BACKGROUND: The H9N2 avian influenza is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry in Asian countries. Continuous mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein as the main viral antigen make interpreting the HA-based serology test results difficult.OBJECTIVES: In this experimental study, the ability of polyclonal antibodies against the conserved motif of HA protein in detecting heterologous H9N2 isolates was evaluated.METHODS: Based on the bioinformatics data, a conserved motif of HA protein was selected and expressed in the pET-28a(+) vector. The recombinant peptide was mixed with an oil adjuvant and injected into specified pathogen free (SPF) chickens to produce the polyclonal antiserum. Similarly, antiserum from the inactivated virus was prepared. The efficiency of the prepared antisera was evaluated in the cross hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test using the homologous and heterologous H9N2 viruses.RESULTS: The average titer of HI antibody against homologous and heterologous viruses using the polyclonal antiserum was equal to five. This titer was estimated to be seven for the homologous virus and much lower for heterologous viruses with inactivated virus antiserum. The difference was statistically significant.CONCLUSIONS: According to the evaluations, this antiserum has a suitable efficiency in identifying different isolates of the H9N2 virus, and compared to the usual antiserum, it detects different antigens of a subtype more accurately. The resulting polyclonal antiserum does not contain non-specific inhibitors, which may cause problems interpreting serological findings. The results showed that polyclonal antiserum could identify H9N2 viruses isolated in different years by HI test; however, its validation requires testing with more viruses.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is created by the connection between the mandibular condylar process and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone in all mammalian species. This is a synovial joint and has a fibrocartilage disc. The joint disorders affect mastication, movements of TMJ, and mandibular functions. TMJ imaging can be evaluated by radiography; however, CT imaging is preferred, since the images have no superimposition and present more details of different structures and therefore show a more accurate evaluation of TMJ.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide accurate statistics on TMJ disorders and to evaluate their prevalence based on CT-scan findings in dogs and cats.METHODS: In this study, 265 cases of cats and dogs (102 cats and 163 dogs) were evaluated. A total of 59 cases (38 cats and 21 dogs) had temporomandibular joint disorders. In this study, information on sex, breed, and age regarding TMJ disorders were described in detail.RESULTS: In the evaluated CT images, osteoarthritis, fracture, dislocation (luxation and subluxation), ankylosis, osteochondrosis, dysplasia, and osteomyelitis were observed.CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that although the total number of dogs was larger than that of cats, the incidence of temporomandibular joint disorders was higher in cats than in dogs. The most common disorders in cats and dogs were fractures, followed by dislocations (luxation and subluxation), and then osteoarthritis exhibited the highest frequency. In the next rank of frequency in cats, ankylosis and then osteomyelitis were observed. Additionally, osteochondrosis and dysplasia and then ankylosis were observed in dogs in the next ranks.

Clinical and pathological findings were described in stillborn kids affected with congenital goiter in a goat flock of Beetle breed in Garmsar Iran.The observations involved seven stillborn kids with goiter, including one case with triplet fetuses and two cases with twine fetuses. The thyroid glands were clearly visible, enlarged, and palpable in all the dead kids. The fetuses had a large swelling in the cranio-ventral neck region. Upon cutting skin in each fetus, the swelling revealed the extremely enlarged thyroid gland with two almost symmetrical lobes with both lobes approximately 15 × 8 × 5 cm in size.Histopathological hyperplastic goiter was observed in four kids and colloid goiter was diagnosed in three.Twins or triplets were observed to be predisposed to congenital goitre. All the stillborn kids were twins or triplets. On the other hand, single-born kids survived and showed a normal growth rate.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the protein and amino acid content of diet or altering the dietary electrolyte balance were suggested as the effective strategies to prevent the harmful effects of the heat stress in poultry.OBJECTIVES: This study surveyed the effects of various levels of threonine and dietary cation-anion balance on the broiler chickens under the heat stress conditions.METHODS: 700 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were used for 6 weeks under high- temperature conditions. This experiment was conducted using a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design, with 7 treatments (5 replicates per treatment and 20 birds per replicate). Experimental factors included two threonine concentrations (recommended level and 10 % above recommended level) and three dietary electrolyte balances (175, 250, and 325 mEq/kg). The control group considered the treatment with a normal threonine concentration (recommended level) and a dietary electrolyte balance of 250 mEq/kg under optimal temperature conditions.RESULTS: Although there was no interaction between threonine level and electrolyte balance, the electrolyte balance of 175 meq/kg increased the performance index compared to the electrolyte balance of 250 or 325 mEq/kg (P<0.05). The villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus surface area in the jejunum improved with an electrolyte balance of 175 or 250 mEq/kg (P<0.05). A decrease in the dietary electrolyte balance increased in the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (P<0.05). Besides, an increase in the population of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the cecum, as well as an increase in protein digestibility, were observed by increasing levels of threonine in the diet (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, a high level of threonine or a low electrolyte balance in diet (175 mEq/kg) may improve the performance, metabolizable energy, and intestinal microbial flora of broilers reared under heat stress.

