Giardia duodenalis is an important zoonotic protozoon, found in the small intestine of humans and mammals. There is very little information available regarding rabbits infected with Giardia in Iran. The objective of the present study is to detect Giardia duodenalis antigen in companion rabbits of the Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran. A total of 58 fecal samples of companion rabbits that had been collected during January 2011 to December 2014 were submitted to the parasitology laboratory of the Veterinary Faculty for Giardia duodenalis testing by two techniques: centrifugation-flotation and a commercial Giardia Antigen Test Kit (BVT Co., Ltd, Lion, France) by immunochromatography assay (ICA). The studied rabbits were categorized into two age groups (less than 1 year old and above or equal to 1 year old), four season. In addition, they were categorized into two other groups based on the stool sample status (diarrheic and non-diarrheic). Five out of fifty eight fecal samples (8.62%) were positive for antigen of Giardia duodenalis by ICA. Prevalence was significantly higher in diarrheic rabbits (45.45%; 5 out of 11) than non-diarrheic rabbits (0%; 0 out of 47) (P=0.002). The infection had more prevalence in rabbits older than 1 year (9.09%; 3 out of 33) compared with young rabbits that were less than 1 year old (8%; 2 out of 25). Nevertheless, the difference was not significant. Prevalence was higher in male rabbits (9.52%; 2 out of 21) compared with female rabbits (8.11%; 3 out of 37) and in the season of autumn (15.38%; 2 out of 13), but without a significant difference between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender and season. Microscopy examination on fecal samples showed that 5.17% (3 out of 58) were positive. For greater certainty, three stool samples were collected from each animal at 48 hour intervals. The results indicated that the Giardia antigen was present as a zoonotic disease in rabbits of the Ahvaz district. The obtained data showed that more sensitive techniques such as ICA may be necessary and yield more reliable results in the detection of low levels of Giardia in fecal samples.

The effects of orally administered purple cone flower Echinacea purpura and garlic (Allium satvium) on the non-specific immunity and growth condition of beluga weighing 1.15 ± 0.02 kg were evaluated for a period of 60 days. The tree groups of fish were fed two diets containing 0.5% purple coneflower and 1% garlic and a control diet containing no supplemented herb. The growth performance was positively affected by both dietary herbal supplementations (p < 0.05). Among the humoral factors, serum alternative complement, lysozyme and respiratory burst activity increased significantly in all supplemented groups when compared to the control (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that dietary Echinacea and garlic can modulate some of the innate defense mechanisms, hematological and growth parameters in Huso huso.

Clostridium perfringens has been known as a cause of diarrhoea in dogs. The aim of this research was isolation C. perfringens by culturing and toxinotyping by PCR molecular method. In this research 151 dogs’ faecal samples were collected from northwest of Iran, 131 of which were apparently healthy, and 20 of which were diarrheic. These faecal samples were cultured on 5% sheep blood agar; the suspected colonies with double homolysis that using multiplex and single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were admitted to detect toxinotypes of the isolates by specific primers. C. perfringens strains were isolated from 5/20 (25%) the diarrheic group and 31/131(23.8%) the non-diarrheic group. All isolates (36/151) were classified as C. perfringens type A (cpa+). Fourteen isolates (38.8%) with cpa+cpb2+netB-tpeL- profile and one isolate (2.8%) had cpa+cpe+netB-tpeL- toxin’s profile. More studies are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of C. perfringens in dogs and its role as a zoonotic agent and public health hazard. Based on author’s knowledge, this is the first study was performed in order to isolation C. perfringens and genotyping from dogs in Iran. The cpa+cpe+ gene was reported from one C. perfringens isolated from healthy dogs.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease of worldwide distribution. The infection is caused by various serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Although the squirrels and hamsters are considered to be the reservoir or maintenance host of Leptospira, but little is known about the status of leptospirosis in these animals. This survey was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of Leptospiral infection in squirrels and hamsters in Ahvaz district, SouthWest of Iran. Blood samples were taken from 35 squirrels and 35 hamsters. Sera were screened for antibodies against serovars of L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. grippotyphosa, L. ballum, L. hardjo, L. pomona, L. australis and L. tarassovi using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). From a total of 35 squirrels, three cases (8.57%) were serologically positive for the serovars of L. grippotyphosa (2.86%), L. pomona (2.86%) and complex of L. hardjo + L. canicola + L. grippotyphosa + L. pomona (2.86%). Positive results were detectable at serum dilutions of 1:100 to 1:400. Seroprevalence did not show a significant difference for age and sex in the studied squirrel (p > 0.05). From a total of 35 hamsters, six cases (17.14%) were serologically positive. The predominant titers were directed against serovars of L. grippotyphosa (5.71%), L. grippotyphosa + L. pomona (2.86%), L. pomona (2.86%), L. icterohaemorrhagiae (2.86%) and L. canicola (2.86%). The positive results had 1:100 serum dilutions. Prevalence was significantly higher in adult hamsters above one year compared to hamsters less than one year (p < 0.05). The seroprevalence was more in male hamsters (23.53%) than females (11.11%), but the statistical analysis did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). This survey indicated that serovars of L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona were predominant. The results provide useful information on the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in squirrels and hamsters of Ahvaz district.

