BACKGROUND: Lactococcus lactis is one of the lactic acid bacteria that can be considered as a probiotic in Persian sturgeon. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to increase the resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila after feeding the L. lactis JF831150. METHODS: In the present study, first 60 fish were fed different doses of L.lactis JF831150 for 56 days. The bacterial flora were counted with  TSA and MRS. Resistance of fish against A. hydrophila were considered after feeding. RESULTS: The use of L. lactis JF831150 for 56 days in P. sturgeon showed significant improvement in decreasing heterotrophic aerobic bacteria flora and increasing the lactic acid bacteria in the intestine. In the face of fish against A. hydrophila in third treatment (108 CFU/g), the survival rate was shown to be significantly higher than the control and other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that consumption of L. lactis JF831150 (108 CFU/g) could improve the intestinal flora and increase resistance to A. hydrophila, and therefore has  potential for use  with P. sturgeon.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have more functional effects and less survival  under hard acidic-bile circumstances of digestive system, and foodstuff products situation has persuaded investigators to find techniques to resolve this problem. Microencapsulation as a useful method has a perceptible effect in this regard. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the protective role of double coated beads of calcium alginate-chitosan-eudragit S100 achieved from microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a predominant flora of human and animals gut. Methods: Following activation of starter culture of L.acidophilus in MRS-broth medium,  centrifuge (at aspeed of 5000 rpm for 10 minutes) was used to purify bacteria. Extrusion technique was used for Microencapsulation of probiotic bacterium. The survey of beads solidity was carried out for 12 hours and the study of survival of microencapsulated bacteria was done for 120 minutes inside hydrochloric acid, phosphate buffer and digestive powder solution.  MRS-Salicin-agar and pour plate method and incubation at 37oC for 48 h was done for cultivation. Data were analyzed by means of an independent t-test. Results: Shape and size of beads were shown by optical microscope. The consequences demonstrated that survivability of microencapsulated bacteria in the mentioned conditions, in both situation with and without mechanical tensions, is significantly more than free bacteria (p<0/05). Conclusions: Microencapsulation with calcium alginate- chitosan-eudragit S100 plays a significant role  in increasing the rate of L. acidophilus viability.

BACKGROUND: One of the most important heart diseases in dogs is chronic valvular disease which can be evaluated by diagnostic ways such as physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography and…. Traditionally, the evaluation of heart function has been accomplished by electrocardiography, radiography, and echocardiography. Within the past 15 years, cardiac biomarkers, primarily cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptides, have become a mainstay for both the diagnosis and patient monitoring in human heart disease. Recently, veterinary research has provided insight into the utility of these blood-based cardiac biomarkers in canine and feline patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate  the chronic valvular disease and assess its  severity via evaluation of circulating amino terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. METHODS: This survey was done on 20 dogs which had valvular disease and on 20 control dogs. Serum NT-pro BNP concentration was measured with an ELISA validated for use in dogs. Results of physical examination, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, and serum biochemical analysis were recorded for dogs with cardiac disease. RESULTS: Serum NT-pro BNP concentration was significantly higher in dogs with cardiac disease than in control dogs.  Serum NT-pro BNP concentration in group B2 and C was correlated with left atrial to aortic ratio. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, results suggested that serum NT-pro BNP concentration could be a useful adjunct clinical test for diagnosing chronic valvular disease and assessing the severity of disease in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection is one of the most important diseases in healthcare facilities and community. Ribotypes 027 and 078 are known as hyper-virulent strain of C. difficile in molecular study. PCR-ribotyping is a suitable method to interpret the relation of C. difficile isolated from food and hospital. Objectives: In the present study, the clostridim difficile binary toxin (cdtB) and ribotype pattern evaluated in toxigenic C. difficle isolated from beef. Methods: Detection of cdtB in 12 toxigenic C. difficile (encoding tcdA and tcdB gene) isolated from 100 beef samples was determined through PCR. Afterwards, PCR-ribotyping was performed to examine the ribotype patterns of C. difficile. Results: cdtB gene was not detected in any positive isolate. Ten different patterns were observed in 12 toxigenic isolates. No similarity existed in the ribotypes of our study with ribotypes 027 and 078. Conclusions: Albeit  ribotyp 027 and 078 were not found in our study, the isolation of toxigenic C. difficile with new ribotypes in Iran may indicate the probable hazard of this bacterium in public health. Comprehensive research about C. difficile in different food sources is recommended on a national level.

