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: Meat is one of society's most important nutritional needs, the price of which is higher than other food groups. In recent years, the use of meat products has increased due to human lifestyle changes. Fraud in meat products occurs for various reasons, including the economic value of meat. Therefore, it is crucial to use fast and accurate methods of identifying these frauds.OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine the unauthorized tissue by a histological method as well as to determine the unauthorized species used in meat products of factories in Hamadan province.METHODS: In the summer of 2021, fifty samples were collected from active production units of the Hamedan province that were available in the Hamadan city market and transferred to the laboratory for histological laboratory and animal species determination by PCR test. For the histology test based on the national standard 6103, the samples were subjected to fixation, passage (dehydration, clearing, impregnation with molten paraffin), blocking, sectioning, and H&E staining. PCR method was used to determine the type of animal species used in the production of the collected samples.RESULTS: The results confirmed the presence of unauthorized tissues, including bone, cartilage (articular and respiratory cartilage), skin, and glandular organ in meat products. Also, PCR test results showed that chicken meat was found in 100% of the samples labeled with beef.CONCLUSIONS: The presence of illegal tissue and the use of chicken meat in products labeled as beef meat is evident in the sausages produced in Hamadan province.

BACKGROUND: Trypanosomosis is a blood parasitic disease with veterinary and cosmopolitan importance due to Trypanosoma evansi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) type A in camels, cattle, buffaloes, and equine and type B in camels. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study to discriminate Trypanosoma evansi type A and B infection in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province, south eastern Iran. METHODS: A total number of 369 blood samples were randomly taken from jugular vein of the examined one-humped camels from different parts of the region. Genomic DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify 205bp-fragment-length and 436bp-fragment-length of RoTat 1.2 VSG gene (T. evansi type A) and Minicircle gene (T. evansi type B), respectively. RESULTS: Molecular findings revealed that all the infected camels were affected by T. evansi type A. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the current study, we could conclude that the cause of infection in the examined camels of the region, like other parts of the world, was T. evansi type A.

BACKGROUND: Yersiniosis is known as one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases in fish, which causes high mortality and economic losses in cultured fish farms every year. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the changes in hematological indices and gut histopathology in Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus) exposed to Yersinia ruckeri. METHODS: 60 Caspian roach broodstock with an average weight of 63.4 ± 2.1 g were divided into three groups (with two replicates for each group), including one treatment, one positive control, and one negative control groups. The treatment group was intraperitoneally injected with Yersinia ruckeri bacterium at a dosage of 3.8 × 107 cell/fish. The positive group just received normal saline (0.9 % NaCl) via intraperitoneal injection. No injection was performed in the negative control group. RESULTS: Symptoms appeared on the fourth day after exposure and 20 % of the fish in the treatment group died 5 days after the challenge. Cumulative mortality reached 53 % on day 9 after the challenge.  According to hematological analysis, the challenge with Yersinia ruckeri led to a significant increase in white blood cell counts (WBC) compared to the control groups. Moreover, 10 days following exposure, the treatment group experienced hypochromic macrocytic anemia. Gut histopathology was characterized with necrosis and detachment of intestinal epithelial cell and inflammatory cells infiltration in the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the obtained results herein, Yersinia rackeri can cause acute disease in Caspian roach; therefore, preventing and controlling this disease is essential for these fish in infected regions.

BACKGROUND: Calf pneumonia is one of the most common diseases in dairy and beef herds. OBJECTIVES: To compare steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as adjunctive therapy in dairy calf pneumonia. METHODS: Forty calves less than six months of age diagnosed with calf pneumonia in dairy farms of Mashhad suburb were enrolled in this study based on the University of Wisconsin Calf Respiratory Scoring Chart. In this system, calves are scored based on factors such as nasal discharge, rectal temperature, cough, eye and ear staining. Calves should not have a history of any other disease. Moreover, factors such as age, sex, and severity of the disease were considered similar in distributing calves among different groups. These calves were divided into four treatment groups; all were treated with antibiotic florfenicol. The first group received dexamethasone, while dexaphenyl, phenylbutazone, distilled water were used in other groups. After 5 days, calves were examined and scored again and blood samples were taken. Complete blood count (CBC), fibrinogen, total protein, hapto-globulin and albumin measurements on blood samples before and after treatment were done. Repeated measurement ANOVA and Paired t-test were used for statistical analysis with the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that the degree of health, heart and respiratory rate, fibrinogen and total protein, Lymphocyte, N/L, TP-Fib/Fib ratio, MCV and MCHC significantly changed during the two sampling periods (p < /em>˂0.05), but there was no significant difference between the treatment groups (p < /em>˃0.05). Only the PCV factor and TP-Fib/Fib ratio was significant between groups (p < /em>˂0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that in the treatment regimen of dairy calf pneumonia, the use of an anti-inflammatory drug, along with antibiotics and antibiotic treatment alone are not significantly different.

