The aim of this study was to compare the fertility parameters in response to pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (conventional treatment) or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (alternative treatment) in Romanov sheep subjected to a 7-d short-term protocol during non-breeding season. All sheep (n:57) were subjected to short-term synchronization protocol. Intravaginal sponge impregnated with 20 mg fluorogestone acetate was inserted for 7 days and all sheep received 125 µg cloprostenol at sponge removal. Sheep were randomly assigned to receive no additional treatment (CON, n:16), 240 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG, n:24) at sponge removal or 10 µg buserelin acetate (GnRH, n:17) at 30 h after sponge removal. Natural mating was performed following detection of estrous with fertile eight Romanov rams. Estrous response, pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and litter size were compared among groups. Estrous response and pregnancy rate were 86% and 75.4% in all sheep, respectively. Estrous response was numerically higher about 7% (p>0.05) in treatment groups (PMSG, 87.5%; GnRH, 88.2%) than CON (81.2%). However, pregnancy rate was numerically higher (p>0.05) in PMSG (83.3%) than GnRH (70.6%) and CON (68.7%). Similarly, lambing rate in the PMSG (79.1%) was approximately 15% numerically greater (p>0.05) than in GnRH (64.7%) and CON (62.5%). In addition, litter size in PMSG (2.1) was also numerically higher (p>0.05) than GnRH (1.9) and CON (1.9).The use of GnRH provided similar estrous response compared to use of PMSG in Romanov sheep synchronized with short-term protocol. However, use of PMSG provided numerically higher pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and litter size than use of GnRH. Considering the serious ethical concerns and animal welfare for the production of PMSG, it is necessary to use alternative gonadotropins. Comprehensive studies are needed to compare the fertility parameters between application of PMSG and GnRH in Romanov sheep.

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the levels of interleukins such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12β in sheep with Jaagsiekte by immunohistochemical methods. In this way, it will be revealed whether interleukins are effective in the progression of Jaagsiekte and how useful they are in the diagnosis of the disease. The material of the current study consisted of lung tissues of 26 sheep (Control, n=6 and Jaagsiekte, n=20) brought to the Department of Pathology for routine histopathological diagnosis. Tissue samples taken were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution. 5 µm-thick sections were taken from the paraffin blocks prepared after routine tissue follow-up procedures. Hematoxylin & Eosin staining was applied to the sections in order to detect histopathological changes. Sections were examined and photographed under a light microscope. The routine streptavidin–biotin peroxidase complex method was used.In sheep with Jaagsiekte, tumoral foci with large and small acinar or papillary growths were observed in the alveolar and bronchiole lumens. The control group was negative for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12β immunoreactivity. IL 1β-6-10 and 12β levels were dramatically increased in the Jaagsiekte group compared to the control group.It was determined that interleukins were produced from tumoral cells and tumor microenvironment elements, and these interleukins showed pro-inflammatory effects, except for IL-10.

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the coronary veins and the branches that join it to provide venous drainage of the heart in Southern Karaman sheep. Material-Method: Eight Southern Karaman sheep’s heart tissues were used in the study. Latex injection techniques were used to determine the coronary veins and the branches that join it for providing venous drainage of the heart.Result: In the study, vena cordis magna, vena cordis media, and vv. cordis dextra was observed as venous drainage providing vessels. The vena cordis magna began in the lower third of the sulcus interventricularis paraconalis, called vena interventricularis paraconalis. This vein reached the sulcus coronarius and continued as vena circumflexus sinister. Vena cordis media was named as vena interventricularis subsinosus in sulcus interventricularis subsinosus. The vv. cordis dextra was responsible for the venous drainage of the facies atrialis of the heart.Conclusion: In the evaluation of the study findings, it was determined that the coronary veins and the branches joined it of Southern Karaman sheep were mainly similar to other sheep breeds in the literature. Still, there were some anatomical differences, for example; vena distalis ventriculi sinistri was opening into vena circumflexus sinister, vena apicis cordis was absent, vena semicircumflexa dextri was present.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor of skin. All species of animals are vulnerable to SCC and, sheep are very rarely developing this type of skin carcinoma. The purpose of this report was to describe unusual mammary lobe localization of SCC showing a great resemblance to the mammary tumor according to its gross and clinical examinations. The sheep was brought to department of obstetrics and gynecology and, tumoral tissue was totally extirpated with a suspicion of mammary tumor. The diagnosis made as differentiated squamous cell carcinoma originated from the skin surface and invading through the dermis and subcutis but mammary gland parenchyma was remained intact. There are only few reports of SCC cases belonging to the skin of the mammary area in sheep. Therefore, it is thought that this case will make a scientific contribution with its originality and rarity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in some biochemical and haematological parameters due to liver damage caused by parasites in sheep infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum. The study was conducted on 10 healthy sheep and 60 sheep infected with D. dendriticum. After the blood was taken from the sheep brought to the slaughterhouse in Van Municipality, the liver and gall bladder were examined after the slaughter, and the blood of sheep infected with D. dendriticum was brought to the laboratory and examined for some haematological and biochemical parameters.As a result of the examination, some changes were observed in the biochemical and haematological parameters. In statistical analysis: Haematologically compared with the healthy group of sheep infected with D. dentriticum; WBC, Neu, Eo and Mon values were higher than the control group's values, while RBC, Hct, Hb and MCV values were lower and no significant change was found in the Lym level. Results of biochemical parameters of sheep infected with D. dentriticum according to statistical analysis; ALT, AST and GGT values were higher than of the health group sheep, while serum TP, Alb and glucose values were found than lower.As a result; WBC, Neu, Eo, Mon, ALT, AST and GGT levels in infected sheep due to dicrocoeliasis which cause important pathological disorders in liver that have functions such as synthesis, metabolism and detoxification in the organism were found to be significantly higher compared to the same values of the healthy group. It is predicted that these parameters may be useful in determining the degree and prognosis of liver damage and will shed light on the studies to be performed in this field.

Objective: In this study, LMS, zinc and vitamin AD3E were used with enterotoxaemia vaccine in sheep, in order to investigate their immunostimulant activities and also to make a comparison among them regarding their immunostimulatory properties. Material and Methods: In the research 40 sheep were divided into 4 groups, each group consisted of 10 sheep. Group I only vaccinated against enterotoxaemia. In groups II, III and IV besides enterotoxaemia vaccine, LMS, zinc and vitamin AD3E were used, respectively. Blood samples were taken on days 0 and 35 of the experiment. Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE) were determined using ELISA kits specific to sheep immunoglobulins. Hematological parameters and serum zinc levels were also determined.Results: Levamisole-treated group showed a significant increase in serum level of IgM, and zinc-treated group demonstrated a significant increase in serum IgG level (P<0.05). In day 35, serum IgM level was the highest in LMS group (group II) based on its levels in groups III and IV (P<0.05) and also IgG level was highest in group II when compared to its levels in groups III and IV (P<0.01). In group II, statistically significant decrease in total WBC and lymphocyte counts and statistically significant increase in thrombocyte counts were determined on day 35 (P<0.05). In group III, statistically significant decrease in total WBC, neutrophil counts and hematocrit values were detected (P<0.05), although, these changes were within physiologically normal limits.Conclusion: In conclusion, LMS stimulated the increase in IgM levels and zinc stimulated the increase in IgG levels without inducing adverse effect and the increase in antibody production resulted in the enhancement of humoral immune response to enterotoxamia vaccine. The use of LMS and zinc as immunostimulant together with vaccination is recommended.