BACKGROUND: The term ‘‘marinated fish’’ is used to define semi-preserved fish made by immersion in a solution of organic acids or vinegar and salt. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare  nutritional value (Lipid, Protein, Moisture, Ash, pH), chemical (TVB-N, PV, TBA, FFA) and sensory attributes, microbial communities (TC, Mold) and fatty acids profile of cooked and fried marinades and 30 days storage at 4°C. Methods: The marinades were produced using formulas from Silver carp fresh fillets. Then the products were stored at 4°C and sampling was done to determine of quality indexes during storage, every 10 days. Results: The results showed that there were no differences in moisture, protein and lipid contents between two products (p>0.05). Also, there were no differences with regard to  PV, TBA and FFA between two marinades (p>0.05), but TVB-N in cooked and fried products (with 16.46 and 18.91 mg/100g) showed significant  changes (p<0.05). In addition, total  bacteria count was 4.19 and 4.89 and total mold-yeast was 2.47 and 2.60 Logcfu/g at day 30 in cooked and fried marinades, respectively (p<0.05). As sensory aspect, appearance, color, texture and odour attributes showed  better points in fried marinade,  cooked product had more acceptable  taste (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in overall acceptance. Omega-3, omega-6 and EPA+DHA fatty acids had higher amounts in fried marinade (p<0.05). Cooking reduced the UFA amount, but conversely, frying increased it. Conclusions: Quality of both marinades was acceptable during 30 days storage refrigerator, but fried marinade showed a preferred quality as sensory attribute.

BACKGROUND: Comparison between Infectious Bursal Disease vaccines. OBJECTIVES: Comparison between foreign and Iranian intermediate uncloned Gumboro vaccines on feed conversion ratio. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty day-old chicks were purchased and for determination of vaccination time by Deventer formula, thirty chicks were randomly bled and the remaining chicks divided into 3 equal groups, each group was divided into 4 equal subgroups with the same mean weight. On the basis of Elisa results and vaccine instructions, chicks of group 1 and 2 were vaccinated by uncloned intermediate Gumboro vaccine manufactured by Lohman Company, Germany and Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Iran subsequently at 16 and 23 days by drinking water. One group was kept as unvaccinated control group. Mean feed intake, weight gains, feed conversion ratio and B:B ratio of 3 groups  were determined at 16, 23 and 42 days. At the end of experiment B:B ratio was measured in 3 groups. RESULTS: This study showed that foreign and Iranian intermediate uncloned Gumboro vaccines had negative effect on mean weight gains and both vaccines atrophied bursa of Fabricius, but had no effect on mean feed intake and feed conversion ratio. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that foreign and Iranian intermediate uncloned Gumboro vaccines had no effect on feed conversion ratio.

BACKGROUND: Babesiosis and Thosis are parasitic tick-borne diseases that cause a lot of economic loss in livestock Industry. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to detect Babesia and Theileria infection in goats and and vector ticks in goats in Mashhad. Methods: One hundred blood samples of goats and 246 ticks were collected from some suspected flocks with history of piroplasmosis. The samples were transported to laboratory under cold condition. Blood smears were prepared and stained by Geimsa method and examined with a light microscope at ×1000 magnitude. The collected ticks were separated into tick pools of five according to their species and sex. The blood, salivary gland and ovaries of tick samples were examined using specific primers of Babesia.spp and Theileria.spp by semi nested-PCR. Results: Piroplasm bodies were not observed in any blood samples of goat in Mashhad. In a total of 246 collected ticks, seven species were identified as follows: R. turanicus 127(51.6%), D. marginatus 67 (27.2%), Hy. marginatum 44 (17.9%), R. sangunincus 4(1.6%), Hy. anatolicum 2(0.8%), Hy. asiaticum 1(0.4%) and Heam. sulcata 1(0.4%). Dominant tick species of goats in Mashhad suburb were R. turanicus and D. marginatus. The results of PCR showed that none of the blood samples were infected with Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. Also, Theileria infectoin was detected in a sample salivary glands  of Hy. marginatum. ConclusionS: Based on microscopic and molecular results, no  Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. infection were detected in goats. R.turanicus was the dominat tick species and Theileria spp. infection was detected in one sample of Hy.marginatum.

