The present study was conducted to perform a molecular comparison of Pulex irritans based on the mitochondrial genome in four different climatic regions including the Caspian Sea region, a mountainous region, Persian Gulf region,  and the Central Desert region, and based on nuclear ribosome genome in the west and northwestern Iran. A total of 1937 adult flea samples were collected including 1019 P. irritans (52.61%) and 918 Ctenocephalides canis (47.39%) from various hosts including humans (14.1%), sheep (22%), goats (33.5%), dogs (25.6%) and houses (6.7%) between April 2018 and May 2019. The samples collected from different hosts had similar morphological characteristics. However, there were slight differences based on mitochondrial markers and nuclear ribosomal markers in the study populations. The results from the phylogenetic tree based on three nuclear ribosome and mitochondrial markers showed that despite the slight differences in this sequence of different hosts and cities, all samples from different regions are in the same phylogeny. The results of ribosomal and mitochondrial genome analysis showed that these pieces are useful for demonstrating intraspecific similarity, and differentiation at species level and genus of P. irritans.

Recent studies suggest that vitamin D may have preventive and therapeutic effects on autoimmune disease, cancer, and diabetes type 1 and 2 beyond the skeletal condition and calcium metabolism. To demonstrate the effects of an over-supplemented single 8 million I.U. vitamin D3 IM injection on the modulation of immune responses and oxidative/antioxidative variables in transition dairy cows, this study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm with about 1500 lactating cows in the Tehran province, Iran. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows were randomly categorized into control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, 12 cows received a single dose of 8,000,000 IU vitamin D intramuscularly. In the control group, a placebo (distilled water) was injected into 12 cows 2 to 8 days before the expected calving time. Blood samples were collected on 21 and 7 days before calving and 1,3,7,15, and 30 days after calving. 25(OH)vitamin D3, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (INF-γ), haptoglobin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), ferric reducing the ability of plasma (FRAP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hemolysate GPx were measured. This study showed that the treatment group had significantly higher amounts of 25(OH) vitamin D3, hemolysate GPx, and IL-6 values than the control group. According to our results, vitamin D3 injection increased the amounts of IL-6 and hemolysate GPx activity and tended to affect serum GPx activity.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of different available bedding materials on learning and memory performance, bedding texture preference as well as intra-cage ammonia concentration in rats. The animals were housed on different bedding types for two weeks. Bedding materials were produced in the same sizes from poplar, walnut, pistachio, apricot, almond woods and alfalfa steam and live. Spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory were assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and shuttle box tasks. A modifying six-arm radial maze was used to assess bedding texture preference by rats. For each bedding groups, average ammonia level (ppm) over a week was calculated. The data indicated that the rats that had walnut and almond chips show better learning and memory performance in both MWM and shuttle box tests than other groups. The weakest learning and memory performances were observed in rats exposed to alfalfa bedding. In texture preference test, the rats spent more time in walnut and almond arms, and less time in alfalfa. Besides, the total water and food intake as well as the number of visit to alfalfa arm were decreased as compared to other arms. Moreover, in alfalfa bedding cage, average intra-cage ammonia level was utmost. Overall, current bedding materials may contain diverse biochemically effective compounds or individual micro edges which alter learning and memory performances of rats.

The pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is related to its low molecular weight proteins mainly ESAT6 and CFP10 that are highly specific and potentially useful for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. This research focused on isolation, purification, and characterization of low molecular weight proteins from Mtb. Cultures of Mtb were inactivated by heating at 68 °C for 90 min and 100 °C for 3 hrs, respectively. Inactivated cultures were filtered and the proteins in the supernatant fluid precipitated with two rounds of ammonium sulfate, at 4 °C. The collected precipitates were dialyzed and subjected to gel chromatography (G-50) and the obtained fractions were analyzed for protein concentrations and molecular weight. ESAT6 and CFP10 protein complex in the purified fraction was confirmed by Western blotting. Guinea pig sensitization assay was used for estimating the potency of the purified fraction compared to the standard PPD. The maximum amount of low molecular weight proteins were precipitated by 20% ammonium sulfate. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed protein bands of approximately 10-15 kDa. The purity of the proteins was ≥95%, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE. The presence of the ESAT-6/CFP10 complex was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The purified fractions showed no cross-reaction with BCG or M. avium strain. ESAT-6/CFP-10 purified by the ammonium sulfate method appeared to be suitable for the development of a diagnostic kit for the detection of Mtb.

Mongoose is a common name for 29 to 34 species in 14  genera  of  the family Herpestidae which are found in vast areas of southwestern Asia, especially southern Iran. Anatomical and morphological studies of the brain have always  been of interest to the researchers in the  field of anatomy, due to its high importance in various fields of veterinary and  zoology. Because of the  lack of information about the brain structure in wild carnivores, the present study was  conducted  to better  understand the morphological features in Indian  grey  mongoose. For this purpose, 4 carcasses of  adult mongooses were  used. They were found in different areas of Fars province. The mongooses had died due to  natural causes. The brain was carefully separated from the skull and the measurements  and observations were  made  on  different parts of it. In this study, it wa  found  that the  brain's structure has an ovoid appearance. Also, distinguished olfactory bulbs, deep transverse  and longitudinal fissures, and relatively large cerebellar vermis were observed. According  to  the current study, it can be concluded that  the  anatomical features of the brain in the mongoose are similar to those of other carnivores and are in perfect harmony with the sensory and motor capabilities of the  animal.

