacological and biological characteristics (antibacterial, antiswelling, antifungal, parkinson and etc.). They are used for treatment HIV and cancer. This study investigated the effects of 4(3H) quinazlonones-2-ethyl-2-phenyl ethyl (QEPE) as a new quinazolinons compounds on the spleen and immunocompetent cells of newborn Balb/C mice. Pregnant mice were divided into 3 groups (n=10) of control, sham and experimental, received distilled water, methyl cellulose %0.05 (the solvent) and 100 mg/kg body weight (ip) of QEPE (most effective dose), respectively, on days 8 to 15 of gestation. Examinations indicated an increase in weight of spleen in experimental group. Pathological studies showed increase in capsule thickness and number of macrophage cells of experimental group. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in morphological studies between experimental, sham and control groups. The statistical data on capsule thickness and number of macrophage cells indicated significant differences between groups. Detailed observations showed an increase in the volume of monocyte, neutrophile and eosinophile, in response to QEPE, but the volume of lymphocyte and basophile were similar in experimental, control and sham groups. The damages caused by this dose of QEPE could have been the reason for the increase in the number of immonucompetent and macrophage cells. Some studies showed damages to the organs such as livers and hearts would lead to the increase in the thickness of spleen capsule, consequently, increase in its weight and leading to splenomegaly. So, QEPE can not be an appropriate candidate for drug development. QEPE in lower doses might be an appropriate candidate for increase of immune system resistance.

The microsporidium Nosema apis is a protozoan parasite specific for the epithelial cells of the ventricles of adult bees. Nosemosis occurs throughout the world. Between February and May 2002-2003, samples were randomly collected twice from 20 apiaries in Urmia region North-West of Iran. During this survey total of 487 hives were examined for infection with N. apis. In the first stage of study (February 2002), no infection was seen in hives samples, but in second stage of same year (May 2002) the infection was seen in one apiary with 131 hives. In third and forth stage of study (February and May 2003) the infection was seen in one and 4 apiaries respectively. The results showed the low infection rate in the early months of the first year of study that it was increased in next year. The reason of high infection rate in the second year of the study can be the result of more rainy and cloudy days in this period comparing to the first year. This has caused the hone bees to stay more often in the hives and increase spores excreted and subsequently spore intake were raised.

Stomatitis and gingivitis were diagnosed in twenty-six of 96 horses at a club in Mashhad, Iran. Clinical examination of the affected horses revealed varying degrees of ulceration at the gum-tooth margins with many awns (seed heads) embedded in ulcers. The ulcers were painful, up to 5 cm in diameter, and located at the labial-gingival junction, the lingual frenulum, the base of the lingual dorsum, soft palate, and the sides of the tongue. The evaluation of feed ingredients which had been fed to the affected horses showed contamination of alfalfa hay to mouse barley (Hordeum murinum) seed heads. After removal of the contaminated hay from the ration, the ulcers healed slowly over about 3 weeks.

Echinococcosis is one of the world’s relevant zoonoses, affecting both humans and their domestic animals and caused by infection with the metacestode stage of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus. In the present study, twenty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5. Each mouse in groups 1, 2 and 3 was immunized with 100 μg of hydatid cyst fluid protein, protoscolex and adult worms of E. granulosus proteins in 100 μl of phosphate-buffered saline which was emulsified with an equal volume of Freund’s complete adjuvant respectively. In group 4, mice were just immunized with above adjuvant in PBS. Mice were boosted four weeks after the first immunization with the same preparation and with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant. Three weeks later, each mouse was challenged with 2000 protoscolices intraperitoneally. Sera were collected before and after each immunization and serum antibodies were tested by ELISA. Results showed that the level of antibody in mice which were immunized with adult worms of E. granulosus on day 28 was roughly seven times higher than before immunization and was higher than hydatid cyst fluid and protoscolex. Level of antibody in mice immunized with adult worms of E. granulosus was also higher than in hydatid cyst fluid and protoscolex groups at day 49. The results of this article indicate that antigen of adult worms of E. granulosus can be used as a candidate for production of a vaccine.

Nephrolithiasis was incidentally diagnosed in 2 Arabian horses, a young foal and an adult mare, from Maybod, Yazd province, Iran. The foal had bilateral neophrolithiasis, as multiple sand like stones in renal papillary area. Large nephroliths were found in the left kidney of mare. Prominent composition of those nephroliths was magnesium ammonium phosphate. Risk factors and other aspects of nephrolithiasis in horses are discussed.

A 2-year-old, female, crossbred pet rabbit was found to have a subcutaneous axillary abscess from which Staphylococcus lentus was the sole isolate. The S. lentus - an indigenous bacterium in rabbit saliva - probably was introduced into the axillary region during licking of a small wound. Due to severe neutropenia, the rabbit had developed a serious infection within a few weeks. Marked clinical improvement was observed following abscess excision and treatment with sulfamethoxaszole-trimethoprim. S. lentus should be added to the growing list of bacteria causing infection especially subcutaneous abscesses in rabbits.