The use of antibiotics in livestock production in North America and possible association with elevated abundance of detectable antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) is a growing concern. Real-time, quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the relative abundance and diversity of ARG in fecal composite and catch basin samples from 4 beef feedlots in Alberta. Samples from a surrounding waterway and municipal wastewater treatment plants were also included to compare the ARG profile of urban environments and fresh water with that of feedlots. The relative abundance of 18 resistance genes across 5 antibiotic families including sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and β-lactams was examined. Sulfonamide, fluoroquinolone, and β-lactam resistance genes predominated in wastewater treatment samples, while tetracycline resistance genes predominated in cattle fecal composite samples. These results reflect the types of antibiotic that are used in cattle versus humans, but other factors such as co-selection of ARG and variation in the composition of bacterial communities associated with these samples may also play a role.

OBJECTIVE To describe histologic findings in the small airways during postmortem examination of actively racing horses and to quantify the degree of airway inflammation by use of a semiquantitative scoring system. SAMPLE Lung tissues obtained from 95 horses (Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter Horses) that had been actively racing or training. PROCEDURES 10 standardized lung sections were obtained during postmortem examination of 37 horses that had been actively racing or training, and 2 histologic sections of the caudodorsal lung lobes previously collected from each of 58 horses that died or were euthanized during racing or training were also obtained. Sections were evaluated by use of a validated histologic small airway scoring system. RESULTS Scores for inflammatory cells, smooth muscle, and hemosiderin typically were high. Signalment and cause of death were not significant predictors of lung scores. Lung sample location was a significant predictor, with the highest scores in the caudal and dorsal sections. Inflammatory cell infiltration in peribronchiolar tissues, smooth muscle hyperplasia, and hemosiderin (prevalence of 86%, 98%, and 80%, respectively) were common findings in lungs of these horses, with the caudodorsal regions more severely affected. Correlation was moderate between smooth muscle hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infltration, with minimal correlation between hemosiderin and inflammatory cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Inflammatory airway disease has been identified by use of bronchoalveolar lavage in young athletic horses throughout the world. In the study reported here, pathological changes were detected in the wall of small airways of horses that were actively training or racing.

OBJECTIVE To determine the optimal anatomic site and directional aim of a penetrating captive bolt (PCB) for euthanasia of goats. SAMPLE 8 skulls from horned and polled goat cadavers and 10 anesthetized horned and polled goats scheduled to be euthanized at the end of a teaching laboratory. PROCEDURES Sagittal sections of cadaver skulls from 8 horned and polled goats were used to determine the ideal anatomic site and aiming of a PCB to maximize damage to the midbrain region of the brainstem for euthanasia. Anatomic sites for ideal placement and directional aiming were confirmed by use of 10 anesthetized horned and polled goats. RESULTS Clinical observation and postmortem examination of the sagittal sections of skulls from the 10 anesthetized goats that were euthanized confirmed that perpendicular placement and firing of a PCB at the intersection of 2 lines, each drawn from the lateral canthus of 1 eye to the middle of the base of the opposite ear, resulted in consistent disruption of the midbrain and thalamus in all goats. Immediate cessation of breathing, followed by a loss of heartbeat in all 10 of the anesthetized goats, confirmed that use of this site consistently resulted in effective euthanasia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Damage to the brainstem and key adjacent structures may be accomplished by firing a PCB perpendicular to the skull over the anatomic site identified at the intersection of 2 lines, each drawn from the lateral canthus of 1 eye to the middle of the base of the opposite ear.

