BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic metaboliteproduced by Aspergillus species that contaminates a wide range ofagricultural products. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed todevelop a rapid and highly sensitive immunoassay method inmicroarray format for quantitative detection of AFB1 to evaluatethe potential of microarray platform for high-throughput screening,which can be beneficial in food and feed industry. METHODS:Following successful optimization, using an indirect competitiveimmunoassay in dot blot format, AFB1-bovine serum albumin(AFB1-BSA) conjugate was contact-printed onto 16 isolated subarrayson multi-pad nitrocellulose coated slides; subsequently usedin competitive binding assays. RESULTS: Using the aforementionedassay, AFB1 was determined from 15 pg/g to 3.04 ng/g workingrange with detection limit (LOD) of 1 pg/g. To evaluate assayperformance in real food matrices, the authors spiked wheatsamples with different concentration of AFB1. After extraction,working ranges of 0.11-4.15 ng/g with detection limit of 30pg/g wasdetermined. Good recoveries (94±9%) were obtained, demonstratingaccurate detection of AFB1 concentrations in wheat samples.Assay procedure completed in 3 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The resultsindicated that the proposed developed assay in microarray formatcould be used for rapid and sensitive detection of AFB1in wheatsamples.

Perosomus elumbis is an occasional congenital anomaly ofcattle, swine, sheep, and dogs with unknown etiology. Thiscongenital abnormality occurs in both sexes. A dead Holsteincalf characterized by musculoskeletal and external genitaliaabnormalities was referred to the large animal hospital ofUniversity of Tehran. Radiographic evaluation and subsequentdissection revealed that the vertebral column was truncated at thelevel of first lumbar vertebra (L1). Moreover, L2-L5, sacrum andcoccygeal vertebrae were absent. The dorsum of the lumbosacralregion contained only soft tissues. Urogenital tract wasincomplete, and it contained agenesis of the ovaries, uterinetubes, cervix, and vulva concurrent with unilateral umbilicalartery agenesis. Small and large intestine contained blind-endedsacs. No testes, scrotum, and penis were found. The intact ureterwas attached to a thin-walled fluid fill sac. The laboratory findingshowed that the pH of the fluid was 6 and contained hemoglobin,white blood cells, bacteria, a few red blood cells, oxalatecrystalline, and epithelial cells. It was concluded that thecollected fluid was urine. This is the first report of perosomuselumbis in a Holstein calf having a lot of visceral abnormalitiesin Iran.

BACKGROUND: Among all common techniques in sitedirectedmutagenesis, λ Red recombinase system has beenwidely used to knock out chromosomal genes in bacteria. In thismethod, there is always the risk of DNA Linear digestion byhost's restriction enzymes that leads to the low frequency ofrecombination. OBJECTIVES:To overcome this, we constructeda recombinant vector to disrupt phoP gene in Salmonellatyphimurium. METHODS: The SOEing PCR method andrestriction enzymes were used to construct the vector. RESULTS:The resulting plasmid, pTAAZ92, contains a Kanamycincassette with two long homologous arms flanking of the phoPgene. CONCLUSIONS: After electrotransformation of thepTAAZ92 into the Salmonella typhimurium , the phoP gene isreplaced by the Kanamycin cassette through homologousrecombination. According to the high homology of the phoPgene in many of Salmonella species the pTAAZ92 can be used todisrupt the phoP gene in most of these species.

