BACKGROUND: Toxocara canis is a zoonotic disease that commonly infects canids. Mammals and birds are sometimes infected with this disease as paratenic hosts. It can also cause accidental infection in humans. The increase in the number of stray dogs, the expansion of urban gardens, and the proximity of dogs to humans increase the risk of human infection with Toxocara canis.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence of Toxocara canis infection in dogs and foxes in Zanjan province, Iran.METHODS: A total of 484 fecal samples of stray dogs (n=355), rescue dogs (n=49), guard dogs (n=50), and foxes (n=30) in Zanjan were randomly collected from June 2021 to February 2022. The microscopic examination was done following formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation procedures. Finally, the PCR method was used to confirm the presence of Toxocara canis in positive samples.RESULTS: Microscopic study revealed that, out of 484 samples, 21 (4.3%) were positive for Toxocara/ Toxascaris eggs. Between these positive samples of dogs and foxes, only 6 samples from dog feces were confirmed as a Toxocara canis infection by the PCR method.CONCLUSIONS: There is an increase in the prevalence of Toxocara canis infection in stray dogs in Zanjan, Iran. Given the presence of dogs in parks and residential areas, there is a risk of human infection with Toxocara canis, emphasizing the importance of adhering to treatment and prevention protocols in dealing with stray dogs.

BACKGROUND: Pre-purchase radiographic examinations of horses are very important for the diagnosis of possible disorders.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the variation and frequency of common disorders of the tarsus in pre-purchase radiographic examinations of horses and assess the effect of age, sex, and type of hind limb (right or left) on the occurrence of these disorders.METHODS: In this study, we used the radiographs taken from the tarsal joints of the right and left hind limbs in 110 horses for a two-year period which were requested for pre-purchase radiographic examinations. Among these radiographs, the cases that included the standard position of the tarsal joint were evaluated for the existing disorders and the effect of age, sex, and type of involved hind limb.RESULTS: The most frequent disorders were osteoarthrosis (32.27 %), osteochondritis dissecans (5.91 %), and soft tissue swelling (1.36 %). The least common disorders were calcification, desmopathy, and tenosynovitis, each with a prevalence of 0.45%. Also, most of the tarsal ​​joint disorders had a mild degree of severity (80 %). The prevalence of disorders was 100 % for horses aged <4 years (4 out of 4) and 49.1 % for horses aged >4 years (52 out of 106). No significant difference was observed in terms of gender (P=0.65) and type of involved hind limb (P=0.17).CONCLUSIONS: Considering the prevalence of tarsal joint disorders in horses, pre-purchase radiographic examination can be very important for predicting the future health and performance of the horse. Therefore, radiographic evaluation of the tarsal joint should always be a part of pre-purchase examinations in horses.

BACKGROUND: The bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a relatively newly recognized gram-negative, facultative, slow-growing bacillus that forms part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats. Considering the pathogenicity of this bacterium in humans, determining its prevalence is very important for public health as well as the health of dog owners.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Capnocytophaga canimorsus in the normal oral flora of healthy dogs.METHODS: After taking samples from the saliva of 32 healthy dogs without oral, dental or digestive diseases at different ages, breeds, and sexes, they were placed in a test tube containing 10 mL of sterile peptone water with sterile plastic brushes, and immediately sent to the bacteriology laboratory under sterile conditions. The samples were cultured on a chocolate agar medium containing 5 % defibrinated sheep blood. Then, all the samples were kept in a greenhouse for 48 hours at a temperature of 37 °C and under anaerobic conditions. Using a loop, the grown pink colonies were isolated and to confirm the identification of the isolates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used in three main steps: Gene extraction, PCR reaction, and electrophoresis.RESULTS: Out of 32 saliva samples, four positive cases of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria were identified by PCR diagnostic method.CONCLUSIONS: Given that Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacterium is present in the oral flora of healthy ​​dogs, dog owners should have sufficient and favorable knowledge about this bacterium and related diseases. The PCR method can be used to detect this bacterium.

