Campylobacteriosis is an important infectious disease of animals and humans caused by the pathogenic Campylobacter species. A total number of 132 aborted sheep fetuses and related placentas were admitted to the large animal clinic at the University of Tabriz, from October 2010 to March 2011. Tissue samples were collected from several fetal organs including liver, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, heart, stomach fluid and placenta, then separately pulverized under liquid nitrogen and finally stored at -20°C until DNA extraction. Of 132 submissions (fetuses and placentas), 12 (9.09%) and 2(1.51%) samples were diagnosed positive to the Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus and Campylobacter jejuni by the PCR protocol, respectively. No samples were positive for Campylobacter coli.

Thepossible laxative and prokinetic effects of bitter almond were studied: 1- two groups of 7 rats were gavaged with ethanol extract of bitter almond (500mg/kg) or placebo and the number of feces, fecal weight and its percentage of water were studied 18-24h thereafter. 2- Ethanol extract of bitter almond (125 or 250mg/ml), lactulose (as positive control) or placebo was randomly injected into jejuna segments in anesthetized rats (n=9). The volume of the fluid in each segment was measured after 1h. 3- Gastrointestinal (GI) transit time was studied in rats treated with the extract or placebo using phenol red. The rats were sacrificed at times 30min, 1, 2 and 4h. ethanol extract of bitter almond at 500mg/kg significantly increased fecal weight and water. It had no significant effects on the osmotic infiltration of fluid into the intestine or on the transit time of the contents in the GI tract. The current results suggest that bitter almond has a laxative effect that seems to be due to malabsorption of electrolytes and water via enterocytes.

In poultry breeding, use of any antibiotics as a food additive that promotes growth, prevention or treatment of infectious diseases will increase the chance of drug residues in poultry meat products. In this study, the presence of different antibiotics in ten broiler flocks, which were later transported to Mashhad poultry abattoir have been investigated, using four plate test (FPT) method. A total of one hundred breast muscle and sixty liver samples (10 breast muscles and 6 liver samples from each flock) were collected randomly. The results of this study showed, the 18.75% of samples were positive for antibiotic residues and 6.88% of samples were suspected. The results also showed that sulfonamides residue in meat and liver samples were higher than other investigated antibiotics (22% in meat and 11.7% in livers). It can be concluded that the withdrawal time of antibiotics before slaughter has been ignored in many of these farms therefore, the administration of antibiotics in poultry farms must be more rigidly controlled to prevent drug residues in food-producing animals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inflammatory pulpal pain on spatial learning and memory in male Wistar rats. Fifty-six adult rats were divided into eight groups as follows (n=7 per group): control, sham-operated group that received normal saline, sham vehicle group that received vehicle of capsaicin, three capsaicin treated groups that received intradental injection of 10, 25 and 100 μg capsaicin, respectively, formalin treated group that received 10 μl formalin 2.5% and ibuprofen treated group that received ibuprofen 20 min before capsaicin (100 μg) injection. After preparing cavities via cutting 2 mm of the distal extremities of the mandibular incisors, the polyethylene crowns were placed on the teeth. Based on the study group, different algesics were administrated under the crowns. After recording the pain scores, spatial learning and memory was assessed using Morris water maze test. Capsaicin 25, 100 μg and formalin 2.5% applications induced significantly more painful stimulation compared with control groups (p< 0.001). Capsaicin 25, 100 μg and also formalin-treated groups significantly showed increased escape latency and traveled distance (p

Considering that the involvement of oxidative stress has been implicated in the toxicity of organophosphate insecticides, the objective of the present study was to investigate antioxidants and oxidative stress markers in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats treated with chronic doses of diazinon. In addition, the effect of Tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a food-additive antioxidant, on attenuation of diazinon-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. 28 rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: diazinon (10 mg/kg BW, once a day; n=7), TBHQ (0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day; n=7), TBHQ + diazinon (diazinon; 10 mg/kg BW, once a day + TBHQ; 0.028 g/kg of diet, once a day; n=7) and control (corn oil, as vehicle of diazinon and TBHQ, n=7). TBHQ, diazinon and corn oil were given to rats orally via gavage for 7 weeks. Total thiol groups, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver and kidney tissues were investigated at the end of 7th week. Treatment with diazinon significantly increased MDA level, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the kidney (p