BACKGROUND: Peste des petitis (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease with high incidence and mortality rate, which is endemic in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Africa. This disease has been causing economic losses in sheep and goat flocks in these areas. Studies have shown that environmental and host risk factors can influence the severity of PPR infection. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study to investigate the prevalence of PPR in small ruminants population of Garmsar city and its suburbs. Furthermore, the effect of host factors, including animal species, gender, and age, and environmental factors, such as sampling season, geographical area, and sampling location, were evaluated. METHODS: Blood samples of 180 sheep and goats were taken in spring, summer, and autumn and after centrifugation, serum samples were isolated. We measured antibody response using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). RESULTS: The apparent and true prevalence of contamination in small ruminants of Garmsar and its suburbs ware 24.44 % and 23.91 %, respectively. The results revealed non significant relationships between animal species (p < /em>= 0.08), gender (p < /em>= 0.14), and age (p < /em>= 0.98) with PPR serum prevalence. Meanwhile, there was a significant relationship between season (p < /em>= 0.03), geographical area (p < /em>= 0.0004), and sampling location (p < /em>= 0.0001). In addition, the odds ratio of PPRV infection in autumn was 2.62 (95% CI: 0.06 – 6.02; p < /em>< 0.05) times more than that of other season and in the south-eastern of Garmsar, it was 6.71 (95% CI: 3.01-17.60; p < /em>< 0.05) times more than that of other geographical regions. The odds ratio of PPRV infection in the Mahmood Abad village was 63.63 (95 % CI: 12.14 – 132.93; p < /em>< 0.05) times higher than that of other villages. CONCLUSIONS: According to the obtained findings, PPR was proven to be an endemic disease in Garmsar and its suburbs and the environmental risk factors have a greater impact on the seroprevalence of disease than host risk factors. Therefore, in order to control the disease in endemic areas, further attention should be paid to environmental risk factors and minimizing the risk of epidemics through vaccination at sensitive timescales and areas before high-risk environment changes.

BACKGROUND: Plasma lipoprotein profile is one of the effective mechanisms in testicular tissue development and spermatogenesis process in roosters. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of l-carnitine during pre-pubertal period on testicular histology, spermatogenesis indexes and plasma lipoproteins of immature cockerels METHODS: A total of twelve Ross broiler breeder males (12 weeks) for 22 weeks in a completely randomized design with two treatments (0, and 250 mg/kg of L-carnitine in the diet) and six replications were used. Feeding program, and photoperiod regimen was performed based on ROSS 308 management handbook. To achieve the objectives of the study, at the age of 34 weeks, four birds were randomly selected from each treatment and after collecting blood samples from the veins under the wings, the birds were slaughtered. Finally, plasma cholesterol, LDL and HDL concentrations using a commercial kit and testicular parameters (number of seminiferous tubules, number of Sertoli cells, height of epithelium seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules diameter, spermatogenesis index, and tubular differentiation index) after preparation of 5-μm paraffin sections, were analyzed by SAS software. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of seminiferous tubules, and the number of Sertoli cells were significantly affected by l-carnitine (p < /em><0.05). L-carnitine supplementation in the diet of immature cockerels before sexual maturity significantly increased the spermatogenesis index (p < /em><0.003) and tubular differentiation index (p < /em><0.02). HDL levels were significantly affected by l-carnitine supplementation (p < /em><0.007). There was a significant tendency in LDL concentration (p < /em>=0.09) and LDL/HDL ratio (p < /em>=0.059) between treatments, but no significant differences were observed in cholesterol concentration between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, feeding immature cockerels before sexual maturity with 250 mg l-carnitine improves testicular tissue development and spermatogenesis process.