Various techniques and culture media were developed for rapid identification of Salmonella serovars. However, there are still problems with their sensitivity and specificity. In an attempt to reduce the time spent to obtain a result and to minimize the problems associated with rapid detection systems such as interference from food ingredients debris, micro flora in feces, and lack of sensitivity, there has been a lot of interest in the development of separation and concentration techniques prior to detection of pathogenic organisms. Various techniques have been utilized for this purpose including: filtration, centrifugation, and lectin-based biosorbents. However, the most successful of the approaches for separation and concentration of target organisms has been the use of Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS). This study was conducted with the objective of comparing the conventional microbiological methods to detect salmonella in diarrheic samples with Immunomagnetic separation combined with chromagar salmonellae medium (IMS-CAS). Of the 400 fecal samples tested by the conventional microbiological and IMS-CAS methods, 33 (8.25%) was culture positive for Salmonella serotypes. The IMS-CAS method gave better results than the conventional microbiological method with less false-positive colonies. Sensitivities for the conventional microbiological method and the IMS-CAS were 100%. The specificity of the IMS-CAS method (99.73%) was significantly higher than that of the conventional microbiological method (94.55%). The use of plating IMS on CAS medium demonstrated high levels of sensitivity and specificity and reduced the time to final identification of Salmonella spp., resulting in substantial cost savings. It can be recommended for the primary isolation of Salmonella spp. from stool specimens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of treatment using Kirschner wires and tensioning bands for tarsocrural luxation with malleolus fractures resulting from trauma in dogs. Eight dogs with tarsocrural luxation due to malleolus fracture were selected. Following intrathecal anesthesia, the malleolus bone was returned to its normal position using two Kirschner wires and tension bands. Polyester fishing line was used as an artificial band for reconstruction of the ruptured lateral and medial collateral ligaments. These cases were able to walk and run smoothly. Consequently, it can be preferred to the tensioning band with Kirschner wires for malleolus fracture since an artificial band can be created using fishing line to replace the lateral and medial collateral ligament as was observed in our cases.

Canine compulsive disorder such as tail-chasing is a syndrome of abnormal behaviors that affects many breeds. This disorder may be associated with serum lipid elevations in dogs, so the objective of the present survey was to characterize serum lipid profile changes in dogs with tail chasing behavior disorder. Twenty seven companion dogs with tail chasing were selected among the referred cases to the Veterinary Hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The affected dogs were diagnosed on the basis of the dog’s behavioral history (age, frequency and duration of bouts since onset, intensity of the behavior, current or previous medical assessments) and clinical signs. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels were measured using commercial kits. Twenty seven control dogs were also enrolled on the basis of normal physical examination results, complete blood count and serum biochemistry profiles. Dogs with tail chasing disorder had significantly higher total cholesterol (p < 0.001), HDL-C (p < 0.05) and LDL-C (p < 0.001) levels compared with control group dogs. Serum triglyceride and VLDL-C levels did not differ significantly between two groups (p > 0.05). When all parameters were compared, there was no significant difference between the affected dogs younger and older than one year (p > 0.05). In conclusion, tail chasing disorder may be associated with marked elevations of serum cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C levels in dogs. These indices may be used as biochemical parameters of tail chasing disorder in clinical settings.

In the present study karyotype of Mazani river buffalo was studied in comparison with those of Azeri buffalo populations from Iran. Blood samples were taken from ten (5 males and 5 females) Mazani buffaloes and thirty (15 males and 15 females) Azeri buffaloes. The Mazani buffaloes belong to Mazendaran province and Azeri buffaloes belong to west and east Azerbaijan and Ardebil provinces. Blood lymphocytes cultured at 37ºC for 72 hours in the presence of phytohemagglutinin and the metaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slide. Giemsa was used to stain chromosomes. The Mazani and Azeri Buffalo exhibited the same karyotype with diploid number of 2n = 50. The fundamental numbers (NF) were 60 in male and female. The types of chromosome were 6 submetacentric, 4 metacentric and 40 telocentric which the X chromosome is the largest telocentric and the Y chromosome is one of the smallest telocentric chromosomes. The relative length of chromosomes ranged between 2.17% to 7.2% in Mazani buffalo, and also 2.21% to 6.55% in Azeri buffalo. No obvious abnormality was found among chromosomes. Therefore, based on the identified karyotype both Mazani and Azeri buffaloes are riverine.

Benign tumors in liver are rare and appear not to have been previously reported in camel (Camelus dromedarius). This study describes histopathologic characteristics of lipoma, cavernous hemangioma and leiomyoma in the liver of dromedary camels. Seventy livers of dromedary camels which were slaughtered for human consumption were collected from July to November 2011 from the north east of Iran and they had macroscopic lesions and all of them were studied histopathologically. Microscopic examination revealed different metaplastic and neoplastic lesions in the liver of the camels. Lipoma (with multiple large vacuolated cells), cavernous hemangioma (with large lakes filled with oval erythrocytes) and leiomyoma (with homogenous intense eosinophilic spindle cells) were diagnosed as benign tumors. The relatively high occurrence of these mesenchymal neoplastic lesions may be due to some metabolic imbalances and some toxicosis in dromedary camels which live in the deserts. Also, metaplastic changes are the causes of lipoma. According to the literature, this is the first report of hepatic cavernous hemangioma and leiomyoma in camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Poultry nutrition or inappropriate treatments by antibiotics can lead to production of eggs with antibiotic residues. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of drug residues in eggs presented in Kermanshah, Iran. For this purpose, 120 eggs with the average weight of 60 grams were collected randomly from the supermarkets in Kermanshah and later were tested for antibiotic residues using the Four- Plate Test (FPT) method. The results showed that 3.3% of the tested eggs had antibiotic residues. The main residues in egg yolk was due to tetracycline. Aminoglycosides were also detected as minor contaminants. Accordingly, antibiotic residues in eggs presented in Kermanshah are a threat for human consumption and therefore strong supervision of the authorities is essential.