The aim of this study was to assess skin colonization by Malassezia species in full-term healthy newborn calves and their dams. Two hundred samples from the skins and ears of 50 neonatal calves and their dams were examined on two occasions, first and fourth weeks after birth. All of the samples were determined by cytological examination and fungal culture. The isolated yeasts were identified for Malassezia spp. using the conventional techniques based on the morphological and physiological characteristics. All the samples included in the first and fourth weeks showed typical Malassezia cells on cytological examination. Colonization with Malassezia species was obtained in 11.5% of neonatal calves and their dams. The most commonly isolated species in neonates with culture-positive results was M. pachydermatis (68.75%), followed by M. sympodialis (12.5%), M. furfur (6.25%), M. globosa (6.25%) and M. slooffiae (6.25%).The most commonly isolated species in dams with culture-positive results was M. pachydermatis (85.71%), followed by M. furfur (14.3%). This study confirms that Malassezia colonization of the skin begins at the first week of life. A high prevalence of M. pachydermatis in neonates is noted from first week. Environmental factors and maternal contact probably affect this colonization, but neonatal skin characteristics are probably important.

A 2-year-old male Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) was referred with history of abdominal hernia surgery, depression, cachexia, lethargy and swelling of foot joints. Hematological and biochemical findings consisted of leukocytosis, heterophilia, monocytosis, elevation of liver enzymes activity, hyperproteinemia and hyperglobulinemia. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed from foot joints, aseptically. Mycological and bacteriological evaluations were shown Candida albicans infection. In spite of local and systemic treatments, signs were deteriorated and the animal was euthanized and then necropsy was done. Pathological findings revealed systemic candidiasis and fungal osteoarthritis.

Pomegranate is an ancient edible fruit with various pharmaceutical bioactivities such as antioxidant, lipid regulation and anti-inflammation. In this study the effectiveness of pomegranate pith and carpellary membrane (PPCM) extract in treatment of experimental lead intoxication was assessed in rats. Female Wistar rats were exposed to 1000ppm lead acetate in drinking water for 35 days and treated thereafter with PPCM extiract (100 and 200mg/kg, orally) twice a day for 35 days. The concentration of lead in blood, kidney, liver, bone and brain were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Treatment with PPCM extract reduced lead retention in blood and tissues. With the highest dose of PPCM extract, the greatest rate of reduction of lead concentrations were observed in brain (61%), blood (53%), and bone (34.5%). No significant changes were observed in copper, zinc and iron concentration of serum and liver, in neither doses of PPCM extract. In conclusion it was demonestrated that PPCM and carpellary membrane had therapeutic effect in the treatment of lead intoxication without any side effects on essential elements in blood and tissues of rats.

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever in human. This study is aimed to determine the contamination rate of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples. In this study, a total number of 100 bulk milk samples collected from dairy farms in northeast of Iran and were examined for C. burnetii using touchdown PCR assay. The primers were designed to amplify a 687-bp fragment of the IS1111 gene of C. burnetii. Five samples (5%) of bovine milk were found positive for C. burnetii. Sequence analysis of PCR products revealed 100% identity with published sequences of C. burnetii in genBank. Results of this study indicate that bovine milk is an important source of C. burnetii infection in Iran.

Hepatic and renal contents of essential trace elements provide good clues to monitor the nutritional status of grazing animals. Liver and kidney samples were collected from 60 sheep and 60 goats slaughtered in Zarrinshahr abattoirs and analyzed for essential trace elements. Hepatic Fe concentrations were significantly higher in sheep than goats. There were also higher renal and hepatic Fe concentration in age group of 2-4 year Scompared with age groups of