BACKGROUND: Due to the numerous biological effects of nanoparticles, nanotechnology can play a major role in future research areas in the poultry industry. OBJECTIVES: The SNP have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that are increasingly used in poultry farms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SNP on carcass and laying performance, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of eggs, fertility and hatchability in Japanese quail. METHODS: 96 quails including 24 male quails and 72 female quails were assigned to 4 experimental groups with 6 replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental groups consisted of 0 (control), 4, 8, and 12 ppm SNP, which were given to the birds in drinking water. Quantitative and qualitative parameters of eggs and determining the percentage of fertility and hatching were performed on a weekly basis. Also, at the end of the experiment, body weight and relative weight of internal organs were measured. RESULTS: The relative weight of liver and kidney organs increased in the SNP-receiving groups as compared to control (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in egg weight in SNP- receiving groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The effect of experimental groups on relative yolk weight was not significant. Albumin weight and yolk to albumin ratio increased in two groups of control and 8 ppm SNP, respectively (p < 0.05). Egg thickness and shape index decreased in groups 4, 8, and 12 ppm SNP as compared to control (p < 0.05). However, the effect of different experimental groups on quantitative and qualitative parameters of eggs including eggshell weight, eggshell membrane, and egg volume was not statistically significant. The SNP-receiving groups caused a dramatic increase in fertility rate as compared to control (p < 0.05); furthermore, the increase in hatchability rate in SNP groups was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the use of 4 and 8 ppm SNP can improve the laying performance, fertility and hatchability rates in Japanese quail.

BACKGROUND: Full supply of the nutritional requirements of C57BL/6 mice plays an important role in preventing ulcerative dermatitis syndrome. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this work to asses ulcerative dermatitis in C57BL/6 mice colony and reduce it through dietary modification. METHODS: During a two-years period, a C57BL/6 mice colony in a laboratory animal breeding center was monitored for the presence of ulcerative dermatitis syndrome. In the first year, the animals were fed with outbred laboratory mice pellet and in the second year, the modified diet was used based on the nutritional requirements of this inbred mouse. RESULTS: The average numbers of litters per parturition were 3 and 6 in the first year and the second year, respectively. The litter's mortality rate in the first year was 75 % and zero in the second year. The total number of mice remaining in the colony was 220 in the first year, which increased to 1100 in the next year. Syndrome symptoms were observed in the adult mice in the first year. Alopecia was observed mainly in the back and neck and the severity of the symptoms was mild to severe. No mortality was observed in the mice, even in severe cases, and their recovery was spontaneous, yet very slow. In the necropsy, axillary lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly were observed. In histopathological samples taken from the skin lesions, the accumulation of inflammatory cells and the spongiosis of cornea cells were observed. In lymph nodes, spleen, and liver, pathological changes were observed from the accumulation of inflammatory cells to necrosis. In the second year, the number of cases reduced significantly to 2 %. The severity of the symptoms was mild and their recovery was faster than that in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: By fully supplying the nutritional requirements of C57BL/6 mice, we could significantly prevent the occurrence of ulcerative dermatitis syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic cell targeting is a novel non-invasive cellular delivery technique. It improves stem cell delivery to and retention in the injury site. Labeling cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) is one of the most important steps of this technique. Appropriate SPIONs selection is believed to be of vital importance. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to produce SPIONs which are capable of attaching to Mesenchymal stem cells surface (MSCs). METHODS: Dextran coated SPIONs were produced following co-precipitation method under N2 atmosphere. Bone marrow derived MSCs were isolated and cultured from rabbit humerus bone. Anti-rabbit CD44 monoclonal antibody was attached to the surface of SPIONs and MSCs and were labeled with this final product. SPIONs coating process, particle size, and antibody conjugation efficacy were evaluated using FT-IR, SEM, and Bradford protein measurement assay, respectively. Attachment of antibody-linked dextran coated SPIONs to MSCs was accessed utilizing Prussian blue staining, immunofluorescence analysis, and SEM analysis. RESULTS: Peaks of FT-IR at 3200 cm-1 and 2922 cm-1 are representative of dextran. The average particle size was 56.13±6.67. The average antibody-SPION conjugation ratio was 77.78±6.35%. The average percentage of the labeled cells in Prussian blue and IF analysis were 71.57±2.53 and 95.04±0.95, respectively. MSCs-SPIONs conjugation was also confirmed via SEM analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it could be inferred that mesenchymal stem cells could successfully be labeled with dextran coated-anti CD44 antibody conjugated- superparamagnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles. This product could be used for further in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations.