Several species of ectoparasites infect birds. These parasites that are considered arthropods include: mites, ticks, lice, bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, and flies. This study aimed to identify the ectoparasites species on ornamental birds and determine their prevalence in Zabol and Zahedan in the northern part of Sistan and Baluchestan. A total of 318 birds were examined and inspected for ectoparasites. Parasites were collected by forceps and stored in 70% ethanol. In parallel to the identification of their species, the samples were cleared in 10% KOH following which light microscopy was used to identify the parasites according to their morphological characteristics and the descriptive keys proposed for each species. The overall prevalence of ectoparasites in birds was 21.7%. The ectoparasites were identified as Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus, Columbicola columbae, Goniodes pavonis, Myrsidea fasciata, an unknown species from philopetrus genus Argas reflexus, Pseudolinchya, and Culicoides. So far few studies have been performed on parasites in birds in Sistan and Baluchestan. Identification of parasites (such as lice in birds) in any region of the country helps us to improve our knowledge about parasitic fauna in this area.

This research was performed on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates and established the genes of resistance to ciprofloxacin between the isolates. A total of one hundred and three urine samples were tested for uropathogenic E. coli which were obtained from dogs with urinary tract infections (UTIs) using cultural isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility test, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results revealed that genes associated with ciprofloxacin resistance are 24.3% positive for E. coli. The E. coli isolates were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and ampicillin (100%), highly susceptible to chloramphenicol (84.0%), and less susceptible to gentamycin (44.0%) and amikacin (40.0%). The PCR tests showed the presence of the ParC (in 25 samples; 100%), GyrA (in 25 samples; 100%), and GyrB (in 4 samples; 16.0%) genes. The findings of the present study showed an upsetting rate of ciprofloxacin and ampicillin resistance among the E. coli isolates from dogs with UTIs.

Pseudomonas infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and saprophytic fungi are now increasingly being recognized as serious pathogens in immunocompromised patients.To investigate the effect of using bio-materials on mammalian tissues,two experiments were designed;the first one was feeding of Balb/c mice with irrigated lettuce with bio-fungicide (mutant and wild)and bio-fertilizers prepared with Pseudomonas (p) fluorescens, p. putida, p. aeruginosa, and the second was the usage of drinking water containing (Trichoderma (T) spores (mutant and wild) or P.fluorescens, P.putida, P.aeruginosa suspensions). Then, blood factors and inflammation of tissues (liver, kidney, spleen and large intestine) in all mice were analyzed after two months. Blood samples were taken from the mice to examine some of the hematological (RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC) (data not shown) and biochemical (AST, ALT, ALP) factors, and also observed under a microscope. The study of tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in all treatments showed that the strains in these bio-fertilizers did not stimulate carcinogenic indices.The results from the other blood factors were normal for all strains (data not shown).Only P.putida showed no adverse effect on the increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP).The results also showed that the effect of bio-fungicide on mammalian tissues (spleen and large intestine) was normal. But a small number of mild liver necrosis was seen in the treatment groups with wild Trichoderma, and moderate necrosis in the the liver tissue after treatment with mutant Trichoderma isolates.More investigation should be made to determine the impact of these biotic factors on the mammalian tissues before commercialization.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) is the main regulator in energy metabolism. Training stimulates many processes like mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose metabolism, and fatty acids metabolism. It also increases the capacity of fat oxidation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of eight-week aerobic training of different intensities on PGC-1α, interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), and atherogenic index in obese male Wistar rats. Twenty-four obese male rats induced by a high-fat diet (weight: 250 to 300 gr, BMI >30g/cm2) were divided into three groups: aerobic training of moderate intensity (MI), aerobic training of high intensity (HI), and the control group (C). The MI and HI training groups carried out exercise training by eight weeks of walking on a treadmill for five sessions/week, 60 min per session, and at a speed of 28 m/min and 34 m/min, respectively. The levels of PGC-1a in the MI and HI groups significantly increased compared to the C group (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant differences between IRF4 levels of MI and HI groups (p > 0.05). The serum HDL-C levels increased only in the MI group compared to the C group (p  < 0.05). The LDL-C, TG, TC, and atherogenic index levels reduced more significantly in MI and HI groups than in the C group (p  < 0.05). The results show that eight-week aerobic training of two moderate and high intensities may be the signaling pathways to the activation of the PGC-1a protein (i.e., a key regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis) in skeletal muscle.

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.