BACKGROUND: Impingement of the dorsal spinous processes is a common cause of pain and poor performance in sport horses.OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of impingement in dorsal spinous processes and the correlation between the occurrence of this complication and certain parameters, such as age, height, weight, discipline, breed, neck length, and clinical signs.METHODS: In this study, radiographic examination of the spine of 50 horses were performed. The information about height, weight, discipline, breed, neck length, and clinical signs were also collected. Radiographic grading was based on the degree of the changes in inter spinous spaces and their densities (0-4 degrees). The clinical examinations were carried out to evaluate the pain in the spine. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between the collected data.RESULTS: The highest incidence of impingement was seen in the middle thoracic area. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of impingement and age and the breed of the studied horses. There was no correlation between the incidence of impingement and sex, height, neck length, and weight of the studied horses.  Increased radiographic grade often leads to an increase in the severity of clinical signs. A higher grade of radiographic sign in each horse was indicative of more involved inter spinous spaces.CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, Grade 3 and 4 had high specificity with clinical signs; therefore, preparation of a radiograph of the spine before purchasing a horse could be highly recommended.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis or Malta fever is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases considered as a health and economic concern.OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to employ several methods to detect Brucella in blood and milk samples of saanen goat and use a safe and definitive method to diagnose this disease.METHODS: In this study, 122 blood samples and 122 milk samples were collected from saanen goats. After culture and serological-based isolation methods (RBPT, Wright, 2ME, and Ring test), DNA was extracted from all the blood and milk samples. PCR was carried out using B4 and B5 primers on all the extracted DNAs in order to detect the B. abortus and B. melitensis; PCR was carried out with Br.a and Br.m primers.RESULTS: The results of all the blood samples were negative, but bacterial growth was observed in three milk samples, which was detected in biotyping, biovar 1 melitenensis. The PCR results for detection of Brucella spp. of nine blood samples and nine milk samples were positive. Using mPCR primers, B. melitensis were identified through all the nine milk and blood samples.CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we found that better bacterial diagnostic system and choosing an appropriate technique for rapid detection, such as PCR and Real Time PCR, in addition to popular awareness and other functions of national veterinary medicine institute could control the diseases and decrease their incidence successfully.

BACKGROUND: Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, also known as jaagsiekte, is a chronic, contagious, and transmissible lung cancer. It is prevalent in ovine spp while rarely occurring in caprine with long incubation period. The disease is mostly observed in older animals (over 2 years old).OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to determine the prevalence of the disease based on histopathological diagnosis and investigate its correlation with age and sex in the slaughtered local sheep in Garmsar (Semnan province).METHODS: Herein, the lungs of 9030 slaughtered sheep are morphopatthologically examined for the presence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma.RESULTS: Based on the morphopathological examination, ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma was observed in the lungs of 438  (4.87 %) out of 9030 sheep. That said, 250 indicated the classical form, as firm, white to grayish coalescing masses mostly in the cranio-ventral lobes; this form is associated with wet cut surface and frothy fluid in the airways. The remaining 188 sheep showed the atypical form, as small, clear demarcated nodules mostly in diaphragmatic lobes associated with dry cut surface and minor fluid in the airways. Almost similar histopathological changes were seen in the two forms. An acinar or papillary growth of neoplastic cells in the alveoli and polypoid proliferation of bronchiolar epithelium were observed in both forms. However, there were variable amounts of connective tissue, and infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the interstitial tissue of the affected alveoli and no metastatic lesion in the lymph nodes. The peribronchial and peribronchiolar lymphoid aggregates were consistent features in most of the cases studied.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study, as the first report of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in sheep from Garmsa county, revealed the higher prevalence of this disease compared to that reported in previous reports in the country. Moreover, according to the obtained results, atypical and classical forms represented different stages of a single disease spectrum.