BACKGROUND Honey bee venom contains complex compounds such as polypeptides, enzymes, and amines. One of the important components of bee venom is the phospholipase A2 enzyme, which is considered an important honey bee venom allergen and is also used to treat some diseases. This enzyme is found in other insects, arachnids, snakes, and mammalian cells, and its function is the hydrolysis of the second ester bond of glycerophospholipids and the release of fatty acids and lysophospholipids. Although transient transfection can produce recombinant proteins, stable cells are more suitable for high-scale production with economic efficiency.OBJECTIVES: The present study created a stable cell line to produce recombinant phospholipase A2 from honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom.METHODS: Plasmid cloning DNA vector containing phospholipase A2 gene was prepared by Macrogen Company. The recombinant plasmid was transferred to Chinese hamster ovary cells by heat shock method, and gene expression was carried out in a HamsF12 culture medium containing neomycin antibiotic. After increasing polyclonal strains containing plasmid, monoclonal clones were selected by limiting dilution. Then, monoclonal clones were propagated, the soup of the selected cells was collected and concentrated, and the protein expression was checked by sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis test.RESULTS: The results of electrophoresis, which was performed to confirm the expression of the phospholipase A2 gene in the cell soup, showed a band with a molecular weight of 20 kilodaltons, which confirms the creation of a stable cell line for the production of recombinant phospholipase A2 honey bee venom.CONCLUSIONS: After the transient transfection of the plasmid containing this gene, several cells undergo recombination due to having repair mechanisms and putting the desired gene along with the antibiotic resistance gene in their genome. These cells can be selected and propagated by adding antibiotics to the culture medium.

BACKGROUND: In free stalls, factors related to the surface and dimensions of the stall affect how the cows rest and comfort. The brisket board and the neck rail are the most controversial parts of the free stall in Iran's dairy farms, that can affect the stability of the stall and its lifespan, while improper use of these structures has led to significant discomfort for cows, causing substantial issues including lameness and hock, knee and withers lesions.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate Brisket boards and neck rails usage and measures in freestall barns and assess its possible impact on some comfort indices in dairy cows.METHODS: Nine dairy farms with over 100 milk cows and freestall barns were selected using the Dairy Farmers of Canada protocols by a convenience sampling method. Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal distances of the neck rail, the presence or absence of brisket boards, and the brisket board height from the bedding were measured. The locomotion score based on a five-point scale as well as hygiene, knees, hocks, and withers scores were recorded. The correlation was evaluated using the Spearman correlation test and Pearson’s correlation test.RESULTS: In 68.3 % of the freestall barns, the brisket boards were at the bedding level or were not used at all; however, the mean brisket board height (11.2±10.8) was not significantly different from the standard height value of 10 cm (P>0.05). The vertical distance of the neck rail (120.4±10.4 cm) was significantly different from the standard values. The median of withers and locomotion scores were consistent among all farms. At the farm level, the median knee, hygiene, and hock scores did not show a significant correlation with the mean of neck rail measures and brisket board height (P>0.05). Also, the median locomotion score did not show a significant correlation with the mean horizontal distance of the neck rail at the individual freestall barn level (P>0.05). However, a significant correlation between the mean of knee scores and vertical distance of the neck rail at the farm level, and between the mean of locomotion score and horizontal distance of the neck rail at the individual freestall barn level were reported.CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the mean vertical distance of the neck rail is associated with an increase in the median knee scores, while an increase in the mean horizontal distance in each barn was associated with an increase in the median locomotion score, indicating the potential impact of these measurements on cow comfort. However, further research using a larger sample size is needed.

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic and very common disease in sheep and goats, which can lead to severe economic losses in the livestock industry.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of CLA in sheep in Kurdistan province of Iran using phenotypic and molecular methods, and assess the antibiotic resistance of isolated Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.METHODS: In this study, from September to March 2022, 270 samples of skin abscesses were collected from sheep in livestock farms of Kurdistan province. Immediately, using the cold chain system, the samples were transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Identification of isolates was done using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was examined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.RESULTS: Based on biochemical tests, out of 270 samples, 82 suspected to have Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Out 82 samples, the presence of bacteria was confirmed in 76 samples by the PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that the isolates had high sensitivity to doxycycline and ceftriaxone and high resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin.CONCLUSIONS: The CLA has a high prevalence in sheep in Kurdistan province. According to high resistance rate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis to streptomycin and kanamycin, it recommended to avoid treatment of CLA cases with these antibiotics.

A 1.5-year-old male German Shepherd dog was referred to a Teaching Veterinary Hospital with a chronic history of regurgitation and a previous presumptive diagnosis of megaesophagus. An esophagogram showed partial esophageal dilation, suggesting one vascular ring anomaly. Computed tomography identified a persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) and an aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSA). The patient underwent thoracotomy, ligamentum arteriosum ligation, and debridement of the periesophageal region. The ligation of the ALSA was not carried out because the esophagus was observed to be released entirely during the surgical intervention. Therefore, intervention on the subclavian artery was not necessary. Clinical follow-up occurred on seven, 14, and 30 postoperative days. The dog improved, showing only sporadic regurgitations. Clinical history and complementary exams were essential to establish a diagnosis. The liberation of the esophageal transit during surgery contributed to the decision not to perform the ALSA ligation. | Um cão pastor alemão, macho, de 1,5 anos de idade, foi atendido em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário com história crônica de regurgitação e diagnóstico presuntivo prévio de megaesôfago. Um esofagograma mostrou dilatação parcial do esôfago sugerindo uma anomalia de anel vascular. A tomografia computadorizada identificou persistência do arco aórtico direito (PAAD) e artéria subclávia esquerda aberrante (ALSA). O paciente foi submetido à toracotomia, ligadura do ligamento arterioso e desbridamento da região periesofágica. A ligadura da ALSA não foi realizada, pois, durante a intervenção cirúrgica, observou-se que o esôfago estava completamente liberado, não sendo necessária intervenção na artéria subclávia. O acompanhamento clínico ocorreu aos sete, 14 e 30 dias de pós-operatório. O cão evidenciou boa recuperação, apresentando apenas regurgitações esporádicas. A história clínica associada aos exames complementares foi essencial para o diagnóstico. A liberação do trânsito esofágico durante a cirurgia contribuiu para a decisão de não realizar a ligadura da ALSA.

