The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathology of avian tuberculosis in naturally infected domestic pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) with Mycobacterium aviumsubsp.avium. Avian tuberculosis is one of the most important diseases that affect all species of birds, and is most often caused by mycobacterium avium and mycobacterium genavense. Eighty out of more than 600 pigeons were selected based on their clinical signs and poor healthconditions and under standard conditions were euthanized, necropsied, and followed by bacterial culture on specific media for Mycobacterium avium subsp.avium. Fifty Mycobacterium avium subsp. Avium was isolated from pigeons. All acid fast bacilli isolates were tested by the PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA, IS1245 and IS901 genes. After definitive identification of Mycobacterium aviumsubsp. avium by culturing and PCR assay, 45 fixed samples including liver, gizzard, proventriculus, intestines, kidneys and lungs from positive pigeons were subjected for histopathology studies. Tissues sections were prepared as usual and stained by hematoxylin and eosin, Ziehl-Neelsen and Congo red. Based on gross findings, liver and intestines were the most affected organs. Histologically, caseative uncalcified granulomatous inflammation was noted in the affected organs. Also histopathology examinations showed that most of the granulomatous lesions in the lungs were in microscopic size and it seems that lungs were affected more than it was expected. In Ziehl-Neelsen’s staining, a large number of acid-fast bacilli were observed within multinucleated giant cells and in necrotic areas. Also in Congo red staining, deposition of amyloid in liver and kidneys sections were observed. In conclusion, histopathology findings were typical of avian tuberculosis, including acid fast bacilli and uncalcified caseous necrosis centers which were surrounded by multinucleated giant cells, macrophages and lymphocytes.

Equine babesiosis is a hemoprotozoan tickborne disease with worldwide distribution and caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. equi and B. caballi infection in Turkoman breed horses in North Khorasan Province of Iran. Blood samples were collected from 100 apparently healthy horses and examined by microscopy and indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. T. equi was microscopically detected in five blood smears. Antibodies against T. equi, B. caballi and dual infection were found in 48 (48%), 2 (2%) and 3 (3%) serum samples, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the seroprevalence of piroplasm infection with risk factors such as age, gender and activity in horses. This is the first report of detection of T. equi and B. caballi infection using IFAT in Iran. It was concluded that the seroprevalence of T. equi infection is higher than B. caballi infection in Turkoman breed horse in Iran.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) was detected as an incidental finding in a 14 years old brood mare horse which was maintained for student education in the teaching hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mashhad. Irregular heart rhythm, variable intensity of heart sounds and "f" waves were revealed in clinical examination and electrocardiography. Hematology showed normal values and hyponutremia was observed in serum biochemical analysis. Treatment of the horse was done with oral administration of uinidine sulfate (200 mg tabs). Normal rhythm was appeared after 24 hours of treatment. Herein, we have discussed the etiology and the treatment procedure of this dysrhythmia.

Platelets are a natural source of growth factors and cytokines that promote wound healing, and platelet-rich fibrin contains concentrated growth factors. Growth factors in platelet-rich fibrin may promote wound repair. In this study the effect of platelet-rich fibrin was evaluated in a dog model of cutaneous incisional wounds using histology and semi-quantitative evaluation. A pair of ten-centimeter full-thickness parallel linear cutaneous wounds were created on the backs of 15 dogs on the both sides of vertebral column. On the left side the platelet-rich fibrin clot was applied to the edges of the wound (Treatment group) and the right side received nothing (Control group). All wounds were then closed with 3-0 non-absorbable Nylon suture. The dogs were divided into three groups of five dogs. The wound tissues were sampled by electrosurgery in group one after 3 days, group two after 7 days and group three after 14 days post surgery. For each specimen, histopathological examination and semi-quantitative evaluation was performed by light microscopy using Hematoxylin & Eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining. The results demonstrated that platelet-rich fibrin improved and accelerated cutaneous incisional wound healing.

Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF) flared up in a dairy farm with 2097 animals. The disease started in September, 2006, with daily means of environmental temperature (ET) and relative humidity (RH) of 23.8 ºC and 37%, respectively, and ended after 48 days with ET and RH of 16.2 ºC and 68%, respectively. In this outbreak, the age of affected animals was above 10 months and the morbidity rate was 13.07%. Clinical signs included fever, hyperpnoea, mouth breathing, subcutaneous emphysema and death. Histologically, there were vasculitis,hyperemia; hemorrhage and edema in soft tissues and rupture of alveolar walls. Both Culex and Colicoides spp. were captured as vectors. Bovine Ephemeral Fever virus genome was detected in blood samples by RT-PCR and the CPE was shown by blood sample culture.

Aseel is an indigenous breed of poultry recognized for its majestic gait and cock fighting.Southern part of Chhattisgarh is its breeding tract. Vanaraja is a crossbreed being popularized by the Department of Animal Husbandary (C.G.) to improve the livelihood of tribal peoples.Ductus deferens is part of reproductive system which plays an important role in transportation of spermatozoa and fertilization. In the present study, 10 birds of two age group viz. 5 months (grower) and 13 months (adult) of each breed were used. Ductus deferens was collected,processed and sections were stained for demonstration of normal histological structure, collagen fibers, elastic fibers, reticular fibers, carbohydrates and mucopolysaccharides. The height of epithelium, height of mucosal folds at different segments, number of mucosal folds per transverse section, thickness of wall excluding mucosal folds, maximum and minimum diameter of ductus deferens was significantly higher in growers and adults of Vanaraja than Aseel. The density of connective tissue fibers, PAS activity and AB-PAS activity was higher in both groups of Vanaraja compared to Aseel.

The harmful effects of many chemical food preservatives are well established, so this has triggered interest in natural methods of preservation. Monolaurin, a monoester of lauric acid, founds naturally in some foods and has various antiviral and antibacterial activities. Evaluation of the effects of monolaurin separately and in combination with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter culture on growth of vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus ATCC11778 in manufactured cheeses was the purpose of this research. In this study, the number of B. cereus in four groups of cheese (C1: without starter culture and monolaurin, T1: without starter culture; with monolaurin, C2: with starter culture; without monolaurin, T2: with starter culture and monolaurin) was counted on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 of manufacture. In T1 group, monolaurinin concentrations of 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 ppm decreased the number of B. cereus by 1.2, 2.1, 3 and 3.4 logs, respectively in comparison with C1 group. InT2 group with the same concentrations of monolaurin, the number of B. cereus in comparison with C2 group was not significantly affected (p>0.05). In C2 group, starter culture decreased the number of B. cereus by 2.9 logs in comparison with C1 group. In contrary, the combination of starter culture with monolaurin in T2 group increased the number of B. cereus by 0.6 logs in comparison with C2 group. Furthermore, in C2 and T2 groups by increasing the storage time, the number of B. cereus decreased. According to these results, it can be concluded that in cheese samples of T1 group, monolaurin separately showed the inhibitory effects on the growth of B. cereus cells while in cheese samples of T2 group, the combination of monolaurin with starter culture did not demonstrate the synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of this bacterium. Therefore, simultaneous use of monolaurin with starter culture is not recommended for improving the microbial shelf-life of Iranian white fresh cheese.

The present study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of canine leishmaniasis in a population of owned and strayed dogs in Mashhad, north-east Iran. Of 300 serum samples obtained from dogs, 8.67% (26/300) were positive for Leishmania infantum by Indirect Florcense Antibody Test (IFAT). The sero-prevalence rates in owned and stray dogs were 9.5% (19/200) and 7% (7/100) respectively. Significant differences were observed between the age groups (P < 0.05); dogs less than one year old showed the highest seroprevalence rate (17.4 %). The seroprevalence rate for leishmania infection in male and female dogs were 10.43 % (17/163) and 6.57% (9/137) respectively. In addition, the seroprevalence rate for leishmania infection in small and large breeds of dogs were 10.5% (6/57) and 8.2% (29/243) respectively. No significant difference was found between sex and breed of the studied dogs. The number of lymphocytes were significantly higher in the leishmania-infected dogs than dogs which were not infected (P

Avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) is an intestinal infection caused by anaerobic spirochaetes of the genus Brachyspira, including B. pilosocoli. The purpose of this study was isolation and identification of B. pilosocoli from laying hen flocks, located in Mashhad suburb, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran, and investigating the frequency of the infection. One hundred and eighty cloacal swab samples from 18 randomly selected flocks (10 samples /flock) were cultured anaerobically on selective agar and confirmed as intestinal spirochaete by its spirichaetal form using phase contrast microscopy. Then, the samples were subjected to PCR amplification followed by DNA sequencing. A total of 24 samples from 8 flocks were selected as suspected cases by culture and phase contrast microscopy. Upon PCR amplification by specific primers, only 9 cultures belonged to 3 flocks appeared to be B.pilosicoli. Sequence analysis of the amplicons confirmed the identity of all isolated ones. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that B. pilosicoli might be strongly involved in AIS among laying hen flocks of this geographical region. The results could also be considered as an indicator for large scale investigation into the true prevalence of the infection. This study is the first report of infection in laying hens flocks of Iran.

Nosema apis is an obligate intracellular parasite belonging to phylum Microsporidia. This para site is known as main causative agent of nosemosis in honeybees especially in the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). Nosemosis can cause queen supersedure, reduction of honey yield and dwindling the population of honeybees. A total number of 54 apiaries were randomly sampled from April to July 2011 and April to July 2012 in North Khorasan province, Iran. Collected samples were examined for infection to N.apis. In the collected bees from 30 apiaries, any Nosema infection was not observed in spring 2011, while of 24 apiaries sampled in spring 2012, 12 (50%) apiaries were infected with N. apis. The seasonal rainfall of spring in 2012 in the study area was 53% higher than the same period of last year. It was concluded that there has been a direct relationship between rainfall and frequency of N. apis infection in apiaries of North Khorasan province.