BACKGROUND: Urinary oxalate and citrate are the keyfactors in caox urolithiasis of cats and Gamma GlutamylTransferase is a good test for assessment of kidney damage.Favorable effects of Cynodon dactylon on calcium oxalate stoneformation have recently been proved in rats. OBJECTIVES: Thepresent study was designed to investigate the alteration ofurinary oxalate, citrate, and GGT after administration of thehydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon to experimentalhyperoxaluric cats. No scientific study has been done so far todemonstrate the beneficial effect of this plant in cats. METHODS:13 mature male cats were randomly divided into 3 groups: groupAreceived standard diet and drinking water while, group B andC also received ethylene glycol at sub-toxic dose (130 mg/kg)daily for 30 days. Group C received hydroalcoholic extract ofC.dactylon (400 mg/kg) from day 0 to 30, as well. Urine sampleswere collected on days 0, 15, and 30 and were analyzed foroxalate, citrate, and GGT levels. RESULTS: Urine oxalate levelin group B was significantly higher than group C on days 15 and30. Urinary citrate excretion was significantly higher in group Ccompared to the other groups on day 15; however, it decreasedduring the entire experiment in groups B and C. Urinary GammaGlutamyl Transferase level was increased in hyperoxaluric catsand decreased in the treated group during the experiment.CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, C.dactylon extract couldreduce the hyperoxaluria and has beneficial effects onpreventing the renal damage in cats. Such findings provide ascientific explanation for applying C.dactylon in prevention andpossible treatment of CaOx kidney stones in cats and humans.

BACKGROUND: All-trans retinol is a biological antioxidantscavenging the ROS in the cell culture. OBJECTIVES: This studywas conducted to investigate the effect of all-trans retinol infertilization and culture medium on mouse embryo's developmentalcompetence. METHODS: This study was designed into twoexperiments. In the first experiment, in vitro mature oocytes wereco-cultured with sperm in fertilization medium containing differentconcentrations of all-trans retinol (0, 1, 5, and 10 μM). Afterfertilization, zygotes in each group were separately cultured in CZBculture medium for 5 days to the blastocyst stage. In the secondexperiment, in vitro produced zygotes were cultured in CZB culturemedium containing different concentrations of all-trans retinol (0,1, 5, and 10 μM) for 5 days to the blastocyst stage. RESULTS: In thefirst experiment, the blastocyst formation rate significantlyincreased by 5 μM in all-trans retinol, which was more than those ofthe other groups. Also, percentage of grade one embryos wassignificantly higher in the presence of 5 μM all-trans retinol thanthose in the presence of 0 and 1 μM all-trans retinol. In the secondexperiment, different concentrations of all-trans retinol could notalter blastocyst formation rate; however, the percentage of gradeone embryo was higher in the presence of 10 μM all-trans retinolthan that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These resultsshowed that supplementation of fertilization medium with 5 μM alltransretinol could improve mouse embryo's development andmorphology. On the other hand, supplementation of embryo culturemedium can improve mouse embryo morphology without anyeffect on embryo developmental competence.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cellscan transdifferentiate into Cardiomyocyte cells and improveheart function after transplantation. Since biomaterials canimprove the cell retention in the site, cell survival and differentiation,heart tissue engineering is now being explored as anapplied solution to support cell-based therapies and increasetheir efficacy for myocardial diseases. Chitosan in combinationwith Glycerol Phosphate (GP) can produce a thermo sensitivematerial that in body temperature can form a jellylike material.OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects ofa combination of autologous undifferentiated bone marrowmesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and injectable scaffold on cardiacfunction improvement in rabbits after inducing myocardialinfarction. METHODS: The Left Anterior Descending (LAD)coronary artery was ligated by No. 6-0 polyamide suturematerial, and autologous MSCs with injectable scaffold wereinjected into the margins of the infarcted zone at the time ofsurgery. At 4 weeks after transplantation, the cardiac functionand structure was detected using echocardiography. RESULTS:There was no significant difference among the three groups (MIonly, MI Scaffold, and MI+Scaffold+MSCs) in the Echocardiographicparameters including, heart rate (HR), Ejection Fraction(EF), Fractional Shortening (FS), Left Ventricular Diameter(LVD) and Left Ventricular Parietal Wall Diameter (LVPW).CONCLUSIONS: A combination of autologous undifferentiatedbone marrow MSCs and injectable scaffold made of Chitosan+Glycerol Phosphate in echocardiographic evaluation did nothave a positive influence on achieving functional improvement.