Cloned foals born in the different cloning programs in the USA, Argentina, and recently in Colombia have experienced several pathological entities during their pregnancy and neonatal period. These entities include abortions, stillbirths, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, large umbilical remanent, and angular deformity on the fore limb. The objectives of this study were to determine whether cloned foals suffer similar diseases and have the same mortality rate as noncloned ones and the differences between cloned foals from two different cell lines (fibroblastic and bone marrow cells) and, to establish whether mares carrying cloned foals from different cell lines have ultrasonographic, paraclinical, and hormonal profile parameters equal to traditional pregnancies and to determine whether there are differences between the cloned foals from the two different cell lines. In the analysis of the continuous variables, significant mean differences were established in the three groups of mares in PCV, hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, MCV, MCH, serum proteins and globulins, and in lymphocyte counts plt;0.05. A risk analysis was made for morbidity and mortality associated with the cell origin of the clone and its pregnancy using chi-square sequential tests and logistic regression, and it was considered statistically significant at plt; 0.05. A principal component analysis of the paraclinical findings of the mares with the outcome of the foal and the paraclinical parameters of the foals divided by the origin of gestation was performed to evaluate the components of the response variable and their dynamics. Thirty-four pregnancies of clones of fibroblastic origin, 26 of clones of bone marrow origin, and 32 of non-clones were studied. The presentation of placental diseases compatible with placentitis was significantly more frequent (p= 0.026) in mares with cloned foals from fibroblastic cell lines. Neonatal sepsis was determined to be the most frequent disease and was diagnosed more commonly in foals of fibroblastic cell origin—an increase in the risk (OR 37) (p=0.0006). The risk of death was positive and significant with the fibroblast cell line foals (OR: 9.1. Plt;0.01) compared to the cloned foals of marrow cell origin and non-cloned foals. The risk of death can be predicted in the neonatal period, and some indicators found in this study, such as signs related to placentitis, are associated with increased neonatal mortality and are more frequent in foals of fibroblastic cell origin. | Potros clonados nascidos em diferentes programas de clonagem nos EUA, na Argentina e, recentemente, na Colômbia sofreram diversas entidades patológicas durante a gravidez e o período neonatal. Essas entidades incluem abortos, natimortos, encefalopatia hipóxica-isquêmica e grandes remanescentes umbilicais e deformidade angular no membro anterior. Os objetivos deste estudo foram determinar que potros clonados sofrem de doenças semelhantes e apresentam a mesma taxa de mortalidade que potros não clonados e se existem diferenças entre potros clonados de duas linhagens celulares diferentes (células fibroblásticas e de medula óssea); e também, estabelecer se éguas portadoras de potros clonados de diferentes linhagens celulares apresentam parâmetros ultrassonográficos, paraclínicos e de perfil hormonal iguais aos de gestações tradicionais, além de determinar se há diferenças entre os potros clonados das duas diferentes linhagens celulares. Na análise das variáveis contínuas foram estabelecidas diferenças médias significativas nos três grupos de éguas no PCV, hemoglobina, contagem de eritrócitos, VCM, MCH, proteínas e globulinas séricas e na contagem de linfócitos plt;0,05. Foi feita uma análise de risco para morbimortalidade associada à origem celular da linhagem celular do clone e sua gestação quando utilizados testes qui-quadrado sequencial e regressão logística e foi considerado estatisticamente significativo plt; 0,05. Uma análise de componentes principais dos achados paraclínicos das éguas com o desfecho do potro e os parâmetros paraclínicos dos potros divididos por origem da gestação foi realizada para avaliar os componentes da variável resposta e sua dinâmica. Foram estudadas 34 gestações de clones de origem fibroblástica, 26 gestações de clones de origem medular óssea e 32 gestações de não clones. Verificou se que a apresentação de doenças placentárias compatíveis com placentite foi significativamente mais frequente (p= 0,026) em éguas com potros clonados de linhagens celulares fibroblásticas. A sepse neonatal foi considerada a doença mais frequente e foi diagnosticada mais comumente em potros de origem fibroblástica – aumento do risco (OR 37) (p=0,0006). O risco de morte foi positivo e significativo com os potros da linha celular de fibroblastos (OR: 9,1. Plt;0,01) em comparação com os potros clonados de origem celular medular e potros não clonados. O risco de morte pode ser previsto no período neonatal e alguns indicadores encontrados neste estudo, como sinais relacionados à placentite, estão associados ao aumento da mortalidade neonatal e são mais frequentes em potros de origem fibroblástica.