This study aimed to compare the effects of xylazine or propofol before intrathecal (IT) bupivacaine administration in dogs. The study was conducted in two groups of 10 dogs each. In group I (XG), intrathecal injection of 20 mg bupivacaine was administered into the subarachnoid space in the lumbosacral area after treatment with 1 mg/kg intravenous (iv) xylazine. In group II (PG), 4 mg/kg iv propofol was administered before IT bupivacaine administration. The onset, duration, and magnitude of sensory block (scale 0–3) were determined using the pin-prick test throughout the anesthesia. Duration of surgery (XG: 47.20 ± 5.01 min, PG: 50.85 ± 6.97 min) and duration of anesthesia (XG: 92.20 ± 7.02 min, PG: 94.50 ± 7.26 min) were not significantly different between the groups. This study concludes that propofol administration before IT anesthesia with bupivacaine maintains safe levels of IT anesthesia and can therefore be used as an alternative to xylazine treatment.

The present study examined the effects of overripe banana (Musa cavendish) pulp and green banana peel extract and powder on oxidants/antioxidants parameters and some minerals in Holstein dairy calves. Forty newborn calves were randomly divided into four groups of 10 (control, group one, group two and group three). The groups were homogenous for the parity of the dams and the time of birth.Within 12-48 hours of birth, calves were assigned to their treatment groups. In the control group, animals received no banana meal. In group one, calves were supplemented with 2 g (dry matter)/kg body weight/day of overripe banana pulp extract for five days. The calves in group two were supplemented with 1 g (dry matter) of overripe banana pulp extract /kg body weight/day and 1 g (dry matter) of green banana peel extract/kg body weight/day for five days. The animals in group three were supplemented with 2 g/kg body weight/day of green banana peel powder for five days. Blood samples were taken on day 0 (at birth) and on days 7, 15 and 30 through the jugular vein. Age (the time of sampling) had a significant effect on the values of phosphorous, potassium, iron, copper, FRAP and activity of GPx enzyme (p < 0.05). Significant group and sampling time interaction was seen for the FRAP concentrations (p < 0.05). In conclusion, banana supplementation in the Holstein dairy calf’s diet at the concentration and duration that was reported in the present study had beneficial effect on the values of FRAP.

Growth hormone has mitotic and anti-apoptotic effects which may increase proliferation and transformation of cells when it is expressed aberrantly. This study investigated the effects of resistance training and growth hormone injection on circulating IGF-1, IGFBP-3 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in male Wistar rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control group (C, n = 8), a resistance training group (RT, n = 8), a growth hormone injection group (GI, n = 8) and a resistance training + growth hormone injection group (RG, n = 8). The resistance training protocol comprised of climbing a ladder (5 days/week, 3 sets/5 reps) while carrying a weight suspended from the tail. The growth hormone (2 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week) was injected before an exercise session. Serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 levels, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were measured after 8 weeks. One-way ANOVA analysis was used for comparison of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels between groups. Serum IGF-1 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio signifi cantly decreased, but serum IGFBP-3 levels showed no significant change in the RT group compared to the C group. Also, both serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in GI and RG groups significantly increased compared to the other groups. In conclusion, resistance training decreases serum IGF-1 levels and/or IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in normal condition. On the other hand, the growth hormone injection with and without the resistance training increases serum IGF-1 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio which could be noted as a condition with a higher risk of neoplasm.

This study examined the effects of skim-milk based extenders supplemented with proline and glutamine on motility, lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant status of cooled-stored equine sperm and determined the role of seminal plasma as well. The semen was collected with artificial vagina. In experiment 1, native semen was diluted in skim-milk based extender containing 5mM glutamine and 3mM proline, stored at 5°C and analyzed at 4, 24 and 48 hours storage for motion parameters. In experiment 2, semen was centrifugated, sperm pellet resuspended in the extenders and stored at 5°C for 4 hours to determine motion parameters. The level of catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde formation was determined for all samples at 4 hours. Glutamine and proline signifi cantly preserved the percentage of motile sperm (76.5 ± 2.7 and 79.4 ± 1 vs 69 ± 1.4), increased the progressive motility of cold-stored semen (66.1 ± 2.5 and 73.7 ± 2.9 vs 56.2 ± 1.4), increased catalase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde. However these effects were disappeared after seminal plasma removal. We conclude that glutamine and proline would amplify the antioxidant activity of equine cold-stored semen and preserve its motility. This effect seems to be related to interactions with seminal plasma.

The animal health monitoring is required to issue health certificates. The viral hepatitis virus is one of the most important infectious agents in mice breeding colonies. This research used RT-PCR to identify contaminations to mouse hepatitis virus. 18 out of 29 specimens were found to be infected, a prevalence of 62%. PCR product was purified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the identified strain in this study was closely related to a strain reported from France. In the conventional system, contamination with different infectious agents is inevitable, thus it is better to replace the contaminated colonies with clean animals.