BACKGROUND: Foot -and- mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Iran. Molecular techniques for diagnosis of persistent infection or carrier animals have shown a potential ability to improve the detection of a low genome copy number in samples. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of foot and mouth disease viral carriers in slaughtered sheep in Mashhad industrial abattoir using RT-PCR. Methods: Samples were isolated from tonsil of 94 slaughtered sheep analyzed by RT-PCR experiment for the detection of FMD, identification of FMD virus serotypes and at the end nucleic acid sequencing were performed. Results: The results showed that the 23 samples (24/5 percent) were positive for the presence of FMD virus RNA, of which 89.9% of cases are type O and 3 cases of FMD samples did not respond. The results of the 1D genome sequencing of the nucleic acid virus showed that FMD virus of sheep (O/IRN/100/2010Sheep), has 92/02% similarity with the virus (O/IRN/67/2001-2005) and 88/42% similarity with the virus (O/IRN/15/2004-2008). Conclusions: This study showed that the percentage of FMDV sheep carriers in Mashhad slaughterhouse was remarkable. Estimation of the frequency of carrier state in cattle and small ruminants is recommended as a monitor of control plan in the region.

BACKGROUND: No study has been conducted on iron requirements of broiler breeder hens until now. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to determine the iron requirement of broiler breeder hens using nonlinear models. METHODS: Forty eight (Cobb 500) broiler breeder hens were individually placed in galvanized wire cages. In order to depletion of hens iron reserved, hens were offered a semi purified iron deficient diet for 3 weeks. At 62 week of age, Hens  were  randomly  allocated  to  4  dietary  treatments  (37, 52, 67, 82 ppm of diet iron) with 4 replicates. Body weight gain, egg production and egg weight were measured during 6 weeks experimental period. RESULTS: The results showed that the estimated iron requirement for egg production(H.H), egg weight, iron content of the liver, blood serum, bone marrow, spleen and egg yolk were 65, 62, 54, 72, 57, 63, 64 ppm respectively. The logistic model was fitted to iron content of liver, spleen, serum and bone marrow, suggested that iron requirement were equal to 66, 53, 129, 58 ppm respectively. Fitted exponential model estimated iron requirement for egg weight, iron content of liver, spleen, serum and bone marrow were 62, 96, 70, 73, 111 ppm respectively. Also based on the quadratic equation models, estimated iron requirement for egg production(H.H), egg weight, iron content of the liver, blood serum, bone marrow, spleen and egg yolk were 65, 66, 71, 220, 51, 70, 62 ppm respectively. Among the four models used, the broken line model is more accurate in estimating the required iron than other models due to the low variance between estimated requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that value recommended by primary breeder (Cobb 500 management guide, 55 ppm) is lower than values obtained in present study.

BACKGROUND: Faba bean (Vicia faba) is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates that is used as a vegetable ingredient in diet of livestock, poultry and fish, in many countries. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the effects of different levels of faba bean on the serum lipid levels and liver function of farmed beluga sturgeon (Huso huso). Methods: 144 juvenile beluga (82.38 ± 0.83 g) were located into 18 oval tanks (300 L) and triplicate groups were fed by experimental diets inclusion 6 levels of faba bean (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%) for 50 days. At the end of the trial, blood samples were taken from the caudal vein of 54 beluga juveniles and some of biochemical parameters (cholesterol and triglycerides) and liver enzymes such as Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were investigated. Then nine fish per treatment were sampled to measure Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and liver composition per each treatment. Results: The results showed that by increasing the levels of faba bean in diets ALP, AST and LDH contents were significantly decreased compared to the control treatment (p<0.05). However, the lowest level of ALT (0.76±0.2 U/l) was measured in fish fed with 10% faba bean meal (p<0.05). The moisture and fat contents of liver showed significant difference by increasing the levels of faba bean in diet (p<0.05). No significant differences were shown in cholesterol, triglyceride, HSI, liver protein and liver ash contents (p>0.05). Highly significant positive correlation were observed between total protein, cholesterol, AST, LDH, ALP and liver fat (p<0.01).  Conclusions:  Use of lower levels of faba bean (up to 25%) had no significant effect on serum lipids and no adverse effect on liver function of juvenile beluga.