This study evaluated the effect of diets containing low levels of soluble and insoluble fiber sources on performance, diarrhea score, chemical and physical characteristics of feces, and behavior in weaning piglets. Thirty-six weaned piglets of 30 days of age with an initial body weight of 8.8 kg were distributed in 36 pens using a completely randomized design in an experimental period of 21 days. The experimental treatments were the Control diet (CONT), the Control diet + 1% beet pulp inclusion (SBP), and the Control diet + 1% lignocellulose inclusion (LCE, Arbocel®). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly to calculate the average daily intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. The fecal consistency was determined visually twice daily, classifying feces according to three scores. To determine fecal pH and concentration of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), samples of fresh feces were collected two weeks after weaning and measured by a digital pH meter and gas chromatography, respectively. The behavior of piglets was observed once a week, using four animals per treatment, from 14:00 to 16:00, every 12 min. Fibre sources had no effect (Pgt;0.05) on performance, except in the period 15 to 21 days after weaning, which was a tendency (P=0.061) of feed intake decrease in SBP and LCE diets. Fiber sources did not affect the fecal consistency score (Pgt;0.05). However, piglets fed SBP and LCE showed a tendency (Plt;0.10) to have less diarrhea incidence 15 to 21 days post-weaning and in the entire experimental period. Fecal pH and SCFA concentration were not influenced by fiber source (Pgt;0.05), with acetic, propionic, and butyric acids representing around 71%, 19%, and 10% of the total, respectively. Fiber sources did not influence the social and feeding behavior of weaning piglets (Pgt;0.05). Diets containing 1% fiber sources did not alter performance, diarrhea score, fecal pH, fecal SCFA concentration, or feeding and social behavior of weaned piglets. | O estudo avaliou o efeito de dietas contendo baixos níveis de fontes de fibra solúvel e insolúvel sobre o desempenho, escore de diarreia, características químicas e físicas das fezes e comportamento de leitões desmamados. Trinta e seis leitões desmamados, com 30 dias de idade e peso vivo inicial de 8,8 kg, foram distribuídos em 36 baias, totalizando 12 repetições por tratamento, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos experimentais foram: dieta controle (CONT), dieta controle + 1% de inclusão de polpa de beterraba (SBP) e dieta controle + 1% de inclusão de lignocelulose (LCE, Arbocel®). A ração e a água foram disponibilizadas ad libitum durante os 21 dias experimentais. O consumo médio diário de ração (CRM), ganho de peso diário (GPD) e a conversão alimentar (CA) foram medidos semanalmente. A consistência fecal foi determinada visualmente duas vezes por dia, classificando as fezes de acordo com três classificações. Amostras frescas de fezes, colhidas no 14° dia experimental, foram usadas para determinação do pH e ácidos graxos de cadeia curta (AGCC). O pH foi medido utilizando pHmetro digital, enquanto os AGCC foram determinados com auxílio de cromatografia gasosa. Para avaliar o comportamento foram observados quatro leitões por tratamento, uma vez por semana, das 14:00 às 16:00, a cada 12 minutos. As fontes de fibra não apresentaram efeito (Pgt;0,05) sobre as variáveis de desempenho, exceto no período de 15 a 21 dias pós desmame, onde se observou uma tendência (P=0,061) de redução no consumo médio nos leitões que receberam as dietas contendo SBP e LCE. Não foi observado efeito das fontes de fibra sobre o escore de consistência fecal (Pgt;0,05), embora leitões alimentados com SBP e LCE apresentaram uma tendência (Plt;0,10) de redução na incidência de diarreia no período de 15 a 21 dias pós desmame e no período total. O pH e a concentração de AGCC não foram influenciados pelas fontes de fibra (Pgt;0,05), onde entres os tratamentos os perfis dos ácidos acético, propiônico e butírico foram semelhantes 71%, 19% e 10%, respectivamente Não houve efeito das fontes de fibra sobre os comportamentos social e alimentar dos leitões (Pgt;0,05). Dietas contendo 1% de fontes de fibra não alteram o desempenho, escore de diarreia, pH fecal, concentração de ácidos graxos voláteis nas fezes, bem como o comportamento alimentar e social de leitões desmamados.