BACKGROUND: Microencapsulation of probiotic bacteria is an area that has rapidly expanded over the recent years. It is one of the new methods of improving probiotics stability, through which the biological agents are protected with an enclosed coating to release the active agents within the coating at a controlled rate in time and under special conditions.OBJECTIVES: The present study the aims to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum microencapsulation with chitosan/alginate microparticles on the oxidative response of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus).METHODS: Herein, 240 pieces of Nile tilapia, with an average weight of 15.56±0.02 g, were randomly divided into four groups as follows: group1 or control with a diet without probiotics, groups 2, 3, and 4 respectively with a diet containing 108 Log CFU/g of unencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum, a diet containing microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum, and with feed containing alginate with chitosan without the presence of bacteria. They were fed for 60 days at the rate of 2 % of body weight twice a day.RESULTS: The activity level of oxidative enzymes, biochemical factors, and liver enzymes of the Nile tilapia fish were investigated. The findings revealed that oxidative enzymes, biochemical factors, and liver enzymes were positively affected in the groups with microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum (P<0.05). The three enzymes of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were higher in the micro-encapsulated probiotic group compared to the two groups of probiotics and alginate with chitosan without the presence of bacteria, and all the three groups performed better compared to the control (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Microencapsulation of probiotics maximizes the efficiency of probiotics in reducing oxidative stress.

In bovine tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis, cattle are known as the main host, and sheep are relatively resistant. Sheep become infected only when there is very close contact between cattle and sheep or when the mycobacterium is abundant in the environment. In the present study, a case of generalized tuberculosis was reported in the sheep of the Sanandaj slaughterhouse.The examined animal carcass was transferred from the slaughterhouse to the University of Kurdistan microbiology laboratory and was dissected under complete health safety conditions. In the carcass examination, necropsy lesions (generalized tubercular granulomas) were visible in different organs and mediastinal lymph nodes, bronchioles, mesentery, and liver portal system. These lesions were seen in the lymph nodes of different body parts, including the lung, liver, digestive system, reproductive system, bladder, and different muscles, including the peritoneal muscle, diaphragm muscle, and abdominal muscles.Diagnostic tests included clinical observations, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Mycobacterium bacteria, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular technique. In Ziehl-Neelsen staining, Mycobacterium acid-fast bacilli were seen in red color on the pale blue background of the slide. Also, the product of 499 base pairs was amplified in the specific PCR reaction, which confirmed Mycobacterium bovis.The present report shows that Mycobacterium bovis strains present in the region can be transmitted to sheep and cause disease with severe clinical symptoms. This report is critical, particularly for mixed cattle and sheep farming. Since cattle and sheep are kept together in many breeding farms in Kurdistan province, special attention was paid to the possibility of transmission of bovine tuberculosis to sheep and humans.

BACKGROUND: The pollution of environment with heavy metals following the increase in the industrial production has created problems in the lives of living organisms. Lead can penetrate the soft organs of body, and by depositing in them can cause disorders their function. Lead can cross the blood-placental barrier and transfer to the fetus. It is also possible to pass lead through milk to the newborn.OBJECTIVES: The stereology approach was used in rats as animal models to examine the impact of low dosage lead contamination in the mother on the average volume of follicular oocytes and the average volume of mature follicles.METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, which included a control group and four experimental groups of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, lactation and pre-pregnancy-pregnancy-lactation. The control group had access to drinking water with 0.5 ml of glacial acetic acid. Experimental groups administered lead acetate at a rate of 0.2 percentage + 0.5 ml of glacial acetic acid through drinking water in different periods (pre-pregnancy group 30 days before mating, pregnancy group 21 days of pregnancy, lactation group. They received 21 days of lactation and the pre-pregnancy-pregnancy-lactation group 30 days before mating until the end of lactation). On the 65th day after birth, all infants were killed in the laboratory and left ovary specimens were collected for stereological studies.RESULTS: The results showed that the average volume of oocytes in the primordial, monolayer primary, multilayer primary, and antral follicles increased in the lactation group compared to the control group and other experimental groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean volume of primordial and monolayer primary follicles in lactation group increased compared to the control and experimental groups (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This study's results showed that maternal exposure to low doses of lead during lactation increases the average volume of oocytes and increases the average volume of growing follicles.