OBJECTIVE To compare the plasma pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin between 3-week-old (preweaned) and 6-month-old (weaned) calves and to characterize the distribution of tulathromcyin into pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) and interstitial fluid (ISF) of preweaned and weaned calves following SC administration of a single dose (2.5 mg/kg). ANIMALS 8 healthy 3-week-old and 8 healthy 6-month-old Holstein steers. PROCEDURES A jugular catheter and SC ultrafiltration probe were aseptically placed in the neck of each calf before tulathromycin administration. Blood, ISF, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected at predetermined times before and after tulathromycin administration for quantification of drug concentration. A urea dilution method was used to estimate tulathromycin concentration in PELF from that in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Tulathromycin–plasma protein binding was determined by in vitro methods. Plasma pharmacokinetics were determined by a 2-compartment model. Pharmacokinetic parameters and drug concentrations were compared between preweaned and weaned calves. RESULTS Clearance and volume of distribution per fraction of tulathromycin absorbed were significantly greater for weaned calves than preweaned calves. Tulathromycin–plasma protein binding was significantly greater for weaned calves than preweaned calves. Maximum PELF tulathromycin concentration was significantly greater than the maximum plasma and maximum ISF tulathromycin concentrations in both groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that age affected multiple pharmacokinetic parameters of tulathromycin, likely owing to physiologic changes as calves mature from preruminants to ruminants. Knowledge of those changes may be useful in the development of studies to evaluate potential dose adjustments during treatment of calves with respiratory tract disease.

Assessment of the sperm membrane functional status appears to be a significant marker for the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa. The hypo osmotic swelling test (HOST) is one of the best methods to evaluate sperm membrane integrity. In the current study, we used DW and hypo osmotic solutions of 50 and 100mOsm/l of dextrose/NaCl, NaCl, sucrose and fructose. Based on the results, Among the dextrose/NaCl, NaCl, sucrose, and fructose solutions and DW, Maximum numbers of swollen of bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa were observed with DW and dextrose/NaCl solution at 50 mOsm with average response by 61.20±8.677 and 47.90±10.181 respectively. The HOST response at 3 and 60 min for all of solutions were positively correlated to each other and there was no significant difference between the responses to the HOST at 3 and 60 min after incubation in all of solutions. The significant correlation was observed between motility and dextrose/NaCl at 50 mOsm, sucrose 50 and 100 mOsm, NaCl 50 mOsm and DW. The high relationship was between motility and DW and dextrose/NaCl at 50 mosm. There was no significant correlation between DW and all of hypoosmotic solutions with staining of the spermatozoa by eosin/nigrosin. In conclusion, the water test can be efficiently used for the evaluation of the functional integrity of the plasma membrane of bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The hypoosmular solution of dextrose/NaCl at 50 mOsm is a good medium to evaluate bull frozen spermatozoa. The used of HOST and motility are better tests to evaluate bull frozen thawed sperm than eosin-nigrosin. The short HOST procedure (3 min) is suitable method for evaluating of membrane integrity of bull frozen/thawed spermatozoa.

This study was carried out to investigate the role of both calcium chloride and Vitamin C in protection against the deterioration effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) exposure on thyroid function .Fifty adult male rats were used, which divided randomly into five equal groups, the first group: The animals of this group served as control group administrated distilled water orally by gavage. Second group: administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage. Third group: administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Calcium Chloride (20mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage. Fourth group: administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Vitamin C (100mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage. Fifth group: administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Calcium Chloride (20mg/kg.bw/day) + Vitamin C (100mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavag . The treatment continued for 45 days. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Blood samples were taken and the serum was separated for the study of the thyroid hormones, and tissue samples of the thyroid gland were taken for histological changes. The study showed a significant elevation in thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH), and a significant reduction in tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) hormones concentration in NaF treated group compared with control, however a significant improvement were recorded in above cited parameters in all treated groups. Histopathological study revealed hyperplasia include presence of large number of small follicles in NaF treated group whereas a significant amelioration were found in all other treated groups which appeared semi-normal compared with control group

