BACKGROUND: Vitamin D3 is one of the most important vitamins that can be used either as an injection or as an oral supplement, alone or in combination with other vitamins in cows. Vitamin D3 has known effects on calcium regulation and bone health, and also has several non-calcium effects, including improving immune function and therapeutic and preventive effects on many chronic diseases. OBJECTIVES: Many of these non-classical effects of vitamin D appear to be due to the effect of vitamin D on improving the body's antioxidant system. This positive effect on the antioxidant status can be due to the effect of vitamin D on the expression of many genes, including genes related to proteins involved in the antioxidant system such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase. METHODS: In the present study, 15 bulls were divided into 3 groups and by intramuscular injection of 3 doses of vitamin D3, their serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were calculated before injection and in two, four and six days after injection. The amounts of vitamins used in groups A, B and C were 3300000, 6600000 and 9900000 units, respectively. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that TAC levels increase in groups depending on the dose. Total anti-oxidant capacity levels will also increase in the following days. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it can be concluded that TAC in cattle is time-dependent and dose-dependent, and regardless of the therapeutic dose of vitamin D3 the use of higher doses of vitamin D3 can improve the antioxidant status.

Decision making for sustainable development must be reviewed based on the new insights into Infection and immunity and the impacts of mathematical modeling on vaccination and disease control. Regarding to important role of immune genes in disease resistance and controlling production traits, immunogenetics parameters should be considered in modeling for disease control. Investigating the polymorphism as well as associations and linkages to traits in native animals, as a genetic resource of our country, would be worthwhile and can be used in future native breeding programs.Decision making for sustainable development must be reviewed based on the new insights into Infection and immunity and the impacts of mathematical modeling on vaccination and disease control. Regarding to important role of immune genes in disease resistance and controlling production traits, immunogenetics parameters should be considered in modeling for disease control. Investigating the polymorphism as well as associations and linkages to traits in native animals, as a genetic resource of our country, would be worthwhile and can be used in future native breeding programs.

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a regulatory peptide with endocrine and metabolic effects in mammals and birds. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) in-jection of ghrelin on the plasma level of some hormones and biochemical indices involved in the energy balance of neonatal chicks. METHODS: Intracerebroventricular injection of 20 or 40 pmol ghrelin/individual was done. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein 15 and 30 minutes after the ICV injection of ghrelin to measure serum parameters. RESULTS: The ICV administration of 20 and 40 pmol ghrelin/individual had no effects at 15 min post-injection, but at 30 min post-injection, the triiodothyronine (T3) level significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The leptin level also declined significantly compared to that of the control group. There were no significant changes in other parameters, including insulin, T4, triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the changes that occurred in T3 and leptin levels may have been due to the effects of ghrelin on the metabolic rate and food intake (concerning T3) and the parallel action of ghrelin and leptin (concerning leptin).

BACKGROUND: Germinated Barely and Earth Apple were used as a source of prebiotic to enhance fish health and welfare. OBJECTIVES: The effect of adding different levels of both germinated barley and earth apple powders in Cypri-nus carpio diets was evaluated. METHODS: First Diet (Control diet free of any additives), diets in treatments of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 with 2.5, 5, and 7.5 gr/kg diet of each of barley and earth apple powders respectively on an equivalent basis of protein. RESULTS: T4 with 7.5 gr Earth apple was higher significantly (P≤0.05) in Gill index. T5 with 2.5 gr Barley was significantly higher (P≤0.05) in the Kidney index. Spleen somatic index was higher in all treatments except for T2 and T4. T2 and T5 were significantly higher in the Hepatosomatic index. Using germinated barely and earth apple powder in intestine indices either weight or length, the T7 with 7.5 gr Barley has more impact on the fish intestine. T3 with 5 gr Earth apple was higher significantly (P≤0.05) in each meat index in terms of Fish weight without viscera and Fish weight without viscera & head. CONCLUSIONS: Earth Apple powder as a source of prebiotic enhances the health parameters in biological pa-rameters (P≤0.05).

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major problem in horses, unfortunately many times underrated by owners. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is one of the obesity complications that can cause laminitis, hypertension, subfertility, and so on. Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the main feature of EMS that results from insulin resistance. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of feeding management in obesity and EMS occur-rence. METHODS: Five hundred seventy horses were evaluated in this study. They were divided into the groups based on age, gender, breed, exercise activity, and feeding type. Glucose and insulin were measured using an AutoAna-lyzer device and ELISA kit, respectively. RESULTS: Out of 570 horses, 2% had EMS while 14% were fat but obesity occurrence was higher in horses grazed in pasture (25%) compared to the horses that had not access to pasture (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that prevalence of EMS under different feeding strategies is significantly dif-ferent. For the prevention of this important welfare issue, feeding management and routine exercise are the best ways.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diseases among dairy cows is high in the postpartum period, which reduces dairy enterprise and higher demands for antibiotics. Considering this, the notion of promoting heath and reducing antibiotic application in dairy cow medicine by taking advantages of bioactive phytochemicals in herbal extracts is emerging. OBJECTIVES: This study's main purpose was to investigate the effects of supplementing Holstein dairy cows' ration in the close-up period by Immunofin® polyherbal aqueous extract on the normal physiology, clinical health, and hematological and biochemical parameters of postpartum dairy cows. METHODS: In this experiment, the herbal extract was supplemented in a close-up period diet for cows in the treatment group (n=10). However, cows in the control group (n=10) received precisely the same ratio as the placebo. The clinical health of cows was assessed, and some of their biochemical and hematological parameters were com-pared between the two groups. RESULTS: Cows in the treatment group had a lower incidence of retained fetal membrane and metritis (P=0.01). In addition, cows in the treatment group had a lower concentration of serum nonesterified fatty acid (P<0.001), and a lower number of peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocytes count among cows in the treatment group (P<0.0001). In contrast, their mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were higher (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Immunofin® supplementation in a close-up period had no negative impacts on prepartum cows' clinical health and could desirably alter some of the clinical, biochemical and hematological pa-rameters.