BACKGROUND: Salmonellosis is one of the most importantzoonotic diseases throughout the world. OBJECTIVES: Thepurpose of this study was to characterize a large collection ofSalmonella isolates from different poultry sources in Iran.METHODS: A total of 123 Salmonella isolates from differentpoultry sources were subjected to drug susceptibility test,hemolysin production, motility test, and plasmid profile (50isolates). RESULTS: Seventy-one resistance patterns were foundto 29 antimicrobial agents among 123 Salmonella isolates, inwhich 81% of isolates were resistant to more than oneantibacterial agent. The resistance patterns of 123 isolates to 10commonly used antibacterials in Iranian poultry industry werealso quite variable and included 31 patterns. Four differentplasmid patterns were found among 50 Salmonellaisolates. Fiftyfour percent of Salmonella isolates harbored one or threeplasmids with approximate molecular size ranging from 2.3 to68 kb. No plasmid was detected in 46% of isolates. Aband of 68kb size was detected in all isolates that harbored plasmid. Allisolates were motile but no isolate showed hemolysinproduction. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of resistance toantibacterial agents among avian Salmonella isolates is a majorpublic health concern.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a febrile zoonotic infectionand has worldwide distribution among humans as well asanimals. Although the seroprevalence of brucellosis in variousanimals has been described in Iran, there is only one report onequine brucellosis in the region. OBJECTIVES: This study wascarried out to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis inracing clubs and private horse owners in the south of Iran and riskfactors associated with the disease in horses. METHODS: 312randomly selected equine serum samples were investigated forthe presence of antibodies against Brucella genus, using slideagglutination by Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), serum agglutinationtest (SAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test, usingwhole cell antigen. PCR assay was also used for detection ofclinically suspected cases. RESULTS: Most seropositive horsesin this study were asymptomatic. The true seroprevalence ofbrucellosis was found to be 9.9, 8 and 7% by RBPT, SAT and 2-mercaptoethanol tests, respectively. All horses with history ofclinical signs (3.2% of all samples) had RBPT, SAT and 2-mercaptoethanol positive results. It was also revealed that age,sex and a history of contact with ruminants had no effect onacquiring the infection in positive cases. In the PCR, one of thethree horses with fistula withers produced amplicon of 450 bpfragment of wbo sequences specific to Brucella spp. field strain.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the seroprevalence ofbrucellosis in horses of Fars province and it was indicated thatthe PCR assay may be helpful in detection of clinically suspectedhorses.

Black leg has been reported in a variety of animals, but is ofthe most importance in cattle and sheep. A20 days old Holsteindairy calf was examined because of anorexia and lameness from2 days ago. The calf was depressed, tachypneic, tachycardic, andhad a body temperature of 38.5ºC. Both hind limbs proximal tothe tarsal joint were markedly swollen, firm and painful. Nocrepitation was noted on palpation. The calf had bruxism, stiffnessof gait and unwillingness to move. At necropsy, massivenecrosis of thigh muscles which caused dark discolorated tissuewith metallic sheen, large amount of thin sanguineous exuda andabundant gas bubbles were evident in the underlying tissues.Histopathologic examination revealed extensive degenerationand coagulative necrosis of muscle fibers and supported adiagnosis of black leg. No vaccination against Clostridiumchauvoei was applied in the herd and the calf did not receivenotable maternal antibody. Providing sufficient maternalantibody or early vaccination of the susceptible newborn calvesshould be considered in the endemic regions.

BACKGROUND: The degree to which the amount of aningested nutrient is absorbed and available to the body is calledbioavailability. OBJECTIVES: Relative effectiveness of herbalmethionine (H-Met®) compared to DL-methionine (DL-Met)was investigated in this experiment. METHODS: Exponentialregression analysis was used to determine bioefficacy of H-Met®based on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. DLMetand H-Met® were added to a basal diet in 3 and 4 levels,respectively, in starter, grower and finisher periods. Therefore,that met the nutrient and energy requirements of broiler chickens,with the exception of Met+Cys. RESULTS: In the 42-d trial,broilers growth increased significantly (p<0.05), relative tothose broilers fed basal diet, regardless of Met sources. Carcasscharacteristics did not respond significantly to the supplementalMet. CONCLUSIONS: Regression analysis revealed that H-Met®was 52% (body weight gain), 72% (feed intake) and 77% (feedconversion ratio) as efficacious as DL-Met. H-Met® can beadministered as a new and a natural source of Met in poultryindustry.