A total of 60 one-day old Ross broiler chicks were used in this study. The birds were divided into four groups. The first group A was vaccinated against IBD with a Cevac IBD L vaccine at one-day old by intra-yolk sac method (lYS) with a dose of 0.5ml using a (1ml) syringe, whereas the second group B was vaccinated against IBD with the same vaccine at 14 days of age by drinking water method (DW). The third group C and fourth group D were considered as a positive and negative control respectively . On day 35, the birds were weight and killed to collect blood samples and lymphoid organs were removed and weight to study the effects of (lYS) rout on body weight , lymphoid organ weights and the humeral immune response to IBD vaccine which measured by ELISA test. The results showed significant differences at (P≤0.05) in body weight of group A, in addition significant (p<0.05) increase in the all lymphoid organs weight , Bursa of fabricius (BF) was 1.643 a ±0.066 in group comparison with other groups which had been recorded 1.102 b ±0.022, 0.850 c ±0.067 in group B and C respectively. Group B indicated that was a significant decrease at (p<0.05) in the weight of of spleen which was 1.102 b ± 0.022 in comparison to control groups. With regard to serological test, bird from group A recorded higher Ab titer 24038 a± 685 compared to those of other groups , and this increment was statically significant (p<0.05), however both group A and B revealed a53 significant differences( p <0.05) from the control groups. Generally the results indicated that intra-yolk sac method was highly effective rout of IBD vaccine administration

The oral use of pregabalin was evaluated in this study to reveal its effects on some hematological and biochemical parameters of laboratory mice. The animals of this study were divided into three groups (twelve mice each). The control group was fed on a standard ration. The first treated group (Pregabalin 1) were dosed orally with one ml of distilled water containing Pregabalin (20 mg/ml/mice/ day). The second treated group (Pregabalin 2) were dosed orally with one ml of distilled water containing pregabalin (40mg/ml/mice/ day). The experiment continued for two successive months. The results showed that the use of pregabalin caused a significant declination in R.B.C., HGB, HCT, W.B.C., M.C.V., MCH, and MCHC of both treated groups compared them with control group and the declination was more significant in (pregabalin 2) group compared with (pregabalin 1) group. The RDWCV, RDW-SD, and PLT increased significantly in both treated groups as compared with those of the control group. However, PCT, PDW and MPV were not affected by the use of pregabalin except the MPV of (Pregabalin 2) group was significantly less than that of (Pregabalin 1) but without a significant difference compared with that of control. The Fe++, and GLU decreased significantly in both treated groups compared with the control and they declined more significantly in (Pregabalin 2) compared with (Pregabalin 1). Both the TP and Ca++ did not affected by the use of pregabalin compared with the control group (P≤0.05)

The present study was designated to illustrate the morphological , histological and histochemical features of adrenal gland of local domestic pigeons (coulumba livia domestica) in Basrah province . Ten adrenal glands used in the study collected from Karrmat Ali Village, Iraq . Immediately after collection the adrenal glands were subjected for morphological histological and histochemical study. The study revealed that the pigeon have paired small glands located in the abdominal cavity at the anterior pole of the kidneys . The gland was elongated in shape and showed creamy or grayish in color. Histologically , the glands was unsheathed with thin fibro – elastic connective tissue capsule containing many blood vessels . The cortical tissues were arranged into two zones; peripheral (sub capsular) and inner (central). The cells of sub capsular are arranged in curved cord , each cord had polyhedral acidophilic cells. On the other hand, the histological examination of the cortex of adrenal glands contains autonomic ganglia associated with glandular capsule ,contains nerve cells and fibers. The inner cortical cells showed straight and curved cords in longitudinal sections, each composed of two types of cells acidophilc cells and chromaffin cells .The Histochemical study revealed presence lipids droplets in the gland , in addition to elastic fibers in the capsules and among the cells of glands .

Two hundreds of different food samples i.e. cream, beef meat, frozen beef meat, burger,cooked rice and minced rice were collected from local markets in Basrah city. The testedsamples of each food type were found to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) in aratio of 36.36 % for cream, 26.47 % for beef meat, 50 % for frozen beef meat, 36.36 % forburger, 18.18 % for cooked rice and 51.51 % for minced rice. Mannitol egg-yolk agar (MYP)supplemented with polymyxin B sulfate is a selective media used for isolation. Identification ofthe isolate was done by detection of 16SrDNA and conformed by sequencing. Antimicrobialsusceptibility test was used for screening the isolates, which were resistance to tetracycline.Bacillus cereus isolates were resistance to tetracycline TE 30 mg/disc (100 %) in cream and (0%) in cooked rice. Polymerase chain reaction was used for detection of the presence oftetracycline resistance gene in the percentage 32 % and 44% for tet (K) and tet (L), respectively.