BACKGROUND: Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease of ruminants, and it is associated with liver damage, decreased meat and milk production, growth retardation, and even death. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the hepatic lesions associated with fasciolosis and to document the histopathological findings seen in the livers of cattle naturally infected with Fasciola species in Kwara State, Nige-ria. METHODS: Livers from 386 cattle were sampled at the place of slaughter for this study. Livers with lesions were subjected to gross and histopathological examinations. The univariate analysis (Chi-square) test was used to deter-mine the association between each risk factor and the presence or absence of Fasciola species in livers. RESULTS: Of the 386 livers of cattle sampled, 90 had pathological lesions representing 23.31% (95% CI = 19.30 –27.73). Among the pathologic livers, hepatic enlargement was recorded as the most prevalent lesion (37.78%),while hepatic hemorrhage was the least prevalent lesion (6.67%). Fasciola species was detected more in congestedlivers (14.81%), followed by fibrotic livers (10.00%). There were no Fasciola species in other types of liver lesions. The difference in the prevalence of Fasciola species among types of liver lesions was statistically significant(P<0.01; Chi-square (χ2) value = 49.10; degree of freedom (df) = 5). CONCLUSIONS: Fasciolosis is associated with hepatic congestion, and severe histopathologic lesions are seen in the livers of slaughtered cattle naturally infected with Fasciola species in Kwara State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Haemonchosis is one of the most important nematode infections in cattle population. Knowledge of genetic diversity and morphological analysis can provide a foundation for understanding the drug resistance, epidemiological features, and control strategies in a geographical area. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the morphological parameters and molecular targets (ITS1-ITS2 and Beta-tubulin) of cattle Haemonchus nematodes from southeast of Iran and to find species diversity and benzimidazole resistance. METHODS: From May 2016 to April 2017, 300 abomasa of cattle slaughtered at slaughterhouses of Zabol, Zahedan, and Iranshahr were inspected. Ninety-eight adults male Haemonchus nematodes were morphologically analyzed. For molecular analysis, the amplification of ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 regions, and Beta-tubulin fragment was done. RESULTS: All specimens were morphologically identified as H. contortus. The ITS2 sequencing and the phylo-genetic tree revealed 99% similarity between H.contortus from this study and those from other parts of the world. There was no mutation in the positions and all nematodes were benzimidazole susceptible. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that although H. placei is the most common Haemonchus species in the cattle around the world, H. contortus is mostly prevalent in southeast region of Iran. Moreover, it seems that the induction of benzimidazole resistance is less important in many parts of the world.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium parvum is a coccidian parasite with worldwide distribution. OBJECTIVES: It is considered one of the most important causes of diarrhea in many vertebrate species and im-munocompromised humans. Due to the lack of effective treatment of cryptosporidiosis, protection strategy against this species can be focused on encouraging the immune system through vaccine development. METHODS: For this aim, we prepared oocysts lysate as a whole antigen vaccine candidate (420 μg) and immun-ized 3 pregnant cows 4 times every 2 weeks from 70 days to parturition. As a control group, 3 unimmunized pregnant cows were used. After parturition, each calf was fed with colostrum of his dam and challenged at 12h of age with 1×107C. parvum oocysts. RESULTS: In contrast to the test group, the calves in the control group developed severe watery diarrhea with excretion of oocysts from 4 days post-infection. The calves in the test group, which received the hyperimmune colostrum, showed no clinical signs and a significant reduction in oocysts excretion. CONCLUSIONS: The whole antigen prepared from oocysts of C. parvum can be considered a suitable candidate for immunizing pregnant cows producing hyperimmune colostrum.

BACKGROUND: Cancer as a global problem is a major health threat to human, and lung cancer is the most com-mon type of malignant tumor. Phenethyl ester of caffeic acid is one of the known phenolic compounds. The beneficial effects of caffeic acid, including its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immune-boosting, antioxidant and car-cinostatic and anticarcinogenic properties have been confirmed in several studies. Matricaria chamomile that belongs to the Asteraceae family is one of the most popular medicinal plants, which is known as the "star" of me-dicinal plants. It has been used for the centuries for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the induction of apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells by caffeic acid obtained from propolis and chamomile extract. METHODS: The A549 cultured lung cancer cells were treated with caffeic acid and chamomile extract. Following incubation times the cells were examined by flow cytometry for the rate of apoptosis induction. RESULTS: The results showed that caffeic acid and chamomile extract have effective roles in inducing apoptosis and caused significant changes in the percentage of living cells and the percentage of cells in the early and late phases of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeic acid and chamomile extract have effective role in inhibiting lung cancer cells with sig-nificant apoptotic effects on pulmonary epithelial cancer cells.